Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 89, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 8, 2002 Page: 1 of 6
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'
THURSDAY
WEEKLY EDITION
August 08, 2002
89th Year, No. 31
Herald
#215
11( )A( i HOOK HINDI KY
127 l<A11 ROAD
SPRINtiPOR I. Ml 49204
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
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Garcia takes reins as Hollywood Park Fire Chief
Javier Garcia, who served as Rio Grande City Fire Chief for almost seven years, is pictured above as
Hollywood Park Mayor Harold Burris presents him with his official badge Hollywood Park is a suburb
located on the north side of San Antonio. Garcia's resignation as Rio Grande City Fire Chief became effective
on July 12, 2002, and he took the reins as Hollywood Park Chief less than two weeks later
Garcia takes office as
Hollywood Park Fire Chief
Javier Garcia, the Rio Grande
'City 1 ire Chief from September
tfc 1995 to July 2002, has been sworn
in as the new Fire Chief of
Hollywood Park, a suburb on the
north side of San Antonio.
Hollywood Park Mayor Harold
Burris had these comments to make
about Garcia:
"Hollywood Park is very happy
to have Javier Garcia as our new
Fire Chief. I know he has served
your community (Rio Grande City)
well. We will expect the same fine
service from him in his new
position here. Chief Garcia has won
the hearts of all of us here. He and
his wife Bea are indeed lovely
people. Your loss is our gain. Best
wishes to you."
Garcia began his duties as
Hollywood Park Fire Chief on July
22, 2002. His resignation as Rio
Grande City Fire Chief became
effective July 12, 2002.
Before leaving Rio Grande City,
Garcia noted to The Rio Grande
Herald that the Hollywood Park
Fire Department has 16 paid
firefighters and two volunteers.
Two violent crime suspects
arrested at Starr ports of entry
Two . aspects that were named in
enarate violent crime warrants in
Harris County, Texas and New
York State have been arrested in the
past two weeks at the Falcon Dam
and Roma ports of entry,
respectively.
On Friday, July 19 at
approximately 10 p.m., Peter
Grant, a 35-year-old Jamaican
national from Miami, Florida, was
arrested at the Roma Port of Entry.
Rick Pauza, a Customs spokesman
based in Laredo, indicated that
investigation by the Immigration
and Naturalization Service (INS)
and U.S. Customs determined that
Grant was wanted for alleged
offenses in New York State. Grant
w as transferred to the custody of the
Roma Police Department.
Pauza stated that Grant "was a
pedestrian walking in from Mexico.
He had a U.S. passport with the
name 'Willie Williams.' An INS
inspector referred him for an INS
secondary inspection. He showed
signs of nervousness."
Starr County Sheriff's
Department Chief Deputy Rene
Fuentes indicated Monday that
Grant was being sought by New
York State authorities on a parole
violation of murder.
Pauza stated, "INS determined his
true identity. INS and Customs
determined he was wanted for
offenses in New York State."
The Rio Grande Herald attempted
on Tuesday morning to contact A t
Moreno at the INS office in
Harlingen. Moreno emphasized thai
this particular arrest was one of
many arrests of fugitives along tlv
border in recent months due to
much stronger security measures
implemented in the aftermath of the
Sept. 11 attacks.
On Sunday, July 28, a Houston
man charged in a warrant with
several alleged violent crimes was
arrested at the Falcon Dam Port of
Entry. Jose Jesus Villigrana, 22,
was arrested on warrants of sexual
assault, aggravated assault with a
deadly weapon and escape.
Pauza indicated, "There was a
routine inspection of a 1998
Chevrolet Suburban. Villigrana was
one of the passengers. An INS
inspector referred Villigrana for a
review of his immigration status.
During the review, inspectors
referenced a national crime database.
It was discovered by INS that he
was sought by warrant for several
alleged offenses in Harris County."
Pauza added, "He w as turned over
to U.S. Customs inspectors, who
confirmed the warrants."
