Following in His Father’s Footsteps: Ricardo Perez Carries on a Legacy of Baseball Excellence
The love of baseball runs deep in the Perez family, and this summer, that legacy is on full display as Ricardo Perez, a rising senior at Sharyland Pioneer High School, takes the mound at some of the most prestigious high school baseball showcases in the nation.
Standing at 6’2” and 195 lbs., Ricardo has carved out his own path in the sport while following in the remarkable footsteps of his father, Cesar Perez. This week, Ricardo is pitching in Cape Cod
expanding access to life-changing training. Each cadet received a $1,000 scholarship from the STC Foundation, an investment in their future and in the safety of our communities. STC are proud to support these driven men and women as they begin their journey to serve and protect. This is more than just a first step—it’s the beginning of a legacy. Here’s to shaping the future of public safety in Starr County!
at the elite 17U National Pro Showcase — a proving ground for future stars of the game. The invitation came from a New York Yankees minor league pitcher who recognized Ricardo’s potential.
Next week, he’ll take the field at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington for the Junior Day Baseball National Showcase —an event widely regarded as the crown jewel of summer high school baseball. Ricardo also plays travel ball with the Lone Star Baseball Club out of San Antonio, where he continues to develop as a top-tier pitcher competing against some of the best talent in the country.
For Ricardo, the game has always been more than a sport; it’s a bond shared with his father. Cesar Perez made his mark on the diamond decades earlier, pit ching in two College World Series — first with Texas Southmost College and later with Sam Houston State University.
At TSC, Cesar helped lead the 1977 Scorpions to the most successful season in school history. Under the direction of Coach Jimmy Dodd, the Scorpions advanced all the way to the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado, finishing with an impressive 29–6 record. The team was sparked by
their workhorse right-hander from Rio Grande City — Cesar Perez — who threw a blazing 93-mph fastball and pitched nearly every inning of the 1977 postseason. In a legendary display of endurance and grit, Cesar pitched 27 innings over five days to push his team through the playoffs, including a critical win over San Jacinto College — the #1-ranked team in the nation that year out of 486 programs.
His contributions earned him induction into the RGV Baseball
Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2019, he was also honored as an individual in the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame, and again in 2025 as a member of the Scorpions. Though Cesar was drafted by both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds in back-to-back years, he chose to pursue academics, ultimately earning his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas and building a successful legal career. Yet, baseball has remained close to his heart. Now, as he watches his son shine on the national stage, Cesar and his wife Ofelia beam with pride. Their daughter Rebekah, a student at Texas A&M University, joins them in cheering on Ricardo as he embraces both the sport and the values his father exemplified — perseverance, humility, and excellence.
For Ricardo, the dream is just beginning. But for the Perez family, it’s already a beautiful continuation of a story written across generations, rooted in South Texas soil and fueled by a love for the game.
Five tips to be ready for a disaster
Everyone
F.J. Scott students visited the Roma Birding Center
Dr. Jose Cruz, board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology, treats all types of cancer and blood disorders—including anemia, hemophilia, leukemia, sickle cell anemia, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolisms. He also offers cancer genetic risk assessments for patients with a personal or family history of cancer. Dr. Cruz is known for his compassionate care and takes the time to listen, explain, and guide each patient through every step of their treatment.
A proud Rio Grande Valley native, Dr. Cruz earned his biomedical engineering degree from Yale, a Master of Public Health from Texas A&M, and his medical degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. He completed his hematology and oncology fellowship at the University of Louisiana Health Science Center–Shreveport, where he served as chief fellow.
Now expanding services to Rio Grande City, Dr. Cruz is dedicated to bringing expert, compassionate care closer to home.
101 N. FM 3167 Suite 106 Rio Grande City, TX 78582
(956) 362-3920
Reiterates tap-to-pay remains the safest way to pay at the gas pump and elsewhere
You may have seen pictures or videos on social media posts of people peeling off tap-to-pay decals placed over tap-to-pay portals on gas pumps. The posts
claim the stickers, presumably placed by criminals, will steal your credit/debit card data.
Based on conversations with retail fuel industry partners, the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) says Texans should not be concerned.
“While we all need to stay vigilant as criminals become more savvy, there are no legitimate instances reported where ‘tapto-pay stickers’ have been used to steal data,” said Jeff Roberts, FCIC Intelligence Operations Captain. “The decals shown in social media posts appear to be standard industry stickers used to replace worn or hard to see
tap-to-pay terminals. If you notice any stickers or devices that seem to interfere with tapto-pay transactions, report them to the gas station immediately and avoid swiping your card for payment.”
With the continued surge of credit/debit card skimmers that allow criminals to gather data from the magnetic strip when a card is swiped, the tap-to-pay option at fuel pumps, especially when using a payment app, remains the safest method.
If you suspect tampering at a fuel pump, report it to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation1-800-803-9202.
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
South Texas College (STC) hereby requests sealed qualifications for the following: STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES For Pecan Plaza East Building B Renovations
Sealed responses to this Request for Qualifications will be received until 2:00 p.m., July 24, 2025, at the South Texas College Purchasing Department located at 3200 W. Pecan Blvd., Bldg. N, Ste 145, McAllen, Texas 78501.
