Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 28, 2005 Page: 1 of 6
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY
EDITION
April 28, 2005
92nd YEAR No. 17
#215
I lOACi BOOK. BINDERY
127 RAIL ROAD
SPRINGPORT, Ml 4')2<i4
ZONE 6
Rio Grande
HERA
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A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
Aldermen talk tax exemptions, name Salinas new attorney
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Military Ball King and Qneen
The Rio Grande City High School JROTC held their annual military ball on April 16, 2005. During this
event students are recognized for their achievements, scholarship recipients are named, and the Military
King and Queen announced. The 2004-2005 Military Ball King is Cadet Sergeant First Class Ismael Perez
The Military Ball Queen is Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Dhilendy Garcia. Both the King and Queen are
congratulated for their accomplishments. (RGCCISD photo).
Premiere planned Friday
for movie filmed in RGC
Elite Magazine along with The
Cinesol Latin Film Festival will
host the red carpet premiere
screening of Harve.ii of
Redemption, an independent feature
film that was shot in the Rio
Grande Valley last summer.
The film will screen at Cine El
Rey in McAllen on April 30. 2005
at 4:00. The story that inspired
Harvest was written by retired
teacher Eddie Howell from
Mercedes, Texas.
Harvest, a true story that
occurred in the Rio Grande Valley
in the 1920's depicts a strong
friendship between two racially
diverse young boys Oscar, (played
by J R. Villarreal originally from
Mission), and Sonny, (played by
Dominik Chilleri from Austin).
Their bond is tragically broken
when their fathers find themselves
in a heated dispute resulting in the
murder of Pedro, Oscar's father,
leaving him a hitter and resentful
child. As Oscar approaches
manhood, he attempts to deny the
haunting demons of his past to no
avail. Ultimately, Oscar's struggle
will determine whether a long lost
friendship is indeed the definitive
catalyst for forgiveness.
Howell was introduced to
Austin producer, writer and actor
Laura Elysa Perez (originally from
Mission) by his son Eddie Howell
Jr. in 2003. Perez was so intrigued
by Howell's story, she courted her
friend and former law school
colleague Javier Chapa, (originally
from San Manuel) director,
producer, and writer from Los
Angeles to help her turn the story
W.O. W Walk-A-Thon
planned Tuesday, May 3
The Working on Wellness Walk-
A-Thon will take place at Joe R.
Sanchez Stadium within the Rio
Grande City CISD Eort Ringgold
complex on Tuesday, May 3 from
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The event will be hosted by the
Rio Grande City CISD and Estrella
Saludable Stair County Health
Partnership.
participate in the W.O.W. Walk-A-
Thon. Groups are also welcome to
participate.
The event is free to all
participants. Door prizes. T-shirts
and water will be provided. A health
fair will also take place on the
premises.
Anyone seeking more
information should contact
concept into a screenplay and d.rect
the movie.
"I knew it was going to be an
incredible challenge," says Pere?
"Producing an independent feature
film of this caliber was going to
take a director that was not only
talented, intuitive, and ambitious,
but would survive the intense
challenges of making an
independent film look like a studio
feature." "I knew Javier was that
director," she said.
The 35-member crew made their
home at the restored mansion The
La Borde House in historical Rio
Grande City. They utilized
different locations throughout the
Rio Grande City area for 30 days
where they made the story of
Harvest come to life in the
extremely hot summer months of
2004. "Making this film would not
have been possible without the
tremendous support of Rio Grande
City," said Javier Chapa.
"Mauro Villarreal, the director
of the 'Main Street Restoration
Project' in Rio Grande City was
incredibly instrumental in helping
gather props, locations, and
residents as extras to make the
authenticity of the 1920's
possible," said Chapa. The
premiere is expected to be a closed
event with only cast and crew as
the patrons. Many of the actors and
crew are expected to come from the
Everyone is encouraged to Ennliana Guerra at (956) 716-6796 (See PREMIERE, Page 4;
Roma, Grulla show increases
in April 2004 sales tax rebates
On Friday. April 8, State
Comptroller Carole Keeton
Strayhorn delivered monthly sales
tax rebates to I 123 cities and 121
counties, with Roma and La Grulla
recording increases from the April
2004 sales tax rebates.
