Five turtles in the care of Sea Turtle Inc. took a trip to the mid-Valley earlier this week in hopes that CT scans will reveal more about their medical conditions and point to potential treatments. Licensed Veterinary Technician Nina Nahvi said the turtles are doing well, and the center is awaiting the results. Tom de Maar, senior veterinarian at Gladys Porter Zoo, is attending veterinarian at Sea Turtle Inc. and will determine the best way to care for the turtles. Caretakers took the turtles Sunday to Texas Health Care Imaging in Weslaco, which performed the scans for free, she said. It’s the third time Sea Turtle Inc. has used CT scans to learn more about its turtles’ ailments. Nahvi said that while sea turtles can live outside water for weeks at a time, staff try to limit that because it can be uncomfortable and stressful for them. Their trip to get the scans took about four hours, she said. Two of the green sea turtles, Reveille and Tyler Durden, suffer from a disease called fibropapilloma that causes tumors on exterior soft tissue, she said. The CT scans will help determine if they also have internal tumors, which are difficult to see on X-rays. Nahvi said the disease is caused by a virus that is similar to herpes in humans and can cause tumors to grow on turtles’ flippers and around their eyes. It affects mostly green sea turtles and is believed to be tied to water quality or pollution, she added, and it occurs worldwide. De Maar removes the tumors with a surgical laser, Nahvi said, but they grow again in the same area. “It’s almost like we’re putting a bandage on it, but we’re doing the best we can,” she said. Sea Turtle Inc. has partnered with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on research into the disease that hopefully will lead to a treatment, she added. Reveille was not in the mood to cooperate during the CT scan appointment even after being given a sedative, and Nahvi said the turtle had to be swaddled like a baby to get the scan done. “You can’t just tell a turtle to sit still, unfortunately,” she said. Another green sea turtle, Verde, was left unable to use her back flippers due to spinal injuries after being struck by a boat, Nahvi said, which has also caused buoyancy issues. It’s unlikely that Verde will be able to be released, she said, because the turtle can’t dive for food and is at risk of getting hit by another boat. However, the CT scan will show the severity of those injuries and help Sea Turtle Inc. staffers learn the root of Verde’s buoyancy problems, Nahvi said. It’s also unclear why Great Scott, a green sea turtle, and Leo, a hawksbill turtle, have buoyancy problems, Nahvi said, though she’s hopeful the CT scans will provide more information on the cause. Bloodwork and X-ray scans so far haven’t answered that question. “There’s got to be a reason why,” she said, adding that pneumonia, gastrointestinal tract or congenital problems are possible causes. The CT scans are being done by a specialist with Animal Imaging in Dallas, Nahvi said, and are expected to be given to Sea Turtle Inc. soon.
NADIA TAMEZ-ROBLEDO, Staff Writer
DALLAS – Brownsville, Texas, is preparing a bond deal to subsidize a new airport terminal that’s been in the works for more than a decade. Texas’ southernmost city expects to issue $25 million of certificates of obligation for the Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport in mid-July, according to Noe Hinojosa Jr., the city’s financial adviser and chief executive of Estrada-Hinojosa & Co.
The city chose JPMorgan Securities, led by executive director Doug Hartman and vice president Pedro Ramos, as sole underwriter.
JPMorgan is also a direct lender on another $26.5 million of tax notes to be used as a revolving note program to help fund the balance of the project.
“The notes are expected to be reimbursed in part by FAA grants,” Hinojosa said, referring to the Federal Aviation Administration. “The city received a commitment letter for $12.7 million from FAA early this year but expects to receive more due to the size of the project and the expected commercial flight activity in years to come.”
The certificates, maturing in 25 years, are payable in the first five years by sales tax revenue from the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corp. and the Brownsville Community Improvement Corp.
The approach stands in contrast to typical commercial airport bond financings that are repaid using airport revenue.
The Brownsville City Commission on May 15 approved annual debt service of $945,000 from the GBIC and $365,000 from the BCIC.
The Brownsville Public Utilities Board has also dedicated $1.2 million for utility infrastructure, and the airport itself will contribute about $250,000 each year to the project, according to airport director Bryant Walker.
The certificates carry ratings of AA from S&P Global Ratings and Aa3 from Moody’s Investors Service. Outlooks are stable.
