Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 23, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 7, 2001 Page: 1 of 6
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I
I
THURSDAY
WEEKLY EDITION
2001
88th Ye* r, No. 22
#215
HOA(i HOOK HINDI |<Y
127 KAII. ROAD
SI'KlNtiPORT. Ml 49204
/.ONI- 6
Herald
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
RGC High Top Ten graduates at commencement
Rio Grande City High School held commencement exercises on Saturday, June 2. The Top Ten students
were recognized during the ceremony. Top Ten students pictured left to right are: Gem" I .oper (3), Christine
Schwartz (7), Jesus Garcia (6), Therese M. Calderon (Salutatorian), Ana Elizondo (5), Sarah Falcon (4),
Mayra Lopez (10), Luisana Barrera (8), Venessa Pena (Valedictorian), and Rogclio Benitez (9). (RGCCJSD
photo).
Roma High Class of 2001
graduates awarded diplomas
Two hundred and fifty three
members of the Roma High School
Class of 2001 were awarded
diplomas in commencement
exercises held Friday night at
Gladiator Stadium.
The featured speakers were
val - lxiori 'i Aloisdra Mcrcado and
salutatorian Jose Guadalupe Gar/a.
Valedictorian Alondra Mercado
emphasized, "1 am here as a
representative of each of my
classmates. This is the toughest
challenge 1 have ever faced. Meeting
a challenge is doing something we
never thought we could do."
She stressed, "All of us have
lears about the future, but at the
same time we are eager to be on our
own and make our own decisions.
Never settle for the path of least
resistance. Some of the most
successful people are those who
made mistakes and learned from
them."
"We should have total faith in
our decisions," suggested the
valedictorian. "All of you need to
give faith a fighting chance."
Mercado emphasized, "I owe a lot
to my family, especially my
parents. 1 thank my friends for
being there. I thank the teachers for
being there to listen to us and give
us advice, not only about academics
but also about life's problems. We
thank them for the many things
they did that were not part of their
job description."
Mercado added, "1 thank
administrators, counselors and
school board members for doing
those things that enable our school
to run smoothly."
"We will all continue to see each
other," concluded the valedictorian.
"We are saying goodbye to all the
good times we have had. High
school has been a home away from
home."
Salutatorian Jose Guadalupe
Garza told his fellow graduates, "I'd
Jury acquits defendant of
aggravated assault charge
A Starr County jury acquitted a
24-year-old Escobares resident last
week of an aggravated assault
charge arising out of a May 1999
shooting incident in Escobares.
After more than two hours of
deliberation, a 229th District Court
jury returned a not guilty veidict
early Thursday aftern(x>n concerning
Juan Carlos Hinojosa. He had been
charged with aggravated assault
with a deadly weapon in the
shootiiH, of Roberto Hinojosa, 32,
of Escobares on May 1, 1999.
Hinojosa's delense attorney,
Calixtro Villarreal, Jr., told The
Rio Grande Herald on Monday
afternoon, "This was an issue of
self-defense. The judge instructed
the jury on that issue. We believe
the facts supported our position on
that issue. We're pleased the jury
agreed with the defense's position.
We feel it was a clear-cut case."
Jury selection in the case began
on Tuesday, May 29, widi actual
testimony starting on Wednesday.
Assistant District Attorney Hilda
Gonzalez indicated that the jury
received the case at approximately
Defendant pleads guilty
to tampering charge
A 19 year old Escobares resident
pleaded guilty last week to
tampering with evidence in
connection with a January 2001
murder and was sentenced to eight
years in prison by a Starr County
jury.
Ciro Angel Rivera, Jr. pleaded
guilty to tampering with evidence
in 381st District Court proceedings
on Tuesday, May 29. His trial on
that charge had begun earlier that
day. Jury selection took place on
Friday, May 25.
District Attorney Hcriberto Silva
•red, "The issue of punishment
we i to the jury, who levied a
sentence of eight years on
Wednesday, May 30...Jury
deliberations (concerning
punishment) took 90 minutes to
two hours."
Rivera was charged with
tampering with evidence in
connection with the murder of
Yessica Martinez, 17, of Roma on
Jan. 15, 2001. Jose Angel Rivera,
27, of Escobares has been charged
with miirder in Martinez's death.
