Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 29, 2004 Page: 1 of 6
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY
EDITION
January 29, 2004
91st YEAR No. 5
Rio Grande
#215
IIOACi BOOK. BINDI-RY
127 RAIL ROAD
SPRINGPORI MI 49204
ZONE 6
HEFLAT n
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
J *, . • - ' '
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Gladiator Band members achieve state honors
These nine Roma High School Gladiator Band members pictured above have earned a chair position in the
2004 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Band organizations. Twenty Gladiator Band
members participated in the TMEA Area G competition at Alice on Jan. 10. The nine All-State honorees will
perform in San Antonio on Feb. 14 as part of the Texas All-State Band at the 2004 TMEA Convention.
Road to TMEA All-State Band
finally complete for Gladiator Band
By RICKY PEREZ
Saturday. Jan. 10. 2004. the final
competition in the road to TMEA
All-State status continued for Roma
High School band students in Alice
at the TMEA Area G competition.
Twenty (20) Mighty Roma
Gladiator band members participated
at the event that weekend Chair
positions in the TMEA All-State
bands were up for grabs.
We are proud to announce that
nine (9) of our Mighty Roma
Gladiator band members earned a
chair position in 2004 TMEA All-
State Band organizations. Earning a
position in the most prestigious
organization, and winning this
honor after competing with
thousands of other students
throughout the state is a
tremendous accomplishment for the
Roma High School Gladiator Band,
Roma High School, and the Roma
community.
These students will perform with
the Texas All-State (Band, or
Orchestra) in San Antonio on
Saturday, Feb 14, 2004 as part of
the 2004 Texas Music Educators
Association Clinic/Convention
meeting.
The following students are 2004
TMEA All-Staters from the Mighty
Roma High School Gladiator Band:
* Mayra Lozano, three year All-
State 5A Bass Clarinet and daughter
of Mr. Jesus and Mrs. Yolanda
Lozano. Mayra is a private student
of Mrs Michelle Garza, Roma 1SD
Clarinet Instructor
* Jose Arturo Guerra, two year
All-State 4A Alto Sax and son of
Mr. Jose Arturo and Mrs. Maria
Celia Guerra. Art is a private
student of Mr. Jerome G Moran.
* Raul Mercado, three year All
State 5A Horn and son of Mr. Raul
and Mrs. Sofia Mercado. Raul is a
private student of Mrs. Dcna
Laurel, Roma 1SD French Horn
Instructor.
* Lynette Barrera, 5A Horn,
daughter of Mr. Rudy and Mrs.
Dora N. Barrera. Lynette is a
private student of Mrs. Dena
Laurel, Roma ISD French Horn
Instructor.
* Orlando Medrano, three year
All-State 5A Horn son of Mr.
Arnulfo and Mrs. Norma Medrano.
Orlando is a private student of Mrs.
Dena Laurel, Roma ISD French
Horn Instructor.
* Eden Gonzalez, three year All-
State 5A Bari Sax son of Mr.
Ernesto and Mrs Lupita Gonzalez.
Eden is a private student of Mr.
Jerome G. Moran, Roma ISD
Saxophone Instructor.
* Alejandro Barrera, three year
All-State 5A Tenor Trombone, son
Of Mr, Gerardo and Mrs. Elia
Barrera. He is a private student of
Mr. Jonathan Yeager, Roma ISD
Trombone Instructor.
* Jose I. Ibanez, 5A Bass
Trombone, son of Mr Jose 'siael
(See GLADIATOR, PaRe 6)
Steady, soaking rains over a
three-day period last week dropped
over two inches of rain in many
areas of Starr County and provided
bencficial moisture for both
ranchers and farmers.
The rainy spell began with light
showers during the noon hour on
Wednesday, Jan. 21. Light rain
continued on a persistent basis
throughout Wednesday afternoon
and evening.
Pena re-election candidate;
faces no opposition
Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen
A. Pena has announced that she
will seek re-election for Starr
County Tax Assessor-Collector on
March 9, 2004.
She was first elected in 1996.
Aside from her previous terms
serving as Tax Assessor-Collector,
this will be the first election in
which she will run for office
without an opponent.
