The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 26, 1989 Page: 1 of 8

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THE Rill uWWDE HERALD
PublUhad weekly In Rio Grange CUy, T«uir every Thuredar bT P* RiA.Grende Publishing Co.
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IBPS 466-200
Vol. 79, No. 50, Thursday, October 26,1989
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i
The Rio Grande City High School senior homecoming court is pictured above at
Friday night's ceremonies at halftime. From left to right are Araceli Gomez, (second
ruaerup for Queen) Duchess; Javier Cuellar, Duke; Diana Martinez, Homecoming
Queen; Eddie Medelez, Homecoming King; Crissy Olivarez, Princess; and Robert
Garza, Prince.
Diana Martinez Crowned
Rio High Homecoming Queen
Senior Diana Martinez was
crowned the 1989 Rio Grande City
High School Homecoming Queen
during halfumc ceremonies of the
Rio Grande City-McAllen High
footbail game at Rattler Stadium
Friday evening.
Martinez is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Rene Martinez. The
Homecoming King, Eddie Medelez,
is the son of Mr. and Mrs
Edelmiro Perez.
The Homecoming Princess and
Prince were Crissy Olivarez, the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willie
Olivarez; and Robert Garza, the son
of Mr. and Mrs. Pete Garza.
The Homecoming Duchess and
Duke were Araceli Gomez, the
daughter of Mrs. Adela Gomez; and
Javier Cuellar, the son of Mr and
Mrs. Javier Cuellar.
The Junior Duchess was Melissa
Alaniz, the daughter of Mrs. Noelia
Alaniz. The Junior Beau was Hiram
Saenz, the son of Mr and Mrs.
Juan Erasmo Saenz.
The Sophomore Duchess was
Eliza Soils, the daughter of Mr. &nd
Mrs. Alejandro Solis. The
Ribboncutting ceremonies were
held Friday morning for the new
expanded port facilities at Roma,
with county and Roma city
officials, as well as business
leaders, noting the economic
benefits and increased convenience
brought about by the
modernization.
County Judge J.M. Martinez, Jr.,
commented, "A lot of people
worked hard to make this a reality.
People on both sides of the river
can be proud of it."
Precinct Two Commissioner
Amando Pena of Roma said,
"We've been waiting for this many,
many years." Roma Mayor Jose
Carlos Saenz said, "We have
worked very hard with the county
on this."
Federal Program Coordinator
Javier Margo indicated, "We will
Speed Limits
Within
Roma Lowered
The City of Roma wishes to
inform all motorists that the speed
limits within the city on U.S.
Highway 83 have been reduced.
The speed limits reduced are from
the Riverview Family Center to the
city limit sign going toward Rio
Grande City. The 30 mile per hour
zone has been extended to the
Arroyo Roma Bridge from the
Famly Center store
From the Arroyo Roma to the
LMV mart, the speed limit will be
35 miles per hour. From the LMV
Mart to Victory Exxon the speed
limit will be 40 miles per hour and
45 miles per hour from Victory to
the city limit going toward Rio
Grande City.
These new speed limits will be
strictly enforced by the Roma
Police Department. Therefore,
motorists are cautioned to obey
these new soeed limits.
Ribboncutting Held For
Expanded Port Facilities
have an official inauguration of the
facilities in November." He noted
that both of Texas' U.S. senators,
as well as Congressman Kika De
La Garza, will be invited.
Bridge Manager Ernesto Trevino
said, "This is the third facility built
in our port, which originated in
1927. We have a very beautiful
facility. As the town grows,
hopefully the port will grow."
Roma Chamber of Commerce
President Fernando Pena said, "The
Roma business community is very
grateful for this improvement." Rio
Grande City Chamber of Commerce
President Leonel "Nene" Lopez
commented, "This can boost the
economy ot our business
communities in both the U.S. and
Mexico. I thank the
Commissioners' Court for their
efforts."
led Miller of Pan-Tex, the
construction management firm
based in Edinburg which was the
overseer of the modernization, told
The Rio Grande Herald, "The toll
counter validates the tolls against
the type of vehicles. This is
incomparably better than what we
had before."
