Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 8, 1982 Page: 1 of 6
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©
VOL XXXVI
No. 38 Thursday, July 8, 1982
FIFTEEN CENTS
Commissioners
Board Reveals Test Scores Better
Discuss Insurance
Who will carry the health insurance for
Starr County, and how much will it cost,
were the two major issues at hand during
the Starr County Commissioners Court
\ special meeting, July 1.
Current carrier of group healtn insurance
for the county is Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Texas. Under the present pi?' 100
percent of hospital charges, and 80 percent
of all other charges are paid by the com-
pany, after a $50 deductable is paid by the
employee.
Monthly premiums for this plan now total
$43.87 for one person and $122.28 for the
employee and dependents. The county pays
for one-half the cost for the employee only,
and the remainder is deducted from the
employee's check.
Bill Posey, representing Blue Cross, in-
j formed the commissioners that the
I premiums for the new contract, same
coverage, would be $61.05 for the employee
and $ 170.77 for the employee and depen-
I dents.
Posey proposed two other plans, whereby
only 80 percent of the hospital bill would be
paid, reducing the premium to a low of
$50.64 for the single employee. This would
* mean more cost, if an illness happened,
requiring hospitalization
This plan would eliminate coverage of
psychiatric care, also. County auditor
Guadalupe Villarreal quipped,"Actually,we
don't have that many crazy people here,"
agreeing that deletion ouhl be away to save
money.
James Elliot of Aldnch -Smith and Baker
represented the Saleco Insurance Company.
Elliot claimed that Safeco could give the
^ county the exact coverage Blue Cross is
* presently giving, at a premium of $55.49 for
employee only, and $150.05 for employee
and dependents.
Elliott said the major advantage of his
company was payment of clauns in only
four working days. Payment of claims
would come from his office in Edinburg.
Currently, Hidalgo County, Edinburg
Consolidated Independent School District
and other Valley businesses are insured|
with his company.
Bill Rusteberg represented Republic
National Life Insurance Company. He
outlined a plan, similiar to the others,
although dental premiums were listed
separately.
Rusteberg said that Republic would pay
claims in five to 10 days, and the premium
price was guaranteed for one year.
Premiums under the Republic plan would
be $49.43 plus $4.50 for dental care, for the
employee; and $149.48 plus $8.91 dental for
the employee and dependents.
The county is currently insured with Blue
Cross, and will remain so until a new con-
tract is signed.
The decision as to "what plan the county
wants will be discussed with the employees
this week, and voted upon during the
regular^ Court meeting, July 12.
Finances were once again discussed. The
commissioners present, Jose Maria Alvarez
and Amando Pena, agreed that they will
transfer funds from other departments to
pay the mounting utility and various other
bills at the courthouse.
Pena also moved that "loan of $150,000
plus interest owed to the First National
Bank be paid as soon as funds are
available."
The commissioners moved to transfer
monies in the Garbage Collection Account,
number 641944, and the Intern, .ti. iial Bn g<.
Project Account, number 643092, into the
general fund.
Auditor Villarreal stated that the amounts
in the accounts were nominal, "under $500".
Luis Sandoval, Roma was hired as a
mechanic for Precinct 2, and I-auro Garza,
El Sauz, currently a temporary employee
working 20 days a month as a road operator
was hired fulltime for the next two months.
(See "INSURANCE" Page 5 A )
A curriculum report showing Rio Grande
students to rate below the national average
on achievement tests scores was presented
during the July 6 meeting of the Rio Grande
City Consolidated Independent School
District Board of Directors.
The report was part of a five year ac-
crediation plan, which is into its fourth year.
The plan was discussed by Efrain Garcia and
Nenz Munoz.
Using the national scores from the 1977
California Achievement Test, Lopez pointed
out that Rio's scores were below the
national average, but improvement had
been made.
"There has been growth," he said, but
there is room for improvement."
He also pointed out that there were many
students who were above average working
above their grade level. The many who
were far below average pulled the level
down.
The curriculum plan was designed to set
general goals. But the study indicates that
new goals must be set. "We set goals," said
Garcia. "They were probably too high to
begin with."
A recomendation was brought forth that
the professional personnel needs to refine
their skills in language arts and reading.
"Everyone needs to know the teaching of
reading," said Garcia.
It was proposed to offer a Pan American
University class in Rio Grande for
professional growth for the faculty.
The district voted to pay tuition and books
for 30 teachers, plus milage for the PAU
teacher.
It was also planned that each campus
would do a self study and staff be given an
.dditional three days release time.
ix)pez spoke on the Gifted and Talented
program. He suggested that they hire an
itinerate teacher for creative art, grades
kindergarten through three.
In an answer to a question of need for this
program, Ixipe? replied " We should try to
challenge thern (gifted and talented)". We
do much for the socially deprived, and
nothing for the talented."
A new high school handbook was ap-
proved. According to Principal Ruben
Saenz, the handbook was reviewed by a
group of parents, faculty, administrators
and students.
