Aug 07 2025
By: M. Kathy Raines Special to the PARADE A cluster of four unfamiliar shorebirds—tall, hefty ones with black-trimmed white feathers—foraged in crab-filled puddles along the ship channel at Jaime J. Zapata Memorial Boat Ramp early one July afternoon. They weren’t the customary waders—egrets, ibises, spoonbills and herons—and we’re certainly too southerly for whooping cranes. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/08/07/creatures-among-us-wood-stork/
Jul 31 2025
By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Is tourism on South Padre Island flourishing, or fading? It depends on who you ask. City officials claim the Island is experiencing a steady upswing in visitation, with strong tax revenue to back up their claims. But some local business owners insist the numbers hide a more troubling trend: …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/07/31/tourism-trends-stir-debate-on-spi/
Jul 31 2025
By TRINA “INDI” JOHNSON Special to the PRESS Fresh off a hard-fought second-place finish at the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Lifeguard Championships, Cameron County’s lifeguards are preparing for their biggest challenge yet: the USLA Lifeguard National Championships in California. Before they take the field, though, they’re calling on the community for support. “On …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/07/31/cameron-county-lifeguards-bound-for-nationals/
Jul 31 2025
By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com After years in the making, a new affordable housing development is opening its doors in Port Isabel, bringing relief to local families in search of stable, quality homes and honoring the legacy of a woman who dedicated her life to serving this community. Judy’s Casitas, located at 110 Woody …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/07/31/new-apartment-complex-honors-longtime-housing-advocate/
Jul 31 2025
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 …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/07/31/moments-in-time-u-s-patrols-rushed-to-aid-texas-city/
Jul 31 2025
By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR. Special to the PRESS This past week, the Port Isabel Early College High School coaching staff wrapped up their annual “Future Tarpon” football camp. Before the events started, participants were registered, then given a customized t-shirt designed specifically for the camp. The kids were then separated into two groups: elementary …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/07/31/football-camp-a-success/
Jul 31 2025
By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR. Special to the PRESS On Monday, August 4, football practice will begin at 7 a.m. Players are encouraged to have their Rank One paperwork completed (online) and their athletic physicals completed, prior to the start of practices. According to head coach Tony Villarreal, this year’s turnout will be on the …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/07/31/tarpon-football-practice-set-to-begin/
Jul 24 2025
By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Under the warm morning sun this past Saturday, volunteers gathered along the shoreline not just to clear the sand of litter, but to carry on the spirit of a young woman who left behind a legacy of courage, compassion, and a deep love for the ocean. The beach cleanup, organized …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/07/24/through-madisons-memory-they-cleaned-the-shore/
Jul 24 2025
By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com For more than three decades, South Padre Island Adventure Park has offered unforgettable experiences to generations of beachgoers — from horseback rides along the surf to ziplining thrills and a hands-on petting barn. Now, for the first time since opening its gates in 1989, the 39-acre family-owned park is officially …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/07/24/legacy-for-sale-spi-adventure-park-seeks-new-owner-to-carry-torch/
Jul 24 2025
Special to the PRESS The City of South Padre Island announced the passing of former City Council Member Paul Munarriz. Munarriz, who served on the City Council from 2015 to 2018, was a dedicated public servant and a cherished member of the South Padre Island community. During his tenure, Paul Munarriz made significant contributions …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2025/07/24/south-padre-island-community-mourns-the-loss-of-beloved-former-council-member/
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