Carmen said she has
accomplished all of her objectives
since she took office. Collections
have shown an increase year after
year and payment plans continue to
be offered to avoid any tax sales.
Taxpayers who are 65 years of age
and older are offered tax deferrals.
Credit card payments are now being
accepted at the tax office.
Pena emphasized, "Better service
for our community has also been
provided. For example, the Roma
substation offers our taxpayers
better services by saving them a
trip to our central station in Riow
Grande City. Our Tax Collector,
Carmen A. Pena, along with our
County Commissioner for Precinct
Carmen A. Pena
Three, Eloy Garza, have a brighter
future planned ahead for our
community. Their plans include
providing us with an additional
substation in the eastern part of our
county to allow easy access for
renewal of license plates.,
registration, and taxes."
Carmen is married to Pedro Pena,
(See PENA, Pnge 6|
Doggett stresses experience,
border issues at reception
Starr County receives
beneficial soaking rains
Moderate and steady rains fell
most of Thursday morning, both
before and after sunrise. Rainfall
that was at times heavy continued
Thursday afternoon. Moderate
showers returned early Friday
morning, with occasional drizzle
falling Friday afternoon and
evening.
The Rio Grande City Fire
Department recorded 1.52 inches of
rain over a four-day period, with the
following daily rainfall totals:
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21- .50 inch;
THURSDAY, JAN. 22- .79 inch;
FRIDAY, JAN. 23- .22 inch;
SATURDAY. JAN. 24- .01 inch.
Dr. Roberto S. Margo indicated
that 2.2 inches of rain fell at his
ranch, located 35 miles north of
Rio Grande City, from Wednesday
through Saturday. He stated that 1.8
inches fell at his clinic in Rio
Grande City over the same four-day
period.
Dr. Margo emphasized, "It's
going to help the pastures. It was
awesome because it was a soaking
rain."
Bob Alderman, who lives in
western Rio Grande City, indicated
that his rain gauge registered 1.40
inches from Wednesday through
Saturday.
NRCS District Conservationist
Arturo Ibarra indicated Monday,
"Generally, from what I understand,
rainfall throughout the county
averaged two inches...It was a
general rain throughout the county.
Everybody got significant rain."
"This rain was very beneficial for
rangeland and cropland," emphasized
Ibarra. "Some recent light frosts had
set back the pastures. It (the
rainfall) was very bencficial for
cropland, providing good planting
moisture."
At a reception at the LaBorde
House in Rio Grande City on
Wednesday night, Jan. 21, U.S.
Congressman Lloyd Doggett
stressed his decade of congressional
experience and his active interest in
border issues as reasons why Starr
County voters should elect him as
their representative in the newly-
created 25th Congressional District.
Doggett was introduced at the
reception by County Judge Eloy
Vera, who also introduced the other
elected officials present.
Among the officials present at
the reception were County
Commissioners Eloy Garza, Jaime
Alvarez and Abel N. Gonzalez. Jr.,
Sheriff Reymundo Guerra, County
Attorney David Garza, County
Clerk Dennis Gonzalez, Rio Grande
City CISD Board of Trustees
President Basilio D. Villarreal, Jr.,
STCC (South Texas Community
College) trustee Manuel Benavidez,
Jr., County Tax Assessor-Collector
Carmen A. Pena, and Democratic
Party Chairman Mike Villarreal.
Also present were Assistant
District Attorney Victor Canales.
three members of the Roma ISD
Board of Trustees, and two
members of the Starr County
Hospital Board. State
Representative Ryan Guillen, a Rio
Grande City native, arrived while
the reception was in progress. Billy
Canales, who represents Starr
County on the Rio Grande Valley
RGC High
JROTC to lead
Parade of Oranges
in Mission
RGCCISD News Release
The Rio Grande City High School
JROTC 12th Cavalry has been in-
vited to lead the Parade of Oranges
on January 31, 2004 at 12:30 p.m. in
Mission. Texas.
"I was in shock when I received the
call confirming that vve would lead
the parade," said Major Sgt. Marco
Pena (JROTC Instructor). "The ca-
dets are excited about the paiade and
we're ready to go represent Rio
Grande City CISD and Rio Grande
City in front of 10,000 people from
throughout the Rio Grande Valley."
