Golf Carts
Let me begin by saying that I am 100% behind the use of golf carts and utility vehicles (as defined in Texas Code) in Port O Connor when operated in accordance with the restrictions placed on them by law. That’s where the problems come in.
The definition of a utility vehicle is very specific in saying that it seats an operator and a passenger side by side – two people only. It is also designed for utility work not recreation. Some of the “utility vehicles” in Port O Connor seat nine people.
Golf carts (there is no golf “car” definition in State codes – this seems to be an attempt to divert legal attention from the issue of “what is a golf cart” or a marketing ploy to raise the status of a golf cart) are defined as being designed by the manufacturer primarily for use on a golf course. Nobody would quibble the point of, is a golf cart really a golf cart without a means of securing golf bags and the bag carriers replaced by a bench seat? Again though, these “golf carts” have grown to six plus seats and were never designed for use on a golf course.
It appears to a casual observer that someone somehow has made it known that the enforcement of golf cart and utility vehicle laws, would not be in the best interests of Calhoun County and a moratorium is in effect on such enforcement by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department. Anything that is not immediately recognizable as a car or motorcycle seems to have carte blanche to do as it pleases.
Given this, I am going to buy a Suzuki Samurai, take the glass out, remove inspection and registration stickers, add straps for golf bags, and declare it a utility golf vehicle. Why pay registration fees and insurance? It’s not a car.
Name Withheld by Request
Great Reasons to Support “Mittens”
1. He is “purdy”. Has gracious, statesmanlike aura honed on recent overseas trip where he offended both the Brits and Palestinians.
2. Has not been caught with another woman not his spouse.
3. Refuses to release enough information to determine whether there are any scandals/skeletons in his closet.
4. Can’t speak in fake, southern, “Black Preacher Voice” when necessary. But, can tell racist “birther” jokes to his all white following and lie like a rug about his opponent.
5. Highly intelligent and educated. Used Harvard education to subvert U. S. Tax Code and thus pay lower tax rate than “those people”.
6. Does not admit to smoking, drinking, or doing drugs. Has no problem driving acquired companies into bankruptcy while raiding the employee’s retirement fund for his benefit and that of his investors.
7. Represents an America of “yesterday” when back alley abortions were common and the Gilded Age of the Robber Barons was the order of the day. This was before government regulation forced capitalism to serve “all of the people”. We long to repeal those regulations.
8. Has great family of five boys who followed Daddy’s leadership in avoiding at all costs service to country by serving in the military.
9. He’s a Mormon. Loves to hide behind church as rationale for not releasing taxes (excuse #3) and has personal penchant for equating his donations to church as somehow forgiving of his tax avoidance schemes.
10. He donated his inheritance to his alma mater, BYU, in his father’s name. He did however get his education and first home paid for by Daddy.
James Hummel, Port O’Connor
My Two Cents Worth
If the Texas Parks and Wildlife started the fire on the Island on purpose, they should be ashamed of themselves, with the wind blowing straight to POC which has a lot of old people who can’t breath the smoke without causing them health problems. That’s all I got to say about that.
G.B. Robertson
Critic’s Choice
Dear Area Theatre People,
It has been almost 20 years that the Port Lavaca Main Street Theatre has been operating.
Just returned from the Sunday afternoon performance of Ken Ludwig’s The Fox on the Fairway, directed by Kenny Barnes. It was hilarious and kept me laughing. David Griffin is the Robert Redford of the South and Lauree Aschen Barnes reminds me of Marilyn Monroe, and Ken Barnes is the Dustin Hoffman of Hollywood. All the characters were great. A lot of time was spent on the costumes and set preparing for this production. The whole cast was great.
It takes place at the 19th hole at Quail Valley Golf and Country Club. What a performance!
Please go see the performance this weekend: Sept. 14, 15, & 16; 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
Take a break and be entertained. You won’t regret it.
Russell Cain
President, Port Lavaca Main
Street Committee
A Protestant Christian?
This morning (9/10/12) I read the Victoria Advocate front page. I noted that “now” Obama is a Protestant Christian and yet in an interview with George Stephanopoulos he claimed to be of the Islamic faith. “I’m glad that nobody has given me trouble about my Islamic faith.” Is this a matter of convenience for election’s sake or just a matter of confusion about Biblical truth?
According to Scripture, you cannot be a Christian and a Muslim, no matter whether you’re a Catholic or Protestant.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life and no man comes to the Father (God) but by me.” John 14:6
Patrick Overton
Port O’Connor
Regulations
In the 1930, 40, 50, and 60s Port` O`Connor Texas was a thriving commercial fishing town; up until the early 40s we had at least 3 fisheries, run by local businessmen, Then in the early 40s some large fisheries saw the potential profit to be made on the Texas coast and moved their fisheries not only to P.O.C. but all up and down the coast. We had General Seafoods, Coulter Corp, and Western Shell move into this little town, besides the local fisheries already here. At this time Texas was furnishing most of the seafood supplied from the Gulf Coast. At this time the Texas Bay, Fish & Oyster Commission was responsible for overseeing regulations on the coast.
Then a group of people in Austin decided to give the authority to regulate the coastal fisheries to Parks and Wildlife, a group of people mostly from central or west Texas who knew absolutely nothing about the coastal fisheries. Now please understand P.& W. are all appointed, we have no say in who they are, yet a P&W game warden has more authority than any other officer In the USA; yes that includes federal officers too.
It didn’t take them long ,with the power already granted, to start applying regulations designed to eliminate commercial fisheries. In the name of conservation they started closing bays to net fishing, they put time limits on shrimping, limited net sizes, mesh size, days to shrimp in daylight hrs., limits on pounds, size limits, how large the spreading device, license for Gulf, separate license for bay, they finally imposed enough regulations to almost wipe out a thriving business on the Texas coast. The big companies moved out of Texas; we don’t even have one operating fishery, for the first time in over a hundred years in POC.
This is just a micro. of what Obama is doing with his regulations across America, when you have a bunch of people who can give themselves power, and they are NOT elected, you can`t fire them, and they will keep giving themselves more power, then you have the same thing that happened to the fisheries on the Texas coast.
May God have mercy on the U.S.A.
Howard
Coming in October: Fund Raiser planned for South Texas Baptist Youth Home. Watch this publication for details. For questions, please call Patrick Overton at 512-665-3357.
The Dolphin welcomes letters from our readers on any subject that is of general interest to our audience. Letters should be 300 words or less (with exceptions at the Dolphin’s discretion). Letters reflect the opinion of the writer, and not that of Dolphin Talk staff, and we retain the right to determine suitability for publication. It is the policy of this newspaper to promote area interests: therefore, complaints against local businesses should be directed elsewhere. Letters must be signed and include day and evening phone numbers, which will not be published. Your name will be withheld upon request, but anonymous material will not be considered for publication.
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