The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 15, 1990 Page: 1 of 14
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Rio Grande City Public Library.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Michigan 49204-
I
• •
111
y
|id
ria
|K1
|ro,
ira
.J.
■isa
lisy
Ihia fl
Ime
Ilex
|ura
1)11 >
lima
ll in a
lica
I-1 la #?
:na,
fas,
jdia
luan
>av
jtks
j)H8.
Rig-
%
£
Edelstein
Specials,
Page 11
THE RIO RRMDE HERALD
Published wttklj in Rio Grande City, Texas, every Thursday by The Rio. Grande Publishing Co.
H.E.B,
Inserts
Inside
UVS 466-200
Vol. 80, No. 16, Thursday, March 15, 1990
25 Cents
County Commissioners Focus On
Jail, Task Force Application
Former
campaign
"Chuy"
hard in
win the
Governor Mark White is pictured above at a
reception at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J.M.
Alvarez of Rio Grande City. White campaigned
Rio Grande City Friday night in a position to
Democratic party nomination to the position he
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
on Monday, the County
Commissioners focused on the
status of planned construction of
Phase II of the Starr County
Detention Center, and on a plan to
submit a new grant application to
the state for a anti-drug abuse task
force consisting solely of Starr
County agencies.
Engineer Eloy Vera told the
court, "We have made a schematic
layout of Phase II of the detention
facility, but some things have
developed with other people."
Sheriff Gene Falcon indicated, "A
Mr. Keller and Mr. Alexander did a
study saying that a 1200-prisoner
facility was needed by the year
2000. They then came up with a
figure for 200 new beds under Phase
held from 1983-1987.
White Appears at Rally
in Rio Grande City
Former Governor Mark White,
campaigning hard to regain the job
he held for four years in the
mid-1980's, appeared to hundreds ol
supportive Siarr County citizens at
a private reception ;ind public rally
Friday night in Rio Grande City.
White first appeared at a private
reception at the home ol Mr. and
Mrs. J.M. "Chuy" Alvarez, both ot
whom are attorneys in Rio Grande
City. Scores of prominent county
and school district elected officials
were on hand.
In introducing White, Alvarez,
said. We need to keep moving (in
the campaign) and moving we are.
Mark White has been good to Starr
County, South Texas, and the
Valley."
White stressed, "We need to
continue to relocus our educational
effort. Too often, we put
limitations on young people. The
important thing is to raise their
hopes and expectations. Vou are the
centerpiece of our new country and
economy."
White emphasized, "I want to
make all areas of this state grow
again. Let's show off our assets in
the Valley and South Texas."
He pointed to the importance of
providing incentives to keep the
young people of Suirr County and
South Texas at home to raise their
families and pursue their careers and
occupations He said, "Wc have to
restore the vigor, conlidcnce, and
hope in our families.'
About the campaign leading up
to Tuesdays primary. White
commented, "I'm sad to see that
Ann (Richards) has lowered the
level of this campaign. I have not
been talking about my opponents,
but about the future of Texas."
A short tune later, White made a
brief appearance at a rally at the
"Pulga" in eastern Rio Grande City.
He again pointed to his record as
governor and stressed the
importance of bettering the quality
of education and addressing the
needs of senior citizens.
White's campaign manager for
South Texas told The Rio Grande
Herald that the former governor was
receiving strong support in all areas
of the state and that the momentus
was definitely in his favor. He
contended that South Texas and the
Valley should be one of White's
strongest areas.
Starr Players Make
All-District Basketball
Teams
The All-District basketball learns
of District 31-5A and District
32-4A were well stocked with
players from Rio Grande City and
Roma.
Roma's Sergio Garza, a senior
forward, was a unanimous first
team All-District selection. Coach
Jesus "Chuy" Gucrra noted that
Garza was the Valley's leading
scorer, averaging 27 points per
game.
Senior Gladiator guard Ricardo
Salinas also received first team
All-District honors, while center
Gustavo Valcnciana received
Honorable Mention recognition.
Roma Head Coach Jesus "Chuy"
Gucrra commented, "Sergio Garza
was playing as well as anybody the
last three to four weeks of the
season, as far as playing complete
basketball is concerned."
He stressed, "This is a team
award. Without the help of all the
players, these honors would not
have been possible."
