Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 27, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 12, 2007 Page: 6 of 6
six pages : ill. ; page 22 x 13 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:
The Rio Grande Herald-Thursday, July 12, 2007, Page 6
• *
♦
Disaster
Continued from Page 1
Food Bank RGV announces boost
in Texans Feeding Texans Program
of rainfall that tell in the City of
Rio Grande City during the first
week of July 2007. Rio Grande
City is currently facing
tremendous physical and
economic losses. An estimated
137 homes and/or businesses
have been Hooded, and 30
families will b,e in need of
temporary housing and other
individual assistance. Three
businesses have sustained
significant uninsured losses.
These business losses have
created a severe impact on jobs,
production and revenue.
"Likewise, public utilities
have been impacted to the extent
that 300 homes/businesses have
been left without light. The
public works and roads situation
in Rio Grande has been affected
to an extent that 50 homes have
been isolated due to impassable
roads and water crossings. It is
estimated that road and bridge
damage will exceed
SI.371,318.00.
"It is my belief the damage to
homes, businesses, public-
works and utility systems due to
the rain constitutes a public
health and safety hazard. I have
determined that this incident is
of such severity and magnitude
that an effective response is
beyond Rio Grande's ability to
recover without supplementary
State and/or Federal assistance.
Additionally 1 certify that Rio
Grande does not have local
funding available to make the
needed repairs and to provide
these citizens with effective
relief.
"Your assistance in this
emergency matter, as it affects
the safety and health needs of
our citizens, would be
appreciated."
Hiles noted, "The shelters
have already been shut down.
The Red Cross has found other
housing for displaced families."
From Monday through Friday,
the Ringgold Middle School
Gym was utilized as a shelter for
families or individuals in need.
Hiles noted that local
personnel went into heavily
flooded areas with pumps and
received much assistance from
the McAllen Fire Department.
About the future, Hiles
emphasized, "Assessment teams
will have to come in and do
assessments (of damage)."
City Administrator Juan
Zuniga stressed, "It was a lot ot
water in a short period of time.
The Fire Department had to take
people out of their homes in
that area (Water, Bluebonnet,
Cox and Kain Streets) by boat.
About seven to 10 families were
rescued. Water got up to four
feet deep in a few homes."
Zuniga suggested that the
RGC disaster declaration could
be affected by "the fact that
much of the rest of the state
sustained damage as bad or
worse. Hopefully, a federal
disaster declaration can be issued
and FEMA can provide help.
(Hurricane) Katrina and other
recent disasters have seriously
depleted the availability of
funds."
The administrator added. "At
its height, the (Los Olmos)
creek got up to 12 feel. Water
got up to the Clarke
subdivision, but did little
damage there."
Early last week, the city
issued a mandatory evacuation
order for East Gonzalez. Guerra.
Monroe. Hidalgo, Juarez. San
Zeferino, Gomez. Clarke. Margo
and West Circle Streets. That
order was expanded to include
the Starr County Housing
Authority facility on West
Circle Street.
Early estimates were that 14
multi-family units were
completely destroyed and three
more sustained major damage.
Thirteen single family homes
sustained major damage. Thirty
twq single family homes
received minor damage and six
multi-family units also had
minor damage. Sixty three
single family homes, one
mobile home and five multi-
family units were also affected.
None of these residences were
covered by insurance.
Hiles emphasized, "We had
different forms of assistance
from the cities of Edinburg,
Donna and Mission, the DPS,
the Border Patrol and Texas
Parks and Wildlife" in dealing
with the aftermath of the
flooding. He also noted that
McAllen personnel helped pump
water out of severely Hooded
areas.
RGCPD
Continued from Page 1
was related to the earlier
carjackings late last year."
To deal with these types of
episodes, Piper indicated that the
RGCPD is "trying to check
southbound traffic at the bridge.
We're also trying to have more
surveillance at the store parking
lots."
The chief suggested, "People
need to be aware of their
surroundings. It is wise to travel
in groups. People need to park
in welMit areas."
Anyone with information
about the episode is urged to call
RGC Crimestoppers at 488-
TIPS. All information will be
kept confidential.
On June 6, 1994-the 50th
anniversary of D-Day—the Penta-
gon received a record 1,502,415
phone calls.
When Valley families suffer
from hunger they tend to
concentrate on the quantity of
affordable foods with lower
nutritional value rather than
quality of foods.
According to Food Bank of
the Rio Grande Valley Executive
Director Terri Drefke, an
expanded initiative by the Texas
Department of Agriculture will
help hungry people have access
in addition to fruits and
vegetables, to other nutritious
products such as rice, peanut
butter, beef and venison.
"We took this message to the
Guillen
Continued from Page 1
in compliance with the grant
program, the approved Notice of
Grant Approval and approved
application will be mailed to
each grantee selected to receive
an award.
