Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 25, 1998 Page: 1 of 8
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85th Year, No. 26
25 cents
Rio
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
Student Helped During Math Camp
Ringgold Middle School sixth grader Jessica Davila (sealed) receives help on a math problem from leachcr Elma
Vela during Math Camp, a two-week program designed to accelerate students in pre-algebra and math while
having fun doing so. (See related story on page 5.) (RGCC1SD photo)
RGC High OM team looking
forward to upcoming year
A team of Rio Grande City High
School students is looking forward
to a bright future.
The students, entering their
^ senior year this fall, are members
of the team that placed 12th at the
Odyssey of the Mind World Finals
in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.,
recently.
Members James Falcon,
Michelle Falcon, Severino Garcia.
Audra Gon/alez. Mario Lara and
Raudel Rodriguez, came within
£ five one-hundredths of a point of
finishing in sixth place out of the
69 teams that competed in Classics
... Marvelous Mentor of Division
III.
"Everyone was extremely pleased
with the outcome," said L.T.
Guzman, who coaches the team
along with Yolanda Gonzalez.
"The team had a once in a
lifetime experience at their
competition," said Edna Gonzalez,
RGCClSD's Gifted & Talented
coordinator. "They gave it their all
and hoped for the best."
It appears the team is now set for
one for one more run at the OM
World title.
"Now that OM is over, we have
to look at what new challenges the
1998-1999, OM season will
bring," Guzman said. "As a coach,
1 sit back and reflect at what
outstanding accolades this team has
brought to themselves, to their
school, to their family, and to the
community. This team are all
seniors and soon will embark on
their own odyssey as they travel to
different universities."
"All these students are seniors
now," Edna said. They all have
great aspirations. One would like
to enroll at MIT in Massachusetts,
another at Harvard and the rest
would like to attend major
universities in Texas."
The team has accomplished a lot
in its OM career under Guzman.
"It's hard to believe that this
team has been together for eight
years and have earned two sub-
regional championships, seven
regional championships, two state
championships, and have had two
world final appearances. Aside
from that, they have received
numerous Omcr Awards and
Renatra Fusca Creativity Awards."
OM has allowed the team
members a chance to extend their
reasoning powers.
"By being in Odyssey of the
Mind," Guzman said, "they have
been able to let their own creativity
flourish without any parameters
serving as obstacles. They have
sought out to venture into new
paths that have not been walked on
and have come to terms with the
idea that there are several solutions
to one problem. OM has given
them the opportunity to meet peers
from throughout the United States
anil countries. They have been able
to relate to different cultures ;ind
appreciate what ihey have to
offer."
"OM will be great on their
resumes and the skills they have
learned will take them far," said
Ms. Gonzalez, who also is the
district's OM coordinator.
"Odyssey of the Mind had served
as a strong foundation that will
enable them to embark into new
journeys and handle any problem
with creative thinking in manners
that will benefit everyone,"
Guzman added.
The team expects to have a
banner run at the OM title next
(See LOOKING, Page 6)
RGC receives June sales tax
rebate check of $131 >178.90
State Comptroller John Sharp
has delivered a June 1998 sales tax
rebate check of $131,178.90 to the
city of Rio Grande City and a check
Clarification
concerning info
for TXDOT
The Texas Department of
Transportation (TXDOT) and The
Rio Grande Herald are providing
clarification about an article that
was printed in the June 11 edition
of The Rio Grande Herald.
The phone number printed in the
June 11 issue is actually a facsimile
line, which can be used to send
written comments or questions.
Persons needing more
information or wishing to comment
on the TXDOT feasibility study of
U.S. Highway 83 should call
Olivarri & Associates at 1-800-945-
2156 or 512-993-5720.
Public comments will be received
through June 25, 1998. The public
is invited to provide their questions
or comments in Spanish if they
choose.
Written comments can be mailed
to Olivarri & Associates, Inc.,
5656 S. Staples, Suite 104, Corpus
Christi, Texas 78411.
of $47,855.33 to the city of Roma.
