The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 21, 1962 Page: 1 of 8
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SINGLE COPY
PRICE
The Merce
BOX 866
C I TY
XXX
nterprise
SINGLE COPY
PRIC1
VOLUME XLVII — NO. 25
Mercedes, Texas, Thursday, June 21, 1962
$3.00 Per Year to Valley
—Enterprise Staff Photo
MAMMOTH TUSKS AND TEETH were discovered in what
is believed their natural stare during excavation for
parking area at Sunrise Hill. The specimens now have
been placed in a case inside the park museum, which
is open to the public free.
Sunrise Hill Offers Everything
From Park To Museum Facilities
An unusal tourist and re-
creational center seldom re-
membered by the older res-
idents of this area is prov-
ing to be quite an attrac-
tion to the Mid-Valley.
It is Sunrise Hill Mem-
orial Park about one and
one-half miles west of FM
491 six miles north of Mer-
cedes.
Sunrise Hill has various
features of interest to young
people, the family, histor-
ians, bird lovers and others.
Located there is the Val-
ley’s only outdoor amphithe-
atre, complete with perman-
ent seating, stage, dressing
rooms and lighting for night
programs.
Newest attractions at the
park are a rock garden and
a small museum.
The park is county owned
and operated by H. H. Bart-
lett, Sr., formerly of the
central part of Illinois. Mr.
Bartlett has been in the Val-
ley at the park about 6 years
and has erected a museum
of natural history for which
he has built cases and done
all of the preservative work
on the specimens.
' : Mp®'*
—Enterprise Staff Photo
LARGE MASTER BARBECUE GRILL is available for public use and smaller individual
open pits are scattered over the picnic area. Considerable privacy is afforded since
the acreage is large.
\ L . i
:
VAST AREAS
at the park.
hhI
iipii
—Enterprise Staff Photo
of shade trees and grass provide picnic spots for camping and outing
Cuban Refugee Use For Valley Said Doubtful
Cubans as a source of la-
bor to help harvest the on-
coming Valley cotton crop
seem doubtful since Secre-
tary of Labor Goldberg’s
arbitrary 700 per hour min-
imum wage will probably
apply, according to inform-
ation received by Bob Lilly,
Valley Farm Bureau Execu-
tive Manager.
The Valley Farm Bureau,
as well as other organiza-
tions, has contacted the Cu-
ban Refugee Emergency
Center in Florida in an ef-
fort to tap an apparent over
supply of refugee labor,
building up in that area. Ac-
cording to correspondence
received by the Valley Farm
Bureau from William J.
Gould, Employment Consul-
tant of the Center, “the U.S.
Department of Labor shall
make the determination un-
der the provisions of Public
Law 78, if Cuban farm la-
bor will be available for
this area,” stated Lilly. Pu-
blic Law 78 is the law un-
der which foreign labor is
imported into the U. S. and
users know this means not
only a minimum hourly wage
of 700 per hour, but other
restrictive requirements as
well, Lilly added.
According to information
received in response to the
inquiries, a majority of the
Cuban refugees available for
work in Florida are older
men, women, children, and
professional people with the
willingness to work, but little
experience.
ROTARY MEET
Bill Kennedy described a
recent scenic tour of New
Mexico and Arizona for his
own Rotary Club Tuesday
at The El Sombrero. The
Kennedy family recently re-
turned from their vacation.
The U. S. Labor Depart-
ment now has under con-
sideration adoption of ad-
ditional rules and regula-
tions that if finally adopted,
would no doubt apply to such
Cuban refugee labor, stated
Lilly. These proposed regu-
lations would require a
farmer to pay women, chil-
dren 14 to 16 years of age,
and workers handicapped by
age, 3/4 of the 700 per hour
minimum wage, either piece
rate or hourly rate.
It was hoped that the Cuban
refugees would help to supply
a portion of the 20,000 to
30,000 laborers needed in the
four Valley counties for cot-
ton harvest. If it is ruled
by the Department of Labor
that the 700 per hour mini-
mum wage will not apply
to these refugees, they could
prove a source of much
needed labor, Lilly conclud-
ed.
