Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the people who suffered loss throughout this horrific storm event.

POCID prepared a plan on how to bring the water and sewer system back into service after the storm had passed and was safe for our operators to perform their duties. The system was brought back on line in a manner to prevent any more damage to equipment and to protect personnel from harm.

We wish to thank all the people of Port O Connor for their patience and cooperation and the praises for a job well done.

The staff of USW Utility Group wish to thank Port O Connor Improvement District Board Members for their assistance throughout this storm event. They were working out in the field right alongside USW Utility Group operators. Their assistance was most helpful during a time in need.

Residents of POC, some water meters were shut off after the storm due to broken water lines. Please check your property and if your line was broken please call our office 361-983-2652.

Please note to receive an alert in regard to POCID activities, please sign up at our website pocmud.org. It only takes a few minutes and then you will receive alerts in regard to water, sewer, storm events, outages, etc. Please sign up.. all it takes is an email address.

Call our office at 361-983-2652 for any questions.

Our trash bin (Roll Off) is located at the POCID Wastewater Plant.

The Next time for the Roll Off will be October 7, 2017

Thank you,
POCID

Harry Pond

Harry Paulson Pond Sr. passed away August 29, 2017 at 88 years of age. Harry was born in Faribault, MN on April 2, 1929. He attended the University of Houston where he met the love of this life, Carolyn Harris. They were married June 12, 1949.

Harry was the divisional sales manager of Sears & Roebuck when he left the store after 29 years. He became a life and health insurance agent until he retired to his much loved home overlooking Matagorda Bay in Port O’Connor, TX. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved being out in his boat catching trout and redfish in the bays. Harry loved people and never met a stranger.

He leaves behind his wife of 68 years, Carolyn Harris Pond, his sons Harry Jr (wife Marilyn), Ritchey (wife Nancy), Randy and daughter Roxanne Miller (husband Robert). Also one brother, John David Dodd (wife Betty) and one sister Terri Story, brother-in-law Wayne Sheppard, two granddaughters, Ashley Williams and Erin Williams, one grandson, Joel Pond and four great granddaughters, Courtney Pond, Sarah Pond, Avery Pond, Lacey Pond and two great grandsons, Connor Smith, and Preston Pond as well as numerous nieces nephews and extended family and dear friends.

Preceding him in death is his beloved sister, Angel Shepherd.

Harry appreciated God’s creation and loved spending time outside with his family. He shared the Bible’s promise of a future resurrection to a paradise earth. He had confidence in Jesus words at John 5:28,29 when he said, “Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out.”

A Memorial Service was held on September 9th at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 700 West Fairgrounds Rd, Rosenberg, TX.

“A Thing of the Past”

The older I get, I have time to think of the past and compare it to today. My mind goes back to the days when a doctor made house calls.

There is no telling how many babies this doctor delivered at home. The nearest hospital was at Victoria, too far to go to have their babies and no money anyway.

This doctor came to our house and delivered all eight of Mama’s babies. I was the third born. Every time he came to our house, I would say to him, “Did you bring me a baby sister this time?”

“No, I am sorry, I brought you another baby brother.” This same happened five times.

I did have diptheria when I was three years old. Mama said this doctor came and sat by my bedside for three days and nights and watched over me. I think he must have been part angel. He did not know whether he would get paid or not.

Back in that day and time, he did get paid with fresh vegetables from the garden, chicken eggs, fresh milk and butter, etc.

Doc Ryon and wife are buried here in the Seadrift Cemetery. She had to be part angel herself.

Seadrift has been blessed to have two people like this living here in this “little city by the sea”
.
Dorothy Wilson
Seadrift

Here is a hurricane awakening, our water and sewer directors are not up to the job of planning how to make sure that the people of Port OConnor have safe water and sewer as long as possible before the storm and as quickly as possible after the storm. Fact: both vacuum stations have back up generators, the sewer plant and water plant also have back up generators. They should have been maintained to be in good working order, they were not and the directors knew that. They did nothing it, there should have been a crew lined up for after the storm to take care of issues. The sewer system didn’t need to be shut down, it would have shut down when the electricity went off. The back up generator would have operated the system partly. The water didn’t need to be shut off until the last possible minute. But your El Presidente ordered it to be shut down when he left town early, leaving orders that nothing is to be done without his approval. They were told to “stand down”. There is so much done wrong in the way the district prepared for this storm and there is not enough space in a single letter to explain it.

One of the workers was working very hard, by himself, to get the sewer sysem up and running. One of the directors came up to him and told him to stop what he was doing and come fix his sewer. I guess they think they are better than the rest of the residents. He told the director he would be there later. I now understand that he may get a reprimand for this incident, that would not be a good move to make. That worker should get a praise for doing such a good job and without help. The directors didn’t bring in extra help, this employee worked alone doing his job.

Folks your utility system is going downhill fast. You have only one employee left from when this group of directors took over. The ones who weren’t fired because they didn’t jump fast enough quit because they couldn’t put up with all the BS.

