The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 101, No. 5, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 4, 2009 Page: 2 of 16
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Page 2 -- Mercedes Enterprise
mercedesenterprise@sbcglobal.net
Mercedes, Texas 78570 Wednesday, February 4,2009
The Merced
interprise
The Second Front Page
Columns, Features, LETTERS
From My Perspective...
Superintendent’s Corner
Walter M. Watson
Superintendent
Mercedes Public Schools
There are many exciting ac- pouring of concrete founda- building permit, not the school
tivities going on in the country, tions until a building permit district.
state, and right here in “Good was issued.” KRGV: “A construction
Ole” Mercedes, Texas. Wilson proceeded to work crew began working on the
I am going to call this edi- on the foundation pad and did foundation at the beginning of
tion of the Corner “In Spite indeed keep the underground December...”
of.......” plumbing and electrical lines MISD: With permission (
In spite of all the projec- open. Sam Sorter, project from the City of Mercedes
tions, predictions, and the manager for D. Wilson Con- well before start of the proj-
“nay-sayers” in the country, struction, stated to Mr. Garcia ect....
we have our first ever African- “that due to the delay of not KRGV: “...all without a
American President of the being able to pour concrete, permit to make sure the proper
United States. their earthwork subcontrac- codes and procedures are fol- @
by Duke Martell
Yellow Ribbons/ Yearning was here to send a package to else that I know has somebody Not only did he win by a tor was able to concentrate lowed.”
Memories Iraq ... minutes of each other, serving in the armed forces of landslide, he also had the most on the entire site and that the MISD: “The architect and
I spoke to the lady and told this country,’ watched and attended Inau- project as a whole wound- engineers are documenting the
Several weeks ago I had to her about the young man, the Sadly gazing off into the guration Ceremonies ever in up being one week ahead of work on-site; the City of Mer-
speak with the city’s mayor previous customer whose thinness of air, my thoughts United States History, schedule.” cedes has been kept informed
pro- tem so I went over to his mother is also stationed over were interrupted when he His first day in office, he The annexation of the prop- by the general contractor, the
business office located here in in Iraq and I told her about the asked, “Do you have someone matched his predecessors erty was tabled by City of Mer- school district, and the archi-
Mercedes. gift that I had sent to the young in the military, Duke?” work load for the first month cedes staff this on Tuesday, tect / engineer.”
The mayor pro-tem wasn’t man’s mother. Ijoinedmy hands in a show- and for some the first year. The Jan. 20, due to staff learning KRGV: “Construction
there yet, so I had to wait for I introduced myself and ing of spiritual strength and man took the job to do the job. late that afternoon of a rider crews have been hard at work
him. For some reason at that the lady asked me, “Are you replied, “Yeah, yeah I sure do; In spite of the economy be- attached to an annexation law for more than a month, install-
particular time of day there related to Coach Martell?” I my grandson Gabe, who is jng on a downfall, his eco- passed by the State of Texas ing rebar and preparing to lay
were many customers at his told her that he was my older only 19. nomic stimulus approach is in May of 2008, which allows the foundation for the upcom-
making many Americans feel owners of agricultural tracts ing elementary school.”
that there is a light at the end to opt out of the annexation MISD: “For 98% of the
of this tunnel. Right now, he is process. In complying with work in said month, earthwork
the best person we can have in the measure, the information has been excavated and lifts
the White House. must be posted for ninety days placed; the rebar was tied and
business, but nonetheless I had brother, then she told me, “My
to speak with him, so I had to name is Amanda Lee Esparza |
wait. and my husband’s name is |
While I was there, I couldn’t Abel Esparza. Your brother is |
help overhearing a young man a good friend of my husbands’ |
talking to the secretary about family over on Mile 3 just east
the package he was about to
send. From what little con-
versation I overheard, it was
my understanding that he
was sending something to his
mother, who is stationed over
in Iraq.
I sort of came into the con-
versation, when the secretary
pointed in my direction and
told the young man, “He is
standing over there.” I ap-
proached the counter and
asked the young man if he
wanted to speak to me.
While waiting at the coun-
of Rio Rico Road.”
PV-2 Abel Esparza
“Are you from Mercedes?”
I asked her. The lady replied,
ter, the young man had been “Yes, we are both from here
reading my patriotic, poetic and we also live over on Mile
composition, “Let Her Fly” 3, close to my in-laws. My
which hangs in a frame there husband’s parents are Rosa
at Dependable Office Systems and Andres Esparza. We have
-- it has been there since their two beautiful little girls, San-
grand opening ceremony. I dy Lee and Harley Mae.”
gave it to the commish as a “So, how long has your
small gesture of our friend- husband been over in Iraq,” I
ship. askedher.
