The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 72, No. 33, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 15, 1984 Page: 1 of 12
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Seen ’n Heard
In Mercedes...
he Mere
Enterprise
"...he caught fishes
in other men’s ditches.”
— There it’s been, right in
plain sight and no one knew
what to do with it.
Not until now, that is.
The Main Canal runs right
through Mercedes and has
been so visible over the years
that it’s been nearly invisible.
There’ve been occasional sug-
gestions, ranging from planting
the banks with colorful flowers
to having canoe races, but no
one thought of the obvious until
this past weekend.
What people have been
doing on their own for years
became an “almost organized”
activity when the Blue Bar
Catfish Tournament began
nearly on time at noon
Saturday.
Billed originally (with some
hesitation) as a “First An-
nual,” the 24-hour event is now
“definitely” an every-year
contest, says coordinator Bobby
Adame.
“It was a success,” says
Mr. Adame, of the Blue Bar
Adames, “not because of the
sponsors, but for the best of all
possible reasons... every one had
a real good time.”
There were 268 fishermen
with varying degrees of skill
taking part, and more than 300
attended the Menudofest billed
as the “Breakfast of Champ-
ions” at the South Florida
home of Judge R.G. ‘Tiny’
Perez, early Sunday morning.
Catches in the “world’s
largest canalbank catfish tour-
nament” ranged from a
mattress to the eventual winner
(pictured elsewhere on this
page), and adventures included
having a string of fish eaten by
a “monster of the deep,” and
other things best left unwritten
about.
Calling the canal “an
amenity,” Bobby talks about its
beauty and value to the people
of Mercedes as a recreational
spot.
“Arroyo City has nothing on
us. You can stay right in your
hometown and have the same
excitement as in their highly-
publicized fishing tournament
without any high entry fees or
any hassle,” he says.
He’s right, you know. And
the beauty of this tournament
is that it’ll always belong to
Mercedes...
...unless someone figures
out how to move the Main
Canal.
* * *
— There has been a great
hue and cry over the recently
passed multi-billion dollar ed-
ucation ‘reform’ bill and there
will undoubtedly be still more
when people begin to realize
the tremendous tax burden
placed on the citizens of Texas
by this legislative act.
Proponents of the bill would
have the public believe Texas
was lagging in the matter of
public education because not
enough money was being spent
to properly fund education in
the Lone Star State.
But that hardly seems to be
the case. Figures released last
week by Comptroller Bob
Bullock show that in the
current fiscal year the state has
spent more than half its income
on educational matters. Support
of state and local education
took 47.6 percent of revenues,
while teacher retirement added
another 3.9 percent of money
. collected. That’s right at $6
billion!
So there it is. Out of every
dollar taken in by the state,
51.5 cents went towards the
cost of education. And Mr.
Bullock’s totals do not include
the millions and millions of
dollars more collected in local
school taxes across Texas.
By the way of putting all
that in perspective, it’s worth
noting that education in Texas
now takes all the sales tax
revenues generated across the
state plus all monies received
from alcoholic beverages tax
plus all cigarette taxes plus all
telephone taxes.
Palm tree removal
begins in two weeks
Men and machinery will soon
undertake the removal of some 617
palm trees -- left dead by last
winter’s freeze -- from city property
and rights-of-way, following the
awarding of a bid for the work by
the city commission.
Meeting Monday night, the
commission voted to give the job to
Valley Tree Service of Mercedes,
operated by Jimmy Clifford, who
offered the lower price of the two
firms submitting bids according to
specifications. He asks $39 for each ground level removal of the 617
tree removed at ground level, with
an additional charge of $12.50 for
“grinding” of the stump at 12
inches below ground, should the
city request that service.
Three other firms offered bids
on the work, but one withdrew its
$140 per tree bid after hearing the
range of other prices offered, one
contractor failed to enclose a bid
bond and the third failed to follow
the bidding form requested by city
officials.
