Port Isabel’s Economic Pulse: Growth, Community in Harmony

By Trina ‘Indi’ Johnson Port Isabel is quietly but firmly staking its claim as one of the Valley’s fastest-growing cities, according to the latest Texas Comptroller statistics released for August. With a 16.8% jump in sales tax revenue year-over-year, the city ranks second in the region. Valerie Bates, Marketing Director for the City of Port …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/08/14/port-isabels-economic-pulse-growth-community-in-harmony/

Laguna Vista Water District Tackles Sinkhole

By Trina ‘Indi’ Johnson When a troublesome sinkhole yawned open at the corner of Palm Boulevard and Taylor Street, it set tongues wagging around town. The Laguna Madre Water District said they sprang into action. They said their crews have been hard at work, grappling with aging pipes and stubborn conditions to ensure everything stays …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/08/14/laguna-vista-water-district-tackles-sinkhole/

Investigator Releases Third Video on South Padre Island

  By: Dianté Marigny editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com   Independent investigator Wayne Dolcefino has released the third installment of his ongoing YouTube series examining various issues, including the City of South Padre Island’s proposed convention center expansion. In the video, Dolcefino raises concerns about the project’s cost, bidding process, and transparency, while also drawing comparisons to other convention …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/08/14/investigator-releases-third-video-on-south-padre-island/

Lady Tarpons Open Volleyball Season with Win

By: Constancio Martinez Jr On Tuesday, August 12, the Port Isabel Lady Tarpons volleyball team hosted the IDEA Frontier College Prep Lady Chargers in a non-district, best-of-3-out-of-5 match. In the first set, the Lady Tarpons received the ball and set up Nadia Flaig for her signature big spike, which the opponents were unable to handle. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/08/14/lady-tarpons-open-volleyball-season-with-win/

Tarpon’s Sharp Football Practice

By: Constancio Martinez Jr The Port Isabel Early College High School football team is in the midst of the second week of football practice. This past Saturday, the team wrapped up its first week of practice by holding its annual blue-white intrasquad scrimmage at Tarpon Stadium. The team will be making some scheme changes to …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/08/14/tarpons-sharp-football-practice/

Massive Hammerhead Caught and Released

By Trin ‘Indi’ Johnson An enormous hammerhead shark, estimated at more than 1,000 pounds and measuring 14 feet, 5 inches, was caught and released this week off the coast near Boca Chica, just shy of a world record and larger than any recorded catch in Texas waters. The catch-and-release effort, led by Joe Gonzales and …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/08/07/massive-hammerhead-caught-and-released/

Maldonado Wins TFL EMC Belt

    By: Constancio Martinez Jr On August 2, Port Isabel’s very own (3-2-1) Robert “El Durinho” Maldonado took on (2-1-1) “El Santo” Samuel De Los Santos out of San Antonio, TX at Texas Fight League’s “TFL 5 Striker Series: War at the Border”. The featherweight mixed martial art fighters met back in May of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/08/07/maldonado-wins-tfl-emc-belt/

What to know about short-term rentals on SPI

      BY TRINA “INDI” JOHNSON Special to the PRESS If you rent your place out for short stays here on the Island—or if you’re just planning a few nights away yourself—there’s something you need to know. South Padre has made big changes to its short-term rental rules, and they’re already in effect. Any …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/08/07/what-to-know-about-short-term-rentals-on-spi/

Summer track concludes

    By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR. Special to the PRESS On July 25-Aug 2, three members of the local summer track group, “Coastal Heat,” competed in their final summer Track & Field event of the season, the 59th AAU Junior Olympic Games. Young Track & Field phenom, Jayda Howard, competed in all three throwing events …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/08/07/summer-track-concludes/

Lifted Daiquiri & Beer Barn – A Flavor-Fueled Must-Stop on South Padre Island

      By: Laurie Coker Special to the PARADE If you’re cruising down Padre Blvd. on South Padre Island and suddenly find yourself in need of something cold, colorful, and maybe a little crazy—in the best way—pull into the Lifted Daiquiri and Beer Barn, the island’s only drive-thru daiquiri and beer stop. Located directly across from Whataburger at …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/08/07/lifted-daiquiri-beer-barn-a-flavor-fueled-must-stop-on-south-padre-island/