Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 76, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 26, 1981 Page: 1 of 12
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Local Leaders Seeking Solution To New Snag
In Retaining MoPac
By JIM MATH IS
A new era of cooperation in the name of
progress appears to be dawning in Stan-
County.
Conceived in the face of potential ad-
versity, the new cooperative spirit was born
in the effort to retain railroad service in the
county.
Rio Grande City businessmen and county
government officials are once again
demonstrating their willingness to earnestly
exert every effort to retain and expand rail
service provided here by the Missouri
Pacific Railroad Co. (MoPac).
At a special meeting Monday, the County
Commissioners' Court authorized County
Judge Bias Chapa to negotiate with MoPac
and the RGC school district in order to solve
the latest snag surfacing in the attempt to
retain the railroad.
The latest problem is an apparent conflict
involving the railroad, the proposed In-
dustrial Park and plans for development of
a recreational park.
In an earlier cooperative effort, local
businessmen successfully convinced MoPac
officials to reverse last year's decision to
terminate rail service to RGC. MoPac had
announced plans to pick up about 19 miles of
track between Sullivan City and its RGC
railhead.
Reportedly MoPac's reversal of its
decision to end Starr County service was the
first time in the company's history that it
had even considered reversing a decision to
terminate service to a community.
That fact illustrates the length of effort on
the part of several local businessmen, all
members of the Starr County Industrial
Foundation.
Those businessmen appealed directly to
MoPac's board of directors in St. Louis, took
MoPac's national sales manager on a tour of
RGC and then on to Monterrey, Mex. to
interview exporters-importers there who
indicated definite increased activity in
trans-shipment between the RGC railhead
and the northern Mexico industrial capitol.
That local effort paid big dividends Jan. 15
of this year when MoPac's directors decided
to remain in RGC.
Spurred by community-wide cooperation,
optimism is high among local business and
government leaders that this latest snag
may also be solved.
liie new problem popped up when
MoPac's attorney expressed concern about
county plans to develop a recreational park
on land adjoining the railroad. The county
has submitted an application for federal
funds to finance 50 percent of the park
development and the local matching share
is to come from an already approved
Department of Housing and Urban
Development grant.
The RUC School District's Board of
Trustees have leased acreage to the county
for the park project.
In a letter dated last week, MoPac's at-
torney, Arthur R. Zaegel, informed Sam
Vale, president of the Starr-Camargo
Bridge Co. and a member of the Industrial
Foundation, of his concern for potential
danger of accidents with the park planned
for development in such close proximity to
the railroad.
"I am quite confident that economic and
recreational development can coexist in Rio
Grande City. However, I am not at all sure
that side-by-side co-existence is the most
prudent course fo follow," Zaegel said in the
letter.
"As attorney for Missouri Pacific, I am
compelled to advise management as to the
legal risks inherent in operating trains
adjacent to a public park, especially where
the park-users must cross our tracks in
order to enter and exit the park."
"Such an arrangement could hamper and
interfere with railroad operations. More
importantly, the arrangement presents
serious safely problems and increases
significantly the odds of a serious accident,"
Zaegel said.
"Personally, I am inclined to advise
management against continuing rail service
to Rio Grande City unless a safer, alter-
native location for the park can be found,"
Zaegel said.
At Monday's Commissioners' Court
meeting, Vale and other members of the
Industrial Foundation appeared to solicit
the county's cooperation in solving the
conflict.
Vale asked that the county investigate the
possibility of alternative locations of the
park, while attempting to meet
requirements of the federal funding sources
in order not to jeopardize utilization of grant
money in the park's development.
Failing being able to find an alternate
location, Vale asked that the park be
redesigned in order to satisfy MoPac's
concerns.
County Judge Chapa and members of the
Commissioners' Court were quick to ex-
press their desire to co-ordinate efforts to
resolve the conflict in a manner which will
retain both the railroad and the recreational
park.
"Everyone should be assured that we will
do everything we can to resolve this
problem, keep the rail service and still go
after the park grant," Chapa told the In-
dustrial Foundation members,
0 •
* * * * RiO GRANDE * * * *
E R A L
VOL. XXXV
No. 76
February 26,1981
FIFTEEN CENTS
*) •
\m \
. '"S
• J
GRULLAGRABS CROWN' — With a season record of 19 wins against one loss and a
district record of 11 wins and one loss the I-a Grulla Cranes proudly ended the year
with another District Basketball Championship Title. Pictured above are, front row,
left to right: Felix Solis; Daniel Gutierrez; Second Row: Martin Ix>pez; David
Housing Authority
Accepts Proposals
Garcia; Carlos Solis; Eloy Solis; Oscar Villarreal; Saul Cantu; Standing Coach Greg
I-ara; Roberto Benavidez; Joaquin Gutierrez; Tommy Bazan; Leonel Solis; Jaime
Solis; Aniceto Villarreal; Juan Cantu; 1-eonel Lopez and Jaime Sib a.
