The Pharr Press (Pharr, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 28, 1978 Page: 1 of 12
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Pharr Memorial Library
130 £• Caffary
This Week
Answer Line Going Higher?
Q. Is it true that Social Security benefits are going to go
down next year?
A. No, but unless wages go up, workers will be taking
home less money than in the past. The Social Security
Administration has announced that employers will be taking
6.13 percent out of your paycheck for Social Security, rather
than 6.o5 percent. However, this only means an additional
eight cents in taxes on every $100 in pay.
The Press welcomes any questions readers may have for
this ‘Answer-Line’ column. Phone the Press at 78T-2291 or
write P.O. Box 710. The newspaper reserves the right to be
selective in which questions would be of most interest, and
the editor vows to do his best to answer them.
Offbeat: Hollywood Bound?
‘It’s a good thing we didn’t have a movie producer there,
or Manuel Trevino would be in Hollywood today.’
That’s how Pharr Rotary Club President Roberto
Gutierrez described the performance of what had started
out as a reluctant Santa Claus at the club’s first annual
Christmas Party for handicapped children at Palmer
Elementary School.
‘The event went very well,’ said Gutierrez, ‘children are
happy to see Santa.’
While Manuel Trevino might have been reluctant to
assume the role of Santa at first, it did not wind up that way.
After being hugged and admired by all the children,
Trevino commented, ‘I volunteer for next year.’
What To Do: See the Bears
THURSDAY
The Sonic Tri-City Classic starts tonight and goes through
Saturday. The Bears need your support to maintain their
perfect record.
SUNDAY
Every Sunday from now through April is Live Steam Day
at the Engine Room Steam Museum in Alamo. The museum
is among a host of attractions.in Texas’ subtropical southern
tip, a haven for winter visitors from all over the nation.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles will hold a New Year’s Eve
dance in the Eagles Lodge at 208 South Cage in Pharr on
December 31, 1978. The Eagles Lodge is featuring the
Gibson Brothers Combo from the North who have played for
many great bands. The dancing starts at 9:00 P.M. Party
favors and late snacks will be given. Donations will be $8.00
per couple and bring your own bottle. All proceeds go to the
Eagles’ charity program. The public is invited and urged to
attend.
MONDAY
NEW YEAR’S DAY
Drive Carefully
TUESDAY
The Basketball Bears take on a tough Mission team Jan 2.
The JV game starts at 6 p.m. and the Varsity plays at 7:45
p.m. Both games are in Mission.
Quarterback Club meets in cafeteria at 7:30.
Girl Scout Cadet Troop 47 meets at 4 p.m., 412 W. Gore
WEDNESDAY
Home Start Parent Meet from 9-11 a.m. at Sunset Terrace.
Winter Visitors Dinner at noon-Pharr Civic Cento.
People: Comings and Goings
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hofer of Mildord, Illinois, have
returned to the Valley to spend the winter. The Hofers are
annual winter visitors and are staying at the Winter Haven
Village, Pharr.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Strait of Houston are announcing the
arrival of a 6 pound, 10 ounce daughter, born December 24,
at 9:50 P.M.
Paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Strait of
Pharr. Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. George
Downs of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
James L. Boone of Pharr was the recipient of an
undergraduate degree in agricultural economics at Texas
A&M University’s fall commencement ceremonies. A record
1,744 degrees were awarded, including 1,377
undergraduates, 282 master’s and 85 doctorates.
Mr. and Mrs. Santos Garcia announce the birth of a son
Dec. 20 at McAllen General Hospital. The Garcias live in
Alamo.
Maria Irma Ochoa of 812 W. Wright, Pharr, was awarded
a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Texas Women’s
University Dec. 17. TWU held its annual December
graduation Sunday, Dec. 17, awarding more than 550
degrees, including 16 doctoral degrees.
Weather: Some Rain
date
Hgh
law
Run
fee 21
87
60
fee 22
69
39
fee 23
74
52
fee 24
84
38
fee 25
73
54
fee 26
76
52
— .
fee 27
68
52
.89 In.
Weather is furnished by Carl Schuster Farms, at the Blue
Silo on South U.S. Highway 281.
PHARR ! WRARY
PHARR, TEXAS 78577
THE PHARR PRESS
45th Year, No. 52 PHARR [HIDALGO COUNTY], TEXAS 78577 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1978
10c per copy, $5.00 per year
Pharr Receives A Special Christmas Gift
by Lloyd Glover
The City of Pharr received a combe presided at the meeting
tremendous Christmas gift last and introduced former Pharr
week, and it can possibly prove mayor Jaime, who introduced
to be the greatest one thing Cong, de la Garza,
that has ever happened for the He said without the help of
city in its 60 years plus of Cong, de la Garza, the Pharr
history. bridge application would not be
The ‘gift’ was a permit from at this point. Very valuable
the State Department of the have been his contacts in
United States to build an Mexico that have opened doors
international bridge across the for us and made important new
Rio Grande River south of contacts.
