By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Point Isabel ISD celebrated a new chapter Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ruben M. and Maria Elida Torres Central Administration Building. District officials, staff and community members gathered Aug. 12 at the new facility, located at 101 Port Road in Port Isabel, to mark its official opening. The building …

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Moments in Time is a collection of recovered newspaper briefs and other publications, compiled by local historian, Steve Hathcock, offering a look back at the history of the Rio Grande Valley. Steve Hathcock is a local historian and a regular columnist for the Port Isabel South Padre Press. He has spent many years collecting and …

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By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Cameron County have sparked emotional reactions across the Laguna Madre area after videos circulated on social media showing agents detaining individuals, including one incident in Laguna Heights where community members attempted to intervene during an arrest. One widely shared video showed agents …

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By JAQUI LEYVA-HILL Special to the PARADE A new luxury photography experience is bringing flowing gowns, professional styling and beachside portraits to South Padre Island. SPI Luxury Beach Events by Nadia has launched its South Padre Island Flying Dress Experience, offering clients the opportunity to pose in couture-style dresses against the Island’s beaches, dunes and …

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By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com LOS FRESNOS, TX—A local family got an unexpected visitor last week when they discovered a 10-foot American alligator swimming in their backyard pool. Jacob Reinbolt, an alligator expert, educator and licensed nuisance alligator trapper with the South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary, responded to the call after homeowners …

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By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Construction is officially underway on three new pickleball courts at Joe Buck and Mary Jo Camp Island Legends Park, expanding recreational opportunities as the sport continues to grow in popularity on South Padre Island. City officials, parks staff and community members gathered Aug. 5 for a groundbreaking ceremony at the park, …

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By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR. Special to the PRESS After four seasons playing in a 4-team district, the Tarpons will now be facing some stiff competition in district 16-4A Division 2 after the new 2026-2028 UIL realignment created an 8-team district. The Tarpons will still be racking up the miles, but they’ll be driving up northward …

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Special to the PRESS A community-wide school supply drive organized by Kenny Perez Law raised more than $10,000 to help Point Isabel Independent School District students prepare for the upcoming school year. The inaugural Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive collected enough donations to fill a school bus with backpacks, notebooks, pencils, crayons, folders, headphones …

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By JACQUI LEYVA-HILl Special to the PARADE Visitors looking for a different way to experience South Padre Island can explore the shoreline on horseback through South Padre Island Adventure Park. The company was founded in 1989 by Doyle Wells and began as a small operation with only a few horses, according to Rudy Gonzalez, general …

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By Steve Hathcock Special to the PARADE TEXAS LONGHORNS JOIN THE REVOLUTION How a few thousand cattle, determined vaqueros, and one very hungry Spanish general helped the American cause One Hoofbeat At A Time! NEW ORLEANS/SAN ANTONIO DE BÉXAR, 1779–1782 — When Spain decided to declare war on Britain in 1779, Governor Bernardo de Gálvez …

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