The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 10, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 10, 1999 Page: 1 of 16
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Mercedes Area Newspapers and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.
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Citizen committees will meet at Phase II Kick Off Community Meeting Thursday
“Today and Tomorrow —
Goals for Mercedes” will be
the theme of a public meeting
this Thursday, reports Com-
munity Development Director
Jaime Ortiz. Hall. chairpersons and suggest
Billed as the “Phase II Kick The primary purpose of the projects and schedule activi-
Off Community Meeting,” the meeting is for committee mem- ties for the year.
session will begin at 6 p.m. in bers from seven committees to
Commission Chambers at City meet with their committee
The meeting is being spon-
sored by the Economic Devel-
opment Corporation of served.
Mercedes, the University of
Texas - Pan American and the
City of Mercedes.
Refreshments will be
Those wanting more infor-
mation should contact Bonnie
Emerson, Director of the EDC,
at 565-3114, ext. 143.
Fhe Mere
iter prise
Mercedes, Texas 78570 Wednesday, March 10,1999
Volume 87
Number 10 Price 50c
District settles suit; amount undisclosed
School board members met from Most significantly, it was an-
6:30p.m. Tuesday until 2 a.m. Wednes- nounced after closed session that the
day, spending most of the time in ex- district was settling its lawsuit with
ecutive session, reports Superinten- Morales-Best Hinojosa Architects,
dent Jesus Gandara.
Inc., the superintendent says.
Strangely, however, considering pub-
lic funds are involved, “There was a
gag order placed on the amount the
settlement,” the official says.
The lawsuit stems from the con-
Cover Girl Revue Saturday
Mercedes High School Junior Toni meeting people through her youth
Ramirez will be representing the Heart- group, and enjoys serving the commu-
land 4-H Club at the 60th Annual Rio nity. Her hobbies are communicating
Grande Valley Livestock Show Cover •
Girl Contest on Saturday, March 13. 1
The contest is the opening event of |
the 60th Annual Rio Grande Valley
Livestock Show, which gets under- |
way in earnest on Wednesday. |
Competition will take place at 7:30 |
p.m. in the former National Armory |
Building.
Presently, Miss Ramirez is the |
reigning Miss Mercedes, 1999. Her |
extra-curricular activities include Jun- |
ior Class Treasurer, Student Council, |
Heartland 4-H Club, World Geogra- |
phy Club, Pan-American Student Fo- |
rum, DECA Club, FFA (Future Farm- |
ers of America), Sacred Heart Catho- |
lic Church Youth Group, and as an
MHS Varsity Cheerleader and Junior 4
Varsity Soccer Team member. She is
also an Honor Roll Student. TONI RAMIREZ
She enjoys helping the needy and ...4-H candidate for crown
with people from all over the world
through the Internet, and also learning
about marine animals.
Her goals are to graduate from
Mercedes High School and attend the
University of Texas at Austin to earn a
doctoral degree in the field of Marine
Biology, and a major in Criminal Jus-
tice.
She is the 17-year-old daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ramirez, Sr.
The 1999 Cover Girl, Gail Joanne
Cappadona, the 17-year-old daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Cappadona, Jr.,
of Linn, will crown the new Cover
Girl.
Chairperson for the Cover Girl
Show Committee is Mrs. Sherri
Cherry. She is assisted by Mrs. Beth
Masso, Mrs. Laura McCutchen, Mrs.
Debbie Martin, Mrs. Mary Martin,
Mrs. Donna Schuster and Mrs. Marlee
Schwarz. Mrs. Frances Cooper is the
Director Liaison.
struction fiasco at Kennedy and Tay-
lor Elementary some five years ago.
In other action out of executive
session, the superintendent was au-
thorized to negotiate for the purchase
of real estate on behalf of the district;
personnel matters were approved; and
five high school students were re-
manded to the Alternative Academy.
Items posted on the agenda, but not
acted upon after closed session in-
cluded: dispute over delinquent attor-
ney fees, and report on board member
reprimanding student at Travis El-
ementary.
Parent LindaMay Vierra appeared
before the board to request an exemp-
tion from the uniform policy for her
daughter. She presented a 16-page jus-
tification for her request, which she
said she brought on the grounds of
“philosophical and religious objec-
tions.”
The trustees turned the matter over
the district’s attorney for review.
Little League
tryouts will
run Saturday
O
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEEK CELEBRATED — Mercedes public schools
observed Texas Public Schools Week last week with open houses on
each campus. Scenes here show: at top, Valeria Martinez demonstrates
her knowledge for her guest, directed by Computer Lab Manager Janie
Zavala, standing; just below, Taylor Elementary Instructor Christina
Dominguez, at right, talks about Jennifer Reyna’s progress with her
mother, Melly; and at bottom, Instructor Abby Barrientes, left, discusses
Crystal Lozano’s progress in bilingual studies with her guest, also at
Taylor School. (Enterprise Photos.)
Commissioner Serna seeks post
Saying she is proud to be part of
the present city “team,” Diana R. Serna
has announced her intention to seek
her first full term as a city commis-
sioner.
