The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 14, 1987 Page: 1 of 10
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Published in Rio Grande City, Texas, Every Thursday By The Rio Grande Publishing Co.
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No. 29 THURSDAY, MAY 14.1987
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Three T eenagers Die
In Rollover Mishap
Three teenagers, all from Rio
Grande City, were killed, and two
more were seriously injured when
the pickup truck in which they
were riding turned over on FM 649
just north of El Sauz late Tuesday
morning.
The fatal accident occurred at
approximately 11:30 a m Tuesday.
Pronounced dead at the scene by
Justice of the Peace Hector Perez
were Jose Barrera and Oscar
Garcia, both 16 and from Rio
Grande City.
Samuel Garza, a 15-year-old
student at Rio Grande City High
School, was, according lo Wednes-
day's Valley Morning Star, pro-
nounced dead at Starr County
Memorial Hospital at 5:57 p.m.
Tuesday.
Benjamin Garza, 16, the driver,
was listed in guarded condition
with internal injuries at Starr
County Memorial Hospital, while
Alberto Hinojosa, 17, is in critical
condition with head and neck
injuries at Rio Grande Regional
Hospital in McAllen.
According to the local DPS
office, the 1985 Chevrolet pickup
was moving southbound on FM 649
when the driver apparently lost
control. The DPS indicated that all
occupants were thrown from the
vehicle.
The DPS says that investigation
into the accident is continuing
Tuesday's fatalities bring the
total of persons who have died in
Starr County traffic accidents in
1987 to 9 Throughout all of 1986, 10
persons lost their lives in traffic
accidents.
Ruben Cruz, manager of the Circle 7 Super Convenience Store in Rio Grande City,
cuts the ribbon at Friday's grand opening ceremonies. To his left is Rio Chamber of
Commerce President Gigi Gutierrez.
Circle 7 Holds Grand Opening
Committee Critical
Of Bridge Operations
The grand opening for the Circle
7 convenience store in Rio Grande
City was held last Friday after
noon
Numerous local businessmen and
leaders of the Rio Grande City
Chamber of Commerce attended
the ribbon-cutting for Circle 7,
which had opened for business in
mid-April.
Ruben Cruz, manager of the
store, said that business has been
very brisk thus far, and that he is
looking forward to an outstanding
future for Circle 7
Cruz noted that Circle 7 offers a
variety of tasty foods served fast,
such as Flour Tacos, super
burgers, and fajitas. He said there
is a possibility that the menu might
be expanded in the future
Cruz said, "All our hamburgers
are charcoal-broiled." He noted
that Circle 7 offers the Super-
Burger, and a brisket burger.
By KENNETH ROBERTS
Monday's regular monthly meet-
ing of the County Commissioners
was highlighted by a report by a
citizens advisory committee that
Budget Amendment,
Pedestrian Hike OK'd
B\ KENNETH KOBKRTN
At their continued regular meet-
ing Tuesday morning, the County
Commissioners voted to okay
budget amendments as generally
Rio High Preparing
For Graduation
Senior students at Rio Grande
City High School are busily pre-
paring for their commencement
exercises as the 1986-87 school year
winds down
Commencement exercises for the
1987 class are scheduled for Satur-
day, May 30 at 8 p.m. at Rattier
Stadium
This Friday at 10:40 a.m., the
Cap, Gown, and Ring Ceremony
will be held at the Multi Purpose
Center, at which all Honor students
will be announced. Seniors will
receive their caps and gowns, while
members of the Junior class will
receive rings
On Wednesday, May 20 at 7:30
p.m., the Baccalaureate will take
place at the High School Audi-
torium.
On Friday, May 22 at 10:20 a.m.,
the Awards Assembly will be held
at the High School Auditorium
On Sunday, May 24 a Senior
Mass will take place at Immacu-
late Conception Church at 11 a m
Afterwards, the Knights of Col-
umbus will be hosting a luncheon
for the senior class at the K.C.
Hall.
Final exams are scheduled to
begin on Wednesday, May 27, and
continue through Friday, May 29,
the final day of school
agreed to at an April 30 budget
workshop.
