Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 15, 2001 Page: 1 of 6
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY EDITION
February 15 , 2001
88th Year. No. 07
Herald
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
Court okays safety resolution, hears about collections
/
RGC High 'Head of the Class' honoree
Rio Grande City High School has recognized Venessa Pena as ihe 'Head of the Class' recipient for
February. She is a senior and is currently ranked first in her class. Pictured left to right are Mrs. Pena,
Venessa Pena, and Mrs. Gorena (Counselor).
RGCKS senior Venessa Pena
goes to the 'Head of the Class'
(RGCCISD Press Release)
On February 8. 21)01. Rio Grande City
High School hosted the "Head of the
Class" recognition ceremony. Venessa
Pefia was the "Head of the Class" recipi-
ent for the month of February. She along
with other Valley recipients were recog-
nized by the US Border Patrol and Secu-
rity 1st Federal Credit Union.
Miss Pena ;s a senior at RioGrandeCit)
High School and is currently ranked 1st
in her class. She is extremely intelligent
and excels in everything she attenipsts
She is the daughter of Mr & Mrs Jorge
Pena.
I'he US Border Patrol and Securits 1st
Federal Credit Union has spo nsored the
Head of the Class" for approxiamatelv
five years. McDonald's has also been a
contributor to this program. Eveiy month
a student is selected for the "Head ol the
Class" based on maintaining at least a C
average and the students must he well-
rounded. [he majority of student s that
have been nominated for "Head of the
Class" program tend to exceed the crite-
ria. Congratulations Venessa Pen a'
Three Starr cities receive increases
in February 2000 sales tax rebates
On Friday, Feb. 9, State
Comptroller Carole Keeton
Rylander delivered sales Lax rebates
to 1108 Texas cities and 119
counties, with all three Starr
County cities recording healthy
increases from the February 2000
rebate checks.
The City of Rio Grande City's
February 2001 rebate check of
$237,956.4^ is 6.97 percent higher
than the Feuuary 2.000 rebate check
of $222,440.94. For the first two
months of 2001, Rio Grande City
has received $394,862.26 in rebate
checks, an increase of 6.01 percent
from the $372,443.68 received
during the same reporting period of
2000.
The City of Roma's February
2001 rebate check of $204,411.21
is 22.28 percent higher than the
February 2000 rebate check of
$85,385.48. Thus far in 2000,
Roma has received $159,974.63 in
rebate checks, an increase of 19.24
percent from the $134,160.37
received during the same reporting
period of 2000.
The city of Grulla received a
February 2001 rebate check of
$803.45, an increase of 11.62
percent from the February 2000
rebate check of $719.76. For 2001
to date, Grulla has received
$1131.10 in rebate checks, an
increase of 9.71 pcrccnt from the
$1030.94 received during the same
reporting period of 2000.
On Feb. 9, Comptroller
Rylander delivered $335.3 million
in monthly sales tax payments to
1108 Texas cities and 119 counties,
a 5.8 percent increase compared to
the $316.7 million allocated in
February 2000.
February's sales tax rebates
include local sales taxes collected
by monthly tax filers in December,
and reported to the Comptroller in
January, plus quarterly returns for
sales in October, November, and
December, and returns from annual
filers for the entire year 2000.
So far this year, sales tax rebates
to cities and counties arc up 5.4
pcrcent compared to the first two
months of 2000.
Ihe sales tax rebates included
$310.9 million to Texas cities,
5.8 pcrcent higher than the
February 2000 payments of $293.6
million.
Texas counties received February
2001 sales tax rebates of $24.3
million, an increase of 5.7 pcrccnt
compared to the February 2000
figure of $23 million.
Another $11,1 million went to
56 special put pose taxing districts
around the state. , Texas' six
Metropolitan Transit Authorities
and two City Transit Departments
received a total of $116.2 million
in sales tax rebates.
The February 2001 sales tax
rebates for Starr County cities
amounted to $343,171.09, an
increase of 11.22 percent from the
February 2000 total of
$308,546.18. Thus far in 2001, the
three Starr County cities have
received rebates of $555,967.99, an
increase of 9.52 percent from the
$507,634.99 received during the
same reporting period of 2000.