Request for Statement of Qualifications packets may be obtained at the STC Purchasing Department located at 3200 W. Pecan Blvd., Bldg. N, Ste. 145, McAllen, Texas by calling (956) 872-4681 or email at stcpurchasing@southtexascollege.edu
Any informational questions for the Request for Statement of Qualifications may be directed to Ricardo de la Garza, Director of Facilities Planning and Construction, at (956) 872-3737 or email at rickdlg@southtexascollege.edu
Responses received after the aforementioned deadline shall not be considered. The College will evaluate responses on the basis of the technical ability, experience, and ability to perform the work.
A pre-qualifications conference will be held on July 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at the STC Purchasing Department, 3200 W. Pecan Blvd., Bldg. N, Conference Room 142, McAllen, Texas. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.
South Texas College is an equal education and equal employment opportunity/ affirmative action employer. As an equal opportunity employer, the College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, genetic information, or veteran status.
Response packages must clearly show the following:
RFQ No. 25-26-1008 Request for QualificationsArchitectural Services
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE NOTICE
The Starr County Memorial Hospital is requesting sealed Request for Proposals (“RFP’s”) for employee Group Health Insurance from authorized insurance companies.
Currently, the Starr County Memorial Hospital pays 100% of the eligible employees’ health insurance premium. Our employees currently have a PPO Self-Funded Insurance Plan with Stop Loss and Aggregate Coverage.
Specifications and proposal documents will be available beginning July 9, 2025 and may be obtained at the Hospital’s Administrative Secretary’s office located at 128 N FM 3167, Rio Grande City, Texas 78582 or at the Hospital’s website under the Public Information Tab –Request for Proposals at www.starrcountyhospital.com
The proposal must be submitted and received by Starr County Memorial Hospital no later than 2:00 PM CST on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. The RFP’s are to be delivered to the office of the Hospital CEO, Thalia Munoz, located at 128 N FM 3167, Rio Grande City, Texas 78582.
Questions regarding this RFP should be addressed to Rafael Olivares, Finance Director at (956) 370-6014 or via email at rolivares@starrcountyhospital.com no later than August 1, 2025
The proposals will be publicly opened on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 2:15 PM at the Hospital’s Administrative Board Room located at 128 N FM 3167, Rio Grande City, Texas 78582.
The Starr County Memorial Hospital reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any informalities.
Bids may be held by the Hospital for a period not to exceed 30 days from the date of the bid opening for the purpose of reviewing the bids and investigating the bidders’ qualification prior to the contract award.
Hic et nunc. It’s Latin for “here and now”. It’s a simple phrase, yes-but one that’s made me stop and think-and stay.
It’s a reminder that life doesn’t exist in the past or in the future. It happens in the exact moment you’re in. In the here and now. And sometimes, especially right now with everything changing, staying is the hardest thing to do.
I know I’ve found myself thinking ahead-what my dorm will look like, the people I will meet, how everything will be different. But at the same time, I am looking back more than everchildhood memories, inside jokes, and just the reassurance of being
Hic et Nunc
surrounded by people who have always loved and supported me throughout my life.
But hic et nunc reminds me to stop and just be-with who’s in front of me, where I am, in this time of “almost.” It’s about taking a step back and soaking it all in before it slips away. Laughing a little longer with my friends. Holding hugs a little tighter with my parents. Paying attention to the small details of our loved ones- the way they light up, their eyes when they smile, their quiet comfort when they talk – all the little things that go unappreciated since we’re too focused on what’s next.
Someone once said, “It’s
important to plant both feet wherever you are.” It stuck with me because no matter where you are in life- we all need to be present. To live like this moment matters. Because guess what? Deep down, it really does. I’ll never get these types of days back- the ones before everything changes. So, I’m choosing to live in hic et nunc. To be all here, right now. To not let the weight of goodbye stop me from loving what’s in front of me.
Because hic et nunc isn’t just a phrase-it’s our journey. And it deserves to be lived fully.
-Alma R. Peña RGC High School Class of 2025
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Engineering/Surveying Services
The County of Starr is soliciting proposals for qualifications from a Texas-registered engineer to provide engineering services. The [engineering/surveying] contract will encompass all project-related [engineering/surveying] services to the County of Starr, including but not limited to the following:
• Identifying, mapping, surveying, and assessing County Roads in accordance with applicable legal, safety, and infrastructure standards.
Firms and/or individuals should have past experience with federally funded programs. Please submit a proposal of services and/or a statement of qualifications to:
Eloy Vera, County of Starr Judge 100 N. FM 3167 Rio Grande City, Texas 78582 Tel: (956) 716-4800
Submittals for these services shall be submitted to the County of Starr no later than 10:00 am on July 21, 2025, which is at least ten (10) days after this publication and contact dates of RFP/RFQ. The County of Starr reserves the right to negotiate with any and all individuals or firms that submit proposals, as per the Texas Professional Services Procurement Act and the Uniform Grant and Contract Management Standards. Section 3: Residents and Business Concerns, Minority Business Enterprises, Small Business Enterprises, Veteran Business Enterprises, and Women Business Enterprises are encouraged to submit proposals.
The County of Starr is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
