Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 90, No. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 26, 2003 Page: 1 of 6
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY
EDITION
Rio Grande
lune 26, 2003
90th YEAR No. 26
#215
I K )A( I li(K)K BINDLRY
127 RAM ROAD
" Sl'RINliPORT. MI 49204
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HER A I D
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
* Sanchez El
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Kifiarav
Sanchez firth graders learn about weather
General Sanchez Elementary fifth grade students recently learned about weather forecasting and how weather
conditions form Chad Samwell, Channel 4 Meteorologist, made the weather presentation and answered many
questions that the students had. General Sanchez Elementary students, teachers and administration are pictured
above along with Chad Samwell. (RGCC1SD photo).
Rep. Guillen's hotel bill
expected to boost Starr tourism
AUSTIN — A bill passed by
Representative Ryan Guillen, ID-
Rio Grande City, allowing Starr
County to collect hotel-motel taxes
on motels outside the city limits of
Roma and Rio Grande City, will
mean increased tourism and
business activity for the area, say
Starr County Industrial Foundation
Director Hector Soli', and Assistant
Executive Director Rose
Benavides.
1 he bill, HB3283, will provide
an estimated revenue of $50,000 in
its first year. It was signed into law
by Governor Rick Perry and goes
into effect immediately since it
received more than two-thirds vote
in both the House and the Senate.
Guillen said he was gratified that
the bill had passed and would
benefit Starr County and local
businesses "Economic growth
depends on all of us working
together to improve the local
business climate. Tourism is an
important part of the economy
today and this will help expand
tourism in Starr County," Guillen
said.
"The funds will allow us to
i... <«•• pror?v*ti'jn&l
advertising costs and work with the
Texas Hotel Motel Association to
increase local tourism and boost
local business sales. It will also
increase the amount of sales taxes
that are collected," explained
Benavides.
She noted that the foundation
has been working with state
officials to offer special
promotional rates to sta'e and
federal employees who come to
south Texas and Starr County The
idea is to give them an incentive to
stay in local hotels and dine and
shop locally "In the past many
state and federal workers who
come here have actually stayed in
hotels in McAllen and commuted
back and forth," she explained.
Benavides said the foundation is
also negotiating with developers for
a proposed new hotel to be built in
the county which would increase
the total projected income from the
two-percent increase to close to
SI00.000 a year. "While this rate
will only increase room charges by
about 75-cents to a dollar a night, it
will mean a great deal to the local
economy and will mean increased
sales taxes collected from
restaurants and other businesses for
the county and for our cities," she
said.
3 Starr cities show increases
in June 2003 sales tax rebates
On Friday, June 13, State
Comptroller Carole Kecton
Strayhorn delivered monthly sales
tax rebates to 1117 Texas cities and
120 counties, with all three Starr
County cities recording increases
from the June 2002 sales tax
rebates
The City of Rio Grande City's
June 2003 rebate check of
& I 80,214.09 is 3.54 percent higher
Starr, Zapata
farmers eligible
for LCP II
Starr and Zapata County farmers
are eligible for the Livestock
Compensation Program II (LCP III
This program is in response to last
year's drought.
This is ONLY for those farmers
that missed the deadline in
December 2002. Sign-up began
April I and is scheduled to end
July 3, 2003.
Eligible livestock for LCP II are
dairy and beef cattle, sheep, goats,
buffalo and catfish. Payments will
be made on a per head basis
Livestock must have been owned
for a minimum of 90 days The date
of "June I, 2002" must be within
the 90-calendar day period.
Producers must provide
documentation/receipts for livestock
that was sold, died after June I.
2002 at the time of sign-up
For more information, call or
come by the USDA Starr County
Farm Service Agency, 4400 I
Highway 83, Suite B, Rio Grande
City. Texas The phone number is
(9.56) 487-2511, extension 2
than the June 2002 rebate check of
$174,036.37. For the first six
months of 2003, Rio Grande City
has received $1,238,657.07 in
rebate checks, an increase of 3.05
percent from the $1.201,931.21
received during I he same reporting
period of 2002.
The City of Roma's June 2003
rebate check of $62,090.09 is 2.62
percent higher than the June 2002
rebate check of $60,504.22. Thus
far in 2003, Roma has received
$426,844.70 in rebate checks, a
decrease of 7.46 percent from the
$461,295.58 received during the
same reporting period of 2002.
