The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 38, No. 51, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 18, 1984 Page: 1 of 12
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OIL HISTORY
AND FUTURE
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THE RIO GRANDE HERALD
VOL. XXXVIII
Published In Rio Grande City, Texas, Every Thursday, By The Rio Grande Publishing Co
Serving Starr County For Five Decades
" No. 51
HEB
BARGAINS
pg 6 & .7
October IS, 1984
FIFTEEN CENTS
. Clarke Pleads Guilty, Must Resign Post
Hoy
Y
Manana
Bilingual
Program To Meet
The Title VII Bilingual Program
will hold its regular monthly
meeting for October at 2 p.m.
Thursday at the Bilingual Office.
All committee members are
urged to attend and the public is
invited.
Class of '76
Planning
Reunion
The 1976 graduating class at Rio
Grande City High School will meet
Sunday to discuss plans for a
reunion.
The meeting is set for 2:30 p.m.
Sunday at the County Park behind
the Dairy Queen. All members of
the Class of 1976 are invited and
encouraged to attend. Those desir-
ing further information should call
487-2378.
Sheriff's Posse
Showdeo
The Sheriff's Posse will be
holding a "Showdeo" Saturday at
5:30 p.m. at the Sheriff's Posse
Arena in Rio Grande City.
Youths 16 and under are eligible
to compete in the Showdeo, which
will feature barrel racing, calf
roping, and steer roping. Parents
are encouraged to bring their
children to participate in the
Showdeo.
Com p Irol Ic r, 1 ide
To Visit Rio
If you have any questions about
state taxes or need some
assistance, circle Friday in your
calendar
Comptroller Bob Bullock will
have a representative in Rio
Grande City on that date to meet
with local taxpayers from 9:00 a.m.
to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00
p.m. at the Starr County Court
house.
Sheriff 's Report
This past weekend proved to be a
fairly quiet one for local law
enforcement officers as five
persons were arrested
The Starr County Sheriff's De-
partment recorded two arrests
Aguillon Santos was arrested for
public intoxication, and .Juramilio
Catalina was arrested and held for
the Border Patrol for later ques-
tioning.
Local Department of Public
Safe!; troopers made three arrests.
RjDerto Lopez Bustillo was ar-
rested for unauthorized use of a
motor vehicle. Ricardo Lopez was
arrested for DWI, failure to drive
in a single lane, and lacking a
driver's license Romeo Munoz was
arrested for possession of mari-
juana. evading arrest, DWI. driv-
ing in a no-passing zone, and
driving without a license.
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LOCAL YOUTH WINS RIFLE — Oscar Roel Garcia, Jr., recently won
a .30-.06 rifle in a raffle held by the Rio Grande City Chamber of
Commerce. The youth's mother, Maria Luis Garcia,is on the far right,
and Treasurer Elmo Moreno is standing between. Chamber
Vice-President John Dreumont and President Elmo Moreno are to
Garcia's left.
By KENNETH ROBERTS
Managing Editor
Arturo Clarke, Starr County
Clerk, has pled guilty to a
misdemeanor in federal court in
Brownsville and will be sentenced
to a one-year jail term suspended
under probation for four years.
But by the terms of the plea,
entered before Federal Magistrate
Fidencio Garza, Clarke must re-
sign as County Clerk and cannot
accept appointment or run for a
public office again during the term
of the probation. Clarke's sentenc-
ing is set for Nov. 14 after a
presentence investigation. Wolfe
said that Clarke must resign his
office immediately after his
sentencing.
The Herald learned of the plea
just this week and could not obtain
full confirmation from U S Assis-
tant Attorney Jack Wolfe until this
Wednesday.
Clarke was indicted on July 3 on
charges of falsifying birth records
to help illegal aliens obtain U.S.
citizenship. He could have drawn
several years in prison under the
felony indictments His plea of
guilty was on a lesser charge; one
count of fraud and related activi-
ties.
The case grew out of an
investigation by the Immigration
and Naturalization Service, which
climaxed when Clarke was ar-
rested by INS agents at his Rio
Grande City home on the afternoon
of June 15. INS officials said then
that Clarke was the first elected
official in Texas history to be
charged with such an offense.
Clarke told the Herald that his
legal problems have already cost
him $15,000 with the prospect of
another $10,000 in legal expenses.
He also said that the episode has
has a devastating effect on his
family.
Clarke has held the position of
County Clerk since January 1932
He earlier held the position or
Justice of the Peace
Clash Over
Court
Starr County Women
Excel In Business
By KENNETH ROBERTS
Managing Editor
National Businesswomen's Week
begins Monday, and women here
certainly !•:•««• n <sood exarr?pJe to
follow in the businesswomen of
Starr County
There are dozens of busi-
nesswomen who have utilized their
talents in private enterprise and
created hundreas of jobs for county
citizens. The five businesswomen
discussed are well known for their
capabilities and achievements in
operating a business and creating
jobs
Yolanda Canales is manager of
the Fort Ringgold Motor Inn, which
is owned by Diaz Enterprises. She
has served in that capacity since
December 1979. one month after
the Best Western motel opened
She said. "1 have enjoyed this It
was a challenge (getting started).
but I've always enjoyed working
with the public, and that made it
much easier for me."