Sharp delivered a total of $185.5
million in monthly sales tax
payments to 1093 Texas cities and
118 counties, a 14.7 percent
increase over the $161.6 million
allocated in June 1997.
This month's sales tax rebates
include local sales taxes collectcd in
April and reported by businesses
filing monthly tax returns in May.
"The long and steady increase in
consumer spending in Texas
continues as jobs and new
businesses remain plentiful," Sharp
said. "Year-to-date, rebates to cities
and counties are up 11 percent over
last year.
Sharp delivered monthly sales tax
rebates totaling $170.1 million to
Texas cities, 15.1 percent higher
than last June's payments of
$147.7 mil ion. Rebates of $15.4
million to Texas counties were
10.5 percent higher than allocations
of 13.9 million in June 1997.
Another $5 million went to 33
special purpose districts around the
state.
The city of Rio Grande City's
June 1998 rebate check of
$131,178.90 is 11.66 percent
higher than the June 1997 rebate
check of $117,477.25. For 1998 to
County enacts ban on all
fireworks due to drought
At their special meeting Monday
morning, the County
Commissioners voted to approve a
temporary complete ban on all
fireworks until further notice in this
time of extreme drought, pending
scrutiny and approval by the
County Attorney.
The item on the agenda called for
a ban on aerial fireworks to be
considered. County Judge J.M.
Martinez, Jr., contended,
"Conditions this year arc so bad
that I feel this step is warranted."
Martinez and Commissioners Abel
N. Gonzalez, Jr., and Eloy Garza
quickly agreed that a ban on all
fireworks is the appropriate step for
the duration of the present extreme
drought.
The judge noted that there have
been three recent grass fires in on''
small area.
Martinez asked, "Is this violating
anyone's civil rights?" County
Attorney Romero Molina
responded, "You do have the
authority."
The two commissioners present
voted in favor ot a motion to
temporarily ban all fireworks
within the county during the severe
drought, pending a legal check and
approval by the County Attorney.
Concerning the matter of filling
the vacancy left by Precinct Four
Constable Aldo Medina, recently
selected by the County Democratic
Executive Committee as the party's
official nominee for sheriff in
November, Molina said, "It
(acceptance of die resignation) is at
your discretion."
Molina added, "It became
automatic once he acceped the
nomination for sheriff," a statement
echoed by Commissioner Garza.
Judge Martinez noted, "He did
submit a letter."
In another matter, the
commissioners voted to approve an
amendment to the order of salaries
to allow for promotions of two
investigators with the Rio Grande
City Multi-Agency Narcotics Task
Force, operated jointly by the City
of Rio Grande City and the District
Attorney's Office. The request was
made by District Attorney Heriberto
Silva. Auditor Mario Lopez noted,
"It will be reimbursed by the Task
Force." The amendment was
accepted, pending the filing of the
necessary pape, work.
RGCCISD trustees vote to
rescind assignment policy
date, Rio Grande City has received
$877,273.18 in rebate checks, an
increase of 10.62 percent from the
$793,046.26 received for the same
reporting period of 1997.
In Roma, the June 1998 rebate
check of $47,855.33 is 22.56
percent higher than the June 1997
rebate check of $39,.044.59. For
1998 to date, Roma has received
rebate checks of $306,992.82, an
increase of 8.48 percent from the
$282,978.54 received for the same
reporting period of 1997.
The city of Grulla received a
rebate check of $491.03 for June
1998, an increase of 78.05 percent
from the June 1997 rebate check of
$275.77. Thus far in 1998, Grulla
has rcccivcd rebate chccks totaling
$2624.44, an increase of 5.28
percent from the S2492.78 rcccivcd
during the same reporting period of
1997.
The net June 1998 rebates for
Starr County cities amount to
$179,525.26, an increase of 14.49
percent from the June 1997 rebates
of $156,797.61. Thus far in 1948,
Starr County cities have rcccivcd
rebates amounting to
$1,186,890.44, an increase of
10.04 percent from the
$1,078,517.58 received during the
same reporting period of 1997.
