TRAGEDY: Motorcyclist evading police strikes, kills pedestrian

By DINA ARÉVALO Port Isabel-South Padre Press editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Officials say a motorcyclist who was riding erratically and evading police struck and killed a pedestrian in Port Isabel last Sunday evening. The rider, identified as Mercedes resident Ronnie Huerta, 33, was seen weaving through traffic on the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway at approximately 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Traffic …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2018/03/09/tragedy-motorcyclist-evading-police-strikes-kills-pedestrian/

A tribute to Elizabeth Abbott Sweeten

By MARTHA McCLAIN Special to the PRESS Elizabeth Abbott Sweeten was a very colorful person: strong, independent, opinionated, generous to a fault, and quite intelligent. She was a friend, in addition to being a quality journalist. She came to the Laguna Madre Area in the mid 1970s when the Island was booming. Steve Elam, publisher of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2018/03/09/a-tribute-to-elizabeth-abbott-sweeten/

District 37 primary runoff for Oliveira, Dominguez

By DINA ARÉVALO Port Isabel-South Padre Press editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Longtime District 37 State Rep. René Oliveira is headed to a runoff after none of the three candidates vying for the seat managed to get the 50 percent plus 1 votes needed to win the Democratic primary election Tuesday. Oliveira, who has held the seat since 1981 — …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2018/03/09/district-37-primary-runoff-for-oliveira-dominguez/

Officials ready for Texas Week

By DINA ARÉVALO Port Isabel-South Padre Press editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Laguna Madre area law enforcement on both sides of the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway are ready for Spring Break. That’s the word from officials in Port Isabel and on South Padre Island. For the second year in a row, the City of Port Isabel will be partnering with …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2018/03/09/officials-ready-for-texas-week/

High-tech analytics get CVB nod

By KEVIN RICH Special to the PRESS The South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Advisory Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, March 6 to consider the approval of a $67,500 contract with a company called Arrivalist, which specializes in providing technology on how media exposure impacts visitation. Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Director Keith Arnold …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2018/03/09/high-tech-analytics-get-cvb-nod/

Data visualization shows winter tourist upswing

By KEVIN RICH Special to the PRESS The SPI Convention and Visitors Advisory Board received a comprehensive productivity report regarding the activities of the City’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) during their Wednesday, Feb. 28 meeting. CVB Director Keith Arnold led off with a demonstration of the CVB’s new web-based dashboard. “It’s evolving, in part, because …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2018/03/09/data-visualization-shows-winter-tourist-upswing/

BoA approves Entertainment District exception

By KEVIN RICH Special to the PRESS The South Padre Island Board of Adjustments and Appeals (BoA) held a public hearing on Tuesday, March 6 regarding the issuance of a special exception. The request was to allow the construction of a single family residence within the City’s Entertainment District at Lot 6, Block 14, of the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2018/03/09/boa-approves-entertainment-district-exception/

New Coast Guard station named after Port Isabel hero

By DINA ARÉVALO Port Isabel-South Padre Press editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Officials gathered in Corpus Christi last Friday to dedicate the new Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi’s newest facility, named after Port Isabel native, Chief Boatswain’s Mate Pablo Valent. According to the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), Valent was born in then-Point Isabel on Aug. 26, 1884. With …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2018/03/09/new-coast-guard-station-named-after-port-isabel-hero/

Barrera Qualifies for State

By LARRY GAGE Special to the PRESS Port Isabel Lady Tarpon powerlifter Julianna Barrera has qualified for the Texas State Girls Powerlifting Meet for the second year in a row. Barrera goes to state on the strength of a 970-pound total lift at last week’s regional meet at Carrizo Springs High School.  She competes in …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2018/03/09/barrera-qualifies-for-state/

Lady Tarpons in the points at Kingsville

By LARRY GAGE Special to the PRESS The Port Isabel Lady Tarpons track and field team had their best showing of the season last Saturday at the Adidas Javelina Track and Field Invitational in Kingsville. Several top six finishes were recorded and girls’ track and field Head Coach Julie Breedlove was happy with the results …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2018/03/09/lady-tarpons-in-the-points-at-kingsville/