Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 4, 2001 Page: 1 of 6
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY EDITION
January 04 ,2001
88th Year, No. 01
Herald
Rd
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
>
(iruHii Elementary students participated in a Christmas program on December i9. 20(H). I here were
many musical numbers lined up for the parents' enjoyment. Pictured are Mrs Loredos and Mrs. Garcia s
Kindergarten classes performing to "Felix Navida" and the "Chicken Dance .
RGC Mayor Pro Tem Lopez
honored by STDC, STED
By Jerry Lozauo, Freelance
Writer
Mayor Pro Tem, Lauro L. Lopez
was recenily honored by the South
Texas Development Council
(STDC) and STED for a job well
done while serving as Chairman of
both boards.
I onez ;'lso served .is Viee-
!' . sidenl. and Secretary- Treasure.
The STDC. also known as the
area Council of Governments
(COG) was established by
Presidential Executive Order and by
the Governor's Office along with
other COG units throughout the
State in order 10 regionalize
planning and later administrative
services to local governments
which they may not be able to
afford otherwise.
The local COG or South Texas
Development Council provides
services to ihe four county area of
Starr. Jim Hogg. Zapata, and
Webb.
An economic development
corporation known as the STED
was created to provide low interest
loans to area business. The
revolving loan program is being
administered by ihe COG.
A resolution was passed in honor
of the work done by Lopez as an
officer of both boards and reads as
follows:
WHEREAS. LAURO L
LOPEZ is a leader among elected
officials, and,
WHEREAS, LAURO L.
LOPEZ has diligently strived to
develop better coordination and
cooperation among local
governments and to plan for a better
life for the citizens of the South
Texas Development Council
Region, and,
WHEREAS, LAURO L.
LOPEZ has served with distinction
as Chairman. Vice-Chaiman, and
Secretary-Treasurer of (he Board of
Directors of ihe South Texas
Development Council and ably
represented the City of Rio Grande
Task force planned to deal
> with fireworks, gun discharges
The Rio Grande City Police
Department is planning to set up a
task force to deal with fireworks and
the discharging of firearms within
city limits.
Police Department Captain Eli
Gonzalez indicated that during the
New Year's holiday, "there were a
lot of fireworks. You could hear
shots throughout, the city."
Gonzalez emphasized, "That's a
dangerous situation. We're going to
create a task force to deal with the
situation. It's against city
ordinances to discharge fireworks or
firearms within the city limits."
Gonzalez noted that no one was
injured during the New Year's
holiday activities. He added,
however, that "the discharging of
fireworks and firearms was
widespread."
He concluded, "The task force
will deal with the problem on July
4 and the next New Year's holiday."
City on (his August body, and.
WHEREAS, during his tenure
as a member of the Board of
Directors, LAURO L. LOPEZ,
commanded the respect and
admiration of his colleagues and
contributed immeasurably to the
betterment of the citizens of (he
Region and.
WHEREAS, LAURO L.
LOPEZ is an outstanding citizen
whose public service has benefited
all citizens and whose life stands as
an unselfish example for all who
aspire to excellence in public
service.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE
IT RESOLVED by the Board of
Directors of the South Texas
Development Council that the
Council commends the Honorable
LAURO L, LOPEZ and
(See HONORED, Page 6)
Wilderness
Society to meet
Sunday, Jan. 7
The Rio Grande Wilderness
Society will meet on Sunday, Jan.
7 at 2 p.m. at the South Texas
Community College (STCC)
Student Center.
The program will feature a
Millennium celebration, local
musicians, entertainment by
members, a buffet of finger foods,
and an examination of purposes.
Visitors arc welcome to attend
the meeting. At the meeting, the
Society will once again emphasize
the importance of saving the
wilderness and that everyon; can
help in that endeavor.
RGCCISD trustee Escobar
* announces re-election candidacy
Dalinda Escobar, a member of the
Rio Grande City CISD board of
trustees, has announced that she
will be a candidate for re-election to
a second term in (he May 2001
election.
Escobar commented, "It seems
like just yesterday that I was
appealing to the residents of the
Rio Grande City Consolidated
Independent School District and
asking ihcm for their support to
represent them as part of the school
board."
Escobar added, "Soon, i( will be
three years ago, and again I am
appealing to these residents of my
beloved Rio Grande City CISD for
their vote and support for a second
term and second opportunity to
candkkite for Position Five."
She continued, "As most of you
know me, I am Dalinda Perez
Escobar. My parents are Adelina
and Lino Perez of Rio Grande City.
I am married to Gustavo Escobar,
Jr. and we are the parents of two
wonderful teenagers: Gustavo 111, a
recent hi^h school graduate;
Gilbcrto (Gilly), a senior at Rio
Grande City High School; and a 12-
year-old daughter, Ashley, a sixth
grader at Ringgold Middle School.
"These students as well as all of
yours is the reason for my wanting
and having the desire to represent
our community and be part of your
school board," commented Escobar.
"There is so much that is still
unfinished, that I foresee difficulty
Two young women transported to San Antonio
Four persons injured in
New Year's Eve mishap
A one-car mishap in Rio Grande
City on New Year's Eve afternoon
resulted in injuries to four
occupants of a pickup truck, with
two young women being
transported to a San Antonio
hospital for further treatment.