At their regular monthly meeting
on Tuesday night, June 16, the Rio
Grande City CISD board of trustees
voted to rescind a previously-
approved policy that disallowed
immediate relatives from working
on the same campus in a
supervisory relationship.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, the
trustees were given a
comprehensive review of scores on
TAAS tests administered in the
spring. In most cases, scores
showed fairly healthy increases. TTic
Rio Grande Herald expects to have a
full report on the TAAS scores in
next week's edition.
Concerning the assignment and
schedules policy, Personnel
Director Gilbcrto Garcia said,
"There are 11 that are affected,
mainly husband and wife teams."
Trustee Jose Luis Garza contended
"I don't think we should penalize
people who are working well
together."
Garcia indicated, "Some districts
have this policy; others don't."
Garza commented, "A lot of
districts that have this policy have
more than one high school." Board
President Basilio "Bacho"
Villarreal, Jr., contended, "If there
are problems, I think they should
be taken care of by administration."
Garcia suggested, "What we could
consider doing is grandfather the
people here now." Trustee Dalinda
Escobar questioned, "If things arc
working well, why should people
be moved?" Villarreal insisted, "I
haven't liked this policy from the
very beginning."
Garza then offered a motion that
the previously approved policy be
rescinded and that any problems on
a campus should be evaluated by
the Site-Based Decision Making
(SBDM) Committee and by
administration. The motion passed
with four trustees voting yes.
Trustees Francisco "Paco" /.irate
and Roberto "Bobby" Gutierrez
voted to abstain.
Detailed discussion took place
concerning uhigh school student
handbook. High School Principal
Mike Villaical said, "It's the same
as last year except for four items."
Board President Villarreal asked,
"What became of the
Sesquicentennial celebration?"
Gilberto Garcia replied, "We'll have
early release that day."
Superintendent Ramon Hinojosa
suggested, "People may not show
up if there's a full holiday."
Mike Villarreal indicated,
"Attendance would fall under the
disciplinary plan. Our growth plan
calls for addressing tardies and
skipping. Ihere is no parking fee;
we do charge for a parking permit."
Trustee Villarreal said, "I hear
there's been a lof of vandalism in
parking lots. Has the idea of
bringing in outside cameras been
discussed?" 11ie princifKil responded,
"Exterior cameras arc a possibility.
The bulk of the vandalism was the
scratching of a car with a $4000
paint job. We will have a plan to
better coordinate security."
The principal continued, "Mr.
Hinojosa has signed an agreement
with STCC for dual credits and
concurrent enrollments. We're on
(See TRUSTEES, Page 6)
Sesquicentennial Committee
plans for November
The Rio Grande City
Sesquicentennial Committee has
been holding regular meetings in
preparation for its upcoming
November celebration.
Along with the dedicated
volunteers, representatives from
UT-Pan American and Hidalgo's
"Border Fest" have attended the
meetings and shared their expertise.
George R. Cause, Jr., from the
U^'PA/Rio Grande Valley
Historical Collection and Leo
Olivares from UTPA's COSERVE
presented historical data and
literature about Fort Ringgold and
other local sites of interest.
Fred Margo, Sesquicentennial
Committee chair, has asked Hidalgo
City Manager Joe Vera to assist in
the planning. Vera is also the
person responsible for organizing
"Border Fest", Hidalgo's annual bi-
cultural celebration. Margo says,
"Joe Vera is the reason 'Border
Fest' is as successful and popular as
it is today. We will certainly
benefit from his help."
For more information on the
Sesquicentennial Committee, call
716-8414.
Pena honored with farewell function
Rio Grande City CISD said goodbye to Diana Pena (center), assistant superintendent tor business and operations,
during a recent farewell luncheon at the Multipurpose Cent : M- I' ,i tool a simila' isition at South Texas
Community College in Mc Allen. Attending the late well luiu he on were (1*0 RGCX 'ISM Board of Education Trustee
Roberto Gutierrez, Assistant Superintendent lur Curneulmii a \ ,p- 'intend ''it
Ramon Hinojosa and Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Gill- nr 1 G i' ' '<!> photo)
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 25, 1998, newspaper, June 25, 1998; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195658/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.