Two major changes were made in the
book. It was decided to add a year f foreign
language to the graduation requirement-,
and the exemption policy, initiated last year
was dropped.
The board questioned the smoking area,
but Saenz explained that the area was
beneficial to the school. Before the smoking
area was instituted, the students would
smoke in the restrooms, and vandalize
them.
With the area, Saenz says that there are
fewer students smoking. We know who they
are, and what they're smoking."
He also said that the school reserves the
right to call any parent and ask if their child
iias permission to be smoking in the
smoking area.
1500 copies of the handbook
printed. Its contents was approv
board.
The board also voted to accept
56 cents per item from Valle;. • •
the printing of the tax rolls and -!.
(See "BOARD"' Page I A
bv the
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£<*&.', I j|$
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TASSP PRESENTS BOARD WITH PLAQUE - The Texas
Association of Secondary School Principals presented the Rio
Grande City School Board with a plaque commending them for
employing Ruben Saenz, TASSP president. Shown are: front,
Dr. A.E. Garcia, Noel E. Gonzalez, Ruben Saenz
Ruben L. Solis, Francisco Zarate, Abel Gonzalez ■ -
Solis, Juan J. Mills, and Rafael Carrera. Herald Pho
Jesu
Foundation To Seek Business
County May Lose Services Unless Mental Office Moves
Without warning, the Starr County Mental
Health Office lost most of their working
space in the San Juan Plaza during May.
Because of this, Starr County may lose the
mental health program, entirely.
For many years, the northwest corner of
the plaza was ied by the Mental Health
Office. This included a reception office, a
file room, an office for manager Jose Pepe'
t Tijerina and an office consultation room for
Mary Francis Ramirez-
There was a larger room used for
recreation and socialization programs,
administered twice weekly. Here, patients
recently discharged from the inpatient
facility in Harlingen would learn arts, crafts
and skills to help them readjust.
Displayed throughout the room were
objects that patients had made over the 13
a years the office has been open.
Now , that area is gone DPS examiners
give driver's license tests where the
patients once received their therapy. The
art objects are now in storage.
The DPS move was made after thev vs ~e
evicted from their space on the .u
corner of the building to make room for the
new library.
Ramirez, currently squeezed into the
reception room with secretary Yolanda
Gonzalez, no longer has a private place to
counsel with her patients.
When one of Ramirez's clients comes in,
she must ask Tijerina to vacate her office,
so that she may counsel with them
privately.
With a patient load of around 100clients,
about 40 seen weekly, their 'musical offices'
is no game. "I feel like I'm on a merry-go-
round ," said Ramirez.
It wasn't always like this. When the office
was opened by the state 13 years ago, they
were located in the basement of the cour-
thouse. They left those offices for the ones
the architect said were built for mental
health services.
These facilities in San Juan Plaza were
adequate, and the program flourished.
t tU
NO OFFICE FOR COUNSELING—Mary Frances Ramirez, front, has no office for
private consulation with her clients, for she must now share the reception area with
secretary Yolanda Gonzalez.
Not only were they able to provide
transportation to doctor's appointments,
medication, act as a liaison for patients in
the Rio Grande State Center for Mental
Health and Mental Retardation, but also
provide individual and family counseling
and the important recreation and
socialization program.
The state, which funds the program, had
wanted to expand the staff, not only with
someone to drive the patients to Harlingen
for hospitalization, but also someone to run
the recreation and socialization program on
a daily basis.
Now, according to Tijerina, the state is
waiting. They did not budget for the office
to pay rent, and the current facilities are
unworkable.
"We have to do something," says
Ramirez. "If we do not get appropriate
quarters, the state will make us leave."
They would have to move to the home
office in Laredo, leaving Starr
County without a mental health facility.
Ramirez likes it in Rio Grande City, and
wants the office to stay and help the people
of the county. 'Why should we go to Laredo9
Our home is here."
Tijerina and Ramirez do have a solution
to their problem, and have presented it
before the county commissioners court. The
space at the plaza currently occupied by the
Veteran's Administration, the information
office, HUD, and the social security office ,
is perfect for their needs.
The Social Security office is open one day
per week, and the people from the other
offices do much field work.
Currently, the Mental Health Office is
waiting for an "Okay" from the county to
move, as they have for the past six weeks.
"I don't understand," said Ramirez. "If
they (the county) don't want to house us
here, then they should look for another place
with the facilities."
The county has spoken of plans to
renovate a commissioners warehouse into
office space, moving the office there, but
that is not even into the planning
stages.
The state is waiting for a solution to the
space problem, but according to Tijerina
and Ramirez, they're not sure how long the
state will wait
Implementation of the marketing plan
constituted the major discussion during the
meeting of the Industrial Foundation, June
30.
The study, according to president Sam
Vale is "the first time there ever has been a
plan". It shows potential quick growth
areas, and that Starr county has as much to
offer in international commerce as other
areas.
One of the points is that Mexican trucks
can make three trips to Starr County for the
same money as two trips to Laredo, Vale
explained it as "getting one truck free."
The study lists over 350 viable prospects.
