Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 9, 1976 Page: 1 of 12
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RIO GRANDE
"The Largest Paid
Circulation Going
In Starr County"
VOL XXXV
No. 8
Thursday, December 9,1976
Ten Cents
AMA Honors Dr. Ramirez
For Work With Migrants
A Starr County doctor
dedicated to the care of migrant
workers was honored
December 5 in Philadelphia by
the American Medical
Association.
Dr. Mario Ramirez of Rio
, Grande City was awarded the
Dr. Benjamin Rush Bicen-
tennial Award at the AMA's
30th Clinical Convention here.
AMA President Richard
Palmer, M.D., praised Dr.
Ramirez for his work in
providing medical leadership
for a county which ranks among
the nation's lowest in per capita
income.
When Dr. Ramirez started his
practice in 1950 he was prac-
tically the only doctor available
for more than 17,000 people,
many of them migrant workers.
For many years Dr. Ramirez
operated the only hospital in a
50 mile area. This hospital,
which he had expanded from 5
to 21 beds over the years, was
repleased by a publicly owned
* facility in 1975. He personally
led the drive to build this more
modern hospital even though it
meant personal financial
sacrifice.
The $5,000 award and
medallion, presented to a
physician in recognition of
outstanding contributions for
citizenship and community
service is provided by the Dr.
Rodman E. Sheen and Mr.
Thomas G. Sheen Trust. Dr.
Benjamin Rush, the award's
namesake, was one of four
( physician signers of the
Declaration Si Tfidcperidencfc
and was considered to be the
most influential physician in
Colonial America.
Dr. Ramirez was elected
Starr County Judge in 1970 and
was re-elected in 1974. As an
elected official he has been able
to institute successful programs
in low-rent housing, adult and
secondary education, tran-
sportation, food commodity
distribution and recreational
programs.
In addition to his duties as
county judge, Dr. Ramirez has
also acted as county health
officer; medical director, Starr
County Migrant Program;
medical director, Starr County
Mental Health and Mental
Retardation Program; school
health officer; U.S. public
health officer in charge of the
International Bridge at Roma;
and team physician, Rio
Grande City High School
His responsibilities go beyond
local interests, encompassing
state-wide and national con-
cerns. He is a member of the
Texas Rural Development
Commission; board of directors
of the Blue Cross-Blue Shield of
Texas; the Governor's Com-
mittee on Mental Retardation
and Tuberculosis; chairman of
the Steering Committee on
Health Care Delivery for the
South Texas Cultural Basin.
Active in medical
organizations at the local, state
and national level, Dr. Ramirez
has served as president of the
Hidalgo - Starr County Medical
Society and just completed a
year as president of the Texas
Academy of Family
Physicians.
Nationally, he is a member of
several bodies including ad-
visory council, Children's
Television Workshop; Health,
Education and Welfare
Department's Ad Hoc Com-
mittee on the Professions;
HEW National Advisory Health
Council.
Dr. Ramirez and his wife
Sarah have five children, four
sons and a daughter, and make
their home in Rio Grande Citv.
CD A Plans Projects
Swine flu clinics are
scheduled for this Thur-
sday afternoon, December
9, from 1 to 4 p.m. and this
Friday, December 10, all
day from 9 to 4. The
inoculations will be given
free at the Starr County
Health Department.
The Catholic Daughters of
America, Court Our Lady of
Mercy No. 1968, held their
regular monthly meeting at the
K.C. Hall, November 29, at 7:30
p.m. Mrs. Joe R. Sanchez
regent presided.
Reports were heard from the
standing committees. The
Renewal Committee headed by
Mrs. Arturo Clarke reported on
the Baptismal Vests made by
- Alve&s,a Sae.-u and other
n" t.ibers. Mrs. Clarke moved
that this be an annual project
sponsored by the Catholic
Daughters, and the motion
carried unanimously. Mrs.
Silvestre Gonzalez, community
chairman, reported on the
Court Christmas Social plans to
be held at her home December
10. Mrs. Corina Taylor, youth
committee chairman, reported
on the Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine party plans
to be sponsored by the Catholic
Daughters, all C.C.D. students
from all the catholic centers
including grades 1 through 12.
