News

Article Image Alt Text

Aransas Pass Progress
Richard A. Zepeda, 77, served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. The Aransas Pass resident is listed as 100-percent disabled by the Veterans Administration, in part due to exposure to the defoliant commonly known as Agent Orange.

Article Image Alt Text

Courtesy: Richard Zepeda
Growing up in a military family, Zepeda (pictured, upper left) followed in the footsteps of his father (pictured, center) who also served in the Army, in World War II.

Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text

Aransas Pass Progress
Zepeda was highly decorated for his service in Vietnam, his name, rank, and honors commemorated with a brick at the Blue Star Memorial in Conn Brown Harbor.

Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text

Courtesy: Richard Zepeda
As a young man, fresh out of boot camp, Zepeda was trained as an engineer who helped the Army maintain roads and bridges vital to keeping supply lines open for U.S. and Allied forces. The recruit who held the job before him was killed by a sniper, a threat Richard faced every day, reminded how many times he was subjected to gunfire, but never wounded.

Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text

Aransas Pass Progress
Often, you may see Zepeda out and about wearing a hoodie that he believes helps remind others just how many U.S. military service personnel sacrificed their lives in Vietnam, more than 58,000. It reads, “All gave some, some gave all.”

Article Image Alt Text

Courtesy: Richard Zepeda
For the longest time, Zepeda rode a Yamaha motorcycle to escape some of the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), joining the Patriot Riders of South Texas, members fellow veterans who supported one another through biking activities.

Vietnam Veteran in Aransas Pass Faced Death to Keep Troops Supplied

Heroism and gallantry under fire. Aransas Pass veteran Richard A. Zepeda remembers with clarity what he did in Vietnam to earn so many medals and decorations, including the Bronze and Silver Stars. Each day he faced the enemy, assigned a dangerous task of keeping roads and bridges open so troops and their supply lines were maintained. When he landed in southeast Asia, the U.S. Army recruit he replaced had just been killed, gunned down where he stood by a sniper.

Article Image Alt Text

Courtesy: Benjamin Tucker
An aerial view helps put into perspective how far along construction on a new concessions stand has come along, situated within the Community Park complex in Aransas Pass. The project, budgeted at just under $1 million dollars, should be ready for a planned opening in March, city officials report. The new facility will include a food service area, restrooms, and storage. The only thing missing from the previous building it’s replacing is a second story press box.

Aransas Pass Little League Concessions Stand Taking Shape

Aransas Pass Little League Concessions Stand Taking Shape

Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text

APPD’s ‘Shop with a Cop’ Gives Kids a Merry Christmas

Aransas Pass Police Chief Eric Blanchard, and his wife, Nora, a teacher at APISD’s H.T. Faulk Elementary helped Makayia, age 10, a fourth grader at Charlie Marshall Elementary try on a pair of new shoes during the annual ‘Shop with a Cop’ held Thursday, November 30th. For the 26th year, the Corpus Christi Fraternal Order of Police has organized this event, locally, held at Walmart at 2501 W. Wheeler Ave. APPD was helped by members of the Aransas Pass Fire Department, shopping for 30 children, all attending CME. Enough money had been raised through donors to provide the kids with a budget of $125 each for clothing, like a warm winter jacket, and of course – a toy. All the recipients are selected based on need. Josh, age 9, also got some help picking out some new footwear. Jaxson, 10, had a friendly encounter with the Grinch. Other law enforcement officers representing a host of agencies helped during this year’s event, the group pausing for a moment of prayer before they dispersed within the store. A major local financial contributor, Chris Coulter – owner of CM Lanes and Chris’ Marine - received praise for his generous support. Police also shopped for winter coats they supplied to students in need that attend Faulk. Organizers told the Progress they have a waiting list of more students from CME they’d like to help this holiday season but need even more financial aid to accomplish that. Donations of any amount can be mailed to: Shop with a Cop, P.O. Box 10128, Corpus Christi, TX 78460.

Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text

Courtesy: Prairie View Cemetery Association
Packs of dogs roaming Prairie View Community Cemetery in Aransas Pass have become an all-toocommon sight. Residents in the area, and visitors to the graveyard, have repeatedly documented unwelcome encounters with the animals that clearly have no collars or leashes and have even been reported biting or attempting to attack people or harassing them. Thanksgiving Day a prominent local businessman and his sister barely escaped with their lives after a runin as part of a chronic issue that San Patricio County authorities appear unwilling or unable to address effectively.

Ingleside Man’s Visit to Aransas Pass Cemetery Almost His Last

From humble beginnings, entrepreneur Chris Coulter, 56, has become legendary in Aransas Pass for creating a business empire that includes the CM Lanes bowling alley, Chris’ Marine, and Haynie Boats, where he manufactures custom sports fishing watercraft. But Coulter hasn’t forgotten his roots and at least once a month visits the gravesite of his parents, Doris, and Don, laid to rest inside Prairie View Community Cemetery on FM 1069. With a weedwhacker, he cleans and manicures the area and pays his respects in his own, personal way. Thanksgiving morning, November 23rd, the family dinner was planned for later in the afternoon, so Chris and his sister, Sheri, 59, stopped by to see their mom and dad earlier. They almost didn’t make it home.

Pages

Aransas Pass Progress


346 S. Houston

Aransas Pass, TX 78336


P.O. Box 2100

Aransas Pass, TX 78336


361-758-5391