Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 38, No. 10, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 5, 1984 Page: 1 of 8
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Sheriffs Report
Starr County law enforcement officers
had to keep busy this past weekend in
arresting 25 individuals, and all but one of
0 ihe persons was charged with an offense
relating to the misuse of alcohol.
The Starr County Sheriff's Department
made 12 arrests, with 11 of them being
made for the violation of public intoxica-
tion. One individual was arrested for
unlawfully carrying a weapon.
Local Department of Public Safety
troopers made 13 arrests, with 10 of them
being made for driving while intoxicated.
Three persons were arrested by the DPS
£ for public intoxication.
Gospel Group To
Perform In Valley
Valley residents will have the opportuni-
ty to hear the well known gospel group the
Blackwood Brothers over the coming
^ weekend The group, with special guest
W R.W. Blackwood and The Russians and
Kenna Turner, will perform on Friday and
Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic
Center in McAUen. ^
The gospel singers will go on to perform
Sunday night at 6 p.m at the Valley
Christian Church in McAllen, and on
Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Municipal
Auditorium in Harlingen
Baptist churches in Starr County and
throughout the Valley have been active in
|P trying to encourage attendance at the
concerts All seats at the concerts are free.
Saenz Elected
VOL. XXXVIII
No. 10 Thursday, January 5,1984
FIFTEEN CENTS
!/
1983 Pivotal Year
For Starr County
Aminta Reyna of Rio Grande City was recently presented
with a certificate honoring her for 10 years of service in the
Texas Department of Human Resources. Reyna is a Clerk
Typist II for the income assistance program.
Phi Beta Kappa
AUSTIN Jaime Arturo Saenz of Roma
is one of 68 University of Texas students or
recent graduates that have been elected to
Phi Beta Kappa, leading national
scholastic honorary in the arts and
sciences
The new members include May, August
and December 1983 graduates and junior
members in course.
Garza Reports
To Guam
Marine Private Homer Garza, son of
Guadalupe and Aurora G Garza of Route
in Rio Grande City has reported for duty
at the Marine Barracks in Guam, an island
territory of the United Staes in the
southwestern Pacific
Alvarez Advances!
Bullock Expects
Business Gains
In M
arines
Pvt Abel B. Alvarez Jr of Route 2, Box
2010 in Rio Grande City has graduated
from the Marine Corps recruiting depot in
San Diego, California on Dec 29, 1983
Alvarez is the son of Mr and Mrs Abel
B Alvarez He graduated from Roma High
School in May 1983 He will now go to
training school in Aviation Administration
for six weeks in Meridian, Mississippi
State Comptroller Bob Bullock said
Thursday a survey he has conducted shows
Texas business people are expecting the
state's economy to improve markedly
during the first half of 1983
"Texas business expects to produce
more, sell more, spend more and hire
more during the first six months of 1984,"
Bullock said The Comptroller based his
predictions on a recent survey ot 300 ol the
state's largest sales taxpayers. Bullock
asked these businesses if they expect the
first half of 1984 to be better, worse or the
same as 1983 More than 70 percent of
those who received questionnaires re-
sponded.
"A whopping 48 percent of them expect
to hire more employees next year,"
Bullock said "Eight out of ten expect
Texas business conditions to improve."
Bullock said retail and manufacturing
companies have the highest expectations
for the next six months, while construc-
tion, oil and gas and utility companies are
the most pessimistic.
Bullock's survey also shows:
1 Three quarters of those responding
expect the Texas economy to perform at
least as well as the nation as a whole.
2. Three quarters expect the financial
condition of their own companies to
improve over the next six months
3. Sixty-five percent expect their profit
picture to improve
4. Many construction firms, participants
in a Texas building boom for the past 18
months, are expecnng to reduce the
number of employees now on their
payrolls
5. Oil ai.d gas firms are still suffering
from their industry's slump, but those
firms with available cash see 1984 as a
year on investment opportunities for those
who can take advantage of lower costs for
drilling and capital equipment
"The results of this survey confirmed
what we expected when we issued -ur
latest Internal Revenue Estimate in
October," Bullock said "The survey shows
retailers are coming back strong and
expect to get stronger, while other parts of
our state economy are looking at a slower
climb "
U.S. Rep Kika de la Garza says that the
recent winter freeze that devastated
agriculture in the Rio Grande Valley has
reversed an encouraging drop in un-
employment over the past few months.
