A.D. Ibarra

-Maverick County

 Courthouse

GEO have given Maverick County a thirty day notice that they will not continue with their contract with the county.

"We won't be specific about the future Commissioner's Court will be going in in reference to the facility, but what I can mention are the possibilities which exist for the future of that facility.  What we're looking at is that GEO has come in and the bond holders have decided not to continue the contract with Maverick County.  What we're here to do today is to notify the citizens of Maverick County and the employees that work there that we're doing our best as a county and we've already started investigating avenues that can exist for the operation of that facility."

Eagle Pass Police Dept. and DEA conduct raid at local homes; four arrested

EAGLE PASS, Texas -- On Thursday, October 3, 2013, at approximately 10:25 am, The Eagle Pass Police Department with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, executed a State Search Warrant at 127 Colorado Street. At the scene three males, one female, and one male juvenile were detained for investigation. All four adults were formally charged and arrested for numerous charges. Armando Narciso Ramirez, 24, Jesus Mendoza, Jr., 27, Mark Anthony Ojeda, 21, and Aidee Azucena Ramirez, 38 all of Eagle Pass, Texas were arrested. Defendants are being charged with Possession of Marijuana with intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute.

Also taken into custody at the scene were a 20 gauge shotgun and a 40 caliber pistol. An assortment of drug paraphernalia used for packaging and distribution was seized as well. Several Marijuana plants used for cultivation and marijuana individually packaged and ready for distribution were retrieved at the address. An undisclosed amount of U.S. Currency was also found and seized.

This arrest was done after a four month long investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division with the cooperation from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case still remains open and defendants have been turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for further prosecution.

The Eagle Pass Police Department takes a firm stand against its fight against drugs and will not tolerate this type of activity in our community.

A.D. Ibarra

-Sul Ross Univ.

 Rio Grande College

A group of UTSA representatives from the Institute for Economic Development met with community leaders, elected officials, school district, city and law enforcement personnel have been coming together to be briefed on ways to cope with sudden economic growth such as that which has been seen in the Dimmit and Zavala County area the past two years. 

Assistant Director of the Eagle Ford Shale Community Development Program, John Facey, was on hand to conduct the presentation which brought out the amazing statistic that in 2012, Eagle Ford Shale activity generated over $61 billion in economic impact and supported 116,000 jobs in a 20 county area.

"Our goal is to use effective strategic planning to diversify the economic base of the region to create vibrant, resilient and sustainable economic activities," stated Facey, "How a community such as Eagle Pass is prepared to deal with a natural energy boom of its own will be based on how proactive they are in their approach to readiness in terms of housing, medical facilities and just adapting to unpredictable change."

The workshop allows community leaders to analyze infrastructure issues such as railways, air strips and airports, housing stock to attract teachers and other professionals, transportation and streets, amenities such as new stores at the mall for domestic and international consumers and other integration ideas to capture more revenue from international shopping.