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A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
Councilman Luis Sifuentes informed The News Gram of the fact that the City of Eagle Pass has approved a feasibility study to see if an airport nearer Eagle Pass would be a venture the city is willing to explore. "A motion was made and approved to see if we need an airport and whether it's frugal to expand it," stated Sifuentes referring to an airstrip which Mr. CC Winn has agreed to donate for the project, "It's a project which has been discussed for over a year now, and we're going to see if we really need it, what are the advantages and disadvantages." The strip is located between Hwy 57 and 277 just past the new outer Loop 480. A presentation was made by both Robert Gonzalez and Al Groves who both have worked on improving the infrastructure of Eagle Pass for many years. Sifuentes closed by saying that they were indeed given the dimensions of said facility and they will continue to look into the possibilities of such a venture. City Secretary Mary Velasquez said that this study was going to be conducted at a cost of no more than $30,000.00 which was approved at the Regular Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday.
The Regular Meeting of the Juvenile Justice Board of Directors held Tuesday, September 17th at the Maverick County Court House began with Bruce Ballou(Director of Probation for the Tri-County Area)'s report highlighting the accomplishments, accolades and achievements of the Border Hope Juvenile Residential Facility including a JJDP grant which has been approved in order to hire a certified vocational coordinator to teach small engine repair, building trades and welding to the residents of the facility whose funds will be available in the next few days. Present were the county judges of the Tri-County Area including The Honorable Cynthia Muñiz, 293rd District Judge who chaired the gathering, The Honorable Amado Abascal, 365th District Judge, The Honorable Joe Luna, Zavala County Judge, The Honorable Francisco G. Ponce, Dimmit County Judge and The Honorable David R. Saucedo, Maverick County Judge. Ballou also reported that they are applying for a grant to be able to provide psychological, physical, mental and wellness services, a University of Texas Grant for school services, they have built study carrels and the residents are being educated through E 20-20, a program which is also being utilized in the EPISD for at-risk students seeking credit recovery for any of the four core areas (English. math, science and social studies).
he facility is presently residing four youths, two from Maverick County and two from elsewhere and the director have made contact with law enforcement agencies in Brewster, Uvalde, Zapata, Palmer, Palo Pinto and Terry Counties. He cited a 41% decrease in felony referrals since the onset of the program, 69% less misdemeanors, an 11% decrease in A & B misdemeanors, a 93% decrease in drug trafficking in this area and have almost all but eliminated drug cases involving minors from 27 in 2010, 12 in 2011 and 2 in 2012.
A.D. Ibarra -Eagle Pass he Eagle Pass News Gram was able to have a highly informative conversation with EPPD Chief Sam Granato on Wednesday who graciously informed us of several initiatives being implemented on the force including the new hand-held ticket writing devices which according to Irma Morales have been simplifying their work as well as have been significantly increasing the number of infractions being presented to Municipal Court.
ranato stated that the wishes of City Council are for all officers on patrol to have one as well as parking meter officers and even code enforcement officers.
A.D. Ibarra -Eagle Pass he Eagle Pass News Gram was able to have a highly informative conversation with EPPD Chief Sam Granato on Wednesday who graciously informed us of several initiatives being implemented on the force including the new hand-held ticket writing devices which according to Irma Morales have been simplifying their work as well as have been significantly increasing the number of infractions being presented to Municipal Court.
ranato stated that the wishes of City Council are for all officers on patrol to have one as well as parking meter officers and even code enforcement officers.
Verdict arrives in BP officer's sexual abuse case: 'Not guilty'
A.D. Ibarra
-MC Court House
The tension was high as both Assistant District Attorney Albert Rodriguez and Defense Counsel Greg Torres addressed the seven woman, five man jury early Friday morning before The Honorable Cynthia Muñiz' 293rd District Court in the sexual abuse case of Bryan Phipps.
Judge Muñiz advised all in attendance that due to the sensitive nature of this case she was not going to put up with any outbursts of emotion or any other interruptions in this case. Her bailiffs had been instructed beforehand to escort anyone who disobeyed this order out of her courtroom.
She also warned the jury of the consequences and ramifications of any jury misconduct before reading the charge: Bryan Edward Phipps is accused of continuous sexual abuse and a written copy of the accusation was provided to the jury during their deliberation period later.
"An indictment is not evidence of guilt and cannot be considered in any way," added Judge Muñiz, "You are to render a fair and impartial verdict."
She then began citing the time frame in which the alleged abuse occurred, sometime between January 18th of 2010 through July 30th of 2011 stating the definitions of key terms in the accusation as well as the graphic nature of the elements also read therein.
Assistant DA Albert Rodriguez who was accompanied by Assistant DA Robert Little very concisely and eloquently began to state his case in his closing remarks to the jury which included one alternate as he graphically laid out the evidence stopping to make sure they understood the gravity of the accusations against the defendant.
"Why are we here?," Rodriguez queried the members of the jury, "We are here because the defendant took advantage of his seven year-old stepdaughter. Is it OK to allow this to happen? What kind of human being would do such a thing? I will leave it up to you and there is only one word that can describe what has transpired in this case...'Guilty'."
Then it was Defense Counsel Greg Torres' turn to address the jury and in doing so, he re-established himself as the top criminal attorney in Eagle Pass when, in a lengthy discourse he attempted to highlight character flaws of key witnesses brought forth by the prosecution, "My job is going to end right now ladies and gentlemen, but yours is just about to begin. Now my client is not saying these things are OK, he's just saying he didn't do it."
In what has to be a statement that had to have impacted the jury, Torres questioned the fact that one of the State's witnesses may have not been telling the truth, "The truth doesn't have to be remembered... you NEVER forget it."
