Seadrift Harbor Update

Archived in the category: Announcements, General
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 14 Mar 24 - 0 Comments

One thing that instills pride in a coastal community is its harbor. Seeing our harbor get its much-needed improvements is a delight! Knowing that things are shaping up not only for the harbor, but for our seawall as well is a double delight! Pictured below are (L to R) Gary and Jason Shirley, owners of Shirley and Sons. Their company is based out of Cleveland, Texas. Shirley and Sons are responsible for the new bulkheading at the harbor and are currently contracted to build a new breakwater at the end of the harbor’s 2nd Street extension. When they are through, they will begin improvements at the west end of the seawall installing a new pier, another entrance from 11th Street, solar motion lights, picnic shelters, limestone on the parking area, and cable fencing.

Thank you, Councilman Kenneth Reese, for filling us in on the details of what is going to happen at the west end of the seawall. Kenneth also informed us that the official title of this project is “A.D. Powers Bay Front Park West End.” Our hats off to everyone working at the harbor and the seawall in making us “Seadrift Proud!” And thank you, Gary and Jason Shirley, for coming to our little town and being a big blessing!                      -Tanya DeForest
Harbor-update

Dredging at Seadrift Harbor

Meet the gentlemen who are responsible for the dredging at Seadrift Harbor. They are from (L to R) Derrick Johnson, Matt Glaze, Dylan Turner, and Vincent Akin. Derrick, Dylan, and Vincent work for Derrick Construction Company. Matt Glaze works for Urban Engineering. Our hats off to these gentlemen for coming into Seadrift to oversee the dredging of our harbor and the ship channel. It is much needed and much appreciated! -Tanya DeForest
Harbor-Dredging

Seadrift City Council Candidates

Archived in the category: Announcements, General, Organizations
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 14 Mar 24 - 0 Comments

Alysa-Jarvis-pictureAlysa Jarvis
Willing to Serve

My husband and I purchased our home on Bay Avenue in July2020. We had been searching for a place to retire, and from the first time visiting Seadrift, we knew this was the place to be. The people we met were friendly and welcoming, and along with the beauty of San Antonio Bay and the relaxing coastal atmosphere, Seadrift feels like home. People are surprised when I tell them I was born in Calhoun County, then I have to say Alabama. Although Alabama is my birthplace, I have lived the last 35 years in Texas. I graduated from Texas State University with a business degree in Computer Information Systems. After graduation, I worked for VALIC, an American General company, in Houston until I left the workforce to be a full-time mother and home educator. From Calhoun County, Alabama to Calhoun County, Texas, I have come full circle.

Even before finalizing the purchase of our home in Seadrift, I began attending the City Council
meetings and the Republican Club meetings. I’ve continued to attend City Council meetings, but I also
attend the weekly Commissioners Court meetings and the monthly CCISD meetings. I currently serve as the Secretary of the Republican Club, the Precinct 10 Republican Chairman, and Treasurer of the newly formed Seadrift Community Service Club. I am also a member of the Seadrift Chamber of Commerce.

Seadrift is over 100 years old and has literally weathered many storms but has continued to maintain its sense of community and neighborliness. I only seek changes that will improve the well-being of our town. Repairing deteriorated streets and improving drainage are two top priorities. Seadrift needs to grow by attracting new residents, new businesses, and more visitors. This will be the best way to increase revenue for the city without increasing taxes on citizens. More revenue will provide funding for much needed infrastructure. Furthermore, the city should aggressively seek all available grants offered.

Our current Council and Mayor have done a remarkable job with the grants awarded so far, but I believe there are even more grant opportunities for which we can apply. I would be honored to represent the citizens of Seadrift as Alderman on City Council, and I ask for your vote on May 4.