The commissioners also voted to
increase the toll on the Interna-
tional Bridge for pedestrians from
10 to 25 cents, and to increase the
toll for various categories of
commercial traffic
As the discussion began, Auditor
Jose Guadalupe Villarreal said,
"The budget has a deficit of
$162,000 in the General Fund, and
$75,000 in the Road and Bridge
Fund. The revenues will not be any
more than you said Current taxes
will be $50,000 to $100,000 short in
the general fund ."
Villarreal indicated that after a
cut of $78,000 in the detention
center's budget and a $10,000 slash
in each commissioner's allocation,
"we still have a deficit of not less
than $60,000 It could be as much as
a quarter million if delinquent
taxes don't come in,
bridge is subpar in
revenue.
Precinct Two Commissioner
Amando Pena contended, "Over 81
percent of taxes have already come
in We're in fairly good shape
Everything is looking better."
Judge J M. Martinez, Jr., said,
"My recommendation is to accept
the $78,000 sheriff's cut, the $10,000
cut from each commissioner, and
to raise tolls at the bridge (for
autosand pickups) to$1 "
Martinez w& -<io'\ "If s.oney I'-ur.s
out, I will not issue any more
P.O.'s. Whatever this court passes,
I will abide by." Villarreal said,
"If it (the deficit) is under $60,000.
we can handle it by postponing
payments."
The auditor also noted that
"sometimes, we get unexpected
expenses, so we need to have a
little cushion." Commissioner Pena
noted the understanding that if the
detention center produces more
and if the revenue than currently projected,
bringing in at least some of the $78,000 slashed
will be returned.
But the auditor added, "If On Monday, Sheriff Gene Falcon
collection of) delinquent taxes told The Rio Grande Herald that
increase, we could erase the there are 56 federal prisoners
currently incarcerated in the De-
tention Center
Precinct One Commissioner
"Chema" Alvarez contended, "We
should give the J.P.'s (Arnoldo
Gonzalez, Jr , and Hector "Ivo"
Perez) back their secretaries I'm
ready to cut the $10,000 from my
budget."
Martinez insisted. "I have the
feeling that it will take all three of
these actions to come close to
balancing the budget " Pena sug
gested, "Let's go on for another 30
days (with the present situation i "
Leonel R Lopez, addressing the
court, argued, "There are a lot of
line items that could be cut Each
commissioner could do without
(See BUDGET, Page 7)
Eddie Ruelas and Cindy De La Cruz, both seniors, have
been honored as Mr. and Miss RGC High School for
1986-87. They are the first students at Rio High to ever
he so honored.
Mr., Miss
RGC Named
Eddie Ruelas and Cindy De La
Cruz, both seniors, have been
named Mr and Miss RGC High
School for 19WJ 87
Nominees for these honors were
made on the basis of scholarship,
leadership (membership in school
organizations, extracurricular ac-
tivities), citizenship igood conduct,
community service and involve-
ment), and popularity
Nominees for Mr. and Miss RGC
High must have an overall average
of 80 or above on all subjects for
the fifth six weeks
Eddie Ruelas plans to attend Pan
American University and major in
accounting Cindy De La Cruz
wants to attend the University of
Texas at San Antonio and major in
Political Science
Class favorites, one boy and one
girl, have also been chosen in all
four classes They are indicated as
follows:
Seniors Javier Pena and Rox-
anne Ramirez, Juniors- Richie
Cantu and Frances Garcia;
Sophomores Jimmy Martinez and
Clarissa Garcia, Freshmen Ricky
Lopez and Ronnie Gonzalez.
To be eligible for the class
favorite honor, students must have
a grade average of 75 or above for
the fifth six weeks
deficit."
Villarreal said his main worry is
the state of the county treasury,
particularly due to deficits in 1985
and 1986
Ringgold Jr. High
Commencement
Scheduled
Promotional exercises are
scheduled for Thursday, May 28 for
approximately 350 eighth graders
of Ringgold Jr. High School in Rio
Grande City.
The commencement exercises
are scheduled for Thursday, May
28 at 7 p.m. at the High School
Auditorium,
A reception for the promoted
eighth graders will follow the
exercises. Principal Walter N.
Watson indicated that the students
themselves will be the featured
speakers at the promotional
exercises
Before that, the annual Awards
Assembly will be held Tuesday,
May 26 at 7 p.m. at the High School
Auditorium The public is invited
and encouraged to attend
A mass for the eighth graders
will be held at Immaculate Con-
ception Church on Saturday, May
23at7p.m.
