Saturday is the big day. The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) only holds open house every other year. This year, it’s Saturday, June 14. The UTMSI staff has been working for weeks to get ready to welcome visitors to the campus, on Cotter Avenue just west of the Gulf beach. They have a world-class institute, and […]
Sperm whale is euthanized after beaching
Animal rescue workers euthanized an apparently ill or injured young sperm whale after it beached itself on Mustang Island on Tuesday, June 10. “It’s a shame, but you know, that’s the most humane thing that could have been done,” said Tony Amos, a research fellow at the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas. Amos also […]
Restaurants seek new sources for tomato supplies
Eating out in Port Aransas should be no cause for concern despite the outbreak of salmonella that has affected certain types of tomatoes. Restaurants here are either taking tomatoes out of items they serve or cooking them at high enough temperatures for long enough to kill the bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced last week that it is […]
Taking a spin
Lainey Fisher becomes a human carousel, to the delight of her 3-year-old daughter, Evelyn, on the beach in Port Aransas on Monday, June 9. The Fishers were visiting from Austin. Families such as the Fishers can enjoyed the open
Charlie Zahn says fish fry is his main focus
Longtime Boatman is 2008 inductee into Hall of FameWhen it came time to talk about being named to the Port Aransas Boatmen Inc. Hall of Fame for 2008, Charlie Zahn wanted to discuss his role on the land instead of his fish catching expertise. It turned out that Zahn, a regular on the Port Aransas north jetty and a renowned slayer of trout and redfish, is really proud […]
Parties now in home stretch
Democrats heaved a sigh of relief and gratitude Friday evening, June 6, in Austin, when Chelsea Clinton delivered her message: My Momma is for Obama. There had been concerns about continuing division between Hillary Clinton’s forces and those of Barack Obama — particularly after Hillary’s non-concession speech following the final two primaries on June 3. Party leaders were anxious to […]
No shoes I’d like to fill
Hillary’s out, Obama’s in. Now the big question is who Obama will choose for his veep, and there’s plenty of speculation that it might be Hillary. Politics aside, that’s a bad idea unless you want to see a cat fight in the White House, assuming that Barack Obama defeats John McCain in November. Hillary played second fiddle to Bill when […]
Looking at airport folks
“Everyone is strange in an airport,” my wife observed. “Everyone.” She felt qualified to make such an observation. We were hanging out in our third airport terminal of the day, waiting for yet another connecting flight. Waiting is the key. That flight’s departure would be twice delayed before taking off on the longest leg of our trip. In other words, […]
This is not good-bye, Cactus
Well, I am going to quit writing this column every week. Enuff. Time to slow down. Time for more Port Aransas’ing. Family time. Friend time. Time to try and summarize these past 85 years. Time to attend book signings for my soon-to-be released book “My Sandtrap or Yours.” Time for the new book I am writing about the old times. […]