The Parade of Oranges is a tradi-
tion that started over 65 years ago in
celebration of the citrus industry in
the Rio Grande Valley. The Royal
Coronation Pageant on January 29.
2004 w ill kick off the series of events
that will continue throughout the
weekend.
If you would like to attend in sup-
port of the Rio Grande City High
School JROTC call the Texas Citrus
Fiesta Headquarters for more infor
toauon at (956) 585-9724.
Partnership/Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors, was also
present.
Doggett. a native of Austin, was
first elected to Congress in 1994.
Prior to the controversial
redistricting that took place in
2003, Doggett represented the 10th
Congressional District in Congress
Doggett was a Texas Supreme
Court Justice from 1989 to 1994.
He was elected to the Texas Senate
in 1973 at age 26, and was the
Democratic nominee for the U.S.
Senate in 1984.
Judge Vera later explained to The
Rio Grande Herald, "I was there to
welcome him to Starr County."
Commissioner Alvarez contended
at the reception, "We will get the
real thing if we elect him. The
Republicans did us a favor by
putting him in this district. I've
followed him since he ran for the
U.S. Senate. He does an excellent
job of representing the poor,
minorities, veterans and teachers."
Commissioner Gonzalez stressed.
"This man has the experience to
represent us very well."
"This man is our Iriend for all
time," commented Commissioner
Garza. "He is already an experienced
congressman. He will work for
health care and other needs along
the border."
Doggett insisted, "The President
has literally been promising the
moon and stars (through increased
space exploration). That's all very
interesting, but a lot of people are
struggling to make ends meet on a
daily basis. We need to get out of
the rain when we have to, but we
need to take on the storm when we
have to."
"Our values are to fight for
people who have been left behind
by the system," emphasized the
congressman. "I won't have to learn
where things are in Washington
I'll be there for you on an active
and regular basis."
Vera indicated, "Hopefully, our
state representative, Ryan Guillen,
will make it here before things
wrap up (at the reception). He's on
his way from Austin."
Doggett, noting that he is a
member of the influential House
Ways and Means Committee,
stressed, "The Ways and Means
Committee has jurisdiction over
taxation, international trade,
customs, Social Security,
unemployment compensation and
other vital issues."
"I think the (Democratic)
presidential primary (racei will not
be settled by the time of the Texas
primary," predicted the legislator "I
think this administration has been
the most divisive in my lifetime I
think any of the presidential
contenders will be far superior in
George W Bush. I don't think the
President's guest worker program
proposal goes far enough."
Doggett suggested. "I think at
some point -,vc need to n
universal health insurance. Before
(See DOGGETT, Page 6)
Dermis Gonzalez
announces candidacy
Dennis David Gonzalez, Starr
County Clerk, filed his candidacy
for election to the office of Starr
County Clerk, on December 22.
2003. a position to which he was
unanimously appointed by the Starr
County Commissioner's Court on
Oct. 2, 2003.
This position had been recently
vacated by Mr. Omar J Garza, who
served as the Starr County Clerk
for the past 13 years. Dennis will
continue working towards the goals
and objectives that have been set to
better serve the public. He has
already started planning and
improving the image and services
at the office.
As County Clerk, Dennis has
been able to increase his record
management fund by $20,000.00.
He is also working with ACS, a
government record management
agency, from Dallas to computerize
and digitally index and image all
official records from 1977 to
present. This will present the
public with state of the art
« 'A
Dennis D. Gonzalez
computerization, which will
simplify the tasks of searching for
records.
In 1998, Dennis began working
with the Starr County Attorney's
office where he gained experience
(Sec GONZALEZ, Page 6)
RGC High JROTC to touch base with Gen. Sanchez
The Rio Grande City High School JROTC is participating in a special v ideo production that will be sent to
General Ricardo Sanchez in Iraq Several RGCCISD organizations are participating in this production
organized through the city of Rio Grande City. Pictured is the JROTC 12th Cavalry Unit sending General
Sanchez a special salute (RGCCISD photo).
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 29, 2004, newspaper, January 29, 2004; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196253/m1/1/?q=%22Rio+Grande+Herald+Publishing+Company%2C+Inc.%22: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.