The Apostaliate Chairman
Mrs. Abel Gonzalez, Sr., and co-
chairmen Mrs. Rodolfo
Resendez and Mrs. Juan Solis,
Jr. reported on Christmas
Charity Projects and the
Christmas Dance plans. The
public is invited to attend this
special annual event at the
Parish Hall on December 25
from 8:00 p.m. till 12:00 a.m.
1 einy Salinas and his Or-
chestra will be featured.
Tickets are sold by all Catholic
Daughters. There will be set-
ups, dips and other refresh-
ments sold.
The Court conducted its
regular business meeting, and
the calf donated by Enrique
Gonzalez was given away.
Florencio Guerra was the lucky
winner. $600.00 were collected
at the meeting from the raffle.
The meeting adjourned with a
prayer for world peace. The
social hour followed with the
Renewal Committee as
hostesses.
Second Housing Project
Approved For Starr County
The United States Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban
Development Area Office in San
Antonio has informed the
Housing Authority of Starr
County that final approval has
been given for a second Housing
Assistance Payments Project
for Starr County in the amount
of $85,680. The purpose of this
grant is to provide rental
assistance to lower-income
families to secure decent, safe,
and sanitary housing. It is
, anticipated that this program
will assist 38 families in Starr
County to obtain good housing.
The new program has been
funded through Section 8
Existing Housing program
established by the 1974 Housing
and Community Development
Act. The Section 8 existing
program emphasizes the
competitive forces of the
private housing market while
leaving to the Local Housing
Authority of Starr County the
responsibility for providing
lower income families with
necessary financial and other
assistance.
The way the prog, am will
work is that a low-income
family who now has no house or
home to live in and is looking for
a house to rent applies to the
I>ocal Housing Authority in Rio
Grande City. The Local Housing
Authority reviews the ap-
plication and if the family is
found eligible they will be given
a Certificate of Family Par-
ticipation Thefamily may then
seek a suitable house or
apartment anywhere within the
operating jurisdiction of the
l,ocal Housing Authority. The
jurisdiction for the ..Local
Housing Authority in Rio
t Grande City is all of Starr
County, except incorporated
municipalities
If the owner is willing to lease
a unit to the family, and if the
unit is decent, safe and
sanitary, the gross rent
(Contract Rent plus allowance
for tenant-paid utilities, if any)
is reasonable and within the
HUD-established Fair Market
Rent for existing housing, and if
the Local Housing Authority
approves the lease, a lease may
be signed by the owner and the
family, and a Housing
Assistance Payments Contract
will be made between the Local
Housing Authority and the
owner. Based on this Contract,
the owner will receive a
monthly payment from the
Local Housing Authority equal
to the difference between the
rent payable to the owner by the
family and the approved rent
for the house or the apartment.
The Program described
above is the second low-income
housing project the Local
Housing Authority has now in
progress in the County. The
project now under construction
along Washington Street to the
North of Rio Grande City is a 44-
Unit housing program. Con-
struction on this project started
in October of 1976 and it is now
over 50/complete. This project
is being constructed under
Section 23 of the United States
Housing Act of 1937, as
amended. Under Section 23
financing for projects of this
type is located through a
Developer. The Developer finds
a bank who is interested in
financing the sale of bonds by a
Local Housing Authority, and
the bonds are then guaranteed
by the Department of Housing
and Urban Development
through the payment of rental
subsidies to provide housing for
low income families.
Developers are willing to do this
because they are allowed to
make a reasonable profit.
However, the Section 23
program has now been
discontinued by the United
States Government and the
Housing Authority of Starr
County received the last fun-
ding under Section 23 to be
made throughout the United
States. This project i scheduled
to be completed by June of 1977
at a cost of some $880,000.
With the 38 units which the
Housing Authority has received
funding and the 44 units now
under construction, by July 1977
the Housing Authority of Starr
County will have 82 units
available for low income
families for a total funding of
$965,680, to be guaranteed by
the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development to this
date.
