The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 12, 1987 Page: 1 of 10
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Published in Rio Grande City, Texas, Every Thursday By The Rio Grande Publishing Co.
No. 16 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12,1987
FIFTEEN CENTS
Foundation Cut Rescinded
<v
J.P.'s,. Others Speak Out
Against Budget Cuts
Bishop John Fitzpatrick visited Rio Grande City tnis
past Sunday to take part in the centennial celebration
for Immaculate Conception School. He appeared at a
noon luncheon at the Fort Ringgold Motor Inn.
★ * ★ ★★★ ★★★
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At Monday's regular meeting of
the County Commissioners, two
Justices of the Peace spoke out
vehemently against budget cuts in
their offices, to the point of
warning of a possible lawsuit if
they are forced to share one
secretary and one office.
Also discussed intensely was
whether Starr County has more
Justices of the Peace than it is
entitled to, according to its popula-
tion in the 1980 census.
Also, the Starr County Industrial
Foundation was successful in
persuading the commissioners to
rescind the cutoff of the county's
Centennial Observance
Held For School
B> KENNETH ROBERTS
Saturday night's celebration of
the 100-year anniversary of Im-
maculate Conception School was
highlighted by the speeches of a
^federal judge, the area's con-
gressman, and a San Antonio-based
Catholic sister who originally at-
tended ICS.
Saturday night's festivities were
attended by at least 500 persons.
Each graduation class from the
early 1900's until the present time
was reci/gnized.
Sister Miriam F. Margo started
the proceedings at the K.C. Hall by-
talking about the history of the
^school. She noted the arrival of the
Sisters of Incarnate Word, based in
San Antonio, in Rio Grande City in
1887. In the early 1900's, these
sisters were replaced by others of
the same order from Brownsville.
She noted the arrival of the
Sisters of Mercy in the early 1920's
and their residence here for over 60
years, and the various stages of
growth in the school until the
-present time.
^ She recalled her own education
at ICS, noting that she began as "a
five-year-old, in the pre-primer
grade. We used to be afraid we
would lose the sisters. Those were
very difficult times."
Sister Margo added, "We had
homework and were given
excellent education in the basics
There was no secret then as to who
had prepared or not prepared their
^lessons We had intense drilling
•We were prepared for our high
school work."
She noted her sojourn in the
Sisters of Divine Providence, which
she entered in 1946 She said,
"Religious values are of primary
importance. I followed the call as I
read it from God."
On the history, she noted that the
first Catholic church was estab-
lished in Rio in 1870, and that the
church 'at first named Our Lady of
Refuge i first became a parish in
1880.
Sister Margo noted that the early
Incarnate Word sisters "were
cloistered, but they were granted
dispensation in 1914, so they could
attend necessary courses for col-
lege education."
She added, "The sisters used to
have a vegetable garden ..In 1920,
Texas began to be stricter about
certification."
Sister Margo noted that kin-
dergarten was started in 1951, and
about that time, lay teachers were
hired for the first time. Enrollment
hit its all-time peak of around 400
in 1961-62, but kinder and seventh
and eighth grades were discon-
tinued in 1969-70.
★ ★ ★
She commended the Sisters of
Mercy, saying that "we who were
taught by them will always be
grateful." She also praised the
SSND sisters, who have been on the
scene for about 18 months, con-
cluding that "the arrival of new-
sisters has brought new energy and
new life."
Margo said, "The first 100 years
have been a real historical begin-
ning. The Pioneer Oblates had a
vision The lay people have kept
the school going with their moral
support. What makes Rio Grande
City special is its cievoted people I
have never met finer people than
those in my hometown ICS is alive
and well."
Master of Ceremonies Ricardo
Gutierrez commented, "In
Mission, they're getting ready to
I See CENTENNIAL, Page 7|
★ ★ ★
★ ★ ★
Bishop Fitzpatrick
Visits RGC
The Bishop of the Brownsville
Diocese, John Fitzpatrick, visited
Rio Grande City Sunday as part of
the 100th anniversary celebration
for the local Immaculate Concep-
tion School.