De la Garza said that 'nature has
intervened and the once optimistic forecast
on employment has fallen by the wayside
He said the Texas Employment Com-
mission told him that unemployment
peaked in the Valley in early 1983, with
Starr County having an awful 52.2 percent
unemployment rate, and Hidalgo County
had 21 percent unemployment.
But TEC's October report showed great
improvement, with the unemployment rate
in Starr County declining to 37.3 percent
This was still the highest rate in South
Texas. De la Garza said, however, that "In
all probability, the unemployment rate will
double up in the months ahead, and oay
well be higher than previous levels With
the loss of citrus and vegetable crops goes
the loss of jobs, and now is the time to help
one another through the days ahead "
The congressman said that Congress'
passage of job training legislation and
support for community development prtv
grams would improve the employment
picture in deep South Texas He added that
"Nature's ways have prevailed for the
moment, but the future still belongs to
us- and still promises bountiful citrus and
vegetable crops in the months ahead.
Private Abel B Alvarez Jr of Rio
Grande City has just graduated from
the Marine Corps recruiting depot in
San Diego Alvarez, the son of Mr and
Mrs. Abel B Alvarez, is will soon
attend six weeks of training school in
Meridian, Mississippi
Uribe Asks For Freeze
Disaster Aid
AUSTIN In an effort to speed aid to
the growers in the Rio Grande Valley
following a devastating Christmas
weekend freeze, state Sen. Hector Uribe.
D Brownsville, has sent letters to Cameron
County Judge Moises Vela and Hidalgo
Alvarez Announces
For Reelection
' Starr County Precinct One Commission-
er Jose Ma (Chema) Alvarez has formally
announced his candidacy for reelection to
the post he has served in for seven years
Alvarez's reelection effort in 1980 won
overwhelming support from his consti
tuents with a landslide victory of almost
three to one. Alvarez says he will stand by
his public record as a servant of the
county He said that Precinct One has seen
many changes and improvements since his
election as Commissioner in 1976
Alvarez has been a lifelong Democrat
with a long record of service to that
political party Because of his high
position, lengthy political career, and
popularity at the polls, he enjoys direct
access to the office of Gov. Mark White
Also, Alvarez has been named Chairman
of the Lloyd Doggett U S Senate campaign
in Starr County County and has much
support among state and federal officials
By KENNETH ROBERTS
Managing Editor
The year of 1983 that just ended was an
interesting and unusual one for Starr
County 1983 was marked by increased
activism on the part of county citizens and
an increased tendency to challenge the
assertions and actions of county officials.
There were occurrences that triggered
hopes of an economic upsurge, but a
bone chilling Christmas weekend freeze
devastated vegetable crops and wreaked
havoc with water service.
Many important events influenced the
lives of Starr County residents in 1983, but
five stories carried the biggest weight.
They range from a tax rollback election
that gained some attention statewide to the
unusual and bitter cold at year's end
The tax rollback would have to qualify
as 1983's leading story, and the issue began
to simmer in December 1982 when the
County Commissioners okayed a 68 57
percent increase in property taxes which
upped the valuation 12 cents to 59 cents per
$100 valuation. County Judge Bias Chapa
said the new rate would help the county
get out of the financial doldrums But
many angry citizens raised their voices in
opposition, and they, led by the Starr
County Taxpayers' League, began to
circulate petitions calling for a rollback
election
The anti-tax increase forces based their
action on Section 26.04 of the Texas
Property Tax Code, which specified that a
successful rollback would force the county
to reduce the tax rate to no more than
eight percent higher than 1982's rate. Over
3000 persons signed the rollback petitions
which was over 2'-2 times the number
needed to call an election The Commis-
sioners validated the petitions after
cha.ges of irregularities and set the
election for March 19.
When the smoke cleared that Saturday
night, the rollback had won the approval of
Starr County voters by more than a 5-to-l
margin The sentiments of voters seemed
to be that waste and mismanagement had
to go in county government, and that the
rollback was the best way to send that
message. Judge Chapa, who along with the
commissioners had strongly opposed the
rollback, slashed the budget by $760,000
and cut the tax rate to 38 cents.
This election gained Valley wide
publicity, and some state attention,
because it showed a new skepticism of
government and assertiveness on the part
of county voters.
Starr County's designation as a foreign
trade zone was the second most important
story because it provides significant
incentives for economic growth here. U.S.
