Starr County Judge and the Commissioners’ Court Declares September as Hunger Action Month
Mr. Eric Ochoa inducted into the Texas Parks & Wildlife Hunter Education Hall of Fame
the fight against hunger, emphasizing the vision of building a stronger, healthier, and hunger-free community. Pictured in support of the initiative are: Top row: Pct. 1 Commissioner Jose F. “Kiko” Perez, Pct. 4 Commissioner Hernan “Nune” Garza, Judge Eloy Vera, Pct. 2 Commissioner Raul “Roy” Pena, and Pct. 3 Commissioner Eleazar Velazquez. Bottom row: Ms. Blanca Ramirez, SNAP Coordinator for Starr County and South Texas Food Bank Board Member, and Maricela Ibarra.
San Isidro ISD proudly recognizes Mr. Eric Ochoa, Agriculture Teacher & Hunter Education Instructor, for being inducted into the Texas Parks & Wildlife Hunter Education Hall of Fame! This prestigious honor highlights his dedication to teaching students about safety, ethics, and conservation. His passion has shaped the next generation of hunters and outdoor stewards in our community. San Isidro ISD are also proud to share that his recognition was featured in the HUNTER ED NEWS – September 2025 Edition! Well deserved, Mr. Ochoa—your impact will be felt for years to come! Congratulations, Mr. Ochoa!
Starr County UTRGV Bilingual Teacher Training Program Celebrates 25 Years
On September 2nd UTRGV proudly welcomed Cohort 12 into their Bilingual Education Program! This year 2025, UTRGV are honored to celebrate 25 years of the Bilingual Education Program in
Starr County, with approximately 500 students graduating over the years.
UTRGV is truly grateful to have had these students sit in their classrooms and to witness their
growth as they transformed into incredible educators and mentors making a difference in their communities. May the students continue to grow, achieve, and stay inspired. “Future educators don’t
just dream of change; they step into classrooms and create it.”
Congratulations to the new students on being selected!
UTRGV is so excited to see all that you will accomplish.
The UTRGV New Student and Faculty Orientation was a wonderful way to kick off the semester. A special thank you to the professors and Cohort 11 for helping make the event a success.
Preparatory for Early College High School Rio Grande City celebrate Senior Sunrise
The Preparatory for Early College High School Rio Grande City seniors gathered to celebrate Senior Sunrise, marking the start of their final year at ECHS! It was a beautiful morning filled with laughter, memories, and excitement for what’s ahead. Here’s to making every moment count, Class of 2026!
Mariani Silva, IDEA Graduate awarded a $2500 Subway Fresh Start Scholarship
Subway® Restaurant of Grulla/Alto Bonito #47959 is pleased to announce that Mariani Silva has been awarded a $2500 Subway Fresh Start Scholarship.
Mariani also received a $500 local scholarship which the owners, Rosa and Roel Gonzalez offer local school students at Grulla High, Rio High, Roma and IDEA of Rio Grande City yearly.
The Fresh Start Scholarship provides tuition assistance to Subway restaurant employees continuing their education at a college, university, or a vocational-technical school. The program is funded by the Subway Cares Foundation®.
“I am very proud of Mariani. She has been a Subway Sandwich Artist™ for nearly one (1) year,” said Rosa Elia Gonzalez and Maria Vargas, Manager.
“Our Sandwich Artists™ work hard every day to provide guests with a great restaurant experience. Mariani is very deserving of this honor, and we wish her continued success.”
“Being selected for this scholarship is a fine tribute to each recipient’s hard work
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
and dedication, and the Subway Cares Foundation® is pleased to recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of Subway Sandwich Artists,” said Subway Cares Foundation Executive Director Howard Lipman.
Mariani is a graduate of IDEA Rio Grande City and attends Texas A & M University to Biomedical Science.
About Subway® Restaurants As one of the world’s largest quick service restaurant brands, Subway serves freshly made-to-order sandwiches, wraps, salads and bowls to millions of guests, across more than 100 countries and territories in nearly 37,000 restaurants every day. Subway restaurants are owned and operated by Subway franchisees – a network that includes thousands of dedicated entrepreneurs and small business owners – who are committed to delivering the best guest experience possible in their local communities. Subway® is a registered trademark of
Notice is hereby given that the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Roma will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 12:00 P.M. at the Roma City Council Chambers, located at 201 W. Convent Ave, Roma, Texas to consider the following case(s):
1) Rezoning (COZ#2505): A request to rezone a property from Office/ Professional/Retail District (OPR) to Multi-Family District (MF) for proposed Apartment Residential use; Legal Description is Lot 106, Amended La Hacienda Subdivision, Starr County, Texas; Physical Address is 2741 Mustang Street, Roma, Texas 78584.
The City Council for the City of Roma will be holding a Public Hearing for the case(s) on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., at the Roma City Council Chambers, located at 201 W. Convent Ave., Roma, Texas.
Dr. Sarahi Herrera Gonzalez is the only female gastroenterologist at the DHR Health Gastroenterology Institute. She specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions of the digestive system, including the stomach, bowels, liver, and gallbladder. Patients often seek her care for persistent digestive concerns such as abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, or other unexplained symptoms.
Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, Dr. Herrera earned her medical degree from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Jersey City Medical Center–RWJBarnabas in New Jersey, followed by a fellowship in gastroenterology at Saint Michael’s Medical Center, also in New Jersey.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Dr. Herrera is dedicated to caring for adults of all ages and helping patients in Starr County and the Rio Grande Valley improve their digestive health and overall well-being.
PROUDLY SUPPORTING ROMA GLADIATORS
Roma ISD is kicking off the holiday fun with their annual Trunk or Treat
Roma ISD is kicking off the holiday fun with their annual Trunk or Treat on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 at 6 p.m. at the Roma High School Gladiator Arena Stadium Parking Lot. Any participants must commit no later than Sept. 25th to giving out 1,200 pre-packed treat items. No outside companies will be allowed to participate that have not committed by Sept. 25th. The treat selected to be given out can be any pre-packaged candy, chips, cookies, snack items, or school supplies or toys. (Please note that no form of politicking is permitted on site at any time.) To RSVP for a spot send an email with the requested information to hjescobar@romaisd.com.
CITY OF LA GRULLA
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
PROFESSIONAL WATER & SEWER OPERATIONS SERVICES
The City of La Grulla, Texas, is requesting sealed proposals from qualified firms/ individuals to provide Management, Operations, and Maintenance of the City’s Water and Sewer Systems.
Facilities include:
- Water Plant No. 1
- Water Plant No. 2
- Alto Bonito Elevated Storage Tank
- La Victoria Standpipe
- River Pump Station
- Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Eight (8) Lift Stations
Staffing Requirements:
- Two (2) licensed operators per shift at the Water Plants/River Pump Station to cover three (3) shifts per day, 24/7/365.
- Two (2) licensed operators at the Wastewater Treatment Plant to cover the day shift, 365 days per year.
Evaluation Criteria (100 points total):
- Experience / Previous Work Performance – 40 points
- Capacity to Perform – 20 points
- Best Value to the City – 20 points
- Previous Experience with the City – 20 points
Additional Categories (scored separately):
- Price – 20 points
- Local Presence (principal place of business or satellite office in Starr County) – 10 points
RFP Documents:
All prospective respondents must obtain a copy of the full Request for Proposals from the City of La Grulla. Copies are available in person at La Grulla City Hall, 194 S. FM 2360, La Grulla, Texas 78548, by email at info@cityofgrulla.com, or by phone at 956-487-3341.
Submission Requirements:
One (1) digital copy must be emailed to info@cityofgrulla.com and two (2) hard copies delivered or mailed to:
City Commission
City of La Grulla
194 S. FM 2360
La Grulla, Texas 78548
Deadline: All proposals must be received no later than September 24, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. Late submissions will not be considered.
The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive formalities, and accept the proposal determined to provide the best overall value to the City.
Huge Congratulations to our Gladiator Tennis Team on their win vs the Eagles of Mission High!!
Final Roma - 13 – Mission - 6
Rio Grande City Fire Department Urges Residents to Know the Risks of Lithium-Ion Batteries this Fire Prevention Week
The theme for Fire Prevention WeekTM, October 5-11, 2025, is “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.”
The Rio Grande City-fire department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFP A®) - the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW™) for more than 100 years -to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” It highlights how important it is to buy, charge, and recycle lithium-ion batteries safely.
Most of the electronics we use in our homes every day -smartphones, tablets, power and lawn tools, laptops, e-cigarettes, headphones, and toys, to name
just a few -are powered by lithiumion batteries. In fact, most everything that’s rechargeable uses this type of battery. If not used correctly or if damaged, lithium-ion batteries can overheat, start a fire, or even explode. To reduce these risks, look around your home -it’s important to know which devices are powered by them. “Lithiumion batteries are powerful, convenient, and they’re just about everywhere,” said Manuel Muniz, Fire Chief. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign helps people understand the importance of using these batteries correctly to prevent fires in the home and to follow the Buy, Charge, and Recycle Safely approach.”
Buy only listed products.
•When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery, take time to research it. Look for a stamp from a nationally recognized testing lab on the packaging and product, which means that it meets important safety standards.
•Many products sold online and in stores may not meet safety standards and could increase the risk of fire.
Charge devices safely.
•Always use the cables that came with the product to charge it. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer.
•If you need a new charger, buy one from the manufacturer or one that the manufacturer has approved.
•Charge your device on a hard surface. Don’t charge it under a
pillow, on a bed, or on a couch. This could cause a fire.
•Don’t overcharge your device. Unplug it or remove the battery when it’s fully charged. Recycle batteries responsibly.
•Don’t throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bins because they could catch fire.
•Recycling your device or battery at a safe battery recycling location is
of
Visit call2recycle.org to find a recycling spot near you.
