Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 89, No. 15, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 11, 2002 Page: 3 of 6
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Fair Association Scholarship Recipients Announced
The Starr County Fair Association has announced its scholarship recipients for 2002. From left to right,
they are Vanessa Montalvo and Norma Garza of San lsidro High School, Deena M. Ramon of Roma High
School. Jesse Villarreal and Judith ivl Alvarez of Rio Grande City High School, Eunice Perez of Roma
High School, and Alexia A. Barrera of Roma High School. They are pictured with the 2002 Starr County
Fair Queen, Betsy Chapa.
Starr County Fair Association
awards seven scholarships
The Starr County Fair
Association, which has annually
presented up to seven scholarships
to Starr County graduating senior^,
this year added another scholarship
for $2,000.
Recipients are r.tudents who
have distinguished themselves as
fair exhibitors and in their
academic studies, as well as
demonstrating leadership roles in
their schools and communities.
The top scholarship is now for
$2,000. Another outstanding
applicant receives $!,500. These
are selected at-large from any of
the three high schools in Starr
County. Besides these, two are
presented to applicants from each
of the schools, for a possible total
of eight.
Scholarship Chairman Ruben
Saenz praised the accomplishments
of the 2002 applicants and
announced the winners so that they
could be honored during the Starr
County Fair.
Scholarship recipients for 2002
are as follows: Alexia A. Barrera
of Roma High School, $2,000;
Eunice Perez of Roma High
School, $1,500; Deena M. Ramon
of Roma High School, $1,000;
Judith M. Alvarez of Rio Grande
City High School, $1,000; Jesse
Villarreal of Rio Grande City High
School, $1,000; Vanessa Montalvo
of San lsidro High School, $ 1,000;
and Norma Garza of San lsidro
High School, $1,000.
Alexia A. Barrera of Roma
High School, a member of the
Distinguished Achievement Pro-
gram of Roma High School, won
the first-ever $2,000 scholarship.
She plans to attend the University
of Texas and pursue a Doctorate of
Pharmacy. She plans to return to
the Rio Grande Valley to work and
states, "I am interested in helping
people around my community
bccause of the demand for people
in the medical professions. I want
to do something good with my life
that will make me happy, as well as
others around me."
Alexia's main projects in the
Starr County Fair during the four
years of high school include arts
and crafts and baking. At Roma
High, she has served as Band
President and has won region and
state honors in band.
Eunice Perez has had a wide
variety of projects in the fair, from
arts and crafts, baking and clothing
to lambs and hogs. She plans to
attend UTPA and become a
registered nurse. "I enjoy
interacting with different people
and helping them in any way that I
can," she says, adding, "I have
been engulfed with high
expectations and dreams that I want
to accomplish. I want them to
become a reality. Becoming a
registered nurse is one of my
dreams; the other is to help
people."
Eunice is president of the
Roma Senior Class and was also
sophomore class president. She has
served as the Roma FFA president
for two years, and she was the
Roma High School Homecoming
Queen recipient. A CCD teacher,
she is active in community service.
Deena M. Ramon has shown
rabbits and competed in arts and
crafts and baking, winning grand
champion in 1999. She has
qualified to compete at state level
solo and ensemble competition in
band since her freshman year and is
a member of the first-ever Roma
marching band to participate at
state, winning eleventh place this
year.
Deena plans to attend Texas
A&M Corpus Christi with plans to
make nursing her lifetime career.
She states, "1 am perfectly aware
that a career in nursing will be far
from easy. I know the working
hours will include night shifts,
weekends, and holidays, but I know
1 will be doing something that I
love. I'll have the satisfaction that
I'm helping people to ease their
pain or perhaps even saving their
lives."
Judith M. Alvarez has raised
heifers, goats, bulls, poultry,
rabbits, and a steer, winning top
honors and showmanship honors
with many of her livestock projects.
Her plans are to attend Stephen F.
Austin State University to become
an agriculture teacher. She states,
"I have chosen this career because I
have been in the agriculture field
for ten years. I have learned so
much that I want to teach every
student to do what they love the
best. Our future students will need
a positive direction, and I want to
be one of those persons that
provides it."
Judy is president of La Posta
4-H Club, which she serves as a
youth leader. She was captain of
the Rio Grande City High School
swim team and has been active in
community service projects, such
as highway beautification.
Jesse Villarreal has shown
meat goats, breeding heifers, and a
breeding bull. At Rio High, he has
played on the Rattler football team
and served as historian and sentinel
of the Rio Grande City FFA
Chapter. For the past four years, he
has participated in the Adopt a
Highway program in an effort to
beautify our state roadsides.
