The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 31, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 5, 1998 Page: 1 of 32
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Ihe Merce
TH
Mercedes, Texas 78570 Wednesday, August 5,1998
Volume 86
Number 31 Price 50c
Football
tickets to
go on sale
TEA's grade card
says improvement
seen across MISD
It’s time to start gearing up for
Tiger football — you can tell by the
start of two-a-day workouts and the
opening of sales of season football
tickets.
Last year’s ticket holders can buy
the tickets for their seats between next
Monday, August 10 and Friday, Au-
gust 21, at the ticket office at the MHS
Fieldhouse.
Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30
a.m. and from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.,
weekdays.
Those unable to make purchases in
person can send in their request with a
check or money order payable to MHS
Athletic Department, 1200 South
Florida, Mercedes.
Remaining reserved seat tickets
will go on sale to the general public on
Monday, August 24.
Price is $20 per ticket, providing
seats at the five home games this sea-
son.
Those games are: September 4
against La Feria; September 11 against
Weslaco (for Parents’ Night); October
2 against Edcouch-Elsa; October 16
against Sharyland; and October 30
against Roma (for Homecoming).
High school toowall and volley-
ball athletes are reminded that pre-
season workouts began Wednesday,
with varsity and TV football teams
practicing at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., and
freshmen at 4 p.m., and volleyball
team members meeting from 4 p.m to
6 p.m. for varsity and JV, and from 9
a.m. to 11:30 a.m for freshmen. —
First football scrimmage is on the
road to PSJA North, August 21.
DEBONNAIRES PICK UP WHERE
THEY LEFT OFF — The newest
edition of the MHS Debonnaire Drill
Team is continuing in the tradition
of excellence set by those who
preceded them. Numerous high
6
receiving invitations to perform at
Boosters
ready for
new year
Members of the Mercedes Athletic
Booster Club re-elected last year’s slate
• of officers during an organizational
meeting, Monday night, reports re-
elected President Tonv Echavarria.
Public school officials are report-
ing significant improvement in every
category that the Texas Education
Agency uses to judge district perfor-
mance.
Taylor Elementary was declared a
“Recognized Campus” on the TEA’s
latest grade card, and two other cam-
a pus missed recognition by less than
one-half of one percentage point.
“I’m extremely pleased with our
■ test scores,” says Superintendent Jesus
■ Gandara. “It’s disappointing, though,
I to miss earning greater recognition by
such atiny margin.”
The superintendent received noti-
fication Monday of the district and
Jasmine Ramirez, Emma Flores,
Yvette Aguilar, Marie Lopezand Sonia
both the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day
Parade in New York City and the Lopez. Capt. Trevino was namedMiss
Cotton Bowl Half-timeShowin Dallas Showmaker Runner-UpandMicUih
were Analisa Trevino, Nancy Martinez,
Showmaker Runner-Up and Miss H igh
Kick Finalist. (Enterprise Photo.)
honors were earned by group "
members at annual Line Camp, as
well as by officers attending Officer
Camp. The latter ran June 2-5 at the
University of Texas - San Antonio.
Attending were, in front in photo at
right, Second Lt. Emma Flores, left,
and Capt. Ana Lisa Trevino. In back,
from left, are First Lt. Jasmine
Ramirez, Co-Capt. Nancy Martinez
and Third Lt. Yvette Aguilar. Ana
Lisa, Jasmine, Nancy and Yvette all
received superlative medals. The
girls brought home 11 ribbons for
superior performances, two Most i
Spirited plaques, and a |
Sweepstakes Trophy. Debon naires |
campus accountability ratings assessed
by TEA on the 1998 Accountability
Report. “I am pleased to say that stu-
dent performance improved district-
wide during the 1997-98 school year,”
he says.
The report shows that overall dis-
trict attendance improved to 96.4 per-
cent, the drop-out rate was below the
state level at 2.4 percent, and TAAS
scores improved by — a noteworthy
— 5.5 percentage points.
In addition, the number of students
taking college admissions test exempt-
ing them from the TASP test increased,
he says.
He will report the accountability
ratings in detail to the school board at
next week’s regular meeting.
