Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 15, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 9, 1998 Page: 1 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 22 x 14 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
THURSDAY
WEEKLY EDITION
Hoag Book Bindery
April 9, 1!
85th Year, N 127'Ran r<*
Springport, mi
25 cent (zone e)
Herald
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texcs
Sheriffs Dept continues
domestic shooting probe
The Sheriff's Department is
continuing its investigation into a
fatal shooting at a La Gloria
residence in which a woman shot
her husband after reportedly being
beaten by her spouse.
Upon arrival at the scene
Wednesday night, April 1, Sheriffs
deputies found the body of Jose
Pena, 39, who had been struck once
in the chest by a shotgun blast.
According to deputies, Pena was
shot by his wife, Maria Luisa
Canales Pena, 28, after a violent
family disturbance erupted.
At approximately 9:26 p.m. on
Wednesday evening, April 1, the
Sheriff s Department received a 9-1-
1 call from the La Gloria area,
located 30 miles northeast of Rio
Grande City. Interim Sheriff
Reymundo Guerra said Monday,
"The shooting occurred just a
couple of minutes prior to the 9-1-
1 call."
Investigators recovered a .20
gauge shotgun that was used.
Guerra stated, "There was just one
impact to the chest area (of the
deceased)."
Guerra declared, "We do feel sure
this resulted from a domestic
disturbance. Our investigation and
statements from the witnesses
indicate that."
A Sheriffs Department statement
declared that Pena had been drinking
when he "became irritable and went
into a rage." At this point, he
reportedly began beating his wife
with his fist and dragging her by
her hair. According to the Sheriffs
Department, Pena's wife then had a
chance to obtain the shotgun and
shot him.
Pena was pronounced dead by
Justice of the Peace Antonia
Trevino and an autopsy was ordered.
Guerra indicated, "We're still
continuing to investigate various
aspects of the episode. Hopefully,
we'll have autopsy results by the
end of the month." The
Department's written statement
indicated that the episode will soon
be investigated by a grand jury.
Several arrested in burglaries
of local businesses, vehicles
The Rio Grande City Police
Department is continuing its
investigation into a recent rash of
burglaries over the last three weeks,
having already arrested six adults
and several juveniles.
A Police Department detective
noted that 19 vehicles in the
immediate Rio Grande City area
have been broken into over the last
three weeks, with 11 of these cases
regarded as solved as of Monday
afternoon. Nine buildings have been
broken into over the past three
weeks, with three of these cases
regarded as solved as of Monday
afternoon.
The detective noted that a search
warrant was executed Friday, April
3 on a house on the east side of Rio
Grande City, and some pagers,
VCRs, and cellular phones were
recovered at the scene. Four adults
and one juvenile were arrested. Five
pounds of marijuana were found at
the scene.
Rio Grande City residents
Guadalupe Dc La Cruz, 42; Ramiro
De La Cruz, Jr., 18; Carlos Dc La
Cruz, 17; and Jose Eden Morales,
21, were all charged with two
counts of engaging in organized
criminal activity, one count of
possession of stolen property, and
one count of possession of
marijuana. The Police Department
indicated that all four are resident
aliens residing in Rio Grande City.
All four men were arraigned
before County Court-At Law Judge
Alex W. Gabert, who sent bond at
$20,000 per count for a total bond
of 580,000 for each man. The
detective indicated that as of
Monday afternoon, three of the four
men remained in jail with
Guadalupe De La Cruz having been
released on bond.
On Tuesday, the RGCPD
indicated that Ramiro De La Cruz,
Sr., 52, had been arrested on a
warrant of organized criminal
activity-possession of marijuana
greater 2 pounds and less 50 pounds
and organized criminal activity-
burglary of a building. His bond
was set at $50,000 by Municipal
Judge Page. The RGCPD stated
that De La Cruz is a resident alien
living in Rio Grande City.
The detective indicated, "Nine
buildings have been burglarized in
lhc last three weeks Three of «how*
cases have been solved."
The detective noted that from
Monday, March 30 through
Wednesday, April 1, the Police
Department arrested several
juveniles allegedly involved in
burglaries of vehicles. A couple of
radios and amplifiers were
recovered.
The detective indicated that
Leonel Garza, Jr., 18, of Rio
(See BURGLARIES, Page 6)
Aldermen focus on drainage
project, health initiatives
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
Thursday night, the Rio Grande
City Board of Aldermen heard an
update on the status of the Cox-
Bluebonnct Streets drainage project
and also were informed about a
local survey tabulating the
community's views concerning
health and sports-related activities.
City Administrator Jose
Escamilla said, "At the previous
meeting, there was concern about
the high bids (for the Cox-
Bluebonnet project). The engineer
has provided us with some
options."
Escamilla stressed, "The Cox-
Bluebonnet project will relieve
problems for up to 700 acres into
the northwest part of the city. This
will keep water off the street."
Engineer Gilbert Gracia declared,
"We will also be doing work in the
area around North Grammar."
Mayor Baldemar Garza noted, "The
area behind Rio Motor Co. will
also be served."
Escamiilla suggested, "Perhaps
we can use some of the caliche
stockpile at the airport." The
aldermen then approved a motion
granting authority to negotiate with
the low bidder. Gracia stated, "The
main problem before was the high
price of the concrete material."
/
New Chief Deputy
Newly appointed Interim Sheriff Reymundo Guerra, right, deputized Rene
Fucntcs as his new Chief Deputy on Wednesday, April 1. Fucntcs has
served the Sheriffs Department in various capacities for a number of
years.
