The Pharr Press (Pharr, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 15, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 7, 1981 Page: 1 of 12
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Fharr, Texas
PHARR MEMORISE EIBRSRY
EHARR, TEXAS 78577
FINISHED AND HAPPY are Lynda and Gene Wiliams of Step
House in Pharr. They are standing in the first completed room of the
building that was completed by the Telephone Pioneers of Texas.
Garcia speaks about police department
State Representative A. C. Ton y Police Officers. The legislator ex-
“Tony” Garcia from Pharr, said pressed his disbelief after having
he was alarmed at the treatment seen some tapes presented to a
of prisoners by some McAllen legislative caucus at the State
tills WfFK
CALANDER
Capitol.
The law maker continued by
saying that there was no excuse
for the mishandling of prisoners.
He stated the this incident is
degrading to the police force and
the citizens of the City of McAllen.
Representative Garcia was quo-
ted saying, “It is my desire that a
grand jury act speedily in the
-SEE GARCIA PAGE 4-
Step House still in phase 1
Step HOuse in Pharr has made a
substantial move forward since
their beginning more than a year
and a half ago. But says Lynda
Williams “There still is alot more
to do”.
Tilings are quiet on the home-
front now, but a few weeks ago
marked the finish of an exciting
adventure for telephone pioneers.
The pioneers completed the first
room in Step House. April 19
marked the finish of the room
which pioneers put a plaque on
the wall of the room to mark its
workers.
Step HOuse continues to solicit
hello on all of their endeavors. But
help can come by the physical
donation of materials, or can come
from a mother and her sone in
the way of volunteer help to clean
out the area that others have been
working on. “Alot of the work that
we need is people who know a skill
and are v/illing to donate their
time and efforts to teach others
how to work. One dentist that we
know has come by here often and
has helped us with the plumbing
work.” Said Gene Williams. □
“Right now, we’d like to have
some help in the garden maybe
from one of the dubs in the tity.”
Said Lynda.Although Step House
has been in Phase 1 of their work,
they hope to accomplish the goals
soon” So that we can get going on
what we are here for.” Said Lynda.
Of the many improvements that
have been taking place at the
house, there is now an upstairs to
the building. “This used to be
leveled roof up here that collapsed,
with the help of some people we
now used this room ustairs as are
living quarters.” Said Lynda. Al-
though everything looks good ritht
now, ‘There was only one time that
we felt we were just better off
giving up.” Said Gene. “But about
the time that week were readkly
to do just that, help came on the
way, and since then it’s been
smooth sailing.”
Step HOuse is still hanging on
looking toward their goal to help
those people who suffer form the
addiction of Alchol and Drugs. L
lot A of the people who have
contributed to.the help of Step
HOuse have themselves had some
sort of help from Lynda and Gene
in solving their own problems.
“Everyone who comes by here
always has a good time together
and what a better way to have a
good time than to help those whe
need it at the same time.” Said
Lynda.
PSJA's Hometown Newspaper For 47 Years
48th Year No. 15
USPS 429-660
Thursday May 7,, 19 81
WEDNESDAY* MAY 6*1981
This is National Nurses Day in honor of nurses who serve diligently
and with honor to those in need.
Pharr Jaycees meet this evening beginning at 8.
THURSDAY* MAY7,1981
PSJA Baseball Bears play their final game of the season against
Harlingen in Harlingen at 7:00.
“Recreation night" at Pharr Community Center Gym. Adults from 5
to 9 pm.
PHarr Gty Charter Committee meets at PHarr Civic Center
beginning at 7:30
FRIDAY* MAY 8,1981
SErvice Pins awarded to school district staff at the PSJA High
School, beginning at 10 AM.
This is World Red Cross Day.
SATURDAY* MAY9, 1981
The Annual Jamaica of St. John's Catholic Church in San Juan which
was originally scheduled for Sunday May 3, was cancelled due to
inclimate weather. The re-sheduled dated is now for Saturday May 9
beginning at 12 noon to 10 pm on St. John'Church Grounds.
SUNDAY* MAY 10, 1981
Mothers Day.
