My neighbors Parker and Patty are always telling me how proud they are to be a part of Port O Connor, Texas. They say it is a great community and so friendly. They are planning a trip to the grandson’s birthday next week, so they called to ask him if he had any birthday wishes. He helps them garden in POC each summer and especially loves veggies. His first wish was for Patty to bring him a big bunch of fried POC okra for his birthday. Little Paedyn says POC okra just tastes better. His second wish was for two birthday cakes, one chocolate and one strawberry. Why two his Grandy Parker asked. Because he knows Patty is allergic to strawberries and would not be able to make or eat that one. So, he wanted Parker to make the strawberry cake and Patty the chocolate cake. He then said if he can’t be in POC for his birthday, those three things would make it almost perfect. So, off to the party with a big bowl of POC grown fried okra and two birthday cakes they will go. Parker and Patty will make it happen. Happy Birthday Paedyn! Grandy and Grammy Love you!
Proud to be a part of Port O’Connor by Anne Key
Seadrift Appreciates Its Employees
“Best of the Best!”
At Seadrift City Hall four ladies stand out as the “Best of the Best!” Working hard to give the community of Seadrift the BEST in service, they are from left to right: Alice Romero, city clerk; Rebecca Hubbell, administrative assistant; Gabriela Torres, city secretary; and Marilyn Dufner, municipal court clerk. Thank you, ladies, for all you do! -Photo by Kenneth Reese
Seadrift City Crews
What makes a community special are the people who work in it! Working hard to make Seadrift what it is today are its city crews. Thank you, guys, for all that you do! -Tanya DeForest
Front row (L to R) Terrell Jones, Robert Bryant, Terry Maddux, Joe Lopez, Draven Adame
Back row (L to R) Dusty Youngblood, Josh Jeter, Albaro Torres, Larry Green -Photo by Kenneth Reese
Family Helpline
Texas Legal Services Center is a non-profit working towards justice for all Texas—no matter their ability to earn. Ultimately, TLSC provides legal counseling and advice on a variety of issues for free to people all over Texas. One of the most popular services is the Family Helpline, which helps people with cases from Texas Child Protective Services. The Family Helpline gets a high number of calls from Calhoun County. Some details below about the helpline:
• Free CPS-related legal information and education from experienced, child welfare attorneys—all over the phone. The Family Helpline is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Call 844-888-6565.
• The helpline is answered directly by child welfare attorneys. If one of our attorneys isn’t available, you can leave a voicemail—which will be returned within one business day.
• Callers can remain completely anonymous. That means we don’t need last names, addresses, social security numbers, birthdates, or children’s names in order to answer your cps-related questions.
• We talk to parents, relatives, caregivers, and community members—anyone who has a question about a child protective services case in Texas.
• CPS cases are complicated, confusing, and can have serious consequences for families. However, many families involved in a CPS matter do not have a right to a free attorney—the Family Helpline is here to fill that knowledge gap with free legal information and education.
School Students of the Week
Citizens of the Week at Port O’Connor School
Week ending January 18: PreK- Mia Blanco; K- Brynlen Eure; 1st- Reid Thomas; 2nd- Jeremiah Thomas; 3rd- Abygail Gonzalea; 4th- Gracie O’Shields; 5th- Kamyla Guzman
Week ending January 25: PreK- Cora Haschke; K- Torunn Short; 1st- Camren Hime; 2nd- Jakob Donaldson; 3rd- Pryncess Few; 4th- Mato Sanchez; 5th- Destiny Tovar
Week ending February 1: PreK- Mia Blanco; K- Trooper Sanchez; 1st- Pierre Wilburn; 2nd- Clara Stryker; 3rd- Laela Aranda; 4th- Connor Ferrell; 5th- Anthony Flores
Week ending February 8: PreK- Aurorah Null; K- Aliza Bean; 1st- Timothy Reneau; 2nd- Avery Gosnell; 3rd- Kea Tovar; 4th- Grace Brown; 5th- Lyric Lopez
Seadrift School’s Pirates of the Week
Week ending January 18: PreK- Paisley Pendergrass; K- Keeley Brumfield & Braylee Wooldridge; 1st – Symone Smith & Brileigh Phillips; 2nd- Tyler Henson; 3rd – Kiley Sexton Mohon & Preslei Haden; 4th- Marisol Banda & Lorena Torres; 5th- Caitlyn Griggs & Zoey Henning Junior High: Henderson- Abbie Cady; Cady- Allison Fowler; Sternadel – Jasmine Banda; Coach Sternadel – Layton Davenport; Franck- Kidron Lehtinen; Coach Lillge- Barbara Shannon; Hahn – Keaton Cady
Week ending January 25: PreK- Aaron Daley; K- Brooke Franklin & Ryder Rangel; 1st- Gilliana Gonzalez & John Glover; 2nd- Janiee Pendergrass; 3rd- Tristian Whiddon & Lathan Griggs; 4th- Keegan Goode & Amaya Stringo; 5th- Matthew Morgan & Kingston Cady Junior High: Cady- Derek Reyes; Coach Anderson- Nevaeh Rangel; Coach Lillge- Chelby Keel; Hahn- Israel Ramos
Week ending February 8: PreK- Jason Treumer; K- Sophia Huerta & Lucas Resendez; 1st- Ryan Gohlke & Osiris Calzada; 2nd- Lamar Williams; 3rd- Saige Carter & Brennan Gregory; 4th- Ashton Sternadel & Hunter McGill; 5th- Logyn Middaugh & Jaxson Key Junior High: Cady- Kathy Huerta; Coach Lillge- Brooke Franklin; Hahn- Tim Pham; Coach Sternadel- David Cano; Coach Anderson- Keegan Short; Franck- Caden Clendennen
What’s Up?
Feb. 15-17 Matagorda Bay Birdfest Palacios Matagordabaybirdfest.org
Sat., Feb. 16 Abandoned Crab Trap Removal thru Feb. 25 713-829-2852
Sat., Feb. 16 Youth Dance honoring Carly 6:00-9:00 pm Port O’Connor Community Center
Tues., Feb. 19 POCID Board Meeting 6:00 pm 39 Denman Drive, POC
Thurs., Feb. 21 Port O’Connor Service Club 10:00 am POC Community Center
Sat., Feb. 23 Mardi Gras Celebration (K-8th Grade) 10:00-Noon Port O’Connor Library
Sat., Feb. 23 Gumbo Fund Raiser for Bryan Redding starts 11:00 am Port O’Connor Community Center
Sat., March 2 Boy Scout BBQ Fund Raiser 4:00-7:00 pm Seadrift School Cafeteria
Mon., March 4 Republican Club 6:00 pm Grace Episcopal Church, Port Lavaca
Mon., March 4 Intercoastal 4-H Club 6:30 pm POC School Library
Tues., March 5 Seadrift Chamber of Commerce 6:00 pm First National Bank, Seadrift
Tues.,March 5 Seadrift City Council 7:00 pm Seadrift City Hall
Tues., March 5 Bunco 7:00 pm Port O’Connor Community Center
Thurs., March 7 Port O’Connor Service Club 10:00 am POC Community Center
Mon., March 11 Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce 6:30 pm POC Community Center
Tues., March 12 Hooked on Books Club alanehaardt@yahoo.com
Thurs., March 14 Learn About Butterflies 6:00-7:00 pm Port O’Connor Library
Sat., March 23 Humane Society Dinner, Dance & Action 8:00 – Midnight Bauer Community Center (Dinner 6-8 with reservations)
