Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 24, 1977 Page: 1 of 10
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RIO GRANDE
"The Largest Paid
Circulation Going
In Starr County"
VOL XXXV
HO. 6
NOVEMBER 24, 1977
Ten Cents
11
Santa Elena Man
Charged In Murder
Conrado Rivas Jr., 19, of
Santa Elena is being held in
the Starr Cnunty jail under a
$50,000 bond, charged with
murder, according to Starr
County Sheriff Ray Alvarez.
Rivas is being charged
with the shooting death of
Roberto Smith Jr., 25, of
Edinburg at about 7 p.m.
Sunday at the Conrado Rivas
Sr. residence.
Smith was shot in the leg
near San Isidro. He repor-
tedly bled to death en route
to the Edinburg hospital
Hidalgo County Sheriff
Brig Marmolejo said the
incident apparently oc-
curred while members of the
Smith family and members
of the Rivas family were on a
hunting trip northwest of
here. *
The victim and the suspect
were out hunting together.
When they returned to their
camp, they found their
fathers in an argument,
Marmolejo said. The sheriff
said the fight was apparently
over money, specifically, the
lease of some land belonging
to Rivas.
The two sons joined in the
argument. Rivas, Jr. then
allegedly shot Smith, Jr., in
the leg. The bullet evidently
severed a main artery, and
no one at the camp could
control the bleeding. The
victim was rushed to the
hospital. He was pronounced
dead by Peace Justice Jim
Wilson, who ordered an
autopsy.
The complaint against
Rivas was signed by
Precinct 1 Justice of the
Peace John W. Fisher of
Santa Elena, who also posted
the bond.
The arrest was made by
the Shertiff's Department.
Smith is survived by his
wife, Elena Rivas Smith;
two daughters, Bonnie and
Marcha Lynn Smith of
Mission; his parents, Mr and
Mrs. Robert Smith Sr. of
Edinburg, four sisters, Mrs.
Peggy Lynn Coronado, Mrs.
Patricia Ellen Cantu, Mrs.
Dora Mae Estrada, and
Miss Rosie Smith all of
Edinburg and two brothers,
l.arry Joe Smith of Pharr
and John Andrew of Edin-
burg.
Western
Dance
Scheduled
A Thanksgiving Western
Dance sponsored by
Woodmen of the World,
Magnolia Grove No. 6167, is
scheduled for Friday,
November 25, at the K.C.
Hall. The Country Roland
Band from McAllen will be
providing music for dancing
from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m.
Tickets at the door will be
$4.00.
SUiilrfing, Bank
t?ecords High
Building activity in the Rio
Grande Valley continued
high in October, with
$1.'>,268,577 in new con-
struction for incorporated
areas of the Valley, ac-
cording to the monthly
Business Barometer of the
Valley Chamber of Com-
merce .
McAllen returned to the
lead again with $6,137,134,
bringing its total for the year
to date to $50,552,568
Harlingen's new con-
struction of $3,257,22] in-
cluded $2.2 million for the
new Valley Health Center,
plus $626,000 for 23 new
residences.
Brownsville's new October
construction totalled
$955,197, and Pharr had
$501,079. Edinburg's permits
totalled $488,452, Weslaco
had $368,8)16, San Benito
$337,447, and Mission
$26) ,095.
Other cities reporting new
construction were Donna.
$236,079; Alamo, 129,580;
Raymondville, $126,000;
South Padre Island,
$117,800; Mercedes,
$110,025; San Juan, $94,030,
Port Isabel, $46,318;, La
Feria, $15,000: Elsa $40,334,
and Los Fresonos, $16,900.
The Valley Chamber's
October barometer reflected
an increase of $257.9 million
in bank deposits over the
total a year ago.
The October total figure of
$1,695,001,484 included
$1,232,388,336 in area banks
and $462,613,148 in savings
and loan institutions.
This compared to a 1976
total of $1,437,030,281, of
which $1,052,878,837 was in
banki and $384,151,444 in
savings and loan in-
vestments.
Rio Grande City reported
$15,386,636 in bank deposits
for 1977, as compared to
$15,636,470 in 1976
*v Sheriffs Department Investigates
Roma JP Killed In Crash
SAN ISIDRO HOMECOMING QUEEN—The
highlight of San Isidro's last district game November
11 was the crowning of the Homecoming Queen.
Celinda Saenz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bias Pedro
Saenz, was crowned during the half-time activities.
Celinda has been very active throughout her high
school years. Her activities have included Student
Council, FHA, Nurses Club, 4-H, U.I.L., and the Tiger
Band. The queen's court consisted of Javier Ramirez,
Homecoming King; Senior Duchess Nora Edna Lopez,
Junior Duchess Elida Alvarez, Sophomore Duchess
Becky Gonzlaei, and Freshman Duchess Elda Ybarra.
