The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 12, 1987 Page: 1 of 12

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127 Rail Road~
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THE RIO GRANDE HERM
IflMttU
Serving Starr County For Five Decades
L.F.D.
Specials
P^s. 8,9
Published in Rio Grande City, Texas, Every Thursday By The Rio Grande Publishing Co.
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NO. 1 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1987
FIFTEEN CENTS
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Commissioners Focus
On Highway Progress
Ysa Gonzalez, left, and Melissa Gonzalez were the two
Starr County 4-H'ers presented the "1 Dare You" awards
at the Achievement Awards Banquet Sunday. The award
commends the 4-H'ers for growth, leadership, personal
development, and community service.
By KENNETH ROBERTS
The County Commissioners, at
their regular meeting Monday,
learned about the progress of
various highway construction pro-
jects in Starr County from officials
of the Texas Highway Department.
District Engineer G.G. Garcia
and Resident Engineer Frederic
Pacheco were present at the
meeting at the request of the
commissioners, particularly Pre-
cinct Two Commissioner Amando
Pena of Roma, who expressed deep
concern about the condition of FM
649 near El Sauz.
Pena complained, "The worst
part is about five or six miles south
of El Sauz. There's no shoulder,
and the road is narrow." The road,
he lamented, becomes a rail
hazard during times of rain.
Garcia said, "The road is well
maintained. Out of 2700 miles of
Id Achievement
ds Banquet
The annual Starr County 4-H
Achievement Awards Program was
held at the Rio Grande City High
School cafeteria on Sunday.
The District Council President,
Bobby Garcia, was introduced, as
was the guest speaker, Ned Meister
of Corpus Christi, who is a field
representative of the Texas Farm
Bureau.
Roy Cantu was named as Out-
standing Friend of 4-H for his long
support of 4-H activities. In
particular, he was recognized for
his work in helping bring about the
new County Fair facility.
Tissa Peterson of Rio Grande
City and Maria Lilia Trevino of San
Isidro were named as Outstanding
4-H Adult Leaders of the Year.
A number of businesses and
citizens from Starr County were
presented Friends of 4-H Awards
Such an award was presented to
The Rio Grande Herald, and
Managing Editor Kenneth Roberts
accepted the award on behalf of
The Herald
The three 4-H'ers who were
recently presented Gold Star A-
wards, the highest county 4-H
award, were recognized. They are:
Linda Diana Guerra of Rio Grande
City, Felix "Felo" Garza of San
Isidro, and Lori Lynn Peterson of
Rio Grande City
The 1987 County Record Book
project awards recipients were
recognized, as follows:
Seniors- Clothing, Miros Re-
quenez; Breads, Linda Diana
Guerra; Home Management,
Arnoldo Gonzalez 111; Citizenship,
Jesse Guerra; Beef, Felix Garza;
Health, Ysa Gonzalez; Achieve-
ment, Lori Peterson; Foods and
Nutrition, Melissa Gonzalez;
Safety, Douglas Anderson
Juniors- Rabbits, Guy Peterson,
Rabbits, Edward Ali Gonzalez;
Sheep. Amy Gonzalez; Sheep, Dina
Mae Trevino; Sheep, Ramon
Alvarez; Sheep, Rodolfo Garza;
Beef, Sara Narro; Beef, Ryan
1 W*
C Mm
Guillen.
The 1987 District Record Book
project awards recipients were
recognized as follows:
Seniors- Clothing, Miros Re-
quenez; Breads, Linda Diana
Guerra; Home Management-
Arnoldo Gonzalez III; Citizenship,
Jesse Guerra; Beef, Felix Garza;
Health, Ysa Gonzalez; Achieve-
ment, Lori Peterson; Foods And
Nutrition, Melissa Gonzalez.
The State Record Book project
awards recipients were noted:
Seniors- Linda Diana Guerra,
Breads, third place; Arnoldo
Gonzalez III, Home Management,
second place; Ysa Gonzalez,
Health, first place; Lori Peterson,
Achievement, top 10; Melissa
Gonzalez, Foods and Nutrition, top
10.
