“The Way I See It” is an attempt by the columnist to enlighten readers on a subject as he views it, and does not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.

Kate Steinle’s Family Suit Dismissed

Kate Steinle was viciously murdered by a “Illegal Alien” in San Francisco with a gun he had stolen from a Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) agent. He had been previously convicted of 7 Felonies and been deported 5 times. This Criminal Invader, Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, finished his latest felony jail term and was released by the San Francisco Police upon the innocent population in April of 2015 instead of being turned over to ICE for deportation because of San Fran’s liberal “Sanctuary City Policy”.

They refused to follow Federal Laws; instead of turning Lopez-Sanchez over to Federal Authorities, he was released. He subsequently stole the gun from a Federal agent and murdered Kate Steinle for no apparent reason. (Perhaps pretty young Anglo women are offensive to felonious Criminal Invaders, or he was bored and just wanted to kill someone and see if he could get away with it.)

Steinle family lawyers stated, “Kate’s death was both foreseeable and preventable had the law enforcement agencies, officials and/or officers involved simply followed the laws, regulations and/or procedures which they swore to uphold.” But Judge Joseph C. Spero dismissed their claims against the City. He did however allow their suit against the BLM to continue for the gun left in an unintended vehicle. (Another “Blame the gun, not the Criminal Invader” liberal activist judge?) However, he did not ‘Dismiss with Prejudice’, so it is open to appeal. (Good luck in Lib/Prog Califailure, though!)

San Francisco was in clear violation of Federal Law by not handing a known Illegal Alien over to ICE. This malfeasance is increased dramatically if the police knew he was a 7 times convicted, violent Felon that had been deported 5 times before. Instead, they released this known dangerous criminal on innocent American victims. Victims intentionally disarmed by Lib/Prog California politicians!

This is Gross Culpable Negligence, Malfeasance, and Misprision (covering up) of Felony by the Police in clear violation of Existing Federal Law. Granted, the Obamunist controlled ICE may have released him, but then it would have been their fault. It is time to put a stop to Liberal idiots flagrantly and openly ignoring and violating necessary Federal Law that is in place to protect American Citizens from violent Criminal Invaders!

The Obamunist “Nod & Wink” to other liberals that Federal Authorities will not enforce the Laws that are Constitutionally Mandated for the President and Executive Branch to enforce has to be stopped! We have a huge opportunity here to support and strengthen the Constitution and enforce Constitutional responsibility on BOTH Political Parties, as well as State and local governments. It is a rare opportunity indeed! We need to do what we can to expose this flagrant and intentional, willful violation of CONSTITUTIONAL LAW intended to protect our Citizens, Economy, and National Security, by arrogant Liberal Socialists adhering to a foreign Globalist Agenda. A gross violation of all their “Oaths of Office”. Federal, State, and City!

Furthering this lawsuit could end all of the “Sanctuary” nonsense for Criminal Invaders, quickly and easily. The new Attorney General should get behind this suit. Let the real responsibility rest on those City Officials that support “Liberal Anarchy” over Constitutional Law whenever they disagree with the law. If we are to return to any semblance of a “Nation under Law” with “Equality under the Law”, we must enforce the Law, not bureaucratic whims from “a pen and a phone”, or local pols currying political favors.

Also, the investigation into Hillary’s Emails must go forward. Punishing Hillary is the least of the goals, exposing the others in the conspiracy and have them banned from Govt Offices is more important. The biggest goal is to determine what damage was done, to take steps to correct security and protect info, and to insure that this never happens again. Hillary could be a great help in this if she would just tell the truth, admit ‘her mistake’ and tell the investigators everything that was in any of those Emails. My biggest concern is some info had a “b(7)” classification -”Intelligence Assets” – spies, ours and foreigners that were helping us. Their lives may be in jeopardy because of Hillary’s arrogant carelessness. Investigators need to know. If she helps and ‘comes clean’ – no prison. Good deal for all.

The Barr Home on Adams Street in Port O’Connor

One POC Page in the Book of Texas History

Did you know that the lighthouse on Matagorda Island was unmanned or decommissioned just before 1956? The last lighthouse keepers were Arthur and Ruth Barr. They had lived for years caring for the lighthouse. Arthur Barr was a fourth-generation lighthouse keeper. He married the lighthouse keepers’ daughter. He was a Coast Guard member before he met and married Ruth, and worked in and around the island. He knew no other life and he loved it on the island.

