Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 93, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 9, 2006 Page: 1 of 8
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY
EDITION
Rio Grande
February 9, 2006
93rd YEAR No. 6
#215
HOAG BOOK BINDERY
127 RAIL ROAD
SPRINGPORT.MI 49204
ZONE 6
HERALD
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
k
I
JROTC Cadets take part in Parade of Oranges
The Rio Grande City High School JROTC cadets recently participated in the Parade of Oranges in
Mission. This event attracted over 100,000 people from all over the Rio Grande Valley. Spectators
were impressed with the 12th Cavalry sabre skills and marching formations. They are preparing for
upcoming parades in Laredo on Feb. 18. 2006 and San Antonio on April 28, 2006. (RGCCISD
photo).
Roma double murder suspect
extradited from Oklahoma
>
i i
t t
A 35-year-old Garceno resident
remains incarcerated in the Starr
County Detention Center after
being extradited from Oklahoma
on Wednesday, Feb. 1 to face
capital murder charges in the
slaying of two male teenagers in
Roma in September 2005.
Roma Police Department
Detective Rafael Aguirre
indicated that Adiian Osbei
Serna was arrested without
incident in Pone a City,
Oklahoma on Monday, Jan. 23.
Serna is charged in the double
murder of Mariano Resende/.
17, and Isauro Alaniz, 17, on
the evening of Sept. 25. 2005.
The fatal shooting occurred on
Efren Ramirez Street about two
blocks south of U.S. 83 at
approximately 6:40 p.m. on
Sept. 25.
Shortly after the slayings.
Roma Police Chief Jose Garcia
indicated, "Both individuals were
hit in the head, apparently by
the same bullet." Resende/ was
pronounced dead at Starr County
Memorial Hospital later that
evening. Alaniz died two days
later at a Harlingen hospital.
Aguirre told The Rio Grande
Herald on Feb. 3, "We were able
to track him down to that
particular city in Oklahoma,
which is Ponca City. We
notified the Ponca City police
and sent them copies of the
warrant He was in the national
NCIC system, which gives law
enforcement information on
suspects throughout the
country."
Aguirre noted, "The warrant
was sworn out a few weeks
before the arrest occurred...He
was arrested on Monday, Jan.
23. He was arrested without
incident...We went over to
Oklahoma on Jan. 30 and
brought him back on
Wednesday, Feb. 1."
The detective stated on Feb. 3,
"They (Resendez and Alaniz)
both sustained one gunshot
wound from the same
bullet...No weapon has been
recovered at this point "
"The motive has yet to be
determined at this particular
time." declared Aguirre. "At this
particulat time, we don't believe
he (the suspect) knew the two
victims."
The detective lamented, "Like
in some other cases, we were
faced w ith the problem of some
witnesses failing to come
forward and telling what they
knew. Such help is needed in
such a tragic case."
Shortly after the shooting.
Police Chief Garcia indicated,
"From all indications, one shot
was fired. One loud noise was
heard. The victims were stopped
side by side with another
vehicle. One shot was fired;
witnesses saw a white SUV
leaving the area. We believe the
shot came from within the
SUV."
(See SUSPECT, Page 6)
Probe into Bscobares robbery,
fatal shooting continues
A 45-year-old Starr County
resident was killed instantly late
Monday evening. Jan. 30 in
Escobares when he was hit by a
'stray bullet fired in the aftermath
of a robbery at a grocery store
more than 100 feet away.
Alberto Hernandez Perez was
pronounced dead at the scene by
Justice of the Peace Gabriel
iRecio. Sheriff's Departmeni
Chief Deputy Rene Fuentes
indicated that Perez was struck
in the back of the head by one
bullet.
One robbery suspect was shot
once in the stomach and remains
hospitalized in critical condition.
Another suspect was arrested a
few minutes later and has been
charged with aggravated robbery.
Another unnamed individual,
believed to have been riding in
the same vehicle with (he two
suspects, remains at large.
Fuentes indicated on Tuesday,
Feb. 7, "Investigation into this
episode is continuing. When we
get ballistics results, the case
will be presented to the grand
jury...The store owner turned in
a weapon. Ballistics testing on
that weapon is being carried out
by DPS."
Ruben Clarke, 19, a Rio
Grande City resident, remained
in critical condition Tuesday at a
Mc Allen hospital after
sustaining one gunshot wound
to the stomach. Clarke is
alleged to have committed the
robbery of the store with a
shotgun.
Daniel Enrique Escamilla, Jr.
was arrested later that evening
and charged with aggravated
robbery. His bond was set at
$25,000 by Justice of the Peace
Abel Cantu. Fuentes indicated
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RGC aldermen talk delay
in 2003-2004 Audit
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly
meeting Thursday night, the Rio
Grande City Board of Aldermen
discussed the delay in
completing the 2003-2004
Financial Audit, with the
accountant predicting the report
should be finalized by mid-
February as one alderman
insisted that any further delay
will jeopardize numerous grant
and loan possibilities.
City Administrator Juan
Zuniga led off discussion by
declaring, "This is a status
report on the 2003-2004 Audit
This audit has been delayed a
year and one-half. Mr. Orozco
has been working on it. 1 asked
him to be here to give a report
and explain the status."
Zuniga emphasized, "Getting
the audit done on time is critical
to competing for grants and
loans from the Texas Water
Development Board and other
federal and state agencies."
