A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

Tejano music star Michael Salgado was on hand to meet and greet fans on Thursday at HEB which culminated the CarneSazo promotion as Unit Director Andy Perales, 2nd Unit Director Victor Garcia and the friendly staff at the local grocery store welcomed the many visitors.

Salgado is presently promoting his latest single, a duet with Diana Reyes entitled "Ya no te puedo amar" on Zurdo Records, in banda format.  Salgado is remembered for his hits "Sin ella" and "Cruz de madera."

A table was set up at the front of the store where patrons stood in a relatively long line at 4:00 where they withstood a two-hour wait before they could get an autographed picture of Salgado, snap a quick photo and then proceed out of the store to be greeted with a couple of free carne asada tacos prepared with the traditional Eagle Pass flair as Juan Delgado, Edel Hernandez, Celeste Martinez, Nick Ancira and Karina Bailón prepared the meat.

All in all it was a highly successful promotion and according to both employees and patrons alike, we can only hope it won't be the last CarneSazo at your local HEB.

A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

When the Eagle Pass Eagles of 1955 hit the field before their first game, which was Cozel Foster's first at the helm of the fledgling program which hadn't experienced much success in high school football at the time, they may have not been the best athletes in South Texas, but Foster made them think they were.

They were going to fight to destroy the will of their opponent and were going to wear them down in the process because that's what Coach Foster's teams did and did well, will themselves to victory and leaving bigger, faster teams gasping for air when they would collectively raise four fingers in the air symbolizing that this game was not over yet, by no stretch of the imagination.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Texas residents and business owners affected by the severe flooding that occurred in Maverick County June 14 - 15, 2013, U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Karen G. Mills announced today.  SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to a request SBA received from 
Governor Rick Perry on June 21.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Maverick County and the neighboring counties of Dimmit, Kinney, Uvalde, Webb and Zavala.

"The U. S. Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing Texas with the most effective and customer-focused response possible, and we will be there to provide access to federal disaster loans to help finance recovery for residents and businesses affected by the disaster," said Mills.  "Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA."

"Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster," said SBA's San Antonio District Director Pamela Sapia.  "Beginning Wednesday, June 26 at 8 am SBA representatives will be on hand at the following SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center to issue loan applications, answer questions about SBA's disaster loan program, explain the application process, and help each individual complete their application," Sapia continued.  The center will be open on the days and times indicated.  No appointment is necessary.

Maverick County

Disaster Loan Outreach Center

Eagle Pass Junior High School (Band Hall)

1750 North Bibb Street, Eagle Pass, TX 78852

Opens Wednesday, June 26 at 8 am

Hours:  8 am - 5 pm; Mondays through Fridays

Closed for Independence Day Holiday, Thursday July 4

The center will close on Wednesday, July 17 at 5 pm

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.  Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses of any size and private, nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  SBA can also lend additional funds to homeowners and businesses to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.  EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

Interest rates can be as low as 1.875 percent for homeowners and renters, 2.875 percent for private, nonprofit organizations and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years.  Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. 

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA's Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, e-mailingdisastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visiting SBA's Web site at http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.  Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339.