The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 6, 1986 Page: 1 of 10
ten pages : ill. ; page 22 x 14 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
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TECAT Test To Be Administered Mu«
ilia
Starr County teachers and ad-
ministrators, like those elsewhere
in the state, will be administered
the Texas Examination of Current
Administrators and Teachers
(TECAT) competency test this
Monday.
The test becomes almost a
certainty after State District Judge
Harley Clark, on Monday, ruled
against the Texas State Teacher
Association's effort to have the test
declared unconstitutional. TSTA
quickly filed an appeal in the State
Supreme Court, and a decision by
the end of this week seems
possible.
Rio Grande City CISD Superin-
tendent A.E. Garcia said, "It's a
competency test that is given by
the state. All we're going to do here
is provide a site. If a teacher does
not pass it, they'll be placed to take
it in June, and there will be a
couple of chances after that."
Walter N. Watson, president of
the local TSTA, said it is his
understanding that a teacher will
have at least four opportunities in
one year to pass the test, and that
once a teacher passes a part of the
test, he doesn't have to take the
test.
Watson, like virtually all teach-
ers, vigorously denounces the test
as currently set up. He said,
"Those teachers holding valid
teacher certificates should not have
their certificates subjected to the
test. They should have been
grandfathered."
Watson adds his belief that the
test would have been more accept-
able if college graduates entering
the profession for the first time
were given the test. He said that
Starr County educators "expected
the outcome" of the court case in
Austin.
Watson indicated his belief that
teachers, if tested, should be tested
in the field in which they are
currently teaching, not receive a
general language arts test. Garcia
said that the Legislature appar-
ently leaned in that direction
originally, but eventually decided
on the sweeping approach.
Watson offers his full opinion of
the TECAT test in a letter to the
editor printed elsewhere in this
issue of the Kio Grande Herald.
RGCCISD Superintendent Garcia
said, "Every professional that has
teacher certification must take the
test Everybody with a certificate
has to take the test, including
administrators.
Like everywhere else in the
state, Starr County teachers will
J
take the test Monday in three time
slots: first group, 7:30 a.m.; second
group, 12 p.m., and third group,
4:30 p.m
Garcia said, "Every person has
been sent an admission ticket;
there are about 96 persoas per
group . We're serving as a test site,
as is Roma "
Garcia said, "It is a reading and
writing test, in two sections " He
noted that in the reading section
there are the following six sections
fS>;■ TM AT. Pan*- 10)
am
Enforcement
Page 8,
THE RIO GRAN
rving Starr county
ERALD
Fair Champions
Honored,
Page 4
Published in Kio Grande City, Texas, Every Thursday By The Rio Grande Publishing Co.
MM
mmmmmumai wmmm
No. 19 THURSDAY, MARCH 6,1986
FIFTEEN CENTS
Fair Champions And Winners Listed
,1rm *;•
%
County Fair
Considered Big
Success
Pictured above is the first place float, by El Fresno Headstart, of the County Fair
Parade Saturday that was dominated by the Sesquicentennial theme. The float
received the $100 first prize from the parade.
The 21st annual Starr County
Youth Fair, the first one to take
place in the new facilities, was a
big success, according to its
organizers.
Dr. Roberto S. Margo, president
of the Starr County Fair Associa-
tion, commented, "I thought it was
a very successful event. We had
several thousand people there We
were very elated at the atten-
dance...Everybody seemed to be
having a good time.. Being the first
time in that new building, I thought
everything went real smooth."
Margo added, "It was a more
relaxed pace; people seemed to
enjoy it more. The bleachers were
.Trustees Discuss New Gym,
Stadium Expansion
Bv KENNETH ROBERTS
Managing Editor
Discussion of the plans for a new
high school gym and prospective
expansion of Rattler Stadium to
meet the requirements of 5-A
membership dominated the agenda
of the Rio Grande City CISD board
of trustees at their regular meeting
Tuesday night
Architect Dan Ogden, of the
McAl'en architectural firm of
Rike-Ogden, told the trustees he
had n.°t in the past week with
Superintendent A.E Garcia. High
School Principal Ruben Saenz, and
Athletic Director Ramiro Villegas.
He said that the plans "were
modified a little bit, but no major
changes were made "
He said the gym should be 116 by
116 feet, with a corridor opening to
the north side of the recent addition
to the high school Ogden said that
preliminary plans call for a pre-
engineered steel structure that will
be 28 feet high on the sides and 34
feet high in the center of the gym
Ogden said that plans call for a
maplewood floor, and folding
bleachers at the ground level that
will seat 480 spectators on each
side. There will be mezzanine
levels that will seat 565 on each
side, bringing the gym's total
seating capacity to 2090.
Ogden said that square footage
had been increased some, but
added "that we've overcome this
by structural changes." Board
President Rafael Carrera had
expressed concern about the added
footage.
Ogden said that the roof should
be made of galvalum metal, and
added, "We'd like to keep it to a '2
to one-inch slope. Likely, it will be
a one to 12-inch slope. The center
of the roof is about six to eight
inches higher than the edge of the
roof."
