Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 21, 1980 Page: 1 of 8
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o
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
* * * * RIO GRANDE * * * *
E R A L
VOL. XXXV
No. 49
August 21,1980
FIFTEEN CENTS
★
★
★
Starr
Trek
BY MARCELO SILVA
EDITOR
'Gene' Falcon Chosen Democratic
Candidate For Sheriff
Standing water becomes stagnant, stinks, and becomes a breeding place for all
sorts of unwanted insects. Take, for example, the water reservoir in front of the Rio
Grande Herald office. It has nowhere to go, so it just sits there, breeding mosquitoes
and stinking like a hog pen. A very polite lady from up north was in the office earlier
this week. "Phew," she said, but held back on any other comments.
Likewise, stagnation can be a direct result of a person being on the same job or
position too long. In order for advancement and innovation, change is many times
needed-it cleanses the atmosphere of unpleasant odors while allowing for purity.
Such changes came about as a result of recommendations from Dr. A. E. Garcia,
superintendent of schools, and the actions taken by the Rio Schools board of trustees,
in the re-assignment of top administrators. Everybody benefits from such moves.
The new environment is a challenge to the administrator and allows for positive
career enrichment. Teachers and students will likewise benefit from the change.
A very cute little lady from I/ickhart, Texas, has been in Starr County lately,
pleading to the Starr County Commissioners Court to let the old suspension bridge in
Roma remain as a historical site. Although she arrived here alone late last week, she
has since obtained enough backing to petition Congress to place the old landmark on
the National Register.
The 50 plus years old bridge is the only one of its kind remaining on the border, and
it w ill be a historical monument to be proud of, she says. "We don't want it for us, but
for our grandchildren and future generations." She says tourist dollars and historical
grants will pay for its upkeep.
Mrs. Barry is very probably right. Tourist dollars can pay for a lot of things, and
considering that we don't have very many industries, or natural resources to speak
of, perhaps we shoud work towards attracting more tourist to our communities. We
saw how our economy flourished during the evacuation of the Valley as a result of
Allen. Maybe, on a smaller scale, we can attract people to our area so they can
spend some of their dollars here.
We have the sights, at Salineno, El Sauz, Mirasoles, Grulla, Garciasville, San
Isidro, and all over the area.
How many tourists have seen those old deep wells in San Isidro? Or the old school
house at El Sauz? Or the old Catholic Church at Garciasville, at La Grulla9 The
museum in Roma? Villa Nueva? Who knows the history of Escobares?
Last Year I was going to do a historical issue, but unfortunately there was very
little enthusiasm. If you will help me, we can all get something going here, for our
future.
There must be somebody in each Starr community who is interested in preserving
the history there. Just send me a note, or call me. For a start, we can get signs made
to point out where the sites are.
Rio Man Charged
With Weekend Murder
"I want to first of all thank God, and then
all the supporters I had. We have just
begun. I need everybody's support, not only
in November, but if elected, for the next four
years, so that the community can be proud
of our local law enforcement system," said
Eugenio "Gene" Falcon, 27, of Rio Grande
City following his selection of candidate for
Sheriff of Starr County.
Falcon was selected from among five
prospects during balloting by the Starr
County Democratic Executive Committee
Saturday morning at the Courthouse.
The Democrats' need to select a new
candidate arose upon the death of Adolfo M.
Ramirez, the victor over Homero Salmon in
the Democratic Primaries run-off elections.
Ramirez died at McAllen General
Hospital on August 4, following a sudden
illness. He was 03.
According to Starr County Democratic
Chairman Rodolfo Carlos Salinas Jr.. five
candidate hopefuls presented themselves
before the committes Saturday-Falcon,
Starr County Sheriff Reymundo Alvarez,
Ernesto Trevino Jr., Jesus Solis, and
Salmon. Before the balloting began, a
memorial service for the late candidate was
given by Rev. Juan Romero of the Assembly
of God Church. Beatrice Aguilar read a
resolution expressing gratitude to the late
candidate. Exteban Garcia eulogized
Ramirez and then spoke on the respon-
sibilities facing the committee.
All members of the committee were
present: Salinas, Mary H. Gonzalez, Er-
nesto Lopez, Beatrice Aguilar, Salvador
Villarreal, Lauro Garza, Alberto A.