The debt is considered a general obligation of the city, payable from property taxes if necessary. The maximum allowable ad valorem tax rate in Texas is $2.50 per $100 of assessed value for all purposes, with the portion dedicated to debt service limited to $1.50.
“The city’s total tax rate is well below the maximum, at 70 cents, 25.1 cents of which is dedicated to debt service,” according to S&P analyst Amahad Brown. “The certificates of obligation have an additional pledge of surplus revenue from the city’s municipal landfill system or airport, or both. However, we rate the certificates based on the city’s ad valorem pledge.”
Moody’s analyst Ryan Mills said the rating “also reflects weak resident income indices, a solid trend of stable financial performance, a manageable debt profile, and above average but manageable pension burden.”
Bids for redevelopment of the airport serving Brownsville and the resort community of South Padre Island came in this month, with the award expected the first week in August, Hinojosa said.
Site work has already begun on the project, which will produce a new 85,000-square-foot terminal near the current terminal built in 1971. The old terminal will then be demolished.
Plans to replace the old terminal have been in the works for more than a decade. The entire project should be complete by mid-2020, officials say, though the new terminal will open a few months earlier.
“We don’t have much room in the waiting area,” said Shawn Schroeder, assistant director for BRO. “Since 9/11, obviously things have changed in terms of security. We only have two gates and capacity is constrained.”
Designed for an easier, breezier era of air travel, the original terminal was a portal that passengers walked through almost freely on their way to and from their airplane.
“The building wasn’t designed to accommodate the security restrictions now inherent in all airport operations,” according to a 2015 federal study. “As a result, the airport is working within the constraints of an age that has long since passed, leaving them with operational challenges as they seek to grow.”
Among the terminal’s cited deficiencies was the fact that it is too close to the airfield, limiting operations at the terminal to regional jets as the design aircraft and therefore limiting long-term growth potential.
The ramp serving aircraft is also too small to accommodate commercial aviation beyond regional jet aircraft.
The building is also too small for the passenger demand, forcing the airport to limit access to the hold rooms until just prior to scheduled departure. That places a high demand on security screening over a short period of time, creating crowded conditions in the departures hall.
The Federal Inspection Services area is not designed to Customs and Border Patrol standards and depends on the passenger hold room for passport control processing.
“Any improvements to the present terminal building will provide only enough space to raise current service levels and then meet only near-term growth,” the federal study said. “Further, any improvements would not provide sufficient space to market the airport to new entrant carriers nor do they address long-term forecasted growth.”
The airport has hosted sporadic international commercial air activity. Between July 2011 and June 2013, Aeromexico provided scheduled service between the industrial city of Monterrey, Mexico and Brownsville with regional jets. While the average load factor in 2012 was about 55%, it dropped to 36% in the first six months of 2013 before the airline discontinued service.
“Brownsville, however, is in a strategic location to attract some of the Mexican travelers going to visit the Rio Grande valley due to its closeness to South Padre Island and businesses in the area as well as its Federal Inspection Service facility, which operates 24 hours per day and seven days per week,” the 2015 study noted. “Monterrey and Brownsville are only 166 miles apart, but many travelers prefer to fly rather than drive that distance due to security issues in Mexico.”
The BRO site includes 300 acres designated as Foreign Trade Zone 62. Foreign-trade zones are secure areas under U.S. Customs and Border Protection supervision that are generally considered outside CBP territory upon activation. Located in or near CBP ports of entry, they are the United States’ version of what are known internationally as free-trade zones.
The airport is also expected to face more demand for air transportation from companies building facilities at the Port of Brownsville and a Space-X launch site on the coast.
“We haven’t seen much impact from Space-X yet, but we’re looking in the future and they’re looking at the future,” Schroeder said.
At the moment, service is limited to United Airlines and American Airlines, which send small jets to their hubs in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth.
In November, United Airlines will begin nonstop service from Brownsville to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.
The South Padre Island mayor’s office and SPI Convention and Visitors Bureau have also pledged marketing dollars to support the flight.
The airport hired consultant Air Service Development to produce the data used to convince United that the route was worth launching from the gate-challenged O’Hare.
The Rio Grande Valley attracts about 100,000 “snowbirds” or “winter Texans” from northern states from October through March.
