Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 82, No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 17, 1995 Page: 1 of 12
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TheI^IOG
Published weekly in Rio Grande City, Texas every Thursday by The Rio Grande Publishing Co.
USPS 466-200
VOL. 82, NO. 33, THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1995
25 cents
if
Members of the Rio Grande City High School varsity and junior varsity cheerleader
squads perform a welcome cheer for the General Staff Assembly on Tuesday, Aug. 15
at the Auditorium. Hundreds of teachers, administrators and para-professionals
listened to inspirational speeches to help the new year get off to a good start
(RGCCISD photo)
Three STCC propositions
approved in both counties
All three propositions favored by
South Texas Community College
were approved by voters Saturday in
both Starr and Hidalgo Counties,
with Starr County voters favoring
all three propositions by margins of
greater than 9-1.
The approval of the propositions
will allow tax levies of two cents
per SI00 valuation for S20 million
in bonds and eight cents per SI00
for maintenance and operation. The
tax levies will become effective in
19%.
STCC President Dr. Shirley Reed
indicated to Valley media that she
was overjoyed by the voters'
endorsement of the three
propositions. She said that the
favorable vote was the result of
dedicated efforts by many
individuals and groups.
Proposition One, which confirms
the creation of the college and
allows the election of a board of
trustees from single-member
districts, won in both counties by
an overall vote of 9170 to 4380.
Starr County voters approved the
proposition by an overwhelming
vote of 3099 to 280, while Hidalgo
County voters voted yes by a
margin of 6041 to 4100.
Starr County voters approved
Proposition Two by a margin of
3042 to 316. Proposition Two calls
for S20 million in bonds for
acquisition, construction and
equipping of school buildings and a
tax levy of two cents per SI00
valuation to pay for the bonds. The
proposition won overall approval
by a margin of 8'^82 to 4824, with
Hidalgo County voters providing a
yes vote by a much closer margin
of 5640 to 4508.
Starr County voters approved
Proposition Three by a margin of
2995-336. This proposition
authorizes the levy and collection of
(See APPROVED, Page 12)
RGCCISD starts 1995-96
with general staff meeting
Shining the spotlight steadily on
the positive aspects of the Rio
Grande City Consolidated
| Independent School District.
Interim Superintendent Joel F
Salinas cncouragcd the district's
staff to continue moving forward
directly to an even brighter future
Salinas was the keynote speaker
before several hundred
administrators, tcachcrs and para-
professionals at the RGCCISD
General Staff Assembly on
Tuesday in the Fort Ringgold
Auditorium
With school opening today,
Salinas drove home the point that
all of the district 's staff must work
together as a family to help
students succeed and become good
citizens
Salinas concentrated his efforts
on recognizing the various staffs at
the district's 11 campuses and
RGC Police Dept.
gets off to active start
Less than two weeks alter the
first police officers were sworn in,
the Rio Grande City Police
Department has exceeded all
expectations, according to City
_ Marshal Guadalupe Marque/..
" Marquez emphasized, "Things are
running real smoothly. Things have
been going real well in the first 10
days. We began patrols the evening
of the swearing-in."
Nine new policemen were sworn
in as officers of the Rio Grande
City Police Department on
Tuesday, Aug. 1.
^ Marque/, indicated, "We have one
vehicic now; wc hope to have two
more by the end of the month...I
feel that at least a couple of more
vehicles, beyond the three, will be
needed to enable better patrolling of
the city."
About public reaction, the
Marshal emphasized, "Citizens have
called the Police Department
thanking them for their help.
Citizens seem real pleased with
how things arc going...Citizens
have been very helpful and
supportive."
Marquez noted, "We've dealt with
a couple of aggravated assaults.
We've hail a mariju ina seizure of
236 pounds. We've aircstcd some
juveniles. Six juveniles were
(See POLICE, Page 12)
directors of special programs.
He noted the hiring of several
assistant principals at Ringgold
Middle School to improve that
school's TAAS scores
Salinas pointed out the
importance of helping students
remain in school and having high
attendance rates.
The district is changing its
student code of conduct and other
procedures to comply with Senate
Bill 1, Salinas said
He introduced the principals and
allowed each to detail the
accomplishments reached during
the 1994-95 school year
The district is making a great
effort to impnve facilities, Salinas
said
He pointed to the new
library/classroom and computer lab
building at Grulla Middle School
and the soon-to-bc-fact ground-
breaking for a new high school
west of the city near the Starr
County Memorial Hospital,
Continued improvement of
facilities is a priority with the
district, as well as improved TAAS
scores at all campuses, Salinas
said
In his keynote address. Salinas
said. "We need to make sure that
all of our staff has a positive
attitude in order for us to move
(See STAFF, Page 12)
Warrant filed against
Roma slaying suspect
A suspcct iri the slaying of a
20-year-old woman in Roma Friday
evening is the subject of an arrest
warrant, but is belie ed to have (led
to the Monterrey, Mexico area after
the murder
A warrant charging Pedro
Rodriguez, 28. of Monterrey wiih
murder in the fatal shooting of
.lonetta Suits Villarreal, 20, was
signed by Justice of the Peace
Jaime Alvarez.
A Roma police investigator said,
"The slaying probably took place
between 8 and 9 p m. Friday. At
9:03 p.m., we got the call from
Starr County Memorial Hospital
that a victim was in the emergency
room with a gunshot wound to the
face. By that lime, she was dead
already." Villarreal was pronounced
dead a: 9-3? p.m by J.P. Jaime
Alvarez.
The investigator indicated that
Villarreal, who was born in
Lamesa, Texas, "was living in Rio
Grande City with some relatives."