Teen faces charges in death
of young Escobares woman
A 17-year-old Escobares resident
recently became the third person
charged with indirect involvement
in the murder of an Escobares
teenage young woman on Jan. 15.
Juan Manuel Barrcra of Escobares
was arrested on Jan. 31 and charged
with murder. His bond was set at
$50,000. Sheriff Rcymundo Guerra
indicated that Barrera remained
incarcerated as of Monday
afternoon, Feb. 12.
Barrera and two other individuals
are accused of having assisted in
burying Yessica Martinez, 17, who
was found buried in a shallow grave
in a vacant lot north of U.S. 83 in
Escobares on Jan. 24. Autopsy
results indicate the victim died of
one gunshot wound to the head
area.
Keith Adams, 19, a Roma
resident originally from Pasadena,
Texas, and Ciro Angel Rivera, Jr.,
19, of Escobares, were arrested on
Jan. 29 and 30 and charged with
murder. Sheriff Guerra stated that
Barrcra, Adams and Rivera are all
alleged to have helped in burying
the victim's body.
Jose Angel Rivera, 27, of
Escobares was arrested in Mission
on unrelated charges on Jan. 24 and
later charged with murder in
BY KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
Monday morning, the County
Commissioners voted lo renew the
county's participation in a statewide
safety program, and also discussed
the status of delinquent tax
collections since a new law firm
assumed those duties in April 2000.
Larry Bocaccio made a
presentation to the court on behalf
of the Texas Association of
Counties (TAC) He indicated, "We
have a seven-step accident
prevention program which gives the
county the opportunity to receive, a
10 percent discount for workers
compensation premiums for
employees. The plan is the same is
that used by the Texas Workers
Compensation Commission. For
Starr Count*, the savings would
come to almost $19,000." Bocaccio
is a safety specialist for TAC.
"I will be available to assist you
in developing a plan." explained
Bocaccio. "Such a plan is designed
to reduce injuries. (I injuries
mount, you could get a warning
letter from the Texas Workers
Compensation Commission, and
more stringent regulation could
result."
Federal/State Programs
Coordinator Elisa Beas declared,
"Earlier, we received a $12,000
credit. Premiums are going up here
and elsewhere in the stale. This is
basically a continuation of what
we've been doing."
The commissioners then
unanimously approved a resolution
authorizing the county to once
again participate in the safety
program provided by TAC.
Lucy Canales of the delinquent
tax collection firm of Linebarger,
Heard, Goggan, Blair, Graham,
Pena and Sampson, L.L.P, reported
on the collection work since th;
firm assumed duties over nine
months ago. She stated, "We're
giving you a report from May 1,
2000 through Jan. 31, 2001. We
were retained by the county in May
2000."
Canales added, "We conducted
large-scale mailings in May,
August and October. There have
been some computer problems
reading the tape. The years 1980
and 1982 iiave not been inputted
into the computer. The year 1980 is
past the statute of limitations."
County Judge Eloy Vera insisted,
"1 felt we got a misleading picture
on total delinquencies from the
previous collection firm "
Canales said, "We're going to try
to have the tape reful in Denver ant;
San Antonio and not have the tape
read in the local tax office. For
1981, we still have time because
the statute of limitations expires on
Jan. 1, 2002."
"I feel it's the delinquent
attorneys' job lo keep us up to
date," contended Vera. Canales
commented, "Our philosophy is
that mailings are most effective ir
reaching taxpayers."
Canales indicated that 119 suits
had been filed in the nine month
period for an amount of ever
$659,000. She concluded. "We plan
to conduct five mailings tins year."
Tax Assessor Carmen A. Pena
later told The kio Grande Herald
that total overall delinquent
collections for all entities from
May through January was
$1,118,176.26, noting that this
figure also tnc ludes penalty and
interest.
Pena indicated that total overall
2000 current year collections for
January were S1,122.089.33. Total
overall collections fot 1999 ^nd
prior deiinquent years were
$113,319.89. The grand total
collected for January 2001 was
51,235 629.22.
Pena noted that ihe county's
(See S ' FETY. Page 4)
Jury acquits man i
Roma marijuana
s
n
1
f y
1992
11 re
Martinez's death. Rivera is accused
of firing the fatal shot. On Jan. 26,
Rivera was officially charged with
murder and arraigned before County
Court-At L.aw Judge J.M. "Chuy"
Alvarez, who set bond at $500,000.