Ogden said, "We're proposing to
build the gym out of brick We can
draw up actual contract documents
as soon as you ask."
Principal Ruben Saenz addressed
Carrera's concern by saying,
"There will not be any more
square footage. If there are
changes, they will be made within
the structure." Villegas said, "That
will probably be as close as we get
to the final plans. We've cut down
some halls we felt we didn't need."
Carrera urged that the plans be
approved "so they can get busy on
it." Trustee Abel N Gonzalez, Jr.,
made the motion to that effect, and
was seconded by Eloy R. Garcia.
Earlier in the meeting, the trustees
okayed the architects agreement
Bond Election
Changed To June 7
The County Commissioners, at an
emergency meeting Friday voted
to change the date for the bond
election to June 7
This decision occurred due to the
fact that the Texas Highway
Department will pay for all con-
struction costs on the U.S. 83
expansion project. That fact was
announced at a Commissioners'
Court meeting last Tuesday by
District Engineer G G. Garcia
This leaves the county responsi-
ble only for 10 percent, or $200,000,
of right of way costs. Previously,
the responsibility fell on the county
for $450,000 of construction of storm
sewers within Rio Grande City
The bond election was first set
for Feb. 22, and changed to March
22 shortly afterward
The emergency meeting Friday
was originally scheduled for 10
a m., but was delayed until 2 p.m.
for lack of a quorum.
County Judge BI.js Chapa led off
the afternoon session by noting the.
new situation on the highway
project. He' noted that absentee
voting was scheduled to begin
Monday, March 3 for the March 22
election. .HH %. K
Precinct Four Commissioner
Reynaldo "Moreno" Alaniz said. "I
think it wiil be good if we hold it on
June 7. That's when the runoff
election will be. The same judges
can run it."
County Clerk Juan Mills said.
You'll have to have separate
tables I won't have enough ballot
boxes if you have another elec-
tion." He added that other clerks
might need to be In, ed
Chapa agreed that the election
should be held lune 7 because
"usually, the May elections are too
crowded." Prec;nct Three Com-
missioner Eloy Garza wondered if
some precincts v.ould not be having
countywide elections. Alaniz re-
plied. "Both elections will be for
the county," and added that there
are likely to be runoffs in state
races
Alaniz moved, seconded by
Garza, that the election date be
changed to Saturday, June 7. with
amount to change only for the
highway expansion project. That
amount will be reduced from
$750,000 to $200,000. The Los Olmos
and drainage propositions will stay
at the same amounts
Chapa said, "They (the Highway
Department! changed it for the
benefit of the county...If the bond
does not pass, Mr. Villarreal (the
auditor) and I have discussed
coming up with some money for
next year's budget."
Discussion then turned to the Los
Olmos Project. Alaniz told activist
Leonel R Lopez, "We've got the
money appropriated for Los Olmos.
There have been cuts, there will be
cuts (in funding for other projects),
but this project has been
appropriated."
Chapa expressed hope that
"maybe, some Los Olmos ease-
ments will be donated to the
county." About all three proposi
tions, the judge said, "We're going
to tell the people the pros and
cons."
When anti-tax activist Margil
Sanchez again expressed his un-
bending opposition to all three
propositions, Chapa replied, "If we
save one life in 20 years, it's worth
the money we'll invest " He added
that the project would make
commercial development possible
and valuable in the creek's
floodplain
and the fee.
Late in the meeting, Juan A.
Saldana of Saldana Structural,
Inc., a Harlingen consulting engi-
neer firm, discussed some prelimi-
nary ideas for expansion of the
visitor side of Rattler Stadium
Saldana said, "We've ended up
with a 3370-seat stadium on both
sides. This is based on 1R inches
per seat." He recommended that
the old bleachers on the visitor's
side be dismantled and placed
elsewhere, with most of the current
steel to be used with the new
bleachers.
Business Manager Romeo Lopez
said. "This is a preliminary plan,
just information The best idea is to
take it (the current bleachers) and
use it elsewhere," rather than just
trying to expand upon the current
bleachers.
Carrera said, "I would like to see
these bleachers moved somewhere
else, like the end of the field or the
baseball field " Saldana, when
asked, said that 30 to 60 days would
be needed for the entire bleacher
project on the visitors side
Carrera and Abel Gonzalez urged
that Saldana be kept on to continue
with the stadium planning, and that
was agreed tp by consensus.
Romeo Lopez said, "We asked
Mr. Saldana what it would take to
have the same size on the visitor
side. His study just revealed the
visitor side. At this point, the home
side has not even been looked at "
Carrera briefly protested when the
conversation seemed to hint that
the home side would be part of the
expansion project.
