Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 27, 1979 Page: 1 of 9
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I
I
"The Largest Paid
Circulation Going
In Starr County"
VOL. XXXV No. 2
RIO GRANDE
rr
5
September 27,1979
FIFTEEW CENTS
3
Second Year H.U.D. Project
To Start In RGC
The Starr County Com-
missioners Court, in special
meeting Monday, voted to
advertise for bids on the
second action year of a $1.5
million Department of
Housing and Urban
Development iHUD) grant
for water, sewer, and gas
lines and paving in Rio
Grande City.
Joe Gallegos, of Con-
solidated Engineers and
Architects of Roma,
presented the court with
plans and specifications for
the second action year,
which will be for a storm
sewer down Avasolo Street
to the Rio Grande River.
Gallegos reported that gas
lines, water lines, and sewer
lines work for the first year
had been completed. He said
about $26,000 had been left
over. On a motion from
Arnoldo Gonzalez and
second from Jose Maria
Alvarez Sr., the court voted
to divide the excess funds
among the three county
commissioners precincts
covering Rio Grande City.
Commissioner Amando
Pena of the Roma area said
that since Roma had had not
received any of the grant
funds, those $26,000 could be
used to pave the excess to
the Service Center there.
The court said this could not
be done, since the funds were
earmarked for the
Rio Grande City area.
It was mentioned,
however, that grant funds
would be used to construct a
bridge across a flood ditch at
Garciasville to cross to a
property belonging to
George Edgerton.
Gonzalez said the court
had been criticized for
taking too long on the project
and made a motion for
Gallegos to have plans and
specifications ready for the
RGC C Of C Plans
Annual Banquet,Festival
RIO RATTLERS- The Rio Grande City High
School Rattlers are shown here with their
cheerleaders. Bottom row, left to right, Ana Pena,
Jorge Aguiiet a, 6aut Garcia. Richard Ceballos, et
Roy Balderas, Rudy Solis, Paul Guerra, Eric Solis,
Dewitt Jones, and Eloisa Molina. Second row, left to
right, Ana Garcia, Tinita Cruz, Ainerico Cantu, Javier
Olivarez, Jorge Montalvo, David Saenz, Carlos Garza,
Robert Cantu, Leo Garza, Chris Guerra, and Frannie
Barrera. Third row, Melissa Alvarez, Midgie Alvarez,
Michelle Ochoa. Jaime Villarreai, Reyrnundo Cantu,
Pat Saenz, Rene I^opez, Romeo Abrego, Rene Garza,
Rogelio Ruelas, Roel Garza, Maiiene Villegas. Lori
Ochoa, and Melissa ( r*a. " ;p i jw, Jo >nn> , tv... ,
Ricky Saenz, Rosendo Ramirez, Jorge Rodriguez,
Adolfo Benavidez. Nacho Cruz, Buster Gomez, and
Abel Rodriguez. The Rattlers host La Joya Friday.
They lost to Brownsville Face last week, 51-0. (Rio
Annual Staff Photo)
Fire Department Plans Parade.
One of Texas' best public
speakers has been con-
tracted for the annual Rio
Grande City C'.amber of
Commerce Banquet, which
will be held Nov. 24 at the
new Ringgold Motor Inn.
Beto Garcia announced at
the Chamber meeting
Tuesday that Cactus Pryor,
a well known sports com-
mentator, will be the guest
speaker at the banquet.
President Roy Cantu
presided at the noon lunch-
eon meeting at the Brass
Bull Restaurant. Cantu said
the Chamber wished to set a
precedent for the annual
banquet, with top caliber
speakers.
Cantu also announced that
the outstanding citizen and
outstanding student of Rio
Grande City will be
rw°nW at *5?e banquet.
R.C. Salinas, cnairman of
the annual Starr County
Christmas Festival, spon-
sored by the Chamber,
reported that there will be a
lot of new things this year,
including a pastorela, a rock
show and a social with
tickets for the Christmas
Festival Carnival may go by
the Rio Grande Department
Store. Other Chamber
member businesses will also
have the tickets on sale.
Cantu also announced that
a Chamber sponsored color
brochure of Rio Grande City
will also be produced in time
for the Christmas Festival.
The brochure will serve as a
tourist guide and will be
distributed to major tourist
centers.
