Spike puzzles officials

October occupancy tax receipts up by 50 percent

Nobody seems to know exactly why Port Aransas’ hotel-motel tax revenue shot up by 50 percent in October, but when they find out, they’ll want to do it again. City finance officer Judy Lyle’s figures show that revenue from the hotel use tax was $261,491.43 last month, compared with $174,275.69 in October of last year. The spike for October compared […]

‘Tis the season



Singers from the Sonshine Choir, a children’s choir from Port Aransas churches under the direction of Judy Cole, cluster at the base of the city’s Christmas tree in Roberts Point Park just after the tree was lighted on Tuesday, Nov. 28. A crowd of more than 100 gathered to watch the tree lighting ceremony and listen to Christmas carols from […]

Neblett tapped to lead NERR



Ten minutes after being named executive director of the Mission- Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), Georgia Neblett was on her way to a NERR meeting. Dr. Lee Fuiman, director of The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, says that with a grin. But the fact is that Fuiman announced Neblett’s appointment Monday morning, and that afternoon, Nov. […]

Celebrating the past



Parade marshal Marcy Mathews Ward Thomas waves from a Bentley as she leads the parade that was part of the Old Town Festival on Saturday, Nov. 25. Bagpipers, including Port Aransas City Councilman Rick Pratt, fall in behind the Bentley. The parade also included Boy Scouts, classic cars, paraders in golf carts, wagons led by scooters and more. The route […]

Food, toy collections to benefit residents

VFW seeks non-perishable food, cash

The Care and Share Drive got off to a good start with many donations last weekend. David Davidson, chairman of the VFW Post 8967 drive, said the patrons of the Family Center IGA gave generously to volunteers manning table at the store. The annual drive to collect food so that less fortunate families in Port Aransas will have Christmas dinner […]

Food, toy collections to benefit residents

Emergency services needs new toys

More money and toys are needed to make the Emergency Services Toy Round Up a success, said Kristin L. Adams, chairman. Children who might not otherwise have Christmas presents are provided toys each year through a joint effort among the fire, police and emergency medical service in Port Aransas. The collection of toys and money continues for the Round Up […]

OPINION



Texas politics

This one not all DeLay's fault

Texas faces a large loss of clout in Congress, due to congressional redistricting in 2003. But think twice before heaping all the blame on former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Yes, DeLay’s insistence kept redistricting alive even after the Democrats managed to block it for months. But DeLay didn’t act alone. The fact Texas now will have not a single […]

A Texas voice

Advice on how to stay alive (?)

You just can’t be too specific when spelling out safety guidelines for the office … or can you? Following are some high, or low, points among 42 safety trips – excuse me, safety tips – from the U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Office of Training and Education: • Fans in office should be placed where they cannot fall on anybody […]

Sage observations

Multi-lingual Port Aransans

Go to Port Aransas this time of the year, and if you hear somebody using words like “howdy,” “What’s up?” “Are y’all havin’ any fun?” “How’s your mom and daddy?” And you think is that the voice of a puredee Texan here in Port Aransas. Yep that’s one of them thangs, li’l buddy. Now listen and hear the voice of […]