The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 46, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 31, 1961 Page: 1 of 13
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SINGLE COPY
PRICE
The Merce
MERCEDES PUBLIC LIBRARY
536 3RD ST.
CITY Xxx
nterprise
SINGLE COPY
PRICE
m
ivv
Now & Then
By EDWIN HARVEY
What have the state leg-
islators got against friend-
ship?
They have arranged it
under the new sales tax law
so that everybody will have
to do “dutch” on coffee.
If you purchase a 10 cent
cup, no tax. Even two fellows
can get together and one can
outfumble the other and pay
the 200 tab. But when they
join with a third, the amount
passes the 240 mark and a
10 tax must be paid.
Maybe the drug stores and
restaurants can work out a
system of issuing separate
checks and then the guy who
loses and has to pay for
three or more coffees can let
all be taken out of a $ 1 bill
without the tax.
* * * *
In all seriousness, the new
sales tax law is going to be
confusing since so many
items are exempt.
* * * *
The Quarterback club did
a bang up job of handling
another big barbecue for fans
Tuesday night. There was a
near-record turnout. To add
interest, one of the Valley
referees described signals
and penalties. Then the team
was introduced.
Music was provided by the
Tiger band during the meal.
Quarterback Club Presi-
dent Bill Savarino invited the
public to attend regular
meetings Tuesday nights at
The El Sombrero when films
of previous games are shown.
* * * *
School time is here again.
And one of the signs was
specially obvious to this
writer whose daughter be-
comes a freshman. A dele-
gation of upperclassmen
called at our casa shortly
after 5 a.m. Wednesday to
take the daughter out for a
friendly initiation into high
school. When sh«- returned,
she looked like a painted
Indian. All the girls report-
ed they had fun, however, and
even provided breakfast.
* * * *
It is to be hoped all
motorists will join in the
state move to reduce acci-
dents over the Labor Day
weekend.
It seems to useless to
have death and destruction
rampant on our highways.
Drinking, in any form, and
excessive speed cause most
of the accidents.
This will be a good time
to join the CC Club—Coke
or coffee.
* * * *
The Enterprise this week
begins a series, probably
once a month, of progress
reports on area business
firms. The idea was origi-
nated by a fellow publisher
who made the initial con-
tacts. However, he was
called out of the Valley be-
fore he had completed the
project so that others who
may want to participate in
the series may be added at
any time upon request. We
specially invite you to read
these reports and to mention
something of the progress
each participant has made
to him personally after you
have seen the page in' The
Enterprise.
CIVIL DEFENSE
Those who have not parti-
cipated in the Civil Defense
Courses will have an op-
portunity to begin a class
at 7:30 p.m. on Monday,
Sept. 11, which will be held
in the Magic Valley Electric
Co-op auditorium. The in-
structor will be Jim Collins.
The monthly meeting of the
local Civil Defense Organi-
zation will be held Friday,
Sept. 1, at 3 p.m. at El Som-
brero.
—Enterprise Staff Photo
CIVIC CENTER Groundbreaking ceremonies were held at
8 a.m. Saturday at the site between Rio Rico Road and the
main canal just south of U.S.Hwy. 83. Mayor C. A. Ripley,
center, turns the first shovel of dirt. Looking on, left to
right, are Gene P. Hobart, arthitect; S. H. Collier, Jr.,
president of the Chamber of Commerce; Carl Taylor, re-
presenting Ulhorn Construction Co. which was awarded the
contract; Bill Savarino; Mayor Ripley; City Sec. J. O. Clark;
City Commissioner S. M. Hinojosa; City Magager Gay
Walker; Rev. John Herzog, Mrs. Nita Ricke and Amelia
Adame, members of the park board.
Tigers Open Grid Season Friday
Meeting Edcouch-Elsa Team There
The Mercedes Tiger foot-
ball team will don the orange
and white for their first
competition of the season on
Friday night at 8 o'clock
against the Yellow jackets at
Edcouch-Elsa Stadium.