The Rio Grande Herald attempted
on Friday to contact the Harris
County Sheriff's Department
concerning the fugitive's arrest and
the nature of the alleged crimes for
which he was sought An officer
indicated that the department did not
(See SUSPECTS, Page (,)
RGC-EDC, City of RGC
launch cleanup project
The Rio Grande City Economic
Development Corporation (RGC-
EDC), assisted by the Rio Grande
City Maintenance Department, has
begun a Clean-Up Rio Grande City
project.
The project will take a few weeks
to complete and will concentrate in
RGCCISD to host
new teacher breakfast
RGCCISD News Release
The New Teacher Orientation and
Breakfast is scheduled for 7:30a.in
on August 14, 2(X)2 at the Multipur-
pose Center. This year's theme will
be "Teachers plant the seeds for
Tomorrow."
t here will be important informa-
i • n piesented from several of
district's departments. New teachers
w ill be provided with information on
pay roll, insurance, human resources,
and more
The breakfast will conclude with a
tour of the schools and community
with a historical prespective pre-
sented by R.C. Salinas (Local His
torian), and Samuel Ramos (Chair-
man- Starr County Historical Com-
mission).
All new teachers should have re-
ceived their invitation and reminder
through the mail. If for some reason
you have not received it, please call
the Human Resources department at
(956)716-6748
RGC aldermen okay
solid waste ordinances
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
Thursday night, the Rio Grande
City Board of Aldermen approved
four ordinances pertaining to solid
waste collection and discussed in
detail the steps that need to be taken
to successfully implement
mandatory collection involving all
residences and commercial
establishments.
The motion okaying the
ordinances received unanimous
approval, with Oct. 1 set as the
starting date. The ordinances call for
mandatory collection from all
residences, with each resident free to
choose the collector they desire.
The ordinances also call for the
billing mechanism to be set up
through the Public Utility
Department, with the water, sewer
and solid waste bills to be
combined.
City Administrator Leonardo
Olivares led off the discussion by
explaining, "Staff has been working
on a draft ordinance. The filial
product is in another folder The
city has ordinances requiring
licensing of anyone wishing to
carry out solid waste collection.
We've amended the Public Utility
Department regulations to allow for
solid waste collection. A third
component requires solid waste
collection in order to receive utility
service."
"I will have a meeting with solid
waste providers," noted Olivares.
"Firms wishing to provide service
need to be licensed. The customers
will be sent a list of collectors and
asked to choose a collector. The
entire bill will be. required to be
paid, or all services will be cut off.
People will be able to choose solid
waste providers on a monthly
basis."
The administrator continued,
"There will be performance
requirements on the companies.
City employees will be able to
enforce the law against illegal
dumping. We may have to tweak
this, but 1 feel very good about this
ordinance. The garbage law is going
to be put into the Public Utility
section. This would change the
collection (due) date back to the
10th." Public Utility Department
Manager Ruben Klein stated, "1
recommend we move it br.ck to the
10th."
Alderman Ruben O. Villarreal
asked, "What will be the
approximate cost for the service '
Olivares responded, "The garbage
rates are likely to go down because
there will be many new customers
Patricio Hernandez of Grande
Garbage declared. "I charge $12.92
per month (including tax) for
residential. I think rates could go
down $1.50 per month." Leo
Lopez, Jr. of Rio Waste
Management indicated, "Our rates
are $10.50 plus tax for residential ."
Olivares explained, "We did not set
a price range. We said it had to be a
reasonable amount." Villarreal
emphasized, "We (the city) are not
setting a price."
Olivares indicated. "Everybody
will be bonded and insured ."
Alderman Ricardo Gutierrez
(See ALDERMEN. Page 6)
Second suspect arrested,
charged in Hernandez slaying
A 33-year-old La Rosila man has
become the second person charged
with murder in the July 9 slaying
of Trinidad Hernandez just northeast
of the city limits of Rio Grande
City.
