Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 96, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 3, 2009 Page: 1 of 6
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY
EDITION
December 3,2009
96th YEAR No. 48
Rio Grande
'I R \
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
RGC aldermen talk pending Flores/Avasolo project
i m
i
RGCHS KADS observe Red Ribbon Week
Rio Grande City High School Kids Against Drugs committee kicked off Red Ribbon Week
by decorating their school and also by participating in various activities. Students were
presented with Operation Detour which is a Border Patrol sponsored event in which Valley
high school students are educated about the dangers and consequences surrounding
narcotics smuggling. Pictured are the KAD's students and they are (1 to r) First Row- Arizel
Ortiz, Maria Becerra, Minerva Zapata, Thalia Gonzalez, & Lynette Pena. Second Row-
Zamira Rodriguez, Anayssa Alvarez, Bailey Barrera, Luis Rios, Fernando Santos, Kevin
Richmond, Marcos Lujano, Jorge Ibarra, Rene Villarreal, & Chris Rios.
Homeownership preservation
workshop Dec. 5 in McAllen
MCALLEN- Area
homeowners in McAllen and
the surrounding Rio Grande
communities at risk of
foreclosure will have the
opportunity to meet face-to-
face financial counselors and
mortgage lenders at the free
Homeownership
Preservation Workshop on
Saturday, December 5, 2009
from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.. on
the South Texas College
Pecan Campus.
This year, while McAllen
and communities around the
nation are facing the largest
mortgage crisis our country
has ever seen, it is more
critical than ever to focus on
sustainable homeownership
and the resources that can
help homeowners avoid
foreclosure.
Congressmen Henry
Cuellar and Ruben Hinojosa
are supporting the event.
"One of the most important
pillars that support our
nation's economic structure
is the mortgage industry,"
said Conaressman Cuellar.
"During these difficult
economic times, it is
imperative that we work
together to strengthen not
only our financial
institutions, but to lend a
helping hand to struggling
home owners."
Congressman Ruben
Hinojosa added, "Home
ownership is so important
and such a big step to take in
the financial arena. That is
H-E-B invites RGC to
enjoy Feast of Sharing
(RIO GRANDE CITY)
There is nothing more
important during the holiday
season than the company of
good friends and family.
With this special thought in
mind, H-E-B is inviting the
residents of Rio Grande City
to be its special guests at its
annual H-E-B Feast of
Sharing Dinner taking place
on Friday, December 4 from
Guillen urges residents to
get H1N1 vaccinations
AUSTIN - Texas State
Representative Ryan
Guillen. D-Starr, announced
this week that the Texas
Department of State Health
Services will hold two 2-day
immunization clinics for the
II1N1 strain of the current
influenza (flu) outbreak.
"This clinic will be open to
all children from six-months
to five years of age, all
health care workers,
pregnant women, and
anyone from age five to 64
with a chronic medical
condition like asthma,
diabetes, or a heart
condition," Representative
Guillen said.
The clinic will be held at
the Rio Grande City CISD
Middle School Gymnasium
from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on
Friday and Saturday,
December 4-5 and
December 11-12.
Public Health officials are
urging everyone who meets
the criteria, particularly
young people, pregnant
women, and people with
chronic health problems, to
take the vaccine this year
because the disease has hit
these groups particularly
hard, causing severe illness
and in some cases, death.
By KENNETH ROBERTS
The pending project to
convert Flores and Avasolo
Streets into one-way
thoroughfares with
significantly expanded
roadways was discussed in
some detail at the meeting of
(he Rio Grande City Board of
Aldermen on Wednesday
evening, Nov. 4.
The issue was discussed by
several citizens during the
Public Forum at the start of
the meeting Joel Guerrero
declared, "I represent Mr
Roel Smith of Comet
Cleaners, who could not be
here tonight. I'm here
concerning the width of the
easement. I've contacted
TxDOT and several other
entities, including the Texas
Attorney General's Office.
There is no easement of
record on either street that
grants any entity an
easement."
He continued, "If you can
find a right-of-way granting
an easement to the city,
county, or state specifically
stating the width of the
easement, Comet Cleaners is
why being well informed is
of the utmost importance.
With workshops like the one
being held in our community
with representatives from
federal and local entities to
private companies, we can
all work together to learn
how to avoid a financial
disaster and keep our
familif-i- in our homes which
we have worked so hard to
(See WORKSHOP, Page 6)
419 f. ?HD ST.. RIO GRANDE CITY
956487-2999 s „
4815 N. 10TH McAllEN ^55^
956-682-9924 U
6 to 9 p.m. at Fort Ringgold
Elementary, located at 1
South Fort Ringgold St.
At the feast. H-E-B is
planning on serving up a
mouth-watering spread of
glazed ham, mashed
potatoes, a vegetable
medley, a bread roll arid a
slice of apple pie. The entire
community is invited to
attend this special holiday
dinner, and share in
celebrating the holidays with
their neighbors.
