Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 65, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 11, 1980 Page: 1 of 10
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TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
* * * * RIO GRANDE * * * *
E R A L
VOL. XXXV
No. 65
December 11, 1980
FIFTEEN CENTS
SHr?
\
Lozano May Be Next Right Of Way Officer
SANTA AND LITTLE MISS STARK COUNTY—Little Miss Starr County, Kara
Guerra, is pictured with Santa Claus as they rode in the 1980 Starr County Christmas
Festival parade sponsored by the RGC Chamber of Commerce
The Starr County Commissioners Court
Monday tabled action to name outgoing
Precinct Three County Commissioner
Hector Lozano County Right-Of-Way Of-
ficer.
The matter was Number Nine on the
agenda for the Regular Term meeting
"Discuss and take action on the re-
appointing of County Road Supt. and the
appointing of a Right-Of Way Officer,
Commissioner Pena."
When the Court arrived at that matter
Precinct Two County Commissioner
Ainando Pena made a motion to re-appoint
Roberto Pena to the County Road
Superintendent position and to name Hector
Lozano County Right-Of-Way Officer.
Lozano was not present for the meeting.
Precinct Four County Commissioner
Arnoldo Gonzalez and County Judge Bias
Chapa objected to the motion. Gonzalez
said he questioned the legality of matter
since Lozano was still a county com-
missioner.
Judge Chapa agreed with Gonzalez. They
said the matter should wait until next year.
Pena agreed to withdraw the I /r/ano
appointment from his motion, but went
ahead with the Road Superintendent
matter. Precinct One County Com-
missioner Jose Maria Alvarez seconded his
motion.
After some more discussion, Chapa called
for the vote, Pena and Alvarez voted for the
motion, Gonzalez and Chapa voted against,
so the matter did not carry.
Chapa assured Roberto Pena that he
would be re-hired, but in January. Gonzalez
agreed, but added he wanted the position re-
defined.
It appears that money has been budgeted
for the right-of-way officer position for 1981
although it was not in the budget for this
year.
l«onardo Saenz found himself out of work
last January after he was informed that his
position had not been budgeted.
Lozano lost his bid for re-election to
Norberto "Robe" Montalvo of Garciasville.
In other matters the court approved all
bills as presented by the County Auditor,
Guadalupe Villarreal, plus some bills which
reported came in late. Villarreal mentioned
that he was not recommending payment to
Joe Gallegosof Consolidated Engineers and
Architects on a statement of $15,397, related
to the Roma Port Facilities "until I have full
explanation." That bill was left pending.
Gallegos was not present.
Th° Court approved a contract with Thos.
Y. Pickett and Co., Inc. for the year 1982, on
a motion by Alvarez and a second by Pena.
Gonzalez voted against it because it was not
being done "in a businesslike manner."
Gonzalez wanted for the contract to specify
an early date for a hearing on utilities.
Pena said he did not want to go against
Gonzalez, but didn't want "any friction"
with the appraisal firm either.
"The contract should specify what we
want, not what they want," Gonzalez said.
Chapa did not vote on that matter, or on
any other exccpt the one mentioned above,
concerning the road superintendent.
The Court then went into executive
session to discuss the matter of Mrs. Santos
Carrion and then the Manpower Program.
Upon resuming public meeting, Alvarez
moved to award on contract $15,000 from the
1981 budget to Mrs. Carrion subject to a
check on the legalities. Gonzalez seconded
the motion and it carried.
There was no mention of what the Man-
power situation was about. The Court had
gone secret meeting with Starr County
Manpower Coordinator Saul Hinojosa and
Yolanda Naranjo of the South Texas
Development Council. Both left the
Courtroom when the meeting resumed in
public.
No action was taken on a request from
Mrs. Noemi H. Guerra, chief deputy,
County Treasurers office, in regards to
salary.
Likewise, no action was taken to renew a
contract with the delinquent tax attorney.
The 1980 tax roll, and $150 for Crisoforo
Munoz, tax assessor-collector, to deliver it
to Austin.
Also approved was the payment of $1,570
for cash register at the International Bridge
in Roma.