CPA Luis Orozco of Pharr
indicated, "We're pretty much
complete with the field work
The financial statements will
look different than in the past.
We have pretty much received
all the financial information
from your records. Utilities
receivable is an issue. We hope
to present financial statements
to you in mid-February."
Zuniga later explained to The
Rio Grande Herald, "In (he
future, water and sewer lines
underground will need to be
identified (in reports)."
Zuniga stated at the meeting,
"We are planning a special
meeting in mid-February. We
hope to have something ready
for you to accept."
Mayor Pro Tem Ruben O
Villarreal told Orozco, "The
audit is essenlial for our water
projects. We know you are
working 'as diligently as you
can."
Orozco emphasized. "We will
work with the city to get this
completed as soon as possible."
Alderman Eloy R. Garcia
insisted. "Your audit determines
how we're doing. It is an
independent view. Why wasn't
(his completed on time? Where
have we been in the past year
financially?"
Orozco indicated, "Most
federal entities expect audits to
be completed within nine
months of the start of the
following fiscal year."
"Somehow (his has to end."
complained Garcia. "We're in a
critical situation where we need
this now. We should know on a
timely basis what the financial
condition of the city is."
Garcia stressed, "I don't think
we should be in this situation.
The financial situation of the
city has not been presented in a
meeting since I've been elected.
We should have been told things
were running behind and that
help was needed. We have
funding we could lose because of
this delay. If you need to bring
on more staff, let us know. If
this is not done by Feb. 15, you
will be under a microscope "
Orozco declared, "We have
kept up with your financial
records. At some times, the
information was not flowing as
fast as we wanted it to...There
are only so many things we can
do regarding the flow of
information." Garcia responded,
"If there are problems with
getting information, we need to
know."
Zuniga commented. "For a
time, I think we were spread a
little too thin." Mayor Kevin
Hiles told Orozco, "Remember,
three days notice is required for
posting a meeting."
After brief discussion, the
aldermen approved an ordinance
(See ALDERMEN, Page 6j
Preparations underway
for 2006 County Fair
The annual Wild Game
Dinner of the Starr County
Youth Fair has been set for
Saturday, February 25, at 6:00
p.m. at the fairgrounds coliseum.
Serving will begin at 6:30. The
event will officially kick off the
41st annual fair. Honored
guests will be 'he 2006 Starr
County Fair Parade Marshals,
members of the Rio Grande City
Lions Club.
The Wild Game Dinner will
be coordinated by the Rio
Grande City Rotary Club again
this year, with Starr County Fair
Board Vice-president Billy
Canales serving as chair. They
invite the public to make plans
to attend and help make this
event a success. Music will be
provided for listening or dancing
pleasure.
Tickets for the meal will be
$10 per person, purchasable at
the door or in advance at Rio
Motor Co. or from Rotary Club
or Starr County Fair Association
board members. A silent
auction will be held, and
donations to the Starr County
Fair Association will be
accepted. Proceeds from the
fund raiser are used to provide
scholarships for up to eight Stan-
County seniors.
Canales stated that many
enthusiastic cooking teams have
signed up to prepare arid serve
their specialties at the dinner.
Some of the taste tempters
prepared in previous years are
fried catfish and shrimp, chicken
fried venison, shrimp cocktail,
turkey chili, quail on wild rice,
eland (wild elk) shish kabobs
and pan de campo, handmade
corn tortillas, Japanese quail,
pork and venison chili, cabrito
guisado, venison burgers, puerco
guisado, venison sausage and
venison guisado, and delicious
desserts. Beer, wine, water, and
soft drinks will also be provided.
The Saturday morning parade
will kick off at 10:00 a.m.,
proceeding from the courthouse
(See UNDERWAY, Page 6)
that Escamilla was also
arraigned before Rio Grande City
Municipal Judge Minerva Garza
and charged with attempted
robbery in a separate incident.
Fuentes stated that Escamilla's
bond in that case was set at
$25,000.
Fuentes declared, "On
Monday, Jan. 30 at roughly
11:22 p.m., the Sheriff's
Department received a call
concerning a robbery at a
grocery store in Escobares...The
incident happened at Tilo's
Grocery Store between Highway
83 and Old 83." Upon arrival,
deputies discovered that Perez
had been shot and fatally
wounded.
Fuentes stated. "Clarke went
inside the store with a shotgun.
At that moment, he was
(See SHOOTING, Page 6)
L
Fair Baking, Crafts Poster Committees meet
Committees are meeting to plan various divisions of the Starr County Fair, including the Baking and
Decorated Baking, the Youth and Adult/Senior Citizen Arts and Crafts, and the Educational Poster
Divisions. Categories and criteria for these events are available at the Starr County Extension
Program Office at 487-2306. Clothing entries w ill now be entered as a category of the Arts and Crafts
Division. Pictured with coordinator. Extension Agent Yolanda Morado, seated at right, are various
chairmen, homemaking teachers, and 4-H representatives.
La Joya Children's
Jaime Medrano, M.D., F.A.A.P.
802 E. Expwy 83, Ste A
La Joya, TX 78560
(956) 585-6575
Jose Rodriguez, P.A.-C
Monday - Friday
8am - 6pm
24 Hours
7 Day Weeks
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 93, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 9, 2006, newspaper, February 9, 2006; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195999/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.