The Island Moon Newspaper

11
The The The Island Moon Published by Island Moon Publishing, LLC 15201 S. Padre Island Drive Ste. 250 Corpus Christi, TX. 78418 [email protected] (361) 949-7700 Island Moon Island Moon FREE FREE The Island Newspaper The Island Newspaper Island Area News Events Entertainment September 9, 2011 The Island where Parkinson’s is Paddled Next Publication Date: 09/23/2011 Year 15, Issue 396 Around The Island By Dale Rankin [email protected] Inside the Moon Tagging Sharks on PINS B1 Photo by Patrick Lewis Real Estate Roundup The Question of the Day: Is Schiltterbahn Coming to The Island? By Dale Rankin It seems the Weather Gods have gone a little crazy of late on our Island. The wind has been swinging from the north to the southeast and back again. It made for some nice waves for our surfer friends over the weekend. It also cooled things off just a bit for the first time in a long time. The weird weather patterns were spinoffs from Tropical Storm Lee that broke the usual pattern of southeast wind. It pushed water way up on our beaches over the early part of Labor Day Weekend but things were pretty much back to normal by Saturday afternoon. It did cut into the amount of usable beach in the SoPac area after city crews created a high bank by piling much sand there. The weather on Labor Day Monday though was really odd. It was really strange to come back OTB and see a haze of smoke hanging over our Island. Normally brush fires inland produce no more than spectacular sunsets as the smoke is blown landward by the prevailing onshore breeze but this time large brush fires as far inland as Bastrop put smoke in Island nostrils causing much dryness leading to the consumption of holiday beverages. Brush fires this season have burned a hole in Texas literally the size of the state of Connecticut and in the last few months six of the ten largest brush fires in our state’s history have occurred. The fire that blew smoke over The Island took out more than six hundred homes. It’s dry out there folks. Then we awoke the next morning to what passes for cool temperatures in these parts. It was a welcome change to the sweltering temps we have had for several weeks but with the storms, heat, fires, and smoke it makes us wonder if an earthquake is next. Offshore fishing One effect of the strange weather has been flat water in the Gulf. For the first time in quite a while small boats have been able to head out Packery Channel and fish the rigs. Fisherpersons who have been out there say it is the best it has been in a long time. We have more about that in this issue. We did make it out to the Texas Women’s Angler Tournament in Port Aransas and the array of boats was quite impressive. It was very Texas with most of the boats we saw belonging to oil people, ranchers, or country music singers; well, actually only one to a country music singer, George Strait whose wife fished in the tournament while Mr. Straight did what all good country music singers do while their wife fishes, he drank beer at the Back Porch. He signed a few autographs mostly for tourists since most Port Aransasians respect the fact that celebrity types need a day off too. The boats at the tournament were showing a lot of flags as they lined up at Roberts Point for the weight in. It was impressive to see upwards of $15 million dollars of floating fun line up to back in. It was a reminder that we get to live in a really special place. On the rocks It hasn’t been just offshore that fishing has been good. When it doesn’t rain inland the water flow from our rivers drops and our water gets nice and blue. The blue water line has moved close enough to shore of late that fisherpersons have been able to get tarpon and kingfish to chase bait all the way into the jetties at both the Packery and in Port Aransas. What recession? If there is indeed a recession going on someone forgot to tell Port Aransas. Sales tax numbers for Port Aranas in June were up a healthy 49% over June of last year, and last year was no slouch as it recorded record numbers as well. The reason for the increase is up for grabs but common opinions include new money coming to town from the Eagle Ford oil play which cuts a wide swath through the Heart of Texas from Laredo all the way to East Texas. There is a rush to poke holes in the ground up there that the cost of drilling a single well is running in the $10 million range. All that money has to go somewhere and we’re the nearest Island. Then of course there is the simple fact that Texas gained $5 million people in the last census. That means a lot of newcomers to our state and sooner or later they all find their way to The Island. There is also the fact that due to the trouble going on at the border many visitors are deciding to come to North Padre rather the South. Whatever the reason we are lucky that we have not been hit as hard economically as some other parts of the country. Whatafire We had one of those Only On The Island events on Labor Day when a sailboat caused a power outage over around Whataburger. The boat was heading down SPID on a trailer when its mast hit a lowhanging power line and blew out power along the roadway. It knocked off power to among other places, Whataburger which was shut down for a few hours. A live wire caused a small brush fire by the road. But as far as we know there were no Whatainjuries. A similar incident happened in Port A after the fishing tournament when a boat with a tuna tower smacked into the light at Cotter and Alister. How about some street signs that say “Boat Drivers Watch Out for Overhead Lines.” Say Hello if you see us Around The Island. Paddle for Parkinsons Raises $12,000 A3 NoPac Beach Cleanup A2 Texas Women Anglers Tournament A 15 Labor Day at Ellis Beach

description

September 9, 2011 Section A

Transcript of The Island Moon Newspaper

Page 1: The Island Moon Newspaper

FreeFreeTheThe

The Island MoonPublished by Island Moon Publishing, LLC

15201 S. Padre Island Drive Ste. 250Corpus Christi, TX. [email protected]

(361) 949-7700

Island MoonIsland Moon

FREEFREE

The Island NewspaperThe Island Newspaper

Island Area News ● Events ● Entertainment

September 9, 2011

The Island where Parkinson’s is Paddled Next Publication Date: 09/23/2011 Year 15, Issue 396

Around The IslandBy Dale Rankin [email protected]

Inside the Moon

Tagging Sharks on PINS B1

Photo by Patrick Lewis

Real Estate Roundup

The Question of the Day: Is Schiltterbahn Coming to The Island?

By Dale Rankin

It seems the Weather Gods have gone a little crazy of late on our Island. The wind has been swinging from the north to the southeast and back again. It made for some nice waves for our surfer friends over the weekend. It also cooled things off just a bit for the first time in a long time.

The weird weather patterns were spinoffs from Tropical Storm Lee that broke the usual pattern of southeast wind. It pushed water way up on our beaches over the early part of Labor Day Weekend but things were pretty much back to normal by Saturday afternoon. It did cut into the amount of usable beach in the SoPac area after city crews created a high bank by piling much sand there.

The weather on Labor Day Monday though was really odd. It was really strange to come back OTB and see a haze of smoke hanging over our Island. Normally brush fires inland produce no more than spectacular sunsets as the smoke is blown landward by the prevailing onshore breeze but this time large brush fires as far inland as Bastrop put smoke in Island nostrils causing much dryness leading to the consumption of holiday beverages. Brush fires this season have burned a hole in Texas literally the size of the state of Connecticut and in the last few months six of the ten largest brush fires in our state’s history have occurred. The fire that blew smoke over The Island took out more than six hundred homes. It’s dry out there folks.

Then we awoke the next morning to what passes for cool temperatures in these parts. It was a welcome change to the sweltering temps we have had for several weeks but with the storms, heat, fires, and smoke it makes us wonder if an earthquake is next.

Offshore fishing

One effect of the strange weather has been flat water in the Gulf. For the first time in quite a while small boats have been able to head out Packery Channel and fish the rigs. Fisherpersons who have been out there say it is the best it has been in a long time. We have more about that in this issue.

We did make it out to the Texas Women’s Angler Tournament in Port Aransas and the array of boats was quite impressive. It was very Texas with most of the boats we saw belonging to oil people, ranchers, or country music singers; well, actually only one to a country music singer, George Strait whose wife fished in the tournament while Mr. Straight did what all good country music singers do while their wife fishes, he drank beer at the Back Porch. He signed a few autographs mostly for tourists since most Port Aransasians respect the fact that celebrity types need a day off too.

The boats at the tournament were showing a lot of flags as they lined up at Roberts Point for the weight in. It was impressive to see upwards of $15 million dollars of floating fun line up to back in. It was a reminder that we get to live in a really special place.

