Summer seems to be in full swing and with it comes all the heat one can handle, doubly so where the majority of the people reading this article are located.

For me it’s a love and hate affair with the highly hot days of Summer, due to it always being in the way of either my comfortability or my activities.

First, my childhood was one spent in the (quite hot) Summers in Chicago without air conditioning as my dad as a rule did not believe in it due to cost.

Many sweltering afternoons were spent sweating my behind off on one of Chicago’s infamous one hundred plus degree days, because heat islands are definitely a thing.

To say those days were uncomfortable is an understatement.

A fan can be your best friend on such a hot day, but once you cross ninety or more degrees, it pushes hot humid air on you and while it is better than nothing, it still leads to some uncomfortable times.

Also without air on nights like that sleep can be hard to come by, anyplace your body touches the pillows, blankets, or even the bed becomes a spot where sweat will accumulate.

This leads to some very uncomfortable nights full of tossing and turning and very little sleeping.

In the eighties and nineties there was no air in the Chicago public schools either so there was no relief even when you were away from home.

Back then school ended for Summer vacation in mid or late June, so there were plenty of uncomfortable days in class sweating while learning about history or geography.

Beyond the long term battles once waged on my body by the overzealous sun, I’ve never been a big fan of the hot days for other reasons.

For one thing I am a very heavy sweater and of course on those hot days sweating is a part of the program.

Thing is I hate sweating and as I used to walk everywhere it made daily activities a chore and harder to accomplish, especially during those aforementioned hundred plus days.

It’s been made worse as several times in my life I’ve had a bit of a belly, so the times I was heavier I became self conscious of the fact that people might blame the sweating on the extra poundage.

Also I’m a fall baby for all the difference that might make and was born in the late October chill before those infamous Midwest winters so my thermostat seems to be tuned into the cold more than heat so although I love the weather of Fall and Spring (minus the possibility of severe weather!) Summer climates were never my favorite.

Of course I bring this up as it’s hot where I am currently, over ninety degrees and climbing as I’m writing this and it brought to mind all the ways I really am not a fan of really hot weather.

Some people actually like the heat of those sunny Summer days but of course those people are insane…I’m kidding, but seriously what is wrong with you?

On August 4th members attended Calhoun County’s 4-H Achievement Banquet. We are so proud of all of our 4-H members, but would like to give a special shout-out to these Intercoastal 4-H Club members for their hard work this year! (See photos elsewhere in this issue.)

McKenna Guevara: Gold Star Award Recipient Madden Guevara: Silver Star Award Recipient Dalton Garner: Bronze Star Award Recipient Kolt Leiker: Intercostal 4-H Club Member of the Year.

We can’t wait to get this year started, and we hope to see some new faces join our club this year! Our first meeting was held August 11th at 5:30 pm at the community center.

If you are interested in joining 4-H, please contact April Price at amprice912@gmail.com.

As a U.S. citizen, it is your right to vote, and your obligation to educate yourself to be an intelligent voter. If you are not registered to vote, below you will find all the information you need:

Who can vote

In the U.S., you can vote if you are:
• A U.S. citizen.
• A resident of the county where you submit the application.
• 18 years old or older on Election Day.
• Not a convicted felon (you may be eligible to vote if you completed your sentence, probation, or parole).
• You have not been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.

Texas voter registration

To vote in Texas, you must first register. There are many ways to register. No matter which way you choose, your county’s voter registrar must receive your application at least 30 days before an election.
Ways to register to vote:
• In-person. Visit your county’s Voter Registrar office.
• By mail. Pick up a voter registration application from your county’s Voter Registrar office, public libraries, government offices, or high schools.
• Online. Fill out your voter registration application through our online portal here, then print, sign, and mail it to your county’s Voter Registrar office.
• Visit VoteTexas.gov for more information
Update voter name or address
This free online service is available for registered Texas voters who have moved or changed their name and need to update their voter registration information with the Texas Secretary of State.
• Update your voter information
Prepare to vote
You may present one of the following approved forms of photo ID to vote in person in Texas:
• Texas Driver License
• Texas Election Identification Certificate
• Texas Personal Identification card
• Texas Handgun License
• U.S. Military identification card with the person’s photo
• U.S. Citizenship Certificate with the person’s photo
• U.S. Passport (book or card)

If you do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of these seven forms of photo ID, you may fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and present an alternate form of identification, such as your utility bill, a bank statement, a government check, or your voter registration certificate.

www.calhouncotx.org
Calhoun County Elections Admin
211 S Ann St Ste 103, Port Lavaca, TX 77979 (361) 553-4440

Ronald Ogilvie “Ronnie” Luster passed away in Houston on Saturday, the 27th of July 2024.