Garcia said, "This plan calls for
aluminum (seats) on the visitor's
side, not on the home side ''
Villegas said, "Our priorities
should be our home side The wood
on the home side is in worse
shape." and said it was even
becoming a hazard "
Carrera said, "The administra-
tion needs to get together on this,"
and urged Saldana "to get together
with Coach Villegas and go from
there " The superintendent said,
"This is only an information item
for the board " Lopez asked,
"Allow us to continue to work and
see what needs should be
addressed on the home side "
The board proceeded to approve
bids for six roofing projects, one of
them at Roque Guerra Elementary
and the other five at Grulla Jr
(Sep TNI STFF.S. 1'iifir 10)
full during the judging of the steers
and other livestock The judges
from A&M did a tremendous job
with the livestock. The parade was
fantastic- Milton Menking and
Tissa Peterson did a tremendous
job."
Milton Menking. co-chairman of
the Fair Parade Committee, said,
"Everybody said it was one of the
biggest and best ever in Starr
County." He noted that there were
over 95 entries
He expressed pleasure at the
participation of county officials, as
well as Roma and Grulla city
officials. Menking noted that
Camargo city officials, as well as
that locale's Chamber of Com-
merce, were represented v>>th a
float.
Fair Queen Missy Aguero pres-
ented the trophies, during the
Parade of Champions, to those
youths winning grand and reserve
champion honors. The fair's cham
pions and winners are listed as
follows:
LIVESTOCK:
RABBITS: Kathy Lopez. Rio
Grande City FFA, Grand Champi-
on, Ana T Solis, Rio Grande City
4-H, Reserve Grand Champion;
Laura Guerra, RGC 4-H,
Showmanship Champion
HOGS: Jaime Olivarez, Rio FFA.
Grand Champion: Octavio Barrera.
Rio FFA, Reserve Champion;
Lucio Fuentes, Rio FFA,
Showmanship Champion
STEERS: Marco Garcia, San
Isidro 4-H, Grand Champion; Sara
Narro, Rio 4-H. Reserve Champi-
on; David Lopez, Rio 4-H,
Showmanship Grand Champion;
Javier Solis, San Isidro FFA,
Showmanship Reserve Champion
LAMBS: Sara Narro, Rio 4-H.
Grand Champion; Amy Gonzalez.
Rio 4-H, Reserve Champion,
Roderick Lopez, Rio 4-H, Third In
Show; Marcelo Montalvo, Rio 4-H,
Fourth In Show; Sara Narro. Rio
4-H, Showmanship Grand Champi-
on; Javier Solis, San Isidro FFA.
Showmanship Reserve Champion
PIGEONS: Isela Guerrero, Rio
4-H, Grand Champion; William
Ouellette, Rio 4-H, Reserve Cham-
pion; Douglas Anderson, Best of
Color.
HEIFERS: Juan Longoria. San
Isidro FFA, Grand Champion,
Felix Garza, San Isidro FFA,
Reserve Champion; Joel Lopez.
Showmanship Grand Champion.
BULLS: Oscar Garcia. RGC
FFA, Grand Champion.
CAPONS: Janie Vela, Grand
Champion; Marcelo Montalvo.
Reserve Champion.
CLOTHING DIVISION TOP
WINNERS Roxanne Alaniz. Hm
II, Category IV, Grand Champion;
Becky Garza. San Isidro 4-H
Category VII, Reserve Champion;
Humberto Garza, H E. I, Plain I;
Sylvia Cruz. Hm II, Category II
Top Winner. Cindy Cruz, Hm. II,
Category III Top Winner; Velma
Saenz, Hm. II. Category VI Top
Winner
DECORATED CAKE: Cynthia
fSrf F t Hi. P(i0f 10)
Western
Parade
Saturday
The Roma Sesquicentennial
Committee will be holding a
Western Parade in Roma Saturday
as part of the city's observance of
Texas' 150th birthday
The Horsemen's Association of
the Valley will be coming through
Roma Saturday on their way to
Mercedes, and the parade "will
follow them to the end of town,"
according to Mrs. Lydia Saenz, one
of the parade's organizers.
Mrs Saenz said that the Western
Parade will be similar to that of
the County Youth Fair The parade
will start at 11 a m . and all entries
must be at Citizens State Bank by
9:30 a. m
The fee for any business or
organization to participate is $5.
Mrs Saenz urges that the fee be
paid, if at all possible, before
Saturday, and that floats and cars
should bear the name of the
business
Mrs. Saenz said, "We're inviting
the first, second, and third place
winners from Rio Grande City, and
any person or business who wants
to participate We would like to see
Western attire."
Those interested in participating
should contact Noe! Benavides at
849-1541 or Lydia G. Saenz at
849-1055or 849 2719
Vi
Pictured above are the grand champions of the three categories of
the Chili Cookoff Saturday. From left to right are Leonel Solis and
Heriberto Silva. representing the I.ions Cluh, who cooked the grand
champion chili; Yvonne Lopez Trevino of Rio Fence, who cooked the
grand champion beans; and Leonel l.ope/ representing llaunsehild
Distributing, who cooked the grand champion sk'llet bread.
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Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 6, 1986, newspaper, March 6, 1986; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195018/m1/1/?q=%22Rio+Grande+City+%28Tex.%29+--+Newspapers.%22: accessed May 31, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.