The Brownsville airport competes with the larger Valley International Airport in Harlingen, 25 miles to the north. VIA, which has more than seven times the traffic of Brownsville, also touts itself as “Gateway to South Padre Island” and has scheduled service from Southwest, United and Delta airlines.
“We’re trying to get more of the leisure traffic,” Schroeder said. “Obviously, we are closer to the island than VIA.”
With a population of about 183,000, Brownsville attracts shoppers from its sister city of Matamoros, Mexico, on the opposite bank of the Rio Grande. The population of Matamoros is estimated at about 500,000.
Brownsville is the seat of Cameron County, population 408,000 per the 2010 census. Cameron is one of four counties that make up the fast-growing Rio Grande Valley, along with Hidalgo, Willacy and Starr counties. The population of the four counties grew from 325,000 to more than 1.3 million by 2014.
Richard Williamson
LAGUNA VISTA — The small town of Laguna Vista is making headway on an ecotourism center that it hopes will attract more tourists.
Early last month, the town made an initial announcement about its plans to create a site that would work as an information and visitors center that would provide visitors with insight into the town’s ecosystem.
In November, Laguna Vista entered a partnership with Cameron County to build a learning center that would feature an outdoor theater, exhibit halls, trails and natural wetlands.
Laguna Vista City Manager Rolando Vela said the town is moving forward and applying for an Economic Development Administration grant for $800,000 to improve the water and sewer lines on Highway 100, where the center would be located. If approved, the county would be responsible for putting up $200,000 for the 80-20 grant match program.
“The first step for any development is to put in the infrastructure,” Vela said. “We are attempting to do that, should we be awarded this EDA grant.”
The development will be built on 23 acres of the town’s land. Only 10 acres will be used for the building.
Vela said the town wants the development to attract people driving on Highway 100, and allow them to stop and spend time in town.
“The South Texas Ecotourism Visitors Center, when completed, will showcase many of the environmentally rich and unique features of the county,” Vela said.
A 15-year comprehensive plan has been adopted that has updated the town’s subdivision and zoning ordinances in preparation for future commercial development that the town hopes the tourism center spurs in the future.
“The town is hoping that by working closely with the county to augment this partnership and by laying the groundwork with the infrastructure improvements on Highway 100 that we will be in a better position to attract development to this corridor,” Vela said.
By ALEXIS AGUIRRE Staff Writer
Funding for the RGV Reef project, fleet maintenance, shoreline master planning, and updating storm drainage plans highlighted the South Padre Island City Council meeting held on June 6.
Council considered a proposed $50,000 budget amendment from Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) excess reserves for Friends of the RGV Reef for the development of fishing infrastructure as a part of their artificial reef project.
“The approval by the State legislature a while ago for utilization of Hotel Occupancy Tax for fishing infrastructure is one of the things that allows us to make this recommendation,” explained CVB Director Keith Arnold, adding that the request had the unanimous support of the Convention and Visitors Advisory Board. Arnold specified that the money would be used to transport materials to the reef. Council unanimously approved the request.
Alex Sanchez, SPI Public Works Director, provided a report on fleet maintenance for the City. The report stated, “Creating a tailored program for SPI’s unique corrosive environment is critical to sound financial planning and operational efficiency.” Sanchez emphasized that all their existing vehicles found in normal to excellent condition will be undercoated to prevent corrosion. Additionally, all new vehicles will be undercoated and will follow a preventative maintenance program.
Shoreline Management Director Brandon Hill provided Council with a report on the survey results of the City’s Shoreline Master Plan.
By KEVIN RICH
The temperature was hot but it didn’t stop Max from shoveling sand and tossing it scoop by scoop up to Andy.
The two were just beginning to rebuild the 16-foot sand sculptures that once depicted Game of Thrones and Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway. The sculptures were destroyed by unruly Spring Breakers last March.
Drenched in sweat they continued to work.
Sandcastle Lessons Instructor Andy Hancock, a local American sand sculpture champion, and Max Hovorka have promised to rebuild them even better than before.
“The castle will be bigger than the last one,” Hancock said. “The design will come from different castle architecture from around the world.”
But it’s not going to be easy.
Hancock and Sandy Feet, another prominent sandcastle sculpture artist, spent more than 500 hours working on the original designs prior to Spring Break.
Now they will be working together to have the custom sandcastles finished by July.