On the rocks

It hasn’t been just offshore that fishing has been good. When it doesn’t rain inland the water flow from our rivers drops and our water gets nice and blue. The blue water line has moved close enough to shore of late that fisherpersons have been able to get tarpon and kingfish to chase bait all the way into the jetties at both the Packery and in Port Aransas.

What recession?

If there is indeed a recession going on someone forgot to tell Port Aransas. Sales tax numbers for Port Aranas in June were up a healthy 49% over June of last year, and last year was no slouch as it recorded record numbers as well. The reason for the increase is up for grabs but common opinions include new money coming to town from the Eagle Ford oil play which cuts a wide swath through the Heart of Texas from Laredo all the way to East Texas. There is a rush to poke holes in the ground up there that the cost of drilling a single well is running in the $10 million range. All that money has to go somewhere and we’re the nearest Island.

Then of course there is the simple fact that Texas gained $5 million people in the last census. That means a lot of newcomers to our state and sooner or later they all find their way to The Island. There is also the fact that due to the trouble going on at the border many visitors are deciding to come to North Padre rather the South. Whatever the reason we are

lucky that we have not been hit as hard economically as some other parts of the country.

Whatafire

We had one of those Only On The Island events on Labor Day when a sailboat caused a power outage over around Whataburger. The boat was heading down SPID on a trailer when its mast hit a lowhanging power line and blew out power along the roadway. It knocked off power to among other places, Whataburger which was shut down for a few hours. A live wire caused a small brush

fire by the road. But as far as we know there were no Whatainjuries.

A similar incident happened in Port A after the fishing tournament when a boat with a tuna tower smacked into the light at Cotter and Alister. How about some

street signs that say “Boat Drivers Watch Out for Overhead Lines.”

Say Hello if you see us Around The Island.

Paddle for Parkinsons

Raises $12,000A3

NoPac Beach Cleanup A2

Texas Women Anglers

TournamentA 15

Labor Day at Ellis Beach

Page 2: The Island Moon Newspaper

A 2 Island Moon September 9, 2011

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The PIPPs Chapter of the Corpus Christi Red Hat Society gathered for a luncheon at the exclusive Corpus Christi Yacht Club on August 25th.

GulfBreeze NoPac Beach Clean-up

By Mike Murphy http://www.glidesociety.com/gulfbreeze2

Local bays and beaches have benefited from volunteer clean-ups coordinated by the Texas General Land Office (TGLO) for many years and recently there have been more areas of our beaches adopted by local groups. These activities are important to our sensitive coastal waters, birds, fish and people and these efforts help to reduce or eliminate plastic and trash in the water and on the beaches in the area.

Surfrider Foundation... protect and enjoy the ocean

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of beaches and oceans primarily through numerous chapters on the East, Gulf and West coasts, Alaska, Hawaii and the great lakes. In 2004 the Coastal Bend chapter of the Surfrider Foundation (TXCBC) was formed and has actively pursued beach access and environmental concerns with local governments and other similarly focused groups. These on-going efforts focus on awareness, conservation and education including the city’s Storm Water Drain Stenciling Program, the TGLO’s Statewide Beach Clean-up and Adopt-A-Beach programs, school presentations and the Skip the Plastic campaign.

Beach Bums... doing their part and more

The North Packery Beach Bums (NPBB) is a group of beach lovers who have adopted several miles of beach on the north side of Packery Channel between the jetty and mile marker 198. This year the NPBB initiated a clean-up beach party on the last Saturday of each month from April through August. The NPBB obtains collection bags from the city which volunteers use to fill with trash. NPBB members transport volunteers up and down the adopted stretch of beach and collect full trash bags throughout the day. The clean-up days continue well into the night with a bonfire and live music. These efforts to keep the adopted beach area clean and free of trash definitely help make a difference.

Clean beaches... local

coordinationThe Padre Island

Kiwanis Club and TXCBC have coordinated Mustang and Padre Island c l e a n - u p activities since the late 1990’s. Jim Needham is a member in both organizations and has been the Kleberg and Nueces county volunteer coordinator for the GLO Statewide clean-ups throughout this time.

Since 1986 the TGLO has coordinated volunteer beach clean-up activities with over 413, 000 volunteers collecting more than 8,000 tons of trash from Texas beaches state-wide. The TGLO schedules statewide beach clean-ups twice a year in the spring and fall in addition to a limited winter clean-up, usually in February. Interested groups

and organizations may become an official Beach Guardian in the Texas Adopt-A-Beach program and/or make tax deductible contributions to the effort. Visit the GLO web site at http://www.glo.texas.gov/adopt-a-beach/ for additional details.

Bag It…..Skip the Plastic

About a year ago, the TXCBC initiated a Skip the Plastic campaign to provide information, promote awareness and efforts to reduce and eliminate plastic trash. The goal is to engage the public and businesses to reduce or eliminate the use of plastic bags and single-serve bottles that often litter our beaches and pollute the water. It is estimated that there is currently 100 million tons of plastic debris in the ocean contributing to the annual deaths of a million sea-birds, 100,000 dolphins, turtles and other marine animals. Plastic bags cost more to recycle than produce and can easily be eliminated or greatly reduced by using cloth bags.

The TXCBC is also promoting a movie, Bag It, about plastics in the environment. In July, interested citizens and representatives from several city departments attended the local Bag It premier. A large majority of the attendees indicated support for a city ordinance banning

the use of single-use plastic bags. The TXCBC is currently acquiring signatures for a petition to initiate a ban on single-use plastic bags, recycling at all City of Corpus Christi and Nueces County offices, facilities and parks, including the American Bank Center and Whataburger Field and enforcement of existing anti-litter laws at our beaches and parks. Everyone is encouraged to browse the web site (http://skiptheplastic.org/) for scheduled showings of Bag It and to see how you can help, take the pledge or become a partner.

Volunteers... it’s easy to help

The next GLO Statewide clean-up will be September 24th with check-in at Padre Balli Park Headquarters. The Padre Island Kiwanis Club and Surfrider operate the cleanup for the section of beach between Mustang Island State Park and the Padre Island National Seashore. Volunteers are provided bags and gloves and the Padre Island Kiwanis Club also provides grilled hot dogs, chips, cookies and drinks at the conclusion of the clean-up activities.

Volunteers interested in working on the Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) can

call Park Ranger William “Buzz” Botts at 361-949-8068 to help with this effort. Buzz has been the volunteer coordinator for the PINS Adopt-A-Beach program on the Padre Island National Seashore in Kleberg County since 2004. Participating volunteers can mention the clean-up at the entrance station for free park entry, meet at the Malaquite Visitor Center to participate and have lunch after the clean-up activities.

The Port Aransas High School Basketball Team raised a thousand dollars for the Paddle for Parkinson’s event held on North Padre Island on Saturday, September 3rd. The team’s coach suffers from Parkinson’s disease. Way to go guys! Photo by Miles Merwin.

Page 3: The Island Moon Newspaper

September 9, 2011 Island Moon A 3

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News From Your

By Maybeth Christensen

Paddle for Parkinson’s Event

Raises $12,000By Mona Singleterry

Hi all, I felt like we were already winners before Saturday even began. Amazing stories were told by sponsors, supporters, and relay participants about their friends and/or families that were effected by Parkinson’s and how this event was providing them an opportunity to support their loved one!! The icing on the cake was the Port Aransas High School basketball team that raised over $1,000 in pledges in honor of their coach who has Parkinson’s. The coach was out of town, but the wife came and was truly touched by the boys support and they all indicated they will be back next year. Glad KIII had the opportunity to include their story in their evening broadcasts. Hope you all got to see it. The attached pictures are of Amymichelle Lucio and her dad. Amy won the Sup-Yak. These two, along with their other family members have participated in both events and also indicated they will be back next year. The winner of the Dunes two night stay was Grigo Binisal (SP?, hard to read writing) and the Maui Trip was won by Tom Tinney from Vicksburg, MS.

