The Intercoastal 4-H had their monthly meeting on Monday, May 5, at 7:00 p.m. There were 16 members present. We have a new member, Braeden Ragusin. He is a Clover Kid! We elected new officers for 2014. The report is due May 25.

And that is the 4-H news for ya folks.

Missing Airplanes

Watching the hunt for flight 370 in the three mile deep Indian Ocean, I was amazed that they would even make the effort. Then the last issue of Dolphin Talk had the article about aircraft lost since the beginning of man flying heavier-than-air machines. The article failed to mention the B-52F model that crashed in the 60’s just off the coast of Matagorda Island.

I was not here at the time, but I flew several missions dropping conventional bombs and bomb shapes at the range on MGI. The most memorable mission involved 30 airplanes starting around New Orleans, flying at 200-300 feet, with (I think) one mile separation, and radio silence. This was new to every crew and was not tried again as we were very lucky that we had no mid-air collisions.

We did continue to try to deliver iron bombs at low level until we lost an airplane very close to Port O’Connor. There was no debris or anything ever found and search was abandoned after a short time.

After this event it was decided that we would bomb at high level which resulted in many (13, I think) B-52’s shot down over Hanoi in December, 1972. Had we been successful in ‘64 and ‘65, we could have gone under the surface-to-air missiles and had less loss of life.

Couple of points of interest:

1. Locals who lived here in ‘64 and ‘65 should remember the live bombing on MGI.

2. Everyone who flew heavy jet airplanes knew that you cannot ditch in the ocean. You bail out, as the speed will make the water like hitting a mountain.

3. Last of all, don’t hold me to details as when young you think you can remember everything, which ceases to be true later.

Wm (Dixie) Howell

A huge thank you to all involved in making the 2nd annual Crawfish Fest and Cook-off a huge success.

Our goal as your Chamber is to bring commerce to Port O’Connor, and I think we did a great job of it this past weekend. I have to give a HUGE THANKS to all the folks that jumped in and made this such a wonderful event. I will not be able to write everyone’s name as it is too many for me to even think I can do it. If you took part in any way at this event you are appreciated — whether you came and supported our event as a cooker, vendor, helper or a spectator, we appreciate this.

These funds will used be to build a new pavilion at King Fisher Beach. When we get closer to our goal we will have a meeting to take suggestions. This is your building and we want your input. If you have something you would like to see considered in the construction, this will be the time to be thinking about it. Please gather your thoughts and visit with one of the Chamber Directors if you would like.

Our next fund raiser will be the 2nd Annual Beach Bash -August 30, 2014 at King Fisher Beach. If you want to be a part of this event ,please contact Mary Jo Walker at shrimper@tisd.net or Patti Elkins at patti@tsfmag.com.

Mary Jo Walker
President, Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce

Leash Laws & POC

A leash law in POC wouldn’t be enforceable and even the idea generates hard feelings. I suggest that a limited leash law be considered which would only apply to King Fisher Park or the bay side of Park Street.

Unleased dogs in King Fisher Park, or on the beach, are a year-round problem but it becomes particularly troublesome during the vacation months when the number of dogs in town seems to increase four fold. I believe a leash law should be enforced in King Fisher Park and the beach for the following reasons:

• All dogs are “friendly” and all dogs have the capacity to attack without warning. My son’s dog “never hurt anyone” yet it killed a dog at his apartment with one bite and no known provocation. There may even be a liability question here if a visitor is bitten.

• If a dog is restrained and yours isn’t, yours could seriously harm it before the owner could get theirs away. If your dog is not on a leash, you cannot have positive control of your pet.

• Some people (of all ages) are deathly afraid of dogs, all dogs. For these folks, unrestrained dogs terrify them and ruin their POC experience.

• As a bonus, it’s very difficult to “clean up” after unrestrained dogs but one on the end of a leash is hard to ignore or miss.

It shouldn’t be that difficult to enforce this limited leash law in King Fisher Park and on the beach. Signs would have to be posted on Park and I’d suggest that bags be provided so we could all work together to keep the area clean. I hope this idea will be given some serious consideration because I enjoy walking Honey in the park and on the beach.

