The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 75, No. 33, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 13, 1986 Page: 1 of 14
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he Me
terprise
Number 33
Volume 7S
Price 25€
Mercedes, Texas 78570 Wednesday, August 13, 1986
Crime prevention session Saturday
PD arrests three
City to target junked vehicles
proper action.
more now than then.)
District adopts $11 million budget;
action on 78° tax rate delayed
JUNKED VEHICLES like the one pointed out above by City Inspector
Hector Casas are being targeted by city officials as part of a
community-wide beautification effort. More than 150 such vehicles
have already been identified by the official and his staff. [Mercedes
Enterprise Photo.]
SIGNS WILL MARK ENTRANCES at Tiger Stadium this football
season, thanks in large part to Morris Welding and Boiler Service.
The firm donated half the labor costs toward the two large signs,
which welcome visitors to the stadium, “home of the Mercedes
Fighting Tigers.” Company owner Rob Welch, left, and employee
Ruben Galvan put finishing touches on one of the signs above.
[Mercedes Enterprise Photo.]
Seen‘n Heard
In Mercedes
“We really do need everyone’s
cooperation in this matter,” he
concludes. “It’s an issue that
affects us all and without the
citizen’s cooperation, our job
becomes much harder -- but we’ll
enforce the law however we must.”
enforce the existing codes that deal
with beautification.”
Lacking the cooperation of those
who own junked autos, the city has
the option of either having the
vehicle towed (and dunning the
owner) or having police issue
citations making the owners liable
for fines from $10 to $200 for each
instance of non-compliance.
“The citizen can request a
hearing to appeal our decision,”
Mr. Garcia says, “but if they fail to
make their case, they have 10 days
to abate the nuisance.”
Mr. Garcia and City Inspector
Hector Casas have also issued a list
of some 19 substandard structures
that exist within city limits. Those
buildings are now either being
brought up to standard or are being
Name of the brewery's
president and general manager
was Joe Stein.
How fitting.
(Incidentally, there are
many collectors across the
country who specialize in
beer-related memorabilia.
Among the most sought-after
items are those having to do
with Valley Royal. Worth much
JUST A THOUGHT, BUT
THE PROBLEM seems to be
getting out of hand.
Perhaps you’ve noticed that
more and more people are
using utility poles as signposts
to advertise their garage sales.
It’s not that we mind the
use, but those who put signs,
up should also take them,
down. (Politicians take note,
too.) st
A case in point:
discussed under condemnation
hearing procedures. “We want to
eliminate these structures, too, not
only because they are eyesores and
public nuisances, but health and
fire hazards, as well,” he explains.
Officials continue to cite local
property owners for weedy lots, and
are in the process of streamlining
the ordinances that address the
topic in order to make it easier to
deal with citizens who “consistently
fail to comply with the law,” he
adds.
“A good deal of restraint” and
calm persuasion on the part of
Mercedes police officers defused a
family disturbance that threatened
to get bloody, Monday night,
reports Police Chief John Pape.
Officers were called to the
disturbance on South Georgia
Avenue, arriving to find two
brothers brawling in the roadway,
the chief says. While breaking up
the dispute, officers found them-
selves facing one of the pair, now
holding a lock-blade knife.
“Our officers were forced to
draw their weapons, but they were
able to convince the man to drop
the knife,” he explains. As police
took the knife-wielder into custody,
a third relative joined the group,
ON THE ROPES -- Mercedes varsity football hopefuls run the ropes
at an afternoon work-out on Monday. Some 75 young men are
working for varsity spots. [Mercedes Enterprise Photo.]
Tigers begin building
‘on winning tradition1
officers, says Police Chief John
Pape.
“Information on many facets of
personal security and property
protection will be available,” the
chief says, “and we’ll also be
fingerprinting children for the Child
ID program.”
Parents are encouraged to bring
youngsters to the session for
MISD slates
registration
District-wide registration for
Mercedes public schools will be
conducted August 20, reports
Assistant Superintendent Israel
Garza.
All schools will register students
between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.,
though the high school grades will
register during specific hours.
High school seniors will sign-up
between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.,
juniors from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.,
sophomores from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30
p.m., and freshmen from 1:30 p.m.
to 3:30 p.m. Registration takes
place in the MHS cafeteria.
High school students new to the
district will register August 18 from
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the high
school counseling center.