The officer declared that there
were four other persons, including
three children, inside the 1988
Crown Victoria four-door vehicle at
the time the fatal shot was fired.
This was in addition to the victim
and alleged murderer.
The investigator declared thai at
least one of the youngsters
witnessed the shooting.
The officer stated that the
autopsy, which was performed by
an assistant of pathologist Dr.
Ruben Santos of McAllen,
indicated that the victim died
immediately when the bullet made
impact.
The investigator indicated that
Villarreal "was shot on the left side
of the face in the check area. The
missile exited about two inches
below !he right ear on the neck."
The investigator stated that the
fatal shot was apparently fired from
a 9-millimeter semi-automatic
handgun. He said, "We figure he
had the gun four to five inches from
the lace of the victim. Powder burn
marks were visible on the victim's
face."
The officer declared, "The incident
took plac<* inside a vehicle. We
don't know the exact location where
the shooting took placc, but it was
probably on the west side of Roma.
The driver of the vehicle does not
recall where he was at the time of
the incident. They had beer riding
back and forth."
The investigator indicated, The
alleged killer was an acquaintance of
the victim. According to a
statement, she pointed a weapon at
the man (the assailant) and thev
discussed various problems. The
driver took the weapon from the
deceased. A short time later, the
assailant took the gun away from
the driver." 'TV <£<«...
the driver of the vehicle was John
Albert Lopez.
The investigator continued,
"They continued riding for a while.
(See SUSPECT, Page 12)
Status of different projects
discussed by commissioners
At their regular monthly meeting
Monday, the County
Commissioners discussed the status
of different projects funded by state
and/or federal grants, including a
grant that will bring about
expansion of the Starr Count)
Airport.
County Judge J.M. Martinez, Jr.,
told the court, "I went to Austin
last week. The Texas Department of
Transportation is very confident
that a 90-10 grant of SI million can
be obtained to expand the Starr
County Airport. There's already
S25,000 in the kitty, so wc need
575,000 combined in the next two
budgets."
Martinez later told The Rio
Grande Herald, "The project has
been divided into two years. The
first year will involve land
acquisition."
Fcocral/S late Program
Coordinator Elisa Barrera informed
the court, "The Phase One
contribution of S50.000 from
Mexico for the Roma suspension
bridge project will come in today or
tomorrow."
Barrera indicated that one
individual has already been hired to
help deal with illegal dumping
around the county. She said that
another person should be hired in
the near future, and a vehicle has
already been obtained.
County Attorney Romero Molina
said that the endeavor is being
funded through a half-half grant
from the Texas Natural Resources
Conservation Commission. Molina
indicated, "The state will reimburse
a certain amount of the county's
share each month. July 1 was the
beginning date; we really haven't
been able to start. Reimbursement
will also be for the vehicle."
The commissioners approved a
motion authorizing payment for
both salaries of the two individuals
and for the vehicle. The TNRCC
will provide reimbursement for
approximately half of the costs and
perhaps more.
Barrera indicated, "Mr. (Eloy)
Vera has informed us that Vera
Engineering will begin surveying
work in the next few days on the
93 La Casita project."
Barrera noted that a representative
of the Texas Association of
Counties "will be back soon to do
more safety training for those
(county employees) who couldn't
attend in June."
In giving his report. County
Treasurer David Porras indicated, "A
total of more than S419,000 is
outstanding. There arc $128,000 in
availables. A total of $50,000 has
gone for insurance and S30.000 lor
P.O.'s, so there's actually $48,000
in the bank."
Precinct Three Commissioner
Eloy Garza asked, "How much will
we have to carry over for next
year?' Auditor Mario A. Lopez
responded, "We won't be able to
determine that until September. My
guess is we could have to carry over
S250.000 from this year to next."
Precinct One Commissioner Jose
Maria "Chema" Alvarez insisted,
"Wc need exact and up-to-date
information." Garza suggested a
freeze on P.O.'s starting Sept. 1,
unless an emergency develops.
Judge Martinez declared,
"Sometimes wc have P.O. s come
in that have been held four to five
months." Porras said, "We're still
behind about S27,000 on health
insurance." Martinez responded,
"We're further behind on claims,
maybe by about $200,000."
Tax Assessor-Collector Maria
Ofelia Saenz indicated, "A total of
SI79,538 in delinquent taxes was
collected in July. The county's
share is SI 18,018. Taxes aren't
listed as current after July 1. The
attorneys take over on July 1
(See STATUS, Page 12)
Probe continues into
courthouse break-in
The Rio Grande City Police
Department is continuing to
investigate the weekend break-in
into at least four offices at the Starr
County Courthouse.
City Marshal Guadalupe Marquez
indicated that the following offices
were broken into over the weekend:
County Tax Assessor/Collector,
County Clerk, County Treasurer,
and Juvenile Probation Office.
Marquez said, "Money was taken
from the vending machine on the
first floor and from the Juvenile
Probation Office and the Tax
Office." He declared that
undetermined, but small amounts of
money were taken from these
offices.
The Marshal stated, "There was
no forcible entry. The back door of
the courthouse was unlocked They
broke the doors to get into the
individual offices.. Desk drawers
were left open. We're not sure
when the burglars took place, but
Sunday night is a possibility."
Marquez said, "They tried to
break into the sale of the Tax
Office, but were unsuccessful...The
other offices arc checking to see if
am thing is missing."
He suggested, "We do think that
more than one person was
involved."
Marque/ emphasized that the Rio
Grande City Police Department is
continuing its investigation into
the incident.
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 82, No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 17, 1995, newspaper, August 17, 1995; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195509/m1/1/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.