Del Rio Grande by Del Rio News Herald

DEL RIO

GRANDE WINTER 2016

The ‘Grande’ part of the Logo has a stroke to make it a bit thicker. If you are going to change Logo color. Stroke must be same color on the ‘Grande’ part.

Rock art’s star

DR. CAROLYN BOYD KEEPS TABS ON AREA’S HISTORY

SOCCER SAGE ERNESTO MARTINEZ REFLECTS BROSCIENCE GETTING FIT’S NEW ALLIES

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

contents Features GATEWAY TO THE PAST

Dr. Caroyln Boyd shares her passion for prehistory

40 SOCCER SAGE

Longtime coach offers insight to his success

SWEET SCIENCE

Couple offers help in the fight to lose weight

26 LEARNING THE ROPES New position offers youth chance to coach

IN LIKE FLINT

Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hobby gives glimpse at ancient art

38 DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

contents Regulars 14 BEHIND CLOSET DOORS

MAKE PLANS

What’s coming up the first part of 2016?

George De Leon is a man of many fashionable looks

FASHIONISTAS What’s in style in and around Del Rio

ON THE SCENE

Smiling faces at Christmas Under the Stars and more local events

GET TO KNOW

Think you know Russell Stidham?

28 THE DISH

Sink your teeth into Malinda’s signature nopal dish

33 22

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

ON THE COVER

Dr. Carolyn Boyd conducts a tour of the White Shaman site. Read more about Boyd on page 6. Photo by Karen Gleason

Del Rio’s Residential Curbside Recycling Service Collection map is located on the City’s website at http://www.cityofdelrio.com or http://www.rrws.com

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DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

FROM THE STAFF

IN THE BEGINNING ...

ou’re holding a piece of Del Rio News-Herald history in your hands. Del Rio Grande marks the beginning of a new venture for Del Rio’s longest running newspaper - the era of the magazine. We’ve done special sections before and have even distributed magazines before, but this is the first time the staff at the News-Herald has created its own stand alone magazine. All of the stories, and nearly all of the photos, within the pages of Del Rio Grande were created by the News-Herald staff. You’re going to read new stories and view new photos and, hopefully in issues to come, you’re going to be a part of Del Rio Grande by submitting your photos and story ideas. This magazine is devoted to Del Rio and the surrounding area, and its stories and photos reflect the people and places that make this a unique place to live. Del Rio

DEL RIO

Grande will bring you stories that will make you laugh, learn and love, fashion trends and fashionable people, restaurants and their unique dishes, photos from local events and much more. Enjoy Del Rio Grande and we look forward to hearing your feedback.

GRANDE

EDITOR PUBLISHER The ‘Grande’ part of the Logo has a stroke to make it a bit thicker. Brian Argabright Guy Aguirre If you are going to change Logo color. Stroke must be same color on the ‘Grande’ part.

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sandra Castillo

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Ashley Lopez Josie Garcia Chris Adams Brian Argabright Sandra Castillo Karen Gleason Bianka Santillán Bonita Santillán San Felipe Del Rio CISD 6

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

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Del Rio Grande is published by the Del Rio News-Herald. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative.

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Story and photos by Karen Gleason

he vibrant paintings on the dry limestone walls of the lower Pecos River region west of Del Rio are much more than just a collection of stunning, but ultimately unreadable, symbols and figures. Dr. Carolyn E. Boyd has been studying these drawings for more than 20 years and believes that what she has learned about the art of those ancient peoples will rewrite the prehistory of North America. Boyd is the founder and research director for Shumla Archeological Research and Education Center headquartered in Comstock, about 30 miles west of Del Rio, but she first saw the region’s rock paintings through the eyes of an artist. “I first came out here in 1988, and at that time I was working as an artist. I had my own art studio in north Houston, and I was working on a series of paintings of artists engaged in the production of their art. So I was doing paintings of Mayan weavers, Zapotec potters, musicians in New Orleans playing the trumpet and the saxophone, different forms of expression that I found compelling. In that process, I became fascinated with the question of what is the oldest art? How far back can we go? What have people been doing? And why have they been doing it?” Her search for ancient art logically brought her to Val Verde County. “This was, at that time, known to have some of the oldest art in North America, so when I saw the paintings for the first time, I was looking at them through the lens of an artist rather than the lens of an archeologist, and what I recognized was that these murals were indeed just that: Murals. They were compositions that looked, to me, as though they were executed in some cases by one hand, and that there was an order to it, a plan in the way it was executed.” Boyd intuited that she had reached an important conclusion about the rock art of the lower Pecos region. “But that was me as an artist seeing it, and when I started reading everything I could about the art, what I found was that in the professional world of archeology, they were looking at the murals as a random collection of images produced over hundreds or thousands of years, not a planned composition,” she said. The discrepancy between the accepted way

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

GATEWAY TO THE PAST Prehistoric rock art beckons scholars to the area ... and to local expert Dr. Carolyn Boyd

Just over 30 miles northwest of Del Rio, the Pecos River carves a spectacular canyon into the limestone on its way to join the Rio Grande downstream of the Pecos High Bridge on U.S. Highway 90. This is the view from the head of the trail into one of the small side canyons where the White Shaman panel is located. The land on which the panel is located is owned by the Rock Art Foundation, which offers frequent tours to the site, but as the small white sign in the lower right corner warns: This is an unforgiving landscape, and visitors must proceed at their own risk.

