The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 12, 1989 Page: 1 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 22 x 14 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
B O O K B I f ' CI <2 f *
Valley Mart
Inserts
Inside
IHE RIO GRANDE HERALD
Publishrd weekly in Rio Grande Cily, Texas, every Thursday by The Ri^Grande Publishing Co.
H.E.B
Inserts
Inside
USPS 466-200
Vol. 79, No. 48, Thursday, October 12,1989
25 Cents
Serving as officers of the Rio Grande City High Senior Class of 1989 are, from
left to right, Ray Ramos, Vice-President; Annabel Carrera, Secretary/Treasurer; Head
Sponsor Noelia Vasquez; DeAnn A. Peterson, Reporter/Parliamentarian; and Robert
L. Garza, President. Ray's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Humberto Ramos; Annabel is
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Flavio Carrera; DeAnn's parents are Mr. and Mrs.
Robert A. Peterson; and Robert is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Pete Garza, Jr.
Rattler Band To Advance
To Area Competition
The Rio Grande City Rattier
Marching Band excelled in all areas
of competition at the Pigskin
Jubilee in McAllen Saturday night,
and will be one ol two 5-A Valley
bands to advance to area
competition in Calallen on Nov. 4.
The Rattler Band will be
advancing to 5-A area competition
lor the second year in a row.
Band Director Alfredo Cortinas
commented. "They played very well
on the field and marched very well
on the field. I think the kids really
met the challenge head on."
He stressed, "The kids were very
relaxed about the situation. They
knew what they wanted to do...This
is the second year in a row that we
have advanced. That says a lot for
the kids."
Also advancing to area
competition in Class 5-A is the
Edinburg High marching band.
Cortinas noted that our musical
selection was Beowulf, an heroic
trilogy from symphonic band. We
played all three movements."
Cortinas noted that Movement One
was "Heorot- The Great Hall";
Movement Two was "Grcndel- The
Scion of Cain"; and "Beowulf- A
Feast Of Life."
Cortinas noted, "This is the
oldest epic poem in the English
language. This is a progressive
work This piece of music was
written in 1986. Not many bands
perform this type of music on the
field."
Cortinas said, "This is an
extremely challenging and technical
type of music. The kids are doing a
super job with it. This is
something that helps students be
more proficient musically. This has
increased the students' interest in
literature in the classroom. The
students really wanted to do this
literature on the field."
Cortinas commented, "We're very
progressive in what we're doing
musically and with show design.'
The area competition is set tor
Saturday, Nov. 4 in Calallen. I he
competition will involve 5-A
schools south of a line from Del
Kio to San Antonio to Victoria.
The region includes the southern
part of San Antonio.
A total of 14 5-A Valley bands
participated in the Pigskin
competition at McAllen. The
Rattler band was the last to
perform, just before 10 p.m.
Cortinas said, "The kids were very
relaxed about the situation. They
knew what they wanted to do,
whether it was raining or not." He
noted that the rain stopped before
the performance of the Rio band.
(See BAND, Page 6)
Commissioners Focus On Possible
Raises; Intersection
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
Tuesday, the County
Commissioners focused on the
issue of raises for county
employees and received a petition
expressing concern about highway
safety problems in the Alto Bonito
area.
As discussion began on the status
on possible raises ol S50 per month
for county employees between
$12,000 or SI4,000 a year in
salary. Precinct One Commissioner
Jose Maria "Chcma" Alvarez
recommended that all Constables
and Justices of the Peace with
salaries below 514,000 be
recipients of the raise.
Alvarez suggested, "The 520,(XX)
extra put in right of ways can be
used for this."
Precinct Two Commissioner
Amando Pena noted his
memorandum, dated Cel. 10,
addressed to members of the
commissioners court.
In h:s memorandum, Pena said,
"Both alternatives (SI2,000 or
514,000) will not cover all
employees of Starr County and
consequently some employees will
not receive a raise either way. Stan-
County has three categories of
employees (1) non-management
employees; (2) management
non-elected employees; (3) elected
officials. With the 12/12 plan belter
than 95 percent of the first category
arc covered at a cost of SI 14,490
prc-payroll tax
"On the Sept. 13, 1989 budget
hearing, Judge Martinez estimated
the funds needed for the 14/14 plans
at S5400 Then on Oct. 3, auditor
Villarrcal calculated the funds
needed for the 14/14 plan at
S9917.92. 1 asked my financial
advisor (Fernando Pena) to verify
and calculate the funds needed for
the 14/14 plan and his calculations
arc S22.693.92 prc-payroll tax.