"Several BP officers testified. When someone is accused of something like this, they avoid you, they don't come up and testify. My job is to try to SHOW you the truth. My goal is not to abuse her (Mr. Phipp's Ex- wife), but to make her tell the truth and she was not able to do that. How many times do you have to tell a lie until it becomes the truth?"
Judge Muñiz commended both attorneys in this case and stated that they both handled themselves with the utmost professionalism before allowing the jury back into the courtroom.
At 2:43 P.M. after two hours of deliberation the verdict was read by Judge Muñiz who found the defendant, Bryan Edward Phipps 'Not Guilty' as family members of the victim, many of whom came all the way from Utah, directed verbal remarks at the defendant on the way out of the courtroom.
Canales returns to Eagle Pass to address opportunities for farmers
A.D. Ibarra
-Maverick County
Showbarn
A group of representatives from a variety of state agencies descended on the Maverick County Showbarn on Thursday to lay out opportunities for our farmers and ranchers to know exactly what is available in terms of financial assistance to not only repair any and all damage sustained by their property, but ways and incentives the state helps them to keep their farms safe and environmentally safe.
Judy Canales, State Executive Director for the USDA's Farm Service Agency in Texas under Texas Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, was on hand to address the gathering and to introduce herself to the farmers and ranchers who had heard of this conference and made it a point to attend.
Ivan Camacho and The Texas-Mexico Border Coalition founded by Omar Garza was instrumental in putting together the panel present including financial expert Joe Lopez, Joe De Ochoa, Area Director at the Texas Rural Development Office among others were also there.
"These events have happened all along the US-Mexico Border," stated Canales, "We've had so much activity here, the pecan orchards are still vibrant, so we're asking what can we do? The US Congress is completing the Farm & Jobs Bill as one in four jobs in the US are linked to agricullture."
They are very hopeful the Farm Bill will get back on the agenda.
"I appreciate the leadership of Mr. Ramirez, Mr. De Ochoa and Mr Lopez who have 21 counties to service," concluded the new Executive Director who was recently named to her new post four months ago.
"We're promoting an outreach initiative with available programs with the USDA," stated Camacho before the meeting began, "We also have Mr. Serafin Aguirre with the NRCS, who highlighted technical financial assistance, Mr. De Ochoa will address value added grants and a business and industry guarantee program and we're closing our meeting here today with a brush management workshop given by Mr. Oscar Galindo, Texas A&M Agrilfe Extension Agent for Maverick County."
Overall the event was very beneficial for all agriculture related businessmen to have attended and all ranchers and local farmers should be aware of these opportunities to grow.
City of Eagle Pass
Emergency Operations Center
***Heavy Rainfall/Flooding Alert***
The City of Eagle Pass has received news of possible heavy rainfall or flooding this weekend due to Tropical Storm Ingrid, which is expected to make landfall in northeast Mexico late Sunday.
A large area of deep, tropical moisture is expected to move into south Texas Saturday night, which is set to impact our area with heavy rains and possible flooding up until Monday or Tuesday. Creeks, streams, and rivers are expected to experience minor rises and possible urban flooding may occur during heaviest rains. People who live in low-lying areas should stay alert to the current situation and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their property from possible flooding.
For up-to-date information, stay tuned to your local radio stations, news, and weather channels.
Mary Velasquez
Public Information Officer
9/13/2013, 4:04 PM
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Ciudad de Eagle Pass
Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia
***Alerta de Lluvia Abundante y Posibles Inundaciones***
La ciudad de Eagle Pass ha recibido noticias de posibles lluvias e inundaciones para este fin de semana debido a la Tormenta Tropical Ingrid que se espera toque tierra en el noreste de México el domingo por la tarde.
Se espera que lluvias tropicales se muevan hacia el sur de Texas este sábado por la noche, las cuales impactaran nuestra región con lluvias abundantes y posibles inundaciones hasta el lunes o el martes. Se espera que arroyos y ríos crezcan un poco y que las regiones urbanas sufran posibles inundaciones. Personas que viven en zonas bajas deben permanecer alerta ante la situación actual y tomar las precauciones necesarias para protegerse y proteger sus bienes.
Para información actualizada, favor de mantenerse al tanto de estas noticias en estaciones de radio y televisión locales y canales meteorológicos.
Mary Velasquez
Oficial de Información Pública
Congressman Pete P. Gallego (TX-23) today announced that the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council for the Maverick County Coalition Against Drugs (MCCAD) has been awarded $124,929. The service area for the MCCAD includes Dimmit, Kinney, Maverick, and Val Verde Counties. The grant is part of a Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program and was awarded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in cooperation with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHS).
A.D. Ibarra
-Masonic Lodge
Bruce De Boers of World Renew Disaster Response Services informed The News Gram of the labor of hope and care his organization is providing to the flood victims of the June 14th and 15th flooding which ran rampant in our area. "Basically what we're doing is getting information from all affected families about what kinds of needs they still have such as furniture and appliances," stated De Boers, "We have had over 100 families come in, but we need for all of the nearly 500 families to come in by Friday in order to provide the maximum amount of help to this area." "We're finding that some people have needs that have not been identified.
Press Release
-Maverick County Sheriff's Office
(MISSING PERSON) Missing Since: Sunday September 1, 2013 Name: Jose Angel Rodriguez AKA: Joe Rodriguez. Date Of Birth: October 1, 1924 Age: 89 If you have any information on his whereabouts Please contact the Maverick County Sheriff's Department at (830) 773-2321. Last seen at his residence, however has been missing for ten days and family members in Eagle Pass nor Piedras Negras have not know of whereabouts and may have Alzheimer's.