Eldon-D.-Gaines Eldon Gaines
Continuing to Move Forward

Please allow me this opportunity to introduce myself. I am Eldon D. Gaines also known as Dale. My family has lived in this area for generations. I am also a lifelong resident of the City of Seadrift and have been employed at Orion Marine Group for the last 25 years. I have worked for both the City of Seadrift and Calhoun County Precinct 4. Having served on the City Planning Committee, I understand the needs and expectations of a city of our size. These items, sometimes necessary and sometimes wishful, come at a price, of course. Good leadership at the local level is vital to obtaining these goals in a responsible and timely manner.

During my tenure on the city council over the last two years, I’ve personally witnessed the array of challenges and the gratifying positive impacts that come with fulfilling the duties of this office. Infrastructure is one of the items that I continue to see as being of great importance in growing a brighter future together.
If given the honor of being elected for a second term, I will faithfully serve and make thoughtful decisions, always having the best interest of the citizens of the City of Seadrift at heart.

Thank you for your support, and remember to vote on May 4th, 2024.

Ranier Ranier Brigham
“The Redfish Fisherman”

Ranier Brigham loves the Seadrift community. That’s why he wants to keep serving as a Seadrift councilman for the City of Seadrift. He will be running again for the position of Seadrift Councilman in the May 4th Seadrift City election.

“I want to make sure that the city keeps moving forward. The city has a drainage as well as a harbor project that I want to continue to be part of,” he stated. He, also, wants to make sure that Seadrift continues to have a good police department.

Ranier has been a Seadrift resident for thirty-two years. He retired from Union Carbide after twenty-seven years of service. He is a man of many talents and has been a rigger, machinist, pipe draftsman, pipe fitter, and has done industrial cleaning. He has served on the Seadrift council for ten years. He is currently over Public Safety, which includes the Volunteer Fire Department as well as Roads and Drainage.

For twenty-three years Ranier has been a full-time redfish fishing guide-that’s why he’s called the Redfish Fisherman!”

 

Paul-Gonzales Paul Gonzales
Giving Seadrift a Voice

My name is Paul Gonzales, I am running for the position of Alderman on City Council for the City of Seadrift, TX. I am a graduate of Calhoun High School with a bachelor’s degree in management and a Minor in Ethics from Manhattan Christian College, Manhattan, KS. I’m retired from the Army National Guard. While serving in the military I learned to work as a team and to let everyone have a voice in the decision-making process. During my military career I worked with Federal and State legislatures to resolve budget and contract issues.

After retiring from the military in 2012 my wife (Glenda Chatham) and I returned to Seadrift, TX to be with family and friends. I currently work for the TX Dept of Transportation in the Procurement and Contract Division. I am a member of the First Baptist Church in Seadrift where I served on the Budget and Finance Committee and The Kids for Christ Committee.

I would like to utilize my professional experience, team building skills, and work with everyone who wants to have a voice for the City of Seadrift. I would like to see how our city can recruit new businesses. I also want to see that our Police Department is visible in our community while keeping our children and residences safe. I want to work and help to improve our drainage system and seek alternate ways to fund street improvements without raising taxes.

I would be honored to represent the City of Seadrift and provide you a voice on the City Council as Alderman. I would appreciate your support and vote on May 4.

Jesse-HubbellJesse Hubbell
My name is Jesse Hubbell, and I am running for the office of Mayor for the City of Seadrift. I grew up in Seadrift, went through elementary school, attended all 3 years at Fannin Junior High School and then graduated from Calhoun High School. I earned my degree in management development from San Jacinto College in Houston, Texas. I lived in the Houston area for about 30 years, before my wife and I built a house and settled here in 2017 just before Hurricane Harvey hit the area. We have no plans to leave. Seadrift is our home.

Throughout my entire career I have found out one of the most important things to do is to listen to others and if you can help them, then do so. I have been involved in public service for over 40 years; the last nine as chief appraiser here in Calhoun County. My knowledge and experience in cooperating with local government officials and the public, budgeting, purchasing, public speaking, managing and motivating personnel during these years will help me in serving the citizens of Seadrift in a positive way. I want Seadrift to become an even better place to live, work and play. I would appreciate everyone’s vote in the upcoming election.

