Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Saying good-bye to 2008
BY CHARLYN FINN
At midnight Wednesday, Year 2008 becomes history and New Year 2009 begins.
Many will welcome the new year with open arms because, except for a few highlights, 2008 was not the happiest of years. Gas prices soared, recession began to rear its ugly head, and there were industrial layoffs.
The drought was so fierce, Calhoun County Commissioners’ Court was forced to approve burn ban orders five times. That was in January, February, June, October and December.
The county was saddened by the death of former Pct. 4 Commissioner Oscar Hahn, who had a 35-year local political career.
John Clegg, 90, Veterans Administration Officer, died after 46 years of service.
The county had five traffic fatalities. Michael A. Reese, 22, was killed in a hit and run accident in Six Mile in January. In May, Kerry Hines, 66, of Point Comfort, was killed in a rollover accident at the TX 35 and FM 172 intersection. Also in May, Raquel Carrera Reyes died in a rollover accident on County Road 101. In October, Elizabeth Kelley, 55, of Houston, died from a two vehicle collision on south TX 238. Ramiro “Ram” G. Morales was killed in a one-vehicle accident at the TX 238 and FM 316 intersection.
The fire fee between the City of Port Lavaca and Calhoun County remained a hot topic that did not go away. The city rejected the county’s $130,000 offer. The inter-governmental agreement expires on Dec. 31, and it appears the job in the rural areas is now up to the rural departments.
The highlight was the Calhoun High School Sandcrabs making it all the way to the region football game where they lost by one point. Plus, the CHS basketball team became the area champs on Feb. 23 by defeating the Edcouch-Elsa Yellow Jackets.
Here are some of the top stories by month.
January revealed how global county residents and their families have become. Geri and Andrew Luckie, of Point Comfort, had two missionary children caught in the crossfire of a Kenya, Africa election.
Philip E. Gonzales became the new Chief Tax Appraiser in January, succeeding Andrew Hahn, who resigned with 21 years tenure.
In February, with the exception of a few loose strings – paperwork, the Memorial Medical Plaza was sold by Calhoun County to Craig Carney. Today one can see a new Walgreen’s under construction on part of the Plaza site.
In February, Raymond Allen Valenta, 21, pled guilty to intoxication-manslaughter, a charge filed against him after a Port O’Connor traffic incident that caused the death of Christopher Scott Stanfield in 2007. He is now serving an eight-year prison sentence.
Charles Hausmann became the new Port Authority director, replacing Robert Van Borrsum.
Bill Harvey and Point Comfort Mayor Pam Lambden became the Chamber of Commerce Man and Woman of the year.
In March, The CHS girls’ power lifters won their third state title.
In April, the body of Brett Bonnell, 44, of Seadrift was found on the Old Seadrift Highway. At first appearance, a hit and run incident was suspected, but further investigation revealed he was killed by his wife, Janice Bonnell, and the body had been transported from his home to the site on the highway.
In May, Seadrift Police Chief Roger Tumlinson, after an April indictment for official oppression, was suspended by the city council. He was later found to be innocent and returned to work.
Point Comfort Police Chief Troy Baxter resigned in May.
June saw 203 students graduate from Calhoun High School and 43 from Hope High School.
CHS Sandcrabs were ranked seventh in Texas 4A football by Texas Football Magazine.
Also in June, Russell Cain was appointed to the Memorial Medical Center hospital board.
July and August were quiet months but months of apprehension nevertheless due to a very active hurricane season.
In August, Walter Pilgrim, Sr., retired from the West Side Navigation District.
In September, most of Calhoun County evacuated from Hurricane Ike but the storm turned and the county dodged the storm.
Storm Baby Katrina Htolla, daughter of Ku Paw and Dah Yu, beat Ike to Texas by being born in a shelter in New Braunfels.
On Oct. 16, Cody and Kyle Malaer showed the champion and reserve champion steers at the county fair youth livestock auction.
November was an exciting month. The Sandcrabs won the bi-district football championship by defeating Floresville 49-10 and the area championship by defeating Edcouch Elsa 48-28.
December, despite the local Christmas celebrations, ended on a down note due to layoffs and projected layoffs at all of the Calhoun County industries.
