On October 7th, Intercoastal 4-H Club helped with the Community Garage Sale and also helped clean up the cemetery.

After participating in the Calhoun County Fair, we plan to report our results from participating in the photography contest, livestock showing, and other competitions.

What can I say? This past month or so has been a real bummer. Hurricanes, one right after another. Each one doing what hurricanes do. Harvey, Irma and Maria have been particularly effective Politicians argue about everything, especially if it is not important (that is what they do best). And of course the guy in Las Vegas lost his marbles.

As this is being written there are wild fires blazing in California wine counties. Buildings are being destroyed. People are dying. There are messes galore.

That all leaves us with a whole lot to talk about, and yet, when you think about it nothing to say. Of course there is the usual “Oh My God” or “that is dreadful” and many other similar voicings of horror or empathy. Each heartfelt, but none erasing the damage or bringing back the dead or wounded. Perhaps the best thing to do is carry on. In fact that is the only thing we can really do.

Do is the operative word. That means take action. I note that many of the so-called solutions have been talked about before. Some are overused talking points.

History as well as BS repeats itself quite often. Those of us who read history know that. Those of us who listen to politicians also know that. I point to the first sentence of the previous paragraph.

Some of us older folks remember the ad that said “it’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature.” That is true. However, it is also true that we must be proactive rather than conduct blame-athons where we just blame the other people for not doing anything.

It goes without saying that any action will cost money. It is rather sad to notice that after a disaster there isn’t much argument about fixing the damaged things. However, it is almost a miracle when we decide to fix things before the storm or damage.

I recall my boss always claiming that it was always less expensive to do things right the first time. That was because when you did them wrong, you quite often had to do them over, thus raising the cost.

The main point is that it is not necessarily a good thing to wait until something goes wrong. We have all read stories about the devastation and costs of doing so many things and we almost intuitively know that the cost of preventing things is less than letting them break and fixing them.

Most political arguments are about what is the first priority. I would suggest that for most politicians the first priority is to get elected rather than fix the things that need fixing. It is our job as voters to elect the ones that believe in the “fix things” rather than “get reelected” action. That is hard, because even though actions speaker louder than words, when they talk their mouths do move.

Wish us luck; times are troubling to say the least.

Seadrift – Marilyn Deanna Henderson went to be with the Lord October 9, 2017 at the age of 75. She was born August 27, 1942 in Parsons, Kansas to Chester L. and Lorraine Kinsch.

She is survived by her mother Lorraine Kinsch; husband of 52 1/2 years Kenneth Henderson; nieces and nephew Cyndi (Bob) Kuhn, Melinda (Tom) Kerzee, Michelle Adams, Alan (Sheree) Henderson, Adrienna (Abdalla), Abutahoun, and Zeze Henderson and cousins Velda, Trey, Janice, Jane, Doris and Donna.

She was preceded in death by her father Chester L. Kinsch and grandparents Ralph and Alice Hall.

Funeral Service was at Grace Funeral Chapel on October 12, 2017 with Pastor Marcos Gohlke officiating.

Interment followed in Seadrift Cemetery.

Jim Turk

James Albert Turk Sr.: January 15, 1934 – September 25, 2017. Born in Luling, TX with a golden heart to Stringfellow and Octa V. (Kerby) Turk. Raised in the Thompson Oil Field River Bottom, James (Jimmy) attended Lamar Consolidated High School in Rosenberg, TX 1949-1953. James served our Country for many years as a member of the United States Air Force, during the Korean & Vietnam Wars. In 1959, he married the love of his life Dolores (Lane) Turk, together they raised 3 children. James retired from the Air Force in 1973, with 20 years of service. Soon after they opened the world famous Beachcomber Restaurant, across from the Coast Guard Station, and the Shell Shop in Port O’Connor, TX.

James (Jim) never knew a stranger. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. We love him so much. He leaves behind his wife Dolores (Lane) Turk, Daughters; Sandy Turk Taylor and Sherry Lynn Gregory (Robbie); 5 grandchildren; Amy Taylor Gosnell, Zachary Taylor, James Turk III, Gabriel Whittaker, & Rachel Gregory and his beloved great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Stringfellow and Octa V. (Kerby) Turk, son James Albert Turk Jr. and Grandson Robert Gregory.
Graveside services were held Friday, September 29, 2017 at Port O’Connor Cemetery with Pastor Donnie Martin officiating.

Honorary Pallbearers were Seth Hall, Gavin Gosnell, Ashton Whittaker, Leeland Whittaker, Ethan Taylor and Avery Lane Gosnell.

Memorial donations may be made to the Port O’Connor EMS and Fire Department.