The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 27, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 31, 1990 Page: 1 of 12
twelve pages : ill. ; page 22 x 14 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Hoaa Book Bindery-
i •<- z* f\ a i ] R o 511 j
SPrinaPort, Michigan 49204-
Ramirez Ford
Specials,
Page 12
THE RIO GRANDE HERALD
Published week)/ In Rio Grande City. Teui. every Thursday by The RM) Grande Publishing Co.
H.E.B.
Inserts
Inside
USPS 466-200
Vol. 80, No. 27, Thursday, May 31, 1990
25 Cents
Roma Traffic Congestion
Problems Evaluated At Meeting
The Rio Grande City High School valedictorian and
salutatorian are pictured above. On the left is
valedictorian Leticia Salinas, who has a grade average
of 98.1300. On the right is salutatorian Faustino
Benavidez, Jr., whose grade average is 95.5000.
Commencement exercises for the Rio High senior class
of 1990 are scheduled for Friday at H p.m. at Rattler
Stadium.
By KENNETH ROBERTS
Managing Editor
Officials of ihc Texas Highway
Department and the City of Roma
attempted to hammer out a
consensus with Roma citizens and
businessmen on how to lessen the
growing problem of traffic
congestion in Roma's business
district at a public meeting
Thursday night.
Throughout the meeting, many
Roma citizens and businessmen
expressed sharp opposition to the
idea of turning U.S. Highway 83
and Garcia Street into one-way
thoroughfares.
Highway Department Resident
Engineer Frederic Pacheco said,
"One option is converting U.S. 83
into a one-way street heading east
and converting Garcia Street into a
one-way street headed west."
Pacheco added, "Second, we could
turn U.S. 83 (through Roma's
business district) into a lour-lanc
highway with a left turn lane. But
Rio High Seniors To
Graduate Friday Night
The Rio Grande City High
School Class of 1990 will graduate
Friday night in commencement
exercises at 8 p.m. at Rattler
Stadium.
In the event ol inclement
weather, commencement exercises
will be moved indoors to the High
School Auditorium.
The featured speakers will be
valedictorian Leticia 1. Salinas and
salutatorian Faustino Benavidez, Jr.
Lcticia Salinas, the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs.' Rolando A. Salinas,
Jr., has a lour-ycar grade average of
98.1300. The salutatorian, Faustino
Benavidez, Jr., is the son ol Mr.
and Mrs. Faustino Benavidez and
luis a grade average of 95.5000.
A highlight ol the graduation
exercises will be the awarding ol
scholarships to deserving and
academically outstanding students
by various clubs and organizations.
Robert Garza, the senior class
president, will be the master of
ceremonies.
The presentation ol colors will be
carried out by the Rio Grande City
High School Future Farmers ol
America. The National Anthem
will be played by the High School
Band, with senior class member
Laura Vela leading in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
The invocation will be led by
Ray Ramos, vice-president of the
senior class. The benediction will
be led by DeAnn Peterson,
reporter/parliamentarian.
Certification ol eraduates will be
carried out by Superintendent Dr.
Leobardo Cano, and the Rio Grande
Cits CISD board of trustees will
award the diplomas to the graduates.
Retiring personnel will be
recognized by the superintendent.
Principal Roel Smith said,
"We're hoping that around 300
students will graduate. All but four
seniors passed TEAMS."
About the graduating class,
Smith commented, "It's a very hard
working class and a very unified
group. 1 think the majority will
succeed in some kind of
post-secondary education I Icel they
can do well. There are many good
leaders in the class."
Smith concluded, "I'm very proud
of the graduates, and I'm proud of
the excellent teachers that have
worked with them over the years,
and the parents that have supported
them."
Two Teen Aliens
Rob Loeal Boutique
A Rio Grande City boutique was
robbed Monday afternoon by two
teenagers armed with a handgun.
