The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 33, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 18, 1999 Page: 1 of 20
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le Mercet
terprist
Mercedes, Texas 78570 Wednesday, August 18,1999
Volume 87
Number 33 Price 50c
School tax remains at $1.51 per $100
School trustees Tuesday adopted a pay for all staff members, reports Su-
$33 million budget for the coming perintendent Jesus Gandara.
year, a budget highlighted by increased The budget includes a minimum
of
salary increase of $3000 for all teach- cafeteria, transportation and instruc-
ers, a five percent increase for support tional personnel, and a 7.5 percent
staff, such as custodial, maintenance, raise for administrators, the superin-
tendent says.
Based on the same tax rate as this
year’s — $1.51 per $100 in property
valuation — the plan also includes $1 1
million for technology related items.
The board conducted a budget ’
workshop and public hearing on the
tax rate before adopting the document, 1
Mr. Gandara says. Comments from
the public largely focused on finding "
more money for teacher pay, particu-
larly for those teachers who have
“capped out” at the top end of the pay
scale because of length of their ser- i
vice. Trustee Amado Garcia, for one,
said he was willing to pay higher taxes
in order to provide additional pay for |
teachers. |
A related item involved health in- -
suranceforthedistrict’semployees. . B W‘ "
Trustees awarded the contract to the I siessie
low bidder and current carrier, Pru- THEY’LL LEARN FOOTBALL BASICS — Two of the first to
dentiai Insurance, though officials will register to play Youth Flag Football were Manuel Huerta, Jr.,
continue to look for a separate pro- center left, and Isaiah Daniel Garcia, who receive tips on ball
WATER TOWER DEDICATED — Officials of
the city and Empowerment Zone gathered
Friday in the Mercedes Industrial Park for the
dedication of the city’s second elevated water
storage tank and unveiling of a marker on the
structure. Presentations were made by Mayor
Miguel Castillo, Jr. and EZ Director Bonnie
Gonzalez. Among those on hand for the official
unveiling were, from left above, Assistant City
Manager Richard Garcia, Commissioner Diana
Serna, Mayor Castillo and Commissioner Jaime
Garza. OMI, Inc., the firm that handles the city’s
water and wastewater treatment, hosted a
breakfast for those attending. The 750,000
gallon tower was built at a cost of $960,000,
funded largely through the Empowerment Zone.
(Enterprise Photo.)
1 vider of prescription insurance. Pru- handling from Tiger Head Coach Hector Martinez and Flag
i dentiai and the two local pharmacies Football Director Jesse Trevino, Jr. A second registration session
I have failed to reach an agreement on for the program takes place this Saturday. Officials stress that
the sport offers numerous benefits to young athletes. (Enterprise
Photos.)
Flag football gives
numerous benefits
Scrimmage |
isFriday
It’s nearly time for a new football
season, and the first challenge for
young Tigers comes this week with a
scrimmage against Pharr-San Juan-
Alamo North.
Coaches are seeing improvement
in each new day’s practice, says Tiger
headman Hector Martinez.
“We’re getting lots of good things
out of these young men,” the coach
says. “We’re very pleased with the
players’ effort and willingness to
work.”
A seven-on-seven scrimmage last
Friday was “very productive,” he con-
tinues. “We found some points we
need to address. The passing game 1
isn’t where I’d like it to be yet.”
But there were some “good sur-
prises,” he says. “We wanted to check "
our front lines and secondary, and we 1
were able to find the places where 1
some individuals fit in best.” |
Tigers get their first true test in this ■
week’s scrimmages. Freshmen will be
first to play, starting at 5 p.m. Thurs-
day.
Junior varsity and varsity will play
at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respec-
tively, Friday, all at the high school
practice fields. The scrimmages are
open to all.
“The players are going at it hard,”
the coach concludes, “and every day
we make an improvement is a day
that’s been worthwhile.” |
prescription payments, so school em-
ployees are now forced to leave town
to take advantage of the Prudential co-
payments.
The budget item for insurance is
up by $700,000 over last year’s, the
superintendent adds, due largely to
several “catastrophic” claims from the
district. The official says, however,
that the increase is in line with that
being faced by a number of other dis-
tricts.
Scoggins Construction was given
a $246,700 payment on work now un-
derway at Mercedes High School and
Taylor Elementary. Mr. Gandara says
school began at MHS Monday with no
problems, and that all health and safety
codes were complied with, despite the
construction underway on the cam-
pus.
A $43,632 payment was approved,
as well, to CST Environmental, the
firm that removed asbestos from MHS
campus.
The board also granted one ex-
emption to the district’s uniform
policy, that given on “philosophical
grounds.”
It was announced that the district
has been awarded a $160,000 grant
from the state’s TIF fund for technol-
ogy improvements. The money will
fund a $50,000 distance learning cen-
ter at MHS, and will pay for 30 new
computers for both the Junior High
and Graham campuses, at $55,000 per
school.
NEW SCHOOL YEAR UNDERWAY — A new school year got started
Monday, with opening day attendance of some 4,330 students.
Staff members, however, began their work last week. Their first
duty was to attend an opening session of in-service training, where
Anthony J. Trujillo was featured as guest speaker. Mr. Trujillo, who
makes a point above, is on the staff of the National Center on
Education and the Economy, serving as Director of America’s
Choice Program. He spoke on the importance of dual language
education. In lower photo, Paraprofessional Yvonne Valdez works
with kindergarten students at West Elementary on the second day
of school. (Enterprise Photos.)
WhiteWing
, night nears
Local baseball fans should not for-
get that this Friday is “Mercedes Com-
munity Night” with the Rio Grande
Valley WhiteWings.
