Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 93, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 21, 2006 Page: 1 of 6
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY
EDITION
September 21, 2006
93rd YEAR No. 38
#215
IIOAG HOOK BINDERY
127 RAIL ROAD
SPRINGPORT.MI 49204
ZONE 6
Rio Grande
HERALD
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
RGC aldermen okay budget; get water projects update
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Players, cheerleaders honored at Parents Night
Rio Grande City High School presented football players, cheerleaders and drill team members, and
their parents were also recognized during Parents Night held on Friday, Sept 15, 2006 1 lie
presentation was held before the game between the Rio Grande City Rattlers and the Brownsville
Porter Cowboys. Pictured left to right are Sandra Martinez and her son. Danny Martinez. Ji
(RGCCISD photo).
Student Samantha Cruz
focuses on success at STC
When Samantha D. Cruz
enrolled at South Texas College,
she understood the steps that she
needed tu lake in order to reach
her ultimate goal of becoming a
successful speech therapist.
"I became interested in
communication disorders when I
was in high school," explained
the Roma. Texas native. "My
decision was made so 1 figured
there was no point in waiting to
take college classes. I enrolled at
STC while I was in high school
and 1 was able to graduate from
high school with 31 college
credits. I have to admit that at
times it was very difficult to
combine both high school and
college, but I knew that it was a
sacrifice that was very well
worth the effort."
That sacrifice allowed her to
earn her associate's degree in
interdisciplinary studies in May
2006, only one year after
graduating from high school.
"I am moving quickly on my
way to my goal," she explained,
i am tiie first one in my family
to purse a college degree so 1
have a lot to work toward. 1
know that I cannot stop now and
even if I could, I would not want
to. Now that I have completed
my associate's degree I plan to
start work toward the pursuit of
a bachelor's degree in January
2007 at either The University of
Texas - Pan American or at
Texas A&M in Kingsville. In
the meantime I plan to continue
taking classes at STC to add
more coursework to my
transcript "
Her focus on excelling in
academics has driven her to
become an active member of
both STC Valley Scholars
Program and the STC
Leadership Academy.
"Both of these organizations
have given me the satisfaction of
giving back to those that need
help much like my career will
uo, she w." pivjScd. I have
participated in many community
events and attended community
workshops that help strengthen
communication and professional
and personal skills. Everything
helps to become a better person
and a better co-worker. I have
learned a lot from every activity
and truly understand the need
that there is in our communities.
Helping those around us is a
satisfaction that compares to
nothing out there and I know
that these programs have helped
me understand the importance of
community service and that it is
an obligation that I will take
seriously for the rest of my life."
Why did you choose this path?
My main goal in life is to help
(See SUCCESS, Page 6)
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly
meeting on Thursday evening,
Sept. 7, the Rio Grande City
Board of Aldermen voted to
approve the 2006-2007 budget,
expressing satisfaction that city
finances are now solidly in the
black.
City Administrator Juan
Zuniga led off discussion by
declaring, "The budget is a very
conservative budget. We
projected three (3) to five (5)
percent revenue growth in the
General Fund and five (5) to
eight (8) percent in the
Enterprise Fund."
Zuniga emphasized, "We
didn't know until June that there
was a deficit in the General Fund
for 2004-2005 of $300,000.
This was discovered in the audit.
We not only made that up, but
had a $380,000 surplus. There
was a turnaround of $680,000 in
the General Fund."
Zuniga noted that the new
budget incorporates a $500 cost
of living adjustment proposed
for all employees.
"We're projecting a Fund
Balance of just under $850,000
in the General Fund and roughly
QB Club plans
caravan to
Hanna game
Friday
The Rio Grande City
Quarterback Club will be
organizing a caravan of fans to
attend the game between the
Rattlers and the Brownsville
Hanna Eagles in Brownsville
this Friday night.
The caravan will be taking off
from the parking lot of the
former H-E-B store at 4 p.m. on
Friday. The game will take place
at 7:30 p.m. Friday in
Brownsville.
Anyone seeking more
information should contact
Baldemar Garza at 487-7131.
The Rattlers are 3-0 for the
2006 season and are averaging
40 points per game.
County benefits from
significant rains
Amador announces City
Council re-election candidacy
Most of Starr County has
benefited from significant rains
over the past two weeks, with
the heaviest rains in many areas
falling late Sunday evening,
Sept. 17 and Monday morning,
Sept. 18.
NRCS District
Conservationist Arturo Ibarra
indicated Tuesday that the La
Gloria area has received 8 to 10
inches since Sept. 8, with the
heaviest showers falling Sunday
night.
Dr. Roberto S. Margo
indicated that his ranch about 35
miles north of Rio Grande City
has received 9.2 inches of rain
since Sept. 8. He emphasized,
"The ranch looks much better
than it did just two weeks ago.
For all practical purposes, the
land looked just like winter
before that."
Margo noted, "Here in town
(at the clinic), we got 2 1/2 to 3
inches."
Ibarra stated, "The El Sauz
area got 3 to 5 inches last week,
not counting Sunday night...The
rainfall totals seem to be less for
Rio Grande City and Roma.
Eight miles north of Rio Grande
City, they got 2 to 3 inches on
Sunday night and Monday
morning. I think La Grulla and
Garciasville did well Sunday and
Monday, with 1 to 2 inches."