Commerce Secretary Malcolm Baldridge
made the announcement late Nov. 18
Commerce Undersecretary John Evans
presented the permit to Sam Vale,
president of the Starr County Industrial
Foundation, the following Tuesday in a
ceremony at the Fort Ringgold Motor Inn
Vale noted this status "permits manu-
facturers to bring goods across interna-
tional boundaries free from duties until
such time as the finished product is sold in
U.S. territory to the consumer." He
cautioned citizens not to expect economic
miracles, however
V y V-->- P~e!;id.er,
Reagan and Vice-President Bush, had
urged favorable action on Starr County's
request for foreign trade zone status. Vale
noted that Senators Tower and Bentsen, as
well as Congressman de la Garza, has
pushed for the designation, and he praised
Gov Mark White for continuing to support
the countv as former Gov Clements had.
But the Christmas weekend chill that
roared into Starr County exacted a high
economic price. The county's vegetable
crops suffered severe damage, and only
time will tell if some of the younger
vegetables can be harvested in good shape
Most Rio Grande City residents lost wa'er
service because of the record-breaking
cold, and it took several days to repair all
the damage. Roma residents suffered
similar misfortune, but the water and
sewer plants weathered the siege without
serious problems
The mercury dipped to a stunning 16
degrees Christmas morning. Northern
Starr County briefly received freezing
rain But most people received electricity
without interruption, and the area was
fortunate in terms of number of fires and
damage.
The fourth ranking story is the defeat of
most incumbents running in April's
elections. Two incumbents. Board Presi-
dent Noel E. Gonzalez and Juan J. Mills of
position 5, were ousted by substantial
margins in Rio Grande City school board
elections April 3. The candidates who upset
them were Dr. Antonio "Tony" Falcon and
Roberto "Bobby" Gutierrez, respectively
Incumbent mayors Irma Yunes and
Helen S Gonzalez were turned out by
Roma and La Grulla voters in favor of
Jose Carlos Saenz and Hector Lozan< This
was another sign of the tougher attitude of
voters.
Rio Grande City voters also overwhelm-
ingly rejected a $7.6 million school bond
:«<--ie, 'he first in a decade, on Dec. 10
School adminis .-at# s said the bond issue
was needed to int. ease classroom space
that was extremely tight and improve the
quality of education But opponents
charged that inefficiency and waste had
put the schools in a financial bind. The
arguments of the opponents carried by a
majority of 77.9 percent
Big Christmas Freeze
Devastates Farmers
Kika Says Freeze Reverses
Employment (rain
County Judge Santos Saldana urging them
to initiate the proceedings for obtaining
federal disaster aid,
The letters, hand-delivered Dec. 28. call
(or the Reagan Administration to declare
the Valley's orchards a federal discs' •
area, thus qualifying them for federal aid.
Saying the loss of approximately $40
million worth of citrus "further postpones
our prospects for prosperity," Uribe urged
action on the part of all Texas state and
federal officials to assist the Valley.
"i urge you to help expedite federal
disaster aid to the employers and
employees of the Texas citrus industry,"
Uribe said "1 hope that our efforts ... will
motivate the Reagan Administration to
respond more quickly to the citrus crisis
than it did to the drought disaster faced by
West Texas farmers and ranchers this past
year
l-etters also were sent to U.S. Sen Lloyd
Bentsen. Texas Agriculture Commissioner
Jim Hightower, U.S. Sen John Tower, and
U.S. Representatives Kika de la Garza and
Solomon Ortiz
By KENNETH ROBERTS
The severe freeze Christmas weekend is
a memory now, but its effects will be felt
by Starr County for a long time to corru
and area farmers and ranchers will feel
the most pain by far
Some preliminary figures on actual
damages to vegetables and other crops
have started to come out Alfonso H
Perez, Starr County Executive Director of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Agricultural Stabilization and Conserva-
tion Service, said that tentative con
servative estimates show over $6 million in
damage to vegetable crops alone
Perez said that approximately 200 acres
of tomatoes suffered severe devastation at
a cost of $200,000, and about 850 acres of
peppers were lost at a price tag of $17
million. The county cucumber crop sus-
tained $412,500 in damages as 275 acres
were ruined 75 acres of celery were
spoiled and the damage totals about
$375,000. Perez said that the tomato,
pepper, cucumber and celerv crop suffered
damage at a rate not far from 100 percent.