We cannot thank everyone enough for their time and generosity! All bills and income are not 100% accounted for yet, but looks like we’ll be able to send about $12,000 to National Parkinson Foundation this year, which is DOUBLE of what we sent last year. This will bring our five year total to $37,500. You are all amazing. With love and appreciation, Mona

The Paddle For Parkinsons relay and activities at Billish Park on September 3rd was a big success. We had folks who started off with a pancake breakfast and the barbeque trailer served barbeque lunch. There was music and vendors. If you missed it, you missed a great time. There were 130 relay participants.

The long awaited Park Road 22 bridge will actually be before the City Council two times.

The first date is Tuesday, September 13th. That meeting will include staff presentations as well as public comments. The City Council is expected to actually vote on the proposal on Tuesday, September 20th. Bottom line, if you have the time, it would be a good idea to attend both Council meetings.

The next Litter Critter will be September 24. We will also be doing a neighborhood trash pick up that same day. So, plan now to go out in your neighborhood and pick up that loose trash that is laying on vacant lots and hanging in trees. Let’s see if we can really clean up the Island.

Glass recycling is finally coming to the Island. The City will have the collection bins in the POA parking lot on Saturday, October 8th from 10 AM to 2 PM. Clean out all those glass bottles you have been saving and bring them to the recycling event.

Parking problems are growing with the increase in houses being rented. Many of the rentals are to several single people who all drive vehicles.

Be aware of your neighbors’ driveways as well as making sure you don’t leave the trailer sticking out beyond the parking spot. The cul de sac parking is supposed to be for visitors.

The Whitecap median should soon be back in shape. AT&T assures me that the dirt, old rock and weed barrier will be replaced with new barrier and rock. If you see a large rock pile on Whitecap

just west of Gypsy, you’ll know the work is moving forward. Do not take any of the rock!

We had two calls last Friday from neighbors reporting water running out of the houses next door. Both of the homes were owned by out of town property owners. We were able to locate

phone numbers, but it would be a lot easier if we had contact phone numbers on file. You can either call, or send us an email.

If you would like to receive notices and newsletters by email, please provide your current information. Our general email is [email protected].

A recent law passed by the Texas Legislature which will go into effect January 1, 2012, requires us to send out notices of Board meetings to those who have provided email addresses. Our Board meeting dates and time are always posted on our website which is padreislespoa.net. But, we’d like to have more email addresses.

Photos by Miles Merwin

Page 4: The Island Moon Newspaper

A 4 Island Moon September 9, 2011

Who Are the Moon Monkeys

Mike Ellis, FounderDistributionPete Alsop

Island DeliveryColdwell Banker

AdvertisingJan Park Rankin

OfficeLisa TownsClassifieds

Arlene RitleyDesign/Layout

Jeff CraftContributing Writers

(In no particular order)Devorah FoxSunny ReedMary CraftChris Adler

Maybeth ChristiansenDr. Tom Dorrell

Kendal EzellJay Gardner

Diane HalfetyTodd Hunter

Mike (Murph) MurphyRonnie Narmour

Dr. Donna ShaverPhotographersAndre LaVoyPatrick LewisMiles Merwin

Office Security/Spillage ControlRiley P. Dog

Editor/Publisher/Spillage Control Supervisor

Dale Rankin

About the Island MoonThe Island Moon is published every other

Friday, Dale Rankin, Editor.Total circulation is 10,000 copies. Distribu-

tion includes delivery to 4,000 Island homes, free distribution of 3,000 copies in over 50 Padre Island businesses and condos, as well as 600 copies distributed in Flour Bluff, 1,400 copies on Mustang Island and Port Aransas businesses.

Mailed subscriptions are available in the US and are $100 per year. Next day home de-livered subscriptions are $100 per year on Padre Island and in Flour Bluff.

News articles, photos, display ads, classi-fied ads, payments, etc. may be left in the Moon tray at Isle Mail & More, 14493 S P I D. For more information call 361-949-7700 or contact the Moon at 15201 S Padre Island Dr., Suite 250, Corpus Christi, TX 78418 or by e-mail to [email protected].

Letters to the EditorBay Area Medical

Dear Dale,

We recently had a middle of the night medical emergency and went to Bay Area Medical Center. They were WONDERFUL! The expertise and efficiency coupled with the friendly competent reassuring care was superb.

How fortunate are we to have such an outstanding facility like that in our community..!!!!

THANKS Bay Area Medical!

Peter & Diane Halferty

Laguna MadreEditor,

Listen to KEDT-FM for “The Laguna Madre” series

Beginning Monday, tune your radios to KEDT-FM for a 10-part series, “The Laguna Madre,” an educational outreach effort sponsored by the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

The five-to-six-minute episodes will air weekdays at 8:04 a.m. and 4:44 p.m. on KEDT-FM 90.3 in Corpus Christi and KVRT-FM 90.7 in Victoria.

“The Laguna Madre” explores the many attributes of this unique body of water on the South Texas coast through conversations with scientists, fishermen, birders and boaters. The series’ goal is to raise awareness in the region about this wild, coastal gem right in our own backyard.

Replays of the series will run three times a week through Friday, Nov. 18.

The series is a part of the Harte Research Institute’s ongoing outreach effort, “Gulf Matters: A Series about the Gulf of Mexico, America’s Sea.”

---The CBBEP team

DasmarinasEditor,

I read with some interest Michelle’s letter about the problems on Dasmarinas. She hit the nail right on the head because there is a big speeding problem on this street. She was also correct that one of the residents insists on throwing popcorn in the street to entice the gulls. I am not sure if it is to slow the speeding cars down or is just a tourist fascination that gulls will flock to food thrown to them. Hopefully the people involved will figure out that they can cause the same gathering of birds at the beach which would be much safer for birds and people. The personal attack was probably fueled by alcohol as these “bird bashes” are accompanied by a gathering of people out in their front yards cooking bar b que and having a party.

Dasmarinas really does need speed bumps. Perhaps a meeting at the POA office could be arranged by the management of the POA where specific requirements and solutions can be discussed and acted on. I am more than willing to pay my part to get something done about the speeding problem.

Dasmarinas Don

Island DumpersThe longer I live on the island the more

disgusted I become with ten percent of those that live out here. Today, I reported to the city where some fool used the area at the end of Dasmarinas close to Aquarius as the city dump. I can only hope that the city does find some identification as to whom may have done this and prosecute them to the full extent. Secondly, I read with great interest the letter from Michelle about the traffic on Dasmarinas. I live on said street and can attest to the fact that it like most other streets on the island is treated like SPID. I have been passed by a BMW on several occasions and the last time I called traffic control with a report. Nothing has been done. There are at least three other people that have reported the traffic on Dasmarinas to no avail. I hope it doesn’t come to another death on the island before law enforcement does something. I do not agree with the threats to Michelle, but maybe she is one of those that pays no attention to the stop signs or the speed limit. Hopefully this letter will be read by the new city manager and he will talk to the new police chief and we can get some action on the island. Thanks for your time and interest in this matter. David L,. Hoffmann

Marine Science Institute

On August 13th we took our visiting twin grandchildren, age eight, to the open house at the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas. What a wonderful introduction to our Gulf of Mexico natural habitat. There was a presentation by Tony Amos about the many birds, turtles, and other wild life that the Ark rescues, rehabilitates and returns to nature. Second of many things we could have done, we chose to attend a presentation by a children’s teacher who gave a clever demonstration of the parts of fish that make them unique from animals.