The City of Rio Grande City's
April 2005 rebate check of
$184,398.04 is 0.06 percent lower
than the April 2004 rebate check ot
$184,511.56. For the first four
months of 2005. Rio Grande City
has received $881,281 54 in rebate
checks, an increase of 8.15 percent
from the $814,819.20 received
during the same reporting period of
2004.
The City of Roma's April 2005
rebate check of $63,786.14 is 6.32
percent higher than the April 2004
rebate check of $59,991.58 Thus
far in 2005. Roma has received
$297,816.86 in rebate checks, an
increase of 3.70 percent from the
$287,187.19 received during the
• same reporting period of 2004.
The City of Grulla received an
April 2005 rebate check of
$804.27, an increase of 27.38
percent from the April 2004 rebate
check of $631.39. For 2005 to date.
Grulla has received $3424.57 in
rebate checks, a decrease of 3.25
percent from the $3539.76 received
during the same reporting period of
2004.
On April 8. Comptroller
Strayhorn delivered $230.4 million
in monthly sales tax payments to
1123 Texas cities and 121 counties,
a 6.8 percent increase compared to
the $215.6 million allocated in
April 2004.
April sales tax rebates include
local sales taxes collected in
February and reported to the
Comptroller in March.
Marcn state sales tax revenue is
also based on sales that occurred in
February.
I he sales tax rebates included
$211.7 million to Texas cities. 6.3
percent higher than the April 2004
payments of $199 I million. For
the 2005 calendar year to date, city
sales tax allocations are running
6.95 percent higher than in 2004
Texas counties received April
2005 sales tax rebates of $18.7
million, an increase of 12.1 percent
compared to the April 2004 figure
of $16.7 million. For the 2005
calendar year to date, county sales
tax allocations are 9.5 percent
higher than last year.
Another $8.7 million went to 94
special purpose taxing districts
around the state, a 17.9 percent
increase compared to April 2004
Texas' six Metropolitan Transit
(See REBATES, Page 4)
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly
meeting on Tuesday night, April
19, the Rio Grande City Board of
Aldermen discussed the idea of
approving an ordinance to establish
exemptions for property tax
purposes and also approved a new
city attorney after accepting the
resignation of the previous city
attorney.
The aldermen considered an
agenda item calling for
"Consideration and possible action
to adopt an ordinance to establish
exemptions for property tax
purposes."
City' Administrator Leonardo
Olivares explained, "The board
previously voted for the city to
become designated as a taxing
entity. The Appraisal District is in
the process of preparing the official
appraisal ro!!. That should be
completed by the end of June."
"We have provided information
about what other cities provide in
the way of exemptions," stated the
administrator. "I recommend the
over 65 exemption The fewer
exemptions we approve, the lower
the overall (tax) rate can be."
Financial Director Mary Barrera
declared, "We recommend a $3000
exemption for persons over age 65.
We recommend also the over 55
surviving spouse exemption."
Mayor Pro Tem Ruben O.
Villarreal commented, "Some
entities choose to give no
exemptions; some give several. We
want to be generous with our
citizens, but we want to be realistic
about what our tax will look like."
Barrera emphasized, "The
Appraisal District would need this
as soon as possible." The aldermen
then voted to approve the over 65
exemption of $3000 as
recommended.
Alderman Eloy R. Garcia asked,
"How will it affect us to provide a
general homestead exemption of
$3000?" Barrera responded, "Cities
generally do not utilize general
homestead exemptions."
Villarreal stressed, "I'm partial
to the idea of a disability
exemption."
Olivares later pointed out to The
Rio Grande Herald, "For the time
being, we approved the over 65 tax
exemption. The door is open for
more exemptions (in the future).
Things depend on the assessed
value (that is determined)."
At their March 3, 2005 meeting,
the aldermen discussed and
approved an agenda item
designating the City of Rio Grande
City as a taxing entity. At the time,
Olivares explained, "This is not a
property tax. T his would enable the
(Starr County) Appraisal District to
do a certified appraisal of the city
to determine what tax rate could be
levied, if desired."
Early in the April 19 meeting,
the aldermen voted to accept the
resignation of City Attorney Rene
P. Montalvo. Montalvo had served
as City Attorney since July 2000.
Villarreal commented, "I thank
Mr. Montalvo for his service to the
city. He has been very diligent in
his efforts to help us out. It's been
an honor to serve with him. I wish
him the best in all his future
endeavors."
