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September 17, 2013
Weekly
361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com The Island Newspaper since 1996 Facebook : The Island Moon Newspaper
November 14, 2013
Here's to the next 500 issues!
Around The Island
By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com
There she blows! Cold Front Fred blew in Tuesday bringing down the pollen and autumn funk from the Hill Country. But things are set to be back to normal by the weekend as Fred moves on and the high tides are making our beaches ideal for driving, once they subside.
Next Publication Date: 11/21/2013
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Year 16, Issue 500
The Island Moon Turns 500!
So be of good cheer fellow Islanders; tides are up, gas prices down, rent holding steady. It’s been a busy week so let’s get going
Black bird fly We were eating lunch at Doc’s this week when suddenly a black zbird swooped in through the slats in the hand rail and carried off three packets of Sweet’N Low. He took them down on the handrail and busted all three of them open and commenced to do the Bird Dance. Turns out the little buggers had already carried off all the sugar packets and so had to start in on the sugar substitutes. There has to be about five million times the recommended daily bird intake of aspartame in three packets of that stuff. That bird is going to be flying in circles for the next three days. One thing you got to say about those little black buggers, when it comes to pure moxy they got the gull family beat all to heck. Them coyotes better watch out!
Celebrity sighting… A nice lady came into Whitecap Liquor last weekend and asked Kathy if she could fill the water tanks in her RV from the hose. A couple of days later she came back for a refill and dropped off an autographed picture of her husband Ricky Smith from Storage Wars Texas. It isn’t exactly like the recent sighting of Johnny Depp in Rockport, but hey, Ricky is a Good Ole Boy and we welcome him to our Island. He’s the most famous visitor we’ve had since Larry the Cable Guy a few years back.
Wastewater bill Reports are that the City of Corpus Christi and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are nearing completion on talks to upgrade and repair the city’s massive and antiquated wastewater system. The talks are being held behind closed doors due to legal action involved but a source in Austin said this week that a resolution appears to be on the horizon. The bad news is that the tab for Corpus Christi taxpayers is said to be in the $1 billion range – that’s with a B. Combined with the estimate of over $700 million to fix city streets that’s a hefty price to pay for years of neglect of the city’s infrastructure. Sooner of later the music stops and the fiddler must be paid.
Harbor Island Hubbub A plan by Martin Midstream to build a$550 million liquid natural gas export facility on Harbor Island, just across the channel from the city of Port Aransas but in the city limits, has spawned a move to change the rules for development there. The plan was put on hold after a lawsuit was filed and now a group of citizens are asking what the city’s options are for controlling development there. The matter is on the agenda for the next council meeting on November 21 at 5 p.m.
What you hold in your hands is the 500th edition of the Island Moon which began publication as a fortnightly on The Island in 1996.. We want to thank our readers and our advertisers who helped us make the paper the voice of
Final Numbers on Destination Bayfront Vote
Market this weekend The ArtWalk this month is moving to Johnny D’s Restaurant. For the past few years the market has been held each November in Billish Park but this Saturday it is moving to Johnny’s place. It starts at 11 a.m. and runs through 5 p.m. and Mimosas and Bloody Marys will be served along with a lunch menu. Johnny D’s is located at 15605 SPID right next to Island Tire so stop by. In the meantime say hello if you see us Around The Island.
The Last of the Island Shrimpers
A Hard Day's Night on the Polly Anna By Brent Roark The course is now charted and the nets are raking the bottom of the Gulf, quietly scooping shrimp from the sea floor. It’s time for John to nap and for Molly to take the helm as the trawler chugs through the open waters, rocking like a metronome. I take more photographs and then quietly retreat to another berth. Immediately I find that my head and body do not appreciate the rocking, so I focus on the Nixons and their tenacity, skill and determination.
Total Number of Votes cast citywide: 25,996 of 182,547 = 14.24%. The precincts with the highest percentage turnouts were near downtown, in the London school district, and The Island.