DEL RIO GRANDE / JANUARY 2016

of looking at the rock art and what she believed about it kindled a flame in Boyd’s heart that changed the direction of her life. She said, “It was frustrating to me as an artist. So I thought, if I approach these archeologists, and I say, ‘You know, I think you’re wrong. These are compositions,’ that they probably wouldn’t take me very seriously because I was an artist. So I made the decision to go back to school.” Boyd first earned her undergraduate degree in anthropology in 1994, entered a PhD program that same year and completed her doctorate in anthropology in 1998. Her doctoral dissertation dealt with the rock art of the Lower Pecos region. An expanded version of that dissertation became her first book, “Rock Art of the Lower Pecos.” But the end of her formal education was only the first step on Boyd’s journey. “My whole goal was to develop a method by which people can go about the analysis of the art, using sound, rigorous, scientific methods, so that you’re speaking the language of the archeologist, not the language of the artist. And that’s what I did,” she said. Boyd returned to the lower Pecos River canyons in 1997 while collecting data for her dissertation and during the month-long visit, she said she also saw how studying the rock art changed her students. “It was amazing, hands-on education, wow. I saw them blossom being out in the field, working alongside me. It was just awesome, and I wanted that sort of thing to continue. Jack and Missy Harrington had allowed us to use and stay at a place on their property (near Comstock). They’re incredible people, and I mentioned to them that it would be wonderful if there would be a way to have some kind of a research and education facility where we could bring kids of all ages to have these types of realworld experiences, and the next day they came back and said, ‘We talked about it, and we want to make our property available for you,’ and so

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

the Shumla School was born,” Boyd recalled. Boyd said as she worked on her doctoral dissertation and began reproducing some of the murals she found here, she also read extensively about the belief systems of different native groups and began recognizing patterns that appeared both in the rock art and in the books she was reading about the cultures of the native populations in Mexico. “I started seeing that you could read these ethnographies and get some insight into what you were actually looking at in the murals, so I started applying that idea, looking for patterns in the rock art and looking for the patterns in the ethnography and formulating hypotheses to explain what we were looking at in the rock art and testing those hypotheses; good, everyday, sound science methods, and it worked,” Boyd said. As her work comparing the rock art patterns with images and patterns from studies of other cultures continued, she said, the windows of understanding began to open, and the rocks began to reveal their millenia-old stories. “I was blown away, because I did not expect to be able to do that,” she said. Even then, Boyd said she believed only that she would develop “some neat ideas” based on patterns in the art, the cultural studies and the archeological re-

cord. “I really didn’t think we’d go beyond that,” she said. As she continued documenting more sites in the lower Pecos, she realized there were a series of “rules” that governed the creation of the panels, methods of execution that reached across huge spans of time. “The oldest date we have for the Pecos River-style murals dates back 4,200 years ago, but the youngest date we have is about 1,500 years ago, but it’s the same rock art style, one style being produced over thousands of years, but the same rules governed its production,” Boyd said. “The more I saw that, the more I realized that we were looking at something with incredible time depth, and when I really, really realized the significance was when I started working on my second book, which I just finished,” she added. “What I realized was that these were – literally – visual narratives composed of a graphic vocabulary that can be read, and what we’ve now learned about it is simply mind-blowing,” Boyd said. She explained how patterns can point researchers in the right direction. “You find a pattern in the rock art, and this is an example that helps people to understand how this goes: Imagine that

something happens and the entire earth is depopulated, and everything is just left as it was, and aliens come to the planet at some point in the future. There’s nobody here to talk to, but they go into a museum, and they find this huge collection of Christian art covering the walls. Now, they don’t know what that means, they don’t have a clue. But they see a pattern. And what is the pattern you see when you look at Christian art? You’re going to see the cross, you’re going to see the lamb, you’re going to see the dove. Well, if they can understand what those key symbols are, will they have made some inroads into understanding what those paintings are about? You bet they will,” she said. “So where do they go next? They go to the books that were left behind, and they start reading and pretty soon they come across Christian literature, and that’s what it is: You find the patterns in the rock art, you find the patterns in the ethnography and you formulate a hypothesis, and from there you test it,” Boyd said. One of the hypotheses she developed

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Curving limestone walls serve as the canvas for the paintings of the White Shaman mural, now believed to be a foundational creation story of the people who inhabited this area, a story that echoes down the centuries into the myths of other peoples like the Huichol, the Maya and the Nahua/Aztec. The White Shaman for which the site is named can be seen just left of center. Though the hike to the site is not long, it involves a fairly strenuous climb into the heart of the canyon.

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revolved around peyote, a small, buttonshaped cactus, a sacred plant used in some native rituals from ancient to modern times. “So to test our hypotheses, we would say, does peyote grow in this environment? Well, yes, peyote grows here. Do we have peyote in the archeological deposits? Yes, we do. . . Then there’s a relationship in the ethnography that deer and peyote are one in the same thing, that they’re an inseparable sacred symbol, so I started asking, why would deer and peyote be one and the same? “Well, there’s ecological explanations and physiological explanations for an individual who consumes peyote, who takes on the feeling of being able to run like a deer and jump like a deer. So you start testing it against all these areas, and then you put it out there as a possible idea of what this is all about, and it keeps building,” she said. Boyd likened the work to assembling the pieces of a puzzle, confounding at the outset, but with the picture becoming clearer and clearer as a greater number of pieces are fit together. Boyd said real breakthroughs came when she began reading about the belief systems of Mexico’s native populations, particularly those of the Huichol of western Mexico and the Nahua – sometimes called the Aztec. In those belief systems, she found “stunning parallels” to what she was seeing in the rock art murals. “I was able to determine that the mural is not just a portrayal of a ritual that is conducted still today by the Huichols to collect peyote, but it’s a reenactment of the birth of the sun and the creation of time,” Boyd said of her detailed work on one of the most famous of the lower Pecos murals, the White Shaman panel. She explained: “Rituals reenact myth, and when I say myth, I don’t mean that in the sense of it being a falsehood, I’m thinking of it as a sacred history. So the ritual hunt for peyote, when the Huichols make that pilgrimage, they’re reenacting the creation of time and the birth of the sun, and that’s what this (White Shaman) mural actually portrays, in stunning detail.” And Boyd said the myth writ large on the wall of the White Shaman site isn’t just the creation story of the Huichol.