The Tiger-Yellowjacket
encounter is always highly
interesting to Valley football
fans since the two teams are
perrennial rivals. Mercedes
and E d c o u c h-Elsa were
in the same A A District until
last year when the Tigers
moved to 16 AAA and the
’Jackets remained in 32 AA.
There will be only one other
A A or AAA game in the
Valley—.between Donna and
Rio Grande City.
The game this Friday will
climax three weeks of train-
ing during which several
Tigers received minor in-
juries that hampered work-
outs, but with the exception
of starting fullback Rene Hi-
nojosa, possibly center Pete
Cox and Darius Herold who
plays both end and quarter-
back, the team should be
ready for action Friday
night.
Twelve returning letter-
men, seven of them starters,
will be the mainstays in the
Tiger line-up. Several B-
teamers and freshmen have
provided stiff competition in
several positions. The start-
ing line-up will be chosen
from the following roster:
ENDS: Tony Krueger,
Lloyd Stotler, Salvador Gar-
cia, Alfredo Barrera, Darius
Herold.
TACKLES: Marshall
Hoverson, Ubaldo Garcia,
Sherwood Lucas, Fred
Karle, Polo Flores.
GUARDS: Wayne Kovar,
Robert Gracia, Mike Odom
Teddy Robledo.
CENTERS: Pete Cox, Bob-
by Adame.
QUARTERBACKS: Grady
Herold, Darius Herold.
HALFBACKS: Johnny
Cantu, Joe Sauceda, Ricky
Rivera, Charlie Hinojosa,
Ernesto Galvan, Jaime Gar,-
cia.
FULLBACKS: Rene Hino-
josa, James Pembleton
Charlie Hinojosa.
Observers say the Tigers
are strongest at guard "-and
in the backfield. They are
weak at tackle positions.
They are best at the run-
ning but are weak on passing
as well as blocking. Kicking
should be improved for the
Tigers this season.
The * J acket line boasts ex-
perience in Center Leonard
Wilson; Guards Noe Salinas,
Fernando Cruz and Salvador
Garza; Tackles Richard Hi-
nojosa and Manual Gonzalez;
and Ends Rod Moss and Ama-
dor Leal.
Coaches Bob Smith and
James Dorsett will again
field a highly-rated Ed-
couch-Elsa team. Quarter-
back Mike McKinnis and
half-back Julio Rios are the
“big guns” in the Yellow-
jacket rapid and talented
backfield. King Moss returns
at fullback.
In 1959, the Yellowjackets
beat the Tigers, but the local
team retaliated last season
with a 20-18 victory to even
up the record since Coach
Milton Hild has been at the
Tiger helm. Coach Buddy
Keller has been added to the
staff and will coach the B
team this year. E. R.
Broughton and Robert Fer-
nandez will continue as line
coach and Freshman coach
to complete the high school
staff.
PROGRESS PAGE
FEATURES LOCAL
BUSINESS FIRM
The Mercedes Enterprise
this week begins a series of
progress reports of business
firms in this area.
The series is started with
The El Sombrero Restaurant,
which underwent an exten-
sive and complete remodel-
ing and improvement pro-
gram a^few months ago.
Each time the page is run,
it will feature a different
local merchant. Frequency
now is scheduled for once a
month. However, they will be
published more often if
others decide to participate
in the project in order that
there will not be too much
delay in featuring their own
progress.
Complete details on the
page may be obtained by call-
ing LO 5 - 2425. ,
MONDAY HOLIDAY
Monday, Sept. 4, Labor
Day, will be a legal holiday
for banks, most offices and
business in Mercedes.
A Chamber committee de-
signated the day as a holiday
to be observed.
Big Paving Contract Awarded
As Final Obstacles Removed
Final obstacles to com-
pletion of a contract between
the city and the Urban Re-
newal Agency under which
the two will cooperate in
carrying out a $326,149 pav-
ing project in the Urban Re-
newal area were removed
Tuesday.
