Mon., Sept. 20      Calhoun County 4-H Night 5:00 – 7:00 pm  Bauer Exhibit Building
Mon., Sept. 20 & 27    Kids for Christ  6:00 – 7:00 pm  First Baptist Church Seadrift
Tues., Sept. 21        Seadrift Chamber of Commerce  6:00 pm   Seadrift Train Station
Wed., Sept. 22 & 29    TEAM Kids  5:30 – 7:00 pm First Baptist Church Port O’Connor
Wed., Sept. 22        See You At The Pole  7:00 am  Port O’Connor Elementary
Sat., Sept. 25        Seadrift Market Days  8:00 – Noon     Seadrift Civic Center
Sat., Sept. 25        BAY PRAISE   6:00 pm   Seadrift Bayfront Pavilion
Sat., Oct. 2        MEGA GARAGE SALE  8:00 – Noon  Port O’Connor Community Center
Mon., Oct. 4        The Magic of Chester Island   6:00 – 7:30 pm  Port O’Connor Library
Tues., Oct. 5        Bunco  7:00 pm  Port O’Connor Community Center
Each Wed. in Oct.    Coffee & Conversation   8:00 – 9:00 am   Port O’Connor Library
Thurs., Oct. 7        Port O’Connor Service Club  10:00 am  POC Community Center
Sat., Oct. 9        Farmers Market  8:00 – Noon   King Fisher Beach Pavilion
Sat., Oct. 9        Spooky Slime Day  10:00 – 11:30 am    Port O’Connor Library

The rescued trio with Jeff (far left) and Ashley Rainsosek of Beeville (far right), their rescuers.

July 23rd I was looking forward to a fun-filled day of fishing in the Gulf with Dora and Scotty. We reached the 9-mile marker and fished a while and did not catch any. We decided to go fish for red snapper, so we settled in for a 1-2 hour boat ride out. The report for the day was 1-3 foot seas, but as the day progressed we were seeing 3-5 foot waves.

Some time later, maybe 45 minutes into the boat ride, Scotty was concerned the boat was having a problem. As he came to the back of the boat we saw the boat taking on water.
Here we were maybe 18-20 miles out in the Gulf and definitely were not expecting this to happen. Scotty said, “Get the life vests and get to the front of the boat. We are going down.”

When I rushed to get the life vests, the water was knee-deep in the hull, I started praying and continued praying throughout the rest of the day. Scotty emptied the Yeti ice chest, grabbed a few bottles of water, and sent out distress signals as we went to the front of the boat. Now we were clinging to the railing, as the back of the boat was completely submerged. Scotty somehow tied the Yete to the boat (who knew a Yeti ice chest would float). as the boat was tipping to the side. We were huddled, still clinging to the railing, and were then thrust into the water. Dora kept telling me do not let go of the Yeti and stay together!

As we surfaced, there we were, in 3-5 foot swells, swallowing saltwater, hanging on to one another with waves crashing over us. We were secured to the Yeti, attached to the boat which was submerged upside down in the water with a portion of the hull sticking up.

Scotty told us that this boat was guaranteed not to sink completely. OK!! So as we were riding the 3-5 foot swells after some time, when Scotty was convinced the boat was not going to sink completely, he told us he was going to get up on the boat. It wasn’t easy with the boat being slippery and nothing to hang on to, but he was determined and now he sat straddling the upside down boat as the waves continued to crash over us. He looked at me and said, “It’s your turn.”

I was thinking there was no way that was happening. I made several unsuccessful attempts. I told Scotty I could not do it. He said to try one more time and use the waves to help propel me up. As I attempted one more time, he was able to reach out and help pull me up as he was balancing himself on the boat.

Here Scotty and I sit straddled across the bottom of the boat with Dora still clinging to the Yeti as we fell into the rhythm of the waves as they crashed over us. Now we needed to help Dora up on the boat. Let me mention that Dora is over 80 years old! She has been in the water since the boat went down probably about an hour.

After a brief struggle, Dora was lying across the boat nauseous and throwing up because she had swallowed so much saltwater. After some time, Dora was able to get to a sitting position So here we are Scotty, Dora, and I sitting, straddled across the upside-down boat, looking at the vastness of the Gulf.

We watched as a big ship in the distance slowly faded away. We also saw a fishing boat go by but they did not see us. Again Scotty was sending distress calls and SOS. (Later we found out they never reached the Coast Guard.)

As time passed, we settled into the rocking of the waves, sitting straddled on the boat, realizing how uncomfortable it was as we could not find a position that did not hurt, but glad we were out of the water thanks to Scotty.

As I continued to pray to God, I started realizing the severity of our present circumstances and looking in every direction and seeing water and waves, more water and waves, I asked God, “When are we going to get rescued? Are we going to be here ‘til dark, through the night – days?”

When my thoughts turned to thinking about sharks, I started singing Amazing Grace. When I sang the verses and ran out of words, I started humming. As I looked out over the water we saw a boat. Scotty took his life vest off and started waving it in the air and they were able to see the yellow reflective color. We had such a huge sigh of relief as we watched the boat coming toward us. We were PRAISING GOD and THANKING HIM!