Then we boarded the M/V Wharf Cat a research vessel with a live well for observing and touching sea creatures which the children greatly enjoyed. Once out in the channel, a net was cast to see what could be caught in thirty minutes of trawling (suspense!) and of course, the dolphins cooperated by following us during our hour and a half off shore. This all day event was completely free. We only participated in a small portion of their program. What a generous, educational, fun event!

And then….the very next morning we were walking on J.P.Luby Beach when one of the twins saw a brown pelican that was in trouble. Its beak and foot were tangled in fishing line! First we asked a kindly surf fisherman to come with his knife to cut the line but when we approached the bird, it was able to feebly fly away.

Ah….Tony Amos and The ARK! We rushed home and phoned him (his number was on the literature we had collected the day before). “Oh yes, I will send someone there,” he immediately said. We couldn’t go back to verify this but when we called him the next day he told us that in fact they had rescued the pelican, taken it to the ARK where they removed the hook from its breast, treated the wound, and as soon as they returned it to the ‘recuperation yard’, it had flown away.

What a story for these visiting grandchildren to take back to San Diego!

And for us. This is a special place to live.

Marilyn Bremser Bodrug

Response from POA to Dasmarinas Don

Dasmarinas Don,

Here is the information I have from the City:

Traffic engineering will do a vehicle count and a speed check

•  Must have a minimum of 400 vehicles per day

•  Speed count - 15% have to be over speed limit

•  Fire and police have to approve

•  2/3 of the property owners on the street have to sign the petition requesting the speed hump

They cost $1500/each and residents may have to share in cost - cost to residents can be 0, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%

I would be happy to work with whomever wants to start a petition drive. I believe the traffic count has already been done.

Maybeth Christensen

Executive Coordinator

(361)949-7025 ext 10

SpeedersI would like to add that along with speeding on

Aquarius, Dasmarinas, and Whitecap, speeding is a major issue on Tesoro. There have been two speed humps installed, however people still fly between, before and after them. Our neighbor flagged one guy down pulling a boat and told him he was going too fast. The man replied that he was only going 38m.p.h., to which my neighbor pointed at the 15 m.p.h. sign. There are many children that live on Tesoro, and as a parent to one of them, and neighbor to many others, I hope something can be done about this. In the very least, I hope anyone reading this who drives down any of our residential roads will slow down for the sake of everyone’s safety.

Proud Islander!

Erin

SymphonyHi Dale:

Just wanted to thank you for using the Symphony Guild press release, you are mighty sweet. I hope many of the fun-loving Islanders will put on their party clothes and come to be with us, it’s going to be a bang-up evening!

Thanks so much ... dancing shoes at the ready ... see you on October first!

Maxine

Tony AmosTo the Editor, Island Moon

In your Real Estate Roundup column last issue (August 26) you said that I (“director of the ARK in Port Aransas Tony Amos”) was one of the backers of the project called the Texas Coastal Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation that was presented at the recent Nueces County Park Board meeting. You also wrote that I had said [the park] “would be a big attraction for the 42% of the 6.6 million nature tourists who visit the Coastal Bend annually”. Neither of these things is correct. First the ARK (Animal Rehabilitation Keep), which is part of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas has not backed this project nor have we been asked to do so. Secondly I know nothing about the effect the park might have on nature tourism or any other economic value. At the Park Board meeting the project was simply presented to the Board and no questions were asked and no comments on the merits of this project were made by myself, by anybody in the audience or any board members. At an earlier Park Board meeting another wildlife rehabilitation project called the Texas Sealife Center was presented, also without comment or public input. I am not privy to the Board’s intentions but presume some sort of Request For Proposals will be announced for projects involving wildlife rehabilitation at the Nueces County Packery Channel Park.

The ARK at UTMSI has been operating for 30 years now and its mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and ultimately release sick and injured wildlife, in particular sea turtles and aquatic birds. We are not involved in promoting tourism in the area but certainly support efforts to help local marine wildlife other than our own. All our efforts are spent in working with the animals and raising funds to keep us doing so. The founder of the Island Moon, the late Mike Ellis helped us in this respect for many years.

Sincerely,

Tony Amos, ARK Director

Typo of the FortnightDear Editor

As an Oceanographer/Climatologist, I was pleased to read your informative article about hurricanes in the July 1, 2011 issue of the Island Moon.

However, it was a bit disappointing to see that the article had several errors in word usage/terminology.

Examples:

-Where it says “geosyncratic” it should read “geosynchronous”

-Where it says “Carribean” it should read “Caribbean”

-Where it says “Yucatan Penensula” it should read “Yucatan Peninsula”

-Where it says “density of a storm” (this make no sense) this ought to read “intensity of a storm”

-The article lacks an ending...last sentence says “We made that” ...I think it should read “We made that up.”

In the future if you need help reviewing articles about the ocean/atmosphere if you give me a few days I will be happy to assist.

Best,

Alberto Mestas-Nunez

Editor’s note: Well we got some typos on that one. That happens and we do our best, our spell checher must have been on the fritz that day. Unfortunately, we don’t usually have a few days for proofing, as you can see, so we’ll just have to muddle through.

Real EstateDear Mr. Rankin,

In the August 12 publication you ended your Around the Island column by writing, “We hear the latest round of sales of condos over at Beach Club Condominiums near the beach at Whitecap may be coming to an end.” You finished your revelation by adding, “Too many more sales by the developer could cause him to loose control of the condo

board...and nobody wants that.”

Many owners, including the developer, wonder about the source(s) of this information. I believe you owe The Beach Club Condominiums’ owners and future owners a responsibly detailed explanation about what compelled you to publish such speculation regarding their investments.

Incidentally, who is “nobody”? Rupert Murdoch?

Sincerely,

Paul Walker

What I can say to you Paul is that we got several inquires about the workings of the condo association at Beach Club, two from owners, one from a buyer. We contacted a business person who had been associated with the development in the past and this is the explanation that we got. I have not read the condo association’s by-laws as they are not public record. There is much activity in that area of the Island these days due to anticipated growth around Lake Padre. The only way to know for certain is to watch what transpires there over the next few months.

As for Mr. Murdoch...I haven’t heard from him.

RednecksHi Dale,

We loved your observations. Thought we were the only ones who noticed the local fauna. You asked for contributions so here’s some more Rednecks.

Redneckus SeagullusThis species is behaviorally related to the

ubiquitous flying variety of gull. We have all witnessed seagulls circling and hovering around beachgoers in hopes of being offered an edible morsel. When someone (usually a tourist) makes the mistake of tossing a cheese curl, the entire squawking flock descends upon it with the fervor of an Australian rugby team.

Redneckus Seagullus can be seen exhibiting their similar compulsive behavior at HEB, Sam’s Club or any other establishment where samples of food or beverage are offered. Like the feathered variety, the numbers involved in the freenzy at any time are exponentially proportionate to the numbers who were there first. Nothing draws a crowd like a crowd.

If you have ever spent an extended length of time at any store you will see a “customer” or two pushing an empty shopping cart while they scout every aisle, nook and cranny for freebies. I’m not certain what the purpose of the cart is as it will remain empty for the entire visit. Some kind of camouflage, maybe?

It doesn’t even seem to matter what is being offered. Unlike beach gulls which will reject an old cigarette butt, Seagullus will insist on a sample despite the most dire of warnings. Overheard:

Sampler. “Do you like sweet or dry wine?”

Seagullus. “Sweet. I don’t how people drink that bitter stuff.”

Sampler. Hmmm. Today we are sampling a very dry Cabernet Sauvignon. I don’t think you’ll enjoy it. Sorry.

Seagullus. “I’ll try some anyway.”

Seagullus downs the sample like a tequila shot. His/her eyes clamp shut and their face scrunches up like a prune. When they catch their breath they exclaim, “Oh my God, that’s nasty.”

Still retching, Seagullus moves on to the next sample.

There are other subspecies as well.

Seagullus Greedus: “How am I gonna taste a tiny bit like that?”