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

A timeless story executed in the sacred colors of black, red, yellow and white, the colors of the White Shaman panel and of many of the other rock art panels in the lower Pecos region echo the hues of the arid landscape in which they were created. This photo shows a detail of the panel, with the White Shaman figure at the center. Aspects of it can be found in the creation stories of many other native populations. “We’re looking at something that is a core belief. There’s a wonderful anthropologist and historian by the name of Alfredo Lopez Austin in Mexico, and he did a comparison of all these great religious traditions, the Maya, the Aztec, the Huichol, the Tarahumara. He looked at

these belief systems, their stories of creation, their histories, and what he found was that they all shared some common elements. He referred to those common elements as a ‘hard nucleus’ that was shared among all of them, a nucleus that had archaic roots.” A long, long time ago, bits and pieces of that “hard nucleus” filtered into the

religions, the worldviews, of these disparate early peoples. “What we’re looking at in the rock art of the lower Pecos, is that hard nucleus,” Boyd said. “We’re seeing the core that predates the Nahua, the Aztec, the Maya and all these other groups, and those core beliefs, as far as I’m concerned, didn’t just start here. They probably extend much further back, back to those times when humans first started asking the questions, ‘Who am I? Where did I come from? Why do I exist?’ Those creation stories are a part of who they are.” Although the origins of those belief systems predate the rock art panels and the people who painted them, the lower Pecos is indisputably an important area where those belief systems took root and blossomed, Boyd says. “If a lot of what we’re saying is correct, when people left this area and went south, which is what I think they did, they took these ideas with them, and they incorporated them into their myths. The ancient Nahua, people have heard of Atzlan and Chicomoztoc, the cave birthplaces – I think this may be in their

sacred history, their sacred homeland, the place of origination,” Boyd said. But why should Del Rioans care? “Del Rioans have what may be the oldest known ‘books’ in all of North America in their own backyard. And I can’t stress that enough. What is here on these walls will rewrite the prehistory of North America, and I use the example of, if someone walked up to you, and they had this obviously ancient book in their hands and they said, ‘Here, this is the oldest known book in all of North America,’ what would you do?” “Frankly, I would want to protect it. I would want to know what it said. That’s what I’m saying. I’m handing Del Rio the oldest known books in North America,” Boyd said. But Boyd said that knowledge presents her with a tremendous duty. “With knowledge comes responsibility. I didn’t know that I was working with at one point. I do now, and because of that, I have a huge responsibility, and my responsibility is to document these sites before they’re lost – because we are losing them – and to educate the public

about their significance and to try and learn what the ancients were saying, because we have been afforded an opportunity to read these ancient manuscripts and understand what our ancestors were saying, thousands and thousands of years ago,” Boyd said. The rock art and the stories told on the walls of the limestone shelters also connect all of us to those long-ago inhabitants of the place where we live. “These people were no different than you and I. They woke up in the mornings to the sounds of their children crying for Mama to feed them. They laughed, they cried, they played, they loved, they hated. They had prejudices. They were us. They just didn’t live in a built environment. They were living directly in the landscape and were in tune with it. But whatever was important to them, their beliefs, stories, their stories of creation, their histories, were significant enough to them that they sacrificed, literally, food from their mouths to make the paint to produce these murals of who they were, where they came from and why they existed,” she said.

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Behind Closet Doors Each quarter, Del Rio Grande takes you inside the closets of some of the most fashionable folks in Val Verde. By Bonita Santillán Photos by Bianka Santillán

GEORGE DE LEON Imagine opening a closet door and finding nothing but suits, sports coats, ties, button-up shirts, leather jackets and an assortment of shoes. While some people might not have such a finely tuned closet, George De Leon, one of the managers at Border Federal Credit Union in charge of the lending department and member services, has the latest in men’s fashion in his. “I’ve always wanted to maintain a professional look even if it’s more on the casual side. Wherever I go I try to keep the professional image,” he said. Living in a small town, De Leon keeps his sense of style similar from work to casual to going out on the weekends. “When my members see me, they see the same person they saw in the office,” De Leon said. The image he intends to portray to his members and the community has influenced his grooming. “People see you in a certain way because you’ve assisted them in a certain way.” Running is his passion and uses it to clear his mind whether it’s stresses from work or from other issues. “I used to be a runner which I’m getting back into. That’s my out,” De Leon said. Nike running shoes and New Balance track/running shoes are his go-to running shoes. They keep him on track with his running schedule. Dealing with his members and assisting them with the financing they need is De Leon’s favorite part of his job. Incorporating both the trendy and professional look at work and away from work keeps his members personally acquainted with him. Keeping the professional look while also staying on top of the latest trends is why De Leon chooses to shop at Banana Republic and Zara. Dealing with his members at work and assisting them with the financing they need prompts De Leon’s top of the line looks.

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Behind Closet Doors Q & A What is the oldest item in your closet? An old pair of Diesel jeans that I could wear every single day, if I could. What is the newest item? A suit I just bought for our Annual Christmas Employee Appreciation party. What is the most expensive item? As for as a garment piece it would be my Hugo Boss suit and as an accessory/jewelry I would say my Rolex watch that can sharpen up any look.

What’s the biggest bang for your buck? It would have to be my sports coats because I can dress them up for work or wear them casually for a night out.

What’s an item in your closet that everyone hates but you love? I can’t think of an item that everyone hates, but I always get a lot of flack for trying to extend the sweater season even into the summer. I love wearing sweaters!

What was the biggest waste of money? I have a real cool checkered sports jacket that everyone seemed to like but have only worn it once since it can’t be paired with many things.

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

FASHIONISTAS

Photography by Sandra Castillo

Model Dariela Flores is looking chic with an Ivory long sleeve, VCut fitted lace Romper accessorized with a rhinestone statement necklace and Elevated Desires platform Red Hot Shoes for a day in the City.

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Photography by Sandra Castillo

Model Maura Flores is styling a Southern peach bell sleeve A-line dress with crochet detail. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accessorized perfectly with an ivory crochet short vest and a multi layered beaded statement necklace.

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Model Delilah Morales is sporting a fierce western look with a relaxed fringe detailed dress accessorized with a wooden bead necklace with fringe and matching fringe western boots.

Photography by Sandra Castillo

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Photography by Sandra Castillo

Model Melanie Rodriguez is wearing a gorgeous hot pink off the shoulder bell sleeve top paired with cut off denim shorts and accessorized with a wide western leather belt with a touch of turquoise that compliments her turquoise necklace.

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Thanks for the help

Thanks to Ram Country for allowing Del Rio Grande to shuttle its models around shoot locations in this beautiful Jeep. Rosy Villa, owner of Villa’s Hair Salon, has been a cosmetologist for 15 years specializing in color and extensions. She likes to travel to seminars in order to rejuvenate her salon and keep up to date with the latest trends and fashions, in not only hair color but as well as other services she offers such as facials, nails, extensions, and cuts. “My goal is to provide my customers with the best service possible.”

Visit Dalilah A. Flores, Owner of Gorg Boutique located at 415 S. Main St. They are a small boutique with a Chic Southern Style that meets everyone’s budget.

