The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 30, 1964 Page: 1 of 8
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PUBLIC-
53& 3R& ST'•
cm
LIBRARY
XXX
Volume No. XLIX — No. 5
Mercedes, Texas, Thursday, January 30, 1964
—Enterprise Staff Photo
CALF SCRAMBLE contestants at the San Antonio Stock
Show will include these two Mercedes FFA members,
Rosendo Gonzales and Ernest Galvan.
TWO YOUTHS SET
FOR CALF SCRAMBLE
IN SAN ANTONIO
Two Mercedes FFA boys
will compete in the calf
scramble at the San Antonio
Stock Show Feb. 11, show of-
ficials announced.
Rosendo Gonzales and
Ernesto Galvan, both fresh-
men in Mercedes High
School, will be among sev-
eral dozen boys from over
the state in the calf scram-
ble. They will be accompan-
ied by Lauro Saldana, vo-
cational agriculture teacher.
Residents of Mercedes and
surrounding area will be
honored during Rio Grande
Valley Day, Sunday, Feb-
ruary 9 at the Show and
Rodeo at the Joe Freeman
Coliseum, according to L.
B. “Red ” Connell, San An-
tonio, Chairman.
Rio Grande Valley Day
features will include the
Judging of Quarter Horses,
Halter Classes, Mares and
Group Classes beginning at
8 a.m. in the Coliseum
Arena. Judging of Halter
Broke Sales Cattle by breeds
will take place in the Judg-
ing Arena at 9:00 a.m.
Valley residents will be
given special recognition at
the Harry Knight produced
RCA Rodeo of Champions
scheduled for two perform-
ances, a matinee at 2 p.m.
and an evening show at 8 p.m.
Featured entertainment at-
tractions at all 15 perform-
ances of the rodeo will be
"Mister Cowboy,” Rex Allen
and recording star Molly
Bee. An added attraction at
the Matinee rodeo perform-
ance will be the appearance
of the Rio Grande Valley
Mounted Quadrille. Mer-
cedes member include Dick
Harman.
Also featured at the 1964,
15th Annual Show are many
special exhibits including a
$1 1/2 million Farm and
Ranch Machinery Show; In-
ternational Wool and Mo-
hair Show; Quality Meat Con-
tests; the new Women's Di-
vision exhibits; Ready - to-
Cook Poultry Show; a glit-
tering carnival midway; 6,
000 head of the nation's finest
livestock; and, numerous
other interesting and educa-
tional exhibits.
Rodeo tickets, including
front gate admission, can be
ordered by mail from Harry
Freeman, Ticket Chairman,
1015 Tower Life Building,
San Antonio. Tickets are
priced at $3.60 for Box Seats
and Arena Seats and $3 and
$2 for Balcony Seats.
MHS Thespians
Win Top Places
At Speech Meet
Mercedes Thespians took
one first place in the Los
Fresnos Speech Tournament
Jan. 24 and 25.
Janie Bowe placed first
in extemporaneous speaking.
Mandy McBroom took sec-
ond in prose reading and
Mary Brower third in poetry
interpretation.
Larry T ankersley and
Scott Downing placed third
in boys debate.
Reaching the finals were
Renee Sumerlin and Layne
Atteberry in debate and Fleet
Lentz in prose reading.
Others attending were
Lupe Hernandez, Joe Irvin,
J anis Summerlin, poetry;
Johnny Klemme, prose; Ale-
jandro Moreno, extemporan-
eous speaking; Jean Atte-
berry and Maribess VanBerg
and Ralph Cintron and Rex
Downing, debate. Sponsor
was Mrs, Carol Cowden.
Local Race Talk
Increases; Cox
Asks Re-election
Interest began to pick up in
city and school board races
this week but there was only
one new announcement on a
definite basis.
School Board Member Dr.
Lawerence Cox said he would
seek a second term on the
board.
Another member, Rudy
Salinas, who is chairman,
of the board this year, has
not revealed his plans. How-
ever, close friends said they
believed he might decide to
seek a second term despite
a heavy work and college
class load.
