The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 9, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 18, 1990 Page: 1 of 8
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T
West Point
Specials,
Page 2
THE RIO GRMDE HERALD
Published weekly In Rio Grande City. Texas, every Thursday by The RiC^Grande Publishing Co.
H.L.B.
Inserts
Inside
tfePS 466-200
Vol. 80, No. 9, Thursday, January 1.8. 1990
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Stale Sen. Judith Zaffirini announced her candidacy for reelection to a second term
on Wednesday morning, Jan. 10 at a gathering of supporters at the Kiosko in Rio
Grande City. She is opposed lor reelection by one opponent in the Democratic
Primary in March and faces one Republican opponent in November.
Sen. Zaffirini Announces
Reelection Candidacy In Rio
District 21 Stale Senator Judith
Zaffirini announced her candidacy
for rcelection to a second term on
Wednesday, Jan. 10 in a brief
spcech at the Kiosko in Rio Grande
City.
Zaffirini is seeking another
four-year lerm representing the large
and diverse 20-county senatorial
district which strelchs from Starr
County lo Uvalde/Kinncy/Maverick
and norih to Seguin/New
Braunfels/northcasi Bexar County.
From Rio Grande City, Zaffirini
traveled to Roma and Zapata to
make campaign appearances later
that same day.
Sen. Zaffirini was introduced by
Precinct Four County
Commissioner Rcynaldo "Moreno"
Alaniz. Olhcr courtly officials
present were Treasurer Aurelio
Sanchez, Tax Assessor-Collector
Maria Olelia Saenz, and District
Clerk Juan Erasmo Saenz
"I've worked hard lo represent the
interests of each of our counties.
Sen. Zaffirini said. "The HO bills 1
passed during my first term included
regional needs such as treating the
polluted Rio Grande and increasing
the jurisdiction of the Siarr County
Couri-At L.aw."
Sen. Zaffirini said her
district-wide organization is in place
for another whirlwind grassroots
campaign reminiscent of her 1986
election bid. At that time she
emerged from a field of four
Democrats and two Republicans,
including three former stale
representatives.
"My priorities will continue to
be education, economic
development and family issues,
she said. "My record will speak for
itself."
Zaffirini faces one opponent in
ihe March 13 Democratic primary
and one Republican opponent in the
November general election.
In her campaign remarks in Rio
Grande City, Zaffirini told the
crowd present, "People like you
have helped me lo do a better job. 1
will work just as hard to be
reelected as I did to be dec ted for
Bilingual/ESL
Meeting
Wednesday
The Title VII Bilingual/ESL
Program will hold its regular
monthly meeting on Wednesday.
Jan. 24 at I p.m. at the
Multipurpose Center
All committee members, parents
with participants in the program,
school personnel and people from
the community arc cordially invited
to attend this meeting.
Anyone seeking further
information should call Alberto
Barrcra, Director of the Title VII
Bilingual/ESL Program, at
487-5591, Extension 221.
the first nine in 1986 "
Sen Zaffirini stressed to The Rio
Grande Herald, "This is my first
campaign stop in 1990. ' wanted to
kick off my campaign here, since
Starr County gave me 88 percent of
its votes m 1986."
She emphasized, "I feel proud
that 80 bills that Ive sponsored
have been enacted into law. That's a
record for a first-term legislator. 1
have focused on the areas that I said
would be my priority, including
getting Texas to participate in the
cleanup of the Rio Grande River."
She added, "The bill that I
sponsored increased the jurisdiction
of the Starr County Court-At Law."
She indicated that her emphasis will
continue to be upon education,
economic development and family
issues.
Zaffirini indicated that under
legislation she has sponsored, "The
Department of Mental
Health/Mental Retardation will
expand its programs to include
children and adolescents."
The senator said, On the thiul
attempt, my bill that stated that
adults over 21 convicted of selling
(See ZAFFIRINI, Page 3)
Mistrial Declared In
Munoz Murder Trial
A mistrial was declared late
Wednesday night, Jan. 10 in the
murder trial of Enrique Munoz alter
jurors failed to reach a unanimous
verdict in at least four votes.
District Attorney Heribert6 Si I va
indicated, "The case went to the
jury at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The jury
deliberated four to five hours and
sent four separate notes to the
judge."
Silva added, "The judge (Ricardo
Garcia) gave them additional
instructions and about an hour later
they indicated that they were
hopelessly deadlocked."
Munoz was charged with first
degree murder in connection with
the Jan. 18, 1988 shooting death of
Claudio Garcia, Jr., north of
Escobar es.