Melissa Martinez, has been a licensed cosmetologist for two years. She assisted a SWTJC Chi partner school where she was able to perform in the 3rd Annual student show in Arlington hair show. “Making people feel beautiful and happy about themselves is always my goal. I love accepting challenges and being able to show my creative side through haircuts, hair color, make-up and nails.” Elizabeth Martinez, has been a licensed cosmetologist for 14 years. She is a creative hair artist with a passion for her work. She has mastered a variety of hair techniques including haircuts, color, styling and make-up. Specializing in men’s haircuts and fades. Liz stays updated by attending International Hair shows and trainings held in Corpus Christi, Austin, Houston, and Las Vegas to bring her clients new hair trends.

Hair and makeup for Del Rio Grande’s models was provided by Villa’s Full Service Family Hair Salon, 500 Bedell Ave. Villa’s is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All fashion models are wearing merchandise from Gorg Boutique, 415 S. Main St. 20

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

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FASHION SPOTLIGHT Visit Evan Berryhill, owner of the Texas Angels boutique, 2530 Veterans Blvd., for eclectic and spirited apparel, jewelry and home dĂŠcor. For more looks, see the Texas Angels Boutique Facebook page. (1) Rock the rodeo with this casual, classy look: a Stock Show Sweetheart baseball tee with lace sleeves, $39.99, fashion boot-cut jeans with embellished back pockets, $88, and a multi-strand turquoise-bead necklace, $15, with clay cross pendant, $36. (2) Be ready for the ups and downs of spring temperatures in this navy and white striped jersey mini-dress, $33, and faux mohair vest, $49.99. Accent with crystal tassel necklace, $23, and fashion pearl bracelet, $9.99 the set. (3) Amp up casual Fridays in white distressed skinny jeans, $47, and a sheer navy embroidered tank, $34.99, layered over a white camisole, $7. Add a set of fashion pearl and rhinestone bangles, $23, and statement opal and crystal earrings, $8, for a more polished presentation. (4) An evening out is on the agenda in this basic black camisole dress, $7, topped with a sheer leopard-print cardigan, $29.99, and cascading black and gold cocktail necklace, $27.

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

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DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

BroScience offers a vast array of products including this branched-chain amino acids supplement for muscle recovery/growth and hydration.

SWEET SCIENCE BroScience couple offers help in the battle against the bulge Story and photos by Chris Adams

ccepting the challenge to live healthy and fit is actually easy. Obliging and indulging it, not so much. Magic pills and five simple steps in 30 days and then your good to go will never be the solution; only the problem. Truthfully, there is no painless or effortless way to clean up your health. You’ve just got to step into the ring. “Enlightenment” can only be realized through hard work and commitment to proper NUTRITION. Yes, it

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

sounds like cheap Confucianism, but it is a truism. “Eating is 90 percent of what we need to do,” said Anthony Clemans, co-owner of BroScience, a nutrition/ supplement retailer located in the back of The Gym on 12th Street in Del Rio. “You build your body in the kitchen, whether it’s gaining weight or losing weight. And that’s a concept that people just can’t grasp.” I asked Clemans, and BroScience co-owner Jessica Bennett, to explain what their approach and methodology would be in assisting a hypothetical overweight 36-year old woman to lose

Anthony Clemans and Jessica Bennett provide Del Rio all-encompassing and unapologetic nutrition through their business, BroScience, located at The Gym.

25 pounds. “If she came in and she had a goal of let’s say 20 to 25 pounds, the first thing I would always advocate — and I would talk to her about — is how she is eating now,” stated Clemans. “And teach her how she needs to eat in the future. So before we even talk about supplementation or anything else we pretty much need to narrow down how she is going to able to eat.” He said that it’s actually quite common to find people who believe that eating less leads to healthy weight loss, and then added that isn’t necessarily the case. “You can still eat four or five wellrounded meals, but we teach you how to eat properly. We would map out her entire diet. So, what I would do is we might have to get into some specifics. Some numbers.” Numbers defined as body weight and the correct apportionment of protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats and sugar for her situation and unique physiology. Furthermore, he would take into consideration other issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid problems and food allergies. “Pretty much all around the spectrum so I know what I can play with and what I can’t. Let’s say she is borderline diabetic or let’s say she has got high blood pressure, then I would know that I would have to take it a little easy on carbs or sugars or salts ... now when we get into supplementation you absolutely have to take that into consideration.” After crunching the data, BroScience would formulate a four to five meal-aday plan and educate our make-believe woman on what carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats etc. are available to her. And Clemans indicated that supplementation is not the final word on efficacious results. “Supplementation is merely a piggyback,” remarked Clemans. “Let’s say someone wants to lose five to 10 pounds, I don’t think I would necessarily go right into supplementation. Six to eight week plan of meals and exercise, and believe it or not, you can obtain that.” The couple has tried all the supplements on their shelves, which enables Clemans to better facilitate formulation. “I’ll delve into those and I’ll pretty much

Del Rio High School junior Jonathan Jimenez finishes a pre-workout drink at BroScience. get some pretty good products with very clean formulas and stuff like that; nothing too crazy.” Clemans stumbled into the nutrition game through a type of tragedy. His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer several years back, and that moved him to learn as much as he could about health, physiology, biology and biochemistry in order to help her. Ultimately, his mother survived and he ended up working in management for General Nutrition Center. Bennett’s story is a bit different. She found herself overweight and searching for answers. She finally discovered one: persistent and indefatigable work. Minus eighty-five pounds later and an unyielding dedication to a healthy lifestyle she has never looked back. “It’s definitely a process you have to be willing to embrace. There’s going to be moments that you’re not going to like the way your body looks, but it’s not your final result.” She has a word for females wanting to get right with their health and body. “First and foremost...connecting from woman to woman, one thing that I always make sure to relate up front is that it’s going to be work. A lot of people come in and they’re serious about these transformations, but they don’t really

want to put in work. They think they’re committed until they realize it’s going to take work ... it’s going to take more than dieting for 30 days. This isn’t you eat clean for two or three days and then reward yourself with bad behavior for another two, three weeks.” This month, BroScience will be rolling out affordable, nutritious meals for customers. “We are going to be offering meal prep,” said Clemans. “We are going to do the work for you. It is literally tailored to the individual person.” Both Clemans and Bennett said that sustaining fitness and righteous eating on a consistent and never ending basis is the key to optimum health. It may require exigent and arduous changes but nothing else works. “You go on these 21-day crash diets, your body goes into emergency survivor mode,” he commented. “Your body is going to retain a lot of water. You’re going to have a lot of broken down tissue.”

