The Historical Book Committee of the POC Service Club is avidly seeking information concerning the First Families of Port O’Connor; those that can trace their residence here as of December 31, 1929. We urge members of the following families and others to share with us photos of the early families, physical addresses of residences and years of residence, stories with times of their involvement in POC life. Information regarding the School, its location and teachers, and grades attending is also desired. Also, information concerning the stores, entertainment, churches; primarily, what the daily life was in the first 20 years in the developing area of our coast.

We are seeking information from some of the following families and any others during that time period:

The Whittaker, Raby, Munsch, Goldman, Hawes, Ragusin, Harris, Villareal, and Apostalo families and relatives.

If you or any of your relatives have data or photos pertaining to this time and are willing to share, or know of others who resided here at this time, please contact our President, Janet Johnson, 983-4733 or Sue Kubecka, Chairman, 798-0560. All information and photos would be carefully and professionally recopied and returned to the owner with much gratitude.

Decade-long Cleanup Removes 29,053 Wire Traps from Texas Bays

It’s hard to imagine a pile of crusty old derelict crab traps stretching over 29,000 traps high, but that is where the tally stands after this past February marked the 10th anniversary of the Texas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program.

After 10 years, the annual cleanup still has an enthusiastic set of volunteers that are not afraid to get wet and muddy removing what they see as a form of marine debris that doubles as both an eye sore and dangerous killer of aquatic life.

Each February since 2002, a small army of volunteers has descended on the coast to remove derelict crab traps. In year one, more than 8,000 traps were removed, but in subsequent years, less and less traps were located. This year yielded 1,491 traps removed, the second fewest since the program began.

Nevertheless, the same old stories continue to filter in about the “ghost fishing” effect of these traps. One volunteer removing traps near the mouth of the Guadalupe River reported 25 live sheepshead in a single trap. Another Galveston Bay volunteer documented the remains of a diamond-backed terrapin. And in all areas, blue and stone crabs – the original target species of these now-derelict traps – continue to be found.

Not all reports are alarming though. Several volunteers reported that it was hard to find traps, indicating most areas are seeing fewer abandoned traps. Some volunteers reported a “slow day” when they reported to the drop-off locations.

In celebration of the 10th anniversary, a drawing was held this year among all the participants to receive one of two TPWD saltwater stamp prints as a token of appreciation. Due to the luck of the draw, both winners were from Rockport. One was Philip Durst, who removed traps from the upper portion of Aransas Bay. The other was Chet Cloudt, who removed eight traps by kayak in a St. Charles Bay adventure from Big Tree to the HWY 35 bridge on Cavasso Creek alongside a couple of TPWD biologists.

As in years past, the program would not have been nearly as successful had it not been for the generous donations of gloves by CCA Texas, tarps from the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program and free dumpsters from Commercial Metals Inc., as well as the valuable donations of many other partners and volunteers.

With 29,053 traps removed from the coast in the past 10 years, it would not be unreasonable to step back and proclaim, “Nice job folks. You’re working yourselves out of a job!”

Nonetheless, plans are proceeding for the next crab trap cleanup. Volunteers should stay tuned to the TPWD website for details to come.

Johnny Hartl of TPWD, pictured above with his daughter Amy, was in charge of crab crap disposal at Port O’Connor during the annual crab trap removal in February.

Photo by Bill Tigrett

Victoria Preservation Inc. will host it’s 25th Historic Homes Tour in Victoria , Texas on Saturday April 9th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday April 10th from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
Presale tickets are $12.00 and $15.00 the days of the tour.

For ticket information call the V.P.I. Office at (361)573-1878 and check out our new website at vpitx.com

Hope High School Environmental Club took part in the Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off. The club is part of the Adopt-A-Highway program and has adopted Alcoa Drive in Port Lavaca as their project. Three bags of garbage were collected with the most unusual item that was found were lottery tickets (no winners). Left to right: Chris Flores, Leo Maldonado,Merissa Hisquierdo, Bobby Fenner, Haley Thompson, Brittany Danysh, KaTrina Webb, Blanca Reyna

Club sponsor- Laurie Weaver

Dogs in POC

Remember Eddie Chiles? Well, I’m mad too Eddie. I’m mad because I can’t take my leashed dog for a walk without being attacked by unrestrained dogs. They are not strays but are allowed to run loose around Port O Connor because some of our neighbors believe that no leash law means no responsibility.

Saturday (4/2/11) the small brown dog who lives with the two small white dogs at the corner of 13th and Van Buren, bit one of our visitors. I advised them to sue the owner but they declined. Sunday a gentleman on the beach advised me that POC didn’t have a leash law when I asked if his two non-restrained dogs could be trusted. I advised him that he was responsible for his dogs regardless of any leash law. Note too that he was not carrying bags to clean up after his dogs.

