Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 18, 2005 Page: 1 of 6

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THURSDAY
WEEKLY
EDITION
August 18, 2005
92nd YEAR No. 33
# 215
I|()A(i l!(K)K BINDFRY
127 RAIL ROAD
SPRINGPORT, MI 49204
ZONK 6
Rio Grande
HERALD
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
Two MS-13 gang members charged in alien smuggler's murder
&
i
RGCCISD hosts orientation for 2005-2006 teachers
The Rio Grande City CISD welcomed over 110 new teachers to the district last week. On Aug. 9, 2005. the
• Human Resources Department organized a teacher orientation for them at the Multipurpose Center Some of
the teachers who are from out of state were hired through the Teach for Ameria program. New teachers will he
"Rounding' em Up" for the 2005-2006 school year. The school district welcomes ail the new teachers'
Pictured above are RGCCISD new teachers filling out payroll and insurance forms. (RGCCISD photo).
* Probe continues into murder of
Los Morenos man in front of home
The Sheriff's Department is
continuing an intensive
investigation into the murder of a
31-year-old Los Morenos man who
was fatally shot just outside his
home during the late evening hours
of Tuesday, Aug. 9.
Jorge Barrera was killed instantly
when he was shot multiple times
inside his pickup truck by two
gunmen at approximately 11 p.m.
on Tuesday. Aug. 9. Sheriff
Reymundo Guerra indicated that
Barrera "was outside his house on
his lawn when two subjects
approached him."
The sheriff reported. "He got into
his vehicle and attempted to leave
his property. He only made it just
barely outside his property when
the two gunmen fired multiple
shots...The victim was shot several
times in his side "
Guerra noted that "the actual
shooting took place about 100
yards south of U.S. 83. The truck
was found resting on the south side
of U.S. 83."
Guerra stated on Monday, "No
motive has been established No
suspects have been determine'!.'
"The shots were not fired from
extremely close range," explained
the sheriff. "Two gunmen actually
fired shots...Two different kinds of
casings, .40 caliber and 9-
new
(RGCCISD News Release)
I'he Rio Grande City CISD hosted
the new teacher orientation on Au-
gust 9, 2005 at 7:30 a.m. in the Mul-
tipurpose Center Board members,
community members along with the
110 new teachers were in attendance.
Teachers were also given a histori-
cal tour of the Fort Ringgold grounds
and all the schools throughout the
district. The tour was conducted by
R.C. Salinas a local historian.
The Master of Ceremonies for this
event svas Mr. Gilberto Garcia As-
sistant Superintendent for Human
Resources. The group was welcomed
by Mr. Roel Gonzalez (Superinten-
dent) and Mr. Basilio Villarreal
(School Board President).
Villarreal welcomed the new teach-
ers and gave them a special message.
" I like to welcome all the new teach-
ers. This is a district where teachers
work hard and students are at the pin-
nacle of their success," said
Villarreal.
Gonzalez challenged all new teach-
ers for 2005-2006 with the follow-
ing words. "Let's make a commit
ment to look for the hope in every
child that we may ignite that hope,
passion, and desire in each of them,
said Gonzalez.
Mrs. Josie Guepa (Assistant for
Curriculum and Instructional Sup-
port), and Mrs. Thelma Ramey
(Chief Financial Officer) presented
new teachers with important infor-
mation pertaining to their perspective
departments.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led
by Carlos Dougherty (BESTT class
Representative) and the Invocation
by Domingo Montalvo (Senior
Class President). Entertainment was
RGC football season tickets
to go on sale Aug. 29-Sept. 2
The Rio Grande City CISD
Athletic Department will place
2005 football season tickets on sale
for season ticket holders only
from Aug. 29-Sept. 2.
1 he tickets for season ticKet
holders only will be on sale at the
Athletic Department Office at Joe
R Sanchez Stadium The tickets
will be sold from 8:00 a.m. thru
3 00 p m each day from Monday,
Aug 29 through Friday. Sept. 2.
The price per package is $20.00
(four home games at $5.00 each).
Tickets not purchased by 3:00
p.m. on Sept. 2 will go on sale to
the general public the following
Monday.
The Gate General
Admission Ticket for
everyone is $5.00 as per the
decision/action of the 30-5A
District Executive Committee.
