The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 14, 1990 Page: 1 of 10
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Lino's
Pharmacy
Specials,
Page 2
THE RIO GRANDE HERALD
PubUahcti weckJy In Rio Graode C y, Ttm every Thursday by The RK> Grande Publishing Co.
H.E.B.
Inserts
Inside
USPS 466-200
Vol. 80, No. 29, Thursday, June 14, 1990
25 Cents
Work on dismantling the old water tower near the Detention Center has been in
progress for several weeks. The county government has indicated for some time that
the decaying old tower is a potential safety hazard. A worker at the site indicated
that the dismantling process should take a couple of more weeks.
Commissioners Focus On
Paving, Endangered Species
By KENNETH ROBERTS
£ \s their regular monthly meeting
Monday, the County
Commissioners focused on the
status of various paving projects
and the potential effects of the
Endangered Species Act upon
animal control efforts and Starr
County farmers and ranchers.
f ederal Program Coordinator
Javier Margo told the court, "On
£ nil.1, 1 707321 (for paving), the
audit is pending. On the present
contract, we arc complete We will
provide the linal estimate within
the next week, with the auditor's
approval He said that the auditor
could provide approval after
accompanying the engineers to
view the project work.
Margo said, "On the grant we
6 received a few months ago, the
environmental assessment has been
approved and wc have the green
light to begin incurring costs."
Engineer Robert Bcatue ol Vera
Engineering indicated, "Entities arc
now to select professional engineers
based on quality and capabilities,
according to state law Alter that,
the fee is to be negotiated."
It was noted that bids had been
submitted by Vera Engineering and
Pena Engineering. After some
discussion, the bid of Vera
Engineering for $16,000 was
approved.
Margo told the commissioners.
This document shows what has
been done in the last three years.
You need to let us know how much
sueet paving needs to be done under
the new grant application."
Margo added, "We received a
letter last week letting us know
what is needed for the EDA grant
application. We should have
everything completed this week.
We just need authorization to meet
again with EDA in the near future."
The commissioners proceeded to
provide such authorization
The application to the Economic
Development Administration is for
a SI.2 million grant to construct
the infrastructure (mainly water and
sewage) at the prospecuve privately
operated detention facility, if such a
facility should become a reality lor
Starr County.
Martin Mcndoza of the Texas
(Juerra, Perez Winners
in Union Water Election
The elections Saturday lor two flannel H Guerra, who served on
board of director position-, for
Union Water Supply Corporation
resulted in the election of two
newcomers.
Eino Perez received 296 votes to
."116 lor incumbent Victoria Vera.
the hoard for a number of years
until ll>NX. received 278 votes to
219 for Elias Lopez.
Perez and Guerra will serve
two-year terms on the board of
directors.
Rio 4-H Leader Receives
Special Recognition
COLLEGE STATION- A 4-H
volunteer leader from Starr County
was among 30 honored on
Wednesday. June 6 at the 1990
Stale 411 Roundup at Texas A&M
University.
Jewel Tissa Peterson of Rio
Grande City received the Texas 4-H
Salute to Excellence Award
Tissa Peterson
provided by the Texas 4-H
Foundation, the service
organization of the Texas
Agricultural Extension Service 4-H
Youth Development program.
For 15 years, Peterson has
provided leadership for 4-H ers in
Starr County, helping young
people to improve their self-esteem
and develop leadership abilities. She
was instrumental in building a
strong and productive county
council
Peterson was the person most
responsible for organizing the
citizenship project group that
established the Hand in Hand
program reaching out to the elderly
in the county.
She is a member of the County
Fair Association, the Rattler
Boosters Club and other
community activities. She is also
Sunday School teacher of the
Women Missionary Unii at First
Baptist Church and Vacation Bible
School director
Escobares Citizens Ask Court
Eor Increased Police Protection
Animal Damage Control
Commission briefed the
commissioners on the effort to
control predators, especially in the
midst of the rabies epidemic.
Mendoza said, "In the month of
May, a number of ranches were
worked. He (the trapper) continues
to monitor the landfills. Several
farmers complained ol crop damage
from deer and javclinas."