Roma Justice of the Peace
Minerva R. Pena died last
Thursday morning at
McAllen General Hospital as
a result of injuries sustained
in an automobile accodent
about six miles west of Rio
Grande City.
The head-on collision,
which occurred at about
10:45 p.m. Wednesday, in-
volved Mrs. Pena s car and a
car driven by Santiago
Clark.
Mrs. Pena was traveling
east when her car collided
with Clark's car. Mrs.
Pena and her two
daughters, Maria Teresa
Pena and Benilde D. Pena,
and Clark were all taken to
Starr County Memorial
hosDital in Rio Grande
City.
Mrs. Pei.a was later
transferred to McAllen.
Mrs. Pena was the wife of
the late Raul Pena, Starr
County Deputy Sheriff for
many years. She was active
in civic and political
Governor Briscoe V isits
Rio Grande City
Texas Governor Dolph
Briscoe was in Rio Grande
City Wednesday November
16 in connection with a
friendship tour of the Lower
Rio Grande Valley.
After appearing in Mission
and Edinburg the Governor
came' to the
Rio Livestock Sales three
miles north of Rio Grande
City where he stayed from
2:30 till 4 p.m.
Briscoe then spent the rest
of the afternoon in McAllen
and on Thursday he toured
Cameron County.
According to Richard
Gutierrez, between 400 and
500 persons attended the
Briscoe visit in Rio Grande
City. Gutierrez and Hum-
berto Garcia are the Starr
County coordinators for
Briscoe's 1978 gubernatorial
campaign.
Attending the Briscoe visit
were many civic and
political leaders from
throughout the county,
Gutierrez said. Among them
were Starr County Com-
missioner Moreno Alaniz,
Hector Lozano and Chema
Alvarez Sr., he said.
Among the topics men-
tioned at the visit was the
funding of the Starr County
Industrial Foundation.
Briscoe said he would go to
work on it immediately,
Gutierrez said.
Newcomers Not Alms
RIO GRANDE CITY--
When the Starr County
Historical Society conducts
its annual tour on both sides
of the Rio Grande, one would
expect participants to be
mostly Valley newcomers.
That is not the case. The
majority have lived in the
Valley for several years and
have gradually become
fascinated with its romantic
history.
George Boyle, who con-
ducts the tour is rather
mystified by the fact some
have taken the tour as much
as three times. They say
something new turns up each
Little Miss Starr County Contest Set
Monday, November 28, is
the deadline for entering the
little Miss Starr County
Pageant planned for
December Thursday,
December I, at 7:00 at the
Rio Grande City High School
Auditorium.
Starr County girls aged
five through seven may
enter. Each should be
sponsored by a high school
club or organization or a
local organization or
business, with a $5.00
registration fee to be paid by
the sponsor.
All.entries must have a
photograph of themselves to
present with the application
form, which may be
acquired at the high school
or the House of Ralphel
Restaurant.
The contestants will model
two outfits, sportswear' and
Sunday dress. A written
description of each outfit
will be necessary on the day
of rehearsal, which is
scheduled for November 29
at 7:00 p.m.
For further information,
call Yvonne Trevino,
chairman, 487- 5591,487-3992.
time they go. They also
enjoy the type of people who
go on the tour and the
weather is usually p easant.
There are enough stops so
that everyone gets
acquainted.
The frontier from Rio
Grande City to Laredo of-
fered convenient crossing
places for filibustering
expeditions during the past
150 years and adventurers
flocked to the area. The
whole history reads like a
series of novels. Although
the invasions were generally
fiascos, it didn't stop the
next group from trying it.
The annuai Starr County
Historical Tour will be held
the first Sunday in
December. It will leave from
the Hotel Ringgold in Rio
Grande City at 9:30 a.m. go
up the river for about 40
miles and then return on the
Mexican side. Cost will be
$10 by bus. Anyone desiring
further information can call
Boyle, 487-2316.
Roma-Los Saenz
Receives Tax Rebate
&
5
State Comptroller Bob
Bullock said Tuesday that
Texans may be headed for
their biggest Christmas
holiday shopping spree ever
if retail sales continue at
their current brisk pace.
