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A.D. Ibarra
-Brown Chevrolet
When the late Bob Brown opened his first dealership in 1966, both his community and ours were fledgling yet thriving communities with an eagle eye into the future.
That distant past met the future on Wednesday as Brown Chevrolet added another magnificent, technologically advanced and comfortable dealership to its franchise as they officially opened their doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its newest location, 3860 US Hwy 57 at the new and improved entrance to our fair city.
A.D. Ibarra
-EPISD
With the news of the vast opportunities for economic development at the forefront of the headlines the EPISD cannot stay behind.
The district is discussing three major innovations and projects that will equally touch the future of our children and will give them huge opportunities to get ahead of the proverbial game in terms of competing in the hustle and bustle world of the American landscape.
A.D. Ibarra
-Commissioner's Court
Maverick County Commissioner's Court and the PFC held a triumvirate of gatherings in one fell swoop as the first of two public hearings on the proposed 2015-2016 tax rate went off without a hitch as no one showed up according to Commissioner Robert Ruiz who presided over the proceedings in the absence of County Judge David Saucedo.
Next up were the regular agenda items for the Special Meeting of Commissioner's Court which included favorable reports from both Maverick County Auditor Sandra Watkins who reported she had found usage fees from a company who built aircraft here in Maverick County which could constitute over $200,000.00 in such fees for the county's coffers as well as from Maverick County Treasurer Rito Valdez who reported they are seeking funds in order to liquidate any and all expenses dealing with employee salaries and vendors of the now defunct Maverick County Detention Center.
The congregation which was less Judge Saucedo and County Commissioner Jose Luis Rosales then retired to executive session for the better part of two hours and when they emerged, now apparently as the PFC, Human Resources Director Jesus Sanchez made a motion that “Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber on behalf of the PFC provide all keys and security codes to the trustee (of UMB Bank, the bondholders of the facility) as discussed in closed session and for attorney (legal counsel Robert Wilson) to proceed as discussed in closed session.”
El pasado 26, de junio la nueva legislación hizo el dictamen muy reñido de 5-4 por el Tribunal Supremo de los Estados Unidos, de legalizar la consumación del matrimonio entre dos hombres o dos mujeres.
El lunes 31 de agosto, en el Puente Internacional # 1 de Eagle Pass, se llevo a cabo el primer matrimonio de personas del mismo sexo en la historia.
Amelia Cruz se casó con Aída Lorena López Flores, en una ceremonia íntima en la frontera entre los Estados Unidos y México.
"Para nosotras el matrimonio no significa solo un hombre y una mujer Significa dos personas que se aman y que prometen estar juntas en la salud y en la enfermedad," dijo Cruz, "El matrimonio tampoco significa un precioso vestido blanco.
Mas bien, el matrimonio para nosotras es realmente un amor que florece entre dos personas con la promesa de que lo que existe hoy solo puede convertirse en algo aun mucho mas mejor y nadie puede decirnos que no podemos ser el uno para el otro o que no debemos amarnos."
A.D. Ibarra
-Adelina Roman Conference Room
A meeting of the Eagle Pass Bridge Board was held on Monday afternoon where after much speculation that tolls would go up for private vehicles and pedestrians, the board took action only raising tolls for commercial vehicles. A decision that will bring in an extra $600,000.00+ to the bridge's coffers next fiscal year with the toll going up $1 per axle on 18-wheelers and other commercial vehicles.
Present at the meeting were Jesus Casas Board Chairman, Board Member Elizabeth Chisum , Mayor Ramsey English-Cantú, Finance Director San Juana Garza and Interim City Manager Hector Chavez.
Mrs. Garza clarified the fact that 99.7% of all obligations to the city have been paid as record of a transfer of $6 million was made known at a recent meeting of city council.
Adrián Ibarra
-Consulado de México
El Consulado de México empezó su semana de derechos laborales con un tema muy interesante y muy bien atendido ya que presente estaba el Sr. Jesus Calderon del US Department of Wage and Hours Division quien elaboró los detalles de su trabajo que incluyen los permisos H 2 A y H 2 B, los importantisimos permisos de trabajo para que nacionales Mexicanos puedan trabajar en los Estados Unidos.
