The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center supplies over 100 hospitals and clinics with lifesaving blood from altruistic donors throughout 43 South Texas counties. Donors can log on to southtexasblood.org and visit the Donating for Life link to make an appointment and redeem points for thank-you gifts.

Anyone 16 years old weighing 120 pounds (with a parental consent form), or at least 17 years old weighing 110 pounds, and in good general health may donate blood. Please bring your photo ID.

The next local blood drive:

Port O’Connor Elementary
Wednesday, April 18; 12:30pm – 4:00pm
508 W. Monroe

“Many people have never considered blood donation as a way to give back to their community. We want people to think of blood donation as something positive they can do to make a difference,” says Mary Beth Fisk, President and COO of STBTC.

On Saturday April 21st The Travis Middle School Water Watchers group will be giving free wetland kayak tours.

The tours will be at Bay Front Park, in Port Lavaca on April 21, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. This event is sponsored by The TMS Water Watchers group and EnCana Oil’s Healthy Habitat Grant.

Hannah Shelly, TMS Water Watchers

SEADRIFT- Lora G. Rubalcaba, 84, of Seadrift, passed away on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. Lora was born on February 8, 1928 in Seadrift to the late Johnny N. and Nellie Henderson.

Lora is survived by her daughters, Vera (Sissy) Hadley and Winona L. (Nonie) Thrower, both of Seadrift; sons, C.W. Thrower, Jr. of Van Vleck and James Ray Thrower of Kennedy; sisters, Wanda Nell Kirkwood, Mary Ella Glaze and Gloria Spencer, all of Seadrift; brothers, J.N. Henderson, Jr. of Russellville, Arkansas and Tommy Henderson of Seadrift; grandchildren, Stacy Lynn, James W. and Kimberly Thrower, Rhonda Lamphier, Richard Malone, Eric Taylor, and Toya and Lindsey Thrower; and twelve great-grandchildren; and her puppy Tinker Bell.

Services were held March 31, 2012 at the Seadrift Cemetery Pavilion.

Pallbearers were Dallen Lamphier, Bobby Henson, Tommy Henderson, Jr., Teddy Goodman, Bubba Hall and Kenny Finster.

Honorary pallbearers were Tommy Henderson, J.N. Henderson, Jr., Donald Holder and Eric Taylor.

Clyde Owen Martin, 87 of El Dorado, Kansas, passed away April 3, 2012 in Wichita, KS. He was born Sept. 24, 1924, on the family farm in NE Greenwood County, the sixth of Charles Lorenzo (Ren) and Cora (Joy) Martin’s children. On June 3, 1945, he was married to Gail Lee McGhee in Neodesha, KS.

After a long oilfield career, he retired as production manager from Brandt Drilling of Wichita, KS in 1986.. An avid gardener, he enjoyed selling his produce and fresh-made bread at the local farmers market.

He is survived by his wife, his brother, Howard Martin of Dumas, TX; five children: Owen Martin of Whitewater, KS, Susan Leigh and Karen Kolavalli of El Dorado, KS, Cynthia Ross of Towanda, KS, and Virginia Allain of Poinciana, Fla., and grandchildren, Paul Calhoun, Robin Cahoun, Kristy (Ross) Duggan, April (Calhoun) Wickwire, Nikki (Ross) Teel, Diana Hyle, Samantha (Hyle) Noble and Chhaya Kolavalli, and sister-in-law Carol (CJ) Garriott of Seadrift. Clyde was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Dorothy Jones, Helen Hunnicutt, Vivian Stafford and Zella Baysinger, two brothers, Raph and Charles Martin, a daughter, Shannon Hyle, and son-in-laws, Ronald Cahoun and Larry Ross.

Donations may be made to the Kansas Oil Museum, 383 E. Central Ave., El Dorado, KS 67042.

CJ Garriott traveled to Kansas for the Celebration of Life on April 14, 2012.

Well, Spring has Sprung … at least it surely seems that way. Have you noticed the many wild flowers along the highway? And going North of Victoria, lupine – or what Texans call “Bluebonnets” are in bloom. Additionally, you know it’s really Spring when you get on 77 heading North as the highway lane is filled with RVers heading home. Hope they had a good time while here; we certainly enjoy having our SnowBirds.

I read BAND OF SISTERS by Kirsten A. Holmstedt, and as usual, read not only the Foreword but also the Introduction before starting a chapter. In this the author spoke as to how she, as a young woman, became quite interested in our country’s involvement in war. She stated that when she learned of the stories of women serving in the military during the war in Iraq, she decided to try and interview them as they returned to America. And so she did.

HOWEVER, her chapters detail events of various female members of the military force accompanied by photographs in the book. But these are not candid photographs; they are definitely posed and a part of a photo op. Reading the chapters, you really marvel at the dedication of these women, but, and there is definitely a but for me, there seems to be something missing. Please, if you are the least bit interested in the changes and potential changes of our military, read this book and form your own opinion. Do not take my impressions.

We were given at the Library a book written by Jennifer Weiner entitled FLY AWAY HOME, but before turning it in for cataloging, I wanted to find another book by Ms. Weiner and found IN HER SHOES. This tells the story of two sisters, one an over-achiever 30-year old attorney, who is really somewhat dowdy, slightly overweight, and apparently totally dedicated to her career. Her one vice is the continuing purchase of shoes in all styles and colors and definitely high priced. Enter her sister, a stunningly beautiful younger woman who has never succeeded at anything, other than taking from her sister whether it be money or boyfriends or SHOES. A fascinating book, a delightful description of two totally different and slightly antagonistic women. And the writer employs a sense of humor in her story. Loved the book and the one being donated too.

Just a quickie: we have an unbelievable array of books for purchase at our Library, both hard cover and soft cover, of all types of fiction and even nonfiction. Come see us before you take your trip!

“When an old person dies, a Library burns down”
Karin Gillespie