Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 82, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 5, 1995 Page: 4 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Rio Grande City Public Library.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
RIO CiRANDE HERALD-Thursday, January 05, 1994, Page 4
Eventful
Continued from Page 1
school officials attended the
festivities, as well as State Senator
Judith Zaffirini and McAllcn Mayor
Othal Brand. Brand was the featured
speaker at a special noonday
luncheon.
The most important decision
faced by the aldermen was the
selection of a City Administrator.
A screening committee which
included two aldermen as well as
several prominent citizens was set
up to provide help in the search and
review process.
Aldermen select City
Administrator
By late September, the aldermen
voted to approve the committee's
recommendation that the field be
narrowed down lo five finalists. At
a special meeting in October, the
aldermen voted 2-1 to narrow the
field so that only three finalists
would actually be interviewed.
The aldermen wound up
interviewing the following three
finalists: Jose A. Escamilla of
McAllen, Kendall Moss of Austin
and Mark Todd of Lake Worth,
Texas.
On Thursday evening, Nov. 3,
the aldermen voted unanimously
after an executive session of
approximately 30 minutes to name
Escamilla as Rio Grande City's first
City Administrator. Escamilla was
City Manager of McAllcn from
1983 to 1992 and was Assistant
City Manager there from 1975 to
1983.
The aldermen predicted that
Escamilla's many years of
experience with a booming city
such as McAllen as well as his
contacts at the state, national and
international levels will enable Rio
Grande City to reap many economic
benefits and improve the quality of
life for local residents in the
coming years.
Escamilla was officially sworn in
on Nov. 17. The aldermen approved
a two-year employment contract for
Escamilla that will be in effcct
through Nov. 16, 1996. Holly
Guerrero was also sworn in as City
Secretary. The aldermen had named
her to the position on Nov. 3.
Throughout the year, aldermen
stressed the importance of moving
forward on such matters as police
protection and street improvements.
Late in the year, the aldermen and
county officials agreed to work on
interlocal agreements on such
matters between the two entities.
In the year's third ranking story,
RGCCISD Superintendent Ruben
Saenz announced that he would be
retiring effective Dec. 31, 1994
after almost three years as the
district's educational leader.
Saenz declared his intention to
retire in a Sept. 2 letter to the board
of trustees. He further explained his
decision in a Sept. 14 letter to all
RGCCISD personnel.
In announcing his planned
retirement, Saenz declared his
conviction that the district "is
moving in the direction it needs to
move. A combined effort by many
people has enabled this district to
move in the right direction."
Saenz indicated, "Many of the
educational goals I set for myself
and the district have been
successfully met. The district has
made significant educational
progress during the last two and
a-half years."
Saenz indicated that he felt
satisfied with the district's direction
and what had been achieved during
his tenure as superintendent. He
declared that he would continue to
work hard for the educational
improvement of the district through
Dec. 31.
Members of the board of trustees,
including president Elov R. Garcia,
commcndcd Saenz for his record as
superintendent and wished him the
best for the future. The board
president declared, "When he first
came here, he indicated he would be
here for two to three years. He
staled his expectations and goals
and did a very good job of fulfilling
them. This decision was expected."
With his retirement, Saenz ended
a 32-year career with the RGCCISD
which included 19 years as principal
of Rio Grande City High School.
On Dec. 22, the trustees voted,
with five affirmative votes and two
abstentions, to name Joel F.
Salinas as the district's interim
superintendent. Salinas has been the
district's Federal Program Director
for die past 14 years.
Trustees indicated dial the search
for a permanent superintendent
would begin in earnest in January,
with hope of choosing a new
educational leader by the end of the
1994-95 school year.
In other district events, the
RGCCISD received some good
news in May when it was noted
that the district's scores in all three
areas of the TAAS test had shown
major improvement from 1993.
This was more Uian enough to
restore the district to full
accreditation status.
The district had been lowered to
"Accredited, Warned" in September
1993 because the district's
percentage of students passing all
three sections of TAAS was
slightly below the 20 percent
minimum deemed as acceptable
under legislation okayed by the
Legislature in May 1993.
At year's end, only Ringgold
Middle School was under TEA
scrutiny due to scores on the Math
section of TAAS being very
slightly below the state-mandated
acceptability level of 25 percent.
0\l'ezv Arrivals In 'Tozvn
Dec. 11 - Mr. and Mrs Mario Garcia, of Garciasville are the
parents of a Baby girl, Marlene, weighing 8 pounds, 11.5
ounces.
