The Pharr Press (Pharr, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 18, 1976 Page: 4 of 8
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PAGE 4
THJE PHARR P»ESS, PHARR (HIDALGO COUNTY), TEXAS
THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1976
Ruby Red Grapefruit Exports Have
Exceeded 1.1 Million Cartons
Spokesmen for the Texas citrus
industry are calling the 1975-1576
season an outstanding one for Ruby
Red grapefruit exports.
As of February 26, 1,132,137 40-
pound cartons of grapefruit,. repre-
senting about five per cent of the
crop, had been exported from the
Lower Rio Grande Valley, Of the
total, 1,026,222 cartons went to Eu-
rope and 105,915 to Japan, accord-
ing to Agriculture Commissioner
John C. White.
In addition, this season, for the
first time, 3,000 55-gallon drums of
grapefruit juice concentrate have
been shipped to Sweden for local
canning. Negotiations are currently
underway to export the concentrate
to several other European coun-
tries.
During the 1974-1975 citrus sea-
son, a total of only 662,000 cartons
were exported. Of those, 302,388
were shipped to Europe while 359,-
652 went to Japan.
Sales to Japan have decreased
from last season because of strict
restrictions on the size of grape-
fruit that can be imported and on
the mold-retardant chemicals al-
lowed on the imported citrus.
But if the Japanese market is
declining, European markets are
expanding. Recently, the United
Kingdom lowered trade restrictions
on citrus imports, and consumers
in that part of the world are now
enjoying Texas Ruby Red grape-
fruit.
French consumers are perhaps
the most enthusiastic — consump-
tion of grapefruit there is 40-41
pounds per person, higher than in
the United States.
Ruby Red grapefruits are finding
their way into many other Euro-
pean gracery stores, including those
in West Germany, Austria, Belgium
and the Netherlands.
The only significant obstacle to
exporting has been obtaining ample
refrigerated shipping facilities on
tankers. But industry representa-
tives are working to arrange a
shipping schedule before next Octo-
ber which they hope will help elim-
inate the shipping problems they
have encountered from time to
time.
Efforts to export grapefruit Be-
gan in the late 1960s, with the first
shipment going to Japan in 1971.
The first shipment to Europe went
to Germany a year later.
NOTICE FROM CITY
SANITATION DEPT.
The City of Pharr’s Sanitation
department has started to issue
citations for non-compliance of Or-
dinance 75-2 to residents or occu-
pants of places where the depart-
ment collects garbage and trash.
Raul Garcia, Sanitation Director,
urges all citizens of Pharr to com-
ply with Ordinance 75-2 so that
when his inspection team visits the
different areas of the city and it
will not be necessary to issue more
citations.
He offers the following sugges-
tions which will help in complying
with Ordinance 75-2:
1. Use no less than 10 gallon cans,
and no more than 32 gallon cans
with lid. Cans and lids are to be in
good condition.
2. Place racks on property along
alleys and keep cans in racks.
3. For front (street) service,
place racks on side or rear of
buildings and bring cans to front
only on pick-up days placing cans
back in the racks by 6:30 p.m. on
day of pick-up.
4. Use trash bags, boxes or cans
for leaves, grass or loose trash.
Garcia will be glad to answer
calls on any question regarding Or-
dinance 75-2 or any other rules and
regulations pertaining to the sani-
tation department.
—Raul Garcia
Sanitation Director
IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR FOR TEXAS
GRAIN -Texas grain farmers produced record or near-record
wheat, sorghum and corn crops during 1975 and high yields
are reported for other grain crops. As a result of increased
production, total grain stocks at the beginning of 1976 are
higher than they were a year ago, according to Agriculture
Commissioner John C. White.
Cotton Farmers Cautious;
76 Planting to Drop 10%
AUSTIN-Planting of one
of the state’s major crops,
cotton, officially began in
the Rio Grande Valley
February 1, but Texas
farmers apparently are not
going to increase acreage
drastically.
The Texas Crop and
Livestock Reporting Service
estimates there will be only a
10 percent increase in
acreage this year, lower than
some observers had
expected.
“Farmers are looking very
closely at costs of
production this year as well
as the world market. Costs
have become so high they
cannot afford to gamble as
they have in previous years,”
Agriculture Commissioner
John C. White said.
The cotton outlook for
1976 is better economically
than it was last year.
“The simple fact for this
year is that demand is up
while supply is decreasing.
This is what makes the
cotton outlook for 1976
better than 1975,” White'
stated.
The 1975 cotton crop was
the lowest in 29 years.
Production was only 2.4
million bales.
