Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 27, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 15, 1993 Page: 1 of 8
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THANK YOU B-B-Q - ■ A thank-you barbeque was held last week to recognize Red Cross volunteers for their
effort during Tropical Storm Arlene. Pictured above at the El Cenizo Park are (seated !-r): Judith E. Oestrich, Red
Cross general manager; Commissioner Eloy Garza; and Roger Dahl, assistant job director. Standing (l-r) are:
Andres Vera, volunteer; and Charlie Tomayo, Service Center manager.
Still no word on
County's Declaration Status
Special To The Herald
With still no word from Austin on
a disaster declaration, Starr County
officials are wondering when help is
coming.
According to one estimate, more
than 100,000 acres of farmland were
damaged by Tropical Storm Arlene,
leaving 600 persons unemployed.
It was also estimated that total
public property damage (city and
county facilities only) was more
than $80,000.
Tuesday, County Judge Jose M.
Martinez said he has not been
informed of any development on
Starr County's declaration for
disaster status.
"1 have no idea," said Judge
Martinez, as to when the county
can expect the announcement and
get financial help.
He did say, howevei, that a slate or
federal delegation would visit die
damaged areas to determine the
extent of the damage once the
county has been declared a disaster
area.
"To determine the amount of
money coming, the survey team
would have to come here and put a
pcncil to it," said Martinez. "But
they will not come until a
declaration is granted."
Despite the uncertainty, Martinez
said the county is not putting its
projects on hold. He said there is
work to be done to repair roads
affected by the flooding.
A damage summary from the
county judge's office indicated that
total public property damage (city
and county facilities only)
amounted to $86,000. A breakdown
shows $10,000 in debris clearance;
$6,000 for public health and
protective measures; $50,000 for
road and street, systems; $20,000 for
dykes, levees and drainage.
An estimate on private properly
damage showed 250 homes were
damaged, with the average repair
cost per home al $750.00 It listed
percentage of homes insured at five
precent
On mobile homes, 20 were
damaged, according to the estimate,
with average repair cost per home at
$500. Only 10 percent of the
mobile homes were insured.
Businesses were also affected. The
estimate listed three busineses were
damaged by Arlene, with average
repair cost per business at $'750.00.
On crops, it was estimated that
80,000 acres of grain crops were
affected; 20,000 acres of cotton
were affected; 10,000 acres of com
were affected; and 800 acres of
vegetables were af fected.
As of yet, there were no cost
estimates available for the damage
done to agriculture in the county.
Although Arlene has come and
gone, families — almost 1,000 of
their. — affected one way or another
by the tropical storm sought
Dr. M. Ramirez leaves
practice after 43 years..
Dear Patients:
I am writing this letter to you wilh
sadness and mixed emotions I am
now announcing my retirement
from active practice effective
September 1, 1993. This was a
very difficult decision for me to
make. It is based in part on concern
for my health, and also on the fact
that I am older, and that I am
finding it difficult to continue to
devote die usual long hours to my
practice that has been customary. I
have decided to accept a position
that will be less demanding, but
that nonetheless will still be a
challenge and still related to m>
profession. As of September 1, I
will be the Associate Medical
Director for The Rio Grande Valley
for Blue-Cross Blue Shield of
Texas. Our new office will be
located at McAllcn, Texas and my
wife and I will be moving to that
City in September. I had hopes that
it would be possible for me to
return to Starr County one or two
afternoons a month to see some of
my regular patients. However, I
have been advised that there might
he a conflict of interests and that it
is best that I not attempt to do this.
I am anxious for all of you to
continue to receive quality medical
care. I am pleased to announce lhat
in the immediate future two new
young physicians will be joining
Drs. Falcon, Rodriguez, Jimenez,
and Gonzalez. Similar to the
physicians that they are joining,
both of these young men arc
excellently trained. Their offices
will be adjacent to my present
location. Dr. Ray Mussctt will still
be practicing in Roma, and Dr.
Narro will also be in Rio Grande
City. I feel sure that any of these
physicians, specially the two new
ones, would be happy to accept you
as their patients. Of coursc you are
free to seek care elsewhere if you
wish. If so, I ho^e you begin
looking for another doctor soon. If
you need names of other doctors in
the Valley area that are accepting
new patients, I would suggest that
you contact the secretary of the
Hidalgo-Starr Counties Medical
Socicty.
