High school graduation is a big accomplishment and something that should be celebrated. We would like to honor all who have achieved this goal. We would be pleased to print your photo and a little about you in the June issue of Dolphin Talk. If you would like to be included, please email dolphin1@tisd.net or phone 361-408-3165.

Saturday, May 6th, was Election Day in Seadrift. Out of four candidates running for three positions on the city council, the top vote getter was Kenneth Reese with 87 votes. Tying for second was Tracy Johnson and Geoff Hunt, each getting 73 votes. Running close behind was Howard Heath with 62 votes. We applaud each of these candidates in their efforts to represent the citizens of Seadrift.

Kenneth Reese

Kenneth Reese was reelected to the position of Seadrift Councilman. He had this to say concerning his reelection, “I would like to thank all my friends who trusted me with their vote and reelected me to another term on Seadrift’s City Council. It is my wish to continue to seek the best avenues available for the betterment of our hometown. We are now at a point where many large projects in our city are coming to fruition, and I look forward to seeing them to their end. Again, many thanks for your votes.”Kenneth has served on the council since 2017 and has served with the Solid Waste Department and Seadrift’s Utilities Department.

Geoff Hunt

Geoff Hunt was reelected to the position of Seadrift Councilman. He has served in that position for eight years and has been over the city’s streets and drainage and the Seadrift Harbor.
Commenting about his reelection Geoff said, “I’m just thankful that the community wants me to serve another two years and I’m thankful for our voters.”

Tracy Johnson

Tracy Johnson was reelected as a Seadrift councilwoman. She has served one-term already and looks forward to serving a second term. Each term is two years.

Tracy said, “I am beyond excited to be reelected! I am not done with things I wanted to accomplish for Seadrift. I am honored and blessed that our citizens put their trust in me and to vote me in for reelection. Here’s to another two years! I can not wait to see what all we can accomplish when we work together!”

Tracy has served in two departments while she was on the Seadrift City Council. They were Solid Waste and Parks and Recreation.

Memorial Day, May 29, is set aside to honor all those who have lost their lives in service to our county. But, we also should remember the sacrifices of those now serving, or who have served in defense of our nation.

There are many in our community who have answered the call to serve. Here are three we are featuring, but we wish to honor them all.

Jim Hicks and Honey

Jim Hicks
Hometown Hero

Jim Hicks was honored as the Hometown Hero at Port Lavaca Chamber of Commerce’s 56th annual award banquet. This well deserved accolade was in appreciation of Jim’s many years of service to Calhoun County’s senior citizens.

For more than 15 years, Jim has brought hot lunches to Calhoun County shut-ins three days a week. Even when he was traveling to and from Victoria undergoing chemotheraphy, he still faithfully kept up with his route.

A veteran with 22 1/2 years in the service, he retired in 1984 with the rank of Major. He has made Port O’Connor his home for the past 19 years.

Jim’s constant companion is his little dog, Honey. He adopted Honey from the Humane Society 12 years ago. If you’ve been around Port O’Connor any time at all, you’ve probably seen Honey perched in a plastic milk carton on the back of Jim’s motor scooter.

Ray McDaniel and Lila Jane

Ray McDaniel
A Man of Many Hats

Ray McDaniel is a man that has worn many hats… a husband, a father, a business owner, a taxidermist, a hunting guide, a career in the shoe industry, and most notable was the wearing of the uniform in the United States Navy!

Ray is a newcomer to Port O’Connor. He was born and raised in Houston. He was married to his high school sweetheart named Sue for 62 years. Together they had two sons, a daughter, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.

It was in 1958 when Ray joined the Navy. He became a radarman and served on the USS McDermut which was a destroyer where he worked in its Combat Information Center (CIC). At the CIC was where all the radar equipment was located down below on the ship. Commenting about his service in the Navy Ray had this to say, “I think the military can be extremely educational due to the travel that enables you to see how people live and at the same time you are serving your country.” While on the USS McDermut Ray traveled to all the major islands in the South Pacific.

About living in Port O’Connor Ray said, “I came here initially to spend three months fishing and within three weeks I decided that I would stay here forever. I just love the people here. It’s just like Will Rodgers once said, “I never met a man I didn’t like.” And that’s the same way I feel about the people of POC. And my diabetic service dog, Lila Jane, loves everyone as well, particularly the mullets at the front beach.”

USS McDermut
USS McDermut (DD-677) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, the second Navy ship named for Lieutenant Commander David A. McDermut. McDermut was laid down 14 June 1943 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey; launched 17 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, widow of the 28th President; and commissioned 19 November 1943.

Butch Bothwell
“Always a Hero”

Butch Bothwell will always be a hero. President Truman once said, “Our debt to the heroic men and women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.”

Born and raised in Tampa, Florida Butch Bothwell came to Texas in 2003. Over the years he worked in all kinds of construction. He settled in Port O’Connor a few years ago because of his love of fishing and hunting. On Tuesdays you could find Butch at the POC Community Center for their luncheon and games.

He served in the Army during the Vietnam War as a munitions technician and was an officer’s chauffeur.

Butch has two daughters, two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. His younger daughter, Charlie, had this to say about her dad, “He always had a heart of gold and helped anyone who ever needed it.”

Currently Butch is at the Port Lavaca Nursing Home and enjoys the company of family and friends. Jay Flemming, pastor of Goliad’s First Baptist Church, is one of Butch’s supporters who comes to visit and check on him. Butch and his daughter, Charlie, consider Pastor Flemming’s church their home church. Charlie, commenting about their church said, “Our home church is amazing.” She, also, wanted everyone to know that her dad hasn’t lost his sense of humor.

Seadrift is entering a new phase where several long-awaited projects are beginning.

The new wastewater treatment plant is going out for bids and this new wastewater treatment plant will replace and expand the existing wastewater treatment plant that was built in the early 1960’s. This project was envisioned in 2015 and 2016 because the old plant was having trouble meeting capacity and codes. The new wastewater treatment plant should be beginning operation in the fall of 2024.

The largest project is the new seawall which will replace the old seawall entirely and expand it some. The contractor is currently setting up with construction to start no later than the end of May. Completion is estimated to be by the summer of 2024.

Another big project is the Harbor Economic Development Project. Bidding for the Harbor Project should be authorized in June or July. This project contains things such as bulkheading of unbulkheaded areas, adding an additional breakwater on the west side, dredging of the harbor, and dredging of the channel from the harbor out to the Navigation District’s channel. If this project stays on estimated schedule this could be completed by summer 2024.

Other projects nearing engineering completion within the next six months are the city’s MIT Drainage Project which will affect many areas of the city and the start date could be sometime middle to late 2024. An additional water tank to replace an old leaking water tank is another project.

There are additional projects that are being contemplated with grants. -Tanya DeForest

MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE
DATE: SATURDAY, MAY 27TH
TIME: 10:00 AM
VETERAN’S MEMORIAL & PAVILLION
at BAYFRONT PARK

HOSTED BY: CALHOUN COUNTY AMERICAN LEGION POST 167
1. AMERICAN FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONY
2. ROLL CALL OF CALHOUN COUNTY’S HONORED DEAD
3. HOT DOGS AND SOFT DRINKS SERVED AT
THE PAVILLION BY PORT LAVACA FIRE DEPARTMENT

Come support America.
There is no charge.