Continue reading »]]> By LARRY GAGE
Special to the PRESS

There are those people who are known as defensive purists or specialists. The only problem they may have with a 0-0 final score is that their team didn’t win. For the first time in its history last Saturday night the RGVCA East-West All-Star Football Game ended with neither team getting a score of any kind; final score, 0-0.

Low-scoring games are sometimes called defensive struggles. To this writer that’s a misnomer. When I see a game that ends with a score like, say, 3-0, 6-0, or 7-6, it seems to me that the defense isn’t struggling at all and, in fact, is doing just fine. It’s the offense that’s struggling, struggling against a defense that won’t let it gain any yards, get out of its own end of the field, or put points on the board.

The honor of coaching the East squad went to Port Isabel High Head Coach Monty Stumbaugh. He and his staff got the assignment because the Tarpons made the deepest run in last season’s playoffs of any Lower Rio Grande Valley team of any class. Playing for their own coaches on the East team were Javier Vela, Luis Aguilera, and Danny Medina.

It was a hard-hitting contest throughout and the Press visited with Coach Stumbaugh in his office on Monday to get his thoughts on the game and what it means to be a part of it.

“This is the second time we’ve done it,” Stumbaugh said. “It’s an honor and a fun thing. It’s time consuming but it’s fun.”

The teams practiced Monday through Thursday for two weeks to prepare for the game. Efforts were made to keep the offenses simple and, just as it is for any team at the start of a new season, it’s harder to get an offense hitting on all cylinders than it is a defense.

“Terminology was part of the problem,” Stumbaugh told the Press. “We might call something one thing and another school might call the same thing something else. We wanted to run the option and we had problems with the pitch-outs. We had four or five runs out of the shotgun, a couple of screens, a couple of trick plays here and there.”

Both teams had their chances to score, according to Stumbaugh, but neither side could get the ball into the end zone, or even between the uprights. “They missed a couple of field goals. In the third quarter we got down to about the 15-yard line and missed a field goal. We had our chances. It was a defensive game. Both defenses played well.”

Another kind of defensive specialist is a player who only plays defense. Danny Medina and Luis Aguilera played on the defensive side of the ball nearly all of the time for the 2012 Tarpons squad that made it all the way to the regional final in the playoffs. They played alongside several players who played against them during the season. District rivals La Feria and Rio Hondo placed a total of five players on the East team, including quarterbacks Jesus Ramon for La Feria and Juan Puga of Rio Hondo.

“It was pretty cool, talking to the guys from the other schools,” Medina said in the weight room this week. “Mostly it was the 5A guys wanting to talk to us because of our playoff run.”

“It was a good experience…getting to meet new people,” said Aguilera. “The first day (of practice) we talked to the Rio Hondo guys, and later on we started talking to the La Feria guys. They were cool guys.”

Representing the Tarpon offense was running back Javier Vela. “First of all, I have to thank God for being in this position. All the guys…they were a bunch of smart, intelligent kids. For two weeks of practice…to learn all the plays. It was an incredible effort by everybody.”

Vela, Medina, and Aguilera have played their last games for Port Isabel High, as all are on schedule to graduate this month. All three players will take great memories with them. “When I look back on my career, it’s just a good feeling to know that I did what I could,” Vela told the Press. “It was a great moment. I didn’t know what to do,” Medina said, referring to the end of the overtime playoff win over Navarro. “It’s hard to explain. You just have to experience it.”

Continue reading »]]> Special to the PRESS

The following Port Isabel High School students have been nominated for the following honors. Winners will be announced on June 11.

• 2012-13 Sub 5A Girl Athlete of the Year: Daniella Murchison

• 2012-13 Sub 5A Girls Team of the Year: Lady Tarpon varsity volleyball team

• 2012-13 Sub 5A Boys Team of the Year: Tarpon varsity football team

• 2012-13 Sub 5A Coach of the Year: Monty Stumbaugh

• 2012-13 Sub 5A Moment of the Year: 96-yard drive, Port Isabel vs. Navarro regional championship game

• 2012-13 Sub 5A Athletic Program of the Year.