The work is expected to begin
within two weeks, as police
department and public works
department officials coordinate
street closing and traffic safety
measures and a dump site is
decided upon. The contractor
offered the city commission
assurances that the work would be
performed with safety of life and
TDCA gets visit
from four officials
Though formal appeal of a
decision by the Regional Review
Committee of the Texas Department
of Community Affairs will not come
until next week, four representing
Mercedes travelled to Austin
Tuesday to lay the groundwork for
the city’s presentation.
Mercedes was ranked 16th out
of 19 agencies applying for grant
money under the program, and the
city’s appeal is of the “manner of
scoring” of the grant applications,
says Acting City Manager Alan
Kamasaki.
Making the trip were Mayor
Gilberto Dominguez, Commis-
sioners Heriberto Martinez and
Oswaldo Castaneda and City
Attorney Ernesto Flores. The state
review committee meeting, where
the formal presentation and appeal
will be made, is scheduled for
August 23.
C-C plans Christmas fest
They’re thinking ahead to
Christmas at the Mercedes
Chamber of Commerce office,
TOURNEY’S BIGGEST CATCH
-- The 2-3/4 pound trophy
shown above, landed by Don
Leff, was the winner in the
"largest catfish” category at
last weekend’s First Annual
. Blue Bar Catfish Fishing
Tournament. Mr. Leff also took
honors for the “best five by
weight," showing a stringer
totalling 5.5 pounds. Other
winners were Mike Dominguez,
“biggest stringer,” with seven;
Rolando Guajardo, second place
catfish at 2.5 pounds; Dan
Eduardo Avila, second place
stringer; and Hugo Bandy,
third place in that category.
[Mercedes Enterprise Photo.]
Mercedes, Texas 78570 Wednesday, August 15, 1984
Volume 72
Number 33
Price 20c
property in mind, and said Iris
equipment ensures “absolute con-
trol of the tree at all times” during
its removal.
The cut trees will be disposed of
either on private property in
northeast Mercedes, if it rceives
health department approval as a
dumpsite, or at the city’s current1
landfill.
With some $34,000 allocated to
the project, funded with community
development money, and the cost of
trees just over $24,000, officials are
faced with decisions concerning
whether and where stump grinding
should be approved as part of the
work. The contractor estimates the
removal to take 30 days.
In other action at Monday’s
meeting, approval was given the
second reading of an ordinance
denying a rate request from Rio
Grande Valley Gas Company, a
request that is currently the subject
of negotiatin between the gas firm
and the Valley Cities Executive
Committee.
Seven apply
for city job
Seven applicants, including
present Acting City Manager Alan
Kamasaki, have submitted resumes
in hopes of being hired as
Mercedes city manager.
The list, as of press time
Wednesday, showed the following
names, in the order the applications
were submitted:
Robert Gracia, Mercedes resi-
dent who operated the local
Western Auto store before its
closing, presently working as La
Villa city manager; Denton W.
Miller of Everman, a former city
administrator in that community;
and Santiago G. Sosa of Harlingen,
who lists his occupation as egg farm
and produce firm operator.
Also, Simon 0. Calvillo,
Mercedes school board member and
former city commissioner working
toward completion of a master’s
degree, who lists no current
employment; Jorge Garza of
Edinburg, who teaches science in
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo schools; Lee
Roy Czepiel of McAllen, employed
by ADAP computer center; and Mr.
Kamasaki.
Deadline for submitting applica-
tions for the job is September 24.
planning to organize a “Christmas
Fiesta and Parade” as a community
and commercial promotional event.
A breakfast meeting of the
Chamber’s merchants’ committee
will take place next Tuesday for
announcement of initial plans and
solicitation of additional ideas.
Starting at 8 a.m. at the Rodeway
Inn, the meeting will focus on “a
celebration of the holiday on
December 15 in a way that will
promote Mercedes and boost local
retailers’ Christmas sales,” says a
Chamber spokesman.
