Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 12, 1994 Page: 1 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 22 x 14 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
H-E-B
f r- cnrfo
Tut
Hoag Book Bindery (Zone 6)
127 Rail Rd
Spnngport, MI 49204
Rio Grande Herald
In Rio Grande City, Texas every Thursday Oy The Rio Grande Publishing Co.
Rio Grande
Specials
Page 3
USPS 466-200
Vol. 81, No. 25, Thursday, May 12,1994
25 cents
*
INTERESTED IN SECONDARY EDUCATION—RGCCISD Personnel Director
Gilberto E. Garcia, third from right, is shown with Rio Grande City High School
B.E.S.T.T. students who participated in the recent "Job Fair" as prospective
secondary education majors. Left to right, they are Ricardo Marquez, Omar
Muscorro, Ruben Salinas, Rose Lahar, Melisandra Mendoza, and Ali Gonzalez.
(RGCCISD Photo)
Court evaluates problems
concerning colonia project
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
Monday, the County
Commissioners evaluated the
problems with the "colonia" grant
from the Texas Water Development
Board that have been caused by
controversy over regulating one
subdivision.
Federal Program Coordinator
Elisa Barrera told the
commissioners, "I'd like a motion
to reject all bids received May 5 on
the 199 > colonia projevC." County
Judge J.M. Martinez, Jr., said,
"They're not willing to go ahead
with the Solis subdivision."
Barrera said, "These funds of the
Texas Water Development Board are
supposed to go through water
corporations to aid distressed areas.
I think some of the different state
agencies' regulations are
contradictory."
Martinez declared, "They said
they could approve the project if we
brought this one subdivision into
compliance. If they had left things
alone and not presented a new plat,
things could have worked out."
Engineer Eloy Vera said, "I don't
understand what happened. What
was asked for was a preliminary
plat. I was under the impression
that Austin thought a final plat had
!•< en approved." County Attorney
Romero Molina contended, "There's
Quarterback
Club meeting
Monday
Fhe Rio Grande City Quarterback
Club will be holding a meeting on
Monday, May 16 at 6 p.m. at
Ringgold Middle School.
The election of Quarterback Club
officers for 1994-95 will take place
at this meeting.
no such thing as a preliminary plat.
The people in Austin said this place
needed a plat"
Barrera questioned, "What can we
apply for under this situation?
Webb County had a similar
problem; we followed what they did
and they did not have funding
withheld." Precinct Two
Commissioner Amando Pena
insisted, "It's a political game;
they're abusing Starr County."
Barrera said, "Since we have a
N'-.ay 31 deadiins, ' sec no
alternative but to closc ti.is project.
The problem is conflicting
regulations between the Water
Development Board and tlie Texas
Department of Community
Affairs."
A motion was approved rejecting
the bids. Precinct Three
Commissioner Eloy Garza opposed
the motion, however, insisting the
issue is entirely political.
Molina said, "The problem is the
regulations. This man (Noe
Fernandez) on the Water
Development Board put us in a
pigeonhole, saying we had to
comply with the conditions. Since
we accepted the conditions, we have
to follow through.
A consensus was reached that the
matter should be discussed f urther at
Friday's continued regular meeting.
Molina told The Rio Grande
Herald, "The city of Roma and the
SWCID No. 2 wanted funds from
the Water Development Board in
order to expand water and sewer
services. Noe Fernandez, a member
of the board, alleged that Stan-
County was not properly enforcing
the regulations and demanded that
Starr County do more in terms of
enforcing.
"To accommodate this individual
and board, the county adopted a
specific .nechanism involving
RGC aldermen seek
empowerment ideas
Sophomore TAAS scores
show tremendous gains
checklists and floodplain
requirements as a condition of
funding. After this mechanism was
adopted, the Water Development
Board granted the city of Roma and
the Stari County Water District
monies for beginning planning for
these projects. After this
mechanism was adopted and
implemented, the county continued
in various other projects, including
a project for the extension of water
lines in the La Victoria area
concerning funds from entities other
than the Water Development Board.
"This entity contacted me and
advised that a plat was required in
order to release other monies
available. In that this checklist
procedure was adopted, it had to be
followed. If it is not, then we
would endanger our eligibility for
the continuation of the Roma and
RGC projects. This area in La
Victoria has yet to meet the
checklist requirements and I must
insist on compliance.
"During a meeting, the
commissioners gave preliminary
approval to this plat without it
having gone through the checklist
procedures. Based on this
preliminary approval, the money
was going to be let out. I felt it
necessary to inform the state entity
of this checklist process and advised
them as such. Based on the fact that
the plat has not gone through the
checklist, it can't be approved.
