The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 30, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 23, 1964 Page: 1 of 8
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536 3RD ST.
CITY XXX
nterprise
Volume XLIX — No. 30
Second Class Postage Paid At Mercedes, Texas
Mercedes, Texas, 78570; Thursday, July 23; 1964
i*rice lot
MEMBERS OF THE DODGERS, sponsored by Texas West-
ern Tomatoes are front row, left to right; Arnoldo
Gonzalez, Ray Ramirez. Jaime Garza, Joe Mora. Mario
Garcia, and Robert Villarreal, bat boy. Back row, left
to right are Joe Sauceda, coach, Danny Presas, Jack
Lyons, Rudy Presas, Billy Gillette, and David Villarreal.
Local Residents
To Attend Clinic
On Industry
Several local men will at-
tend the Texas Industrial
Commission Industrial plan-
ning seminar to be held at
Edinburg July 28 under aus-
pices of the Valley Chamber
of Commerce.
Glen Jones, chairman of
the Mercedes Chamber’s in-
dustrial committee, said he
would attend along with How-
ard' Sparrow, Wayne Love
and Chamber Manager,
George Wheeler.
The TIPS program (the
first letters of Texas Indus-
trial Planning Seminar) has
been in progress for some
time. Most of the communi-
ties in other areas of the
state have taken groups into
Austin to attend the sessions.
This will be among the first
areas of the state to have
the program brought to the
local level.
‘Industrial committees of
all the local chambers have
been invited and urged to
attend,’ C. C. Bradshaw,
Chairman of the Valley
Chamber Industrial Com-
mittee said. ‘Several out-
standing speakers with sub-
jects very pertinent to our
industrial problems in the
Valley will be included in
the program,’ said Brad-
shaw.
H............. ‘ illl
E.H. Pierson will speak
on ‘Transportation and In-
dustrial Development.’ Mr.
Pierson heads the North
Texas T raffic Bureau in Dal-
las.
Bill King, Commissioner
of the State Securities Board
of Austin, will speak on ‘In-
dustrial Financing and Sec-
urities’.
Harry W. Clark, Executive
Director of the Texas Indus-
trial Commission speaks on
‘Finding and Selling Pros-
pects’. Other speakers and
their subjects will be an-
nounced later, Bradshaw
said.
YANKEES. SPONSORED BY Bookout and Mitchell Supply
are front row, left to right: Oscar Salinas, Oscar Fernan-
dez, Darrell Maloy, Eloy Eslas, Henry Marin. Back row,
left to right are Joe Perez, Bobby Closner, Roger Nolen,
Daniel Johnston, Ruddy Salinas and Alex Lopez, Sr., coach.
Jim Palmore, not shown, is assistant coach.
Mexico, U. S. Group To Visit
Three Mid-Valley farms
and installations will be
visited by farmers and tech-
nicians from the U. S. and
Mexico July 28 during a
field day tour.
Sponsored by the Inter-
national Cotton Pest Control
Association, the tour will
include visits to many types
of experimental plantings
and standard farm oper-
ations.
Visits will be made in this
area to Beckwith Farms,
Progreso, Clifford Brothers
on the Military Highway, and
the A&M Experiment Station.
Travel will be by private
car, in convoy. The tour
will start at 9 A.M. at the
Texas A&M Experiment Sta-
tion at Weslaco. Total mile-
age traveled will be about
45 miles. Dinner will be
served at Pendleton Park,
Harlingen about 1:30 to 2:30
P.M, as guests of C PL. A re-
freshment truck will follow
the caravan with soft drinks.
Arrangements for the tour
may be made with Welch
Richardson, secretary of the
ICPA, Brownsville.
The Route:
Start at Experiment Sta-
tion at Weslaco, 9 A.M..
July 28 for Tour of Cottoi-
Experiments,
Leave grounds and turn
left on Highway 83. Go to j
first blinker light and turn
right on Farm Road 1015
to Progreso, A stop will
be made at a late planted
field on this road.
