Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 20, 2001 Page: 1 of 8
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Merry Christmas to all Starr County!
THURSDAY
WEEKLY EDITION
Dec. 20, 2001
#215
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127 RAII. ROAD
Si'RINGPORI. Ml 49204
zone 6
Herald
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
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Aldermen vote to make one EDC membership change
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A-Touch Home Health holds rihboneutting ceremony
A-Touch Home Health Care held a special rihboneutting ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 12 to mark the
opening of its Rio Grande City office. The ceremony was carried out with the assistance of the Rio Grande
City Chamber of Commerce. The A-Touch office, located on East Highway 83 on the eastern edge of Rio
Grande City, has been open approximately one month. Pictured above helping cut the ribbon are A-Touch
owners Donald and Aronell Williams. Standing at the Williams' left are Rio Grande City EDC President
David Porras and Chain be: Vice President Lydia Gar/a Saenz.
A-Touch Home Health Care
holds grand opening event
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
on Thursday night, Dec. 6, the Rio
Grande City Board of Aldermen
voted to make one membership
change on the Economic
Development Corporation (EDC)
Board of Directors.
After some discussion, the
aldermen voted by a 4-1 margin to
rename six of the seven EDC board
members to the new 4-B EDC
board. In the one cnange, Alderman
Hernan Garza was named to replace
Juan Del.una as an EDC director.
The motion was opposed by
Alderman Ricardo Gutierrez. The
selections were made pursuant to
the Economic Development Act of
1979, as amended.
As discussion began, Mayor
Baldemar Garza stated, "Every time
we have an election, we reorganize
our board and make appointments
to the EDC." Alderman Ruben D.
Saenz said, "I move that we
continue with the same board,
except for Hernan Garza in place of
Juan DeLuna." The motion was
seconded by Mayor Pro Tern
Manuel Canales. Saenz added, "This
board is very united the way it is."
City Administrator Leonardo
Olivares declared, "We don't have
the bylaws yet for the 4-B. There is
a general ordinance. Up to four
members of the Board of Aldermen
can serve on the 4-B EDC board, or
it can be entirely from the public. It
has been traditional for each
alderman to nominate one member.
I would suggest we go that route,
or defer the decision."
"I think I should have the right to
appoint one member," suggested
Alderman Gutierrez. "That's the
way it's been done. All of us
should have the right to appoint a
member. That's nothing against
anyone who's serving there now."
Mayor Garza contended, "We do
need to make an effort, all of us;.
The previous board did not think
Richard or myself should nominate
a member. That's one way we could
all come together. It's a question of
all of us being involved. That way
everyone would have a say. This
would show true unity."
Canales responded, "Let's see
what this board can do. They're all
capable people. The important
thing is moving forward. We need
to give them a chance. We are
starting fresh; that's why we should
leave the board as it is."
The aldermen then voted by a 4-1
margin to approve Saenz's motion,
with Gutierrez voting no.
The aldermen discussed the issue
of televising meetings and
workshops of the Board of
Aldermen on PEG Channel 12. In
offering a motion permitting
televised meetings, Canales
declared, "I want to give this a
chance. The community should
know what we're doing. If it
doesn't work, I'll take it off again."
His motion received unanimous
approval.
The aldermen discussed the
possibility of holding city meetings
and workshops at other locations
Alderman Ruben O. Villarreal
contended, "There is a lot of
congestion, and parking is difficult,
even across the street. Trucks are
driving by and shaking the
building. It would be healthy to
take a meeting to the public every
three or four months. When we've
had big meetings here in the past,
people have had to stand outside.
This would show goodwill to the
community."
"A lot of people feel intimidated
by coming here," commented
Alderman Hernan Garza. "I think
we should take these meetings out
to the community every three or
four months, at least. People from
Los Trevinos have expressed
concern in particular."