Adams' bond was originally set
at $100,000, but later reduced to
$25,000. Sheriff Guerra suited that
Adams posted bond on Sunday,
Feb. 11 and was released. The
original bond and later bond were
set by Justice of the Peace Hotnero
Garcia.
The sheriff indicated that Ciro
(See CHARGES, Page 4)
A Starr County 229th District
Court jury voted late on the
afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 31 to
acquit a 46-year-old Roma man of
charges arising out of the seizure of
almost 2200 pounds of marijuana at
a Roma residence in November
1992.
Isaac Siller Garcia, who was 38
at the time of the seizure, was
found not guilty between 5 and 6
p.m. on Jan. 31 after roughly two
to three hours of deliberation. He
had been charged w iih possession of
more than 2000 pounds of
marijuana. A total of 2194 pounds
of marijuana was seized at a Roma
residence on Nov. 14, 1992.
RGC aldermen
meeting again
rescheduled
The regular monthly meeting of
the Rio Grande City Board of
Aldermen has been rescheduled for
the second time for Thursday, Feb.
22 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall,
located at 101 South Washington
Street in Rio Grande City.
Ihe monthly meeting of the Rio
Grande City Economic
Development Corporation will take
place on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 6
p.m. at the same location.
The monthly meeting had
originally been scheduled for
Thursday night, Feb. 8, but was
postponed. The meeting was
rescheduled for Thursday night,
Feb. 15, but was again postponed
for a later date.
Anyone seeking more
information should call 487-0672.
Assistant District Attorney Hilda
Gonzalez noted that Siller's wife,
Santos Siller Garcia, was also
charged in the case with possession
of more than 2000 pounds of
marijuana. Gonzalez indicated, "Her
case was severed from her husband's
case...Santos Siller Garcia's case is
still pending. Her attorney has filed
a motion to suppress, mainly the
consent to search."
Siller was represented by
Edinburg attorney Mario Ramirez.
The Rio Grande Herald attempted to
contact Ramirez on Tuesday
afternoon, but was unable to reach
him.
Gonzalez, who prosecuted the
case, indicated, "The incident
occurred on Nov. 14, 1992 at a
residence on Efren Ramirez Road in
Roma. The seizure was a joint
effort of the Starr County Multi-
Agency Narcotics Task Force and
terifl
the Hidalgo Count
Department Some mstance wa.-.
provided by ! S Border Patrol
agents."
"The marijuana was located in the
bedroom of the residence," <kdare-
Gonzalez. "Part was located in the
closet, and another part was being
used as part of the mattress, laying
on top of the mattress. The exact
total was 2194 pounds of
marijuana...A scale, cellophane
paper, and rolls of duct tape were
recoveted."
The prosecutor said, "Mr. Silk
was not present at the time of the
incident...There was one adult (the
wife) and three children in the house
at the time of the incident. The
officers, after some time, received
consent to search the residence."
Gonzalez continued, "The defense
contended since he was not there,
(See ACQUITS, Page 6)
urn
Melissa Flares to relinquish
Fair Queen crown Feb. 25
On Sunday, Feb. 25, Melissa
Florcs, 2000 Youth Fair Queen,
will relinquish her crown to the
2001 Queen.
Melissa Flores is the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Sixto Flores of Rio
Grande City.
This year's pageant committee is
accepting applications for the
following four categories:
* Petite Fair Princess (Kinder
through second grade).
* Pretcen Princess (Third grade
through fifth grade).
* Teen Princess (Sixth grade
through eighth grade).
* County Fair Queen (High
School).
Participants will be reporting for
rehearsal on Thursday, Feb. 22.
The pageant is being held at the
Starr County Fairgrounds and is
sponsored by the Starr County 4-H
Council.
-'WJl
Flores outgoing Fair Queen
Melissa Florcs, the 2000 Starr County Youth Fast Qu m i|! relinquish
her crown to the new 2001 Queen on Sunday, Feb. 25 at this year's Starr
County Youth Fair Pageant. The pageant will feature competition I h I an
Queen and three other categories.
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 15, 2001, newspaper, February 15, 2001; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195799/m1/1/?rotate=90: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.