The P,.otor Inn has 64 rooms, and
employs 46 persons, not including
the golf course. The peak times for
i.iotel, Leal bays, are during
dove hunting season, deer and
quail hunting season, and when the
"Winter Texans" are here to
escape the North's wintry blasts,
from mid-November to late March.
In thf spring, many tours of
sightseers and naturalists,
especially birdwatchers, stay at the
Motor Inn.
The Fort Ringgold manager was
active in drawing up plans for the
motel and said that the first three
years were very successful. So
successful, as a matter of fact, that
plans were being made to construct
60 additional rooms But then the
drastic peso devaluation struck in
the summer of r<82
Leal said that the lirst vear after
the peso devaluation was "quite
rough." But in 1984, she said that
"We're gradually starting to come
back. There's a little flow of
Mexican tourists starting to come
back, which is encouraging, even
thoiigh a s riof. as it ustd to be.
She said she expects conditions to
eventually rebound back to the
prosperous levels experienced
before the summer of 1982.
Leal said that the devaluation of
the peso "awakened people to the
need for industry in the Valley, but
that need was always
then Industrial development will
be good for everyone, including
ourselves. They (county leaders)
are really trying for the first time
to put an attractive package
together."
Diana Guerra, owner of Diana's
Shoppe in Rio Grande City, is
another p minent Starr County
(See WOMEN, Page 10)
Roma Board Offers
Tax Discount
Man Held
In Roma
Slaying
A 20-year-old Corpus Christi man
is being held under $50,000 bond for
dlegedly committing a murder in
Roma Monday morning.
Gregorio Burciaga, 17. of Corpus
Christi, was found shot to death in
the Rau-Con Motel Monday morn-
ing around 7:15 a.m. Less than a
half hour later. Daniel Saldana. 20,
was arrested by Roma police at a
friend's residence
Burciaga was shot once in the
left lung, and the bullet pierced his
heart He was pronounced dead at
the scene by Justice of the Peace
Roy I'ena Roma police in-
vestigators say the fatal shooting
occurred around 6 am, with the
murder weapon being a 25 caliber
handgun Apparently, one shot was
fired
Saldana is currently being held in
the Starr County Jail under a
$50,000 bond The Roma Police
Department is continuing its in-
vestigation into the murder.
By BETTO RAMIREZ
Roma Correspondent
Roma Independent School Dis-
trici Board members approved the
proposed 69 cents per $100 valua-
tion tax rate and then quickly
moved to offer a discount for early
payment at Wednesday night's
regular board meeting
A unanimous vote by the six-man
and one-woman board secured the
tax rate after school board Presi-
dent Cesar Salinas affirmed that a
vote was in order since "all legal
requirements had been met by
having different notices printed in
several newspapers "
Following the vote, RISD Super-
intendent Eleuterio Garza asked
the board to consider the following
discount rates for paying early;
three percent for the first 30 days;
two percent for days 31 through 60,
one percent for days 61 through 90.
' This is an option available to
the board." stated Supt. Garza.
"Not only is this a little break for
the individual taxpayers, it is an
incentive for them to come in
earlier which will help the school
district tremendously "
After a short discussion by the
board and members of the au
dience, the discount was also
unanimously passed opening the
way to early taxpayers getting a
"rebate".
"We've never had more than one
percent discount offered before,"
said Roma Tax Assessor and
Collector Adan Barrera, adding
that "the bill will be a computer
printout that will automatically
show the available discount rates "
When asked by Salinas when the
statements would be mailed out.
Barrera answered, "I'm to notify
the computer service tomorrow
about the adoption of the tax rate
tonight, so I expect them to be
prepared by the end of the month.'
Revenues that come in from the
69 cents per $100 valuation will go
into two funds 61 cents per $100
valuation will go to the local
Maintenance and Operation Fund
and eight cents per $100 valuation
will go to the Interest and Sinking
Fund.
Also set at the meeting was the
1984 reimbursement rate for the
RISD Transportation Department
The 1983 rate of $1 06 per mile was
raised to $1.15 per mile.
"This is the reimbursement rate
we should adopt after considering
salaries, and expenses of gas, oil,
tires, and bus,' said Garza.
"The reimbursement rate is
applicable to those programs and
organizations outside the federal
jurisdiction, explained Garza
"This is for usage of buses and
vans."
The board next considered closed
bids on the future purchase of a
truck and van from several valley
mtoor companies, and in the end
decided to stay within the county
by accepting bids from Ramirez
Ford Sales and Rio Motors Com-
pany, both of Rio Grande City.
