Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 4, 1999 Page: 1 of 8
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY EDITION
February 4,1999
86th Year, No. 5
25 cents
49204
Herald
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Teocas
Defendant acquitted of
murder, kidnap charges
A Starr County 381st District
Court voted Wednesday afternoon,
Jan. 27 to acquit defendant Salome
Sanchez of capital murder and
aggravated kidnapping charges in
connection with the abduction and
murder of Jessie Ray Warren near
Rio Grande City in February 1996.
The verdict, returned just after 4
p.m., came after approximately four
to five hours of deliberations. In
previous proceedings, one defendant
was convicted of capital murder in
connection with Warren's death and
two others pleaded guilty to lesser
charges.
District Attorney Heriberto Silva
insisted to The Rio Grande Herald
on Thursday, "I believe there was
enough evidence to .convict him and
they chose not to. Basically, I just
don't see the reasoning for the
decision."
Sanchez, 28, of Rio Grande City
was acquitted of capital murder in
Warren's death, was acquitted of
aggravated kidnapping in Warren's
abduction and was acquitted of
aggravated kidnapping against
Jimmy Newman.
Silva indicated that one charge
ICS pastoral
team plans Feb.
11 special mass
The pastoral team at Immaculate
Conception Church plans a special
mass to commemorate the Feast
Day of Our Lady of Lourdes on
Thursday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. at the
Grotto in Rio Grande City.
Immaculate Conception Parish
extends a warm invitation to
everyone in Starr County to attend.
against Sanchez accusing him of
possession of more than 50 but less
than 2000 pounds of marijuana
remains pending.
Sanchez was represented by
Roma attorneys Arnulfo Guerra and
Arnulfo Guerra, Jr. The Herald
attempted to contact both attorneys
on Monday and Tuesday, but was
unable to reach them.
Warren was kidnapped from his
home just outside of Rio Grande
City after a fierce struggle on the
evening of Feb. 17, 1996. His
badly decomposed and partially
burned body was found along the
banks of the Rio Grande City on
the Mexican side on March 1,
1996. Evidence in subsequent court
proceedings indicates Warren was
shot to death just east of Rio
Grande City on the evening of his
abduction. The FBi and Texas
Rangers assisted with the
investigation of Warren's
kidnapping and murder.
Silva insisted, "I feel the jury is
sending the wrong
message...Maybe they think that
because he didn't pull the trigger,
he wasn't liable."
Silva declared, "He admitted (in
court) to knocking down the garage
door. He admitted to calling the
Mexicans to come over and do the
deed...Some jurors don't seem to
think that any crime related to
marijuana is very serious. That has
been true of other juries in the
past."
The D.A. stressed, "Nobody has
shown any evidence that Warren
was involved (in any way)" with
the purported theft of a shipment of
marijuana.
Presentation of evidence began
Friday morning, Jan. 22. Raul
Soto, a co-defendant in the case
who was arrested in the summer of
1998, testified for the state. Also
testifying for the prosecution were
three FBI agents, one Starr County
Sheriffs Department officer, and a
couple of residents living near the
Warren residence. The pathologist
who performed the autopsy also
was a prosecution witness.
Silva indicated that Sanchez
himself and his wife testified for the
(See ACQUITTED, Page 4)
RGC aldermen to
meet Thursday night
The Rio Grande City Board of
Aldermen will hold their regular
monthly meeting Thursday night at
6:30 p.m. at City Hall, located at
101 South Washington Street in
Rio Grande City.
Among the items on the agenda
is a status report on Empowerment
Zone projects by Elisa Y. Beas.
The aldermen will also hear
departmental reports from different
department directors.
Scheduled is discussion and
possible action on approval of the
purchase of additional radio
equipment for the Police
Department. Previous action
approving a rabies clinic for late
February or early March is
scheduled for ratification.
Sarah Falcon named RGC
High HOBY ambassador
RGCCISD News Release
The 1999 Hugh O'Brian Youth
(HOBY) Leadership Seminar
Ambassador for Rio Grande City
High School has been selected as
Sarah Elizabeth Falcon will
represent RGC High School in the
annual seminar.
The vision of the HOBY seminar
is to motivate and develop
tomorrow's leaders, preparing them
for positions in their schools and
helping them to expand the talents
that will serve them and their
communities in the future. This
experience is exclusively for high
school sophomores who
demonstrate exceptional leadership
skills.
