Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 82, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 3, 1995 Page: 1 of 8
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Published weekly in Rio Grande City, Texas every Thursday by The Rio Grande Publishing Co.
USPS 466-200
VOL. 82, NO. 31, THURSDAY, AUGUST 03, 1995
25 cents
\9
Tuesday was a historic day for Rio Grande City as nine officers were sworn in to
serve on the new Rio Grande City police force in an afternoon ceremony at City
Hall. City Marshal Guadalupe Marquez administered the oath. Pictured left to right
are officers .Juan J. Rodriguez, Noe Castillo, Jaime Longoria, Eloy Morin, .Jr.,
Lonnie Smith, Jr., Eli Gonzalez, Albert Olivares, Vicente Villarreal, Jr. and
Roberto Ramirez.
Two other Texas Sheriffs
Depts. have higher budgets
By KENNETH ROBERTS
Managing Editor
Two Texas countics fairly
comparable to Starr County in
population size have budgeted
considerably larger amounts for
their Sheriffs Departments than is
the case for Starr County.
San Patricio County, located
north of Corpus Christi, has
budgeted more than $1.7 million
lor that county's Sheriff's
Department for the 1995 fiscal year.
Rusk County, located in East Texas
near Longview and Tyler, has
budgeted more than Sl.l million in
1995 for [he Sheriffs Department
there.
Starr County Auditor Mario A.
Lope/, indicated that ilie Starr
County Sheriffs Department was
budgeted S704,684 for department
operations for the 1994-95 fiscal
year and 52,319,200 was allocated
lor the newly expanded Detention
Center.
Lopez indicated that a total of
5758,232 was budgeted for the
Sheriff's Depart ment for the
1993-94 fiscal year, with 5606,375
being budgeted for the Detention
Center. Lopez stated that when the
1992-93 budget was approved,
S810,792 was budgeted for the
Sheriffs Department and S706.420
was allocated for the Detention
Center.
During the past year, the Starr
County government has been
troubled by a 11seal crisis that has
resulted in significant cutbacks in
allocations for most departments.
Both Rusk and San Patricio
Counties arc considerably smaller
in land area than is Starr County.
However, both of these counties
have somewhat stronger economic
bases than Starr County, even
though both have also suffered from
declining crude oil prices and
production since the mid-1980 s.
San Patricio County Sheriff
Leroy Moody informed The Rio
Grande Herald recently that the
Sheriffs Department in that county
has been allocated an operations
Nine RGC officers
take oath of office
A historic milestone for Rio
Grande City took place Tuesday
when nine police officers were
administered their oaths of office to
serve on the city's new police force.
The nine new officers were sworn
in by City Marshal Guadalupe
Marquez in an afternoon ceremony
at City Hall. The ceremony was
attended by the mayor and all five
aldermen, the municipal judge and
also several business and civic
leaders. All of the officers were
wearing their new police uniforms.
The newly sworn-in officers of
the new Police Department are Juan
Rodriguez, Noe Castillo, Jaime
Longoria, Eloy Morin, Jr., Lonnie
Smith, Jr., Eli Gonzalez, Albert
Olivares, Vicente Villarreal, Jr., and
Roberto Ramirez.
City Administrator Jose
Escamilla told the new officers,
"You represent the best that we arc.
You are our ambassadors to the
community. Kindness and
politeness arc not a sign of
weakness, but firmness is essential
in your work."
Escamilla added, "You are
beginning a trek that has never been
done in this community. You were
put through a very strenuous
process."
Mayor Basilio Villarreal
emphasized, "This makes our city
operations more complete. This is
another giant step for our city. We
hope you will be as proud ot us as
we arc proud of you."
The mayor told the officers, "You
(See OFFICERS, Page 8)
RGC football workouts
get underway Aug. 9
I H)tball workouts for the Rio
Grande City High School football
program arc scheduled to begin on
Wednesday, Aug. 9.
New Head Coach John Lcrma
indicated that the first four days of
workouts will focus on
fundamentals, learning and
conditioning. The first workout
will tal e place on Wednesday, Aug.
9 at 6 p.m.
On Aug. 9, freshman,
sophomore, junior varsity and
varsity football players will be
reporting to be issued equipment
and assigned lockers. Seniors will
report from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.,
juniors from 9 to 10 a.m.,
sophomores from 10 to 11 a.m. and
freshmen from 11 a.m. to noon.