Bullock said that city sales
tax collections, a prime
Briscoe
App
THANKSGIVING INDIANS—Celebrating Thanksgiving by learning about the
Indians and Pilgrims were the Ringgold Primary Headstart pupils of Mrs. Falcon
and Mrs Guerra. Making their learning fun was a realistic tepee made for the class
by Mr. and Mrs. Enrique I-opez. The students, gathered around in full headdress, are
I juro Barrera. Adriana Chapa, Rosa Elda Del^eori, Josie Guerra, Martha Fabiana
Lopez, Norma Martinez, Ruben Martinez, Andrea Marroquin, Narciso Posadas,
Jose Alberto Razo, Rene RubenSalmon, Aida Veronica Valades, Elias Villarreal, Jr.,
Diana Rivas, Nicanor Villaneda, and Edit Marie Lopez. Not pictured are Jose Luis
Garza, Odilia Garza, and Myrna Miranda.
roves
Grants
Governor Dolph 3riscoe
has approved three criminal
justice grants affecting that
area served by the South
Texas Development Council.
They are:
$25,661 to the STDC for the
local 1978 planning grant;
$44,620 to the council for a
high-speed regionwide
teletype system; and
127,724 to Webb County for a
Juvenile emergency shelter
unit.
The local grants were
among 121 approved by
Governor Briscoe statewide
from Law Enforcement
Assistance A d•
ministration (LEAA) funds
under the Crime Control Act
of 1976.
organizations in Roma and
had been Precinct
Two Justice of the Peace for
13 years.
Mrs. Pena had been
among five area justices of
the peace who had recently
attended an advanced 20
hour J.P. Seminar held in
Corpus Christi.
She is survived by two
sons, Raul Jr., and Ricarco
Pena; three daughters, Mrs.
Priscilla P. Sandoval, Maria
Teresa Pena and Benilde
D. Pena; three brothers,
Homero, Arnoldo and Noe
Ramirez; and one sister,
Mrs. Gloria R. Montalvo
all of Roma.
Funeral services were
held at 4 p.m. Friday at Our
Lady of Refuge Catholic
Church in Roma.
According to Ray Alvarez,
Starr County Sheriff, the
results of his investigation
of the accident are being
turned over to the Starr
County Grand Jury .
indicator of the buying
public's mood, are up an
impressive 22 percent to
date over last year, the
biggest increase in recent
years.
"This incresse in retail
sales reflects a growing
confidence in the Texas
ecomony which we feel will
carry over into the holiday
shopping period," Bullock
said.
"If everything continues to
go as expected, Texas
merchants should have one
of their best holiday sales
seasons yet."
Bullock said that 880
Texas cities were mailed
checks Tuesday totaling
$19.2 million as their
November share of the one
percent city sales tax. This
brings the total to date for
the year to $307.7 million, up
from $252 million for the
same period last year.
City sales tax collections
registered a 13 percent in-
crease in 1975 were up 14.5
percent last year
Roma-Los Saenz received
a net payment this period of
$2,64697 as compared to
$2,511.34. for the same period
last year, 1977 payments to
date total $40,005 61 as
compared to $52,440 88 to
date in 1976.
Plans Announced For
Christmas Festival
RIO GRANDE CITY--
Plans have been announced
for the 10th annual Starr
County Christmas Festival.
The festival is sponsored by
the Rio Grande City
Chamber of Commerce.
Festivities will get un-
derway on Friday, Dec. 2,
with arrival of the Mexican
Santa at the auditorium.
Santa's arrival will be
followed by the Miss Starr
County Beauty Pageant,
also at the auditorium, at 7
p.m. At 9 p.m., the Starr
Plaza Shopping Mall will be
the scene of a carnival
sponsored by the Future
Farmers of America.
Saturday's activities begin
at 9:15 a.m. with in-
ternational welcome
ceremony at the Starr-
Camargo Bridge. The
Christmas Festival Grand
Parade, sponsored by the
Jaycees begins at 10 a.m.,
followed by Jamaica at
Quiosco on Britton Ave. at 11
a.m.
The noon hour will V
observed with a oarbecue
sponsored by the Band
Boosters and a tajita cook-
out sponsored by the Young
Farmers Association.
The afternoon will see
performances by the U.S.
Navy Band at 1 p.m. the
Volunteer Fire Department
Drill Team at 1:30 p.m Girl
Scouts at 2 p.m., U.S. Army
at 3 p.m. , "Los Nuevos"
musical group at 4 p.m., a
local dance group at 5 p.m.,
and the Rio Grande City
High School band under the
direction of Alfredo Cortinas
at 6 p.m.
At 7 p.m., there will be a
Girl Scout bonfire, and at the
same time, an FFA carnival
will get underway.
Arts and crafts exhibits
and sales, bingo, cake walks
and other events will be
going on throughout the day.
Sunday will see a
historical tour which will
leave from the Hotel
Ringgold at 9:30 a.m. A fee
of $9 will be charged for the
tour.
At noon, a childrens pet
show will begin at Quiosco.
The F.J. Scott Study Club
will sponsor a tour of homes
for $2 at 2 p.m. and also at 2
p.m., a rodeo sponsored by
the Starr County 4-H clubs
will begin at La Sagonada
Ranch.
