The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 6, 1998 Page: 1 of 26
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Mercedes, Texas 78570 Wednesday, May 6,1998
Volume 86
Number 18 Price 50c
Officials trumpet TAAS scores
School officials are elated at the
scores reported on February’s exit-
level TAAS tests, saying that they
reflect the renewed emphasis being
placed on individual student achieve-
ment.
They may also show the effect of
such extra efforts as administrators
and parents tutoring students one-on-
one on Saturday mornings.
“We’ve started a number of new to 74 percent this year; in reading, the
programs to improve student perfor- figures grew from 82 percent last year
mance, and we think their results are
seen in the latest scores,” says Dr.
Ismael Cantu, assistant superintendent
for instruction and curriculum.
Figures provided by the district
show that in the math portion of the
test, mastery increased from 67 per-
cent of those tested the previous year
OPPOSITION MUSTERS MAJORITY—That’s apparently the case after
Saturday’s school board elections, in which voters elected two members
of a three-man slate pledging to question status quo assumptions and
recent administrative decisions. Winners were sworn in at Tuesday’s
board meeting by the Hon. Judge Homer Salinas, as seen here, and
totals were: Eddie Howell, in upper photo, defeated Marie de Leon, 980
to 808 for the Place 5 seat; Ramiro Ramirez, just below, beat incumbent
Cecilia Ramirez, 917 to 859, for the Place 6 seat; and Alfredo “Fred”
Hinojosa, Jr., at bottom, retained his Place 7 seat, by an 899 to 874 total
(though a recount had been requested there and was to take place at
4 p.m. Wednesday. In re-organizing, board members elected (by
acclamation) Reynaldo Sandoval as president, Ramiro Ramirez as vice
president and Amado Garcia as secretary. (Enterprise Photos.)
to 85 percent this year; and in writing,
the percentage of students passing rose
from 89 to 90.
“We’re extremely pleased with the
scores,” Dr. Cantu continues. “In com-
parison with other schools in the Val-
ley, I would say we are scoring at the
same level—and in some cases higher
— as McAllen or Mission.
The scores are especially impres-
sive when compared with the scores
posted by the same students when
tested as eighth graders, points out
Superintendent Jesus Gandara. “The
amount of gain they achieved in two
years is tremendous. Reading scores
improved by 25 points and math scores
increased by 17 points. The greatest
area of improvement was in writing,
where the scores increased by 35
points.”
“The staff and students at the High
School are to be congratulated for this
remarkable achievement.”
“I wish to extend my personal ap-
preciation to you for the outstanding
efforts you have made in the education
of our students during the 1997-1998
school year,” Mr. Gandara wrote in a
letter to instructors. “It is through your
hard work, dedication, and working
together for the educational improve-
ment of our children, that our students
have achieved success.”
YOU BET READING IS FUN — Especially If
you can get someone in a crazy outfit to read
to you. Some 65 students at the Texas Migrant
Council Mercedes Headstart Center found
out about the joys of reading recently when
they were treated to the reading session and
given a free book each, through the Reading
is FUNdamental Book Distribution Program,
says School Staff Member Ruth Garcia.
Though the RIF distribution takes place twice
each year, it’s not always that such fun guest
readers (these were Betty and Florence,
retirees from Llano Grande Lake Park) come
along. The program is meant to instill in the
children a love of reading for pleasure and
learning. (Enterprise Photo.)
Owner assaulted in Triple HHH robbery
Investigation is continuing in the
case of a robbery and assault at Triple
HHH Mart Saturday night that left the
wife of Mercedes Mayor Miguel
Castillo, Jr. injured, reports Police In-
spector Jaime Vasquez.
Trine Castillo, the store’s owner,
was treated for a fractured arm and a
gash on the head, following the 11:30
p.m incident, the officer says.
Police responded to a 9-1-1 call
Ken Jones
to speak
at Prayer
Breakfast
Kenneth Jones, executive director
of the Rio Grande Valley Develop-
ment Council and lifelong member of
the First United Methodist Church of
Mercedes, will be guest speaker at the
Mercedes Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast,
Thursday morning.
The event—this is the 20th annual
—begins at 7 a.m. in the Parish Hall of
Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A con-
tinental breakfast will be served.
from the store, where they found Mrs. She said two young assailants had
Castillo bleeding from the head wound, entered the store as she was closing.
Sports Banquet nearing
Awards will be presented to the
top Mercedes High School athletes
next Wednesday, May 13 at the
Mercedes Athletic Booster Club’s
Annual All-Sports Banquet, reports
Club President Antonio Echavarria.
Most Valuable Players in each var-
sity sport will be named, and winners
will be announced for the Best All-
Around Male and Female Athlete
Awards, as well as for the Mercedes
Enterprise Danny Garcia Spirit Award.