In electing to go with Rio Motors
in purchasing a 1985 truck, the
board overlooked two lower bid-
ders Roberts Chevrolet, Edinburg
at $8,860 25 and Randolph
Chevrolet. Mission at $8,88! 94.
Rio Motors' bid for $8,942 29 was
chosen as the board felt that
service will be better tcally. The
board considered that additional
money would be saved in not
having to spend on long distance
calls, long distance drives, and
other such incurred expenses
Rather than purchase the van,
the school district opted to go into a
lease/purchase agreement for 48
months with Ramirez Ford Sales at
a cost, of $578 initial down payment
with a monthly $289 payment
Sup' Garza brought the issue up
i See DISCOUNT, Page 9)
Friday's continuation of the regu-
lar County Commissioners' meet-
ing was sparked by a hot dispute
between two commissioners over
whether a County Court-at Law
should be established.
A resolution in support of a new
County Court-at Law was signed by
all practicing attorneys in Starr
County and presented by the
County Bar Association, said
County Attorney Alex Gabert. He
said if the resolution passed, the
Texas Legislature would still have
to okay the establishment of such a
court.
Precinct Two Commissioner
Amando Pena immediately
expressed opposition, saying, This
is just another heavy cost to the
taxpayer .The remedy (for an
overloaded District Court) is for
the state to create another District
Court. This will cost the County
more than $100,000 per year
Precinct Four Commissioner
Reynaldo "Moreno" Alaniz told
Pena, "I don't think you have
studied this." He said that 630 civil
cases are currently pending in
St.;.'it '' T'ur'. ^another
70 to 80 criminal cases awaiting
resolution. Alaniz said that 323
cases were currently pending in
County Court.
Alaniz said that another District
Court would cost more in the long
run. He said of the proposed
County Court-At Law, "If we try
one case a day. it will generate
$80,000 a year, and will pay for
itself."
Pena wondered why there is such
a backlog of cases He blamed
attorneys "wlu are passing on,
delaying the ases It's not the
judge's fault
County Judge Bias Chapa said,
"Most of thf time, I'm available to
try cases That's my main respon-
sibility. W d" need another court,
because wo re growing " He added,
however, that the issue should be
decided at a later meeting when
the other two commissioners are
present
Alaniz angrily said, "I hate to
see child molesters and wife
beaters running loose because a
needed court has not been created
If this court is established, crimi-
lals will be sent where they need to
go " He told Pena, "You v ill not
get a District Court and you know
it."
Alaniz was determined to get a
vote on the issue, and moved that
the County go on record as
supporting the County Court-At
Law. But Pena refused to second
and Chapa did likewise, saying that
all four commissioners should be
present to vote on such an
important issue.
Pena and Alaniz continued their
sparring, with Pena insisting that
the taxpayers would be saddled
with a large and unnecessary
expense. Alaniz said, "There's no
way the District Court can clear
630 cases in one year. We Jo not
have the population to justify a
District Court just for Starr
County. " Pena insisted, Maybe
they can get extra help for Judge
Garcia."
The resolution was scheduled to
be voted on at a special meeting
Monday afternoon, but this time
none of the commissioners was
iresent.
In other business, Auditor Jose
Guadalupe Villarreal refused to
accept a $14,000 claim from Palm
Valley Contractors because the
statement th<= fin- had,:- *?!. b-;> ..
tfte contract price at just over
$396,000, which was the bid price
submitted by Palm Valley. In their
regular meeting Sept. 10, the
Commissioners approved the con-
tract for only $326 000 plus, which
is all that the coi'nty said was
available at the time to pay for the
street paving work
Engineer Pablo Pena. Jr noted
that the bonding obtained by Palm
Valley was for $326,OOi Judge
Chapa said that the contract wa«
on file in the County Clerk s office.
Pena moved, seconded by Aianiz,
in agreement with Villarreal that
the claim should not be submi' ed
until Palm Valley sends a :>r
rected statement listing the . 'in-
fract price at $:.26,000 plus.
Alaniz moved, seconded b\ Pena,
that the Appraisal District be paid
$17,000 mere than the previous
Monday's motion had called for
The previous Monday, Gutierrez
Oil Company was paid $17,000
earmarked for the Appraisa Dis-
trict, but both entities will receive
the $17,000 plus they 're asking for
Alaniz informed the court of his
desire to switch money from a
recent state grant earmarked for
paving from San Isidro Road to
(SeeCOURT,Page io,
*
3** IT' *
4 * A^flk .<hdLi • VI*' <m r •
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Deputy Sheriff Danny Alaniz, center, is wearing a new bulletproof vest that v. «s
recently purchased at a cost of $600 by the Sheriff's Department. The money came
out of the proceeds of a benefit tourney held by the Jaycees in July. Golf Association
President Johnny Qlivarez is to Alaniz's left, and Sheriff Gene Falcon is to the right.
Jaycees President George Becerra, active in bringing about the tournev is not
pictured.
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Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 38, No. 51, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 18, 1984, newspaper, October 18, 1984; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194946/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.