Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 42, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 25, 2007 Page: 1 of 6
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:
THURSDAY
WEEKLY
EDITION
Rio Grande
October 25, 2007
94th YEAR No. 42
#215
HOAGBOOK BINDERY
127 RAILROAD
SPRINGPORT.MI 49204
ZONE 6
LhMuaawMri^f
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
Aldermen okay early voting location change by 3-2 vote
o
m
RGCHS crowns 2007 Homecoming King, Queen
^ Rio Grande City High School named the Homecoming King and Queen during halftime at the game
between the Rio Grande City Rattlers and Sharyland Rattlers at Joe R. Sanchez Stadium on Oct. 12.
2007. This year's Homecoming King is Ernesto Garza, Jr. and the Homecoming Queen is Deannay "Di
Di" Avila. The RGCCISD fervently congratulates both the King and Queen! (RGCCISD photo)
# County hears Roma presentation
on tax increment financing
At their special meeting on
Monday morning, Oct. 15, the
County Commissioners heard a
presentation by the City of
Roma advocating tax increment
financing in partnership with the
county, but reached a consensus
to take no action for the time
being.
Lance Elliott told the
commissioners, "I'm working
with the City of Roma on
^reating a tax increment
^Investment zone. It. in
cooperation with the county,
would provide funding for
capital improvements."
Elliott added. "The county
would not give up any current
•income. The county would give
up any tax increase and this
would be captured by (he city to
be used for capital
improvements for economic
development."
Elliott concluded, "This zone
would cover most vacant land in
Roma. We have done this in the
city of Hidalgo. This would also
involve land that the City of
Roma is planning to annex."
Roma City Manager Cris
Salinas explained, "It can only
be used for infrastructure and
economic development. We
need to have it ready by Dec. 31.
This can be anywhere from 10
to 20 years."
"Roma does not have the sales
tax base and hotel/motel tax
Substantial rains fall
in RGC area Oct. 8-10
Significant rains fell over
much of Starr County from Oct
8-10, with the immediate Rio
Grande City area receiving the
heaviest rains.
A storm system first brought a
brief shower to the Rio Grande
City area shortly before 4 p.m.
on Monday. Oct. 8. Another
heavier shower fell briefly after
^5 p.m. that day. Still another
rainstorm arrived shortly after 6
p.m., drenching the Rio Grande
City area with 1 1/2 to 2 1/2
inches of rain in roughly one
hour.
| Additional showers fell on
Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 9 and
Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 10,
with the Oct. 10 rains being the
heaviest.
Over the three-day period, the
Rio Grande City Eire
Department recorded 2.34
inches, with the following daily
totals: Monday, Oct. 8- 1.85
inch; Tuesday, Oct. 9- .15 inch;
Wednesday, Oct. 1ft- .34 inch.
Bob Alderman, who lives in
the western section of Rio
Grande City, reported that his
rain gauge registered 1.80 inches
on Monday evening, Oct. 8. He
recorded an additional .05 inch
on Tuesday, Oct. 9 and .75 inch
on Wednesday, Oct. 10,
bringing the overall total to 2.60
inches.
Dr. Roberto S. Margo
indicated that 3.70 inches fell at
his Rio Grande City clinic over
the three days, with 2.50 inches
falling Monday evening, Oct. 8.
He noted that only .30 inch fell
at his ranch located 30-35 miles
north of Rio Grande City.
Precinct Four County
Commissioner Abel N.
Gonzalez, Jr. told The Rio
Grande Herald, "At our
residence (approximately eight
miles) north of town, we got 2.3
inches over a three-day period.
We got .20 inch at our ranch 25
miles north of Rio Grande City."
NRCS District Conservationist
Arturo Ibarra indicated, "I
understand there was some rain
in rural areas. We don't have
any totals outside of Rio Grande
City."
(See RAINS, Pane 6)
At their regular monthly
meeting on Thursday evening,
Oct. 4, the Rio Grande City
Board of Aldermen voted 3-2 to
approve the City
Administrator's
recommendation to move the
location for 2007 election early
voting from City Hall to the old
Ringgold Elementary campus,
with the two dissenting
aldermen sharply criticizing the
decision.
City Administrator Juan
Zuniga indicated that his
recommendation, spelled out in
a letter to the Civil Rights
Division of the U.S. Justice
Department, was largely based
on safety concerns.
The official agenda item read
as follows: "Consideration and
possible action to adopt
Ordinance No. 2007-17
amending Ordinance No. 2007-
13, Call of November Election."
Zuniga told the aldermen,
"You have a letter from staff to
the U.S. Justice Department
requesting that early voting be
moved from City Hall to the old
Ringgold Elementary campus.
The main reason is safety
concerns. In the past, we have
had elections that have had
safety issues. Parking is very
' limited."
Alderman Guadalupe Amador
questioned, "Aren't we opening
the door for everyone? I don't
think we should be constantly
moving back and forth."
Mayor Pro Tem Ruben O.
Villarreal insisted, "If it's about
the people's safety, I'm all for it.
There have been a number of
bad accidents over the years."
Amador countered, "What
about the safety of the students?
There are students walking to
the elementary and middle
schools."
"We need to look for a
centralized location, with
representatives of every entity
involved," contended Amador.
Villarreal commented, "I think
another location should be
considered for the future."