“I am very pleased with the strong
effort made by teachers and adminis-
trators to enhance the educational lev-
els of our students,” Mr. Gandara says.
“Continued efforts to develop and
implement the many initiatives started
this year will greatly enhance student
I achievement during the coming school
I year.
“I am equally impressed with the
level of student achievement reported
for each campus,” he continues. “Tay-
lor Elementary School posted the great-
est improvement on the TAAS test and
has earned the distinction of being a
‘Recognized’ campus.
“Two additional campuses,
Kennedy and Travis Elementaries,
would have received recognized sta-
tus if one more student from the eco-
nomically disadvantaged student sub-
group at Travis had passed the writing
portion of the test.”
Due to new standards set this year
by TEA, each sub population of stu-
dents must achieve an 80 percent pass-
ing rate, he explains. Fourth grade
students at Travis Elementary received
a score of 79.54 percent among their
economically disadvantaged student
population.
Kennedy Elementary, Graham El-
ementary, Mercedes Junior High
School and Mercedes High School
earned “Acceptable” ratings on this
year’s accountability reports.
“The truth of the matter is that we
were very close to achieving 50 per-
cent recognition in this district,” he
says. “Our game plan for the coming
year is to get every school recognized.
Every staff member is aware of that,
and everyone is working toward that.”
“The community can be pleased
with our accomplishments,” he con-
tinues. “Teachers are excited about
the new approaches that will contrib-
ute to additional improvements."
The superintendent also reports the
appointment of Clarissa de la Cerda as
librarian at West Elementary, and the
naming of Barbara Hinojosa as assis-
tant principal at Taylor and Graham
Elementaries.
Flag football sign-up
will start next week
attending the Showmakers of
America Line Camp, July 8-10 at
Alsu tv continue in their posts are Donna High School, are seen above,
Vice President George Cardenas, Trea- and they are, in front, in same order,
surer Millie Trevino and Secretary Emma Flores, Nancy Martinez, Ana
Marv Cano Lisa Trevino and Jasmine Ramirez.
y In middle row are Yvette Aguilar,
It was announced that deadline for Maria Morales, Elida Fiores and
announcements in this year’s football Marie Lopez. In back are Patty
programs will be August 28. Villarreal, Ronica Jackson, Sonia
• Lopezand Laura Bowman. The team
The group meets each Monday earned the Sweepstakes Trophy
night at 6:30 p.m. in Beto's Restaurant and received Outstanding
Number One. All interested in Recognition fortheir Home Routine
Mercedes public school athletics are and as Most Disciplined Team,
invited to take part. Qualifying as All-Star Dancers and
Registration for the Mercedes
Youth Flag Football League will take
place next week, reminds League Di-
rector Jesse Trevino.
Sign up will take place August 15
and 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the
Mercedes Knights of Columbus Hall.
The registration will be for boys
who will be in the first through the
sixth grades this fall. A $15 fee must
I be paid during registration and a par-
| ent must accompany the youngster. A
j late registration fee will be charged to
those registering after these dates.
There will be a cut-off once a limit
of 48 boys is reached in each of the
| three divisions: first and second, third
| -and fourth, and fifth and sixth grades.
Registration will be done on a first
Mercedes VFD collects for MDA
Mercedes Volunteer Firefighters
will join other Valley firemen this
month to help raise funds for the Rio
Grande Valley Chapter of the Muscu-
lar Dystrophy Association.
The firefighters will take to the
streets at various locations through
August 29 and will wave their depart-
Schools to feed all
All children attending Mercedes
Independent School District will be
receiving meals at no charge through
the 1998-1999 school year, reports
Cynthia Cardenas, Child Nutrition
Services Director.
All children will receive free lunch
and breakfast regardless of income or
family size, she says. Additional serv-
ings may be purchased at moderate
prices at all school cafeterias.
All children are treated equally
regardless of ability to pay. In the
operation of the Child Nutrition Pro-
grams, no child will be discriminated
against because of race, color, reli-
gion, sex, handicap, age, or national
origin.
Questions regarding the Child
Nutrition Programs should be directed
to Mrs. Cardenas at 514-2037.