The aldermen then turned to the
matter of possible selection of a
new city attorney. Mayor Kevin
Hiles declared, "It's a privilege to
appoint an RGC native, Ms. Jackie
Salinas, as the RGC city attorney.
She's a graduate of Texas A&M
University with honors. She's
(See ALDERMEN, Page 4)
Garcia pitches Lady
Rattler softball to playoffs
By ROEL OLSON, JR.
After dropping the title game :o
La Joya last Friday, the Lady
Rattlers softball team set their
sights on the bidistrict playoffs.
Rio will probably play on April
29 (Friday) against the winner of
Laredo Nixon and Laredo United
Playoff scenarios were to be taken
care of this past Monday.
Against La Joya. Rio led 1-0
going into the fourth inning until
the Coyotes used two bloop singles
and a costly error by a Rio infielder.
The error as recorded by Rio's
opponent appeared to ricochet or
almost hit the Rio player on the
head. The ball, nevertheless,
bounced toward the gap and plated
the two Coyote runners.
The Lady Rattlers scored in their
first at-bat when, after a Rio runner
was thrown out on a double steal.
Leighanne Pere/ stepped to the
plate with two outs and ripped a
shot over the leftfielder's head to
score Vanessa Villarreal.
The three hits for La Joya in the
fourth were all that Jessica Garcia
would allow throughout the night.
Garcia also struck out seven
Coyotes, lilting her season
strikeout total to 173.
Yvette Glover had a great game
defensively for Rio against the
Coyotes.
The Lady Rattlers were able to
(See SOFTBALL, Page 4)
Two suspects charged in RGC
burglary; one wanted for escape
An investigation by the Rio
Grande City Police Department last
week led to the arrest of two
suspects in a residential burglary in
the far western area of the city,
with one of the suspects the subject
of a warrant for escape from a
Minnesota jail.
RGCPD Assistant Chief Noe
Castillo indicated Tuesday. April
26 that Esteban Trevino, 39, and
Manuel Lara, Jr., 46, were both
arrested late on Wednesday, April
20 and charged with burglary.
Trevino was also charged with one
count of possession of drug
paraphernalia and Lara was also
charged with one count of
possession of a dangerous drug.
Castillo noted that Trevino "is
the subject of a warrant for escape
from East Grand Forks.
Minnesota...The escape was from a
local jail facility in East Grand
Forks, Minnesota."
Castillo stated that Trevino's
bond was set at $15,000 for the
burglary charge and $1000 for the
drug paraphenalia possession
charge. Lara's bond was set at
$15,000 for the burglary charge and
$1000 for the possession of
dangerous drugs charge. Bond for
both suspects was set by Rio
Grande City Municipal Judge
Elvira Garza on Thursday, April
Castillo stated that many of the
items taken from a home in the
Amistosa Heights Subdivision,
located just west of Rio Grande
City High School, were ultimately
recovered.
The Assistant Chief indicated,
"On April 20, RGCPD officers
responded to a burglary call in
Amistosa Heights Subdivision
across from the high school We
were called at 3:41 p.m. The
perpetrators (of the burglary ) left
with a number ot valuables stolen
from a residence."
'See SUSPECTS, Page 4)
JROTC Cavalry visits D.C. sites, shines in parade
The Rio Grande City High School 12th Cavalry Unit participated in the National Cherrs Blossom Parade in
Washington. D.C. on April 9, 2005 They were also able to \isit some of the historical site^ in the area such
as the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the White House, to mention a few 1 ho cadets also
took a lour of the Pentagon and were quite impressed with the daily duties ol those who work there Pictured
left lo right are: (Back) Private First Class Brenda Lopez. Cadet Private First Class Ana Karen Zurita.
Sergeant Marco Pcna (JROTC Instructor), Major David Rutledge (JROTC Instructor), and Cadet Pic Otila
Hembrec. (Front) Cadet Corporal Bellanira Rodriguez. Cadet Pfc Monica Solis. Cadet Lieutenant Colonel
Dhilendy Garcia. Cadet Sergeant Emylee Sepulveda. Cadet Pfc. Mary Rodriguez, and Cadet Ptc Bennv Bravo
(RGCCISD photo)
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 28, 2005, newspaper, April 28, 2005; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196318/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.