There also were rumors
there might be at least a
third man in the school board
race for the two posts to be
filled in April elections, but
nothing definite could be con-
firmed.
Meanwhile, talk is in-
creasing on a slate of can-
didates for three city posts,
that of mayor and two com-
missioners, who are to be
elected in April.
But there were no new
announcements. Incumbent
Mayor A. J. Hagan already
has said he will seek re-
election. Two weeks ago,John
W. Bowe, local attorney, said
he would file for the mayor’s
post.
Com. Claudio Hinojosa has
not said definitely what his
plans are, but friends be-
lieve he will seek a second
term. Com, Howard Spar-
row, oldest member of the
commission in point of ser-
vice, says he definitely will
quit city politics and will
not be a candidate.
Many names have been
mentioned as possible can-
didates for his post, but
none would permit their
name to be used at this point.
N ames mentioned include
some former city commis-
sioners.
Community leaders on
both the conservative and
progressive levels are re-
ported to be holding meet-
ings trying to persuade their
candidates to make this race.
Filing deadline is several
weeks away yet and many
things could change before
then, even the mayor's race
picture, observes say.
TAX DEADLINES:
JAN. 31
Friday, Jan. 31, is an im-
portant date.
It is the last day for ob-
taining poll tax or exemption
for voting in local, county
and state elections.
It also is the last day for
paying state, county, city and
school taxes without penalty
and interest.
All tax collecting agencies
are urging that these taxes
be paid to avoid the penalty
on property taxes and that
the poll tax be paid to qualify
for voting.
Mrs. Yearwood’s office
will be open Thursday and
Friday night.
WEATHER REPORT
JAN.
H.
L.
RAIN
22
80
62
23
77
65
24
74
67
25
67
48
26
71
47
.08
27
81
54
28
78
64
Mayor, Council
Split On Hiring,
Center Expense
The Mercedes City Com-
mission had a short but heat-
ed meeting Monday night as
Mayor A. J. Hagan lashed out
at "high salaries” and at
hiring employees unof-
ficially and having them con-
firmed by the commission
later.
Com. Claudio Hinojosa
asked that the commission
authorize employment of
Pedro Yanez in the street
department at a salary of
$160 monthly. He said Jim-
my Closner, street superin-
tendent, has consulted with
him on the matter since the
commissioner in charge of
streets was not available. He
said the city needed a man
last Monday, Jan. 20 and that
he suggested Closner go a-
head and employ -him sub-
ject to confirmation at the
next meeting.
Mayor Hagan said he could
not approve such practice,
that he didn't belive it legaL
Other commissioners re-
minded him previous admin-
istrations had followed this
procedure in some in-
stances, but the mayor voted
a loud “NO” when the vote
was called to employ Yanez
effective Jan. 20. Com. Hin-
ojosa and Commissioners
Grady Herold and Ray Her-
nandez voted YES. Com. Ho-
ward Sparrow was absent.
Although apparently noton
the agenda for any action,
the subject of the salary for
management of the Civic
Center was brought up by the
mayor.
He repeated his observa-
tions of previous meetings
that the city can’t afford any
$6,000 a year jobs, and that
it “is a disgrace to pay this
kind of money even if we had
it when nothing has been
done” (to keep up the cen-
ter).
Com. Hinojosa challanged
the mayor, said the salary
was not out of line, and
said the mayor’s opinion just
expressed was in poor taste.
Hagan continued that the
Civic Center was costing the
city too much. He cited fig-
ures since its opening in
which he claimed that the
city's general payroll was
only $5,967, jumped to $6,
581 the month after it opened.
He failed to explain how the
Civic Center was respon-
sible for the city’s general
payroll jumping to $8,140 in
September of 1963 more than
a year after the center was
opened.
Com. Hinojosa said any
good business has to spend
money to make money and in-
sisted the Center is an asset
to Mercedes. It has attracted
large swimming meets, ten-
nis meets and numerous
meetings at the auditorium.