The Urban Renewal Com-
mission received final
clearance from the regional
office in Fort Worth and
signed contracts and resolu-
tions completing its part in
the negotiations.
Shortly thereafter, the city
commission met and offici-
ally awarded the contract to
Dodds & Wedergartner for
the work. The city also is
completing a contract with
the First of Texas Corp. to
act as fiscal agent for the
assessment part of the pro-
ject. The property owners
share is expected to come
to $126,935.58. Urban Re-
newal will pay $200,000 of
the city's share.
Some streets, such as Vir-
^nia, where there is existing
M '
- } ■
m-.
f
Pan Am To Offer
Extension Classes
Pan American College, the
only four-year college in the
Rio Grande Valley, again will
offer extension classes at
Mercedes High School, ac-
cording to Dr. LyleG. Boun-
ous, director of the extension
and public service division
of the college.
All interested persons in
the Harlingen-Mercedes
area should meet at Merce-
des High School on Monday,
Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. Dr. Bounous
stated.
The courses to be taught
at the extension classes will
be determined at the Labor
Day meeting.
tr:
DOLLAR DAY BARGAINS TUESDAY
Mercedes will resume its monthly Dollar Days
*n Ste^ember with a big bargain parade Tuesday,
The Dollar Days traditionally have been on
first Monday, but this month is being moved back
a day because of the holiday, said Oscar Torrez,
merchants committee chairman,
A 4-page circular will be distributed this
weekend setting out numerous values offered in
Mercedes next Tuesday.
We really believe the mid-Valley shopper
will not find bargains surpassing these anywhere
in this area,” Mr. Torrez said.
“We certainly urge you to shop and compare
in Mercedes before buying elsewhere.”
-.i
t if' v _T ___ _ —Enterprise Staff Photo
EM TIGERS, say these cheer leaders who will be
leading the fans in yells and encouragement during the
coming football season. Left to right are Sherrie Gallaway
Pamela Knapp, Eileen Marchant, Kathy Condon, MaryMc-
Elyea and Nancy Rushton. There will be a bonfire and pep
rally at 7:45 p.m. Thursday at the Livestock Showgrounds
to which students and the public are invited.
Public Schools Open Officially
Friday; Labor Day Is Holiday
Mercedes Public Schools
will open officially Friday,
Supt. S. F. Cernosek an-
nounced this week.
Students of all grades will
attend classes one-half day
to register, receive text-
books and assignments.
Classes will be dismissed
at noon Friday.
There will be no classes
Monday, Sept. 4, Labor Day.
Classes will resume
Tuesday at 8:25 a.m. for
elementary schools and at
8:05 a.m. for junior and
senior high schools.
F irst major activity of the
school year will be the foot-
ball game between Mercedes
and Edcouch-Elsa there.
Tickets are on sale at the
school business offfice on
Sixth street.
The five school busses will
begin their runs Friday, fol-
lowing the same general
routes used last term.
Cafeterias will open Tues-
day. Travis and Junior-Sen-
ior high will start serving
lunch Tuesday. Officials
urged students to purchase
meal tickets by the week or
month.
Meal prices will be:
grades 1 thru 3—300; 4 thru
6—350; 7 thru 12—400;
teachers—500.
Valley Counties Are
Eligible To Receive
Emergency Loans
Congressman Joe M. Kil-
gore this week notified Tom
Cowart, president of Valley
Farm Bureau, that the Se-
cretary of Agriculture had
approved the four Valley
Counties of Cameron, Hidal-
go, Willacy and Starr as eli-
gible immediately to receive
production emergency loans
through June 30, 1962.
j The emergency loans were
Igranted this area last fall
after the disastrous rains
during the cotton harvesting
season. Valley Farm Bureau
has been working diligently
(Continued on page 5)
$4,000 Plan Fund
Awarded Mercedes
For Housing Units
Planning funds for 20 new
low-rent homes to be built
in Mercedes, Texas, have
been authorized by the Pub-
lic Housing Administration
for the Housing Authority of
the City of Mercedes, Texas,
Public Housing Commis-
sioner Marie C. McGuire an-
nounced. All of the homes
are scheduled to be design-
ed and built specifically for
the elderly.
