Since Warrior’s Weekend XII is coming up in May, the 20th to be exact, it is time to get our fundraising efforts in “high gear”. One of our key efforts is our Musters and the one in Calhoun County is in a little over a couple of weeks at the VFW in Port Lavaca, February 3rd. This is a smaller version of the Muster in Victoria which will be held April 7th, but very important to our efforts, nonetheless. To keep our mission going, we believe it to remain an important one-as do our heroes, we need your help.

Our doors will open at the VFW at 2pm for casino games, raffles and a silent auction. This year we will offer Black Jack, Roulette and Craps. Should be fun.

Dinner will be served beginning around 5:30, our program honoring local heroes about 6 pm and then the live auction starts. If you have not been to one of our Musters, you will not be disappointed if you attend. Tables for 10 are selling for $500 and individual tickets will sell for $60 each. You may contact me at 361-935-7414 or at warriorswknd@yahoo.com

We are still in need of items to offer at both Musters such as auction and raffle items. Hunting trips, guns, fishing trips or whatever you think might be a great fundraising item. We just recently opened up our registration for our trip and we had over 250 registrations in the first 24 hours. That was from a simple announcement on Facebook.

We expect to bring in between 600 and 700 heroes this year including, for the first time, those wounded in conflicts before 9/11. If you are interested in registering for our event in May, go to www.warriorsweekend.org or download our App to do so. If you have trouble registering, please contact us directly.

When you have wounded heroes standing in front of a crowd stating that they would probably be dead or in prison if not for Warrior’s Weekend, you know you are doing something good. Please be a part of this. Let us know if you have something in mind to donate and we’ll be glad to pick it up. Please try and sponsor a table at the Muster and enjoy a steak dinner and open bar while supporting our wounded American heroes.

Ron Kocian, President, Warrior’s Weekend

End of Year Festivities

Greetings from the island everyone, hope all of you are doing well and staying warm. It has been typical south Texas winter weather, bundled up and freezing for a few days, and then back to shorts and T-shirt after that.

The holiday season is a happy memory now as we begin a new year. We had our first amazing snowfall in thirteen years last month, the early morning hours of Dec. 8. It snowed on the island, however not really enough to accumulate and leave everything covered in a pretty white. But I know from pictures that POC had a nice beautiful white snowfall that everyone was able to see and enjoy in the morning.

I attended my first POC Chamber of Commerce Christmas party at the Sanctuary last month. It was a great get-together with delicious food and the opportunity to meet other locals. I highly recommend joining the Chamber to help support your community.

I also attended the local volunteer Fire Dept annual chili dinner out at the Community Center, where the various raffle proceeds help fund and maintain the Fire Dept. I was lucky enough to win a nice shotgun scabbard in one of the drawings.

I was also at the Fire Dept. last month when Santa made a visit there, as he rode in the front seat of the big red fire truck. Children lined up for their turn to visit with Santa and tell him of their wish list. Each of the children then were lucky enough to take a ride on the fire truck, with big smiles telling of their enjoyment.
I had never been to Cuero’s Christmas in the Park light display, so last month I rode along with Britton, Susan and Margie, and we made the drive. The weather was very nasty in POC, but cleared up somewhat as we arrived. Oh my goodness, we saw a beautiful display of Christmas lights and decorations as we slowly drove through the park. It really was wonderful and we drove through a second time to make certain we saw everything. We were happy to give a donation at the end of the route, and we look forward to making this Cuero trip an annual nighttime outing. We then stopped and had a nice Mexican food meal and celebrated Margie’s birthday.

Corky and I spent Christmas Eve with Mom and Dad in Seadrift, and had coffee with them Christmas morning, before heading back to POC and visiting with Susan and Britton, and then heading back to the island. Corky and I then stayed on the island and brought in a quiet New Year, staying up just long enough to see the ball drop in New York Times Square.

All the island Christmas lights and decorations have been taken down and put away, and I’m already ordering more for a bigger and brighter display for this next year.

I treated myself to a new coffee maker recently, a shiny red Keurig. I love that thing! It’s very simple with no mess or cleanup, and having a nice assortment of coffee choices to make is great. And it’s perfect for making hot chocolate too. Yay!

Right on cue, the winter tides have been very low lately, requiring me to actually get on the bow and pole my Haynie Bigfoot out of the lagoon cut to leave and return to the island. Just part of winter island life out here.

Well, that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and have a great day.

Donated items at the Treasure Chest

In Seadrift, Texas there is an amazing place with amazing people who care about others even while experiencing loss and devastation in their own personal lives.
On the corner of West Oakland and 9th (across from Family Dollar)a building that was a game room is now a ray of hope in Seadrift called “The Treasure Chest”.

Sylvia Rodriguez has opened a place where the hurting can find a refuge and hope for those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Daily you will find food, water, clothes, dog food, baby items, and much more for all that are in need.

In addition to all the help they have been giving since the hurricane, they helped to furnish Christmas gifts for those in need and participated in Seadrift’s drive to send supplies and Christmas boxes to our Service men and women.

Weather permitting, the Treasure Chest is open at 8:00 a.m. most weekdays. If you get a chance, listen to you hearts and stop by the Treasure Chest with a donation or just an encouraging word.

Let’s help people who are helping others in Seadrift.

Dakota Smith, right, of Seadrift receives his Basic Peace Officer Certificate from Victoria College Law Enforcement Academy Director James Martinez during the Dec. 14 graduation ceremony at VC’s Emerging Technology Complex.

VICTORIA – Dakota Smith of Seadrift was one of 12 graduates of Victoria College’s Law Enforcement Academy to receive their Basic Peace Officer Certificate during a ceremony on Dec. 14 at VC’s Emerging Technology Complex.

All 12 graduates have passed the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement examination to become licensed peace officers.

Jackson County Sheriff A.J. Louderback was the commencement speaker for the event.

VC offers two academies a year – one during the fall semester and another during the spring semester. Both academies are held Monday through Friday with classes meeting 8 to 10 hours a day.

For more information on VC’s Law Enforcement Academy, call (361) 572-6449 or email James.Martinez@VictoriaCollege.edu.