Stop at Beckwith Farms,
Progreso.
Stop at Clifford Brothers
on Military Highway.
Stop at Arthur Bauer Fai;m
on Military Highway.
Stop at Henry AzumaFarm
on Military Highway (Near
roadside park with cannon.)
Stop at Galveston Ranch
(Jira Tanayaka) bollworm
resistant varieties & tests.
Turn off Military Highway
on Rangerville Road to Can-
al and turn up a canal bank on
difr road to inspect fields
treated with pure technical
materials by air. Note:This
stop may be omitted or
changed if a better field is
found, but it will not alter
the general course of the
tour.
Turn back to Military
Highway to Jack Garrett
Farm 1/2 mile east of
Moisetown for inspection of
fields treated with virus for
hollworm.
Turn Northeast at La
Paloma on Farm Road 732
and cross to Highway 83 to
Harlingen. Lunch will be
served at Pendleton Park'
in Harlingen.
Chamber To Employ
Half-Time Secretary
The board of directors
has authorized employment
of a half-time secretary,
Manager George Wheeler
said this week.
He said since he is on
only a half-time basis, the
office is being kept open
only a half day. Beginning
August 1 with employment
of a secretary, the office
will be open all day, offering
better service to the com-
munity and to travelers.
Plans already are being
made to activate the tourist
committee.
CIVIC CENTER SCHEDULE
Wednesday, July 22-Gen-
eral Electric.
Thursday, July 23 - Little
League barbecue.
Friday, July 24 - teen
dance.
Monday, July 27 - Ameri-
can Legion.
TRIPLETS BORN
IN LOCAL CLINIC
A “first” hit Mercedes
Tuesday just before noon
when Dr. R. H. Johnston
delivered triplets at his cli-
nic. The two baby girls and
one boy weighed a total of
11 lbs. and 1 oz.
Parents of the babies are
Mr. and Mrs. Francisco S.
Garcia of Harlingen. He is
employed at La Fond Motor
Company in Weslaco.
The babies are named Juan
Francisco, who weighed 3
lbs. 12 oz.; Romelia, 4 lbs.
1 oz.;,and Gyadalupe, 3 lbs.
4 oz.
This was the first time
Dr, Johnston had ever deli-
vered triplets in his clinic.
A check showed that trip-
lets had been delivered be-
fore in Mercedes General
Hospital.
BUNTON BUYS
AUTO SUPPLY
FROM COLLIER
Announcement was made
this week of the sale of
Collier’s Auto Supply to Bill
Bunton.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Col-
lier, who have operated the
business since founding it in
1933 sold to Mr. Bunton ef-
fective last Saturday.
Mr. Bunton has worked
in Mercedes as parts mana-
ger for a local firm since
1948 and has had 18 years
experience in the parts busi-J
ness. He is married and owns
his home on East 10th Street.
Mr. and Mrs. Collier havei
lived and worked in Mer-
cedes 44 years. He came
here and worked originally
for Mrs. Collier’s father in
the garage business in the
building now occupied by Rio
Banco Farms.
Mr. Bunton announced he
would continue to stock name
brand parts. The firm will
be known as Bill Bunton
Muffler & Auto Supply.
He purchased the business
and the building which houses
it on S. Ohio near the City
HaH. X; ’ ' '
WEATHER REPORT
July
H
L
Rain
15
98
76
16
97
71
17
94
73
.07
18
95
73
19
90
73
.21
20
97
71
21
98
74
Hofei Group
Studies Pains
Several proposals for con-
struction and operation of
the Mid-Valley Community
Motor Hotel are being con-
sidered by officials, it was
announced this week.
Dr. M.R. Lawler, presi-
dent, said that at a recent
meeting, a five-man com-
mittee was appointed to pur-
sue negotiations and recom-
mend methods for getting the
project into the construction
stage.
