The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 89, No. 28, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 11, 2001 Page: 1 of 14
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CrCe
terprise
Mercedes, Texas 78570 Wednesday, July 11, 2001
Volume 89
Number 28
Price 50c
New chief ‘excited’ about Mercedes
Lucio promises to be a contributor to
itive growth here
POLICE CHIEF OMAR LUCIO
...to be sworn in next Tuesday.
Tire recycling planned
At long last, residents will have a
Solution to that age-old problem of
tire disposal.
Pet clinic set
Residents with pets that need
vaccinations are invited to take part
in a low-cost vaccination clinic this
Saturday, sponsored by the City of
jMercedes and Mercedes Police
Department.
Clinic hours are 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., .
July 14, at the City Shop, North Ohio
and First Street.
Fees are just $5 for the rabies shot,
and $15 for a parvo/combo
vaccination.
Those with questions are invited
to call 565-6147.
■
City officials are announcing a
program of tire recycling that lets
citizens turn in up to seven tires a year
at no cost. For each tire over seven,
the fee is just $1.
Tires can be dropped off that the
City Shop at First and Ohio, or citizens
can wait for pick-up by crews. A
collection 'program is now being
planned; one can call 565-6147 to find
out about pick-up schedules.
Youngsters can learn golf
Youngsters interested in learning
the fundamentals of golf are invited
to take part in the Boys and Girls Club
of Mercedes Summer Golf Program.
A 12-hour program of Beginner’s
When Omar Lucio takes over as
Mercedes chief of police next week,
he brings to the post long experience
in law enforcement and excellent
educational credentials.
But just as importantly, he brings
something else: enthusiasm for his job
and a profoundly positive attitude.
“I’m really excited, really anxious
to get started,” Chief Lucio says. “I
love law enforcement, and I can’t wait
to contribute to this great little town.”
The chief has already visited his
department and says his first
impression is that “it’s a good one. 1
think the officers arc looking forward
to having some guidance, and 1 think
they will benefit from it.
“1 can assure them,” he adds,
“that I’ll work tirelessly on their behalf
for training and equipment to make
ours the best possible force.”
In just short visits here, the chief
I has already found good things.
“ “Mercedes is growing, and it has
great potential for even greater
things,” he says. “I think the
leadership ofthc community is moving
in the right direction, and 1 think
cveryonc’s working hard in the best
interest of our citizens. 1 know
everyone’s looking forward to the
bigger and better things that arc
coming.
“I want to be part of that and to
contribute to it.”
The chief says his attitude
towards law enforcement - born of
nearly four decades as a lawman -
puts and emphasis on training,
teamwork and community
Golf will run July 17-July 29 at Llano
Grande Golf Course. Classes will take
place from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Fee is $25 per participant. For more
information, one can call the club at
565-3033 or 778-7076.
involvement.
“I believe in lots of training for my
officers, and I have already proposed
that to City Manager (Ernesto) Silva,”
he says. “When I took over at the
(Cameron County) Sheriff’s
Department, we increased the amount
of training ten-fold, from 4000 man-
hours a year to 40,000 man-hours.
“Well-trained officers will give
better service, they’ll be more aware
of the rights of the criminal, the victim
and the common citizen,” he continues.
“Training will help officers eliminate
mistakes, avoid lawsuits, write better
reports to build better cases.
“And most importantly of all - and
this is foremost in my mind and in my
heart - is that the officers will be able
to provide a higher degree of safety
both for himself and for the public.”
“We’re extremely fortunate to
have a man with the experience and
record of Mr. Lucio on the job in
Mercedes,” Mr. Silva says.
The new chief brings with him
almost 40 years of law enforcement
experience, including 35 years of
service at virtually every level on the
Harlingen Police Force. He also
served a term as sheriff in Cameron
County.
Chief. Lucio holds a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Criminal Justice and
Sociology form the University of
Texas - Pan American, and a Doctor
of Jurisprudence from the Reynaldo
Garza School ofLaw.
The chief says he plans to meet
with each officer individually, “talk
with all of them, to get their feedback.
They, probably all have ideas on how
to improve things, and the idea here
is to promote teamwork. Through
- teamwork, we will be better able to
protect and serve.”
In this vein, he says he expects to
work “hand in hand” with other
neighboring law enforcement
agencies, the municipal judge, district
attorney’s office, Border Patrol and
Customs, the Department of Public
Safety, DPS narcotics units and the
area auto theft task force.
“The community will see changes
and improvements - but they’re not
w going to come overnight,” he says.
“My tenure will be beneficial to these
officers - I’m going to make sure they
have the equipment needed. And I
don’t foresee any problems in gaining
support from city hall or the city
commission.
