Duval County Picture (San Diego, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 7, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 16, 1994 Page: 1 of 14
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/
S‘D Sales taTcpayments up 33 %
Wcdiic
February
I 994
Mostly cloudy and
breezy, lotos in the 60's
Freer sates take slight dip , Page 1 forecast for weekend
County p trtur?
^ We tell it like it is!"
Vol. 9 No. 7
San Diego. Texas
Thirty F ive Cents
Gonzalez gets
10 years for
shooting boy
Ruben Gonzalez, twice before
accused of indecency with a child
and given probated sentences, will
finally see the inside of a prison
cell alter a jury last week sentenced
him 10 years in the state peniten-
tiary for "recklessly” injuring a
child.
Gonzalez, 35, is currently in
custody at the Duval County Jail
awaiting a transfer to a Texas De-
partment of Corrections facility.
Before he is transferred, however,
he may face one and possibly two
other court appearances for revo-
cation of probation.
Gonzalez was indicted last year
for(4he August 1 shooting of
Lorenzo Rodriguez, a minor less
than 14 years old. He allegedly
shot the boy while the youngster
was a passenger in his father's ve-
hicle.
The state sought to convict
Gonzalez of "intentionally and
knowingly causing serious injury
to a child.” This charge could have
resulted on a life sentence.
The eight men, four women
jury, however, found the defen-
dant guilty of a "lesser included
charge” of "recklessly causing se-
rious bodily injury to a child." The
maximum sentence for this offense
is 10 years which the jury assessed
after deliberating the punishment
for 30 minutes.
Defense attorney have 30 days
to appeal the case but that appeared
unlikely.
"It was a fair trial," said court
appointed attorney Jaime Carrillo
of Kingsville. ”1 haven't see any-
thing to suggest error."
Duval County District Attor-
ney Heriberto Silva said on Mon-
day, Feb. 14, Gonzalez will be
brought to court again at the earli-
est possible opportunity to see if
his probation on another convic-
tion can be revoked. In March of
Ruelas
receives
passing
1991 Gonzalez was convicted and
sentenced to seven years probation
for indecency with a child.
Ironically, only three months
earlier, Gonzalez had been given
"deferred adjudication” in Jim
Wells County also for indecency
with a child. Jim Wells County
District Attorney Joe Frank Garza
said he to will seek a hearing to
"finally adjudicate" this case. If
found guilty he will face another
possible seven years in prison.
"More than likely they will run
concurrently," said Garza of the
several possible sentences facing
Gonzalez.
m
Demo Primary
sees record in
mail requests
County Clerk Oscar Garda JrsaM mall voting Is headed for
record numbers.
Martinez assessed $9,200
penalty for illegal dumping
m. v 0 * 0
SAN DIEGO-An Alice resi-
dent faces a $9,200 fine and pos-
sible prosecution for allegedly
allowing illegal dumping on a
land he once owned by the edge
of San Diego. Raul Martinez has
been assessed the fine by the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation
Commission.
TNRCC spokesman John de
Leon said on Monday, Feb. 14,
that the matter will be referred to
the Texas Attorney General's Of-
fice next week. De Leon added
that Martinez had failed to re-
spond to several written commu-
nications from his office.
The illegal dump site came to
light last October after tires and
other debris at the site caught fire
threatening nearby homes. Act-
ing on a request from San Diego
Mayor Alfredo E. Cardenas, the
TNRCC conducted an investiga-
tion of die site, and "documented
that.. .solid waste had been dis-
posed at the... site.”
The TNRCC "concluded...
that Raul Martinez... committed
violations of the Solid Waste Dis-
posal Act." according to a letter
written to Martinez by Kenneth
Ramirez, with the agency. Mar-
tinez was first notified of the find-
ing on November 2, 1993 and
again on January 21.1994.
The TNRCC assessed Mar-
tinez $9,200 in "administrative
penalties" for which, said De I xon.
he will be liable even if Martinez
cleans the site. TNRCC has or-
dered Martinez to:
• cease the receipt of waste;
• place "no dumping” signs on
the property;
• restrict access to the site; and
• submit a clean up plan.
"We will send him one more
letter giving him five more days to
respond." said De Leon. "If he
doesn't respond we will refer it to
the attorney general. That's when it
stans gening pretty serious.''