BROSCIENCE

Located inside The Gym, 603 E. 12th St. (830) 309-9385 Bro_Science@outlook.com DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

GET TO KNOW Think you know Russell Stidham, president of Sentry Security Service? We asked him 25 questions and here’s what he had to say Story and photos by Sandra Castillo

“My first concert was The Bangles at Six Flags with my family.” I have three children – Morgan, 19 Mason, 17 and Mellie, 14. They are beautiful, sweet and kind. I love my kids and I love being a dad. If I had to describe myself I would say that on the outside I’m a long, tall Texan, but on the inside I’m a Latin lover. Ha ha! When I was in high school, me and my friends were all forced to take a ballroom dancing class by our moms and I was extremely embarassed at first. We learned how to do all the different dances - two-step, waltz, the fox trot, etc. - but it taught me how to dance. While other guys were standing in the corner, scared of the thought of talking to a girl, I would grab the prettiest girl in the bar and dance the night away. Thanks, mom. I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to watching TV. I prefer watching the news or the History Channel. My favorite movie is the John Wayne classic “The Cowboys.” As a kid, I always wanted to be in that movie. I love spending time with my kids, traveling, and I’m always looking for any opportunity to go to the beach.

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

This summer I went to Cabo San Lucas and the year before I visited the Cayman Islands. My favorite food of all time is my mom’s enchiladas, but I love to barbecue and my favorite thing to cook are pork ribs. My first car was a 1981 primer grey Ford F-150. It had one speaker that worked on the passenger side door. About four or five years ago I broke my two front teeth off two days after Christmas. I was showing off on my kids’ scooter that Santa brought them and left me with a big ol’ scar on my upper lip. There have been six Miss Del Rio’s in my family — my aunt, Phyllis Foster Taylor; my mom, Debbie Foster Stidham; my cousins, Tina and Regina Ricks; my niece, Kalli Kusenberger; and my daughter, Morgan. I’ve been working for my dad since I was 15 years old. He’s taught me the value of hard work. I have two dogs — Lola and Spanky — and two horses — Pancho and Ree.

The pool house Stidham built.

My mom and dad are my role models. Both are awesome people. They raised me, my sisters and brother in a Christian home. My dad is a man’s man. He’s tender and tough and rock solid and is my counselor. I think my mom is an angel and is the most talented person I know. I love my parents. My dream vacation would be a European vacation to visit France, Italy, Spain and England. I’m a pretty handy guy, and I like to work with my hands. There’s a pool house in my backyard that I built myself. I also laid all the hardwood floors throughout my home. I really enjoy carpentry and working with my hands.

"The Big Red Building That Looks Like An Old Time Gas Station"

DICK OWEN’S JR. LIQUORS Photo contributed by Kalli Kusenberger Russell Stidham and his kids - Mason, Mellie and Morgan.

My favorite type of music is primarily country, but I also enjoy rock and classic rock. My cousin is Radney Foster, who is from Del Rio and is a very famous singer/songwriter. He’s written music for Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans, Darius Rucker and the Dixie Chicks and produces bands such as the Randy Rogers Band. A lot of people may not know that I have no feeling in the fingers of my left hand. I drilled into my hand while building a haunted house for my kids for Halloween. My brother Jason is 18 months older than me and he is my best friend. He is also bigger and better looking than me. I name my vehicles. They have personalities and I think it’s good luck. Over the years I’ve had a “Skid Mark”, “Stanley”, and currently my pickup is named “William” or “Billy depending on his mood. I studied Agricultural Business at Texas State University. I was in Sigma Phi Epsilon and was the social chairman. One of my college fraternity brothers was Brad Womack, who was “The Bachelor” on TV twice. He was also my ex-wife’s boyfriend in college before we started dating. I have had to spend a night in jail in

Mexico for getting in a fight at the Corona Club. I was recently featured on “Texas Country Reporter” with my good friend Chito, and to this day I still receive calls and donations for Chito. Something interesting that I am about to do is that I have the opportunity to go to a tactical firearm training in Las Vegas in March. The instructors are world class and it’s an opportunity of a lifetime.

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I also befriended a homeless person named Travis. He found my dog when she got out and called me to tell me he had her. When I went to pick her up I saw he was a homeless guy and so I gave him a few bucks. We since have stayed in touch. Last time I talked to him he was on a train in Florida with his girlfriend. It’s kinda interesting to see where his travels take him. My favorite bible verse is The 23rd Psalm: “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.” I think about the past couple of years and the difficulties that me and my family have gone through and how in spite of it all God is still in control and how he has managed to reveal himself to me and prove his love over and over and over again. Psalm 23:5 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

Monday-Thursday 11AM-8PM Friday & Saturday 11AM-9PM Closed Sunday

706 Veterans Blvd (Hwy 90) & 6th Street credit debit

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Del Rio High School senior Jordan Garcia, center, listens as a game official explains the responsibilities of being a ball boy is explained to the youth who will serve the role before a football scrimmage in August. Garcia served as the first student/coach.

LEARNING THE ROPES New position offers Del Rio senior chance to coach

Story by Brian Argabright Photos by Brian Argabright and San Felipe Del Rio CISD

ot every athlete dreams of being a professional in his sport. Sometimes, the dream is to be the one calling the shots – the coach. This season, the Del Rio High Rams football staff created a first for the program, a student coach position that would serve as a conduit between coaches and players. Jordan Garcia, 17, became the first student-coach in the history of the program at the behest of offensive coordinator Rod Taylor. For Garcia, the decision to become a coach wasn’t an easy one but it was one that would help him

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Jordan Garcia keeps a close eye on the action during Del Rio High’s game against San Antonio Holmes. Garcia would relay in-game information on opponents to coaches.