Upcoming Fishing Tournament

Archived in the category: Fishing Reports, General
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 14 Mar 24 - 0 Comments

ABC-ad

900 Derelict Crab Traps Removed from Mid-Coast Bays

Archived in the category: Fishing Reports, General
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 14 Mar 24 - 0 Comments

GBRA crew brings in load of derelict traps from San Antonio Bay.

Every February, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department closes the bays to commercial and recreational crabbing for a 10-day period. This temporary closure enables removal of derelict traps which continue to entrap and kill crabs, fish, and turtles.

This year, 900 traps were removed from the three Mid-Coast Bays (Matagorda, San Antonio, and Aransas). Additionally, 543 loose Styrofoam floats were removed too. Crabbers use the floats to mark the traps, but they can get cut off due to storms or boat props.

“It’s very important to remove these old traps because they not only kill crabs and fish, they’re also navigation hazards and unsightly litter.” said Allan Berger. Berger, Chair of San Antonio Bay Partnership has been organizing efforts in the Mid-Coast bays for the past 8 years. “Removal of derelict traps involved 64 boats and 204 participants over the ten-day closure.”

Other organizations leading the search efforts in their respective bays were Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Lavaca Bay Foundation, and Matagorda Bay Foundation. Volunteers and organizations included USFWS Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, TPWD Coastal Fisheries and Game Wardens, local chapters of the Coastal Conservation Association, Guadalupe Blanco River Authority, Guadalupe Blanco River Trust, San Antonio River Authority, International Crane Foundation, Mid-Coast Texas Master Naturalists, Dallas Zoo, Lavaca-Navidad River Authority, and Texas Conservation Alliance.

This is the fourth year that a cellphone-based app was used to collect data on each removed trap. “The data reveals that most of the derelict traps are on the shoreline, likely the result of weather events. However, a significant number appear to be in place and not picked up by crabbers. It is anticipated that an analysis of the data can reveal root-causes and result in fewer lost traps in the future” according to Berger.

“Participation was up from last year.” continued Berger. “While technology helps, it’s still about boats and volunteer’s eyes on the water. We utilized more airboats this year, improving our ability to see traps in the vegetation, many of which may have been lost in previous years. Last year we removed 977 traps. We did a more comprehensive search this year, so the decline in traps is welcome news.”

The derelict crab clean-up effort was supported with funds obtained by TPWD from the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, and from a grant obtained by SABP from Restore America’s Estuaries. Local funding was also provided by the GBRA and the SARA. If you want to be included in the early planning for next year, contact Allan Berger at AllanRBerger@outlook.com. -Brigid Berger

Thirty Years of Service by Tanya DeForest

Archived in the category: General, Organizations
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 14 Mar 24 - 0 Comments

Thirty-years
“Service is what prayer looks like when it gets up off its knees and walks around in the world.” Michael J. Graham

Pastors Tim and Beverly Smith celebrated thirty years of service at the Seadrift Assembly of God Church March 10th. For the first time they team-tagged their Sunday morning message. It was entitled “Characteristics of a Healthy Church.” Pastor Tim in part of the message made this comment, “There has never been the need for the Church to be healthy as it does today.”

Pastors Tim and Beverly Smith outlined the message with four points: Commitment to Doctrine, Commitment to Fellowship, Commitment to Worship, and Commitment to Evangelism and Prayer. In the message Pastor Beverly commented that she was thankful for the unity among the congregation at the church. As a token of their appreciation for the pastors’ years of faithful service the church presented them with a check for $1,500!

Before coming to pastor at the church Pastor Tim had prayed this prayer, “Lord, send me somewhere where people love us as much as we love them.” Reflecting on their thirty years of service Pastor Tim said, “It’s just been an honor for us to serve for so many years in the same place and we’re looking forward to what God has for us in the future.” Pastor Beverly had this to say, “It has been a joy to be pastors of such a loving, caring church. We love them and we know they love us.”

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