Calhoun County Historical Commission
Most of us, especially the folks who like to read can remember that James Michener once lived in Texas.  Many of us have read his book Texas and even some of his other books.  One that is not so well known is the book The Eagle and the Raven.  It is a parallel semi biography of two very important folks in the birth of Texas.  That story tells part of our mixed heritage.


LaSalle, the French dude, brought us the first Caucasian settlement. That was here.  The French dude stirred up the Spanish who thought they owned the territory but had been ignoring it for other things to exploit.  Of course, they lost that when Mexico became an independent country. Mexico lost it at San Jacinto. That was where Sam Houston and Santa Anna settled the argument in our favor. We know the rest of the republic that became a states story. Michener’s book tells something of those two of the main characters. You get to know the men who were so instrumental. The good, the bad, and maybe even a little of the ugly are in that story.


Michener is also remembered because he stated that every Texan is a historian.  Well, we are going to make you a little bit of a mathematician.  This year is 2011.  If one subtracts 125 from that number you will get 1886. That is a recognizable year. It is the year that the 2nd Hurricane put an end to our Indianola and being the Doorway to the west. Even so, Calhoun County and Texas have continued to grow and prosper.


Your historical commission thinks we should commemorate that epochal event. We want to celebrate the end of one era and commemorate the comeback.   After all, we were knocked down but we got back up and kept right on being our favorite county. You might say that over the last 125 years we have been the “Rocky” of Texas Counties.  That means we have the makings of a sesquicentennial celebration.
Any Coastal area is subject to the anger of Mother Nature. We have had our share of that anger. Look at the historical marker at the courthouse in Port Lavaca. The remains of the courthouse that was in Indianola are out in the Bay.  We haven’t been defeated by Mother Nature; we persevered and kept on coming back. That is the kind of History we should commemorate. It is the kind of history that needs to be preserved.


The details are not any where near the  cast in concrete stage.  Since you are a Texan you should actually join in the fun; there is plenty of room for your ideas. We meet the second Tuesday of each month. You can join the commission, tell a friend who is  a member or send the ideas to the Museum. If you are unable to participate that way, mark your calendar and come on down to the sesquicentennial in August. Let’s make a deal.


bupel@laward.net – 361-893-5920
www.calhouncountymuseum.org

Seadrift School held its annual Spelling Bee Tuesday, February 1, 2011.  The winners of the elementary division are fourth grader, Dylan Beaver, third grader, Christian Bedwell, and fifth grader, Layne Blevins.
The winners of the middle school division are seventh grader, Jeremy Cady, eighth grader, Micaela Litsey, and eighth grader, Trey Rodriguez.
The winners of the elementary division and the middle school division then competed to determine the Seadrift School campus winners. The winners of the Seadrift School campus spelling bee are Layne Blevins, alternate, Micaela Litsey, third place, Trey Rodriguez, second place, and Christian Bedwell, first place. They will represent Seadrift School in the Calhoun County District spelling bee on Thursday, February 17, at 9:00 a.m. in the Travis Middle School Auditorium.

Seadrift School Campus Spelling Bee Winners Layne Blevins, alternate, third place, Micaela Litsey, second place, Trey Rodriguez, and first place, Christian Bedwell.

Elementary Division Winners Dylan Beaver, Christian Bedwell, and Layne Blevins.

Middle School Division Winners Jeremy Cady, Micaela Litsey, and Trey Rodriguez.

An extremely popular author at the Library is Sandra Brown and many visitors to the Library do NOT wait for a new book as they check the shelves holding her books; at times, it seems her previous books tend to fly off the shelves!


So, I picked up one, Play Dirty, to see why they were so popular.  This book was published in 2007, set in Dallas, Texas, and featured a former quarterback of the Cowboys.  He committed the unforgivable offense of gambling on his games and then deliberately throwing one.  As the story begins, Griff Burkett had just been released from a Federal prison after serving five years, and as a former superhero, he is reviled by the population of Dallas.  He soon learns the hard way that his presence anywhere becomes distasteful to others.


The author then brings in an incredible twist in her plot; she introduces Griff to a multimillionaire and his wife who offer to Griff a large amount of money providing he agrees to an unbelievable plan.
Ms. Brown knows how to grab your attention in her books; her characters are both good and bad individuals, and her plot moves.  Interesting reading, but light fiction; good for a cold wintry day or a day at the beach!


A friend recommended In Secret Service by Mitch Silver.  This is the author’s first book, and I certainly hope he continues to write.


The plot and characters (that feature many well known throughout the United States and England) are so well developed that you wonder how much of the action is true and how much is the imagination of the author.  However, he lists a well developed though short Bibliography at the end of the book.  Additionally, he names several factual events concerning his characters, but describes others that are imaginary.  Further, he leaves it to the reader to discern which is true and which is fiction.  I enjoyed it very much and hope that by re-reading it later this year, I can sort out fact from fiction!


And finally, Stephen Hunter’s newest Dead Zero, featuring his superhero, Bob Lee Swagger is the last for this column.  The book begins with a frightening scene that builds and builds throughout with the major characters.  Set in Afghanistan a very special team of Marines appear: a sniper and his spotter with their mission to “take out” the “Beheader” whom the U.S. Government is prepping to become the President of Afghanistan.  On their way throughout the mountains to find this man, the spotter is killed and the sniper is badly injured.  But he is determined to finish his assignment and follows his target to Washington D.C.


As usual, Stephen Hunter weaves and interweaves his amazing characters throughout a stunningly executed plot.  It’s totally believable and once reaching the ending, the reader pleads for more.  But that’s after taking a deep breath and going, WHEW!  The background of this author is quite interesting; particularly after reading his acknowledgments as to how this book was written.
“When an old person dies, a Library burns down”


Karin Gillespie

Ice on the ground in Port O'Connor. Photo by LaJune Pitonyak

Ice Follies of Port O’Connor – by Randy
These photos were taken on 02/04/2011.

The Port Lavaca Main Street Theatre will hold auditions for this year’s children’s production, “Cinderella” on Tuesday, March 1 and Thursday March 3 beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the theatre, 315 E. Main St. in Port Lavaca.
There are parts for ages approximately 8 to 15 years old.  Audition Paks may be downloaded at www.plmainstreet.org. Copies of the script are available for review at all Calhoun County libraries.
For more information please call Jody Weaver at 361-649-6116 or email at plmsteatre@yahoo.com . Production dates are June 10 through 19, 2011.