Del Rio News Herald from Del Rio, Texas • Page 1

qnt)THWEST' M1CROPULISH1NG E. YHNDELL DR. ews-neraia P.O. Box 4020 Del Rio, TX 78840 FAX (210) 774-2610 Fire causes $5 9 OOO damage A fire occured early this morning in apartment 101 Irene Avenue, in Payne Village. The call came in at 3:36 a.m.

Monday, and 11 paid and eight volunteer firefighters responded. It took about 45 minutes to put out the fire, with damages estimated at $5,000. Reports indicate that a pick-up caught on fire, and the fire apparently spread to the porch area. A cigarette is believed to be the cause of the fire. News-Herald photo by Theresa Aberte Pals Mayra Hernandez plays with her brothers' Andrea DeLeon's new puppy toy cars while her broth, Alex, checks out Del Rio will have its own TV station By GUS GARCIA Staff Writer Del Rio's economy is soon to be boosted with the construction and operation of a television station.

"This is going to be a full- blown television station," said Robert Gilchnst of Concan, president of Republic Broadcasting Company (RBC). Call letters have been assigned by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). KTRG, channel 10 will be able to be picked up off the air when affiliation contracts are finalized and construction is completed. Gilchnst would not disclose which network would be located in the Queen City, or when the station will be completed. RBC has luxid in Brackettville for construction of a tower and transmitter antennae.

"I have the southern peak of Las Moras Mountain leased," said Gilchrist. The station will employ local people, from construction workers to broadcasters. The broadcasting signal will cover Del Rio, Brackettville, Uvalde, Eagle Pass, Ciudad Acuna, Piedras Niegra and Crystal City. County attorney authorized to intervene in Texcor's appeal Endeavor commander has local connection By GUS GARCIA Staff Writer By SUSAN COTTLE WHISTLER Staff Writer Commissioners' Court this morning authorized County Attorney Ana Markowski to in' tervene in TexCor's appeal of the decision denying TexCor's application for a hazardous waste site hi Kinney County at Monday's meeting. During the meeting, a check for $6,245.56 was presented to the county in lieu of taxes at Monday's meeting of Commissioners' Court, by Alfredo Delgado, director of the Housing Authority, City of Del Rio.

In other business, Val Verde -County Sheriff J.R. Koog and Steve Woollen, director of lAmistad Area Narcotics Task requested action on a to submit a 1994-95 application for the Since only two commissioners were available at the meeting, John Qualia, commissioner, Precinct 4, and Arturo Gallegos, commissioner, Precinct 1, it was decided to table the agenda item and to meet for further discussion and possible action March 10 at 2 p.m., since the grant application must be submitted before 5 p.m. March 15. Koog, told Commissioners' "Co'urt that an audit was recently completed on the task force, and auditors told County Auditor Frank Lowe, "If this task force isn't the best in Texas, it's the second best." Woollen said "I think it's been very successful." The force ranked 25th in overall production, out of 52 in the state, he added, and last quarter jumped to 16th. Additionally, Charles Trost, project administrator for county grant money to be used for paving and drainage improvements in Comstock, gave a report to Commissioners' Court on bids Panel to discuss 1994-95 school district budget Dr.

Walter Williams, school superintendent, will present an outline of the proposed budget for the 1994-95 school year at tpnight's public school board meeting. The proposed budget consists a 3-cent cut in property taxes, and is estimated to be $1.5 million lower than the present budget. Also on the agenda is a proposed budget amendment for Jan. 3 by Frances Rodriguez. She will present financial reports for December and January.

In other business, consideration to teach eigth grade level health for high school credit will be presented by Dr. Cheryl Cox, and Abe Casillas. The panel will give considera- 'tion to the creation of a multimedia production center present toy Jack Mota, assistant 'superintendent of programs. Del Rio Housing Authority Director Fred Delgado will pre- sent a check for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT). Pat Younts will head the Head Start one-time funding application.

Bids for construction of th-i child care center will be awarj. ed, and the bid for construction of an eight classroom building at Memorial Middle School. Consideration of bid to build a Alternative Learning Center at Del Rio High school will be given by the board. Construction of restrooms for the tennis program at the high school will be discussed by the panel. An energy management report will be given by-Walter Bloc): and a School Energy Management Grant Program application.

A rental request will be presented by Roberto Fernandez, and Mota will ask for consideration to aprove a re quest for a Class Size Waiver for spring, 1994. received for that project "We were lucky," said Trost. This time we had three bids come in under budget." There were five bids submitted, with two over the budget of $291,000, and three under. Low bidder was Glen Fuqua, Inc. of Navasota, Texas, near Houston.

The bid was $237,841. Two submitted bids: Jay Construction arid Linglo Construction $262,510. Trost said the county is obligated to take the lowest responsible bidder. The company must be.qualified and able to do the job according to specifications. Of the low bidder, Trost said "Haven't heard of 'em." Awarding of a contract was tabled pending further investigation of the company and availability of commissioners, with the contract to be discussed and possible action taken at the March 14 meeting.