I am so thankful that God gave Scotty the determination and strength to get us up on the boat, (I might mention that he had supernatural strength to do so.) and thankful that with Dora’s iron clad grip on my arm as we were holding on to the Yeti, there was no way I was going to drift away.

Boat (bottom-up) in the water

Rescued Boat

-Photo by Bill Tigrett

On July 15, officers of the Austin Police Department presented an American flag that had flown over the Department Headquarters to Josie’s Restaurant. Josie was also presented a plaque from the ADP Chief of Police.

These were awarded in thanks to Josie’s and its crew for all their support at the last two Health and Wellness Fishing Retreats. Josie’s donated all the great food for the two three-day retreats for 15 Police Officers in each retreat.

These fishing retreats are held to help alleviate the stress that officers in Austin face in these difficult times, and let them know how much their service is appreciated.
The next Health and Wellness Fishing Retreat will be held on September 9 through 12, hosting twelve officers.

Pictured above: John Collins, Event Organizer; Sergeant Tim Kresta; Josie Covarrubias, co-founder of Josie’s Restaurant; Senior Chaplain Rick Randall; Kaitlyn Rice; Joe Newson, Co-owner of Josie’s Restaurant.

Clint and Corky

Enduring the Heat and Storms
Greetings from the island everyone! I sure hope that all of you are doing dandy, and are surviving this brutal and typical south Texas summer that we are having. Even though I don’t really need any more rain right now, especially 4-5” at a time, I am thankful for the occasional showers that the island has been receiving lately as it keeps the temps a tad cooler and bearable. I pretty much just sit outside on the covered porch during the hottest parts of the day, drinking flavored water or sweet iced tea. Ice is an invaluable commodity out here during the hot summer months!

The older I have become, it seems as though I simply cannot tolerate the heat like I could in my younger years. I was 38 when I began this island life endeavor, and that was nearly 22 years ago. Thank goodness over the last 16 of those years of living out here full time, my robust and aging body has acclimated to not having air conditioning. Of course I know from the way that he looks at me (the exact way that Barnacle did , Corky is saying, “Come on already human, get some dang AC out here!” I have him a soft dirt area under one of the shaded decks, and he keeps digging down to find cool dirt and then plops down there I also give him a hose-down fresh water cool bath during the day. I’m not gonna lie, I do enjoy the AC when I make my trips into town, and Corky certainly does as well.

Well, we are dead center into the stormy “H” season now, the time of year that I keep a close watch on the weather and tropics, and anything that enters the Gulf. I do my best to stay as prepared as possible, at least for any minor or low level tropical storms. But honestly, if the right storm makes it’s way to us, and hits in the right spot, there is very little preparation that is gonna make a difference. A barrier island is the first line of defense in protecting the mainland shoreline, so the islands always take the brunt of the damage. But hey, that’s just the way it is, it’s part of the solitude lifestyle that I so much enjoy. . . so I’ll take that gamble and soak in the happiness every single year that I’m still out here.

Well that’s gonna be it from the island for now. The 40+ inches of rain since April has been like steroids for the grass growing out here, so gotta go get some yards mowed before Labor Day weekend. Everyone take care and stay hydrated in this heat. Have a great day!

Corky and I took an early morning beach golf cart ride/walk before it turned too miserably hot, and before I got started on my next article. We picked up a few treasures, including brain beans, sea hearts and a brown nicker, and some pretty sharks eye snails and two beautiful apple snail seashells. Also an olive and scotch bonnet shell, and a teddy bear. (and a Florida Rocksnail below the bear) -Clint Bennetsen

Ranier Brigham
“Texas Proud”

Ranier Brigham is “Texas Proud.” As you read his story, you will understand why.

It was the 1880’s. The location was northeastern Hunt County. The state was Texas. A community was born bearing the last name of a slave owner, Robert Neyland. Ranier Brigham’s great grandfather, John Brigham, bought his freedom from Neyland and “Neylandville” came into being.

Ranier’s great grandfather was known as “Big John.” “Big John” and others ended up forming a farmer’s co-op, which built a general store and a cotton gin which in turn helped the community purchase a wheat drill and a wheat-harvesting machine. It is believed that Neylandville was the home of the first black school in Texas.

Ranier’s father, Richard Brigham, was born in historic Texana, Texas. The old townsite of Texana which was once a thriving town in the 1800’s, is no more. It is now covered by Lake Texana.
Richard Brigham served in the Army and was in Europe during World War II. He became one of the first black master plumbers in Texas.

Ranier’s mother, Travis Brigham, was born in Bloomington. Richard Brigham used to take his son, Ranier, fishing all over the Texas Gulf Coast.

Ranier has been married to his wife, Vicky, for twenty-five years. They have two children and six grandchildren. They have been living in Seadrift since 1992.

Ranier is a 1975 Victoria High School graduate. He retired from Union Carbide in 2002 as a pipe-fitter. He has served as a Seadrift Councilman for eleven years. He is currently over Public Safety which is Seadrift’s Police Department and Volunteer Fire Department, and Streets and Drainage. For twenty years Ranier has been a full-time fishing guide. He, also, is a man of many talents: rigger, machinist, pipe draftsman, and industrial maintenance. Oh, and don’t forget. He is “Texas Proud!”