Another 8 a.m. gathering of
Chamber directors and members is
set for this Friday, when the
organization conducts its First
Annual Teachers’ Appreciation
Reception. On the occasion of the
first day of teacher inservice
training, the affair will see
refreshments provided as “a means
of expressing appreciation for the
people who are educating the
children of our community,” the
spokesman explains.
That event is to take place in the
Mercedes High School cafeteria,
with all Chamber members invited.
In addition, an informal gather-
ing of Chamber members took place
Tuesday, when the second in a September 14; Tuloso-Midway,
series of “membership minglers” September 28; Los Fresnos, October
was hosted by Mid-Valley Florists. 12; Raymondville, October 26; and
The 5:30 meetings, scheduled to Rio Grande City, November 9.
occur on a monthly basis, are Parents’ Night is against Los
hosted by members on a revolving Fresnos and Homecoming is
basis, and allow for informal scheduled for the Raymondville
discussion to take place among game.
business people of the community, Mr. Vasquez reports that ticket
the spokesman explains. sales are now approaching 100.
THE FORMER "COPACABANA CLUB”
One more landmark
to fall to progress
Once again, a Mercedes landmark is about to fall victim to progress.
The building that was first famous as home to the “Copacabana
Club,” located at the corner of Maryland Avenue and Business 83, will
soon be visited by demolition crews in order to allow the widening of
the latter thoroughfare. It’s loss, it is expected, will stir some
memories.
Up until 1960 or so, the “Copacabana” was one of Mercedes’ social
centers, renowned as a restaurant, lounge and particularly, as a dance
hall, one of few around which featured open air dancing -- on the roof.
It was built in 1944 by brothers Antonio, Fernando and Amado
Saenz. It was operated as the Copacabana for over a dozen years, says
Fernando, before ownership passed to their sister, Miss Isabela Saenz.
It later saw duty as a training shop for tailors and shoemakers, as a
shoe shop and as a succession of lounges.
Purchased in 1979 by Mr. and Mrs. Polo Guerrero, it was operated
as a produce firm bearing their name there until just recently. Mrs.
Guerrero says the demolition is necessary due to the widening project
on Business 83, adding that the roadway will be brought essentially to
the doorstep of the building. The dismantling, however, is currently
delayed by litigation involving other property, she says.
The Guerreros are already building on the property behind the
structure, she says, erecting a cold storage warehouse for their firm’s
produce. They plan, as well, to build in front, but have not yet decided
on use of that building, although “it will be commercial.”
Though the result of the "Copacabana's" fall will be progress,
there’s a touch of sadness in Mrs. Guerrero’s voice when she discusses
the demolition. “It was a really nice place back in its heyday,” she
says. “It’s such a sturdy building, and there are just not many around
like it.”
Competition stiff for all positions
After just two days of
pre-season workouts, it’s becoming
increasingly apparent to MHS
Coach Bob Loomis and the rest of
the Tiger football staff that
top-notch athletes are competing for
starting jobs at every position.
“It’s a luxury...we’ve quality
athletes two and three deep in most
cases who really want those
first-team jobs,” says Loomis.
“These people have the ability and
enthusiasm and desire. Practice
sessions just whiz by with this
group. They’re eager to learn and
in most cases it’s simply a matter of
telling them once. They seem to go
out and do the job right the first
time.’’
Tigers have some 40 varsity
members, followed by 11 prospec-
tive JVs, 20 sophomores and 22
freshmen. “We’re still expecting
more than two-dozen additional
players to report,” says Loomis.
“Some are still up north or working
here. We expect we’ll see most of
them by the end of the week.”
Tickets go
out Monday
Friday is the last day for holders
of season tickets to last year’s
football games to reclaim the same
seats for the 1984 season, reminds
Mercedes Athletic Director Mauro
Vasquez.
“Beginning Monday,” says the
AD, “all seats will go on sale to the
general public on a first-come,
first-served basis.”