Under a preliminary loan
contract to be signed as
quickly as possible with the
City Housing Authority, PHA
will make a planning loan of
$4,000.
The Housing andHome Fi-
nance Agency has approved
execution of the preliminary
loan contract with the Hous-
ing Authority as required by
law. This will not be an an-
nual contributions contract,
but a planning loan agree-
ment that will in all likeli-
hood culminate in such a
contract.
A workable program to
end slums and blight in Mer-
cedes had previously been
approved. Localities with
approved workable pro-
grams are eligible to apply
for various types of federal
assistance in carrying out
their civic improvement
campaigns.
Upon completion of preli-
(Continued on page 5)
paving which needs improve-
ment, will not be assessed
to the property owners since
city officials assume they
were assessed originally
when the paving was done.
The contractor is expected
to proceed as soon as he can
map out work programs on
the streets which need no
assessment. Work can not
proceed on these streets un-
til a public hearing is held
and property owners signed
up for the assessment sec-
tions.
Streets to be improved in-
clude South Illinois, Palm
Drive, Capasillo north of
Tenth, Virginia, Sixth, Tenth
:o near Washington from
Missouri, Eight, Fourth
and others as the project
progresses.
Because of the many
agencies and firms involved,
numerous meetings were re-
quired to work out the com-
plete details of the various
contracts. Bids were opened
July 11.
Sales Tax Clinic
Slated Thursday
By Chamber
A sales tax clinic to ex-
plain workings of the new
law which becomes effective
Sept. 1 will be sponsored
Thursday by the Retail Mer-
chants Committee of the
Chamber of Commerce.
Chairman Oscar Torrez
said the meeting will be held
at 5 p.m. Thursday at The
El Sombrero. Conducting the
clinic will be State Rep.
Kika de la Garza of Mission
and a representative of the
district State Comptroller's
office.
All area business men are
invited and free coffee will
be served, it was announced.
Briefly, the general pub-
lic will pay taxes on cloth-
ing and other items costing
25 cents or more.
However, prescription
drugs and grocery (food)
items are exempt.
Also exempt is work cloth-
ing (outer garments) selling
for less than $10 including
hats and caps, trousers,
jackets, suits, dresses,
overalls, shirts, blouse,
shoes, coats, skirts, play
suits and sun suits. Not
exempt are undergarments,
hose, swim wear, belts, pa-
jamas, bath robes, and cloth-
ing specifically for sports
including shoes, caps and
helmets; also not exempt is
jewelry, handbags, diapers
nad plastic pants. However,
no items selling for $10 or
more is exempt.
On exempt itmes for pur-
poses of the $9.99 exemp-
tion, the unit basis is used.
Regardless of the number of
purchases on the single sales
ticket or the amount of total
sale, the tax does not apply
to any item except on a sin-
gle-sale basis. Anthing $10
or over takes 2 per cent tax.
On items included, how-
ever, the bracket system
applies. If a single cup of
coffee is purchased on a
single sales ticket, no tax.
If three cups are on one sales
ticket, the total is 300 and
the tax would be 1 cent.
Drugs (patent) such as
aspirin, vitamins, etc., sold
over the counter are taxable.
Eyeglasses, hearing aids,
etc., are exempt.
Here is the table of tax
to be paid by the consumer
on taxable-items:
.01 to .24 no tax
.25 to .74 .01
.75 to $1.24 .02
$1.25 to $1.74 .02
And 1 cent additional tax
must be added for each 50
cent increase in purchases
above this point.
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Harvey, J. Edwin. The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 46, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 31, 1961, newspaper, August 31, 1961; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1090677/m1/1/?rotate=90: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.