Your Emails-

Foxynana57@aol.com 9/29/2008
this is darlene sanchez. we have a lot of clothing we would like to leave in high island or winnie for people that need them is there a drop off spot for the clothes? thank you

pabs4@gt.rr.com 9/29/2008
I appreciate all you are doing. We had two homes in Crystal beach and they are both gone. My older half brother was supposedly working at Jose's Cantina and living at Crystal Beach. We don't know if he evacuated or not. We aren't even sure he was still living at the beach. He normally phones our father every 2 weeks or so and our dad has not heard from him. The cell phone number we have for him goes straight to his voicemail and several family members have left messages for him but, no response. My brother's name is Randall (Randy) Eugene Broussard. He is heavy set and bald and has bright blue eyes. He has pronounced dimples when he grins. I don't have a current picture of him. He is a Vietnam vet but, probably doesn't talk about it much. I have been trying to get the contact info for Jose' but, have been unsuccessful. I would appreciate any help you might be able to give us. My thoughts and prayers are with all of us affected by Ike. Even after seeing it with my own eyes, I am having difficulty processing it.

Thank you,

Pam Shelander

lmcdonald@gt.rr.com 9/30/2008
My cabin was located at 1329 Sunrise im Enerald #1 addition. I am looking for Edris McBride who was my neighbor across the street. I have called her cellphone buy have not been able to get in contact with her. if anyone knows anything of her where anouts please contact me 409-718-8567 or email paigemcdonald@yahoo.com. I am really worried about her!!! Also, are we allowed to go into Crstal Beach as of today?
Paige Castille McDonald
409.718.8567
paigemcdonald@yahoo.com

Pics of the Peninsula!!!

barb_verette@yahoo.com 9/30/3008



Click this link for photos of Winnie, High Island and Gilchrist. Thanks, Barb!!! :)



Connie

GCA

Please Read These Emails and See If You Have Info!!!

barb_varrette@yahoo.com 9/20/2008
my brother troy mcdaniel and his wife rita are from bolivar they are at their son robert in houston.
has anyone heard from paul minick from crystal beach. he lived on w canal across from anne willis and did she make it out ok .
also pastor robin huber and daugher rachel are safe have been back to gilchrist to take photos.

shellw822@sbcglobal.net 9-29-2008

I am trying to locate our neighbors in Gilchrist. I have looked on all of the missing/found person lists & have not seen their names. They lived at 982 Kirks St. their names are Ray & Ruth Rozelle. We are very worried, because they never left for any category 2 hurricane & now we can't locate them. Is their any way you can help?
Shelley StoneburnerStoneburner & AssociatesDimension Mortgage832-327-1922 direct832-526-6138 cell832-217-3225 fax

Mike40@sbcglobal.net 9/29/2008
I want to let you know that myself and Laverne Cloninger are ok we visited our
Beach House Slab this past Saturday Ours was the second one behind the Gilcrest Vol.
Fire Dept It is unbelievable what we seen.We are one of the lucky ones that had a home else where to go to we feel for our neighbors who lived at the Island .
I have tried to find out how to contact Harold White I know they were taken to Canton,
Texas I have spoke with the Fire Chief of Canton he said they had all been relocated and they had no list or info to provide .I hope you keep up the news of Gilcrest .If you find out about Harold Please let me know.If there is anything we can do to help you please let us help you.Hope this finds you safe.

Thanks Mike Killingsworth
Phone No. Work 713-690-6030
Home 281-399-2936

donnabeckhomes4u@aol.com 9-29-2008
My name is Donna (Schumacher) Beck. I owned a beach cabin at 827 S. Tinkle Lane in J & S Addition (beach side - down from Joy Sands Motel) from 1993 to 2002, a little blue cabin that I named "True Grit". Peggy and Barry Phipps were my dear neighbors and I have missed them since I had to sell. Barry is a shrimper. Peggy ran into a friend of mine at the beach about a week or maybe two before Ike. I also went to high school with Gary Tomberlin, and his home is on the Peninsula as well. Gary's profession is construction and he does work for many homeowners and I know he also works for homebuilders. Gary is very special me as well as many friends from the French High School Class of '74 in Beaumont, Texas.I would appreciate knowing that Gary Tomberlin, his wife Donna, and that Barry and Peggy Phipps are ok. I've checked the Red Cross site and yours as well.
Practically every good childhood memory and most of my happy adult memories are "at the beach". I am so very sorry to all who have suffered loss.Please email me with any news on these very special people.Thank you.
Donna BeckRE/MAX All Properties409-291-1729.cell832-565-8666.fax
savedmomof4@hot.rr.com 9-29-2008
Hi,

I’m looking for Carole Hamadey. She’s the owner of ”Out By The Sea” in Crystal Beach. I didn’t see her name on the survivor list or the missing person list. Let me know if I can check somewhere else.

Thanks
Pam Calloway

The Tragic Story of Gail Ettenger...

I have been receiving emails from so many of you letting us know who has survived and who is still missing and we have been trying to post them and add the names to our Survivor's List or our Missing Persons list. It saddens me to say that one particular person's search for a missing person has ended. Jackie sent me these emails concerning her close friend, Gail and it puts a face on a tragic story to one person that did not survive Ike:

rj4ever214@aol.com 9-21-2008
Looking for Gail Ettenger...Gail lived towards the Inter Coastal on the end of Yacht Basin Road. She had the Great Dane, Reba.I know she stayed and the last time anyone talked to her was on Fri. pm @ 10:10 pm, while thingswere floating past.....We have spoken to her significant others, and they have heard nothing .....If you get any info, please email me: Jackie Hardaway

Jackie,Gail Ettenger has not been given to me as a survivor as of yet, but that does not mean she didn't make it out. There are several evacuees that have NO idea we are looking for them on our website. This page on our website was created to help family and friends who are looking for them to sound out and let's try to help find each other. I will pray that we find her name will make it's way on our Survivor's List. Good luck and may God bless! Connie TomerlinGCA

rj4ever214@aol.com 9-26-2008
I am sorry to report that she is deceased. They recovered her body from East of 562. She is the female found in Southern Chambers County. The confirmation came by phone Thursday pm. She loved living in Gilchrist off Yacht Basin Road. She made her choice to live near the beach, and the water claimed her life. My returning to the area will be a very sad one, because she will no longer bewaiting with Reba, her great dane dog, to go play in the water. We spent many a day, fishing and playing at the Pass. She will be missed! I pray that others will be found, because the thought of not ever knowing for sure asto what happened to them, leaves you empty. God bless, and thank you for posting.......Jackie Hardaway, rj4ever214@aol.com PS: her precious dog, Reba, is still missing too.