The park has been land-
scaped into small rock gar-
den effects throughout the 10
acres obtained for the
public’s enjoyment. A large
picnic area containing bar-
beque pit, tables and other
necessary items for an out-
ing are abailab.e Surround-
ing this are the flower gar-
dents and a small waterfall,
dens and a small waterfalls.
Many semitropical plants
highlight the lanes and over-
look the colliseum seats.
There are also lounges and
tentative dressing rooms and
many groups in the past have
used this area for pageants,’
musicals and the like.
There is no charge for the
use of the park. It is open
to the public.
However, Mr. Bartlett
states that persons coming
there are asked to bring their
own drinking water for there
is no source of water safe
for drinking. If the park is
to be used in the late evening
there is a nominal charge
for the use of lights. The
museum also makes no
charge, but donations are
accepted. Mr. Bartlett has
no other source of funds
City Approves
Fund Transfer
At Special Meet
Funds totaling $1500 were
transferred from the Water
Department to the general
fund of the city following a
special city commission
meeting last Thursday.
The special meeting was
called by Mayor A. J. Hagan
shortly before noon for
2 p.m. Mayor Hagan earlier
has expressed his opposi-
tion to special meetings in
general and those called on
short notice in particular.
The $1500 was used to
help meet the June 15 city
payroll. Actually, according
to city hall sources, the
water department owes the
city general fund more than
the amount transferred since
general funds were used by
the department in past years
and the total has never been
completely repaid. The wat-
er department had a surplus
of cash not being used, it
was reported.
Considerable discussion
was conducted over the em-
ployment of Oscar Garces
as street equipment opera-
tor. Information brought out
at the meeting indicated Gar-
ces began work June 6.
At the first commission
meeting after the April elec-
tion, Mayor Hagan and Com-
missioner Claudio Hinojosa
recommended the employ-
ment of Garces. The motion
was defeated. This was dur-
ing the transition period
when the city had no street
or utility superintendent.
Later, Jimmy Closner was
employed, by a 3-2 vote
with the mayor and Hino-
josa opposing, for the sup-
erintendent post.
Hinojosa made a motion
at the special meeting
Thursday that Garces be em-
ployed at a salary of $175
per month effective that date.
Commissioners Howard
Sparrow, Joe Adame and
Gordon Leonard opposed the
motion, pointing out Garces
had started to work June 6
and was entitled to be put
on the payroll as of that
date. Mayor Hagan moved
for reconsideration of the
motion which was defeated.
Finally, resolution was in-
troduced to employ Garces
and make it retroactive to
June 6. City Attorney J. D.
Vollmer had stated he be-
lieved the commission had
the power to make the ac-
tion retroactive. (In past
years, some employees have
been put on the payroll, some
purchases made and other
city business started by mut-
ual agreement, then later
ratified and made retroac-
tive in a formal commis-
sion meeting).
The Mayor and Hinojosa
voted for the resolution,
making it unanimous. Mayor
Hagan commented he was
changing his vote because
he was tired of quibbling.
with which to operate and
complete the museum work.
The total size of the park
is about 45 acres, 10 have
been landscaped leaving the
remaining acreage in the
natural state, which many
groups and individuals have
found interesting for camp-
ing trips, hikes, nature study
and just relaxation.
Many garden groups have
visited the park and found
this to their interest as the
semi-tropical arrangements
do add beauty to the general
area.
One of the most interest-
ing findings in the recent
past has been the discovery
of the mammoth, a prehis-
toric elephant, tusks and jaw
teeth. This was found during
excavation in the parking
lot. Also discovered were
human teeth, ceremonial
beads and primitive tools
supposedly buried with hu-
man. These among many
other specimens are on dis-
play in the museum and have
created much comment
through-out the valley area.