The content of your medical chart is
confidential and can be transferred to
another doctor only with your
(Sec RAMIRK7., Page 6)
assistance through the American
Red Cross, said a spokesman.
Russell Hubbard of the Red Cross
office in McAllcn indicated that
since the opening of relief centers
all over the Valley, over 950
families that were affected by
Arlene sought help.
In addition, he said more than
50,000 meals were served to people
in affected areas.
The R.d Cross also handed out
1,300 clean-up kits, and 960
comfort kids, said Hubbard.
Monetarily, Hubbard said the Red
Cross had spent nearly $1/2 million
in resources, equipment, personnel
and assistance for the Starr,
Hidalgo, Willacy and Brooks
counties.
"We had a few familes in Brooks
County that were affected by the
flood," said Hubbard.
Although the El Cenizo Nutrition
Center in Garciasville, located on
FM 1430 has closed down, Hubbard
said those seeking assistance after
July 2 can Gill the local Red Cross
at 787-7851.
To help victims of Arlene, the Red
Cross is still accepting
contributions, said Hubbard. All
contributions can be sent to the
American Red Cross, Disaster
Relief Fund, c/o Rio Grande Valley
Chapter, P.O. Box 250, McAllen,
Texas 78505.
First National
Bank applies to open
branch in Roma
The First National Bank of Sculh
Texas has announced plans to open
a branch bank in Roma, according
to an announcement by Fredrick
Erck, president and chairman.
The branch will be located in the
Riverview Family Center, 1004 E.
Hwy. 83, and will open after
receiving regulatory approval.
"We have always had many good
customers from Roma," Erck said,
"and we want to open an office that
is more convenient for them and
others in the Roma areas."
The Roma office will offer most
banking services, including the
acceptance of loan applications.
First National will also open an
office in Alice on Friday, July 16,
according to Erck. This will be
The Bank of South Texas, a branch
of First National Bank of South
Texas. First National will acquire
the assets and deposits of the First
Federal Savings branch office in
Alice.
The addition of these two branches
will bring the number of First
National Bank of South Texa
offices to four, including Rio
Grande City and San Antonio.
The bank is owned by Texas
Bancshares, Inc., which also owns
the Bank of South Texas, which
has offices in Floresville and Poth.
i ooroves adoptioi
By BENG L. LIM
Special to The Herald
County commissioners Monday
approved the adoption of the new
Family Leave Law and authorized
the mailing of notices to county
employees by the end of July.
In approving the law, the county
must provide family leaves of
absences without pay to eligible
employees who wish to take time
off from work duties to fulfill
family obligations relating directly
to childbirth, adoption, or
placement of a foster child.
Additionally, to care for a child,
spouse, or parent with a serious
health condition.
According to a statement, serious
health condition means an illness,
injury, impairment, or physical or
mental condition that involves
inpatient care in a hospital,
hospice, or residential medical care
facility, or continuing treatment by
a health care provider.
County employees can expect to
receive the notices with their
paychecks by the end of this
month. The law, which affects all
employers with 50 or more
employees, goes into effect August
6. There is a $1,000 a day fine alter
that deadline, said coiinsultant Jim
Elliott, who has been hired by the
county.
Making his presentation Monday,
Elliott said regular fu 11-time
employees or regular full-time
hourly employes are eligible to
request famil> leave
He said eligible employees may
request family leave only after
having completed 90 calendar days
of service. Eligible employees
should make requests for family
leave to their supervisors at least 30
days in advance of forseeable events
and as soon as possible for
unforseeable events, said Elliott.
Employees requesting family leave
related to the serious health
condition ot a child, spouse, or
parent will be required to submit a
health care provider's statement
verifying the need for a family leave
to provide care, its beginning and
expected ending dates, and the
estmated time required, Elliott said.
He added that eligible employees
may request up to a maximum of
12 weeks of family leave within
any 12 month period. Any
combination of family leave and
medical leave may not exceed this
maximum limit, he said. If this
initial period of absence proves
insufficient, consideration will be
given to a written request for a
single extension of no more than
five calendar days.