Jackie,I am so very sorry for your loss! My prayers are with you. Can I post your email on to our Blogspot? I will understand if you do not want it posted. Let me know and again, my prayers are with you and Gail's family. Connie TomerlinGCA

rj4ever214@aol.com 9-27-2008
Connie, Thank you so much for your condolences. I have no problem with you posting this to your blog.I was at Gilchrist yesterday. The pictures you see that are posted at various areas, just don't give the true meaning of the massive loss which all who lived, or visited the area, have suffered. As you walk through the de brie field, following the path of your belongings, your heart swells and sinks, as you come upon something that was yours. My sister and her husband lost a beach house and a lot of personal items, and this is a tragedy for them, but they still have their home in East Texas to live in and continue their lives. Many others have nothing at all. Friends and family left with the idea that they would take a few days clothing.....saying that they would be back in a couple of days, to start their cleanup....living with their generators, as in past hurricanes, until the utilities were back on and life at the beach would continue as normal. Now, there is no "normal" and the "spirit" has been devastated. And when I went to Gail's "little piece of heaven on earth", my sister said it best......looking at the little piece of concrete where her house once stood...... "this is so sad, that this is all that is left of her life!" Gail made her choice to stay as she had always done in the past; never giving any thought to the massive wall of water, because the past high water, was never like this! In talking with Gail on Thursday, she was preparing by drawing her tub of water, ice in chests, securing her treasures inside and outside, taping her windows, etc.. She kept reassuring me and her close friends that "she and baby girl" would be fine. Phone calls she made on Friday, started becoming anxious; even mentioning that a close male friend told her, he would come and pick her up, so that they could leave......but he never showed up! Her last phone call to her friend and neighbor on Friday night, was a realization on her part, that she had made a very bad decision to stay. She was scared, describing what was going on outside and around her, now opening her windows due to the pressure. Pleas for Gail to seek higher ground, to put on a life jacket, and to get out of her house were too late.....the water was too strong and swift... then she said her goodbyes with a wrenching voice...she ended the call......and there was silence....the phone was dead and no one would here her voice again. The emptiness of the land, the brown vegetation, and the blank piece of concrete, which was her front porch,are what remains. Gail had such a beautiful yard with lots of flowers, green with life from the birds and allthe neighbor's cats and strays, which she so abundantly fed on a daily basis. She would go to the North End Bait Shop, and leave food for the cats. She had a heart of gold, when it came to giving to others..... whether it was people or animals. But don't get me wrong, she also was outspoken about anythingshe disagreed with too! She didn't care what others thought of her.....but she looked out for her neighbors and their belongings, as if she was the "guard on duty". She slept little and was a very private person aboutherself. She will be missed....for me, this is hard to accept, because this was a preventable death....had she only left the peninsula. My prayer is that she is at peace. I am amazed that her body was found so far from her home. It only signifies how massive and strong thewater was when it arrived. It gives me a peace in my heart just to know for sure, that she is gone. There are still many missing....and Gilchrist will never look the same....it will be a long road to put the community back together. People are scattered near and far....and we all must grieve over what it used to be....many changes will be made, and a new life for all. May God's blessings be on all! Jackie Hardaway

What A Great Community the Bolivar Peninsula Still Is!

My family and I went to the Bolivar Peninsula last week and looked over our homes and two businesses in Gilchrist (we were NOT allowed past Rollover Pass because of the damage to the bridge!). Looking over the unfamiliar land was like being in a nightmare that you can't wake up from. We turned off of Hwy 124 onto Hwy 87 and actually SAW the ocean. Two plus weeks ago, there use to be sand dunes of at least five or six feet covered in vegetation. The only thing you could see then was the occasional seagulls flying overhead and HEAR the ocean crashing along the shores and feel the salt air on your face!

The first recognizable landmark is Sharky's (?) RV park. There use to be a pier and enough pads for approximately 10 RV's. All that is left now are the pier's pilings and no more sand dunes to protect the RV's from the surf. In fact, the ocean has reclaimed this area all the way up to the road. Next, we came across Pelican pier which had a bait shop at the end of it; again nothing left, but remnants of pier pilings.

All along highway 87, in several places, the road is pulled up and torn away with the ground underneath just gone for several feet down as if something very large dug it out with claws. In the fields where oil pumps use to be gently bobbing up and down, and cows would graze peacefully next to them, there was no movement and about a dozen empty, overturned and abandoned vehicles; a hint of what a terrifying night September 12th must have been for the fleeing residents of the Bolivar Peninsula!

Coming into the edge of town, we saw the first visible signs of structures that were still erect and we thought half-heartedly, "Maybe it won't be as bad as everyone thinks!" until we got closer and saw that ONLY the upper half of the Coastal Component building was still standing and the "Bird Houses" had plenty of damage including beams of concrete and steel that looked as if they had been filed away in the middle. Still, ten of the original houses were standing proudly erect and tall!

The closer we got to the heart of Gilchrist, the more unrecognizable the terrain became. The beach side that use to house three to four rows of homes were totally GONE and the water had etched deep canals where paved streets were suppose to have been. The geotube or "sand sock" that was put in ten years ago with the help of the GCA (Gilchrist Community Association) to help with the erosion of the beaches was gone in many areas. On the bay side, the view was not much better. The streets were covered in sand and shells and looked as if a bomb had exploded and we were sitting in the middle of ground zero! I personally counted fifteen structures with maybe half of that being more than 50% damaged.

We passed Bay street, where our house use to be before we even realized where we were and after seeing only four feet of wall where the lower half of the house was, I felt overwhelmed with helplessness at the awesome power of Mother Nature! There was nothing left--a sewing machine buried in the sand, a plate here or there and my bathroom tub buried at the end of the next street. Everyone of our family's homes was the same story. Gone, Gone, Gone! A little trinket dug up that was probably not that important to us before Ike, has now, somehow, become the most treasured item we could ever own because it had survived Hurricane Ike.

As we walked along each street, I noticed that others before us had dug up trinkets as well. I got choked up and cried when I saw a pair of muddy binoculars with a side bent in sitting close to where it had been dug up by a thoughtful neighbor and I felt the compassion and love that was symbolized in leaving it where it was found for the rightful owner to reclaim. If looters had made their way to Gilchrist, it was long before we had gotten there because we saw no evidence of it. There's just not enough there to loot!

As humans, we think that we can control our world by owning this or that and maybe we are better than this person because we have this or that, but God has a way of humbling us back to the simple purity of Life and what is really important to hold on to--our families and each other. I thank God that I can proudly say that I come from the kind of community that still knows what it means to help one another out and to be there for each other--Gilchrist and the entire Bolivar Peninsula!!!

Things That Ike Taught Me!!!