Silva explained, "Basically, he
had been accused of getting rid of
evidence in the car where Yessica
Martinez was killed. He was
accused of destroying evidence in
the car, participating in the burning
(See PLEADS, Page 5)
11:30 a.m. Thursday and returned
With a verdict close to 2 p.m.
Gonzalez commented, "It was
basically the defendant's version
versus the victim's version...We
were alleging that the argument led
to a situation where a shooting
occurred that was not self-defense."
The incident occurred at La
Pintilla Car Wash in Escobares on
May 1, 1999 in the early afternoon
hours. Gonzalez suited, "On that
date, the alleged victim, Roberto
Hinojosa, had gone to the carwash.
He was said to have spun his tires
very strongly and rapidly, causing
dirt and rocks to be thrown onto a
white Ford Crown Victoria that had
just been washed. He then went to
rilo's Grocery Store, supposedly to
get a bccr- He then came back to
the carwash."
"He and Eliazar Hinojosa, the
owner of the car, then had a verbal
argument," declared the prosecutor.
"Eliazar Hinojosa was upset about
the dirt on his car and a crack on the
windshield. Roberto Hinojosa was
in the vehicle the entire time.
Eliazar Hinojosa was on the side."
Gonzalez continued, "Eliazar
Hinojosa's older brother, Juan
Carlos Hinojosa, approached the
two men. Roberto Hinojosa then
allegedly began to move his vehicle
forward. An argument then began
between Juan Carlos Hinojosa and
Roberto Hinojosa, the driver of a
(See ACQUITS, Page 4)
RGC High graduates of
2001 presented diplomas
like to dedicate this to my brothei,
who left us in June 2000. I thank
my parents for their support and
love throughout my life."
In recalling many academic and
extracurricular successes, Garza
emphasized, "This is a stepping
stor . frc.a depende . a to
independence. Without failure, we
would not appreciate our
successes."
The salutatorian concluded,
"These four years have gone so fast.
We will remember these four years
as the best ones in our lives. We
must let go and move on to become
independent. The possibilities for
our future are endless. Only we can
make the decisions we need to
make."
At the beginning of the exercises,
Roma ISD Superintendent Jesus
"Chuy" Guerra, Jr., declared, "It is
indeed an honor and a privilege to
be here at this celebration. One of
(See ROMA , Page 5)
Close to 400 members of the Rio
Grande City High School Class of
2001 were awarded diplomas
Saturday night in commencement
exercises that took place at Joe R.
Sanchez Stadium.
The featured speakers were
valedictorian Venessa Pena. and
salutatorian Therese Madelle
Calderon
Valedictorian Venessa Pena told
her fellow graduates, "I was raised
in a small community about 30
miles north of here. My parents
indicated three years ago that I
would have to move. I was
determined (at the oeginning) to
dislike everything about this
school."
"I'm very glad 1 did (make the
move)," emphasized the
valedictorian, "Never had I
experienced such hospitality and
benevolence. My classmates made
me feel welcome and wanted. I love
you with all my heart; you will
hold a special place with me."
She added, "My academic
capabilities have been well
challenged. My teachers have
enabled me to e _eed my potential.
Through their si rang faith in God,
my parents have taught me that
nothing in life is unattainable. I
thank both my parents for their
love and friendship. I will always
be your little girl." Pena then
warmly praised her grandfather,
Arnoldo Gonzalez.
Pena stressed, "Seemingly small
gestures of support mean a lot to a
child. We need to show our love to
our family while we still have a
chance."
"I'm extremely proud of all my
classmates," concluded the
valedictorian. "This is merely the
beginning of a great and
challenging adventure. Continue to
strive to achieve your goals,
seeking nothing but the best.
Wisdom is greater than rubies;
nothing can compare with her."
Pena finished her high school
years as the highest ranking student
in her clas" with a grade average of
107.6316.
Salutatorian Therese Madelle
Calderon declared, "J can't help but
be overcome by a peculiar sense of
pride. I'm proud to belong to a
class with such heart. I felt
frightened when I moved to Rio
Grande City at age eight. I was
frightened at the newness (of my
surroundings)."
"You welcomed me to your world
-itii bright smiles," Calderon
emphasized. "This small town hir
something priceless to oiler t
outsiders like me. It is spirit and it
is contagious. You have display* '
an awesome amount of school
spirit. I have made many wonderf
relationships here. I love you al!