Dec. 13 M and Mrs.Bobbie J Garza of Rio Grande City are
the parents of a Baby girl, Stephanie Arlene, weighing 7
pounds, 8 ounce?
Dec. 13 - Mr. and Mrs Jose Z. Moreno, of Roma are the
parents of a Baby boy, Jose Luis, weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces.
Dec. 13 - Mr. and Mrs. Juan J. Bautista of Roma are the
parents of a Baby girl, Ashlley Lizett., weighing 8 pounds, 3
ounces.
Dec. 13 Mr and Mrs. Jose M. Talamante, Jr. of Falcon
Heights are the parents of a Baby boy, Jose, weighing 8
pounds, 3 ounces.
Dec. 13 - Mr and Mrs. Rrmeo Garcia, Jr. of Roma are the
parents of a Baby girl, Itzayana, weighing 6 pounds, 10.5
11 ounces.
j Dec. 14 - Mr and Mrs Javier llerrera of Rio Grande City are
'.he pat ents of a Baby girl, Jessica, weighing 7 pounds, 11
I ounces.
Pec. 14 Mr. and Mrs. Julio C. Ramirez of Rio Grande City
arc the parents of a Baby girl, Stephanie, weighing 9 pounds,
9.5 ounces.
Dec. 14 Mr. and Mrs.Raul R. Soto of Rio Grande City are the
parents of a Baby boy, Raul Rene, Jr., weighing 6 pounds, 8
ounces.
Dec. 14 - Mr. andMrs Sergio Sali .as, Jr. of Rio Grande City
are the, arents of a Baiy girl, Evelyn, weighing 4 pounds, 45
ounces.
Dec. lfi - Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Rebollar of Roma are the
parent f a Baby girl, Carla Amaircni, weighing 8pounds,
110.5 ounces.
Dec. 17 Mr and Mrs. Jose P. Balderas of Rio Grande City
are the parents of a Baby boy, Jose Pilar, Jr., weighing 7
pounds, 9 ounces.
Dec !7 Jr. and Mrs. Sergio R. Siller of Roma are the
par j : iby boy, Ricardo Emmanuel, weighing 9pounds,
1.25 ounces.
Dec. 17 - \Jr and Mrs. Santos Gonzalez, Jr. of Rio Grande
City are the parents of a Baby boy, Santos Alexis, weighing 7
ipounds, 15 ounces.
Dec. 18 I Mrs .Trinidad Meza of Rio Grande City are
the pui -nts <.: Baby girl, Maritza, weighing 8 pounds, 2
ounces.
Dec. 19 Mr and Mrs. Rene R. Estrada of Garciasville are
the parents of a Haby boy, Erik, weighing 6 pounds, 12.75
ounces.
Dec. 20 ■ Mr. and Mrs. Elmo Menchaca, Jr. of Rio Grande City
ate the parents of a Baby boy, Elmo III, weighing 8 pounds,
5.75 ounces.
Dec. 20 Mr. and Mrs lesus G. Barrera of Roma are the
parentv of Baby boy, David Antonio, weighing 7 pounds, 15
ounces.
■Drr.T22~~M t^iuuLMr),. Jose AAiarcia of Grulla are the parents
of a Baby bo y, Jo se A ntonio,Jr., weighing 8 'pounds 74~3~?)tfnces~-
Dislrict and school administrators
indicated that the school received a
favorable evaluation during a TEA
visit in early December.
Rabies outbreak
remains dangerous
In the fourth ranking story, the
ongoing rabies problem continued
lo threaten the health and safety of
Starr County citizens.
There were six confirmed rabies
cases in Starr County in 1994, but
health officials were encouraged by
the fact that new rabies cases
declined from 18 in 1993. Also,
there has not been a confirmed
rabies case in a domestic animal in
the Rio Grande City area since
mid-1993. These facts have led
officials to cautiously hope that the
rabies problem might be on the
decline in Starr County.
There have been 116 confirmed
rabies cases and one human fatality
in Starr County since the outbreak
began in September 1988. An El
Sauz women died in August 1991
after exposure to the virus,
apparently through the saliva of a
family pet.
A tragedy in November, however,
again brought home the danger of
the rabies problem. A 14-year-old
Edinburg boy died after being
exposed to the rabies virus. After
several weeks, health Officials
remained uncertain of how the
exposure had happened.
The rabies problem continued to
move deeper into Texas and was on
the doorstep of the San Antonio
area at year's end, with confirmed
cases being reported in Frio and
Atascosa Counties. Officials decided
to drop a bait with a hidden rabies
vaccine in southern Bexar County
in early 1995 in hopes of stopping
the epidemic's northern spread.