The official was elected without
opposition to her seat a year and a half
ago, to fulfill the unexpired term of
• former Commissioner Roy de Leon.
“We have a strong team on the City
Commission and I feel very proud to
be part of this team,” die commis-
sioner said in announcing. “I want the
residents of Mercedes to know that I
have worked hard to do what is best for
our city.
“Every action I have taken was
( made to provide our citizens with what
they deserve,” she says, “a better com-
munity for all.” Taxpayers can feel
confident, she adds, that their tax dol-
lars are being put to good use.
“I feel very fortunate to have served
the community of Mercedes these past
17 months," the official continues.
“The administration has guided the
City Commission in making good
sound judgements, which benefits all
of us.”
Grant dollars and interlocal agree-
ments with Precinct 1 allowed the op-
portunity to provide the city with much
needed infrastructure improvements,
she continues, pointing out street and
drainage improvements are underway
at present across Mercedes.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts de-
gree in Political Science from Pan
American University in 1983, and has
16 years of local government employ-
ment. After serving a one year intern-
ship with the City of McAllen, she
worked for five years in the City of
Pharr. That was followed by a six-year
stint with the County of Hidalgo Ur-
ban County Program.
For the last five years, she has
DIANA R. SERNA
...runs for commission
J served the City of Harlingen as Com-
munity Development Coordinator.
She is also a former member of
the Mercedes Planning and Zoning
Commission, for six years, the
Mercedes Board of Adjustments, for
another six years, and she has mem-
bership with the National Community
Development Association and Our
Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.
She is married to Leopoldo “Polin”
Serna, son of the late Leonso and Luisa
Serna.
Offering her experience and ser-
vice to citizens, the commissioner
promises “to continue working to-
gether For continuous progress for
Mercedes.”
This Saturday is the day for tryouts
for all Little League ballplayers new
to their league.
“The tryouts are for anyone mov-
ing to a new level,” says a spokesman,
“say from T-Ball to minor league, or
from minors to major league.”
Also to have tryouts are new play-
ers in the girls’ minor, major and se-
nior softball leagues.
The only league not affected is T-
ball, in which players will be assigned
to teams by draft.
In addition, all coaches need to be
present for the team selection process.
Tryouts begin at 10 a.m. at the
Little League ballpark on Hidalgo
Street.
MHS golfers
take first at
tournament
Eddie Hernandez led Tiger golfers
to a championship trophy at the
Mercedes Varsity Golf Tournament
conducted last weekend at the Mid-
Valley Golf Course, reports Coach
David Garcia.
The boys’ team shot a 331 to take
the title out a 10-team field.
Individual scores were Hernandez,
79; Steven Closner, 80; David
Aguillon, 82; Adrian Gonzales, 90;
and Gilbert Gonzalez, 95.
Individual competitors’ scores in-
cluded Juan Garay, 104, and Jose
Aldape, 112, while girls’ team scores
were Adriana Gonzales, 96; Elizabeth
Estrada, 111; and Becky Flores, 115.
The individual scores of Eddie,
Steven and Adriana earned tliem the
first, second and third place honors.
JTPA jobs available
to Mercedes youth
JTPA Summer Programs for
Mercedes Junior High and High School
students will be available starting June
1.
The programs will run between six
and eight weeks for students who are
JTPA certified by May 1. Students
will earn minimum wage, which is
currently $5.15 per hour, by partici-
NAMED TO ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS - MHS Tiger basketball pating in one of the programs.
players above were selected for All-District teams at the end of The programs available will be the
the recent season. They are, from left, Carlos A. Reyes, given Work Experience, Vocational Exp1o-
and Honorable Mention; Patrick M. Feeney, named to the All- ration Education Program (VEEP),
District Second Team; and Gabriel D. Cortez, earning an Summer TAAS, and Commercial
Honorable Mention. (Enterprise Photo.) Spanish.
Certification will take place March
15, between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the
JTPA Weslaco office for all Mercedes
area youth. The office is located at 626
N. Texas in Weslaco, across from
Payless Shoe Store.
Parents are urged to assist students
To put street work on hold
Not wanting to disrupt Stockshow
traffic with street construction, city
officials are suspending work in the
in submitting all necessary documen- ongoing street improvement program
tation at the time of certification.
Mercedes should receive about 175
slots for certified students.
For further information, one can
call 514-2110 and ask for Mr. Robert
Perez, Jr., JTPA Coordinator at
Mercedes High School.
until after the show, reports Commu-
nity Development Director Jaime
Ortiz.
“Crews will finish up what they
have started on Third and Fourth Street
this week,” the official says. “No other
projects will be undertaken until after
the Stockshow.”
He adds that the new lighting go-
ing in on North Texas Avenue (to
match what has been installed on South
Texas) will also be complete by
showtime.
He reminds citizens to heed warn-
ing signs in construction areas, and
asks their patience while work is being
completed.
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The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 10, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 10, 1999, newspaper, March 10, 1999; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1632251/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.