MR. AND MRS. JOSE R. CANO
HAVE SOLD THEIR
83 DRIVE GROCERY NO. 2
412 E. HIGHWAY. PHARR
TO
NICK MANCHA
They wish to thank all customers
for their faithful business.
HERE ARE THE HURDLERS ON THE PSJA TRACK SQUAD for
1976. Top, left to right: Scott Hofland, Tony Ruiz, Ike Flores,
Mike Ward. Botton: Mario Gonzalez, Rolando Soto, Manuel
Casas, Freddy Herrera. Not pictured is Audon Ramos. Coach
of the track squad is Oscar M. Cantu.
76 Onion Crop
Will Set Record
Producers of Texas spring onions
shouldn’t be shedding any tears
over this year’s crop.
Harvest of 1976 Texas spring on-
ions is set at an all-time record
4.440.000 hundredweight (cwt.), a
whopping 49 percent increase over
last year’s crop of only 2,975,000
cwt.
The 1976 harvest is 11 percent
above the previous record of 4 mil-
lion cwt. set in 1956, according to
Agriculture Commissioner John C.
White.
Harvested acreage is estimated
at 24,000, up 41 percent from the
17.000 acres harvest last year.
Yield per acre is expected to
average 185 cwt., 6 percent above
the 1975 yield, but still 5 cwt. be-
low the record, yield of 190 cwt. in
1971.
According to Texas Crop and
Livestock Reporting Service fig-
ures, the bulk of the crop will come
from the Lover Rio Grande Valley,
where production is estimated at
3.667.000 cwt. from 19,300 acres.
Remainder of the onions will come
from the Winter Garden, with 593,-
000 cwt. being harvested from 3,800
acres, and the Laredo area, with
180,Q00 cwt. being harvested from
900 acres.
The crop has been about two
weeks early, with the first shipment
of onions leaving the Valley Febru-
ary 20.
Commissioner White noted that
excellent growing conditions have
resulted in a high quality crop.
First Payment Of
City Hotel Tax
Due This Month
First payment on the new hotel
occupancy tax was received by the
city this week and it totaled $238,
Finance Officer Ernesto Ayala re-
ports.
The hotel occupancy tax of 2 per
cent went into effect Feb. 1st.
There are approximately 20 mo-
tels or hotels that come under the
occupancy tax.
The tax is to be spent for adver-
tising and promotion of the city as
a convention spot and vacation
area.
KIWANIS CLUB
An interesting commentary with
the use of colored slides on the Is-
rael police force and the country
of Israel was presented by Bob
Jeffreys, head of the fingerprint
dept, of the McAllen Police at the
regular Kiwanis Club meeting
March 11th.
Jeffreys was “invited” to visit
the country for two weeks to ad-
vise with them on fingerprinting
techniques, one of which he devel-
oped, and other matters.
They have talent from all over
the world and they have a well
trained and excellent dept., he said.
Nearly all could speak English well.
He got to tour all the historic
places in the Holy City of Jeru-
salem, and took pictures of most of
them.
Israel men go into the army at
age 18 and stay for four years.
Women go in for two years. They
carry their arms at all times, even
when off duty, he said.v
His visit to Israel was in April
of 1975. He stayed three weeks in-
stead of two.
Jeffreys has been on the McAllen
police force for 17 years.
Rick Buell was program chair-
man and introduced the speaker.
Visiting Kiwanians were Howard
Musel, Hutchinson, Minn., George
Ingles, Vermont, 111., Dwight L.
Kane, Lancaster, Ohio; and an in-
terclub from McAllen as follows:
Bill Ely, Ray Henry, Gerald Fra-
zier, Jim Nordmeyer, Ed Butler
and Lee Acevedo.
Jorge Jaime was a guest.
GED Tests Will Be
March 22-23-24
G.E.D. tests will be March 22, 23,
and 24th, at the High School library
beginning at 5 p.m. The tests will
be administered by Miss Hilda
Garza, GED test agent.
To be eligible for the tests one
must be 17 years of age or over,
and if 17 must be out of school for
one year prior to taking the test.
Eighteen-year-olds may be tested,
but will have to have a copy of their
withdrawal slip, and will not get
a certificate or equivalency till one
year from the drop date.
Upon successful completion of the
five tests, the Texas Education
Agency will grant a high school
Equivalency Certificate. Most uni-
versities, vocational nurses training,
civil service and employers will ac-
cept the equivalency certificate iti
lieu of a high school diploma.
For more information, call Miss
Garza at 787-9963.
Tomato Committee
Will Meet Mar. 23
The Texas Valley Tomato Com-
mittee will meet at 8 p.m. March
23 at Texas A&I University Citrus
Center, Weslaco.
