News Bulletin (Castroville, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 40, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 27, 2001 Page: 1 of 16
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Volume 41
Fortieth Issue
Mixed TX
BAZE Book
514 W. 7th
Zips
Amarillo TX
Castroville - La Coste
I lews
St.
79101
ADC Ft.Worth
Binding
Thursday,
September 27, 2001
Castroville, Texas
Agenda
City Council - Oct. 8
School Board - Oct. 17
750
Most city workers deny experiencing discrimination
Sylvia Carrizales
Staff Writer
City employees who
agreed to talk about discrimi-
nation in the workplace said
they mostly enjoy working in
Castroville and don’t see dis-
crimination, including sexual
harassment, as a problem on
the job.
Most employees were
aware of the Mary Lou Sohs
and Rick Talamantez law-
suits against the city.
Albert Lopez, the attor-
ney who represents the city in
the two lawsuits alleging dis-
crimination based on nation-
al origin said he advised
city employees involved with
quately addresses the issue. ment policies will remain
“I think (the policy) unchanged.
speaks for itself,” Hancock
Rand said he has received
said. "We don’t tolerate any allegations from employees
problems in this area.”
According to the policy,
the city administrator must
conduct an annual review of
the policies as a part of the
about discrimination which
he investigates.
City,--------------,—
Rene Rodriguez is a water
operator and has worked for
four years for the depart-
ment.
‘With us it’s all right,”
Rodriguez said. ‘We’ve heard
Secretary
Donna
budget process and recom- Schueling has
mend any changes to the city
council before the start of the
fiscal year.
Rand said he has looked
at the manual but will not
have the time to make the
changes he desires before Oct.
1.
“There are a number of
the authority
to make deci-
sions concern-
ing sexual
Telling the tale
About half, 18 of 34,
of city workers were
interviewed. Five others
declined to comment.
harassment
complaints. She refused to
comment for this story and
about other
departments
but that has
nothing to do
with us.”
Public
Works employ-
ees who did not
want to be iden-
tified said departmental poli-
tics and favoritism exist as
reminded employees they far as promised raises and
could not be interviewed dur-
the matters
not to talk
about the
cases.
Lopez
looked on as
Mayor Bob
Hancock
commented
on discrim-
ination
among
employees.
Hancock
71%
things we’d like to address,” ing work hours.
City faces
lihpi
Anb
Rand
said.
“This will
be a
pretty
A group of Public Works
selective application of the
rules but not discrimination.
Another Public Works
Public works employees install a fence post in the
Regional Park. Despite recent lawsuits, the majority of
employees interviewed said they had not experienced
discrimination. (Photo by Sylvia Carrizales)
Department employees talk- department employee who
ed during a break and said
if racial discrimination or
any other kind- occurred, they
detailed would bring it up, especially
project.” now with the two other law-
Rand suits in the limelight.
said the
major
changes
Raymundo Gutierrez, a
did not want to be identified
said the favoritism surround-
ed Solis and another Public
Works employee Robert
Ramos who he said com-
plained about an incident.
“They get away with any-
waste water foreman, has thing,” he said. ‘All they have
worked for the Public Works
said the
Personnel Policies manual
given to all employees ade-
vacation approval, which will
benefit employees. He said
the equal employment oppor-
tunity and sexual harass-
involve Department for five years
and said he is content.
“They treat us okay,"
Gutierrez said. “There’s no
disrespect or anything.”
to do is cry a little and they
get what they want. If we ask
for it, we get the handbook
read to us.”
See "workers," page 2
50389608
BOX-G
HORSE
FARM
- RO rensale
Do unto others
Members of the Castroville Volunteer Fire Department hit the streets Saturday
morning, collecting change from passing Hwy 90 motorists for the New York relief
efforts. Here, Fire Chief Billy Chase accepts a donation from Barbara Gilliam.
The four-hour effort by about a dozen firefighters raised over $3400. (Photo by
Jeff Wilton)
Alsatians send messages of sympathy
Sylvia Carrizales some of the messages, most
Staff Writer translated from French,
Residents of the Alsace received from Sept. 11 until
region delivered e-mails, faxes Friday:
and phone calls of support to “This is horrible and
the city in the wake of the incredible. We would like
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. to show our solidarity and
Castroville resident pray for the innocent victims.
Christiane Wood, who was My husband, Pierrot, wrote
born in Alsace and visits to Mayor (Bob) Hancock to
each year, said she receives express the solidarity of the
messages every day from residents from your sister
Alsatians worried about the city, Eguisheim. We’re fol-
nation. lowing the events and hope
Wood said one man could President Bush will find the
not sleep and called her cry- right response to save inno-
ing, to talk about the trag- cent victims. What a respon-
edy. sibility, we love you all,” --
Here are excerpts from Odile Hussherr, wife of the
mayor of Eguisheim, Pierrot
Hussherr.
“I would like to tell you
in the name of your Alsatian
cousins that we are on your
side in thoughts and prayers.
We hope that in the future,
European countries and the
United States of America will
cooperate more to eradicate
the CANCER spreading all
over the world. I mean ter-
rorism and fanaticism. We
have confidence in America.”
Liliane and Roger
Schumacher, leaders of a pro-
fessors group who visited
Castroville in April of 2001.
Harassment suits continue
Sylvia Carrizales
Staff Writer
Within the past year,
the city was identified as
a defendant in two discrimi-
nation lawsuits and Police
Officer Roger Yzaguirre quit
after complaints of discrim-
ination based on national
origin.
The lawsuits were filed
by one current and one pro-
spective city employee, both
Hispanic.
Albert Lopez, the attor-
ney who represents the city
in the two cases, said he
filed motions to dismiss the
cases with the U.S. District
Court.
