Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 84, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 20, 1997 Page: 1 of 8
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Alhambra debutantes to be honored I Christmas festivities
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THURSDAY
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Herald
25 cents
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
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Starr County cities see
increases in November
sales tax rebate checks
• Proud winner
Special to Ihe Herald/Jerry Lo/anu
Rio Grande Herald Staff
More and more Starr County consumers are
spending their dollars locally as evident by the
November sales tax rebate check that shows the
three incorporated cities with an almost 23 percent
increase in the size of refund they received from the
state this month.
State Comptroller John Sharp sent a October rebate
checks to the three Starr County cities totaling
$213,945.
This month's payments include local sales taxes
collected on September sales and reported to the Comp-
troller in October by businesses filing the monthly tax
returns.
Sharp delivered monthly sales tax rebates to Texas
cities totaling S212.4 million, 11.4 percent higher than
last November's payments of $190.5 million. Rebates
of $18.2 million to Texas counties were 15.7 percent
higher than allocations in November 1996. Another $6
million went to 26 special purpose districts around the
state.
Rio Grande City's November 1997 sales tax rebate
check of $145,836 was 11.96 percent higher than last
year's check during the same period.
Year-to-date, RGC has received $1,454,460 in
monthly sales tax rebate checks or about 3.52 percent
more than last year at this time.
Other Starr County cities receiving sales taxe rebate
checks from Sharp this month are:
• The November rebate check for Roma was $67,536,
an increase of 54.42 percent from last November.
Roma has received $518,645 year-to-date, an increase
of 14.08 percent over last year.
• Grulla received a November check of $572 an
increase of 33.71 percent from the previous year. Grulla,
so far, has received $4,653 year-to-date, a drop of
about 8.81 percent from last year's total at this time.
The net September 1997 tax payments for Starr
County are $213,945, which are 22.66 percent higher
than November 1996 net payments. Total payments to
Starr County year-to-date are $1,977,760 for the year,
an increase of 6.06 percent.
'n issuing the checks, Sharp said, "Consumer spend-
ing shows confidence in the continued growth of the
Texas economy, and sales tax rebates are a healthy 7.1
percent ahead of those through November of last year,"
Sharp said.
The Comptroller's next sales tax allocation issched-
uled for Friday, Dec. 12.
Aaron Olivarez (center), the proud winner of the city's Sesquicentennial logo contest, and his parents, Antonio
and Eva Olivarez stand with Mayor Baldemar Garza, Mayor Protem Fred Margo and Sesquicentennial co-
chairman, Willie Rodriguez. Aaron is a fourth grade student at Hinojosa Elementary School.
Aaron Olivarez featured
# at unveiling of4150th' logo
Trustees hear academic
excellence indicators report
Nine-year-old Aaron Olivarez, a
fourth grader at John and Olive
Hinojosa Elementary School, took
center stage at the unveiling of his
winning entry in the
Sesquicentennial Logo Contest.
The program took place at his
school's cafetorium on Thursday,
Nov. 13.
The unveiling, officially kicked
off the year-long preparations to
commemorate the 150th birthday of
Rio Grande City, the third oldest
community in the Valley and one
of the oldest in the nation.
According to Mayor Pro Tent
Fred J. Margo, this area can trace
ancestors who go back to the
1700's. Margo hosted the event.
Following Margo's speech,
Mayor Baldemar Garza, who was
present as chairperson of (lie Logo
Committee, took to the podium and
without the use of a microphone
announced the process by which
Aaron's logo was selected. He also
introduced guests and thanked
everyone in attendance, including
Aaron's classmates.
Mayor Garza later commented to
The Rio Grande Herald, "I thought
it was a tremendous logo.
Obviously he is very talented. This
contest shows there's a lot of talent
in the community, including the
young people."
The mayor added, "I was very
excited to sec the young man's
excitement. His parents are very
excited for him. I'm very pleased
with how the contest went. We felt
it was most appropriate to have the
logo designed by a local person."
Garza concluded,"The
Sesquicentennial process is
underway and will continue to gain
steam."
In attendance were school
officials, including Basilio
Villarreal, school board president;
Olga Perez, Hinojosa school
principal; Michele Pena, Aaron's
teacher; Noc Lopez, and Rafael
Trevino, among others.
Also present were city officials
and Sesquicentennial Committee
members including Richard
Gutierrez, alderman; Willie
Rodriguez, co-chair; Sam Ramos,
Romeo Lopez, and Jerry Lozano,
committee members.
Representing the business
community were Billy and Dolores
Canales. Among special guests
were Aaron's parents, Antonio and
Eva Olivarez.
BY KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
on Tuesday night, Nov. 11, the Rio
Grande City CISD board of trustees
were presented the detailed
Academic Excellence Indicator
System (AEIS) report, which was
highlighted by significant growth
and progress in TAAS scores.
Assistant Superintendent for
Curriculum Dr. Richard Irizarry
noted, "In several TAAS areas of
third and fourth grade, we're above
the state average. There are
improvements in sixth grade and
seventh grade. Eighth grade stayed
basically the same in Math and
Writing. Science went up, but
Social Studies went down."
Irizarry emphasized, "The number
of students exempted through LEP
has decreased greatly. Students in
Advanced Placement showed a
significant increase. SAT/ACT still
needs work."
Irizarry noted that the district's
dropout rate fell from 2.6 percent in
1994-95 to only 1 percent in 1995-
96, which is less than the state's
average of 1.8 percent. He stressed
that a lower dropout rate means
additional state funding due to more
students being present in the
classroom. The percentage of
students in Advanced Placement
classes nearly tripled, from 3 to 8.5
percent, from 1994-95 to 1996-97.
