A.D. Ibarra
-EPISD DSC

    A special meeting was held on Monday at the District Service Center in order to address the issue of the five-year plan to address the most essential repair projects facing the board of trustees.
    According to Board President Ignacio Saucedo, the plan itself has been in place for some time now, however, it needed to be addressed with some of the newly elected board members.
    Trustee Rudy Bowles informed The News Gram of the fact that they were advised of the priorities the district faces in this respect.
    "This is a five-year plan of items that need to be taken care of for the whole district with a priority on roofs," stated Mr. Bowles, "Eagle Pass High School is one of our oldest buildings, but we will be addressing CC Winn as well as the Old Junior High, but it doesn't mean that we'll stop there."
    "We basically prioritized some of these projects from essential to non-essential and from Tier 1 to Tier 5 with our main focus being school safety and student safety," mentioned Mr. Saucedo of the multi-million dollar project which he said would address these needs as well as some other pressing issues such as a need for more space for junior high level students (be it a new junior high and/or additional classroom space in existing buildings) and the possibility of retrofitting Austin Elementary to become the new Central Office.

A.D. Ibarra
-Maverick County

    A Chevy Cobalt who witnesses say was drag racing on FM 1021 near Wildwood, was found lying on its left side when deputies arrived on the scene at approximately 10:30 PM.
    The male driver of the vehicle was trapped inside the 2007 Blue in color Chevy Cobalt and a female passenger was found approximately 90 feet from the wreckage, apparently having been ejected from the vehicle upon impact.  The female was air lifted from the site of the accident and taken to a San Antonio hospital.
    According to Chief Deputy Rick Fuentes, the male driver was freed from the vehicle and taken to the Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center to be evaluated medically, however the investigation continues as there were several eyewitnesses who are contributing information in order to find the driver of the other vehicle.
    "If we find out that they were involved, drag racing is an offense that carries a significant fine and it is a Class B misdemeanor," said Fuentes, "We have presentations before Spring Break where the Texas Department of Public Safety shows both high schools images of vehicles which have been involved in these types of accidents," concluded Fuentes who says these pictures depicting the atrocities and deaths which occur because of drag racing should deter this behavior.
    The accident and the case remains under investigation and those found to have participated will be charged and fined.

Del Rio, Texas –

    U.S. Border Patrol agents working in the Del Rio Sector seized more than 1,300 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated value of $1 million in three different incidents, recently.
    “Border Patrol agents in the Comstock area, over a period of three days, seized marijuana loads ranging in size from 55 pounds to more than 900 pounds,” said Chief Rodolfo Karisch, U.S. Border Patrol, Del Rio Sector. “Since the beginning of the fiscal year, Del Rio Sector agents have seized more than $6.5 million worth of illegal drugs.” On Jan. 19 at approximately 9 a.m., agents from the Comstock Station, conducting linewatch operations, were following foot tracks with the assistance of a Border Patrol canine and discovered one abandoned green duffel bag.     The bag contained 55 pounds of marijuana, valued at an estimated $44,400. The marijuana was turned over to the Drug E n f o r c e m e n t Administration.
    On Jan. 18, around 9 a.m., Comstock Station agents responded to suspicious
activity, reported the evening before, near the Rio Grande River. As agents neared the area they discovered seven bundles containing 340 pounds of marijuana, valued at an estimated $272,560. DEA agents took custody of the marijuana.
    On Jan. 16 at approximately 1 p.m., agents from the Comstock Station conducting linewatch operations via airboat, observed 12 individuals swimming away from the U.S. bank toward Mexico. A search of the area on the U.S. side revealed 15 green duffel
bags containing 919 pounds of marijuana, valued at an estimated $735,840. The contraband was turned over to the DEA.
    For    Fiscal    Year 2015, which began Oct. 1, 2014, the Del Rio Border Patrol Sector has seized more than $6.5 million worth of illegal drugs. The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.

Eagle Pass Police Officers reported to a residence on Ralph Drive in reference to a possible sexual assault on a minor above 10 but less than 16 years of age.
    According to Public Information Officer Humberto O. Garza, the minor was assaulted by a known male.
    "The report is already on file and the Criminal Investigations Division is looking into the incident, however information is limited at this time," stated Officer Garza.
    Names have not been released because of the affected party, however, attempts are being made at this time to question the known male.

Asalto Sexual a un Menor Bajo Investigación

Oficiales de la Policía en Eagle Pass reportaron a una residencia de Ralph Drive, en referencia a un posible asalto sexual a un menor de edad por encima de 10 pero menos de 16 años de edad.
    Según Oficial de Información Pública Humberto O. Garza, el menor fue agredido por un hombre conocido.
    "El informe ya está en el archivo y la División de Investigaciones Criminales está investigando el incidente, sin embargo la información se limita en este momento", declaró el oficial de Garza.
    Los nombres no han sido puestos en libertad debido a la parte afectada, sin embargo, se está tratando en este momento para cuestionar el hombre conocido.