Miller said, "Every pair of wheels
that crosses the treadle (on the
roadway) triggers the counter. This
(See PORT, Page 6)
Ribboncutting Held By
Parents Against Drugs
A new organization dedicated to
fighting drug abuse, Parents
Against Drugs, held a ceremony
Monday in front of the Starr
County Courthouse to cut a red
ribbon to symbolize their
commitment to bringing about a
drug free America and a drug free
community
The ceremonies were part ol the
national Red Ribbon campaign to
bring about a drug free America.
Jorge Flores, U.S. Customs Port
Director in Rio Grande City and
chairman of Parents Against Drugs,
said, "At this ume, 1 can say thai it
will be a very productive
organization Through teamwork, 1
know we can get rid of narcotics in
pur community."
Among the dignitaries present at
the ribboncutting were Distfict
Attorney Heriberto Silva, 229th
District Court Judge Ricardo
Garcia, Sheriff Gene Falcon, and
Rio Grande City High School
Principal Roel Smith. Officers of
the Department of Public Safety,
Immigranon and Naturalization
Service, Border Patrol, and U.S.
Customs were also on hand.
Members of the local U.S.
Customs Explorers Post played a
big part in carrying out Monday's
ceremony.
When he spoke. County Judge
J.M Martinez, Jr., noted that the
Commissioners' Court had passed a
resolution of the national Red
Ribbon campaign The resolution
reads as follows:
"WHEREAS, Alcohol and other
drug abuse in this nation has
reached epidemic stages and the
15-24 year-old age group is dying at
a faster rate than any other age
group; and
"WHEREAS, it is imperative
that visible, unified prevention
education efforts by community
members be launched to reduce the
demand for drugs; and
"WHEREAS, the National
Federation of Parents for Drug Free
youth and the Starr County
Commissioners Court are
sponsoring the National Red
Ribbon Campaign qffcring citizens
(See PARENTS, Page 5)
Commissioners Focus On
Worsening Rabies Situation
Sophomore Beau was Russ Alonzo,
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Javier
Alonzo.
The Freshman Duchess was
Elizabeth Cortez, the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Ariel Cortex. The
Freshman Beau was Laco Flores,
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Heraclio
Flores.
The theme of thg celebration %vas
"The Victorian Era." All
decorations and costumes on the
stage emphasized the atmosphere
and culture of those times
At their emergency meeting
Tuesday, the County
Commissioners considered the
ramifications of the worsening
rabies epidemic, and voted to
continue the contract with the
animal control trapper employed by
the state for at least the next 60
days.
County Judge J.M. Martinez, Jr.,
said, "We do have a continuing
problem with rabies; it is serious.
The biggest danger lies in
unreported exposures to people. It
(rabies) is 100 percent fatal if it is
not treated promptly. By all means,
people should report any cases
where they think they might have
been exposed."
There have been a total of 15
confirmed cases of rabies in Stan-
County this year, five within the
past two weeks. Details about the
most recent cases are indicated in a
separate article in this edition of
The Rio Grande Herald.
Commissioner Amando Pena
then moved that the contract with
the Animal Damage Control
specialist employed by the state be
continued for at least the next 60
days. His motion passed without
dissent.
Pena said, "The work needs to be
targeted in Rio Grande City," where
most-of the rabies cases over the
past year have been reported.
The specialist, Martin Mendoza,
who is employed by the Kingsville
office of the Animal Damage
Control Commission, said, "The
program was set up in July to
control coyotes and other predators.
We started work in the San Isidro
area."
Mendoza added, "We then moved
closer to Rio Grande City and tried
to establish a buffer area to try to
keep coyotes from getting into Rio
Grande City proper. We tried to
identify properties around Rio
Grande City that would allow us to
set up equipment traps to block
coyotes from getung into town."
Mendoza said, "We killed seven
coyotes with the helicopter. We
were able to take over 43 coyotes
during this time," as well as
eliminating close to 20 stray dogs.
Mendoza stressed, "We feel we
were able to set up the buffer area.
We are continuing to monitor the
area"
He emphasized, "When we start
up a new program, we tell the
cooperator that we need one to two
years to get some good work done.
