A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

The EPISD Board of Trustees will formally re-name the EPISD Student Activity Center Football Stadium to Cozel Foster-Veteran's Memorial Stadium on Thursday, June 27th at a ceremony scheduled for 7:30 PM.

The school board approved the re-naming of the newly opened sports complex, with Cozel Foster's name, in recognition of his work and contribution to the sport in this community.

The special ceremony scheduled for Thursday will be to officially open and unveil a plaque with the new name of the stadium.

"In my humble estimation, the EPISD could have waited another 100 years and still not found a person or family name and public service organization like our Veterans  who represent everything that is good and proper about Eagle Pass to place on this stadium we are all so very proud of," stated CD Kirchner, one of the organizers of the event, "June 27, 2013 could very well be the day that all of Maverick County may look back on years from now and say 'This was the day that transformed our County, our City and our school system's athletic facility for the better". 

The Foster -Veterans Memorial Fund, a 501 (c) 3 organization, will have a table set up with sample bricks (monogramed with ex students and families names ), 4x8, 8x8, and 12x12 bricks and or tiles that can be purchased to be placed at the entrance to the new 1800 Square-foot Memorial Bldg (to be constructed with projected finish date of May 2014). 

These bricks will also be placed along the sidewalk leading North to the Memorial Park and within the park itself  that will be just North of the Memorial Building.  Prices of the bricks and tiles  will be made available to all. The site and location of this building will be shown and explained to the general public before, during and after the stadium dedication.

"They arrived in Eagle Pass in 1955 to a class 2-A high school with less than 80 kids in the graduating class and still see Eagle Pass as one community who now just happens to have two high schools with a total population of around 4,000 students," added Kirchner, one of Foster's former players who invites all former Eagles who played under Coach to attend.

The event has added a reunion of sorts for any and all alumni, EPHS or CC Winn who want to attend this momentous occasion.  On Thursday,  June 27  from  5:00-7:15 PM the committee will be will be registering alumni and collecting contact information at the EPISD Fine Arts Center.  

"There are only 230 Texas HS football coaches that have been selected for the THSCA Hall of Honor - from 1930 - 2013 out a pool of over 40,000 to chose from," concluded Kirchner, "This is our chance to show Coach and Martha and the entire family how much we all appreciate and love them and have all these years since." 

Staff

-Eagle Pass

24 year-old Gustavo Rodriguez Costilla, one of 132 prisoners who escaped from the CERESO in Piedras Negras on September 17, 2012, was apprehended by US Marshals on Friday and is currently being detained at a federal detention center.

The prisoner, who may have ties to the Zeta drug cartel in Mexico, was initially arrested on weapons charges before his eventual escape from the state prison late last year.

It was speculated that the cartel may have orchestrated the escape in order to free members who were being held in the facility in the midst of an all out war between the government and the cartel which turned extremely violent in clashes on the city's streets in November and early December.

According to reports, the escapee was found in a local residence and may have been hiding in a closet deep within the residence.

The prisoner remains a US Marshal prisoner being held until further notice and the case remains under investigation.

Staff

EAGLE PASS - Radio Manantial and KEPI, two local Christian radio stations are accepting donations for flood victims in Eagle Pass and Piedres Negras, Mexico. 

For the past week, Radio Manantial has accepted donations and distributed supplies to many families in need. As organizations such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army along with local government attend to the need here in the States, there is still a very serious need in Piedres Negras.  

“With the size of this disaster, many families lost their home. They lack the basics such as clean water, food and clothing.”, said Arron Daniels, Disaster Relief Services for World Radio Network. “As followers of Jesus, we want to take care of our brothers and sisters as well as give others the opportunity to be a blessing.”

"We're helping on both sides of the border,"added Daniels in an exclusive interview with the News Gram, "Because we see a suffering people, not borders, Jesus said, 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ therefore, please help, because we do have the ability to get supplies across the border and into the hands of people who need it."

Radio Manantial is currently accepting donations of bottled water, canned food, nutrition bars, baby wipes, diapers, baby formula, cleaning supplies, gently used clean clothing and toiletries. You can drop off donations at the studio located at 2477 El Indio Hwy., M-F from 7am to 6pm, Saturday from 12-5pm and Sunday from 2-5pm. They will also accept cash donations which will be used to purchase needed supplies. 

“It’s been great seeing the outpouring of kindness and compassion from this community.”, said Daniels. “There is no doubt that Eagle Pass cares deeply for it’s citizens and its friends across the border.”

For more information on how you can get involved, call Radio Manantial at 830-757-0887.