Respectfully,
Jim Hicks & Honey

I Found My Salvation Through God When I Arrived in Seadrift

I didn’t know a soul in this town. Two months ago, if you had told me I was about to live in THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN TEXAS…I would have never believed it. Anyone who has known me can testify that overcoming adversity has been the story of my life. The dream of living off the coast has followed me since childhood. I’ve been ill for quite sometime now; four months ago I told my family I’m suffering. Praying every day, God spoke to me that “Believing and having faith are two different things.” Being the “hellion child” that I was, I’ve prayed for many years something like this, “Dear Lord, please give me a dumb-dumb map that leads me directly to your path.”

Two months ago I told my friends and family that I was willing to fight for my life (legally, health, and spiritually). They were willing to help, but I wasn’t willing to give up all that I had worked hard for to move to a city that could easily crew me up and spit me out. I felt like this time my spirit needed to be built back up by the water. My family right then started looking around the Houston area for just that (Galveston, Surfside, Freeport). When I was informed about the cost of living, it seemed that putting me on the water was just gong to have to be a dream, as it always has been. I couldn’t accept that. God said, “Through Me all things are possible.” That’s when the teaching of Faith began.

I started selling everything I owned, not having a clue where I would end up. By the end of March, March 21st, still no place to move, and I had until the end of the month to give up possession of my home. I haven’t even mentioned, along with my health problems, I am also dealing with an extreme case of identity theft that’s unbelievably hard to prove, and a divorce that desperately needs to happen. I saw an ad in the paper for a 2 br apartment in Seadrift, Texas. I knew I could afford it.

By this time, law enforcement and my family started to wonder if I had lost my mind – having no car, health problems, a fixed and limited income and all the legal battles I’m facing, all at the same time. Now I’m moving to Seadrift, Texas?
A leap of faith is an understatement. I did it and to Seadrift, Texas I came. Talk about having divine intervention upon my life, God has appeared so evidently since I’ve moved here that I am so proud to call this place my home.

May 16th I’m turning 38 years old, and I’ve finally found it! I found my spiritual wings to fly, my new brothers and sisters in Christ, my strength to fight again, my faith, a law enforcement that Honor Their Oath to Protect and Serve, and finally, my Salvation Through God! So, needless to say, I’m not crazy. Through my little mustard seed of faith, I found my salvation in Seadrift.

Laura Hernandez-Biery
“Lauren”

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.

Letters to the Dolphin
P.O. Box 777, Port O’Connor, TX 77982, dolphin1@tisd.net

On 05/01/2014, at 16:50 hrs., Officer Louis Warren was on patrol on Dallas street when he was flagged down by several people who observed a very small silver 4-door vehicle with one person driving which was traveling at a high rate of speed on Dallas street and turned north on 4th street and did not stop at stop sign. The officer recognizing the vehicle description went to go search for the suspect. The officer found the vehicle matching the description in the 200 blk of 13th street.

The vehicle was identified as 2012 KIA Rio, silver in color.

The Seadrift officer then notified Calhoun County Dispatch of the vehicle. That vehicle is known to this officer to be driven by a local man who drives around town at high rates of speed and has been previously arrested for driving at high rates of speed. As the officer observed the vehicle leave a house in a residential area, the suspect’s radio was blaring from the vehicle, which is a violation of city ordnance “ loud music”.

The Seadrift Police Unit then started to follow and observe the vehicle traveling down South 13th Street and then turned left on to Bay Ave. at 12th. The officer followed the vehicle, watching as it parked with its music turned up loud inside the City Park parking at the boat ramp.

As the Seadrift Unit pulled into the park, the suspect vehicle pulled up to the officer in a aggravated manner. The officer stepped out of his unit and asked the driver for his driver’s license, Suspect stated he did not have a license on him.

The officer asked the suspect why he had his music up so loud, and he responded that he was just listening to it. At that time the officer noticed the suspect to be very agitated and his pupils were very constricted and suspect could not stand still. The suspect also had fresh track marks on his arm; one of them was still bleeding. From the officers training and experience, he knew that the marks were made from the use of illegal narcotics.

