The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 45, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 15, 1988 Page: 4 of 8
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Starr Whitewing Season Rated Subpar
RIO GRANDE HERALD RIO GRANDE CITV, TEXAS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER IS, 19M PACE 4
The two-weekend whitewing
hunting season in Starr County was
generally subpar, due to the
lengthy drought and also untimely
rains the first day of the season.
That is the assessment offered by
local Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department Game Warden
Guillermo Gonzalez. The game
warden stated, "Only a handful of
hunters reached their limits with
whitewings...There were scattered,
not steady and continuous, flights
of birds. If you found them
(whitewings), you found them in
concentrations in isolated areas."
Gonzalez said, "The (whitewing)
dove hunting went poorly, as a
whole. The shooting the first day
(Saturday, Sept. 3) was decent
before the rains. The rains came
and really scattered the birds."
Gonzalez added that when the
skies cleared on Sunday, Sept. 4,
gusty winds came and scattered
the bird populations to an even
greater extent.
About the second weekend,
Gonzalez said, "The shooting im-
proved considerably this past
weekend, but the majority of the
birds were mourning doves. There
weren't that many whitewings, but
in fact very few."
The game warden said that he
attributes the problems mostly to
the lengthy drought. He added,
"The drought really gave a beating
to the nesting areas...The drought
really hurt the birds."
Gonzalez added, however, that
"there were plenty of hunters in
this county, as many as last year.
The first weekend, I met groups
from Oklahoma and Louisiana, as
well as a lot of hunters from San
Antonio, Midland, Houston, Dallas,
and Fort Worth."
PUBLIC NOTICE
BRIEF EXPLANATORY STATEMENTS
OF PROPOSED
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
GENERAL EJECTION
NOVEMBER 8, 1988
PROPOSITION NO. 1
ON THE BALLOT
Senate Joint Resolution 8 pro-
poses a constitutional amendment
providing that when the federal
government reimburses the state for
expenditures of state funds dedicat-
ed to acquiring rights-of-way and
for constructing, maintaining, and
policing public roadways, such fed-
eral funds must also be used for
those purposes.
The proposed amendment will ap-
pear on the ballot as follows:
"The constitutional amendment
and/or clarification providing
that federal reimbursement of
state highway dedicated funds are
themselves dedicated for the pur-
pose of acquiring rights-of-way
and constructing, maintaining, and
policing public roadways."
PROPOSITION NO. 2
ON THE BALLOT
House Joint Resolution 2 proposes
a constitutional amendment to estab-
lish an economic stabilization fund
in the state treasury. The fund
would consist of one half of the un-
encumbered balance of general rev-
enues at the end of a biennium and
three fourths of the difference
between the net oil and gas produc-
tion taxes received in a fiscal year
and the net oil and gas production
taxes received in the 1987 fiscal
year. During any fiscal biennium,
the amount in the economic stabili-
zation fund could not exceed 10% of
the total deposited in general reve-
nue in the preceding biennium.
The state comptroller and the
state treasurer could decide to trans-
fer monies from the fund into the
general revenue fund to alleviate a
temporary cash shortage in general
revenue. The legislature could make
appropriations from the fund on ap-
proval by a three fifths vote of each
house to make up the difference
between anticipated general revenue
and appropriations. On approval of
two thirds of the members of each
house of the legislature, the legisla-
ture could appropriate monies from
the fund for any purpose.
The proposed amendment will ap-
pear on the ballot as follows:
"The constitutional amendment
establishing an economic stabili-
zation fund in the state treasury
to be used to offset unforeseen
shortfalls in revenue."
PROPOSITION NO. 3
ON THE BALLOT
House Joint Resolution 5 pro-
poses a constitutional amendment
that establishes the Texas growth
fund. All investments of the Texas
growth fund must be directly re-
lated to furthering economic growth
and employment opportunities in
Texas. At least 50 percent of the
fund must be invested in equity
and/or debt security for the initial
construction, expansion, or moderni-
zation of business or industrial fa-
cilities in Texas. Not more than ten
percent of the fund may be invested
in venture capital investments. Of
the funds available for venture cap-
ital investments, not more than 25
percent may be invested unilateral-
ly, and the remaining investments
must be matched at least equally by
funds from other sources. The Texas
Gonzalez expressed the opinion
that next year's whitewing season
should be the beneficiary of more
abundant bird populations if Starr
County and the Valley receive
adequate rainfall.
