Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 96, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 23, 2009 Page: 1 of 6
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1;
THURSDAY
WEEKLY
EDITION
July 23, 2009
96th YEAR No. 29
Rio Grande
I-1 ERA I 1 ^
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
County talks possibility of helping with STC election
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Ortega awarded prestigious Freedom Medal
Eloy Ortega, a Rio Grande City native, was one of 20 civilians presented the Secretary of
Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom in a ceremony on July 12 at Camp Victory,
Iraq. Ortega was awarded the medal due to injuries he sustained from shrapnel in a mortar
attack in August 2006. Ortega soon resumed his work as a water purification manager at
Joint Base Balad. Pictured are from left to right are Mr. Ruben Alvarado, Mr. Eloy Ortega,
and Army Lieutenant Colonel Ross Barrera. Barrera and Alvarado are both Rio Grande
City natives.
Defense of Freedom Medal
awarded to Eloy Ortega
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly
meeting on Monday, July
13, the County
Commissioners discussed the
possibility of approving a
request by South Texas
College for the Starr County
Election Department to
conduct the STC election
this November.
The election request was
made by STC President Dr.
Shirley A. Reed.
County Judge Eloy Vera
explained, "Dr. Reed called
and asked if our Elections
Department could conduct
their election. The issue is
whether STC will have a
contested election. It should
be known in early
September. They're also
asking if we can have a site
there (for early voting)."
Elections Administrator
Rafael "Rudy" Montalvo
indicated, "We have to ask
the Justice Department it we
can have a site there. I don't
see any issue for early
CAMP VICTORY 1R<\Q
(BAGHDAD, IRAQ) - On
12 July, A1 Paw Palace
Camp Victory Brigadier
General Kurt Stein Director
CJ 1/4/8 Multinational
Forces Iraq Iraq hosted 20
civilians in presenting the
Secretary of Defense Medal
for the Defense of Freedom.
The presentation included
Mr. Eloy Ortega, a former
resident of Rio Grande City.
The Defense of Freedom
Medal is the civilian
equivalent of the military's
Purple Heart Medal. The
First recipients to be honored
were those Department of
Defense civilians injured or
killed as a result of the
attack on the Pentagon on
September II, 2001 Mr.
Eloy Ortega was awarded
the medal as of results from
injuries while he was on
duty in Iraq On August 17,
2006, Elov was hit bv glass
shrapnel from an enemy
incoming 82MM Mortar on
Joint Base Balad. Iraq.
Soon after recovery Eloy
returned to continue his
work as a water purification
STC class
registration
possible July 29
South Texas College's
Starr County Campus
located at 142 FM 3167 in
Rio Grande City is open on
Jul\ 29 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
to help students prepare for
the fall semester.
Students can register for
classes, receive counseling
and advising and take
needed placement tests.
Additional!) students can
receive assistance with
financial aid. including
applving for installment
plans and emergency loans.
For more information call
9J6-872?8311.
manager in support of
soldiers and Airman at Joint
Base Balad Eloy served as
the Army Unit Administrator
in Rio Grande City for the
Army Reserve's 971st QM
Det and 600TC from 1997 to
2000.
Attending the ceremony in
support of Eloy were Mr.
Ruben Alvarado (Rio
Grande City High School
Class of 1979) and Army
Lieutenant Colonel Ross
Barrera (Rio Grande City
High School Class of 1984)
who both call Rio Grande
City home.
Eloy is currently employed
with Kellogg. Brown and
Root (KBR) at Joint Base
Balad, Iraq. He is married to
Ayde Saenz from Roma,
Texas and thev have three
children. Mr. and Mrs. Eloy
Ortega presently reside in
Cypress, Texas.
All qualified claimants will
receive benefits, says TWC
AUSTIN - The Texas
Workforce Commission
(TWC) is advising all
currently qualified
unemployment claimants
that their benefits will be
paid. Currently, more than
350,000 out-of-work Texans
are receiving up to 59 weeks
of unemployment benefits.
Benefits are paid through
the Texas Unemployment
Compensation Trust Fund,
and during periods of high
unemployment claim
volume, interest-free loans
are available to states from
the federal government.
Similar loans were utilized
bv TWC in 2003 resulting in
uninterrupted payment of
benefits.
TWC Adds Staff at
Workforce Centers to Help
Texans Find Jobs
Texas jobseekers now
have more assistance
available as 348 new staff
members have been added to
workforce centers across the
state, bringing the number of
TWC Employment Services
staff to nearly 1.000. TWC
has hired the temporary
employment services
workers through funding
provided by the American
Recovers and Reinvestment
Act of 2009.
Employment Services staff
provide jobseekers help with
services including job
referrals, career counseling,
training and support, and
other employment services.
In addition, the staff works
with employers to post job
openings and train their
existing workforce.