In the meeting the board discussed using the
$11,400, unspent from the $50,000 given in the
grant for the study. The money must be
spent by Sept. 30.
It was decided that $600 would be used to
set up meetings with 'category A' Monterely
companies. (Good prospects.) The money
w ould be spent on international phone calls,
letters, etc.
Roma (SI) Settles Aide Issue
An out of court settlement has been
reached between the Roma Independent
School District and three teacher aides with
the district.
The aides, Irma Salazar, Consuelo
Canales, Amalia Yunes, and Emilia
Esparza, who dropped the suit before it
reached court, charged that the Roma
School Board and administration had
violated their civil rights.
Sheriff Suggests Safeh Tips
How safe is your parked car and how safe
are you when you return to that car? Sheriff
Gene Falcon sugguest the following tips for
safely parking your car
"Park your car where the passerby,
either walking or driving, will serve as a
deterrent to someone whc might steal."
"If it's daylight," he says, "Ask yourself
if it will still be light when you return. Try to
park near a storefront which will be brightl)
lighted, on a main thoroughfare, under a
streetlamp, or somewhere you anticipate
heavy traffic."
The sheriff also suggests that you avoid
remote, unlighted areas.
"Once you are parked," he says, "roU up
your windows, and always lock your car,
even if you will be away for only a few
minutes."
They argued that the District engaged in
deliberate and concerted programs of
political retaliation to punish them for their
active political support for a slate of can-
didates in the school board elections and the
May 1978 primaries.
The group alleged that Salazar, Yunes
and Esparza were reassigned and Canales
terminated after the elections, because of
their political feelings.
According to Roma Superintend)
Eleuterio Garza, Jr., the employees wert
reassigned a year after the election.
Canales was not terminated, but because
she was a migrant and left the area during
the summer months, she was accidentally
left off the list, and returned too late to be
reinstated
Although the case was in trial for over two
days, a settlement was reached out of court.
According to Garza, "it was in the best
interest of the District to settle out of court.
It would have been more expensive to go
through with the suit."
The settlement ordered the school to re-
employ the aides for one year and to pay
$28,000 in back pay
Garza does not feel the district lost the
case. The aides will be employed for the
1982-83 school year and Garza says, "if they
produce, thev'11 be rehired."
Diaz To Meet With President
Pet*. Diaz, Jr. lias been invited to attend a
briefing the White House with President
Ronald Reagan July 20 The President will
discuss presidential initiatives and issues of
importance of Hispanics.
Diaz, who has met with the President
before, said that he was "very interested in
his new programs "
"I'm proud of the Hispanic community
I'm one of the few Hispanics invited to meet
with a president."
Diaz also said that "never before have
Hispanics been involved with the White
House." He is glad to go because he will' be
helping my fellow Hispanics."
Diaz has been to briefings with the
President on other occasions "1 enjoy my
visits with the President," he said.
$6,400 would be used to contac • \; . • %
companies, personally. $400 would be u-.ed
to make phone contacts with United States
companies. The final $4000 would be useti o
develop a direct mail campaign and a flip
card campaign. A 15 minute video tape
promoting the area has already been made
Currently, 80 percent of the foundation's
efforts to increase business in Starr County
is concentrated in Mexico.
They agreed to form a grmip from the
executive committee and offk ;: • for a tnp
to Monterrey for a reception . he goal of
the trip was to make contact vith 15 to 20
Mexican businessmen.
Hotel and auto expenses for the delegation
would be reimbursed, for the first tu .< . Hie
mayors of Camargo and Miguel Aleman will ^
also accompany the group on the trip This
is to promote the four city area.
According to Vale, Rio Grande City,
Roma, Miguel Aleman. and Carnal lor. .
compete with each other " They act \ a
team to bring commerce to the reo >n.
The Foundation agreed that th<\ must
meet the Mexican businessmen personally.
And each member mast agree to -tay with
each contact until a yes or n mswer is
received.
"Our own enthusiasms are what 's going to
sell," said Vale Starr i, c t un
derestimate our value."
Joel Guerrero, Vale, Dr. Bruno Trcvirn
are planning a trip to Houston to di£ uss
diverting some of their shipping ts M xn o
to the four citv area.
According to Vale, they will "get to. >th -
with a group of companies tha:
vision to see that it may be good :d>vi
it."
Unlike Houston the an..
customer "personal servio ." id '
because of the size and th> • ..
commerce
The Foundation is also > :n a;
community-wide effort to makt >f
what skills are needed for Stan
They will be calling business : . ?
jobs they truly need.
In other business. Lino (. anale1 ■ <e(P
from the executive comrntu<
ditiona) time to his busm
one vacancy which Vale woul t liV
filled with someone from K
area more representation
The foundation aLso heard from V is'
lieal of the Fort Ringgold Inn who w
to start hotel management classes here md
from Jim Mathis. Jr. outlining a multi-
media corporation for Starr County
■
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Mathis, Dora Barrera. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 8, 1982, newspaper, July 8, 1982; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194879/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.