FEBRUARY 26, 2025

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487-2440 302 E. 2nd St., R.G.C.

Dr. Angie Ramirez Therapeutic Optometrist

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488-0808 487-7000 280 W. 2nd St. R.G.C.

Office (956) 487-6544 • E-Mail: sctc78582@aol.com • issuu.com/starrcountytowncrier Vol. 40, No. 9

487-2596 4350 E. US HWY 83 R.G.C.

WEEKLY - WEDNESDAY • FEBRUARY 26, 2025

UIL Championship Celebration at General Ricardo Sanchez Elementary!

Installment Loans 311 E Main St Rio Grande City TX 78582-4448

Phone (956) 487-3925

Congratulations to GRSE students and coaches who gave it their all this UIL season! Your dedication, hard work, and passion have brought you to this moment, and GRSE couldn’t be prouder. General Ricardo Sanchez Elementary has made history and remained undefeated for 7 consecutive years. A victory parade was celebrated to commemorate this achievement. The journey doesn’t end here—keep striving for greatness. On behalf of the entire GRSE Nation we are so proud of each and everyone of you!

Dr. Raymond Cruz Best

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Roma High School Mighty Gladiator Powerlifters Jorge L. Alvarez, III and Isabella Reyes caught a calf in the 2025 lifted at the Edcouch-Elsa Invitational San Antonio Livestock Show Congratulations to The Roma High School Mighty Gladiator Powerlifters that lifted at the Edcouch-Elsa Invitational, where more than 330 lifters from 20 schools participated!

The girls team earned 6th place and the boys team earned 8th place. Several students earned individual awards as well!

The Gladiator Nation is mighty proud of these hard working student athletes!!

(Thanks to Coach Mario Arce for the report.)

2nd Place - Kayleen Perez and Mariela Moreno. 3rd Place - Elian Cruz, Nick Paez, and Rene Aguirre. 4th Place - Diego Diaz, 5th Place - Yanelly Garza, 7th Place - Giomara Navarro, 8th Place - Mario Garcia, and 9th Place - Yahir Torres. 10th Place - Ruben Garcia, Rimberlyn De Anda, and Janie Lopez, 12th Place - Ana Gonzalez, and 16th Place - Jessica Barron.

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Congratulations to San Isidro ISD Isabella Reyes and Jorge L. Alvarez III on catching a calf in the 2025 San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo Calf Scramble. The students will receive a certificate to purchase an animal for next years San Antonio Livestock Show.

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STARR COUNTY TOWN CRIER, FEBRUARY 26, 2025, PAGE 2

STARR COUNTY TOWN CRIER, FEBRUARY 26, 2025, PAGE 3

VMS One Act Play students placed 2nd in the 2025 UIL One Act Play Festival

Congratulations, Veterans Middle School One Act Play!

Veterans Middle School are incredibly proud to announce that their talented One Act Play students placed 2nd in the 2025 UIL One Act Play Festival!

Under the outstanding direction of Director Graham Childers and Assistant Director Maria Flores, the students delivered an unforgettable performance that showcased their dedication, passion, and hard work.

A special shoutout to the

Tarjeta de Agradecimiento En Memoria de

Odilia A. Zuñiga Agosto 15, 1929 † Enero 21, 2025

A un ángel

individual award winners: Honorable Mention Cast: Kassidy Garcia.

All-Star Cast: Mayli Aguilar, Daniel Guerra, Savannah Hinojosa, and Matthew Cantu.

Best Actor: James Margo.

This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support of VMS directors, parents, and everyone who played a role in bringing this production to life.

On behalf of the Veterans Middle School we would like to

thank you for your commitment, encouragement, and belief in our students. Your hard work truly made a difference!

And the show isn’t over yet!

Stay tuned for details on an upcoming public performance, where you’ll get a chance to see our award-winning production live. You won’t want to miss it!

Congratulations to our entire cast and crew—your talent and dedication continue to make us proud!

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Señor, tu necesitabas ángeles y has solicitado a tu presencia a una maravillosa mujer, una mujer de gran corazón, sabiduría y alegría.

Mamá, naciste como un ángel y un ángel has sido para nosotros tus hijos, nietos y bisnietos.

Cuando supe de tu partida mi corazón quedó como detenido y sentí un dolor tan fuerte, a todos nos duele tu partida pero también estamos conscientes de que era tu tiempo de partir.

Te amamos mi viejita linda, siempre nos hará falta tu risa, tus consejos, tus abrazos, tus cariños y tus regaños.

Todos los momentos inolvidables que pasamos a tu lado serán el motivo para que podamos seguir aquí sin ti.