In Starr County, veterinarians and
FOR SALE
Margo Beef masters
18 month old Bulls. Fertility tested
and ready for service.
R.S. Margo. DVM
210-487-3623
health officials continued to stress
the importance of keeping pets'
vaccinations up to date, humanely
disposing of unwanted animals and
avoiding stray and/or wild animals.
In the year's fifth ranking story,
the FBI seized county election
materials in late July relating to the
March 1994 and November 1992
elections. The bureau also seized
materials relating to the Rio Grande
City incorporation election in May
1993 and the mnvoral and alderman
election of November 1993.
On July 28, materials from die
November 1992 general election
and the March 1994 primary
election were handed over to an FBI
agent in response to a subpoena
issued from the U.S. District Court
in Houston. On July 26, materials
from the May 1993 election that
approved incorporation of Rio
Grande City and the November
1993 mayoral and aldermen
elections were officially subpoenaed
by the FBI.
The subpoenaed city documents
were released by the city
government to city attorney James
Darling, who delivered the records
to the McAllcn FBI office. Both the
May and November 1993 elections
were administered by the County
Clerk's Office.
The subpoenas requested voter
registration cards, absentee ballots
and the signatures of voters at
polling places. Also subpoenaed
were all absentee ballot applications
and envelopes used in the elections,
as well as all absentee ballots sent
through the U.S. Postal Service.
After the subpoenas, FBI agents
and other federal officials declined to
comment about the seizure and
ongoing investigation.
After die seizure. County Clerk
Omar Garza said, "If something is
going on that shouldn't be going
on, it should be corrected and this
investigation is a good thing. If
anything is going wrong, we all
need to know that...We feel good
about the ways we're handling
procedures in our office."
Both Rio Grande City Mayor
Basilio Villarreal and Mayor
Pro-Tern Balde Garza indicated that
they welcomed the investigation
and that the chips should fall where
they may.
In August, city attorney Darling
said it was his understanding that
the investigation was focused
primarily on mail-in ballots and
also whether unregistered voters,
mainly aliens from Mexico, voted
illegally.
Darling then stated that the
federal government was apparendy
not targeting any individual voters
or politicians, but conducting a
preliminary probe lo see if a
full-scale investigation is justified.
By year's end, there had been no
further public revelation about the
status of the investigation.
In the year's sixth ranking story,
Starr County received positive news
in December as the immediate Rio
Grande Cily area was included in a
Valleywide empowerment zone, one
of three rural empowerment zone in
the entire nation.
RGC included in
empowerment zone
The zone is carved out of federal
census tracts in the four Valley
counties, including Rio Grande
City in Starr County; Elsa,
Edcouch and Monte Alto in Hidalgo
County; Port Isabel in Cameron
County and Sebastian in Willacy
County.
The announcement that the
Valley would be designated as one
of three rural empowerment zones
was made by President Clinton on
Dec. 21 at a satellite news
conference. U.S. Representative
Kika de la Garza made the first
announcement on Dec. 20. There
were 220 applications for rural
empowerment zone status from
diroughout the nation.
With the designation, the Valley
is in line to receive up to $40
million in federal benefits.
Empowerment zones arc federal
programs designed to offer
communities opportunities for
growth and revitalization through a
scries of tax credits, grants and loan
guarantees.
The ultimately successful
movement to gain empowerment
zone designation for the Valley
began early in the year with the
formation of a Empowerment Zone
Task Force. Representing Starr
County on the Task Force were
(See EVENTFUL, Page 5)
& CLEARANCE
WHAT A WAY TO START THE YEAR!
50% OFF
original prices
* 25%-50% OFF MISSES' & JUNIORS' DRESSES
25%-50% OFF MISSES' & JUNIORS' SPORTSWEAR
25%-50% OFF PETITES' AND WOMEN'S SIZES
25%-50% OFF INTIMATE APPAREL
25%-50% OFF ACCESSORIES & SHOES
25%-50% OFF CHILDREN'S APPAREL
25%-50% OFF MEN'S FURNISHINGS
25%-50% OFF MEN'S SPORTSWEAR
25%-50% OFF FAMILY OUTERWEAR
Just a sample of the savings. Interim markdowns have been taken on some items.
St\ les. sizes and colors may vary hv store. IViiiis at sikitid stores. l ine ,|ewelr> .it must stores.
>1 4
J 4
4
a
4 4
* i
i ^
v
BEALLS
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View eight places within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 82, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 5, 1995, newspaper, January 5, 1995; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195478/m1/4/?q=%22~1%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.