The two of them and their assistants have been working in 90 degree heat for five to six hours at a time.
At a recent city meeting Island leaders approved insurance proceeds associated with damages to the sand castle structure located at 610 Padre Boulevard in the amount of $24,750 to be utilized for renovation and repair.
“I’m very pleased that we were able to collect on insurance and come up with the funds to get the sandcastles rebuilt,” Mayor Dennis Stahl said. “The sandcastles are iconic, and a real visitor draw.”
He said it’s great that this work will be done in time for visitors to enjoy during their peak season.
HOW WE GOT HERE
On a Friday in March at 1:40 a.m., four male subjects vandalized the sandcastle in front of the VisitorsCenter, causing major damage.
They were never formally brought to justice.
The estimated cost of the damage was $24,000.
The vandalism to the sandcastles happened on two separate nights, just days after the artists finished replacing the old sand sculptures that had stood for five years.
South Padre Island officials said it was the first time any sand sculptures had been damaged during Spring Break.
The South Padre Island Visitors Center put up a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Island officials confirmed there are suspects but no arrests have been made or rewards handed out to find the individuals responsible for the damages.
“We are very happy to be doing this for the visitors,” Hancock said about rebuilding the sand castles. “It was disappointing and frustrating to find them destroyed, but we’re going to get them back.”
By RAUL GARCIA Staff Writer
The Padre Island Brewing Company donated 25 cents from every pint they sold on Cinco de Mayo to help raise cash for the Island skate park fund.
At the same time a GoFundMe account also dedicated for raising money to build the park was accepting funds from the public.
Over the past three months, $7,070 has been made on GoFundMe alone for the project.
But the goal is to raise $40,000 to build a skate park with a half pipe, bowl, ramps and more.
To do that the SK8 SPI committee members have been grinding at bringing in the money needed for the park with fundraisers and drawing local community support.
Their next move is applying for a $25,000 grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation to help finish the project.
The committee plans to submit their proposal to the foundation this week.
“We want to see the SPI Skate Park at Tompkins Park become a reality,” said Rob Nixon, a SK8 SPI committee member.
He said for close to 10 years now Island leaders have been planning to build a skate park to enhance the Island community for residents and visitors.
The SPI Economic Development Council has given $100,000 toward this project since 2017. Some of those funds were used for an engineering study and potential skate park designs.
Those design plans came back over budget when it was time for the council to decide on the plans during an April meeting. The council agreed to send the project back to committee to take more time to come up with funding for the park.
“I know a lot of people are skeptical but we can and will get this done,” Nixon said. “We are so close but we need the support from our community to make this happen.
By Raul Garcia, Staff writer
The Isla Blanca Park amphitheater isn’t finished, but the popular boat ramp with extra parking adjacent to the construction site is open and ready for holiday launches.
The boat ramp parking area was brought in a week ahead of initial projections and is part of the $6.5 million overhaul of Isla Blanca that adds the amphitheater and a multi-purpose building.
“We did an overlay on the boat ramp parking area and also on the areas where we have RV sites, the nine partial-hookup RV sites,” Joe E. Vega, county parks director, said yesterday. “We re-striped everything and we maximized the parking area for whenever we have events.
“We have 28 spaces for trucks with boat trailers,” he added. “For single vehicles, at the boat ramp area, there are going to be 22 single vehicles spaces and that’s an increase in that area.”
Isla Blanca Park, with its mile-long beach, fishing jetty, pavilions and more than 600 RV sites, attracts more than a million visitors a year. Construction is continuing in the area and Vega urges those using the boat ramp and parking lot to exercise caution.
“People are not allowed to go inside the fencing area, it’s fenced and it’s secured,” Vega said. “We just ask people to be very careful and to take safety precautions when they’re going into the area where the construction is continuing.”
Vega said the additional nine RV spots will be partial hookups and will be ready by June and July.
The 4,000-seat amphitheater and multi-purpose building will be located just to the east of the current boat launching site, with the amphitheater right on the water overlooking Brazos Santiago Pass.
Officials have said the multi-purpose building will be available for special events including weddings, meetings and conferences, and the amphitheater would host concerts and other events, and also will be used to view SpaceX space launches from Boca Chica Beach.
Funding for the Isla Blanca renovations was raised via the hotel-motel venue tax, officials have said.