A.D. Ibarra
-Union Pacific Depot
US Congressman Will Hurd met with Mayor Ramsey English-Cantú, Jim Ryan, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Constellation Brands and Ivan Jaime of Union Pacific on Monday morning to review the different routes UP is looking at in reference to the growing amount of commercial traffic Eagle Pass is seeing as what UP officials have termed the #1 commercial hub on the border.
"We have a strong voice in Washington," stated Mayor Cantú who thanked the congressman for taking time out of his busy schedule to see first hand what Union Pacific has seen in the overall growth of commercial traffic in Eagle Pass, "Congressman Hurd has been touring several forms of industry assuring that commerce has a stronger flow within the region now that industry is now taking Eagle Pass much more seriously."
"The relationship between the United States and Mexico is an important relationship the more we see that commerce grow. We've got to see that the infrastructure meets those needs," said our legislator, "I want to see the lines, whether it's trucks, commercial vehicles or individuals move faster. I'm here to try to understand some of the problems and figure out how we can have some solutions in Washington DC so we can have a 21st Century infrastructure."
When asked for some initial ideas and concepts he's seen in his visit, the congressman added, "We need more blue shirts in customs, there are not enough people inspecting the goods clearing customs at the point of origination. There's a program called preclearance which makes it a lot quicker to get through."
Eagle Pass has quickly and somewhat quietly become the #1 hub for commercial traffic. Hurd weighed in on this issue, "I'm looking forward to returning to Washington and bragging about Eagle Pass to my friend Henry Cuellar. Henry always talks about traffic going through Laredo, but I can say now there's more rail traffic going through Eagle Pass. It's only going to continue. The amount of goods and services UP is transporting across the border is only going to increase so we've gotta make sure that we're prepared for that.
"Creating efficiency is important for everyone. You have to look at combined leadership at these ports of entry. When I sit in the Department of Homeland Security, and see how they operate, you've gotta have a common leadership structure and those are some of the conversations that are ongoing."
When we mentioned the recent interview we had with GM's newest director of Hispanic Communications, Patrick Hernandez and the possibility of their coming into South Texas and the immense growth of Constellation Brands and their $2 billion investment in creating the largest plant of its kind in the world, the congressman was asked if he felt the necessary infrastructure was in place to handle this, "Right now today, I don't think our infrastructure is ready.
The private sector has been very good in communicating what their need will be down the road. They've been great at planning and letting customs and the federal government know about the increased demand. The federal government has not been responsive the way they should to meet those demands. Again if you decrease the amount of wait time at the border, you decrease cost and guess what? You're going to attract more investment into northern Mexico, into South Texas from China and from other places and these are great trends for Eagle Pass."
"We're really glad to host US Congressman Hurd and Mayor Cantú here today. Eagle Pass is a key component of our company and from our CEO all the way down we talk about everyday," stated Ivan Jaime, Public Relations Director for UP who introduced us to Jim Ryan of Constellation Brands.
Combined with the $2 billion investment right here as Jaime eloquently put it "in our own backyard", Union Pacific has also invested $80 million.
"I think if you look at who's investing on the border, there's no greater example than Union Pacific and Constellation who will continue to be here providing jobs for our youth."
"We're thrilled to be here as far as our location here," concluded Ryan, "As far as the partnership that we have both public and private. As the congressman, the mayor and Ivan said there are challenges, but we're excited to be a part of the conversation, the discussion and being a part of the solution. This is going to our brewery here that's twelve miles away, the largest in North America and will be one of the largest in the world. Our business is growing all over the United States, so this gateway, the Eagle Pass gateway is critical to our success today and to our future."
The private sector has been very good in communicating what their need will be down the road. They've been great at planning and letting customs and the federal government know about the increased demand. The federal government has not been responsive to the way they should to meet those demands. Again if you decrease the amount of wait time at the border, you decrease cost and guess what? You're going to attract more investment into northern Mexico, into South Texas from China and from other places and these are great trends for Eagle Pass."
"We're really glad to host US Congressman Hurd and Mayor Cantú here today. Eagle Pass is a key component of our company and from our CEO all the way down we talk about everyday," stated Ivan Jaime, Public Relations Director for UP who introduced us to Jim Ryan of Constellation Brands.
Combined with the $2 billion investment right here as Jaime eloquently put it "in our own backyard", Union Pacific has also invested $80 million.