Reserve seat tickets are priced
at $13.75 each, a savings over
purchases made on an individual
game basis.
Mercedes hosts La Feria,
First test for Tigers will be the
Orange and White scrimmage this
Saturday beginning with soph-
omores at 9 a.m. The Mercedes
coach says he and his staff will be
looking to run just “basic stuff”
offensively. “We want to see how
aggressive we are...how we’ll come
off the ball. We’ll throw some, run
the option plays. Defensively
there’ll be no special stuff. Just
seeing if we’re reading our keys
right and how quick our reaction
time will be.”
First practice sessions have
showed coaches that some lineup
shifts are proving to be correct
moves. Last year’s quarterback
Danny Cantu has been moved to
split-end and “he’s caught every-
thing thrown in his direction,” says
Loomis. John Guajardo, a tailback
on the ’83 team, has been moved to
ATHLETES WILL BENEFIT from an “ultra-sound and tetanizing
machine” donated to the Mercedes Athletic Department by the
Mercedes Booster Club. Costing some $1900, the machine, shown in
use above on varsity football end Albert Cabrera, utilizes sound
waves to create heat in body tissue, increasing circulation and aiding
healing. Administering the treatment is Assistant Coach Ubaldo
Pena. As an example of its usefulness, the machine will cut time for
treatment of ankle sprains from the present week to 14 days to three
days. It’s one more example, says Head Coach Bob Loomis, of the
generosity of the Booster Club, which last May presented $8000 in
scholarships to Mercedes athletes. [Mercedes Enterprise Photo.]
Rate hike seen
for school tax
Mercedes school trustees voted
unanimously Tuesday to adopt a
budget based on a projected local
tax rate of $1, up 25 percent from
the present .80, reported Super-
intendent Monte Churchill.
“We still do not have a certified
tax roll from the appraisal district,”
says Mr. Churchill, “so legally
trustees have not yet set the tax
rate. Projections made by Mario
Gracia, school business manager,
showed that the “hypothetical” tax
increase will bring in $120,000
additional local funds and will allow
the district to obtain $500,000 more
in state funding. That money is
needed to build additional class-
rooms in order to comply with the
new education reform bill and to go
ahead with plans to air condition
more of our schools.”
The board, as mandated by the
education bill, appointed the core of
two committees that will eventually
determine eligibility of- local
teachers for the career ladder
program. Named to the elementary
group were Mr. Churchill, Mrs.
Olivia Galvan, principal at West
Elementary, and' Mrs. Michaela
Solis, supervisor. Secondary com-
mittee members are Eliezer
Marroquin, MJHS principal; Israel
Garza, assistant superintendent;
and Brigido Lopez, MHS principal.
Each committee will name two
classroom teachers as members
before attempting to begin the task
of distributing some $200,000 to
local teachers who are eligible for
step two on the career ladder.
In .another teacher-related
action, the board agreed to give a
local stipend of $2,500 to teachers,
up from last year’s $1,500. This
move, together with the state pay
raise of $1,700, will provide $2,700
in additional pay across the board
for classroom teachers, said the
superintendent.
tight-end. “His strength and
quickness over there have really
impressed us,” says Loomis. Jesse
Contreras, at 6’3” and 180 pounds,
is also looking “sharp” at the TE
post, according to the coach.
“All our quarterbacks are
impressive,” says Loomis. “Rene
Guajardo has good quickness and
runs the veer really well. Arnold
Ramirez has been impressive and
Ronnie Adame really has shown he
has the mechanics of the spot down
to perfection. They’re all hard
workers.”
The runningback spots also
seem to be bright ones for this
Tiger bunch. “At fullback we have
all-district selection Herman Men-
doza, back from last year, who
looks trim and streamlined. He’ll
share some of the FB duties with
[Continued to Page 2.]
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The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 72, No. 33, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 15, 1984, newspaper, August 15, 1984; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1632069/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.