I’m not going to take it anymore. I love dogs and as an owner, I believe I have a responsibility to restrain my dog and clean up after it. A very large number of Port O Connor residents don’t recognize these responsibilities to their fellow citizens – this neglect makes them libel for their dog’s actions.

We’ll never have a leash law, animal control won’t come down here, shooting them seems a bit harsh (although I do carry a small caliber weapon suitable for killing dogs who attack me), so what action(s) can we take? I suggest we all restrain our pets and keep them on a leash in public areas.

Respectfully,

Jim Hicks

PS: Visitors I have talked to complain about two things in POC – litter and stray dogs. They ain’t strays folks, you own them and I will continue to point out those who don’t respect their neighbors rights to walk the streets without fear.

More Dogs in POC…

To All Pet Owners:

Please clean up after your pets. I am sure you clean up after them at your home.

Connie

Most Important Organizations

Port O’Connor has really grown in the last 10 years. New people have moved in, “Great”! A lot of them have joined our organizations, but it seems as if they have forgotten three of the most important organizations of all, our three churches:

First Baptist Church

St. Joseph Catholic Church

Fisherman’s Chapel

Would love to have you come visit us; any and all will be welcome.

First Baptist Services:

Sunday School – 9:45; Church 11:00; Sunday night – 6:00 p.m.; Wednesday night – 6:00 p.m.

Catholic Church:

Saturday night – 7:00 p.m.; Tuesday night – 7:00 p.m.

Fisherman’s Chapel:

Sunday School – 10:00; Church – 11:00; Sunday night – 6:00 p.m.; Wednesday night – 7:00 p.m.

Thank you,

Evelyn Lewis

See you Sunday!

To the Editor:

It is time for the citizens of Texas to become involved in what is happening in Austin. We must let the Texas Legislature know how unfair it is to balance the budget by cutting benefits and jobs of school teachers, hospital nurses, and firefighters – people who are the backbone of our middle class.

Please, do not show indifference or say that there is nothing we can do. The governor and the legislature knew the deficit was growing as a result of their policies, yet they did nothing to prevent this problem. Now is the time for the people of Texas to speak up.

The worst possible solution is to balance the budget by making huge cuts to the education of our children. For the present, we need to use the “rainy day fund” to survive the flood our legislators ignored for too long. Let me add, however, that we must insist that our representatives in Austin get busy and find a long-term solution to the problem that they helped to create. We must find reasonable long-term solutions, solutions that may need to include raising taxes. (We tend to forget that numerous studies show that Texas has very low taxes for upper-income earners.)

In Texas the kids are not “all right.” Our high school graduation rate is 43rd out of the 50 states. We lead the nation in child poverty, and poor children need all the help our already over-burdened schools can provide. Cutting state funding for schools now puts a greater burden on local taxpayers and hurts our most vulnerable citizens.

Sincerely,

Naomi Albrecht

Help us rebuild Zion Hill Baptist Church (Est. 7/10/1873) in Goliad, Texas.
First of all to rebuild the kingdom we need people. We need people to pledge themselves to attend the church. If there is a church building with no ‘people, there is no church. Once I have a pledge of people that will attend, the next step will follow.

Everyone who reads this message, I want you to sow what ever your heart desires. Feel free to text, email, write, or call. Any seed sowed can be deposited to (the Building Fund) at American Bank in Goliad, P.O. Box 29, Goliad, Texas 77963, or American Bank, in Victoria 4304 North Navarro Street, Victoria, Texas 77901.

My contact number (Laura L.J. West) is 361 655- 7075. Maerene Johnson Ellis contact number (361 575-0921); feel free to leave a message. Email us at zhbcgoliad@yahoo.com, or write to Zion Hill Baptist Church, 165 Horseshoe Bend Road, Goliad, Texas 77963.

Thank you and may God bless each and everyone who reads, responds, prays and helps out in some manner of this mission. I will be posting pictures and some history about the Zion Hill Baptist Church on Facebook and where- ever else God leads us.

Our initial goal was to get this information out during the month of February. But building God’s Kingdom is celebrated continually.

We will be posting our up coming church service dates.

Thank You

Zion Hill Baptist Church

Sis. Laura J. West (Secretary)

Sis. Maerene Ellis

The Dolphin welcomes letters from our readers on any subject that is of general interest to our audience. Letters should be 300 words or less (with exceptions at the Dolphin’s discretion). Letters reflect the opinion of the writer, and not that of Dolphin Talk staff, and we retain the right to determine suitability for publication. It is the policy of this newspaper to promote area interests: therefore, complaints against local businesses should be directed elsewhere. Letters must be signed and include day and evening phone numbers, which will not be published. Your name will be withheld upon request, but anonymous material will not be considered for publication.

Letters to the Dolphin:

Dolphin Talk

P.O. Box 777

Port O’Connor, TX 77982

dolphin1@tisd.net