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Staff
-Eagle Pass
The Texas Judicial Commission forwarded a letter to Maverick County Judge David Saucedo which establishes that Justice of the Peace of Precinct 2 Cesar Perez should be suspended without pay until his case is heard in District Court.
The document was received a little after noon on Wednesday at the County Judge's office who stated that the Judicial Conduct Commission's decision should be affected immediately.
Justice of the Peace Perez, and his secretaries Elisa Martinez and Martha Zamarripa were arrested on Friday on two State charges of theft by a public servant and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Saucedo also informed The News Gram that the issue needs to be discussed at the next meeting of Commissioner's Court in order for the county to make a decision as to what and how the situation should be handled at this juncture.
The three defendants in this case recuperated their liberty by posting $12,000.00 bond.
County Attorney Rick Ramos stated that the case of JP Perez needs to be handled differently than those of our two county commissioners who are facing federal charges and who he has petitioned District Court to have them removed. This process is a longer, more drawn out process compared to Judge Perez' which comes directly from the State.
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
In a decision taken and unanimously approved at Tuesday night's meeting of the Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees, the name of the EPISD Sports Complex Football Stadium will aptly carry the combined names of legendary Eagle Pass High School football coach Cozel Foster and a name which appropriately honors the steadfast dedication exemplified by our fighting forces around the world as well as those who have dedicated and even given their lives to insure the freedom which we all live in this, the greatest country on Earth, our US Veterans.
The name of the stadium in which the Eagle Pass Eagles and the CC Winn Mavericks do battle in week in and week out will be called Foster Veterans Memorial Stadium.
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
When the terror of what took place at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut was being aired on every news source in America, parents shuddered to even think that a situation such as this could happen in a community such as Eagle Pass.
After all, the 20 children who were shot and killed by the deranged killer who entered the school and began opening fire with high-powered assault weapons were dropped off that day by their parents expecting nothing more than to innocently get the education they are supposed to receive on a daily basis each day, not to die by the hand of a gunman who has no business on campus.
Representatives from Nellie Mae Glass Elementary were on hand earlier this week to personally receive a check for $800.00 from McDonald's represented by Angie Elizondo General Manager of the McDonalds on Main Street. Rosa Castillon, Principal of Glass Elem. along with Literacy Specialist Ariana Celedon and Counselor Maria Soto were happy to accept the monies that were raised during McDonald's Teacher Night earlier this school year. The event is a fun way for schools to raise much needed funds by working at the restaurant and receiving a percentage of the sales for that day.
A.D. Ibarra -Eagle Pass
The Eagle Pass Library Foundation is holding a very special event on Saturday from 2:00-4:00 P.M. at Moore Hall on 648 Madison St. across from San Juan Plaza in order to welcome best-selling author Hipolito Acosta to Maverick County. Acosta, the most decorated agent in the history of the US Immigration & Naturalization Service, is promoting his latest book, "The Shadow Catcher" a riveting documentary of the high stakes infiltration of immigrant smuggling rings and Mexican drug cartels in and around our US borders. In his book, he finds himself sympathizing with the men and women who seek freedom, sanctuary and a better life for their families in the US as he chased the Coyotes, the smugglers who were often responsible for the injury or death of the people who have paid them for transport across the border. Acosta was the District Director of INS at the US Embassy in Mexico City and in charge of all INS operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. "The Shadow Catcher" is a first-person account of some of the remarkable event's in Acosta's 30 year career as an undercover agent in the INS and US Border Patrol as he infiltrated the worlds of human smuggling rings, rapists, counterfeiters, murderers, con men and drug smugglers often working without backup and brought them all to justice. "I know that I have saved many lives and put many unscrupulous thugs behind bars," says Acosta, "But I also realize that I am only human. I', Hipolito Acosta and these are some of my stories..." Come meet Pulitzer and Acosta on Saturday at Moore Hall to get an inside glimpse at the man, the agent and the writer.