Irizarry pointed out that 90
percent of RGCCISD third graders
mastered the Math section of
TAAS, compared to the state
average of 81.7 percent. Seventy
six percent of the district's third
graders mastered all three tests,
while this was accomplished by
74.2 percent of students throughout
the state.
RGCCISD fourth graders also
surpassed the state average on the
Math test, with 90.4 percent
passing compared to 82.6 percent
for the entire state.
Irizarry noted that 55.3 percent of
seventh graders mastered all three
teits, a dramatic increase from the
38.5 percent figure for 1995-96.
Concerning high school scores,
Irizarry commented that the math
results were especially gratifying.
Hinojosa Elementary Principal
Olga M. Perez said, "We feel like
an excellent job has been done both
years. We're working on numerous
programs." Ringgold Elementary
Principal Maria Elena Olivarez
commented, "We're implementing a
number of initiatives, including
curriculum alignment and the
Reading Recovery program."
North Grammar Principal Adan
Acevedo said, "We're very proud
that we received recognized status
last year. It took dedication by staff,
teachers, students and parents. The
Accelerated Reading Program
continues to expand."
Roque Gucrra Principal Arturo
Garza commented, "We continue to
do our very best, continuing to
emphasize reading and curriculum
alignment. We came close to
earning recognized status both
years." La Union Principal Elida
Menchaca said, "Alignment is
important with us also. Third grade
and fourth grade reading increased."
See TRUSTEES, page 7
Honor students banquet Tuesday
The most exceptional high
school students of the upper Rio
Grande Valley will be honored at a
special banquet on Tuesday night,
Nov. 25 at the new Rio Grande
City High School building.
In recent years, the upper Rio
Grande Valley has recognized the
academic accomplishments of its
most outstanding high school
students by hosting an annual
banquet in thc.ir honor.
Approximately 300 students from
Starr, Hidalgo, Zapata and Jim
Hogg Counties will be honored at
this year's event.
Actress, recording and
Metropolitan Opera star Barbara
Conrad will deliver the keynote
address at the banquet. She was
recently invited to sing for Pope
John Paul II before an audience of
approximately 80,000 when he
visited New York City.
Chamber issues schedule
of Christmas festivities
The Rio Grande City Chamber of
Commerce has issued the schedule
of events for the 1997 Christmas
Festivities, scheduled to start Dec.
7.
The schedule of events is as
folllows:
SUNDAY, DEC. 7- Miss Rio
Grande City Pageant, 6:30 p.m.,
Auditorium.
TUESDAY, DEC. 9- Decorating
of Christmas Tree, 10 a.m.,
Quiosco.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10-
Dccorating of Christmas Tree, 10
a.m., Quiosco.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10-
Lighting of Tree/Caroling, 8 p.m.,
Quiosco.
THURSDAY, DEC. 11- Parade
Marshal Reception, 7 p.m.. El
Patio Restaurant.
SATURDAY, DEC. 13- Abrazo
Intemacional, 8 a.m., International
Bridge.
SATURDAY, DEC. 13-
Christmas Parade, 10 a.m, Britton
Ave. (Parade lining up starts at 8
a.m.).
Anyone seeking further
information should contact the
Chamber at 487-3024.
The presidents of The University
of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M
University, The University of
Texas-Pan American and The
University of Texas-Brownsville
will be present, along with the
chancellors of the University of
Texas and Texas A&M Systems.
Romeo Lopez, co-chairperson of
the banquet Steering Committee,
told The Rio Grande Herald on
Monday,'The Steering Committee
has put in many working hours to
put together the Valley Honors
Banquet. We're looking forward to
the singing of Barbara Conrad, as
well as her inspiring keynote
speech."
Conrad gained notoriety at UT in
1957 when she was cast in a
leading role opposite a white man
in "Dido and Aeneas" and had to
relinquish the part of the Ethiopian
princess due to racial prejudice and
segregation. She maintained her
ambition, however, and is today
regarded as one of UT's leading
supporters.
Conrad will be singing the
following selections: "Right On,
King Jesus", arrangement by Hall
Johnson; "Scguidilla" from
"Carmen" (by George Bizet),
"Amazing Grace" by Lisa D.
Nelson, and "America the
Beautiful."
For more information about the
banquet, interested persons should
contact Dr. Mario E. Ramirez at
994-3300, Mr. Romeo Lopez at
487-2906, or Mr. Ernesto
Dominguez at 682-0111. Dr.
Ramiez is co-chairperson of the
Steering Committee, and Mr.
Dominguez is chairperson of the
Finance Committee.
Corona to run for district
clerk in March '98 Primary
Lidiana C. Corona has announced
that she is a candidate for Starr
County District Clerk in the March
1998 Democratic primary.
Corona said, "Friends, neighbors
and fellow citizens of Starr County,
I come before you to ask for your
vote and support for my upcoming
election. I feel confident and
qualified to be elected as your Stan-
County District Clerk."
Corona said, "My experience in
public service to our community
qualifies me for this position I
have served the County Clerk's
Office for 27 years and 15 of them
as Chief Deputy County Clerk. I
have been responsible and dedicated
to my work and to you for the past
27 years under four different County
Clerks. I am a graduate of many
County and District Clerk schools
and seminars, Vital Statistic
workshops and Court of Appeals
School. I feel that 'lack of
experience' will not be an issue in
this race."
Corona contended, "We need new
leadership made up of people who
have the vision to sec, and the
desire to work for the taxpayers.
Taxpayers need to have more trust
in their elected officials and we
should be held more accountable in
that trust. I would definitely
improve conditions in the fast-
growing District Clerk's Office,
with a strong focus in better service
to all taxpayers and constituents of
Starr County."
See CORONA, page 7
Lidiana C. Corona
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 84, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 20, 1997, newspaper, November 20, 1997; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195627/m1/1/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.