Because it's not yet approved, the
money cannot be released."
The audit report for 1992-93 for
the International Bridge was
presented by CPA Jack Hart of the
McAllen accounting firm of
Hart-Silva. Silva indicated that total
assets as of Sept. 30, 1993 were
$6,718,000, a decrease of roughly
$313,000 from the previous year.
Total liabilities, which amounted
to $5,328,000, decreased by
$53,000 from September 1992.
Total liabilities and fund equity
showed a $313,000 decrease in the
(See GRANT, Page 4)
Rio Grande City CISD
administrators are jubilant about the
exceptional increase in the TAAS
Exit-Level test scores of the high
school's sophomores, with the
percentage of students passing all
three tests increasing by more than
three times.
A total of 42 percent of this
year's 10th graders passed all three
TAAS tests in Reading,
Mathematics and Writing. That is a
dramatic increase from the 13
percent of 1992-93 sophomores that
passed all three sections of TAAS.
The percentage of 10th graders
passing the Reading test increased
from 31 percent in 1993 to 60
percent in 1994. Fifty four percent
of this year's sophomores passed
the Mathematics test, compared to
21 percent in 1993. The percentage
of students passing Writing rose
from 41 percent in 1993 to 68
percent in 1994.
The sophomores took the
exit-level test in March. The
dramatically improved test scores
were scheduled to be officially
presented to the RGCCISD board of
trustees at their regular meeting on
Tuesday night. May 10.
Superintendent Ruben Saenz
rejoiced, "This is an exceptional
increase. As a district, we're not yet
where we want to be, but we're
moving in the right direction. Mr.
Roel Smith and the high school
faculty should be commended for
their hard and fruitful wonc."
Saenz declared, "These results did
not happen in a vacuum. They
happened because of strategies
implemented at the high school."
Principal Roel Smith stated, "We
tried to identify the students that
really needed help. We redirected the
program to address strategies for
test-taking and to deal with their
weak areas."
Smith indicated, "Our ESL
population were looked at,
identified and more time was given
to focus TAAS strategies in their
situation. The ESL strategies were
fully utilized."
Saenz noted, "Last year, the high
school moved to an eight period day
to allow time for these strategies to
be implemented." He added, "We're
utilizing these strategies for ninth
graders."
Smith pointed out, "We had
TAAS workshops beyond the
classroom in all three subject areas
of Math, Reading and Writing. It
was more focused instruction This
was focused on the regular student
population."
Smith emphasized, "The teachers
aligned their total instruction
program to address reading in all
content areas. I feel that all these
strategies contributed to the success
of the 10th grade population. We
arc heavily emphasizing strategies
to improve reading
comprehension."
The principal continued, "We
addressed writing by developing a
persuasive writing format.
Sometimes we will utilize other
writing formats."
Smith noted, "We had separate
tutorial sessions in matJiematics, in
addition to regular classes."
The principal concluded, "I feel
that focused hard work brought
about these results. Even with the
students that failed, the majority of
them improved their scales score
substantially and are quite close to
(See TAAS, Page 2)
Aldermen hear presentation
about highway projects
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
Thursday evening, the Rio Grande
City Board of Aiderrnen iocused on
numerous issues, including the
status of various highway projects
and the future of garbage collection
in the Rio Grande City area.
Mario Jorge, Area Engineer for
the Texas Department of
Transportation office in Pharr, gave
the aldermen an update on the
different highway construction
projects currently taking place in
Starr County. Jorge is in charge of
construction, maiiiicnance and
design in both Stan and Hidalgo
Counties.
Jorge said, "The U.S. 83 (divided
highway) section from Alto Bonito
to Sullivan City is finished and is
working out well."
Jorge noted, "We have started
with a 1 1/2 mile section of divided
highway just east of FM 1430. In
December of this year, we will let
out for bids for construction of
another one-mile segment to the
east of the section we have just
started work on."
He indicated, "Schematic
concepts have begun for work on an
improved intersection at La Puerta.
We're working on schematics for
the Alto Bonito grade separation
structure. There is a lot of
right-of-way acquisition and some
relocation. That will be the last leg
of construction. That segment of
the project will take a little longer."
Jorge told the aldermen, "The
overlay project on U.S. 83 from
Rio Grande City to Garceno is
underway. They will be working
within a month. A continuous
left-turn lane will be constructed."
About the FM 755 widening
project, Jorge said, "A seven-mile
stretch near Santa Catarina should
be let out for bids'in October.
