The Aransas Pass Progress (Aransas Pass, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 15, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 7, 1995 Page: 1 of 33
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Summer ‘prime time’ for tourism
( □ Fishing, water
sports top attractions
*
By JOHN LOWMAN
Aransas Pass Progress
9
About six million tourists are
expected to spend their time — and
dollars — at the Coastal Bend this
year, and summer is 'prime time.'
June and July are the top months
for tourism in Aransas Pass, with
the average stay being two days —
either on weekends or weekdays.
Fishing and water activities are the
top tourist attractions, with seafood,
shopping and a “change of pace"
also ranking as important, said Kay
Wolf, executive director of the
Aransas Pass Chamber of
Commerce.
Tourism is the third-largest indus-
try in Texas, and the Coastal Bend
is no exception. Commercially,
tourism in Aransas Pass ranks
behind shrimping and oil produc-
tion, Mrs. Wolf said.
Residents and merchants can fol-
low a few guidelines to help keep
visitors returning to the area, she
said.
“The number one reason people
come to Texas — and to Aransas
Pass — is the hospitable service."
Mrs. Wolf said, “The friendlier we are
and the more we know about our
community, the more we can serve
them. Once they’re here, we want to
keep them here."
Recent improvements to the
Photo by John Lowman
Fishing from one of the many area piers is one of the favorite past-
times of visitors to the Coastal Bend.
downtown area should help do just bn the area lasts year round. Mrs.
that. While tourism might be some- Wolf said.
what seasonal, the flqppcial impact “We’re,getting a pretty neat down-
town area, and antiques seem to be
moving well," she said. "Tourism
puts money in the merc hant’s pock-
ets and it pays sales taxes."
Although financial concerns arc*
important, visitor comfort super-
sedes money to be* made. Through
involvement with the Coastal Bend
Regional Tourism Council, city offi-
cials coordinate with representa-
tives of other area towns to ensure
any visitor's stay is pleasant, she
said. Any "friendly rivalry" is put
aside during the summer months.
"We work very hard to promote
regionally. It not only helps us. but
they (lnglesidt*. Rockport. Portland.
Gregory. and Port Aransas officials)
do the same thing." she said. "If our
hotels or motels ;ire full, we refer
See TOURISM. Page 10
sports
Busiest
Area Tourism
■
Average stayt 2.9 days
Saturday
Number of
determined by
automobiles
Texas
Transportati
State
south
Passengers per
mated at*2.9,
1.7
des, 493
•1993 1.8
des. or 522
•1994 1.9
cles. or 551
facts of
• July is
238.000
oat
* June la
1.000 vehil
-i
daysvflrtday
with over
. 581,000
■■ llg
* December is lowest with
.104 vehicles. 348.000
senders
- Over 40.000 attend the
Jiree-d&y Shrimporee in
Sept#bb%/|p™ § 3,
■ ' "a j.
-Tourist dollar-j.....
, state-wide
9118. non*
• 8 74. Ti
Visitor Demographics
^O^^bualness trav-
:
tourists
•82% statf overnight
•24% of Texas toi
the Gulf
ranks d in the
for tour i behind
andf Ida.
ures cou
the A
ofO
TxDOT
W Pass
•WWW’ ®®»®
jIMkS
'
jgjjg
R: -
Photo by John Lowman
Craig Garcia, 6. of Aransas Pass shoots a Jumper as J.D. Palmer, III, age 9. of
Rockport looks on._______
EMS chief defends
ambulance service
□C/fy satisfied
with Tri County
By JOHN LOWMAN
Aransas Pass Progress
Tri County Emergency
Medical Service — a private
company contracted by the
city of Aransas Pass for
emergency transport and
medical response — has
recently come under fire for
alleged misuse of ambu-
larices.
Those charges include the
use of an ambulance by a
TCEMS technician for the
transport of furniture and
personal belongings, and the
transport of a domestic ani-
mal.
Tri County receives $3,889
per month — $46,670 per
year — from the City of
Aransas Pass for services
rendered. Current policies
prohibit the use of company
vehicles for personal purpos-
es, according to J.M.