The Rio Grande City fire department encourages all FIRE PREVENTION, page 9
NOTICE OF BANK MERGER
Notice is hereby given that application has been made to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, South/Southeast Regions, 1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 3600, Dallas, Texas 75201, for consent to merge Citizens State Bank, 1709 N. Grant Street, Roma, Texas 78584, with and into Texas National Bank, 201 S. Texas Avenue, Mercedes, Texas 78570. It is contemplated that each of the former offices of Citizens State Bank, including its former home office, will become branch offices of Texas National Bank upon consummation of the merger.
This notice is published pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 1828(c) and 12 C.F.R. 5. Anyone may submit written comments on this application by September 26, 2025 to: Director for District Licensing, Comptroller of the Currency, South/Southeast Regions, 1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 3600, Dallas, Texas 75201. Comments may also be submitted by email to LicensingPublicComments@occ.treas.gov. To request a copy of the public portion of the filing, contact the Director for Licensing at Comptroller of the Currency, South and Southeast Regions, 1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 3600, Dallas, Texas 75201 or email Licensing@occ. treas.gov. Filing information, including the date of the end of the public comment period, may also be found in the OCC’s Weekly Bulletin available at www.occ.gov.
Carnes Asadas el Gordo #3 to be located at 701 N Avasolo St. Suite D, Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas 78582. O cers of said corporation are: Jose Adrian Gonzalez Contreras, Corporate O cer and Mayra Elizabeth Castro Castillo, Corporate O cer.
S Casa Blanca Apartamentos 1 recámaras, 1 baño, $400 mes, $200 deposito. 2 recámaras, 1 baño, $500 mes, $200 deposito. Estufa y refrigerador, aire
Rio
La Grulla Fire Department receive a new fire truck
On behalf of the City Commission and the citizens of La Grulla, we extend our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to our Fire Department on receiving a new tender truck for our city. Chief
Assistant Chief Melendez, along with the crew and dedicated volunteers, continue to serve
with pride and commitment. We also wish to thank everyone in attendance, including our
from surrounding cities, for joining us in this special moment. We truly appreciate your support, and
look forward to many more milestones together.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
residents to be aware of their devices, follow the Buy, Charge, and Recycle Safely approach, and support this year’s FPW theme, “Charge into Fire Safety™.” The Rio Grande City Fire Department is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s FPW campaign, including at elementary schools within Rio Grande City. To find out more about FPW programs and activities in Rio Grande City, please contact the Rio Grande City Fire Department at 956-487-5312. For more information about Fire Prevention Week and lithium-ion battery safety, visit fpw.org
Notice is hereby given that the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Roma will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 5:30 P.M. at the Roma City Council Chambers, located at 201 W. Convent Ave, Roma, Texas to consider the following case(s):
1) Conditional Use Permit (CUP#2501): A request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow a Duplex in a Suburban Residential District (SF). The property is legally described as Lot 1, Block 3, Rau Con Addition No. 2. The property’s physical address is 202 North Madrigal Street, Roma, TX 78584.
The City Council for the City of Roma will be holding a Public Hearing for the case(s) on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., at the Roma City Council Chambers, located at 201 W. Convent Ave., Roma, Texas.
Olivarez,
La Grulla
neighbors
we
On September 11, 2025, Rio Grande City High School Army JROTC hosted a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony to honor the victims, first responders, and families impacted by that tragic day. Guest speakers Lieutenant Ismael Guerra from the Starr County Sheriff’s Office and Rio Grande City Grulla ISD Chief of Police Hugo Garcia shared powerful messages of service, sacrifice, and unity. Gratitude to the students, guests, and law enforcement officers, for joining us. Together, we remember the strength and resilience that continue to unite our community and nation.
City of Rio Grande City recognize Citizen, Business, and Employee of the Month – August 2025
Rodolfo Carlos “RC”
Salinas Citizen of the Month – August 2025
The City of Rio Grande City, Mayor Gilberto Falcon, and our City Commission proudly recognize Rodolfo Carlos “RC” Salinas for his lifelong dedication to education, public service, and community leadership. From his work in education and local history to his leadership in organizations such as the Starr County Water District, Starr County Democratic Party, Starr County Historical Commission, and the RGC Rotary Club, Mr. Salinas has made a lasting impact on our community. Congratulations, Mr. Salinas, and thank you for your years of service to Rio Grande City!
Mayra Garcia
Employee of the Month – August 2025
On behalf of Mayor Gilberto Falcon, and the Rio Grande City Commission, we are proud to recognize Mayra Garcia from our Municipal Court Department as our Employee of the Month! Thank you, Mayra, for your outstanding dedication to our justice system and to the City of Rio Grande City. Your exemplary work and commitment, day in and day out, help keep our community moving forward. Congratulations, Mayra!
In Style Beauty Salon named Business of the Month – August 2025! For 32 years, owner Petra Garza has shown unwavering passion for her craft, her community, and her faith. From her beginnings as a determined young cosmetologist to becoming a trusted small business owner, Petra has built a loyal customer base and cemented her role as a true pillar of Rio Grande City. On behalf of Mayor Gilberto Falcon and the City of Rio Grande City, we proudly celebrate Petra’s dedication, service, and commitment to excellence.