Mendoza noted, "Myself and the
state director met with a biologist
and the regional director to
determine the program's potential
impact on two endangered cats (the
ocelot and the jagaurundi). There
have been no firm conclusions
reached."
Judge Martinez commented,
"This is serious. This could
eliminate brush eradication and
cultivalion in most of the county.
Wc should be alert for further
developments."
Commissioner Jose Maria
"Chcma" Alvarez insisted, "These
things would hurt our farmers and
ranchers. Wc need to comment
before this is done." Both he and
Commissioner Eloy Garza
contended that the interest of Starr
County citizens, especially farmers
and ranchers, should carry a higher
priority than the well-being ol these
animals.
Mcndoza stressed, "Wc need an
official opinion," before any action
is taken.
International Bridge Manager
Ernesto Trcvino informed the court,
"Wc had a good month. Our toll
revenues were S77,73o. That's an
increase of SI8,208 over last year.
We expect that trend to continue.'
Toll receipts lor May 1990
totaled $77,736.50, an increase ol
$18,208 from the total receipts of
S59.528.50 in May 1989.
Trcvino suggested, "We should
look into purchasing a scale to
weigh the freight trucks."
Judge Martinez indicated, "The
Mexico side will increase their tolls
(See PAVING, Page 7|
Public Library
Offering
Free GED
Classes
Free GED classes will be offered
at the Starr County Public Library
starting Monday, June 18
Nate Fultf will instruct the class
from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday through
Friday. To register, call 48"7 4389,
and a personal interview will be
scheduled for Friday, June 15.
The class will be limited due to
space availability Persons
interested in registering arc urged to
call as soon as possible
By KENNETH ROBERTS
Numerous citizens from the
Escobarcs area came before the
Commissioners' Court on Monday
to plead that an increased law
enforcement presence in their area is
essential to deal with a worsening
crime situation.
Roque Rosalcs, a teacher at Rio
Grande City High School, noted
that numerous citizens of the
Escobares area had prepared and
signed a petition to present to the
commissioners.
Ruperto Escobar, speaking on
behalf of the group, told the court
"Our concern is for the safety of our
people. Our population has grown
in tremendous proportions (in only
the last few years). There are many
new homes and roads in our
community now."
Escobar emphasized, "There is
rampant disobedience of the law and
open, reckless and frequent
speeding. There have been at least
six homicides in the last 24
months. People arc firing guns at
random even during daylight hours,
not to mention at night. People in
Escobares are afraid to drive and
walk the streets."
Escobar stressed, "We are
horrified at some of the things that
are happening. Wc realize that you
have done some things, but they are
.not enough. The Sheriff's
Department was there heavily one
night recently and things calmed
down, but only for a little while.'
He told tin oniini i •Tiers,
"We're asking lor a deputy to be
there as long as possible, for 24
hours a day if possible. People
from Garceno, La Rosita, and Los
Barreras are affectcd in the same
way. We're eager to work with you
in any way wc can."
Precinct Two Commissioner
Amando Pena responded, "We have
not been loafing around. I
understand the situation that you
have. Because of such needs, we
sometimes have to increase taxes to
provide more services. We've tried
our best to allocate monies to the
Sheriffs Department. But crimc
problems, especially drugs, are
critical."
Pena suggested, People need to
organize at the neighborhood level
and help the police People should
not be afraid to call the police. I
have been requesting more money
for police protection in Precinct
Two."
Pena concluded, "There's a good
chance of incorporating areas like
Garceno, Escobares. and La Rosita.
More grant money would be
available. Look at how Grulla has
progressed. It is ridiculous that Rio
Grande City has not incorporated.
Most of the county money stays in
Rio Grande City
Mrs. Hortencia Lent of La Rosiia
commented, "We in La Rosita have
our papers for incorporation. We do
not believe it is fair that 75 percent
of county funding goes to Rio
Grande City, while we have to
incorporate in order to have adequate
police protection.
County Judge J.M. Martinez, Jr.,
said, "The answer is not just
incorporation. We do need citizen
involvement in this problem ol
fighting crime. I'm very much in
favor of spreading out the money
evenly throughout the county."