Fitzpatrick talked for a time with
The Rio Grande Herald about
various issues, while at the Fort
Ringgold Motor Inn for a luncheon
Sunday.
He told the Herald that his visit
"is gratitude to those who founded
the school and kept it going It's
looking forward to the school
continuing to be a major element in
the community."
Fitzpatrick commented, "The
community (Rio Grande City) is
• Gonzalez Running
For RGCCISD Trustee
Ricardo H Gonzalez has an-
nounced his candidacy for position
6 of the Rio Grande City CISD
board of trustees, now held by
Francisco "Paco" Zarate
Gonzalez, a local retired school
principal said he was urged to run
9 by many teachers and some
administrators, as well as a group
of concerned citizens and taxpay
A 1 I
Ricardo Gonzalez
ers who say they are disgusted
with the present situation.
"Some primary concerns,"
Gonzalez said, "are the low teacher
morale, the high teacher turn-over,
the very high taxes, the mixed-up
priorities, and a very inefficient
school system."
Gonzalez, a Korean War Veteran,
is presently a rancher who has
been an officer and initiator of the
Starr County Taxpayers League,
past president of the church
council, committee member in
agriculture programs, 4H Club,
AARP, and past member of KCs,
Lions, VFW, and NRA
Ricardo has been married to the
former Blanca Martinez, a retired
librarian from the school district,
for the past 27 years Their
daughters are: Karen, Diana, and
Belinda All are Rio Grande City
High School graduates
Due to his educational experience
in school administration, Gonzalez
says he feels he has much to
contribute in resolving the present
problems and wants to work
strictly for the improvement of the
school district, and to serve in
appreciation to the teachers for
their educational contributions to
his family
growing; there's a lot of hope for a
more vibrant community. I'm very
optimistic about the future of the
community. A lot of people are
staying and trying to help."
The bishop said, "Economic
conditions look discouraging for
this year, not only for the Valley,
but throughout the nation "
Fitzpatrick noted that the diocese
paid for a study under the auspices
of Texas Southmost College and the
study showed that "there are more
poor people today than 10 years
ago "
The bishop said statistics show
that of the 350 metropolitan areas
in the United States, Pharr-San
Juan ranks No. 350 in per-capita
income, while Laredo ranks 349
and Brownsville 348.
The bishop suggested. "We need
some major studies of the border
problems " He lamented that "25
percent of the people employed in
the Valley are employed by some
(See BISHOP. Page 8)
$12,000 allocation to that organiza-
tion.
Precinct One Justice of the
Peace Arnoldo Gonzalez, Jr., began
the discussion by asking Judge
J.M. Martinez, Jr., how much the
court would be cutting the J.P.s'
budgets. Martinez replied, "The
cut approved is equivalent to half
the secretarial allotment for the
remainder of the year."
Gonzalez asked, "You're sug-
gesting that J.P. Perez and I
combine a secretary? Martinez
responded in the affirmative. Pre-
< inct Four J.P. Hector "Ivo" Perez
insisted, "I don't see any problem
with a phone line being shared, but
there's no way we can combine a
secretary. I don't think I can
operate with a part-time secre-
tary."
Perez argued that according to
state statute, the commissioners'
court is required to furnish and
equip J.P's with necessary tele-
phone equipment, supplies, a suit-
able courtroom, and adequate
office space. He complained that
phone bills are $35 a month without
making long distance calls
Perez also pointed to an Attorney
General's opinion that says.
"Likewise, if the necessity for an
employee exists, the commission-
ers' court cannot arbitrarily refuse
to authorize the appointment.''
Perez commented, "A young
man out of Seguin has a computer
We can put $20,000 (of complaints)
on each software). That would be
the best solution " But he con-
tended, "My office does need a
secretary."
Perez argued further that from
1983-1986, ''1 brought over $186,000
into the county." He listed com-
plaints filed with his court as
follows: 1983, 2183 cases; 1984,
2982; 1985 . 2875; and 1986, 2415. He
added, "This does not include the
people who come into the office to
talk to me We have to work with
those people and serve 24 hours a
day."