Sarah will participate in a unique
interactive weekend with
Ambassadors from today's worlds
of business, government and
education. Through intense
discussion with these persons,
HOBY leaders get a realistic look
at their nation and the role they
play in it.
According to last year's HOBY
Ambassador, Mary Anastasia
Rodriguez, "HOBY is a wonderful
leadership experience that allows
you to meet friends that will last
forever."
One of the goals of the seminar
is to motivate students to accept the
risk of leadership and catch a vision
of what it car be. Sarah Falcon is
HOBY honoree
Sarah Elizabeth Falcon will be the 1999 HOBYLeadcrship Seminar
ambassador for Rio Grande City High School. The seminar focuses on
motivating highigh school sophomores to prepare to become tomorrow's
leaders. The seminar will take place this June in San Antonio. (RGCCISD
photo:publicinfo 10@ yahoo.com)
committed to this theme and sees
leadership as a life goal worth
pursuing.
HOBY seminars originated in
1958 when actor Hugh O'Brian
returned from a trip to Africa. Upon
returning from his trip, Mr.
O'Brian decided to start a foundation
in order to contribute to the well-
being of American society.
He chose youth development as
the most promising enterprise that
HOBY could sponsor. The program
began, and between 1958 and 1967,
HOBY seminars were held in Los
Angeles for students from
California. Since then, it has
expanded tremendously. In 1998,
13,000 sophomores were nominated
to attend one of 89 seminars held
throughout the U.S., Canada and
Mexico.
Sarah Elizabeth Falcon is the 16-
year-old daughter of Dr. and Mrs.
Tony Falcon. Sarah is an excellent
young lady who dedicates herself to
excellence in every endeavor. This
is evident in her involvement with
school, church, and community.
She has proven to be a leader at
Rio Grande City High School
through her active involvement in
Band, chccrlcading, tennis and
Student Council. Sarah has led her
class for the past two years by
serving as freshman class president
in 1997-98 and sophomore class
president in 1998-99.
She also lakes an active role in
her church. Sarah is a member of
the National Council of Youth
Methodists. Sarah takes great pride
in her community. During the
recent Sesquicentennial cclcbrauon,
Sarah volunteered in the festivities
of the week as well as participating
in the Style Show.
Her plans for the future include a
career in Medicine. She hopes to
(See FALCON, Page 4)
WE LOVE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS—The Prekinder Four students of Erma Doria, at left, assisted
by Famelisa Landez, are pictured following a recent project during which they collected "Pennies for the
Poor." They collected more than $66 for a needy family that has no electricity or water in their home.
They also collected canned goods for this family. This focus on love, caring, and sharing is the central
focus of Catholic Schools. This week is being celebrated at Immaculate Conception School and across
the nation as Catholic Schools Week, featuring the theme "Faith for a Brighter Future "
Catholic Schools Week now
in full swing at ICS in RGC
The celebration of Catholic-
Schools Week is in full swing this
week, January 31-February 6, at
Immaculate Conception School and
across the nation. Principal of
Immaculate Conception School,
Sister Helen Rottier, CSJ,
announced that the theme, "Faith
for a Brighter Future" has set the
tone for the week's celebration.
The (acuity, students, staff,
parents, alumni, and all Catholic
school supporters are all urged to
join in the observance of this
special week.
This year's Spirit Award
Banquet for the Diocese of
Brownsville was held last Friday as
a kickoff to the weeklong
celebration. The second annual
event honored one employee and
one volunteer from each of the
Catholic schools in the Diocese
This year's honorees from
Immaculate Conception School
were Raymond Peiia, honored
employee, and Jerri Shuford,
honored volunteer.
RGCCISD plans
TAAS testing in
late February
TAAS testing will be scheduled
for Rio Grande City C1SD students
on Feb. 23, 24 and 25.
Students, parents, or other district
residents seeking further
information should call the
Guidance and Testing Department at
716-6704.
Serving on the 1999 Catholic
School's Week committee were
Tim Green, Sister Gayle Hurban,
SSND, Famelisa Landez, Nellie
Gonzalez, and Rhodora Litong.
With the cooperation of the entire
staff, an exciting week is taking
place.