We need time to get a handle on the
coyote situation." He added that
there had been much accomplished
already.
Veterinarian Dr. Roberto S.
Margo said, "What these people are
doing is obviously working. Six of
nine rabies cases in 1988 involved
coyotes, while only two of 15 cases
in 1989 involve coyotes, and both
were before they started. We
definitely need for their work to be
continued."
Commissioner Jose Maria
"Chema" Alvarez said, "We will be
supplying a vehicle and additional
personnel to help in fighting the
rabies problem." He urged anyone
sighting a suspicious to call his
offices at 487-6142 and 487-2867
during the daytime and to call him
at 487-4082 at night.
Judge Martinez said, "All of the
commissioners will be supplying a
vehicle with additional personnel."
On another issue, Martinez said,
We had a visit recently from
members of the Board ol Criminal
Justice. They toured the site (for the
prospective stale prison) and the
town. Public hearing wul be held
in Austin on Nov. 7 to allow
input, either pro or con, from
communities that have been
selected for the final round."
The commi toners passed a
resolution supporting the passage
of Proposition 8 and Senate Joint
Resolution 24, which would
provide bonds for construction of
prison facilities. The
commissioners also supported the
passage of Proposition 2, which
would provide additional state
funding for low-income colonias.
Commissioner Pena said, "We
ask the majority of Starr County
voters to support the propositions
(concerning prisons)."
3 More Rabies Cases
Confirmed In RGC
Three more cases of rabies
involving dogs have been confirmed
in the past week in the Rio Grande
City area, with all three rabid
animals biting humans.
Dr. Roberto Margo indicated on
Saturday that the first two rabid
dogs, both family pets less than
eight months old, exposed a total of
nine persons to the disease through
bites. Margo said, "All nine of the
humans exposed are undergoing
rabies vaccinations."
Margo said, "Both animals bit
their owners and members of the
family. In one case, three family
members, a husband, wife, and
daughter, were exposed. In the other
case, six members of a family were
exposed."
Margo noted that the three new
cases bring to 15 the number of
confirmed cases of rabies in Starr
County since Jan. 1, 1989. A total
of 24 cases have been confirmed
within Starr County since
September 1988.
Margo said Saturday, "1 sent the
heads of the dogs in Wednesday, and
rabies was confirmed on Friday.
He stressed, "1 have contacted
County Health Officer Dr. Ramiro
Narro concerning the worsening
situation. The number one priority
is picking up the strays all over the
county. The worst area now is crfi
the eastern side of Rio Gravide
City."
One of the two dogs lived the
intersection of Fourth and Flores
Street and the other lived on San
Benito Street. Margo said evidence
indicates that both dogs had first
been exposed to the vrrus
approximately a month before.
The veterinarian said that at leagi
one of the animals attempted to bite
other dogs.
On Monday, Margo informed The
Herald of still another case of
rabies. He said that this animal, an
unvaccinated family pet a,ound
four months old, lived in the 500
block of East Hidalgo Street.
Margo said, "This dog bit at least
two people."
Margo said that the three rabies
(See RABIES, Page 2)
RGC Bancshares Announces
3rd Quarter Results
Rio Grande City Bancshares,
Inc., has announced that net income
for the third quarter of 1989 is
$609,833; representing an increase
of 30.5 percent over the third
quarter 1988 income of $467,163.
The net income of 51,447,342
for the nine months ending Sept.
30,1989 was an increase of 16.7
percent over the net income of
$1,239,798 for the first nine
months of 1988
Assets grew to $204.6 million as
of Sept. 30, 1989, up 6.1 percent
from the third quarter 1988 total
assets of $192.9 million, while
total deposits increased by 6.4
percent to $186.2 million as of
Sept. 30,1989.
Rio Grande City Bancshares,
Inc., is a Texas bank holding
company with officers in Rio
Grande City, San Antonio, and
FloresviUe.
J
P.
A new organization dedicated to fighting drug abuse, Parents Against Drugs, held a
ribboncutting ceremony Monday morning in front of the County Courthouse as part
of National Red Ribbon Week, which is being celebrated in hopes of increased
commitment to a drug-free America.