Interim sheriff deputizes deputies
Newly appointed Interim Sheriff Reymundo Guerra deputized his deputies on Wednesday, April 1. At the same
ceremony, Sheriff Guerra deputized Rene Fuentes as his new Chief Deputy. Guerra was sworn in as Interim Sheriff
on March 25 after the Commissioners Court appointed him to the position.
Grand jury levies 2 indictments
against candidate Alvarez
A 381st District Court grand jury
voted on Wednesday, April 1 to
issue two indictments against
Democratic County Court-At Law
Judge nominee J.M. "Chuy"
Alvarez on charges of burglary with
intent to commit sexual assault and
sexual assault
District Attorney Heribcrto Silva
indicated Friday that the charges
against Alvarez were issued in two
separate indictments. He noted that
both charges are second degree
felonies, punishable upon
conviction by 2-20 years
imprisonment and $10,000 fines.
The charges against Alvarez arise
out of an alleged incident at the
home of a Rio Grande City woman
in the early morning hours of
Sunday, Feb. 22. Silva said, "It's
alleged that he forced his way into
the home without the woman's
consent." Just after the episode, a
Rio Grande City Police Department
report stated that Alvarez was
accompanied by another man.
On Monday, Feb. 23, Alvarez
was arrested on a charge of burglary
of habitation with intent to commit
a felony after the woman filed a
complaint. At that time, Alvarez
■* posted a $50,000 bond
After the incident, Alvarez
vigorously denied the charges and
proclaimed that he was innocent of
any wrongdoing. He predicted that
he will be vindicated through the
judicial process. In late February,
the woman told The Rio Grande
Herald that she totally stood behind
\ the complainL
Silva noted on Friday that 381st
District Court Judge John A. Pope
III had not yet signed these
indictments and other indictments
issued by the grand jury on
Wednesday.
The Herald attempted to reach
Alvarez on Tuesday, but he was
unavailable for comment.
The Herald also attempted to
contact Alvarez's attorney, Carolyn
Clause Garcia of Houston, but was
unable to reach her.
Alvarez, a Rio Grande City
attorney, won the Democratic
nomination for County Court-At
Law Judge by slightly more than
1600 votes, or 58 percent of the
vote, in the March 10 primary
election.
12 ICS students participate
in programs offered by Duke
Escamilla later told The Rio
Grande Herald, "There was concern
about the high cost of materials.
We've made some changes of
materials that should provide an
even longer expectancy."
Andres Lopez of the Parks and
Recreation Board and Derric Trevino
of the Texas Department of Health
spoke to the aldermen about a
recent survey addressing the
community's opinions about health
and sports-related activities.
Trevino noted that Rio Health
Initiatives "is a community health
coalition. We held community
meetings to gauge health concerns
that arc addressable by very simple
means. We're seeing high rates of
obesity; diabetes is increasing in
the younger population. There is a
high percentage sedentary
population."
Trevino added, "We decided it was
lime to start developing physical
actvity initiatives. We got close to
50 percent response, which is
phenomenal."
Dr. Richard Irizarry indicated that
79 percent of the 630 respondents
arc above 20 years of age. Sixty
four percent are male, and 78
percent are married. He indicated
that 48 percent say they exercise
three or more times a week, with an
additional 32 percent exercising
twice a week.
Irizarry said, "Seventy six percent
want more individual types of
activities. Sixty three percent prefer
activities from morning to noon.
One hundred percent favor organized
physical fitness activities. Walking,
riding and biking arc the most
popular activities."
(See ALDERMEN, Page 6)
This year, twelve fourth and
fifth grade students at Immaculate
Conception School are breaking
ground by taking part in a new
program at the school. They are
the school's first participants in
MAP. Motivation for Academic
Performance, a program for high
ability fourth and fifth grade
students offered by the Duke
University Talent Identification
Program.
Founded in 1980, the Duke
University Talent Identification
Program (TIP) is a non-profit
educational organization. TIP is
dedicated to identifying and serving
academically talented youth and has
traditionally made itself available to
high achieving students beginning
in seven'h grade with the Talent
Search program.
This year's Talent Search
participants at I.C.S. are Elida
Barrera and Adriana Garcia, who
took the A.C.T. test in February
with high school students.
Realizing that talents need to be
nurtured even earlier, TIP began the
Motivation for Academic Perfor-
mance program. MAP takes an
already successful program one step
further by offering TIP's resources
to a broader population of students.
MAP focuses on bright fourth
and fifth graders and strives to assist
with the development and
encouragement of their academici
talents by drawing attention to
positive performance, sharing
pertinent information, and pro-
viding avenues to enrichment
opportunities.
MAP is a resource that aims to
supplemtnt efforts in the homes,
schools, and communities of its
participants through the
information presented in the MAP
publications. ICS students
qualify for the programs with
exceptionally high results on
certain subtests of the Stanford
Achievement Test.
The first-ever participants at
I C.S in the MAP Program are
(See STUDENTS, Page 6)
TIP/MAP participants from ICS
These Immaculate Conception School students arc participating in Duke University's Talent Identification Program
(TIP) and Motivation for Academic Performance (MAP) Program. TIP focuses on identifying and serving
academically talented youth and usually makes itself available to high achieving students starting in seventh grade
with the Talent Search Program. MAP offers TIP's resources to a broader population of students, focusing on fourth
and fifth graders.
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.
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. 85, No. 15, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 9, 1998, newspaper, April 9, 1998; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195647/m1/1/: accessed June 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.