__ —Enterprise Staff Photo
DISPLAY CASES in Sunrise Hill Museum include a var-
iety of objects. This section shows coral fans, starfish
and bayonets from earlier periods of this section’s
history. For those with stronger constitutions, one
case contains numerous snakes, giant Mexican toad
frogs and Iguana. Also included are common garden
and field mice and rats and other rodents native of the
area. The management invites persons who may dis-
cover any item believed unusual to notify the museum.
ROCK GARDEN which includes
Sunrise Hill north of Mercedes.
even a man-made
—Enterprise btaff Photo
waterfall attracts nature lovers at
V
mtiBm
H.H. Bartlett, Sr. is the park
supervisor.
UR To Push
Paint Up Drive
Dozens of homeowners are
being invited to display their
civic pride and paint up their
homes.
Gene O’Shea, Urban Re-
newal Agency director, said
letters have gone out to
homeowners in the area
whose houses are up to code
standards except for paint-
ing.
“We are urging cooper-
ation by the citizens in paint-
ing their homes to beautify
the city as well as to con-
form to the codes,” he said.
Unpainted houses or build-
ings on which the paint is
badly fading or peeling, are
eyesores, it was pointed out.
KIWANIS MEET
Tom Longbrake of the
A&.M Valley Experiment Sta-
tion, will speak on a new
variety of tomato at the
weekly Kiwanis Club lunch-
eon Thrusday at the El Som-
brero. He also will describe
a new tomato harvesting
machine.
—Enterprise Staff Photo
POTTERY COLLECTION at the Museum includes authentic
Japanese, Chinese, Italian and Mexican vases, including
some formed from hot molten lava.
Bank Deposits Up 10 Million
Deposits in Valley banks
and savings and loan associ-
ation at the end of May were
more than $ 10,000,000 above
the same date in 1961, ac-
cording to the Economic
Barometer section of “Val-
ley In Action,” monthly mag-
azine of the Valley Chamber
of Commerce.
Total deposits in the banks
in 18 Valley cities which
sent monthly reports to the
Valley Chamber of Com-
merce were $179,035,600
.40, compared with $173,
920,958.29 a year ago.
Savings and loan associa-
tions reported $61,033,278
.32 in deposits at the end
of May of this year, while
a year ago the figure was
$55,965,388.15.
Sea Scouters
Make Cruise
Like Seamen
Fifteen tired, weather-
beaten Mercedes Sea Scouts
recently returned from a
week’s cruise in the Gulf
along with others from the
Valley.
Some 91 participated in the
annual summer cruise which
originated at Port Isabel.
The cruise took them to
Port Aransas, Rockport,
Corpus Chrisit and back.
They visited the University
of Texas Marine installation
at Port Aransas, the Museum
operated by the State Game
and Fish Commission at
Rockport and the U. S. Naval
base at Corpus Christi.
Boys from Mercedes Ship
59 were accompanied by Bill
Harp, skipper , and Ralph
Jones, first mate. They were
aboard Zimmerman’s Speed-
way along with nine mem-
bers of the Mission ship
and four from McAllen.
Almost the entire trip was
beseiged with rainstorms
and other violent weather,
but the youths took it like
men, it was reported.
After the cruise, a dance
was held.
Among those attending
were Hoyt Hager IIP, Mike
McQueen, Larry Herold, Ce-
cil Marchant, Mike Morava,
Larry Peacock, Dennis Ro-
mig, Randy Smith, Chip
Sparrow, Lloyd Stotler, Lar-
ry Tankersley, Chip Wilt,
Billy Winston and Melton
Wyatt.
NEW LA VILLA
POST OFFICE
DEDICATION SET
Dedication ceremonies for
the new LaVilla post office
are scheduled for 3 p.m.
June 29, Mrs. Easter Sikes,
postmaster, announced.
Principal speaker will be
R. H. Rheiner, in charge of
organization and manage-
ment services in the regional
office, Dallas. Other special
guests are expected to in-
clude U. S. Rep. Joe Kil-
gore; C. Lee Schimit, postal
inspector from Harlingen,
and other valley postmast-
ers.