Seagullus Pointus:

This one has had an electronic device surgically attached to their body and thus cannot interrupt their conversation or screen tapping to verbally interact with a human in their presence. Instead they steadfastly point a free finger until a tidbit appears. This one may have been crossbred with a bird dog.

Seagullus Gruntus: It is, seemingly, the most primitive form of

the species. It often appears as spawn, but is also seen in adult form. Their method of communication to obtain a share of the spoils is “Uhhh” or “Ugggh”. I can’t be sure which. One might logically presume that natural selection would favor more advanced communication skills but they survive nevertheless. This may be due to the sampler’s desire to send them on their way as quickly as possible.

WARNING:

Approach with caution. To avoid personal injury/loss of appendages, shop in very early morning or late evening while Redneckus Gullus is roosting.

Editor’s note: That was from our friend Jules Roels who lives on The Island. Thanks Jules no editing necessary on that. We ran into a disturbing new species of Redneck during the recent hot spell. Redneckus Dumbdogownerus. He is best identified by his dog which he leaves chained up in the sun with no water. Unlike most of his contemoraries Redneckus Dumbdogownerus is neither entertaining nor in any way humerous. He’s just a guy so dumb he can’t figure out his dog is wearing a fur coat. We encourage him to go back OTB where he certainly came from.

If you come across any more versions of Redneckus Americus let us know.

Page 5: The Island Moon Newspaper

September 9, 2011 Island Moon A 5

Serving: Padre Island, Flour Bluff, Port Aransas, Mustang Island

and Rockport.

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Facebook: TheIslandMoonNewspaperRead the Moon on Facebook!

Mystery People of the Fortnight

Here are the Mystery People of the Forthnight for this time. The solo lady is a known Island cutup. The

handsome gentleman with the lady friend likes to make the Island beautiful.

John White

Tamay Tipton

Trivia Question of the Fortnight

Question from last time

What year was the Tarpon Inn in Port Aransas Built?

For this one we’ll go right to the source, the Historical Marker on Cotter Street in front of the Inn.

in 1886 Frank Stephenson, a boat pilot and assistant Aransas lighthouse Keeper, opened an inn at this site in an old barracks. He called the facility “Tarpon Inn”

This Fortnight’s Question

What was the festival celebrated on The Island each September by the Kirankawa Indians?

Page 6: The Island Moon Newspaper

A 6 Island Moon September 9, 2011

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Police Blotter

It’s Burglary Season AgainWe want to remind Islanders that back to school

traditionally has meant the kickoff of the Island Burglary Season. In 2007 we had more than 35 burglaries in just under three months before the culprits were caught. Since then the Corpus Christi Police Department has established a fully-staffed beat on The Island and the Island Burglary Season is barely a ripple with most of the theft being from parked cars and actual home burglaries rare as rain. But still, keep your eyes open and your garage doors closed.

Island

14100 block Canana East St. Aug. 22 9:52 p.m.

Assault Bodily Injury

14500 block SPID Aug. 28 1:26 a.m. Agg. Assault Serious Bodily Injury

14800 SPID Aug. 24 8;12 a.m. Burglary of Building

100 block Zahn Road Aug. 30 5:28 p.m. Theft of wire or cable

15800 SPID 12:51 p.m. Sept. 1 Assault bodily injury

15300 block Isabella Ct. Aug. 27 9 p.m. Burglary of motor vehicle

15300 block Beaufort Ct. Aug. 30 8 a.m. Theft $1500

15600 block Three Fathoms Bank Aug. 30 4:16 p.m. Harassment

OTB August 222:12 p.m. 340 Westchester

Burglary of a Business

Officers contacted the 87-year-old owner of

Beck and Son who reported his business had been burglarized. The victim told Officers the fence had been cut and pulled back to gain access. A total of 17 pieces of red granite slabs were stolen totaling $2,720. Anyone having any information regarding this crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS or the Corpus Christi Police Department Property Crimes Unit.

1:13 a.m. August 25 6402 McArdle Theft of a Building

Officers en route to the New Hope Baptist Church for a theft in progress observed an 18-year-old Hispanic male carrying an air conditioning unit on his bicycle. Officers detained the bicyclist while Pastor Charles Brushe was contacted. It was determined the air conditioning unit was the same one taken from the church. Pastor Brushe did not wish to file charges on the suspect and offered to give the air conditioning unit to him. The suspect was released with guidance from Reverend Brushe and the Air conditioning unit was returned to the church.

1:15 a.m. August 25 2413 Crews Burglary of a Vehicle

Officers responding to an auto burglary call in which a silver 2002 Ford Mustang was being burglarized. Officers arrived to find a 33 year old male standing on the roadway a short distance away. He was found to be possession of an open bottle of car wax, a bottle Britney Spears perfume, a car charger, plastic cleaner, a camera, and assorted CD’s. Officers contacted the witness who positively identified the suspect. He was charged with Burglary of a Vehicle along with two outstanding Municipal Court warrants. The stolen property was returned to the victim.

Did ya’hear?Business Briefs...

By Mary Craft

New Advertisers State Representative Todd Hunter invites

everyone to the Coastal Bend Keep Ameerica Free Rally on the USS Lexington on Thursday, September 15th at 5:30 pm. There will be music, food and refreshments at no charge. For more info contact Angie Flores at 695-2048.

Bluff Glass & Mirror is having a retirement liquidation auction on Saturday, September 24th at 10 am. The vehicles, tools, inventory and office furniture can be previewed starting at 8 am. They are located at 805 Waldron Road. Call 726-6243 for more info or visit elcoauctions.com.

Island Real Estate Expert Betty Turner has over 40 years of experience. Her two terms as mayor of Corpus Christi has given her knowledge of the Coastal Bend and its players and its opportunities. Call Betty at 749-5712 or 877-1111 (cell) or visit MunstangIslandReal Estate.net.

Kiwanis of Padre Island is hosting their 12th Annual Fund Raising Golf Tournament and Family Day on Saturday, September 17th. The $75 entry fee includes golf, cart, snack, two beer tickets and dinner. Family member can come for swimming and dinner for just $10 per person. The Florida Scramble will be held at the Padre Isles Country Club and include longest drive, closest to the pin, longest putt and hole-in-one door prizes. Call Ilene Jantz at 563-4119 or Charlie Mader at 947-3947 to reserve your spot.

Port A Glass Studio and Art Gallery is a working glass studio at 401 Beach Street. It features pendants, plates, bowls and glass art in seaside designs.Children’s classes are $39 and are held Satudays at 11 am and 2 pm. Adult jewelry classes are $55 and held Thursday at 6:30 pm and Saturday at 4pm. Adults will make three pieces that they can turn into pendants, earrings or pins. Stop in and learn about the art of glass. Call 749-melt or viit portaglass.com.

Business Briefs La Palma Mexican Restaurant on SPID in the

Bluff is opening a location on the Island next to Ace Hardware. They hope to open in two-three months.

Weight Watchers is moving from Seashore Middle Academy to the Flour Bluff Conference Center on Waldron Road next to Papa Murphy’s Pizza. Meetings are Thursday evenings at 6pm and weigh ins start at 5:30 pm. Go to weightwatchers.com for more info.

The Island Moon Newspaper on Facebook keeps you updated on Island and Port A news between issues. The current Moon is posted every Friday morning. Tell your friends!

The 3rd Annual streetwide yard sale on Bluefish on the Island is on Saturday, September 17th from 7:30 am - 11:30 pm. Lots of interesting household items plus furniture and artwork will be up for sale.

Kiwanas Golf Tourney Set for September 17

On September 17 golfers will have a chance to help out local kids and have a little fun at the same time.

The Kiwanas Club of Padre Island is hosting their annual charity golf tournament at Padre Isles Country Club. It is their major fundraiser and proceeds benefit Seashore Learning Center and Seashore Academy, Flour Bluff High School clubs, Timmon’s Ministries and many other organizations which help children.