INDIAN
WORD
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The
word "caucus" dates to 1763, says
"Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dic-
tionary."
It says it is thought "caucus" pro-
bably came into English from an
Algonquian Indian word, "caucauas,"
meaning counselor or one who advises
or encourages.
During the time of the American
Revolution, many secret clubs and
associations in New England took In-
dian names or used Indian words to be
able to talk openly about association
business.
growth fund will be managed by a
board of trustees consisting of four
members appointed by the Governor
and one member from ind elected by
the membership of each of the fol-
lowing: The Board of Regents of the
University of Texas System; The
Board of Regents of the Texas A&M
System; The Board of Trustees of
the Teacher's Retirement System of
Texas; The Board of Trustees of the
Employee's Retirement System of
Texas; and the State Board of Edu-
cation. The trustees may set the in-
vestment policy of the fund, enter
into investment contracts, and take
any action necessary for the crea-
tion, administration, and protection
of the fund. The amendment autho-
rizes the Board of Regents of the
University of Texas System and the
State Board of Education, in man-
aging the permanent university, fund
and the permanent school fund, to
acquire, exchange, sell, supervise,
manage, or retain any kind of in-
vestment, including investments in
the Texas growth fund. The fund
will be phased out after the tenth
anniversary of its creation, but the
Legislature may create a second
growth fund by a two thirds vote of
each house.
The proposed amendment will ap-
pear on the ballot as follows:
"The constitutional amendment
to provide for the investment of
the permanent university fund,
the permanent school fund, and
public employee retirement sys-
tems in the Texas growth fund
created by the amendment, which
will directly create, retain, and
expand job opportunity and eco-
nomic growth in Texas."
Estos son los informea explnno-
torio.i sobre las enmiendas propu-
estas a la constitucidn que aparcu-
re ran en la boleta el dia 8 de
novicmbre de 1988. Si usted no ha
recibid > una copia de log informes
en esjranol, podra obtener una gratis
por llamar al 1 /800/252/8683 o por
escribir al Secret aria de Estado,
P.O. Box 12060, Austin, Texas
78711.
Subscription Rates
ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION
IN STARR COUNTY $1570
OUT OF STARR COUNTY 11875
Mail Subscription Orders to:
RIO GRANDE HERALD
P.O.Box 452
Rio Grande City, T*.78582
NAME-
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE
ZIP
RIO GRANDE HERALD
P.O.Box 452 109A Britton Ave. 487-2819
Rio Grande City, Tx. 78582
$
ytffJSr
members of the 4-H Livestock Project Committee are pictured above
; the registration activities at the County Fairgrounds Monday night.
County Okays 1988 Tax Rate
u
The County Commissioners voted
on Friday to maintain the same tax
rate for 1988 as in 1987, thus
resulting in an approximate in-
crease of seven percent from the
effective calculated tax rate.
County Judge J.M. Martinez, Jr.,
rioted that the rate of .5778 per $100
valuation would be broken down as
follows: County, .3898; Farm To
Market and Flood Control, .1450;
Interest and Sinking, .0430.
Precinct Two Commissioner
Amando Pena moved, seconded by
Precinct Three Commissioner Eloy
Garza, that the rate of .5778 be
adopted. The motion passed
without dissent.
Tax Assessor-Collector Maria
Ofelia Saenz asked, "The exemp-
tions will remain the saem as last
year." The commissioners pro-
ceeded to pass a motion to that
effect.
Saenz noted that the exemptions
include a $3000 exemption for
disabled persons, the regular $3000
homestead exemption deducted
from Farm to Market and Flood
Control, and an additional $3000
homestead exemption for persons
65 years of age or older. The latter
exemption comes out of the Gener-
al Fund.