The Pre-Game Student Ticket
Price is $2.00 and the Pre-Game
General Admission Ticket Price is
$4.00.
If more information is needed
interested persons should contact
Yolanda or 11 tana at (956) 7 Hi
6756
Two men believed to be members
of a violent Central American gang
have been charged with murder in
the beating leath near Roma of one
of their smuggling guides or
"coy in the early morning
hour >! Wednesday. Aug. H<
On Friday, Aug. 12. Carlos
Omar M:, nez Rivera, 24-yeai•
old resident of San Pedro
Honduras, was anvgned before
County Court at-Law Judge
Romero Molina and charged with
murder. Bond for the suspect was
set at $1 million
Sheriff Reymundo Guerra
indicated on Monday. " ; he victim,
the individual thai v as fatally
beaten, was a 17-year-old man from
Miguel Aleman." Guerra stated that
Martinez "has confessed to the
murder of the 'guids "
The sheriff indicated that one
other suspect "was scheduled to be
arraigned later on Monday Aug.
15."
Guerra declared, "This 'guide' was
killed in retaliation for the
disappearance of one of the group ■ if
six. Evidently, the group was
millimeter, were found."
Guerra declared, "Deputies were
summoned to the area after reports
of shots being fired. The ignition
(of the truck) w;is still running, and
the victim was found slumped on
the seat. His foot was still on the
brake...The vehicle (driven by the
victim) was a Chevrolet pickup."
Los Morenos is a small
community located adjacent to U.S.
83 between Garceno and Escobares.
Guerra stressed that anyone with
information about the murder is
encouraged to contact the Sheriff's
Department at 487-5571. All
information will be kept
confidential.
RGCCISD Rounds Up
teachers for 2005-2006 school year
passing through, possibly to the
Houston area."
The feared Mara Salvatrucha or
MS-13 gang has been linked to a
umber of violent episodes in
Central America American law
nforcement authorities fear that the
group has recently forged lies with
Al-Qaeda Middle Eastern terrorists
"When someone is seen engaging
in suspicious activity, local
authorities should be notified,'
emphasized Sheriff Guerra.
"Residents should not take action
on their own."
The sherif f explained, "Deputies
were in the Roma area when three
male subjects flagged them down.
They told the deputies they were
part of a group being smuggled into
the U.S. This happened at about 2
a.m. on Wednesday morning, Aug.
10."
Guerra stated, "One of the three
stated that within the group of 25
(undocumented immigrants), there-
was a smaller gn.up of six that was
from Centra] America, knew each
>ther very intimately, and were
traveling together as a group."
Guerra added, The witness stated
that one of these six got very rowdy
and vocal on the Mexican side and
got very aggressive toward one of
the 'coyotes.' This individual was
taken aside, while still in Mexico,
and never heard from again."
The sheriff emphasized. "This
angered the other five, so when the
group was taken across the Rio
Grande minus the missing vocal
one who was never heard from
again, these five began to beat up
one of the two 'coyotes' that had
taken them across. The group then
dispersed and separated. The three,
part of the 25 but not part of the
group of six, then came across
deputies."
"The deputies then proceeded to
the area where the group of five had
been seen," continued Guerra.
"They then found the body of the
'coyote', who was already dead. The
'coyote' was beaten up with rocks
and a piece of lumber."
The sheriff reported, "The Border
Patrol later that day picked up a
total of nine individuals, besides the
(See MEMBERS, Page 6)
Defendant sentenced to 50
years in 2004 home invasion
provided by the RGC High School
Mariachi Cascabel under the direc-
tion of Mr. Alfonso Rubio and Ms.
Gracie Naranjo. A special thank you
to the Starr County Teachers Federal
Credit Union and Ms. Emma L.
Gonzalez (Starr County Teachers
Federal Credit Union CEO) for pro-
viding breakfast at this event.
STC Starr
Campus
registration to
end this Saturday
South Texas College ends fall
registration on Saturday, August 20
for its classes beginning on August
22
The STC Starr County Campus
located at 142 FM 3167 in Rio
Grande City will be open from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 20. The fall
schedule includes weekday,
evening and weekend classes, as
well as distance learning and on-
line courses.
