A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

Manuel Reyes III, D.A.R.E. Officer for the Eagle Pass Independent School District, informed The News Gram of the success of the 13th Annual D.A.R.E. Graduation held at Maverick County Lake.

"We're very thankful to all of our sponsors, volunteers and charitable organizations for the use of their equipment, vehicles, boats and even motorcycles which made the event much more enjoyable for the students."

Reyes stated that over 200 participants were able to culminate a year of Drug And Resistance Education across the EPISD.

Game wardens from The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department were on hand to give the students boat rides as has been customary throughout the years.

Members of the Gypsies, Blue Knights, Reguladores, and Halcones MC Clubs were also on hand to give the students rides on their Harleys and the Maverick County Sheriff's Department had three Polaris 4-Wheelers to allow the kids to ride as well.

Pedro Guanajuato of US Costoms assisted the Sheriff's Department in giving out incentives for the kids and Alfonso Mallen of the Eagle Pass Boys and Girls Club held a beach volleyball tournament and Big Bob Flores and Adolfo Lozano of BBO Truck Center handled the cooking chores of preparing over 350 hamburger patties.

Members of the Figthin' Texas 20122nd Junior Air force ROTC were on hand to assist with crowd control and lining up students who were waiting to get rides on the vehicles as well as one of the Polaris vehicles was hooked up to a wagon graciosly provided by Rosendo Flores.

The Laredo Food bank provided all the drinks for the event and numerous volunteers were also on hand to help out this worthy cause.

"We would like to thank Maverick County Commissioner's Court and the Commissioner of Precinct 1 Gerardo Morales and his assistant, Oscar Cantú for permission to use the facility and for their assistance."

"We had four D.A.R.E. Officers including myself as Jose Regalado of the EPPD, Melissa Valdez of the KTTT PD, Charlene Alvarado of the KTTT PD and G.R.E.A.T. Officer Fernando Chacon were also very instrumental in the success of the event and throughout the entire school year," added Reyes.

"The event has gotten bigger and bigger since the days when we started and it's all due to the great support we've always gotten from our community contributors who we are looking forward to working with again next year."

A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

In what may be a case of running away from family members during an argument, 28 year-old Anthony Guerrero crossed El Indio Highway at a location where many have been hit by oncoming traffic, but not in this situation.

At approximately 11:30 P.M., police reported to the scene of an accident in which a male individual had been struck by a vehicle and passed away instantly.  Guerrero was crossing El Indio from north to south when a vehicle driven by 50 year-old Juan Leandro struck him killing him instantly.  Leandro attempted to take evesive action, but was unable to avoid a collision.

Guerrero, according to a report from Lieutenant Aldo Escamilla, had apparently been in a heated discussion with family members who were attempting to coax the young man into the car when he abruptly and fatefully crossed the roadway where a 2004 Ford Sports Trac was coming at no apparently elevated rate of speed, however the impact was enough to kill Guerrero instantly to the horror of his family who witnessed the accident.

Lieutenant Escamilla informed The News Gram that at the moment, the case is being treated as an accident as the driver of the Ford Sport Trac was not intoxicated and voluntarily submitted a blood sample for analysis by the Texas Department of Public Safety.  No charges have been filed as the analysis results should take anywhere from 2 weeks to a month to return.

The body of the victim was sent to Laredo for an autopsy.

A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

Your Eagle Pass Eagles will get to play their exciting Game 1 matchup in the 2013 Region IV Semi-Finals against the Ladybird Johnson Jaguars right here before their fans in what is sure to be a packed and loud EPISD Baseball Complex on Friday.

Manager Reynol Mendoza informed The News Gram that arrangements have been finalized to bring home a playoff game against the Jags who have just come off from slaying the giant named the Churchill Chargers, the number one team in San Antonio.

"I think they're as shocked as everyone is to be here, as neither they nor anyone else expected us to be here," stated Mendoza, "Our kids are excited, a little in disbelief and may not know what to expect, but I thought they deserve a playoff game in front of their home crowd, they've earned that right."

Mendoza went on to confirm the two game series, Game 1 in Eagle Pass and Game 2 on Saturday at Blossom Field on Jones Maltzberger at Johnson High School at 3:00 P.M. and Game 3 thirty minutes following Game 2 if necessary.  

Johnson, the third place team in District 26 where Churchill came in first much like the situation with United having to play Alexander last week.  The Chargers made twelve errors in two games against Johnson in two 6-4 ballgames.  The Jaguars are peaking at the right time just as the Eagles who knocked off perennial powerhouse Mission Sharyland 10-9 on Friday in a game for the ages.

"They're a good hitting team, swinging the bats well, have lots of speed, but their strength is their pitching," added Mendoza, "They're not overpowering, but effective with off-speed pitches."

The Jaguars are coming off of eliminating San Marcos, Steele and Churchill.  The Eagles defeated La Joya, Edinburgh North and Mission Sharyland to get to this point.            

The scene is set, Friday Night Lights at the EPISD Baseball Complex, now all that's left to do is wear your Burnt Orange and White proudly, be there, be early, but by all means BE LOUD!!!