Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 27, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 12, 2007 Page: 1 of 6
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY
EDITION
Rio Grande
July 12, 2007
94th YEAR No. 27
#215
HOAG HOOK BINDERY
127 RAIL ROAD
SPRINGPORT.Ml 49204
ZONE 6
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
Federal disaster declaration sought for RGC flooding
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,OIivarez retires from RGCCISD after 39 years
Mrs. Argentina "Titi" Olivarez was surprised recently with a reception in her honor for her many
years of service. "She has been an extremely professional, faithful and very efficient employee for 39
years," said Thelma Ramey, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance. Many of her peers
stood up and thanked Titi for her work and for having assisted in one way or another. She touched
many people's lives during her tenure at RGCCISD and she will be remembered fondly by all Mrs.
Ramey said that although she is happy because she knows retiring is the goal of all of us, she feels that
^the district is losing a great asset. (RGCCISD photo).
RGCPD continues probe
into carjacking at store
The Rio Grande City Police
Department is continuing an
intensive investigation into the
carjacking of a SUV and an
assault against the female driver
and passenger at a local store
late Friday afternoon, July 6.
Rio Grande City Police Chief
^J.A. "Dutch" Piper indicated
thai the carjacking took place at
approximately 6:50 p.m. Friday
in the parking lot of the Wal-
Mart Store on East U.S.
Highway 83.
^ Piper staled, "A 62-year-old
female and her 86-year-old
mother got in their silver 2007
Cadillac Escalade. They were
putting groceries in their
vehicle. A Hispanic male in his
late teens or early twenties got
in the driver's side, grabbed the
62-year-old female, and pushed
her to the pavement."
The chief continued, "At that
time, another young male of
roughK the same age opened the
passenger door and forced the 86-
year-old female into the middle
of the vehicle. They started
driving off; the male in the
fcassenger seat started punching
the 86-year-old woman and
pushed her out of the vehicle
while still in the parking lot."
Both women sustained minor
injuries," declared Piper. "They
were transported lo the hospital
and their injuries were tended to
by EMS."
Piper noted, "They (the
carjackers) drove off; the vehicle
crossed the International Bridge
and headed toward Camargo."
Piper explained that the
episode came to the RGCPD's
attention when "a patrol officer
driving by noticed the crowd, so
he stopped by to check it out
and was informed of the
incident."
Piper stated that both
carjackers were thin and had dark
complexions and short hair. One
had a white T-shirt and bagg\
shorts, while the other had a
blue button shirt and baggy
pants.
RGCPD Assistant Chief Noe
Castillo commented, "We don't
know if it (Friday's incident)
(See RGCPD, Page 6)
Guillen announces literacy
grants for RGCCISD, LCC
AUSTIN - State
Representative Ryan Guillen
announced that the Texas
Education Agency selected three
institutions in the 31st
Legislative District to receive
$306,000 in grants for the
English Literacy and Civics
Education Programs.
The purpose of the grant is to
provide Adult Education and
Literacy services to individuals
TWDB okays $573,300
Roma wastewater grant
On Monday, June 25, the
Texas Water Development Board
(TWDB) approved a grant in the
amount of $573,300 from the
TWDB's Economically
Distressed Areas Program
(EDAP) to the City of Roma lo
complete the planning,
acquisition and design for
wastewater s y s t e m
improvements.
The City of Roma will utilize
the funds for the completion of
acquisition and design of
wastewater system
improvements to provide first-
time wastewater service to 10
colonias along U.S. Highway
83. The project will consist of
approximately 41.740 linear feet
of wastewater pipeline and force
main, lift stations and other
appurtenances.
The City of Roma is located
in Siarr County, between the
cities of Laredo and Brownsville,
on the Texas-Mexico border.
The City's service area currently
has an estimated population of
(Sec GRANT, Page 6)
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2006 JEEP CALIBER '
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A federal disaster declaration is
being sought to help provide
assistance to local residents
affected by the large-scale Rio
Grande City flooding on July 1-
3, with Texas Governor Rick
Perry giving written
endorsement to such assistance
on Thursday, July 5.
Torrential rains from Sunday
evening. July 1 through Tuesday
morning, July 3 brought 10 to
16 inches of rain to much of the
immediate Rio Grande City area,
caused some degree of damage to
between 100 and 200 homes and
businesses, and brought Los
Olmos Creek to the top of its
banks.
The immediate Rio Grande
City area was bypassed by rain
after Tuesday morning. July 3,
enabling the flood waters to
begin receding. Forecasters were
predicting on Friday. July 6 that
dry weather would settle in for
most of the following week.
Rio Grande City Mayor Kevin
Hiles issued a disaster
declaration for the city on
Tuesday, July 3. This
declaration was forwarded to the
state level where it was endorsed
by Governor Rick Perry. The
declaration will be followed by a
request for disaster assistance as
soon as totals of residential and
commercial damage can be
determined.