"I think if you look at who's investing on the border, there's no greater example than Union Pacific and Constellation who will continue to be here providing jobs for our youth."
"We're thrilled to be here as far as our location here," concluded Ryan, "As far as the partnership that we have both public and private. As the congressman, the mayor and Ivan said there are challenges, but we're excited to be a part of the conversation, the discussion and being a part of the solution. This is going to our brewery here that's twelve miles away, the largest in North America and will be one of the largest in the world. Our business is growing all over the United States, so this gateway, the Eagle Pass gateway is critical to our success today and to our future."
A.D. Ibarra
-City Hall
Interim City Manager addressed the myriad of needs at the Eagle Pass Municipal Golf Course saying that he has both short-term and long-term plans to address this issue which came to a head two weeks ago when a special meeting was held with the Eagle Pass Golf Association in the audience.
"We proposed a short-term and a long-term plan," said Interim City Manger Hector Chavez, "We are adding two full time employees to Parks and Recreation and irrigation specialist and a mechanic/groundskeeper. The new miniature golf course which has already been approved will provide revenue to continue the upkeep of the golf course's greens."
Chavez also indicated that the city would purchase an irrigation pump to fuel the course's ailing sprinkler system which is being worked on as we speak with parks personnel busy digging to find lost sprinkler heads after the last heavy rain we had earlier this year.
"We would also propose the Eagle Pass Agronomic Plan for 2015 which suggested what we need to put in there such as the wetting agent, herbicide, liquid fertilizer anything we can do for the next year to bring the greens back to life. This is going to have a cost of $19,000.00. That is also included under this year's budget for the golf course. We had also identified that we needed to purchase two pieces of equipment at a cost of $34,000.00 apiece in order to address this properly."
Our local Wal-Mart held a very special ceremony hosted by the Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce Friday morning officially re-opening their doors to the community as they have finished off a massive remodeling of the store.
Walk - Mart Store Manager Jesus Valencia thanked the local dignitaries that were in attendance on a beautiful Eagle Pass morning.
Father Lawrence of Sacred Heart Church graced the event with his presence just before his 8:30 mass invoking the blessing of Our Lord.
Valencia thanked the members of management for their contributions in the massive remodeling of the store.
making special note of the overnight team that worked very hard to make this happen and do so by altering their lives quite a bit to work throughout the night.
From upper level management to customer service, to maintenance, stockmen, cashiers and everything in between Valencia was careful he thanked each and everyone on the team.
Staff members were present for the re-opening some of which have been with the company in excess of thirty years.
Also present at the ceremony was Mayor Cantu who offered his congratulations to Wal-Mart store #461.
“Wal-Mart has been a great corporate partner with Eagle Pass, there is a commitment from corporate office and they recognize the potential here in our great city. Providing these type of services is very important for Eagle Pass. Mr. Valencia I want to thank you for your leadership here at Wal-Mart and we know that this store will only continue to get better and better within our community.”
The gathering went inside after the cutting of the giant cake which was made in their bakery honoring the event as El Mariachi Fronterizo added their very elaborate musical stylings to the event as they played on into the morning welcoming the hundreds who attended and were greeted by approximately 25 vendors who gave out samples and added to the festivities.
A.D. Ibarra
-Concan, Texas
The Middle Rio Grande Development Council held their Annual Board Meeting in beautiful Concan, Texas on Wednesday where according to Ronnie Rivera of the Texas Workforce Center, the 2016 budget was approved at the reunion which brings together all mayors and county judges in our region together as well as members at large of the board.
Eagle Pass and Maverick County have chosen Mr. Jesus Sanchez as the Member at Large of the Middle Rio Grande Development Council. The selection is made by the local delegation which include Mayor Ramsey English-Cantú, Maverick County Judge David Saucedo and EPISD Superintendent Gilbert Gonzalez.
Mayor Cantú was elected Vice President of the coalition and was recognized by the MRGDC for his contributions to the economic development of his community as well as for his assistance to the Texas Workforce Center and all of its endeavors.
"Throughout the years, the board president selects different locations throughout the region to hold these meetings, Ultimately there were recognitions that were given to different members for the work that they do in their communities alongside the formal election of officers for the MRGDC Board of Directors and Executive Officers, I had the honor of being elected new 1st Vice-President of the board. Working together with President Gary Merrit of Kinney County we hope to continue to move forward."