Lcrma indicated that the players
will work out in shorts, T-shirts
and helmets during the first four
days. He declared, "The fifth day is
the first day we'll go with full
contact equipment and pads."
Anyone needing further
information should contact Coach
Lcrma at 716-6885 or 716-6756.
budget of SI ,752,000 for 1995. The
jail, which has a capacity of 230
beds, has been budgeted a separate
allocation of approximately SI.4
million for 1995.
Moody noted that the San
Patricio County Sheriff's
Department was budgeted
SI,722,000 for operations in 1994,
and a total of 51,290,000 was
budgeted for the jail. San Patricio
County's fiscal year runs from Jan.
I, 1995 through Dcc. 31, 1995.
San Patricio County is located
immediately north of Nueces
County, where most of Corpus
Christi is located. Part of the
boundary between San Patricio and
Nueces Counties is formed by
Nueces Bay and Corpus Christi
Bay. San Patricio is also bordered
by Jim Wells, Live Oak, Bee,
Refugio and Aransas Counties.
According to figures in the
1992-93 Texas Almanac, the 1990
Census indicated that San Patricio's
population was 58,749. San
Patricio covers 707.0 square miles,
including 691.6 square miles of
land area.The 1994-95 Almanac set
the 1992 population at 61,989.
Moody commented, "I don't have
any problem operating within the
budget. The problem is in the
number of personnel and overtime.
Money's tight everywhere, but
we've been holding our own."
Moody emphasized, "If you can
document it, they (the county)
normally give you what they can.
Our Commissioners Court has been
very receptive...We've had good
support from the public."
Moody declared, "We're probably
about average in our crime problem
for a county this size."
The sheriff noted that Sinton, the
county seal, and six other
communities within the county all
have police departments. Those
communities arc Mathis, Talt,
Portland, Aransas Pass, Gregory
and Inglcsidc.
Moody indicated that Portland is
the largest city in the county with
approximately 12,000 residents.
Sinton and Mathis both have
between 5000 and 6000 residents.
Moody stated that Portland and
Aransas Pass probabl) have the
largest city police departments
within the county.
Sheriff Moody indicated that five
major highways-- Interstate 37,
U.S. 181, U.S. 77, Texas 35 and
Texas 359-- pass through San
Patricio County. He said, "We have
more agriculture than ranch
country."
He emphasized, "We haven't seen
the crime increase that wc feared
when the economy went poor. AVe
haven't had the crime rollover from
Corpus Christi, but we fear it will
come within the next two years."
(See BUDGETS, Page 8)
Superintendent search
narrows to six finalists
At their special meeting on
Thursday evening, July 27, the Rio
Grande City CISD board of trustees
narrowed the field of applicants for
Superintendent down to six
finalists.
After an executive session lasting
between 90 Minutes and two hours,
the trustees voted to authorize
Texas Ass<x;iation of School Boards
(TASB) consultant Bruce Hawkins
of Edinburg to contact the six
finalists. A total of 23 individuals
applied for the position of
RGCCISD Superintendent.
On Monday, Hawkins informed
The Rio Grande Herald of the
identity of five of the finalists. He
indicated that he had been unable to
reach the sixth individual after
several attempts. He noted the
possibility that one of the finalists
may have taken himself or herself
out of contention for the position.
Five of the finalists are listed as
follows:
* Ramon Hinojosa, currently
Director of Bilingual Education for
Brownsville ISD. He previously
served as superintendent for the
West Oso ISD in the Corpus
Christi area.
* Dr. Ruben Gallegos, Assistant
Superintendent for Los Fresnos
ISD. He previously served as
superintendent for the Edinburg ISD
and assistant superintendent with
the Dallas ISD.
* Dr. Patricia Santos, Assistant
Superintendent for North Monterey,
California school tistrict. She
previously served as superintendent
with the Pcarsall ISD in Texas.
* Jack Shanks, Superintendent of
Sweeney ISD. He is a Valley native
who has taught school in the
Valley. He formerly served as
superintendent of Smithvillc ISD,
Hawlcy ISD and Sunray ISD.
* Noris Garcia, Assistant
Superintendent for Eagle Pass ISD.
He has also served as a high school
principal in Uvalde.
On Monday evening, Hawkins
told The Rio Grande Herald, "A
new law requires the district to wait
at least 21 days (from the date of
the July 27 meeting naming the
finalists) to name a superintendent
(See FINALISTS, Page 8)
RGCCISD to begin 1995-96
classes on Thursday, Aug. 17
The Rio Grande City C.I.S.D.
will begin classes for the 1995-96
school year on Thursday, August
17, 1995.