Precinct Four Commissioner
Reynaldo "Moreno" Alaniz said, "I
was called by two oil companies.
One of them said they would pay
early if there is a discount."
Pena insisted, "This would cost
$50,000 to $60,000." Alaniz com-
mented, "Let's see how much
money we would gain or lose...You
get it back in interest."
The Tax Assessor-Collector said,
"We need to have that now,
because I'm going to contact the
preparers of the tax roll." Martinez
commented, "In the past, we have
been pressed for money in the first
two months of the fiscal year."
Alaniz concluded, "If we get 50
percent of the money from the oil
companies, I think we'll gain
money." Martinez suggested.
"Maybe this will help our collection
rate."
Pena argued, "We cannot afford
to lose anything. We need to save,
but we also need the money."
Saenz told the commissioners
that a decision could be delayed
until the meeting three days later
Martinez suggested, "Maybe we
can get the opinion of our CPA."
• •
• I
expenses by Commissioner Garza."
Garza asked, "What about Little
League and the concession stand?"
Margo replied, "It can be done
for a six-month period." Garza
questioned, "How will the Little
League club be affected?" Margo
responded, "That's up to you ar.d
the Park Board to accept." Perez
said, "The concession stand matter
needs to be okayed by the County
Attorney."
About the concession stand, Pre-
cinct One Commissioner Jose
Maria "Chema" Alvarez sug-
gested, "Our local organizations,
such as the Band, the Fire
Department, and the Quarterback
Club, can help on a percentage
basis." Garza advocated, "Let's
have non-profit organizations only
bid."
The commissioners then voted to
approve the recommendations
made by the Park Board.
At the beginning of the meeting,
the commissioners resumed a
discussion, from the previous Fri-
day, about whether to grant
discounts of three percent in
October, two percent in November,
and one percent in December for
early payment of taxes.
Precinct Two Commissioner
Amando Pena insisted, "I favor
giving discounts, but I believe that
in this case, the county cannot
afford to lose a penny. My
projections say that the county
would lose between $80,000 and
$90,000,"
Alvarez asked, "How much
money have we been getting in
October without discounts?" Audi-
tor Jose Guadalupe Villarreal said,
"Any company who pays early,
their money would be deposited
and earn interest. By court order,
we cannot borrow from the bank
As of now, we can meet the payroll
and pay our payables."
Alvarez insisted, "I would like to
see the taxpayers have the dis-
count, and not see the advantage
go to the oil companies. The court
should not give any break to the oil
companies They're trying to make
our local taxpayers go on
hardship."
Precinct Four Commissioner
Reynaldo "Moreno" Alaniz said,
"Exxon and Texaco said they
would not pay early without a
discount." Tax Assessor-Collector
Maria Ofelia Saenz indicated that
last year, Conoco and Exxon paid
in November, and Texaco and
Tenneco paid in December She
said that Sun and Shell did not pay
until January.
Alaniz favored the idea of a
discount, saying that "if they all
pay early, we will make some
money with interest." Pena coun-
tered, "They have to pay by the
end of the year to take advantage
of the income tax. We should not
give in."
Alvarez agreed with Pena, in-
sisting that "they (the oil compa-
nies) have done the same thing the
past 12 years We can tighten our
belts and go with a skeleton crew "
County Judge J.M. Martinez, Jr ,
said, "I'm looking at all taxpayers,
period. I feel that as a gesture of
good will, we should offer this
^Discount-
C.oiiliniK'd From Page 1
option. I don't think that the loss to
the county would be that signifi-
cant."
Pena contended, "Very few peo-
ple would take advantage of this.
The money is needed for more
services." Pena moved, seconded
by Garza, that the idea of a
discount be rejected. The motion
passed with Alvarez's support, but
Judge Martinez voted no and
Alaniz voted to abstain.
Margo told the court, "We spoke
to Dillon and Reed (the Dallas-
based bond advisory firm working
on the Roma port facilities
expansion) about the registered
letter that you received about Aug.
25. It is their contention that we
should receive the old rent (from
GSA), plus $1."