Continue reading »]]> By MARTHA McCLAIN
Special to the PRESS

Laguna Vista’s Veterans Memorial Park stands in quiet stillness at dusk earlier this week while the park’s lights beautifully illuminate its centerpiece monument. (Staff photo by Ray Quirgoa)

The Laguna Vista community will observe Memorial Day on Monday to commemorate the men and women in the US military who gave their lives in defense of their country, and to honor all veterans who have served.

In what has become an annual event, the “Always Honor, Never Forget” parade down FM 510 is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at the Laguna Vista Library.

“We encourage everyone to decorate their golf carts, vehicles, bikes, boats and trailers for the parade,” City Manager Rolando Vela said. A police escort will lead the parade to the Veterans Memorial Park where the parade will conclude.

The ceremony starts at 4:30 p.m. at the Memorial and will feature various speakers and the performance of Taps. It is located between Taylor Avenue and Santa Isabella Blvd

Engraved bricks to honor the service of all veterans have been installed at the Memorial and may be purchased on Memorial Day at the site. The bricks measure 8 by 8 inches and cost $50.

Space allows for 750 bricks to be placed in the park.

Certain guidelines for wording on the bricks will have been imposed to ensure respectful tributes. Veterans may purchase the bricks, or non-veterans can buy a brick to honor a friend or loved one. Wording on the brick could include the name, military rank, branch of service and possibly the war or campaign in which the honoree served.

The brick tribute was initiated by the Laguna Vista Parks Board, which recommended implementation of the plan to the Town Council. Brick may also be purchased by calling Laguna Vista City Hall at 943-1297.

The Memorial is one of the recently upgraded Town parks in the $1.5 million certificates of obligation program over the past year.

Continue reading »]]> By SASHA HELLER
Managing Editor
edi...@portisabelsouthpadre.com 

The Point Isabel Independent School District (PIISD) Board on Tuesday approved a five percent general pay increase for teachers and a five percent from midpoint raise for administrative, professional, clerical and paraprofessional employees and auxiliary personnel.

“It’s the first general pay increase in three years,” said superintendent Dr. Lisa Garcia.

Discussions about a raise initially began at two percent. However, that figure continued to rise during the Board’s talks and they ultimately settled on the five percent figure.

Garcia explained how the negotiations unfolded. She said the Board contracted earlier in the school year with the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) to conduct a review of the district’s overall salary structure. Garcia said the goal of the study was to ensure PIISD’s salaries were competitive with comparable school districts.

“We started in February in meetings with the Board,” Garcia said, adding that the Board members wanted more for the district’s employees. “The Board of Trustees felt like a robust general pay increase was necessary to retain and attract the best teachers.”

In other business, the Board approved:

• Contracting architectural services with Gignac Architects of Harlingen at a fee of six percent

• Contracting with Gignac Architects to develop a plan for concession stand/restroom facilities and security booth/storage facility

• Contracting with TREMCO Incorporated Weatherproofing Technologies Inc. of Beechwood, Ohio for roof repairs and maintenance program at Darry Elementary

• Purchasing 30 iPads for use by teachers and students

• 2013-14 optional flexible school day program

• PIISD staff to attend and present at the National Council for Community and Education Partnership/GEAR UP Conference in San Francisco, Calif. on July 14-17

• Port Isabel Junior High School’s junior class to visit Texas A&M campus in Kingsville, Texas A&M at Corpus Christi and a Corpus Christi Hooks baseball game.

Continue reading »]]> By CHRISTINA R. GARZA
Staff Writer
pre...@portisabelsouthpadre.com 

William Thomas Edwards, Jr.

A man is behind bars for allegedly kidnapping and raping a local woman.

On May 16, South Padre Island police officer Manuel Ochoa responded to a call to a convenience store on the 2900 block of Padre Boulevard, where a woman with bodily injuries alleged that a William Thomas Edwards, Jr. – a man whose place of residency has yet to be determined – held her captive for two days while raping and assaulting her.

