Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 83, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 12, 1996 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. 83, NO. 48 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12,1996
25 cents
Five indicted under
'Kingpin Statute'
Winners were crowned in four divisions in Friday night's Miss Rio Grande City
and Little Miss Rio Grande City pageants. Pictured left to right are Crisabel Barrera,
Miss Rio Grande City; Alexandra Carrion, Teen Miss; Anissa Lynette Falcon, Little
Miss; and Paloma Anay Salinas, Petite Miss. More information about the pageant
will be printed in next week's edition of The Rio Grande Herald.
Indictments against 79 persons
accused of complicity in a South
Texas drug smuggling ring were
unsealed Monday by federal
prosecutors in Houston.
Four Starr County residents were
charged with engaging in a
continued criminal enterprise
(CCE). A CCE is commonly
known as the "Kingpin Statute" of
narcotics and carries a minimum
sentence of 20 years to life
imprisonment without parole. The
Starr County residents facing the
CCE charge are Ricardo Riojas,
Pedro Moreno, Roberto Riojas and
Ramiro Riojas. A CCE charge was
also levied against Rudolfo Anas of
Fort Bend County, located
southwest of Houston.
The 179-count indictment charges
the 79 defendants with various
offenses including conspiracy to
distribute marijuana and conspiracy
to engage in money laundering.
On Nov. 19, a total of 39
persons in Starr, Hidalgo and
Zapata Counties were arrested as a
result of the then sealed indictments
returned by a federal grand jury in
Houston. In a Dec. 10 story, the
McAllen Monitor indicated that 15
residents of Fronton were arrested
on Nov. 19. Also among those
arrested and charged was Starr
County Sheriff's Department
Investigator Miguel Angel
Mascorro.
As of Monday, 68 of the 79
defendants charged iuad been arrested.
Most of the defendants, if
convicted, face mandatory
minimum sentences of 10 years
imprisonment to life imprisonment
without parole and up to $5 million
in fines.
On Monday, the unsealing of the
indictment was announced by U.S.
Attorney Gaynelle Griffin Jones,
Donald Ferrarone, Special Agent In
Charge of DEA - Houston and IRS
Special Agent-In Charge Stan
Vann.
According to the U.S. Attorney's
Office, "this investigation is the
continuation of an investigation
that began in Houston in 1990 and
resulted in the indictment and
(See INDICTED, Page 8)
Aldermen talk empowerment; Numerous Gladiator players
zone projects, subdivisions awarded All-District honors
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
Thursday night, the Rio Grande
City Board of Aldermen heard an
update on empowerment zone
projects and also discussed and
approved plats for several
subdivisions.
Elisa Barrera, Starr County
Coordinator of Federal/State
Programs, indicated, "We've sent
about 100 letters for a meeting the
city will host on Tuesday, Dec. 10
at 6 p.m. This is to notify property
owners affccted by the Los Olmos
Project and its different aspects."
Barrera noted, "We have a
surveying contract for $15,000. We
will be executing a contract with
the attorneys. The next step will be
to start with the appraisal. We're
looking at a lower number of
condemnations than we thought"
Alderman Ricardo Gutierrez
commented, "I feel someone from
the county should be there. I agree
with the mayor on that."
Barrera indicated, "We have some
preliminary plans available at the
courthouse for the Juvenile
Detention Center. Plans have been
forwarded to the Juvenile Probation
Commission. We're looking at it
being completed some time in
1997." City Administrator Jose
Escamilla indicated that the project
could be completed by the middle of
the year.
The court routinely gave final
approval to the plats for six
subdivisions.
On the matter of giving
preliminary approval to the plat for
Live Oak Subdivision Phase No. 3,
Escamilla said, "When the
gentleman approached us, we said
we couldn't give clearance until it is
properly subdivided. The home is
completed, but we cannot provide
services. They have begun the
process. For that reason, we can
recommend preliminary approval of
the plat."
He added, "The State Attorney
General's Office supported our
position."
Escamilla later told The Rio
Grande Herald, "Phase One and Two
are recorded properly; both are just
outside the city limits. All utilities
are required within city limits.
Requirements are the same within
the one-mile ETJ, not as strict in
the five-mile ETJ. The state docs
not require paving outside the
one-mile ETJ."
Escamilla declared, "Phase Three
was never officially recorded Thus,
any lots that were sold were sold
illegally. One gentleman who
These youngsters from El .lardin Headstart, Rl Fresno
Headstart, La Grulla Headstart and Palito Blanco
Headstart decorated the Christmas tree at the Quiosco
Tuesday morning. The decoration was carried out under
the auspices of the Rio Grande City Chamber of
Commerce. Chamber officials Larry Gonzalez and
Romeo Lopez urged the youngsters to be at their best
for Christmas. Crisabel Barrera, the newly crowned
Miss Rio Grande City, also helped with the
decorations.
bought a lot in this unrecorded
subdivision built a house."
The administrator stated, "Some
accounts say they talked to the
county, but the county didn't do
anything. The county indicated that
utility services couldn't be provided,
but the developer wasn't forced to
provide services. We told him (the
gentleman who built the house)
that the matter of providing services
was between him and the.
developer."
Escamilla continued, "At the
time, Phase One and Two met
minimum requirements. They never
submitted a plat until 5:15 p.m.
Thursday. Actually, we went out to
the surveyor's house."
After some discussion, the
aldermen gave preliminary approval
to the plat for Live Oak
Subdivision Phase Three.
Carlos H. Alaniz addressed the
aldermen concerning what he
regarded as inactive enforcement of
subdivision regulations concerning
Live Oak Subdivision Phase
Number Three.
