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Mary Henkel Judson
If you’re one of those shouting “Fake news!” at corporate media outlets, there’s something you can do about it. Put...
Harris poked Baier in den of disinformation
Dick Polman
In all likelihood, 99 percent of the Fox News faithful who saw Kamala Harris Wednesday night came away convinced anew...
Kamala shows how much she hates Trump
Michael Reagan
It’s the usual partisan story. Folks who love Kamala Harris and hate Donald Trump thought she did fine in her...
Costumes & candy
Halloween fun will continue in Port Aransas this week with a Trunk or Treat at Roberts Point Park and sand pumpkin carving on the beach, hosted by the City of...
Island Agenda
This Week Thursday, Oct. 24 • Trunk or Treat. (See story this page.) • ‘Addams Family’ at PACT. (See story Page 5A.) Friday, Oct. 25 • Wooden Boat Festival. (See...
‘Addams Family’ ends run Sunday
Only four performances remain for folks to catch “The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy,” on the Port Aransas Community Theatre stage. The production will continue Thursday through Sunday, Oct....
Fundraiser set for Friday
Most folks have heard about the devastation in the southeast from hurricanes Helene and Milton. Trinity-by-the Sea Episcopal Church is hosting a Florolina fundraiser for the victims on Friday, Oct....
Port A swimmers win fall meet
The Port Aransas Swim Team Blue Marlins hosted a swim meet against Kingsville and Portland swim teams at the Port Aransas Community Pool on Saturday, Oct. 19. The Blue Marlins...
Marlins heading to state
Sophomore Shane Stawar is only the second Marlin cross-country runner to be regional champion for Class 2A in the 25 years Coach Steve Reaves has been at Port Aransas ISD....
Trying it out
October 23, 2024
Albert Howie, a paramedic/firefighter with the City of Port Aransas, allows student Jonas Jenkins to use a fire hose just...
Basketball tourney to benefit Victoria Solarek scholarship
October 23, 2024
Folks will enjoy some friendly basketball and cornhole competitions at the Victoria Solarek Scholarship Fundraiser. The third annual event will...
McKinney letter lays out tax topic
October 23, 2024
Port Aransas ISD Superintendent Sharon McKinney has authored a letter to local taxpayers to provide some perspective on our most...
At rehearsal
October 23, 2024
Port Aransas High School actors rehearse ‘Early Woman Discovers Fire,’ a skit that’s part of a show called ‘Brother, Can...
Snapper snagged
October 23, 2024
Kat Ward of Hondo caught a nice red snapper on a private charter state water trip on Saturday, Sept. 28....
Dueling spouts
October 23, 2024
Two waterspouts churn through the Gulf of Mexico off Mustang Island on Wednesday, Oct. 16. This photo was shot from...
She caught cobia
October 23, 2024
Showing off her cobia (ling) catch is Azcneth of Sonora. The fish weighed 23 pounds and was 42 inches long....
Redfish biting in bays, at jetties
October 23, 2024
Redfish have been biting in the bays and at the jetties, fishing sources say. The north jetty is yielding good...
New duck season looking up
October 23, 2024
Increased duck numbers and steady rains have provided optimism for Texas waterfowl hunters gearing up for the start of the...
Home fire prevention tips
State of AffairsTodd Hunter
Every year the month of October is recognized as National Fire Prevention Month. The purpose of this month is to increase the awareness of home fire prevention. According to the...
Focus on the people in our lives
Education NotesStephanie Cowen
Recently, I was discussing some of our former athletes with another coach. We were reminiscing on some wonderful memories and pondering where those students are today. After briefly pausing the...
Remember our Saints and saints
Pastor’s PenJames Derkits
I am grateful to have had a therapist to be my guide through some difficult times of life, as well as through discernment in early adulthood. One piece of wisdom...
Featured Video
Feral pigs recently have been trotting around near cars waiting at the ferry landing on Harbor Island. A story in the newest edition of the South Jetty newspaper includes photos and also comments from motorists and officials with the ferry system and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Our newest edition is hitting news stands all over Port Aransas today.
(South Jetty video © 2024 by Elizabeth Weaver.)
Port A waterfront could get big park
Teresita Dominguez
Reporter | October 23, 2024
Port Aransas just took a step toward the possibility of establishing a new park along the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. The city council voted 6-0 on Thursday, Oct. 17, to approve a measure “to move forward” with the idea of issuing certificate of-obligation bonds to finance construction of the park in a strip of land between Port Street and the...
Urban retiring after years of designing infrastructure
Dan Parker
Editor | October 23, 2024
Jim Urban, who has had a big hand in designing miles of infrastructure all over Port Aransas for decades, is retiring. By the end of the month, he will wrap up his work as the Port Aransas city engineer and engineer for Nueces County Water Control and Improvement District No. 4 – the agency that provides water and sewer service...
Wooden Boat Festival Friday to Sunday
Vivian Carlson
Staff writer | October 23, 2024
An upcoming celebration of Port Aransas’ maritime heritage might just float your boat. The 2024 Port Aransas Wooden Boat Festival is set for Friday through Sunday, Oct. 25 through 27. In addition to the wooden boats on display, the three days will include family boat builds, food trucks, nautical vendors, kids activities, a car show and more. The family-friendly festival...