Mayor Kevin Hiles declared,
"This caught me by surprise. I
think it does make sense. What
about handling of ballot boxes?
Who will be directing security?"
Cantu asked Hiles, "This
caught you by surprise?" Hiles
responded, "We have staff that
makes recommendations." The
mayor added that he was aware
of staff considering and
discussing the idea.
Zuniga stated, "I discussed
logistics and other concerns with
(City Secretary) Holly
(Guerrero). We're getting more
traffic at City Hall with the
Parks and Recreation
Department. We need to
minimize disruption to city
activities."
Hiles insisted, "The city
basically ceases to operate
during those two weeks (of early
voting at City Hall)." Alderman
Hernan R. Garza III suggested.
"I think that's a good location to
have it permanently."
Zuniga emphasized, "We'll
retract this letter if you don't
(See LOCAfiONTPage 6)
PUCT okays TCC request to
boost rates charged to providers
base that Rio Grande City has,"
commented Elliott. "A tax
abatement cannot be done
within the zone. If you wish to
offer an abatement, the property
can be de-annexed. For
annexation, we would have to
come back before the
Commissioners Court."
Precinct One Commissioner
Jaime Alvarez insisted, "I think
we need to have Judge Vera and
the County Auditor here."
Precinct Three Commissioner
Eloy Garza, presiding over the
meeting in the absence of
County Judge Eloy Vera,
contended, "I think this needs to
be discussed further."
Precinct Two Commissioner
Raul "Roy" Pena, Jr. suggested,
"Let's table it and take a closer
look."
County Attorney Victor
Canales pointed out, "There is
no interlocal agreement that has
yet been prepared. I think a
workshop would be a good
idea."
About other matters, Elections
(See COUNTY, Page 6)
Fall Carnival
Oct. 25 at STC
Starr Campus
The South Texas College
.Starr County Campus Fall
Carnival will be held Thursday,
Oct. 25, 2007 from 6:30 to 9
p.m. at 142 FM 3167 in Rio
Grande City.
Everyone from the STC
community, as well as the
public, is invited to attend
Come and enjoy a safe, family-
friendly night filled with games,
prizes, rides, food and
entertainment. All proceeds will
go to the campus' student
organizations.
For additional information,
contact the Starr County
Campus Student Activities
Department at 872-5888
American Electric Power
(NYSE: AEP) said on Thursday,
Oct. 18 that the Public Utility
Commission of Texas (PUCT)
has approved an increase in the
rates AEP Texas Central
Company (TCC) charges Retail
Electric Providers (REPs) for
ihe delivery of electricity over
its transmission and distribution
system.
Based on an initial analysis
from TCC, the decision will
result in a base rate increase for
TCC of approximately $40.8
million, including the expiration
of merger credits. The PUCT
also approved a $3.5 million
increase in service fees TCC
had requested an approximately
$70 million base rate increase.
"Although we are disappointed
that the commission's decision
did not result in an increase
closer to our $70 million
request, the increase certainly
will help address our financial
condition," said Charles Patton,
AEP Texas president and chief
operating officer. "Even with
this increase, the charges
associated with energy delivery
in the TCC service territory are
only 20 percent of a typical
residential customer's total bill.
Given the state's need for
additional electric infrastructure
going forward, it will be
important for Texas legislators
and regulators to re-evaluate
how transmission and
distribution companies such as
TCC receive timely rate relief
in order to ensure a safe and
secure electric infrastructure."
If the REPs choose to pass on
the entire amount of the increase
to end-use customers, residential
customers in the TCC service
territory using 1000 kilowatt-
hours a month would see an
increase of less than $2 per
month, or less than 2 percent
over what they paid prior to
June 2007.
A final order will be issued in
the near future, and TCC
anticipates the new rates will be
effective by December. As
allowed by PUCT rules, rates
reflecting TCC's request were
put into effect, subject to refund,
in May. The difference between
the interim rates and the final
rates approved by the PUCT will
be refunded to the REPs with
interest as prescribed by PUCT
rules. The REPs will determine
whether to pass on all or a
portion of the refund to their
customers.
TCC is one of two
transmission and distribution
utilities that comprise AEP
Texas, a unit of American
Electric Power. TCC provides
energy delivery service to a
44,000-square-mile area of
South Texas. TCC's service
(See CHARGED, Page 6)
RGCHS alumni enjoy Homecoming events
Rio Grande City High School Ex-Alumni from the classes of 1968. 1978, 1988 and 1998 participated
in the Homecoming Parade and attended the Rattler game on Friday, Oct. 12. 2007 to cheer for the
Mighty Rattlers and reminisce on memories of their own homecoming festivities. Pictured I to r
(front); Vilma Garza, Cynthia Olivarez, Cynthia Lopez. Araceli Barrientos, and Abraham Gonzalez,
(back); Cynthia Garcia Fuentes, Becky Andrade. Rosa Vela, Sylvia Casas, Monica Decker and Elena
Villarreal. (RGCCISD photo).
Aim High
Hit your target audience.
Call now for Great Rates
on Front Page Advertising.
956-487-2819
Rio Grande
IERALD
GET NOTICED
YOUR LOGO HERE
CALL 956-487-2819
< E*st US MWY 83
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.
Matching Search Results
View one place within this issue that match your search.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. 94, No. 42, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 25, 2007, newspaper, October 25, 2007; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196088/m1/1/?q=music: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.