Isla Blanca Park facts
– Located on South Padre Island’s southern tip
– More than a mile of sandy beach
– Two beachfront pavilions
– Food and rental concessions
– Walking trail and shaded picnic areas
– Daily vehicle entrance fee is $10
By RICK KELLEY Staff Writer
Winter visitors to the Isla Blanca RV Park on South Padre Island will now have to follow a much different reservation method in order to get an RV space at the park.
For years, people who rented out RV spaces were able to reserve a spot for the upcoming season right after checking-in with their RV. Now, spots are renewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
“You stayed in the park, you could pay a deposit for the following season,” said Cameron County Parks and Recreation Director Joe Vega. “Now, it gives everybody an opportunity, an equal chance.”
Rolando Flores is happy his family is finally able to get a spot for their RV at Isla Blanca RV Park on South Padre Island.
“We’ve lived […] all our lives in Cameron County and it was kind of an ‘if and when you can get a spot,” Flores said.
Those wishing to have space for their recreational vehicle at Isla Blanca Park between October and December must make reservations starting this Sunday, June 10, at the park’s office either in person or over the phone until spaces run out.
On June 16, the park will begin reservations for January through March.
Flores says people should come prepared— spaces are first-come, first-served.
By late August 2019, park officials say there will be even more amenities, including a new amphitheater and event center on Isla Blanca.
The event center and amphitheater will be able host concerts and large gatherings. The project was passed by a referendum vote in Cameron County for a total cost of $6.6 million using mostly venue taxes.
by CBS 4 News
Saturday, June 9th 2018
RGV Reef, an artificial reefing project to dramatically increase red snapper and other fish populations off South Padre Island, has gotten a big boost of its own from a major pipeline company.
At a May 31 ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn on the Island, Friends of RGV Reef and the Texas A&M University Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies were presented with a $350,000 donation from Valley Crossing Pipeline LLC, a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc., which is nearing completion of a $1.5 billion natural gas pipeline running through the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Cameron County Precinct 1 Commissioner Sofia Benavides, who was among the many elected officials and local leaders attending the ceremony, was responsible for getting the two sides together.
“When Valley Crossing first came, probably about 18 months ago, they wanted me to know about what they were doing in the area, and also they were looking to give back to the community,” she said.
One day, VCP representatives happened to be in her office the same time as Friends of RGV Reef Vice President Daniel Bryant, Benavides said.
“It was perfect timing,” she said. “From then on we struck up a very good relationship, and this is the outcome.”
RGV Reef is 1,650 acres of self-sustaining, artificial reef composed of high, medium and low-relief elements designed to provide habitat for fish from the juvenile stage through adulthood. So far, it includes 4,000 tons of concrete materials of various sizes and two sunken vessels. The reef is located eight nautical miles off the coast and 14 nautical miles north of the Brazos Santiago Pass jetties.
By STEVE CLARK | Staff Writer
– $1 million in prizes are being offered during the 29th annual Coastal Conservation Association State of Texas Anglers Rodeo or STAR Tournament that runs from May 26 thru September 3.
60 tagged redfish were recently released statewide, and nine of the prize reds were turned loose right here in the Lower Laguna Madre.
Dylan Sassman, Assistant Director CCA STAR Tournament says, “On these redfish the first five winners will each receive a brand new Ford F-150, towing a 23-foot Haynie Bigfoot, Mercury motor on the back and a coastline trailer. The next five winners will have to provide their own truck, but I think pretty much anybody can find a buddy to tow home their new prize boat and take them fishing a couple of times a year.”
In addition to the chance of catching a tagged redfish and winning a truck, boat, motor and trailer worth $85,000, there are also prizes and scholarships for the largest trout, flounder and many other bay and offshore species.
Sassman, “Last year, the past year we had 19 total tagged redfish caught with only nine claiming prizes because they weren’t entered. Get entered, get your fishing insurance or like I said you will be eating $85,000 filets.”
If you would like to register for this year’s tournament then all Academy stores can help you out or go to www.startournament.org
Sassman, “We are about to put about $85,000 in the water. Just one little fish…Got to get entered and sign up for STAR. Get your CCA membership for $35 and your STAR entry for $25 and turn one of these little redfish, that little bitty red tag coming out the back into $85,000 worth of truck and boat.”