Tracey Johnson

Stepping Up

Tracey Johnson is running for Seadrift Councilwoman in the May 1st City Election. She moved to Seadrift sixteen years ago to take a job with Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. Her job changed later when she went to work for Coastline Trailers. She has been an active member of the Seadrift Chamber, serving as an officer and, most recently, as the President. Also, Tracey is a volunteer with the Seadrift Volunteer Fire Department.

Tracey says she is running for Councilwoman to step up “to the next level” of her community involvement. City government is new to her, but she is eager to learn and serve Seadrift to the best of her abilities. She wants to work hard for the citizens of Seadrift and be their voice. Her vision is to make Seadrift one of the best small towns around. She wants to make a difference.

Kenneth Reese

A Seadrift Legacy

Kenneth Reese is running for Seadrift Councilman in the May 1st City Election. In his own right he is a Seadrift Legacy. Growing up in Seadrift, he worked various jobs and says he knows just about every person in town who was here before the 90’s. His family moved here in the 50’s and, even while Kenneth was working in Victoria, Seadrift always remained his home. Kenneth calls Seadrift his hometown because “I love this town, the bay, the people, and the easy-going life.”
It was in 2017 when Kenneth started serving as a Seadrift Councilman. He has worked in various departments: The Harbor, Solid Waste, and currently Public Utilities. Kenneth says, “I would like to continue my job as Councilman as I feel I am very much in tune and up to date on the still very fluid operations facing our city at the present time. Most of the FEMA projects will be coming to a head in the near future… I would like to be a part of it.”

Kristine Metcalf

A Greater Voice

Kristine Metcalf is running for Seadrift Councilwoman in the May 1st City Election. Ten years ago Seadrift became her home. She calls Seadrift a “little quaint town” that she fell in love with. Soon after Kristine moved here she started getting involved with different organizations. The first was Seadrift’s Centennial Committee. The Seadrift Chamber of Commerce became next as she held offices which included president and treasurer. She also volunteers at the Feed My Sheep food distribution.

If elected, Kristine says she will “make sure that all residents will have a greater voice in city matters”. She has twenty plus years of global corporate experience and because of her line of work she says “I’m passionate about people and advocate for them”. Christine also says “when you love something you step up, you fight for it and do whatever it takes to make it better.”

June Cantrell

Making Her Mark

June Cantrell is running for Seadrift Councilwoman in the May 1st City Election. Having lived in Seadrift for twenty-three years, she has made her mark in the community in three different ways- humanitarian, ministerial, and agricultural. June worked for I.C.A.R.E., a hurricane relief organization. Over the years she served in a pastoral role in local churches. She continues to fill that role as needed. and she worked for the County Extension office.

In 2013 June began serving as Seadrift Councilwoman. She has served in various departments as well as being mayor pro tem. June stated: “I’ve always been interested in government on many levels. I like to know the “why” behind decisions made for the public.” She also said that while acting as mayor pro tem during Hurricane Harvey that, having seen the destruction it caused, her passion is fueled to work hard for the people of Seadrift.

Geoff Hunt

The Captain

Geoff Hunt is running for Seadrift Councilman in the May 1st City Election. We have dubbed him “The Captain” since he has been a Tug Boat Captain for the Port of Point Comfort for several years and takes great pride in his profession. Geoff calls Seadrift his home since he was raised here since he was a boy. He has been on the Seadrift City Council for five years.

The reasons Geoff wants to be on the City Council are that he wants “to be part of the solutions to issues our town faces and participate in this way in keeping our small community as one of the best places to raise our families.” Geoff, also, states he is “committed to protect your interests and values as a resident. I hope you will allow me to continue voicing your concerns and to be able to help on the development and constant improvement that this wonderful town requires.”

For many years, it has been a Dolphin Talk tradition to honor our graduates each year. If you are graduating from high school, college, or trade school this Spring, we would like to honor you by featuring your photo in our May issue.

Please send a photo and some info about yourself, including your city, school, parents’ names, special interests in school, and any plans for the future. You may email to: dolphin1@tisd.net; mail to PO Box 777, Port O’Connor, TX 77982; or drop by our office at 2232 Monroe, Port O’Connor by May 10th.

Please call 361-408-0807 if you need further information. Looking forward to hearing from you!

U.S. Congressman Michael Cloud

On Wednesday, March 31, of this year, I had the opportunity to meet Congressman Michael Cloud when I attended a Reception at the Red Barn in Port Lavaca, hosted by cloudforcongress and members of the Calhoun County Republican Club. Congressman Cloud is a Constitutional Conservative, representing the 27th Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. Congress. He earned his congressional seat by defeating his Democratic opponent by a large margin in a special election on June 30, 2018. He serves on the Committee on Oversight and Reform as well as the Committee on Science, Space and Technology and is up for reelection in 2022.

