The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 6, 1985 Page: 2 of 12
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County Court-At Law Discussed
Last Wednesday's special meet-
ing of the County Commissioners
was highlighted by a discussion of
the County Court-at law for Starr
County that was recently signed by
Gov. Mark White after being
passed by the Texas legislature.
County Attorney Alex Gabert
made a detailed presentation to the
commissioners. He said later, "I
tried to inform the commissioners
that they have until 1988 to
officially create the court." After
the creation of the court would
come the appointment of a judge,
as well as a court reporter and
court coordinator.
Any judge appointed by the
commissioners, Gabert said, must
be a practicing attorney from Starr
County with four or more years
legal experience. Any judge ap-
pointed this year will be up for
election in 1986.
Co-ed Softball
Tournament
8 women & 7 men on team roster
JUNE 15
Interested Teams and or
players call
487-7116
for more information
F.J. Scott Study Club
presents
Rainbow of Fashions
Luncheon & Style Show
June 7 & 12
at
Fort Ringgold Motor Inn
Robert E. Lee Room
Tickets sold at door
Gabert emphasized that he and
the Starr County Bar Association
would support the dissolution of the
court if it does not operate on a
self-supporting basis. But the
County Attorney said, "I expect
from $250,000 to $300,000 in revenue
to be generated each year. The
most important thing is that it
would have to be self-supporting.
The cost of the court must be
reimbursed through court costs and
fines."
Gabert said that the county court
will stay in existence and added
that the new court is a "statutory-
court" created by the Legislature.
The new court will have jurisdic-
tion in cases from $500-$50,000, with
persons pursuing cases involving
$40,000 or more having the option to
file with the state District Court.
The new court, Gabert said, will
be responsible for all misde-
meanor, probate, and workmen's
compensation cases. Jurisdiction in
juvenile matters will be concurrent
with the district and county courts,
and Gabert added that a licensed
attorney must preside over all
juvenile matters involving ad-
judication.
Gabert said, "What we originally
wanted was another district court
in addition to the 229th District
Court We thought there was a
possibility of another district court
for Starr and Zapata counties.
Zapata wouldn't come with us, and
we didn't have enough population
to justify another district court."
Gabert said that the Starr County
Bar Association met Thursday, and
decided to present a petition before
the commissioners on June 10
urging that the creation of a court
and appointment of a judge be
made as quickly as possible.
County Judge Bias Chapa said,
"It's a step forward for the county.
Once they have the money, they'll
appoint a judge." Chapa said that
adjustments to the budget will be
needed to appropriate money, and
added that "we also have to find an
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office. I'm trying to get them an
office near the district court."
County Auditor Jose Guadalupe
Villarreal said that a new court
could be listed under expected
revenue, and under appropriations.
Villarreal added that adjustments
to the budget could conceivably be
made by July 1.
In other matters, the law firm of
Pope, Guerrero and Reed was
hired to represent the county in
opposing the appointment of a
receiver to administer disputed
porciones 63,64, and 65.
Carlos Collina Vargas was hired
for $1 a year to aid the county in its
search for federal grants. Chapa
said, "He has a good reputation as
to getting grants."
The commissioners also
approved a resolution
acknowledging that the U.S.
Marshal's Office will be providing
$1.2 million for construction of a
new county jail. Another motion
was passed hiring a surveyor to
conduct a topographical survey and
mark utility lines at the site where
a new jail will be built.
Sheriff Gene Falcon says that he
hopes that construction could get
started by mid-summer, and be
completed in eight to 10 months.
The commissioners spent much
time in executive session discuss-
ing recent recommendations by the
grand jury concerning personnel
policies. The recommendations
grew out of an investigation of
Precinct Two Commissioner
Amando Pena, who was accused of
using a county employee to do
private work on a shopping devel-
opment in Zapata. Pena said that
the employee was doing the private
work while on two weeks vacation
from his county job.
The issue was discussed some in
Monday's special meeting. Gabert
urged that a workshop be held on
the issue. The main points dis-
cussed were vacation policies, job
descriptions, and records of county
employees' attendance and work.
RIO GRANDE HERALD RIO GRANDE CITY, TEXAS THURSDAY. JUNE 6,1985 PAGE 2
Port Facilities,
Travel Pay
Discussed
The status of the Roma port
facilities project and travel pay for
county officials and employees
dominated discussion at an
emergency meeting of the County
Commissioners on Monday.
Attorney Frank Randall Nye, Jr.,
said he had recently met with
Boultinghouse and Associates, the
McAllen architectural firm re-
cently hired after the court voted to
terminate its contract with Con-
solidated Engineers of Omaha,
Nebraska. Nye said that
Boultinghouse wants a contract on
a set fee, based on a $40,000 base
price.
At the end of the bidding process,
Nye said that $5000 will be paid to
the architectural firm, with the
$35,000 remaining to be paid
monthly, based on progress of
contruction.
Nye said that on June 13, a
construction conference will be
held during which Pan-Tex of
Edinburg will discuss how the
different aspects of the project
(iron, steel, concrete work, etc.)
can be broken down under the
"construction management plan."