The shooting of Garcia, a Rio
Cirande City native, occurred at a
residence in San Julian, located
north of Escobares, at
approximately 6 p.m. on the
evening on Jan. 18, 1988. Munoz
was arrested almost lour hours later
at a small dwelling in which he was
staying in the San Julian
community.
The District Attorney stressed,
"We're going to seek to retry the
case again as soon as possible. Wc
may get a retrial in the latter part of
February."
Silva indicated that the
prosecution called nine witnesses in
the case, including three persons in
the vicinity when the incident
occurred and five officers of the
Sheriffs Department.
Silva said that "the defense did
not present any witnesses." Munoz
was defended by Roma attorney
Neal Duvall.
'See MUNOZ, rage 8)
New Fort Ringgold
Entrance Opened
Because of the constant increase
of the student population, Dr.
Lcobardo Cano, Rio Grande City
CISD Superintendent of Schools, is
making the general public aware of
the opening of a new entrance into
Fort Ringgold in front of Grande
Butane.
This new gate will be opened
from 6 a m to 9 a.m., and from 3
p.m. to 6 p.m.
The new traffic flow is designed
to use the main gate for vehicles
going to Ringgold Elementary,
Ringgold Childhood Center, Band
Hall, Offices for the Federal
Programs, Maintenance
Department. Transportation
Department and Cretin Union This
entrance will be used by those
persons going to the west side of
Fort Ringgold.
The new Grande Butane gate will
be used for vehicles going to
RGCCISD Trustees Okay
Lease Purchase Financing
At their regular monthly meeting
on Wednesday night, Jan. 10, the
Rio Grande City CISD board of
trustees approved a lease purchase
financing arrangement with a
Houston-based investment firm in
order to carry out the construction
of at least 18 portable classroom
buildings.
Superintendent Dr. Leobardo
Cano noted, "The agreement with
Lovett, Underwood, Neuhaus, and
Webb is for SI million over 7.5
years, at 8.251 percent interest."
Cano stressed, "This is callable
in 1992. We hope to have the
money then in order to pay the full
amount, thus saving interest."
Cano pointed out, "We're
borrowing this money from this
corporation in order to alleviate
classroom overcrowding so we can
meet the 22-1 ratio (mandated by
the state)."
The superintendent indicated,
"For this year, this will mean 18
additional portable classrooms, and
we will address the Special
Education needs of the district with
three new self-contained units, two
of them at the Fort Ringgold
complex and one at Grulla
Elementary."
Cano noted, "We also intend to
Ringgold Elementary, Ringgold
Intermediate, Ringgold Jr. High,
the Multipurpose Center and the
Auditorium. The attempt is to
decrease the number of vehicles that
enter through the main gate.
The existing La Casita gate will
be used for vehicles going to the
High School, Ringgold Jr High,
Ringgold Intermediate and the
Multipurpose Center. This gate
will open the same hours as the
new Grande Butane gate.
The H.E.B-Mcyers gate will
continue to be used by the high
school students.
Superintendent Cano requests the
cooperation of students, school
personnel, and the general public on
the implementation of this traffic
flow plan within the Fort Ringgold
Plan. The initial implementation of
this plan was scheduled for
Wednesday, Jan. 17.
purchase three new buses and
purchase computers for North
Grammar and Ringgold
Intermediate."
Cano said that the construcuon of
the new portable classrooms will be
broken down by school as follows:
Rio Grande City High School, 4
classrooms; Rio Grande City High
School, 2 science labs; Grulla Jr.
High, 4 classrooms; Grulla
Elementary, 2 classrooms;
Ringgold Jr. High, 2 classrooms;
Ringgold Intermediate, 2
classrooms; La Union Elementary,
2 classrooms.
Cano said, "Each board member
favored this action. They fell thai it
was just the beginning; that
additional classroom space will
soon be needed, because the school
district continues to grow."
Cano emphasized, "We have gone
over 7000 in ADA (Average Daily
Attendance). Waivers on the 22-1
ratio are getting very hard to obtain.
Now you have to go directly to the
Commissioner of Education."
The annual performance report for
the 1988-89 school year was
approved by the trustees.
Cano said, "This is a narrative of
the district s performance in
addressing the long range goals of
the State Board of Education. This
is the district's report card."
Cano indicated that the report
includes information on such
subjects as test scores, hiring and
recruiting of teachers, and the
standing of teachers on career ladder.
He emphasized, "This report
explains what the district is doing
to meet ihe goals of the State Board
in all areas."
The trustees approved a budget
amendment amounting to
$284,477. Cano noted that this Is
one of two budget amendments
made during ihe fiscal year. He said,
"This involves shifting funds in
virtually all areas in order to
balance the budget."