Te has reunido con Papá y desde el cielo velan por nosotros.

Siempre los llevaremos en nuestros corazones y nunca morirán.

Los ángeles se elevan con la luz eterna y miran hacia abajo desde el cielo diciendo: “Buenas noches, los amo” ellos nunca dicen adiós.

Te amamos y te extrañamos Mamá, !Nuestra Viejita Linda!

Deseamos expresar nuestro mas sincero agradecimiento a nuestros familiares, amistades y vecinos por sus oraciones, ofrendas florales, telefonemas, comidas y muchas mas expresiones de condolencias que nos brindaron durante la reciente perdida de nuestro ser querido.

De nuevo muchas gracias por sus muestras de cariño y amor durante este tiempo.

Gracias al Pastor Osdy Luna por sus bellas palabras, al Señor Teo Barrera de Caridad Home Healthcare Agency que nos apoyo y nos acompaño en todo momento, al personal de la Funeraria Hernandez por todas sus atenciones. Que Dios los acompañe y los bendiga siempre.

Familia Zuñiga Ayala

STARR COUNTY TOWN CRIER, FEBRUARY 26, 2025, PAGE 4

Rio Grande City Employer Expo & Job Fair! RGV Save the Date for Thursday, February 27th and get ready for the annual Rio Grande City Employer Expo & Job Fair!

It’s open to everyone in the community who may be seeking a career change or new opportunities or has yet to find the career that best fits them.

This exciting event will have •FREE PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS •FREE HAIR

CUTS •FREE MAKEUP CONSULTATIONS & GREAT JOB OPPORTUNITIES! In the meantime, the Rio Grande City Public Library invites all job seekers to take advantage of its resume writing resources and get 5 free copies of your resume to help you put your best foot forward.

Great things continue to happen in Rio Grande City!

Stars’ 5th Anniversary

Alex Sarabia and Isaac Medina, Hosts and Executive Producers of the YouTube Show RGV Stars, received recognition awards for reaching the 5th Anniversary Milestone, during which they have filmed 222 episodes in 22 seasons.

They have interviewed the top celebrities and biggest community leaders of the Rio Grande Valley that include singers, actors, television and radio hosts, models, dancers, comedians, professional athletes such as MMA fighters and

boxers, and politicians.

RGV Stars guests include actor Valente Rodriguez, singers Bobby Pulido, Pee Wee, Elida Reyna and Ben De Leon of Grupo Solido, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Channel 5 Meteorologist Tim Smith, Business Entrepreneur Charlie Clark, Texas State

Representative Ryan Guillen, Professional World Boxing Champions Omar Jr. “Panterita” and Brandon Figueroa, UTRGV and STC Presidents Dr. Guy Bailey and Dr. Ricardo Solis, City Mayors Gilberto Falcon (Rio Grande City), Jaime Escobar Jr. (Roma), Ramiro Garza (Edinburg), and Javier Villallobos (McAllen), social media influencer Bronco956, just to name a few.

The purpose of RGV Stars is to give a platform to Rio Grande Valley successful, talented, artistic, and influential individuals, and at the same time, motivate and inspire the viewers.

You can view all episodes by subscribing to RGV Stars on YouTube. You can also follow RGV Stars on Facebook and Instagram.

STARR COUNTY TOWN CRIER, FEBRUARY 26, 2025, PAGE 5

STARR COUNTY TOWN CRIER, FEBRUARY 26, 2025, PAGE 6

STARR COUNTY TOWN CRIER, FEBRUARY 26, 2025, PAGE 7

Rep. Guillen Appointed Chair Of House TDI: Companies shouldn’t force consumers Committee On Agriculture And Livestock to buy home and auto insurance together Receives Additional Assignment to House Committee on Redistricting and State Affairs Representative Ryan Guillen (Rural South Texas - R) was appointed by Speaker Dustin Burrows as Chair of the Texas House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock and as a member of the Committee on Redistricting and State Affairs for the 89th Legislature.

“As a sixth-generation South Texas rancher, I know firsthand the challenges our farmers and ranchers face. Agriculture is the backbone of Texas, and I’m honored to lead the House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. I look forward to working with my colleagues to support the hardworking men and women who help feed and fuel our state.” - Rep. Guillen.

As Chair of the Agriculture and Livestock Committee, Representative Guillen will play a significant role in shaping the House’s legislative agenda, especially on matters relating to agriculture, livestock, rural economic development, forestry, and oversight of key state agencies

that support Texas farmers, ranchers, and rural committees.

In this capacity, Representative Guillen will determine which bills receive committee hearings, preside over hearings and public testimony, and collaborate with committee members to refine and advance legislation, among other critical responsibilities.