The officer asked the suspect if he had driven by Dallas Street in the last few minutes, in which the suspect said that he did and even stated that there were “four people out there”. At that point Chief Leonard Bermea and PCT 4 Constable Kevin Koliba arrived on scene, The suspect was placed under arrest for no drivers license. Officers observed and placed as evidence from the vehicle a baggie of brown powder substance that field tested to be opiates “also known as Heroin”.

The vehicle driven by suspect was impounded and towed, and suspect was transported to the Calhoun County Jail.

Seadrift Police Chief Leonard Bermea

SEADRIFT – Dow Seadrift Operations employees are making a positive impact for the Earth with their environmental pledges, and also making three non-profit organizations very happy with a surprise donation in honor of Earth Day! Seadrift Operations employees pledged to pick up some Earth friendly habits; here is a breakdown of what they pledged to do:

PLEDGE % OF RESPONDENTS
Pack a waste-free lunch in a reusable container 52%
Use washable plates, cups and utensils rather than disposable 57%
Take reusable shopping bags to the store 30%
Reuse or repair things I already own 55%
Recycle at home and work 62%
Turn off lights, TV and other electronics when not in use 87%
Turn off water while brushing my teeth 68%
Take shorter showers 37%
Compost my yard waste and vegetable scraps 25%
Buy locally grown or organic foods 23%
Pick up litter 55%
Carpool 10%
Always run a fully loaded dishwasher 50%
Raise my thermostat 2 degrees in the summer 35%

Additional pledges included planting 10 trees, recycling aluminum cans, growing a fruit/vegetable garden at home and using natural instead of chemical fertilizers.

To give back to the Earth even more, Seadrift Operations made surprise donations to the following three non-profit organizations in the amount of $300 each:

Calhoun County Agrilife Extension Office – Funds will be used to build and plant a demonstration garden. The garden will be used to teach students and community members about how to grow and take care of edible and decorative plants.

Friends of Aransas and Matagorda Island – Funds will be used to support the Sea Turtle Recovery Program. Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles nest along the Gulf coast from Texas to Mexico in the spring. A group of volunteers track their nesting activity and ensure eggs are laid safely for hatching.

The Texas Zoo – The Texas Zoo has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years – if you haven’t been in a while make it a point to visit this summer. The zoo hosts numerous summer camps, Zoosdays, and programs that teach all ages about animals and the environment.

Thank you Dow Seadrift Operations employees for taking care of the Earth and making a difference every day.

Richard “Dick” Scott Kemp, 72, of Lakeway, passed away Friday, April 18, 2014 at his home. All who knew him will mourn the loss of this caring, gentle giant.

A fourth generation native of Austin, Dick was born Nov. 24, 1941. He graduated from McCallum High School in 1959 and from the University of Texas at Austin in 1963, where he studied business and played basketball.

Dick established Kemp Properties in 1978 and built this real estate company into a unique firm handling a wide variety of properties across Texas.

His personal commitment to every aspect of the community has led to his involvement in the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Austin. While chairman of the advisory council, he coordinated construction of a new $8.5 million facility at no cost to the community. Four retail stores selling reworked, donated merchandise pay all operating costs of the ARC which houses up to 118 men participating in rehabilitation and counseling.

With boating in his blood, it was natural for Dick to have a passion for fishing, and he enjoyed offshore snapper fishing best of all. Dick maintained a home and boat in Port O’Connor for many decades, collecting many friends and fishing mates along the way. Dick was active in CCA and loved participating in fishing tournaments along the Gulf Coast, especially POCO Bueno.

Of his many lifetime outstanding achievements, Dick will best be remembered for the way he cared for people.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Patrick.

He is survived by his wife, Melisa Thompson Kemp; brother, Donnie Kemp; and many young men and women who were mentored and guided by Dick.

A memorial service was held April 24, 2014 at Austin Country Club, with Major Gerald Street officiating.

Memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, 4216 S. Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78745.