The Pharr Press (Pharr, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 16, 1978 Page: 1 of 10
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Pharr Press and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Pharr Memorial Library.
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Pharr if Mortal LibrA/JP
130 E* Caif«*y ;
PHARR MEMORIAL LIBR AkjD
PHARR, JEXA§ 785/7;
This Week
Answer Line:Rest Assured
Q. Certain things about the new Pharr Press bother me. I’ve
heard that you’re getting rid of the news from dubs, the
monthly calendar page, seen ’round town, and 10-20-30-50
years ago. I like all these sections and think it inconsiderate
of you to pull them out without letting anyone know. Please
tell me if I’m mistaken. Am I?
A. Any organizational change brings alterations in style.
Your concerns are understandable and have been expressed
by many readers. Our only suggestion is that you look at the
paper; decide for yourself whether the changes we’ve made
are so inconsiderate. With one exception, you'll notice that
the sections you mention are intact.‘Seen 'Round the Town’
has been dropped, at least for now, because no newcomer to
Pharr, and probably few who have spent their lives here,
could produce the column as Lloyd Glover did. He knows
Pharr and its people to a degree we cannot pretend to
imitate. It would be foolish of us to attempt writing a column
with the same name. The results just wouldn't be the same,
zhowever, the other sections you mention we are doing our
best to keep. The Pharr Press is devoted to serving the city
and its people. Any news about Pharr people is welcome and
will be reported. You will notice changes in format, but not
in substance. We’re not perfect, but within our limited
resources we’re doing all we can to provide the news you
want to read. I hope this eases your fears.
The Press welcomes any questions readers may have for
this ‘Answer-Line’ column. Phone the Press at 787-2291 or
write P.0. Box 710. The newspaper reserves the right to be
selective in which questions would be of most interest, and
the editor vows to do his best to answer them.
Offbeat :How Pharr Is It?
The other day a Pharr resident telephoned an airline
company in McAllen to make reservations for the
Thanksgiving holiday.
‘Where are you calling from?’ said the voice on the
McAllen end.
‘Pharr,’ came the reply.
‘Where?’ she inquired again.
‘Pharr,’ came the patient reply.
She finally asked, ‘is that near McAllen?’
‘Pharr and McAllen share a common city limit,’ came the
incredulous answer.
‘Oh,’ said the disinterested voice. ‘I’m sorry, but the
flights are all full that day anyway.’
People :Comings, Goings
Bob Coate, the son of Burt Coate of Pharr, sent us a report
November 13 from his Crosby, North Dakota home:
‘We are getting a taste of winter the past four days. You
should see the geese in this country-it is a staging area for
Eil of the flights that head into the Gulf Coast area--they are
here in the hundreds of thousands and everywhere you look
the fields and sky are full of geese. Yesterday, coming in to
town, a herd of antelope crossed the road in front of
me~about three miles from town. Of course, there are duck,
pheasant, grouse and prairie chicken-plenty to hunt if one
has the time. It has been 0 to 20 degrees the past four days.’
And he calls it just a ‘taste of winter.’
returned to t^p"val^eS‘*er Per8"M’ lmn-
their “olf r itXt Sr and WU' reSide “
.Bob,IMiMreei Pharr has been dismissed from the
McAHm ,s convalesin8 at ‘he Good Samaritan Center in
Weather:Cool Drizzle
Readings from Carl Schuster Farms, at the Blue Silo.
Th 16
F 12
S 18
S 19
M 20
T 21
What To Do :Bi-District Playoff
-Nov. 23 is the last day to get tickets for Friday night’s
game. They are on sale at Bears Stadium. Please, no phoned
reservations can be taken.
f f The City Commissioners named Friday Bears Day in
recognition of the ffotball team’s district title and the Band’s
number one position in the Pigskin Jubilee.
-The Bears take on Corpus Christi Ray’s Texans at 7:30
November 24 at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi. They
need your support to go for the state title.
-November 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the First Baptist Church in
Edinburg, the Rio Grande Valley Baptist Church will
present M Night.