“The Texas House stands ready to address the most pressing issues facing our state, and I have full confidence Chair Guillen’s leadership of the Agriculture and Livestock Committee will greatly contribute to the success of the 89th legislative session,” said Speaker Burrows. “Every Texas House committee serves an important role guiding the policies that shape our state and ensuring proper oversight of the legislative process. Chair Guillen is a proven champion of conservative policies that leave a positive impact on the lives of all Texans, and I look forward to our collaboration to deliver another monumental conservative session for Texans.”

In addition to serving as Chair of the House Committee

on Agriculture and Livestock, Representative Guillen will also serve as a senior member of the House Committee on State Affairs, covering matters related to state government operations, the regulation of public lands and state buildings, oversight of state agencies and officials, utility and telecommunications regulation, energy production, pipeline operations, cybersecurity, and advancements in science and technology. He will also serve on the House Committee on Redistricting, which oversees the drawing and modification of legislative, congressional, judicial, and other political district boundaries to ensure fair and legal representation across Texas.

Representative Ryan Guillen serves eleven rural South Texas counties in the Texas House of Representatives, including Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, Karnes, Kenedy, La Salle, Live Oak, McMullen, Starr, Wilson, Zapata, and formerly Atascosa, Webb, and Willacy.

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is working to ban “tying arrangements” of home and auto policies. That’s a practice where a company or agent requires a consumer to buy a home and auto policy at the same time.

A new proposed rule would prohibit tying arrangements, which require consumers to purchase a policy they might not need or want. It could also be an unfair competitive advantage for some companies.

TDI Commissioner Cassie Brown said the proposed rule will protect consumers’ rights to shop for the best deals.

“Sometimes your best option is to get home and auto coverage from different companies,”

Brown said. “In today’s market, •Shopping for auto insurance: we can’t allow a practice that What to know before you buy a limits consumer choice.” policy The new rule would not prevent “bundling,” that’s when a consumer chooses to buy more than one policy from the same Application has been made provider to get a discount. with the Texas Alcoholic A public hearing on the proposed rule is set for 10 a.m. B e v e r a g e C o m m i s s i o n for a WINE AND central time, March 10.

View the proposal: https:// M A LT B E V E R A G E www.tdi.texas.gov/rules/2025/ R E T A I L E R ’ S O N documents/211008prop.pdf for PREMISE PERMIT (BG) the full text and how to submit by: MARIO E. DIAZ, dba comments.

CAZADORES DRIVEResources •How to shop smart for IN, to be located at 778 insurance FM 2360, SUITE D, RIO •Shopping for homeowners GRANDE CITY, STARR insurance: What to know before COUNTY, TEXAS. you buy a policy

LEGAL NOTICE

El Departamento de Seguros de Texas: Las aseguradoras no deberían obligar a los consumidores a comprar juntos el seguro de vivienda y de auto El Departamento de Seguros de Texas (Texas Department of Insurance, TDI, por su nombre y siglas en inglés) está trabajando para prohibir los “acuerdos de vinculación” de las pólizas de vivienda y de auto. Se trata de una práctica en la que una compañía o agente le exige al consumidor que compre una póliza de vivienda y otra de auto al mismo tiempo.

Una nueva norma prohibiría los acuerdos de vinculación, que obligan a los consumidores a adquirir una póliza que podrían no necesitar o desear. También podría considerarse una ventaja competitiva desleal para algunas compañías.

Cassie Brown, Comisionada de

TDI, afirmó que la propuesta de esta norma protegerá el derecho de los consumidores a buscar las mejores ofertas.

Según Brown, “A veces, la mejor opción es obtener cobertura de vivienda y de auto de distintas aseguradoras”. “En el mercado actual, no podemos permitir una práctica que limite las opciones del consumidor”.

La nueva norma no impediría la “agrupación de pólizas”, es decir, cuando un consumidor decide comprar más de una póliza con el mismo proveedor para obtener un descuento.

Habrá una audiencia pública sobre esta propuesta el 10 de marzo a las 10 a.m., hora del

centro.

Vea la información sobre la propuesta a la norma: https:// www.tdi.texas.gov/rules/2025/ documents/211008prop.pdf (solo en inglés) y cómo presentar sus comentarios.