Villarreal said, "I'm talking about
soi'ie city meetings and
(Sec ALDERMEN, Page 8'
a- Touch Home Health Care held
a ribboncutting for its new facility
in Rio Grande City on Wednesday
morning, Dec. 12, with the event
taking place under the auspices of
the Rio Grande City Chamber of
Commerce.
The A-Touch office, located at
5448 East Highway 83, Suite B,
has been open for approximately
one month.
Donald Williams, who owns A-
Touch along with his wife Aronell,
indicated to The Rio Grande Herald,
We have facilities in Rio Grande
City and Edinburg. We hope to
open facilities in Donna and Elsa.
Our Edinburg facility has been open
approximately five years."
During the ribboncutting
ceremony, Rio Grande City
Economic Development
Corporation (EDC) President David
Porras declared, "Congratulations
and welcome to Rio Grande City.
We're honored to have you here."
Rio Grande City Chamber of
iCommerce Vice President Lydia
Garza Saenz emphasized, "We're
here to help in any way."
Aronell Williams stressed,
"We're thankful for this
opportunity to serve the
community." She then proceeded to
introduce David Decanini, R.N. and
Director of Nursing.
Donald Williams later told The
Herald, "Our motto is 'A Touch of
Love' to the community and the
homes. We want to bring a touch
of love from the community into
the homes."
"We feel like we are an enterprise
on the move in the Rio Grande
Valley," emphasized Williams. "We
want to serve the people of Rio
Grande City through medical
services and community
involvement. We look at this as
not only a business, but also a
ministry."
Williams stated, "We're here to
provide not only medical but
spiritual and moral support to
patients. We're eager to help those
who are less fortunate. We've given
out more than 150 turkeys this
holiday season."
Decanini informed The Herald,
"We have three full-time nurses,
with four part-time nurses. We're
focusing on diabetic care, wound
care, and IV/antibiotics. We provide
help to patients in their homes. We
are providing help to patients
throughout Starr County and also
Zapata County."
Decanini indicated, "We have a
total of 140 employees in both
Edinburg and Rio Grande City."
A-Touch Home Health Care, Inc.
provides such services as diabetic
teaching, glucometer blood sugar
monitoring, preparation and
administration of insulin, Foley
catheter care and insertions,
colostomy and ileostomy care,
wound care, sterile dressing
changes, IV therapy, teaching on
health maintenance, decubitus care,
P1CC line insertion and care, and
mid-line insertion and care.
All services provided by A-Touch
Home Health Care are under the
guidance of a physician. A-Touch
has a complete staff of Registered
Nurses, Licensed Vocational
Nurses, and Certified Home Health
Aides. Anyone who has a nursing
care need and is confined to their
home qualifies for home health
care. Visits are scheduled according
to each client's specific needs.
Commissioners give final
approval to redisricting map
At their continued regular
meeting Friday morning, the
County Commissioners voted to
approve the final proposed
redistricting map for Commissioner
precincts and Justice of the P^ace
precincts.
County Attorney Romero Molina
indicated, "I have the final proposed
map." He stated there were minor
changes in boundaries between
Precincts Four and One. He noted,
"There are no other changes."
County Judge Eloy Vera later
noted, "This involved final
commissioner precincts and J.P.
precincts." The commissioners
unanimously voted to give final
approval to the redistricting maps
as presented.
In giving an update on several
ongoing projects, Federal/State
Programs Coordinator Elisa Beas
indicated, "A change order has been
finalized with Ramos to start the 76
connections. They'll be starting in
La Victoria (in the Roma area). It
will then move to other colonias."
Judge Vera later explained, "That
project is focused on the Roma
area"
Vera stated, "A total of SI75
million was appropriated (by the
state) for colonia projects. A total
of roughly $7 million will be
allocated to Starr County for the
biennium. A key official will be
meeting with me on Monday
morning to explain the
requirements."
"The first round of funding is for
the border," declared the judge. "In
the second round, funding is
statewide and anyone can apply.
