Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 25, 1999 Page: 1 of 8
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GOBBLEDYGOOK TURKEY GIVE-A WAY WINNERS see page 6
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* THURSDAY
WEEKLY EDITION
November 25,1999
86th Year, No. 47
,(215
Hoag Book Bindery
127 Rail Rd
Jspr ingport., MI 49204
P Zone 6 )
Herald
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
Valdez gives inspirational message
9 scholarships awarded at 1999 honor student banquet
The 1999 Valley Honor Student
Banquet, an annusl tradition for
almost four decades, was held
Wednesday night, Nov. 16 at Roma
High School to honor 400 high-
achieving junior and senior students
from high schools in Starr,
Hidalgo, Zapata and Jim Hogg
Counties.
The banquet was highlighted by
the remarks of guest speaker Alex
Valdez, a famous motivational
speaker and trainer who has
overcome the handicap of blindness
to become a very noteworthy
motivational speaker and comedian.
Another highlight of the evening
was the awarding of nine $500
scholarships to nine Valley High
School students who have
distinguished themselves
academically.
Five scholarships are being
provided by H-E-B, two by Blue
Cross/Blue Shield, and one each by
IBC and Bank One
Honors Banquet Co-Chair Romeo
Lopez indicated, " "Nine senior
students were identified and these
students will be allocated funds in
the near future."
The nine students awarded
scholarships are:
(1) Sara Gonzalez, Rio Grande
City High School: (2) Leira
Moreno, Roma High School; (3)
Arianna Ramos, Sharyland High
School; (4) Antonio Lopez III, San
Isidro High School; (5) Victoria
DeLeon, Sharyland High School;
(6) Miguel Lcija, PSJA Memorial
High School; (7) Enedelia
Rodriguez, Rio Grande City High
School; (8) Marilu Garcia, Roma
High School; (9) Stephanie Seit;,
McAllen High School.
Lopez noted that representatives
STCC honors Range]
as legislator of month
South Texas Community
College honored Texas State
Representative Irma Rangel on
Thursday. November 18th at the
Starr County Campus
Representative Rangel was
chosen "Legislator of the Month"
for her immeasurable contributions
to the collcgc over the years and
its' continued success
Mrs Rangel was greeted with
a warm welcome extended by
Ruben Saenz. Starr County
Campus Coordinator Mayor
Baldcmar Garza of Rio Grande
City was also there to welcome
Mrs Rangel with a few words along
with Dr Shirlev A Rccd. President
of STCC.
Representative Rangel took a
moment to express the importance
of education in South Texas, with
her primary focus being on the
student and his or her future
After receivine a strong round of
applause. Representative Ran^ei
extended her gratitude for the
award
The reception was held
midday in the campus courtyard
and included a picnic style lunch
sponsored by Southwestern Bell
Several organizations from Rio
Grande (ity High School took pan
in the festivities The RGCHS
Mariachis performed at the
reception The High School's
R.O.T.C and Trumpeters presented
the Presentation of Colors and The
National Anthem. The Pledge of
Allegiance was lead by STCC Stan-
County student. Michelle Lee
Bazan
ot The University of Texas at
Austin, The University of Texas-
Pan American, UT-Brownsville,
The UT health Science Center and
the entire UT System.
Among the UT System officials
present were UT System Chancellor
Dr. William Cunningham, UT-
Austin President Dr. Larry R.
Faulkner, UT-Pan American
President Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez,
and UT-Brownsville Vice President
for Student Affairs Dr. Olivia
Rivas. Faulkner, Nevarez and Rivas
all praised the students for their
academic achievements and urged
them to pursue the best possible
future at the collegiate and i
university level and ultimately in
the career field of their choice..
Among other UT System and
UT-Austin officials present were
Dr. Ed Sharpe, Executive Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs;
Ms. Shirley Bird Perry, Vice
Chancellor for Development and
External Relations; Dr. Mario J.
Gonzalez, Associate Vice
Chancellor for South Texas/Border
Area Development; and Dr. James
Vick, UT-Austin Vice President for
Student Affairs.
Texas A&M University President
Dr. Ray M. Bowcn, Texas A&M
University System Deputy
Chancellor Dr. Leo Sayavedra and
other high officials of the Texas
A&M University System were
present, with Bowen and Sayavedra
offering words of encouragement
and motivation to the students.
Other Texas A&M officials on
hand for the event included Dr.
Ronald A. Douglas, Executive Vice
President and Provost; Mr. Joe A.
Estrada, Director of Admissions;
and Dr. Willliam L. Perry,
Associate Executive Provost.
The scholarship awards at the
banquet were announced by Lopez,
who also gave the welcoming
remarks. Closing remarks were
provided by Dr. Mario E. Ramirez,
(See BANQUET, Page 5)
-xJLxJ
j!
Youngsters enjoy Fire Safety House
Pictured above from left to right by the Kids Fire Safety House are Rio Grande City Fire
Department members Dr. Antonio Moreno, Captain Ricardo Ozuna, Dr. Jesus Sepulveda
Jr.. Chief Javier Garcia. McAllen Fire Department Public Education Officer Rene Alaniz,
I t. Patrick Gorena, and Ringgold Elementary 3rd and 4th Graders.
