Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 84, No. 43, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 23, 1997 Page: 1 of 8
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We Support Red Ribbon Week
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Shop RIO First
THURSDAY
WEEKLY EDITION
October 23, 1997
84th Year, No. 43
25 cents
KL l o
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
Trustees okay new Alto Bonito elementary
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
on Tuesday night, Oct. 14, the Rio
Grande City CISD board of trustees
made the decision by a 6-1 vote to
approve construction of a new
elementary school in the Alto
Bonito area.
Superintendent Ramon Hinojosa
later indicated, "This is a lease-
purchase arrangement under Chapter
46 funding. Out of about $7
million, we'll be responsible for
about $1.4 million. Basically the
district will be responsible for
about $90,000 a year." The entire
project will be financed through a
lease-purchase procedure via die sale
of bonds.
The trustees were deciding
between a new elementary school in
the Alto Bonito area or a new
middle school in that same area.
Trustee Jaime Ramirez voted
against the elementary school
choice, insisting that a new middle
school should be the highest
priority.
The discussion began when
Assistant Superintendent for
October sales tax
rebate check for
RGC 4.13% higher
Rio Grande Herald Staff
Rio Grande City, Roma and
Grulla were among 1,084 Texas cit-
ies who got monthly sales tax pay-
ments this month from State Comp-
troller John Sharp.
Sharp sent an October rebate
check for $117,125 to Rio Grande
City, $34,142 to Roma and $288 to
Grid Ik
This month's payments include
local sales taxes collected on Au-
gust sales and reported to the Comp-
troller in September by businesses
filing the monthly tax returns.
Sharp delivered monthly sales tax
rebates to Texas cities totaling
$ 147.7 million, 11.1 pcrcent higher
than last October's payments of
$132.9 million. Rebates of $14.3
million to Texas counties were 11.1
pcrcent higher than allocations of
$12.8 million in October 1996. An-
other $4.2 million went to 26 spe-
cial purpose districts around the
state.
Rio Grande City's September
sales tax rebate check was 4.13 per-
cent higher than last year's check
during the same period.
Ycar-to-date, Rio Grande City
has received $1,308,623 in monthly
sales tax rebate checks or about 2.66
pcrcent more than last year at this
time.
Roma's rebate check of $33,142
was a slight drop from last October.
Overall, Roma has received
$451,109 for ycar-to-date in sales
tax rebate checks, an increase of
9.79 percent from last year during
October.
Grulla's $288 check added to
checks from the previous nine
mciths bring their year-to-date to-
tals to $4,081.
The net October 1997 tax pay-
ments for Starr County are $ 151,556,
which are 2.33 percent higher than
September 1996 net payments. Pay-
ments to Starr County cities year-
to-date are $1,763,814 for the year,
an increase of 4.35 percent.
In issuing the checks, Sharp said,
"The creation of new Texas busi-
nesses and subsequent new jobs are
combining to help stimulate the con-
fidence of Texas consumers," sharp
said. "As a result, sales tax rebates
are up 6.5 percent over those for the
first 10 months of last year."
Because of the Veterans Day
holiday in November, the
Comptroller's next sales tax alloca-
tion is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7.
Texas Migrant
Council to provide
meals via program
The Texas Migrant Council, Inc.
has released the following policy to
provide meals under the Child and
Adult Gate food program at no sepa-
rate charge.
"People who are eligible to par-
ticiple in the program must not
be discriminated against because
of race, color, national origin, sex,
age, disability, religion or politi-
cal belief. If you think you have
been discriminated against, you
must write immediately to: Direc-
tor of Civil Rights, Texas Depart-
ment of Human Services, M.C.E.-
609, 701 W. 51st St., Austin, Texas
or to the Secretary of Agriculture,
Washington, D.C. 20250."
Clients who feel they have been
Beef Syndicate plans
BBQ socials for 1998
'
The Rio Grande City Beef
Syndicate will hold the annual Beef
Barbecue Socials on Saturday, Jan.
10, 1998 and Saturday, Feb. 7,
1998 at the Starr County
Fairgrounds.