Perez challenged "each and
everyone of you (the court) to be
my secretary for a month. You
would give up within 10 days."
Gonzalez asked the judge, "Were
the other J.P.'s budgets slashed in
the same way''" Martinez replied.
"Some J.P.'s don't have
secretaries."
As the debate between Martinez
and Perez increased in intensity.
Perez asked the judge, with obvi-
ous irritation, "Are you trying to
say that the secretaries are not
necessary?" The judge replied.
"We're trying to combine offices in
an effort to save expenses."
Gonzalez insisted, "Judge. Perez
and myself are full-time judges "
Perez said, "Our offices are
constitutional offices We are ready
to go to court. We have hired an
attorney."
Martinez replied. "That sounds
too much like a threat." and said
he merely wanted a factual and
reasoned presentation of all views
On Monday afternoon, Judge
Martinez told The Herald that such
an amendment to the J.P's budgets
"passed in commissioner's court:
it already passed in open meeting "
Water Board Again
Talks Contract
The Starr County Water Board
focused on a number of issues at
their regular meeting Tuesday,
including the status of the manag
er's contract, first approved by the
board in a hotly-debated vote in
January.
Discussion of that matter began
when Water District Manager
Efrain Duran said, "The lawyer
and I didn't get together on the
contract " Board member
Armando Garcia responded. "The
legal counsel was supposed to do it
You had a month Why wasn't it
done?"
Legal counsel Alex W Gabert
said, "The contract has been
prepared, but thid body prepares
what goes into the contract, such
as dates, salary, commencement of
contract, and travel "
Gabert added, "You don't have a
finished contract I don't decide
how much the manager will be
paid "
Garcia commented, "The man-
ager said he wanted the same
everything In that case, why is
this on the agenda? Is the delay
because we were subpoenaed by
the grand jury9"
Duran replied. "The fact is that
there is a contract in the minutes "
Gabert said. "I prepared a con
tract with blanks only The con-
tract has to be brought before the
board "
Garcia asked, "Will this be
tabled, or do you tDuran) not want
a contract'" A motion was then
offered thai the contract matter be
tabled for the time being Garcia
and David Porras abstained on the
motion to table
Concerning the grand jury in-
vestigation, anti tax activist Margil
(See W A TEH . Page 10)
J.P. Perez told The Herald on
Tuesday that he feels a lawsuit will
be bad for both sides, but warned
that J.P. Gonzalez and himself are
fully prepared to undertake the suit
if forced to work with one secre-
tary combined.
Perez told The Herald, "I'm just
fighting for my office and for the
people of my precinct I want him
(the judge) to tell me what I have,
black and white.. We have Margil
Sanchez, Jr., as our attorney. We
want our supplies and office
assistance back to what it was. I
just want enough money to run my
office the way it should be run."
When an executive session on the
issue was suggested, Gonzalez
insisted, "Why an executive
session? It is the budget, not
personnel. Would I be able to be
present at the session"'" Martinez
responded in the negative.
Precinct Four Commissioner
Reynaldo "Moreno" Alaniz said,
"We're not here to fight; we're
here to settle " Martinez said,
"The court will take this into
consideration " but noted that the
motion okaying the cuts has
(See CI JTS, Page 9|
Rangers To Probe
Water Districts
The Starr County 229th District
Court grand jury has requested the
help of the Texas Rangers to
investigate allegations of possible
criminal wrongdoing within the
Starr County Water District and El
Tanque Water Supply.
Highly reliable sources told The
Rio Grande Herald that the grand
jury marie the request for the
Rangers' assistance late last week.
The Rangers are expected to arrive
on the scene late tnis week.
According to reliable sources, the
grand jury, for the past month, has
been investigating allegations that
Starr County Water District
employees have worked on the
homes and ranches of Water Board
members or Water District of-
ficials during working hours.