A Little Humor From A Gilchrist Evacuee-Thanks, Amanda! 9-27-2008
Things Ike taught me:
Coffee and frozen pizzas can be made on a BBQ grill.My car gets 23.21675 miles per gallon, EXACTLY (you can ask the people in line who helped me push it).He who has the biggest generator wins. There are a lot more stars in the sky than most people thought.TV is an addiction and the withdrawal symptoms are painful.A 7 lb bag of ice will chill 6-12 oz Budweiser's to a drinkable temperature in 11 minutes, and still keep a 14 lb. turkey frozen for 8 more hours.There are a lot of dang trees around here.Flood plain drawings on some mortgage documents were seriously wrong..People will get into a line that has already formed without having any idea what the line is for.Cell phones work when land lines are down, but only as long as the battery remains charged.Hampers were not made to contain such a volume.Tree service companies are underappreciated.I learned what happens when you make fun of another states' blackout.MATH 101: 30 days in month, minus 6 days without power equals 30% higher electric bill ?????
Drywall is a compound word, take away the 'dry' part and it's worthless.I can walk a lot farther than I thought.A MUST for all blackouts with kids... GLOWSTICKS! Cheap, fun, no mess!You can never have too many gas cans! If you fill the bathtubs with water, the water will not go off. 5 gallons of sweetened iced tea a day is not enough for 9 teenagers.Just because it is dark and you are in the privacy of your bedroom doesn't mean we can't hear what you are doing in there because our windows are open too.What looks acceptable by candlelight in your bathroom will scare you when you look at yourself in the mirror at the office.Coffee is possible without Starbucks.Peanut butter and jelly is a perfectly acceptable meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the same day.Don't shun those who use Tylenol PM or Advil PM to get through 11-hour nights.That neighbor who knows how to use a chainsaw is your new best friend.Ice is a form of currency.Coming home from work with a pizza and a charged-up laptop so the kids can watch a DVD makes you a hero.You run out of things to barbecue after Day 2.Hair can dry without a blow dryer, but it may not look the way you planned.Baseball caps go with any post-hurricane ensemble.You can't train yourself not to flip on light switches when entering a room.Lukewarm is the new cold.You have neighbors.A new opening phrase when seeing someone: "Got lights yet?"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN THE POWER COMES BACK ON? Watch the video of Geraldo Rivera getting knocked over by a wave during pre-storm coverage.Shut the windows and pretend you never saw your neighbor in those baggy shorts.Turn on the DVD player super loud and have a mini dance party even if it's 3 a.m.Have a long conversation with TiVo about how he let you down.

High Island Pictures

These pics come from Ed Snyder--Thanks, Ed!

MISSING PEOPLE--PLEASE READ AND RESPOND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING!

radenter165@yahoo.com 9-23-2008
I have a cousin who lived close to Rollover Pass and was wondering if anyone has heard from him. My grandmother is very worried about him and I want to let her know something. His name is Harry Heinz if anyone has heard from him or has a way I can check and see if he is ok please let me know. Contact # 409-673-9088 Lisa Shaw

nancygisele@gmail.com 9-22-2008

I am concerned about Dick (Eugene) Marshall, an elderly gentleman who lived on North Tinkle Road in Port Bolivar. He may be with his daughter Rhonda, who also lived in the same area. Does anyone have any information on them?

rj4ever214@aol.com 9-21-2008

LOOKING FOR GAIL ETTINGER:

Gail lived towards the Inter Coastal on the end of Yacht Basin Road. She had the Great Dane, Reba.I know she stayed and the last time anyone talked to her was on Fri. pm @ 10:10 pm, while thingswere floating past.....We have spoken to her significant others, and they have heard nothing .....If you get any info, please email me: Jackie Hardaway @ rj4ever214@aol.com We lived there for a year at Dick & Dorothy's RV Park at the corner of Hwy 87 and Yacht Basin Rd.My sister and her husband lost their house near the Gilchrist Post Office, and we know that thoseare all safe. Would appreciate any info.........thanks, Jackie

9-20-2008

MISSING: Herman Thomas "Pee Wee" Moseley, W/M 48 , resident of Gilchrist , last contact Friday Sept 12. It has been rumored that he was with Ronnie Lee or Ronny Lee before Ike made landfall. Any and all info would be appreciated. His mother, Norma Rubin, and brothers Dwight & James Moseley are worried about him. If you have info please contact Dwight at 409 9884970 or James Moseley at 409 5482046 or 417 4834455. Thanks and God Bless!

meredith3377@hotmail.com 9-18-2008

I have been regularly checking khou.com and now your site. Have you heard anything about Leah and her mom, Debra or their friend that used to mow my yard - Rollover Rick? Thank you for all of your hard work. Meredith

hallm@ocisd.net 9-18-2008

Has anyone heard from Bruce and Skip Haire. They used to own the 3 Dolphins on Elsie Street just past Rollover. We got to know them when we were renting their beach property and wanted to check and make sure they were OK. They also own a place in Gilchrist, I believe.Please let us know if anyone has heard from them.Thanks—Mary Hall, Rose Green, Beth Stanley, Betty Maxwell, Charlene Martinez, Debra DialOre City, TXOur thoughts and prayers are with everyone down there. If we can do anything, please let us know.

jbclower@camalott.com 9-17-2008

Our hearts just hurt for the people of the Gilchrist area. My husband pastored the Baptist church at Gilchrist '67-'68. We loved living on the beach. From the pictures, we think the house the church rented for us to live in was on the location of the only standing house.. just behind the church. We are concerned about C.L. and Sandy Roots, who we think were still there as pastor and wife of FBC Gilchrist. I do not see them in the list of survivors. In later years the church had a parsonage, I think on Butterfly, but it was also on the Gulf side of the beach and it seems to be gone. We are praying for all of you, Barbara and Jerry Clower Abilene, Texas

t_a1997@yahoo.com 9-16-2008

WE FOUND YOUR WEBSITE THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO BLOG ON. OUR UNCLE IS EDDIE "BAREFOOT" NELSON AND HE LIVED ON CRYSTAL BEACH AND LAST TIME WE SPOKE WITH HIM WAS FRIDAY EVENING. WE ARE GETTING NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE LOCAL AUTHOURITIES IN KNOWING IF HE IS ALIVE AND THERE OR WHERE HE POSSIBLY BE AND WE HAVE BEEN BLOGGING ALL OVER THE INTERNET IN HOPES OF SOMEONE KNOWING HIM AND KNOWING IF MADE IT THROUGH THE STORM. WE ARE IN ALBABAMA AND WE FEEL HELPLESS IN NOT BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING.
THANKSANNETTE

Bolivar Peninsula Re-Entry Slated For Friday!

rebuildbolivar@gmail.com 9-24-2008

Return to Bolivar Peninsula by Jim GuidryWednesday, September 24, 2008
Residents and property owners will be allowed to return to the BolivarPeninsula for a "look and leave" visit beginning at 6 a.m. on Friday. Listen: RealPlayer MP3 "Finally we have been able to get all the pieces in place to have a re-entry to BolivarPeninsula," said Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough. "A lot of hard work has been done by TxDOT and our road department to get that bridge at RolloverPass accessible. We are working with the State to bring other resources to the residents." "We've got the road bridge finishing up this afternoon," said Commissioner Patrick Doyle. "Tomorrow, we will be getting all the PODs (Points of Distribution) all in place; portapots, all the supplies, water, ice all those sort of things." Although County officials are working to supply the PODs in time for the Friday re-entry, Doyle advised returning residents and property owners to bring supplies, such as water, ice and mosquito spray, "because we may not have supplied all our PODs by then." Residents and property owners will be permitted to drive across the bridge between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day; and will be asked to leave at 4 p.m. Law enforcement will be present to maintain order and to assure that all persons leave after 4 p.m. PODs with ice, water, portable toilets will be set up at CrenshawSchool and the FaggardCenter, as well as at HighIsland. People are urged to have tetanus inoculations before returning to the Peninsula, but the Galveston County Health Department will be giving shots at the POD at the HighIslandSchool. Registration forms to facilitate re-entry will be posted on GuidryNews.com prior to the beginning of the program. Many people have expressed concern that the forms have not yet been posted, but Doyle stresses that they can be filled out on the scene. "No one will be turned away," Doyle said. "We just need proper identification."

