(L-R) Oscar Fogle, Caldwell County; Tommy Mathews, Kendall County; Myrna McLeroy, Gonzales County; Judge Gary Steel, Arlene Marshall, Calhoun County; Dennis Patillo,Victoria County and Rusty Brockman, Comal County.

Appointees of Governor Rick Perry took the oath of office Wednesday, April 20, 2011 during the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Board of Directors meeting. District Judge Gary Steel swore in three new board members, Rusty Brockman, Thomas Mathews II, and Dennis L. Patillo, and three reappointed members, Myrna Patterson McLeroy, Oscar H. Fogle, and Arlene N. Marshall.

Marshall of Port Lavaca, is president of the Calhoun County Economic Development Corporation and former Calhoun County judge. She is president of the Victoria College Calhoun County Center Advisory Board and a board member of Golden Crescent Workforce, Victoria College Foundation, and University of Houston-Victoria President’s Advisory Board. She is also past president of the Rotary Club of Port Lavaca. Marshall received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston. She is reappointed for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2017.

These appointments were confirmed Wednesday, April 13, 2011 by the Senate.

The GBRA was established by the Texas Legislature in 1933 as a water conservation and reclamation district. GBRA provides stewardship for the water resources in its 10-county statutory district, which begins near the headwaters of the Guadalupe and Blanco rivers, ends at San Antonio Bay, and includes Kendall, Comal, Hays, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Gonzales, DeWitt, Victoria, Calhoun, and Refugio counties.

The Museum of the Coastal Bend at Victoria College is pleased to present an exhibit of thirty-one framed photographs and a slide show of 300+ images of El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail. The exhibit includes images of Spanish mission and presidio sites in Victoria and Goliad.

The exhibit, on display at MCB from April 14 – May 28, showcases breathtaking images that offer a glimpse of the significance and beauty of the historic resources associated with El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail. Professor Christopher Talbot of Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Art is the photographer who captured outstanding images of trail swales, acequias, river crossings, forts, missions, presidios, and other original remnants along the old route. His work is supported by Stephen F. Austin University and the National Trails Intermountain Region’s Challenge Cost Share Program.

El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trial was designated by Congress in 2004 to commemorate the significant historic routes extending from the international border at the Rio Grande to the easternmost section of the Spanish province of Texas in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.

The trail long pre-dates the establishment of the United States. In the 1680s when the Spanish began to travel regularly into Texas and western Louisiana, they followed already existing American Indian trails. The Spanish used these paths to reach areas where they established missions and presidios. Eventually, armies and immigrants followed these routes which led to Euro-American settlements across the two states. Many of these roads continued to be used and became part of modern highway systems. In many places, Spanish names for roads and landscape features have been retained. Physical remains of the trail are testimony of a rich heritage and to the significant events that occurred along the trail.

This traveling exhibit is touring locations throughout Texas and Louisiana, beginning at the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum in Laredo, TX and most recently at Fort Jesup in Many, LA.

The Museum of the Coastal Bend is located on the campus of The Victoria College, Victoria, TX, at the corner of East Red River and Ben Jordan. Viewing hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Admission is $3.50 for adults, $2.50 for senior citizens, and $2.00 for students ages 4 years through 8th grade. Admission is free for museum members, faculty, staff and students of The Victoria College and the University of Houston – Victoria, and for children under 4 years of age.

For more information, please contact the Museum of the Coastal Bend — visit our website www.museumofthecoastalbend.org, phone 361-582-2511 or email sue.prudhomme@victoriacollege.edu.

Ice Cream Social & Bingo Party

Saturday, May 14 – 6:30 p.m.

POC Elementary School

Ice Cream, Cookies & Bingo! Door Prizes, lots of fun, socializing and just a good ole time together!

Ice Cream: $2.50 Bingo cards: $1.50

Sponsored by POC Lions Club

Crop duster John Sterling educated the 6th graders about his Air Tractor.

Calhoun County Airport hosted its third annual Kid’s Aviation Day on Friday, May 6th. Students from Travis Middle School, Port O’Connor Elementary and Seadrift School arrived at the airport enthusiastic to learn about aviation.

“Kid’s Day is my favorite day of the year,” commented airport manager, Dianna Stanger. “350 kids from Calhoun County schools were exposed to various walks of aviation.”

This year the students rotated around 14 different stations, nearly doubling from the prior year. Present were: the National Weather Service, Girls With Wings, Euro Chopper, Cessna 172 SP, Hawker Beech Premier Jet, Piper PA18A, Air Tractor, Civil Air Patrol, Precinct 2 Commissioner, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Victoria Tower manager, Calhoun County Emergency Medical Service, Six Mile Fire Department and Calhoun County Fire Department.

Principal Lydia Strakos commented, “The students from Port O’Connor said the trip was very informative, many of them are now interested in learning to fly. They greatly enjoyed themselves and can’t wait to visit the airport again!”

Calhoun Air Center strives to encourage, enlighten and introduce them to the avenues readily available to them. The students were given the opportunity to sit inside of the airplanes and helicopter. They learned the differences between each plan and principals of flight.

“I was really impressed with the kids’ level of knowledge about subjects such as the effect of wind. It was great to see their enthusiasm to learn more about a jet’s performance.” said Lynda Meeks, Girls With Wings founder.

What can a helicopter do that a plane cannot?” asks airport manager, Dianna Stringer.

Kevin McCauley

Kevin McCauley, son of Gary and Paula McCauley of Port O’Connor, graduates with a Doctor of Pharmacy from Texas A&M Health Science Center, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy on May 14, 2011.

He is the grandson of Pauline McCauley and the late Ordith McCauley and Glenn Burnham and the late Nancy Burnham. He is also the grandson of Joe and Carroll Bell of Fredericksburg and the great-grandson of the late Clyde and Katherine Purdy of Port O’Connor.