-The public hearing to consider a federal melon marketing
program for South Texas will be 9 a.m. in the Hidalgo
County Courthouse in Edinburg.
November 29 the Miss San Juan contest will be held in the
PSJA High School Auditorium at 8 p.m.
-December 1, the Eagles will hold a shrimp boil from 4 to
8 p.m. at 208 S. Cage. The donation is $3 per plate.
-Trinity Episcopal Church Women of Pharr will hold a
bazaar on Sunday, December 1 in the Parish House, from 9
a.m. to 8 p.m.
-The Upper Valley Chapter of the Full Gospel Business
Men s Fellowship International will meet Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at
the Quality Inn, Expressway 83 at Jackson Rd. The speaker,
will be Tom Skrzeczkoski. No admission charge. Everyone
welcome.
-The Tri-City Business and Professional Women’s
Association will sponsor an auction December 3 at 123 Vr W.
Park in Pharr.
-The All Valley Vegetable Show Queen Contest has an
emcee. The contest will be held Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the
PSJA High School Auditorium. There are now 21
contestants and entertainment, according to Zonia
Willingham, Chairwoman.
-A German Dance will follow the All Valley Vegetable
Show Parade at the Pharr Civic Center. The dance will run
from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. Dec. 9. Come and help make the dance
a success. You’re sure to enjoy yourself.
HIGH
LOW
RAIN
85
61
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65
54
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65
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74
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Drizzle
The Bears did it this
[weekend. They broke a
three-year jinx that wouldn’t
[let them beat Porter.
But it was a tough battle all
I the way. The powerful Bear
defense was crucial in the final
outcome. When it came to the
crunch, the Bear wall would
rise and the Cowboys would be
doing well just to hold their
[ ground.
The Cowboys did put alot
I of fear into the PSJA fans.
Nobody knew if or when Porter
might suddenly break through.
With Porter’s Rodriguez and
Marroquin passing or rushing
at every moment, the people in
the stands were on the edge of
[ their seats all night.
What a way to end the
Jinx is Over: Bears are Ready
season; PSJA had some of the
league’s top rushers in Palacios
and Martinez, and the Bears
had an unquestionable defen-
sive powerhouse. They all put
on an exciting performance
Friday night.
Porter had the leading passer
and a fine runner in Rodriguez
and one of the league’s top
rushers, Juan Marroquin.
But this season’s outcome
really seems to have been
determined by the added bonus
of an impenetrable defense,
something Porter isn’t bad in,
but doesn’t excell in.
It just happens to be the
Bears’ really powerful point,
one nmo other team in the
league has been able to
challenge.
The weeks ahead will pit the
Bears against some of the finest
high school teams in the state
and nation.
These next opponents will be
really tough, the stuff that
Bears are made of.
That’s when the Bears will
have to play to perfection;
that’s when they’ll need as
much backing as the entire
PSJA district can get together.
The Bears can do it. They can
hold Corpus Christi Ray and go
on to the state finals, but it
won’t be easy.
PSJA will be pitted against
the stiffest opponents in the
state. That’s good.
It gets the adrenalin flowing
and pumps up the psyche. It
can make a good team really
good.
It can also make a good team
look bad or excellent.
PSJA is behind the Bears
and so is the entire 28-4A
district. At the end of the
season, some of that intra-
district rivalry softens to meet
the big test of taking on the
state.
The Bears can do a really fine
job outside our area. They can
put districts 27 or 29 or
whatever out of the running.
But they need your support.
There are plenty of people out
there who are going to help
them reach that goal.
The Bears-Texans game will
kick off interdistrict play
Friday at 7:30 in Corpus
Christi’s Buccaneer Stadium.
LOYAL FANS-When the final seconds ticked off of the
clock, a swarm of fans poured onto the field Friday night
showing their appreciation for the No. 1 team.
PHARR
PRESS
45th Year, No. 47
Pharr, Hidalgo County, Texas 78577
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1978
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
■■vA
*
m
Cheaney Is Hired
By Common Cause
A
m
w.
