Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 95, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 14, 2008 Page: 1 of 6
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY
EDITION
Rio Grande
February 14, 2008
95th YEAR No. 07
#215
IIOAG BOOK BINDERY
127 RAIL ROAD
SPR1NGPORT.MI 49204
ZONE 6
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
Commissioners discuss status of ongoing projects
t Counselors Week proclaimed by County Judge
The Honorable Starr County Judge Eloy Vera is pietured signing a Proclamation designating
Counselors Week for February 4-8. 2008. Judge Vera commended the counselors for their dedication
to the students. He feels strongly that they are a contributing factor to the tremendous success and
growth of the community. This in part is due to their guidance and instilling educational growth for the
future success of the students. Rio Grande City CISD Guidance Director Mrs. Adelina Villarreal
treated the district counselors to a breakfast in their honor in commemoration of the occasion.
* (RGCCISD Photo).
STC Valley Scholars program
available for excelling seniors
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly
meeting on Monday morning,
Feb. 1 1, the County
Commissioners focused on the
status of several ongoing or
pending state or federally
funded projects.
Federal/State Programs
Coordinator Yolanda Garcia
indicated, "The $800,000 ORCA
project is still pending. We
cannot proceed with the contract
until the audit (for the 2006-
2007 fiscal year) is complete.
ORCA has not submitted a
project number even though we
have been approved."
Garcia declared, "The third
call for TxDOT (colonia paving
projects) was opened last week.
The first step will be having a
workshop (sponsored by
TxDOT)."
Garcia noted, "We're still
awaiting approval from the
Texas Water Development
Board" concerning a recently
submitted grant application.
Garcia stated that the grand
total of FEMA funding received
or pending amounts to
approximately $3,044,000.
County Judge Eloy Vera later
explained that these monies are
for road and bridge repairs made
necessary by serious Hooding in
the summer of 2007. He pointed
out, "The majority of these
funds have already arrived."
"We have submitted an
application to NADBANK for
half of the funding of the
construction of the transfer
station," explained Garcia. "The
other half is a grant/loan with
USDA Rural Development."
Elections Administrator Rudy
Montal vo told the
commissioners, "The
appearance last week before the
(Texas) House committee was
very interesting. The main issue
was the voter ID proposals."
Montalvo continued, "In
January, they (the state) gave me
a list of a number of possible
felons and possible deceased
persons, with over 250 of each
in Starr County alone. The
presiding judges will have the
proper code if possible felons
turn up to vote."
"Felons are reinstated once
they complete their probation or
parole if the sentencing judge
wishes to reinstate their rights,"
explained Montalvo. "They have
to go out and seek to regain their
rights (at the state level). This
does not apply to federal
convictions."
Concerning proposals for
voter ID requirements, Precinct
One Commissioner Jaime
Alvarez complained, "I think
people in Austin and
Washington are trying to place
obstacles against the Hispanic
propuiation voting."
The commissioners were
informed that January 2008
revenues at the International
Bridge at Roma amounted to
$189,085. a decrease of
$11,713.50 from the January
2007 total of $200,798.50. The
January 2008 total showed a
decrease of $52,002 from the
December 2007 figure of
$241,087.
County Treasurer Jaime
Maldonado gave a report
concerning his office. The
closing balance for the General
Fund as of Feb. 8 was
$1,297,653.21, an increase from
the Jan. 31 balance of
$659,090.23. The balance for
the Road and Bridge Fund was
(See PROJECTS, Page 6)
Youth Pair Pageant set for
Sunday, Feb. 24 in San Isidro
South Texas College's
Valley Scholars Program is
seeking academicalK gifted and
service oriented high school
seniors from across Hidalgo and
Starr counties to apply for
scholarships for the 2008 2009
academic year.
" Valley Scholars is a South
Texas College scholarship
program rewarding the efforts of
academically gifted and highly
motivated students. Valley
Scholars Program students earn
a full, two-year scholarship to
itend STC to study in the field
of their choice. Additionally,
these students have the chance
to participate in unique service
events in the community, access
campus employment
opportunities, learn leadership
skills, receive one-on-one
advising, tutoring and free
college tours.
To be eligible for the
college's Valley Scholars
Program, students must:
* Graduate in the top 10 percent
of their high school graduating
class
* Graduate from a Hidalgo or
Starr County high school
* Be TSI (Texas Success
Initiative) College Ready or TSI
Exempt
"More than 500 Valley
students have been a part of our
program and gone on to become
doctors, lawyers, teachers and
professionals in a variety of
industries and we want to give
Dinner, Pageant to
lannch 2008 Youth Fair
The annual Wild Game Dinner
of the Starr County Youth Fair
has been set for Saturday,
February 23, at 6:00 p.m. at the
James Peterson Memorial
fuilding at the Starr County
Fairgrounds. Serving will begin
.it 6.30. The event will officially
kick off the 43rd annual lair
Honored guests will be 2008
Starr County Fair Parade
Marshal, HHB Plus in Rio
"jrande City.