An innovation for the
Chamber of Commerce is
the creation of a committee
to represent the Chamber in
open houses, grand
openings, and other func-
tions. The committee is to
wear blazers and be readily
identified as being members
of the Rio Grande City
Chamber of Commerce.
On a suggestion trom
Lauro L. Lopez, the
Chamber will look into
trying to bring VTC bus
service to the Starr County
area. Lopez said this type of
transportation is badly
needed.
On a recommendation
from Basilio Villarreai, the
Chamber will contact the
Texas Employment Com-
mission and the Social
Security Administration for
fuller services in Rio Grande
City. Villarreai said those
offices in Rio Grande City
are presently just basically
information points, and
claimants still have to go to
McAllen for most services.
Mrs. O.F. Guffey reported
on Oct. 6, Saturday, Fire
Prevention Week will be
kicked off at 8 a.m. in Rio
Grande City with fire trucks
from all over the Valley.
That evening, at 9 a in.,
the Volunteer Firemen will
sponsor a dance at the KC
Hall with the Country
Roland Band. "Support your
volunteer fire department,"
Mrs. Guffey said.
In other matters, Salinas
expressed concern about the
downtown streets in Rio
Grande City. "They are in
very bad shape," he said
about connecting streets
between Main and Second
Streets. He added that the
streets "have gone to the
dogs.' and neither "the state
nor the county are doing
anything about it."
Cantu informed that the
City of Mission has invited
Rio Grande City to send a
Duchess of Cantaloupe" to
their annual Citrus Fiesta in
January. It was agreed that
Miss Starr County, selected
at the Christmas Festival,
will also be the 'Duchess of
Cantaloupe" at the Citrus
Fiesta.
Other items discussed
were an annual. Chamber
sponsore ' White-Wing
Cookoff, and the need for
better freight line service to
the area.
DCamarge dignitaries.
ance The theme this year is
The annual Rio Grande
Valley Firemen's Fire
Prevention Parade will be
held Saturday, October 6.
U'he evlnt will begin at 8:00
"i.rri. in Rio Grande City with
some ten to twelve fire
engines from Valley towns
coming for the parade.
All of the Rio Grande City
fire equipment will join in
the parade locally, along
with the Valley equipment.
The Rio Grande City
Volunteer Fire Department
will then continue to Mission
kwith one piece of Rio Grande
" ity equipment to join all of
Mission's equipment in their
local parade.
The parade then continues
throughout the towns in the
lower Rio Grande Valley.
The Rio Grande City
Volunteer Fire Department
will host all the towns that
Hall in Rio Grande City wit!
donations to be $6.00 per
person.
At the dance, there will be
raffles on door prizes that
are being furnished by the
different businesses in Rio
Grande City, and the
Volunteer Fire Department
wishes to express their
appreciation to the business
people of the community
along with the Knights of
Columbus members for the
use of the K.C. Hall for the
dance arid the Starr County
constables who will be
furnishing police protection.
Come on out and help your
fire department. They are
always there to assist you.
"The International Year of
the Child". Salinas urged all
businesses to participate
with floats.
Marco A. Garza, chairman
for the carnival, said ad-
vance tickets are already on
sale, at a savings Persons
wishing to purchase- advance
Rio High A/€ Solution
Might Fake Time
Starr County SWCI) Directors
To Attend El Paso Meet
Ramiro Barrera and
Uvaldo Salinas, directors
from the Starr County Soil
and Water Conservation
District, will be in El Paso
October 2-4 to attend the
Thirty-Ninth Annual State
Meeting of Texas Soil and
Water Conservation District
Directors.
Also attending from the
Starr County Soil and Water
bring equipment for a Conservation District will be
huevos rancheros breakfast Silvestre Gonzalez, District
^before the parade. They plan Conservationist, with USDA,
on serving approximately 35 Soil Conservation Service
to 40 men.
Everyone is encouraged to
be up and out to watch the
parade. If you are not
awake, the sirens will wake
The theme of this year's
meeting is "Challenge of the
80's." Approximately 800 are
expected to attend.