At 6 p.m., the FFA car-
nival continues
M inerva R. Pena
HEW Awards Grants
For Bilingual Education
Forty-three State depart-
ments of education have
received a total of $3.7
million from HEW's Office
of Education to provide
technical assistance to
Federally funded bilingual
projects
The award? were -rade
under Title VII oi the
Bilingual Education Act, as
amended
The size of each State's
technical assistance grant is
based on the amount of Title
VII funds awarded local
school districts the previous
year to operate bilingual
education programs. Each
State is eligible for five
percent of the amount. The
formula permits States
operating a large number of
bilingual education projects
to have more money for
technics assistance.
Project activities will vary
significantly from State to
State. Several will hold
conferences for bilingual
projects directors
throughout the State to
share ideas and information.
Some States will conduct
workshops for a particular
target group - counselors,
administrators. or
superintendents- to learn
more about the needs of
bilingual children. And still
other States will lure and
train a staff to coordinate
bilingut1 cti vl ti ? s
throughout the State or
conduct surveys and tests to
measure State' needs.
Bilingual Education
Technical Assistance Grants
for 1977 to the State
Education Agency in Austin
totalled $632,984, the third
highest granted to any State.
Only New York and
California received more
Floodway System Completed
Assuring South Texans of
protection that will prevent a
flood disaster like that
caused by Hurricane Beulah
in 1967, Rep. Kika de la
Garza announced the
completion of the In-
ternational Boundary and
Water Commission im-
provements to the Lower Rio
Grande Valley Flood Control
Project
The South Texan hailed
this as the most significant
action in the history of the
Valley.
This completion means
some 600,000 acres of
agricultural land in the U.S.
and some 570,000 acres of
land in Mexico will be af-
forded protection against
Rio Grande floods even
higher than those caused by
Hurricane Beulah, ac-
cording to the IBWC, de la
Garza emphasized, adding
that communities in both
countries with a combined
population of 500,000 ( 320,000
in the U.S. alone) are af-
forded the same protection.
To assist in obtaining these
funds, the South Texan said,
"I was certainly pleased to
have annually gone before
the House Appropriations
Committee to obtain these
funds so that no one living in
the Valley would ever again
experience the kind of havoc
found after Hurricane
Beulah."
The IBWC spent $28
million on this im-
provements project since
1967 when it was started.
Rep. de la Garza said that
most of the 50 construction
contracts awarded for this
project went to Lower Valley
contractors. He added that a
total of 103.9 miles of river
levees of the Rio Grande
were constructed, along with
122.5 miles of improved off-
river flood ways, and 168.1
miles of floodway levees.
The Congressman ex-
plained that tte control of
Rio Grande Qoodi Km been
tlx responsibility ot the
•IBWC since 1«S1 Stace then
the U.S. and Mexico have
agreed on a coordinated
provements were i iade in
the years immediately
following 1932, it wasn't
enough to hold back the
Hurricane Beulah floods.
After 1967, Congress at the
request of Rep. de la Garza
appropriated funds to begin
the project that now protects
the Rio Grande Valley. The
U.S. and Mexico share
equally the burden of
controlling the floods
IBWC Commissioner J. F.
Friedkin said, "eacn country
will divert to its interior
flood protection plan through
this agency.
Although some im-
floodways one half of the
flood water volumes in
excess of the safe capacity of
the channel of the Rio
Grande in its lower
reaches, in the vicinity of
Brownsville and
Matamoros. The importance
of this cooperative
agreement can best be
understood in the light of the
fact that in a flood like that
of 1967, only about 10 percent
of its peak discharge can be
safely carried by the river
channel to the Gulf The
remainder has to be diverted
to the interior floodways in
the two countries.
Rights-of-way were
donated by Hidalgo and
Cameron Counties for the
project The dedicated work
of the late William J Banker
in Hidalgo County's right-of-
way program for these
improvements was
recognized by assigning the
name of Banker Floodway to
the new improved floodway
formerly known as the
Hackney Floodway.
FTA SKILL TEAM—The Rio Grand". City FFA Skill Team composed of, 1-r, Fred
Salinas, Juan F Saenz, and Daniel D, Trevion, won first place in district competition
held Saturday, November 12. at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School Their next step
was Area competition held at Texas A&l University on November 19 Competing
against eleven other schools including all FFA departments from Eagle Pass to San
Antonio tr> Victoria, the Rio Grande City team won the second place plaque Fred is
the son of Mi and Mrs. Fernando Salinas; Juen is the son of Mr ><r>d Mrs
Saenz; and Danny is the son of Mr and Mrs A.m. Trevino, Jr
Juan E.
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Silva, Marcelo. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 24, 1977, newspaper, November 24, 1977; Rio Grande City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194637/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.