Kids
Girls – 9 and under ( 1 mile)
Boys – 9 & under (5K)
10 -14 yr. olds (5K)
1st – Wynter Strauss
1st – Levi Strauss 1st – Keaton Cady – 26:27
2nd – Kiley Sexton
2nd- Ayden Maddux – 29:15
3rd- Brylie Penney
Women’s Divisions
20 yr olds
30 yr olds
40 yr olds
1st – Lauren Dvorak – 27:45
1st – Amanda Massey 1st – Deborah Townley – 32:56
2nd – Cecilia Castillo – 31:11
2nd – Megan Strauss 2nd – Klara White – 35:12
3rd – Leah Sparks – 31:51
3rd – Susan DeLaGarza
3rd – Rhea Vickery
50 yr olds
60 yr olds 70 yr olds
1st – Carolyn Phillips
none 1st – Muriel Costello
2nd – Sabrina Risken
2nd – Reese Vaughn
Men’s Divisions
20 yr olds
30 yr olds 40 yr olds
50 yr. olds
1st – Lloyd Alford – 24:42
none 1st – Bobby Vickery
1st – Randall Goode
2nd – Dakota Maddux – 30:29
2nd – Bruce Phillips
3rd – Billy Penney – 30:40
3rd – Terry Myren
60 yr olds
70 yr olds
none
1st – Reese Stallcup

Coast Guard Senior Chief Martin (left) and Retiring Senior Chief DeSanno (right)

The Port O’Connor US Coast Guard Station celebrated the retirement of Senior Chief Jamie L. DeSanno and the Change of Command welcoming Senior Chief Joshua L. Martin at a formal ceremony on Friday, June 30, 2017. The ceremony is a time-honored tradition that involves the whole station crew, the families and dignitaries as command, responsibilities and authorities transfer from one commander to another. The program was impressive, containing both military crispness and Coast Guard pride as one Senior Chief retired and another ‘took the watch’ at our busy station. The Coast Guard motto is Semper Peratus, meaning Always Ready. The Port O’Connor Coast Guard Station, STA Port O’Connor as they call out, is indeed ready. One capable Senior Chief stepped down, and a new one was there and prepared to step in and begin his command. It was a beautifully executed maneuver.

A large white tent and precise rows of white chairs arranged before a raised platform set the stage outside for the ceremony where locals and Coast Guard guests gathered. Military music filled the air prior to the ceremony and speeches and presentations directed by master of ceremonies Chief Boatswain’s Mate Dennis D. Baker.
Following the ceremony, a lovely reception was served inside the station where guests and officials alike could greet the new command and wish the old well. Security regulations made this an invitation only event and guardsmen manned the gate as guests entered and exited. The station looked as ship shape as always but was beautifully decorated for this special occasion.  Every Coast Guard member wore their tropical blue dress uniforms and white uniform hats, perfectly shined shoes and an air of pride as they stood at attention for the ceremony and took seats in the tent area when commanded to for the awards and speeches. The STA Port O’Connor Crew and visitors mingled with visitors and shared in the day.

The retirement of Senior Chief DeSanno is well earned after 23 years of service. He, his wife and 3 children have moved six times, relocated home, school, life and all that goes with it in service to our country. DeSanno’s decorated career included Oregon, California, Washington, Panama Canal, Canada and Texas, numerous ships and ports, stations and crews where he not only served honorably, but rose through the ranks receiving numerous commendations, awards and recognitions and forging friendships and working partnerships which led to his admirable career achievement.

As Senior Chief DeSanno entered the ceremony, he greeted each sailor and staffer personally with a handshake, a smile, a personal anecdote. As his retirement was announced, he was described as a great coach and a stellar commander.

Assigned to POC in June 2011; DeSanno has led our station though major renovations and station additions, numerous improvements and repairs and updates, and built obvious rapport with his crew while carrying out the duties he is assigned such as more than 2000 search and rescue missions, hundreds of enforcement missions, illegal entry boarding, drug and smuggling searches, and copious numbers of other Coast Guard Duties. He was lauded for hands on training, effective oversight and empowering support of his station crew. Sailors’ folklore says it is bad luck for the sailor’s shadow to touch land before he does, so old sailors were presented a ‘shadow’ box on land symbolizing their shadow arriving before them as they retired from a ship to avoid the bad luck. In keeping with that lore, DeSanno was presented with a beautiful traditional sailor’s shadow box displaying awards and memorabilia built, assembled and presented by his mates and crew as history dictates. No bad luck for this retiring sailor. Sector Commander Captain Tony Hahn of Corpus Christi and Chief Boatswain Mate Dennis Baker of POC Station cited Senior Chief DeSanno’s long list of earned honors, laughed at his human side of commanding even joking about his unparalleled lawn cutting skills that earned him a decidedly non-military Angie’s List Award, and shared a few sad moments as they wished him Fair Winds, Fallowing Seas and God Bless. It was obvious he will be missed and hoped that they would see him in POC as DeSanno and his family will pursue civilian life in Victoria, Texas.