Pharr, connecting with Rey- Without his assistance, this
nosa and the interior of Mexico, permit today would not be
The announcement was made possible, he said,
to 60 to 75 Pharr business Ex-mayor Jaime siad he
leaders and dignitaries from wished to recognize his special
Reynosa at a special press bridge committee, which had to
conference called for that work in ‘secret’ and without
: urpose by the city on publicity.
December 22nd (Friday) at the Many obstacles had to be
Chamber of Commerce (Kiwa- overcome during the last six
nis Club building). months to meet the stiff
U.S. Cong. Kika de la Garza requirements of the State
was present and was given the Department for the conditional
honor of making the announce- permit. This committee or
ment by A.C. Jaime, chairman members have gone to
of the special bridge committee. Washington and Mexico City
Cong, de la Garza said the recently,
permit was issued on Dec. 22, Members are Fred Hull,
and there would be a 15-day Efrain Barrera, Zack Barren o,
waiting period during which Oscar R. Gonzalez, Jorje
the departments of transporta- Sotelo, Gonzalo Estrada
tion, treasury, defense and the A.C. Jaime. Jaime pointed out),
attorney general can make that Cris Veia, who is tk- i
further comments. assistant city manager, did the
If there is no adverse action ‘paper work’ and was irtvalu-
at the close of the comment able to the committee,
period, the State Department The next step is for Pharr to
will issue the final permit. sign a contract with Mexico for
The Congressman said the the construction of the bridge,
closing date would be Jan. 8, Then the plans and specifica-
1979, and added that he did not tions must be prepared and be
anticipate any adverse com- accepted by both Mexico and
ment. Ninety-nine percent of the Pharr City Commission,
the work has been completed, Also, the plans for customs and
he said. other buildings must be
Pharr Mayor Quentin New- approved by the U.S. depart-
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BRIDGE MOVERS-Happy to have the worst of the bridge committee; U. S. Representative
the bridge negotiations behind them are these Kika De La Garza; Pharr Mayor Quentin
four men who dedicated much effort to getting Newcombe Jr.; and Fred Hull, of the bridge
the proposal approved. From left, they are committee,
former Pharr mayor A. C. Jaime, chairman of
ment concerned. tremendous advantages for
Officials from Reynosa were both the U.S, and Mexico side.
The bridge would be within
one and one-half miles of U.S.
Highway 281 at the intersection
south of Pharr. Also, the Pharr
present for this momentous
occasion. When Pharr started
id! out two and one-half years
ego to secure a bridge permit,
The contract with Mexico is
expected to be signed soon in
1979 but final details on plans
and specifications, financing,
road apprqpches on each side,
right-of-way and numerous
L" -'vMifct,fence of the leaders of bridge would provide direct other details will require nine
months to a full year of work.
Officials in Mexico iCity have
assured Pharr many times after
visits that they would be ready
to talk and sign contracts when
the city received its bridge
permit.
The city anticipates 100
percent cooperation from Me-
xico, as they have all to gain
and very little, if any, to lose
Reynosa was sought from the
beginning.
Among those present were
Juan Trevino, president of the
Reynosa Businessmen’s Asso-
ciation, Adrian Martinez, ma-
nager of the Reynosa Chamber
of Commerce, Alonzo Gonzalez,
hotel manager, and Rodolfo
Sarubi, general director of
tourism for the state of
Tamaulipas.
The Pharr bridge has some
^access io ’he interior of Mexico,
and also to the Rio Brave and to
Matamoros.
The special Pharr bridge
committee with former mayor
Jaime as chairman was
appointed by the Pharr City
Commission in April of this
year.
The city also placed $100,000
in the budget for 1978-79, for
bridge needs, whatever they
might be.
The idea for a Pharr bridge is
an old one and dates back at
least 20 years when Joe Kilgore
was the Congressman for this
district.
Bills were introduced in the
Congress regularly but none
ever got out of committee.
Cong. De La Garza continued
the practice when he was
elected.
In those times, permits for a
bridge had to pass both houses
of Congress. None ever did.
Then when R.S. Bowe
became mayor in 1962, the
effort to secure a bridge was
again intensified. A bridge
corporation was formed.
Highway 281 was annexed to
the curve and the county road
from that point to the river
bank was annexed.
No headway was made in
getting a bill through Congress.
Then in the 4st two years of
the Jaime administration,
contacts began again for a
Pharr bridge.
Trips were made to Mexico
City, to Washington, D.C.. On
one trip to Mexico City, some
15 Pharr business leaders
accompanied the city officials.
Contacts were made with all
the department heads con-
cerned with a bridge permit
and Pharr leaders were elated
with the reception they
received.
The stumbling block was to
secure the all-important U.S.
permit. Then in April of this
year, the new committee began
its work under Jaime and the
final result was the permit
issued las week.
Mexieai Response to Bridge Looks Positive City Sales Tax
Receipts Are Up
U.S. Cong. Kika De La Garza
was in Pharr Friday, Dec. 22, to
announce that the U.S.
Department of State had
authorized the issuance of an
application by the city for a
bridge permit to Mexico.
The representative delivered
the news to a group of some 60
people at a special conference
at the Pharr Chamber of
Commerce.
Although Pharr has yet to
sign a contract with the
Mexican government, Fred
Hull of the Pharr bridge
committee said the documents
should be signed in January.