According to the police report the woman was hobbling due to back pain from injuries she says she suffered at Edwards’ hands.

The woman displayed severe bruising to the right side of her face. The woman alleged that 6 foot, 1 inch-tall Edwards inflicted the injuries on her when Edwards held her captive at her residence starting on Tuesday, May 14.

The woman alleged that during the two-day period Edwards beat her, held a gun to her head and made her fear for her life while he continuously assaulted her. After speaking to the woman, officers made their way to her residence and arrested Edwards. He faces charges that include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, and aggravated sexual assault. Edwards was transported to the city jail before being transfer to county jail.

Continue reading »]]> By AARIN HARTWELL
Special to the PRESS

Parking issues on the Island dominated the City Council meeting last Wednesday, March 15, at City Hall on South Padre Island.

Discussion of the city’s convention center renovation and expansion and proposed seasonal parking permit brought many spectators to the audience of the meeting.

Business owners and members of the community waited patiently as the mayor and council attended to each item on the schedule with the majority of the onlookers anticipating agenda item 12, the discussion and action regarding the city’s proposed beach user fee (paid parking) and guidance to amend Chapter 22, Dune Protection, Beach Re-nourishment, and Access Plan to include the proposed beach user fee.

According to an interview with Council member Sam Listi, city manager Joni Clarke, and Coastal Resources Manager Reuben Torres, Listi said, “The city is considering paid parking because both county parks have paid parking. This causes guests to bypass the county parks causing overflow parking on Gulf Boulevard.”

Kerry Schwartz, owner of Island Native Surf Shop and President of The South Padre Island Business Owners Association (SPI BOA) spoke Wednesday to the council about the Business’ Owners opinion of the beach user fee (paid parking).

“SPI Business Owners Association is very committed to providing SPI visitors a very friendly, enjoyable, relaxing experience while visiting SPI. Tourism is the only industry on SPI and it is tourism that fuels our economy. It is important for the Island to embrace tourists and provide a very welcoming experience. Anything less it not acceptable,” said Schwartz.

The local BOA’s position against the parking proposal presented to the City Council was believed not to be consistent with what they deemed “promoting tourism.”

Schwartz requested that the Council allow the Business Owners Association to be involved in creating solutions for the parking problem. The issue was tabled pending a meeting with the Business Owners Association.

SPI BOA plans to work with the Property Owners Who Care, Surfrider Foundation and the city to come up with a viable solution.

However, this is no new issue for the City of South Padre. The City Council has sought solutions for the parking problem, such as parking meters and ticket kiosks, for the last four years. After ruling out the options for logistical reasons, the GLO granted permission to charge a beach user fee, pending the details as to the rate and method of implantation. The council proposed its first beach user-parking fee to the GLO in February.

After being denied by the GLO for the plans’ high rates resulting in potential discrimination to the day-trippers, the city discussed new options for rates and general logistics of the parking permit at Wednesday’s meeting.

“The funds collected from the proposed plan will be used for beach walkovers, beach maintenance and improvements for Gulf Boulevard,” said Listi.

Under the Texas Open Beaches Act, it is required that all fees associated with access to the beach are re-invested into maintaining the beach.

“The City Council is looking at all the options and how to best implement the program because our situation is unique being a coastal community, and we have to take into consideration safety issues as well,” said city manager Joni Clarke.

Council member Listi suggested multiple passes can be used.

“If a solution can be reached its going to have to be a daily, three-day or yearly pass, or a combination of those somehow,” said Listi.

According to Councilman Listi, others prefer a flat fee.

Clarke said the Council has already restricted overnight cul-de-sac parking and parking on residential side streets so to ensure safety vehicles have access.

Community member Nikki Charvat, disagreed with the restriction and is concerned that paid parking will worsen the problem.