. The purpose of the meeting will
be to elect officers for the current
season, to review the current Val-
ley acreage and acreage of compet-
ing areas, and to determine if there
will be a need for regulations for
the 1976 spring season.
LIBRARY NOTES
PHARR MEMORIAL
LIBRARY
By
DAVID LID
LIBRARIAN
Here are a few of the many new
books that have been received at
the Pharr Library recently:
CAN AMERICA WIN THE NEXT
WAR? by Drew Middelton. — This
is a very timely study considering
the U. S. public’s revulsion from in-
ternational and military affairs as
a result of the Vietnam War.
THE GREEK TREASURE: A
BIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL OF HEN-
RY & SOPHIA SCHLIEMANN, by
Irving Stone. — The story of this
famous couple is ideally suited to
Stone’s ability for combining intri-
guing facts and fiction. Scholars
may quibble about details (as they
are prone to with Stone’s novels),
but most readers will enjoy the ex-
citement of a well-told and basi-
cally accurate story.
THE RAIDER, by Jesse Hill
Ford. — This epic tale is set in the
pre-Civil War period. It is told in
the present tense from the perspec-
tive of an observer. Characters are
well drawn, action is swift, descrip-
tions are rich and colorful. A good
historical novel.
WITNESS TO POWER, by Mar-
quis W. Childs. — Childs, author of
several books and winner of the
first Pulitzer Prize for Distinguish-
ed Commentary, presents in this
work an extremely interesting and
well-written account of the high-
lights of his 50 years as a journal-
ist.
MEN IN SER VICE
DANNY WARD, _ student at
FSJA High School, has ad-
vanced to finalist status in
the National Merit Scholar-
ship program, according to
word received by Ernesto Al-
varado, principal. He will be
considered for a scholarship.
Danny is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Billy Ward/San Juan.
Bears Sock Eagles
10-1 With Gtzman
Hurling 4-Hitter
The PSJA Bears got away to an
impressive start in the District
baseball race with a one sided 10-1
victory over Mission Tuesday after-
noon, with Lhe Bear ace pitcher,
Oscar Guzman, hurling a 4-hitter
for his fourth win of the season.
Guzman was a terror at the bat
too, driving in enough runs to win
his own game, 3, with a 2-run
single and a home run.
Gum an allowed four hits, walked
three and struck out nine.
The Bears put the game out of
reach in the 5th inning with seven
runs on four hits and four walks.
Catcher Pete Bazan stopped Eagle
scoring threats by throwing out
five trying to.steal.
The game was played on the
PSJA field and was the first dis-
trict game for either team.
SAN ANTONIO — Airman Daniel
L. Park, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eu-
gene W. Park of Rt. 1, Alamo, has
been selected for technical training
in the U. S. Air Force fire protec-
tion field at Chanute AFB, 111.
The airman recently completed
basic training at Lackland AFB,
Tex., where he studied the Air
Force mission, organization and
customs and received special in-
struction in human relations.
Airman Park is a 1973 graduate
of Donna High School. (USAF Home
Town News Center)
Fargo - Houston =..
(Continued from Page 1)
variety of entertainment for all
ages.
“Noche Manana” Friday
The show’s entertainment pro-
gram has a new look this year,
with a “Noche Mexicana” on Fri-
day evening in the show stadium,
and two full-length music shows
with big name western stars on
Saturday and Sunday.
Donna Fargo and David Houston
will combine their talents for the
Saturday shows at 2:30 and 8 p.m.
Both performers will have their
own bands, plus special numbers
by Japanese fiddle player Shoji
Tabuchi and singer Calvin Craw-
ford.
Rodriguez on Sunday
The two Sunday shows will star
singer Johnny Rodriguez and his
band in a festival of country music
at 2 and 5 p.m.
Tickets at $3 per person may be
secured at the ticket booth in down-
town Mercedes or at the stadium
entrance just prior to each show.
A “Health Fair” with over a doz-
en educational exhibits by health
agencies offering information and
free services wil lbe open through-
out the show beginning at 2 p.m.
Thursday, 10 a.m. Friday and Sat-
urday, and at noon on Sunday, d
The Steer auction will begin at
5:30 p.m. Sunday in the coliseum to
mark the last official event of the
Bicentennial show.
Livestock show officials invite all
Valley residents and visitors to visit
the show and enjoy the many ex-
hibits, varied activities, and special
entertainment programs provided
at this year’s show.
I
Watching
Washington
Detente is no longer part of President Ford’s vocabulary.