The county's lettuce, broccoli, and
cabbage crops were not spared 1200 acres
of lettuce suffered critical damage and the
loss is around $630,000 Broccoli was hit
hard to the tune of almost $2.7 million as
1650 acres were devastated 250 acres of
cabbage were lost at a cost of $125,000
Perez indicated that it was too early to
say how badly the onion crop suffered But
he said close to 80 percent of broccoli
suffered very bad damage, and half of the
lettuce and one quarter of the cabbage
were similarly hurt Perez stressed that all
these figures were approximations for
now
But Perez said that cattlemen were hurt
the worst by the freeze He said that
conservative estimates show about $4 to $6
million dollars in damage to rangeland and
grazing areas Cattlemen going to market
at this time will be hurt severely, he
indicated Perez added that it would be
early to mid-March before any significant
improvement in grazing would occur
The ASCS official said this was the worst
damage caused by a freeze in Starr County
that he can remember He recalled that
the 1962 freeze was very bad, with single
digit temperatures one morning, but he
said that frigid spell was of short duration
What made the Christmas chil! so
harmful was the fact that temperatures
stayed below freezing for several days.
Perez said that if the freeze had occurred
in mid-January, the adverse effects would
not have been quite so great for cattlemen
and vegetable growers He add<<i that the
Arctic front that caused the low tempera-
ture to dip to 19 Friday morning was
harmful, but that basically, the damage
had been done Christmas weekend
New Driver License
System Begins
Beginning Jan 1, those persons who
renew their driver's license, qualify for
their first license, or apply for a duplicate
permit will receive licenses bearing new
codes signifying class of license.
Col Jim Adams, director of the Texas
Department of Public Safety, said the
department is starting the conversion to a
new classified driver licensing system in
accordance with a law passed in 1983 by
the Texas Legislature.
"Licenses issued prior to 1984 will be
valid until the expiration dates which
appear on them," Adams said "The new
licenses will carry classifications de-
signating the type and weight of vehicles
which the holder may operate " The new
license classifications are "A", "B"C"
and "M
The Class C license permits operation of
single, two-axle vehicles with a gross
weight of 24,000 pounds or less excluding
motorcycles or mopeds. This designation
also allows the towing of vehicles not
exceeding 10,000 gross vehicle weight or a
farm trailer not exceeding 20.000 pounds
GVW.
In addition, the Class "C" designation
permits the operation of a bus with a
maximum seating capacity of 23 passen-
gers excluding the driver Standard
operator licenses issued under the old law
will be converted automatically to Class C
permits upon renewal or issuance of a
duplicate license.
The Class "B" license allows the holder
to drive all Class "C" vehicles plus single
vehicles with a GVW exceeding 24,000
pounds and buses with a capacity of 24 or
more passengers Motorcycles or mopeds
are excluded
Class "A" permits allow operation of
any vehicle or combination of vehioles
including those listed for classes B and C
Mopeds and motorcycles are excluded
Commercial and full chauffeur licenses
will be converted automatically to Class A
permits upon renewal or issuance of a
duplicate license
The Class "M" designation allows the
holder to operate motorcycles, motor
driven cycles and mopeds The road test
must be taken with a vehicle which meets
the specific requirements of the license
class for which the person is applying
"All classes of licenses including re-
newals will be valid for four years,"
Adams said "The fee for obtaining or
renewing all license classes will be $10 An
examination fee of five dollars will be
charged for those drivers seeking a higher
license classification or a motorcycle
endorsement for their current license "
Drivers who have no moving violation
convictions over a four year period and
who also must have no physical limitations
are eligible to renew their licenses by
mail To qualify for mail-in renewal, a
driver must first receive a DPS form in
the maii This application should be mailed
back to the department within one week
after it is received When the license is
renewed, the driver will be sent a
validation card which must be carried with
the old license.
A vision test and new photograph will
not be required for mail-in renewals
Drivers who receive mail-in renewal forms
may also visit a driver license office and
renew their licenses according to the
standard procedure which will require
them to be photographed and have their
vision tested
The fee for a provisional license is
computed at $2 50 per year until the
driver s eighteenth birthday with . a .
minimum fee Jew Mu% The co«t of
duplicate license ti throe dollars
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 38, No. 10, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 5, 1984, newspaper, January 5, 1984; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194905/m1/1/: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.