Pet clinic Saturday
Another in a series of Half-Price
) Pet Vaccination Clinics has been
scheduled for this Saturday by the
Lend-a-Paw Humane Society in con-
junction with the City of Mercedes.
The clinic will run from 2 p.m. to 3
p.m. at the Mercedes City Shop Park-
ing lot, 101 N. Ohio Street.
Dog vaccination fees are $5 for
rabies, $6 for parvo, and $6 for distem-
per six-wav combination, while cat
vaccination fees are $5 for rabies and
$5 for feline distemper.
A $2 registration fee will also be
charged for each animal. Coupons for
low cost spay/neutering will be avail-
able.
Residents from all Valley cities are
ment-issued rubber boots at passers-
by, asking them for donations in the
“Fill the Boot” Program.
Last year, Valley members of the
fire service raised over $41,000, which
was presented on the MDA Jerry Lewis
Labor Day Telethon, viewed on
KGBT-TV.
Members of the fire service were
the first nationwide group to partner
with the Muscular Dystrophy Asso-
ciation in 1954. The fire fighters’ cru-
sade has escalated in recent years to
become the largest fund-raising event
for MDA in this area.
Monies raised through “Fill the
Boot” and other special events to ben-
efit MDA help the local chapter sup-
port the MDA Valley Patient Clinic,
purchase equipment and sponsor the
MDA Summer Camp for young people
ages six through 12 diagnosed with
one of the 40 neurosmuscular diseases
covered by the Association.
To learn more about the service
available to people with
neurosmuscular disease, with no
“means test” applied; to become a
volunteer; or to sponsor a special event
for your local Chapter of Muscular
welcome, and those who want more Dystrophy Association, one can con-
information are invited to call Lend- tact the district office at (956) 412-
A-Paw at 440-SPAY. 8797.
BENGAL STAFF ATTENDS WORKSHOP — Mercedes High
School’s Bengal yearbook staff members participated in the
Fifth Annual Jostens Yearbook Workshop, July 20-22 at the
Harlingen Public Library. Participants included Suzie Sanchez,
left, Yearbook Staff member, Noemi Ramirez, center, Head Bengal
Photographer, and Yearbook Instructor Gail Brandt. Not pictured
is Monique Fuentes. The students received certificates for their
completion of 24 hours of instruction, while Mrs. Brandt was
awarded a “Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding
Performance” for meeting all yearbook deadlines for the 1998
yearbook. That honor was bestowed at an advisor appreciation
banquet on April 27. (Enterprise Photo.)
come, first served basis.
Texas Flag Football is a game for
boys in the first through sixth grades.
Players wear belts with attached flags.
A player is “down” when his flag has
been taken by an opponent. It is the
safest of all youth team games. The
structure of the league allows for ev-
ery player on the team to handle the
ball. Flag football is regarded by pro-
fessional football coaches as the best
“first step” into the game of football.
Players have the opportunity to learn
the rules and gain experience in learn-
ing how to become a “team player.”
Teams are formed using the Zone 1
or Neighborhood method. Players liv-
ing near each other are put on the same
team. This reduces the amount of travel
and allows for practice to be conducted
closer to the player’s homes, the direc-
tor says. It also helps the development
of players to be on the same team with
their neighbors.
Among other rules:
• Teams are formed into three divi-
sions: first and second grades, third
and fourth, and fifth and sixth.
• Each team has nine to 12 players
on the team.
• The game is divided into four 10*
minute quarters. i.
• The team on the field is com-
posed of eight players, five linemen in -
a balanced line and three backfield'
players.
• The eight players on the field
play the entire quarter, botn offense"
and defense. -
• A new player plays quarterback *
during each quarter and during the a
season every player on the team must''
play quarterback for one full quarter.:
He can line up under the center or in a it
shotgun formation.
• No pl ayer can play in the backfield
more than two combined quarters dur- *
ing the game.
• Substitution during the quartet is '
not allowed except for an injury.
• The quarterback handles all kick-
ing duties, punting, kickoffs and extra
points. All kicks are “free kicks” with *
other special provisions.
• Every player must play a mini-
mum of two full quarters.
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The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 31, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 5, 1998, newspaper, August 5, 1998; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1632222/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.