“I don’t use the word anymore,” he said in a recent inter-
view, indicating that U.S. relations with Russia and China
will now be based on a policy of peace through strength.
There’s a lot to be said for the President’s new approach.
Detente means a relaxation of tensions. And the search for
detente, especially with Russia, has been the centerpiece of
U.S. foreign policy for several years now.
There has been a continuing
series of negotiations and summit 7 ' . ...
meetings and arms limitation
agreements. There was the U.S.-
Soviet space flight. And cultural f
exchanges between the two
countries have substantially in-
creased in recent years. '
On the face of it, few people
would argue with the need to
lessen tensions between the
United States and the Soviet
Union. The Cold War dragged on far too long. And people in
this country and throughout the world are weary of the con-
tinuing confrontation between the two great superpowers.
But there are serious problems, too, and I have been warn-
ing of the dangers in a single-minded pursuit of detente for
several years now. I have had two primary concerns. First, in
its search for detente with Russia and China, this country has
virtually ignored our friends in this hemisphere and our al-
lies in other parts of the world—Latin America, Japan and
Western Europe.
Second, we have a right to expect that both sides will make
concessions, and particularly in the case of Russia I am not at
all convinced that this has happened.
Take the arms race. The U.S. military budget is decreasing
by 3-4 percent a year, while that of the Soviet Union increases
by the same amount. And Russia is outspending us militarily
by about 45 percent.
There is a serious question about the intentions of the
Soviet Union in the Middle East.
Both Russia and Cuba are fueling the flames of war in
Africa.
And in Moscow recently, at the Communist Party con-
gress, Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev endorsed detente only
to the extent that it advances communism.
There is increasing evidence—disturbing evidence—that
the leaders in the Kremlin look on detente-as a one-way
street; all give and no take. And they expect the United
States to do the giving.
And now, President Ford has taken note of this by declar-
ing that detente no longer describes relations between the
United States and Russia.
“If we’re strong militarily,” the President said. “And if
we continue that strength, we can negotiate with the Soviet
Union, China and others to maintain peace.”
We must remember that the Russians are still very tough
political, military and ideological competitors of this country.
CITRUS PRICES
Prices paid to growers for citrus
recently as reported by the Market
News Service have been as follows:
Grapefruit — Ruby reds, per ton,
dean tree, $35, $37.50 and $40, all
clean tree.
Oranges — Valencias, all clean
tree, $35 and $40 a ton.
Dickenson Estate, Hidalgo County
Santa Maria Field wildcat 1.9 miles
southeast of Mercedes, was a fail-
ure at 9,015 feet.
• <c •
Jake L. Hamon No. 1 Clemencia
G. Cantu, wildcat six miles east of
San Manuel, was cemented at 8,892
feet.
Gas-Oil Drilling News
Goldking Producing Co. No. 1
Emergency Numbers
FIRE .................... 787-2737
POLICE .................. 787-8546
HEALTH UNIT REPORT
The Hidalgo County Health Unit
reports the following communicable
diseases for the week ending March
12, 1976: Influenza 30, chickenpox 3,
strep throat 1.
Emergency Numbers
FIRE .................... 787-2737
POLICE .................. 787-8546
AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL CONCERNED
CITIZENS OF P-SJ-A AREA
March, 1976
DEAR FELLOW CITIZENS AND
CONCERNED PARENTS:
The moment of truth rapidly
approaches and we must decide
whether your children and mine
will merit and receive the con-
cern for which the School Board
of the P-SJ-A District should be
responsible.
This open letter to you is to
reaffirm my commitment to you,
to your children and to all those
educators in the district to the
effect that as your representative on the School Board, I will
pursue policies and actions manifesting the following:
1. An “open door” to all concerned with the better-
ment of the school district;
2. Appropriate publicity for all functions and activities
concerning the School Board;
3. Increased communication and cooperation between
the School Board, the cities and the school admin-
istrators;
4. Support for the educational process to ensure that it
provides for proper discipline and counseling, as
well as classroom instruction;
5. Improvements in the management and administra-
tive processes of the school district;
6. Planning for the future to ensure adequate growth
and creation of needed educational facilities.
If you agree with my views and specific areas of con-
cern, please tender this as my personal request for your vote
onl election day, April 3rd.
Always at your service, I remain
Sincerely yours,
EDGAR VELA
(Pol. Adv. Pd. for by H. Beto Hinojosa, Chm.)
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Glover, Lloyd H. The Pharr Press (Pharr, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 18, 1976, newspaper, March 18, 1976; Pharr, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth866755/m1/4/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Pharr Memorial Library.