Serving of take out plates will run
from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., with the
Banquet to begin at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the meal of sirloin butt,
rice and beans are $5. each, available
from any Booster Club member or any
student athlete.
All interested in support of Tiger
sports are invited to attend. President
Echavarria adds.
The event will take place in the
Mercedes Knights of Columbus Hall.
Club plans for summer
Local youngsters looking forward tion fee set at $10.
to summer should know that the A number of activities will be of-
Mercedes Boys and Girls Club has fered for a fee in addition to member-
posted Summer Program schedules. ship, and they will include swimming
Beginning Monday, June 1 and lessons, soccer camp, dance camp,
ending Friday, August 7, the club will basketball, tennis camp and many oth-
be open Monday through Friday from ers.
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for summer Children may be registered any
activities, say officials. time during regular club hours.
Children ages six through 18 are For more information, one should
welcome to participate, with registra- call the Club at 565-3033.
One began to beat her with a large
rock, while the other jumped the
counter and emptied the cash register.
Described as young men wearing la-
dies’ hose as masks, the two fled into
the wooded area to the west of the
store, the officer says.
Officers secured the area and be-
gan combing the tract, assisted by a
Border Patrol K-9 unit, but failed to
locate the perpetrators.
One of the two suspects, however,
was identified by the owner as one
who frequents the store and who had
been in that evening. The 12-year-old
suspect, who had been Mrs. Castillo’s
assailant, was taken into custody just
before noon on Monday, at school.
Two others, his brother and another
teen, were questioned and released at
the boy’s home.
The 12-year-old was remanded to
juvenile detention, charged with ag-
gravated robbery, a first degree felony,
the inspector says. Police failed to
recover any of the money taken, but
the investigation is continuing, with
an additional arrest expected.
“We would appreciate having any-
one with additional information in the
case call us,” the inspector says. The
number is 565-3102.
Library hosts storyteller
Widely renowned storyteller Larry
Sullivan will make an appearance in
Mercedes next week, for a special
children’s program at Mercedes Me-
morial Library, reports Librarian Maria
Elena Reyna.
Sullivan, of New York City, has
appeared previously at the library.
Mayor Miguel Castillo, Jr. and
members of the planning committee
invite all in the community to attend, •
adding that there is no admission fee. g
The Breakfast is conducted to pro-
mote greater understanding in thecom- 1
munity and to ask God’s divine guid-
ance in conducting the affairs of our
city, planners say.
Mr. Jones is by education and pro-
fession an observer of government,
and by temperament a man of strong
faith, planners say, making him “a
wonderfully appropriate choice to
speak on our topic, ‘God and Govern-
ment.’” I
The Breakfast is scheduled for the
first Thursday in May to combine the 1
event with the 47th Consecutive Ob-
during a fund-raising event conducted servance of the National Day of Prayer.
by the Friends of the Library.
The program begins at 10 a.m.,
next Tuesday, May 12. All are invited
and there is no admission charge.
Pet clinic Saturday
Another in a ’series of Half Price
Pet Vaccination Clinics will take place
Saturday, offered by Lend A Paw
Human Society in conjunction with
the City of Mercedes, organizers say.
The event will begin at 2 p.m. at
the Mercedes City Shop Parking Lot
located at 101 N. Ohio St. A $2 regis-
tration fee will charged per animal.
The cost for dog vaccinations will
be $5 for rabies, $6 for parvo and $6
for distemper 6 way combination.
Cats can get vaccinated for rabies
or feline distemper for $5 each.
Residents from all Valley cities are
welcome. Coupons for low cost spay/
neutering will be available.
For more information, one should
call Lend A Paw at 440-SPAY.
The National Day of Prayer Task Force,
a non-sectarian group with no political
affiliation, says “It is the right, privi-
lege and responsibility of citizens to
pray for America, its leaders and its
families.”
“As Americans pray together, we
find new strength and guidance from
God -- both as individuals and as a
nation,” says Shirley Dobson, Chair-
man of the National Day of Prayer
Task Force.
Since the Continental Congress
first declared a National Day of Prayer
in 1775, these events have become an
American tradition. “Five minutes can
make a world of difference when a
[Continued on Page 10.]
THEY’LL VISIT NATION’S CAPITAL — Mercedes
High School Close-Up Program participants will
soon be spending a week in Washington, D.C. as
part of their study of Democracy and American
government. The program, meant to assist new
citizens in gaining a better understanding of
government at the local, state and national level,
also involves a lesson in community service: the
student* have been collecting clothing for
donation to the Children’s Haven Orphanage in
Pharr. To leave May 10 for Washington D.C. are, in
front, from left, Alma Hernandez, Jesus Macias
and Samantha Gonzalez. In back, in same order,
are Sponsor Betty Cortez, Rosa Alvarez and Tania
Mendoza. (Enterprise Photo.)
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The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 6, 1998, newspaper, May 6, 1998; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1632209/m1/1/: accessed June 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.