1
INTERNATIONAL MEETING-Pictured above are four
members of international organizations who attended the
Inter-American Council meeting in Pharr. From left are A)
Beltran of Pharr and President of the 1G1NC HERfc* Council
Vice President Sammy Olivarez, Council President Ralph
jarza, and Pharr Chamber of Commerce Manager Benfly
. --. ;
International Meeting Held
Pharr hosted this month’s
[meeting of the Inter-American
Council Nov. 17 at the Round
| Up Drive Inn.
The Council deals with
I problems of mutual interest to
the cities of Pharr, Hidalgo,
Edinburg, Reynosa, McAllen
land Mission.
Pharr is the most recent
[member of the council.
Representing Pharr were Zack
Barreiro, Benny Benavides and
| Jack Cronkhite.
The meeting began about 1
[ p.m. and some 24 people were
| present.
After the lunch, Council
[ President Ralph Garza brought
the meeting to order. Garza is
! City Manager in Edinburg and
observed that this was the first
Inter-American Council meet-
ing he had attended as
president.
Following Amelia De Leon’s
[reading of the previous
session’s minutes, the guests
were introduced. Pharr’s guest
was A1 Beltran, the city’s
president of the International
Good Neighbor Council.
Ralph Garza then appointed
the new vice president of the
organization, Sammy Olivarez
of Mission.
The preliminary work out of
the way, the meeting went on
to each committee’s reports.
Some of the cities had no
special events or problems to
report. Reynosa’s representa-
tives stated that their city had
no report or complaints, but
brought the council’s attention
to a letter Pepe Diaz, Reynosa
Chamber of Commerce presi-
dent, had sent to KGBT radio in
Harlingen.
The letter congratulated the
station on its Spanish language
programming but urged that
the station try to be more
objective when reporting about
Mexico.
Reynosa representative Jose
Elias said the problem with
station’s reporting was that it
always was negative toward
Mexico. He explained that the
Reynosa protest merely sought
to air the truth rather than stir
up ill feelings.
The Council decided to send
John D. Nassiff is
Dead at 55
John D. Nassif of Pharr, was sponsored numerous projects,
fatally wounded by an uniden- including St. Jude’s Bazaar and
I tified assailant November 16. the Pharr Little League.
Fifty five year old Mr. Nassif Mr. Nassif was noted for
was shot at his Valley Avocado having assisted needy fimilies
Sales packing shed in McAllen in this area.
[at about 10:30 p.m. Survivors are his wife, Mrs.
Mr. Nassif was a well-known Elida J. Nassif two sons, John
Valley produce shipper who D. Nassif Jr. ofPharr and Juan
had lived in Pharr for 21 years, Jose Nassiff of McAllen; three
I moving here from Alamo. daughters, Nanette Nassiff of
Pharr, Mrs. Cynthia N. Lewis
Rosary was recited Saturday of Philadelphia, Pa., and Mrs.
night at the Kreidler Funeral Noelia N. Garcia of Dallas.
1 Home in McAllen. He is also survived by his
The Rev. Leo Daniels mother, Mrs. Herminia Gillum
conducted the Mass Monday at 0f Donna; two brothers,
2 p.m. at St. Jude’s Catholic Alberto Gillum of Donna and
l Church in Pharr. Thomas Gillum of Davenport,
Mr. Nassif was a native of Iowa; and two grandsons, Juan
Falfirrias. He was a member of j0Se Nassiff, Jr. of McAllen and
Woodmen of the World and Gabriel Garcia of Dallas,
recently received the 50 year Pallbearers were Rafic Sar-
I outsatnding citizen award. raf, Eddie Escobedo, Joe
He was a former member of Chapa, Tony Aguilar, Jesse
the McAllen Lions Club and Munoz, and Jose Moya.
protest letters to KGBT’s
directors and to the head of
Spanish programming at the
station.
The Pharr contingent was
represented by Chamber of
Commerce President Jack
Cronkhite, whose reports were
on the German Dance and
Parade slated for December 9
here in Pharr.