Body Recovered in Debris in Annahuac

weino2@yahoo.com 09/24/08:
Body Recovered in Hurricane Ike Debris in AnahuacReported by: Scott PriceWednesday, Sep 24, 2008 @01:50pm CST
Chambers County authorities have recovered a body in the debris fields left by Hurricane Ike. Tuesday afternoon, members of the US Fish and Wildlife Department discovered the body of a white female, located in a debris field east of FM 562, between Lone Oak Bayou and Lake Surprise. The victim, clad only in a bra, is described as a white female in her late 40’s to early 50’s, 5’6”, medium build, with short brown hair and blonde to grey hi-lites. Preliminary autopsy results from the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office showed that the female showed signs of dental work, including fillings and caps. She also had a scar from a hysterectomy. It appears that the cause of death was due to drowning, as there were no broken bones or head trauma. Friday, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens marked 44 major debris piles, and game wardens, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge officers and Sheriff’s Deputies accompanied handlers from the all-volunteer Greater Houston Search Dogs and K-9 units from the Port Arthur Police Department began ground searches. “At this time it is very difficult to know just how many people really are missing from the Bolivar Peninsula after the storm, or if there are remains in these debris fields, but if there are, then we want to make sure we find them,” said Chambers County Sheriff Joe LaRive. “We do know that much of what was at Gilchrist and Crystal Beach before the storm is now five or six miles inland in Chambers County.” Sheriff LaRive also reported that there was one storm-related fatality in Chambers County in the days before the storm. Anahuac resident, 52 year old Gary Schweinle was electrocuted on September 12, 2008 as he attempted to secure his roof before Hurricane Ike struck. LaRive said the search will continue until all of the marked debris fields have been searched with the aid of the dogs, a process he said could ultimately take weeks

Getting Onto the Peninsula

We have received MANY emails about when people can go back to the peninsula. Galveston is opening up tomorrow, Wednesday. I have no OFFICIAL report of when the peninsula will be open and if you decide to go down there, you may not gain entry. It is up to the discretion of the officers posted at each checkpoint. I have gotten emails that some people have been allowed access and some have not. My husband and I got in yesterday with proof of residency, but they escorted us out at 5:00pm. We were able to walk around our place and look (our home was on the east side of Rollover).

I have heard that Wednesday, they are opening up the peninsula to everyone with property on the east side if you have proof of residency, but I have no confirmation of this. I also heard that if your property is on the west side of Rollover, that you have to go to Galveston and catch a ferry to get on the peninsula to check out your property. Again, this is what I have heard and have no OFFICIAL report. The information on the peninsula that comes to us is from the public and not the authorities.

I know that this does not help most of us, but it is the only information I have now and the decision to go or not to go at this time should be up to each individual and how far they have to travel to possibly get turned away. There are no hotel accommodations within three hours of Bolivar peninsula and getting gas is extremely difficult due to a supply and demand issue. I am in San Antonio and we drove 5 hours to hopefully get in (which, THANK GOD, we did!), but I also know of people driving even further away and getting turned away. I don't know if it has to do with where their property is located or if it has to do with the whims of what official happens to be on hand at each checkpoint.

Good luck to each and everyone and may God bless us all!

Connie Tomerlin
GCA

More of Your Emails thru 9/22/2008

marycaraway@gmail.com 9-22-2008
Can you confirm or deny the allegations that there are an untold number of dead bodies washing up on the beaches? When will we be
told if our family and friends are found alive or dead? Thank you.

Unfortunately, I can do neither. I have heard rumors of an untold number of bodies in Annahuac, to forensics people collecting DNA, to many bodies being found at the Big Store. I know from people who witnessed people meeting their demise that several people have perished on Bolivar, but the authorities still have not given an OFFICIAL death toll for Bolivar. I wish I could tell you more. All I hope and pray is that they will let us know something soon. God bless to you and your family! Connie Tomerlin

Ginger@bcoonlaw.com 9-22-2008
Hello my name is Ginger and my family and I own property down at crystal beach. Emerald One to be exact. I was just wondering if and when it will be okay for people that own property can get down there? Ginger L. ManningSettlement ProcessorBrent Coon & Associates3550 FanninBeaumont, TX. 77701(409) 835-2666 ext. 1157(409) 951-8057 (direct)Ginger@bcoonlaw.com

sqbody@sbcglobal.net 9-22-2008
Thank you for keeping your website updated. We are not getting any information out of your area. I have passed your website along to othere websites where people are searching for there loved ones. I have notice that your surviror's list is growing daily. Thank God. We got some information this morning and was wondering if you could verify it for us. We heard that out of the 62,000 homes from Bolivar thru High Island that only 230 remain. Could this be true? We also heard that High Island may be getting water as early as today and that generators are being brought in for electicity. We heard that the water surge went 12 miles past HIgh Island. We are still hearing that no one is allowed in or not of there and that the search for bodies hasn't even begun. It is upsetting enough to not be getting any news from down there and then to hear things like this just turns my stomach. Our heart and prayers go out to all our old friends. CAROL Myers Williams

cnstructit@aol.com 9-22-2008
I was wondering if you knew when they would allow people back in east of rollover pass. Thanks,Mike Dore'1148 4th streetGilchrist, Tx. 77617

adamkbauer@hotmail.com 9-22-2008
Hello, I was wondering if you could help me out with a date on when residents will be able to come back in and look at their homes/whats left of them on the Peninsula. My parents lost their home in Caplen but all the aerials I've looked at show a debris pile right next to where the house should be. I think all is lost/unsavageable but my parents want to make the trip down from New York to at least see the site and get some closure. Their insurance agent said that people will be allowed back on the peninsula in alphabetical order so that there are not too many people on the peninsula at one time. However, I've looked and looked and can only find information about Galveston itself and no re-entry information about the peninsula. Would you happen to have that info or know where I might be able to find it. Thanks,Adam