On June 27, Nye said, bids will be
entertained, and on July 1,
Boultinghouse will inform the
county officials about the full cost
of constructing new port facilities
at Roma.
Nye said that contracts with both
Pan-Tex and Boultinghouse should
go into effect June 13, 30 days after
the county terminated the contract
with Consolidated. He added that
Pan-Tex "is charging 6>2 percent
of the total cost to oversee the
project."
Summer Athletic Programs
Offered
Being
After Nye's presentation, Com-
missioner Eloy Garza moved, sec-
onded by Reynaldo Alaniz, that the
county be authorized to go out on
bids on the port facilities project.
On the travel issue, Auditor Jose
Guadalupe Villarreal said that "it
will cost the county another $40 in
Social Security per employee for
travel pay to be considered part of
salaries." He said that non-elected
officials have the option of filing an
affidavit saying they will travel a
certain amount and keeping de-'
tailed records proving this to the
Internal Revenue Service.
Judge Bias Chapa said that
budget adjustments should be
made first, and that the County
Attorney should be consulted on the
issue. But Commissioner "Chema"
Alvarez moved, seconded by
Alaniz, that any county official be
allowed to submit a written request
for travel pay to be incorporated
into their salary, pending a check
on the legality of such actions.
Woman
Wins Prize
A local woman recently was
awarded a "nostalgic mini-truck"
as part of a joint promotion
between H E.B arid Dr. 'Pepper.
Mrs. Teresa Lozano's name was
picked out of over 1000 local
entries, store manager Juan Lopez
said. Like all other local contes-
tants, she is eligible to win a 1985
Ford Mustang convertible that will
be offered as the grand prize in a
contest being put on by H.E.B
statewide and also Dr. Pepper
This promotion coincides with the
recently celebrated 80th anniversa-
ry of H.E.B., and also Dr. Pepper's
100th anniversary.
A variety of athletic programs
will be offered for young people in
Rio Grande City over the summer.
Drawing much interest is the
Amateur Athletic Union summer
track program. Boys and girls ages
7 to 18 will be eligible to participate
in the program, which will feature
a possibility of seven track meets.
Registration for the program has
been taking place at the Athletic
Fieldhouse. The schedule each day
for activities is from 8:30 a.m. to 11
a.m.
The first track meet, the Mission
Hershey Meet, will take place on
Saturday. On June 14, the Edinburg
Meet will take place, followed by
the Valley Qualifying Meet in
McAllen on June 22.
On June 28, the Region II Texas
Amateur Athletic Federation Meet
will take place in Pharr. On July 6,
the South Texas AAU Qualifying
Meet will take place in McAllen.
After this, there is the possibility of
state or national competition for
any athlete that qualifies.
Registration for a Little Drib-
bler's Basketball Program will
take place at the high school gym
Thursday and Friday. This
basketball program will take place
on a daily basis in the high school
gym from 2 to 4 p.m. Boys and
girls ages 10 to 14 are eligible for
this program.
Registration for a swimming
program is taking place Thursday,
Friday and Monday from 9 a.m. to
noon at the Athletic Fieldhouse.
There will be a swimming program
from June 10-21 for boys and girls
ages 6-8. These sessions will take
place each weekday at the pool at
Fort Ringgold from 10 to 11 a.m.
The second swimming program
will be offered from July 8-19 for
boys and girls ages 9-12. These
sessions will be held each weekday
from 11:30a.m. to 12:30.
The pool at Fort Ringgold will be
open six days a week, excluding
Monday, from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. The
fees are $1 for students and $1.25
for adults (19 and older).
Any person interested in learning
more about these summer pro-
grams are urged to call the High
School Athletic Fieldhouse.
%
What do a torn T-shirt, a "diamond"
studded dog collar, and a mounted
chunk of pavement cut from a famous
race track have in common? All were
attention-getting devices in direct mail
pieces aimed at corporate executives.
According to a direct mail expert, the
gimmicks produced results.
The RIO GRANDE
HERALD, Rio Grande
City. Texas is Owned by
(he Rio (irande Herald
Publishing, Co., Inc.,
James V. Mathis, Presi-
dent. 215 K. University,
Fdinburg, Texas 78539.
Second Class Mailing
Privileges authorized at
the United States Post
Office at Rio Grande.
' itv, Texas 78582.
• ISPS 466-200.
Kenneth Roberts
Editor
Patricia Trevino
Business and
Advertising Manager
Victnta Martinez
Circulation Manager
Suscriptions rates: $12.50 per
.vear in County. $15.00 per
vear out of County. Mailing
Address: The Rio Grande
Herald, P.O. Box 452, Rio
(irande City Texas 78582.
Telephone (512)487-2819.
DR. BEARDSLEY
Optometrist
Announces his
NEW LOCATION
107 E. MAIN
NARRO MEDICAL CENTER
Every Thursday
8:30 a.m.-12:00 Noon
Open Wedensday
For Adjustment 8c Delivery
from 8:00 to 12:00
Todos Los Jueves
8:30a.m.-12:00 Mediodia
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De 8:00 a 12:00
107 E. Main
Rio Grande City
487-5052
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Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 6, 1985, newspaper, June 6, 1985; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194979/m1/2/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.