“I plan to build a force that will be
seen as a friendly, courteous part of
this community, but one that is
effective in deterring crime and
protecting life and property,” he says.
“We’ll work hard to build positive
ALREADY MAKING FRIENDS, incoming Police Chief Omar Lucio
introduces himself to US Postal Carrier Rosendo Gonzales on
Monday. The new chief will take the oath of office Tuesday,
and begin his job here next Wednesday. (Enterprise Photo.)
Citizens can meet chief,
view reworked facilities
City leaders will host a three-part
celebration next week, as the town's
new police chief takes office, and two.
newly renovated city facilities are
formally opened.
All citizens are invited to the affair,
which begins with the 5:45 p.m. City
Commission meeting on Tuesday, July
17.
Topping the agenda will be the
administering of the oath of office to
new Police Chief Omar Lucio. The
officer begins his new job the
following day.
At the same time, city leaders will
be showing off newly renovated
Commission Chambers, which have
been improved with the addition of
new audio and video equipment. A
large video screen has been added
for visual presentations, while the
audio and recording gear will make
meetings more accessible to citizens
who are hearing impaired.
“Several different entities and
agencies use Mercedes as a meeting
point, because of its central location,”
results and provide good service,” he
concludes. “We want to have a great
working relationship with the people
of Mercedes.”
says Community Development
Director Jaime Ortiz, citing the
Secretary of State as one. “The
improvements here will not only be
appreciated by our citizens, but by
the visitors as well.”
From there, the celebration will
move to Mercedes Memorial Library,
for a formal open house of the half-
million dollar renovation that has been
recently completed there.
“While some furniture has yet to
arrive, and the building’s plaque
hasn’t yet been delivered, we thought
citizens would have a better view of
what’s been done at the library now,”
Mr. Ortiz says. The ambitious
remodeling plan more than doubled
the library’s floor space, and new
computers and furnishings will make
the facility more enjoyable and more
useful than ever.
A reception will take place at the
. library, not only to inaugurate the
facility, but also to allow citizens to
meet the new chief. All are invited to
attend.
ALL-STARS ARE RUNNERS-UP — Mercedes
Minor League Girls Softball All-Stars took
Runner-Up honors during the recent All-Star
Tournament. Posting a loss only to Harlingen,
the team defeated Los Fresnos, Willacy
County, Rio Grande City and Harlingen. Team
members, all nine and 10 year olds, included,
not in order shown above, Samantha Nicole
Ramirez, Heather Alvarado, Lydia Marie De
Leon, Michelle Rodriguez, Alyssa Marie
Acevedo, Ariel Mariah Irby, Melanie
Cadena, Esmeralda Marie Gonzalez, Felicia
Ann Handy, Stephanie Marie Castaneda,
Kimberly Nicole Marquez, Liza Ranee
Alvarado, Amber Dawn Gonzalez and
Cassandra Nicole Martinez. Coaching the
team was Arnoldo Ramirez and Eustacio
Fiores, Jr.
Summer band starts soon
It’s time for Mercedes band
’students to dust off those
instruments and prepare for camp,
reports Director Guy McKinney.
Camp for clarinet players will take
place July 16-18, with seventh and
eighth grade clarinet players
attending from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and
high school students attending from
p.m. to 3 p.m.
Flag camp for all flag members will
take place July 24-28, running from 8
a.m. to 3 p.m. MHS students who wish
to join the Flag Corp should attend
this camp.
All freshmen band members must
report to the High School Band Hall
with their instruments from 8 a.m. until
noon, July 25-27.
All high school band members
must report to the High School Band
Hall July 30 through August 3 and
August 6-10. All students must bring
their instruments.
All Junior High band members
must report to the Junior High Band
Hall with their instruments from
August 6-10. Camp will run from 1:30
p.m. to 3 p.m.
Sixth grade band students will
have no summer band and will begin
instruction on the first day of class.
For more information, one may call
the High School Band Hall at 514-
2143, beginning July 16.
CUBS WENT UNDEFEATED — The Cubs, minor
league girls’ softball team playing in the
Mercedes Little League, posted a perfect
record during the season just complete.
Coached by Arnold Ramirez and Arturo
Gonzalez, the team was sponsored by Dr.
Lora Martinez and her Eye Care Center. Team
members were, not in the order shown, Lydia
de Leon, Rebecca Villarreal, Victoria
Villarreal, Samantha Ramirez, Joanna de los
Santos, Michelle Rodriguez, Amber
Gonzalez, Angela Acevedo, Renee Solis,
Valerie Balandran, Heather Alvarado and
Victoria Nichole Ayala.
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The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 89, No. 28, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 11, 2001, newspaper, July 11, 2001; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1652946/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.