stay around the sport he’d grown to love Falling in Love Football has been a part of Garcia’s life since he was a kid. In elementary school he played fullback for the Del Rio Youth Football League’s Chiefs. When he reached middle school, though, Garcia said he stepped away from the gridiron to focus on the classroom. “I’ve always loved football. I can remember when I was little I would play catch with my dad in the backyard. We’d play a game where the first person to drop a pass would lose. It was always a competition,” Garcia said. “I’m not really sure why I stopped playing, but once I got to high school I knew this was the last chance I had to possibly come back and actually play. I just missed it.” Though his large size was something coaches would look for in an offensive or defensive lineman, Garcia admitted his return to the field was less than spectacular. “On the first day of two-adays … I was so out of shape that I was throwing up during warm ups. I think the coaches had no clue what I was doing there,” Garcia said. But his efforts, and his God-given size, led to Garcia getting an opportunity to play on the defensive line. He was sent up to take reps with the varsity team and it was then that he suffered a dislocated knee. The earliest he would be able to return to the playing field would be seven months. “I did whatever I could to make sure I could come back. I hit the weight room every day until it closed. I didn’t get to spend much time with

While Garcia was busy helping his father Joey run the family business, Amistad Snacks, the Rams coaches were taking notice of his absence. Garcia said head coach Frenchey McCrea Jr. called Garcia’s mom, Rae Zambrano, in an attempt to track Garcia down and find out whether or not he was going to return to the program. “I wanted to come back to play, but I knew I would be out of shape and I felt that another football injury probably meant I would have to have knee replacement surgery by the time I was 20,” Garcia said. “But that spring I met coach Taylor and he saw something in me no one else did.”

Del Rio Rams head football coach Frenchey McCrea Jr. introduces Jordan Garcia at the Fall Sports Community Pep Rally. the team because of my injury, so I’d be in there working out with my football shirt and shorts and the coaches would ask where I got it from. I was like an unknown to them because I had missed so much time,” Garcia said. Love Hurts Garcia returned to the field his junior year and was moved to offensive guard, but for the second year in a row he sustained a knee injury that would cause him to miss significant time. He was finally able to play with the junior varsity during the district schedule and logged

five games as a Ram. Once the season ended Garcia said he was asked to serve as the varsity Rams manager for the playoffs and essentially learn the ropes of the position. Garcia stuck with the role for the Rams playoff run, but once it ended he refocused his attention on returning to the field. Turns out his body had other ideas. “The summer after my junior year … I came in for workouts and my knee just started killing me. I just stopped coming. I went AWOL and decided to work for my dad,” Garcia said.

A New Chance Taylor arrived in Del Rio from Texas A&M-Kingsville in March and brought with him a more up-tempo style of offense. He also brought the idea of creating a studentcoach position, similar to the graduate assistant-coach position that’s popular among programs in the NCAA. “I started by helping the freshmen quarterbacks. I wound up working with the whole offensive staff. I also helped put together the wristbands each week and develop a scouting report involving our opponents that week. I’d watch game film of the opposing defense and look for flaws that we could exploit. There were a lot of long nights watching film,” Garcia said. Though Garcia said he enjoyed the experience, he said the reaction from his peers was mixed. “The older players were a little tough. They’d tell me things like, ‘you’re not a

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

coach,’ or ‘just let the coaches do their job,’ or ‘you don’t know what you’re talking about.’ But the younger guys, like the freshmen, they called me coach. I saw some respect from them,” Garcia said. “I can’t say all the older players disregarded what I had to say. Some of them would listen and take the information I gave them to heart.” Garcia said his also found skepticism among the more experienced coaches, but he said their attitude changed once they saw him at work. “This was something that had never happened before in Del Rio, so they were skeptical. I think I wound up being very well accepted because they knew I was there to work and help us win. I wasn’t there to play around and I think they respected that,” Garcia said. While some of Garcia’s

duties were like those of a manager, such as overseeing equipment and laundry, Garcia said he also learned the nuisances of being coach, such as learning how to read coverages and adapting on the fly or learning when certain plays, like blitzes, were coming. “I learned so much more of the game in this position than when I was a player. I studied really hard doing this and I used whatever time I had to pick coach Taylor’s brain,” Garcia said. “Before this year I thought I’d go to college and become a lawyer or maybe even take over my dad’s business. I thought that if I was going to be a coach it would be for my son’s team, way down the line.” Happily Ever After? College is still in Garcia’s future, but now his aim is on

coaching. He said he’d like to be an offensive coordinator for an NCAA school and maybe one day a head coach at some level. As for the days of playing the game, Garcia said he misses those but that his experiences as a coach have given him a new way to enjoy the game he’s loved for so long. “Do I miss playing? Definitely … especially after the C.C. Winn scrimmage. That was possibly the only time I reconsidered what I was doing, but I loved my position. I loved coming in on Saturdays and helping put together the game plan and scouting the other team. I fell in love with it,” Garcia said. “I thoroughly love the game of football, but being a coach helped me discover a new way to love the game even more.”

Jordan Garcia prays before the start of Del Rio’s playoff game against Cibolo Steele. The gesture has become a tradition for Del Rio players and coaches before football games.

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DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Every Thursday Carnitas y Chicharrones

THE DISH

Pictured is the popular nopalito appetizer, which consists of queso panela, homemade salsa, nopalito and can be eaten with a tortilla, chips, or just a fork. This dish is well known in the deeper parts of Mexico.

A TASTE OF OLD MEXICO Malinda Restaurant opens diners to different delicacies Story by Bonita Santillán Photo by Bianka Santillán

alinda Restaurant may not be a wellknown restaurant to incoming residents in Del Rio, but that’s not to say it isn’t one of Del Rio’s favorites. For a restaurant serving items from both a menu and a buffet, the endless options will send you home feeling more than satisfied. Located inside the Ramada Inn, Malinda has been an attraction for guests at the hotel as well as for local residents. With more fast food restaurants in the surrounding area, the restaurant is a unique alternative. Malinda offers more ethnic foods originating from deeper

Mexico. The menu offers options such as shrimp cocktail, aqua chile, tortilla soup, poblano soup, ceviche served with red sauce, and tres leches for dessert. Among the favorites is the nopalito appetizer. Unlike what most people are accustomed to when they think of nopalitos, Malinda’s nopalito dish is served with a whole oval leaf on a bed of homemade salsa with slices of panela cheese. The dish is typically eaten with tortillas and chips but is also eaten with a fork. Layering a slice of cheese with a slice of nopalito dipped in the salsa is the preferred way to enjoy this dish. Malinda’s chief chef has 20 years of experience at the restaurant serving authentic Mexi-

