The Odem-Edroy Times (Odem, Tex.), Vol. 61, No. 15, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 12, 2007 Page: 4 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Odem Area Newspaper Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Odem Public Library.
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Page 4 Issue 15
Communiry
(Elje Obenh^ibiw Cunts W~
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Reps. Garcia, Otto join forces for crime victims Luminarias still available
Legislators cross party boundaries to toughen penalties for desecration of victims'bodies for this yeai^S Relay for Life
State Representative Juan Garcia
(DrCorpus Christi) has joined forces
with Rep. John Otto (R-Dayton) on
legislation to toughen the penalties
for mutilation of human remains.
House Bill 872, which would make
desecration of a human corpse a
second degree felony, was heard in
the House Criminal Jurisprudence
Committee on Tuesday evening.
Rep. Garcia and his staff are work-
ing with Sharon Cave and Jim
Sedwick of Corpus Christi on legisla-
tion to toughen penalties for dese-
cration of a corpse.
Sharon’s daughter, Jennifer, a
graduate of Carroll High in Corpus
Christi, was murdered by Colton
Pitonyak in August 2005 while
Jennifer was a student at the
University of Texas at Austin.
Pitonyak dismembered Jennifer’s
corpse after the murder. In January
2007, Pitonyak was found guilty of
her murder and sentenced to 55
years in prison. Sharon travelled to
Austin on Tuesday to testify at the
committee hearing.
Last month, Rep. Garcia filed
House Bill 3415 (The Jennifer Cave
Act), which would make desecration
of a human corpse a first degree
felony. Rep. Otto filed his bill in
response to a tragic case in his dis-
trict in which a toddler was murdered
and the corpse buried for months.
Because of similarities in their legis-
lation, Otto and Garcia decided to
work together for tougher penalties
for these heinous crimes. HB 872
would make desecration of a corpse
punishable by two to 20 years in
prison and/or a fine up to $10,000.
“Sharon and I talked about it, and
we agreed that our top priority is full
justice for crime victims and their
families,” Garcia said. “I’m proud to
work with victim advocates like
Sharon and colleagues like John
Otto to punish criminals who have no
respect for human life and dignity.”
In dramatic testimony before the
Criminal Jurisprudence Committee,
Sharon recounted her horror on
learning that her daughter had not
only been murdered, but that the
body had been dismembered.
“If this crime (of desecration) had
been a second degree felony, Colton
could also have been charged with a
second high-level felony. It would
make our hearts hurt a little less in
the loss of our daughter,” Cave told
Golf
continued from page one
start at 8 a.m. with an awards recep-
tion and lunch to follow at the end of
play.
Several prizes of merchandise
credit from Terry’s Golf Shop will be
awarded at the tournament, includ-
ing: 1st Prize - $400, amounting to
$100 credit per player; 2nd Prize -
$200, amounting to $50 credit per
player; 3rd Prize - $100, amounting
to $25 credit per player; and Next-to-
Last Place - $200, amounting to $50
credit per player.
Area businesses and individuals
wishing to become more involved
and show their support for local
youth through the Kiwanis Club’s
Golf Tournament may also purchase
sponsorships for $100 each.
Sponsorships are being sought for
tees and greens, as well as several
contests.
A longest putt, closest to the hole
and longest drive for both male and
female players will be held.
Sponsorships for these contests are
$100 each. Recognition will be given
to sponsors with a sign on a green or
tee, as well as on the Sponsor Thank
You Board near the registration area.
For more information about this
year’s Kiwanis Club Tournament, to
register or to sign up as a tourna-
ment sponsor, contact Bubba Petrus
at 364-2622 or 364-4941.
Register early for
Summer Sessions I and II,
and Fall Semester 2007
on the Web
April 16 through May 22.
Pay your summer tuition by May 23 and get the
classes you want at the times you want!
(Fall tuition due August 14.)
Register online at mydmc.delmar.edu
Summer classes begin Tuesday, May 29,2007.
Call (361) 698-1255 or 1-800-652-3357
DEL MAR
COLLEGE
the committee. “This bill is so impor-
tant for families that have been
through a loss like this.”
The bill was left pending at the
conclusion of Sharon Cave’s testi-
mony. Chairman Aaron Pena (D-
Edinburg) thanked Cave by saying,
“I promise you, and Representatives
Garcia and Otto, that this committee
will have no higher priority than your
bill.”
Working with the Cave family,
Rep. Garcia has also introduced HB
3416, which would provide coun-
selling for jurors who serve on cases
with graphic evidence or testimony
such as murder, sexual assault, or
sexual crimes against children. Rep.
Garcia is pushing for a committee
hearing on that bill during the week
of April 15.
April declared Fair
Housing Month by
City Council
Mayor Jessie Rodriguez Sr. and
the city council approved a resolution
at their regular monthly meeting
declaring April as Fair Housing
Month.
The resolution, in part, states:
“Whereas Title VIII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1968, as amended, prohibits
discrimination in housing and
declares it a national policy to pro-
vide, within constitutional limits, for
fair housing in the United States ...
Now, therefore, we, the City council
of the City of Odem ... hereby urge
all all the citizens to become aware
of and support Fair Housing law.”
Has cancer affected you or some-
one close to you? Help support the
communities of Odem, Sinton and
Taft, and the American Cancer
Society, as well as pay tribute to a
loved one by purchasing a luminaria
for $5 each.
The candles nestled in bags will
be lit during the luminaria ceremony
on Friday, April 20 at 9 p.m. at this
year’s Odem-Sinton-Taft Relay for
Life event. Proceeds from the event
help support the goals of the
American Cancer Society, which is
dedicated to education, patient serv-
ices and research to find a cure for
cancer.
Donors can dedicate this glowing
tribute to someone who has lost the
battle to cancer or is currently fight-
ing the disease.
Organizers of this year’s Relay for
Life invite everyone in San Patricio
County and their families to attend
NAME:
Circle one
In Memory of
In Honor of
In Memory of
In Honor of
In Memory of
In Honor of
In Memory of
In Honor of
In Memory of
In Honor of
Please make checks payable to: American Cancer Society Total Donation
this special event and see the tribute
come to life at the Odem High
School football stadium. The 12-hour
event kicks off at 7 p.m. on April 20
and continues until 7 a.m., Saturday,
April 21.
Relay for Life organizers are also
asking that cancer survivors register
ahead of time to participate in the
event. Anyone who has beat cancer
is asked to contact Toni Michelle
Cordova at (361) 215-5984. Cancer
survivors will be honored with a spe-
cial “Survivors’ Lap” around the track.
To purchase luminarias and help
light the way to a cure, fill out the
form below and mail with payment
to: Debbie Serrano, P.O. Box 936,
Odem, Texas 78370. Make checks
payable to the American Cancer
Society.
For more information or to obtain
additional luminaria order forms,
contact Serrano at 368-2838.
DONATION
[$5.00 minimum each]
DONATION BY
ADDRESS:
PHONE:[__L
Odem Elementary set to pre-register Pre-K,
Kindergarten students for 2007-08 school year
Parents who need to register their
children for Pre-K and Kindergarten
classes, or if they are new to Odem-
Edroy ISD for the 2007-08 school
year, will have the opportunity to do
so, Wednesday, April 25 and
Thursday, April 26 at the Odem
Elementary school offices, 1 Owl.
Square.
Registration will be held both days
from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 3
p.m. on those dates.
To help school officials with the
registration process, parents are
asked to complete all registration
and medical information as accu-
rately as possible, and bring several
required documents with them.
Documents needed to register a
GOT NEWS?
Call 364-1270
and tell us about it!
Cljr ©ms
student, include: the child’s certified
birth certificate from the Bureau of
Vital Statistics, Social Security card,
up-to-date immunization records,
proof of residence (electric bill that
shows your physical address) and
the parent’s identification card.
The above documents will be
required in order for anyone to be
registered and given optional choice
for morning or afternoon sessions.
Parents who do not have all of the
required information at the time of
registration, their child will be placed
on a list until all documents docu-
ments have been submitted.
Registration will be initiated with-
out a certified birth certificate, but the
document must be presented prior to
the start of school.
Pre-registration is important to the
planning of classes for the upcoming
school year. OEISD will need a count
on the number of anticipated stu-
dents in order to plan for the needed
number of classrooms and teachers
for the 2007-08 school year.
To register a Pre-K student, the
child must be four years old by Sept.
1, 2007. For Kindergarten, the child
must be five years old by Sept. 1,
2007.
School officials would like to
remind parents that if a child is
already in Pre-K at Odem
Elementary, he/she does not need to
pre-register for Kindergarten. It will
be assumed that the child will be
returning for Kindergarten next fall.
At that time, parents will register their
child in August and find out their stu-
dent’s classroom assignment.
The San Patricio County
Department of Health will administer
immunizations for anyone needing
updates to meet school require-
ments on Thursday, April 26, during
the morning registration period.
Parents who have questions or
concerns are asked to contact the
Odem Elementary school office at
368-3881 x. 239.
Connect to Customer Choice
AS THE ELECTRIC DELIVERY COMPANY that has been serving south and west Texas for over
90 years, AEP Texas knows a thing or two about energy conservation. While we no longer sell
electricity or send out monthly electric bills, we recognize this is going to be a long, hot summer.
Since AEP Texas and its 1,700 employees are directly connected to the many communities we live
in and serve, we’d like to share some information on how you can help manage your electric bills
through active retail choice and where you can go for additional help if need be.
One of the best ways to lower higher electric bills is to shop around for aless expensive retail
electric provider (REP). Finding different offers can be done quickly and efficiently.
1) Visit the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) electric choice website at
www.powertodhoose.org. If you don’t have access to a computer, you can call the PUCT’s
Electric Choice hotline at 1-866-PWR-4-TEX (797-1839).
2) Use the information you receive to contact different REPs to collect more information on
various services and offers. Also contact your current REP at the number listed on your electric
bill for other offers that may be available. Ask about contract terms and prices and be sure to
look at the REPs’ Electricity Facts Labels to make a good comparison.
Need some help?
Customers having trouble paying their electric bills and wishing to avoid disconnection should
discuss their concerns with their current retail electric provider. All REPs are required to offer
deferred payment plans to eligible customers who express an inability to pay. REPs also offer balanced
billing plans, which allow eligible customers to pay an average amount each month year-round.
Additionally, many community action agencies may be able to help with electric bills or energy efficiency
programs. For more information, contact the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
(TDHCA) at 1-800-525-0657, e-mail at info@tdhca.state.tx.us or visiting one of the following websites.
TDHGA Utility Bill Help and Other Assistance TDHCA Home Repair Assistance and Weatherization
www.tdhca.state.tx.us/assist_energy.htmwww.tdhca.state.tx.us/assist_repair.htm
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OEISD offering services to
identify special needs students
Odem-Edroy ISD is committed to
locating and identifying children who
are disabled and entitled to special
education services.
The Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law
that school districts rely on to provide
special education services to children
with disabilities.
Parents, private school staff, pub-
lic school staff or any person involved
in the care and education of a child
suspected of having a disability may
refer him/her to the school district.
A full and individual evaluation will
be performed with the parent’s writ-
ten consent. A committee reviews the
assessment and if it is revealed that
the child needs special education, a
plan will be developed to provide the
child with needed services.
Specific disabilities covered by
IDEA includes autism, deaf-blind-
ness, auditory impairment, emotional
disturbance, mental retardation, mul-
tiple disability, orthopedic impair-
ment, brain injury, visual impairment
and non-categorical disability of chil-
dren three to five years of age.
For more information contact Elsie
Campbell, Director of Special
Education at 364-6940.
To add your upcoming event to the weekly News Briefs, call
364-1270 or email all the details to: editor@sanpatpublishing.com.
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Mogonye, Kurt R. The Odem-Edroy Times (Odem, Tex.), Vol. 61, No. 15, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 12, 2007, newspaper, April 12, 2007; Sinton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1055165/m1/4/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Odem Public Library.