Spring has swept into Port O’Connor with flair this year.  As you roll through town, dazzling wildflowers splash the landscape with color. Spring breakers have flocked to POC this year, packing the beaches with energy and soaking up the charm of this breathtaking season.

Make sure you join us at the Port O’Connor Farmers Market, held every second Saturday of the month from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Kingfisher Beach Pavilion! Come explore a delightful variety of offerings from our talented local gardeners and artists. Savor fresh vegetables, homemade jams and jellies, freshly baked breads, and farm-fresh eggs, alongside unique coastal art. Don’t miss this vibrant community gathering—bring your friends and family for a morning of local treasures!

Get ready for our Annual Crawfish Festival, happening April 26th from 10 AM to 6 PM! Beat the rush by grabbing your tickets and goodies ahead of time on the chamber website: admission ($5, free for kids 6 and under), food tickets ($25 for 3 lbs), t-shirts ($20), beer tickets ($5 each), and koozies ($5). Pick up your pre-orders at the pavilion on Friday, April 25th, from 3:00–6:00 PM, or at the will-call entrance on Saturday, April 26th, from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM. Come early to snag a People’s Choice wristband, letting you taste crawfish from our talented cooking teams and cast your vote for the best with your tokens. Spend the day savoring spicy crawfish, browsing unique craft and food vendors, cheering at the Crawfish Eating Contest and Horseshoes Tournament, and dancing to live Cajun tunes with Boo & Poo. Don’t miss this flavorful, fun-filled day!

Get pumped for the Fourth of July in Port O’Connor—starting with our spectacular annual parade on July 4th at 9:00 AM! Grab your golf cart, boat, scooter, car, or trailer, deck it out in red, white, and blue, and join the festive procession as we roll down to the beach and loop through the northern part of town. It’s a star-spangled celebration you won’t want to miss! Then, mark your calendars for our jaw-dropping Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza on Saturday, July 5, 2024. This dazzling display lights up the sky and pulls in huge crowds from all over the region. To keep this $30,000+ show sparkling, we rely entirely on your generous donations—head to our website to contribute and help make this year’s event the biggest yet. Let’s celebrate freedom with a bang!

A huge shout-out to our most recent renewing members: Kenneth Gregory Guide Service, Nancy Pomykal, Bubba’s Seafood, Master Screen Graphics, and Salty Peter Guide Service! Want to dive into what makes these awesome businesses and our other members so special? Swing by our Chamber website at www.portoconnorchamber.com for all the juicy details in our business listings. Haven’t renewed your Chamber membership yet? No worries—there’s still time to join! Let us help you shine a spotlight on your business, boost your visibility, and connect with our vibrant community. Renew today and let’s get your business noticed!

Service Club’s Spring Garage Sale:  We had a tremendous turnout for the Club’s Spring Mega Garage Sale!!  Thank you to all the wonderful patrons who showed up to shop and buy; to our Members, Spouses, Friends, and Calhoun High School students who worked so hard to make it a success; and to all who donated items for us to sell!!  Your support means the World to us, and we could not do what we do for the POC Community without you!!  Thank You!!

Memorials:  The Club made donations to the POC Cemetery Association in  memory of Ladd Hockey. Our sincere condolences go out to his family.

Farmers Market: Please check out our Service Club Booth at the next Farmer’s Market on May 10, 2025 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. We will have delicious baked goods, beautiful plants, handcrafted items, “Service Club Cookbooks“, “POC- End of The Road” License Plate Covers, and more. Please stop by and check us out!!

Service Club Meetings:  Club meetings are the first and third Thursdays of the month, with the next ones being May 1, 2025 and May 15, 2025  at 10:00 AM at the POC Community Center!!  All Ladies are welcome!

Medical Equipment For Loan:  The Club has medical equipment of various kinds to loan out to those in need. For inquiries, please contact one of the Ladies listed below.

Alane Haardt- 281-416-6028

Nancy Ladshaw- 830-832-0510

Marie Hawes- 361-920-2322

Nan Burnett- 832-276-5948

Well, folks, this year’s May3rd Election is just around the corner! And Port O’Connor’s polling place is at their library. Seadrift’s will be at their City Hall. Early voting starts on April 22nd. Don’t forget about School Board candidates (Dana Dworaczyk and David Gaskamp) that are on the ballot and the voting for or against the creation of the Calhoun County Hospital District as well. Seadrift will also be voting for who will fill the three open city council positions. Those running are Kenneth Reese, Tracy Johnson, Tanya Cunningham, Christy Kosser, and Richard Battles. See you at the poles!
MAY 3, 2025 JOINT GENERAL ELECTION COUNTY, CCISD & PORT AUTHORITY DISTRICTS

EARLY VOTING HOURS – WEEK 1: APRIL 22 – APRIL 25 TUESDAY – FRIDAY 8 AM – 5 PM EARLY VOTING HOURS – WEEK 2: APRIL 28 – APRIL 29 MONDAY – TUESDAY 8 AM – 5 PM