The purpose of the
you up. meeting is to review
That night Saturday, developments affecting
October 6, tiie fire depart- Texas conservation
ment will be sponsoring a programs and to plan future
Country Western Dance with conservation district
^Country Roland and his band programs and activities,
furnishing the music. The
dance will begin at 9:00 p.m. Speakers scheduled for
at the Knights of Columbus Wednesday and Thursday
include: Neil Sampson,
executive vice president,
National Association of
Conservation Districts,
Washington, D.C.; State
Senator Grant Jones of
Abilene and John Henry
Faulk, humorist, historian
and philosopher.
Other dignitaries to ad-
dress the group include
Congressmen Richard C.
White of El Paso and Chat les
Stenholm of Stamford
Kenneth Kuykendall,
president, Association of
Texas Soil and Water
Conservation Districts and
David Firor, southern
regional representative.
National Association of
Conservation Districts,
Athens, Georgia, will also
address the group.
State representative Pete
l^tney of Hale Center is also
expected to participate in a
portion of the meeting.
Featured speaker at the
Wednesday evening banquet
will be John Henry Faulk, a
regular personality on the
Hee Haw show. Faulk, of
Madisonville, Texas, is
considered to be one of
America's foremost political
and social commentators
He is an author, columnist,
humorist, historian.
The Association of Texas
Soil and Water Coaservation
Districts will elect three
state directors and four
alternates during area
discussion sessions on
Wednesday, October 3. A
new president and vice
president will be ekcted at
the business session on
Thursday.
Adult Night Classes
lo Begin
The Rio Grande City CISD
Adult Education Program
will open it's 1979-80 adult
classes on October 2, 1979.
Registration will be held at
the following sites; Rio
Grande City High School, La
Union School and Grulla Jr.
High from 6 to 8 p.m.
The following classes for
adults will be offered; Rio
Grande City High school -
ESL, ABE. & OED; La
Union School - ESI & GF.D:
Grulla Jr. High - ESL &
GED.
These classes are tutition
free and the only-
qualifications for adults
attending must be 17 years
old and one calender ''ear
since attending public
school, be U. S. citizens or be
legally in the U.S.
For more information
contact Mr. P A. Gonzalez,
ABE Supervisor at 487-5591,
ext. 45 between 10 45 and
11:30 a.m.
The Rio Grande City In-
dependent School District
Board of Trustees met for
the fourth time in special
meeting to hear about
possible solutions to the
trouble-packed high school
air conditioning system.
The trustees met at 3 p.m.
Tuesday, all present, to hear
from Bob Gleeson, P.E., of
Dalton Service Agency, Inc.,
of San Antonio. The firm
specializes in air con-
ditioning service.
The sum total of his
presentation to the trustees
was to offer his firm's ser-
vices, plus another
engineering firm (he
recommended Zuniga
Engineering of I>aredo) to do'
an engineering audit ana
economic analysis of the
system. He estimated the
cost between $5,000 and
$10,000.
Gleeson recommended the
audit should be done im-
mediately, to have final
reports ready by Dec. 15,
and an application to the
Department of Energy
(D.O.E.) by Dec. 15. He said
D.O.E. would possibly fund
whatever would be needed,
on a share basis.
Gleeson said the system is
probably the least efficient
air conditioning system in
South Texas. He is to present
the board with a proposal no
later than Monday on the
audit.
"I don't find any im-
mediate or quick solutions
for you," Gleeson said. At
the end of his presentation he
said he was involved in the
original sale of system to the
school, although he was not
involved in the closing of the
sale.
He said one of the purposes
of the engineering audit was
to find the thousands of
components, vacuum
pumps, motors, etc., which
should be located throughout
the high school building air
conditioning system. It was
mentioned that those
components were not where
indicated in the
specifications.
Gleeson said it would take
days just to find the com-
ponents.
Jesus Solis asked, "What if
tht components are not
there at all?" Gleeson said
the components should be
there, because the school
had paid for them.
Gleeson used the word
"obsolete" about the air
conditioning-system. He said
those systems are being
phased out in all federal
buildings
That kind of system was A-
one ten years ago, Gleeson
said
If the trustees approve the
proposal which he will
present no later than
Monday, he can start on the
audit Oct. 8, Gleeson said.
second year paving by Oct.
19, and advertise for bids
immediately. Alvarez
seconded and the motion
carried.
The court then went into
executive session with
Gallegos. Frank Randall
Nye, and County Attorney
Alex Gabert. Upon resuming
open meeting the County-
Judge made no mention
about what the executive
session was about.