Jesse plans to pursue a career
as a veterinarian and hopes to
attend Texas A&M University. "It
was at an earlv age that I was
introduced to several types of
RGC native graduates
Army basic training
Army Spcc. Melinda Lopez-
Topolski has graduated from basic
military training at Fort Leonard
Wood at Waynesvillc, Missouri.
During training, the trainee
received instruction in drill and
ceremonies, weapons, map reading,
tactics, military courtesy, military
justice, physical fitness, first aid,
and Army history and traditions.
S
9
a
To keep brown sugar soft, put
a piece of fresh bread in the con-
tainer and close it securely. The
following day you will find the
sugar soft. Or empty the sugar
'nto a glass |ar or clean coffee
••th plastic lid, adtf several
••*, and close lightly.
The original five Ringling
Brothers of Circus fame were
named Albert, Otto, Alfred,
Charles and John. They started
their first traveling circus in 1884.
Two other brothers, Henry and
August, joined the Circus later in
the 1880s.
The Rio Grande Herald-Thursday, April 11, 2002, Page 3
Foundation gives detailed
update to commissioners
wildlife and livestock. I felt
something had to be done in order
for animals to live sr ..Jer,
healthier lives and flourish for the
years to come," states Jes wt o
adds, "Hopefully, 1 will be able to
put both my intellect and leadership
skills to the test in becoming a
veterinarian."
Vanessa Montalvo has had
show animals, posters, and
numerous entries in the baking
division. She won class and
showmanship honors with her
swine project. She has served as
president of San lsidro High
School's Family, Career and
Community Leaders of America for
two years and was treasurer of her
class during her freshman and
sophomore years.
Her plans include attending St.
Edwards University in Austin to
pursue a degree in psychology.
She states, 'To enable an individual
to work out their emotional
instabilities and to study the human
mind and how it functions in order
to enable individuals to freely
express their emotions are the key
points that have played a role in my
decision-making process of
choosing a career."
Norma Garza of San lsidro
High School is president of the
National Honor Society and Class
Vice-president. She has been a
class officer every year during high
school, as well as being active in
the Student Council, FCCLA, and
FFA. Her projects in the Stan-
County Fair include baking, arts
and crafts, and rabbits.
Norma plans to attend Texas
A&M University in Laredo and
study education. She states, "I
have always wanted to become a
teacher because some of the best
teachers in my school have
influenced me to go beyond what is
expected of me, and that has led me
to be the fifth-ranked senior." She
adds, "Instructors impact students'
lives in more than one way, and I
have the desire to give to children
the lessons they will need to
succeed."
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
Monday morning, the County
Commissioners received a detailed
update from the Starr County
Industrial Foundation on the status
of numerous ongoing or planned
projects, with special emphasis
being placed on the opening of the
new Best Western Hotel in Rio
Grande City.
Foundation Executive Director
Hector Solis indicated, "The 58-
room Best Western Hotel opened
very successfully in the second
week of February. They're running
at about 70 percent occupancy.
They greatly appreciate the
incentives. This (the tax
abatements) will mean tax revenues
of $13,000-plus over three years,
and $13,000-plus per year after
that."
Solis noted, "Some other hotels
have shown interest (recently) in
Starr County."
He added, "We're still waiting for
a grand opening date (to be
scheduled) for the new Rio Grande
City import facility."
Solis concluded, "We're in
continuous contact with TXDOT
on transportation issues. We've
been working with NADBANK to
obtain funding for infrastructure."
Rose Benavides of the
Foundation stated, "We attended a
Senate Subcommittee on Border
Affairs meeting in Laredo in
February. The need for a bypass
was heavily stressed. JRight now it
looks like we're guaranteed funding
for the bypass. Congressman
(Ruben) Hinojosa has been very
helpful in trying to get 1-69 moved
closer to the county."
"We've been told that Starr
County has perhaps the richest
historical tradition in the entire
state," she added. "This should
allow for funding for restoration of
properties of historical value."
Benavides concluded, "We
understand that there should be
funding of border areas, especially
those with port facilities, to
improve homeland security. Mr.
(Tom) Ridge (Director of Homeland
Security) will be a featured speaker
at a conference which we will attend
in Washington from May 4-8."
County Judge Eloy Vera stressed,
"I'm glad to hear that more and
more entities in Starr County are
utilizing the Industrial Foundation."
After brief discussion, the
commissioners unanimously
approved an order restricting
outdoor burning due to the serious
drought conditions. Vera explained,
"We have been asked to approve
this because of the continuing
drought conditions. We can burn for
firefighter training and for
agricultural harvesting, and also for
public utilities."