I pulled into the nearly full parking area at the Red Barn, not knowing what to expect for the coming hour and a half, made my way to the door, took a deep breath (it has been a while since I attended such a function), and entered to find nearly 100 folks already mingling, including local officials and business owners such as Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace, Judge Nancy Pomykal, Calhoun County Clerk, Anna Goodman, Seadrift Mayor, Elmer DeForest, Chris Mapp of Coastal Bend Marine and Russell Cain of Russell Cain Real Estate. Connie Hunt and Anne Burt offered a warm and gracious welcome and made sure I was introduced to David Longoria, Congressman Cloud’s Campaign Director, along with Campaign Manager, Bunni Pounds. Before I knew it I was standing in front of Congressman Cloud who generously agreed to sit down with me after the event for a one-on-one interview, a pleasant surprise for which I was grateful but sadly, unprepared (I was only there to quietly observe and report those observations – who knew I would need questions prepared – stage fright instantly set in!)

I gratefully took a seat as others did the same and readied themselves to hear what Congressman Cloud had to say. Russell Cain led us all in a word of prayer and the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance before introducing David Hall, Pct. 1 Commissioner who led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas Flag then turned the microphone over to the Honorable Richard Meyer who introduced Congressman Cloud and welcomed him up for a brief well-received speech regarding our country’s needs and the work we must do to remain the “Land of the Free”. The congressman ended his speech with a moving quote about freedom from former President, Ronald Reagan, then took questions from those in attendance who had them.

Given that the Reception had run a bit over and believing the Congressman most likely had a busy schedule the following day, I cowardly bypassed the one-on-one interview (I had formulated but one question, after all) but asked that Congressman Cloud email his answer to my question, said my goodnights, breathed a sigh of relief, and headed for the door.

The following is the question asked and Congressman Cloud’s answer, received by email from Nicole Woodbright, Communications Assistant for Congressman Michael Cloud:

What would you say to your constituents who feel that given the current political landscape, there’s no point in voting because their vote doesn’t matter?

“This nation was established by people willing to give their lives so that their children could be free. God forbid we let discouragement give birth to complacency and not take up the honor and duty of participating in elections.”

Spring Time On The Island

Greetings from the island everyone. I hope that all of you are doing well and enjoying this nice Spring weather. Spring is my favorite time of the year on the island, when the little field flowers start to bloom and give the island a little color. The green wild pea bushes start leafing out and display their little yellow flowers, and even the cactus start budding out and give some color. I also love sitting out on the porch and watching the little hummingbirds come to the feeders, and seeing the different beautifully colored migrating birds as they stop over during their journey north.

Of course Spring is also the time of year that my tomato plants started from seed are 5-6 weeks old and ready to be planted in the raised beds and large tubs, which I just recently did. I’m trying my usual favorites this year, Big Zac, Steakhouse and the delicious Sun Gold cherry size, and also three new varieties, Bumblebee Pink, Red Deuce and Bodacious. The advantage of starting from seeds is that your variety selection is so much greater than being at the mercy of whatever the nurseries or stores have as started plants. True, it’s a little more involved and a learning process in the beginning, but the satisfaction of eating a delicious homegrown tomato that you started yourself from a tiny seed, is very rewarding and satisfying.

The one negative aspect of the Spring season on the island is the emergence of rattlesnakes, the only poisonous snake I’ve ever seen on the island. The months of March-June brings the most sightings, by far, of those deadly slithering serpents. The sunny warmer days bring them out to warm up in order to maintain their body temperature since they are cold-blooded. It has to become a matter of habit out here on the island, especially during the Spring months, to really pay close attention where you walk or reach for with your hands. Yes, I am well aware that snakes have a place in our ecosystem, and I have no problem whatsoever leaving alone all non-poisonous snakes out here, but I’ve gotta draw the line towards those that are capable of severely hurting or killing myself or my pets. It’s simply not gonna happen.

The chickens, ducks and guineas are all doing just fine. This is actually the longest period of time, 4 years, that I have kept the same batch of chickens without replacing them with new baby chicks. I’m doing so because they are still laying very well since Spring arrived, averaging 7-10 eggs a day from 14 older chickens. I believe that feeding them a high 20% protein Ful-O-Pep laying pellet feed these past years has really made a difference. Plus every evening I let all of the fowl out to roam the yard for bugs and stuff. Happy island chickens.

Well, that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and think about growing a few tomatoes, you will be so glad that you did!

A Big Seadrift Welcome to its first full-time female officer, Miranda Castillo! Seadrift is her first assignment as a “stand-alone” police officer. She started with the Seadrift Police Department in November 2020. She completed her first ninety days of on-sight training with Sergeant Mike Henry and Lieutenant Louis Warren. Miranda says she enjoys being a part of a small town community. Her motto is “others first”.
-Tanya DeForest