Rio Grande City Police Chief
Guadalupe Marque/ indicated Friday
that Juan Artemio Garcia
voluntarily appeared at the Police
Department at approximately 11
a.m. on Tuesday, July 30. His
appearance Was arranged by his
attorney, and came several hours
after a search warrant was executed
on his residence.
After his appearance at the Police
Department, a warrant for murder
was served against Garcia. He was
initially arraigned before Municipal
Judge Elvira Garza and charged with
murder. Bond was set at $750,000.
On Wednesday, July 31 at 3:48
p.m., Garcia was served with an
additional warrant for criminal
solicitation of capital murder. He
,v as arraigned before 229th District
Court Judge Alex W Gabert on
that charge. Bond was set at $1
million
At approximately 5 p.m on July
30. a warrant for murder was issued
against Garcia by Municipal Judge
Garza. An additional search warrant
for Garcia's residence was issued by
District Judge Gabert.
Approximately 30 minutes later,
a search warrant at Garcia's
residence was executed by the Rio
Grande City Police Department,
with the assistance of the United
Agency Violent Crime Task Force,
U.S. Customs Special Agents,
AIF, and the FBI. Roughly
$95,000 in U.S. currency was
seized, along with five kilos of
marijuana and several weapons.
Chief Marquez indicated that four
weapons were confiscated, including
an AK-47 rifle, two 9-millimeter
handguns, and one .22 caliber
handgun.
Garcia is the second person
arrested iri connection with the July
(See CHARGED, Page 6!
Former Rattler QB
commits to Georgia Tech
Al Pena, the starling quarterback
for Rio Grande City High School
in 2000 and 2001 and preparing to
begin his senior season as the
starting signal-caller for Leander
High School in Central Texas, has
officially committed to play college
football at tradition-rich Georgia
Tech in Atlanta. Georgia.
The quarterback told The Rio
Grande Hera.d on Friday afternoon,
"I feel very good about this decision
and feel very excited about the
future, including my senior year at
Leander High School .I've always
been a big fan of ACC (Atlantic
Coast Conference) schools such as
Florida State and North Carolina,
I've always followed the ACC."
Pena was recruited to Georgia
Tech by new Yellow Jackets Head
Coach Chan Gailey. He stressed, "I
really like Chan Gailey...! got the
chance to talk for a good w hile with
Coach Gailey. He was very specific
about his expectations for incoming
players."
Pena added. "Atlanta is a real nice
city. It's a teal good sports town
The campus is very nice."
"They've been to a bowl game
the last six years." noted Pena "I
really like their Pro-style offense.
Their offense fits m\ style of play
The quarterback indicated that "I
was real close to . ommitting to
Oklahoma State. Coach Les Miles
(See COMMITS, Page<
areas that pose health and safety
hazards to local citizens. City
Alderman Ruben Villarreal had this
to say about the cleanup project:
"The Economic Development
Corporation's Clean Up project is a
positive first step towards creating
an attitude that will encourage
commitment and pride in our
community."
Plans to continue the clean up
project will go on until all
designated areas are totally cleaned
and cleared of lebris Also, in
conjunction with the clean up
project the city has begun an
abandoned cat icinoval phase to tad
the city of vehicles left abandoned
on city right-of-ways and thei
areas where these abandoned
vehicles pose health and safety
hazards.
RGC-EDC President David
Porras stated, "In order to promote
our town, we must begin the
process of cleaning and heautifving
our city and its historical downtown
(See PROJECT, Page 6)
ill.,
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Cleanup project to improve health, safety in RGC
The Rio Grande City Economic Development Corporation, with the assistance of the Rio Grande Cits
Maintenance Department, is undertaking a Clean Up Rio Grande City project. The project will focus on
clearing and cleaning areas that pose health and safety hazards to local residents. The cleanup project is
expected to last for several weeks
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 89, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 8, 2002, newspaper, August 8, 2002; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196176/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.