Alaniz said, "I've contacted Mr.
Virgilio Gonzalez a number of
times and I did not receive an
adequate response concerning my
complaint. I would like to know
what can be done to conclude die
process." Mayor Baldemar Garza
told Alaniz, "There are certain
things that are being done. Things
(See ALDERMEN, Page 8)
Christmas
festival activities
planned
A number of activities will take
place this week as part of the
Christmas Festival, culminating
with the Christmas Parade on
Saturday afternoon.
The Christmas activities listed
below will be carried out under the
auspices of the Rio Grande City
Chamber of Commerce.
On Wednesday night, Dec. 11 at
6:30 p.m., the lighting of the
Christmas tree at the Quiosco will
take place. Christmas carols will be
sung and Santa Claus will make an
appearance. At 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, a reception will be held
at the La Borde House to honor
19% Parade Marshal Eliseo Smith,
Jr.
On Saturday at 1 p.m., the
Abrazo Internacional will take place
at the Starr Camargo Bridge.
Lineup for the Christmas Parade
will begin from 1:30 to 2 p.m. on
Saturday. Judging of Parade floats
will begin at 2 p.m. The Parade
itself is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
On Wednesday morning, Dec. 11,
children from local Head Start
centers helped decorate the
Christmas tree at the Quiosco.
A total of 14 Roma Gladiator
football players were awarded some
type of All-District honors for their
achievements during the 1996
season, with four players winning
first team honors.
Defensive back Jaime Escobar, a
senior and three-year starter for the
Gladiators, won unanimous first
team honors. Also winning first
team honors were senior quarterback
Frank Garza, junior linebacker Juan
Hernandez and junior fullback Jesus
Martinez.
Roma Head Coach Javier "Jerry"
Cavazos commented, "I was really
pleased to see all four players make
the first team. They all had
exceptional years."
Cavazos noted that Escobar won
unanimous first team honors and
commented, "He finished off an
outstanding three-year career on a
high note. He did a tremendous job
all three years."
Quarterback Frank Garza rushed
for 1032 yards in nine games to
lead the district in that category. He
gained 232 yards rushing on 15
carries and scored four touchdowns
in the season finale, a 41-14 victory
over Brownsville Lopez.
Cavazos said, "Frank carried us
all year long at quarterback. He was
an excellent two-way player." Garza
was also awarded second team
All-District honors for his
performance at outside linebacker.
Also winning first team honors
were junior linebacker Juan
Hernandez and junior fullback Jesus
Martinez. Cavazos noted that
Hernandez began the year as a
part-time starter at linebacker and
became a full-time starter after the
mid-year injury to senior starter
Jesus Barrera. The coach
commented, "He (Hernandez) did a
tremendous job."
About Martinez. Cavazos said,
"Jesus played junior varsity football
last year and came up and had a fine
year. He gained 466 yards on 70
carries.. He should have a very fine
year next year."
Winning second team All-District
honors were senior offensive guard
J.R. Munoz, senior offensive tackle
Enrique Villarreal, senior split end
Gabriel Garcia, senior outside
linebacker Frank Garza, junior
defensive end lose Trevino, and
senior defensive tackle Marlen
Sanchez.
Five Gladiator players were
awarded Honorable Mention
recognition. They were senior
center Edwin Garcia, senior
offensive tackle Alex Gutierrez,
senior cornerback Julio Oyervides,
senior placekicker Jorge Guzman,
and junior Roland^ Montoya, who
won honors at both running back
and outside linebacker.
Cavazos emphasized, "All the
second team honorees did a fine job
all year long, as did the Honorable
Mention honorees."
In 1995, defensive lineman
Marlen Sanchez and offensive tackle
Alex Gutierrez won second team
All-District honors. Defensive back
Jaime Escobar and center Edwin
Garcia received Honorable Mention
recognition in 1995.
Cavazos commented, "We'll have
a pretty good nucleus coming back
next year. The team will be
young." He noted that the 1996
Gladiator squad led District 32-4A
in total offense with more than
3000 yards. The Gladiators also
ranked third in total defense.
County renews tax
collection contract
At their regular monthly meeting
Monday morning, the County
Commissioners voted to extend the
contract of the law firm currently
overseeing delinquent tax collection
efforts for the county.
Henry Steen of the Austin law
firm of Steen & Young told the
commissioners, "We've been
representing Starr County in
delinquent tax collection for the
past five years. We're here to give a
status report and to ask to have our
contract renewed."
Steen indicated, "A lot of work is
done by the local office. We've had
collections of S4.9 million and
counting during the life of our
contract"
Steen emphasized, "Mass
mailings arc essential. All
delinquent tax data has been entered
into the computer. Everything is
posted, recorded and ready to work
with in the data base."
He stated, "We're going to work
widi the local tax office. We will
provide a Xerox copier, a fax
machine, and we will pay for the
microfilming of all old tax records."
Steen added, "We file a
significant number of suits. We
basically work for the Tax Office.
The Tax Office basically calls the
shots. The delinquent taxpayers are
still taxpayers and citizens of the
community and need to be treated
accordingly. We're prepared to do
even more (in the future)."
Steen said, "Average monthly
collection, with a different firm in
(See RENEWS, Page S)
State Senator Judith ZafTirini made a surprise visit to the October regular meeting
of the Rio Grande City Boys and Girls Club. She is pictured above with members of
the Rio Grande City Roys and Girls Club Board.
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 83, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 12, 1996, newspaper, December 12, 1996; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195578/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.