Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 18, 1999 Page: 1 of 6
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Hcag Book Bindery
127 Rail Rd
iSpringport, MI 49204
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY EDITION
February 18,1999 -
86th Year, No. 7
25 cents
Herald
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
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'
• Leaders attend opening
of Valley Tampico office
Fifty two Valley residents,
including three Starr County
® business and civic leaders, were
prese.il for the opening of the Rio
Grande Valley Partnership Office in
Tampico, Mexico on Friday night,
Jan. 29.
A crowd of close to 250 persons
watched Valley Business
Partnership President Bill Summers
sign an agreement with Tampico
Mayor Jose Francisco Rabago
^ Castillo as the office was opened.
Attending the ceremony from
Starr County were Rio Grande City
Chamber of Commerce Treasurer
Romeo Lopez and his wife, Rio
Grande City Alderman Lauro Lopez
and his wife, and Rio Grande City
Alderman Jesus Solis.
Romeo Lopez indicated, "There
_ war a new office opened in
™ Tampico. Cd. Victoria already has a
similar office of the Rio Grande
Valley Chamber of Commerce. The
purpose of this trip was to
inaugurate a similar Valley
Chamber office in Tampico."
The office is expected to advance
economic tics between the Valley
and Tampico business, with the
possibility of beginning airline
£ service between the two areas as
well as reopening of a U.S.
consulate in Tampico.
Representatives of Harlingen,
Brownsville, Pharr, Weslaco,
Mercedes, Edinburg, McAllen and
Raymondville were also on hand for
the ceremony.
The Valley Partnership's office is
located near the Hotel Camino Real
on Avenida Miguel Hidalgo.
Tampico is the largest city in the
state of Tamaulipas with a
population of roughly 800,000 in
the tri-city area that covers the ports
of Cuidad Madero and Altamira.
Tampico is also the second busiest
port in all of Mexico.
The Feb. 3 edition of the Valley
Morning Star indicated that "the 15
charter members of the Tampico
group include hotels, furniture
manufacturers, and firms
specializing in hospital supplies,
customs brokerages and
consulting."
RGC Alderman Lauro Lopez
indicated, "I went on both trips.
The Cd. Victoria office was opened
a couple of years ago. I thought it
was a wonderful trip. It was
something that is needed to help
increase commerce with our
neighboring state."
Lopez noted, "We met with the
governor's assistant, and we met
with quite a few business leaders.
We met with the mayors of
Tampico and Madero."
"We asked about the possibility
of getting Winer Texans interested
in deep-sea fishing trips," declared
Lopez. "The mayor of Madero
expressed interest in that idea since
he is a former captain of a
freighter."
The alderman stated, "Several
(Tampico business leaders) have
expressed interest in making
business trips to RGC."
"They thought it was a wonderful
idea to have the office there,"
commented Lopez. "It was a
wonderful, wonderful trip; it was
very successful. The Tampico
Chamber of Commerce was very
well represented."
He noted, "We were in Tampico
for a couple of days. We had dinner
in a beautiful hotel. They (Tampico
leaders) are very interested in
attracting Winter Texan trade."
Lopez emphasized, "This had
been in the planning stage for some
time. This will be the beginning
ofa long and fruittul relationship
between Valley communities and
Tampico. We should see increased
visits and trade from that
community."
The Star article stated, "Valley
Partnership, which opened its first
Mexican office in Ciudad Victoria
in 1993, decided to expand to
southern Tamaulipas at the request
of Felipe Pearl of Grupo Tampico,
a major company that owns banks,
hotels and other businesses."
"TNT," 'Texas and Tamaulipas,'
is the explosive formula," the Star
article quoted tourism sub-secretary
Jaime Salazar, representing
outgoing Gov. Manuel Cavazos
Lerma, as saying.
* Commissioners okay 1997-98
Gas System Audit Report
At their continued regular
meeting Friday morning, the
County Commissioners voted to
approve the 1997-98 Audit Report
% for the Starr County Gas System as
presented.
CPA Jose A. Hinojosa of Rio
Grande City indicated, "We
completed the audit for the fiscal
year ending Sept. 30, 1998. It (the
Gas System) continues to operate
in a very satisfactory manner."
Hinojosa noted, "Sales were
£ down." Auditor Mario A. Lopez
said, "From what I understand,
some residences did disconnect and
sales are down due to the mild
winter." Precinct Three
Commissioner Eloy Garza insisted,
"If we've lost customers, we need
to know why since we're expanding
into other areas."