Rio Grande City Police
Department Captain Eli Gonzalez
indicated that a purple 1970 short-
bed Chevrolet pickup truck was
traveling westbound on Second
Street, or U.S. 83, in Rio Grande
City at approximately 4 p.m.
Sunday. The truck was attempting
to negotiate a sharp curve near
Pope's Alley, but was traveling at a
high rate of speed and collided with
a concrete wall.
The truck was driven by Jose
Antonio Rodriguez, 25, of Rio
Grande City. Carlos Manuel Garcia,
20, of Rio Grande City was a
passenger. Elisa M. Rodriguez, 18,
of Rio Grande City was another
passenger, while the fourth
occupant was a 16-year-old female
juvenile.
Gonzalez indicated that Rodriguez
and the female juvenile sustained
head and face trauma and were later
transported to University Hospital
in San Antonio. They had first been
transported to Starr County
Memorial Hospital and then to a
McAllen hospital.
Rodriguez sustained injuries to
his head and was transported to
Starr County Memorial Hospital.
Garcia sustained facial injuries, but
was discharged later that day. from
Starr County Memorial Hospital.
Gonzalez declared, "All four
victims suffered some degree of
facial injuries."
The captain added, "The driver
failed to control speed. As far as can
be determined, no one was wearing
seat belts."
He stated that the skid mark
measured approximately 159 feet
from its beginning to the point of
impact.
The Department of Public Safety
(DPS) assisted the RGCPD in the
initial investigation of the accident.
The mishap 'equired the rerouting
of traffic from West Second Street
for more than one hour.
Investigation continues into
vandalism of farm tractors
The Rio Grande City Police
Department is asking for assistance
from the public to help apprehend
the individuals who briefly stole
and vandalized two farm tractors
over three weeks ago.
Rio Grande City Police
Department Captain Eli Gonzalez
indicated that -.t approximately 7:20
a.m. on De^. 1, RGCPD officers
were dispatched to Chapotal Farms
on the eastern side of Rio Grande
City behind McCoy's Lumber.
At that location, the complainant
told officers that he had left the two
tractors in an open field near
Redwood Street at approximately 5
p.m. on Dec. 10, the preceding day.
According to Gonzalez, the
complainant stated that at 6:15 a.m.
on Dec. 11, he noticed that the
tractors were missing from where
they had been the previous day.
Gonzalez said, "Broken glass was
observed at the sccnc. Other tools
were scattered in the area where the
tractors had been."
The tractors were found in Los
Olmos Creek. Gonzalez noted, "The
tractors were seriously damaged.
The front axle and transmission
were broken on both tractors. The
keys had been left on the
tractors. .Most of the windows were
broken on both tractors." He
indicated that there was very little
water in Los Olmos Creek.at the
time.
Captain Gonzalez suggested, "It
looked like the vandals were trying
to go on a joyride. They're trying
to get an estimate on the amount of
damages."
He added, "Two sets of footprints
were observed near the scene.
Evidently the prints were from
tennis shews."
"A reward of S500 is being
offered by the owner (of the
tractors) for information leading to
the arrests of the persons
responsible," stated the captain,
"The Rio Grande Pity Police
Department Crimestoppers is
offering an additional reward of
$500."
Gonzalez declared, "No suspects
have been determined at this time.
The case is still under
investigation." Anyone with
information about the episode is
encouraged to contact the Rio
Grande City Police Department at
487-8892. All information will be
kept confidential.
The two tractors were Case
International farm tractors with
serial numbers of 7150 and 7220.
State commission
recertifies county jail
The Starr County Jail has again
been recertified by the Texas
Commission on Jail Standards after
the annual inspection was conducted
on Dec. 21, 2000.
The Sheriff's Department
RGC alderman
meetings
rescheduled
for Jan. 11
The regular meetings for January
2001 of the Rio Grande City Board
of Aldermen and the Rio Grande
City Economic Development
Corporation have been rescheduled
from Jan. 4 to Thursday, Jan. 11.
The Jan. 11 meetings will take
place at City Hall, located at 101
South Washington Street.
indicated that no deficiencies were
found as a result of the inspection.
The Department t oted that the jail
has met the requirements of the
Texas Commission on Jail
Standards for the past 12 years.
State law requires periodic
inspections of county jail facilities
in the state of Texas.
Chief Deputy Rene Fuentes told
The Rio Grande Herald that jail
certification is based on such factors
as jail population, facility
conditions, communications
equipment working effectively,
condition of cells, and effectiveness
of fire safety and intercom systems.
Fuentes indicated, "A walk-
through inspection of the facility is
conducted. They conduct an
emergency drill and inspect
lifesaving equipment. They
interview staff, check ADA
(Americans with Disabilities Act)
(See COMMISSION, Page 6)
I"
Dalinda Escobar
represent you as your school ' tnjt 1 H "l
RGC Mayor Pro Tem Lopez honored
Local businessman and Rio Grande City Mayor Pro Tem Lauro L. Lopez was honored recently by the
South Texas Development Council. He was honored for outstanding job performance while serving as
chairman of the board of both STDC and STED. STED is an economic development i orporation created to
provide low interest loans to area businesses.
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 4, 2001, newspaper, January 4, 2001; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195755/m1/1/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.