“I own a condo that was built before contractors were required by a building code to have a parking space for each unit. Before side street parking was restricted, I was able to park pretty close to my home. It’s frustrating that I have to park and walk five blocks to get to my home when I live across the street from both a parking lot and cul-de-sac that remains empty after 9 p.m.,” said Charvat.

Charvat also is concerned about the current building codes.

“They already don’t have enough parking in the town, but are still allowing new buildings to come up without legitimate parking spaces for them. They are not using the standard parking and building codes,” said Charvat.

Charvat suggests that current homeowners be grandfathered in to any new proposition that prohibits property owners from parking in these restricted areas.

Community member Mary Volz asked the Council, “What happens if you sell parking passes and there is no place for the people to park that have passes? Will they get a refund?”

The City has been actively searching for solutions to the parking issue.

According to Torres, there are three to four beach cul-de-sacs that could be improved by development, potentially resulting in 120 spaces if funding was available.

“The problem is we don’t have the funding to commit to this development now. We would first need to implement the paid parking to accrue money for this process,” said Torres.

The Texas Open Beaches Act requires one space per 15 linear feet, which translates to South Padre as 1,620 parking spaces. According to the Beach Parking System Draft sent to the GLO, South Padre has recorded 2,186 parking spaces available for beach goers, which is 34 percent more than what is required by the Open Beaches Act.

“The way we see it approximately 25 percent of the total identified parking spaces would have a beach user fee, leaving 75 percent of parking on the island free,” said Torres.

South Padre is one of the very few beach communities in Texas without a beach user fee. Galveston, Corpus Christi, Surfside, Nueces County and Port Aransas participate in beach user fee parking programs, according to Torres

“Three of the other cities’ beach programs share annual pass programs, which is what we are proposing,” said Torres.

Beginning June 1, the City’s free public transportation bus, The Wave, will begin a designated beach route that will circle remote identified parking lots to enable visitors to different beach accesses. Visitors would be expected to use this transportation to the beach.

Marcy Newman, Public Works Director for South Padre is currently in Florida attending the International Parking Institute Conference.

Continue reading »]]> By CHRISTINA R. GARZA
Staff Writer
pre...@portisabelsouthpadre.com 

Luis Garcia Marin

Yolanda Marin, wife of alleged domestic terrorist Luis Garcia Marin insists he is innocent of the charges.

The Port Isabel-South Padre Press reported online that Garcia Marin was charged with making terroristic threats after reporting a suspicious looking package to Fire Marshall Rodrigo Garcia on Wednesday, April 24.

According to Yolanda, she and her husband had taken one of their sons to the Boys and Girls Pediatric Clinic and her husband had remained outside to smoke a cigarette when he saw the free newspaper stand. He decided to get a free paper and noticed the package, Yolanda said, adding that her husband read “TNT” written on the package and feared for the safety of his wife and child inside the building and quickly alerted authorities. The clinic was evacuated and Yolanda said her husband was called a hero.

The investigators, however, turned their eyes to Garcia Marin. He went in for a polygraph test on May 10 and was sent to Cameron County Jail after investigators reported that he failed the test. It was also reported by police that enough probable cause to warrant the hero-turned-suspect’s arrested was obtained. “This is an injustice, he is innocent,” Yolanda said.

Garcia Marin is undocumented, according to Yolanda, and wouldn’t jeopardize his family, she said. The Marins have three school-age children together and two children from Yolanda’s previous relationship. Yolanda said the incident has affected her children.

“I talked to the Mexican Consulate and they advised me to get a lawyer and demand proof,” she said.

Yolanda also said this has led her to distrust the Port Isabel Police Department. “If I see anyone breaking the law, I will be afraid to report it because I don’t want to be charged with a crime,” Yolanda said.

Still, members of the PIPD Investigation Unit reportedly viewed a recording from the clinic which allegedly shows Marin walking by the front entrance while carrying a box underneath his right arm, that is before walking out of view. Minutes later, Marin is seen walking with Fire Marshal Rodrigo Garcia to the site of the box, according to authorities involved in the case.