The salutatorian concluded, "Wit1
the guidance of our teachers and tl>
love and support of our parents, we
arc sitting here ready to face the real
world. Effort is the key to
achievement. Greatness can only 1
achieved by effort."
Calderon achieved a grade average
of 105.5000 during her high school
career.
Before the valedictory and
salutatory addresses, Rio Grande
City High School Principal Alfredo
Garcia told the graduates, "Thank
you for a great year You're the be ;
class I've encountered in a Irtnv
time."
Garcia gave special praise to
parents, teachers and staff for their
support, hard work and help Ht
then introduced '-nd praise'"
counselors and department
chairpersons. Garcia also int! due e l
school board members and oth
platform guests.
Superintendent Roel R. Smit'
(See RGC HIGH, Page 4)
City honors RGC High's top
ten graduates with banquet gat a
The City of Rio Grande City held
its annual Top Ten Honors Banquet
in recognition of the academic
accomplishments of the top ten
graduates of Rio High's Class of
2001
The event took place Thursday
May 31, 2001 at the Multipurpose
Center and included a reception and
a sit-down dinner
This year's speaker was Juan
Jorge (J.J ) Saenz, Valedictorian for
Class of 1967
He is one of six boys born to the
late Julio Saenz, Sr and .lesusa
Lopez Saenz who still resides in
Rio
Saenz spoke about his
experiences in a University setting
He urged the students to stay
focused and choose a career in areas
where they can do the most good
and not pick one based on income
Saenz jokingly stated that based
on today's grade point averages he
didn t think he would even make the
top 10
"When 1 went to college,
batteries were not included"
meaning that today's graduates are
better prepared
Acting as Master of Ceremonies
this year was R C Salinas who also
recognized each of the top ten
students individually They included
Venessa Pefta who is class
Valedictorian with a GPA of
107.6316 and plans to attend Brown
University
She is the daughter of Jorge E
and Martha Pena
Theresa Madelle Calderon, class
Salutatorian with a GPA of 105 5000
and plans to attend the University of
Texas at San Antonio under a pre-
dental program
She is the daughter of Jose and
Nona Calderon
Gema Lucia Lopez is the third
ranking student with a GPA of
104 00 and plans to attend the
University of Texas at Austin
She is th e daughter of Mrs Maria
Cruz Lopez and the late
Hemenegildo Lopez
Sarah Elizabeth Falcon is the
fourth ranking students with a GPA
of 103 9722 and plans to attend the
University of Texas at Austin this
summer
She is the daughter of Dr and
Mrs. Antonio Falcon
Ana Alicia Elizondo is the fifth
ranking student with a GPA of
103 9167 and plans to attend the
University of Texas at Austin at the
College of Natural Sciences
She is the daughter of Hon)'
Mancela Elizondo
Jesus A Garcia is the sixth ranking
student with a GPA of 103 1765 - ;>rl
plans to attend the University
Tex?:', at Austin at the College
Engineering
He is the son of Sylvia Garcia and
the late Encamacion Garcia
Christine Maria Schwartz is the
seventh ranking student with a GPA
of 102 9473 and plans to attend
Vanderbilt
She is the daughter of Wavne and
Belinda Schwartz
Luisana Barrera is the eighth
ranking student with a CPA of
101 000 and plans to attend DeVty
Institute of Technology
She is the daughter of Jose Javier
and Rita Delia Barrera
Rogelio Benitez is the ninth
ranking student with a GPA of
100 4474 and plans to attend the
University of Texas at Pan American
at the College of Engineering
He is the son of Mr and Mrs
Rogelio and Minerva Benitez
Mayra Jannette Lopez is the tenth
ranking student with a GPA of
1004 and plans to attend the
(See BANQUET, Page 5)
RMS Student Council visits Rangel at Capitol
The Ringgold vudent Council visited the State Capitol at Austin recently as part of a iv 1 > trip
Austin and San Antonio. Student Council President Anyssa Garza is pictured ibov u,ili S
Representative Irma Rangel of Kingsville. (Sec related story inside). (RGCC1SD phot -
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 23, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 7, 2001, newspaper, June 7, 2001; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195885/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.