2007 in the rearview mirror

The I.B. Magee Beach Park center was dedicated in ceremonies Oct. 25. The center is named after the late I.B. Magee, whose generosity made a difference in the lives of many Port Aransas residents. He also was a leader in the construction industry in South Texas. The Port Aransas delegation was photographed last June as they waited to speak to the Nueces County Appraisal District board. From left: Betsy Churgai, City Manager Michael Kovacs, councilmen Keith McMullin and Rick Pratt, Mayor Claude Brown, Councilman Bubba Jensen. The Port Aransas City Council members went to the district's budget meeting and public hearing to protest property appraisal increases here in the past year. Disappointment shows on the faces of PAHS Lady Marlins after their loss to the Sundown Lady Red Roughettes at the semi-finals of the state tournament at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin on March 1. The Nefte Gaz, a Harvest Moon Regatta participant, cruises through the Aransas Pass as the Elissa, the Texas Tall Ship that led the annual regatta from Galveston to Port Aransas in October, heads for Harbor Island where she was opened to the public for tours. After two days she moved on Papers were signed Feb. 8 assigning ownership of the Sears/Mercer house to the Port Aransas Preservation and Historical Association (PAPHA) upon the release of liens. PAPHA leased the house on Oleander Street for six months and planned to use it as an office until it can be moved. Representing the City of Port Aransas is assistant city manager/financial director Judy Lyle, from left, Robert Morrison Jr. representing the owner, and PAPHA secretary/treasurer Sharon Stricker. Golf great Arnold Palmer was in Port Aransas April 10 to meet with the design, construction and landscape teams involved with the Newport Dunes golf course that will bear his signature. Palmer, second from left, chatted with Texas Gulf & Harbor principals Sunny Castor, left, and Craig Millard, far right. Also on hand were Millard's son, Craig Jr., second from right, and Castor's son, Charles, bottom right. City workers were overwhelmed by seaweed that washes ashore each spring and summer. The dilemma of how to handle the excess occupied much of the city council's time during a workshop in late May. A $6.3-million, five-year-long project to protect the Corpus Christi Ship Channel from erosion was finished in 2007. The project also protects Piper Channel, the entrance to Island Moorings marina.