Sterling Griffith will present the The Country Opry Show at the Heritage Center, Port Lavaca, Tuesday, June 5, 2012,
starring Blake Anthony, Jaycee Barnes, I. W. Henson, Stacy Stark & sons, Casy Lee Ann, Roy Erwin, Joanne Hickman and Allen Moon.
Show starts 7 PM. Admission $5.00.

Noral McCauley, owner, and Janet Johnson of POC Liquor Store

There are two attendants at the POC Liquor Store who each offer a friendly smile constantly and a desire to help as a visitor enters. The first is Janet Johnson, the manager of the store and the second is Noral McCauley, the owner. Before the opening of the POC Liquor Store, Janet had been the manager of Alvin’s since its inception in 2003. And anyone visiting the store at that time, whether to purchase a delightful wine or a certain type of liquor, to ask questions about what’s going on, or just to ask for directions, Janet always greeted everyone with an incredible smile and willingness to be of help.

However, in November of 2011 Speedy Stop decided that the area where Alvin’s was located was needed for an expansion of the store. So Janet soon found herself without a job, but she had received offers from five different individuals to manage another store here in Port O’Connor. And knowing Noral McCauley for a long period of time and being quite impressed with his business acumen, Janet decided to wait for the opening of Noral’s store.

Janet has been a resident of POC since the 50’s; working at the Fishing Center and other businesses for a number of years. Also she helped her husband, Lewis with his fishing guide business and working with his clients. When Lewis suffered a stroke several years ago, Janet became his caregiver. Additionally, she is the parent for her great granddaughter, Hailey and has cared for her since birth. Janet is also the President of the Service Club and is always there working on their projects.

Noral McCauley, the owner of the POC Liquor Store, however, has a very unusual and interesting background. He claims residency in Port O’Connor prior to his birth as his parents settled here in the 70’s from Illinois. Noral’s grandparents were operating the Tarpon Inn for Mr. Mitchell, the owner, and his father then worked in Joe Bright’s lumber yard and his mother also operated a catering business. Noral received his education locally, and following graduation from high school, began working. He has had a varied career working in the oilfields, helping his grandparents in the liquor store at the Tarpon, helping to build the swimming pool at Alligator Head, and then finally working with Shane Bell at Shoalwater Marine in the 80’s and 90’s. Working at Shoalwater he sold boats and also designed them, using the Yamaha boat motors. But Noral wanted to be his own boss and so in 2006 he opened Overboard Marine where he and his helpers do engine work, maintenance and minor repairs. Noral is also a single father and is extraordinarily proud of his daughter, Kaleigh, a talented musician, who is married to a Marine. Unfortunately, Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, is quite a distance from Port O’Connor and doesn’t lend itself to daily visits.

Noral’s belief is that if you always do people right, goodness comes back to you. And he maintains how lucky he is as he rejoices daily in his work and the ability to perform the varying tasks required correctly.

POC Liquor Store is located at 8th and Adams Street in a large white building that was formerly known as Squid Row, a drive-through for beer and sodas. As you enter the Liquor Store, you are impressed by the space, the openness with corresponding light and a huge area for stocking all kinds of items. And, if somehow you are unable to find a certain brand, either Janet or Noral will be happy to try and locate a requested item.

I’ve written in the past of various businesses in our area and the owners and operators of each business to try and convey to the reader a little something extra about the person. If an owner would like to be interviewed, please give me a call or contact me at the below address.

kubeckasue@yahoo.com
361 798-0560

The Memorial Medical Center in Port Lavaca held its annual Health Fair on May 10th, combining fun and learning about various and diverse aspects of personal health care.

Beyond the free popcorn and the bouncy castle, there was also a message to local residents to be aware of the individual health of themselves and their loved ones.

Booths and tables at the fair featured subjects from drug abuse to sleep disorder, each with a message of hope as well as facts. The fair’s slogans, “so much…so close” and “making miracles happen” relay the inspiration for the health fair.

In addition to walking away with valuable information on a variety of subjects, testing was also made available free of charge to all attending. Visitors could test their blood pressure, glucose or cholesterol levels and their body composition.

Fair goers could also enter to win some of the various health related door prizes available at the fair, such as free personalized screening from many area medical offices or one of the various prize packages donated to the cause.

Entertainment was also provided, with the CHS jazz band performing as well as being able to get a good look at the Port Lavaca Fire Department main engines. Children could also get their face painted while meeting some local favorites such as a mouse from the Calhoun County Library, a shake and tater tot from Sonic’s and the fire department’s resident mascot dalmatian.

Saturday, May 26th the Annual “KIDS FISHING TOURNAMENT” will be held at King Fisher Beach, this event is free. Fishing will begin at 9:00 a.m. Each child must register before fishing and fishing will end at 11:00 a.m. Children 3 to 12 years of age may enter. Bait will be furnished. Then at 12:30 registration for the “KITE CONTEST” will begin. Your kite can be homemade or purchased, large or small. The kite contest is open to all age groups, children and adults. Bring your kite and join in the fun.

Along with these events, the POCSA will start serving Bar-B-Q Sandwiches at 11:00 a.m. These will be good and fresh from the cook-off on the beach, so bring your chairs and blankets and spend a relaxing day at the beach.

Just a reminder: the 2012 membership applications were mailed out in March. If you forgot to renew your membership, please do so and if you are not a member and would like to become one, please join on line at www.portoconnorchamber.org and pay with paypal or give us a call for application 361-983-2898.

The Chamber is honored to give Katie Redding a $500.00 scholarship.

Renewed Members:

The Inn at Clark’s
San Antonio Bay Foundation

4th of July Fireworks Donations

David Fleig
Gary & Mary Sizenbach

The next Chamber meeting will be June 11th @ 6:30 p.m. in the back room of the POC Community Center.

Everyone have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day!

4th of July Fireworks! Saturday, July 7

Your donations make it happen: “POC Chamber – Fireworks”
P.O. Box 701
Port O’Connor, TX 77982

The 2nd Annual P.O.C. 5K and Dolphin Run Kids K will be held Saturday, October 13, 2012.  The 5K is an optional run or walk and will take place at the front beach.  A new one mile course will be available for 5K walkers and the Dolphin Run.  All 5K participants will be chip timed.  A new website is underway and is to be launched in July.  This year the event will be highly publicized and we expect to double the turnout from our 1st annual.  Last year was the first for Port O’Connor to host an official road race.   Over 100 runners participated and $2,743 was donated to the Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce.  We encourage the community and visitors to run, walk, volunteer, and sponsor!  The proceeds donated to the chamber will be going to a fund to help beautify and develop King Fisher beach.

Feel free to contact us at runpoc5k@gmail.com

How to get involved:

Volunteer –This is a great community service event for groups!  We have many volunteer stations available and we can use all the manpower we can get.  Volunteers help with set up, registration, T-shirt booth, Dolphin Run, water stations, course routes, and much more!

Sponsor – If you are interested in sponsoring the 5K we are looking for donations and contributions. Please contact us for sponsorship levels.  We will also be holding a raffle; all donated items will be recognized on our website, facebook, and day of the event.

Vendor – We are looking for vendors to set up at the pavilion. Road races are large spectator events with many people who come in from the surrounding counties. This is a great opportunity to show your support and show off your goods!

Leah Griffin, Chamber of Commerce President, presented Natasha Helm with a crystal diamond award for her outstanding volunteer spirit creating and implementing the 1st annual POC 5K benefiting the POC Chamber.