Local residents should
prepare for Y2K situation
impacted with a lack of basic
Carmen Pena announces re-electionv
candidacy for Tax Assessor
Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen
A. Pena has announced that she
will seek re-election as Starr
County Tax Assessor-Collector in
2000. She was first elected in 1996.
Carmen says she has
accomplished all her objectives
since she took office. Collections
have increased, payment plans are
offered to avoid any tax sale, tax
deferrals are offered to all taxpayers
who are 65 years of age and older.
Saenz declares candidacy
for Tax Assessor
Mr Humberto Saenz. Jr.. of
Los Saenz, has announced his
candidacy for County Tax
Assessor-Collector of Starr County
in the March 2000 election.
"Mv goal as Starr County Tax
Assessor-Collector is to serve the
taxpayers in a professional,
competent, and fricndlv manner,"
states Mr Saenz
In an interview he stated:
"Eighteen years as an appraiser, the
last two as Chief Appraiser, with
the Starr County Appraisal District,
and eleven years as a member of
the Roma Independent School
District Board of Trustees have
given me the necessary experience
in listening to, and addressing the
concerns of Starr County citizens".
Mr Saenz is a registered
Professional Appraiser. He is a
member of the Board of Tax
Professional Examiners. Texas
Humberto Saenz, Jr.
Association of Assessing Officers,
and Texas Association of Appraisal
Districts
He is active in community
(See SAENZ, Page 5)
Offices have been remodeled to
better serve citizens and taxpayers.
A;; work loads is done on a day-to-
day basis.
Carmen is married to Pedro Pena,
Jr., of Rio Grande City. The couple
has two children: Brcnda Lee, a
junior at the University of Texas-
Pan American; and Omar, an eighth
grader at Immaculate Conception
' School. Mrs. Pena is the daughter
■ of Manuel (Vilo) Alvarez.
Carmen is a 1975 graduate of Rio
Grande City High School. She is a
vevy active individual. Carmen has
served as past PTO president and
School Board member of ICS. She
was also PTO prsident of the RGC
T-Ball Association and Ringgold
Middle School, Parish and Youth
Volunteer, and also a member of
various organizations.
Pena declared, 'These were rny
goals when I first took office and
will continue to be: To maintain
the integrity of the office, to
provide equal and excellent service
to citizens and taxpayers, remain
impartial, respect our citizens and
taxpayers' opinions, provide good
public relations with all, keep our
taxpayers informed on all tax
information, and continue working
together as a team with the office
staff"
What is the Y2K Bug? Why
are people so concerned?
Due to the way computers
were made, on January I. 20(H).
computers may create problems on
devices that control processes and
functions in machines, building
ventilation systems, dispensing
systems, elevators, fire and security
systems and numerous other
systems that arc very much a pan
of our lives
These malfunctions may
cause inconveniences. This article
is written to help our citizens
prepare for and cope with any
potential effects of this possible
problem. No one knows what
problems may occur. how
widespread they may be, or how
long they w ill last as the computer
changes to the year 2000 Some
experts believe that the computer
could interpret the change to "00"
to mean 1900 instead of 2000.
Consequently, information could be
lost and confusion mav occur with
.-<
computers that have not been
updated to accept the change as the
vear number changes.
The good news is that federal,
state, and local government,
industrv and businesses as well as
the general public have been
working hard for years to reduce
the potential problems
What could be our local
problem1' Some experts believe
that there may be electrical power
outages As much as we depend on
electricity, you can imagine the
inconveniences this would causc
Electronic credit card transactions
may not be processed. The
telephone system mav have
locali/cd disruptions. Dispensing
machines like those used to pump
gasoline may be hindered. Th;
bottom line is. no one really knows
what will happen. Hie best advice
is to be prepared.
Our area has an additional
concern due to our proximity to the
border What if Mexico is heavily
service'.' Where will their citizens
go for these services'' This could
be another potential problem
Again, no one really knows what
will occur, but it is best to be
prepared just in case Let me
assure you that the local emergency
agencies will continue to monitor
the situation and will be available
for anv needs that mav occur
What can we do to be
prepared'.'
A Check with the
manufacturers on all
computer controlled
electronic equipment
1 Fire and security alarm
systems
A/C thermostats
Garage door openers
4 Electric locks
equipment with an
"embedded chip ' used
for its operation
Get assurance that this
(See SITUATION, Page 5)
\
M A
Rangel honored as STCC Legislator of Month
State Representative Irma Rangel of Kingsvillc was honored as the South Texas Community Collcgc
Legislator of the Month in a special ceremony at the Starr County STCC campus on Thursday. Among the
dignitaries pictured above arc STCC trustee Alcjo Salinas, STCC trustee Manuel Benavidcz, Jr., Rio Grande
City Mayor Baldcmar Garza, STCC President Dr. Shirley Reed, and Stan County STCC Coordinator Ruben
Saenz
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 25, 1999, newspaper, November 25, 1999; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195732/m1/1/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.