hollidapjn@hotmail.com 9-21-2008
Our hearts and prayers go out to the permanent residents of Gilchrist, you have lost so much, but you gave so much all these years for those of us who considered it a home away from home in Beaumont. We have the Enderle Family Beach House Club on Faggard Slip Road, built in the 40s, four generations of fun at the beach for our very large clan. With a utility bill we got thru two checkpoints and we were able to see the old cistern and poles sticking up, naked, out of the mud and debris, and our heart was broken. Returning is not for the faint of heart, steel yourself for total devastation. But we know that when the fish are biting, we Southeast Texans cannot escape the lure of the sea. We will be back. Paula Nash Holliday

rj4ever214@aol.com 9-21-2008
looking for Gail Ettenger--Gail lived towards the Inter Coastal on the end of Yacht Basin Road. She had the Great Dane, Reba.I know she stayed and the last time anyone talked to her was on Fri. pm @ 10:10 pm, while thingswere floating past.....We have spoken to her significant others, and they have heard nothing .....If you get any info, please email me: Jackie Hardaway @ rj4ever214@aol.com We lived there for a year at Dick & Dorothy's RV Park at the corner of Hwy 87 and Yacht Basin Rd.My sister and her husband lost their house near the Gilchrist Post Office, and we know that thoseare all safe. Would appreciate any info.........thanks, Jackie

IMPORTANT--
Has anyone heard from Mildred Starke? She was last contacted on 9-12-2008. Any information would be helpful. Please email us at gca.webmaster@gmail.com. Thank you so much!

IMPORTANT! This came to us from someone on yahoo groups. If you know anything, please respond IMMEDIATELY to this family! Thanks so much and God bless-GCA

MISSING: Herman Thomas "Pee Wee" Moseley, W/M 48 , resident of Gilchrist , last contact Friday Sept 12. It has been rumored that he was with Ronnie Lee or Ronny Lee before Ike made landfall. Any and all info would be appreciated. His mother, Norma Rubin, and brothers Dwight & James Moseley are worried about him. If you have info please contact Dwight at 409 9884970 or James Moseley at 409 5482046 or 417 4834455. Thanks and God Bless!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pressangler@jas.net 9-20-2008
ileft for high island this morning at 4:30am--got there at 7am- i explained why i needed to go to high island to the checkpoint DPS and they let me in-- retrieved my personal stuff from my motorhome which had absolutely no damage wind or water- i was amazed-- left a spare set of keys with a neighbor who knew mr riley (the rv park mngr)- so he can use it for temporary lodging while rebuilding his rv park-- the DPS road block to rollover wouldn't let me go to the pass so i turned around and headed home-- i was shocked to see that there was no sand dunes-- they wer completey wiped out-- the high islanders i talked with said that they had 15 ft waves ABOVE the storm surge-- awesome-- the one thing that bothered me at high island was the smell of death all around -- the stench of rotting cows merged with the sickingly sweet smell of oil-- i couldn't believe that all the saltgrasses were flattened and dying-- gilchrist and the peninsula will never be the same-- i'll miss it-- ed

pedra.ane@gmail.com 9-20-2008
Dear Webmasters,
I'd like to get this message out to residents and property owners, could you please help me with this?
Thank you,Pedra

My name is Pedra. I grew up going to Crystal Beach and still go as often as I can. I am a licensed professional counselor. As part of the work I do, I work with people dealing with grief issues and work with children doing a specialized kind of counseling called play therapy. I've been trying to get in touch with the Red Cross to volunteer my services to the residents, (and weekenders) of this area, but have not been able to get in touch with anyone. I figured I's go to the source. I am available to come down to meet with anyone who would like to talk to someone about the devastating losses you have had. I can come to the area on Saturdays and Sundays or we can set up an alternative. I am not time-limiting my serivces at this time. My services are free to you. I just want to help the people who made the beaches there such a special place for me. If anyone is interested, or wants to find out more, please email me at this address: pedra.ane@gmail.com
-- Pedra
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
imafishinfooll2@wmconnect.com 9-20-2008
this is beckie from the tavern, hello to all my friends.i am in vidor,safe. also ronnie lee,wiz,cindi and ali are also fine and are in sulfur doing ok. we love ya'll and can't wait till we are all together again. god bless everyone
gca.webmaster@gmail.com 9-21-2008
Beckie,Can you please give me your last names and where you lived before Hurricane Ike so that I can update or Survivor's List. Thank you so much for letting us know you are OK! God bless! Connie Tomerlin
imafishinfooll2@wmconnect.com 9-21-2008
beckie greys, ronnie lee dennison, and wizard,cindy & alli henley.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

More of Your Emails

rebuildbolivar@gmail.com 9-20-2008
On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 10:35 AM, Maggie Finch wrote:
Barbara,

I wanted to let you know that I am working on a website to help with the rebuild initiative. I've pasted some info about it below. Just a little background... I live in Ft. Worth, but grew up near the Gulf Coast. My parents have a beach house in Crystal Beach. It was to become their full-time residence in a few years. They've been splitting their time between their primary residence in Kirbyville and their place at the beach. I spent many weekends and summers there while growing up and it saddens and infuriates me to think that the place may be just wiped off the map. My parents are still without electricity in Kirbyville, so I've been helping to keep them informed as best I can. I just feel so powerless to help from so far away. I decided to jump in to do whatever I can from here and as a result, this site was born. I found the Rollover Pass website this morning. I've added a link to it on my site. Please take a look at the site and feel free to provide any feedback or info that you have. Thanks,Maggie Finch
www.rebuildbolivar.com
My plan is to include:- Form letters for individuals to contact State Reps, Congressmen, Senators, and local government officials to urge them to support rebuilding. This will include letters for property owners, full-time residents, individuals employed on the peninsula, local and state employees (ferry workers, postal workers, city workers, etc.), vacationers, etc.- Info on rebuilding initiatives including meeting notices and postings on what you can do to get involved- An area to make a donation or become a sponsor for the rebuild effort- Supporting info and resources on other communities who were affected by natural disasters and allowed to (even given state/federal assistance to) rebuild.- An overview of the financial impact to the residents, local economy, county, and state I'm sure there will be much more to come. I realize that I can't populate and maintain all of this by myself, so I'm also going to draft an list of initial tasks to be completed and ask for volunteers. Please send me any thoughts, comments, info that you have.

gca.webmaster@gmail.com 9-22-2008
Maggie,
Of course you wouldn't know this, but I am Connie Tomerlin with the Gilchrist Community Association. Barbara Reynolds is my mother and she is the Secretary of the GCA. I have always been in charge of the website and when Ike hit, I decided to try to reconnect our community with information, survivor's list and a blog of emails and survivor stories.

I LOVE your website and I am going to post it to our blog. I am also going to add it as a link to our website on the main page (for our older, computer-challenged neighbors!) Several people have contacted us about a fundraiser and ways in which we can raise money, clothing and survival items for all of the victims on Bolivar Peninsula. We can achieve so much with the help of everyone! Thanks so much for the info and please keep in touch!

