Port Aransas South Jetty (Port Aransas, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 28, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 15, 2010 Page: 16 of 21
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4B Thursday, July 15, 2010
IslandLife
Port Aransas South Jetty
City Council Agenda
Regular Meeting - 5 p.m. Thursday, July 15,2010
Council chambers, city hall, 710 W. Ave. A
Crowd of cormorants
Cormorants gather atop a roosting spot at the Leonabelle Turmbull Bird-
ing Center on Friday, June 9. The birds make what sounds like deep
Staff photo by Dan Parker
belching or growling sounds as they gather to preen and dry their feath-
ers in the summer sunshine.
Small shark, mighty bite
Meet a diminutive shark that snacks on “cookies” made not of flour and
sugar, but of tuna or whale. At 16-22 inches in length, the cookie-cutter
shark is one of the smaller denizens of the deep. From above, this little
cigar-shaped shark may look harmless, but a peek at the underside of its
coneshaped snout reveals a row of fearsome, saw-like lower teeth.
This unusual mouth is designed for the shark’s parasitic feeding tech-
nique. Using its thick lips and tongue to create suction, the shark latches
onto the body of its victim - a tuna, marlin, seal, dolphin, whale, or other
soft, tasty creature. The shark’s tiny upper teeth hold this grip while its
lower teeth slice into the flesh. The shark then twists its body, scooping
out a chunk of flesh and leaving a rounded wound that looks as if it were
punched out by a cookie cutter.
Coloration may help the cookie-cutter shark snag its meals. Light-
emitting organs called photophores give the shark’s underside a greenish
glow, but there is a darkened “collar” area around the gill slits that lacks
photophores. Scientists think the contrast of this dark area with the glow
of the rest of the shark’s body creates a silhouette that resembles a small
fish to predators swimming below. Fooled by the illusion the predator
swims closer, hoping for a meal - but it’s the cookiecutter shark that gets
to take a bite!
1«S§ HE
www.ScienceAndTheSea.org
©The University of Texas Marine Science Institute
Back at the dock
Courtesy photo
Kingfish, ling, amberjack, dorado, vermilion snapper and a limit of red
snapper were brought back from a 12-hour trip by these anglers on Sat-
urday, July 10. They were fishing aboard the Scat Cat out of Fisherman’s
Wharf with Capt. Ronnie Hale.
Deep Sea Roundup Record Catches
ANGLER
FISH
WEIGHT
YEAR
TEXAS RECORD
Dale Rocarek
Amberjack
111.4 LB
2009
121 LB/2005
Mary Jane Shanklin
Barracuda, Great
41.3 LB
1996
52.81 LB/1993
Jerry Irons
Bonito
16.0 LB
1972
12.88 LB/2008
Bobby Espinosa
Cobia (Ling)
74.2 LB
1995
108.44/1998
Laura Herlocker
Gafftopsail
5.6 LB
1996
13.33 LB1981
Robby De Leon
Dolphin (Dorado)
65.6 LB
1989
67.70/2008
Steve Reupke
Drum, Black
10.5 LB
1989
81 LB/1988
Preston Miller
Drum, Red
14.4 LB
1976
59.5 LB/2000
Robby Sansom
Flounder
5.4 LB
2000
13 LB/1976
Norman Howard
Jack, Crevalle
36.0 LB
1968
50.25 LB/1976
Jordan Anderson
Mackerel, King
55.1 LB
2002
79.00L LB/2006
Buzz Goodwin
Mackerel, Spanish
7.0 LB
1983
9.06 LB/1999
Jay Stuckey
Mako, Longfin
214 LB
1968
664 LB/1986
Barry Stegall
Marlin, Blue
592 LB
1984
876.50/1988
Frank Liberto
Marlin, White
85.3 LB
1982
111.50 LB/1979
George Richmond
Pompano, Florida
3.6 LB
1979
6.41 LB/2006
Morton Cohn
Sailfish
95.0 LB
1972
95 LB/1972
Marilyn Atkins
Seatrout, Spotted
8.3 LB
1995
15.60 LB/2002
Christina Bagous
Shark, Any
667.4 LB
1988
Not Applicable
Ron Klemcke
Snapper, Red
25.9 LB
1986
38.13 LB/1998
Bryan Gulley
Tarpon
88.0 LB
1983
210 LB/1973
Morton Cohn
Tuna, Blackfin
39.5 LB
1972
38.89 LB/1988
Tammy Wilson
Tuna, Yellowfin
137.6 LB
1985
216.2 LB/1998
James R. Glenney
Wahoo
92.0 LB
1974
124 LB/1987
Success!
Derek Moody of Austin caught this sailfish on an overnight trip aboard the
Ambush. He fished the Perdido rig on Friday, June 25. Pictured with the
fish are Capt. Tom Furlow, from left, angler Moody and mate Joe Fruedi-
ger of Corpus Christi.