Cynthia Infante, the spokes-
woman for the Mission
Chamber of Commerce, had a
number of questions frequently
asked by tourists about Mexico.
Among them, she wondered
whether the men who watch
parked cars for a fee in Mexico
are public employees, whether
receive bribes and why, and
why rates of monetary
exchange at retail establish-
ments are so unfavorable to
Americans in Mexico and to
Mexicans in the U.S.
Former council president
Juan Trevino of Reynosa, tried
to answer Infante’s questions.
First, he explained how
massive unemployment in
Mexico was and how the people
who watch cars are usually
unemployed and are merely
trying to eke out a subsistence
wage. ‘They are not city
officials,’ he said, ‘and Reynosa
will try to eliminate any abuses
in the system which might
occur.’
He also said that the city
tries to eliminate the reception
of bribes by Reynosa police
officers, but observed that
accepting mordidas or bribes is
not a Mexican invention. ‘These
unfortunate practices occur in
all societies when the opportu-
nity is there,’ he added.
‘Nevertheless we deplore the
practice and are trying to get
rid of it.’
Jose Elias added that if
anyone felt they had been
unfairly or illegally treated by a
Reynosa policeman, the city’s
Chamber of Commerce would
try to rectify the situation.
Trevino noted on the matter
Common Cause of Texas
recently hired Shelia Enid
Cheaney to be their lobbyist for
the upcoming session of the
Texas Legislature.
Ms. Cheaney is a 1963
graduate of PSJA High School
and is the daughter of Eleanor
Cheaney, Pharr.
Ms. Cheaney has her
undergraduate degree in Mar-
keting from the University of
Texas and her Doctorate of
Jurisprudence from the Uni-
versity of Texas School of Law.
Ms. Cheaney has worked as a
staff attorney for Cameron
County Legal Aid, Legislative
Aide to Hon. Ben Z. Grant of
Marshall, an Enforcement
Attorney for the Texas Water
Quality Board, Director/Lob-
byist of the Texas Public
Interest Research Group,
Hearings Examiner at the
Public Utility Commission, and
staff attorney at Bexar County
Legal Aid.
She is married to George
Scharmen of San Antonio, an
attorney in private practice in
Universal City.
Common Cause is the
hard-hitting citizens’ movement
of the 1970s. Made up of
Republicans, Democrats and
Independents, Common Cause
believes itself to be an example
Pharr Is Eighth City
In New Valley Construction
Pharr was eighth among
The guest speaker wa^ then
introduced. He was Francis A.
Arenz, Consul of the United
States in Matamoros.
Arenz, originally frPm El
Paso, also served in various
other Latin American ppsts, in
Europe and Canada.
Arenz praised the Inter-A-
merican Council for i]ts work
and said he hoped more such
organizations might spring up
all along the U.Sj-Mexican
border. When he returned to
Matamoros, he said, <me of the
first orders of business would
be to get an Inter American
council going there.
His talk concentrated on the
_ „11C111C1 role of the American Consul
policemen in Mexico should and he gave a brief history of a eJ c^s,in ne^,
the U.Sg State Depart™, " October „th =0
The role of consuls abroad is permits of $13,203,137 for the
frJe?Ufnoy misun(*erstood, he month, according to the
added. Some people have even business barometer compiled
thought he is a foreigner in the b the Valley Chamber of
U.S. believing that the
country where he is stationed is
his native land.
Outlining his consular duties,
he stressed th£t the consul
must represent every single
U.S. agency abroad.
One of his main functions is
to provide legal help to
American citizens abroad, as
well as be a source of all kinds
of information to prospective
visitors or settlers.
It is becoming more and more
common for consuls to have to
protect American citizens in a
foreign country.
As an example, he spoke of
the 400 Americans in Mexican
jails, 20 of whom are now in
Tamaulipas, just south of
Pharr.