He added that several con-
tracts have been made by
the committee, and that the
group’s attorney, J. D, Voll-
mer, is on a trip out of state
to check more closely into
one of the proposals.
Swiss Youth Leaves
Mercedes For Coast
Hans Keller, Swiss native
who has been learning the
aerial spraying business in
Mercedes, has completed
this part of his training and
left Wednesday morning by
bus for San Diego, Calif.
There he will meet a friend
who also came to America
to learn a trade. After a
visit, he will seek a job on
the West Coast to learn more
about the industry he has
chosen for his life’s work.
While in Mercedes he has
made his home with the
Dewey Ackers. He has
worked for the Mercedes
Flying Service.
He said he was extremely
grateful for the warm treat-
ment he has received here
and values the friendships
he has formed. He said
he hopes to return to Mer-
cedes some day for a visit.
The Mercedes Lions Club
had the Rev. Wade Hampton
of Weslaco as guest speaker
at their Wednesday luncheon
at El Sombrero. His topic
was leadership and member
duties. Plans were also dis-
cussed for the Science Fair
to be held August 19.
City Budget Designed for 5-cent
Tax Cut, Mayor Bowe Explains
The proposed city budget
on which a public hearing
has been set for 10 a.m.
Aug. 1 can be supported with
a 5-cent tax rate cut, Mayor
John Bowe said this week.
In explaining a copy of the
budget which is on file for
public inspection at the City
Hall, he said that increased
valuation from personal
property and improvements
within the city has raised
the total tax values $202,280.
And the expenses of some
departments have been cut
in the proposed budget. All
in all, the commission is ex-
pected to recommend a
5-cent tax rate reduction
after the budget hearing. The
rate can not be set at the
same meeting. The budget
must be adopted and then
the rate set at a separate
session later.
City commissioners and
department heads have spent
many hours preparing the
budget, Mayor Bowe said.
He predicted reduction of
about another 10 cents in
succeeding years before the
rate levels off in line to
be competitive with other
cities this size in bidding
for new residents and new
industry.
And, the proposal is a bal-
anced budget.
Based on two-thirds of
actual value, the tax roll
will total$ 11,619,890, yield-
ing $203,348.75 at a $1.75
rate. However, figuring 85%
collection, a net of $172,846
would be realized. Of this,
52.666 per cent, or $91,032,
must be set aside for debt
service, leaving less than
half, or 47.3349 per cent—
$81,814 for city operation.
Of that, $4000 goes for dis-
count for early payment,
leaving a net of $77,814
for local maintenance from
tax monies. An additional
$100,550 is anticipated from
other revenues.
Consolidations, personnel
reduction and other planning
are expected to reduce the
amount spent for adminis-
trative salaries from the
estimated $36,244 currently
to $26,676 for the next fiscal
years.
Additional money is pro-
posed for the police depart-
ment to enable the city to
attract additional and more
experienced personnel and to
provide for a much needed
new police car. Current
estimated expenses of $30,
708 may rise to $39,968 in
the new budget.
There is little change in
the fire department except
that more money has been
allotted for attendance at
training schools by firemen
which cuts the city’s key
rate. Some $3,500 has been
set up for part payment on
a new fire truck which the
state has said is essential
to jaring the department up
to standard and keep the In-
surance rate from going
higher. The current budget
of $11,000 has been upped to
$13,660.
Health and garbage has
been reduced from $31450
to $28,200.
Street department has
been increased from $35,360
to $39,650 principally be-
cause of new streets near the
expressway and new walks
which will be required.
In public welfare, the li-
brary has- been retained at
$2,400 and civil defense in-
creased from $225 to $400.
$600 is set up for the county
health clinic facilities.
The civic center and pool
have been set up in a sep-
arate category to determine
just how the center is doing.
With an estimated ex-
penditure of $21,528 this
year, the budget proposes
$13,000 next year with the
hope it will support itself
from a maintenance stand-
point exclusive of debt ser-
vice.