At that point, the commissioners
voted to approve the Gas System
£ Audit Report as presented.
District Attorney Heriberto Silva
reported on his office's contract
proposal for computer software. He
indicated, "This is a contract to
update the computer software in my
office. We have purchased the
computers. They will bring a team
down to do the installation and train
the people."
"It will be divided into two
payments," noted Silva. "It will
come out of forfeiture funds. You
will need to approve the contract.
This software is specialized for
prosecutors. The system we have
has already worn out. We've had the
current system for eight years and
it's outdated."
The commissioners then
authorized the D.A. to sign the
contract and make the needed
payment for the software.
Concerning the construction
project at the International Bridge at
Roma, architect John Hickey
declared, "The loll collection
system people have installed the
system and it is operational."
Hickey added, 'There are some
bugs that still need to be worked
out. The contractor is committed to
solve the internal (computer)
problems. We believe that more
RGCHS students attend Rotary Youth Leadership Camp
Roxane Garza and Elias Vasquez represented Rio Grande City at the RYLA-Rotary Youth Leadership Awards a;
Lake Mathls near Corpus Christi. The Rotary Youth Leadership Camp is a program designed to shape leadership
skills in students. The goal of the camp is to instill in students a better understanding of how to assume a positive
leadership role in their school and community. Roxane Garza and Elias Vasquez attended the camp for the first
time. The camp featured many guest speakers, and many activities such as desert survival training, situational
leadership training, power training, and making choices. Students were exposed to many phases of leadership by
learning from persons who are already leaders in their community and businesses. Mr. Mario Lopez, Rotary club
member and RYLA chairperson, sponsored the students at the camp. (RGCCISD photo: (public
infolO@yahoo.com)
1999 County Fair pageant
scheduled Sunday, Feb. 28
\k*
Wj
T
14
Starr Lottery winners
Three Starr County residents are recent winners in the Texas Lottery.
Bonnie L. Lopez, Raphaela Jones, and Maria Elva Montalvo purchased a
"100 GRANDE" ticket on Valentine's Day at Chachi's Express Mart in
Garciasville. The ticket was an instant winner for $100,000.
training will prove helpful."
The architect concluded, "We'll
do a walk-through with the
contractor. We'll have a written list
of any concerns we have."
Precinct Two Commissioner
Raul "Roy" Pena, Jr., emphasized,
"The main thing is that the toll
collectors need more training. The
counter is not working properly."
County Judge Eloy Vera said,
"Right now, we're approving
Revenue Markets." The court
approved the payment to Revenue
Markets based on the statement.
Vera commented, "It (the building)
is very impressive; it's state of the
art."
In discussing the Juvenile
Detention Center project,
Federal/State Programs Coordinator
Elisa Beas indicated, "The people
who will correct the sprinkler
system at the Juvenile Detention
Center should start next week, and
it should take a couple of weeks.
Hiring will be done by the juvenile
board." Vera commented, "I thought
the meetings wi!h the contractor
went well."
County Fair
applications
Starr County Fair Scholarship
Chairman Ruben Saenz has
announced that scholarship
applications for the 1999 Fair
scholarships must be mailed on or
before this Saturday, February 20.
Winners will be recognized at the
fair, set for March 5-7.
Proceeds from the annual fair are
used to provide six $1,000
scholarships and one $1,500
scholarship for prospective
graduates from the three Starr
County high schools.
Applications for the annual
scholarship arc now available at the
three high schools and at the Starr
County Extension Office.
Applications must be mailed
to the Starr County Fair
The 1999 County Fair Queen
Pageant is scheduled for Sunday,
Feb. 28 starting at 6 p.m. at the
Starr County Fairgrounds in Rio
Grande City.
At that time,Monica Garcia,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gilberto
Garcia of Rio Grande City, will end
her reign as County Fair Queen.
Winners will be crowned in the
following four categories: PETITE
FAIR PRINCESS- Prekinder
through second grade; PRETEEN
PRINCESS- third through fifth
grade student; TEEN PR1NCESS-
sixth through eighth grade student;
COUNTY FAIR QUEEN- high
school student.
The top five places for each
category will be awarded trophies.
The County Fair Queen will preside
over the current year's County Fair
activities and will earn the right to
represent the Starr County Fair in
the Texas Citrus Fiesta the
following January.
A contestant must be a resident
of Starr County. She must be
unmarried, never married, and
childless.