Students who will drive vehicles
to high school must bring pertinent
information for obtaining a vehicle
permit, including license plate
number, year, make and model of
vehicle. Permits are necessary, as
any improperly registered car
parked on school property will be
towed away at the owner’s expense.
attempting physically to prevent the
arrest. He had to be subdued by
officers, as well.
The man who had pulled the
knife continued to resist through-
out, however, managing to damage
a patrol vehicle’s door while trying
to kick it open.
The three were arrested, one for
disorderly conduct for fighting, one
for criminal mischief (damage to
patrol unit) and felony resisting
arrest, and the third for hindering
apprehension (and on two outstand-
ing DPS warrants).
The chief cites Officers Roberto
Gutierrez, Rick Valdez, Sgt. Luis
Chacon and Hidalgo County Deputy
Ray Quintanilla for their restraint
and handling of the situation.
to our best advantage to get ready
for district.”
Varsity candidates showing
promise include Robert Garza in the
secondary, Joe Lopez, offensive
tackle, Ricky Rivas, guard, Lupe
Palacios at nose guard, and Jake
Garcia and Mike Gonzales at
linebacker.
Others named by the coach are
Rollie Zavala, tight end, Rick
Marin, secondary or quarterback,
Eddie Gonzales, fullback, Johnny
Perez, tailback or secondary, and
defensive ends, Moises Lozano,
Roger Gutierrez and Gabriel Rizo.
They’ll get -their first test this
Saturday morning at a 9 a.m.
intra-squad scrimmage. Also slated
are an August 22 scrimmage with
Lyford (junior varsity play starts at
6 p.m. at Tiger Stadium) and a road
scrimmage scheduled August 29
with Porter.
“We’ll be using essentially the
same offensive and defensive
schemes we used last year,” Coach
Vela says, “though there will be
some new wrinkles to suit our
personnel. One thing’s certain,
though -- we’ve got some kids who
are going to give this their best
shot.”
In a related note, the coach
reminds eighth grade boy athletes
of 7 p.m. physical exams August
13, seventh graders on August 14
and all other junior high girl
athletes, as well as anyone else still
lacking a physical, on August 15.
All physicals take place at the MHS
field house.
different occasions during the
school year, as explained by
Superintendent Monte Churchill.
All appraisal sessions will be
scheduled in advance, he adds.
After touring the high school’s
new physical education addition just
prior to the regular meeting,
trustees accepted the construction
subject to a “punch list” of items
needing to be finished. One change
order approved calls for the
installation of a metal gate across
an overhead door at the facility.
Employee health insurance was
contracted to Corporate Risk
Counselors for the fifth straight
year.
School board members adopted
a local budget for the coming year
totaling $11,174,407, but tabled
approval of a tax rate until funding
ramifications of the Legislature’s
special session are known fully, at a
meeting Tuesday.
The budget presented the board
by District Business Manager Mario
I Gracia is said to be similar to last
year’s, showing an increase
primarily for teachers’ salaries (as
part of a state-mandated pay-scale
boost) and a decrease in capital
outlay funds.
Calculated on a tax rate of 78
cents per $100 valuation, the
budget is based on an estimated
Seventy-five upperclassmen are
struggling through two-a-day foot-
ball workouts hoping to earn spots
on a Tiger team that’s “building on
a winning tradition,” reports Coach
Pete Vela.
“The mental attitude is this
team’s biggest strength,” he said
Tuesday after the first three
work-outs. “These kids are hungry
to meet the challenge that’s being
presented to them and continue that
winning tradition.”
Using the motto, “The Cat Is
Back,” Vela and his coaches are
molding the 75 varsity and junior
varsity candidates into units that
will find success in their own right
— “We’re not comparing this team
to last year’s (district champion)
team. This is the team we’re
playing and this is the team we’re
counting on.”
Only four starting lettermen
remain from the 9-1 Tigers of last
year. Returning defensively are
Joey Trevino, at linebacker, Chuck
Chacon and Hector Villanueva as
defensive ends. Only offensive
starter is tackle Chris Winston.
Other returning lettermen are
Bobby Gonzales, defensive tackler,
Gene Becerra, guard, Roel Villa-
nueva, strong safety, David Gomez,
defensive back, Andrew Garza, free
safety, Rollie Ybarra, Z-back, and
Albert Cano, punter.
“Our primary weakness is going
to be experience,” he says. “The
first five non-district games are
going to be trying experiences for
our kids, but we need to use them
IT WAS ALSO 25 YEARS
AGO that the first production
of Valley Royal beer went on
sale.
