Port O’Connor News

Excerpts from The Port Lavaca Wave, April 15, 1954
by Mrs. P.L. Lewis

Mrs. A.E. Hawes who has been away with her husband, who has been undergoing treatment, flew home from Freeport with her son last Tuesday. She says it was a little scary up there but they made it O.K. She got her car and returned to get Mr. Hawes who is in Freeport convalescing. Hawes is doing nicely.

Mrs. Donald James held a Tupper party at the Catholic Parish Hall and had a nice attendance. Refreshments were served.

Mrs. Fred Bradshaw, who has been ill for some time, has gone with her son Gilbert Wallington to Florida. She will visit there and try to gain back her health.

Mrs. Clara Munsch and son accompanied Mrs. Agnes Valigura to Victoria Wednesday to visit the dentist. The little boy had received a broken tooth.

Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Lewis took her mother, Mrs. Emma Barr, to see her doctor in Port Lavaca last Monday.

Mrs. Jane Munsch, Mrs. P.L. Lewis, Mrs. Bill Stapp and Mrs. R.W. Harris attended the PTA Council in Long Mott last Monday. The officers for the coming year were elected. Mrs. Melcher was presented with a Life pin in the PTA. She is not stepping out, but stepping up. She has been elected District Vice President.

At the R.M. Green home in the past week was a barbecue in honor of Mr. Lewis Johnson’s birthday. About thirty friends gathered there to pay respect to him and enjoy the delicious bar-be-cue. Mr. R.M. Green is a past master of that succulent dish. Everyone had a wonderful time visiting and eating.

Mrs. H.P. Clark arrived back home Tuesday evening from Galveston where she has been helping care for Mr. Clark’s mother in her illness. Grandmother Clark plans on coming to visit her son’s family very soon.

Mrs. Ed Whittaker, daughter Edna, Mrs. A.B. Barr and Mrs. W.H. Heinroth went to Victoria Friday. Came back by Port Lavaca to see the family doctor.
Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Lewis went to Seadrift Saturday evening to see about his boat.

Rev. Paul Stolher arrived here from Houston Saturday. He is the pastor of the First Baptist Church.

Ball Game Saturday night between the married women and town girls:

Line-up for married women were Mesdames Helen Munsch, Pitcher; Maida Clark, 1st base; Evelyn Thumann, 2nd base; Grady Jean Anderson, 3rd base; Mildred Apostalo, S.S.; Bert Hartfield, C.F.; Geneva Preslar, L.F.; Ruth Barr, R.F.; Lee Johnson and Corky Smith, Catchers.

For the Girls were: Peggy Stapp, Pitcher; Earl Beth Lewis, 1st base; Ester Lee Scott, 2nd base; Mary Catherine Albrecht, 3rd base; Josephine Ragusin, Nancy Stapp, Delores Lane and Lorna May Barr, Fielders.

This was a practice game and everyone there surely did enjoy it. The score was 7 to 4 in favor of the girls.

We are glad to report Mrs. Howard Stapp, Jr. is back home from Littlefield, Texas where she has been under treatment for asthma.

Mr. and Mrs. George Ureste were visiting in San Antonio this past week.

Mrs. Vivian Ortiz and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Billy Pipkin, were shopping in Port Lavaca last Saturday.

P.L. Lewis and an Air Force man, Wallis N. Eller, were in a wreck on intersection Sunday about noon. P.L. Lewis, driving a truck for Port O’Connor Seafoods and Eller, driving a passenger car. Neither of the men saw the other. Neither were driving over the speed limit. Neither were hurt in any way, although the car was badly damaged. Eller is a young man and Lewis in the 60’s.

Sunday is a day of rest.

Dear Family, Friends & Co-Workers,

I just want to tell everyone thank you for your thoughts and payers for me before, during, and after my surgery at MD Anderson. And please don’t stop – I need and covet them.

I especially want to thank my husband Frank. Not being in good health himself, he has put his life on hold to love and care for me. I can’t express just how much I love him.

For all the cards I have received, – I didn’t know so many people think of me. I have read and reread them (most of them made me cry) and just want to thank everyone so much. You guys mean so much to me also. Once again, thank you very much.

With all my love,

Debbie Michalek

P.S. For an update: I feel pretty good and have started my chemo. Please pray that all goes well.

God gives his most challenging problems to the strongest people. I believe he has challenged the right person. He just happened to choose my mom. However, without God my mother Debbie Michalek could not overcome this obstacle. These past few weeks have been filled with worries and stress. Thankfully the staff at MD Anderson is highly educated and was able to assist my mom. My family would like to give a special thanks to the people who came and sat in the hospital with their support and prayers as we waited during surgery. I would also like to thank everybody who has kept my mom in their thoughts and prayers. She has enjoyed reading all the cards which has given her hope and strength to overcome this challenge.

I personally want to thank my father. He has been most supportive during her time of need. No matter what obstacle has come their way he has not left her side. I know he has been her rock and will continue until the end. Please continue to keep my mom in your thoughts and prayers. No medicine will ever be as strong as the power of prayer and the love and support of others.

With all our love,

The Satterfield’s

Tribute and Thank You to Dr. John Griffin

Growing up in Port Lavaca, we were fortunate to have such a caring and loving doctor in our midst. Dr. John Griffin was never a stranger to anyone. As a doctor, he made many house calls all over Calhoun County. He saw Memorial Medical Hospital grow and become a vibrant medical complex in the Coastal Bend area.

Dr. Griffin and Dodie always had God in the center of their life. They loved their children and raised them to have the same warm, gentle nature. His dedication to his profession, family and community helped make Calhoun County a better place to live.