For Rio Grande City, senior
forward Jaime Garza received first
team All-District honors, while
senior forward Hector Juarez and
senior guard J.P. Balderas received
Honorable Mention recognition.
Rio Head Coach Ed Messbarger,
Jr., noted that Garza averaged 18.5
points per game on the season and
20 points per game in district play.
He was the District 31 -5A
rebounding leader, averaging 15
rebounds per game. Garza was the
district's second leading scorer,
falling .3 of a point short of
finishing as the scoring champion.
Messbarger pointed out that both
Balderas and Juarez averaged 14
points per game in district play,
wnh Juarez averaging 7 rebounds
per game. Balderas was the team
leader in assists, averaging almost 5
assists per game.
Messbarger commented, "These
three are all super guys. They really
accomplished a lot and were the
backbone of this team. They
worked hard every day and their
effort was always outstanding."
Messbarger noted that Garza was
the Most Valuable Player of the
Weslaco Tournament, while
Balderas made the all-tournament
teams in the Edinburg, Weslaco,
and Mercedes tournaments and
Juarez made the all-tournament
team in Weslaco.
(See PLAYERS, Page 6)
1
i
..
R9RNH
Organizers of the Starr County Youth Fair in its early years were recognized by
the Starr County Fair Association on the closing day of the Fair on Sunday, March
4. Standing from left to right are Hob Peterson, Fela Ireland, Kfrain Duran, Manuel
Falcon, and Fidencio Guerra. Seated from left to right are Reynaldo "Moreno"
Alani/., Rodolfo Resendez, Mario Guillen, Lazaro Rodriguez, Mrs. Connie Nye. and
Frank Randall Nye. Not pictured are Manuel P. Guillen and Heberto Barrera.
III."
Vera noted, "The Sheriff and 1
recently visited detention facilities
in Montgomery, Atascosa and Bee
counties. In this layout, this is the
very minimum that is needed."
County Judge J.M. Martinez, Jr.,
said, "The Sheriff, Mr. Vera, arid
myself met with these people
(Keller and Alexander). These
people would handle all of Phase II
and III on a lease-financing basis."
Falcon said, "The Marshal's Office
said Starr County would have top
priority lor jail space."
Martinez added, "If we go this
other route, Mr. Vera might be out.
Perhaps he could work with them."
Vera said, "I feel this other route
would probably be best for the
county, as the county would not
have to pay any money. I have done
quite a bit of work."
A consensus was reached to
consider all possible alternatives,
and make a final decision as soon as
possible
Sheriff Falcon told the court,
"Wc are changing from a
Tri-County Task Force to strictly a
Starr County Force, with
representatives of the District
Attorney's office and the County
Attorney's off ice." For the past two
years, the Task Force has also
included law enforcement of 1 iccrs
and prosecutors from Zapata and
Jim Hogg Counties.
Falcon said, "Close to 80 percent
of the arrests and seizures (in the
three-county area) are from this
county. Wc are applying for
$326*000; we may get considerably
less than that. The county would
need to match with 25 percent. 1
have contacted the Governor's
Office, and 1 think that we have a
good chance oi getting this grant."
Falcon continued, "11 we get the
full grant, our matching share
would be $80,000. Perhaps the
state could agam provide matching
funds (as in the past)."
He indicated, "This is a new
grant, to take effect June 1. But we
don't have to come up with
S80.000 on June 1."
Auditor Jose Guadalupe Villarreal
said, "I suggest tabling this lor
study because of the danger of
losing what we have now." But
Falcon responded, "If we don't have
this in Austin by Thursday
morning, we lose this and the
existing grant, the whole bit"
The sheriff added that monies
from seizures could be used for the
matching funds. He contended, "I
think it would be no problem (for
the Sheriffs Department) coming
up with S50,000."
County Attorney Romero Molina
said, "Our office would be willing
to help in meeting any tund
shortages. I feel that this is very
important." Falcon conunded,
"These people in the Task Force
have be.'n very productive." A
motion is thus passed authorizing
the Sh Mtfs Department to apply
for this grant.
Falcon told the commissioners,
"Something needs to be done about
street corners in Rio Grande City,"
calling the parking situation at
these corners a serious hazard that
could result in tragedy if not
corrected soon. He suggested, "We
need to have some kind of
workshop, with the Highway
Department participating.' A
consensus was reached that a
workshop be held on the matter in
die near future.