Beef Syndicate members may
pick up Beef Barbecue Social tickcts
at the J.M. "Chuy" Alvarez Law
Office at 501 N. Britton Avenue,
Rio Grande City, located behind the
Starr C'onty Courthouse. Tickcts
can also be obtained at Starr
Banking Center, located at 712 W.
Main St. in Rio Grande City, and
interested persons should ask for
Cesar Gonzalez or Aristco Klein.
All membership fees and tickcts
sold will be used for premium for
the annual Youth Fair projects that
will be exhibited in the Starr
County Youdi Fair Show and in die
Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show
in March 1998.
Business Diana Pena declared, "We
have met with the administration of
both Grulla Middle School and
Grulla Elementary to discuss the
needs at both campuses. Grulla
Elementary is averaging growth of
72 students per year. The campus
presendy has 84 more students than
this time last year. The very
preliminary projected cost is $5.4
million."
Pena indicated that the proposed
new elementary facility would
feature 39 classrooms, a library, a
cafetorium with seating for 350 and
an enclosed mini-gym. She
emphasized, "This does not include
land or any improvements to the
land, debt service, or furniture and
other amenities. It is indicated that
it will be easier to sell bonds if it's
less dian $7 million."
Jorge Garza of the Stephens Inc.
investment firm declared, "The
threshold is $10 million."
Pena stated, "The middle school
has average growth of 19 students
per year. If the pattern continues,
there will be about 600 stuu^nts in
the year 2000."
Proposals for a middle school
called for 36 classrooms, 27
permanent classrooms, a library, a
media center, a gymnasium with
showers, lockers, etc., and a music
facility with band and mariachis.
The preliminary projected cost of
such a facility is $8.2 million.
Jorge Gar/a stated, "There is a
risk with $8.2 million. You'd be
cutting it very close to $10
million."
Trustee Ramirez insisted, "I don't
diirik we can wait another 10 to 15
years (for a middle school).
\
BESTT Student
Rio Grande City High Bridging the Educational Scene forTeacher of Tomorrow (BESTT) teacher
Diane Shaffer (left) goes over an assignment on learning styles with senior Ernie Villanueva recently.
BESTT students work hard to learn how to become future educators (RGCCISD/Bush photo)
RGC High to host Homecoming
discriminated against based on reli-
gion or political beliefs may only
only contact the TDHS Civil Rights
Department.
Clients who feel that they been
discriminated against on the basis
of national origin, age, sex, disabil-
ity or color may contact the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
or the TDHS.
For more information on In-
come Eligibility Guidelines, you
may contact Alicia Hernandez,
center director at the Alto Bonito
Center, Highway 83 and Jerry St.,
P.O. Box 88, Grulla, Texas or at
(956) 485-2577..
The guidelines are effective from
July 1, 1997 through June 30,1998.
The Rio Grande City High
School Student Council will be
hosting its annual Homecoming
festivities on Friday, Oct. 31 during
halftime at Joe R. Sanchez
Stadium.
The Student Council will be
honoring members of the classes oi
'38, '48, '58, '68, '78 and '88. All
alumni are invited to attend
Homecoming activities on Thursday
and Friday.
As part of Homecoming
activities, the Rio Grande City
High School Junior Class and the
RGCHS Student Council will be
sponsoring a Homecoming parade
procession and bonfire on Thursday,
Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. The parade
procession will begin at the
coinhouse and end at the Rattler
baseball field. The parade will be
followed by the traditional bonfire.
There is no entry fee to
participate in the parade. Any
business, organization, or school
interested in participating in the
parade may contact Mr. Alex
Rodriguez (Junior Class Sponsor) at
488-6000 between 8:45 a.m. and
4:15 p.m.
The Rio Grande City High
School Student Council will be
serving refreshments from 6:45-
7:15 p.m. at Joe R. Sanchez
Stadium to all alumni at Friday's
Homecoming game. Any alumni
seeking further information can
contact Veronica Cantu
(Homccomng Chairperson) of Mrs.
Elsa V. Garcia (Student Council
Advisor) at die high school at 488-
6000.
Couldn't this come in at ^65 per
square foot?" Trustee Juan M.
Cantu asked, "Didn't we build a
high school at $56 per square foot?"
Pena responded, "The estimates are
high."