The tournament is a Florida scramble with Par As Your Friend rules and those 65 yoa and older tea off from the white tees. Cash prize for top finishers.

They are looking for sponsorships, door prizes, and items for the goody bag. Sponshorships range from $150 up to $750, or any generous donation larger than that is greatly appreciated. For information contact Charlie Mater, 947-3947, or [email protected]. Entry forms can also be picked up at the country club.

The Kiwanis meet at noon every Wednesday at Holiday Inn and anyone interested in joining is welcome.

Page 7: The Island Moon Newspaper

September 9, 2011 Island Moon A 7

Scoopy’s VerandaSun - Sat 11am - 10pm

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JB’s German Bakery & Café 

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Tue – Sat 7 am – 7 pm 

Sunday 8 am – 6 pm 

Monday closed 

We serve Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

 

 

Tues Sept 13 Tuscan Spiced

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Wed Sept 14 Swiss Steak

Thur Sept 15 Roasted Pork

Tenderloin

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Wed Sept 21 Meatloaf with Savory

Tomato Glaze

Thur Sept 22 Herb Encrusted

Chicken Breasts with

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Gourmet Take Out Right Here on Padre Island

Open Tuesdays - Thursdays

Baby Mason and his family drove from San Angelo to spend the holiday weekend at our beach. Photo by Mary Craft.

Annual Wing Ding Fundraiser for the Port Aransas Food Bank held outside of

The Gaff. Photo by Ronnie Narmour

Page 8: The Island Moon Newspaper

A 8 Island Moon September 9, 2011

A little local history

The Rangers Catch a KingThis is the latest in a series of stories based on

the book Taming the Nueces Strip by Texas Ranger George Durham who rode with Ranger Captain L.H. McNelly in 1875 as they fought with bandits raiding into Texas from Mexico. The Ranger troop was formed after the bandits raided downtown Corpus Christi in the spring of that year and looted downtown businesses.

But by this time in our story the bandits have been routed from their lair in Mexico and scattered to the wind. The raiding bands are now small enough that the ranchers in South Texas can handle them without the Rangers. At the end of our last story the Rangers had left their camp on the King Ranch and headed north to the area around present day Carrizo Springs which was controlled by Border Lord (that was a title in those days) King Fisher.

By Dale Rankin

The Rangers set off north from the King Ranch in May of 1876 - thirteen months after they had riding out of Corpus Christi. But it had been an eventful time with several brush fights with marauding bandits and finally a showdown in Las Cueves, Mexico where about eighty of the bandits were surprised and killed. That fight largely put an e n d

to large scale banditry in

the Nueces Strip. The bandits were beaten by Texas Rangers who

traveled light and quickly, as quickly as the bandits, and the Rangers like the bandits took no prisoners.

As McNelly put it, “We don’t do dogfalls. We fight until one side is done.”

All told McNelly had a grand total of forty fighting men under his command. Now about half that many were camped out just outside Laredo

preparing to ride into King Fisher Country. You knew you had arrived there when you came to the sign at a fork in the road that read, “This is King Fisher’s road. Take the other one.”

The troop was following the guidance of a Frenchman named Parrott who was known as an “out of work circus performer and sometimes picture taker.” Parrott had ridden into the country some months before at the direction of McNelly to scout the area and see what was going on. As an itinerate photographer Parrott could easily slip in and out of a town without attracting attention. He could even get photos of suspected horse and cattle thieves to help identify them when the Rangers showed up.

Now he was at the head of the Rangers as they rode north out of Laredo. He had previously prepared a report for Austin describing what he had seen in the country.

“You can hardly realize true conditions of the country. It is under a reign of terror from the men who infest this region.

This county (Dimmit) is unorganized and attached to

Maverick County for judicial purposes. The white citizens are all friends of King Fisher. There is a regularly organized band of desperadoes from Goliad to the headwaters of the Nueces. This band is made up of men who have committed crimes in other states and fled for refuge here, where they go to robbing for a living. They are organized into parties of twenty five to forty men each and form camps in counties, in touch with each other. They pass stolen horses along this line and sell them up north.”

So even as the the Rangers had rid the southern tip of Texas of bandits coming over from Mexico and new brand of “settler” had come to the area around Carrizo Springs and they were quite different than their southern counterparts. While many of the northern men had a history of law breaking elsewhere they operated with semi-legitimacy here. And they had brought behind them an Anglo-Saxon court system which gave them certain rights and required evidence to ensure their incarceration. As McNelly was about to find out the Take No Prisoners actions he had used on the southern bandits would be tough to apply to these men.

King FisherAbout ten miles from the town of Carrizo

Springs was the settlement of Pendencia located just west of Lake Espantoso. The west end of the lake was the old channel of the Nueces and was about half a mile wide and ten miles long. The lake was named Espantoso (Ghost) because it was full of alligator gar that were said to eat the bodies of men or animals that ended up there. The lake was on the wagon trail between San Antonio and Chihuahua, Mexico and many travelers were said to have vanished in the lake and their ghosts kept vigil around Lake Espantoso. It was at this settlement along Lake Espantoso that King Fisher

lived with his wife of only one month.

John King Fisher was born in Central Texas in 1854 and in 1869 fled his hometown after borrowing a horse without asking. He ended up in Goliad where he was arrested for breaking and entering. After a pardon he migrated to the Nueces Strip with a group of Goliad citizens who established a ranch there. They settled in Dimmit Country and the banks of Pendencia Creek and Fisher soon established himself as a natural leader and rancher. He could ride, shoot, and work cattle better than any of his piers and soon had his own ranch. It was arguable whether he or Captain McNelly was the best pistol fighter in Texas but it was one or the other. He was known to not ask questions about a man’s past as long as the man did as he was told and worked cattle. Soon word went out that if those who had fun afoul of the law wanted to start over King Fisher’s ranch was the place to do it. Cattle rustling in the area was a big industry and McNelly was convinced that Fisher was running it.

King Fisher’s roadWhen McNelly’s Rangers rode into Carrizo

Springs they spoke to Levy English who general

store had been the target of raids several times by men from Fisher’s ranch. They also gathered up a young man named Drew Taylor who knew the best route to Fisher’s ranch and its layout. He had once worked for the Frenchman Parrott without knowing who Parrott was. Taylor told the Rangers he had heard that Fisher was at his ranch that day with a crew. McNelly left a small group to guard the Ranger camp and set out with about twenty-five to Fisher’s ranch. They crossed Pendencia Creek and crossed to the west side into open country. They turned north and rode onto the Pendencia where they found heavy brush. McNelly told them they were close.

“There may be women present,” he said. “so don’t shoot till they open fire. We’ll give them a chance to surrender.”

They formed into a skirmish formation and started for the house which was nestled in under a cottonwood grove with brush growing right up to the house. There was the usual saddle shed and picket line for horses out front. A dozen or so men sat in the shed playing cards. The Rangers formed a circle and approached the house. They encountered a rock and rail fence which their horses cleared easily. As they came out of the brush they had their new Winchesters unlimbered and they dismounted.

As Parrott came darting around the corner of the house he came face to face with a man named Frank Porter who said, “You are that @%$% picture man,” and lifted his rifle to fire.

“Drop it,” Parrott ordered. “We’re McNelly Rangers,” There ensued a near comical ballet as both men raised and lowered their rifles three times before Porter threw down his gun and surrendered, something he said he’d never do. His nerve had failed him since Parrott was under orders not to fire the first shot and the men were face to face. He knew that even if he shot Parrott that Parrott would have hit him too and he flinched. It was in sight of his outlaw buddies and he was through. It turned out his real name was Burd Obenchain from Kansas and had fought with Quantrill’s guerillas in the Civil War and ridden with Frank and Jesse James. He had come to Texas to kill a man who had come from Jackson County, Missouri. He had finally caught up with the man one night at Espantoso while the man was cooking his supper. He slipped out of the brush with his gun drawn.