Sheriff Gene Falcon said that at
3:22 p.m., the Sheriffs Department
was dispatched to Krisiie's Boutique
on Pete Diaz Avenue. He said that
an employee stated that two
unknown individuals, both in their
leens, entered the business and one
ol them pointed a handgun at the
employee.
Sheriff Falcon said, "One did the
talking and the other carried the
weapon." The sheriff said that the
employee was with her infant child
inside the store at the time of the
robbery.
Falcon said, "One subject opened
the cash register and took all the
money present. Very few words
were exchanged. Both suspects ran
toward the river; it was later learned
that they crossed into Mexico."
The sheriff indicated that one of
the teenage young men stood 5 feet,
8 inches tall and the other 5 feet, 2
inches. He said, "One was wearing
a blue shirt and blue jeans. The
other was wearing a yellow shirt
and blue jeans. Both have dark
complexions."
Falcon stressed that the
investigation is continuing He
said, We're working with the
Mexico federal authorities to try to
solve the problems."
Roma High Graduation
Friday Night
the cost of that would be
prohibitive...Third, we can continue
as we arc. That's what has been
causing your problems."
Concerning the idea of a bypass
around the outskirts of Roma,
Pacheco said, "Back in the 1950's,
there was a proposal to build a loop
around Roma and Rio Grande City,
but it was turned down. That would
be very long-range and would take
up to 20 years. You need an
immediate solution to your
problem."
Pacheco indicated, "If the city
officials accept our proposal (for
conversion of Highway 83 and
Garcia Street into one-way
thoroughfares), we would continue
with the project. We're talking
about a cost of close to S2 million,
according to our latest estimates."
He emphasized, "We're here
amicably to participate in this
meeting. The City Council needs
your comments."
Roma ISD trustee Hector Salinas
urged the Highway Department to
"consider the proximity of Garcia
Street to the school."
Homer Gutierrez of the Highway
Department said, "If we expand
(Highway 83) to four lanes, it
would mean wiping out virtually
every home and business along the
highway. We looked at how much
impact there would be on the
.streets, the residences, the schools
and the businesses."
Gutierrez continued, "Now, there
is 44 leet available lor street
improvements on (the south end of)
Garcia Street. The right of way
varies on Garcia Street. Federal
money will be involved on U.S.
Highway 83. We have to meet
certain design standards. The
minimum is two eight-foot
shoulders and two 11-foot lanes."
He added, "We need a minimum
of 54 feet; it shrinks to 44 feet at
the south end of Garcia Street. It
would mean taking four houses and
one business. If we go with what is
desirable, we would go with 12-foot
travel lanes and 10-foot shoulders.
For that, we would need 64 feet of
right of way. In that case, we would
be talking about eight houses."
Gutierrez noted, "An
environmental assessment will need
to be done. Around Bravo Street,
U.S. 83 traffic averages 12,000
vehicles a day. North of that, the
average is 4000 to 6000 vehicles
per day. These figures were 1988
counts. We need room for
appropriate signs. Another major
impact would be noise. We would
need a noise barrier to prevent too
much noise in the schools."
He continued, "There will be slop
signs from all the thru streets.
Where it is warranted, traffic signals
will be installed."
A Roma police officer said,
Much of the traffic around Bravo
Street is sch<x)l traffic, especially in
the afternoon." Lino Perez, III,
owner of Lino's Pharmacy and
former City Commissioner, asked,
"What about the traffic flow going
into the bridge (to Mexico)?"
Pacheco responded, "The traffic
flow (under the one-way plan) will
be more cllicient ami sjfer, and will
clear that intersection more quickly.
The lights would turn on according
to the traffic demand." Perez replied.
"Bravo Street is a very narrow
street."
Hector Salinas stressed, ' We (the
school board members) arc deeply
concerned for the safety of the
(See TRAFFIC, Page 6)
Investigation Continues
Into Guerra Slaying
Ihe Roma High School valedictorian and salutatorian
for 1990 are pictured above. On the left is salutatorian
l.a/aro Abrego, Jr., whose grade average is 96.29. On
the right is > aledictorian Rebecca Garcia, who has a
grade average of 97.08. Commencement exercises will
take place Friday at 7 p.m. at the Roma High School
G vm.