Ysa Gonzalez, the State Health
Record Book winner from Starr
County, has been selected from the
Texas delegation to be the official
flag bearer to carry the Texas flag
at the National Congress
Assemblies. She will be traveling to
Chicago with the Texas delegation
in December to compete with her
record book at the National 4-H
Congress.
The following 4-H'ers were pres-
ented with Junior Leader Awards.
These 4-H'ers were recognized as
having shown exceptional
leadership skills throughout the
year: Felix Garza, Roxanne
Alaniz, Melissa Gonzalez, Lori
Peterson, Ysa Gonzalez, Humberto
Garza, Douglas Anderson, Melissa
Pena, Willie Gonzalez, Linda
Guerra, Mirosalva Requenez,
Nydia Sepulveda, Jesse Guerra.
The top County Food Show
recipients were recognized as
(See 4-H'ERS, Page 4)
such roads within our district, 1400
miles lack shoulders. We have been
frying to rehabilitate narrow roads.
We've been concentrating on such
roads with heaviest traffic."
Garcia concluded, "Traffic on 649
has decreased since 1980," from
approximately 430 vehicles per day
in 1980 to 300 per day in 1987.
Garcia told the commissioners,
"U.S. 83 is our highest priority in
Starr County. We have $12 million
set aside for that." He indicated
that the Highway Department had
just gone out on bids for the first
stretch of U.S. 83, from the Fort
Ringgold entrance to just past the
motel. South Texas Construction
was the low bidder, at approxi-
mately $1.3 million.
The District Engineer said, "Un-
til last week, we had widened 14 of
39 miles of FM 755 in Starr County.
Last week, we took bids on another
10 miles, at approximately $1.3
million," on FM 755 from a few
miles northeast of Rio Grande City
to past the highway leading to
McCook.
About FM 649, Garcia com-
mented, "If our funding continues
at the same level for some years,
we will be able to do something
about roads such as FM 649, and
widen the road to 24 feet. We ought
to continue working on the road
(FM 755) with the heaviest traffic.
FM 649 is well maintained, but it is
narrow.'.'-
Pena contended, "649 is the
closest route to San Antonio. It is
more important to our area. It
should have been taken care of. It
at least needs some caliche."
Garcia responded, "It would take
up to $5 million to widen it up to 28
feet, with two 12-foot lanes and two
two-foot shoulders. You take the
money you have and apply it where
the need is greatest. FM 755 is
carrying maybe 2>/i times the
amount of traffic."
Garcia contended, "If there are
problems out there, we don't think
it is because of the condition of the
road. Twenty-five miles of FM 755
in Brooks County still need to be
widened."
Garcia stressed, "We get a
certain amount of funding for
rehabilitation; we determine where
the needs are greatest. Going from
two to four lanes are prioritized
statewide."
The District Engineer added,
"We have consultants working on
the other parts of U.S. 83. Next
year, we can go with four lanes up
to the railroad track, rather than
up to the top of the hill," as
planned before.
Resident Engineer Frederic
Pacheco said, "The main problem
we've found here is getting
abstract work done. Such work
should start pretty soon, problems
(within the abstract company)
have been worked out."
Precinct Three Commissioner
Eloy Garza had asked when right
of ways would be acquired for the
last 14 miles of U.S. 83 to the
Hidalgo County Line.
Pacheco continued, "A lot of
legwork has to be done, such as
title research. Then comes ap-
praisals." Garcia stressed, "Our
highest priority in the district right
now is IT S. 83."
County Judge J.M. Martinez
said, "We need to anticipate how
much you'll need from us, and
when you'll need it."
Garcia indicated, "I don't see
that we'll be in position to make
any offers prior to October. Slope
easements can be done at a
minimum. The rest of it out from
the railroad tracks is where $1
million in right of ways is needed,
with $100,000 needed from the
county."
Pacheco emphasized "At least
eight to :0 months will be the
period required (for right of way
acquisition).
Judge Martinez asked, "How
about starting our allocation in the
next liscal year?" Pacheco said,
"Perhaps you could allocate in
halves; at some point, we need the
money."
Garcia said, "That would at least
enable us to get the work going. We
could inform you of the balance. A
total of $50,000 should be sufficient
until Oct. 1."
