Charles Ray Middaugh, 75, of Port Lavaca passed away April 23, 2012.

He was born September 10, 1936 in Seadrift to the late Charles A. and Maybell Culverhouse Middaugh. Charles was a Baptist.

He is survived by his niece, Paula Moncrief; nephews, Terry Middaugh and Thomas Middaugh and numerous great nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by two brothers, Joe Thomas Middaugh and William A. Middaugh.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Rhonda Cummins, coordinator for the April 28 Adopt-A-Beach Clean Up at Magnolia Beach reports a turn out of 176 volunteers who cleaned up six miles around the Crabbing Bridge area.

2,500 pounds of litter was removed from the area and deposited into bins furnished by Waste Management of Houston. Some of the unusual items collected were: a $20 bill; plastic leg from a toy action figure; 911 sign; winter glove; hazmat mask and a WaterPik toothbrush. Lots of cigarette butts were picked up, the most popular brand being Marlboro.

Thanks go out to all the volunteers and to Ineos Nitriles, Green Lake site for furnishing lunch.

At another clean-up site, Swan Point in Seadrift, 15 volunteers from Lakeside 4H Club collected 50 pounds of trash.

Thanks to everyone who participated in Adopt-A-Beach, the twice-yearly effort to clean Texas’ waterfront.

Join your Seadrift neighbors in planning a grand celebration for Seadrift’s Centennial. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at Seadrift City Hall. Your help is needed!
The celebration is planned for Dec. 1, 2012.

Sherlock Holmes

Somewhere in one of those double lives that writing allows you to live, I write about genre television, films and books originating in the United Kingdom for the website Cult Britannia. Through this experience I have been privileged to see a lot of great British television and films as well as having read some excellent books.

When thinking of the printed word, there is one iconic British character that has always stood out: Sherlock Holmes.

Since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first sold Holmes’ debut, A Study In Scarlet in 1887 to Beeton’s Christmas Annual, the ‘consulting detective’ has become famous all across the world. Numerous movies, books and even video games have been made in the decades that followed his initial fame, making Holmes a larger then life persona that seemed to endure, generation after generation.

Remarkably, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lost interest in his most famous creation at one time, as he considered his other writing, that of historical novels, more important. Doyle also was growing weary of the ever present deadline for each new Holmes story, a problem made more poignant by the fact that although the tales were shorter in length then a full novel, the plots needed were just as intricate as the book format, if not more. He made his decision to kill off Sherlock clear when he informed his mother Mary that he would “think of slaying Holmes… and winding him up for good and all. He takes my mind from better things.”

These feelings lead Doyle to kill off Sherlock Holmes in his 1893 story The Final Problem where he plunged to his death along with his arch nemesis Professor Moriarty. However, the public outcry was so great that Doyle was almost forced to bring back Holmes in 1902 in the infamous Hound of the Baskervilles, which was set before Holmes death, eliminating any kind of explanation of how Holmes could have lived. A year later however the author made it known that Holmes had not died in the fall; he had merely used the event to go into hiding from his numerous enemies.

Doyle was not the only one guilty of bringing back Sherlock Holmes, as numerous versions have appeared since then in various forms of media. In my mind, however, the printed word will always be the Baker Street detective’s first home and authors as from Stephen Fry to Stephen King have taken to writing as Doctor Watson and keeping the spirit of the detective alive for all to enjoy.

Recently I have rediscovered the character of Sherlock Holmes through books provided to Cult Britannia for review purposes. Some of these new novels really show how far the Sherlock Holmes legend can be retold and retooled as Holmes meets up with famous names like Dracula and Jack the Ripper and goes on some diverse new adventures that even Doyle himself might think worthy of the detective’s highly valuable time.

In the end, Sherlock Holmes surely stands out as one of the more iconic fiction creations of our time, perhaps even more popular now than in the past due to the fact that the detective uses the natural resources of his mind and the powers of deduction and observation while our modern cardboard cut out television heroes are caught in a world of technology and computers, making their feats seem dull by comparison.

As I write this article, it is a little under two weeks until some 450+ wounded servicemen and servicewomen descend upon our fair community of Port O’Connor. On May 18-19, these brave men and women will be treated to the big-hearted hospitality of the gracious people of Port O’Connor, Texas, including food, fellowship, fishing, and just plain ole fun.

This is the sixth year our community has proudly participated in the Warrior’s Weekend effort. Mr. Ron Kocian, of Victoria, is the President of the Board. However, Ron, his wife, Sherry, and numerous other volunteers, spend countless hours expending enormous amounts of energy and resources planning and coordinating a thousand and one details just to make this event happen each year. Many of those volunteers live right here in Port O’Connor, cheerfully and faithfully giving of their time, talents and resources each year. From what I’ve witnessed of this organization and its willing participants, theirs is a labor of appreciative dedication, respect, and love for the sacrifices of our valiant service men and women. When this year’s event is all said and done, planning and coordinating begins anew for the next year’s event. And believe it or not, these folks do all of this without pay, literally counting it an honor to have given of themselves to be a blessing to our nation’s wounded warriors. That’s simply the kind of people they are.

In my youth, I served in the United States Air Force between 1969-1973. My career field was in Law Enforcement, which eventually took me to Vietnam. My wife and I had been married a little over a year when I was deployed to Nam. At times, I felt that the stress and separation of being overseas was ripping my heart out. But to be quite honest, my tour of duty in Southeast Asia’s war zone was a piece of cake in comparison to what members of our Army and Marine forces experienced.

One of my police duties, while in Nam, was to guard a hospital ward filled with boys who had recently come from battle-ridden hotspots. I’ve looked into their tearful, troubled, and questioning eyes; I’ve seen their fearful, weary faces; and I’ve listened to their tortured minds, haunted by the horrors of battle. If any group of people needs our respect, compassion, and a listening ear, it’s those who have given the most for our freedom. Freedom is never really free. It always cost somebody something. Some give everything.

I’m proud to be a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m proud to have served my country in the Armed Forces. I’m proud to be an American, and to be a member of the Port O’Connor community, where I have the privilege to participate in this year’s Warrior’s Weekend event. We have the opportunity, via this event, to fulfill in some small way, what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” This means that we need to be willing to relate to both the joys and sorrows of others. We must learn to be others-centered. We must not be so focused on our own problems, that we can’t see the needs and hurts of another. Again, Paul puts it this way: “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians 2:4).

Don’t think for a moment that our efforts during Warrior’s Weekend are meaningless. Here’s what one attendee of a previous Warrior’s Weekend had to say afterward:

I had the honor of attending the Warrior’s Weekend this year and I cannot say enough good things about the event. For the entire time I was there, I was overwhelmed and humbled by the gratitude that was extended to the wounded warriors by all that were present. Literally hundreds of people took time to volunteer their boats, their time, and so much more to ensure that they put on the best weekend possible.
Wounded warriors, regardless of how badly their bodies were damaged, had the chance to briefly forget their disabilities and enjoy a perfect day of fishing, eating, and fellowship with other veterans, as well as a truly patriotic group of Americans that gathered to share the weekend. I will never forget this wonderful experience and cannot thank enough all those that made it possible. You will never know the positive impact you have made in the lives of those you touched during the Warrior’s Weekend. God bless you, our great Country, and the proud men and women who have answered the call to protect Her sovereignty!
Major Kent Solheim
United States Special Forces

It is by the grace and mercy of Almighty God that this nation continues to stand. May God bless the people of Port O’Connor, Texas; and may God bless America!