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A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
The Eagle Pass Public Library informs the public in general that they are conducting a month-long activity to coincide with National Library Week which is April 14-20, 2013.
Rafael Chancey informed The News Gram that there will be no late fees or penalties for the entire month of April on late books or materials checked out of the library all month.
"Late fees on your account are taken off once you turn in late material," added Chancey.
In reference to the subsequent renovation and improvements to the library to conform to ADA standards and to make access easier to historical files and materials up stairs, Chancey said that the city's Planning Department is working with an architect and are hoping for a September start to the upgrades.
"Today’s libraries can help you and your family discover a new and exciting world through collections, digital resources and more. Whether you come for homework or job searches, help with citizenship issues or finances, adult education classes or to find the best books for young readers, libraries are a great place to spend quality time and connect with loved ones and friends," says Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late great US President John F. Kennedy.
Washington, Apr 15 (EFE).- The "full weight of justice" will fall on those found to have been behind Monday's deadly bombings in Boston, U.S. President Barack Obama said hours after two people were killed and more than 110 others wounded in explosions at the finish line of the city's famous marathon.
"We still do not know who did this, or why, and people shouldn't jump to conclusions before we have all the facts," Obama said at the White House.
"But make no mistake: We will get to the bottom of this. And we will find out who did this, we'll find out why they did this," the president said.
"Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice," he said.
"We're continuing to monitor and respond to the situation as it unfolds, and I've directed the full resources of the federal government to help state and local authorities protect our people, increase security around the United States as necessary, and investigate what happened," the president said.
Federal authorities characterized the incident as a terrorist attack.
Boston police said they found and disarmed two other explosive devices in the vicinity of the blasts.
The city's police commissioner, Ed Davis, said media reports that authorities had a suspect in custody were incorrect.
A fire at Boston's John F. Kennedy Presidential Library was ultimately determined to be accidental and not related to the explosions downtown.
The blasts happened within seconds of each other, according to a Boston Herald reporter who was among the 26,000 competing in the race.
The explosions occurred shortly before 3:00 p.m. as dozens of runners were crossing the finish line near Copley Square, packed with thousands of spectators and friends and family of the competitors.
Runners still on the course were called in after the explosions and authorities evacuated two hotels in the vicinity. EFE
Del Rio, Texas – Del Rio Sector Border Patrol agents rescued a Central American man Sunday afternoon after finding him in distress in the middle of the Rio Grande River.
Agents assigned to the Eagle Pass North Station were patrolling the Rio Grande near downtown around 3:50 p.m. Sunday when they saw a man’s head bobbing in the water. As the man drifted under the Camino Real International Bridge, he grabbed onto a support pillar. Agents were able to make contact with the man who indicated that he was unable to make it back to the Mexican side of the river due to the swift current. Agents deployed a rescue rope from their service vehicle and were able to pull the man to safety.
The subject, a 27-year-old Salvadoran man, declined medical attention. He will be processed for return to El Salvador.
“We continue to warn of the dangers of crossing the border illegally,” said Chief Patrol Agent Rodolfo Karisch, Del Rio Sector. “In this instance our agents were able to pull the man to safety. Others aren’t always so fortunate.”
During Fiscal Year 2012, Del Rio Sector agents performed a total of seven rescues. In FY13, Del Rio Sector has performed six rescues involving eight individuals.
Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is an integral part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
Austin, TX -- As the last day of session, also called 'Sine Die,' looms, the legislators are scrambling to get their bills passed out of committee and Representative Poncho Nevárez is no different.
With his HB 1351, relating the authority of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) when it comes to eliminating low-producing certification or degree programs, becoming a hot topic this session, many legislators believe that this issue needs to be addressed. Last week, Senate Committee Chair on Higher Education Senator Kel Seliger used Representative Nevárez's HB 1351 language to amend SB 215 that relates to the functions of the THECB. The Senator used the HB 1351 language as an amendment on the floor of the Senate that removed the authority of the THECB to eliminate low-producing programs leaving that power to the institution's Board of Regents. It was passed unanimously.
"I am honored to work with Chairman Seliger to make sure that this issue is fully addressed and I look forward to help pass this bill in the House," Nevárez states.