There was discussion on the next subject
of the agenda "Report from Joe Gallegos in
Low Interest Loans Being Set Up
During the latter part of 1979, The South
Texas Development Council Board of
• Directors, of which Mayor Irma Yunes was
chairman, initiated efforts to obtain a grant
from the Economic Development Ad-
ministration for the purpose of establishing
a Revolving Loan Fund Program within the
counties of Webb. Jim Hogg, Starr and
Zapata. Representatives and local elected
officials frnin Starr County were in full
support of the project from the beginning.
The county commissioners court has since
then passed a resolution indicating their
support and participation. The total grant is
*for $750,000 and the possibility exists that if
the program's first year is successful that
the STDC can solicit an additional amount
to increase the size of the program.
The Programs voting representatives
from Starr County will be: Mr. Alex W.
Gabert, County Attorney, representing
STDC Board of Directors; Mr. Roy Cantu,
First National Bank of Rio Grande City,
Texas and Mr. Manuel Guillen, First
National Bank of Rio Grande City, Texas.
The goal and objectives of the Revolving
^ Loan Fund lYogram are linked to STDC's
™ overall economic factors identified as
inhibiting development and growth
throughout the region. The principle goal of
the Revolving Ix)ari Fund Program will be
to provide low interest loans to the private
sector to promote economic development
and, thereby, increase employment op-
portunities in the South Texas Development
Council region.
The four counties of the South Texas
Development Council region are eligible for
participation in the Revolving Loan Fund
™ Program Eligible borrowers will include
but not be limited to those seeding to start or
to expand "Manufacturing or Commercial
Enterprises". A more detailed list of
Eligibility criteria will I* published in later
news articles.
The Revolving Loan Fund Program is
scheduled to start promotion activities and
processing eligibility questionnaires on
January 1. 1981
The current program guidelines place an
f maximum direct loan of $150,000 with a
minimum interest rate of not less than 5%.
Participation loans will also have a
maximum of $150,000 but conceivably be up
to $300,000. The interest rate will be
established on the basis of a sliding scale
which will be directly proportioned to the
number of permanent jobs created or saved
as .i result of the loan.
Program information assistance will be
provided in the following sites: at the Roma
City Hall, the Starr County Judge's Office,
y the County ('ommissioner's Precinct Office,
the Starr County, Industrial Foundation, the
Federal Program Coordinator's Office, or
any public or private lending institution in
Starr County
Adults May Register
For Various Courses
In Zapata County information will be
available at the County Judge's Office,
Chamber of Commerce, Zapata County
Industrial Foundation, any public or private
lending institution facility.
In Jim Hogg County information will be
available at the County Judge's Office,
County Library, Chamber of Commerce and
any public or private lending institution.
However, the Economic Development
Department staff, of the South Texas
Economic Development Organization in
I,aredo will provide Technical Assistance to
potential borrowers in preparing an
Eligibility Questionnaire and also furnish
the staff expertise and support of services to
package loan applications.
All loan applications will be approved by a
9 member board of Trustees of which one
will be appointed by the Roma City Com-
mission, one by the Starr County Com-
missioners Court, one by the Zapata's
County Commissioners Court, 1 by the Webb
County Commissioners Court, 1 by the Jim
Hogg County Commissioners Court, 1 by
Laredo City Council and the 3 officers of the
STDC Board of Directors.
Nine Named As 6Outstanding
Voting Women *
The Board of Advisors for the Outstanding
Young Women of America awards program
announced today that nine women from
Starr County have been selected for in-
clusion in the 1980 edition of OUT-
STANDING YOUNG WOMEN OF
AMERICA.
The Outstanding Young Women of
America program is designed to honor and
encourage exceptional young women be-
tween the ages of 21 and 36 who have
distinguished themselves in their homes,
their professions and their communities.
Accomplishments such as these are the
result of dedication, service and leadership -
qualities which deserve to be recognized
and remembered.
This is the goal of the many leading
women's organizations, college alumni
associates and public officials who
nominate deserving young women to par-
ticipate in the program. Serving as
chairman of the program's Advisory Board
is Mrs. Dexter Otis Arnold, honorary
president of the General Federation of
Women's Clubs.
