Staff

-Eagle Pass

Local dignitaries along with public officials were on hand this Wednesday morning in front of City Hall to pay tribute to law enforcement officers and the sacrifices that they make for the security and safety of our community. Father Joseph Benedict was also on hand to deliver the invocation on this important day. Police Lieutenant Aldo Escamilla headed the ceremony and presented some history about this important ocassion.  National Law enforcement week is conducted in remembrance of those who have fallen while serving as law enforcement officers. National Police Week started in 1962 by John F. Kennedy declaring National Memorial Day on May 15th, shortly after joint congress declared May 12 thru the 15th as National Police Officers Week as a special recognition. During national police week thousands law enforcement officers gather at designated areas within their communities to particiapte in community events. In the United States some 900,000 law enforcement officers put their lives on the line for the protection of others. 

Thanks in large measure to the dedicated men and women of law enforcement, crime rates are showing a downward trend. Sadly, there are 60,000 assaults to law enforcement officers on a yearly basis, resulting in 16,000 injuries over the last decade, 160 officers were killed while fulfilling their duties. In the year 2012, 120 officers lost their lives in the line of duty 11 are from Texas. 

Local dignitaries which attended included Councilwoman/Mayor Pro- Tem Asalia Casares, Councilman Billy Davis, Representatives from the Sheriff's Department, Department of Public Safety, Border Patrol and Probation Department were also on hand.

Mayor Pro-Tem Asalia Casares presented the proclamation thanking all the officers at the ceremony who keep the city of Eagle Pass safe, including all the law enforcement agencies who safeguard the freedoms of the citizens of Eagle Pass.

A.D. Ibarra

-Del Rio, Texas

     Edgar Aguilar, who The Honorable US Federal Judge Alia Moses of the Western District of Texas called the person who put together the "Grossly criminal" act of orchestrating a months-long plot to steal from the City of Eagle Pass in the form of utilizing a Gas Man fuel card to steal an amount of $68,373.87 in gasoline and along with four other individuals indicted in this case, benefited from this financially, was sentenced to 42 months in prison, three years of probation and will be forced to pay restitution to the tune of $500.00 per month until the amount is paid in full.

     Aguilar's defense attorney Edgar Juarez and US Prosecutor Timothy Adam Duree were in discussion prior to sentencing as the US Government put in for what is termed a sentencing advisory to which Judge Moses was taken aback stating, "I'm not really happy with this case, I was planning on sentencing above the guidelines, now you come to me with guidelines?  What this man did was inexcusable," before the prosecutor asked to approach the bench.

     What transpired after this was what seemed to be discussion as to the details found within the context of the sentencing advisory amidst the eery sound of a device which will not allow anyone outside the bench to listen in on the conversation.

     What one could notice was that it seemed as though Duree was attempting to convince the judge to see his points of view on some issue while Aguilar was waiting somewhat impatiently adjusting his government issued orange suit in cuffs and chains in front of the court reporter with arms crossed.

     After exactly eleven minutes, Juarez came up to Aguilar to give him the news that the judge had probably not taken the advisory into consideration and Aguilar was asking him questions.

Then Judge Moses gave him the opportunity to speak to which Aguilar apologized to the court, to the judge and to the United States to which she replied, "How about to the taxpayers of Eagle Pass?"

     She went on to say that he had been placed in a position of trust and he took it upon himself to violate this trust and to recruit others to assist him in doing so for a very long period of time.

Mayor Ramsey English-Cantu was given the opportunity to come up and speak on behalf of the victims and said, "I was angry and disappointed that you could not have the basic standard of humanity.  There is an obligation expected of all city employees and this trust has been violated."

     Cantu went on to say that Aguilar knowingly and repeatedly stole from the citizens of Eagle Pass.

     "Our image has been tarnished and we ask that our citizens be paid in full and that Mr. Aguilar is sentenced to the fullest extent of the law."

     What Judge Moses stated in her remarks prior to sentencing was that they were seeking a sentence of 12-18 months which she said was not going to happen because this was not a mistake, it was what she deemed a "Criminal decision."  She also stated that in order to promote respect for the law and to protect the public, she will sentence him to 42 months in prison, three years probation and ordered him and his accomplices to pay back $68,373.87, $48,373.87 to the City of Eagle Pass and $20,000.00 to the Texas Municipal League.

A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

Every second Saturday in May letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America deliver much more than mail when they walk and drive along their postal routes. They also collect the goodness and compassion of their postal customers who participate in the NALC Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive – the largest one-day food drive in the nation and probably the world.

The mail carriers for the US Postal service in Eagle Pass also did their part in collecting 3,045 Lbs. of food which will be forwarded to Our Lady of Refuge Church who has an existing food pantry and the food is to be subsequently distributed to the needy families of Eagle Pass and Maverick County.

Ernesto Saucedo, USPS Supervisor, informed The News Gram of the successful collection of food by his staff who handle a total of 21 routes in and around Eagle Pass.  He also let us know that Eagle Pass has grown significantly as there used to be 10 routes within the city limits and 3 outside which has doubled in the last decade.

The postal carriers left bags which were to be used for the drive and postal customers returned these bags to the carriers on this, the designated day for the Stamp Out Hunger Campaign for the 16th consecutive year in Eagle Pass.