Representative Nevárez has also joined forces with Representative Naomi Gonzalez from El Paso regarding bills they both have relating to residence homestead property taxes. Representative Gonzalez has filed HB 1597, relating to installment agreements for the payment of delinquent residence homestead taxes, which is germane to Nevárez's bill relating to fighting for veterans' rights to make installment payments on residence homestead taxes. As both Representatives have related bills, they have decided to collaborate and work together to ensure that both of these pieces of legislation move forward through the House.
"I am working hard to make sure the constituents of District 74 are fully supported," Nevárez adds. "I am honored that my colleagues support my ideas because it helps not only my constituents, but theirs as well. However, there is always more work to be done."
Representative Poncho Nevárez is currently serving his first term in the Texas House of Representatives. He represents District 74. He also serves on the House Culture Recreation and Tourism Committee, International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, and Rules and Resolutions Committee.
A.D. Ibarra
-San Antonio, TX
A whirlwind of emotions overcame our sister city of Brackettville over the weekend as the community is reeling over the sudden deaths of a prominent family of five, four of which were killed instantly by a tractor trailer which was driving the wrong way on a busy Alamo City thoroughfare.
The accident occurred around midnight on Highway 90 in San Antonio when the family were on their way back home after a One-Act Play competition in which Madison and Marley Koontz participated and won the Area 4 competition with their production of "Radium Gris" which was the winning production this year in District 28-A.
Their brother Zach was the only one to survive the horrendous crash which left their vehicle, a Ford Expedition, virtually unrecognizable. The young man is reportedly recovering from his injuries and is in stable condition in a San Antonio hospital.
Both Madison and Marley are being remembered by friends and fellow classmates as outgoing, kind girls who were active in school programs.
Congressman Pete Gallego (TX-23) issued the following statement in regards to the tragic death of the Koontz family.
“I join the entire Brackettville community in mourning the senseless death of the Koontz family- Ken Koontz, his wife Melissa and their two young daughters Marley and Madison who still had their whole lives ahead of them.
My thoughts and prayers are with their extended families and all of those who feel the pain of their loss. No one feels the pain more than their son, Zack - who although survived this horrific accident- will forever live with the agony of losing his family. He is foremost in my mind and in my prayers.
The Koontz family was headed back home to Brackettville from a one-act play competition in San Antonio. Many of us can relate because we routinely follow our kids to all of their events. And, many of us routinely drive along Highway 90.
However, their lives were senselessly ended when their vehicle was hit by a drunk driver. The tragedy teaches us that any day can be our last, but that time came much too soon for the Koontz family.
More than just in Brackettville, I know that our entire region - and legions of parents across the state, mourns their loss.”
The girls' parents, Melissa and Kenneth Koontz also perished in the accident and are being remembered right now as exemplary parents.
“They were superb parents,” Brackett ISD Superintendent Taylor Stephenson said. “They lived the Christian ethic and their kids modeled it for the other kids and for the community.”
Grief counselors will be at Brackett High School Monday. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
The long-awaited clash between your Eagle Pass Eagles and the Laredo United Longhorns took place on Friday night in the afternoon heat of the EPISD Baseball Complex and the pitching matchup left nothing to be desired as Senior Sensation Devon Torres was on the hill against none other than Julio Rodriguez Solis the ace for the Longhorn squad.
A.D. Ibarra
-Austin, TX
County Commissioner of Precinct 2 Daniela Flores Aleman has returned to Eagle Pass from her recent trip to Austin to attend the Texas Association of Counties Conference which focused on county management.
"The TAC is our biggest resource for county government and 70 counties were represented," stated Aleman who informed The News Gram that she was very satisfied with the conference in general which provided much needed insight on problems being faced by Maverick County and counties across Texas, "I attended a course on grants and resources available to sheriff departments. I plan to sit down with Sheriff Schmerber to share this information with he and Ignacio Saucedo."
Also included as part of the training were the Best Practices Awards which highlighted the efforts of other counties around the state from 2009 to the present.
"There were many exemplary efforts honored and I was able to dialogue and share ideas with these recipients, ideas which we can definitely bring back to Eagle Pass to implement in the future."
But her favorite session by far was that of a county which has built its own tire shredder for less than $3,000.00 which has aided them in eliminating their junk tire problem.
"It was a coincidence and pure luck that this session was available and this is a more feasible rout we can take to alleviate OUR tire problem," she concluded, "I can't wait to share this information with my colleagues on Commissioner's Court."
In Del Rio this morning, former Maverick County Solid Waste Authority general manager and chief executive
officer of the Maverick County landfill Hector Chavez, Jr., surrendered to the Texas Rangers in connection with
an alleged embezzlement scheme announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in
Charge Armando Fernandez.