The letter is scheduled to go
out his week.
DeLeon said he spoke to Du -
val County law enforcement offi-
cials last week usd was told that
misdemeanor charges being con-
sidered by the county attorney
against Martinez and his brother,
San Diego City Councilman
George Martinez, may be waived
if the brothers agree to do com-
munity service and clean up the
site.
The land in question report-
edly was deeded by Raul Mar-
tinez to Alice Attorney Homero
Canales who said he was unaware
of the condition of the property.
County Attorney Jose Ramon
Falcon said he is working on a
plan whereby the land would be
deeded to the City of San Diego
for park use in return for the mat-
ter being dropped. Under this pro-
posal, the Martinez brothers
would help with the clean up of
the site.
Cardenas said he would en-
tertain such a plan provided the
clean up was performed. "We do
not have equipment to do a job of
this magnitude."
The illegal site, located at the
intersection of Julian and St. Pe-
ters Streets, is one of the bigger
sites he has investigated, said De
Leon.
by Alfredo & Cardenas
Editor/Publisher
Over 1,000 requests to vote for
mail, in the March 8 Democratic
Primary, have already been re-
ceived by the Duval County Clerk's
office, according to County Clerk
Oscar Garcia Jr. Even for Duval
County, well known for mall vot-
ing, this is a record pace.
Garcia turned down a request
by Freer Commissioner Bob Lee
to open an early voting station in
Freer, complaining he did not have
the manpower. Moreover, said
Garcia, he feared such an arrange-
ment could result in some indi-
viduals voting twice, by mail and
in person.
"If 1 open one in Freer, then
Benavides will want it," Garda
told county commissioners at a
meeting on Monday. Feb. 14. "Then
Concepcion would want it and ev-
ery precinct would warn it."
"We cah't control it," added
Garcia, "maybe later when we have
computers for voting."
Garcia explained that remote
voting stations had been tried in
the last general election and re-
ceived little use. In an election to
decide local races such as the
Democratic Primary, the turnout is
greater, responded Lee.
’’‘That's my stand right now,"
said Garda. "I would like to ac-
commodate everyone but I don't
have the staff."
"Nobody is against the idea,"
County Judge Gilberto Uresti told
Lee, "but he is telling us he does
not have the staff. He is respon-
sible"
Garcia told the court that he
had received approval from the U.
S. Department of Justice to hold
early voting on two different .Sat-
urdays, including Feb. 19 and 26.
Early voting starts today at the
County Courthouse in San Diego
and runs through March 4.
Garcia said 1,060 mail ballot
requests had been received "from
throughout the county."
"FTeer is coming in strong."
said Garcia, "they are leading in
requests."
Freer has not been too active in
mail balloting in the past. A hotly
contested race for County Com-
missioner, between Israel "Rale"
Garza and Gilberto Uribe, may be
the cause for the increased interest
in mail voting.
Interest in the election centers
mostly on several locally contested
races including those for district
and county judge and district clerk.
Longtime 229th District Judge
Ricardo H. Garcia is being chal-
lenged by Benavides native David
Garza, a Starr County lawyer.
County Judge Gilberto Uresti also
faces opposition in the form of
former San Diego ISD administra-
tor E. B. Garcia. Veteran District
Clerk Antonio "Tony" Salinas is
being challenged by former county
commissioner Richard Barton.
Other contested races include
those of County Commissioner
Precinct Two, between Rene M.
Perez and Sijifredo "Chacho"-
Flores; for Justice of the Peace
Precinct One. between Aniado
Garcia Jr. and Lilia Salinas; and for
Justice of the Peace Precinct Three,
between Benito Garza and Aida
Chapa.
County continues to
take care of state
prison requirements
grade Sales tax payments jump 33% in SD
San Diego Independent School
District Superintendent Braulio
Ruelas, serving in his first year on
the job, received a positive evalua-
tion from board members at a meet-
ing held Wednesday. Feb. 9. The
meeting was held in executive ses-
sion.
Board president Tommy Mo-
lina said board members had indi-
vidually filled out an evaluation
form on the superintendent. The
forms were added up together to
give the superintendent an overall
rating.