The first mothers day was May 10,1908. An idea by Ms. Ana Jarvis
in honor of the second anniversary of her mother's dealth. Later
proclaimed Mothers Day by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914.
SJ has new postmaster
The city of San Juan has a new
postmaster. His name is Adolfo C.
Robles from Houston, Texas. He
replaces Loyd Frain who retired
after 30 yrs. of service.
Robles, 43, has served as super-
PS JA school
visor,delivery and collection for
the past year.
Although Robles'appointment
became effective May 2, he has yet
to arrive in the city.
Board
appoints members
The PSJASchool district tax p-
ayers has the rare opportunity in
their city to question their tax
statement for the year. The
School Board Trustees appointed
members to this special Board
during their last School Board
meeting.
Those appointed to the Board
include, Frank Sandoval, Alamo,
Alonzo Rivas, Pharr, and R. I.
Pecina, San Juan.
Other action taken by the Board
included the election of personnel
to the staff of the School District.
These people include, Christopher
Duiker, Roman Flores, Nydia Ga-
rza, Joe Magallanes, and James
Murray in the field of transporta-
tion; Oscar Degollado, and- Franc-
isco Sandoval in the field of main-
tenence; Marisela Rivera, Betty
Evins, were hired in the field of
the profession; Arturo Garza, and
Florencia Flores, in food services;
Valda Diaz, was hired as an addit-
-SEE SCHOOL PAGE 5“
M £
Bell plans expansion in
the city of Pharr
PHARR FLOODING The weather has kept many people busy going
to an fro their homes because of flood areas in the city of Pharr.
Pictured is the front of Holiday Village RV Park on Hwy. 28l. Harry
Hazzrd explained that although there was some flooding in front of
the park, no damage was done to any of the trailers in the area.
\
_____________ ____ _ __
ALAMO’S NEW CITY MANAGERwa~ chosen from among 6
applicants. Her name is Minnie Gutierrez from La Joya. “I expect
great things for the city.”
MONDAY* MAY11, 1981
This is the beginning og National Saluation Army Week.
\
San JUan 4-H meeting at Peoples Community Church at 7:30.
TUESDAY* MAY 12, 1981
Rotary Club meets at the Texan Hotel at noon.
Pharr Progress Club will have its last meeting of the year at the
Pharr United Methodist Church; at 12:30 pm.
Pharr to correct flood problems
Pharr city customers will benifit
from Southwestern Bells’ $15 mil-
lion dollar project in the upper
Valley area. The effort is to keep
up with growth during 1981.
The rest of the upper Valley
improvements will occur in the
cities of Mission, Edinburg, McA-
llen Hidalgo, Donna, and Sullivan
City.
The Company will spend some of
that money to install additional
cable facilities in the city’s north-
The city of Alamo has made
history as they recently hired Ms.
Minnie Gutierrez, from La Joya, to
serve that city’s managemnet po-
sition.
Ms. Gutierrez replaces Roque
Vaquera who was terminated from
the city managers position due to
personal reasons.
Ms. Gutierrez was chosen from a
group of 6 applicants who sought
the position. ^The change was
very fast, she said, from the
administrative department of La
Joya then all at once here in the
city managers position in Alamo.”
“The city of Alamo is much like the
city of La Joya, a small community
of nice people, and a city that is
ern section and rural areas.
“Pharr is one of the cities where
we’ll be concentrating our efforts
this year," Floyd Dietzman, distr-
ict manager-outside plant constr-
uction said. “Haring cable to allow
for the communtys’ growth is one
of our top priorities." Dietzman
added. “Our planned expenditures
for 1981 indicate the type of
committment Southwestern Bell is
making to the citizens of Pharr.”
Dietzmann finished.
ready for some growth.”
On the first day of work, ‘Tm
trying to finish up some of the
things that the last city manager
left unfinished. By next week. Til
be getting in some applications for
grants that are available for the
city.”
Gutierrez also wished to begin a
program for the elderly in that
city. “It’s my ‘meals on wheels’
idea; to provide some kind of
transportation for those elderly
people who cannot find a ride to
the San Juan center that the city is
presently using.”