The young man then told “He has been in the service
me about his mother, who since 2006,” she said. “He had
has been in Iraq for about already been in Iraq before;
five years, now. Today he was the first time he was there for
sending her some items and he nine months and this time he
asked me if I could give him will be stationed there for a
a copy of my patriotic com- year.”
position. “I’ll tell you what As she conducted her busi-
I’m going to do, son,” I said, ness at the counter, I told her
“I’m going to sign it for your that I would like to send her
mother, as a small gesture of husband a little gift from me
friendship.” And so, with pen
in hand, I signed it... To Celia
G. Rangel from DUKE MAR-
TELL. We shook hands and
the contented young man bid
me good-by.
By the time the young man
had left, the commish, Leon-
ard Garcia, had already arrived
so I went into his office. The
first thing he said to me was,
“You know, Duke, that small
gesture as you call it, is going
to mean a lot to his mother. All
our soldiers, especially those
overseas need to know that we
care about them and that we
are very proud of them.”
I looked at the commish
and replied, “Well, Leonard,
when the soldiers read those
inspiring words which I have
written about Old Glory, and
when they see The American
Flag flying over there on that
foreign soil, it all kind ofbinds
together. You might not know
it, commish, but that is not the
first copy of “Let Her Fly” that
has been sent overseas.”
Mr. Garcia replied, “It won’t
be the last.”
My loyal readers, I hadn’t
been there for more than a
half hour when a young lady
walked in, who also wanted to
send a package to Iraq. Call it
a coincidence, I don’t know,
nonetheless another person
In spite of the stronghold before annexing can approved,
that the current Governor of “Anticipating that the City
Texas has, we will have a might face a delay, D. Wil-
choice for Governor this com- son Construction obtained a
ing election. As U.S. Senator building permit, Thursday,
(TX) Kay Bailey Hutchinson January 22nd and was al-
assembled on the jobsite in
order to save time (it can be
done off-site), the actual in-
stallation of the rebar occurred
in the last three days; all of this "
with permission from the City
of Mercedes (as long as no
Lance Corporal
Gabe Martell
“He is the son of my first perry in the Texas Republican foundation for the west half ered-up),” said Hector Garcia,
born, Gene Martell, Jr. My Primary. The Senator is very of the classroom wing, as KRGV: “We spoke with
grandson enlisted in the ma- well known throughout the long as it was inspected by an inspector for the Hidalgo
rines just after graduating state of Texas as well as the the structural engineer, Hi- County Planning Office and
from high school in College Rio Grande Valley. It is always nojosa Engineering, prior to he tells us that there is an ap-
Station, Texas. He started his good to have a choice. the pour,” stated Hector Gar- plication that is being filed
military service in San Di- In spite of the attempt by a cia, Project Architect. right now for construction out
ego, California then I believe former Mercedes City Coun- Albert Trevino of Hinojosa here....”
he went to Hawaii and from oilman to stop the construction Engineering conducted the MISD: Once the City of
there he was sent to Iraq. He’s of the new North Elementary required inspection last Thurs- Mercedes removed the an-
been over there for about six School on north highway 491, day morning. He found that nexation from Tuesday night’s
months, now.” foe project is well underway this area contained no under- agenda, the general contractor, O
“Forgive me if I was gazing and will meet the deadline ground plumbing or electrical as he should have done im-
off, it’s just that I was recall- established by the parties in- lines and therefore complied, mediately began the process
ing when my son Jacinto was volved. with the request made earlier to obtain the building permit
stationed in California, during And in spite of Channel by the City of Mercedes that from the County of Hidalgo.
Operation Desert Storm. Like 5 News and reporter Eddie no underground plumbing or KRGV: We learned the ap-
my grandson, Jacinto was only Flores, who have chosen not to electrical work was covered plication for the permit was •
19. listen to our explanation of the before their own inspectors re- just turned in to the fire mar-
“I still recall when he was miscalculation made by one viewed the installation. shal’s office this afternoon.
called upon to serve. On the person, we do have faith in the So, in spite of what you saw MISD: “The application
day that he eft with all the great community of Mercedes. on Channel 5 News, or read in was submitted to the Hidalgo
other soldiers, I tied a yellow Here is the true story of the newspapers, the D. Wilson County Planning Office of
ribbon around the big old tree the North Elementary School Construction obtained a build- which the planning office and
in front of our yard and as Project. ing permit, Thursday, Jan. 22 the fire marshal’s office are
my hands trembled with the The Chief Architect of the and was allowed, by the Coun- the two entities to review the
ribbon which my wife had project, Hector Garcia said ty of Hidalgo, to pour the con- plans and specifications.”