Recursos •Cómo comprar un seguro de manera inteligente •Consejos para ayudarle a comprar su póliza de seguro de vivienda •La compra de seguro de auto: Qué debe saber antes de comprar una póliza

TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AN AIR QUALITY STANDARD PERMIT FOR PERMANENT ROCK AND CONCRETE CRUSHERS PROPOSED AIR QUALITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 178135 APPLICATION. Rio Grande Crushed Stone LLC, 176 W Logan St, Noblesville, IN 46060-1437 has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for an Air Quality Standard Permit, Registration Number 178135, which would authorize construction of a permanent rock and concrete crusher. The facility is proposed to be located at the following driving directions: northeast of Rio Grande City at the intersection FM 755 and FM 490, go east on 490 2.2 miles and turn south at the Duke Energy O & M Facility on unnamed road, then go south on Access Road 33 miles to gate on the east side, Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas 78582. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility’s general location is provided as a public courtesy and not part of the application or notice. For exact location, refer to application. https://gisweb.tceq.texas.gov/ LocationMapper/?marker=-98.653597,26.509293&level=13. This application was submitted to the TCEQ on November 4, 2024. The executive director has determined the application was technically complete on February 3, 2025.

PUBLIC COMMENT. Written public comments about this application may be submitted at any time during the public comment period. You may submit public comments either in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087, or electronically at www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address and physical address will become part of the agency’s public record.

The deadline to submit public comments is 30 days after newspaper notice is published.

RESPONSE TO COMMENTS. A written response to all relevant comments will be prepared by the executive director after the comment period closes. The response, along with the executive director’s decision on the application, will be mailed to everyone who submitted public comments and requested to be added to the mailing list. The response to comments will be posted in the permit file for viewing.

The executive director shall approve or deny the application not later than 30 days after the end of the public comment period, considering all comments received within the comment period, and base this decision on whether the application meets the requirements of the standard permit.

CENTRAL/REGIONAL OFFICE. The application will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ Central Office and the TCEQ Harlingen Regional Office, located at 1804 West Jefferson Avenue, Harlingen, Texas 78550-5247, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning the first day of publication of this notice. The application, including any updates, is available electronically at the following webpage: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/air/ airpermit-applications-notices.

INFORMATION. For more information about this permit application or the permitting process, please call the Public Education Program toll free at 1-800687-4040. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040.

Further information may also be obtained from Rio Grande Crushed Stone Llc, 176 W Logan St, Noblesville, IN 46060-1437, or by calling Ms. Monique Wells, Environmental Consultant at (512) 292-4314.

Notice Issuance Date: February 7, 2025

STARR COUNTY TOWN CRIER, FEBRUARY 26, 2025, PAGE 8

FAMILY GARAGE SALE 300 S. Kain St., Rio Grande City Clothes, Shoes, Kids Clothing, Tennis, etc.

Saturday, March 1st, 2025 Time: 8am-3pm

SE RENTA APARTAMENTO 307 Papalote Rd., RGC Hernandez Rd. 2 RECAMARAS, AIRE ACONDICIONADO Para mas información llame a:

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755 ESTATES Se venden lotes en 755 Estates de ½ ½ ACRES LOTS acres.

Financiados FOR SALE. por el propietario.

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STARR COUNTY TOWN CRIER, FEBRUARY 26, 2025, PAGE 9

Congratulations to all the RGCGISD finalists for VMS mariachi vocalists are finalists in advanced to the FESTIBA Mariachi Competition!!! the UTRG FESTIBA Mariachi Festival Congratulations to Kimberly Bautista from Grulla Middle School Mariachi Juvenil de América for making it to the finals for the Festiba Mariachi competition. The competition will be held March 1st at UTRGV Performing Arts Center. On behalf of the entire Grulla Middle School we wish Kimberly and all the finalists good luck as they prepare to showcase their amazing talent to the Mariachi community in the Rio Grande Valley. Congratulations once again to Kimberly and good luck!

Congratulations to Rio Grande City High School Mariachi Cascabel members for making it to the finals at the FESTIBA Vocal Competition! Join Rio Grande City High School in cheering on Michelle Meraz, Yessenia Cruz, Kaly Garcia, and Charlize Castillo as they showcase their talent and dedication on March 1st at the UTRGV PAC. Let’s show them support as they bring their passion for mariachi to the stage!

Veterans Middle School are proud of the VMS mariachi vocalists: Kamila Solis, Gema Cervantes, and Jaeda Hinojosa, they are finalists in the UTRGV FESTIBA Mariachi Festival Congratulations to Leylanie Rodriguez and Yaritsel Salinas for 2025. A job well done ladies! advancing to the Festiba Vocal Finals held at UTRGV Performing Join them on February 28th at the Arts Center on Saturday March 01, 2025….way to represent Gator UTRGV Performing Arts Center: 5:30PM Nation!!!!

STARR COUNTY TOWN CRIER, FEBRUARY 26, 2025, PAGE 10

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