Early registration will be held
during the week of August 7-11 for
pre-kindergarten and kindergarten
students. Students entering pre-
kindergarten w ill be registered at the
Central Cafeteria at Fort Ringgold
from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during
the week of August 7 th.
Campuses with pre-kindergarten
enrollment are Ringgold
Elementary, La Union Elementary
and Grulla Elementary; campuses
with kindergarten enrollment are
Roque Guerra, Jr. Elementary,
North Grammar Elementary, La
Union Elementary, Grulla
Elementary and Ringgold
Elementary.
Students who are four years of
age on or before September 1,
1995, will be tested, assigned and
admitted to one of the campuses
that has pre-kindergarten
enrollment.
Students who are five years of
age on or before September 1,
1995, will be admitted and assigned
to one of the campuses that has
kindergarten enrollment.
Registration for all other students
new to the district will be held on
August 8-16 at the Center Cafeteria
at Fort Ringgold from 8:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m.
Parents must bring the birth
certificate and the immunization
records of their children to the
registration site.
A series of steps must be
followed before students report to a
campus. These steps arc as
follows:
A Admissions - Clear with Mr.
Nance Mufloz, Admission's Olfice
(Central Cafeteria) Fort Ringgold.
B. Immunization - Clear with
Mrs. Imelda Ramon, Director
Immunizations will be provided if
needed (Central Cafeteria).
C". Testing - Students who arc 4
years of age on or before September
1, 1995 will be tested with Pre-
Language Assessment Scale and
admitted if eligible (Ringgold
Elementary Cafeteria).
Las clases escolares daran
principio el dia 17 dc agosto do
1995 del Rio Grande City districto
escolar.
La matriculacion dc estudiantes
para las clases de pre-kindergarten y
kindergarten daran principio en
agosto7-ll de 1995. La cafeteria
central situada en el Fort Ringgold
sera el sitio dc matriculacion con
horario de las 8:00 a.m. a las 4:00
p.m.
El estudiante debe tener los cuatro
afios cumplidos para el dia primcro
de septicmbrc de 1995 para podcr
ser admitido a su respectiva escuela
de pre-kindergarten donde se !cs
administrara una prueba de
admision.
En cambio, el estudiante dc cinco
aflos para el dia primcro dc
septiembre de 1995 se 1c asignara a
su rcsroctiva el is - dc. VWc'vit ri
en su respectiva escuela.
Todo estudiante que vienc por
primcra vcz al distrito escolar de
Rio Grande City sera matriculado
durante la scmana del 8-16 dc
agosto. Sitio dc matriculacion sera
tamhien cn la cafeteria central del
(See CLASSES, Page 8)
La Puerta resident
remains missing
A 65-ycar-old La Puerta man
remains missing more than two
weeks after he disappeared from the
home of a relative sometime late in
the evening of July 18 or early in
the morning of July 19.
The Sheriffs Department is
continuing its investigation into
the disappearance of Reynaldo
Perez. The FBI began providing
assistance with the investigation
last week.
Chief Deputy Reymundo Guerra
indicated Monday afternoon that the
circumstances of Perez's
disappearance remain basically
unknown.
Early last week. Sheriff's
Department Investigator Hcrnan
Garza indicated that Perez was last
seen at approximately 10:45 p.m.
on the evening of Tuesday, July 18.
Garza stated last week, "He had
gone to bed that evening. The
following day, when everybody got
up at 7 a.m., he had disappeared
from the residence...He was living
with one of his sons in the
house...No one in the house heard
anything."
Garza indicated last week that
nothing can be ruled out, but
emphasized that there was no
evidence of foul play.
There continues to be concern for
Perez's well-being because he was
taking medication for a heart
condition He also left behind his
eyeglasses.
Perez resides on Guevara Street in
the La Puerta area. He is
(See MISSING, Page 8)
%
>
J
Some of the police officers in the new Rio Grande City police force are pictured
above at an informal reception that was held after their swearing-in at City Hall
Tuesday afternoon. Mayor Basilio Villarreal, City Administrator Jose Escamilla and
the five Rio Grande City aldermen all predicted that the new police force will be one
of the crown jewels of a vibrant and growing city.
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 82, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 3, 1995, newspaper, August 3, 1995; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195507/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.