Precinct One Commissioner
Jaime Alvarez asked, "Who would
enforce it?" Vera replied, "My
understanding is that it would be
the Sheriffs Department."
Library Director Norma Fultz
indicated that 971 patfons visited all
branches in March, with 813 items
being circulated. She commented,
"All our branches are doing very
well. We've started up in Roma
again."
Precinct Two Commissioner
Raul "Roy" Pena, Jr. stated, "Time-
Warner has agreed to provide free
Internet service at the Roma library
on a monthly basis indefinitely. We
need something in writing in case
of a change of ownership." Fultz
stressed, "They did this to show
their commitment to the
community."
"We submitted several requests
for proposals to computer
companies," declared Rose
Benavides. "Dell offered the best
price and arrangement. They also
will hook us up through a state
contract. We will get 10 computers
initially and about six moi later.
The computers will feature work
stations. The Roma library will be
the first priority."
The commissioners approved
exempting from taxation the travel
trailers to which House Bill 2076
applies. Vera explained, "Most
cities in the Valley have chosen not
to tax trailers under 400 feet in
length. I also feel we should not lax
the trailers. This (approving the
exemption) would be a way to
entice more Winter Texans."
The commissioners approved a
resolution for the county to become
a member of the County
Information Resources Agency.
Vera explained that the purpose of
the group is to provide a united
voice for Texas counties on
technology issues.
Judge Vera commented, "TAC
(the Texas Association of Counties)
has created a branch to provide
technical assistance with electronic
reporting to this county and others.
It is now mandated that some
reports be done electronically."
On another matter, the
commissioners approved a
resolution for the county to bccome
a member of the Texas Local
Government Purchasing
Cooperative under the authority
granted by Article 791 et sep. The
commissioners also approved an
Interlocal Participation Agreement
between Starr County and the Texas
Local Government Purchasing
Cooperative.
The commissioners granted
unanimous approval to two advance
funding agreements with TXDOT
for two Off-System Bridge
Replacement Projects. Those
bridges are CR 149 (Old U.S. 83)
at Minita Creek and CR 127
(Chapeno Rd.) at an unnamed creek.
Vera explained, "This refers to
two bridges on county roads.
TXDOT says these two bridges
need to be refurbished because
they're becoming increasingly
dangerous to the public. This would
be applied for on the basis of an
economically disadvantaged
county."
Vera added, "Some weeks ago,
TXDOT agreed that the county's
share could be only one-half of one
percent, or just over $3700." The
total projected cost of the two
projects, he indicated, is $745,350.
The commissioners were told that
International Bridge revenues for
March 2002 were $244,410, an
increase of $8205.50 from the
March 2001 figure of $236,204.50.
Starr County Gas System
Manager Ruben D. Saenz indicated,
"We have about 60 accounts that
may have to be reclassified as
commercial."
The commissioners voted to
grant authorization to check into
the possibility of seeking state
certification of the Cenizo Nutrition
Center. Precinct Three
Commissioner Eloy Garza
complained, "There have been some
complaints about private centers.
The county would not have to
worry about profit. I've been told
services have declined."
Federal/State Programs
Coordinator Elisa Beas said, "I'm
just asking to apply for
certification." Vera commented, "I
don't want the county to compete
with private businesses," but
expressed concern about some of
Garza's criticisms.
County Attorney David Garza
provided a brief written summary of
his office's activities for the first
quarter of 2002. The results were as
follows: Criminal Cases filed, 159;
Bench Warrants filed, 117; Juvenile
Cases filed, 28; Protective Orders
filed, 27; Mental Commitments,
14; Hot Checks, 59.
Roma GRBA
plans Job
Fair/Career Day
April 22
All interested persons are invited
to attend the Greater Roma
Business Alliance GRBA-EXPO
Job Market/Career Day on Monday,
April 22 in Roma.
The event will take place on
April 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00
p.m. at the Midnight Ballroom in
Roma across from the IBC Bank
Honored guests at the event will
be U.S. Congressman Ciro
Rodriguez, State Representative
Irma Rangel and State Senator
Judith Zaffirini.
Anyone with questions should
call (956) 847-1400 and ask for
Noel Escobar.
Lopez-Topolksi is the daughter of
Juan Abel Lopez and Mary B.
Lopez of 122 Deer Run in Rio
Grande City.
The specialist is a 1996 graduate
of Rio Grande City High School
and a 2001 graduate of Western
Michigan University in Kalamazoo,
Michigan.
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 89, No. 15, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 11, 2002, newspaper, April 11, 2002; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196159/m1/3/?q=technical+manual: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.