Low income families who
need housing or have
inadequate housing as well as
owners of Houses and Apart-
ments that they want to rent,
should contact the Housing
Authority of Starr County at
P.O. Box 14, in Rio Grande City,
Texas 78582 immediately to
make their applications. They
can also call the Executive
Director of the Housing
Authority of Starr County, Dr.
Bruno M. Trevino at 512-487-
2539 during the day or 512-487-
3274 in the evening for ad-
ditional information.
The present members of the
Board of Commissioners of the
Housing Authority of Starr
County are: Mr. Noel P.
Benavidez of Roma, Chairman,
Noel Guerra of I^a Grulla, Vice
Chairman, and Commissioners
Edison Rodrigo Palacio of
Roma, Alberto Alvarez, Jr., of
Roma and Jose Adan Garcia of
Rio Grande City.
Dr. Marin Ramirez
Christmas Festival A Success
Stella Zarate, General
Chairman, pronounced the
ninth annual Starr County
Christmas Festival "soggy but
successful." The Chamber of
Commerce-Sponsored ' annual
event took place with almost all
scheduled activites continuing
despite the weather.
Miss Yvonne Rodriguez of
San Isidro was named Miss
Starr County at the Lion's Club
Pageant held Friday night at
the Rio Grande City High
School gymnasium, following
Santa's arrival there. Arnoldo
Trevino, lion's Club President,
welcomed a large crowd to the
Pageant, with its near forty
entrants.
First runner-up was Blanca
Alaniz of San Isidro. Second
runner-up and crowned Lion's
Club Queen was Belia Garcia of
Rio Grande City. Third runner-
up was Maria del Carmen
Valverde; and fourth runner-up
was Sylvia Garcia, both of Rio
Grande City.
Rene Rolando Lopez was
Master of Ceremonies for the
Pageant. The Mexican School of
Camargo provided en-
tertainment with four numbers,
''Los Machetes,''
"Jarabetatio," "El Gusto," and
"Ixis Viejitos." The Rio Grande
City Stage Band played music
during the program, and Misses
Melissa Garza and I.upita
Canales added their guitar-
playing and singing talents to
the festive evening.
The traditional Bridge
Ceremony at the International
bridge at Rio Grande City
kicked off Saturday's activities,
with representatives from both
sides of the river attending.
Chamber of Commerce
President l,auro L. Lopez, Starr
County Commissioner
Reynaldo Alaniz, and Miss
Starr County headed the
delegation who welcomed
Presidentes Municipales and
their representatives from
Camargo, Diaz Ordaz, and
Miguel Aleman, and the Lions'
Miss Mexico.
A Western Parade at 9:30 was
followed by the Rio Grande City
Jayeee Grande Parade at 10:00.
John A. Pope, Jr. was Parade
Marshall, and over sixty entries
participated, according to
Jaycee President Ricardo
Recio.
Prize winning floats in the
parade, with its theme of "200
Years Ago," were Ringgold
Intermediate School, first
place ; I-a Union School, second
place; Immaculate Conception
PTO, third place; and the
Sophomore Class of Rio Grande
City High School, honorable
mention. Cash prizes were
awarded by the Chamber of
Commerce.
Many residents and visitors
braved the weather to shop at
the Arts and Crafts display,
bazaar, and jamaica at the
Quiosco.
At noon the Rio Grande City
Volunteer Fire Department
sponsored their annual bar
becue; and the Chamber of
Co.njiierce held its Wisemen's
Luncheon at the K.C. Hall. John
A. Pope, Jr was the guest of
honor.
Saturday afternoon activities
included a Navy Band concert
at the Quiosco at 2:00, a Girl
Scout Program, and the Rio
Grande City High School Band
Concert at 6:00 p.m.
On Sunday, George Boyle
shortened the traditional Rio
Grande City Historical Society
tour to a local tour instead of the
usual tour on both sides of the
river.
At noon, Santa and Miss Starr
County named winners in the
Children's Pet Show at the
Quiosco. Best Girl and Pet were
Monica Diaz and her two month
old St. Bernard pup, "Bruno."
Best Boy and Pet were R.J.