bought, I tried to hold back my that, “The City of Mercedes crete foundation for the west The bottom line is, that in
tears, so my wife wouldn’t see. allowed the general contrac- half of the classroom wing, as spite of these false claims;
And as I tied the ribbon, softly tor, D. Wilson Construction, to long as it was inspected by the and the news media failure
has announced that she will
run against Governor Rick
Perry in the Texas Republican
lowed, by the County of Hi-
dalgo, to pour the concrete underground utilities are cov-
and I showed her a copy of I prayed to The Almighty . . . begin earthwork as a courtesy structural engineer, Hinojosa to listen and report what was
“Let Her Fly” and after she “he is in your hands my GOD, t0 the Mercedes I. S. D. and Engineering, prior to the pour, said the way MISD and the
read it, she said her husband I trust in You; bring him back the general contractor. This We are very proud to say project folks actually said it,
would really appreciate it, so safe and whole, the way you procedure, partial permits, is that to date, D. Wilson Con- the school will be built and
I signed it for her. She smiled first gave him to us.” frequently allowed by munici- struction has followed all of it will be safe. Most of my e
then told me, “When this “His mother and I were palities during the time docu- the appropriate means, meth- statements were cut and key
poem becomes very famous, younger then, stronger too, but ments to register the project ods, etc. that the general con- words and sentences were
Mr. Martell, it will be worth a our faith was even greater, and are being filed and processed.” tractor is required to adhere to changed to make us look like
lot more because of your sig- we put our son in the hands of He continued his explana- in such a project. we were doing something we
nature.” I smiled and told her, Almighty GOD. Just as we did tion with the statement that Some of the statements shouldn’t have done. Noth-
“If it is The Lord’s will, so be back then for our son, we also "as one city official informed made by Channel 5 News that ing could be further from •
it." did the same for our grandson us several years ago, it is are being disputed are: the truth.
Mrs. Herrera also told me Gabe Martell. certainly allowable, it is defi- KRGV: “Tonight, a new el- lam sincerely Grateful To
that her husband Abel was This time I. told my son nitely not illegal.” ementary school is going up Hector Garcia, Architect of
with the First Batallion, Eighth Gene, to do what we did; ‘pon- Mr. Garcia also wrote, “The in Mercedes,. but we found the North Elementary School
U.S. Cavalry. After successful
completion of more than 50
missions, Abel was awarded
his Combat Spurs of honor on
Dec. 29 of 2007.
GOD bless you, Mr. Espar-
za, and may the force be with
lo en las manos de Dios, place City of Mercedes did instruct
him in the hands of God,’ there D. Wilson Construction not
can be no greater comfort than to proceed with covering-up
knowing that The Lord is with of underground utilities or
him, while in harm’s way.”
The commish looks at me
and replied, “You’re a man
you. I know your entire family of tremendous faith, Duke.” I
misses you and loves you very got up to leave then told him,
much. Their prayers are with “As long as our loved ones
you, always. are somewhere far away serv-
After Mrs. Herrera had left ing this great country, I can
the commish and I went to his assure you that yellow rib-
office where we continued the bons will be tied on trees and
discussion. “You know, Leon- those of us who miss them
ard,” I said. “When I think of will cling to precious memo-
all our troops who are over- ries, while yearning for their
seas serving our country and return. GOD bless our troops
all the lives that are affected and GOD bless America.” The
. . . sons, husbands, brothers, commish, Leonard Garcia re-
fathers, relatives and friends, plied, “Amen.”
the figures are astronomical. I
know you have two sons in the
military and almost everyone
Praise The Lord
A Servant of His,
DUKE MARTELL
out the school district does not Project.
have a permit to build it.”
MISD: The general contrac-
tor applies for and receives a
Walter N. Watson, MISD
Superintendent
Mer cedes Enterprise DISTRIB ution SITES
* Ten-Ten Grocery
* Triple H Mart
* Emilio’s Grocery
* Stripes
* Domingo’s Restaurant
* Mercedes Chuckwagon
* Texas Taco Mart
* Tiger Lane Drive Thru
* T-Mart
* Coach’s Pharmacy
* Papa Joe’s Cafe
* Don Beto’s Restaurant
MERCEDES Enterprise STAFF
Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 A.M.- Noon, 1-5 P.M. Friday 9 a.m. - Noon
Olga Hinds - Publisher
Richard Hinds - Writer
Clarissa Martinez - Writer, designer
Amy Torres - Office manager
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The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 101, No. 5, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 4, 2009, newspaper, February 4, 2009; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1655752/m1/2/: accessed June 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.