Continue reading »]]> PRESS Staff Report

Sasha Heller

The Port Isabel-South Padre Press has hired award-winning journalist Sasha Heller to serve as the paper’s managing editor.

The Atlanta native joins the staff after working as the reporter at The Pampa News, a daily in the Panhandle. Heller has also worked as a news editor for The Enterprise-Tocsin in Indianola, Miss.; reporter at The Rio Grande Sun in Espanola, N.M.; and staff writer at the Daphne Bulletin in Daphne, Ala.

Heller won a Best Investigate Series first-place award in 2010 from the Mississippi Press Association. For that series, Heller wrote seven articles covering the Mississippi Department of Education’s (MED) historic audit of the Sunflower County School District (SCSD). The audit uncovered that SCSD had failed all 37 of the state’s accreditation standards. Heller interviewed school officials, teachers, students and parents to provide in-depth reporting of the monumental education scandal.

Most recently, Sasha won a Best Features second-place award in 2012 from the Panhandle Press Association. That award covered two feature articles: one was about a Pampa native who had spent the last few years in Afghanistan helping set up the wartorn nation’s medical infrastructure; and the second feature shared the story of a Vietnam veteran reuniting with a South Vietnamese translator he had served with during the war. The veteran had nearly shot the translator one night by mistake, thinking the translator was a member of the Vietcong. Forty years later, the veteran was speaking about the war with a lawyer from Chicago who asked if he could interview the veteran, to which he said of course. The lawyer later uploaded the video of the interview to YouTube. The Vietnamese translator saw the video on YouTube and then sought out the person who had uploaded it. The lawyer then connected the translator with the veteran and they rekindled their friendship.

Heller is a 2008 graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University.

“I bring a wealth of experience to this paper and am excited about the opportunity,” Heller said.

Sasha is a versatile young, creative editor who understands the meaning of community journalism.

“My journey of self-discovery has led me to your doorstep, Port Isabel and South Padre Island,” he said. “Show me what you have to offer.”

Continue reading »]]> Date: Thru August
Time: NA
Event: Turtle Nesting Season
Where: South Padre Island Beaches
More Info: Report Nests (956) 751-4511

Date: May 24
Time: 9:15 p.m.
Event: Friday Night Fireworks
Where: Laguna Madre Bay

Date: May 24
Time: 6-10 p.m.
Event: SPI Parks & Rec Committee Presents Wine & Blues 2013 Featuring Johnny Dee’s Rocket 88s
Where: Clayton’s Beach Bar & Grill
Admission: Free
More Info: (956) 371-0711

Date: May 25
Time: Flag placing at 9 a.m., Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m.
Event: VFW Post No. 8791 and American Legion Post No. 498 will place flags at Port Isabel Cemetery followed by a ceremony at the cemetery
Where: Port Isabel Cemetery, at the corner of Houston and North Musina Street, Port Isabel
Admission: FREE

Date: May 25
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Event: Meet the Author – Don Clifford
Where: Paragraphs, 5505 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island
More Info: Contact the store at (956) 433-5057

Date: May 25
Time: 5 p.m.
Event: Music by the Bay
Where: Roloff Park, Laguna Vista
Admission: FREE
More Info: (956) 943-1793

Date: May 25
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Pat Green Summer Kick-Off Concert
Where: South Padre Island Convention Centre, 7355 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island
Admission: $35-$150
More Info: (956) 761-3000

Date: May 27
Time: Parade at 4 p.m., Ceremony at 4:30 p.m.
Event: “Always Honor and Never Forget” Parade & Memorial Day Ceremony
Where: Laguna Vista Veterans Memorial
More Info: South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce at (956) 761-4412

Date: May 28
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Event: Jake’s Restaurant ribbon cutting and open house
Where: 2500 Padre Blvd. No. 3 (on Amberjack Street)

Date: June 1 (May 25 Sign-Up Deadline)
Time: 8 a.m.
Event: Laguna Madre Christian Academy 1st Annual Golf Tournament
Where: South Padre Island Gold Club, Laguna Vista
More Info: (956) 832-9188 or (956) 943-4446

