The South Padre Island City Council, at its meeting last week, approved a paid program to be implemented next year to address parking issues along Gulf Blvd. The program will utilize smart phone technology by applying online or calling for a parking permit. Customers will receive five hours of parking for $5.35, which will apply from March 1 to Sept. 15. The parking charge is $5 and 35 cents will...
A 5K run on Sunday will benefit Friends of Animal Rescue. The run is open to the public and is sponsored by the Texas Narcotic Officers Association, which is also holding its annual conference at the South Padre Island Convention Centre. The event will benefit Friends of Animal Rescue. On-site registration for the one-mile walk or run and the 5K run will be held near the Hilton Garden Inn...
Efforts by the Harlingen Economic Development Corp. for a SpaceX incentive package got a boost Thursday when Cameron County commissioners extended an invitation for the group to get involved. The request was mostly a formality, explained Harlingen EDC Director Raudel Garza, but state laws require such an agreement before the group can offer incentives to a company locating outside of Harlingen. The county’s agreement allows Garza to add to the...
An economic energy boom is happening in Texas—from an international gas pipeline and federal government approval for a liquified natural gas (LNG) port facility to wind farms. The Rio Grande Valley is situated in the midst of two of the largest energy fields in North America, the Eagle Ford Shale of Texas and the emerging Burgos Basin of northern Mexico. The area has seen an increase in employment and...
When life-threatening emergencies occur at the beach, a speedy response time can mean the difference between life and death. To be better prepared, Cameron County and South Padre Island lifeguards and U.S. Coast Guard officials honed their skills Wednesday morning as part of an Operation Brite training session. Operation Brite provides training through mock scenarios that can occur at any time, such as rescuing a stranded swimmer. SPI Fire Chief...
It was the second “supercarrier” in its class when it was built in the 1950s, and will be the second in its class to fall to the scrapper’s torch nearly four decades later. The former USS Saratoga, currently berthed at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, is scheduled to depart under tow on Aug. 20 and arrive at ESCO Marine Inc.’s ship-recycling facility between Sept. 6-10, assuming the weather cooperates,...
The Harlingen Economic Development Corp. board on Tuesday recommended an incentive package of $450,000 for Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies, which plans to develop a launch site at Boca Chica Beach amid the space exploration firm’s continuing investment in land in Cameron County. In return, 10 percent of a minimum of 100 jobs that SpaceX proposes to create would be filled by Harlingen residents. “The phrase of being a ‘rocket...
Vacations are relaxing, but not if you’re stressed about ruining a healthy regimen! To keep wholesome routines intact, Alison Sweeney, the actress, mother, and host of the TV show “The Biggest Loser,” has given us her 10 best tips for staying in shape while traveling. Alison’s Tips and Tricks for Traveling on a Diet: 1. Always stretch after a flight. When you’ve been sitting and tense that long, your...
At nearly 90 years old, the Yacht Club Hotel in Port Isabel has seen better days. But thanks to efforts by the city of Port Isabel and the Port Isabel Economic Development Corporation, the historic hotel will be restored and renovated as the city’s first culinary arts institute. Port Isabel City Manager Edward Meza said the city has received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce...
The 33rd Annual South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce Ladies Kingfish Tournament held on August 8-10, 2014 was a huge success. Early Saturday morning, 248 anglers and 98 boats hit the waterways, returning to the docks before 7 p.m. to weigh in their catch. This year’s tournament brought 157 bay anglers and 91 offshore to the Island for a fun filled three days. This year’s bay champion was Yochabel...