Villarreal said he was prepared
to help in this matter, but first
needs information in writing
Bridge Manager Ernesto Trevino
told the court, "We've been having
a pretty fair month as far as toll
collections are concerned. Collec-
tions were $17,130 more than
August of last year. The total in
August of last year was $61,544."
Concerning the status of the
grant from the Farmers Home
Administration for work on part of
the Roma port facilities expansion,
Margo said, "We met with Mr
Armando Oliviera (of FmHA)
about the $325,000 we'll be acquir-
ing from the Farmers Home
Administration for the port facili-
ties."
Margo added, "Everything
seems to have been approved, and
we're waiting for the paperwork. It
will probably be Oct. 1 when we get
the green light."
Margo told the court that under a
new contract with the Texas
Department of Commerce, the
commissioners needed to authorize
the Judge to execute the contract
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for rural paving with Vera Engi
neering. The commissioners pro-
ceeded to take this action. Margo
noted that the contract with Vera
amounts to $15,878.
Nicolas Rios, supervisor of the
Child Protective Services depart
ment of the Texas Department of
Human Resources, addressed the
court. He said, "I'm looking at
developing a contract between the
Department and the county," to
develop a child welfare board. Rios
added, "This would insure that
children who are abused or
neglected will be cared for."
Rios said, "I would like the
budget to be arranged to pay
money up front to the foster
parents. The state would reimburse
the money...What I'm proposing is
that money be paid to the foster
parents up front, and the state
would reimburse later. We pay an
average of $9489 per month."
Rios noted that there is only one
foster home in Starr County at the
present time. He said that a total of
13 youths from Starr County are
receiving foster care, three of them
in institutions."
Rios said that to raise funds, the
local TDHS has tried fund-raising
activities such as dances. He
added, "We're proposing a total of
$15,000," with the remaining $5000
a year to cover expenses such as
medical care.
Pena moved that $15,000 be
allocated for this purpose, $5000 of
it on an annual basis.
Rios explained to The Rio
Grande Herald, "A total of $5000
would be allocated annually. A
total of $10,000 would be allocated
at the beginning of each month We
bill through the state office, and
they (the county) are reimbursed
two to three weeks later. They
don't get reimbursed for non-U.S
citizens."
I I
I
> I
•> t
o •
Nuclear Fuel
Arrives F or STNP
Nuclear fuel for the South Texas
Project Unit 2 began arriving this
week This is in preparation for
loading the fuel into the unit's
reactor in December.
Richard Verret, vice president
and chief engineering officer for
Central Power and Light Company,
said the fuel is being shipped by
truck from a Westinghouse nuclear
fuels plant in Columbia, South
Carolina.
Each delivery truck carries four
specially designed containers with
two fuel assemblies in each ship-
ment. Shipments will continue over
the next three months.
Each assembly holds a 14-foot
long bundle of 264 fuel rods, and
each rod holds 317 thimble-sized
uranium dioxide ceramic pellets
Each reactor in the twin unit
plant holds 193 assemblies. The
first unit began commercial opera-
tion in August and is now running
at 100 percent power. Unit 2 is
more than 98 percent complete.
"Each pellet inside the fuel rods
will produce the energy equivalent
of one ton of coal, 157 gallons, of
gasoline or 149 gallons of oil,"
Verret said. "The fuel cost savings
during STP's 40-year lifetime are
expected to be significant It is
projected that the low cost of
nuclear fuel will remain relatively
constant while costs of other fuels
are expected to rise "
The new reactor fuel is essen-
tially non-radioactive and is
handled without shielding In fact,
a person would have to stand
against a new fuel assembly for 24
hours to get the same radiation as
a single chest X ray would pro-
duce.
On August 29, Unit 2 produced its
first electricity, sending 100,000
kilowatts for a short time to the
South Texas electric grid
The electricity was produced
during the unit's hot functional
testing which has just been com-
pleted During this lest of 80
percent of the unit's systems, heat
is produced using the four
8,000-horse power
) •
t)
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Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 45, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 15, 1988, newspaper, September 15, 1988; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195150/m1/4/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.