“Reckon you know who I am,” he said.

“Yeah, Burd,” the man answered. “I know. What are you aiming to do.”

‘You know *(&# well what I’m going to do,’ Burd said.

“You going to give me a chance?” the man asked. “Nary a chance. Set the food down. I ain’t eaten.”

That man set down the plate and Burd/Porter shot him dead. He ate his dinner and stayed around to join the hands at the Fisher Ranch.

Arresting the KingThe story made the rounds that Frank James was

with the Rangers that day and recognized Burd and saved his life but Durham says that story was made up years later by a Ranger clerk trying to sell a book. Burd/Porter later claimed he surrendered because he was outnumbered but Durham also called that false. “When one of the McNellys matched man-to-man like that it was his fight to win or lose.” Durham later asked Parrott how his kept his nerve during a close-in lethal encounter like that.

“Catch the eye of the other fella and hold it,” Parrott said. “No gunman could shoot if he was facing the officer and you had his eye.”

The Rangers rounded up nine men at the house without firing a shot. The Captain approached the main house and King Fisher stepped into the open door. Neither man had his pistol out. “I’m Ranger Lee McNelly. Lock your hands behind your head and come out.” Fisher obeyed as McNelly removed two huge pistols with gold plated handles from

F i s h e r ’ s h o l s t e r s . “Why did you give up so easy?” M c N e l l y asked but just at that time

Fisher’s wife came onto the porch. “What are you doing to my husband?” she asked.

“He’s under arrest. We’re Texas Rangers.”

“What are you arresting him for?”

Fisher spoke up, “Let me handle this Sarah,” then in an easy drawl he said to McNelly, “Shucks, Captain, I knew who you were the minute I saw you and you told me to give up. That’s why I did. I’m a law abiding man.”

It was the first prisoner any of the Rangers had ever seen McNelly take and he seemed off balance. “Shut up,” he said. “You’re going to jail.”

“On what charges? What have I done?”

McNelly was lost. King Fisher’s name wasn’t even in The Book which listed the names of all the men wanted in Texas. He had no court record - pardoned -, no convictions, not even any indictments. His father was killed in a gunfight with Reconstruction Police in Fort Worth and aside from doing ranch work said he “killed Republicans for revenge but had never been charged. In fact King Fisher was a marshal to the local Justice of the Peace and in fact had been responsible for running off the rustlers and thieves that had been stealing local stock. By this time Fisher kept the peace all the way from the upper Nueces River to San Antonio. Stories claimed he had killed twenty six men but he had never been charged as it was deemed they all had it coming - Republican or not. He was a teetotaler and was the best genuine two-pistol killer in Texas; as Durham put it, “he killed clean with either hand.”

Now what?Now McNelly had ten men in custody, one of

whom was a man named Bill Templeton who had been with the Rangers but left the troop in Brownsville.

“You remember me Captain?” he asked.

“Certainly McNelly said. “I never forget a coward.”

“What are you going to do with us?”

“Make a break for that brush and I’ll show you.” Then he turned to Fisher. “Call your wife out I want to talk to her.”

Sarah Fisher came to the door again. She was a young Irish woman with long black hair pulled up high, her clothes were neat and ironed.

“Lady,” McNelly said. “I’m taking these men to Eagle Pass. They’re under arrest. I want to leave this warning for you to pass along - if any rescue is tried they all die.”

“That’s your law,” she said and her eyes flashed. “We’ve heard you make your own law, but let me tell you - if you kill my husband...”

“That’s enough Sarah,” Fisher said. “Do as he says. If you happen to see any of my friends get the word to them. Let the Rangers have their own way right now.”

Six Rangers started moving the men to Eagle Pass. McNelly would follow the next day.

King Fisher was in Ranger custody but for how long and for what. The days of riding into the Nueces Strip and doing open battle with outlaws was coming to and end, as Ranger Captain McNelly was about to discover.

Next time: Law West Texas Style.

Page 9: The Island Moon Newspaper

September 9, 2011 Island Moon A 9

Island Deck StainingDeck Repair & Restoration

Mildew Removal & Power Washing

Island LandscapeDesign & Restoration

Original Brick & Stone WorkMaintenance & Painting

StainMastersStainMastersCall: (361) 444-9942 ● (361) 334-5193

Call the Specialists! PIBA

The Pest Control ProfessionalsOVER 30 YEAR EXPERIENCE

Padre Island and Port Aransas’ Oldest Island Based Pest Control Company.

15481 SPID Just pastWhitecap on Right

Locally Owned by Island Resident Bill Schroeder

949-0208

Trust

Residential and Commercial ServicesTermite * Ants * Rodent * Critter * Roaches * Spiders * Fleas

On Padre Island Since 1994.

Open 6 Days a WeekNo Appointments Necessary Mon-Thurs, Ap-

pointments available Fri-SatMon. - Sat. 8am - 6pm

THE MEDICAL CENTER +Minor Emergency Family Healthcare Minor Surgery Lab X-Ray Occupational

14433 SPID “On the Island”Corpus Christi, TX 78418

Water Access Laguna Madre 361-949-1900www.tmcpadre.com

The Sheehan CompanyCustom Residential Painting & Remodeling

Multi-Unit CommercialPadre Island’s Finest Painting Company

Offers State of The Art Interior and Exterior Painting

Custom Tile, Granite Countertops, Expert Carpentry, Cabinet Refinishing & Painting

Power Washing, Roofs included, decks refinishing & restaining.

● Free Estimates ● Island References ● No deposit required ● Payment upon completion

● Full Insurance ● All work unconditionally guaranteed.

361-461-5144Island Resident-Brooks J. Sheehan

I have many fears. Well, as of last week, I had many

fears. Today marks one week of me being fearless. I realized fear was the ultimate factor in everything I was not accomplishing or doing poorly. So while sitting in church last Sunday, I decided that I was not going to be afraid of ANYTHING anymore. A lofty proclamation, huh? It might have been more logical to say, “ I won’t let my fears rule over me” or “ I will acknowledge the fear, and then let it go.” None of those sayings have worked for me.

I believe most of our fears are probably a little irrational. I’ve held on to mine so firmly that they’ve become a big part of my everyday. Here are more than a few of my “small” fears.

1. Driving in storms

2. Finding new places. I will, at all costs, enlist a friend or any helpless body who is near to go with me. Most of the time I will ask them to drive.

3. I don’t write consistently because I fear no one really wants to hear my take on life. What can I say that hasn’t been said before?  

4. Rodents of every kind.

5.  Thick fog. I will not drive over the bridge until it has burned off.

6. Dogs that are not mine.They might bite my hand off.

7. That my cooking is lame. I never veer from the recipe, making it all the more lame.

8. Re-decorating. I might hate it and would have spent all that money on stuff that is ugly.

9. Painting. That’s my husband’s job. Why would I want to do something I know I’m gonna stink at?

10. Elevators. While staying in a hotel in New York City, I puffed up 13 flights of stairs in heels for 3 days.

One can see how freeing it would be to get rid of

It’s Always Sunny on the IslandFear

By Sunny Reed

all these fears and actually be able to move around like a normal person!

Then there are the biggies; Fear of someone breaking into my house while I’m asleep. My airplane getting hijacked, or crashing. My fear that I will be traveling with my children at night, and have a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and some lunatic might stop and bust open my window and drag me away from my children and do who knows what with me. (this is a biggie for me .... was a biggie) Or the biggest, my kids could be kidnapped.  

Some of these are healthy, some normal, but a lot of them had way too much control over me.