Action on acceptance for maintenance by the county of roads in Salem Point Subdivision also was tabled until the March 14 meeting. Concluding the county's business, a meeting was scheduled for Wednesday to authorize the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer to apply for a grant for purchase of Juvenile Crime Prevention Program in Val Verde County. VASQUEZ Vasquez won't seek re-election Del Rio City Councilman Ramon "Ray" Vasquez announced this morning he will not seek re-election because of health problems and because he wants to spend more time with "It is with mixed emotions that I announce I will not seek reelection as city councilman for District 1 in the upcoming city elections. "It is an honor and a privilege to have had the opportunity to represent you. I thank you for that opportunity.

"I had stated to close friends and acquaintances that I would run a second term. I was sincere when I made those statements, however, increased job responsibilities and an increased traveling schedule at work make it necessary for me to re-evaluate and adjust my commitments. "Also, it is common knowledge that I have undergone heart surgery twice (in July, 1982 and August, 1993). There are no more arteries to use for grafting should I need to undergo the procedure again. Therefore, I must think of my family and dedicate more time "I will continue doing my best for the remainder of my term which expires in May.

Col. Sidney M. Gutierrez, whose relatives are former Del Rioans, will be commander of the next space shuttle to orbit Earth. Space Shuttle Endeavor is scheduled for takeoff April 7, from the Kennedy Space Center. Endeavor will return to Earth nine days later with the landing at Kennedy.

Gutierrez is married to Marianne Sue Cremer and is the son-in-law of Lee and Lydia Cremer. The Cremers are former Del Rioans. Gutierrez met his wife while at Laughlin Air Force Base for flight he graduated and later became a flight instructor. Gutierrez also has been stationed in Holland with the F-15 Fighter Squadron, and was an Edwards Air Force Base test pilot. Currently, Gutierrez is in Houston at the Lyndon B.

Johnson Space Center, preparing for the flight. His wife and their three children, Jennifer, 13, David, Id and Katie, 6, also are at the Space Center. "The wives are almost as involved with the flight as the actual passengers are, with setting up receptions, checking on invitations, souveniers, almost everything. "The wives coordinate with Marianne on various activities, including a night viewing where only family and-or extremely close friends, are allowed," explained Lydia Cremer, Gutierrez's mother-in-law. Gutierrez is currently working on his 10th year with NASA Aeronautics and Space American Disabilities Act explained Justices to rule in child porn WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court agreed today to decide whether a key federal law used to prosecute people for in child pornography violates free-speech rights.

Setting the stage for an important ruling, the court said it will consider reinstating a California man's conviction for distributing sexually explicit videotapes featuring a 15-year-old girl. In the pornography case, federal appeals court threw out I os Angeles porn shop owner Rubin Gottesman's conviction and one-year prison sentence, ruling that the law used to prosecute him didn't require the government to prove he knew the girl was under 18. In seeking Supreme Court review, Clinton administration lawyers said the appeals court ruling thwarts efforts to crack down on child pornographers in nine Western states. By JANIE MOGILSKI Conributing Writer A seminar concerning the content and significance of the Americans with Disabilities Act took place last week in the administration board room of the public school district. The seminar was sponsored by Arturo Garcia, job developer for the supported employment division of MR (Mental Retardation) services of Del Rio and Hector Flores, vocational rehabilitation counselor with the Texas Rehabilitation Commission.

Ron Trull, director of the ADA unit of the Texas Rehabilitation Commission in Austin, was keynote speaker and provided a simple and concise presentation on the law. The Texas Rehabilitation Commission and MR services of Del Rio felt a meeting on ADA would benefit the community, and their own agencies. Titles 1-5 of the ADA Law were discussed and what can and cannot be done, and how goals can be accomplished and who can help. For further questions on the ADA laws, contact Ron Trull, at 1-800-628-5115, Arturo Garcia at 774-8727 or Hector Flores at 774-2746, ADA seminar Arturo Garcia, Ron Trull, and Hector Flores were involved with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) seminar held recently for business with questions about the new laws. SIDNEY GUTIERREZ Administration.

"This is something he has always wanted to do since he 8 or 10 (years old). Everything he did was aimed to the Space program," said Lee Cremer. Gutierrez lectures on the importance of education, and encourages students to stay in school. Lee and Lydia Cremer are planning to attend the lift-off and touchdown of Space Shuttle Endeavor, along with friends, Ruben Garcia and Margarita Garcia, of Del Rio. This is Gutierrez's second flight.

His first flight was in 1991 as pilot of the Orbiter Columbia STS-40. The primary objective of Space Shuttle Endeavor is to study the atmosphere and surface of the Earth using an air pollution sensor, MAPS, (Measuremen of Air Pollution from Space), and three large radars. Another objective is to include a variety of scientific and medical experienments conducted in the microgravity environment of the Space Shuttle and amature radio contacts with schools and individuals around the world. OUR VISION We nove the power iu to the future of our children. Let's bring a college campus to Del Rio.

Consider a personal contribution or bequest. Contact Joe San Miguel at 775-1551 or Don Tom as at 775-1612. Astrograph 8 Classifieds 9-io Comics 8 Crossword, 8 Dear Abby 9 OpinionSpanish 7 Sports 6 TV.