Also being investigated are
allegations of wrongdoing within El
Tanque Water Supply
Discussion of the grand jury
investigation came up briefly dur-
ing Tuesday's regular meeting of
the Water Board, and is detailed
elsewhere in this issue of The
Herald.
Trustees Okay Funds
For Lee House
The Rio Grande City CISD board
of trustees, at their regular meet-
ing last Wednesday night, voted to
appropriate $25,000 to help in the
restoration of the Robert E Lee
House.
As discussion on the matter
began, it was noted that $650 had
been collected from private donors.
Trustee Francisco "Paco"
Zarate commented, "This is a very
valuable asset in promoting
tourism and preserving our
heritage," and added that he
accepted and endorsed the sugges-
tion that the district set aside
$25,000 to start work on the Lee
House.
Zarate then moved to that effect,
and the motion was seconded by
Jaime Ramirez. The motion passed
without dissent.
George Edgerton commented,
"$25,000 should be sufficient We
thank you." He added that he
would confer with the Historical
Commission in Austin.
Trustee Tony Falcon suggested.
"We shouldn't do the renovation
without direction from the Histori-
cal Society."
On Tuesday, Edgerton told The
Herald that the Historical Society
has discussed the Lee House with
two architects at the state Histori-
cal Commission One of them will
be coming down Feb. 16, he said.
Edgerton said, "The first priority
is to fix the fence so we can keep
the place protected The second
priority is the roof. The third
priority is reconstruction of the
chimneys, and the fourth priority is
reconstruction of the veranda "
Edgerton continued, $25,000
would at least be a very good start.
It's only a two-room house We
want to work on obtaining some
Lee memorabilia ..It's not a matter
of interest just to history buffs; it's
a very big economic asset "
Edgerton said that the help of
any descendants of Civil War
veterans would be deeply appreci-
ated
Garcia, Alvarez Also Running
Roma Mayor Candidate
For Re-Election
Roma Mayor Jose Carlos Saenz
will seek re-election to a third
term, as will City Commissioner
Jose Roberto Garcia. Alonzo H
Alvarez will seek election as the
other city commissioner
Mayor Saenz and Commissioner
Garcia say, that since their initial
election, they have pledged integri
ty, dedication and experience to
promote progress within the city-
Alvarez says that if elected, he will
govern by these same attributes
The three candidates say, "The
strength of a united city will
continue to give these candidates
the confidence to proceed with the
progress that thus far has been
quite evident at a time when some
other entities are not progressing
due to poor administrative
guidance and economic reasons
When asked about his decision to
run again for mayor, Saenz said,
"During my service as City Mayor
and previously as Commissioner, I
have learned that the city of Roma
is a b:g entity that requires
responsible and trustworthy lead-
ership
"I am honest, able and expert
enced in leadership skills neces
sary t0 guide our city effectively,
and efficiently with maximum
productivity as a goal I assure all
citizens that I am willing to take on
the challenge to continue ad
ministering and guiding the city
during its ever increasing popula-
tion and economic growth "
Saenz, besides being mayor, is
also a charter member of the
Roma Lions Club, a Fourth Degree
Knight of Columbus and treasurer
of the K.C. organization; past
president of the CMC in Roma,
former chairman of the South
Texas Development Council, a
gubernatorial appointee to the
South Texas Region Community
Development block grant review
committee, a member of the
Private Industry Council, of the
Industrial Foundation, and a past
member of the Roma Housing
Authority Board
Saenz is married to the former
Maria Lydia Gonzalez of Rio
Grande City and they have three
sons, Omar Isaac. Jose Miguel, and
Juan Carlos Saenz He is a
graduate of Roma High School, and
graduated from Pan American
University with a B A degree He
is owner of Saenz Mini-Mart in the
Los Saenz section of Roma
Garcia is currently Business
Manager for the Roma ISD He is a
graduate of Texas A&I University
with an M S degree in Science and
Administration He has taught in
Roma for the past 21 years, and
has served as vice principal, cur-
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Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 12, 1987, newspaper, February 12, 1987; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195067/m1/1/: accessed May 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.