The city is asking citizens
whose homes or businesses have
sustained damage to contact
RGC City Hall at 487-0672 so
that information can be obtained
and an assessment made of the
loss.
City Hall staff will be
answering phone calls on a 24-
hour basis during this
emergency al 487-0672. That
was still the case as of Friday
afternoon, July 6.
Mayor Hiles told The Rio
Grande Herald on Tuesday, July
10, "It appears that 135-140
homes sustained damage, with
the amount roughly $1.4
million. The damage amount
depends on the information we
get from the public."
About the flooding event,
Hiles stated, "The flooding was
not the result of the creek. It got
very close to the top. The Water
Street area had the worst
flooding. Bluebonnet. Kain and
Cox' Streets had serious
problems...Some homes got up
to 18 inches of water.''
The mayor emphasized. "The
western side of the city got the
worst of the flooding."
"Most of the water had receded
by the time of the second rain
on Tuesday." declared Hiles.
"I'm not aware of any water
getting into homes from the
second rain. There are a very few
areas where water has been
trapped (by dirt and/or debris),
including around the Housing
Authority."
The following letter, dated
July 9. was written bv Mayor
Hiles to Gov. Perry:
"Due to the extreme amount
(See DISASTER. Page 6)
of Limited English Proficiency
so that the> are better suited to
participate in the education,
work, and civic opportunities in
the United States. The program
will help students understand
and navigate government,
educational and workplace
systems, and key American
institutions like banking and
health care.
The Education Service
Center for Region I which
covers Starr. Webb and Zapata
counties has been appropriated
$102,009; Laredo Community
College will receive $102,000;
and Rio Grande City CI SO is
awarded $102,000.
"I'm very pleased that
educational institutions in our
area have been selected for these
grants. It is a testament to the
quality the schools in our district
and how dedicated our educators
are to improving our students
quality of life," says Guillen.
The Notice of Grant Award
will be mailed to each grantee as
soon as negotiations and the
approval process are complete.
Once the application has been
negotiated and is verified to be
(See GUILLEN, Page 6)
Roma rally against border wall
planned Saturday, July 14
A community rally to oppose
the building of a wall on the
Texas/Mexico border will take
place on Saturday, July 14 in
Roma.
The rally will take place at 10
a.m. Saturday on the Roma
Bluffs overlooking the Rio
Grande just in front of Roma
City Hall at 77 Convent Street.
Everyone is invited to the first
in a series of Lower Rio Grande
Valley community rallies to
oppose the building of a wall on
the Texas/Mexico border. To get
to the rally site, interested
persons should follow the signs
to Roma Bluffs and the World
Birding Center.
Paddlers opposed to a wall
that would limit access to the
river for recreation are invited to
bring their canoes or kayaks to
the riverside in Fronton al 8
a.m. before the rallv on Roma
Bluffs. Fronton is a few miles
west of Roma
This group will paddle as a
flotilla to a take-out point below
the international bridge between
Roma 'and Ciudad Miguel
Aleman and join in the 10 a.m.
rally. The paddle trip will take
approximately two hours.
The rally will feature
speakers, including a
representative from the flotilla
trip who will describe their
experience on the river. From
Roma Bluffs, rally attendees and
paddlers will walk to the
international b.idge and form a
hands-across-the-river line to Cd.
Miguel Aleman to signify the
close ties between border cities
along the Rio Grande.
Organizer and river paddler
Betty Perez said. "We're hoping
to draw a large crowd on the
Bluffs, and a large group of
paddlers on the river to draw
national attention to this issue
The beautiful view from Roma
bluffs to the river and sister city,
Miguel Aleman, and the site of
a flotilla paddling down the river
will hopefully do this. The idea
of a wall between our countries
is ludicrous, and it won't work.
Put that money into helping
Roma, not making it less
attractive to visit."
More rallies are being
scheduled in the following
weeks in other cities along the
river, including a rally in
Brownsville on Saturday. Aug.
25.
For more information and
details about the Roma paddling
trip and rally, contact Betty
Perez at 956-580-8915 or email
her at
bettygraceperez@gmail.co
m
fj
Ninth Grade Campus holds Awards Ceremony
Administration and staff of the Ninth Grade Campus held an awards ceremony for the students
recently at the Rio Grande City High School Cafeteria. The students were recognized for the
achievements that they gained throughout the year Mr. Eguia. Vice Principal for the campus,
encouraged the students to continue in their quest for excellence in education and reiterated to the
students that they possess the skills for success. Ninth grade students are pictured waiting to receive
awards. (RGCCISD photo).
IVf p: RCtlRY '
Phono:(956)487 2582
Toll Free: 1 877 RAMIREZ
5353 E. Hwy. 83
Rio Grande City, TX 78582
rDDwtom
Ir^•-. j - J
CCcuwiAf
Gcuixj/ialulatei the
Class of
2007
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 27, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 12, 2007, newspaper, July 12, 2007; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196073/m1/1/: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.