The Rio Grande City Rotary
Club will coordinate the Wild
Game Dinner again this year,
with Starr County Fair Board
President Billy Canales serving
as chair They invite the public
to make plans to attend and help
make this event a success.
Tickets for the meal will be
$15 in advance and $20 at the
door. Advance tickets are
available at Rio Motor Co. or
from Rotary Club or Starr
County Fair Association board
members. A silent auction will
be held, and donations to the
Starr County Fair Association
will be accepted. Proceeds from
the fund raiser are used to
provide scholarships to up to
eight Starr County seniors.
Canales stated that many
enthusiastic cooking teams have
signed up to prepare and serve
their specialties at the dinner.
Some of the taste tempters
prepared in previous years are
fried catfish and shrimp, chicken
fried venison, shrimp cocktail,
turkey chili, quail on wild rice,
eland (wild elk) shish kabobs
and pan de campo, handmade
corn tortillas, Japanese quail,
pork and venison chili, cabrito
guisado, venison burgers, puerco
guisado, venison sausage and
venison guisado, and delicious
desserts. Beer, wine, water, and
soft drinks will also be provided
The Starr County Fair Queen's
Pageant will be at 6:00 on
(See DINNER, Papcft)
even more students the chance
to follow in their foot steps,"
said Marie Olivarez, STC Valley
Scholars Program coordinator.
"Not only do our Valley
Scholars receive full, two-year
scholarships to STC, they get
the added benefits of developing
lasting friendships with their
peers and become examples of
the best the Valley has to offer
to our state and nation."
There are currently 60
available spots for the twelfth
ciass of STC Valley Scholars.
The deadline to apply is Friday,
March 28, 2008.
For more information visit
www.southtexascollege.edu vail
eyscholars or call 872-2.621.
STC students to
provide free
tax assistance
Business Administration
students at South Texas College
are offering free tax preparation
and filing assistance through the
Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) Program, a
free and professional service to
file tax returns for Hidalgo and
Starr County residents
STC VITA is available at the
college's Technology Campus
located at the corner of Ware
Road and Military Highway,
East Building, Room 153.
Assistance is available Monday
through Thursday from 11:30
a.m. to 6:30 p.m. For more
information call 872-6226.
The VITA program is aimed
at taxpayers who file simple W-
2 returns with incomes under
$35,000. The service is not
available for small businesses,
people with retirement income
on a Form 1099, or those filing
interest income or dividend
(See STUDENTS, Page 6)
Relinquishing her crown at
the 2008 Starr County Youth
Fair Pageant on Sunday, Feb. 24
will be Monique Estelle DePau.
Monique reigned at last year's
fair so eloquently along with her
court. The court presents all of
the prizes and awards to the
Youth Fair winner during the
three day event.
Monique is the I 8-year-old
daughter of Rolando and Letty
De Pau of Rio Grande City
The pageant is moving to San
Isidro to bring more enthusiasm
to each of the communities that
are involved in the fair.
Hopefully next year it will be in
Roma depending on community
support.
If you are between the grade
levels of pre-kinder and high
school and would like to
experience the fun and magic of
the longest running pageant in
Starr County, sign up and be a
participant!!
This is not the normal beauty
pageant because this pageant is
set up to encourage and
reinforce the confidence and
natural beauty that is within
each girl. The pageant helps
each girl develop poise and self-
confidence as they walk across
the stage. Participants will have
the opportunity to express
themselves in the selection of
their costume and the smile that
generates their personality.
Pageant organizers invite
families to come and celebrate
the 44th Youth Fair and
jumpstart the event by getting
involved in this year's pageant
in San Isidro.
Come and experience the
magic of the pageant, make new
friends and have a great time.
All participants will reap the
benefits, build their self-esteem
and appreciation of self.
Everyone is a winner when they
fulfill a dream.
Applications are available at
all Starr County schools or at the
Extension office
For more information call
Yolanda Morado at 487-2306.
Aim High
Hit your target audience.
Call now for Great Rates
on Front Page Advertising
956-487-2819
Kio Grande
HERALD
-W
N
ens)
Young RMS musicians receive high honors
Students from Ringgold Middle School Mariachi Nuevo Cascabel recently auditioned at the All-Valley
mariachi Competition held on December 14, 2007 at Nikki Rowe High School in McAllen, Texas.
Three outstanding musicians walked away with high honors. These students competed against some of
the top mariachi students from around the Valley. Their hard work and dedication has earned them a
spot in the UIL. All-Valley mariachi clinic/concert to be held on February 22 and 23, 2008 at Nikki
Rowe High School. The RGCCISD commends these students for their outstanding work. Pictured (I to
r) are: Christopher Flores (8th grader) placed 4th chair on guitar. Manuela Aguirre (7th grader) placed
third chair in vocals; and Julio Salinas Jr. (7th grader) received 2nd chair on guitar. (RGCCISD photo).
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 95, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 14, 2008, newspaper, February 14, 2008; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196104/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.