A federal grand jury indictment, returned yesterday and unsealed today, charges the 42-year-old Chavez with
one count each of possessing forged securities and theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.
According to the indictment, from March 9, 2012 to December 28, 2012, Chavez possessed forged Maverick
County checks, which he drafted himself, totaling $62,179.18 made out to Chavez and others. The indictment
further alleges that all of the checks were subsequently cashed and Chavez collected all of the proceeds.
Upon conviction, Chavez faces up to 10 years in federal prison per charge.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Department
of Public Safety Texas Rangers Division. Individuals who have first-hand information about corruption, fraud,
or bribery related to Maverick County are urged to contact the FBI at (210) 225-6741. Assistant United States
Attorney Michael Galdo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is
presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
In San Antonio this morning, federal authorities arrested German Garcia Cano, owner of GGC Enterprises, Inc.,
on bribery charges in connection with an alleged bribery, kickback and bid-rigging scheme in Maverick County
announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Armando Fernandez.
A federal grand jury indictment, returned yesterday in Del Rio and unsealed earlier today, charges the 53-yearold
San Antonio resident with two counts of paying a bribe to an agent of an organization receiving federal
funds and wire fraud. According to the indictment, Maverick County paid GGC hundreds of thousands of
dollars between 2009 and 2012 for leasing heavy equipment used in construction projects in Maverick County.
The indictment alleges that Cano paid bribes to two Maverick County employees to insure that GGC secured
those leasing contracts with Maverick County and to receive his checks from the county.
Upon conviction, Cano faces up to 10 years in federal prison per count.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Department
of Public Safety. Individuals who have first-hand information about corruption, fraud, or bribery related to
Maverick County are urged to contact the FBI at (210) 225-6741. Assistant United States Attorney Michael
Galdo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is
presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
At the regular meeting of Maverick County Commissioner's Court, several key issues were on the agenda including the item on the approval of funds for the proposed opening of Cell 2 at the Maverick County Sanitary Landfill.
Financial advisor Robert Rodriguez was on hand to inform Commissioner's Court of the status of a loan which will be requested to pay for the project.
Rodriguez advised that they needed to take action on this day to make said request being that it must be done within the scope of a regular meeting.
The funds will go toward the preparation of the cell to take the loads of waste materials which have been coming in steadily to the facility in turn generating much needed funds for the county which finds itself in need of such beneficial projects such as this which brings in $1.6 million a year.
"We usually give a number of dollars not to exceed in these types of situations," stated Rodriguez, "It's a two step process. Once the County Attorney receives the recommendation from the County Auditor, the documents go to the Attorney General. The lender is the most important component at this point. They will then ask for an independent audit and current audit reports."
Fortunately for Maverick County, Dimmit County sends us daily waste as their facility is maxed out to capacity by 9:00 A.M. each morning. Traffic may be coming in from Laredo in terms of sludge waste and the Eagle Ford Shale boom and the traffic it has provided has made this a profitable endeavor indeed which could essentially pay for itself once completed.
The item did meet some resistance simply because of the fact that the contact person for information dealing with the project is in fact Commissioner Daniela Aleman who has been working with County Judge Saucedo as well as Rolano Jasso, Chairman of the Landfill Board.
Commissioner Robert Ruiz advised The news Gram that this is the first step to look at the intent for someone to sponsor the project, but they need a non-profit organization such as The County of Maverick to request the bonds, or the financing for them.
"Even though the county is looking for these funds for them, Maverick County will not be burdened by this financially," stated the newly appointed commissioner of Precinct 4.
Commissioner Daniela Aleman had the following to say to The News Gram from her hotel in Austin as she prepares to attend the meting with State Representative Alfonso Nevarez about the new highway to Laredo as well as the TAC Conference for County Management which runs through Friday, "We already have a company we're in negotiations with, but we need to secure the tax note," added the commissioner, "The whole issue is in essence of time," she concluded as the first cell nears capacity years before it was scheduled to do so.
"What we've seen is that Maverick County is moving in the right direction, unfortunately right now, at the national level they look at our rating, but we are a non-rated entity at this point. The SWA (Solid Waste Authority) has a lot more revenue than the $659,000.00 it was projected to have each year through 2030 because they contributed $1 million over that amount last year and Cell 1 is filling up fast."