Since December of 1977,
when the U.S. and Mexico
signed an agreement to
exchange prisoners, 300 Ame-
ricans have been transferred
from Mexico and 600 Mexicans
have been transferred from
U.S. prisons.
With modern communication was qq
methods, he noted, protecting Funeral mass was held Nov.
citizens abroad has become 2lst, 10 a.m., at St. Margaret’s
, gJ^tly facilitated. In a matter Catholic Church with burial
of the exchange rate that a wise of 20 minutes, a message can go followine in Guadakme Ceme-
businessman would give a from anywhere to Washington [ery in Pharr
better rate than even the and back again. This eases the a Rosary was recited Nov.
official one, since this alone burden on the consul, but 20th, 8 p.m., at De Leon
would attract customers by the doesn’t make the job any easier. Funeral Home* Chanel
hundreds. But he added that Arenz finished his talk and P
the problem w^s really not in the Inter-American Council Mr Saeta came to Pharr in
the hands of any, one agreed to hold its next meeting 1920 and opened a dry goods
organization. in Reynosa .pn Jan. 19, 1979. store and later a grocery store
of how citizen action can be
organized, financed, publicized
and made to work effectively to
clean up the political process.
With a membership of
225,000, Common Cause has
more contributors than the
state’s Democratic party.
Some issues that Common
Cause will be focusing on this
session include amendments to
strengthen the Lobby Regula-
tion Act of 1973, amendments
to close loopholes in the
Campaign Reporting and Dis-
closure Act of 1973, implemen-
tation of the Sunset Act passed
in 1977, amendments to
strengthen the Public Utility
Regulatory Act passed in 1975,
property Tax reform, and the
creation of a reapportionment
process aimed at preventing
gerrymandering.
Ms. Cheaney will be in
Edinburg speaking at Pan
American University as a guest
of the Political Science
Association on Dec. 7 at 10:30
a.m. in the Liberal Arts
Building Auditorium.
At 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 7, Ms,
Cheaney will address the
Common Cause membership of
the Valley at the McAllen
Memorial Library.
The public is invited to
attend both meetings.
Commerce.
San Juan had $25,455 in new
construction and Alamo had
$12,916.
McAllen led Valley cities,
with $5,175,032. The Mcallen
activity included several school
construction projects, the
reconstruction of Cobotel con-
dominium on Yuma Ave.
Brownsville followed with
$3,570,918, Edinburg was next
with $1,309,082, and Harlingen
was fourth, with $966070.
San Benito, Mission and
Weslaco were the other Valley
cities which led Pharr in new
construction for the month.
Total bank deposits in the
Valley were above those for
October of 1977.
Of the total for the month,
$1,354,139,856 was in banks and
$522,183,743 in savings and
loan associations.
Manufacturing employment
showed modest increases in
Hidalgo County, with 7,530 this
year, compared to 7,190 in 1977.
According to the Valley
Chamber barometer, electrical
connections throughout the
Valley increased to 147,321 in
1978 from 140,072 last year.
Gas connections went to 62,079
from 61,541, and phone
connections jumped to 255,769
from 199,863.
Antonio Saeta Dies At 90
Antonio Saeta, long time
Pharr resident, and one of the
early businessmen in the city,
died November 20th at the
Edinburg General Hospital
after an illness of six weeks. He
had been in failing health for
more than a year, however. He
on West State, where the
faihily lived. He continued in
business at the same location
until the 1950’s when he turned
it over to his son.
He was active in civic affairs
in the city during the years in
which he operated the business.
He is survived by his wife,
Mrs. gripina Saeta, Pharr; one
son, Francisco Saeta, Pharr;
one daughter, Mrs. Margarita
Garza, Edinburg; six grand-
children and six great-grand-
children.
Another son Robert Saeta,
died in a motorcycle accident in
the late 1940’s when he was a
student at Texas A&M.
Pallbearers were the grand-
children.
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Lowry, Jack. The Pharr Press (Pharr, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 16, 1978, newspaper, November 16, 1978; Pharr, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth866787/m1/1/?q=reynosa: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Pharr Memorial Library.