Rachel Pearson
Ratted out - literally
Hello, Port Aransas. I’m officially
ending my long hiatus from writing this
column. I’d like to say it was because
I was “so busy becoming a doctor,” but
the truth is I was sad.
I garroted another boyfriend, and had
a fight with a really close friend to boot.
In the weeks that followed, there were
times when I thought my dog would be
better off without me.
Matt, my brother, came to stay dur-
ing the thick of it. He basically slept
on my floor and spent all day surfing
and all evening cooking incredible
Thai foods.
Before he left, he made a huge pot of
chicken and dumplings and then froze it
in serving-size Tupperware dishes so that
I would survive my neuroscience final.
Matt deserves a huge medal.
And so does my friend Alyssa, who
cheerfully listened to me dissect my
problems for hours and hours and
hours.
And so does my Dad, who spent all
May training my dog to be good on the
leash while I escaped to Chicago, where
my dear friends Delaney and Ryan (who
deserve a massive trophy with little fig-
ures of themselves on top) have a special
guest room all laid out for me.
There’s noth-
ing like trouble to
make you realize
how beloved you
are.
Anyway, I was
away from Galves-
ton for the past two
months.
Before I left,
I was careful to
clean my apart-
ment pretty well. I took out the trash,
and made sure there was no food that
could rot in the fridge or on the shelves,
and did the dishes.
But it was to no avail, because in my
absence, the house was overtaken by
vermin. Not only roaches, my friends,
and not only ants.
Big vermin. Intelligent vermin. Ver-
min with long, hairless tails.
(I know you’re thinking it’s nutria,
but you’re wrong: It’s rats.)
I have seen four individual rats —
which means there’s probably about
400 more—and I can hear them moving
in the walls and plotting against me in
their little voices. I bet they’re plaguey
as all-get-out.
The worst part is that, at night, they
come out and seem to fear nothing. The
first night I was here, before I began the
Vermin Eradication Campaign, I woke
up and had to go to the bathroom.
Well, I walked to the dark kitchen and
screamed at the top of my lungs, trying
to scare the rats, then I reached into the
little alcove where the light switch is and
a rat scurried under my hand.
I heard about 50 of them jump off the
cabinet and run for the bathroom—the
bathroom! Where l wanted to go!—and
I saw three more when the light was
finally on.
So that is how I found myself alone,
late at night in my rat-infested apart-
ment, peeing in the kitchen sink.
“Rachel,” I thought to myself, “you
are truly living a glamorous and fas-
cinating life.” Then I made sure the
neighbors couldn’t see me through the
hole in the blinds.
I have since decided to abandon the
whole place to the vermin, so I’ve got
through the weekend to get my stuff out.
Pray that I make it. If you never hear
from me again, it’s because I’ve been
eaten by rats in my sleep
Rachel Pearson, a writer from Port
Aransas, is a medical school student.
Contact her at rachelmpearson @gmail.
Calendar of Events
Third Saturday Art Sale
July 17,11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Workshops and classes:
• Reed basket making: Saturday,
July 17,1 to 5 p.m. Bun basket and
liner with Mary Sorrells. Beginner’s
traditional weave, laying out a base,
adding fillers, color, rim and lashing
for a square base with round rim.
Must register and pay by July 15, $42.
• Fun with polymer clay: Monday,
July 19, 9:30 a.m, to 12:30 p.m., with
Sue McCiurg, $15, plus $5 for sup-
plies.
• Drop in and Draw with Pat Dttt-
berner: Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. -12:30
p.m. $13.50 members, $15 non-
members.
• Soft Pastels or Oil Painting with
Donna Garven: Thursdays, 9:30
a.m. to noon, $13.50 members, $15
non-members.
• Beginning/Intermediate Water-
color with Kay Bamebey: Fridays,
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., $25 each session or
$80 for 4 sessions.
Art Center for the Islands,
323 N. Alister St., 749-7334
-Drivers advised to stay off State Hwy. 361, keeptcids-from behind the wheel-i
Golf cart infractions may draw citations
By Dan Parker
dan @ portasouthjetty.com
Passed just last year, a city ordinance
regulating how golf carts may be oper-
ated in Port Aransas still is fairly new.
Police mainly have tried to educate the
public on the law and issued only a few
citations for violations, according to Port
Aransas Police Chief Scott Burroughs.
But more citations could be coming
soon.
“Summer is half over, golf cart own-
ers should be fully aware of the law
and ought to be in compliance by now,”
Burroughs said.
“Officers will issue citations when
a driver operates a golf cart recklessly
or creates a hazard for other vehicles,
particularly on (State Hwy.) 361,” the
chief said.
Police have seen more golf cart traffic
in town since summer started. With that
has come more violations.
“The two biggest issues we have seen
are unlicensed kids driving golf carts
and carts being driven on 361,” Bur-
roughs said.
The ordinance prohibits the opera-
tion of golf carts on Hwy. 361 south of
Avenue G. Police say the prohibition was
put into place because congestion and
higher speed limits on the highway make
it unsafe to operate a golf cart.
