Staff

-Eagle Pass

A woman was fatally injured when her Ford Explorer collided against a utility pole. The accident happened around 3 pm at the intersections of Loop 480 at El Indio Hwy, south of Eagle Pass.

The impact of the vehicle against the pole was stunning , a white colored Ford Explorer was shattered against the utility pole, the hood and engine practically hugging the post.

The woman was seriously injured and paramedics transported her to the emergency room where she later died. She was later identified as Martha Alicia Jimenez Mata, 62 years of age.

The specific condition of the other passengers was not known as of press time but there were two other younger passengers in the vehicle at the time of the collision, one of which was a 17 year old identified as Gilberto Alejandro Mata. 

Eagle Pass Police officials could only determine that the driver might have had health issues that caused her to lose control of the vehicle. Police officers rushed to the scene  and cordoned off the area, vehicular traffic in that area was partially altered. The accident remains under investigation.

January 24th, 2012.- Carlos Pereda resigns as County Auditor after 18 years of service. The new auditor is now Fidencio Ortiz.

February 6th 2012.- Gasoline fraud is made public: City administration informs The News Gram that the Department of Detectives is concluding an investigation of theft via use of gasoline cards against the City of Eagle Pass to the tune of $68,000.00. According to the report, the card was used by an ex employee for personal gain and for the personal gain of others involved.

February 18th, 2012- Lynette Cerezo perishes in accident: a 16 year-old youth dies in a tragic accident according to The Texas Department of Public Safety. According to the report, the victim was traveling as a passenger in a 2006 Model Toyota Tundra driven by her mother who hit a concrete wall.

February 20th, 2012- Biolife Closes Doors: Biolife surprisingly closes its doors and ceases operations in Eagle Pass leaving 50 people out of work.

March 8th, 2012, 1st homicide of the year is recorded in Eagle Pass: at a residence on Tabachin Street south of Eagle Pass young Alexis Javier Rojas, is shot in the back.Sheriff's Department officials arrested Guillermo Castillo, 45 who is charged with homicide.

April 10th, 2012.- Ruiz is ousted by unanimous vote: Eagle Pass ISD fires Johnny Ruiz vacating the position of Chief of Police of the EPISD, as of yet they have failed to appoint a new police chief.

April 22nd, 2012. Youth killed in rollover: A tragic rollover occurred Sunday night, at approximately 11:00 pm, on U.S. 277 North, where a youth was killed in Eagle Pass identified as Juan Garza Jr., 23, traveling as a passenger in a 2002 Ford Explorer, as reported by an official of the Department of Public Safety.

May 22nd, 2012. Two youths found dead in irrigation canal: Two young men who remain unidentified were found dead at about 10:00 A.M. in an irrigation canal that crosses Thomson Road, north of Eagle Pass. Sheriff's Department officials Maverick County reported that these men were killed in a violent way, one of the bodies was severely beaten.

May 25th, 2012, Man dies in rollover: An Eagle Pass man died from burns suffered in a roll over on Highway 277 east, where a truck carrying construction material hit another vehicle head-on.

May 26th, 2012, Alvarez Family in Tragic accident: In a teribble tragedy, three members of the Alvarez Family, a well-known Eagle Pass family, perished in a fiery crash on Highway 277. May 26th, 2012. EPISD Language Arts Coordinator was killed in a tragic car crash when her vehicle was clipped by an 18-wheeler causing her vehicle to swerve into oncoming traffic.

May 29th, 2012. Democratic Primary held in Eagle Pass: Commissioners Eliaz Maldonado and Jose Luis Rosales are re-elected, there will be run off for Maverick County Sheriff between incumbent Sheriff Tomas Herrera and Tom Schmerber.

June 25th, 2012.- EP youth dies in Pecos County: A young man from Eagle Pass, 18, died in a car accident. The youth of Eagle Pass, traveling in a Mitsubishi car, model 2002, and overturned. The young headed to Eagle Pass. The accident happened on a road with little traffic in Pecos County.

July 28th, 2012, Mayor Chad Foster loses battle with cancer. Former Eagle Pass Mayor Chad Foster loses his battle with cancer in a Houston hospital. Foster who is known to have established strong relations with municipalities in and around our sister city of Piedras Negras.

