DON’T MISS:  The Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, March 5th at the Port O’Connor School!  Starting at 7:00 pm, the female members of the Lions Club are searching their Italian roots for authentic pasta and sauce recipes.  Following the dinner, an evening of Bingo awaits.  Check the various notices around town for further information.


Congratulations to Hailey Mang, our local 5th grader, who represented our school in the County wide Spelling Bee on Thursday, February 17th.  Although she didn’t win, she had the excellent experience of participation.  But there’s always next year!


PLEASE NOTE:   The Bunco group of fun-loving ladies will now be meeting in the back room of the Community Center, and our next evening of spectacular playing will be Tuesday, March 1st at 7:00 pm.  Requirements for participating: $5.00 gets you in the door with the ability to count the spots on a pair of dice.  Also, being able to talk while playing helps.  Contact Shirley Gordon at the Library, 983-4365 or Joyce Jordan, 655-7999 for further information.  And if you decide to come, bring a friend too!


Writing this during the middle of February re March events and realizing that Easter is just around the corner makes you a true believer that Time Flies When You’re Having Fun!
And speaking of months and the approach of spring, guess Accuweather and its meteorologist Joe Biscardi was correct when he forecast warm weather (for us) following Valentine’s Day.  Just hope that the pleasantly warm weather continues, and the mosquitoes stay away!


Does anyone know what’s happening with the Port Motel?  All the units except one have been demolished, and only the office building remains.  Sad to see another portion of POC leave.
And speaking of sad: we received a notice from the County Library that our budget has been cut in half which means fewer new books for our shelves and no more DVDs nor children’s books.  If you have some in your home you no longer wish to keep, please remember that we take donations of books and DVDs.  And our grateful thanks for them.


I’ve always loved the Christmas Season as it seems to bring out the very best in virtual strangers in their reactions to each other.  Now that I’ve become a one-legged shopper, many others have offered help and assistance to me.  Particularly as they see me attempt to push a shopping cart in the correct direction!


If you haven’t been out to see the new Treasure Chest on the highway, plan to stop in for their Grand Opening on March 12th.  You won’t be disappointed.


Ladies:  It’s approaching that time of the year when closets and cupboards get cleaned and emptied to make room for new items.Please remember that the Service Club’s annual spring garage sale is Saturday, April 9th.  Contact our Chairman, Biddie Hileman, 983-2241 for storage and further information.


Just received word from Joanne Ward re the crab trap removal; the local chapter of CCA garnered 125 traps from the bay!  Just wish they could catch the “fishermen” who leave them!


A delight for me during the past few early mornings is watching the fog creep across the Intercoastal; it’s as though there are wispy and slightly smokey fingers covering the area till they reach the moored boats to obscure and blur their sharp outlines.  Though I keep listening for the fog horns, they don’t make a sound!


If the reader wishes to add any news at any time to this column, please contact me: suekubecka@yahoo.com; 361 798-0560

March 26 & 27, 2011


The entry deadline for this season opener is 5:00 p.m. Thursday, March 24. Please call 361-552-3037 for more information.


Based on a full field of 60 teams, winners will be awarded: First Place – $250 per team; Second Place – $150 per team; Third Place- $100 per team. Private carts are welcome (bring your own charger). Club carts are $10. per person for 18 holes.


The schedule of events is as follows:


Friday, March 25, 8:00 a.m. until dusk, Free Practice Round
6:30 p.m. Kitchen Open, Menu Fare.
7:00 p.m. Tournament Business Cocktail Party for players and spouses.
Saturday, 1:00 p.m.: First & Second Flight, Shotgun Start
Supper at 6:00 p.m. for players and spouses. Non players will be charged $5. per person.
Sunday, 1:00 p.m.: First & Second Flights


Famous One Person Scramble Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, March 12, 2011. Men and women invited. Tee times are 7:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Hamburgers served 11:00 to 2:00.


Please contact Hatch Bend Country Club for full details.

Join Us for the Meeting of the
Calhoun County Historical Society
Tuesday, March 8
6:30 p.m.
Calhoun High School Library
www.calhouncountymuseum.org

Calhoun County Historical Commission

The NOW is your Calhoun County Historical Commission. The THEN is the history of this county. The Commission’s mission is to uncover and preserve that history. It is made up of county residents who have an interest in history. It is affiliated with the Texas Historical Commission and part of the Settlement Region.