Alvarez, Alfredo Garcia, Noe Lopez, and
Manuel Benavidez Jr.
Salinas gave the following account of how
the selection came about. Following
Garcia's speech, the committee went into
executive session and Julio Saenz Jr., the
secretary, ushered in the five prospects in
the following order: Salmon, Trevino, Solis,
Falcon, and Alvarez.
Each prospective candidate presented
resumes, goals, and objectives. Each was
questioned in detail by members of the
committee.
The public was then allowed in the
courtroom and the balloting began. After
four ballots and a deadlock, the committee
closeted and finally emerged with their
unanimous decision for Falcon. Salinas
then presented Falcon and his wife to the
public.
"Never had I seen so many show so much
interest in law enforcement for this com-
munity. The two week of waiting have been
very intense for the chairman and precinct
chairmen because of the intense lobbying,"
Salinas later said.
"But I, as chairman, feel that it was well
worth it because it got a lot of people in-
volved. Where I have frequently said that
our biggest problem is community apathy,
for tow whole weeks that problems disap-
peared," Salinas commented.
"It is rny interest, and that of the
Executive Committee, that this interest will
continue," Salinas said.
Salinas said he would be filing a cer-
tificate of nomination with the County Clerk,
attesting to what happened Saturday. The
County Clerk would then forward the in-
formation to the Secretary of State and the
State Democratic Executive Committee,
who would certify Falcon as the Sheriff
Candidate for the Starr Democrats.
Falcon is a Texas Department of Public
Safety trooper stationed in Rio Grande City,
his hometown. He graduated in 1971 from
Rio Grande City High School and attended
Texas A&I University, St. Edwards
University, and Monterrey Tech. He
graduated in 1974 from the Department of
Public Safety Academy in Austin. He has
been stationed in Starr County for three
years.
Falcon is the son of the late Eugenio
Falcon and Mrs. Emma H. Falcon of Rio
Grande City and is married to the former
Cynthia Dreumont, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. John Dreunont, of Rio Grande City
Salinas recalled that the Democratic
Executive Committee had to undergo a
similar situation in 1968, upon the death of
County Judge candidate nominee Dr. J. J.
Rodriguez. In that case, however, the
committee had ended in a deadlock between
Frank Randal Nye Jr. and Dr. Gilberto
"Nene" Garza, and the State Committee
chose Nye. Col. C. C. "Lito" Valle was the
County Democratic Chairman, Salinas
recalled.
If elected, Falcon will be the fifth Sheriff
of Starr County, joining in the history books
Jacobo Guerra, Gustavo Guerra, Dr. Rene
Solis, and the present Sheriff, Reymundo
Alvarez.
Four Lanes For 83
East Of Rio
Eugenio De Leon, 33, known as "El
Pachuquito," has been charged with the
murder in the weekend death of Edgar D.
Castillo, 19, of Salineno.
Castillo died of a single 25 caliber bullet
wound to the chest during an incident which
happened at around 11:15 p.m. Sui!i'">y at
tin area of Third and West Streets in Rio
Grande City, according to Starr County
Sheriff Reymundo Alvarez.
De I^ on, who is from Rio Grande t City,
was placed on a $100,000 surety bond by
Justice of the peace Arnoldo Gonzales Jr.
Sheriff Deputies Dagoberto Garcia and
Salvador Zarate investigated the incident.
The case is pending grand jury in-
vestigation.
Juvenile Held In Stabbing
A Grulla sixteen-year-old is being held by
authorities following the stabbing death of
Heraclio Guzman, 17, also of Grulla,
Monday night,
Arturo Clarke of Rio Grande City declared
Guzman dead at the scene in Grulla
following the incident which occurred close
to midnight.
Guzman was alledgedly stabbed twice
with a kitchen knife, in the stomach and in
the back
Juvenile Probation Officer Fernando
Guzman took the juvenile to the youth
detention center in Edinburg following the
incident.
According to Assistant District Attorney
David Almarez, hearing would be held to
determine whether to try the juvenile as an
adult.
Tom Hanna and Fred Pacheco outlined
proposed highway construction in Starr
County during the regular meeting of the
Ricf Gi anu'e C iy A. Cwnrnercr
Tuesday.