Henkel honored by film commission
The Texas Chainsaw MassacreMary Henkel Judson
Co-publisher | October 23, 2024
Former long-time Port Aransas resident Kim Henkel was recognized by the Texas Film Commission and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for his cultural contributions through The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Last Night at the Alamo and other films on Friday, Oct. 18. Henkel, who lived in Port Aransas from the late 1970s through the early 2000s, was honored at the revival of...
Bargain hunt
October 23, 2024
The Port Aransas Tourism Bureau & Chamber of Commerce hosted a shopping event, Shoptober, Friday through Sunday at 33 participating stores, shops and boutiques in Port Aransas. Above, shopping at Island Tackle are Jade and Gordan Browning of Fredericksburg.
Paradise perfection
October 23, 2024
The City of Port Aransas held a ribbon-cutting on Friday, Oct. 18, to celebrate expansion and improvements at the Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond, a popular birding site in town. The pond property has been enlarged one-half acre, with the help of Port Street LLC. In addition, a boardwalk extension and trail connecting Paradise Pond to the Port Aransas...
Port A hits Houston
October 23, 2024
Port Aransas city officials attended the 112th annual Texas Municipal League conference and exhibition Oct. 9 to 11 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. In front, from left, are Port Aransas City Council members Jo Ellyn Krueger and Kelly Owens; City Secretary Francisca Nixon; council member Tonya Chambers; Darla Honea, the city’s finance director; and Nicole Boyer,...
Beam team
October 23, 2024
Getting ready to play flashlight tag, from left, are Port Aransas residents Marley Buckingham, 10, Louie Parra, 9, Diego Parra, 3, and their father, Manuel Parra. The event was part of a family game night hosted by the Port Aransas Parks and Recreation department. The game took place Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Port Aransas Community Park.
Port A resident seeks help
October 23, 2024
A Port Aransas resident, Nautia Weber, is seeking help from the community to help cover her travel expenses to her graduation ceremony in Manchester, New Hampshire. Weber is the assistant branch manager at ValueBank Texas here in Port Aransas. She graduated from Callallen High School with honors in 2018. Weber will graduate from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) on Nov....
Pouring it on
October 23, 2024
Workers smooth out freshly poured concrete making up the foundation for the new fire department and EMS facility under construction on Ninth Street in Port Aransas. Truck after truck lined up to pour the concrete starting during the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, Oct. 17. Workers, shown here at mid-morning, reportedly chose to pour the foundation overnight largely to avoid daytime...
Council addresses surfing, Beach Access Road 1B
Teresita Dominguez
Reporter | October 23, 2024
The Roberts Point Park playground, a lease agreement with the Port of Corpus Christi and Beach Access Road 1B recently were addressed by the Port Aransas City Council. The council discussed the topics during a meeting on Thursday, Oct. 17. Library Advisory Board • The council reappointed Rick Kalke and Carolee Crider and appointed Aubree Boyer as alternate to the...
Big donation
October 23, 2024
The Parrot Heads of Port Aransas group recently donated $10,000 to the Moore-McDonald VFW Post 8967 Care and Share drive that provides Christmas meals for the less fortunate in Port Aransas. Posing for a photo on Thursday, Oct. 17, in the front row, from left, are Susan Simpson and Diana Vondra of the VFW’s auxiliar; Aaron Copeland, VFW quartermaster; Karen...
Tree sponsorships for new park are available
October 23, 2024
Folks in Port Aransas have an opportunity to contribute to the landscape of the new playscape that is under construction at Roberts Point Park. The City of Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department has announced a tree dedication program as part of the landscape. Community members can sponsor one of the 14 Texas sabal palms, which are planned to serve...
Mercer house gets utilities approval
BY PHIL REYNOLDS SOUTH JETTY REPORTER | August 23, 2007
City council members overrode a procedural ruling by Mayor Claude Brown on Thursday, Aug. 16, and told City Manager Michael Kovacs to commit the city to some $50,000 in utility costs associated with moving the Mercer House to its new location. Not all the estimated total would go directly to the Mercer House, Kovacs said, which led to Brown's ruling....
Shipping in, shipping out
October 23, 2024
Grab a seat at the water’s edge, and you’ll see all manner of water craft moving through Port Aransas channels.
Helene buoy found in Port A
Jace Tunnell | October 23, 2024
This week’s midday low tides provided perfect beachcombing conditions around lunchtime, yi elding a fascinating assortment of finds. Among the discoveries were a National Oceanic Atmospheric Association weather balloon, a wormsnail and a spotter buoy. I’ve found lots of scientific equipment washing up on the beaches over the years, including several spotter buoys, made by a company called Sofar Ocean...
Warmer Gulf means stronger storms
Institute InsightsSharon Zinah Herzka | October 23, 2024
As Gulf coast res- idents, we have observed with concern the devastating impact of hurricanes Helene and Milton on the southeast- ern United States. Although tropical cyclones have been a part of the Gulf coast’s way of life throughout recorded...
From Broadway to Port A
October 23, 2024
A collection of scenes from Broadway plays and musicals lit up the Port Aransas Community Theatre’s outdoor stage for three weekends in July and August of 1996. Cast members gathered for a group photo at the beginning of the production. This photo originally appeared in the July 25, 1996 edition of the South Jetty.