During the final week of
registration on Aug. 15 thru Aug.
19 there will be evening weekday
registration available at all South
Texas College campus locations.
The STC Starr County campus
will extend its hours of operation
on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday
from 8 a m to 7 p.m., and Friday
from 8 a m to 5 p.m. On Saturday,
Aug. 20 the STC Pecan Campus
will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information call (956)
872-5801 or log on to
www.southtexascolleKe.edu
A 21-year-old Edinburg-area
resident was sentenced to 50 ears
in prison in 229th District
proceedings on Friday, Aug 12 for
his involvement in a home
invasion by more than 10 gunmen
in the La Sagunada area north of
Rio Grande City in October 2004.
On May 10. 2005, Gaston Garcia
pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery
in the Oct 15, 2004 incident. On
Friday, Garcia was sentenced to 50
years imprisonment in the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice
(TDCJ) system by 229th District
Court Judge Alex W. Gabert.
Assistant District Attorney
Kennedy Salinas commented on
Monday, "We feel the judge levied a
sentence that was appropriate under
the law. I feel it sends a strong
message to the community. I am
very pleased with the sentence; it is
very appropriate considering the
violent nature of the crime "
Salinas emphasized, "This man
had no respect for the rights to life,
liberty and property of anyone, and
deserves to be in prison for a long,
long time. I feel very satisfied that
justice was served."
The prosecutor added, "We feel
this is a positive stepping stone for
the family and
community...Residents of this rural
area were deeply affected and the>
implemented essential security
measures of their own, including
Neighborhood Watch."
The home invasion occurred on
Oct. 15, 2004 at a residence in the
La Sagunada area about eight miles
north of Rio Grande City. In that
episode, roughly 30 weapons of an
entire gun collection were taken by
more than a dozen armed gunmen.
In May, District Attorney
Henberto Silva indicated that Garcia
was "one of more than 12 charged
in the case." Salinas stated on
Monday, "We feel that everyone
involved in this home invasion are
now in custody."
Garcia was represented by Rio
Grande City attorney Jose Luis
Ramos. Ramos told The Rio
Grande Herald on Tuesday, "I
thought it was a bit harsh, but
that's not my decision to make. I
will file motions seeking to undo
what I consider to be an excessive
sentence."
Salinas stated, "1 am sure he
(Garcia) has to serve more than half
of his sentence before he become
eligible for parole."
"A lot of effort was required by
the Sheriffs Department and DA s
Office in dealing with this
dangerous episode," stressed the
prosecutor. "We intend to prosecute
everyone involved in this episode to
the fullest extent of the law We
pledge vigorous prosecution against
all suspects in this case."
Referring to Friday's proceedings.
Salinas explained. "On Friday
afternoon, testimony was presented
by both the prosecution and
defense Both mvself and the
defense attorney made closing
remarks."
In describing the home invasion
a1 J robbery. Salm... declared. "The
attackers broke down the door to get
into the house...The men were
demanding money and jewelry and
failed to find any They ransacked
the house and brandished their
weapons against the family,
including the children."
Salinas added, "This man (Garcia)
was carrying a gun and brandished
his weapon throughout the house.
He brandished his weapon against
the family."
(See INVASION, Page 6)
Class of 1986 reunion
planning meeting set
for Sunday, Aug. 21
Members of the Rio Grande City
High School Class of 1986 will be
holding a meeting on Sunday, Aug.
21 at 3:00 p.m. at Denny's
Restaurant in Rio Grande City to
carry out planning for the
upcoming 20-year class reunion.
The 20-year class reunion is
scheduled for Sept. 23. 2005. or the
date of this year's Rattler
Homecoming Game.
For further information, class
members should contact George
Bazan at 847-1173. Hilda Gil at
458-6627. and/or Sandra Morales
Martinez at 735-6256.
RGCCISD holds Kinder, Pre-Kinder registration
The Rio Grande City CISD held registration for Pre-Kinder anil Kindergarten on Aug. 8-9. 2005 for all Rio
Grande City area students Several directors were on hand to ensure tht each student had been cleared before the
first day of school Pictured above are Mrs Imelda Ramon (Director of Health Services) and all RGCCISD
Health Services nurses and staff. (RGCCISD photo).