In other action, the court
approved the tax levy for
1980. the same as for 1979,
and also approved discounts
for early payment of taxes-
three percent off for
payment in October; two
percent off for payment in
November; and one percent
off for payment in
December.
County Judge Bias Chapa
and the County Auditor,
Guadalupe Villarreai, are to
get together to find where
there are any excess funds in
the different budgets, to
appropriate it for gasoline
use.
The court also authorized
the payment of $170.50 for
the care of a foster child of
local migrant parents.
The court also agreed to
merge the Starr County
Dental Facility with the
Rural Health Initiative
Program of the Community
Action Council of South
Texas. The action came
after a presentation from
Francisco Zarate and Juan
Cantu about the advantages
of the merger. One of the
advantages is the recruit-
ment of doctors and denU.'vs
to the area.
The new port facilities in
Roma were discussed but no
action was taken
The court also agreed, on a
motion by Pena and second
by Hector I-ozano, to con-
tract with the Missouri
Pacific Railroad for a
railroad crossing at La
Santa Cruz. It was men-
tioned that an easement has
been granted by owners Glen
Ramey and Bias Chapa to
the county to use a road to a
gravel pit
Petty cash in the amount
of $250 was granted to the
county judge. The judge
said he uses the petty cash to
help indigents with gas when
they have to travel upstate
on medic.il missions.
Villarreai reported that
there are insufficient fundi
to pay the insurance
premiums for eight deputj
sheriffs. The premiums were
granted the deputies on Jul>
9 following their walkout.
The court, is to meet again
Friday, at 10 a.m., Chapa
mentioned, to consider that
matter and the matter of
finding excess funds.
n
Cotton plow-up deadline
for 10 south Texas counties
was Sept. 25, Agriculture
Commissioner Reagan V.
Brown has announced.
Counties affected by the
deadline are Duval, Jim
Wells, San Patricio, Nueces,
Kleberg, Zapata, Brooks,
Willacy and the upper parts
of Starr and Hidalgo.
Planting and plow-up
dates have been established
under the Pink Bollworm
Program, which is ad-
ministered by "the Texas
Department of Agriculture
to control the pink bollworm
Violators can be charged
and fined.
Reports from the Texas
Crop and Livestock
Reporting Service have
estimated the biggest Texas
cotton crop iri 30 years.
Farmers are expected to
harvest 5.fi million bales of
cotton
Figures for 1978 on har-
vested acres, per acre yield
and number of bales from
counties in the plow-up area
are:
Duval--600 acres, 224-
pound yield, 280 bales;
Hidaigo-85,300 acres, 494-
pound yield, 87,800 bales;
Jim Wells-6,500 acres.
347-pound yield, 4,700 bales;
■ Kleberg-17,600 acres, 395
pound yield, 14,500 bales;
Nueces-77,400 acres, 447-
pound yield, 72,000 bales,
San Patricio- 82,000 acres,
559-pound yield, 95,500 tales;
Starr-6,200 acres, 93-
pound yield, 1,200 bales,
Willacy-95,500 acres, 488-
pound yield, 97,000 bales,
and
Zapata-850 acres, 508-
pound yield, 900 bales.
Brooks County reported
less than 500 acres of cotton
and was not included in the
breakdown of county
figures.'
Herald Special Historical Edition
Planned For November
The Rio Grande Herald
will put out a historical-
collectors edition on
Thursday, Nov. 29, 1979,
according to M ireelo Silva,
Editor
Silva said the special
edition will commemorate
over 230 years of local
history. He said that in-
dividuals and businesses
wishing to participate may
begin reserving spaces.
The special edition will be
produced in time for the
annua) Starr County
Christmas Festival which
will be held the first week in
December
Any persons having items
of historical interest, such as
pictures, family histories, or
old ranches information,
may bring them by the Rio
Grande Herald office at 311
W Main, or they may call
487 2819, Silva said
RATTLF.R BAND TWIRLERS- Leading the Rattier High S''hr*>l Band this year
are (standing left to right) Alma Chavarna (Sr.), Carlos Garcia (Sr. , and Laura
Trevino (Jr.). Kneeling are Anna Olivarez (Sr.), mascot Adri Ann Peterson, and
Melissa Gonzalez (Sr.)
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Silva, Marcelo. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 27, 1979, newspaper, September 27, 1979; Rio Grande City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194734/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.