Before the permits are
finalized by the U.S. govern-
ment, there is a 15-day waiting
period. During this period,
federal agencies of the
executive branch can comment
on the permit.
According to Cong. De La
Garza, if no adverse action is
taken at the close of the
comment > period, the State
Department will issue the
permit.
In related action, former
Mayor A.C. Jaime released the
following information on Dec.
27^ 1978:
The President of Mexico,
Jose Lopez Portillo, was in
Reynosa Friday afternoon and
authorized several public works
projects according to the
Reynosa “La Prensa” news-
paper.
It was reported in said
newspaper that the President
authorized the widening of the
Reynosa-Rio Bravo highway
from a two lane highway to six
lanes.
It was furthermore reported
.that he also authorized the
construction of a new highway
around Reynosa from the
Monterrey highway on the
Northwest section of Reynosa
GREETINGS-Pharr City Commissioner Lydia Garza. Commissioner Jim Brewster is behind
(Lile) Briones greets Congressman Kika De La the Congressman.
to the Rio Bravo highway on
the Northeast section of
Reynosa.
This was of particular
interest to us since this
approved loop around Reynosa
will also provide a direct route
to our proposed bridge from
Monterrey without going thru
Reynosa.
The widening of the
Reynosa-Rio Bravo highway
will also no doubt increase the
traffic to our area and
particularly since Mexico will
provide a new road directly
north to our proposed bridge.
it now appears that our
proposed bridge stands a very
good chance of getting the final
approval in Mexico City.
by the Reynosa officials and
Tamaulipas Governor Card-
enas, stated that our proposed
The Mexico president, after bridge would be considered for
hearing the proposal as made approval in next year’s budget.
Shareholders Meeting Held
The Board of Directors of the
Security State Bank met
December 13th. At the
meeting cash dividends were
awarded for all shareholders of
record.
This dividend is to be paid
December 29, 1978.
Last year ther was some
question as to why the $.70 per
share dividend when the 1976
dividend was $1.00 per share.
The 1976 dividend was paid on
80,000 shares. In early 1977 the
bank declared a 50V2 stock
dividend bringing the total
number of shares outstanding
to 120,000. Consequently those
should be multiplied by 1.5 to
compare this year’s dividend to
the dividend you might have
received for 1976. Therefore
giving $1.05 per share before
the stock is split.
AUSTIN-State Comptroller
Bob Bullock Dec. 14 siad Texas
cities will end 1978 receiving
more than $424.8 million as
their share during the last 12
months of the local option one
percent sales tax.
Bullock said that is 17.5
percent more than Texas
cioties received in 1977.
Pharr is slightly below this
state average, with a 16
percent increase over last year.
San Juan’s share represents an
11 percent increase and
Alamo’s is a nine percent
increase.
The totals were included in
Bullock’s announcement of the
December allocation of city
sales tax. The state will rebate
$74.9 million to aome 900 Texas
cities as their share of this
month’s allocations.
The December figures will
boost the yearly total about
$63.2 million ahead of payments
mads during 1977.
Pharr’s check this reporting
period will total $115,329.68,
raising its total for the year to
$697,539.21. The same figures
for 1977 were $89,768.39 and
$597,394.44. The percentage
change to date is up 16 percent
over last year.
San Juan will receive
$13,099.44, bringing its total for
the year to $102,657.99, up 11
percent over the 1977 total.
Last year’s figures were
$14,345.10 for the period and
$91,951.61 for the year.
Alamo’s check will be $8,786,
bringing its total allocations to
$56,862.06, an increase of nine
percent over the 1977 pay-
ments. In 1977, Alamo received
$7,967.77 for the period and
$52,037.18 for the year.
In the state’s major cities,
increases over last year varied
considerable, with Houston
faring the best.
Houston’s check this report-
ing period will total $15.5
million, raising its total for the
year to $88.8 million, up 22
percent over 1977.
Dallas will receive $8.9
million, bringing its total for
the year to $49.8 million, up 12
percent over the 1977 total.
San Antonio will get a check
for $4.2 • million, making it ’■
yearly total to date $24.-*
million, an increase of 11
percent over last year.
Fort Worth’s check for the
month totals $3.07 million,
raising its total for 1978 to $17.5
million, a 16 percent increase
over last year.
Austip will get $2.5 million,
for a total of $14.2 million for
the year, a 17 percent increase
over 1977.
Corpus Christi will receive
$1.6 million, raising its total to
$8.6 million, up 16 percent over
1977.
El Paso’s check will be $1.9
million, bringing its total
allocations to $11.2 million, an
increase of 14 percent over the
1977 payments.
For some of the Valley’s
major cities, the increases over
last year are Brownsville 17
percent, Edinburg 13 percent,
Harlingen 15 percent, and
McAllen 21 percent.
The sales tax is collected by
merchants and other sales tax
permit holders along with the
state sales tax and is rebated
monthly to cities in which it is
collected by the Comptroller’s
office.
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Lowry, Jack. The Pharr Press (Pharr, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 28, 1978, newspaper, December 28, 1978; Pharr, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth866972/m1/1/: accessed July 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Pharr Memorial Library.