July 31st, 2012, Gallego wins runoff against Ciro; Schmerber elected Sheriff: Congressman Pete Gallego wins runoff against Ciro Rodriguez, will face Kiko Canseco in general election and Tom Schmerber wins election for Maverick County Sheriff.

September 16th, 2012, Couple dies on 277 in another fatal accident on the roads of this border: Two people died tragically in a head-on collision occurred on Highway 277 north of Eagle Pass, in Kinney County. According to the Sheriff's Department Kinney County victims were identified as Manuel and Isabel Castillo, residing in Del Rio, Texas. The victims died at the scene.

September 26th, 2012. Bridge closed for six hours: For nearly six hours, from 10:30 am until 4:30 pm on Wednesday, the International Bridge 2 of Eagle Pass was closed to traffic, mainly affecting commercial truck crossing. A customs agents find a grenade in the middle of the bridge, an inactive explosive device, and because of this, the bridge was closed for safety reasons.

October 6th, 2012. Man collides with trailer on Hwy 57: An Eagle Pass man , age 39, died on impact as the vehicle he was traveling in with his family hit a trailer which crossed his path on Highway 57, at the intersection of Adams St. The accident also injured District Judge Amado Abascal traveling in his vehicle which also hit the trailer.

October 10th, 2012. Man commits suicide on Williams: A 75-year-old died after taking a shot in the mouth in a home in Williams Street.

October 11th, 2012. First of many MC arrests by FBI: The FBI began a series of arrests and former employees of Maverick County, the first to be arrested were Jaime Flores, a former county employee, Juan Carlos Moncada, a former employee of the Auditor's Office and a local company owner on charges of fraud in the purchase of a forklift so was announced the Justice Department .. His case is still pending in federal court.

October 18th, 2012. Commissioner Heredia, two others arrested: Federal agents conducted a search at the home of Commissioner Precinct 2, Rodolfo Rudy Heredia, who was arrested on charges of conspiracy to enter the United States more than $ 13,000 without declaring the funds, according to the federal indictment. He is still being detained in Del Rio, Texas.

October 21st, 2012, Two year-old drowns in wading pool: A terrible tragedy occurred Sunday afternoon in Eagle Pass: a girl of only 2 years drowned in a small pool in the backyard of a home on Avenue A.

October 27th, 2012. Four dead in fiery car wreck: It was a sad Saturday for many families in this city of Eagle Pass, 4 people in this town were killed in a head-on collision on Highway 277 south. The victims of this terrible accident were identified as: Gilberto Guerra, Hilario Rodriguez, Rolando Romo and employees of a fried chicken restaurant in Carrizo Springs, collided with another car driven by Eduardo Salazar also of Eagle Pass.

November 2nd, 2012. Alejandra Gracia appears before Federal Court Alejandra Garcia, 26, a former employee of Maverick County, Auditor's Office, accused of receiving bribes from contractors, according to the Justice Department voluntarily surrenders to Federal agents.

November 8th, 2012. Rodriguez also appears before federal Court: The Maverick County employee, Rene Rodriguez, 40 years old, voluntarily surrendered to Federal authorities in Del Rio accused of participating in a kickback scheme involving contractors where they did projects for the county. December 6th, 2012. Commissioner Maldonado Indicted: Commissioner Precinct 1, Eliaz Maldonado, voluntarily surrendered to federal authorities in Del Rio Texas to face four counts of fraud and two counts of receiving bribes from contractors as was announced by the Justice Department. He was given the opportunity to post bail.

December 11th, 2012. Man shoots himself after five-hour standoff: A man was shot in the chest and died after spending nearly five hours by entrenched in his pickup truck on San Juan Street. The Sheriff Tomas Herrera and the police chief Juan Antonio Castaneda spoke with the victim, who decided to shoot himself with a .38 caliber pistol.

December 12th, 2012. Javier Gonzalez Indicted by FBI: The dartament of Justice reported that an employee of Maverick County Juvenile Probation Department, Javier Gonzalez, 42, and owner of a construction company was arrested on charges of fraud against Maverick County. He was released with bail.

December 20th, 2012. Eduardo De La Garza last to be indicted in 2012: The Contractor of Eagle Pass, Eduardo de la Garza, 44, turned himself in Del Rio, Texas accused of participating in a fraud scheme against Maverick County, according to the Justice Department.