"Even with the 14/14 plan some
management non-elected employees
will still not qualify lor a raise. In
order to grant all employees with a
raise $41,706 pre-payroll tax are
needed. Obviously, Starr County
does not have the S22.693.92 lor
the 14/14 plan, much less $41,706
for all of its employees. The 12/12
plan was designed to increase pay to
as many employees as possible
without discriminating against any
department.
"Hopefully next year, if the
money continues to come in at
least half the management category
will then receive their raise.
Raising the revenues in order to
meet our needs has proven in the
past as a mistake Some revenue
accounts provide for small safety
variance and are needed to insure a
balanced budget as in the past three
years. If the commissioners leel
(See RAISES, Page 2)
Petition Drive Started
Against Prison Location
A petition drive has been started
by several local citizens expressing
opposition to the idea of a state
prison unit being located in Starr
County.
One of the leaders, David Porras,
commented, "I truly think it will be
a burden on the county entities."
Another leader of the petition
drive, Benito Trevino, said, "I
haven't seen anything that would
show that this would be beneficial
to Starr County. None of the
negative factors have bccri covered.'
Trevino contended, "The vast
majority of the jobs that would be
created arc prisoner jobs. The
majority of wardens and guards
would live inside the prison
compound."
Trevino said, "As I understand it,
the prison itself will have a
commissary, to supply goods such
as food and clothing at a much
cheaper rate."
He said that he is also opposed to
the prison because "we are iusi
School Finance System Ruled
Out; Local Districts Pleased
By KENNETH ROBERTS
Officials of the Rio Grande City
and Roma school districts are
jubilant about a Texas Supreme
Court ruling that the state's current
system of school financing is
unconstitutional and stress that the
districts should gain substantial
financial benefits as a result.
The Texas Supreme Court made
their unanimous 9-0 ruling on
Monday, Oct. 2, and gave the Texas
Legislature until May to figure out
a solution. Justice Oscar Mauzy
wrote the opinion for the court.
According to the Associated
Press, the court indicated that it
would not direct the Legislature on
what specific laws arc needed to deal
with the problem.
Rio Grande City CISD
Superintendent Dr. Leobardo Cano
said, "The ruling is tremendous
because it will bring us closer to
bridging the gap between equity and
effort."
The superintendent added, "This
will affect the manner in which
funds are dispersed by the state.
This was a clear-cut decision that
something needed to be done."
Dr. Antonio Falcon, president of
the Rio Grande City CISD board of
trustees, said, "It should be a
windfall to us. We're waiting to sec
what it (the decision) will mean
exactly."
Falcon added, "It might mean as
much as $10 million (for the
district). We won't know the exact
dollar figures for a few days."
He said 'Some school districts
in the state spend as much as
$15,000 per student; some spend as
little as $2000 per student."
Roma ISD Superintendent
Eleuterio Garza, Jr, commented.
"We're very happy about the news.
We don't know exactly what is on
the planning board. Roma will be
gaining a lot trom this. We don t
know exactly how much "
Garza added, "The Equity Center
(leaders in pursuing the suit) will
be meeting next week to discuss
ideas to be presented to the
Legislature.'"
The lead plaintiff in the case was
the Edgewood Independent School
District in San Antonio The lead
defendant was William F Kirby,
commissioner of the Texas
Education Agency.
Both the Rio Grande City and
Roma school districts joined the
lawsuit in late 1986. The suit was
first brought in 1984 by school
districts that have low property
values.
Austin suite district judge Harley
Clark ruled in April 198"? that the
current system was
unconstitutional. A 2-1 vote of the
Third Court of Appeals in Austin
in December 1988 overruled that
decision.
Rio Grande City CISD Business
Manager Romeo Lopez commented,
"The most impressive part of the
decision is that it is a 9-0 decision.
The Texas Supreme Court is giving
a very clear mandate to the Texas
Legislature that the current system
is unfair to property-poor school
districts."
Lopez contended, "Two school
districts with the same tax effort
should have access to the same
number of dollars, both state and
local, based on the same effort."
