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Mary Jo Updegrove, 87, came from Ingleside originally but grew up in Aransas Pass. She and her late husband, Elwood, owned and operated the Causeway Bait Stand on Ransom Island Rd. for many years before his death. As a couple, they also shrimped the Gulf waters aboard their boat, the ‘Ida Mae’. For the past 16 years, Mary Jo has volunteered with The Blessing’s Shop. Anyone who has donated items for the non-profit resale shop has likely met her in her role, managing the receiving end of the store.
Aransas Pass Progress

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A local craftsman has started donating handmade items to the shop, like this gardening table that can go inside or outdoors to hold everything from hand tools, to seed and fertilizer bags, or flower pots and much more. Mary Jo has had both knees replaced and can’t lift heavy items, grateful this artisan and other volunteers will move large furniture and other pieces into the store for sale.
Aransas Pass Progress

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Donations are received Monday through Saturday through an alley behind The Blessing’s Shop at 313 S. Commercial St. in Aransas Pass. This notice helps those unfamiliar with the process understand what items the organization won’t accept, though Mary Jo acknowledged not everyone paysattentionandvolunteers fill a nearby dumpster with some contributions that may be rejected.
Aransas Pass Progress

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Updegrove turns 88 August 1. She often arrives to work at 6:00 a.m. and doesn’t leave until 4:00 p.m. six days a week. She savors interacting with donors, sorting contributions, or just having time to chat over a cup of coffee and watch the world go by until the next person drives up with something they hope the shop can use to sell. Monies raised are split among four local churches that founded the store, a fifth member is no longer active.
Aransas Pass Progress

Blessing’s Shop Volunteer Works to Help Serve Others

Six days a week, rain or shine, cold or hot, Mary Jo Updegrove drives a short distance from her Aransas Pass home to work. The 87-year-old is a widow. Has been for years. But she’s determined not to sit at home and waste away. Her three kids are all grown up. And her faith and how she was raised has taught her valuable lessons about giving back and helping others. So, she does, providing a familiar

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Tami Chevalier is a Utah native who opened ‘Tami’s Art Gallery’ in the Dolphin Alley mall at 346 S. Commercial St. in Aransas Pass Saturday, March 25. She is hoping to make a big splash in a part of the city that continues to blossom thanks to other small businesses that have found a niche downtown, fostering an ongoing retail Renaissance much welcomed in the once booming mercantile district.
Aransas Pass Progress

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Courtesy: Tami Chevalier
Chevalier is also a military veteran, seen here after she enlisted in the United States Air Force in the late 1990’s, rising to the rank of Senior Airman before fulfilling her four-year obligation. Some aspects of her work remain classified, but Tami acknowledged that she was stationed deep underground in a Montana missile silo, prepared to launch nuclear-tipped projectiles if ordered to do so.

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Courtesy: Tami Chevalier
Husband Daniel Milbrandt, also 43, works as a union pipefitter, his job taking him to destinations all over the country. That’s how Tami met him, and the couple tied the know in Austin. For now, they reside in the Ransom Rd. RV Park in Aransas Pass and hope to settle down and eventually buy a house in the Harbor City.

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Even as a young girl, Chevalier has enjoyed art, and painting, much of her work dominated by acrylics. Some works she’s created include still life, or kitche pieces. All of what she has on display inside her gallery is for sale, ranging in price from $25-$600. She wants to attract other local artists to rent space to feature and sell their works, too.
Aransas Pass Progress

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Saturday, March 25, Chevalier hosted a Grand Opening, welcoming her first customers. Patty Heard (left) and her daughter-in-law Jennifer Heard (right) traveled from Ingleside to browse the offerings. “We’re doing a fun girl’s day out,” Patty laughed.
Aransas Pass Progress

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Courtesy: Tami Chevalier
An adopted child, Tami was raised by this man, Donald Martel. Her father also served in the Air Force and passed away a few years ago at age 85. Chevalier has a brother currently serving in the U.S.A.F. and another in the U.S. Army.

Military Veteran’s Art Gallery Adds to Downtown Aransas Pass Renaissance

With the world on the brink of nuclear war, nestled deep below the surface of the Montana landscape was Tami Chevalier, who served in the United States Air Force. The Utah native wore a key, protected by the concrete and reinforced steel of a missile silo. With it, she would insert it in a control panel along with a matching trigger device held by another airman, both more than capable of launching Armageddon.

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From Detective to Captain. Tuesday, March 21, Troy Poe (center) was pinned with his new rank insignia inside the Municipal Court chambers, his father (left), a veteran police officer and Assistant Chief Aaron Jones (right) participating in the honors. Poe fills a spot vacated by Jones when he was promoted earlier this month as the department’s second-in-command. In a press release issued by Chief Eric Blanchard, he described Poe as having been in law enforcement for 10 years, the past five with APPD. In his new job, Blanchard explained that Poe would have responsibilities that include running the department’s training division, marine rescue team, and supervise the telecommunications (91-1 dispatch) team and animal services. Poe’s wife also attended his pinning ceremony last week.
Courtesy: APPD

A Commanding Change at Aransas Pass Police

A Commanding Change at Aransas Pass Police

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He’s a long way from home, but 23-year-old Trevor Moczygemba who grew up just south of San Antonio just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to get his first paid job, the newest member of the Aransas Pass Fire Department. Saturday, March 18 was his first day on the job, part of the A-shift. Trevor hadn’t responded to a call, yet, when he was in the fire station’s day room, chatting with his firefighting comrades on duty. He had started pursuing a career in mechanical engineering but had ambitions to be more active in a role that let him apply both his intellectual skills as well as his First Responder training. When not in uniform, Trevor said he enjoys fishing. His hire means there is still one vacancy to fill within the department. We’ve included a link to the posting here: https://www.aransaspasstx.gov/Jobs .aspx?UniqueId=98&From=All&CommunityJobs =False&JobID=FirefighterEMT-124
Aransas Pass Progress

APFD Welcomes New Member

APFD Welcomes New Member

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Aransas Pass Progress


346 S. Houston

Aransas Pass, TX 78336


P.O. Box 2100

Aransas Pass, TX 78336


361-758-5391