No-cost or low-cost attendance at
Friday’s WhiteWings game is being
made possible by the sponsorship of a
number of Mercedes businesses, the
City of Mercedes and the Mercedes
Area Chamber of Commerce, say
spokesmen.
• Tickets have been distributed
through a number of local businesses,
but were limited in number and avail-
able on a first-come, first-served ba-
sis. For information on finding tickets,
one might call the Mercedes Area
Chamber of Commerce at 565-2221.
At the game, the team will meet the
Greensville Bluesmen. Action begins
, at 7:05 p.m.
$ It’s also Batting Helmet Give-a-
Way Night for those 12 and under.
Can register
for soccer
This Saturday will see the first
registration session for youngsters in-
terested in playing soccer with the
Mid-Valley Soccer Association dur-
ing the fall season, says Travelling
Team Commissioner Juan Guajardo,
Jr.
The league is open to both boys
and girls ages four tol9.
Registration will be conducted at
Weslaco City Park on Saturday, Au-
gust 21 and Saturday, August 28. Late
registration will be permitted only until
the day of the first game.
Sign-up will run from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m. both days. Children’s birth cer-
tificates need to be shown.
Registration fees are $25 per child
for the fall season, $40 for both fall
and spring seasons, with no family to
be charged more than $70 per year.
Also needed are volunteer coaches
for the teams. Those interested in
coaching are invited to call Mr.
Guajardo at the phone number at the
end of the story.
In addition, those age 10 and up are
invited to participate in the travelling
team, which will play in matches across
the Valley and perhaps out-of-Valley
tournaments.
Tryouts for that team will follow
registration on August 21, beginning
at 11 a.m.
Anyone wanting more information
Youth flag football can have huge
benefits to both tlie players and school
football programs of later years, says
Mercedes Athletic Director Hector
Martinez.
“You can’t overstate the impor-
tance of flag football to our programs
in junior high and high school,” the
AD says. “The foundation for basic
skills, teamwork and competitive atti-
tude is laid in flag football.
“But even more important, it can
help the youngster gain an apprecia-
tion for the game, for sports in general
and for healthy behavior,” he adds.
This Saturday is the second and
final registration session for boys want-
ing to take part in this, the 14th season
of Youth Flag Football in Mercedes,
reminds League Director Jesse
Trevino.
“Flag football is a great way to get
a youngster involved in athletics,” AD
Martinez continues. “Since there’s no
tackling, injuries that might discour-
age a kid’s participation are avoided.
Additionally, we let everyone play in
every position —just because they’re
husky doesn’t mean they’re automati-
cally a lineman. That also keeps kids
from getting discouraged.
“Flag football also lays the ground-
work for the discipline, teamwork,
character and good sportsmanship that
will be valuable in all areas of a
youngster’s life,” he adds. “We really
encourage participation in the sport.”
Registration will run from 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m. at the Mercedes Knights of
Columbus Hall.
The registration is open to boys
who will be in firstthrough sixth grades
this fall. A $15 fee must be paid during
registration and a parent must accom-
pany the youngster.
A late registration fee will be
charged to those registering after these
dates.
There will be cut-off once a limit
of 48 boys is reached in each of the
three divisions: first and second grades,
third and fourth, and fifth and sixth.
Registrations will be taken on a
first come, first served basis.
Volunteer coaches are also needed.
Anyone interested in serving the league
is invited to visit with Mr. Trevino at
registration time.
In flag football, players wear belts
with attached flags. A player is “down”
when his flag has been taken by an
opponent. Called the safest of all youth
team games, its structure allows for
every player on the team to handle the
ball.
Teams are formed using the neigh-
borhood method, with players living
near each other put on the same team.
This reduces the amount of travel and
allows for practice to take place closer
to the players’ homes. It also helps the
development of players to be on the
same team with their neighbors.
Each team has nine to 12 players,
and the game is divided into four 10-
minute quarters. The team on the field
is composed of eight players, five line-
men in a balanced line and three
backfield players. The eight on the
field play the entire quarter, both of-
fense and defense.
A new player plays quarterback
during each quarter and during the
season every player on the team must
play quarterback for one full quarter.
He can line up under the center or in a
shotgun formation.
No player can play in the backfield
more than two combined quarters dur-
ing the game. Substitution during the
quarter is not allowed except for inju-
ries.
The quarterback handles all kick-
ing duties, punting, kickoffs and extra
points. All kicks are “free kicks” with
other special provisions.
Every player must play a mini-
mum of two full quarters.
Chamber to celebrate
boot-making heritage
The boot-making tradition of
Mercedes will be celebrated in a two-
day festival during October, report
Mercedes area Chamber of Commerce
officials.
“The Mercedes Boot Fest” and a
PRCA Rodeo will take place on Octo-
ber 2-3 on the grounds of the Rio
Grande Valley Livestock Show, re-
port Project Co-Chairmen Edna
on any aspect of the soccer program is Martinez and Barry E. Jones.
invited to call Mr. Guajardo at 423-
5350.
“Mercedes has a long history as
the Boot Capital of South Texas,” the
two write in a letter to Chamber mem-
bers. “We will celebrate this tradition
with the Boot Fest. The Rodeo will
anchor the event, supported by special
events, contest, foods, dances, con-
certs and exhibits.”
The chairman invite all to partici-
pate by operating a booth in the Ex-
hibit Hall during the fest. Reservation
deadline is September 1, with more
details on price's and sizes available by
calling the Chamber office at 565-
2221.
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The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 33, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 18, 1999, newspaper, August 18, 1999; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1632274/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.