Lopez said, "We are now
beginning work on a system that
would provide adequacy of funding
regardless of the level of property
values."
The business manager stressed,
"We in Rio are looking forward to
the implementation z* a more
equitable financing system that will
address the issues of school
facilities, classrooms, curriculum
development, etc."
Lopez emphasized, "What
happens largely depends on the
innovativeness of our Texas
Legislature. Hopefully, a program
can be implemented by the 1990-91
school year. We in Rio are looking
forward to a favorable impact on the
district's financial picture."
The business manager said,
(See FINANCE, Page 2)
Romo Convicted, Flees
Before Verdict
A Starr County 229th District
Court jury convicted Martin Romo
of murder late Wednesday afternoon,
Oct. 4, but Romo failed to appear
on the final day of his trial on
Wednesday and remains at large at
this time.
District Attorney Heriberto Silva
said, "A warrant has been issued for
his arrest, and I have asked that his
bond be forfeited."
Romo was convicted in the Feb.
6, 1989 murder of Francisco Ramos
near Escobares. Silva indicated that
the jury's deliberations took
slightly less than an hour and a
half.
Later on Wednesday night, the
jury was given the Romo case to
deliberate punishment. After 45
minutes of deliberation, the jury
assessed punishment for Romo at
45 years imprisonment in the Texas
Department of Corrections and a
$5000 fine.
Silva said, "Judge (Ricardo)
Garcia ruled that Romo had left
voluntarily and the case proceeded
without him." Romo had failed to
appear for trial proceedings on
Wednesday morning.
Bffe Vs.
nr.'
Martin Romo
Silva urges anyone with
information about Romo's
whereabouts to contact the Sheriffs
Department at 487-5571.
About the trial outcome, Silva
commented, "We were able to show
the community that there is justice.
The jurors took their jobs very
seriously...The police officers did a
thorough investigation in picking
(See FLEES, Page 6)
Cano Savs Bus Attack
Isolated Incident
Rio Grande City CISD
Superintendent Dr. Leobardo Cano
says that the rock throwing attack
by several young hoodlums upon
three buses filled with members of
the Rio High band was an isolated,
unfortunate incident that should not
hinder relations with the Pharr-San
Juan-Alamo ISD in any way.
The incident occurred after Friday
night's game in Pharr between the
Rattlers and the PSJA Bears.
Cano said, "This is not a thing
between Rio Grande City and Pharr
We happened to be at the wrong
place at the wrong time. We have a
good working relationship with that
school district...There arc no ill
feelings between these two school
districts."
Cano noted that "both bands
stayed behind to practice for
Pigskin The three band buses
(from the RGCCISDJ were behind
the other buses."
Cano indicated that the buses
filled with band members left the
stadium approximately 30 to 45
minutes after the game. He said,
"Pharr security instructed the band
buses to go on I road as the shortest
route to U.S. 83. The three buses
got caught in the midst of juvenile
vandalism that was already
happening."
(See INCIDENT, Page 4)
beginning to see the tourist
industry blossom." He expressed
fears that the location of a prison
would give many tourists second
thoughts about spending a lot of
time in Starr County.
Trevino contended, "Not
everybody is for this. There is a
silent majority opposing this. The
purpose of this petition drive is to
give these people a vehicle to
express their views."
Trevino insisted, "The majority
of people who were against it last
time are against it this time
County Judge J.M. Martinez, Jr.,
commented, "It (location of a
prison) has created jobs everywhere
units have been placed. That's why
communities all over the state are
trying for it. Communities with
several units already are trying for
more."
He said, "If I felt the majority of
people were against it, I wouldn't
(See PRISON, Page 7)
I
«i
Leading the Junior Class of 19K9-90 at Rio Grande City High School for 19X9-90
are, from left to righl seated, Pat (ion/ale/., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pedro II.
Gonzalez, Reporter/Parliamentarian; Carlos Margo, son of l)r. and Mrs. Roberto
Margo, President; Geneva Bermudez, daughter of Adelmina Bermudez, Vice-President;
standing, Patsy Laurel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo Laurel,
Secretary/Treasurer; and Nelda Laurel, head sponsor.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 12, 1989, newspaper, October 12, 1989; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195206/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.