The mayor said the city
must pay $17,792 debt ser-
vice on the center every year
until paid, possibly for 18
years. He said income of
$10,615, which actually was
some $800 less than that,
did not offset the cost of
operation.
Com. Hinojosa and others
shot back with answers to
every remark the mayor
made.
In other action, the com-
mission passed a resoultion
authorizing City Atty. J.D.
Vollmer to offer Mercedes
water rights to others in the
district should the city not
need it after the current suit
is settled. The city now uses
its own well for municipal
supply except when shutdown
for repairs or in other em-
ergencies.
The commission authori-
zed installation of a street
light on Missouri near the
Taylor school but deferred
action again on a police re-
quest to prohibit parking on
Missouri 30 feet south and
19 feet north of the new
Ribsl, hotel owner, should
way. Com. Hinojosa and
Mayor Hagan said Carl
Ribsl, Hotel owner should
be notified of the proposal
even though the no parking
zone would not be adjacent
to his property.
Action also was deferred
on passing ordinances and
resolutions to allocate $6,
900 to complete the 10 blocks
of paving in the Urban Re-
newal Area and on city
employee group insurance.
CHARLES NYE
CHARLES NYE
NEW MANAGER
OF H. E. BUTT
Charles Nye has been
named new manager of the
H. E. Butt Grocery Store in
Mercedes, it was announced
this week.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Nye
has been in the Valley about
nine months, working in the
Raymondville HEB store
prior to being named man-
ager here.
He is a veteran, spending
four years in the Air Force.
He is married and has four
children.
He has 14 years grocery
chain experience, about
three with HEB. He worked
for HEB nearly two years
from 1948 to 1950.
The Nyes plan to move
here from Raymondville as
soon as housing can be
rented.
Don Fernan, who has been
local manager, was trans-
ferred to McAllen Store No.
2.
NURSING HOME
TO OPEN FEB. 8
Plans to open the Mer-
cedes Nursing Home Feb.
8 in the former general hos-
pital building were an-
nouced this week by Mrs.
Annabelle Whitinger.
The State Department of
Health has granted her a per-
mit for Type I (minimum
nursing care) patients who
are semi - or completely
ambulatory, she said. No in-
valids can be accepted.
She is licensed for 20 beds,
all of which will be on the
main floor. A license vo-
cational nurse will head the
staff, being on duty from
7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, with
other aides and attendants at
hand 24 hours. There will
be no race or creed limit-
ations, but patients must be
at least 16 years of age.
Regular care includes food,
and laundry service.
The building has been vac-
ant since the hospital closed
early in 1962. It has been
remodelled and the patient
quarters have central heat.
Five Guardsmen
Face Court Martial
For Being Absent
Five area men have been
read court martial charges
by Lt. Juan Mata, localNar-
tional Guard commander, for
having been absent without
leave from armory drills.
SP4 William F. Tullis,
Pvt. Leopoldo Castillo, Pvt.
Juan Solis, Pvt. Hereberto
Jasso, and Pvt, Gilbert©
Hernandez were transported
under the charges to
battalion headquarters at San
Benito to hear the court
martial proceeding admin-
istered by Major John Hess.
Witnessing personnel
were summoned in both be-
halfs. Sentences were asses-
sed as follows:
Pvt. L. Castillo - confined
2 days in county jail & $ 15.
00 fine.
Pvt. J. Solis - confined
2 days in county jail & $ 15.
00 fine.
Pvt. Hereberto Jasso -
Confined 3 days in county
jail.
SP4 Tullis pleaded guilty
but demanded an investiga-
tion be conducted.
Court martial proceedings
for SP4 Tullis and Pvt. Gil-
berto Hernandez have been
set for Feb. 3 at battalion
headquarters.
Several Homes
Not Being Taxed,
There are numerous
houses in Mercedes not on
school and city tax rolls,
School Board Member Noa
Sisk declared last week.
He made the charge at a
special meeting of the board
at which it had been recom-
mended the district build
a new high school or improve
and enlarge its present fac-
ilities.