Ramirez and white fluffy spitz
puppy "Sam." "Mrs. Rabbit"
and her owner Diana Maria
Villarreal won the title of "Most
Unusual Pet of the Show " Toys
were awarded the winners.
The Starr County Young
Farmers sponsored a rodeo on
Sunday afternoon at La
Sagunada Ranch north of Rio
Grande City.
ESAA Is Giant Step
For Students
"Team Teaching - the key to
bilingual education." Yes, this
statement has been told quite
often as an effort to continue
assisting students in developing
better reading and language
skills, oral language
development, communications
skills, proficiency in both
languages, as well as becoming
fully aware of a bicultural
society.
This is only a minor part of
what ESAA can do to help
pupils in the areas of reading,
mathematics, language arts,
social studies, writing and
spelling, science, art and
music, and cultural heritage.
After having met with parents,
students, teachers, teacher-
aides, and so forth, committee
members of the advisory board
decided to take a giant step and
request funds under the
Emergency School Aid Act
(ESAA V) for the 1977-789
school year.
The requests concern
proposals as follows:
A Bilingual - Bicultural
Program which will extend the
existing Title VII Bilingual
Program into the fifth and sixth
grades by 622 participants
providing resource teachers
and aides to team-teach and
individualize instruction in the
areas of reading, language arts,
social studies ( including
cultural - heritage), science,
and other subject areas in
which the students are in need
of help. It is to include remedial
services to the 4th. 5th, and Rth
reading classes through Ihc- > -
of student-tutors to serve 772
students in peer-tutoring
situations and teacher aides
will help in supplementing those
sections not served by the
present Title VII Bilingual
Program which serves grades
K-3rd and two fourth sections.
In addition, the Bilingual
project will provide for staff
development through con-
sultants and college courses
through Pan American
University as well as inservice
training for ESAA participants
and staff. Other services will be
the development and
dissemination of culturally -
oriented materials to 2,358
students in grades K thru 6th.
High school students i student-
aides ) together with project
staff developers will provide
this service. Finally, a Peer-
Tutoring i Cross-Age Teaching)
Component will be im-
plemented in tutoring pupils at
the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades.
II. A Basic Program for
grades 7-12 in developing basic
skills in English (Reading).
This program will serve ap-
proximately 1,764 students.
Services will be provided by a
Supervisor together with
teacher aides who will assist
classroom teachers in team-
teaching, individualizing in-
struction, and group study with
students in language arts
classes in two junior high
schools and the high school.
Also included will be student-
tutors who will assist peers in
reading through individualized
instruction.
III. A Pilot Program whereby
students in grades 7-12 will be
served through the use of
curriculum materials and units
developed by staff developers
and teachers for supplementary
classroom work. These
materials and units will cov^r a
variety of subject areas and will
be reproduced and
disseminated . throughout
grades 7-12.
As you can see, ESAA is a
giant step for students. It can
provide for many meaningful
experiences to students at all
age and grade levels. Hopefully
programs as such will continue
in helping Starr students in
overcoming language barriers
and deficiencies in a bicultural
society.
ESAA, Title VII
Plan Meeting
The Emergency School Aid
Act, ESAA, and the Title VII
Bilingual Programs of the Rio
Grande City Consolidated In-
dependent School District will
hold a joint meeting on
Tuesday, December 14, at 7:00
p.m. at the Bilingual and ESAA
Offices in Fort Ringgold.
The ESAA Program will hold
a public hearing to review and
give final comments on the
ESAA V Proposed Projects to
be submitted to the federal
government for approval.
Proposed projects involve a
bilingual - bicultural program
for grades 4. 5, and 6; a basic
program for language arts,
grades 7-12; and a pilot
program in curriculum
development, grades 7-12.
The purpose of the joint
meeting will be to share
discussion of mutual concern
and to hear recommendations
to better the overall ad-
ministration of both programs.
Patricio Garza. Community
Agent, urges all districtwide
advisory committee members
and student advisory com-
mittee members to attend.
i
Miss Starr County
*
Yvonne Rodriguez
Lions Club Queen
Belia Garcia
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Solis, Tony. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 9, 1976, newspaper, December 9, 1976; Rio Grande City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194589/m1/1/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.