This first round of funding is for
areas that already have the
infrastructure. It would be focused
on paving. The state wants the
project on the fast track. The second
round would focus on drainage and
paving."
Vera concluded, "I don't know all
the specifics at this point.
Hopefully we will all know on
Monday."
About other issues, Beas
indicated, "We had a meeting on
Los Olmos concerning the
receivership. They have accepted
market value, so it can proceed."
Beas continued, "NRCS will ask
for funding of Watershed Site No.
Two (in eastern Starr County);
approximately 5750,000. We have
asked for an NRCS engineer to
come provide an assessment."
Beas declared about another
matter, "Part of NADBANK's
report was making law enforcement
against illegal dumping a key
goal." Vera suggested, "I think a
workshop would be a good idea to
see what options we want to follow
with Phase Two."
Chief Deputy Rene Fuentes
presented the November report
concerning the Detention Revenue.
(See APPROVAL, PageS)
Ten Gladiators awarded
All-District recognition
Commissioner Pena
candidate for re-election
< S
♦ Ten Roma Gladiator football
players have received some type of
All-District recognition for their
performances during the recently
completed 2001 season.
Two Gladiators received first
team All-District honors for
District 32-4A. Senior running
back Lauro Salinas and senior
defensive nose guard Jason
Hinojosa were bestowed this elite
recognition.
Salinas rushed for 850 yards and
collected 193 receiving yards during
the 2001 season. Salinas first saw
extensive playing time during his
sophomore season in 1999.
Hinojosa registered 54 total
tackles, 12 quarterback sacks, 15
quarterback hurries, and two
deflected passes. Hinojosa was
awarded second team All-District
honors for his performance as a
junior at the defensive tackle
position during the 2(XK) season
Salinas and Hinojosa also
received certificates from the All-
Bay Area team, which covers the
area from Laredo to Corpus Christi
and poinLs southward. All-Bay Area
is a broadcasting enterprise in the
Corpus Christi area.
Receiving second team honors on
offense was senior wide receiver
Efrain Ochoa. Ochoa won
Honorable Mention plaudits at the
rcceicver position in 2000. On
defense, senior defensive back Cesar
Scgura and senior linebacker Jose
Luis Martinez were awarded second
team recognition Scgura gained
Honorable Mention recognition in
2000 for his pcrformancc as a
(See GLADIATORS, Page s!
County Commissioner Koy
Pena, Jr., has announced his
candidacy for re-election to the
Precinct Two County
Commissioner's Office.
First elected in November 1998,
Commissioner Pena has effectively
served the people of Precinct Two
for the past three years. As a former
educator, local businessman and
Justice of the Peace, he says his
experiences in public service, his
strong interpersonal skills, and his
success in recognizing and
providing for the needs of the
people of the community once
again make him the ideal candidate.
Commissioner Pena's first term
focused on particular key issues.
Included were education, services to
the elderly, fire protection for rural
areas, roadway improvements, and
sound fiscal management practices.
In reflecting on this decision, he
stated, "When first elected, I
identified several areas as major
needs. The successful construction
of a public library and service center
for Precinct Two, the collaborative
link that 1 have established with our
' schools, the improvements that
have been made to the facilities and
services for the elderly, the
continued roadway improvements,
and the sound fiscal practices that I
have implemented in our precinct,
especially in the port of entry, all
provided proof of my commitment
and my eflcctivc leadership in
serving the community. I am proud
of these accomplishments. With the
continued support of the residents
of this area, more significant
improvements will be made for our
community."
w*r
Pena candidate for re-election
Precinct Two County Commissioner Raul "Rov" Pena, Jr , has
announced that he is a candidate for re-election to a second term First
elected in 1998, Commissioner Pena says he is proud of his record in
such areas as education, services to the elderly, roadway improvements,
and fiscal management. (See Page 3 for related article and photo).
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 20, 2001, newspaper, December 20, 2001; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195973/m1/1/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.