Watson said that any other
religious denomination or group
interested in holding exercises or
services for the eighth graders
should contact him at 487-5591
Circulation
Help
Sought
The Rio Grande Herald needs a
family to assist in the insertion of
special sections and circulation.
Apply to Rosa Cantu or Dominga
Garza at the Herald office at 109A
North Bntton, across from the
First National Bank
expressed numerous and sharp
criticisms of the current operation
of the Roma International Bridge,
including the lack of a budget and
poor accountability for the collec-
tion of revenues.
Sam Vale, the chairman of the
six-member committee, told the
court that "we have made a
detailed analysis of the bridge for
the purpose of determining ways to
maximize revenues for the County
and the City of Roma."
Vale, reading from a letter
prepared and signed by him and
the five other committee members,
said, "It is quite obvious that the
Starr County Bridge System is not
being operated in a businesslike
way and needs considerable man-
agement attention
"In order to maximize revenues
for the County and the City of
Roma, policies will have to be
established and adhered to. These
policies can only ixi successful via
a bridge board which will be made
up of local private business persons
and public officials."
The committee cited the follow-
ing nine problems with the Roma
bridge: (1) There is no budget; (2)
The bridge is overstaffed; (3) The
bridge payroll is not equal to that
of other County employees with
similar responsibilities; (4) The
bridge manager is under-utilized
and is left out of the decision-
making process
(5) Emergency funds should not
be depleted except for emergen-
cies; any emergency funds that are
used should be replenished; (6)
There is very little communication
between the county and the city of
Roma officials; (7) There are no
job descriptions for bridge
personnel; (8) The accountability
system for the collection of reve-
nues is inadequate; and (9) The
trust indenture is not being lived up
to in a timely fashion
The other five members of the
committee were Fernando Pena,
Rodolfo Cantu, Noel Benavides,
Isabel Trevino, and Roma Mayor
Jose Carlos Saenz. The ex-officio
committee members are County
Auditor Jose Guadalupe Villarreal,
County Attorney Heriberto Silva,
and Bridge Manager Ernesto
Trevino
Vale suggested that the estab-
lishment of a Bridge Board should
be the highest priority of the
commissioners, and that the board
should have seven members, with
the County Judge, the County
Commissioner from the Roma
area, the Roma mayor, and four
private citizens, preferably trom
the business community.
Vale noted that the Bridge Board
would report to the Commissioners'
Court, with the latter entity still
having the ultimate authority.
Vale said, "We found it surpris-
ing there was no budget in place at
this time By using attrition and
transfers, the proper personnel
level can be reached We feel it is
overstaffed by three or four toll
collectors."
Vale compared the total costs to
the county of bridge toll collectors
and county employees with the
following figures: Toll collector,
$1148.57 per collector per month;
Sheriff's Department, deputies,
$1146.32 per deputy per month;
County Clerk deputies, $1109 78 per
month; Tax-Assessor Collector
deputies, $1042.49 per month
Vale commented, "We had to
assume that the responsibilities
were similar."
Vale said it was the consensus of
the committee that "the bridge
manager has certainly been un-
der-utilized. He should be involved
in all aspects."
Vale said, "Because the county
had to take funds last year to
purchase property, emergency
funds as of January were depleted
The emergency funds are now
being replenished." Speaking for
the committee, he urged that the
emergency funds be replenished at
a swifter rate.
Vale commented that "histori-
cally, there has been a failure in
communications between the coun-
tv and the city of Roma on matters
(See BRiDGE. Page 101
San Isidro
Commencement
Set
Graduation exercises for the
senior class of San Isidro High
School are scheduled for Friday,
May29at7p.m.
San Isidro ISD Superintendent
Carlos Lopez indicated that there
are 24 candidates for graduation in
this year's senior class Sandra
Farias is the valedictorian and Lori
Lawrence is the salutatorian.
A
*
The grand opening for Rio Grande Tuxedo Rental and Cleaners, Laundry and
Cleaners was held Monday afternoon. Mr. Blanco, the owner of the business, is
cutting the ribbon. To his right is Chamber of Commerce President Gigi Gutierrez.
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Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 14, 1987, newspaper, May 14, 1987; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195080/m1/1/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.