The City of Grulla received a
June 2003 rebate check of $700.54,
an increase of 0.81 percent from the
June 2002 rebate check of $694 88.
For 2003 to date. Grulla has
received $4323.52 in rebate checks,
an increase of 0.31 percent from the
$4310.00 received during the same
reporting period of 2002.
On June 13, Comptroller
Strayhorn delivered $223.1 million
in monthly sales tax payments to
1117 Texas cities and 120 counties,
a 0.7 percent increase compared to
2003 sales tax rebates of $17.6
million, a decrease of 4.4 percent
compared to the June 2002 figure of
$18 4 million. For 2003 to date,
county sales tax allocations are 1.0
percent lower than the same time
period last year.
Another $8.3 million went to 78
special purpose taxing districts
around the state, a 0.3 percent
decrease compared to June 2002.
Texas' six Metropolitan Transit
Authorities and two City Transit
Departments received a total of
$72.2 million in sales tax rebates,
down 5.4 percent compared to June
2002.
The state's share of sales lax
reported during this period was $ 1.3
billion, an increase of 2.9 percent
compared to a year ago. Prior to
June 2003, the state's share of sales
tax revenue had fallen for 10
consecutive months. However,
other state tax revenues continue to
decline. Franchise tax paid by Texas
business in May, the most critical
month, was down 11.7 percent
(See REBATES. Page 6)
Remains of missing
Roma teenager found
Two male teenagers are currently
jailed and likely to face murder
charges in connection with the
death of a Roma teenager whose
body was discovered halfway
between Roma and Rio Grande City
on Friday, ending a 2 1/2-year
search since the youth vanished in
January 2001
A Roma Police Department
detective indicated on Tuesday that
the remains of Javier Ortega, 16,
were discovered Friday morning in a
shallow grave about one mile north
on Alvarez Road roughly halfway
between Roma and Rio Grande
City. A McAllen Monitor article
on Tuesday indicated that Ortega's
body was located on an abandoned
ranch.
The detective indicated to The
Rio Grande Herald, "We need to run
some DNA tests. We're 99.9
percent certain it was him.. An
autopsy has been performed on the
victim. We are awaiting the
results."
The detective noted that Ortega
"was last seen at his house in the
Roma area in the afternoon hours of
Jan. 15, 2001 His mother reported
him missing in the early morning
hours of Jan 16,2001 He was last
seen in the company of two male
juveniles who picked him up at his
house...He didn't return home when
he was expected."
"We have two individuals in
custody," stated the detective "I
cannot disclose their names. They
were apprehended as juveniles.
They're adults at this time, but
we're alleging that the offense was
committed while the two males
were juveniles "
He declared, "The cause of death
was two or three gunshot
wounds...We haven't been able to
determine the time of his
death...We don't know the place
where the shooting occurred."
"I cannot disclose what part of
the body he was hit or what kind of
weapon was used." added the
detective.
The detective indicated, "The two
juveniles are still incarcerated. The
18-year-old is housed at the County
Jail, and the 17-year-old is housed
at the juvenile detention facility."
The officer declared, "At this
point, we don't believe anyone else
was involved."
"The FBI was involved in
investigating his disappearance,"
stated the detective. "They're still
involved in the investigation to a
minimal degree by providing
technical assistance. The United
Agencies Violent Crime Task Force
is involved in the probe." He
indicated that the United Agencies
Violent Crime Task Force is
comprised of the Roma Police
Department, the Rio Grande City
Police Department, and the Starr
County Attorney's Office."
The Herald attempted late
Tuesday afternoon to contact
District Attorney Heriberto Silva
concerning pending legal
proceedings involving the suspects,
but was unable to reach him.
(See MISSING, Page 6)
Three Lady Rattlers lead RGC
in top Valley Softball honors
By ROEL OLSON, JR.
The Lady Rattler fastpitch
Softball team placed seven of theii
nine starters on three of the 2003
All-District teams
Cecilia Bazan was selected to the
first team All-District list as an
outfielder and to the Area team as a
first team outfielder. Bazan was
Honorable Mention on the All-
Valley team. Lilly Flores was the
All-District shortstop and also made
the All-Area team.