"It (the rain) has really helped
overall." emphasized Ibarra.
"...The few farmers with dryland
grain were helped. I' definitely
was a big help to rangcland and
pastures."
The Rio Grande City Fire
Department recorded an overall
total of 1.64 inches, with the
(See BENEFITS, Page 6)
Lupe Amador, Jr. recently
filed his candidacy for re-election
to Place Three on the Rio
Grande City Council.
Amador emphasized, "I
believe service to the residents
of Rio Grande City is my
privilege. I am grateful to all of
you for having faith in my
abilities and for giving me the
opportunity to serve you and
represent you as a councilman."
In reviewing his vision for
Rio Grande City, Amador stated,
"I will continue working hard to
provide the necessary
recreational areas for our children
and continue attracting new
businesses so that Rio Grande
City residents can work and feel
proud to be a part of our
growing community. Let's keep
Rio Grande City a place that we
can be proud to call home."
Amador concluded, "Your vote
$5 million in the Enterprise
Fund," explained the
administrator.
Mayor Pro Tem Ruben O.
Villarreal stressed, "I think this
is a very good budget. I support
it completely." Alderman Eloy
R. Garcia commented, "It has
been one of the city's main
accomplishments to get out of
the red."
Alderman Hernan R. Garza III
moved, seconded by Garcia, that
the budget be approved. The
motion approving the budget
passed unanimously.
At the end of the meeting,
engineer Marl Garza Bird of
Camp, Dresser & McKee gave
an update on water and
wastewater projects. She
commented, "The city has come
a long way in the last two years
on the (planned new) water and
wastewater plants"
Bird indicated, "B.E.C.C.
(Border Environmental
Cooperation Commission)
contributed $200,000 toward a
facilities plan; the city
contributed $60,000. We
finalized the environmental
information document."
"After the completion of the
archaeological study, the Texas
Historical Commission last
week granted permission to
move forward," stated the
engineer. "There are no potential
historical sites involved."
About likely or potential
sources for grants or loans, Bird
declared. "B.E.C.C. has provided
a $500,000 grant for the
wastewater project. NADBank
will fund a rate impact study.
The city has applied to the State
Revolving Loan Fund (of Texas
Water Development Board) for
drinking water and clean water
funds. This involves low
interest to zero interest loan?."
Bird pointed out that grants
are harder to come by because
"B.E.C.C.'s budget has been
reduced by half in recent years."
Zuniga commented, "The rate
study is very critical. Progress is
somewhat slow on this. This
will involve working with the
water supply corporations."
Villarreal told Bird, "You
represent our water future. We're
growing very, very quickly. We
expect nothing but the best, and
for things to get done in an
expeditious, responsible way."
Bird responded, "I take this
responsibility very seriously."
Garcia suggested, "We need
some sort of timeline to see
where we're going."
"B.E.C.C. will not release
funds unless they're assured the
city will move forward with the
project," explained Zuniga. "One
bad thing that happened is that
EDAP funding, which is 98
percent grants, is now lost."
Garcia complained, "The bad
thing is that we were in the
EDAP system."
Garcia contended, "A timeline
gives us the chance the manage
the project and bring about
accountability." Villarreal
commented, "The circumstances
with our finances held us back
The delays were partially due to
previous audits. Now we do
have things set."
Bird emphasized, "CDM is
not allowed to move forward
(See ALDERMEN, Page 6)
Juan Cantu announces
City Council candidacy
Lupe Amador, Jr.
and support on November 7 will
be humbly appreciated. Early
voting will start on October 23
2006."
Juan M. Cantu, longtime Rio
Grande City resident and
Director of Operations for the
Community Action Council of
South Texas, recently announced
his candidacy for Place Five on
the Rio Grande City Council in
the upcoming city elections
scheduled for Nov. 7. 2006.
Cantu, who had previously
served six years on the Rio
Grande City school board,
currently serves Rio Grande City
as a member of the Parks, Arts
& Recreation Commission
(PARC) and as Treasurer of the
Rio Grande City Economic
Development Corporation
(EDC).
Cantu's decision to seek a
City Council position evolved
over time, fostered and promoted
by service opportunities afforded
to him by previous city leaders,
and a genuine desire to maintain
honesty and integrity in all
facets of city services and
administration.
"I thank Mr. Manuel Canales,
former Rio Grande City
Alderman, for having the
confidence in me to sponsor my
appointments to Rio Grande
City's PARC and to a select
committee organized to study
the water and wastewater needs
of Rio Grande City, review and
comment on proposals and
strategics to be presented to the
W'
. .j.
Si* * &
Juan M. Cantu
Texas Natural Resources
Conservation Commission (now
the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality),
NADBank, and BECC for
possible funding," declared
Cantu. "Twenty one months
ago, newly elected Councilmen
Mr. Lupe Amador, Jr. and Mr.
Eloy Garcia supported my
appointment to the EDC."
"I am proud to sav that during
my tenure on the EDC. Rio
Grande City has continued to
prosper, grow and attract new
and dynamic businesses. At the
(See CANTU, Page 6)
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 93, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 21, 2006, newspaper, September 21, 2006; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196031/m1/1/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.