Category: News

Local sand sculptor finds new life for lost palms

By ABBEY KUNKLE Special to the PRESS Six weeks ago, local wood and sand sculptor Andy Hancock brought new life to the Island in the form of five carved palm tree posts at Franke Plaza. When American Electric Power Company (AEP) wanted to cut down the tall palm trees that had begun to interfere with power …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2014/10/02/local-sand-sculptor-finds-new-life-for-lost-palms/

PHOTO GALLERY: SpaceX – To the Future… And Beyond

Seen are various images from festivities and events surrounding the ground breaking ceremony of SpaceX, the commercial launch site to be constructed at Boca Chica Beach in Brownsville. The impact of SpaceX is expected to benefit the surrounding communities, including the Laguna Madre and Harlingen-San Benito-Brownsville metropolitan areas. Pictured in this gallery are an artist’s …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2014/09/25/photo-gallery-spacex-to-the-future-and-beyond/

Officials revel in SpaceX groundbreaking; economic boon anticipated locally

By JACOB LOPEZ Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com BROWNSVILLE – Visitors to the Rio Grande Valley have long described the culture shock experienced at the border communities within as an out of this world experience. It’s a statement that can now be taken literally as Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) broke ground Monday, Sept. 22, for its …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2014/09/25/officials-revel-in-spacex-groundbreaking-economic-boon-anticipated-locally/

SPI bash exhibits local support for launch site

By PAMELA CODY Special to the PRESS With the room packed with state and local politicians and officials, business and real estate representatives, and local residents, the ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn on South Padre Island was filled to capacity Monday evening for the celebration of the groundbreaking ceremony for the SpaceX rocket launching facility …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2014/09/25/spi-bash-exhibits-local-support-for-launch-site/

More than 100 business reps, citizens attend welcoming event

By BROOKE WILKINSON Special to the PRESS An event welcoming the arrival of SpaceX was held Monday, Sept. 22, at the Hilton Garden Inn Beach Resort. More than 100 businesses along with the community attended the event. Many gathered to listen to how SpaceX will bring many job opportunities and contribute millions of dollars into the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2014/09/25/more-than-100-business-reps-citizens-attend-welcoming-event/

Garriga student wins art contest with rocket drawing

By PAMELA CODY Special to the PRESS Layla Jean Mahan, a third grader from Garriga Elementary School in Port Isabel, was recently selected as the winner from her school for her entry in an art contest sponsored by SpaceX, the privately-owned rocket launching company that is building a facility on Boca Chica Beach in Brownsville. The …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2014/09/25/garriga-student-wins-art-contest-with-rocket-drawing/

Physics students participate in ceremony

Special to the PRESS BROWNSVILLE – Jose Martinez, 23, a master’s student in physics at The University of Texas at Brownsville, grew up in Brownsville and could not imagine the day the southernmost point in Texas could be transformed into another Space Coast. Martinez and other students from UTB’s Department of Physics and Astronomy played …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2014/09/25/physics-students-participate-in-ceremony/

Port Isabel experiences growth

By JACOB LOPEZ Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Port Isabel and South Padre Island are experiencing an influx of growth – from residential to business development and the like. Mayor Joe E. Vega said such growth has been occurring now for the last few years. More recently, Marta Paez of Paez Development Group is developing Las …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2014/09/25/port-isabel-experiences-growth/

Port Isabel to vote on budget Monday

By JACOB LOPEZ Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com The City of Port Isabel has proposed a $4,718,207.52 budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year for its general fund – this up from last year’s $4.3 million. The tax rate, if approved, will remain at $0.626327 per $100 assessed property valuation for the fiscal year. The city has …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2014/09/25/port-isabel-to-vote-on-budget-monday/

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Tarpons tame Tigers in 39-12 blowout

By ARMANDO GARZA Special to the PRESS PHARR — No Mock, No Rock, No problem. With their quarterback and running back nursing injuries, the Port Isabel Tarpons didn’t miss a beat in a 39-12 thumping of Valley View on a rainy Friday night. Big Blue (4-0 overall) got a career night from Alex De los …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2014/09/19/web-exclusive-tarpons-tame-tigers-in-39-12-blowout/