Audra Rosebrook, Brandi Smith and Matt Johnson were among Port Aransas Police Department employees taking top honors at an awards banquet on Feb. 7. The 10th Port Aransas Police Department Awards Banquet, which also was a fundraiser for the Port Aransas Police Foundation, was held at the Port Aransas Civic Center. Officer II Matt Johnson was named this year’s top... READ MORE >
The Port Aransas High School boys’ basketball team won its 100th straight district game following a 50-39 win over Refugio on Feb. 7. Moments after the final buzzer, jubilant Marlins players sprinted toward a banner with the words “Happy 100th District Win!” on it. The Marlins’ 100-game win streak “was a very good accomplishment and something you don’t usually see,”... READ MORE >
The Port Aransas City Council OKed a plan that allowed Palmilla Beach Resort and Golf Community to alter its Planned Unit Development (PUD) plan to build hundreds more houses and other structures on its property. All council members voted in favor of approving the change, except for Mayor Charles Bujan during a city council meeting on Jan. 16. The approval... READ MORE >
Port Aransas never has been a hotbed for crime and traffic mishaps. And, with the coronavirus restricting people’s movements so much, this town’s police force was getting even fewer calls than usual from the public. Contributing to the slowdown were state, county and municipal closures and limitations on restaurants, the beach and short-term rentals as a result of the coronavirus... READ MORE >
Port Aransas Tourist Bureau and Chamber of Commerce CEO Jeff Hentz resigned to take the same position at the North Lake Tahoe CVB, Resort Association and Chamber of Commerce. “It probably is the only job I would leave Mustang Island and Port A for,” Hentz said. “In my world, it’s a dream job.” Hentz was hired in January 2017 for... READ MORE >
Restaurants, retail stores, movie theaters, sole proprietors and malls were allowed to open at 25-percent capacity on May 1 under the governor’s plan to ease coronavirus restrictions in Texas. “We will open in a way that uses safe standards,” said Gov. Greg Abbott during a April 27 press conference. “Our goal is to get Texans back to work.” Abbott said... READ MORE >
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced on April 2 that assessment and accountability reports were waived for Port Aransas ISD and all other Texas schools for the 2019-2020 school year due to closures caused by concerns about the coronavirus which causes COVID-19. The TEA made the announcement after the U.S. Department of Education approved waiving statewide assessment and accountability requirements... READ MORE >
Many Port Aransas hotels lacked guests in April after concerns about the coronavirus all but halted short-term rentals in town. Hotels remained open but lodging businesses only could rent to essential workers or long-term, per a mayoral declaration signed on March 25. “It’s had a major impact on our occupancy,” said Claude Baxter, general manager of the Hampton Inn and... READ MORE >
Despite a prohibition against vehicles on the beach, a measure taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, many hundreds of people still visited the Port Aransas shore during the July 4 weekend. They walked from their accommodations. They carried towels, umbrellas and children in their arms. They pulled wagons with coolers on them. Some took quickly arranged shuttles to the... READ MORE >
Nueces County beaches were under a vehicle ban, but that didn’t stop thousands of tourists from visiting Port Aransas over a July weekend. Parked cars filled streets like Beach Access Road 1, 11th Street and Sand Castle Drive. On foot, beachgoers pulled wagons, carried coolers and canopies through every beach access point in town. Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales signed... READ MORE >
