The Odem-Edroy Times (Odem, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 11, 1999 Page: 3 of 10
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COMMUNITY
FAX LINE
Fax Your Community News!
(512)364-3833
Thursday, February 11,1999 • PAGE 3
State of the Region
by Juliet K. Wenger
It is said that public service can
sometimes run in a family. Oscar
Ortiz is a living example as he
expands his area of interest in gov-
ernment to the Coastal» Bend
Region.
Oscar's brother, Congressman
Solomon Ortiz, reached out from his
home county of Nueces to the
national scene in Washington.
Oscar is 15 years younger than the
Congressman, who often introduces
Oscar as his "older brother."
Oscar Ortiz accepted the
responsibility of chairmanship of
the Coastal Bend Council of
Governments form former Refugio
County Judge Charles Stone in
January. Judge Stone is now work-
ing in government at the state level
in the office of Representative Judy
Hawley.
Schoolmates and close friends
of the Ortiz boys, who grew up in
Robstown, were Juaquin Villerreal,
now a district judge in Nueces
County, and Richard Borchard, now
Nueces County Judge. Judge
Borchard's grandfather was a pas-
tor of a Pentecostal Church which
Solomon and Oscar attended.
The first involvement of both
Ortiz brothers in public affairs was
nurtured by one of the legendary
families publishing Coastal Bend
newspapers, Sam Ford, Carroll and
Sam Keach. Each Ortiz as a youth
worked for the Robstown Record.
Good friends of the Keach family,
such as John Connally and Lyndon
Johnson, became known to the
brothers.
Oscar was only 15-years-old, in
junior high school, when Solomon
was elected constable. Solomon
moved up to the position of county
commission, then sheriff. Oscar
said Solomon had the support and
guidance of "two great men, Dr.
Henry P. Garcia and Hayden Head,"
both of whom had a part in shaping
the Coastal Bend in this century.
Oscar is proud of the fact that Dr.
Garcia delivered him at a Corpus
Christi hospital and signed his birth
certificate.
Ortiz said, "1 managed to
squeeze four years of college into 10
years, going to school for a semes-
ter; staying out a semester working
at different jobs, including that of
financial case worker for the Texas
Department of Human Resources,
and finally graduated from what
was the Corpus Christi University."
Unlike his brother, Oscar did
not, at first, want to run for a public
office. He describes himself as a
"people person," and found himself
ablfe to bring together varying view-
points and differences, but, he said,
he had stage fright. He didn't like
to call attention to himself.
He went to work for the City-
County Health Department in
Corpus Christi, and was soon
appointed by Dr.' Christopher
Buttery to head the division of vec-
tor control. .
Richard Borchard was serving
as county commissioner when he
resigned to run for county judge.
An interim commissioner was
appointed by then County Judge
Robert Barnes. Ortiz decided the
time had come, ran against interim
appointee and won. He is now in
his fifth year of office as commiss-
sioner.
At first, he again hesitated to
assume the broader duties of a
regional leader. A quiet man with a
soft voice and friendly smile, he
finally agreed, motivated by the
knowledge that he has found him-
self able to bring together those
with diverse experiences to cooper-
ate in attaining mutual objectives.
Refugio To Host
EMT Basic Course
Victoria College will offer an
EMT Basic course in Refugio
Tuesday, Feb. 16, and Thursday,
June 6 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at
the Refugio EMS classroom.
The Course will be a combina-
tion of EMT (Emergency Medical
Technician), ECA (Emergency Care
Attendant), and EMT certification
for students currently certified as
ECA.
For information on tuition,
books and uniforms or to preregis-
ter call Refugio EMS at (512) 526-
2321 ext. 122.
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Working within the Council of
Governements, he felt that he could
achieve some of his primary goals.
Among them are economic develop-
ment including the best manage-
ment of water resources, and quali-
ty of life for the rapidly growing
elderly population and for youth.