Ramirez told Garza with obvious
irritation, "You are trying to scare
us into building an elementary
school." Board President Basilio
"Bacho" Villarreal, Jr., declared, "It
is the board that will make the
decision. Thrrc are a lot of needs
right now. A middle school is
designed for middle school students,
not for elementary students."
Ramirez insisted, "Rooms are
rooms." Villarreal contended, "I
think there is a great need for an
elementary school."
Pena stated, 'The figures are very
preliminary. In meeting with
administration of both schools, I
feel that an elementary school
would be most appropriate."
Superintendent Hinojosa
emphasized, "We've looked at this
very carefully. I wish we could do
both. The growth is at the
elementary school. I recommend a
Pre-K through third grade facility. I
think transportation can be dealt
with."
Villarreal asked, "Could we go
back and build a new middle school
with funding from this round?"
Garza replied, "I think you would
have room to do this next year, not
with this round."
Trustee Dr. Mario Jimenez then
moved that the elementary school
in Alto Bonito be built. The
motion passed 6-1, with Ramirez
voting no.
RGCCISD administrators
indicate that the new school is
slated to be built on a 20-acre plot
of land located roughly one-half
mile north of U.S. Highway 83 n
FM 2360. The new facility will be
located adjacent to the Alto Bonito
County Park
•The trustees then voted to
approve the sale by the RGCCISD
Public Facilities Corporation of
lease revenue bonds on a date
recommended by Stephens Inc. or
such subsequent date as may be
appropriate for constructon of the
new elementary sch<x>l.
The trustees also approved
execution of various other
documents and agreements
necessary to move the project
forward.
See TRl STEES, page 4
'Red Ribbon' Week ceremony
launches Monday at courthouse
Proclamation
to kick-off
week of events
Red Ribbon Week organizers
hope the community becomes
more involved in anti-drug and
substance abuse activities this year.
Red Ribbon Week activities
begin on Monday Oct. 27 when the
Proclamation Ceremony takes
place at the Starr County Court
House at 9 a.m.
Local dignitaries, drug
enforcement agents and students
from Rio Grande City High School
will address the crowd this year.
A parade from the Court House
to the Multi-Purpose Center on
Fort Ringgold will follow the
ceremony and releasing of
balloons.
The annual ceremony is
sponsored by the Rio Grande City
High School Student Council and
Starr County Sheriffs Department.
Several featured speakers will
support anti-drug and alcohol abuse
behavior, said Roel Smith, special
programs director for the Rio
Grande City Consolidated
Independent School District.
"The purpose of Red Ribbon
Week is to get the community,
schools and local government
united in an effort to fight drugs,"
said Smith, chairman of Red
Ribbon Week activities
" The Red Ribbon campaign, fot
almost 15 years, has worked to
mobilize the grassroots to lake
action against the unlawful use of
alcohol and other drugs," he said.
Student Council President Raudcl
Rodriguez said organizers hope to
involve the community more with
the activities
"We arc trying to reach out to the
community more and let them
know it is important to stay away
from drugs." said Rodriguez, a
junior.
Jessica Recio, who is a STUCO
representative and chairperson of
Drug Awareness. Safety and Health
(DASH) said community
involvement is imperative in the
war on drugs
"We hope to help the community
gel involved and prepared to help
fight drugand alcohol abuse." said
Recio, also a junior
Rodriguez said students from all
RGCCISD campuses and
community members will
demonstrate unity by decorating
with red ribbons U S 81 from the
new Rio Grande City High School
to La Grulla
All RGCCISD campuses will
have activities planned during Red
Ribbon Week of Oct. 27-31 to
inform students of the important
of fighting drugs, alcohol and
violence.
"This yearthe whole communis
is invited to attend the ceremon\
and join the parade, Smith said
1 he student councils and bands
from Rio Grande City, Roma ami
San Isidro high schools have been
invited to the ceremony and parade
Each day this week theme days
support activities are planed for the
si hoots
This year's proclamation will be
signed by the mayors of Rio
Grande City and I a Grulla,
RGCCISD Superintendent Ramon
Hinojosa, Rodriguez and the Starr
County Judge
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 84, No. 43, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 23, 1997, newspaper, October 23, 1997; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195623/m1/1/: accessed May 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.