For additional information
contact the Texas Education
Agency at (512) 463-9638 or
visit the website at
http://www.tea.state.tx.us.
Grant
Continued from Page 1
20.299. The City currently
serves 6601 water customers and
4292 wastewater customers.
The TWDB is the state agency
charged with collecting and
disseminating water-related data,
assisting with regional
planning, and preparing the
State Water Plan for the
development of the state's water
resources and administering cost-
effective financial programs for
the construction of water
supply, wastewater treatment,
flood control and agricultural
water conservation projects.
Texas lawmakers," Drefke said.
"With the help of Texas
Agricultural Commissioner
Todd Staples, they listened."
In February, Drefke and other
members of the Texas Food
Bank network from around the
state convened in Austin to
lobby the 80th Texas
Legislature for an increase in the
Texans Feeding Texans
program. Formerly known as
the Surplus Agricultural Product
Grant Program - it helps offset
the cost of harvesting, gleaning
and transporting Texas-grown
products to the state's food
banks.
Since its beginning during the
77th Texas Legislature in 2001,
the program has helped
distribute more than 20 million
pounds of Texas products to 18
member food banks, one food
rescue organization and their
combined 3600 agencies. The
total grant program has increased
from $500,000 to $2 million on
a biennial basis.
"Texas growers and ranchers
have been helping hungry
families across the state and the
food banks that serve them."
Drefke added. "It was a natural
partnership."
The Texas Food Bank
Network, which solicited
donations from Texas growers
and ranchers, has received grants
from TDA's program. America's
Second Harvest, the parent
organization of the Texas Food
Bank Network, provided a match
of three (3) cents per pound to
extend the grant.
In 2006, America's Second
Harvest evaluated the needs of
Texas food banks and found
more food banks were resorting
to food purchases to supplement
donations and rising
transportation costs were
limiting access to fresh produce
and perishable commodities.
In addition, Drefke said in
total protein, dairy and produce
are rare commodities when it
comes to Food Bank donations.
These are items that might
otherwise be purchased when the 1
Food Bank RGV budget
permits.
"This will help us stretch, our
Food Bank RGV funding even
further," Drefke said. "It also
helps area growers and ranchers
put healthier, nutritious food on
the tables of the poor who often
resort to high carbohydrate, high
calorie intakes to fill them up
instead of healthy alternatives
that tend to cost more. We hope
it will help in the long-term
with health issues associated
with poverty and poor diet."
"Cyot News to
■Spread-?"
Let Us Serve You
Call
487-2819
SEND US
YOURAD
VIA
FAX
488-8252
Contemporary Living Room
Friday - Monday,
July 13th-16th
'Mali
- - , vv wrffa
- ••
j
Sofa
Loveseat
msrp $899.95
msrp $849.95
S499.95
$449.95
$449.96
$404.96
Chair
Ottoman
mssp $729.95
msrp S 399.95
$399.95
$249.95
$359.96
$224.96
Features pillow top comfort and is available
in a tan high performance fabric. 725-250
c fml
■•J lift*yjjjJJ
Crosspoint Collection adds refreshing style with design elements including rope
twists, etched glass and uniquely shaped pieces, all in a beautiful amberfinish
and a chalky powder glaze accenting its carved details. 2145-400
$1510.09
Sideboard with
Marble Top
msrp $1999.95
$588.88
$529.99
U I«
k
r r\
Neo-Clasical
Dining Room
China, Table, 2 Arm
Chairs & 4 Side Chairs
msrp $7999.95
$1688.88
Uri X.
^hij/.ufud
TQ//J
ill
i i ■
3 Pc. Chadwick
Entertainment Center
Ebony Finish
2222-400/401/402
msrp $ 1799.95
$799.95
0% Sticker lt<
JVC
The Perfect Experience '
32" Flat
LCD HDTV
3558-432
msrp $ 1399.90
• Flicker Free
High Resolution
Picture
• Digital 5-point
Color Management
• ATSC/QAM Tuner
• 16:9 Aspect Ratio
'Minimum purchase of S699 10% Down payment required. Subject to credit approval Oner does not apply to previous purchases. Finance charges
will be shown on contract but will be refunded on any length contract if monthly payments are paid on time as agreed and the ba lance is paid in full on
or before 18 months from date of purchase. Interest charges will be assessed from date of purchase at a maximumAPR, 24%. but the APR. may vary.
Offer valid Friday - Monday. July 13-16, 2007 only
Rio Grande City
2302 E. Hwy 83 • 488-6730
Mon.-Sat. 10am-7pm • Sun. 1 - 6pm
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. 94, No. 27, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 12, 2007, newspaper, July 12, 2007; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196073/m1/6/: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.