Rio pitcher/third baseman Jessica
Garcia was selected first team All-
District as a pitcher, Garcia was
half of the 1-2 punch pitching staff
for the Lady Rattlers. Jenny
Vasquez was the other half and was
selected to the All-District second
team as a pitcher. Vasquez also
alternated at first base with Idani
Bazan.
Outfielder Pam Alaniz joined the
All-District selections for the first
time by nabbing a spot on the
second team as an outfielder. Idani
Bazan, who alternated at third base
with Garcia and at first base with
Vasquez, made the Honorable
Mention list. The smooth, but
tough as nails Jessica Garcia
received honors by making the
Honorable Mention list.
The Lady Rattlers made the state
playoffs for the fourth consecutive
lime and dropped a bidistrict game
to eventual regional finalist
Brownsville Rivera 7-6 in 10
innings. It was a heartbreakmg loss
for '.he Lady Rattlers. We know that
we lad the team to go at least three
deep into the playoffs, but a couple
of miscues on the field took their
toll in the end
This year the girls ended the
season with 26 wins and 7 losses.
It was the most wins ever by a Rio
team, and that's despite not playing
any non-district games Rio's
opponents would cancel out at the
last minute.
The Lady Rattlers have now
logged 86 wins ind 25 losses in
four years. In four years of district
play, the Rattlers have garnered 44
victories with only 8 losses. This
is a tribute to the hard work these
ladies have done out on the field and
in the classroom. I want to thank
the dedicated and loyal fans we've
had throughout the years, even
when your daughter(s) has already
graduated.
The success our program has
attained wouldn't have "een
possible without my assistant
coaches. I want to say that I'm very
proud to have Coach Ana Cortinas
and Jorge (Doc) Garcia as
assistants. Thanks for being there
when 1 couldn't, for helping prepare
the girls for an always rigorous
season, and for sharing your
thoughts and knowledge of the
sport when I needed your input.
The JV squad has been led by
Judy Colvin for many year . and
she's done a great-job ■■ r.i • girls
along with her assistant. Aracely
Perez Mr. Leonel Soli led the
freshmen team once 't ore to a
successful season and w as assisted
this year by Coach Alma Perales.
They have it lough because they
truly need to stress the
fundamentals and smooth out the
rough edges of these young players.
I want to wish good luck to our
four senior players on the squad as
they venture out into the college
world. Our seniors were Ana
Acosta, Patsy Garcia, Flor Mancha
and Rosie Salinas. The following
13 players will be returning next
year: Audrey Ramey (10),
Leighanne Perez (10), Vanessa
Villarreal (10), Jessica Garcia (10),
(See SOFTBALL, Page 6)
\
the
>221 6 million allocated
June 2002.
June sales tax rebates include
local sales taxes collected in April
and reported to the Comptroller in
May.
The sales lax rebates included
$205.5 million to Texas cities,
1.1 percent higher than the June
2002 payments of $203.2 million,
l or the year to date, city sales lax
rebates arc tunning 0.3 percent
lower than for the same tune period
in 2002.
Icxas counties received June
Brother, sister protect
Americans in Iraq, at home
A local brother and sister arc
looking out for the safety of their
fellow Americans, with one being
deployed to Kuwait while the other
stays behind to protect her
community.
Sergeant Miguel Vasquez of the
U.S. Army 217th Transportation
Unit stationed at Fort Hood. Texas
is now deployed in Iraq His sister.
Margot Garcia, is a police officer
and patrols the streets of San
Antonio, Texas.
The proud parents of the
courageous and dedicated brother and
sister are Mr. and Mrs Homcro
Vasquez (formerly Leonor
Rodriguez) of Ri > Grande City The
grandparents ol if remarkable
siblings arc the late Miguel (Chico)
Rodriguez. .Ir and Margarita
Rodriguez of Rio Grande City.
\
R(iC siblings defending Americans
U.S. Arms Sergeant Miguel \ asqucz of Rio Grande City and his sister.
Margot Garcia, ate working diligently and courageously to protect the
freedom of Americans Miguel is stationed in Iraq with the 217th
I ransportation Unit, based at Fort Hood. Texas. Margot patrols the streets
of San Antonio as a police officer The parents of this unique brother-
sister duo are Mi and Mrs Hon ; > Vasquez of Rio Giande Citv
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 90, No. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 26, 2003, newspaper, June 26, 2003; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196222/m1/1/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.