“I don’t write in hopes of seeing my name on a book cover, rather I write because I have a message that above all else, human beings can be noble creatures.”

The above is a quote from author William M. Cooper, who has just published an inspirational book: “Coop’s Corner Collection”.  This collection of 15 short stories and 25 story -poems reinforces  noble human characteristics, addressing such topics as love, devotion, forgiveness, compassion, respect, duty, parenting, and much more.

Mr. Cooper believes his book with be enjoyable and instructive to any teen or adult reader, but many of the stories are written so simplistically that they can also be read to young children.  “Coop’s Corner Collection” is the type of book you keep – a sort of combo of “Chicken Soup for the Soul” mixed with O’Henry-like character building and a hint of “Aesop’s Fables”. (This reporter found the portions of the book that I have read were both entertaining and thought-provoking.)

“Coop’s Corner Collection” is a perfect book for gift-giving. A lonely soldier away from home, a prisoner who needs a shot in the arm of what real living is truly about, the teen who is getting wrapped up in a world of negative influences, the person living a self-destructive lifestyle – these are just a few of those who could benefit from this collection, in addition to anyone who just loves to read.

William M. Cooper is a Texan and a “cowboy poet” who grew up in the Midland-Odessa area, one of six children of his oil-field father and housewife mother.  He earned a master’s degree in biblical studies at Andersonville Theological Seminary in Camilla, George and also holds a certificate in ministry from Howard Payne University in Brownsville.  He also has attended a Texas A&M firefighting school and is a certified welding inspector.

Now residing in nearby Portland, he has lived in most of the towns in the Coastal Bend. He earns his living driving a semi, and is currently  transporting from our local Formosa plant.

“Coop’s Corner Collection” is available in paperback or e-book at Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com or at the author’s site: http://SBPRA.com/WilliamMCooper/ .
To read a sample chapter, “Weldon’s Stupid Kid”, go to:

http://mysoutex.com/view/full_story/19604726/article-Local-author%E2%80%99s-book–A-kid%E2%80%99s-life-in-the-oilfield and click on: download Coops Corner collection . “Weldon’s Stupid Kid” is a humorous account of William Cooper’s foibles during his first trip as a youngster to an Odessa oil field with his father. “It is a valuable lesson in humility,” Cooper says, “and it also shows that it takes a real man to show control when you have energetic young children.”

Printed below is a poem “Lisa Moo-Moo Marie” by William M. Cooper. He describes the poem as really a pattern of human marriage and life commitment –  “Putting ourselves in the animal world to express these realities adds a little silly fun to the truths about the married life.”
-Joyce Rhyne

You are welcome to send short Valentine Greetings to your sweetheart, family and friends to be printed in our February issue. Please print or type. Send to arrive by February 8th:

dolphin1@tisd.net

Dolphin Talk, PO Box 777, Port O’Connor, TX 77982

or leave in the Drop Box at our office at 2232 Monroe, Port O’Connor

Texas A&M Extension Service Director Dr. Doug Steele (far left) presented team Superior Service Awards to, from left, Julie Massey, Terrie Looney, Rhonda Cummins, Dr. Russ Miget, Gary Graham and Mike Haby. Team members John O’Connell, Tony Reisinger and Ginger Easton did not attend the awards ceremony. -Photo by Jim Hiney

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Nine Texas Sea Grant College Program outreach professionals who joined forces to help shrimp fishermen cope with competition from imported seafood have received the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s 2012 Superior Service Award in the team category.

Most of the team, which comprises three specialists, five county coastal and marine resource (CCMR) agents and one county extension agent, was on hand to accept the award on January 8 during an awards presentation that was part of the 2013 Texas A&M AgriLife Conference. The conference was held at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center, which is part of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum complex at Texas A&M.

The annual Superior Service Awards recognize AgriLife Extension faculty and staff members who provide outstanding performance in Extension education or in service to the organization. Texas Sea Grant’s Extension Program is operated jointly with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

The team has helped Texas shrimp fishermen earn $9 million through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (TAA). TAA provides money to participants in industries that can document that they have been injured by imports. The amount of money per fisherman is relatively small, up to $12,000, but the program requires that the fishermen participate in training that teaches them how to make their operations run more efficiently.

“For shrimp fishermen reeling from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, high fuel prices, and increased competition from imports, TAA cash benefits have been a godsend,” said Logan Respess, Texas Sea Grant’s Extension Program Leader. “At best, this ‘found money’ provided a modest, short-term boost to their businesses, but the intensive training they received as part of TAA will ensure the future success of the wild-shrimp fishery.”

Team members are Seafood Specialist Michael G. Haby, Marine Fisheries Specialist Gary Graham, Environmental Quality Specialist Dr. Russ Miget; CCMR agents Terrie Looney (Chambers/Jefferson counties), Julie K. Massey (Galveston County), John P. O’Connell (Brazoria County), Rhonda D. Cummins (Calhoun County) and Tony Reisinger (Cameron County); and Aransas County Extension Agent Ginger Easton Smith.

Haby developed the original document that allowed 5,500 commercial shrimp fishermen from the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic to apply for TAA assistance. Haby and the rest of the team provided training and other activities fishermen needed to meet TAA requirements. The team’s effort was adopted as a regional project by the Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant Region, which includes the Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi-Alabama and Florida Sea Grant Programs.

“There is no other group that could have achieved the extraordinary level of success that Sea Grant has generated for the shrimp industry,” said John Williams, Executive Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, an industry group representing commercial shrimp fishermen in coastal states from North Carolina to Texas. “I believe TAA for the shrimp industry was destined for success because of the strong commitment the Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant programs have to the seafood industry. This group exemplifies the ‘can do’ spirit the industry I represent has come to expect and appreciate.”

The regional Sea Grant effort helped Gulf and South Atlantic shrimp fishermen receive $46 million in TAA payments and earned the Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant Region’s Superior Outreach Programming Award for 2010-2012.

Due to sickness; i.e., cold and flu, that has been running rampant throughout our community, the 1st meeting of January for the members of the POC Service Club was canceled. And the second meeting in January, the 17th was then held with a number of members attending.

Our President, Janet Johnson thanked all the members for a very successful 2012, and warned them to be prepared to duplicate their efforts during 2013. She also expressed her gratitude to the members of our community for their support during our various activities, both during the garage sales and bake sales.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, February 7, at 10:00 a.m. in the meeting room in the back of the Community Center. We welcome any interested woman from our area to our meetings at any time. Contact Janet Johnson, President, 983-4737 for further information. Hope to see a full listing of members there!