An entry form provided by the
Starr County 4-H Council must be
submitted to enter a contestant in
the show. This form must be
signed by the contestant, parents or
guardian, and sponsor, and must be
accompanied by the $25 entry fee
paid by the sponsor. A sponsor
may be any individual, parent,
business, or youth organization.
Each entry form must be
submitted to the Starr County 4-H
Council, c/o Yolanda Morado, Stan-
County Extension Offie.p son N.
membership
due Feb. 20
Association at P. O. Box 84 i, Rio
Grande City, TX 78582. Do not
hand in the application in person.
For an applicant to be
considered, they must have passed
all three parts of t';e TAAS Test,
and a complete official transcript is
to be included with the application
form.
Requirements include that the
student must have exhibited in the
Starr County Fair at least three of
the past live years and will graduate
from high school during the current
1998-99 school year.
Fair projects, honors and
awards, leadership, and community
service will be considered, as well
as academics.
Britton, Rio Grande City, TX
(white house on the hill).
Cashier's check, money order, or
business checks will be accepted,
NO CASH. Absolutely no refunds
will be made under any
circumstances. Starr County
Pageant directors will not give
refunds after application has been
filed. Make checks or money orders
out to Starr County 4-H Council.
One costume is required for the
entire pageant. The costume should
be Western and can consist of jeans
and a Western shirt or whatever
Western attire is desired. The
costume need not be elaborate or
expensive but should be in good
taste for a youth pageant. Hat and
boots are optional.
All contestants will be expected
to attend a rehearsal on Wednesday,
Feb. 24 starting at 5 p.m. in
preparation for the pageant, which
will take place on Sunday, Feb. 28
at the Fairgrounds starting at 6
p.m. The numbers for order for
presentation will be drawn by
participants at the rehearsal.
Contestants MUST report by
5:30 p.m. the evening of the
pageant. Upon arrival, a contestant
must check in with the pageant
director to receive her number.
Admission the night of the
pageant is $1.00 for children under
12 and $2.00 for adults 12 and over
Everyone except contestants MUST
pay, even parents and sponsors.
The winners will be selected by
the panel of judges. All scores and
(See PAGEANT, Page 4)
Fair wild game dinner
set for this Saturday
Tickets are now on sale for the
annual fundraising event for the
Starr County fair, the Wild Game
Dinner, set for Saturday, 20. The
Rotary Club will sponsor the event
this year, and tickets may be
obtained from any Rotary Club
member, announced President
Romeo Garcia.
Leonel "Nene" Lopez, a Rotary
Club member, is serving as
chairman for the event, which is
open to the public.
Lopez stated that there will once
again be a wide variety of tasty
entrees served by local chefs.
"Everybody come enjoy a Taste of
Texas," he stated. Beer, wine, and
sodas will also be served. Our
local businesses and teams of
individuals have been very generous
with their time and talents in
providing a wide variety of culinary
delights.
Admission to the dinner is $10
per person and docs not purchase
admission tickets to the fair, only
the dinner Donations to the Starr
County Fair Association will be
iccepted at a separate table, with
one membership ticket to the fair
for every $50 donated.
Proceeds from the dinner and
membership tickets goes to the
building fund and scholarship fund
for Starr County youth.
U.S. Customs seizes
nearly $100,000 at Roma
U.S. Customs Inspectors seized
$98,060 in U.S. currency from
unclaimed luggage in a tour bus
while conducting Operation "Big
Bucks" on outbound inspections
this past weekend.
Operation "Big Bucks" is an
enforcement initiative designed to
interdict contraband to southbound
traffic.
U.S. Customs inspectors referred
a Mexico-bound 1997 MCI
commercial bus for closer
examination at 3:15 a.m. on
Monday, Feb. 15. Neither the bus
driver nor the passengers c laimed
ownership of a black duffel bag
secured with a padlock during the
inspection. Canine "Jake" was also
alerted to the duffel bag, which was
located in an underside luggage
compartment.
After breaking the padlock and
opening the bag. Customs
inspectors discovered bundles ot
U.S. currency inside totaling
$98,060. A total of 3718 U.S. bills
in several difterent denominations
was seized No arrests were made,
but an investigation is continuing
Importation and/or exportation ol
monies over $10,(XX) is not ilk ;
cxcept it needs to be declared
properly at the time of entry and/or
exit to the U.S. Customs Servu e
(See CUSTOMS, Page 4)
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 18, 1999, newspaper, February 18, 1999; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195692/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.