Island vote Precinct 40 Registered voters: 3248 Total votes cast: 877 27% turnout 214 votes For
24%
663 votes Against
76%
Election results continued on A4
La Posada Light Up
2013 La Posada Christmas Light Decoration Contest
The majestic Polly Anna in Port Aransas Editor’s note: Last week we ran the first of two stories by Brent Roark who spent a night trawling for shrimp on the Polly Anna out of Port Aransas. John and Molly Nixon are the last of the Island shrimpers who head out of Port Aransas each day and sell their catch on the dock. At the end of the last story the first run of the night was over and the nets were back out.
By Lyn Edler
So long Bryan…
A celebration of his life will be held this Friday evening at the Back Porch from 4-6 p.m.
Thank you for reading.
The total number of voters in the Destination Bayfront vote was not available before last week’s press time. Here are the final numbers for The Island and Flour Bluff.
It is a complex and important question with far-reaching implications. Put the date on your calendar. Also up Port A way want to wish a fond farewell to our friend Bryan Evans who passed away this week. He was known to many Islanders as Parasail Bryan because he owned Chute ‘em Up at Woody’s for almost fifteen years. Brian was a Vietnam veteran, and a truck driver before settling in Port Aransas and making it his home. As one of his friends put it “You sent us soaring through the sky and delving for sunken treasure, you lived a beautiful life, thanks for sharing your time on earth with us.”
the island and we look forward to a bright future as the paper and The Island grow together in this exciting time.
T-shirts and other items with this year's La Posada logo will be available soon.
The Island Foundation has teamed up with the Padre Island Yacht Club for 2013 to find the most spectacular Christmas decorations on the Island. The exciting part of the contest is you can win for the Streetside or the Waterside of your home or business.
Judges will be winding through the streets and canals of North Padre, by cars and boats, on December 9, 10, & 11 to choose the “Best of the Best”. So don’t be surprised to see a car stop and look at your beautiful Christmas Decorations or a boat circling outside your deck. All Island homes and businesses are eligible to enter. Just have your landside and/or waterside decorations completed and lit up on these nights so that the judges can view your handiwork! Judges will award yard signs for best landside, waterside and commercial displays.
One of many sharks following the boat during the evening
Sharks! My headache returns and after Shrimp continued on A9
A little Island history
Elihu Ropes Dreamed Big But Was Before His Time
By Greg Smith In 1888 it was “Eagle Ford times” in the Nation. Business was booming and the country expanding as a web of railroads was crossing the nation opening up lands and profits throughout the west. Corpus Christi got its first Railroad, the Tex-Mex in 1881, followed by the San Antonio and Aransas Pass in 1886. With the arrival of the Railroads shippers and business interests as far as Denver clamored for deep water ports. At that time only New Orleans had deep water, the Texas Coast led by Galveston only drew thirteen feet. Many thought the pass between Mustang Island and St. Joe’s, the Aransas Pass should be Texas’s deep water port. Every week articles promoting deep water and the wealth to follow crossed the pages of Texas newspapers. Arriving from
Join us in the La Posada spirit of Christmas. Decorate!
La Posada Registration & Parade Routes on A4
Sleeping is a difficult proposition for the next few hours as the ship sways. I fight off any impending nausea by reflecting on the shrimp catch and sort. It was quick and efficient. Images of the colors and movements of the shrimp and fish on the stark whitepainted deck swirl in my head.
New York was a persuasive, energetic man of vision seeking his share of fortune in rapidly expanding South Texas.
Elihu Ropes Elihu Ropes was born on November 10, 1845. At the age of sixteen he enlisted as a private in the 11th New York Artillery as the Civil War was raging. His outfit saw heavy fighting, being Elihu Ropes engaged in the bloody battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor and Petersburg in Virginia. Promoted to sergeant Ropes was present when Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in 1865. With hostilities ending young Ropes transferred to the 23 Regiment of Colored Infantry as a second lieutenant. The 23rd was sent to Brownsville where Lt. Ropes was first introduced to South Texas. His stay ended with the disbandment of the 23rd in late November of 1865 and Ropes returned to New York and civilian life. There he was a manager of the Singer Sewing Machine company where he undoubtedly
Alta Vista Hotel
History continued on A8