In addition to the meal,
guests of the event will also
enjoy live musical
entertainment, and free
children's activities.
The H-E-B Feast of
Sharing Dinner in Rio
Grande City is now entering
its sixth year and has
b e c o m e a c o m m unity
tradition. Ibis year, H-E-B
and its group of volunteers
plan to welcome 2,000 of its
Rio Grande City friends and
neighbors to the Feast and
serve:
• 750 pounds of turkey breast
95 gallons of mashed
potatoes
35 gallons of turkey gravy
■ 55 gallons of vegetable
(See SHARING, Page 6)
This Space is
not in a position to grant
access. This would in effect
destroy his business. It
would do away with the
already limited parking."
Guerrero concluded. "They
(the entities) say that unless
a document stating an
easement is found, they will
have to reconsider the project
and do it within the existing
roadway."
Mayor Ruben O. Villarreal
responded, "We thank you
for your comments. We
cannot exchange ideas with
you in this forum."
One woman declared,
"TxDOT was not abie to
show any title." Alderman
Pieman R. Garza III
contended, "We need to find
some answers for these
people. We need to have
these peoples' phone
numbers." One man
indicated, "I have a home on
Flores Street. I'd like you to
have my phone number so
you can get in touch with
me."
During the Public Forum,
several persons expressed
their concerns about the
effects the project could
potentially have on their
residences or businesses.
At a recent meeting of the
County Commissioners, it
was explained that the
project would involve
creating entirely new and
expanded roadways for both
streets, with significant
utility movements and
adjustments required.
On Monday, Nov. 30,
Roel Smith, owner of
Comet Cleaners, told The
Rio Grande Herald, 'TxDOT
recently assured me that there
would be no significant
changes that would affect the
business. Public access to
the business won't be
hindered. This could involve
improvements to the drive-
thru and the front sidewalk.
There will be a number of
details that will be worked
out early in the new year."
The aldermen voted to
amend the contract of the
Consulting Engineer (Rio
Delta) to provide services for
the Avasolo/Flores Utility
(See AVASOLO, Page 6)
2 Starr cities show gains in
August 2009 tax rebates
On Friday, Aug. 14, State
Comptroller Susan Combs
delivered monthly sales tax
rebates to 1135 cities and
123 counties, with two of
four Starr County cities
recording increases from the
August 2008 rebates.
The City of Rio Grande
City's August 2009 rebate
check of $308,040.24 is 2.48
percent lower than the
August 2008 rebate check of
S315.892.55. For the first
eight months of 2009. Rio
Grande City has received
$2,336,798.24 in rebate
checks, an increase of 4.87
percent from the
$2,228,145.01 received
during the same reportii.g
period of 2008.
The City of Roma's
August 2009 rebate check of
$98,206.71 is 3.41 percent
higher than the August 2008
rebate check of $94,966.50.
t hus far in 2009. Roma has
received $674,768.11 in
rebate checks, a decrease of
1.33 percent from the
$683,918.12 received during
the same reporting period of
2008.
The City of Grulla
received an August 2009
rebate check of $1637.31, a
decrease of 16.51 percent
from the August 2008 rebate
check of $1961.21. For 2009
to date, Grulla has received
$11,815.56 in rebate checks,
an increase of 16.49 percent
from the $10,142.93
received during the same
reporting period of 2008.
The City of Escobares
received an August 2009
rebate check of $7016.89, an
increase of 51.21 percent
from the August 2008 rebate
check of $4640.42. Thus far
in 2009, Escobares has
received $67,254.72 in
rebate checks, an increase of
101.65 percent from the
$33,351.11 received during
the same reporting period of
2008.
On Aug. 14, Comptroller
Combs delivered $401.2
million in monthly sales tax
payments to 1135 Texas
cities and 123 counties, a
decrease of 6.4 percent from
the $428.4 million allocated
in August 2008.
August sales tax rebates
include local sales taxes
collected in June by
businesses that report sales
taxes monthly, and sales
taxes collected in April, May
and June by quarterly tax
(See REBATES, Page 6)
t A 3
k j
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RESA members participate in Relay for Life
Rio Educational Support Staff Association members participated in the Relay for Life on
October 30, 2009 at the Joe R. Sanchez Stadium. The members worked diligently to raise
funds for the American Cancer Society. RFSA members give generously of their time to
participate in many district and civic activities juggling work, family and even college
courses. This year RESA won the Most Spirited Campsite Trophy. The members would
like to thank The Garcia Law Firm (Danny Garcia) for his generosity in donated T-Shirts"
for all RESA participants.
Call 487-2819
Weekly Money Saving tip #10
Don't spend big money entertaining your children.
Most children, especially young ones can be
entertained very cheaply Make a game out of ordinary
stuff around the house, like tossing pennies into a jar.
even Realize that what your children want most of all
is your time not your stuff, and you'll find money in
your pocKet and joy in your heart
Special to RG M«r«ia
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 96, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 3, 2009, newspaper, December 3, 2009; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196388/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.