Cherre and I witnessed the entire Methodist Church bursting at the seams with all the compassionate people whose lives he and Dodie have forever touched. I remember golf games with Dr. Griffin, my father and my brother. He was fun, but also very competitive.

We will miss you Dr. Griffin. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

Russell Cain
Port Lavaca

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
P.O. Box 777
Port O’Connor, TX 77982
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Kids Fishing Tournament Saturday, May 23 portoconnorchamber.com

ABC Fishing Tournament Saturday, June 13 361-572-0299

Pescado Grande Saturday, June 27 the.pescadogrande@gmail.com

Cula Roja July 10 & 11 www.cularoja.com

Lone Star Shootout July 21-26 www.thelonestarshootout.com

Poco Bueno July 15 – 19

Port O’Connor Offshore (POOT Tournament) August 14 & 15 361-648-9326; Fishpoot.com

Speedy Stop Kids Fishing Saturday, August 8 www.speedystop.com

Alligator as seen from the
Alligator Viewing Platform

Whooping Cranes are still being seen from the Observation Towers at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. However, many of the cranes have already headed north on their 2500 mile journey to their breeding grounds.

The whoopers began leaving in mid-March. Many of the cranes stop at Quivira National Wildlife in Kansas to rest and feed. The first confirmed sightings there this spring were on March 26. At least 16 of the magnificent birds have now made it to Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan.

Most of the flock will arrive at Wood Buffalo National Park in late April and May. Some years one or more Whooping Cranes will remain in Texas instead of migrating with the rest of the flock. These are usually sub-adults, young birds the size and plumage of adults, but which have not yet formed a pair bond. It’s too soon to know if any will remain this year.

Due to our increased rainfall, the cranes appear to have had a good winter with plentiful food. We look forward to their return this fall.

Although the cranes are leaving, other birds are arriving for the summer, or passing through on their way north. Recent sightings have included Yellow-throated Vireo, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, American Redstart, Roseate Spoonbill, Couch’s Kingbird, Red-breasted Merganser, Anhinga, Osprey (with fish), and Wild Turkey (in full display).

You never know what might turn up this time of year. Everyone is invited to come look for themselves! The refuge is open every day from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. The Visitor Center is open Thursday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Free bird checklists are available, and during Visitor Center hours, binoculars and field guides can be borrowed at no charge. Be sure to bring water, snacks, insect repellent and sun protection.

You may also want to visit the Alligator Viewing Area. Visitors can look down from the platform on the area the gators like to lie in. This gives great close views, while everyone remains safe. It also gives better views of the gallinules and other birds that like to hide among the cattails.

Aranasas National Wildlife Refuge is located on FM 2040. From Tivoli, take TX Hwy 35 & 239 south. Continue on 239 when it splits from 35. Turn right onto FM 774, and then left at the first cross street, which is FM 2040. FM 2040 will take you right into the refuge. It’s about 14 miles from Tivoli.

Alligator Viewing Platform

As some of you may know who have followed this column over the years I am an avid follower of severe weather events, both because of my tornado phobia as well as my public service as a storm spotter. I became a storm spotter to combat my phobia, knowing about the scientific reasons that cause severe weather as well as some of the things to watch out for has helped, although it has not been a full ‘cure.’

However, beyond the data and the science of it all, through these events I have noticed a disturbing trend that affects everyone in any place a severe weather event can occur. We take the watches and warnings for granted, especially in areas prone to severe weather.

I am writing this column one day after a large wedge shaped tornado caused a good deal of damage to life and property some eighty miles north of my location near Chicago. This tornado was most likely an EF-4, high on the tornado damage scale and one that can and will take lives.

The twister did indeed take the lives of two people that day, injuring twenty-two others and leaving residents of towns like Rochelle and Fairdale, Illinois scrambling to put their lives back together after so much loss.

The disturbing thing about these and other storms of medium/major severe potential is how many people take various aspects of these events for granted, including weather safety. During this monster sized wedge tornado, local resident Sam Smith filmed the ‘twister’ from underneath a highway overpass, the only place Smith could think to go for safety.

Thing is, that is a really bad idea, as the winds could whip straight through the underpass and cause life threatening damage.

As much as I’d like to say this kind of mistake is an isolated incident, other even more fatal weather events like the Joplin, Missouri tornado in May of 2011 in which hundreds of lives were lost also have been effected by a lack of severe weather safety knowledge. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), many in Joplin ignored the first warnings of the threat:

“The majority of surveyed Joplin residents did not immediately go to shelter upon hearing the initial warning.”

Most in the area went outside to try and confirm they were ‘under the gun,’ mostly because the residents have heard so many tornado warnings in that general area that they almost seem commonplace in the Spring and Summer months, not like a frighting severe weather event that could change your life forever.

This is not isolated to Illinois or the tornado belt either. While living in Port Lavaca in 2012 the NOAA were tracking a hurricane and Port Lavaca was directly named as one of it’s probable targets when and if it hit land.

Never having experienced this kind of weather event, I showed concern but my neighbors told me to not even worry about it, over the next couple days the track would change. And it did.

However, as much as the population of ‘tornado alley’ might have become nonchalant about tornado watches and warnings, and the people of the gulf may have become used to the threat of a possible hurricane or high end tropical storm coming their way each summer into fall, we should not take these events so lightly.

Not because I myself find them a bit mysterious and a bit scary, but because in doing research into severe weather events I have started to see a pattern where being too passive towards the information given out by the weather services could mean the difference between life and death.

So please take the time to educate yourself and your friends and family about the dangers of severe Spring and Summer weather and make sure you are here to enjoy the days that are full of sunshine rather then clouds.

Here is an excellent place to start your education and be safe!

http://www.weather.gov/safety