When the change came, they moved to Port O’Connor. They knew it would be easier when they moved to town. School was close and kids and grandkids closer, but they struggled with the move. They bought a spot to build a house in town. Mr. Barr, his best friend Mr. Lane, and a few other friends from town helped. He had the lumber shipped in one boat load at a time. Each load was limited so they would work and work on the house until that lumber was gone and then wait for another load.

They built a small frame home on the main thoroughfare we now know as Adams Street or Hwy. 185. It was very wooded and they had to clear an area to build. Finally, the house was finished and they moved to town. They raised kids and grandkids and a garden in their new spot. The house was unnoticeable from the road all the way up into the 70’s and was untouched by the developing town around it. It was a family home nestled in the trees.

Somewhere around 1997, Arthur and Ruth Barr left their POC home and moved to Port Aransas to be closer to family and help if needed. Local girl Becky Haynes bought the house and lovingly restored it to the beautiful home she enjoys now. Original features and materials were painstakingly preserved. Becky tells of treasured visits with the Barrs just after purchase when they told her some of the history of the home.

The home had survived several tropical storms and a few hurricanes, the most damaging being Hurricane Carla. The Barr family shoveled mud, sand and debris from their home more than once, but it was built to stand, so they cleaned up each time. During restoration, Becky found solidified mud and sand in wall spaces over two feet high, confirming the Barr’s account of previous hurricane survival. Becky said it hardened into concrete like blocks where it washed into and was trapped within several exterior and back porch area walls. Today, Becky’s family calls it home. Many of the trees and woods have been cleared around it, and the town has grown to be unrecognizable to the original owners of the house. It is a piece of Port O’Connor history.

The lighthouse the Barrs left behind was lit, but unmanned for years. That beautiful old lighthouse has been standing guard over Pass Cavallo for more than 150 years. When it was originally constructed in 1852, it was 92 feet tall and made completely of cast iron. It sported the customary red, white and black stripes, making it visible for miles. The Matagorda Bay entrance was key to important port cities of Port Lavaca and Indianola in 19th century America. The hurricanes of 1875 and 1876 left devastating damage in their wake and Port Lavaca became notable on the coast. The Civil War brought military conflict to the island where the lighthouse sat and Confederate soldiers broke some of the cast iron panels and hid the light lens to prevent Union soldiers from capturing or using the lighthouse during the conflict.

Repaired in 1873 and used to prevent illegal intrusion on the Gulf of Mexico, the lighthouse remained a feature of our landscape. The last functioning lens is on display at the Port Lavaca Museum. The old cemetery next to the lighthouse that was used as the final resting place for lighthouse keepers and their families remains a historic treasure. Ongoing efforts to preserve and restore its history and develop opportunities for people to experience it continue. The lighthouse is proudly listed as historically significant by the National Register of Historic Places and the Texas Historical Commission.

Arthur and Ruth Barr, their house in our community and their story remain an integral part of the lighthouse’s chapter of Texas History.

We begin a new year with an upsetting year passing on just a few days ago. Some of you may recall that the year 2016 not only seemed long but, in fact, was longer than usual. Those folks who give us the atomic clock made 2016 added a leap second. It was already a leap year.

I understand that in this highly technological era a second can be a long time. It actually is over 9 million vibrations of a Cesium atom. I can’t possibly count that fast but apparently some scientists can. Using a stop watch I counted to twenty in ten seconds. That comes out to 2 counts per second. At that rate it would take me 1250 hours to get to the 9 million. I don’t know about you but I think I would get very tired and fall asleep before I got to nine million. So my hat is off to those folks who can count those vibrations in the cesium atom. Heavens we can’t even see them.

I had some friends who claimed they failed to reset their clocks to make sure they weren’t slow. Even with a second hand that would be a chore. Thank goodness both my computer and cell phone are connected to an atomic clocks somewhere and did that hiccup without a hitch. The sad thing is that means the Earth is rotating a little slower.

I hope that slower is like driving in traffic that happens in rush time. It rarely lasts an hour here in Calhoun County. I further hope that it is slower at night because I enjoy sleeping. At my age one has to have something to enjoy.

Be that as it may, I have a little trouble figuring out that it is really a big deal. The techno gurus tell us if they don’t make those conversions all this technology will go haywire. I mean gadgets like GPS will tell you are in the wrong place and even might say at the wrong time.

Really I am often in the wrong place at the wrong time. If push comes to shove it is an even bet that it has happened to you also. Now it’s true that when I look up something on Google I get a little impatient when it takes an extra second or two. But even airlines don’t count themselves late unless it is over five minutes or so. So one second in a year or maybe a second that takes 18 million vibrations. It just doesn’t seem that important.

So we live in a world that is slowing down. It is even probable that those folks who work with incredible small pieces of time are doing some good. For sure this old slow world needs more people doing good things. That is one of the reason many folks make resolutions for the New Year. Not everyone does but we all should make an attempt to improve something in our lives.

For the 2nd 9 Weeks of the School Year

A Honor Roll

First Grade:  Gaige Cady, Saige Carter, Izabella Chatham, Nikolas Clayton, Riley Dworaczyk, Brennan Gregory, Talen Henson, Olivia Hunt, Liam Key, Marcus Moncrief, Brylie Penney, Ethan Rodriguez, Ava Salazar, Riley Saylors, Evelyn Scroggins, Karley Sexton Mohon and Kiley Sexton Mohon.

Second Grade:  Clay Brumfield, Zoe Canchola, Briley Clark, Kayden Garza, Keegan Goode, Alexis Green, Hunter McGill, Danielle Miller, Brice Petrisky, Cash Shirhall, Ashton Sternadel, Callum Taylor, Evan Tompkins and Lorena Torres.

Third Grade:  Baylee Bates, Angel Galeana, Zoey Henning and Jaxson Key.

Fourth Grade:  McKenna Boedeker, Maci Bryan, Briley Christensen, Brilee Crittenden, Natalie Hunt, Trevon Ragusin and Ethan Saenz.

Fifth Grade:  Andrea Hataway and Tyler Salinas.

Sixth Grade:  Tres Canales, Leah Lucey and Jacob Nguyen.

Seventh and Eighth Grade:  None

A/B Honor Roll

First Grade:  Christopher Adame II, Christopher Barcenas, Joseph Lucas, Anna Nguyen, Tatum Semmler, Conner Tompkins and Kailey Treumer.

Second Grade:  Marisol Banda, Kendell Cady, Aspen Crittenden, Colten Evans, Jason Joines, Chance Lewis, Gunner Martinez, Nora Rodriguez and Amaya Stringo.

Third Grade:  Kingston Cady, Jada Dean, Gunner Evans, Kylee Gray, Dayz Hinds, Matthew Morgan, Christina Ragusin and Kyle Staggs.

Fourth Grade:  Jasmine Banda, Taylor Blevins, Layton Davenport, Braylyn Galloway, Francis Hoang, Draven Maldonado, Dillon Morales, Sabrina Nguyen, Audrie Wesley and Derrick Youngblood.

Fifth Grade:  Rhiannon James, BreAnn Kelley, Trinity Morgan, Jonathan Nguyen, Braeden Ragusin, Sydney Rasmussen, Morgan Russell, Mia Salazar and Natalia Zarate.

Sixth Grade:  Isabella Arriaga, Christopher Boyce, Keaton Cady, Allison Fowler, Andromeda Gilliland, Katherine Huerta, Vivian Ledesma, Ayden Maddux, James Miller, Hector Perez, Tim Pham, Nathaniel Saenz and Devin Sterling.

Seventh Grade:  Evan Clifton, Noah Estrada, Avery Flood, Maritza Jaramillo, Jayda Nguyen and Tyger Whatley-Ballard.

Eighth Grade:  Malachi Arriaga, Sierra Callaway, Alex Flood, Caleb Lehtinen, Fernie Mendez, Stormy Mills, Franklin Murcia Rivera, Jason Nguyen, Andrew Ragusin, Jacob Ruiz and Joseph White.