One of our current projects is expanding our Oral History Collection. We have a video and sound recorder to capture that oral history before it is gone. What is oral history? Let me illustrate:
Many of you went to school in this county and during that time it is likely that you were visited by Charles Husak. He was probably dressed as an Indian. He would perform a “show and tell” about the KaranKawa Indians. They were the tribe that had lived in this area for the last 10,000 years that is until they became extinct around 186O. The newer citizens, namely our ancestors, decided they didn’t want them around. Their cannibalistic tendencies contributed mightily to that decision.


They stood around seven feet tall and were a sight to behold as they often paraded around naked. They used the local alligator grease to help keep the mosquitoes away. They lived around all our bays Carancahua, Keller, Cox, Lavaca and Chocolate Bayou.


Charlie knows a lot more about them. He grew up around Olivia, and as a boy he started collecting arrow heads. They are called points by folks like Charlie. In those days when farmers plowed the fields, points would emerge. That aroused his curiosity and led to this life long passion. He has donated that extensive collection to the Calhoun County Museum. That way it will stay intact for all to see.


If you have talked with Charlie, you know he is a fountain of knowledge about those KaranKawas. He can tell you some exciting tales about his adventures as an Indian Archeologist.


Back in the Depression he received information from the Smithsonian Institute about how to prepare a site, make a log and mark the items you find. Most of us who find an arrowhead (point) just keep it in a box somewhere. Not Charlie. His collection is properly logged and displayed. It is a most appreciated donation.


The stories Charlie tells are oral history. When we get the stories captured on DVD anyone can pop it in a player and watch Charlie as if he is present.


There are lots more folks like Charlie who have stories to tell. We plan to get as many stories as we can on our DVD’s. That is just one of the many projects under way. We expect to tell you about them and in the process give you a little History. The plan, and the Dolphin has agreed, is to visit with you approximately once a month.

In an unusual turn of events, the council went into an executive session directly following item #3 on the agenda which was reported from Goldman, Hunt & Knox regarding the 2009-2010 fiscal year. “Sales tax is down from the past three years, which has been seen across the board.” reported Donald Goldman. “The hotel motel tax has increased $5,000 reaching $28,000 in the last year.”


The council then went into the executive session which affected the next item on the agenda. It was removed; one of five alternatives listed on the agenda. Amongst the alternatives were; to authorize publication of notice of intent to issue Certificates of Obligation in the amount of $1.5M as approved by the majority of voters, to file a bond validation lawsuit as authorized under chapter 1205 of the Texas Government Code, to consider or authorize a new bond election for May 14, 2011 or to see an legislative fix by instating a special bill to be passed which would uphold the validity of the bond election. The City of Seadrift will not see any improvements on drainage and streets in the following year. First to approve the motion to remove the item from the agenda was councilman Mikolas, the motion was seconded by councilman Chatham.

A Homeland Security Grant was then accepted to create an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to be used following disasters. The grant would be used to obtain an emergency generator and other related equipment. Mayor DeForest stated that Seadrift was second in line to receive the grant. “Speed is of the essence.” He stated several times during the item’s discussion. The Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission was selected as the administrator for the grant and G&W Engineering was chosen due to their in-house electrical design department.


The Council then addressed an item which would authorize a $1 increase per month to the City’s utility bill to absorb. The increase would be used for permit fees from Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Councilman Mikolas said, “Nobody likes paying extra money. We need to cut somewhere else.” Mayor DeForest advised the council that the city had been absorbing the expense for six months which averages $9,000-$10,000 a year. After much discussion, a motion was made to accept the item from councilman Chatham, the motion was not carried.


Bids were reviewed by the council to authorize four individuals to be able to extend existing sewer lines and to connect to that line along Cemetery Road. The installation would be at their own expense and the bid was requested by the individuals. Councilman Miller made a motion; it was seconded by councilman Hunt.


The last item was tabled until the following meeting regarding the boundaries, limitations, user fees, rates and deposits of the Hahn Sports-Plex.