"He is meeting our expecta-
tions thus far." said Molina.
Molina added that Ruelas was
asked to come up with a plan of
action for the upcoming school
year. "We want to be able to review
him on his own plan." said Molina.
Ruelas came on board last June
after many of this year's objectives
had algMtdy been charted
Jump seen as good economic news
Sales tax payments to Duval
County cities took a noticeable
jump in Febnuay, sparking hopes
that it is a sign of positive eco-
nomic growth. Leading the increase
in sales was the City of San Diego
which saw a jump of35.08 percent
in February and a year to date in-
crease of 33.01 percent.
"This is very good news,” said
San Diego Mayor Alfredo E. Car-
denas. "Hopeftilly it is a sign of
things to come as the prison gets
off the ground."
February sales tax payments
cover sales for December and the
last quarter of 1993.
San Diego's check for Febru-
ary totalled $14,568.73, up from
last year's payment of $10,784.95.
For the first two months of 1994.
San Diego has received $20,411.62,
up from $15,345.29 for the same
"Coupled with the
good news we got last
week on a continuing
decline in unemploy-
ment, this is indeed
very good news.
Hopefully we can sus-
tain this... trend."
---Alfredo E. Cardenas
Mayor of San Diego
time last year.
San Diego city leaders have
called for a half cent increase In
the sales tax which would be used
to improve the city's fire fighting
capabilities and reduce fire insur-
ance rales. An election, seeking
voter approval for the increase, will
be held later this year.
The biggest sales tax payment
went to the City of Freer which
received $20,087.38. This repre-
sents a decrease of 23.12 percent
from last year's check of
$26,129.37. For the year Freer has
taken in $33,681.26, down from
$34,250.09 for the same time last
year.
The City of Benavides also
saw a healthy increase in sales,
receiving a check for $2,431.57,
up 19.54 percent from last year's
$2,033.95. Year to date. Benav-
ides has received $4,767.63, up
28.74 percent from $3,703.14.
"Coupled with the good news
we got last week on a continuing
decline in unemployment, this is
indeed very good news," said Car-
denas. "Hopeftilly we can sustain
this positive economic trend."
As start of construction of the
state prison facility south of San
Diego nears, Duval County Com-
missioners continue to take care of
last minute details required for the
project. On Monday. Feb. 14. com-
missioners approved a bid for a
temporary water line and finalized
action on an easement required for
the sewer lines.
The commissioners court
awarded the temporary water line
bid to Alice Southern Equipment
Service out of Alice. The only other
bidcame from Chapco Inc. of Bena-
vides. Alice Southern bid $600 to
mobilize and $40 per day for rental
of the line while Chapco's bid was
for $27,865 and $240.
The court also transferred an
easement it recently obtained from
Arturo Hinojosa Jr. to the City of
San Diego. The city will need the
easement to connect sewer lines
from the prison to the sewer plant.
The city is expected to pay the
county $1,965.07 for the easement
when it begans to receive revenues
from the prison.
In another item involving the
dty of San Diego, the court ap-
proved the dedication of the
Herminia Perez property to the city
for use in economic development
activities. The properly located in
downtown San Diego formerly
housed the Bruno Rios Drug Store
and Pete Saenz Real Estate.
San Diego Mayor Alfredo E.
Cardenas told the court that the
city wanted to renovate the prop-
erty and seek tenants or buyers.
"Right now it is an eyesore."
said Cardenas. "If we're successful
in our efforts, not only will we
remove an eyesore but we will put
the property back in productive
use generating tax revenues for the
county and the school."
The property was recently
struck from the tax rolls after it was
taken in a delinquent tax suit. It is
being held in trust for all taxing
entities by the San Diego ISD.
Before the city can take owner-
ship. the school and Duval County
water districts must approve the
transfer.
In other business, the court
learned that it had been awarded an
additional $102.<)00in H< IMF pro
gram funds by the state for use in
repairing homes. The money is to
be used only in the rural areas of
the county, said program adminis-
trator Juan Antonio Canales
The court also approved the
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Cardenas, Alfredo E. Duval County Picture (San Diego, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 7, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 16, 1994, newspaper, February 16, 1994; San Diego, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth988330/m1/1/: accessed June 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .