The Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 42, Ed. 1 Friday, October 19, 1945 Page: 1 of 8
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THE MERCEDES NEWS-TRIBUNE AND
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Serving Mercedes, Edcouch’ Elsa, La Villa, Monte Alto
VOL. XXXII, No. 42
MERCEDES, TEXAS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1945
$1.50 PER YEAR; 5c PER COPY
Mercedes Center Of
Valleys Youngest
Citrus Industry
Rio Banco Farms Plant
Humming With Activity
With the opening of the citrus
shipping season, Oct. 15th, the pack-
ing plant of the Rio Banca Farms,
owned by C. P. Melton and located
in Mercede® was the center if not the
circumference of this newest of
Valley Citrus industries. The
lemon orchadists of the Valley who
have worked along with very little
encouragement in past years can
lean back now and view with con-
tent the results of their years of toil
as this newest citrus product to take
the country by storm, emerges from
the pinafore stage and takes on the
habiliments of mature age.
The Meyer lemon from the high
me®a lands of China and the Eureka
are in the lead as far as demand is
concerned.
The Associated Growers plant has
the distinction of being the only
citrus plant operating 52 weeks in
the year. Meaning that the growers
from one end of the Valley to the
other have a ready market for their
lemons, whether a bushel or a
hundred ton, at any season of the
year.
This is made possible by their sefW
ice through planned marketing. The
basis of this service is a state wide
advertising campaign educating con-
sumers on the superiority of Valley
lemons, which in itself creates
dealer interest.
News Of Sgt. Harrell
To Be Shown Here
©
Mercedes was given advanced
booking on the News reel taken at
the time 'when the congressional
medal of honor was awarded to
Marine Sgt. Billy Harrell, by Presi-
dent Harry S. Truman Get: 5th.
Dates for this showing are Sun-
day and Monday, Oct. 28th and 2 9th.
and it will eventually be shown in
every theatre in the Nation. Book-
ings in other Valley towns will be
announced later, according to Mrs.
Marion Arnold, local manager for
the Inter-State Theatres.
Little Theatre
Announces Cost
The final cast for Arsenic and
Old Lace, chosen by the Mercedes
High School Little Theatre as the
first production of the season, has
been announced by Miss Virgilia
Wade, Little Theatre director.
Featured in leading roles will be
Mary Caldiera and Marilyn Krause,
who will portray the erratic Brewster
sisters, Abby and Martha.
Other outstanding parts will be
played by Jimmy Atteberry, as
Mortimer Brewster, Elmo Wade, as
Jonathan Brewster, Philip Coffin as
Teddy Brewster, Carol Sue Borcheldt
as Elaine Harper, and Johnny Her-
rera as Dr. Einstein.
The organization of the production
staff will be completed by the end
of the week. November 23 has been
selected as the date for performance.
The complete cast is as follow:s
Abby Brewster, Mary Oaldeira; Rev.
Harper, Arnold Peters; Teddy Brew-
ster, Phillip Coffin; Officer Brophy,
Robert Schwarz; Officer Klein, Wal-
ly Hoppe; Martha Brewster, Mari-
lyn Krause; Elaine Harper, Carol
Sue Borchelt; Mortimer Brewster,
Jimmy Atteberry; Mr. Gibbs, John
Lawler; O’Hara, Harry Nebenzahl;
LeiutenantRooney, Romeo Hinojosa;
Mr. Witherspoon, Angel Gonzalez.
Annual Poppy Sale
Saturday, November 10
The Mercedes Unit of the Ameri-
can Legion Auxiliary will conduct
its annual Poppy Sale on Saturday,
November 10, to raise money for its
relief work among the families of
World War Veterans.
Mrs. George Ferrier is chairman
of the sale and will be assisted by
the women of the auxiliary. Booths
will be maintained on the downtown
streets.
The poppies in Texa® are made by
disabled Veterans at the Legion hos-
pital at Legion, Texas. Mrs. Fer-
rier wishes to impress that upon the
generosity of the P'eopio •depends
the success Of the event, and that
Owing to the . added demands of
World War No. II, the needs for
funds are greater than ever before.
At present, with the hospitals be-
ing filled with World Ii veterans,
and thousands of World War I
veterans still in the hospitals, let
them not become the forgotten men
of to day.
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Mercedes Teachers
Honored At Meeting
The Rev. J. Chess Lovern, pastor
of the First Methodist church at
Harlingen, was the Principal speaker
at the annual joint banquet of the
local Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs,
honoring the faculty of the Mercedes
School System on Thursday night.
The speaker chose for his subject,
“Can We Keep the Faith of Our
Fathfers?”
William O’Hair, president of the
Kiwanis Club, acted as toastmaster.
Rev. Ivan O. Donaldson, pastor of
the Mercedes First Methodist church,
gave the invocation.
Mrs. Albin Crutchfield sang several
selections, accompanied by Mrs.
Tommy Jones.
Leon R. Graham, superintendent
of Mercedes school®, introduced the
teachers.
Rev. George Wheeler, pastor of
the Mercedes First Christian church,
directed the singing.
Theatre Party
Is Enjoyable
The Just We Neigbors enjoyed a
theatre party, at their last meeting,
at the State Theatre. After the
show the group went to the Green
Hat for refreshmnts.
Thosepresent were Mrs. J. C.
Potts, Mrs. Alden Wade, Mrs. G. L.
Wood, Mrs. O. E. Ridenour, Mrs.
L. TTHartzell, Mrs. L. R. Crockett,
Mrs. John Thornburg, Mrs. Maude
Rouse, Mrs. L. L. Klefisch and Mrs.
G. G. Aldridge.
Executive Board
Welfare League Meets
Members of the Executive Board
of the Mercedes Welfare League met
October 16, at the Welfare building
for the purpose of organizing a new
clinic.
Those present were Mrs. H. B.
Seay, Mrs. Floyd Langford, Mrs. R.
E. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Owen Stone,
Mrs. H. J. Menton, Mrs.. Leroy
Ziegler, Mrs. Fred Bernard, Mrs. W.
H. Drawe and Miss Sara Louise
Bixler, county nurse.
Miss Bixler explained the Public
Health program as one of educa-
tional work for the prevention of
disease.
It was decided to hold a Mother
and Baby Nursing Conference on the
2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month.
The T. B. Clinic is being held on
the 1st and 3rd Tuesday in the
month. Miss Bixler will meet with
the committees headed by Mrs. Kirk-
patrick and Mrs.Dr awe on November
13th to formulate definite plans.
It Is with much regret that the
Welfare League accepted the re-
signation of Mr,g. Myrtle Lee as
treasurer and the League expresses
appreciation for her most efficient
work and her interest In the organiza-
tion.
Miss Genevive Dawson has
graciously accepted this office, as
treasurer.
Mercedes Sky
Line Raised
PUBLIC LEDGER
Volume One— Number One
A copy of the first penny news-
paper ever printed in the United
States, was found by Mrs. H. L.
Richards, while looking through
some family papers some time ago
here in Mercedes. It was the pro-
perty of Mrs. Alice R. Marche, Mrs.
Richards mother, who was born in
1856 at Lancaster, Penn.
The first edition of the Public
Ledger was printed in Philadelphia,
Friday morning, March 26th, 1836.
Price 1 copper.
Among the items included as
current news in this paper was this
of interest to Texans.
Texas It is confidently affirmed
that the despot Santa Ana is on the
full march for Texas, and that he has
sworn to subdue that province or to
lose Mexico.”
Mrs. Walton Howell spent the
week-end in Edna, where she visit-
ed her mother, Mrs. C. E. Shekell,
and her sister Mrs. Eddie Coward.
Curiosity has been aroused in the
Mercedes vicinity over the new red
and white tower which has taken its
place above the tall palm1 trees in
Mercedes industrial sector north-
east of the business district.
It is an antenna support for the
FM Radio Communications System
of the Magic Valley Eelectric Co-
operative on Ohio and First. The
station is a 60 watt transmitter and
will establish two-way communica-
tion between the Cooperative and
their service trucks. The top of
the tower is 12 6 feet above the
ground and is guyed in three direc-
tions with three sets of guys. It is
mounted on a concrete base five and
one-half feet deep and five feet
square on thebottom.
J. E. Wilder, Manager of< the
Magic Valley Electric Cooperative,
states that the antenna should; with-
stand a 135 mile an hour wind, in
the event of a hurricane, and com-
munications could be carried on
during any kind of weather.
“I have had several offers,” com-
ments Wilder,” of local citizens de-
siring to broadcast over the new
station, but I am afraid their aud-
ience would be rather limited, as
only three trucks will be equipped to
listen to this special type of signal,
since the ordinary radios will not
pick up the frequency modulation
type of emission.”
Perhaps they should be referred
to KRGV or KGBS.
L. R. Baker to Be
Speaker at Chamber
Commerce Banquet
Capacity Crowd Will
Attend Annual Dinner
In High School Cafeteria
L. R. Baker of Harlingen, promin-
ent Valley civic leader, will be the
principal speaker at the Annual
Banquet of the Mercedes Chamber
of Commerce, on Thursday night,
Oct. 25, at the Mercedes high school
cafeteria.
In addition to the 20-minute
principal address, there will be a
variety of entertainment and other
interesting features.
Among other features will be the
installing of the, six new directors,
who were recently elected by ballot
of the membership.
Retiring President. E. Q. Farris
will install the new directors. Far-
ris will also be toastmaster for the
evening. W. M. (Bill) O’Hair will
act as songleader.
Invitations to the banquet have
been mailed to each member of the
Chamber of Commerce by Chairman
Tom McAfee of the Banquet com-
mittee and other members of the
committee, Abe Baum, E. L. Park,
Victor Morales andAbel Garcia. All
members are asked to purchase
tickets immediately, as the banquet
hall will only seat 175 people. Tickets
are $1 per plate and may be had
from any member of the committee
or at the Chamber of Commerce of-
fice. The banquet starts at 7:30
o’clock.
“We have arranged an interesting,
but snappy program”, Eldon B.
Smith, chairman of the program
committee states, the committee in-
cluding Gilson Knapp abd Fred
Johnston. A large crowd annually
attends the banquet and quite a
number of tickets were purchased the
first day on which they became
available.
The Mercedes Chamber of Com-
merce has just completed a suecess-
fulyear, duringwhich much progress
has been made. The annual report,
telling of achievements of the or-
ganization, and. the progress of the
community, will be presetned to
members in printed form.
“The greatest in the history of
this town, from the standpoint of
opportunities, will face, not only the
director®, but also the entire citizen-
ship during the ensuing year,” stated
retiring president Parris. “T'he post-
war period is here now, the veterans
are returning in ever increasing
numbers and immediate action on
many projects will be necessary. This
will require the cooperation of every
citizen in this community”, Farris
elaborated.
Navy Dead To Be
Honored Navy Day
October 27,
October 27, which has been de-
signated as Navy Day, will be a
special, day of tribute to men in all
the services who lost'their lives at
6>ea in the defense of the United
States.
The Navy League is asking the
American people everywhere to send
one flower to one of the designated
ports nearest their own community
to arrive before midnight October
2 6. The Leauge suggests that
wherever possibly the flower sent be
hotne grown or wild, and in no case
should the expenditure exceed a
modest sum.
All flowers received by the
chaplain will be placed on Naval
vessels, and following appropriate
all-faith ceremonies at the respec-
tive docksides, a ship will proceed
to sea from each port and when the
vessel reaches a point beyond sight
of land the flowers will be scattered
on the waters.
The Corpus Cbristi Naval Base is
the nearest base to the Valley and
this community. The Mercedes
sponsoring the sending of flowers
from Mercedes to this base. All
freinds or members of their families,
should take their flower to the home
of Mrs. B. C. Crenshaw, 944 Missouri
Avenue, member of this club, who
will then send them to Corpus
Christi.
Lieut Barlow Chapter
DAR Luncheon
Wednesday
©
The opening meeting of the cur-
rent year of the Lieutenant Thonas
Barlow Chapter of the. Daughters of
the American Revolution was featur-
ed with a one o’clock luncheon in the
home of Mrs. G. K. Wattson in
Mercedes. Co-hostesses for the meet-
ing were Mrs. John Bruce, Mrs. El-
don B. Smith, Mrs. Mae Irby, Mrs. R.
H. Smith and Mrs. R. ,3. Bettis, Mer-
cedes.
Mr®. Bettis, the newly elected re-
gent for the ensuing year, presided
at the session. Following the lunch-
eon, a brief social sessiop was held,
this being followed by business and
reports of special committees.
Mrs. Harbert Davenport ®poke
very interestingly on the United
States and the International Charter.
Mrs. Russell Cherry of Raymomd-
ville, spoke on“The Flag”, of many
countries and of interesting flag
incidents during the present war.
Present for the meeting, in ad-
dition to the hosteses, were Mrs.
Cherry, Mrs. Davenport, Mrs. J. G.
Cochrane, La Feria; Mrs. W. Y.
English, La Feria; Mr®. L. R. Dor-
land, Brownsville; Mrs. Russell Mc-
Chesney, Brownsville; Mrs. C. M.
Cash, San Benito; Mrs. O. D. Sharp,
La Sara; Mrs. S. D. Snedeker, Ed
Couch; Mrs.Walter Weaver, Donna;
Mrs. E. G. Smith, Mercedes; Mrs. F.
C. Williams, Los Fresnos; Mrs. H.
T. Stotler and Mr®.G. C. F'ittz, Mer-
cedes.
.Father Of Mrs. Gertrude
Brooks Laid To Rest
At Nacogdoches
Funeral services for H. T. Crain,
father of Mrs. Gertrude Brooks were
held Wednesday at the Gaston
Funeral Home at Nacogdoches,
Texas and burial was made in the
family burial place at that city.
Mr. Crain, first secretary-treasur-
er of the Halliburton Oil Well
Cement company when it was organiz-
ed in 1924, passed away Sunday,
Oct. 7th, in Corpu® Christi. He had
been in ill health for the past seven
years.
He was 70 years of age and was
living at the home of a son, George
Crain.
For sixteen years Mr. Crain was
with the Halliburton company in the
capacity of secretary-treasurer and
in July 1940, he resigned after be-
ing on sick leave for nearly two
years.
Survivors are the widow, Mrs. H.
T. Crain; two sons, George of Corpus
Christi and Boyd Crain of Houston;
and two daughters, Miss Billie Crain
and Mrs. Gertrude Brooks of Mer-
cedes.
Mercedes Legion Post
To Hold Social Meet
In Next Monday night the J. A.
Garcia American Legion Post will
hold its social session, according to
PostCommander H. L. Sohmalzried.
Second vice president Woody Tul-
lis will be incharge of the event,
which promisse® to be one of in-
teiest. Refreshments will be served.
Enterprise Box Score
Being a list of new and renewal
subscriptions each week to the En-
terprise.
Albert Werbiski
Roy Powell
Mrs. Rosina Erchinger
W. L. Bradbury, Raymondsville
C. D. Haynes, Coleman Courts
J. F. Moore
Marion Lawder
Joe R. Day Boerne, Texas
Milton H. West, M. C. Washington,
D. C.
L. R. Hampton
Mrs. Glen G. Bolger, Harlingen
Tigers Win 25-7
Over Mission Birds
For First Pay Dirt
The Mercedes Tigers broke into
the win column last Friday night to
run rough shod over the Mission
Eagles to the tune of 25 to 7 .
Not holding true to form, the
Tigers opened up strong in the first
quarter and drove down the field to
score, with Drawe toting the leather
to pay dirt.
The Tigers kicned off but held the
Eagles, and soon after the end of
the first quarter Elmo Wade passed
to Noel Caldeira for another tally.
For the extra point it was Wade to
Caldeira again, and the half-time
score was 13 to 0 in favor of the
Tigers.
Eagles Score
The Eagles came back strong in
the third quarter and after a bad
Tiger punt took over on the Mer-
cedes 3 5-yard line from where they
proceeded to scorie.
For a time it looked as though the
Mercedes eleven would be unable to
score again, but the Tigers finally
came to their senses and, with Wade
doing a majority of the ground-
gaining and passing, trod the ball
down to the Mission five-yard line,
where Drawe took it over in two
more plays.
The Tigers kicked-off to the
Eagles and covered the ball on the
kick-off to set it up in scoring posi-
tion. From here a series of off-
tackle and end runs took the pigskin
to the four-yard line, where* Drawe
plunged over to score. The final
score was 25 to 7.
Out standing for the Tigers were
Drawe and Wade in the backfield,
while Ismael Gonzalez and Caldeira
stood out on the line.
Clyde Hollon Is
New President of
Chamber Commerce
Tom McAfee Elected
Vice President’ Carl
Blasig Again Manager
Clyde Hollon, prominent Mercedes
and Valley civic leader, will pilot
the Mercedes Chamber of Commerce
as presiednt during the ensuing year.
Tom McAfee, also an outstanding
business man and civic leader, was
chosen vice president at an organi-
zation meeting of the newly elected
Board of Directors this week.
Both men were the unanimous
choice of the directors and are a-
mong Mercedes’ younger and most
successful business men. Hollon is
owner and manager of the Hollon
Motor Company, while McAfee is a
partner with his brother R. R. Mc-
Afee in the McAfee Agency.
Both men came to Mercedes about
two years ago and both of them have
taken an active part in civic affairs
and community building since the
day they located here.
Clyde Hollon purchased the Ford
dealership here in 1943; moving to
Mercedes from McAllen where he
was a director and vice president of
the McAllen Chamber of Commerce
at the time. Hollon is also a past
director of the Mercedes and McAllen
Kiwanis Clubs and a former presi-
dent of the McAllen Kiwanis Club.
He served as director of the Mer-
cedes Chamber of Commerce for the
past year and also is a member of
the Mercedes School Board.
Tom McAfee came to Mercedes
from Dallas in 194 3 where he had
been in the insurance business for
thirty years. He was Special Agent
for the National Fire Insurance Com-
pany prior to his location here to be-
come a partner in the McAfee Insur-
ance business. He is a past director
of the Dallas Junior Chamber of
Commerce. McAfee has been a direc-
tor of the Mercedes Chamber of Com-
merce for the past year and also a
idrector of the Merdcede® Kiwanis
Club. He was born in Corsicana,
Texas.
Carl A. Blasig was reelected as
manager of the Mercedes Chamber of
Commerce for his sixth year of ser-
vice with this organization.
He began his work with the Mer-
cedes Chamber of Commerce on Jan-
uary 1, 1940. He is also Manager'
of the Rio Grande Valley Livestock;
Show, which had its inception In
1940. ^;!
Skipping Of Fall
Vegetables Starts
The Mercedes shipping season is
getting into fullawing, with a num-
ber of cars being shipped this week.
The G. E. Watson Packing Plant
shipped a mixed car of egg plant
peppers on Monday; a straight car of
peppers on Tuesday, and loaded two
cars of peppers on Wednesday, and
one express car of egg plant, also on
Wednesday.
The McCarrick Company shipped a
carload of peppers and egg plant on
Tuesday and also a similar ear on
Wednesday.
Notice
The Veterans Administration has
an acute need for stenographers in
the Central Office, Washington, D.
C. Applicants will be assigned to
some Texas Facility for a training
period not to exceed thirty (30) day®
at full pay, after which transporta-
tion will be provided by the Veterans
Administration to Washington, D. C.
Interested parties please contact Mr.
James H. Mee at the Veterans Ad-
ministrattion, 516 Texas Ave., Wela-
eo. Former government employees
are especially requested to apply.
Higli School Band
And Choir Present
Program
Rev. Ivan O. Donaldson, pastor of
the Mercedes First Methodist church,
attended the Methodist Conference in
San Antonio thi® week. He was ac-
companied by his son, Ivan, and
Jimmy Atteberry, who attended the
Youtb Conference held at the same
time.
The Mercedes High School and
High School Choir, under the direc-
tion of A. E. Holmes, presented a
concert at the school auditorium on
Saturday night, to a full house.
These concerts will be presented;
every six weeks, Holmes stated.
New uniforms have been purcha®ed
for the members of the band, through
the efforts of the Band Mothers of
the Mercedes High School The uni-
forms are very attractive and have
navy blue coats and light blue
j trousers. Mrs. H. D. Lauderdale is
1 president of the Band Mothers.
J?
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Tilton, S. E. The Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 42, Ed. 1 Friday, October 19, 1945, newspaper, October 19, 1945; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1074116/m1/1/: accessed June 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.