A conviction for a violation of the
ordinance may result in a fine, suspension
of a golf cart license or both.
Ferry delays expected through fall
life M Mm ^
Courtesy photo
By Dan Parker
danCa'portasouthjetty.com
Construction at the ferry ramps is caus-
ing traffic delays this summer, but Ferry
Operations Manager Howard Gillespie
said efforts are being made to keep the
delays as minimal as possible.
No work is being done on weekends
or holidays, when traffic volumes are
greatest, Gillespie said.
Installation of new clusters of pilings
began June 15 and will continue into the
fall, he said.
The clusters help guide ferries into
position at the landings. Ferries also can
be tied up to them.
Rotting creosote pilings are being
replaced, and additional clusters are be-
ing installed, too. The new pilings are
made of an environmentally friendly
composite material that won’t wear out,
Gillespie said.
Fenders also are being replaced this
summer. Fenders are the large walls that
the ferries wedge themselves between at
the landings.
Work is taking place on the Mustang
Island side right now and will move on
to the Harbor Island side later this sum-
mer. Ramps must be closed from time to
time to give workers room to continue
with the project, Gillespie said. Usually,
it’s two ramps at a time, but sometimes
three, he said.
Gillespie said he couldn’t quantify just
how much the work is delaying traffic.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a small delay, and
I wouldn’t say large,” he said. “Probably
somewhere in between. There are some
increased waiting times, depending on
what is going on.”
The work involves a barge equipped
with a pile driver. Workers use a “water
jet” that shoots water into the muddy
bottom, carving out holes for the pilings,
Gillespie said.
The pilings going in now are 65 feet
long. Water depth is about 20 feet. About
10 or 12 feet of the pilings protrude from
the water surface.
Russell Marine is the contractor on
the job.
(See www.portasouthjetty.com to see
ferry cams and estimated wait times.)
r
At least two accidents involving golf
carts have taken place in Port Aransas
this year, Burroughs said. One occurred
at Hwy. 361 and Access Road 1A when a
man driving a pickup truck failed to yield
right-of-way while turning and struck a
golf cart, he said.
The other accident occurred when a
golf cart struck a curb on 11th Street near
Avenue G and overturned.
Passengers in the golf carts in both
incidents received minor injuries, Bur-
roughs said.
People are given copies of the city’s
golf cart ordinance when they register
their golf carts at city hall, Burroughs
said. Rental companies include a list of
responsibilities and prohibitions when
they rent a cart, he said.
Mayor Keith McMullin said he’s work-
ing to get the word out to the public that
it’s illegal to operate golf carts on Hwy.
361. It’s become an especially big prob-
lem during the summer tourist season,
but locals also have been guilty of driving
their carts in that restricted area too, the
mayor said.
Among city council members, there’s
“a pretty universal feeling we’ve got a
problem,” McMullin said. “If we don’t
get a handle on it, I really feel like we,
as council, will have to see to it that more
is done.”
A decision by the Legislature last
year ended the state’s practice of issuing
licenses for golf carts to operate on public
streets. The legislation allowed cities to
issue licenses and to implement their own
restrictions on golf carts.
The Port Aransas City Council passed
a golf cart ordinance in November.
July 22
Deadline
for TNI
Work continues
Staff photo by Dan Parker
Workers install a cluster of new pilings at the ferry landing on Thursday,
July 8. Traffic delays are expected for the rest of the summer due to
construction at the landings, but no work is expected on weekends and
holidays, when the heaviest traffic descends on the landings.
Fall
Visitors Goide
Call
Misty
(361)749-5131
OR
EMAIL HER AT
MISTY@PORTASOUTHJEnY.COM
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE AND PRAYER, CITIZEN COMMENTS AND REPORTS
3. FINANCIAL REPORT:
A. Discussion and take appropriate action on June Financial Report.
B. Quarterly review of investments.
4. CONSENT AGENDA: Items of routine or administrative nature or discussed previously
at a public meeting.
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 17, 2010
B. Third and final reading of ordinance amending Chapter 25. Division 6. Adult
Entertainment Establishments.
C. Second reading of ordinance establishing rules applicable to Leonabelle
Turnbull and Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond Birding Centers.
5. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Appoint members to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
B. Third and final reading of proposed Music Overlay District ordinance.
C. Resolution authorizing city manager to award bids for repair of
Charlie’s Pasture Pier.
6. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Discussion and action on amending landscape ordinance to allow native grass to be
grown in all areas of the city.
B. Discussion and take appropriate action on Marlin Academy Latchkey Program.
7. CITY MANAGER REPORT
• Oil spill update
• City wide projects updates
8. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND ITEMS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION
9. ADJOURNMENT
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Judson, Mary Henkel. Port Aransas South Jetty (Port Aransas, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 28, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 15, 2010, newspaper, July 15, 2010; Port Aransas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth505999/m1/16/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Ellis Memorial Library.