Falcon requested approval from
ihe court to apply for slate funding
to enable the appointment of an
ol lit er strictly to handle auto thefts.
The sheriff noted, "We're requesting
S20,700 from the state; the county
(See .JAIL, Page 6i
Three Incumbents Win
In County Elections
The three contested local races in
Tuesday's Democratic primary
featured victories by each
incumbent, wnh light results in ihe
Governor's race.
Precinct Two Commissioner
Amando Pena won an easy
reelection victory, garnering 1387
votes to 219 for challenger Vicente
Lozano.
In the Precinct Four Justice of
the Peace's race, incumbent Hector
"Ivo" Perez narrowly won reelection
to a third term, receiving 345 votes
to 308 for challenger Elrain
"Cookie" Carrera.
In the Prccincl Six J.P's race,
incumbent Dewitt Chachi" Jones
received 1120 votes to 590 for
Guadalupe Amador, Jr.
In Starr County, Attorney
General Jim Mattox won a narrow
victory in the governor's race with
1763 votes, to 1593 votes for
former Governor Mark White. State
Treasurer Ann Richards was a
distant third wiih 507 votes.
In the Attorney General's race,
Dan Morales was leading with 2569
votes to 498 for John Odam.
Rotary Meeting Focuses On
Drive For Library
By KENNETH ROBERTS
The push to create a full-fledged
public library in Starr County was
the focus of Friday's meeting of the
Rio Grande City Rotary Club at the
Fort Ringgold Motor Inn.
The program chairman, Rotarian
Dr. Bruno Trevino, introduced the
uuest speaker, Mary Thames
Bundy, coordinator of the Texas
State Library System.
Bundy said, "A library should
have an educational function and
also be helpful for informal
schooling. It ought to have an
informational function. You ought
to be able to learn a lot of practical
things for everyday activities."
Bundy commented, "You ought
to be able to find direction as to
how to do various things. A library
ought to have a record of the
cultural and historical achievements
of man (in the world, the United
Suites, Texas, the Valley and Stan
County)."
She stressed, "You ought to be
able to go to a library just for fun.
A library needs to be tailored to fit
a particular community. You have
to make some hard choices. Making
these choices are part of the
function of the library board of
trustees."
Concerning the drive in Starr
County to bring about a full-fledged
library, Bundy emphasized, "We
need to get suirted because we're
applying for grants. A board of
trustees will try to get an adequate
budget." She said that the local
group called Friends of the Public
Library would most likely fill the
role of the board of trustees on a
temporary basis.
Bundy said that the library should
prove especially helpful lo
preschool children in opening the
door for learning, and adults, whom
she said need help in practical areas.
Bundy said, "Adults want things to
read just for leisure."
She noted, "Libraries often
cooperate with other libraries. Forty
four independent libraries belong to
the South Texas Public Library
System, which covers a 26-county
area."
Bundy said, "This librar> is
currently pursuing membership in
the South Texas Library System. II
this works out, the membership
would start Sept. 1, 1990. The
South Texas Library System deals
with libraries, not individuals."
Bundy stressed, "We have an
excellent film collection. We have
started a video program. Most of
these would be ihe kind of videos
that cannot be found in stores.
Most of these videos would be the
kind of videos that cannot be found
in stores."
In stressing the importance of
libraries, Bundy noted that one out
of every five Texans cannot read or
write at the eighth grade level. She
also pointed to statistics which
indicate that 75 percent of adults
age 25 or older in Starr County
have not completed the 12th grade.
Bundy stressed that not all high
school graduates arc literate" and
that many school dropouts have
achieved success in life, but said
that such cases are the cxcepnon
more often than not.
With this problem in mind, said
Bundy, 12 out of 44 libraries in the
South Texas Library System are
sponsoring adult litcracv programs
Bundy noted thai "the library
world is clianging rapidly, which
makes continuing education
(See LIBRARY, Page 1)
Mary Thames Bundy, the Library Coordinator for the
State of Texas, is pictured above Friday as she
addresses members of the Rio Grande City Rotary Club
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 15, 1990, newspaper, March 15, 1990; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195228/m1/1/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.