Josie Guerra, Director of
Elementary Education, gave the
trustees a written report for
informational purposes that
summarized the developments in
the district's elementary schools
since the beginning of the 1989-90
school year.
The trustees voted to hire the
following new teachers: Blanca
Salmon, Olga Josephine Garza,
Margaret Molina, Robert Ambrasio
Uriegas, Randall Lea, and Hector
Lopez.
Rio Man Dies In One-Car Mishap
A Rio Grande City man became
the first traffic fatality victim of the
year in Starr County when the
vehicle which he drove failed to
negotiate a curve on the western
siae of Rio Grande Cily in the early
morning hours Monday.
Eduardo Saenz, 25, of Rio Grande
City was pronounced dead at the
scene by Justice of the Peace
Dewitt Jones. The mishap occurred
at approximately 1:30 a.m. Monday
near the junction of U.S. 83 West
and Pope Alley Street in Rio
Grande City.
Saenz was driving a 1989
Chevrolet pickup westbound on
U.S. Highway 83 in Rio Grande
Cily.
A DPS trooper indicated that the
pickup failed to negotiate a curve
and struck three reflector posts, a
street sign, a brick fence and a
utility pole on the righi side of
U.S. 83. Saenz was ejected from
the pickup truck.
Saenz was pronounced dead at the
scene. The trooper indicated that the
victim sustained numerous injuries,
including head injuries.
The victim's body was taken to
Ceballos Funeral Home.
RGCCISD Trustee
Elections Saturday
Absentee voting for Saturday's
trustee elections ended on Tuesday.
The polls ended at all RGCCISD
voiing stations from 7 a.m. to 7
p.m.
The voting stations that will be
used are as follows: Precinct One-
Multipurpose Center; Prccinct
Two- North Grammar Elementary:
Precinct Three- Roquc Guerra, Jr.,
Elementary; Prccinct Eig'.u- La
Union Elementary; Precinct Ninc-
Grulla Elementary.
Elections will be held for two
positions on the Rio Grande City
CISD board of trustees on Saturday
In Place Seven, incumbent
Leonel "Nene" Lopez is seeking
reelection to a second three-year
term. He is opposed by Eloy Ruben
Garcia, who served on the board of
trustees from 1985 to 1988.
In the other trustee race, 12-year
incumbent Francisco "Paco" Zarate
is unopposed in his bid for
reelection.
Flores To Speak At
Saturday's Football Banquet
Former Oakland/L.A. Raiders
football head coach Tom Flores,
currently the President and General
Manager of the Seattle Seahawks,
will be this year's featured speaker
at the Rio Grande City High
School annual football banquet
scheduled for Saturday night.
The annual banquet, sponsored by
the Rio Grande City Quarterback
Club, will honor the 1989 Rattler
varsity football team which finished
7-3 on ihe season, ranked first in
District 31-5A in total offense, and
featured two players winning
All-Valley honors and three players
earning All-District honors.
The banquet will take place
Saturday at 7 p.m. at the
Multipurpose Center across from
the Auditorium on the Fort
Ringgold campus
Tickets are available from any
Quarterback Club member or from
the following locations: the law
offices of Nye, Garza, and
Monialvo at 111 East Main;
Erasmo's Liquor Store; and the Rio
Grande City High Athletic Office.
Persons outside the Rio Grande
City/Starr County area interested in
attending the banquet should call
Baldemar Garza, Banquet Chairman
at 487-3405, or Club President Dr.
Roberto S. Margo al 487-3623.
Flores has 29 years experience in
the National Football League;
having spent 10 years as a player;
seven seasons as an assistant coach;
and was head coach of the
Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders for
nine years. He took over as
President and General Manager of
the Seattle Seahawks in February
1989.
Flores is one of only two players
in NFL history, along with Mike
Ditka of the Chicago Bears; to have
earned a Super Bow! ring as a
player, assistant and haul coach.
Flores won rings as a reserve
quarterback with the Kansas Cily
Chiefs in Super Bowl IV, as
(See FLORES, Page 2)
4*
jfei
Tom Klores, the former Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
football coach, will he Ihe keynote speaker for this year's
Rattler Football Ranquet sponsored by the Rio Grande City
Quarterback Club. The banquet will be held on Saturday, Jan.
20 at the Multipurpose Center. Tickets are available from
any club member or at the law Office of Ranciall Nye,
487-3405, and the High School Athletic Office at 487-5591.
Since seating is limited, everyone is asked lo gel their
tickets early.
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Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 9, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 18, 1990, newspaper, January 18, 1990; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195220/m1/1/?rotate=90: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.