Connie Tomerlin
GCA Webmaster
"Working Together For A Better Bolivar"


amandaselcer@yahoo.com 9-20-2008
My house was on 993 Butterfield. It is gone, but I am worried about all the friends and neighbors we met over the last year. What needs to be done to help? I have started asking friends and family to gather old clothes and personal items the survivors from our area might need. Is there somone I can get in touch with to help organize or help our friends and neighbors get their lives back? Amanda Selcer

On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 6:04 AM, Amanda Selcer wrote:
our house was in Gilchrist. It was right across the street from pastor Roots. It was the second house on the right with the new blue siding and windows.
We were there every weekend working on her and getting her ready for us live there full time.
We are the couple with the blue FJ cruiser and the big black dog.
If you hear from Pastor LC Roots or his wife Sande, please tell them we are thinking of them and praying for them and would like for them to call.

Amanda and Toby

amanda 979 224 4088
toby 979 450 1810
house 281 225 7730

Your Emails-

pressangler@jas.net 9-19-2008
when do you think they will start letting people on high island-- i have my rv there and need to get some personal belongings from it-?- ed snyder/409-698-2790

amandaselcer@yahoo.com 9-19-2008
My house was on 993 Butterfield. It is gone, but I am worried about all the friends and neighbors we met over the last year. What needs to be done to help? I have started asking friends and family to gather old clothes and personal items the survivors from our area might need. Is there somone I can get in touch with to help organize or help our friends and neighbors get their lives back? Amanda Selcer

Your Emails-

hallm@ocisd.net 9-18-2008
Has anyone heard from Bruce and Skip Haire. They used to own the 3 Dolphins on Elsie Street just past Rollover. We got to know them when we were renting their beach property and wanted to check and make sure they were OK. They also own a place in Gilchrist, I believe.Please let us know if anyone has heard from them.Thanks—Mary Hall, Rose Green, Beth Stanley, Betty Maxwell, Charlene Martinez, Debra DialOre City, TXOur thoughts and prayers are with everyone down there. If we can do anything, please let us know.

Robert.Render@rentacenter.com 9-18-2008
We have spent a lot of time down in Gilchrist with LyNell Oehlers (see is OK - she is at her house in Pasadena). We were supposed to be down there next weekend for a big party but with what has happened we decided to have a big Benefit Concert at Cedar Creek Lake on September 27th for the victims of Hurricane Ike. We would like to use the money to help people from Gilchrist and the rest of the Bolivar Peninsula - we are trying to find the best way to help people from there - have there been any funds set up or foundations specifically for that area? Would love to have any ideas you might have. Thanks! Robert RenderCedar Creek Lake Parrot Head Club

Anonymous 9-18-2008
If anyone has any information about Jennifer McLemore from Gilchrist, 1015 seagull street, first house on the left, please contact her son Randy Jones at 409-392-5960. We are very worried for her safety.

Posted by Anonymous to Hurricane Ike Devastates Bolivar Peninsula at September 18, 2008 2:30 PM


ssbbc4@yahoo.com 9-18-2008
Deborah Watson and son Clark from Faggards Rd are ok. They have evacuated to Longview, TX. They can be reached at 903-663-1947.

Perriconecme@aol.com 9-18-2008
Am in NJ searching for friend who stayed during the storm.She tried to get off thursday am and was turned back by winds and water, and regrettably chose to stay. Gail EttengerTyrell St I can not gain access to 149 survivors and climbing part of website

meredith3377@hotmail.com 9-18-2008
I have been regularly checking khou.com and now your site. Have you heard anything about Leah and her mom, Debra or their friend that used to mow my yard - Rollover Rick? Thank you for all of your hard work. Meredith

sbri331@aol.com 9-18-2008
Jack and Pat Bristow from beach front road (gilchrest texas)evacuated to Chandler Texas

Your Emails-

From "A Traveler" 9-18-2008
You are invited to view a photo from JAkeAbby's photo album: From Paul View Photo
Message from A traveler:This can be magnified very well. If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser:http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4d2o32Wz_2kXENQ51fke4Q To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

mike4898@hotmail.com 9-18-2008
connie i sent e-mail to my outdoor editor i was dealing with about roll- over pass. i told him that we might need to change the story on roll-over. maybe an article telling about a small community that turned their attention to a small free fishing pass for the people of the state and nation to come to and enjoy. people young, old, rich, poor there in our community that concentrated their efforts so so many might enjoy what we all knew we had. they did it unselfisly and tirelessly for our cause and then was wiped away by some little storm named ike. i wonder these individualy what a good thing we were doing. something we should be proud of!!!. to all of us that now have lost everything i hope some where out there someone will tell our story. everyone involved with the gca should hold their heads up high and be proud of how we tried to help so many. god will bless us for what we accomplished and i hope people will appreciate it. sincerely mike gross

foxynana57@aol.com 9-18-2008
MY NAME IS DARLENE SANCHEZ AND MY HOME WAS ON GULF SUPPLY RD IN GILCHRIST. I GOT TO DALLAS 2 DAYS BFORE THE STORM HIT. I ALSO KNOW MY BROTHERINLAW RICHARD ROE IS SAFE IN WINNIE. ALSO GORDON AND CHERYL SMALL OF GULF SUPPLY RD ARE IN AUSTIN. I READ IN THE PAPER HERE IN DALLAS THAT HAROLD WHITE AND FRIEND SANDY ARE HERE IN THE CANTON AREA. MARK AND CAROLINE STONEHAM ARE IN WACO. I PRAY OUR FRIENDS THE REST OF THEM ARE SAFE. ANY INFO ON GILCHRIST WOULD BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED AT THIS TIME AND WHEN CAN I GET IN TO SEE THIS. THEY SAID THERE WAS 20% OF HOMES STILL STANDING IN GILCHRIST. WE JUST NEED TO KNOW. HOPEFULLY GOD AND OUR GOVT. WILL LET US REBUILD THERE. I HAD MY HOUSE FOR 23 YEARS. AND LOVED IT O SO MUCH. EVEN IF IT WAS A BEACH SHACK. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND YES PLEASE LETS STICK TOGETHER ON THIS. DARLENE SANCHEZ A PHONE NUMBER YOU CAN REACH ME IS 972 441 6127.