The Housing Authority of Starr County is
administering a Section 8 Moderate
Rehabilitation Program in Starr County at
Rio Grande City using funds provided by the
Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
Under this program owners will
rehabilitate rental units which are now
substandard or have major building
systems or components requiring repair or
replacement.
The cost of this work, which must total at
least $1,000 per unit may be financed by a
local lending institution, by the owner, or by
any other source available to the owner.
The Housing Authority of Starr County
does not make rehabilitation loans or
grants, but will assist owners to obtain
financing.
After required rehabilitation work has
been completed, the agency and the owner
will execute a contract which established a
rent for the unit (s) that will cover
rehabilitation costs, meet monthly
operation expenses, and allow a reasonable
profit on the owner's investment.
For a fifteen year period, the owner will
rent the rehabilitated unit (s) to eligible
Get ZIP
Directories
The 1981 National ZIP Code 4 Post Office
Directory, priced at $8.00 per copy, is
available through the Rio Grande City Post
Office, Postmaster J.J. Gomez announced
today.
Postmaster Gomez also advised that
customers can save money by turning in old
directory covers or by buying eight copies of
the publication.
lower income tenants who will pay ap-
proximately 25 percent of their income
toward the rent.
The Housing Authority of Starr County
will pay the remainder of the rent directly to
the owner or lending source as agreed with
the owner. If the unit is already rented and
the owner wants to have it rehabilitated
under this program, the initial occupant of a
rehabilitated unit may be the owner's
present eligible tenant. The Housing
Authority's current funds will allow
rehabilitation of 40 units of rental housing on
a basis of 7 one bedroom units, 15 two
bedroom units, 13 three bedroom units, and
5 four bedroom units.
Five percent of the Housing Authority's
funds can be used to rehabilitate units to
accommodate handicapped tenants. All
proposals requiring permanent
displacement of existing families will be
rejected.
Proposals from owners will be received no
later than 3 P.M., Friday, March 13, 1981 in
the Office of the Housing Authority of Stan-
County, 1601 W. Circle, off US 83, P.O. Box
14, Rio Grande City, Texas either in person
or certified mail.
Owners who wish to submit a proposal
must obtain an application from: Dr.
Bruno, M. Trevino, Executive Director
Housing Authority of Stan County, 1601 W.
Circle off US 83; P.O. Box 14; Rio Grande
City, Texas 78582, between the hours of 8:30
A.M. and5:30P.M. Monday - Friday, except
I>egal Holidays.
Application fonns and proposal packets
may be requested by phone, mail, or in
person. Infonnation and assistance is also
available at the above Office.
A pre-application conference is required
for all owners wishing to participate in the
program.
Inside Today's Herald
^iiecn Candidates P. 3
Around Ton ii I*. I
(Iongrafiliation* I,V N"s P.
Business
()utdoors
Farm Kanrli
P. 8
P.10
P.l I
"We rarely find that people have good sense unless they
agree with us." La Rochefoucauld
Youth Fair Schedule
A schedule of Events has been set for the Stan County Youth Fair. Youth Fair
Activities will span the entire week of March 1 through 8.
Sunday, March 1
7:00p.m. YouthFair Queen Contest, RioGrande City School Auditorium
Wednesday, March 4
7:00 a.m. Clothing Division Judging - Multipurpose Center
Friday, March 6
8:00 a.m. Admittance of Science Projects
3:00 p.m. Admittance of Other Projects
6:00 p.m. Sifting of Livestock
6:30 p.m. Judging of Baking Division
Saturday, March 7
8:00 a.m. Judging of Scinece Fair Divison
Industrial Arts
(CLOSED TO PUBLIC) Art Show
Farm Shop
8:30 a.m. Float Registration
9:00 a.m. Judging of Floats
10:00 a.m. Parade
11:00 a.m. Official Opening
11:30 a.m. Judging of livestock
3:00 p.m. Parade of Champions
4:00 p.m. Lamb and Cake Auction
6:00 p.m. Fair Closes
Sunday, March 8
2:00 p.m. Rodeo
Sagunada Ranch, 9 mi. N on FM-755
SPONSOR: Stan County 4-H Adult leaders
First Nursing Class
To Graduate Friday
Stan County will be able to boast about
another "first" this week when seven
licensed Vocational Nurse candidates will
be graduated from the LVN program of the
Starr County Memorial Hospital.
The class enrolled in the program one
year ago and underwent intensive training
and course work to become the very first
class to be graduated.
Graduation ceremonies will be held
Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the First Baptist
Church in Rio Grande City.
The class is <;'omrwsed of Norma M.
Garza, Jaughc- '« ZiLema Miller; she is
married to Juan R. Garz.i and they have two
daughters. Mrs. Garza has lived in Rio
Grande City all her life and i'j a graduate of
Rio Grande City High School.
Barbara Elaim DuBose, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. James Orossland and the late
James F. Johnston She has been manied
to Robert B. Dubose for nine years, and the
couple has three children, Robert Wesley
DuBose, nine; Vicki Lynn DuBose, seven
and Stephanie Ann DuBota, six. Mrs.