The women listed, along with ap-
proximately 15,000 fellow Outstanding
Young Women of America from across the
United States, will be presented in the
prestigious annual awards volume. In
addition, they are now being considered for
one of the fifty-one state awards to be
presented to those women who have made
the most noteworthy contributions in their
individual states. From these fifty-one state
winners, the Ten Outstanding Young
Women of America will be chosen. The ten
national winners will then be honored at the
Falcon Park To Undergo
Improvement Phase
annual awards luncheon to be held this fall
in Washington, D.C.
The Board of Advisors and Editors salutes
all those honored as Outstanding Young
Women of America. We take great pride in
bringing their accomplishments to the at-
tention of the American public.
Those honored are Beatrice Brossing
Aguilar, Rio Grande City, Blanca Estela
Rio Grande City: Carolyn Ann Jordan, San
Augustine TX, 75972; Karen Boykin
Peterson, Rio Grande City; Maria Celeste
Sanchez, Rio Grande City; Linda La Grange
C'alhoon, Rio Grande City; Cecilia M. Z.
Gutierrez, Rio Grande City; Diana A Pena,
Rio Grande City; and Edna Isabella
Ramon, 11015 Jordan Lane, Austin TX.
78758
regards to the HUD Paving Project."
Gonzalez said, "I am very disappointed
with Gallegos concerning the HUD Project
fourth street." Chapa said explanations
were needed on the status of Garcia and
Avasolo streets.
No action was taken on the HUD project.
The Court will try to get some bids for
fuels used by the County. The Ausitor was
authorized to advertise for bids. Last year
the Court could not get any bids for gasoline,
diesel and other fuels and lubricants.
Also approved was $250 for petty cash for
the County Judge.
Two ladies, Susan S. Barry and Kay
Scheer, addressed the Commissioners Court
concerning historical sites and restoration.
At Ms. Barry's request, Judge Chapa
agreed to contact Engineer B. L Nelson to
see if he will update figures on restoring the
old suspension bridge in Roma.
The Court also agreed to enter into con-
tract with the Texas Department of Human
Resources on a Home Energy Assistance
Program. Judge Chapa explained it was a
program to help the poor with utility bills,
with 803 participants in the county. Starr
County is to be reimbursed $8,030 for its
participation.
.Uso agreed was on $500 to be paid by the
county in cooperation with the South Texas
Development Council for the S.T.E.D., a
lending non-profit coorporation.
El Bosque Subdivision No. 3, which
belongs to J.C. Guerra, was approved as
presented by Pablo Pena Jr. There was
some discussion concerning the liabilities of
the County on new subdivisions. It was
agreed that something has to be done early
next year.
The Commissioners also agreed to enter
into contract with the Economic Develop-
ment Administration (E.D.A.) a trailer
park in Falcon. E.D.A. will provide $34,000,
$9,000 will come from the Texas Department
of Community Affairs, and Starr County will
put in $9,000 in in-kind contributions, Javier
Margo said. Margo is the Federal
Programs coordinator for the County.
Margo said the County has until Aug. 31,
1981 to complete the project
■ jn :iext ufeitte." on t'.° agenda Com-
-nissionei Alvarez asked that something be
lone, some action taKen, on the garbage
collection of Rio Grande City. He said the
roads in his precinct were very littered and
that he would save money by picking up the
garbage for his precinct.
Patricio Hernandez of the Community
Action Council of South Texas (CACST) said
that only about one third of the residents of
Rio Grande City were paying for the gar-
bage pick up service. The C.A.C.S.T. has a
contract with the County until the end of this
year.
Commissioner Gonzalez recommended
that public hearings be held on the matter
starting early next year "to inform the
people of what is going on."
Gonzalez mentioned that a County owned
Gas Company surplus of $125,000 should go
to subsidize the garbage department, since
it all belongs to the people, just like the City
of Roma gets subsidies from the In-
ternational Bridge.
Alvarez' main complaints centered on the
county-dump not being kept up and the
people are dumping on the roads of his
precinct.
No action was taken on the matter.