Jesse Leal, who is in charge of
traffic signals for Starr County in
the Transportation Department
office in Pharr, told the aldermen,
"We're working on a signal light at
the intersection of Charco Blanco
Road and U.S. 83. The project is
about 50 percent complete and
should be finished within a month."
Leal indicated, "We have counted
traffic at the Fairgrounds Road
intersection to see if a signal is
warranted there. Other counts are
being done at Britton and Main
Streets, Britton and Second, and
U.S. 83 and Reynaldo Gomez."
Patricio Hernandez of Grande
Garbage Co. made a brief
presentation to the aldermen. He
indicated, "We're providing both
commercial and residential service
to the Rio Grande City area, and
also to Grulla, La Victoria and La
Casita."
Hernandez indicated that Grande
Garbage has 325 residential
accounts, 445 domestic accounts
that are paid quarterly and 237
commercial accounts. He went on
to explain the company's fee's for
each type of account.
Hernandez said, "We employ
eight local residents. We have a
fleet of 10 trucks." He addc--!," What
direction the city takes will
probably determine what route we
take. I don't have any problem with
operating as we have been."
Alderman Lauro Lopez asked, "Is
it true that the state will not allow
another landfill to be set up?"
Mayor Basilio Villarreal
commented, "I think you should
just keep on operating as you have
been."
Hernandez said, "I am working
with the Community Action
Council on a recycling program.
Starting on Jan. 1, the state will be
mandating that 40 percent of trash
that goes into a landfill be
recycled." Lopez emphasized,
"We're going to pass an ordinance
and fine those who litter streets and
alleys."
In the early stages of the
meeting, the aldermen discussed the
five finalists that submitted a
proposed Rio Grande City logo.
Alderman Balde Garza said,
"Everybody's been asking if you're
ready to decide on a logo." Mayor
Villarreal commented, "I think we
(See HIGHWAY, Page 6)
Each member of the Rio Grande
City Board of Aldermen are urging
all Rio Grande City citizens to
submit all possible suggestions
that will upgrade the social and
economic quality of life in the
event that the U.S. government
designates the city as part of an
"empowerment zone."
Alderman Balde Garza indicated,
"This application has to show a
grass-roots effort on our part. We
have had a public hearing already.
We had a neighborhood meeting
near San Juan Plaza."
Alderman David Porras declared,
"I think we stand a very good
chance of receiving this funding.
The Rio Grande City area could
receive a total of $4 million."
A total of three rural «rea« in the
entire nation will be designated by
the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture as
"empowerment zones." Officials
from throughout the Valley arc
working to gain designation for
parts of all four Valley counties.
The entire zone must be limited to
30,000 population, 1000 square
miles and the various areas must be
non-contiguous census tracts.
Areas designated as rural
empowerment zones will be
targeted to receive $40 million in
direct federal funds over the next
two years. Additional dollars would
flood the area indirectly through
low interest loans, tax credits and
oilier federal and state programs.
If Starr County receives
empowerment designation, the
See IDKAS, Page 2)
RGC High prepares
for commencement
Rio Grande City High School
will be a beehive of activity in the
next several weeks, culminating
with commencement exercises on
the evening of May 31.
Graduation exercises for the Rio
Grande City High School Class of
1994 will take place on Tuesday,
May 31 at 8 p.m. at Joe R.
Sanchez Stadium in Rio Grande
City.
Graduation activities will begin
in earnest on Friday morning, May
13 as the Cap, Gown and Ring
Ceremony will take place at the
Auditorium beginning at 10:20
a.m.
This ceremony will recognize
graduating seniors, and also juniors
as they prepare to move into their
final year of high school. The
honor students of the Class of 1994
will be recognized during this
ceremony.
The high school awards assembly
will take place on Friday, May 20.
The baccaulareate for the
graduating seniors will take place
on Wednesday evening, May 25 at
7:30 p.m. at the Auditorium
\ -m m
RGCHS STUDENT EXCELS IN FIELD EVENTS—
Ester Guerra, a junior at Rio Grande City High School,
placed fourth in District 31-5A track and field
competition in both the shot put and the discus. Her
distance in the shot put was 35-11 1/2, but her best
result was at Mcliigh with a 36-2 1/2 She heaved the
discus 107 1/2 at district. She looks forward to
returning to participate in both events next year as a
senior. She has set going to regional competition as
her goal. All competitors who outdistanced her this
year were seniors. Ester is coached by Rosslyn
Halekakis and Shannon Lynch. (RGCCISD Photo)
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. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 12, 1994, newspaper, May 12, 1994; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195444/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.