So upon returning home on Sunday I immediately put my girls bunk beds on Craig’s List. The bunk beds were a road block that I had put up so I didn’t have to paint their room. “When we get them sold, I’ll have room to paint” I kept telling myself. But I never did it and here a year later I was still telling them “maybe next week.” The bunks sold in 1 day and I was on the road to re-decorating and painting my girls’ room. My oldest inquired about my new found energy and I told her proudly, “I’m not afraid of anything anymore and I’m not afraid that I will make your room look bad.” She had a funny smirk and said “Really?” “ Really,” I said. “You are looking at one Fearless Mama!” She laughed a,”We’ll see” chuckle. At that moment, I realized how crucial this new resolution was. My fears used to be funny to me, good for conversation and made people laugh. Despite them, I’m a pretty strong girl. For example, I had all three of my children ALL natural.. no drugs. It was not easy, but nothing about that truly frightened me. So why do I hang on to the silly stuff?   A lot of small fears come from bad experiences, and you swear you will never put yourself through that again. For me, the fog fear and elevator fear and getting lost fear were all results of bizarre instances that I turned into my truth.

So until next time, I will fight off the dragons that seek to keep me immobile and maybe be able to tell a few funny stories of my victories! (Or maybe I will tell of my hand getting bit off.)

Overall Winner: Paradox

Best Decorated Boat:

3rd place – Scandalous

2nd place – Outlaw

1st place – Riptide

Best Dressed Captain:

Kevin Deerman – Legacy

Wahoo:

1st Place - Susie Awalt - Override

48.10 lbs.

2nd Place - Joan Brock - Marlin Majic

42.80 lbs.

Tuna:

1st Place - Beth Gale - Havin’ Fun

15.50 lbs.

2nd Place - Mandy - Fandango

14.90 lbs.

Doplhin:

1st Place - Tracy Jones - Bottom Dollar

41.80 lbs.

2nd Place - Lauren Attaway - Scandalous

32.70 lbs.

Sailfish:

1st Place - Pipe Dream - 5 releases

2nd Place - Mojo - 3 releases

White Marlin:

1st Place - Game On - 2 releases

2nd Place - Door Prize - 2 releases

(ties are broken by earliest release time)

Blue Marlin:

1st Place - Paradox - 2 releases

2nd Place - Let It Ride - 1 releas

Billfish Released: TOTAL =56

(4 blues, 18 whites, 34 sails)

2011 Texas Women Anglers Tournament Winners

Page 10: The Island Moon Newspaper

A 10 Island Moon September 9, 2011

Rep. Todd Hunter personally invites you to the

Coastal Bend Keep America Free Rally

September 15th at 5:30 p.m.

On the USS Lexington In Corpus Christi

Join us for an event that supports common sense

ideas and conservative values.

Enjoy music, food and refreshments

NO CHARGE

For more information please contact Angie Flores 361.695.2048 or [email protected]

Copyright © 2011 · Paid Political Ad by the Todd Hunter Campaign · 445 Cape Henry · CC, TX 78412 · Glenn Guillory, Treasurer ·

Hull cleaning, zinc replacement, propeller services, search and recovery

[email protected]

Page - Get More Details With RealEstateBook.com WebID - Vol. 25, No. 3

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Flagstone Limestone Sandstone River Rock Boulders Granite

Walkways Patios Rock Scaping Wall Construction

Xeriscaping Ponds Fountains

Signs Waterfalls

FREE DELIVERYOn Purchases of $600 or More

Some Restrictions Apply.Installation Extra

Exp. 4/30/2011

5627 Holly Rd (361) 985-0703Between Staples & Airline www.nuecesstonequarry.com

The Travelling Moon Gets Around

Randy & Linda Hansen of Port Aransas hold up a copy of the Island Moon newspaper in a small German Village just down the mountainside from the Neuschwanstein Castle. They recently vacationed in Germany, Denmark and Austria.

Mark Sherman, full time island resident and Navy veteran, stands in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

Part time island Resident Mary Olson stands in front of the new Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, located at 1964 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC. The street number is a reference to the Civil Right’s Act of 1964, a milestone which Dr. King played an integral role in achieving.

Greg Fuller of Padre Island took The island Moon along to Tavarua Island, FiJi.

Blues Musician Alan Haynes proudly holds up The Island Moon at a recent show he played at The House of Rock. Photo by Ronnie Narmour.

Ayla enjoys taking to the stage at the Holiday Inn when her folks spend the weekend here. They live in San Antonio but have a condo at Beach Club. Photo by Mary Craft.

Mayor Joe Adame along with several members of The City Council and The P.I.B.A. Unveiled the new No tie zone sign along S.P.I.D.

Page 11: The Island Moon Newspaper

History of Texas Women Anglers Tournament

The Texas Women Anglers Tournament was founded in the 1980’s but due to oil industry slump, several years went by without this tournament taking place. In 1998, the tournament was reinstated and has had huge growth each year. This tournament is one of the only tournaments on the Gulf Coast that is strictly for women anglers and includes a billfish division. In the spirit of conservation and helping to preserve our billfish population, this tournament has always been a release tournament only. No billfish are killed by being brought to the dock and weighed. Each catch must be documented according to tournament rules. The Texas Women Anglers Tournament also offers tuna, wahoo and dolphin divisions. These fish are given points according to total weight. Trophies are awarded for 1st and 2nd place for each species as well as for the overall Champion. 100% of all proceeds for this tournament are donated to the Women’s Shelter of Corpus Christi.

September 9, 2011 Island Moon A 11

GOOD-N-CRISP

CHICKENPadre Island

Make Good N Crisp Chicken your place for

Chicken, Chicken Tenders, Made to Order Hot Wings

Made Fresh - Never FrozenTry Our Made to Order Menu Items

Homemade Onion Rings, Corn Nuggets, Fried PicklesHomemade Peach Cobbler Alamode

Check Out our Seafood Specials This Month

Get your Spring Break T-Shirts!

Located on Padre Island Park Rd 22 / SPID @ Commodore Lane

Call In Orders Welcome (361) 949-0011

Award Winning Chicken and Wings

Best of The Best and Wing Ding

HAVE A GOOD N CRISP DAY!!

Check out our menu online at www.DragonflyCuracao.com

Happy Hour Tuesday - Friday 4-6Featuring a new appetizer menu

Lunch 11:30-2p.m Tuesday through Friday. Closed for Lunch ONLY on Saturday.

Dinner 5:00-9:30p.m Tuesday through Thursday 5:00-10.p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Remember to call for private parties or catering, we would love to accommodate you!

14701 SPID , On Padre Island 361-949-2224

We can’t wait to see you at our new location!

Now has a full bar

For Daily Specials, see

Facebook: Dragonfly Restaurant

Twitter: Dragonflycuracao

Public Auction - No Reserves – Public Auction

SATURDAY 9/24 @ 10AM

Bluff Glass & Mirror, Retirement Liquidation Auction

When: Saturday, September 24th @ 10am, preview all items 8am till 10am

Where: 805 Waldron, Flour Bluff 78418

Selling to the walls! All vehicles, inventory, tools, and office furniture- everything sells!

1997 GMC 2500-2001 Ford F250- 2003 GMC S10-1996 Caterpillar 5k forklift-10’ tilting glass cutting table-Glass inventory- Aluminum sheets-Hand tools-Power tools-Desks-Filing cabinets-Chairs-100 gallon Aquarium-Display case-Storage cabinets & much more! Please visit the website for up to date information www.elcoauctions.com

The building and property will be available for lease after the auction.

Terms: All items/lots will be sold as is, where is. No reserves. 12% BP with a 3% discount for payment in full by cash or approved check (9% BP), all checks will require a bank letter of guarantee. Call 361-726-6243 or email [email protected] for more information. MasterCard-Visa-AMEX-Discover D. Jennings TX Lic 12078

elcoauctions.com 361-726-6243