When the subject of fin-
ancing these projects by in-
creased valuations or re-
vised rates came up, he said
there should be enough val-
uations added to the tax-
rolls to help service a new
bond issue if all properties
were placed on the rolls.
“Before I retired from the
postal service, I made a
house to house check of each
of our city routes,” he said.
“On my last check, I found
numerous new houses on lots
which previously were vac-
ant, or I found additions to
existing structures. In some
Instances, smaller struc-
ureg had been moved to the
back of the lot and were
being rented while the ori-
ginal owners had constructed
new, larger homes on the
front. I know of some in-
stances in which the owners
are paying only on the one
old (small) structure while
the new one isn't even ren-
dered for taxes.”
He said he would like to
see Tax Collector Adan Can-
tu check all building and
moving permits and make a
survey of the district to be
sure all improvements are
placed on the tax rolls.
“I believe we could pick
up at least :> 500,000 in cal-
uation by making sure every-
thing is placed on the rolls,”
Mr. Sisk said. Other board
members did not appear as
certain there were whole-
sale violations of the pro-
perty - rendering laws, but
did express interest in pro-
ceeding with a survey by the
regular tax staff to place as
much as possible on the
rolls.
Local Man Dies
In Reynosa Crash
Apolonio V. Terjo, 53, of
Mercedes was reported
killed in a traffic crash near
Reynosa Sunday.
He was reported to be
driver of a car involved in
a collision with a truck on
the Rio Bravo road about
5:15 p.m. He was killed in-
stantly.
Also injured with other
passengers In the car, Mario
Cantu de Trejo, 44, his wife,
of Reynosa, and their son,
Juanito Trejo, 6.
The truck driver was re-
ported to be Felipe Flores,
27, of Edcouch, who also
was injured. Others in the
truck injured were Jose
Maria Rodriguez, 36, and
Antonio Perez. All were
treated at Red Cross Hos-
pital, Reynosa,
W Tourney
Results Given
Weslaco won the B-team
division of the annual M
Association tournament held
here Jan. 23-25.
In the finals, Weslaco
played Edcouch - Elsa and
won 45-29.
Weslaco also won the
freshman division, defeating
Raymondville 35-33.
Donna took the junior high
title, downing San Benito 21-
19.
TO GET DEGREE
Alvin Douglas Moyer of
Rt. 2, Mercedes, Is
scheduled to receive a
Bachelor of Arts Degree at
Miami University, Oxford,
Ohio, in mid - term gradu-
ation ceremonies Feb. 2.
—Enterprise Staff Photo
NEW OWNERS of Queen City Pharmacy examine display
of Valentine candies. Left fo right are Dick Lee and
Birch Larsen. Both are pharmacists, but Mr. Lee will
be manager and plans to reside in Mercedes.
Mothers March
Slated Friday
The annual Mothers March
on Polio will be held Friday
night, Jan. 31, in Mercedes,
General Chairman Claudio
Hinojosa said this week.
He said the fire siren will
sound at 7 p.m., signalling
start Of city - wide canvass
by volunteer workers to col-
lect funds.
Residents are urged to
leave their porch lights on
for the workers, he said.
Other projects are planned
to bolster the Mercedes polio
fund drive, he added, but
plans had not been completed
at mid-week.
He said he hoped everyone
in Mercedes will cooperate
in this campaign for a worthy
cause.
Charro Days Offers.
Carnival Program
Starting On Feb. 2
Charro Days in Browns-
ville means carnival time in
a double sense and this
year’s Midway will offer an
exceptionally large array of
attractions beginning three
days before the pre - Len-
ten fiesta opens Feb. 2.
This year’s carnival en-
tertainment will be furnished
by the Bill Hames Show of
Fort Worth which operates
the largest motorized car-
nival in the South. Many of
the entertainment features
to be offered on the car-
nival grounds in the Fort
Brown area will be pre-
sented for the first time in
Brownsville.
Opening night, Jan. 31, will
be Kiddies Night. During the
afternoon and evening all
rides and other attractions
will be available to youngs-
ters at reduced prices.