W ith the opening of the new
Urban Renewal park, more
funds will been needed for
park maintenance and super-
vision. This has been raised
from the present $1,800 to
$4,612 with $1,000 set up
for landscaping.
Contingencies are esti-
mated at $2,450, compared
with the current budget of
$1,877.
On total expenditures, the
current budget set up $ 166,
888, but in reality, it is es-
timated the city will spend
$168,014. Next year, this
is expected to rise to $ 176,
237.
City officials urged inter-
ested citizens to attend the
public hearing if further in-
formation is needed.
—Enterprise Staff Photo
GUESTS OF THE MERCEDES NATIONAL GUARD unit Sun-
day were members of the Mercedes City commission. The
group had fried chicken dinner with the unit, then were
shown equipment. Here, from left to right, inspecting a
large tank are Com. Claudio Hinojosa, Rigoberto Salinas
(also in the group), Com. Grady Herold, Lt. Juan Mata,
commanding officer, Com. George Irby, Mayor John Bowe’,
Major Hugh Riley (Battalion commander), Com. Ray
Hernandez and Major Thomas Fuller.
Jfen Swim Clubs Set To Enter
Second Annual AAU Swim Meet
Ten swim clubs have no-
tified the Mercedes Aquatic
Club that they will be in
Mercedes Aug. 7 and 8 for
the Second Annual Magic
Valley Age Group AAU Swim
Meet set at the Mercedes Ci-
vic Center Pool.
The Brownsville Swim
Club and Elks Club of
Brownsville, the Harlingen
City Club and Elks Club of
Harlingen, the West Palm
Swim Club of Pharr, Depor-
tivo Matamoros, the Morris
Swim Club of Pasadena, the
San Antonio Alamo Swim
club, the Corpus Christi
club and the University of
Corpus Christi Aquatic Club
have all returned reser-
vation blanks for the meet.
Teams expected but not con-
firmed include the SAC of
San Antonio, the Dolphins of
Houston and the Shamrock
Hilton Club of Houston.
The meet, which is spon-
sored by the local club and
sanctioned by the South
Texas Association of the
A.A.U., will be short courses
of 25 yard lengths. There
will be eight lanes of 6 foot
width. Swimming prelimina-
ries will begin at 8:30 each
morning of the meet and
finals are set for 6 p.m.
Diving competition, from a
one meter and three meter
spring board, will follow the
swimming preliminaries on
Friday and again on Satur-
day.
Age groups will include the
Pee Wees, ages 8 and under;
Midgets, 9 and 10; Juniors,
11 and 12; Intermediates, 13
and 14; and Seniors, 15 thru
17.
The meet is open to all
registered A.A.U. swim-
mers and divers (age group)
and swimmers registered
with the Mexican Federation.
A.A.U. rules will govern the
meet.
Approved medals will be
awarded for the first three
places in each event, in-
cluding relays. Ribbons will
be awarded for the next three
places in individual events,
excluding relays and diving.
A first place team trophy will
be presented. High point tro-
phies will be awarded to indi-
vidual boy and girl in each
age group division scoring
the highest number of points
in individual events. Relay
events are excluded.
Alex Moreno, president of
the Mercedes Aquatic Club,
again appeals for the cooper-
ation of the townspeople in
this meet.
SAVARINO GETS AWARD
Bill Savarino, local Civic
Center manager, was named
“Man of the Week” by a
local television station for
his work as a director of the
local recreational program
for children. The award is
made weekly honoring men
who contribute time to the
young people of the Valley.
—Enterprise Staff Photo
ENDING OVER 30 YEARS in business in Mercedes are Mr. and Mrs. Walter Collier,
left. At right is Bill Bunton who has purchased Collier’s Auto Supply.
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Harvey, J. Edwin. The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 30, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 23, 1964, newspaper, July 23, 1964; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1091736/m1/1/: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.