TWC Advises Long-Term
Unemployment Claimants
Status in State Extended
Benefits
Approximately 15,000
long-term unemployment
claimants who have received
benefits for more than a year
are being advised that there
will be a delay in receiving
the newly-enacted 13 weeks
of state extended benefits. At
the end of May, the Texas
legislature approved the
changes which allow for
state extended benefits
which have not been
available since the early
1980s This 13-week state
extension is completely
federallv funded and is
available to claimants that
have exhausted 59 weeks of
unemployment benefits.
Those who qualify for the
extension will receive
(See BENEFITS, Page 6)
voting."
Vera commented, "This
refers to a one-time election
in November. I'm concerned
about precedents; how would
the hospital be affected?" The
commissioners then
approved a motion
authorizing the judge to
negotiate with the STC
president on this matter.
An election is scheduled in
November to fill the
unexpired portion of Starr
County's position on the
STC board of trustees. That
position was left vacant by
the death of longtime STC
trustee Manuel Benavidez, Jr.
in March 2009.
A representative of
STCADA came before the
court to ask for third party
funding from Starr County.
He declared, "I'm asking if
an allocation of funds from
Starr County might be
possible. We have a
breakdown on clients served
by precinct. We provide
services for adults and
adolescents. We're looking at
enlarging our services in
Starr County."
Precinct Three
Commissioner Eloy Garza
insisted, "I never see any
publicity in our area. Some
time ago, your organization
turned us down when we set
up a facility in our precinct.
I donated the property
myself."
Another STCADA
representative responded, "I
wasn't aware of any building
being offered. How long ago
was this?" The first
STCADA representative
stressed, "I can't control
what happened years ago.
Basically, we're asking for
$15,000."
"One thing we will require
is that any money we
allocate stay in Starr
County," emphasized Judge
Vera. "I'll see what can be
arranged in the budget. The
budget will have to be
approved by the
(See HELPING, Page 6f
Cuellar says energy and water
bill improves infrastructure
Washington. D C. On
Friday, July 17.
Congressman Henry Cuellar
helped pass the H.R. 3183,
the Energy and Water
Development and Related
Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2010, which makes key
investments to protect
America's energy and water
infrastructure. The bill also
includes SI.5 million to
restore an eight mile stretch
of San Antonio's downtown
river channel and $550,000
to power colon ias,
impoverished dwellings
along the border.
"This bill makes sure our
energy grid is protected and
ensures our water is safe and
clean," said Congressman
Cuellar. "That's why I'm
pleased that the San Antonio
Congressional Delegation
was able to secure the
necessary funds to improve
San Antonio's downtown
river channel. This
investment will revitalize the
downtown neighborhood
and provide an opportunity
for economic development."
Congressman Cuellar
worked with U.S.
Representatives Charlie
Gonzales (TX-20), Ciro
Rodriguez (TX-23) and
Lamar Smith (TX-21) to
secure $1.5 million in
funding for San Antonio's
downtown river channel
improvement project. The
eight mile stretch was
previously channelized for
flood control purposes and
will now be restored to
revitalize the historically
underdeveloped
neighborhood. This year,
Congress increased funding
to $5.5 billion for the Army
Corps of Engineers to
oversee water infrastructure
projects like the one in San
Antonio. This is a funding
increase of $139 million
since 2009.
The bill also includes
$550,000 to power colonias
dwellings in Webb and
Zapata Counties. The micro-
grid system provides power
to colonias on a temporary
basis until a connection to a
larger power grid can be
made. A prototype
constructed by Texas A&M
University currently powers
twelve dwellings in La Presa
Colonia in Webb Countv
This funding will expand the
program to power the entire
community (approximately
100 dwellings) with the
potential to share the
technology to other South
Texas Colonias in the future
"This major step forward
will enhance every aspect of
living in the colonias." said
Congressman Cuellar. "A
little power goes a long way
(See IMPROVES, Page 6)
A Ti
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\—
Alderman signs with Baylor University
Baylor University President David Garland announced that Kristen D'ann Alderman's
eligibility for admission to Baylor carries with it a merit scholarship totaling $32,000.00. "I
commend you on the academic accomplishments which have earned you admission." wrote
Mr. Garland. A member of the Rio Grande City High School Mighty Band Program who
served as Drum Major. Kristen will pursue a degree in Music. She is the daughter of Pastor
Bob Alderman and Connie Alderman. Also pictured above are RGC High Band Director
Roger Olivarez and RGC High Principal Jorge Recio. (RGCCISD photo)
Weekly Money Saving tip #1G
Give up expensive habits, like cigarettes alcohol,
and drugs Those habits cause money to flow away
from you with nothing in return. Call up your fortitude
and work hard to kick the habits and you'll find that
money staying In your pocket instead of burning up
and floating awa^
-~V
-Spactai lo RG HtraM
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 96, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 23, 2009, newspaper, July 23, 2009; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196369/m1/1/: accessed July 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.