It’s been a good news – bad news year in Port Aransas.

Among the good news stories are the ones about the two new 28-car ferries that were added to the fleet that brings visitors and residents to and from Port Aransas, reducing the amount of time motorists spend waiting to board the boats, and the stories that reflect signs that the local economy is making a slow rebound.

Some of the stories that defined 2011 were, clockwise from top left, Hunter Frost peers through icicles he and his father created during one of the hardest freezes experienced in Port Aransas in February. Boats line up displaying their flags that depicted an ‘epic’ experience in the Texas Legends Billfishing Tournament that saw a record number of billfish caught and released. Voters mandated approval of funds for the the reconstruction of 11th Street. Two 28-car ferries join the fleet. Chris Tiensch of West Lake was found dead on San Jose Island in September.