Otiz said, "The COG is a
regional planning and oversight
agency. It serves a diverse popula-
tion. It can be useful in finding
agreement on issues where urban
areas may have different approach-
es than rural factions. I think this
organization is structured to give
fair and equal representation to all
f. its member governements. I'm
going to strive to make the process
fair at every level.
"At the very least, when we get
together in one room, we know who
we all are and are able to put faces
to names and hear an individual's
concerns, not deal with some
abstract notions. One thing has
been proven. We are very lively
group that have different geograph-
ic interests but whose members have
a lot in common, mutual interests
and goals."
To Ortiz, the COG represents
communications. He said, "commu-
nications is a big word. One thing it
means is letting our friends at the
state level know what we support.
It means sharing intergovernmental
technology as we do with 911, an
intergral part of the COG with its 19
publuc service answering points in
the region, so that we can econo-
mize by consolidating services."
"Communications are neces-
sary on difference levels, to improve
services to the aging community in
12 counties at the same time that,
with criminal justice projects we
find new ways to help our youth."
THE SIGN OF
YOUR BUSINESS
ADVERTISING
WITH THE
Clje Obem-Cbrop €hne$
To advertise with The
Odem-Edroy Times call 364-1270
Laffin' School...
Jennifer Gomez plays the part of teacher Miss Quackenbush in the
junior high's production of Laffin' School. The performance was a part
of the Follies which took place Friday, Feb. 5, in the school's
Cafetorium for the students.
(Photo - Darcy McMichael)
First United Methodist
News
• This year's Ash Wednesday ser-
vice will begin at 6 p.m., Feb. 17,
at the First United Methodist
Church in Odem. Come join the
service as we celebrate the first
days of 40 days we will walk with
Christ to the Cross. Holy
Communion will be served along
with the option of imposition of
ashes, a solemn and sacred service
representing the beginning of lint.
• Springtime weather is already
upon us, so it's time to get in shape
and be ready for all the outdoor
activities. Group exercise classes,
"step aerobics," are being offered
now at the church. The evening
classes will be open to beginners,
as well as advanced students and
instructed by a resident and AFAA
instructor, Staci DuPont.
There will be a nominal fee,
with discounts offered to church
members and to one and six
month sign-ups.
For more information call
368-9187 or come by one of the
classes a little early at 1401
Haisley.
American Heart
Association
A stroke can
be a mind-
blowing thing
Troop 450
News
by Scribe Sun jay Lai
Boy Scout Troop 450 met Tuesday,
January 12, 1999 for their weekly
troop meeting. Assisting with the
presentation of flags were Philip
Pesek and Bryan Elps.
At this meeting, the troop learned
to tie knots and then played games
after the knots were tied.
The meeting ended with Joey
Rieder leading the troop in the Scout
Oath and Law.
County Literacy Council
Receives Funding
Five area Literacy Councils
recently received one-year renew-
able admission grants from the
United Way of the Coastal Bend,
including the San Patricio Literary
Council. The local council will
receive $3,000.
"United Way's funding is intend-
ed to address our greatest needs,"
said Linda McKamie, 1998 United
Way Allocations Chair. "Because
literacy is such a problem in our
area, we felt that addressing this
need way vital."
Other councils in the area that
received funding included - Bee
County Adult Literary Council,
$5,000; Corpus Christi Literacy
Council, $24,000; Jim Wells County
Library Adult Literacy Program,
$3,000; and the Kleberg County
Adult Literacy Council, $5,000.
United Way of the Coastal Bend
is an umbrella organization that
raises over $4 million each year for
health and human service agen1
cies.
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$12.00 Due at
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During this promotion
you will receive
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package purchased.
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Bank of Odem
Member F.D.I.C.
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Your Friendly Bank on the Corner!"
LOBBY:
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
DRIVE-THRU:
Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
P.O. Box 726 • 512/368-2651
Odem, Texas
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McMichael, Darcy. The Odem-Edroy Times (Odem, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 11, 1999, newspaper, February 11, 1999; Sinton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1051610/m1/3/: accessed July 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Odem Public Library.