Hames Shows, which has
been in business in Texas
65 years, features a lighted
Midway surrrounded by tent-
ed theatres, sideshows, and
an unusually large number
of rides offering varying de-
grees of dizziness and de-
light.
QUEEN CITY DRUG
CHANGES HANDS;
TWO NEW OWNERS
Change in ownership of the
Queen City Pharmacy was
announced this week.
Mrs. Darrel Swearengin
has sold the store to Dick
Lee and Birch Larsen. Mr.
Lee, a registered phar-
macist, will be store man-
ager. He recently moved
here from Monroe, Utah, and
plans to bring his wife and
small son here when housing
is located.
Mr. Lee is a graduate of
the University of Utah and
worked in Monroe with his
father for the past three
years.
“I am enjoying the valley
and am impressed with the
friendliness of Mercedes
people.” he said.
The owners said they plan
to remodel in the near fu-
ture but will keep the same
store hours and personnel.
Mr. Larsen owns drug stores
in Mission and Edinburg, re-
siding in the latter. He plans
to work part - time at the
Mercedes store, which will
be known as Lee’s Queen
City Pharmacy.
Mrs. Swearengin has man-
aged the store since the death
of her husband last year.
Llano Grande Gets
Contamination Check
The Hidalgo County Health
Department is investigating
rumors of gross contamina-
tion of the waters of Llano
Grande. At least until the
results of tests are avail-
able, the Health Department
very strongly urges that
there be no swimming nor
water skiing in this body of
water.
Further - it is recom-
mended that no fish taken
from Llano Grande be eaten.
If you have friends who
are swimmers and/or water
skiing enthusiasts, who
might not read this report,
please notify them - so that
illness from this source may
be prevented, officers ask.
Pay Your
Poll Tax
By
Jan. 31
Protect Your
Right To Vote
In All
Elections
Price lOc
Board Expected To Begin Plans
For Enlarging High School Soon
The Mercedes School
Board is expected to take
action at its next meeting
to authorize an architect to
draw up proposed enlarge-
ment plans for the senior
high school building.
The board heard reports
from J. A. Anderson of the
Texas Education Agency and
from Russell Dodds, bond
firm representative.
The survey from Mr. An-
derson was complete, pro-
jecting the district’s needs
for many years to come.
He pointed out that many
of the district’s facilities are
incomplete or inadequate and
said the district could con-
sider three possibilities:
1. Increase valuations 50
per cent.
2. Engage special ap-
praisers for re - valuation
of all property in the dis-
trict.
3. Increasing the tax rate
under special provisions of
Senate Bill 116, which, under
certain conditions, permits
up to a $1.50 local main-
tenance tax rate in addition
to bond retirements. The
present local maintenance
tax is only $1.05 per $100
valuation.
He said that, ideally, the
district needs a new high
school campus. He acknow-
ledged, however, that this
probably is not financially
feasible at present, and rec-
ommended that trustees seek
out and start purchasing a
20-acre site at the edge of
town for a new building about
10 years from now.
Meanwhile, he suggested
that the board consider en-
gaging an architect on a
contingency basis to propose
remodelling and additions to
the south building (aud-
itorium) on the high school
campus. He said the wings
should be removed. Then two
new buildings, extending
from front to alley, should
be built, one on each side of
the auditorium. The one on
the South would have special
shop rooms for vocational
work. The building on the
North would have science
labs and classrooms. He
recommended aircondition-
ing for the auditorium and
upgrading West and North
School campuses in the pro-
tect.
The Texas Education
Agency expert said the dis-
trict has done exceedingly
well in providing facilities
and program for its students
with its financial ability.
He commended the new
seven period day in high
school, and the offering of
four foreign languages. The
teacher - pupil ratio is good,
he said, and the pupils ap-
pear to be well-mannered.
However, he said Mer-
cedes spent only $218 per
pupil in 1960 - 61 com-
pared with a state average
for schools of this size of
$294.42.