Some people will say that I don’t know what I am talking about, but I was there when the first shovel of dirt was turned over to put this system in. After 22 years of working with the system and going to schools to learn all about it, I think I do know.

Teddy Hawes

The Dolphin welcomes letters from our readers on any subject that is of general interest to our audience. Letters should be 300 words or less (with exceptions at the Dolphin’s discretion). Letters reflect the opinion of the writer, and not that of Dolphin Talk staff, and we retain the right to determine suitability for publication. It is the policy of this newspaper to promote area interests: therefore, complaints against local businesses should be directed elsewhere. Letters must be signed and include day and evening phone numbers, which will not be published. Your name will be withheld upon request, but anonymous material will not be considered for publication.
Letters to the Dolphin:
Dolphin Talk, PO Box 777
Port O’Connor, TX 77982
dolphin1@tisd.net

Wow! What a two-week full of “Over Work”. I departed Port O’Connor before the Hurricane and drove over 400 miles to my son’s home in Denton, Texas. On returning home, I found minimal damage. I lost all my screens on the front porch and a few limbs on the trees. God was very good!

I have spent a good deal of my time and what energy I have left, on the Church yard, picking up roof shingles all day was terrible!

Operation Christmas Child is now underway and “Shoe Boxes” are available at the Church. Now is the time to pick up Store Items and pack a Shoe Box or two for delivery to children around the world. Pick-up date is November 13.

The Senior Adult Retreat at Camp Zephyr is this month and the dates are September 25-28. If you have not made your reservation, you must call 361-547-2448 and make your reservation. The cost is $100 per person for a motel room and all meals. Transportation is available to and from the Camp.

The Church will be observing the “Lord’s Supper” on Sunday Morning, September 24 at 11:00 AM. The Quarterly “BIRTHDAY BASH” is Sunday September 24 at 6:00 PM in Fellowship Hall. We will celebrate with everyone having a birthday in July, August and September. Come and enjoy the Food and Fellowship!

See You In Church Sunday!!

What’s your first response when you suddenly find yourself caught out in the open during a thunderstorm? You make a mad dash for cover, do you not? It has something to do with that natural instinct we call “self-preservation.” We know that as long as we’re in the open we’re in danger of being struck by lightening; or at the very least, we’ll begin to resemble a drowned rat. Either way, I think you’ll agree that seeking shelter is the smart thing to do.

The idea of shelter in the storms of life is also found in Psalm 27:5, where we find these comforting words: “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” That verse doesn’t mean that the child of God won’t have to deal with trouble or tragedy, but rather that when troubles come, we will find solace and comfort in Him. In fact, troubles and storms in our lives often drive us closer to the Lord. Verse eight of the same psalm quoted above says, “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.” In short, trials often cause us to respond to the Lord more readily.

On September 1, I returned home, here in Port O’Connor, in the wee hours of the morning, having made the long trip from Greenville, Texas, where Shirley and I had waited out most of the destructive wrath of Hurricane Harvey. After partially unloading the car, I checked my computer for news. As I searched the posts, I became aware that quite a number of my friends from various states seemed to be concerned about our whereabouts. Until then, Shirley and I didn’t know we were supposed to be missing. I became concerned that our friends, family, and church members were worried about us. However, cellphone service had been “iffy” at best. But I still found it remarkable that so many folks were disturbed about our well being. I was humbled by it all.

One of the people who seemed to express concern about our safety was a friend named Paul Sorensen. I answered his inquiry with the following post:

“All is well, Paul. Due to God’s miraculous power on our behalf, the sanctuary, fellowship hall, and parsonage were spared any significant damage, including most of the rest of Port O’Connor. All of this was in spite of the fact that POC was very close to the landfall point. Not only that, but we were also situated on the east side of the eyewall of the storm, which as you know, is usually the strongest and most damaging aspect of a hurricane. Contrary to what one would have expected from this monster, we did not, with very few exceptions, have any water damage to our homes or property. We had to leave town so quickly, there was no way we could get much of our belongings in the car. I was expecting to find three or four feet of water standing in the house when we returned from Greenville, Texas. When we returned home today, (Sept. 1, 2017), everything was just as we’d left it. All was dry and untouched…It was as though God reached down and covered Port O’Connor from the raging winds and waves with His hand. Please continue to pray for the thousands across Texas who have suffered great loss due to this horrific storm. Praise God and the Lamb forever! (Donnie)”

There’s an old gospel song written by Jimmie Davis and Reba Rambo that would seem to apply well to the ravages of Harvey. The first verse and chorus says:

“I feel the touch of hands so kind and tender
They’re leading me in paths that I must trod
I’ll have no fear
For Jesus walks beside me
For I’m sheltered in the arms of God
Chorus: So let the storms rage high
The dark clouds rise
They don’t worry me
For I’m sheltered, safe, within the arms of God
He walks with me
And naught of earth shall harm me
For I’m sheltered in the arms of God.”

Allow me to leave with you this final thought from God’s Word: “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Ps. 34:8).