New Doctor In Starr
A capital improvement program for
Falcon State Recreation Area in Starr and
Zapata counties has been approved by the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission in
their Nov 6 meeting.
istmas
State Representative Ernestine
Glossbrenner informed Ruben Chapa of
Roma about, the proposed i improvements.
Chapa related to the Herald that the ap-
proved program for the park includes:
A picnic area with eighteen sites; a multi-
use camping area with 30 camp sites; a
restroom with showers; parking area;
trailer sanitary disposal station; 31 table
pads; and shade shelters for the trailer
sites; a new water supply system for the
park; maintenance area improvements;
boat launch area improvements; and
associated roads and utilities tor the
mentioned development.
Representative Glossbrenner writes to
Chapa: Knowing of your interest in im-
proved recreational facilities for Starr
County, I am enclosing the latest
correspondence I have received from the
Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. I
wanted to keep you informed of this latest
development since it involves the Falcon
State Recreation area which you mentioned
in your correspondence to this office last
year."
Juan Cantu, health services director of
the Community Action Council of South
Texas (CACST) said last Thursday the
agency has succeeded in attracting another
doctor to serve in the Starr County area,
according to a story by Bill Bouldin in the
Dec. 5 I,aredo Times.
The doctor, identified as Dr Alfredo
Morales, will be paid and sponsored by the
National Health Service, and will provide
general practitioner care out of the County
Rural Health Clinic at the Starr County
Memorial Hospital, according to the story
Bouldin writes that the doctor had
originally been approached by the CACST
officials to serve as a much needed addition
to the medical staff of the Zapata Com-
munity Clinic, but when he arrived in South
Texas he decided to establish practice in
Starr County
The 58-year-old doctor was in private
practice in Houston for 12 years prior to
coming to Rio Grande City He received his
medical education at the University of
Mexico, according to the article.
Fire Does Not Stop
Local Business
Winter registration dates
Inive been set for various
courses to be offered for
adults by the Rio Grande
City Consolidated In-
dependent School District
Community Education
Program, announced
Narciso A. Guerra, coor-
dinator.
Registration for the Ad-
vanced Cake Decoration
Course will be held Jan. 12 at
the High School For Fur-
ther information on this
course call 487-2103 after
5:30 p.m.
Advanced Typing and
Shorthand will be offered.
For registration information
call 487-5591. ext, 58 or 46.
Registration for Slim-
nasties will be held on Jan.
13. For additional in-
formation call Maggie Garza
at 487-5591, ext. 15
For information to
register for the Bookkeeping
Course call 487-5591, ext. 58
or 46
The community responded and a major
fire did not sotp a local business from
resuming normal trade Monday
The main office building of Grande
Butane was gutted by a fire which started at
about 7:45 p.m. Saturday Rio Grande City
volunteer firemen had the dangerous fire
under control by 9:30 p.m.
After working all day Sunday, the
business which trades in LP gas, tires, and
appliances opened normal operations
Monday in the-small warehouse just east of
the burnt building on the Grande Butane
premises.
The prompt action of the firemen
prevented the fire from spreading to an
adjacent gasoline station or to the LP gas
area in the property. Sheriff deputies and
volunteers routed the traffic away from the
fire area on Highway 83 through the Fort
Ringgold school campus.
Grande Butane owner Basilio Vilhirreal
said, "We in this community don't realize
what good people we have In a big city you
don't have people like here, willing to help,
"especially the fire department, who expose I
themselves, their own lives...here is no . *
civic organization like the fire department.
Thanks to them, all volunteers."
"Weare very grateful to all our personnel I
who worked so willingly Sunday to have the /1
business in operation by Monday morning," ;[t
Villarreal said. He added that Central
Power and I .ight Co. and General Telephone
personnel worked over the weekend also to
restore the service needed to resume nor-
mal business.
"We are in service, rendering the same
service that we always did," Villarreal said.
Grande Butane has been in Rio Grande City
for 21 years.
Starr County Fire Marshall Jose D.
Villarreal said Tuesday the origin of the fire
was still under investigation
Is
(rrunric Muimu Hunts
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Silva, Marcelo. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 65, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 11, 1980, newspaper, December 11, 1980; Rio Grande City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194797/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.