He said the school needs
a central warehouse, ad-
ditional science labs, a
music room for junior high
school and senior high
school, a language lab and
a larger building for the
library. He said the system
needs to offer more special
education to students who
may not plan to go to col-
lege in order to prepare them
for a job.
The Jr. -Senior campus is
too crowded with 1,200 stu-
dents on 7 acres.
At the same time, he urged
the board to take plenty of
time in forming a moderni-
zation program. He asked
that they visit other schools
to get ideas on layout and
design. He also explained
that if the architect made
a proposal and the board did
not adopt or vote to carry
out the plans, no fee would
be involved. The same is
true with a fiscal agent, he
said.
Mr. Dodds recapped the
districts financial structure.
There are still$946,000 out-
standing in bonds, but this
will be reduced to $917 in
August, 1964. He predicted
the district conceivable
could handle up to $600,000
in additonal bonds with its
present valuation.
However, some board
members were, quick to ex-
plain that they would not be
in favor of a big expansion
program if it meant, a large
Increase in taxes. The people
can’t pay much more now,
they said.
Supt. N. K. Fitzgerald said
he was making no recom-
mendation, but that it merely
was his duty to ask for the
two surveys just presented,
and this it was his duty to
call these to the attention of
the board to be guided ac-
cordingly.
MEDALLIONS DUE
TO BE INSTALLED
IN THIS AREA
Historial medallions will
be placed on permanent
buildings in Mercedes, Mis-
sion, San Juan, Hidalgo and
Edinburg, according to plans
made by the Hidalgo County
Historical Survey Commit-
tee in their Sunday session.
Lois Boling of Weslaco,
chairman, directed the plan-
ning session when members
of the committee were guests
at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Don Warner.
Preliminary work on ap-
plications for four medal-
lions in Mercedes was re-
ported by W arner and ap-
proved. Five other possible
historic sites were dis-
cussed for further investi-
gation.
Special committees were
appointed by the chairman
and a work program for 1964
charted. Two new members
have been added to the com-
mittee, Orville I. Cox of Mc-
Allen and Shelly Collier, Jr.
of Mercedes. The latter was
present for the first time.
Committee appointments
included: Finance — Collier,
Argyle McAllen and J. A.
Cardenas; Civic War Cen-
tennial - Warner and Boling;
Museum and Archives—Dr.
Wesley N. Laing; Publicity—
Mrs. Lucy H. Wallace.
The ten members of the
committee will work on the
medallions and Civil War
grave marking committees.
Mr. and Mrs. Warner en-
tertained the members,
their wives or husbands with
a buffet supper following the
meeting.
ACTING DIRECTOR
NAMED FOR A&I
Dr. J.C. Jernigan, presi-
dent of Texas A&I College
at Kingsville, has named Dr.
Richard A. Hensz of Har-
lingen, as acting director
of the citrus Center with
the concurrence of the ad-
visory committee of Texas
A&I Citrus Center.
Dr. Hensz recently com-
pleted work on his Doc-
torate at the University of
Florida at Gainesville and
returned to this unit Jan.
13, 1964.
He holds a B.S. degree
and an M.S. degree from
Texas A&M University at
College Station.
He has lived in the Valley
since 1947 and came to the
Citrus Center originally in
August, 1958.. He is married
and has two children.
POLICE REPORTS
The Mercedes Police De-
partment was kept busy with
several burglary calls dur-
ing the past week. Three
burglaries which were later
cleared were reported from
Logan’s Tool Shed, The
Health and Welfare Depart-
ment and the Livestock Show
grounds.
Other burglary calls came
from two residents and one
attempted burglary took
place at the B. Garcia Gro-
cery.
Three bicycles were re-
ported stolen but were later
returned and three distrac-
tion of private property calls
were made to the depart-
ment.
There were two missing
persons reports which were
later cleared and two juven-
ile cases were called in.
Other calls made to the
department included eight
minor accidents, five dis-
turbances, 11 miscellan-
eous and seven dog calls.
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Harvey, J. Edwin. The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 30, 1964, newspaper, January 30, 1964; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1091820/m1/1/: 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.