A very special mass was
celebrated at Immaculate
Conception Church on Sunday
morning, January 31 Sunday's
theme was "Faith for a Brighter
Future in our Parish." Officiant
Father Amador Garza, Father
Carlos Zuniga, and the Parish staff
were recognized during this mass.
I.C.S. students and families played
a major role in the mass, along
with the I.C.S. Choir, led by Ruby
Urbina and Melissa Reyna. A
reception was held afterwards.
Rio Grande City Mayor
Baldemar Garza addressed the school
at an assembly on Monday, with
its theme. "Faith for a Brighter
Future in our Community."
Students dressed to represent their
possible future career in the
community, and a large group of
professionals set up a "Job Fair" in
the Parish Hall for the students in
grades 2-8 in the afternoon.
Today, Tuesday, February 2, is
Open House all day for parents,
grandparents and others interested in
visiting the school. Volunteers,
PTO officers, and School Council
members are to be honored at the
morning assembly. The annual
Family Picnic will be held at
1 1:45. "Faith for a Brighter Future
through our Parents" is the theme
for today.
"Faith for a Brighter Future in
our Nation" is the theme for
Thursday when students will invite
their personal heroes to visit their
classrooms and speak about
themselves and their lives. In the
afternoon, classes will take ^hi rt
local field trips to take cards,
cookies, other gifts, and thanks n
local public servants who often ;
unrecognized. Those to be visited
may include the Fire Department.
Police Department. City Hall, the
Courthouse, the Parish Office, and
the Public Library
An honors assembly at 8 30
a.m. will mark the beginning of
"Faith for a Brighter Future in our
Students" Day on Thursday.
Students and staff will enjoy Share
a Lunch Day at noon and a
schoolwide Olympics in the
afternoon at 1:00. Parents are
welcome to come and watch the
exciting games.
Friday, February 5, the
weeklong celebration will conclude
with "Faith for a Brighter Future
with our Teachers and Staff."
Friday morning a mass will be
celebrated, featuring a special
blessing for the teachers and staff,
who will also be honored with a
luncheon at noon A kickball
game between the students in
grades 4-8 and the faculty/staff will
be held at 2:00.
Everyone who has Faith in a
Brighter Future through Catholic
Schools is welcome to join in the
weeklong celebration of Catholic
(See CATHOLIC. Page 4)
Starr County awarded $16,628 in
emergency food and shelter funds
Starr County has been awarded
federal funds under the Emergency
Food and Shelter National Board
Program.
Starr County has been awarded
$16,628 to supplement emergency
food and shelter programs in the
area.
The selection was made by the
National Board that is chaired by
the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) and consists of
representatives from the Salvation
Army, American Red Cross,
Council of Jewish Federations,
Catholic Charities USA, National
Council of Churches of Christ in
the USA, and the United Way of
America, which will provide the
administrative staff and function as
fiscal agent.
The Board was charged by
Congress to distribute funds
appropriated by Congress to help
expand the capacity of food and
shelter programs in the high need
areas around the country.
A local board made up of
organizations like the American
Red Cross, Catholic Social
Services, Food Bank of the Rio
Grande Valley, Hidalgo County
Community Service Agency,
McAllen Ministerial Alliance,
Salvation Army. Office of Stan-
County Judge Eloy Vera, Temple
Emmanuel, United Way of South
Texas and a homeless representative
will determine how the funds are to
be distributed among the emergency
food and shelter programs run by
local service organizations in the
area. The local board is responsible
to receive those funds and any
additional funds available under this
phase of the program.
Under the terms of the grant from
the National Board, local
government or private voluntary
organizations chosen to receive
funds must: (1) Be nonprofit; (2)
Have an accounting system; (3)
Practice nondiscrimination; (4) Hve
demonstrated the capacity to deliver
emergency food and/or shelter
programs; and (5) If they are a
private voluntary organization, they
must have a voluntary board.
Qualifying organizations are urged
to apply.
Starr County has distributed
Emergency Food and Shelter funds
previously with Starr County Food
Pantry, St. Isidro Catholic Church,
People's Pantry, Colonias Unidas,
Ninos Unidos, Iglesia Bautista
Cristo Viene, and Catholic Social
Services. These agencies were
responsible for providing 694,564
meals. Further information on this
program may be obtained by
contacting Tclma Longoria at 956-
702-4088 no later than Feb. 19.
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 4, 1999, newspaper, February 4, 1999; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195690/m1/1/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.