Organized efforts led by three groups have resulted in the collection of over 1000 derelict traps from area bays during the 10-day closure to commercial crabbing. Mandated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the purpose of the closure each February is to allow identification and removal of traps that have been lost or displaced and are not being fished.

The San Antonio Bay Foundation, led by director Dan Alonso, concentrated efforts in the Guadalupe River, Traylor’s Cut, Guadalupe Bay, Mission Lake, Hynes Bay and on the west side of SA Bay from Austwell. Efforts were guided by aerial survey at the beginning of the closure period. Participating organizations included Mission Aransas National Estuary Research Reserve, Texas Water Development Board, The Nature Conservancy, Colville Ranch, Swan Lake Ranch, Dow Chemical volunteers, USAA volunteers, Guadalupe Blanco River Authority and River Trust, and several non-affiliated individuals.

The San Antonio Bay Partnership, led by Chair Allan Berger, focused its efforts on the Port O’ Connor area, both Matagorda Bay and Espiritu Santo Bay, and into San Antonio Bay to Panther Point and the Victoria Barge Canal from Charlie’s Bait Camp. Boats and crews from CCA chapters in Port O’Connor, Victoria and San Antonio were represented, as were members of the Mid-Coast Texas Master Naturalists and the Coastal Bend Paddling Club.

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge had crews collecting traps from Panther Point in San Antonio Bay to the west through Mesquite, Carlos, Dunham, Sundown, and St. Charles Bays and along the Refuge shorelines, according to Refuge Biologist Andrew Stetter.

Additionally, other interested individuals picked up traps and brought them to the collection points.

According to Norman Boyd, San Antonio Bay Ecosystem Leader for TPWD, an estimated total of 987 traps from the San Antonio Bay system and 54 traps from Matagorda Bay were collected in his bins over the 10-day closure period. That compares with 575 collected in 2017. While Hurricane Harvey resulted in more displaced traps, the success of the program was driven by an organized approach by 20 boats and 49 volunteers over the closure period. Boyd also believes, that once the results are finalized, the San Antonio Bay system will have collected more traps that the rest of the State combined – a testament to the efforts of the three organizations leading the efforts.

Boyd states that the removal of these traps is important to maintain the health of the bays, both ecologically and aesthetically. The derelict traps that are in the water continue to fish, attracting crabs and fish that then die and attract more crabs and fish – an ongoing killing cycle. These traps are also hazard to boats and propellers. The traps on the ongoing killing cycle. These traps are also a hazard to boats and propellers. The traps on the shore are unsightly trash.

The bays are now open again to crab fishing until February 2019 when volunteer efforts will again be needed to assist in picking up derelict traps. If you missed this years’ efforts but want to be included next year, contact Allan Berger at allanrberger@comcast.net or Dan Alonso at dalonso@sabay.org to get a reminder. They are confident you will find the effort interesting, rewarding, and fun.

Seadrift School celebrated Dr. Seuss’ Birthday by Reading Across America. Students wore their pajamas and had visitors read Dr. Seuss books to the class throughout the day. Cat in the Hat (members of the Harbor in Port Lavaca, Texas) visited each classroom. Dr. Seuss’ literature has played an important role in todays’ classrooms.

Speedy Stop cooked green eggs and ham for the POC students

Fantastic Teeth Program
Seadrift Masonic Lodge Number 1098 presented the Port O’ Connor, Seadrift, and Tivoli Elementary School’s First Graders with Dental Hygene Kits as part of the Annual Masonic Home and School Fantastic Teeth Program. A short presentation was made explaining the importance of keeping the teeth and mouth in good health. Teachers assisting were Ms.Leanne Hribek in Port O’Connor, Ms. Riley, Ms Christy, Ms Estrada, and School Nurse Ms Goode in Seadrift.

Pictured above are Port O’Connor first graders.

Hope High School students were recently visited by a representative from Texas A & M. They were informed of the process of applying and all of the offerings the university had. The students appreciated the presentation and look forward to what the future entails for them. On February 23, twelve of the students were given a guided tour of the University of Houston Victoria Campus.

Intercostal 4-H Club had our meeting at the Calhoun County 4-H Round Up Monday March 5th, 2018. There we did a classroom comedy skit. The roles were Rylie Ragusin: Sam, McKenna Guevara: Mrs. Guevara, Antonio Gloria: Ivan, and Elanah Sanchez: Piper.

Brooklyn Redmond: Bertha. McKenna, Rylie, Antonio, Nicholas Ragusin, and Christina Ragusin entered in the Junior photography competition and all placed and some are going to district in April 2018.

Officer elections will be coming up in May. Our next meeting will be April 2nd, 2018 at the Port O’Connor Elementary Library at 6:30 pm.

Senior and Junior Intercoastal 4-H club members performed a Classroom Comedy skit at the Calhoun County 4-H Roundup. The group practiced weekly for a month before performing for a packed audience at the Extension Office auditorium on Monday, March 5.
Cast (left to right): Antonio Gloria (5th grade); Rylie Ragusin (5th grade); Brooklyn Redmond (9th grade); McKenna Guevara (5th grade); (Not pictured): Elanah Sanchez -Roxanne Ochoa

Total registered voters in all 16 precincts:    12,693

Ballots Cast: Republican Party            2,910 Total   (1,371 Early Voting; 1,539 Election Day)

Ballots Cast: Democratic Party            669 Total    (369 Early Voting; 300 Election Day)

Contests of Note:

State Senator Ted Cruz led with 1,822 votes

Governor Greg Abbott led with 1,856 votes

US Representative Dist. 27 Votes from Calhoun County (not districtwide): Christopher Mapp 798; Michael Cloud 655; Bech Braun 306

County Judge: Richard Meyer 1,115

County Commissioner, Precinct 4: Gary D. Reese 450; William Wooldridge 249 (requires run-off)

Manning the polls in Seadrift were (l-r) Sissy Costello, Tanya DeForest. Sherry Taylor, and Sheralyn Maddux, They reported 350 persons voted in the Republican Primary.

Roberta (Bobbie) Lee Scott, age 84, was reunited with her husband Delmer Scott and son Rodney Loden on March 2, 2018. She passed away at home as she wished.

Bobbie was born in Harlingen, TX on July 31, 1933. She was raised in the valley and briefly in Arkansas, then returned to Texas. After high school she married Bill Loden. They had two children, Terri Loden Maxwell and Rodney Loden (deceased). They moved to Port O’Connor in 1976 and ran their first bait stand. They then purchased the old “Pat’s Ally” and built Uncle Bill’s Marina.

Upon her marriage to Delmer Scott, the bait stand was renamed Bobbie’s Bait. She and Delmer ran it for over 20 years. Upon retirement from the bait business they bought Powderhorn R.V. Park in Indianola. Bobbie and Delmer treasured their dear friends in Port O’Connor and Powderhorn.

Bobbie is survived by her daughter, Terri Loden Maxwell and husband Terry; grandchildren, Chad (Robin), Chris (Nita) and Kyle (Kati); and four great-grandchildren plus one on the way. She is also survived by her sister, Joan Upchurch; brother, Don Baker; numerous nieces and nephews; Delmer’s children, Shelly Edeburn, David Scott (Mandy), Jimmy Scott (Mary) and 6 great-grandchildren, all of whom she thought of as her own. She also had an “adopted” son, Maurucio, whom she loved dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Orland and Jewel Baker; her beloved husband, Delmer Scott and son, Rodney Loden.

Per Bobbie’s wishes, her ashes will be spread in the Texas Hill Country. Memorial will be private. Remember Mom as she was and keep on playing her games and have a drink or two in her honor.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com.