Included in the plans is the curb and
gutter placement for U.S. Highway 83 from
the entrance to Fort Ringgold East to the
city limits, by 1981. This project, however,
is a cooperative venture with the local
government which must pay for the ; urb,
gutter, and drainage, Hanna said.
Also planned is the widening of U.S. to
four lanes from Rio Grande City to the
hilltop at I,a Puerta. The plans call for a
divided four-lane highway from there East
to the County Line, Hanna said.
Hanna said other plans call for the com-
pletion of El Sauz Road, Eisenhower Road,
and the paving of some inner city street.
The county still has to acquire some
easements, he said.
The two highway department
representatives also engaged in a
discussion concerning traffic in Rio
Grande City.
In other matters, Chamber of Commerce
President Humberto "Beto" Garcia, an-
nounced that the Chamber sponsored
Christmas Festival would be held Dec. 3-7,
and that the Chamber would be requesting
ten per cent fees from all clubs and
organizations partic'pating
Ga;x: also announced that the Chamber
of Commerce banquet would be held Jan. 17.
Among me various subjects discussed,
Lauro L. Lopez of Triple L Furniture an-
nounced that Valley Transit Company was
contemplating bus service to Starr County,
with several routes daily to and from the
Valley. He said that public hearings on the
matter would be held soon, at which time all
interested persons should testify in favor of
the service, he said.
Dr. Bruno Trevino, executive director
of the Starr County Industrial Foundation,
announced that a decision had been made to
allow the Missouri Pacific to abandon the
tracks from Spaldinu to Rio Grande City.
The decision was rJ.laJi£> on July 10 by the
Interstate Commerce Commission, he said.
He said the S.C.I.F was presently looking
for alternatives to possibly continue the rail
service.
Starr County Judge Bias Chapa an-
nounced that the third action years on a
paving project for Rio Grande City had just
begun, with completion date anticipated
within 45 days.
SHERIFF CANDIDATE-Eugen' "Gene" Falcon Jr., 27, of Rio Grande City, was
selected Saturday to be the Starr County Democrats candidate for Sheriff in the
November General Elections. The selection was made from a slate of five prospects
by the Starr County Democratic Executive Committee. Adolfo Ramirez, who had
been the Democrats choice in the primaries and subsequent run-off elections, died
earlier this month.
County Attorney To Prosecute Illegal Dumpers
Starr County Attorney Alex Gabert
Tuesday issued the following statement
concerning waste dumping on private and
public lands.
"The Starr County Attorney's Office
wishes to inform the Starr County public
that it has received various complaints of
abuse respecting the dumping of solid waste
on private and public land without the
consent of the owner of the land. Any and all
valid complaints brought to the attention of
the Starr County Attorney's Office by the
Starr County Sanitation Department will be
presented to the Justice of the Peace Court
Court for prosecution.
"Article 4477-9 states that any person who
shall dump or otherwise dispose of trash,
junk, garbage, refuse, unsightly matter, or
other solid waste on public highways, right •
of ways, on other public or private property,
or into any inland or coastal waters of Texas
without written consent of the owner, his
agent, or the public official in charge
thereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and upon conviction snail be fined not less
that $25 nor more than $200 Every law
enforcement officer of this State and its
subdivision shall have authority to enforce
the provisions of this Act."
GEO Test
m
Recently Dumped Garbage On Private Properly By Eisenhower Street
New Garbage On Eioenhow -r Street
The Rio Grande City
C.I.S.D., GED Testing
Center, will be testing on
Saturday, August 23, at 8
a.m. at Rio Grande City
High School.
Persons who are or were
enrolled in the GED classes
or CETA APL classes are
encouraged to take these
tests. Other interested
persons can take the tests if
they meet these
qualifications; 18 yrs. old or
older, and one calender year
out of public school.
The testing fee is $15.00 for
the battery of five tests and
$3.00 for each individual test.
For further information,
and to register for tests
contact P.A. Gonzalez at 487-
45ft
Cheerlead
Clin ic
Saturday
The Rio Grande City
Rattler Cheerleaders will be
having a cheerleading clinic
Saturday August 23.
The clinic will be held
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the
High School gymnasium.
Admission fee will be $3.50
per person.
For additional information
contact Tinita Cruz at
487-2498 or Midgie Alvarez at
649-1185
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Silva, Marcelo. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 21, 1980, newspaper, August 21, 1980; Rio Grande City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194781/m1/1/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.