DuBose lives in San Is, !"o ar. is a graduate
of San Isidro High School;
Arturo Guerra, son of Mr and Mrs. Juan
Gut rra of Grande City. He is a graduate
of Rio Grande City High Scl.tol;
Herlinda Escobar, daughte. of Mr. and
Mrs. Roman Escobar of Roma. She is a
graduate of Roma High School;
Dora Alaniz, daughter of Mrs. Amalia
Alaniz of Rio Grande City. She is a graduate
of Rio Grande City High School;
Ijnda Brown Lopez, daughter of the late
E.D. (Buddy) Brown and Allie Graham
Brown of Athens. She was born in Athens
and attended high school there. She is
married to Juan Luis Lopez of Rio Grande
City and has four children, I .aura, 17;
Mark, 14, Sharon. 11 and Juan Luis, Jr.,
three.
Mrs. Watts, Nursing Instructor explained
that the LVN candidates learned their
duties through required studies of 40 hours
per week, and that most candidates worked
on their "days off." She taught the classes
and was occasionally assisted with lectures
by registered nurses.
Mrs. Watts stated that the program was
approved by the State Board of Vocational
Nurse Examiners and candidates were
screened and selected through a pre-test
project.
Once they are graduated, the students will
go to the State Board Examinations to be
held April 14. All vocational nursing
students take this test to become licensed
when they pass it.
The Starr County Memorial Hospital is
anticipating hiring as many of the
graduates as possible, once they are
licensed. All the graduating students have
been offered a job by the hospital.
The Hospital Auxiliary is sponsoring the
graduation reception, as they have spon-
sored the class all year. Four scholarships
were granted by the Auxiliary to the first
class and the Rotary Club provided another
three scholarships to defray costs of tuition
and books.
The graduation program will feature
music by Mrs. Linda Calhoun, Invocation by
Grocery W inners Take
Home The Bacon
H.E.B Food Store Director, Juan l/ipez
has announced the winners of last week's
drawing for four $25 bags <-* groceries.
Lucky winners were Rosa Garza of 207 S
Garza St., Rio Grande City Noe Olivarez of
1455 Fairground Rd., Rio Grande City;
Emma Cantu of Box 153, Romn and Dora A.
Perez of Box 174, Garciasviile
Ixipez said he thanks all who participated
in the registration for the drawing.
Roland Ouellette, Pastor First Baptist
Church; Address of Welcome by William
Watts, Hospital Administrator and an
Address by Charles Christesson, Principal
of Ringgold Elementary School.
Norma Garza, class president, will give
the class response. Frank Anderson,
President of the Hospital Board of Trustees,
and Thalia Munoz, R.N. Director of Nur-
sing, will award the diplomas Mrs. Watts
will present School Pins.
Starr TSTI
Students To
Graduate
Thirteen Starr County students at TSTI
are candidates for graduation in ceremonies
scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. Feb. 27 at the
Harlingen Municipal Auditorium.
Graduates will be awarded associate of
applied science degrees or certificates of
completion in this first ceremony of two
graduations scheduled this year.
Candidate for associate of applied science
degree are:
Air conditioning and refrigeration, Miguel
A. Balli of Rio Grande City;
Building construction, Manuel E. Garcia
of Los Saenz and Efrain Salinas of Rio
Grande City;
Mechanical drafting and design, Pedro
Montalvo of La Grulla;
Computer electronics, Guadalupe
Barrera of Rio Grande City;
General electronics, Rene C. Chapa of Rio
Grande City, and
Nuclear technology, Efrain Diaz of La
Grulla
Candidates for certificates of completion
are:
Automotive mechanics, Oscar Mejia of
Rio Grande City and Oscar Ramirez of
Roma;
General office clerk, Martha Iris Guerra
of Rio Grande City;
Nurse assistant, Leticia Rodriguez of Rio
Grande City and Rebecca Vera of Roma,
and
Secretary. Mary Ester Uingona of Rio
Grande City.
Friends, families, employers, community
citizens and Winter Texans are cordially
invited to attend the ceremonies.
Public School
Week
Public Schools Week will be observed by
the Rio Grande City C.I.S.D. the week of
March 3-6, according to A.F. Garcia,
Superintendent
All parents and members of the com-
munity are encouraged to visit the schools
during this week or any other week Many
student projects and work will be on display
Also on display at the schools will be the
recently adopted basal readers for Grades
1-8. These books will be introduced during
the 1981-82 schools year, Garcia stated.
Schedule for visitation for the Rio Grande
City C.I.S.D. schools is the following
Tuesday, March 3 Ringgold Elementary
12:00 - 3:00
Wednesday, March 4. Grulla Elementary
8 30-12:00; Grulla Jr High 8 30-3 30; La
Union 12:45-3:30
Thursday, March 5 North Grammar 1 00 -
3:30; Roque Guerra Elementary 1:00-3 30;
High School 7:00 - 9 30, Ringgold Jr High
7:00-9:30
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Mathis, James V. , Jr. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 76, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 26, 1981, newspaper, February 26, 1981; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194808/m1/1/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.