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Family Steakhouse

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DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

can food. Dinner speMALINDA cials are served every Located inside Ramada Inn, night of the week such 2101 Veterans Blvd. as surf and turf, prime rib, and steak nights. (830) 775-8084 A taquiza bar is available every Friday and Saturday. Unlike bars that serve alcohol, the taquiza bar is a taco stand inside the Ramada that makes fresh corn and flour tortillas and guisados. Malinda also honors the holidays making it a point to include dinner specials and events according to the holiday, such as Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day and Fat Tuesday.

where to eat Looking for a place to dine out? This brief list of local eateries may be just what you need to help satisfy your appetite. The Brown Bag - 440 S. Main St. Buffalo Wings and Rings - 3600 Veterans Blvd. Burger King - 2204 Veterans Blvd. Carmelita’s - 1014 Veterans Blvd. Carmelita’s Restaurant #1 - 1501 Las Vacas St. Chick Fil A - 2207 Veterans Blvd. Chilli’s Grill - 2415 Veterans Blvd. Chinto’s Super Taco - 400 E. 6th St. Churches Chicken - 1900 Veterans Blvd. Dairy Queen - 1901 Veterans Blvd. Del Rio One Stop - 2301 Spur 239 Doc Hollidays - 202 E. Gibbs St. Domino’s Pizza - 2050 N. Bedell Ave. Don Marcelino’s #1 - 1110 Veterans Blvd. El Palenque - 2107 Veterans Blvd. El Patio - 1206 E. Gibb St. El Ranchito - 810 Dr. Fermin Calderon Blvd. El Toro - 505 W. 2nd St. Fuddruckers - 2211 Veterans Blvd. Golden Chick - 501 Veterans Blvd.

Golden Dragon - 504 E. 9th St. Hot Pit BBQ - 309 Veterans Blvd. Icon Bar and Grill - 11207 U.S. Hwy 90 W. IHOP - 2203 Veterans Blvd. Jack in the Box - 100 Braddie Drive Jitra Thai Cuisine - 904 E. Gibbs St. Julio’s Corn Tortilla Chips and Restaurant 3900 E. US Hwy. 90 East Kentucky Fried Chicken - 1410 Veterans Blvd. Kev’s Grill - 2205 Veterans Blvd. (Inside Plaza del Sol Mall) La Hacienda Restaurant - 330 Pecan St. Little Cesars - 615 Gibbs St. Long John Silver’s/A&W Restaurant 1205 Veterans Blvd. Los Betos - 1908 Veterans Blvd. Lou’s Woodfire Pizza - 2409 Veterans Blvd. Manuel’s Steakhouse - 1312 Veterans Blvd. McDonald’s - 2400 Ave. E., 1504 E. Gibbs St., 2410 Dodson Ave. (inside Walmart) Meme’s Kleen Kitchen - 401 E. Gibbs St. Memo’s - 804 E. Losoya St. Mexico Tipico - 1302 Las Vacas Mi Tierra Restaurant - 614 Dr. Fermin Calderon Blvd.

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GRANDE Is there a local dish that makes your mouth water when you think of it? Know of an eatery that more people should be aware of? Know of anyone with amazing culinary skills? Let us know! Please send us your ideas and tips for Del Rio Grande’s The Dish section and we will feature it in a future edition. Send your tips to news@delrionewsherald.com The ‘Grande’ part of the Logo has a stroke to make it a bit thicker. If you are going to change Logo color. Stroke must be same color on the ‘Grande’ part.

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This piece of flint will be shaped into a point or arrowhead thanks to the skilled hands of Robert Parker. Parker, who is an engineer for the city of Del Rio, is also a renown flint knapper. Below are some examples of Parker’s work.

IN LIKE FLINT

Local craftsman shares secrets of flint knapping Story and photos by Chris Adams

e live in an area that is full of rich geological and Native American history and one that perhaps predates many ancient civilizations. If you were to toss those things up in the air what came down might resemble rock. Or more specifically, flint; a stone that was a sort of lifeblood for the natives of this region, but also the Europeans before they found their way to the new world. Eventually, this skill or art of crafting stone into purposeful tools, weapons or works of decor received a name: flint knapping. The word knap is of Dutch origin and translates into nibble. Val Verde County has many individuals who engage in this craft, but one knapper extraordinaire, Robert Parker, was kind enough to breakdown the rock shaping process. Parker, engineer for the city of Del Rio, ably synthesized the methodology. He said the first thing to do is to find the flint and then cook it because the local type does not knap that well. Parker said that if you find a rock that has a

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

wax-like film on it then it was most likely already heated by Indians. Why cook it, or more accurately, heat treat it? Parker stated that a stone has to have a property called conchoidal fracture (think BB gun steel ball-pierced glass), which leaves a cone-like hole. “And that cone is always 110 degrees (angle) and there are a lot of rocks that won’t do that, but flint, chert, the quartz materials, which are silica...you can use that 110 degree fracture to be able to control your flakes and make a shape and do what you want to.” So, for the obstinate flint in our county, the heat is used to acquire that angle. “There are a lot of stones that are high

quartz content, silica content, but until they’re heat treated, which changes the nature of the stone, you can’t knap those either.” The self-taught and affable craftsman heats the flint in a turkey roaster and covers it with cat litter to be safe and does not cook rock greater than one-inch thick because it could explode. “Our local stuff treats real well at 450 degrees for six hours.” He said it takes two days to cool down, but once it has been treated it is very easy to knap. “The stuff knaps beautifully and it just leaves smooth, clean flakes and you can make a lot better finished product out of it.” Once the stone is ready for fracture, Parker grabs a hog skin pad for his thigh and reaches for a copper bopper (yes, that is correct) — it’s a wood or PVC pipe handle with a copper cap-to flake off a piece of flint. He said a quartzite hammer stone is very effective too. “It’s grains of sand that have been naturally cemented together. It’s very tough; doesn’t break... that roughness of the sand particles grabs the edge of that rock and initiates that fracture you want.”

DEL RIO

GRANDE Do you have an interesting hobby? Do you know someone with an amazing story to tell? Do you know of a piece of this area’s history that more people should be aware of? Let us know! Send us your story ideas and tips and we will feature them in a future edition of Del Rio Grande. Email us your ideas at news@delrionewsherald.com The ‘Grande’ part of the Logo has a stroke to make it a bit thicker. If you are going to change Logo color. Stroke must be same color on the ‘Grande’ part.