mike4898@hotmail.com 9-18-2008
i have heard from pamela couch and christy leblanc via e-mail both ok . pamela said she was putting out an article last night if you want to check it out. if you have her web address i need it. her business card was on my coffee table so i would have it when i got back.(ha ha ha) take care mike

kbilly1@gmail.com 9-18-2008
I heard from Caryl Kane that her brother David Kane is okay and is heading for Jasper. Their dad was airlifted to Hermann Hospital.
I've heard from Dee Dee (Gillie) Ashmore that all of the Gillie family is okay.
-Kelly

jbclower@camalott.com 9-18-2008
Our hearts just hurt for the people of the Gilchrist area. My husband pastored the Baptist church at Gilchrist '67-'68. We loved living on the beach. From the pictures, we think the house the church rented for us to live in was on the location of the only standing house.. just behind the church. We are concerned about C.L. and Sandy Roots, who we think were still there as pastor and wife of FBC Gilchrist. I do not see them in the list of survivors. In later years the church had a parsonage, I think on Butterfly, but it was also on the Gulf side of the beach and it seems to be gone. We are praying for all of you, Barbara and Jerry Clower Abilene, Texas

crabincabin@yahoo.com 9-18-2008
Hi there! I had a vacation home on Dolphin Rd. It was beside Eddie Beasly (whom is safe in Beaumont with his wife). Across the street from us was Mary and Mike. Not sure of their last names. Daughter Melissa and granddaughter Katy. They are all safe in the Nacogodoches area. They also had another daughter and son-in-law who are also safe in Tomball area. So far that is all I have talked to. I am not sure about Ron who lived on side of us. I assume he is Houston. I did hear that the lady at the end of Dolphin Rd closest to the bay named Rosa was going to stay. I know she didnt have a car. Dont know her last name. I HOPE she got out of there. That is about all I know at this time!I am totally devastated for the community.Autumn

Your Emails-

gca.webmaster@gmail.com 9-17-2008
Pam, I thought that you might like to know that Brother Roots did not perish. Debbie and Sam Smith know Mike and Cindy Slay who lived on Margaret street on the beach side and they spoke to Brother Roots and his wife. We now know for sure that Brother Roots was staying with some friends in Winnie and drove over to Mike and Cindy Slay's house to say "Hello!" He is ALIVE and well as far as we know. I hope this allays your fears. God bless and let's stay connected! Connie Tomerlin GCA"Working Together For A Better Bolivar"

padams1154@yahoo.com 9-17-2008
OMG, thank you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much...tears are streaming down my face here at work....I have worried and worried about him thinking he was in the church and it was washed away and my house was only 5 ft from the church and it is still standing...you can't even imagine what is going through my heart right now....thank you, thank you, thank you....and tell them to give Brother Roots a big huge hug for me and let him know I can't wait till we are all back and the church is rebuilt....I can see the future already, me sitting out on my deck and watching each board go up towards the new Gilchrist Baptist church....God Bless...and again, thank you so very, very much Connie....It's going to be a great day, can't wait to tell Warren.....

epting3@mindspring.com 9-17-2008
I saw on the KHOU forums that your website was posting a list of people from Gilcrest that have been accounted for and are safe.
My information comes from my sister who lives in High Island but attends the 1st Baptist Church in Gilcrest. The Roots are just fine and are staying with friends in Winnie. My sister talked with Sandy briefly on Sunday night. My sister is Sara Barrow and she is here in Fort Worth with us.
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I have spent many years visiting your area and have many fond memories.
Sharon Epting

gca.webmaster@gmail.com 9-17-2008
Sharon,Thank you so much for the info. I just learned today that Brother Roots and his wife made it! I am forwarding this email to Pam and Warren Adams (who own the yellow house right next to where the church stood-the famous yellow house still standing in Gilchrist!!). She was worried about the Roots and their safety. Thank you so much. I am adding their name and your sister's name as well. God bless to you and your family! Connie TomerlinGCA"Working Together For A Better Bolivar"

elena@mc-j.com 9-17-2008
I grew up in Port Arthur and spent a lot of my childhood in Crystal Beach. My sister in law has a cabin not far from the ferry on the road that the school is on. The name of her cabin is 9 Palms, 1 Shell, 1 Mermaid. Is it still there? I recently spent my 50 birthday there in July. I have family and many friends there. I’m filled with grief of the streaming videos I’m seeing of this wonderful community. I’m crying at my desk and it’s very painful to watch. I’m looking for the Decoux’s of Decoux’s Restaurant. Suzie & Steve and Earl. Has anyone heard from them? Also, my dear friend Reid Duplantis was in the process of opening up Coconuts Restaurant on the island. I know Reid is ok but we don’t know if the restaurant with stood the hurricane. This information would be of comfort to us who are friends. I live in Austin now and would like to sponsor a family, preferably a single mother with children. I’ve personally taken on a donation process through work and home and have new items that I’d like to give to a family.

kdunn@cityofconroe.org 9-17-2008
My Uncle and Aunt are Bill and Viola Boone who own Rollover RV Park & Cabins located at 1839 Hwy 87. It is at the corner of Hwy 87 and Deen Rd. They along with both of their sons Leonard Boone and Sammy Boone are safe and staying with family (their sister-n-law who is my grandmother) in Livingston. Any information on the house or property would be greatly appreciated. They are just assuming that it is gone. Any good news I can give them will surely help. Thank You, Kristi Dunn

Your Emails-

t_a1997@yahoo.com 9-16-2008
WE FOUND YOUR WEBSITE THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO BLOG ON. OUR UNCLE IS EDDIE "BAREFOOT" NELSON AND HE LIVED ON CRYSTAL BEACH AND LAST TIME WE SPOKE WITH HIM WAS FRIDAY EVENING. WE ARE GETTING NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE LOCAL AUTHOURITIES IN KNOWING IF HE IS ALIVE AND THERE OR WHERE HE POSSIBLY BE AND WE HAVE BEEN BLOGGING ALL OVER THE INTERNET IN HOPES OF SOMEONE KNOWING HIM AND KNOWING IF MADE IT THROUGH THE STORM. WE ARE IN ALBABAMA AND WE FEEL HELPLESS IN NOT BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING.
THANKSANNETTE

pressangler@jas.net 9-16-2008
i'm looking for some info on high island and it's outcome after Ike hit-- i had my RV moved there before the storm and need to know if it's still there- ed snyder/409-698-2790

pressangler@jas.net 9-16-2008 thnx for your quick response-- i talked with the rv park owners who moved my rv for me-- dick and dot riley-- natures best rv park near rollover- and they reported to me that my motorhome was ok- (thank God)- they said they'll be rebuilding as soon as they're cleared to do so-- i heard the gilchrist baptist church was demolished--- _(sadd)-- also heard rumors of preacher lc roots was killed-- but then also heard he wasn't-- that he was ok-- i'm going to try and get down there next week-- are they allowing residents in as yet_?-- let me know if i can do anything to help you all- ed snyder/409-698-2790- Show quoted text

djksetx@yahoo.com 9-16-2008
Hi, The Bolivar Pennsula Cultural Foundation started a list of our surviving members. We have found about 15% so far (Names were added to our Survivor's List)

lanienmann@gmail.com 9-16-2008
I have been watching your site and I wanted to add a name to your list. We finally heard from my uncle, Eddie 'Barefoot' Nelson (Barefoot Construction), last night. He is safe and well. He will be coming to Alabama Friday.