“As a matter of practice,
we’re not going to comment
See "lawsuits," page 2
City stymies skydiver's reque
Sylvia Carrizales
Staff Writer
The dissatisfied owner
of Alamo Skydivers, Inc.
stormed out of the city coun-
cil meeting Monday eve-
ning after his requests for
improvements to his airport
property were tabled until
he filled out the necessary
paperwork.
commercial locks and his City Administrator
business remains non-oper- Ronnie Rand said Fousse
ational after a year and a who lives about 40 minutes
half. from the airport expressed
“I drove all the way from an interest in an on-site
San Antonio to discuss my residence.
issues,” he said. “I need my
Council members and
land, I need things done, I concerned residents point-
need help.” ed out that manufactured
Councilman James Bell homes are not allowed on
asked if he was delinquent city property according to
Edward Balderrama with his rent and City Chapter 22 of the Code
said the improvements for Secretary Donna Schueling Ordinances.
his business at the said he was behind one
Castroville Municipal month.
Airport which included a Balderrama admitted
new entrance door, electri- he was sometimes late with
cal work, parking and fuel his rent.
availability were promised “Yes, I have been slow,
to him in a verbal agree- but it’s because I have not
ment by a city employee he been operating.”
Rand said an on-site
airport coordinator would
benefit the city at no cost
but the council and City
Attorney Vivian Torres had
concerns.
Councilman
Mike
Masters said in the past,
would not name. Bell said he was wary police officers who wanted
“Nobody’s made any for- of meeting Balderrama’s to move to Castroville and
mal agreements,” requests because he had a could not find a home were
Balderrama said. “Back in pattern of blaming the city not aided.
April or May of this year, I
talked to someone...”
“I don’t want to put any-
one on the fire here.”
for problems with his prop-
erty.
Councilman
Leon
Tschirhart told Balderrama
Mayor Bob Hancock unlike verbal agreements,
“If he rents a lot across
the street, he saves the time
and the city is not involved,”
he said.
Questions arose about
said he did not want to
argue with Balderrama and
asked him to fill out a con-
tract so the council could
officially discuss
requests.
when an issue is brought former fixed base operator
before the council, action is
taken.
Before Balderrama
his reluctantly left the podium
“We’re going to consider
all of this, I promise you,”
Hancock said. “I guarantee
we will follow the rules.
We’ll be back to you in writ-
ing.”
he said he guaranteed he
would bring people into
Castroville.
In business related to
the airport, the council
denied a motion to allow
Airport Coordinator Tim
Balderrama
said Fousse to execute a land
$20,000 worth in parachutes lease with the city so he can
were stolen because of an move a manufactured home
inadequate door with non- to the airport.
Louis McCasland who lives
in a manufactured home on
the airport.
Public Works Director
Bruce Alexander said
McCasland was living on
the property before the ordi-
nance went into effect in
1987.
Bell suggested building
a structure which, like a
hangar lease, after 30 years,
would become city property.
Crop dusting planes can fly for now but may face further bans
Sylvia Carrizales
Staff Writer
Medina County resi-
dents faced uncertainty as
a nationwide flight ban on
crop dusters began Sunday
and was lifted Tuesday at
12:05 a.m.
An FAA spokesperson
said all agricultural avia-
tors could fly but were cau-
tioned to check the notices
to airmen often for further
changes. She believed the
FAA ordered the grounding
but national news reports
said the FBI discovered one
of the suspected hijackers
asking about crop dusting
planes in Florida before the
Sept. 11 terrorist attack.
Rusty
Hondo’s
Lindeman of
Municipal Airport coordi-
nator, said the ban was
Rusty’s Flying placed due to worries about
Service said this is the possible biological warfare
third time crop dusters through the use of crop
were grounded since the
air space was shut down
after the attacks.
dusters.
Fousse said the crop
dusting planes
in
“It’s affecting both Castroville airport are kept
(farmers and crop dusters),” secured in a hangar and
Lindeman said. “We’ve got not on the runway.
cotton that needs defoli- County Extension
ating and vegetables that Agent Wayne Scholtz who
need spraying.” assists farmers said it is
Lindeman said the FAA not a busy time for farmers
ordered the first two bans. but if the ban went on for
“We’re kind of in a cor- consecutive days, it could
ner,” he said. “The FBI shut prove problematic.
us down this time.” “The longer it goes, the
Tim Fousse, Castroville more damage it causes,” he
said. flight rules, which means
Fousse said the FAA the pilots must advise the
prohibited crop dusters FAA of the destination,
nationwide from flying route and altitude they will
again Sept. 16 after the take.
initial ban was lifted Sept. “Our business has been
13. reduced drastically because
“It’s caused a lot of con- of limitations on flight,”
fusion,” he said. “The farm- Fousse said.
ers are unsure when their Before the nationwide
crops are going to be taken grounding, Mark Cooper,
care of.” FAA aviation safety inspec-
Clint Koenig of the tor, said crop dusters could
Farm Service Agency said fly as of 4 p.m. Sept. 17 but
he had not received any needed to stay clear of Class
calls from farmers about B air space, which is for
the crop duster ban. commercial airplanes from
Fousse said the airport large airports like Dallas/
is open to planes in Fort Worth International
accordance with instrument Airport.
“In normal circum-
stances, they would need
to get clearance into Class
B (air space),” Cooper said.
“They need to stay out and
stay clear.”
Cooper said the FAA
region holds teleconferenc-
es about every four hours to
discuss the nation’s chang-
ing security needs.
He said he did not know
the specific reason the crop
dusters were grounded
Sept. 16.
Officials with the FAA
aircraft security depart-
ment said they could not
comment.
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Barnes, Thomas. News Bulletin (Castroville, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 40, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 27, 2001, newspaper, September 27, 2001; Castroville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1689424/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Castroville Public Library.