Aitaway, TCEMS business
manager and treasurer.
"We have an iron-clad poli-
cy against carrying furniture
in ambulances." Attaway
said vehemently. “We do not
allow It."
However, if a operator on
duly has need to transport a
small item, they may do so,
Altaway added.
"They have to have that
ambulance with them when
they're on call. They" can't
Just leave It at the office.”
Aitaway said. "Say they’re at
Wal Mari and buy an appli-
ance (television, microwave).
They ran haul it In the
ambulance but we encour-
age them to pul it up front."
Aitaway “hasn’t had a
chance to talk to the ahnbu
lance driver” about the
alleged animal transport,
and said he didn't know
which driver allegedly used
an ambulance for moving
furniture.
The agreement between
TCEMS and the city of
Aransas Pass is long-stand-
ing and open-ended, accord-
ing lo city manager Rick
Ewaniszyk. While city offi-
cials are satisfied with the
performance of TCEMS, the
transport of anything but
patients shouldn't be
allowed, Ewaniszyk said.
"The ambulance — when
it's on duty — is there for
stand-by emergency services
and should not be loaded
with someone’s personal
See EMS, Page 10
Grant may solve water woes
By JULIET K. WENOER
A grant application being made to
the Texas Water Development Board
could open up opportunities for the
future growth of Aransas Pass and
upgrading utilities.
Funds totaling
’over 92.5 million alws
being sought under,
provisions of the
Economically
Distressed Areas
Program, according
to Aransas Pass city
manager Rick
Ewaniszyk. Several
area cities Joined In the application
process.
If approved, water and sewer
Improvements would be done In two
EWANISZYK
stages. A feasibility study would
cost $55,000 — 841.250 of which Is
being applied for through EDAP. The
city would pay the remaining
$13,750. Ewaniszyk said. Funding
and work on the second phase
would be determined by the findings
of the study.
The EDAP grant not only would
provide for Improvements locally, it
has other advantages.
"The Important thing about EDAP
Is much of the funding Is a grant,
not a loan." he said. "It would not be
funded by the taxpayers.”
John Michael of Naismtth
Engineers says the grant could be a
"Godsend for Aransas Pass."
The application, which Michael
prepared. If approved would call for
individual study for funding to
improve water and sewer systems
Council eyes ambulance use
Aransas Pass City Council
responded Monday night to ques-
tions about the use of Tri County
EMS ambulances.
The City of Aransas Pass, as well
as other cities in
the county, sub-
sidizes the ambu-
lance operation.
Mayor Bill St.
Clair said he had
a call about car-
rying dogs and
cats In an ambu-
lance. J.M.
Attaway. a long
time EMS board member, said
"things have got out of proportion."
EMS does allow its personnel to
use the ambulance to transport
some Items, but does not allow
transporting of any kind of animal.
Attaway said .
The person who was supposed to
have transported the furniture and
pet said he has a pickup and he
was loading the items Into the
pickup. Attaway added.
Since ambu-
lance personnel
are on call 24
hours a day.
seven days a
week and are
with the ambu-
lance at all times.
“Emergencies
can’t be sched-
uled." said
council member Linda Thompson .
Thompson noted that the public
needs to be educated as to why
personnel are seen at the grocery
store and other places in an ambu-
lance.
See AMBULANCE.
discusses
usage, bill
h4tww.Mli
draw up an amendment to a city
rr£.rrravy ,,ucks
a complaint from
some time ago. the
council looked at the current ordi-
nance and how it may restrict
heavy Cracks on the residential
Flores said his concern is the
damage heavy trucks can do to the
new streets. Flores resides In the
Phase m area street protect.
Council Member Linda
Thompson said she has driven the
areas known to have heavy truck
t
i
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Cole, Mary. The Aransas Pass Progress (Aransas Pass, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 15, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 7, 1995, newspaper, June 7, 1995; Aransas Pass, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1145715/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Ed & Hazel Richmond Public Library.