The judge commented, "The fear
of most citizens is that lax monies
will not be spend wisely. Taxes
have not kept up with community
growth. Our community's
population has doubled in a decade.
We're sympathetic to your problem.
We know wc have to do
something."
Mrs Lent contended, "Wc need a
Sheriffs Department substation in
La Rosita that would serve the area
from the hospital to Escobarcs and
north to El Sauz."
She argued that heavy patrols at
infrequent intervals are basically
ineffective in the long run. She
commented, "People need to know
that this area has lav, enforcement.
I he offices of the Santa Rosa
Church in La Rosita could be used
on a temporary basis. The fines
imposed would be adequate to pay
for these services "
Mrs. Lent insisted, "We are not
in a position to pay more taxes."
She asked, "Couldn't some of the
J.P. fines be set aside for crimc
prevention? Let the lawbreakers pay
lor thai.
Precinct Three Commissioner
Eloy Garza commented. All these
rural communities, including those
in my precinct, have been neglected
(See PRO I 1(1 ION, Page 6)
Accused Assailants' Trial
Delayed
For Psychiatric Evaluations
The trial of two men charged
with attempted capital murder in the
shootings ol two Starr County
Sheriffs deputies in Roma in early
April was ordered delayed on
Monday lor at least three weeks,
pending psychiatric evaluations ol
the two accused assailants
I he tnal was scheduled to begin
Monday in 229th District Court in
San Diego. Bui District Judge
Ricardo Garcia granted a defense
motion delaying the trial pending
psychiatric evaluations ol Rodollo
Garza and Eduardo Espinosa
Castellano, lo determine il the two
defendants arc psychologically
competent to stand trial.
District Attorney Hcribcrto Silva
contended, "I feel that they arc
competent lo stand trial. Wc had a
hearing on it. They (the defense
attorneys) presented evidence in
support ol their position."
The two defendants are scheduled
for psychiatric evaluations within
ihe next two weeks Another
hearing on (he competency issue is
scheduled lor fitly 2 in Divine!
Court in Duval County.
Garza and Castellano arc each
charged with two counts of
attempted capital murder in the
shootings ol Deputies Javier Garza
and Luis Cavazos in Roma on the
afternoon ol April 3. The I wo are
also charged \s nil aggravated assault
in the injury ol a Roma pedestrian
in an an! * mishap just prior lo (he
shooting-.
Fourth Of July Pageant
Scheduled July 1
A Fourth of July beauty pageant
featuring competition in eight
divisions is scheduled lor Sunday
night, July I in Rio Grande City.
I he pageant will lake place at (he
Rio Grande City High School
Auditorium at 7 p.m. Sunday July
I.
This event will have ihe
following categories Babs Miss,
1-2 years; Tiny Miss, 3-4 years;
Petite Miss, 5-6 years; Princess
Miss, 7-8 years; Lilllc Miss, 9-10
years; Mini Miss, 11-12 years;
Iecn Miss, M-14 years: Miss 4th
of July, 15-18 years The top (hrcc
places lor each category will be
awarded ribbons and trophies.
Each sponsor in Starr County
will be allowed one contestant and
there will be a S20 entry Ice which
must be submited with the entry. A
sponsor may be an individual,
business, or youth organization.
Entry forms must be 11led by
Friday, June 29 wiih the Rio
Grande City Lions Club c/o Gina
Gonzalez, pageant co-organizer.
Further information about the
pageant will be printed in
upcoming issues of The Rio Grande
Herald A pageant entry form is
printed on the inside pages ol (his
edition of The I lerald.
Ihe Rio Grande City High School Student Council officers for Ihe upcoming
1990-91 school year are pictured above. From lefl to right on the bottom row are
h Isa Villarreal, District XVI Corresponding Secretary; Issis Vela, Secretary; I .I.
Olivarez, Chaplain; I'atsy l aurel, Parliamentarian; and Marty Gonzalez, Reporter. In
the top row are Felix Garcia. Co-District XVI Corresponding Secretary; John
Gonzalez, President; and Arnold Gonzalez. Vice-President.
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Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 14, 1990, newspaper, June 14, 1990; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195241/m1/1/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.