Many will welcome the new year with open arms because, except for a few highlights, 2008 was not the happiest of years. Gas prices soared, recession began to rear its ugly head, and there were industrial layoffs.
The drought was so fierce, Calhoun County Commissioners’ Court was forced to approve burn ban orders five times. That was in January, February, June, October and December.
The county was saddened by the death of former Pct. 4 Commissioner Oscar Hahn, who had a 35-year local political career.
John Clegg, 90, Veterans Administration Officer, died after 46 years of service.
The county had five traffic fatalities. Michael A. Reese, 22, was killed in a hit and run accident in Six Mile in January. In May, Kerry Hines, 66, of Point Comfort, was killed in a rollover accident at the TX 35 and FM 172 intersection. Also in May, Raquel Carrera Reyes died in a rollover accident on County Road 101. In October, Elizabeth Kelley, 55, of Houston, died from a two vehicle collision on south TX 238. Ramiro “Ram” G. Morales was killed in a one-vehicle accident at the TX 238 and FM 316 intersection.
The fire fee between the City of Port Lavaca and Calhoun County remained a hot topic that did not go away. The city rejected the county’s $130,000 offer. The inter-governmental agreement expires on Dec. 31, and it appears the job in the rural areas is now up to the rural departments.
The highlight was the Calhoun High School Sandcrabs making it all the way to the region football game where they lost by one point. Plus, the CHS basketball team became the area champs on Feb. 23 by defeating the Edcouch-Elsa Yellow Jackets.
Here are some of the top stories by month.
January revealed how global county residents and their families have become. Geri and Andrew Luckie, of Point Comfort, had two missionary children caught in the crossfire of a Kenya, Africa election.
Philip E. Gonzales became the new Chief Tax Appraiser in January, succeeding Andrew Hahn, who resigned with 21 years tenure.
In February, with the exception of a few loose strings – paperwork, the Memorial Medical Plaza was sold by Calhoun County to Craig Carney. Today one can see a new Walgreen’s under construction on part of the Plaza site.
In February, Raymond Allen Valenta, 21, pled guilty to intoxication-manslaughter, a charge filed against him after a Port O’Connor traffic incident that caused the death of Christopher Scott Stanfield in 2007. He is now serving an eight-year prison sentence.
Charles Hausmann became the new Port Authority director, replacing Robert Van Borrsum.
Bill Harvey and Point Comfort Mayor Pam Lambden became the Chamber of Commerce Man and Woman of the year.
In March, The CHS girls’ power lifters won their third state title.
In April, the body of Brett Bonnell, 44, of Seadrift was found on the Old Seadrift Highway. At first appearance, a hit and run incident was suspected, but further investigation revealed he was killed by his wife, Janice Bonnell, and the body had been transported from his home to the site on the highway.
In May, Seadrift Police Chief Roger Tumlinson, after an April indictment for official oppression, was suspended by the city council. He was later found to be innocent and returned to work.
Point Comfort Police Chief Troy Baxter resigned in May.
June saw 203 students graduate from Calhoun High School and 43 from Hope High School.
CHS Sandcrabs were ranked seventh in Texas 4A football by Texas Football Magazine.
Also in June, Russell Cain was appointed to the Memorial Medical Center hospital board.
July and August were quiet months but months of apprehension nevertheless due to a very active hurricane season.
In August, Walter Pilgrim, Sr., retired from the West Side Navigation District.
In September, most of Calhoun County evacuated from Hurricane Ike but the storm turned and the county dodged the storm.
Storm Baby Katrina Htolla, daughter of Ku Paw and Dah Yu, beat Ike to Texas by being born in a shelter in New Braunfels.
On Oct. 16, Cody and Kyle Malaer showed the champion and reserve champion steers at the county fair youth livestock auction.
November was an exciting month. The Sandcrabs won the bi-district football championship by defeating Floresville 49-10 and the area championship by defeating Edcouch Elsa 48-28.
December, despite the local Christmas celebrations, ended on a down note due to layoffs and projected layoffs at all of the Calhoun County industries.
 |
 |
|
| County, city still in fire stand-off | Lawmen make 39 weekend arrests |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of portlavacawave.com.