Gutierrez’s next solution is for
““SEE GITIERREZ PAGES—
While neighboring cities of San
Jaun and Alamo were litteraly
swimming accross town due to the
5 inch plus rain, many Pharr
residents didn't “get their socks
wet" within hours after the down
pour. The reason for this is “the
good drainage system that the city
.has been working on “ says Reyes
Vela, city manager. “After the
down pour we uitilze three diffe-
rent sizes of pumps to get standing
water off the street as soon as
possilbe" said Vela. There are 2
inch, 4 inch and a special 6 inch
pumps that the city uses. Present-
ly though there are areas in the
city that do take a bit longer to
drain. The areas involed include
areas north of Hwy. 495,and just
south of Polk Avenue. “The areas
are at the tail end of the drainage
system that runs along Cage Blvd.
it takes just a bit longer. The area
at Hwy. 495 drains off into farm
drains." said Vela.
It is the plan of the city in
conjunction with the Texas Hwy.
Dept, is to finish construction of
lateral diches. One is at present
near (B.J. Junoir High on Souix
Road and other ironically will be
close to the new school site on
Hwy. 495.“ Said Vela. These new
constructions depend on the speed
od the Texas Highway Dept, to dig
the ditches. “But the job will get
done at least within a years time
because such corrections were pa-
rt of the bond issue which passed
in 1980.“ added Vela. The installa-
tion of some underground piping
will also be involved as part of the
bond issue.
Bagwell Acres whose people have
been complaining to the city is in a
low-line area. “That area is in the
flood map of the city." That area
runs off into farm lines. Although
there are small areas of the city
that must bear the high waters
during the rain season the majo-
rity of the city still is “high and
dry" after rain fall.
An item which came before the
city commission that delt with
water systems came before the
council in the form of a plea from
some residents of Gtrus Bay.
Ms. Margaret Lookingbell, a res-
ident of the park and spokes
person for a crew of 10, who
attended the meeting, began with
“our troubles are with the sewer
system in the situation that takes
place is that after the rainfalls in
the area, that sewege rise through
drains left uncapped. “Were afraid
that because of this, there is the
probability that city water could
become contaminatec." The plea
by the residents is that the city
take over the water system of the
park. “This way the city can help
on the maintenance of the lines
and streets." said Lookingbell. “It
would solve our problems“said
one unidentified resident.
Reyes Vela, city manager has
been doing some research on the
They go into the parks at night,
or even at day and for no apparent
reason except to have something
to do they vandalize the city of
Pharr parks. Valdalism in the Hub
city is costing the people conside-
rable discomfort and dollars. This
was the theme of a recent works-
hop between city commissioners
and the Pharr Parks and Recreat-
ion department. “Valdalism has
gotten so much out of hand that
there is little else we can do but
close the area at night'' suggested
Joe Mejia. “The real reason that
the city parks are being taken
advantage of is due to the lack of
manpower.” said Joe Salinas.
development of Gtrus Bay. “There
is no record of how Gtrus Bay
came to be, just that it was a
subdivision. Gtrus Bay is presen-
tly a single meter area. The water
system was installed in 1972, and
became part of the city in 1973.
The city agreed to look into the
situation of Citrus Bay through
discussions with city engineer,
Larry Smith and the city attorney.
As many of the arguments and
solutions sped accross the informal
workshop, the main concern of all
those who attended was to find a
way to either stop such mischief,
or to curtail the actions of these
inviduals. “You’ll have to curtail
it, said Police Chief Pat Dalager,
’ because there is Utile chance to
eliminate the problem.” Most of
the damage done by the culprits
surrounds itself with the bathroom
facilities. “Some of those bathr-
ooms are completely wiped out!”
said Joe Mejia, Parks and Recrea-
tion Director.
Salinas posed a question
Alamo appoints
new city manager
City discusses solutions
to park vandalism
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Flores, Chris E. The Pharr Press (Pharr, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 15, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 7, 1981, newspaper, May 7, 1981; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth866874/m1/1/?q=%22RIO+VISTA%22~1: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Pharr Memorial Library.