EARLY VOTING LOCATION: CALHOUN COUNTY COURTHOUSE 211 S. ANN PORT LAVACA, TX 77979

ELECTION DAY: MAY 3, 2025 7 AM – 7 PM AT YOUR DESIGNATED POLLING LOCATION

CALHOUN COUNTY POLLING LOCATIONS PCT

1: CALHOUN COUNTY LIBRARY PCT

2: BAUER EXHIBIT BUILDING PCT

3: MAGNOLIA BEACH VOL. FIRE DEPT. PCT

4: CALHOUN COUNTY ANNEX PCT

5: SIX MILE VOL. FIRE DEPT. PCT

6: PORT LAVACA CITY HALL PCT

7: BAUER COMMUNITY CENTER PCT

8: OLIVIA FIRE STATION PCT

9: CALHOUN COUNTY EMS PCT

10: SEADRIFT CITY HALL PCT

11: PORT OCONNOR LIBRARY

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL CALHOUN COUNTY ELECTIONS @ 361-553-4440

Agricultural heritage is a source of pride for many Seadrift-area families, and this year, Seadrift, Texas was well-represented at several state-level livestock shows.

A standout this year was Calhoun High School senior and Seadrift local, Justice Epley, son of Durwin and Stacie Epley, and grandson of Kathy and George Harper from Port O’Connor. Justice, who has been showing cattle for 10 years, represented his hometown well with the caretaking and presentation of his Simbrah heifer, Denali. Justice bred and raised Denali at his Seadrift ranch from a former show heifer, Indy, who won him many buckles, banners, and ribbons. Justice was strategic and selective about the bull to pair Indy with, and invested into genetics that would combine power and quality into an offspring that would compete well in the show ring. That product was Denali, and she was the perfect show heifer to present for Justice’s senior year. Justice won 3^rd at the Fort Worth Stock Show, 4^th at the San Antonio Stock Show, 2^nd in the Simmental/Simbrah Superbowl in San Antonio, Champion 18 year old showman at the Simmental/Simbrah Superbowl in San Antonio, 2^nd at the Houston Livestock Show, 2^nd at Rodeo Austin, Breed Reserve Champion at the Saddle and Sirloin show, 3^rd at the Dallas State Fair open show, 4^th at the Dallas State Fair Junior Show, 3^rd overall Senior showman at the Dallas State Fair Junior Show, and 5^th at the state Simbrah show’s bred and owned category.

Also representing Calhoun County 4-H (with a Seadrift family connection) at this year’s Texas major livestock shows was Madison Cossey and Beth Boone.

Maddie is the daughter of Crystal and Jeremiah Cossey, and her grandparents from Seadrift are Monte and Sandy Moncrief and the late Paula Moncrief. Maddie is a Travis Middle School 8^th grader who trained, cared for, and exhibited her Santa Gertrudis heifer, Shotzie, at several Texas major shows this year. Maddie and Shotzie won 3^rd at the Dallas State Fair, 12^th at the Fort Worth Stock Show, 5^th at the San Antonio Stock Show, 8^th at the Houston Livestock Show, and 8^th at Rodeo Austin. A fun fact about the Cosseys is that Maddie’s mother Crystal also showed Santa Gertrudis heifers when she was in 4-H and won Grand Champion Santa Gertrudis Heifer at Houston in the 90s. This was Maddie’s first year to show a heifer at the major shows.

Beth is the daughter of Amy and Ben Boone, and her grandparents from Seadrift are Lynn Pfeifer and the late Mike Pfeifer. This was Beth’s second year to show her Seadrift ranch-raised, Brahman heifer, Fannie, at the San Antonio Stock Show and the Houston Livestock Show. Fannie is a practical Brahman heifer that Beth pulled out of the pasture and decided to halter train, feed, and exhibit. Beth and Fannie placed 8^th in San Antonio and participated in Houston. A fun fact is that Beth also owns Fannie’s mother, material grandmother, material grandfather, father, and paternal grandmother at her ranch. Most of Fannie’s ancestors were raised by Beth and currently graze on the outskirts of Seadrift. In addition to showing a heifer this year, Beth also showed a Simbrah steer at Houston. Beth brought her steer back home and will be tagging him in to show again at the Calhoun County Fair in October. Beth’s mother, Amy, showed Santa Gertrudis heifers with the Moncriefs in the 90s. Her dad, Ben, showed goats at the state major shows in the 90s. Beth is a freshman at Calhoun High School and is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Seadrift.

Beth and Frannie

Justice, Maddie, and Beth are members of the Calhoun County 4-H.

The Cossey and Boone family would like to congratulate their friend and cattle show advisor Justice on his senior year achievements and thank him for his leadership and support. The Epley family has encouraged, advised, and organized plans for the show team’s participation in the major shows. The Epleys are an asset to the Calhoun County 4-H and our local cattle ranching community.

Amy Boone 

Justice and Denali