Martinez stressed the need to
speed up the process, saying that
"we've had one more fatality at
that intersection in Grulla " Pre-
cinct One Commissioner "Chema"
Alvarez commented, "Your infor-
mation this morning was very
good."
Garcia concluded, "We'll do
everything we an to move this
project (U.S. 83) as soon as
possible from our end."
About FM 649, Pacheco com-
mented, "FM 755 can handle any
load, while FM 649 is a legal load
zone. Only 58,000 pound legal loads
or less can go through."
Ted Miller of Pan-Tex, the
Edinburg firm overseeing the con-
struction of the Roma port '"acili
ties project, gave a progress
report. He noted that Retaining
Wall C is 100 percent complete,
with Retaining Wall D well in
(See HIGHWAY. Page 3|
Starr County Voters
Support Betting
Trustees Focus On
Land, Insurance Issues
B\ KENNETH ROBERTS
Wednesday night's regular mon-
thly meeting of the Rio Grande
City CISD board of trustees was
highlighted by discussion about
acquisition of land for a new
elementary school, and how to deal
with the health insurance needs of
district employees.
Concerning the land matter,
trustee Leonel "Nene" Lopez of the
board's Land Committee said,
"They (the Industrial Foundation)
are working on a proposal to get
the (EDA) grant, to have the sewer
and water up to the property, and
the streets paved. We'll be able to
put a package together that would
cost the district less than antici-
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Josefina Gonzalez, right, of Rio Grande City is a $1000
winner in H.E.B.'s ongoing Wheel of Fortune promotion.
Not pictured is Maria Teresa Mayorga of Rio Grande
City, a $100 winner. Standing to Gonzalez's left is H.E.B.
local manager Juan I.opez. Gonzalez, who is married to
Jose Gonzalez, is the mother of five children, and said
she plans to use her winnings to purchase Christmas
gifts for her children.
pa ted."
Lopez added, "We should know
something next week as to the
acquisition of easements. Every-
thing looks positive; if we get these
easements soon, we should be able
to start the project."
The 10 acres of land discussed by
Lopez, and owned currently by the
Industrial Foundation, is located on
the north side of the planned
industrial park.
Trustee Eloy R. Garcia con-
tended, "At least 3.7 acres of this is
flood-prone, according to an engi-
neering study by Vera Engi-
neering It's going to take a lot of
time and effort to level it, and I
wonder if we can do justice to it. I
don't think we should limit
ourselves to one piece of land."
Lopez countered, "The maps
'rom the government didn't in-
uicate this." Garcia retorted, "I
know that land is flood-prone. The
more housing there is, the more
flood-prone it will become "
Lopez said, "The roads to be
built would be way above the
flood-prone area." Garcia insisted
that the "Montalvo property"
nearby would have been a better
choice, but Board president Rafael
Carrera said, "It (that property) is
on a hill."
Garcia argued, "We can't depend
on all these if's; we need to act for
what's best for the school district. I
wouldn't want to see a school right
next to a big industrial park "
A consensus was reached that the
matter would await final resolution
at a later time, especially after
definitive word comes from the
Industrial Foundation At their Oct
12 meeting, the trustees voted
tentatively to acquire 10 acres of
land from the Industrial Founda-
tion, pending the obtaining of
necessary easements and checking
for whether the area is flood-prone
Eloy Garcia kicked off discussion
on the health insurance policies for
district employees He indicated
that Joseph Jobbs of San Antonio, a
consultant enlisted by the district,
felt that Diversified, of the seven
insurance companies offering
proposals, "had the best deal by
$8000 per month."
Superintendent Dr. A E. Garcia
said, "It came down to Blue
Cross/Blue Shield, and
Diversified."
Eloy Garcia contended. "Blue
Cross would cost us over $87,000
per month." Carrera asked, "What
about benefits?" Garcia responded,
"They're basically the same for all
companies."
Noe Sanchez of Rio Grande City,
advocating the Boston Mutual plan,
(See TRUSTEES. Page 3>
In last Tuesday's election that
featured balloting on three refer-
endums and 25 proposed amend-
ments to the Texas Constitution,
Starr County voters overwhelming-
ly okayed pari-mutuel betting on
horse racing, including on a local
option basis.