The POC Station had big shoes to fill, but ready for the job and accepting command from departing DeSanno is Senior Chief Boatswain’s Mate Joshua Martin. Martin, of Bloomington, Indiana has served the US Coast Guard 20 years in posts including Hawaii, Iraq, Maryland, California, Kentucky, Ohio and now Texas. His wife and 3 children and new Coast Guard Granddaughter have moved 8 times and are old pros at relocating. They will be firmly positioned to carry on in no time. Martin is also a highly decorated guardsman with a long list of awards and commendations and multiple insignias. He is looking forward to serving the POC station and has some big plans. Welcome to STA Port O’Connor Senior Chief Joshua Martin. We look forward to your watch.

The families were honored and the retiring DeSanno had a few heartfelt words to say. He reminded us that families serve right along with our military men and women. We owe them all our gratitude for their sacrifice and their service to our country. After presentation of sprays of yellow roses to the wives and single stems roses to the children, the official change of command was a simple phrase and a shake of hands and the new commander ‘has the watch’. But on this formal and meaningful day as they do every day, some of our Coast Guardsmen and women were not at the ceremony but up above keeping an eagle eye and an exacting ear on the ICW. The STA Port O’Connor always has the watch.

New Board Member Appointed
The Port O’Connor Community Center Board of Directors held a planning meeting June 15, 2017, June 28, 2017 and July 10, 2017. Marie Hawes, Grady Jean Clark, Kathy Yearwood and Wanda Redding were present. The Board appointed some new members to fill vacant positions. Board Member Janet Johnson passed away in the Spring, leaving a hole in the board, and Board President Marie Hawes has stepped down after 17 years of service. At the June 15th meeting they voted to appoint Kelly Gee to the Board and she accepted. Jim Cooley and Chris Hanson were appointed at the June 28th meeting, and Diane Cooley was appointed at the July 10th meeting. These appointments bring the board back up to a working number allowing the board to move forward in their oversight of the POC Community Center.

The Community Center is used a great deal for community events, family gatherings, memorials, fishing tournaments and other purposes. The main building and the pavilion are used most weekends in the spring and summers and many days throughout the year.

Tuesday Seniors Lunch, Monthly Bunco, POC Community Service Club are just some of the regular meetings held at the Community Center. Our annual Warriors Weekend would be almost impossible without this valuable resource.

This use takes a toll on the building, so several repairs and updates are needed. The Board voted to make those needed changes and work should begin shortly.
The County Commissioners Office oversees the scheduling of rentals. The Board of Directors serves in an advisory and consultative capacity to maintain that committed hometown oversight of the facility.
The POC Community Center was dedicated almost 18 years ago to enrich our community and be a resource to our citizens. Several of the original group who planned and executed the funding and construction have passed away, but three founding board members remain. They will be steering the reorganization of the Board as new members are brought up to speed.

The center will continue to be available for community and rental use. The Board of Directors will continue to guide the use and conservation of the center in cooperation with the county.

To all who helped make the July Fireworks show here in Port O’Connor possible, thank you so very much! As my first year as President of the Port O’Connor Chamber, I really had no idea just how much goes on behind the scenes. First, a huge Thank You to Bill Tigrett and Donnie Haynes for chairing this event! Bill worked with us on getting contributions for the fireworks show, and made sure the crew members were fed. This event is funded strictly on monies collected from donation boxes and contributions. It is not a fundraiser in any way for the Chamber. All the change that is deposited in our money boxes throughout the year, goes solely for this event. It costs approximately $30,000 to put the fireworks on, including advertising, soliciting donations, security, trash bins, porta potties, and trash clean up. Next, Donnie Haynes is our go to for the fireworks themselves. Donnie works closely with Sky Wonder Pyrotechnics to ensure that we get the biggest bang for our bucks. When the explosives are delivered, Donny hauls all them to the end of the pier by ATV. Donnie’s team, along with Sky Wonder, sets them up and wires them for the show. The heat this time of the year is unbearable, so we really appreciate all that he does. We also appreciate Tony Pool, who has worked with Donnie for several years for all his help.

Special thanks to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Dept. and Port Lavaca Police for the security. A big Thanks to Zach for the trash clean up. The beach during and afterwards was extremely clean! Thanks also to Beacon 44 Seafood for supplying the ice for drinks for the crew as well as providing the ATV for trash pickup. Also appreciated are the County workers that helped us with providing barricades for traffic control, and trash receptacles. Also, a special thank you to Waste Management for the trash bins and porta potties. And last but not least, thank you Mike Hessong. Mike captured some gorgeous pictures of the show that he has so graciously allowed us to use on our website.

Of course, a sincere and heartfelt Thank You goes out to all or our contributors. Whether the donation was large or small, it adds up and allows us to continue this patriotic tradition.

If I have forgotten anyone, I apologize. But do know that you are appreciated!!! If you see any of these people, please give them a pat on the back, and tell them how much you appreciate what they do! They deserve it!

Darla Parker, President,
Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce

Bill Tigrett of Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce accepts a generous donation for the Fireworks Show from Judy of Island Liquor and Gifts.