Date: June 1
Time: 9 a.m. to noon
Event: Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project, followed by a celebration from 1 to 3 p.m. at Padre Island Brewing Company, 3400 Padre Blvd.
Where: City Beach Access No. 22 at intersection of East Parade Drive and Coronado Drive

Date: June 2 (First Sunday of Each Month)
Time: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Event: Port Isabel Antique Flea Market
Where: Beulah Lee Park, Port Isabel
Admission: Free
More Info: (956) 455-6798

Date: June 3 (First Monday of Each Month)
Time: 4 p.m.
Event: Port Isabel Public Library Friends of the Library Monthly Meeting
Where: Port Isabel Public Library Conference Rm. 213 N. Yturria St., Port Isabel
Admission: $10 (Membership Dues)
More Info: Angie Gonzalez (956) 772-9127; Sherrie Gomez (956) 778-6095

Date: June 4
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Port Isabel High School Class of 2013 Graduation Ceremony
Where: South Padre Island Convention Centre
Admission: Free
More Info: (956) 943-0060

Date: June 7-July 26 (Friday Evenings)
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Event: Lighthouse Establishment Cinema
Where: Lighthouse Square (Port Isabel Historical Lighthouse)
More Info: (956) 943-7602

Date: June 10-July 25 (Mon-Thurs)
Time: 9 a.m.-noon
Event: Museums of Port Isabel Presents Summer Camp 2013
Where: Museums of Port Isabel
More Info: (956) 943-7602

Date: June 10 (Second Monday of Each Month)
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Laguna Madre Art League Meetings
Where: Laguna Madre Art Gallery in the Lighthouse Square, Port Isabel
More Info: (956) 346-3793

Date: June 14 (second Friday of each month)
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: RGV Bikers for Christ Regular Meeting
Where: Christ’s Harbor Church, 1441 Santa Isabel Blvd., Laguna Vista
More Info: (956) 943-5595

Continue reading »]]>

Elizabeth Ann “Clore” Pressly

Elizabeth Ann “Clore” Pressly

Elizabeth Ann “Clore” Pressly passed away on Friday, May 17, 2013 at the Provident Memory Care facility in Buda, Texas. Elizabeth was born August 8, 1931 in Evanston, Illinois the daughter of Wallace B. Clore Jr. and his wife, Grace Lucille Clore. Her early childhood years were spent in Northbrook, Illinois. She moved to Mercedes, Texas at the age of 15, subsequently attended the University of Texas Austin, and graduated with honors with a B.A. in Anthropology. The majority of her working life was spent at Tandy Corporation in Fort Worth, Texas.

Elizabeth was married for more than 44 years to her beloved husband, Saxon Pressly Jr. They raised three children in Fort Worth, Texas and then retired to South Padre Island in 1987. He preceded her in death in November of 1997. She continued to live on South Padre Island, devoting her time to the loves of her life, her three children and her grandchildren.

Elizabeth is survived by her children; Marilyn and partner Richard Massey, and her children, Chas and his son Jaxon, Anna, and Zachary as well as Richard’s children Sarah and her daughter Olivia, Daniel, and Josh; David and his three children, Jennifer and her son Brayden, Jeffrey, and Gregory; John, his wife Cheryl and his two children, Grace and Brandon. Elizabeth was always the center of her family’s attention with her sharp wit and hilarious stories. It was common to see her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren gathered around her. We, as a family are grateful that her contagious smile, humor, and love touched everyone in our families. She continues to live on through the smiles on our faces and in our eyes. Her memories in our hearts will be with us for the rest of our lives.

Funeral services will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 701 S. Missouri Ave. in Weslaco, 11 a.m., on Thursday, May 23, 2013. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Park in Weslaco.

For those desiring to do so, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.

You are invited to sign the guestbook or leave a memory at www.buckashcraft.com.

Arrangements are with Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.