BY SALO OTERO, South Texas Food Bank marketing director
The South Texas Food Bank, serving supplemental food to the unemployed, underemployed and those living on fixed incomes, will continue to have a significant niche in the lives of this area’s residents for years to come. Celia Cole, CEO of the 21-strong Texas Food Bank Network based in Austin and Fort Worth, visited the South Texas Food Bank recently, attending the monthly board meeting at the Laredo Commerce Bank community suite. Cole, native of New Haven, Connecticut, graduate of Columbia University and in Texas for 20-plus years, lauded STFB board president Kevin Romo and members and executive director Alfonso Casso and staff “for the work you do in the mission of feeding the hungry.” She told the board, “Food banks have a lot of challenges ahead, facing cuts in federal and state budgets. But we have a good reputation of meeting the needs of the poor. The future of food banks? There will be continued growth and demand until the economy gets better.” Cole noted the national farm bill has yet to pass in Washington, D.C. The current bill will be extended through September, but the threat of cuts looms to programs that help the poor like SNAP (formerly food stamps). Cole urged advocacy for the South Texas Food Bank. “We must remain vigilant that the less fortunate will not be affected and continue to build relationships to get the word out on behalf of our clients to our representatives Henry Cuellar and Pete Gallego,” Cole emphasized. Romelia Cardona is a member of the STFB board. Cuellar is from Laredo and Gallego from Alpine. Both serve the eight-county area from Rio Grande City to Del Rio that includes the South Texas Food Bank. And likewise at the state level Cole added, “Keep talking to our people in Austin. The 83rd Legislature is in session and the primary goal is to protect the funding we have, adding more with outreach and partnerships.” The South Texas Food Bank ranks ninth among the TFBN’s 21 food bank. The STFB distributed 726,687 pounds of product in December bringing the first three months of the 2013 fiscal year total to 2,200,553 (2.2 million) pounds from October through December. The food bank served 50,012 families in October and November, including 38,196 children, 79,972 adults and 129,055 meals. Program numbers for December are 483 bags in adopt a family, 7,078 in Commodity Supplmental Food Program (CSFP), 210 applications for SNAP (formerly food stamps) representing 266 adults, 314 children, 775 children daily served an after school meal at 15 Kids Cafés and 69 applicants for emergency bags representing 141 adults, 130 children. The South Texas Food Bank distributed 54,393 pounds of product during December in Maverick County at seven sites, including four precincts under the direction of Becky Baxter Bellow, who can be reached at (830) 757-6424 at the Maverick County Food Pantry and Family Services.
The other sites in Eagle Pass that distribute food to the needy of Maverick County are:
• Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, Reservation, Teresa Garza, coordinator (830) 421-5359.
•San Lucas Lutheran Church 1725 Edison Road, Paul Bailie coordinator (830) 773-9320.
• Primera Iglesia Bautista, 520 Colorado St., Pastor Felix Castillo (830) 968-3991.
Patrons must call to get the hours of distribution. Also, the STFB can be reached by calling (956) 726-3120 and information on the website www.southtexasfoodbank org. Tax deductible donations can tbe mailed to 1907 Freight St., Laredo, Tex., 78041.
Staff
-Eagle Pass
Organizers for the 2013 Maverick County Junior Livestock Show are busy making preparations for the approximately 500 projects ranging from steers, hogs, goats and lambs. Sandra Ruiz, who is a member of the organizational committee, informed The News Gram that the event will be held from January 20th through the 26th at the Maverick County Fairgrounds. Admission is free. Hundreds of children and teenagers are preparing to show their projects and hoping to participate in the auctions. The MCJLS Queen Pageant will be held on January 20th at 3:00 P.M. The Traditional Cowboy Breakfast will be held on Tuesday, January 22nd at 8:00 A.M. where local dignitaries are invited to attend.
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
The Regular meeting of Maverick County Commissioner's Court was held on Monday and when it looked as though there would be no visitor's comments and things would be getting underway quickly, Sheriff Tom Schmerber approached the visitor's mic and mentioned some concerns of his which he felt needed to be aired out, if you will. The first was a credit card bill which comes from the previous administration in the amount of $12,425.00 which Schmerber does not feel his budget needs to cover, needless to say he may have also been questioning what the Visa card which was issued to former Sheriff Tomas Herrera was utilized for. When we reached former Sheriff Herrera for comment, he informed The News Gram that he had closed all credit cards in November. If in fact any of those cards had an outstanding balance, it would not have been that much.
Staff
-Eagle Pass
On Monday, Sheriff Tom Schmerber officially named Cesar De La Garza Administrator of the Tom Bowles Detention Center in replacement of Rodolfo Muñiz who resigned abruptly last week citing personal reasons.
De La Garza has served as a Lieutenant and was second in command under Muñiz and now Sheriff Schmerber has entrusted him with the position in an interim basis for the time being.
Schmerber has the utmost confidence that De La Garza will do a good job. His first order of business is to make several necessary repairs to the facility and to get it ready to pass State inspection.
De La Garza was part of Sheriff Schmerber's initial team of assistants when he took over the Sheriff's Department 15 days ago.
Schmerber informed The News Gram that he is eagerly awaiting the audit in order to be able to establish guidelines by which his department could begin to run smoothly from here on out and to better run the Maverick County Jail.
Staff
-Eagle Pass
A heavy wrecker type truck rolled over in the early morning hours on Saturday south of Maverick County and both the driver and his passenger were seriously injured and had to be airlifted to San Antonio due to the extent of their injuries.
The accident occurred just after 8:00 A.M. on Saturday approximately eight miles past El Indio.
Authorities reported that the re was a dense fog which could have been a key factor in the cause of the accident.
The extremely heavy 2012 model tractor-trailer was practically destroyed and lay strewn across the highway as emergency medical personnel and firefighters rushed to liberate the two men from the wreckage before they were taken to the Alamo City for emergency medical treatment.
The identity of the driver has been determined to be Juan Muro, 40, and Rolando Garcia.
On Monday, authorities reported that the two men were in serious but stable condition.
The Texas Department of Public Safety continues to investigate the causes of the crash.