Your Emails-

reginabadgwell@sbcglobal.net 9-14-2008

I live in Bowie, Texas.My parents had a cabin on Bay Drive for 40 years so I was raised in Gilchrist, and moved to Crystal Beach for a while, one of my sisters owned Yeagers/Conners bait camp on Rollover ( there was still a house standing there in July), one of my sisters lives in High Island, she came up north, my brother in law staid there. My husband helped build the retaining wall at Rollover in the early 70"s for Zapata Warrior Co. We have deep roots.We are all worrying about the people there, and any information you could send would be wonderful. I hope you are safe. I have found some websites that say there is no beach left. I was a little girl in Carla, they said that then, too. Sincerely, Regina Myers Badgwell

danjacobs747@aol.com 9-14-2008
Can you let folks know that Jeanne Reedy and Billy Crowell are OK. Thanks,Dan Jacobs
9-15-2008 HI Connie, This is Dan Jacobs who made the report, I'm a friend of Jeanne and Bill at Caplen Shores. www.danjacobs.net I got a voice mail from Jeanne yesterday. They are in Houston, got out yesterday. I added their names to the safeandwell list. Thanks for all your help. Dan


plivingston@kansas.net 9-15-2008
I saw some of the pictures of rollover pass at the bridge ,but could not see if my house was still there. Yellow house on the beach down the street from Baptist church. Thanks Pat

Your Emails-

r.smithers@sbcglobal.net 9-13-2008
I am a property owner of a beach house on Mae St, 4 blocks east of Rollover Pass. Is there anyone down there who can tell me the situation? I assume when weather is good enough, helicopters will be flying over the beach and sending video to CNN, The Weather Channel, etc. If you know someone who is going back to Rollover soon, please let me know a phone number or email of that person. Thanks. Robert Smithers home phone: 214.821.4932 cell phone: 214.693.1724


janeimperato@optonline.net 9-13-2008
How did Caplen do? Is there anything left on the Island? I’m in NY and I’m sick over this.

Your Emails-

padams1154@yahoo.com 9-14-2008

This is what I just posted in the Bolivar Group because of the post that was posted at the bottom of this email...God Bless you hun, and thank you for emailing me...I will make sure you get any pics I receive........
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Wayne Dolcefino is wrong, they do not want any reporters in the area due to wanting to make sure that there is nothing that they could take pics of, and you know how some reporters are, because they are trying to protect all of us...they are not trying to cover anything up, they are just trying to access what is going on down there and get any deceased people off the penisula before a hungry reporter can get a picture of them being carried out and posting the pic when it could be one of our neighbors or one of our dear friends....that' s the reason they are not letting reporters in....they want to be able to go house to house that is still there to make sure there are no victims before reporters can get in there....they did a fly over earlier, and there are more structures there than what we heard earlier today...they are right now replaying the flyover on KHOU....it is showing the Big Store blown out, buckled walls....Milts Seafood totally torn up....Bob's Restraunt got it pretty bad....lots of debris...the Island Liquor, Chicago Title and that whole strip is totally gone....houses are sitting on HWY 87 by the Crystal Beach Water Tower...the Eagles Club...we could only see the front of that building...Parkers looked like it was totally devastated.. ..couldn' t see Claudes...Stingaree 's looked like it was gone, Tiki bar is gone...there' s a house here, couple houses there...the roads to the beach in crystal beach have been washed away half way down from the beach side....couldn' t tell who's house was who's...they got all the way down to roll over, could see my house through the haze standing there, but they turned around at that point and went back towards Crystal Beach....they kept turning so many times it was hard to keep up with where they were, then by the time we did they would turn again...so I can't tell any of you if your house is there or if it's not...there' s quite a few still standing, but there's alot that are only slabs....for all of you that know him....I have just been told that Gilchrist Baptist Churches Pastor has just been identified.. (Brother Roots) I pray it's not true but if it is how how heartbreaking is that???? We talked to him Wednesday, he was cutting the water off to the church, he told us he was leaving with his family....I feel so bad for his family and all the members here that are reading this post, I just only heard this and I can't imagine anyone telling us this without knowing for sure it was true....I pray that it's not true, but posting this because I can't imagine this being a joke when it was told....but this is the reason they are stopping the media from getting into Bolivar, and I hope after reading this you can understand why they made this decision...I know I would not want to turn my tv on to see my pastor being taken from Bolivar after losing his life...and can't imagine any of you wanting it to been seen either....God Bless his sole....my heart is breaking from losing my pastor, why is my house still standing there five feet from the church when it's gone and took the pastor with it is just mind boggling.... I wish my house would just fall over...I was so excited knowing it was still standing, but now It's breaking my heart knowing it's there when a church is gone and a very, very good man that should of been saved and protected might be gone from so many lives....ok, one more person that we have been told lost his life...who ever knows Seaweed(that' s what we know him as) that is always at Rollover fishing, we got a call that he has lost his life also....So anyone that is wondering why they do not want anyone with a camera on Bolivar, this is the reason why and I thank them for not making me see this through a camera man looking for the perfect shot.....We have to be patient, they have to take care of the victims, what's left there will still be there when they will let us know when we can return to our homes....I wish I could of gone there today, but we have to think of the victims before thinking of ourselves..they deserve that much don't you think???

--- On Sun, 9/14/08, ktony1313 <ktony1313@yahoo. com> wrote:
From: ktony1313 <ktony1313@yahoo. com>Subject: {Bolivar Peninsula Group} Houston Ch 13 Wayne DolcefinoTo: Bolivar_Peninsula_ Group@yahoogroup s.comDate: Sunday, September 14, 2008, 6:24 PM
I am hearing from a friend in Houston that Wayne Dolcefino of Ch 13 is expressing outrage that there is a NEWS BLACKOUT regarding Bolivar. No reporters allowed in, nor any flyovers. It seems to be coming from the Federal Government. It seems that they wish to cover up the severity of the situation.

Do You Want Your Story of Your Ordeal on Bolivar Peninsula Told? Let Me Post It Here!

If you have a story (no matter how big or small you may think it is) about your ordeal with Hurricane Ike and would like for someone to hear it, please email it to me at gca.webmaster@gmail.com and I will print it to this blog so that others can see and post comments to it. I am looking for stories from survivors of the Bolivar Peninsula from Port Bolivar to High Island mainly because the Peninsula never seems to be included in most of what the rest of Galveston County gets to be recognized and included in.

Please let us hear from you because sometimes your story will help others to heal from their own tragic loss and heartache. We are STILL a community even though we have had to scatter to the winds. May God bless each and every one of us and let's stay connected!

Video:Hurricane Ike; The Aftermath

Anne Willis of the Bolivar Chamber of Commerce directed us to this video of the Bolivar Peninsula a day after Hurricane Ike (it will take a moment to download).
Thank you, Anne. Have you heard from anyone in the Port Bolivar area? Did most everyone get out OK?

Connie Tomerlin
GCA
"Working Together For A Better Bolivar"

Welcome!--and may God bless all of us in this terrible tragedy!!!

Please write to this blog with any information, pictures and people you have heard from. The Gilchrist Community Association website at www.rolloverpasstexas.com is up and running and I have been busy for the past two days keeping information updated for all of you concerned about your family, friends, and your personal property. Again, God bless all of you and please continue praying for those families who have not yet heard word about their loved ones!

Connie Tomerlin
GCA Webmaster