The “outdoors” always called Ronnie. He loved hunting and fishing with family and friends, and he worked to preserve the beauty around him as a passionate conservationist.

He was born in Houston on the 6th of December 1942, to Ronnie Luster and Leila Tarkington Luster. When he was three his family moved to Port O’Connor where his father owned a marina, and Ronnie fell in love with Port O’Connor life. When he was in the third grade his family moved to Acapulco, and his father worked as a professional photographer for the El Mirador Hotel. He captured many photographs of “the rich and famous,” including the marriage of Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd. Young Ronnie became fluent in Spanish, developed a flair for dancing, and became the only American to dive off the cliffs of El Mirador.

Ronnie attended St. Edwards Boys Boarding School for his junior and senior years of high school and his freshman year of college. He completed his college education at the University of Texas. He graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He concentrated on Marketing, and he was a born salesman. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Order and ran track for St. Edwards and the University of Texas.

Ronnie had a long career in the Commercial Property and Casualty Insurance business. His first job was with Liberty Mutual where he received excellent training. He enjoyed great relationships with many other insurance companies while combining selling insurance and “making friends.” His mantra was “Tell people what they need to know not what they want to hear.”

His passion for hunting and fishing guided his commitment to conservation. He wanted future hunters and fishermen to have the same joys he had experienced. The Coastal Conservation Association, CCA, was his primary interest. He was active in its founding and was a lifelong supporter. He was the first person to suggest and get adopted the Crab Trap Removal program for the Texas coast. He started a movement through CCA that has mobilized 1600 volunteers to remove over 20,000 abandoned crab traps. Other coastal states followed his lead. He became known as “the Crab Man,” and he won the first national award given by Field and Stream magazine for Conservation Hero of the Year. The program of Abandoned Crab Trap Removal continues every February. Ronnie’s involvement with CCA included positions on the CCA Texas Management committee and the National Insurance committee; he served as chairman of the CCA Texas Parks and Wildlife committee. He has also been associated with the Friends of the Port O’Connor Library and has served as a board member of the Guadalupe Blanco River Trust (GBRT.)

Ronnie is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Lynn Cunningham Luster; and his sons, Ron (Tammy) Luster, and Preston Luster both of Houston. He and Lynn also have four wonderful granddaughters, Samantha, Sloane, Stella, and Caroline Luster.

He loved hosting fishing gatherings in Port O’Connor on his airboat, and he taught his granddaughters how to cast after they saw the fish swimming. The family made great memories at Port O’Connor and in Nordheim at the Runge Ranch. Ronnie and Lynn enjoyed cruises with their travel group, and Ronnie’s favorite cruise was the Lewis and Clark on the Columbia River.

Two years ago Ronnie was diagnosed with MDS – Myelodysysplastic Syndrome. He was under the care of the wonderful professionals at Oncology Consultants in Memorial City. The family wants to thank Dr. Alex Nguyen and staff Vicki and Gracie for their excellent care.

A celebration in honor of the life of Ronnie Luster is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 17th of August, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.

For those unable to attend the service in-person, virtual attendance may be accessed by visiting Mr. Luster’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the “Join Livestream” icon on the service section. While there you may also share fond memories and words of comfort and condolences with his family by selecting the “Add a Memory” icon.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions may be made in his name to CCA Texas, 6919 Portwest Drive, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77024 or at CCATexas.org/donate.

Mary Frances Gonzales, age 69, of Port O’Connor, Texas passed away Tuesday, August 6, 2024. She was born in Port O’Connor, Texas December 20, 1954, to Enrique Flores and Gabriela Ureste. Mary enjoyed spending time with all her family including her husband, daughter, sons, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sisters, nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends. She enjoyed reading and taking care of everyone.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Enrique Flores and Gabriela Ureste and her sister, Inez Flores
.
She is survived by her husband, Ray Gonzales Sr.; Daughter, Bertha Gonzales Carreon (Pete); sons, Ray Gonzales Jr. (Renee) and Randy Gonzales (Erika). Grandkids, Danielle Gonzales Bourg (Adam), Cody Carreon, Nicholas Gonzales, Caitlynn Carreon, Daniel Gonzles, Aaliyah Gonzales; great grandchildren, Cole Bourg and Adaline Bourg.
She is also survived by her sisters, Gloria Flores, Theresa Flores, Patsy Flores, and Margaret Booker (Larry)
.
The family would like to thank Harbor Hospice for their exceptional care of Mary. The family would also like to thank all friends and extended family.

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

Cremation services Entrusted to Victoria Mortuary & Cremation Service, Inc. 361-578-4646.