The brief news story said
that “several thousand”
people had invested in the
Mercedes-based brewery...that
had a short and unhappy life.
They may have done many
things wrong, but in at least
one case stockholders took
Steps to help beautify the
community are continuing as city
officials place a renewed emphasis
on enforcement of abandoned
vehicle, substandard structure and
weedy lot laws.
“Right now, we’re targeting
abandoned vehicles,” says Com-
munity Development Coordinator
Ricardo Garcia. “These are
basically vehicles that do not have
valid inspection stickers or current
license plates and are essentially
beyond repair.”
The official requests the
cooperation of citizens in removing
such abandoned vehicles, as “this
is a joint city/public effort toward
beautification of the entire com-
munity. Much has already been
done in the downtown area, and the
city staff is now doing its best to
Principals of each campus can .
be contacted if further information |
is needed. Campuses, grades and |
phone numbers are as follows: |
West Elementary, pre-kindergarten I
and kindergarten, 565-6347; Ken- 1
nedy Elementary, first and second 1
grades, 565-6343; Travis Elemen- 1
tary, third and fourth grades, I
565-6345; Taylor Elementary, fifth s
grade, 565-6349; Graham Elemen-
tary, sixth grade, 565-6341; Junior
High, seventh and eighth grades,
565-2681 and High School,
565-3111.
IT WAS 25 YEARS AGO
THAT THE FIRST disposable
diaper appeared on the scene.
Many observers believe it’s
still here, along the side of
some road or another.
♦ ♦ *
IF YOU READ THIS
NEWSPAPER ON WEDNES-
DAY, AUGUST 13, be sure to
look up brightly at someone
and mention the fact that it's
International Lefthanders’ Day.t
They’ll no doubt appreciate
your vast knowledge and
perhaps they’ll take a moment
or two to consider the plight of-
lefthanders in a right-hand
world.
One needs only to know
that the left side of something:
is called the “sinister” side.
Some dictionaries call the left
the “unlucky” side. The right?
The “favorable” or "dexter’s
side. Following “dexter” in
the dictionary is the word
‘‘dexterity” with 16 words in
its definition. Words like
“skill, adroitness, cleverness
and mental adroitness” are
used to define the right-handed
person. Lefthanders read in the
definition of sinister words
such as “threatening, evil,
ominous, unfortunate, dis-
astrous and unfavorable.”
It’s a tough world for
lefthanders.
Do something nice for one ;
this Wednesday.
* * *
prints may be helpful in case the
children are ever lost or identity is
not certain.
Also to be available is
information on personal safety,
operation ID and home security.
“We invite everyone to take a
few minutes and visit with us,” the
chief says. “Officers will also be on
hand to answer any questions.”
safety -- we’ll have brochures
available on all these topics.”
The fingerprint cards will be
given to parents for safe-keeping
with valuable documents. The
total property value of
$121,423,593. Each penny of the tax
rate brings in some $11,000 in tax
revenue, it was told.
The tax rate was not adopted,
however, on the recommendation of
Education Commissioner Dr. Wil-
liam Kirby, who suggests districts
wait until the Legislature’s special
session has been concluded to see
what changes may be dictated.
Final approval was given a list
of teacher appraisers from among
district administrators. A new
requirement calls for classroom
teachers to be appraised through
use of “a uniform instrument by
certified appraisers” on two
TAKE A SECOND OR
TWO TO check on the color of
your voter registration card. :
If it’s yellow in color,
your’re O.K. If not, you'd
better do something quickly.
According to a spokesman
from the office of Voter
Registration of Hidalgo
County, those without yellow
cards will need to contact that
office in order to be re-instated
on voter rolls. Visit the
courthouse in Edinburg or call
383-2751, 968-3185 or
968-8911. Ask for extention 631
or 632.
Get on the roll now or you
won’t be able to vote against
your non-favorite candidate for
governor in November.
* * ♦
“A little bit of everything in the fingerprinting, “especially those
way of crime prevention” is being starting school for the first time,”
promised at a Saturday morning he says. “This is a good time, too,
open house to be conducted by for parents to explain about not
Mercedes Jaycees and police talking to strangers and traffic
C’mon, folks. We can do
better than that.
« * *
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The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 75, No. 33, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 13, 1986, newspaper, August 13, 1986; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1614079/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.