In Tuesday's election, Starr
County voters gave their approval
to 24 of 25 proposed amendments to
the Texas Constitution. The only
amendment rejected was Proposi-
tion Two (which passed statewide),
which authorized counties with
populations over 400,000 to levy
rates not more than six cents per
$100 valuation for rural fire preven-
tion districts.
Starr County voters okayed
pari-mutuel wagering on a
statewide basis, by a vote of 568 to
127. They approved pari-mutuel
betting on a local option basis, by a
vote of 574 to 123.
The vote in the local option
balloting was broken down by
precinct as follows:
Precinct One (Multi-Purpose
Center), 35-10 in favor; Precinct
Two (North Grammar), 31-1 in
favor; Precinct Three (Roque
Guerra), 116-35 in favor; Precinct
Four (San Isidro), 66-7 in favor;
Precinct Five (El Sauz), 7-4
against; Precinct Six (Roma),
132-40 in favor Precinct Seven
(Salineno), 15-7 in favor; Precinct
Eight (La Union), 29-4 in favor;
Precinct Nine (Grulla), 93-4 in
favor; Precinct Ten, 19-4 in favor;
Absentee Vote, 34-4 in favor.
By a vote of 361 to 309, Starr
County voters opposed electing
members of the State Board of
Education by popular vote.
The countywide vote on the 25
proposed constitutional amend-
ments is indicated as follows:
Proposition One (guarantee for
grain warehouse fund), 467-136 in
favor; Proposition Two (creation of
rural fire districts), 302-298
against; Proposition Three (ad
valorem tax exemption for spouse
(See BETTING, Page 4)
Rep. Rangel Announces
Candidacy For Re-Election
State Representative Irma
Rangel who has served 11 years in
Texas Legislature, has announced
her plans to seek re-election to the
House of Representatives
Rangel, a Kingsville attorney
who has served as an educator for
14 years, said her legislative
experiences will continue to play
key roles for District 37, which
includes Kleberg, Kenedy, Brooks,
Willacy, Starr, and the Northern
section of Cameron County.
In 1981 due to redistricting,
Representative Rangel's district
expanded to include Starr County.
"I am very proud to represent this
area since my mother was born
and raised in Roma I have many
relatives throughout this county"
Rangel said.
The Texas Legislature meets
every two years on odd numbered
years for 140 days. "The Texas
Legislature is no place for on-the-
job training if SOuth Texas is to
continue being a political force,"
Rangel said. "South Texas has
seen tremendous improvements in
public and higher education in the
past few years and we cannot risk
losing those gains to inexperienced
politicians."
Rangel has served five years on
the Higher Education Committee,
which shapes laws that affect all
Texas universities and colleges,
including Texas A&I University in
Kingsville and Pan American Uni-
versity in Edinburg, and the Texas
State Technical Insitute in Harl-
ingen.
Quality education for our chil-
dren is the best chance that will
have if they are to succeed in life
and help themselves, their farm
lies, and their communities reach
their potentials." Rangel said "I
have committed myself to im
proving public and higher educa
tion opportunities for all South
Texans."
Rangel. who is co-legal counsel of
the Mexican American Caucus,
said that she worked with the
group to change public school
formulas that raised teacher
salaries and provided more than
$200 million in extra state aid for
South Texas schools since 1984
She indicated that she was a key
advocate for adequate state fund-
ing for Texas A&I and Pan
American Universities, as well as
the Texas State Technical Insitute,
despite a tight state budget which
faced lawmakers this year. Rangel
said she has also played a visible
role in trying to upgrade the
University Systems in South Texas
Rangel was the first Hispanic
woman elected to the lexas
Legislature In addition to working
in the Higher Education Commit
tee, she also serves as vice
chairperson of the House Judicial
Committee and is on the House
Adminstration Committee
HKaui!'I**«u.
Rep. Irma Hangel
She has also been on other kev
Transportation Committee, the Se-
curity and Sanctions Committee,
the Business and Industry Com
mittee and the Social Service
Committer'. duri'ifi her eleven ll>
ears in the House of Texas
Representatives
In 1977 and 1979, President
Carter appointed Representatives
Rangel to the Judicial Nominating
Panel for the U S Court of Appeals
for the Fifth Circuit.