The Sheriffs Department is
continuing to pursue all possible
leads in the murder of a young
woman from Rio Grande City.
The body of Laura G. Guerra, 22,
was found Tuesday morning, May
22 in a brushy area about 300 yards
south of U.S. Highway 83 and
about 150 yards away from the
narrow paved road that is Old U.S.
83 in the western section of Rio
Grande City.
Sherili' Gene Falcon said, "A
resident who lives nearby spotted
the body and callcd the Sheriffs
Department and Constable Cornclio
Alvarez."
Chief
Investigator Guadalupe
Marquez said that Guerra had been
shot once in the temple. He
indicated, "It appears that the shot
was fired from close range."
Marquez said thai in all probability,
a small caliber weapon was used by
the slayer.
Marquez said that the last time
Guerra was seen alive was on
Friday morning, May 18.
The shcrill stressed that
investigation into the murder is
continuing.
San Isidro High
Names Honor Students
San Isidro High School will hold
commencement exercises for the
graduating class of 1990 on Friday
at 7 p.m. at the School
Auditorium.
Vicky Lopez is the valedictorian
lor the class ol 1990. She
completed her four years of high
school with a grade average of
96.8000. She is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Reyes Lopez, Jr., of Santa
Elena.
Nancy Garcia is the salutatorian
and she completed her four years
with an average of 96.3837. She is
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Noel
T. Garcia of La Gloria.
Other honor students in the San
Isidro High School Class of 1990
arc Carmen Ruiz, Debbie Viliarrcal,
Sara \ I i c i a Alvarado, Miros
licquenc/, Myrna dc los Santos,
Vclinda Viliarrcal, Stephanie
Stuart, and Rosario Alvarez.
:jindents th:: graduate as Honor
Students must graduate in the
advanced program and maintain an
average of 90 or above for the four
years.
The high ranking undcrclassmcn
lor San Isidro High School arc
listed as follows: 9th Grade- Hilario
Alvarado III. 100.0000 average;
lOtli Grade Johnny Farias, 94.8667
average; llih Grade- Eduardo
Rainos. 98.8336 average.
!
Vicky Lopez
■ —l$ m>
Nani v Garcia
The commencement exercises for
the graduating seniors of 1990 at
Roma High School is scheduled for
Friday at 7 p.m. at the High School
Gym.
The valedictorian of the class of
'990 is Rebecca Garcia, who has a
grade average of 97.08. The
salutatorian is Lazaro Abrego, Jr.,
who carries a grade average of
96.29.
After the processional, Jaime
Canalcs and Sergio Garza will lead
in paying honor to the flag. The
Roma High Choir, directed by Mrs.
Margot Perez and introduced by
honor student Jesus A. Saenz, will
lead in singing the National
Anthem. The Pledge of Allegiance
will be led by honor student
Claudia Barrera.
The invocation will be led b>
Father Roy Snipes, O.M.I., pastor
of Our Lady of Refuge Church in
Roma. He will be introduced by
honor student Claudia Infante.
The welcome will be given by
Superintendent Eleutcno Garza, Jr,
and Principal Humbcrto Vasqucz
will introduce the Class of 1990
Senior Class President Gustavo
Valcnciana will give greetings on
(See ROMA, Page 8)
Security Finance in Rio (Jrande City held its grand opening ceremonies on
Wednesday morning, May 30. Pictured above cutting the ribbon are Diana Luna of
Laredo, the Branch Supervisor; and Victor Gutierrez, manager. Security Finance,
which has 64 offices in Texas and over 3000 offices throughout the country,
processes loans ranging from $100 to $330.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 27, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 31, 1990, newspaper, May 31, 1990; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195239/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.