The LaVilla school band
will play, and Girl Scout
Troop 114 will be in charge
of flag raising. Mrs. Neal
Stites will sing The Star
Spangled Banner.
The modern new building
is 20 x 40 feet with all new
equipment. George Shulgen
was the contractor and own-
er. It was built under the
leased construction pro-
gram, fianaced under pri-
vate ownership, paying lo-
cal and community taxes and
leased to the federal govern-i
ment. Mrs. Sikes commented,
that better postal service
can be given to the com-
munity and it also enables
the employees to work un-
der better conditions.
The new post office has
100 more boxes, has year
around air-conditioning, and
bank type counters. The flor-
escent lighting and several
windows give even light.
There are two plate glass
doors and front glass win-
dow.
Mrs. F.vie Womble is the
postal clerk. Emmett Coop-
er was the first Postmast-
er when the 4th class Post-
office was established May
28, 1928 in Mr. Cooper’s
store. The late Mrs. Lil-
lian Burke became post-
master June 15, 1948 and
was postmaster for 12 years.
Mrs. Sikes became acting
Postmaster nov. 30, 1949 j
and became postmasterSept. i
21, 1961. The office is now
3rd class.
Mercedes Angels
Lose To Rio Bravo
The Mercedes Angels lost
a game by only 1 point to the
Rio Bravo team last Sunday
but will get a chance to re-
verse the action this Sun-
day.
The score was 7-6. This
week’s game will be in Mer-
cedes. The Angels have won
13 and lost 5 so far this
season.
Two City Boards
Oppose Permit
For Beer Sale
The Mercedes city com-
mission is expected to re-
consider its earlier action in
granting a license for op-
eration of a bear tavern on
U. S. Hwy. 83 of the Wes-
Mer Drive-in Theatre.
The matter appears cer-
tain to be reviewed since
both the zoning board and
planning commission have
officially gone on record as
opposing the permit.
At a regular meeting of
the city commission June 12,
the commission approved a
permit for operation of the
tavern. Building Inspector
G. L. Gordon said he found
no reason to deny the re-
quest. The commission un-
animously approved it.
Later, Gene P. appeared
at a special meeting of the
city commission last Thurs-
day to protest granting of
the permit. He said it was
in violation of the zoning
ordinance. Although he is
chairman of the zoning com-
mission, he appeared as a
private citizen. He owns
property in the general area.
However, a meeting of the
zoning commission was held
Saturday and the group un-
animously went on record as
opposing granting of the per-
mit after hearing all the
evidence4
Tuesday night, the plan
commission unanimously
adopted a resolution oppos-
ing the permit for operation
of a beer tavern and sale of
intoxicating beverages at the
location known as the Cactus
Lounge. The action was taken
“in the best public interest,”
the motion read.
It was indicated that the
action of both groups would
be reported at the next reg-
ular city commission meet-
ing at 4 p.m. Monday.
While neither group has
executive powers, the city
commission in the past us-
ually follows the recom-
mendation of the zoning com-
mission on zoning matters.
The location in question
is in recently annexed ter-
ritory. Some of the land
already is being used for
business, but it was pointed
out that business zoning does
not necessarily permit the
operation of taverns.
Hotel Committees
Continue Planning
Committees continue their
work on various pre-con-
struction stages of the Mid-
Valiev Community Motor
Hotel, it was reported at
the weekly board meeting
T uesdav.
Collections totals 174,805.
Committee chairmen dis-
cussed progress of their ne-
gotiations thus far.
COME ON MOM—Why not
enter your daughter in the
Tots Bathing Beauty Contest
to the held early in July
in connection with the new
Civic Center opening? With
the contest underway a week,
only one entry has been re-
ceived, Mindy Gae Irby, 4 1/2
daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
George Irby. Youngsters 3
through 8 years of age are
eligible. There is no entry
fee. Entries should be sent
to The Mercedes Chamber of
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Harvey, J. Edwin. The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 21, 1962, newspaper, June 21, 1962; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1091852/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.