Elliott said employees will be
required to first use any accrued paid
leave time before taking unpaid
m i
q, rri i fir 1 na
rilllliy JLivscJ
family leave. Married employee
couples may be restricted to a
combined total of 12 weeks leave
within any 12 month period for
childbirth, adoption, or placement
of a foster child; or to care for a
parent with a serious health
condition.
Subject to the terms, conditions,
and limitations of the applicable
plans, Star County will continue to
provide health insurance benefits for
the full period of the approved
family leave, said Elliott.
Benefit accruals such as vacation,
sick leave, and holiday benefiLs will
contine during the approved family
leave period.
Elliott said that so lhat an
employee's return to work can be
properly scheduled, an employee on
family leave is requested to provide
Starr County with al least two
weeks advance notice of the date the
employee intends to return to work
When a family leave ends, th
employee will be reinstated to the
same position, if it is available, or
10 an equivalent position for which
the employee is qualified.
If an employee fails to report to
work promptly at the end of Ihe
approved leave period, Starr County
will assume that the employee has
resigned, he said.
In other business, commissioners
nominated three new laces to the
Starr County Library Advisory
Board, and reappointed four to a
new term >f office
The new appoinie ^-ere Celia
Saenz and Isela B. Gonzalez from
the Roma area, and Carolyn Lope/,
of the Grulla/Puerta/La
Casita/Garciasville area.
Reappointed for another term of
office were Maria Oh vera Garza and
Blanche Trevino (with Abel Alvarez
as an alternative), Omar Garza and
Maria Elia B. Solis.
Commissioners, however, did not
act on the naming of a new library
director, acting on the belief that
the library board should be afforded
first the chance of electing its own
officers Tuesday night before a new
director is hired on board.
"To be fair, we have to wail until
(See LAW, Page
Javier D, Margo, Jr.
delivers Valedictory Address
Administrators, platform guests,
dear teachers, parents, friends, and
my fellow classmates. What a
wonderful celebration we are
experiencing this evening. As a
spokesman for the Class of 1993, I
feel it imperative that I share with
our parents and friends some of tnt
idea.', reactions, and feelings that
each of us is experiencing tonight.
1 would like to begin by
recognizing all the parents who arc
present. Would all die parents and
grandparents of our graduating
seniors please stand.
A este tiempo les pedimos que los
padres y abueliios de los graduados
se pongan de pic for favor.
Fellow classmatcs, these are the
people who have guided and
nurtured us every step of the way.
These individuals have often
sacrificed and given freely of
themselves in order for us to enjoy
all that we do. Friends, think of
all the times your parents went
without something to better provide
for you. Imagine all the time they
spent worrying when we were out
latf ot when we underwent some
trying moment in our lives. These
are the people who care for us more
than we know, and these are the
ones whom we deeply appreciate.
Our Heavenly Father asked lhat we
Honor our father and mother.
Tonight, I ask that we remember
them by giving them a Standing
Ovation. Seniors, please join me
in giving our parents the credit they
Ms ! £/
Javier D. Margo Jr.
deserve.
Graduaiion is not just another date
which appears on the school
calendar marking the end of the
school year - It is a milestone - a
tremendous challenge. "We are all
bom wilh the faculties and powers
capable of almost anything.
It is up to us to choose our own
destiny. The power is within our
hands to achieve. As I stand here
before you, 1 cannot help but feel
thai each and every one of us will
accomplish whatever goals We set.
This determination 1 have seen with
my ow n eyes over the course of our
educational journey It ha^ b( omc
evident that we live in an (■>. : iely
(See MARGO, Page 6)
RAND
fS C*
STl'DFNI COIINCII OFFICERS I I I t I l l> Rio Grande City High School Student
Council officers for PJ93-94 were elected recently. I hey art-, l-r seated, I). .1
Klores, president; Mario I . de la Gar/a, vice-president; and Jorge Oyer* ides,
treasurer; standing l-r, Jacqueline Salinas, public relations officer; IKnisi Margo,
parliamentarian; Can ( no, reporter; Kenned} Salinas, District WI publi relations
officer; Ruben Salinas, historian; and .1 \. Fleming, special projects officei Not
pictured are Omar Mascorro, special projects officer; and Nadd\ Rodriguez. M<ittan
(RGCt ISI) Photo)
i
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 27, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 15, 1993, newspaper, July 15, 1993; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195401/m1/1/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.