Flint knapper Robert Parker flakes a stone with a hog skin pad and copper bopper. “If you get 10 knappers together you’re going to find 10 different methods. And they’ll all basically produce the same thing.”

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Next, an antler or steel is utilized to shear the edge of the flint that shapes the point and thickens the edge, which will enable the knapper to go back and pressure flake it. Basically, the process then consists of thinning it, sharpening it and shaping it. “And that goes on however many repetitions until you get what you want,” he said. Parker also cautioned that the pressure imparted on the implement you’re using should be concentrated to the front, otherwise an aftershock effect could occur in the stone and snap it. “And that’s really the process where you take a chunk of rock and break it down. First time you hit it, it’s brute force, and then as you get it smaller and smaller it gets down to where you’re literally nibbling away bits of stone until you get the shape, the notches, the sharpness of the edge that you want.” Flint can be made into a point, arrowhead, blade or a variety of other tools. Parker, who has conducted demonstrations with the Boy Scouts and National Park Service rangers, commented that there isn’t one perfect technique.

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SOCCER SAGE

Longtime coach offers insight to success of his team Story and photos by Brian Argabright

el Rio High School soccer has gone through district championships, playoff droughts and changes in districts, but the one constant has been Ernesto Martinez. Martinez began teaching 37 years ago in San Angelo and came to the San Felipe Del Rio CISD the next year. Then in the fall of 1994, Martinez’s career arc took him from middle school world history teacher to soccer coach. Actually, he began his career as the junior varsity boys soccer coach. “I was the J.V. coach for one year. After the boys head coach and his family moved to Missouri, I became the boys head coach. I was there for five years before making the move to coach girls and I’ve been there ever since,” Martinez said. Martinez began coaching soccer when his son Ernesto “Neto” Martinez Jr. played in youth leagues. It was during his time as a youth coach that Martinez developed friendships with several parents who would eventually petition the school district to add the sport many years later. “Those parents saw easily 600 kids playing in local leagues and they saw the need for the high school to have a soccer program,” Martinez said. “When they opened up soccer at the high school, I applied for the head coaching job. The school board only approved head coaching positions for varsity boys and girls, but when they got word of the number of kids at tryouts, they realized they had enough for JV teams and that was the beginning of my coaching career here.” Since 2009, the Del Rio High Queens soccer program has been one of the strongest in the Southwest region of Texas. Del Rio has been to the playoffs every year since then, winning district five

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Queens head coach Ernesto Martinez roams the sidelines during the team’s bi-district playoff game earlier this year. times and twice reaching the regional semifinals. Martinez said that kind of success has forced his teams to re-focus their energies and not settle. “Yes, I love being district champions but their goal is no longer being district champs. Their goal is making it to state. For the past few years the goal has been

to make it to the Sweet 16 and we’ve done it twice. This group this year made it once as freshmen and they’re ready to go back. They’re hungry, but it takes that motivation from the coaches to instill winning in these girls. Winning but at the same time having fun. But I tell those girls to give me everything you’ve got. Leave it there on the field. 110 percent

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Zumba, Tabata Instructors When Del Rio moved to District 29-5A prior to the 2008-09 school year, success for the Queens soccer program wasn’t far behind. The team won its first district title that season and has won the district crown five of the past seven years. day in and day out because the way you practice is the way you are going to play,” Martinez said. Martinez said the program’s time in the San Antonio Northside district helped him as a coach because he saw what he wanted his girls to become. He said the battles against those teams, in tournaments and in the playoffs, give Del Rio’s girls a chance to see what they could become. “I push my girls and I guess I’ve learned over the years how far to push. With boys … it’s a faster and more physical game. I get kind of impatient with the girls because I want to see the same thing,” Martinez said. “When we play in Northside and Northeast tournaments and go up against Reagan and Churchill … that’s still an experience our girls talk about even after they leave the program. We were just as good as those teams but we didn’t have all the talent that they do. They play club soccer year round while these girls here … aside from a few girls … their club soccer is local and it’s very different than what the Valley plays and what big cities like San Antonio play.” Martinez said the varsity team’s success begins at the subvarsity level. He said his assistants do a great job of preparing the underclassmen for what’s expected of them once they’re selected to play at the next level. And if a freshman shows she has what it takes to compete with his upperclassmen, Martinez said he’s not afraid to give her a shot. “I’ve always believed that if a freshman can play at the level of a varsity player why not give them the opportunity to help the team. It’s all about teamwork and if they’re willing to dedicate and commit to the program the way they do then we shall be successful,” Martinez said. Now in his 60’s, and several years removed from having coached his daughter Melissa when she was a member of the Queens team, Martinez said he doesn’t feel out of place around girls in their teens. He credits them with keeping him young and making the program feel more like a family. “I don’t feel old myself. Being old is in the eye of the beholder and I don’t feel that at all. These girls energize me. I have yet to hear one of the girls tell me ‘you’re old’ or ‘ what do you know’

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Queens head coach Ernesto Martinez introduces his players during the 2014-15 Spring Community Pep Rally. This season will mark Martinez’s 15th as the Queens head coach.

or anything in that regards. In fact we bond together,” Martinez said. “I tell these girls that I will treat you like my family, but they have to know where to draw the line. I care for all of them dearly.” While the game has remained relatively the same, there have been some changes that Martinez said he’s seen. He’s seen a push for greater player safety especially when it comes to preventing concussions in players. In a study published this summer by Sarah K. Fields, an associate professor of communication at the University of Colorado-Denver, it was discovered that for every 10,000 “athlete exposures”, which is a student at practice or playing, there were 4.5 concussions among girls and 2.8 among boys. The study also explained that soccer is the second leading cause of concussions among female athletes. It was the fifth leading cause among boys. Martinez said his players are aware of the risk, but said they have developed the mentality of team above all else. “Unfortunately in the midst in play they are going to do what’s best for the team, whether that’s taking a header at the goal or taking a ball in the chest. They’re going to do it, and they do it for the team. They tell me they want to step up and do what they have to for the team and that gives me chills when I hear those things from my girls. Those are not just words, they do it and I love them for that,” Martinez said. Though Martinez has been a physi-

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

cal education coach the past six years, he spent the previous 30 years being a world history teacher at the sixth grade level. He said his work on the field may be what he’s best remembered for, but he’s just as proud of the work he’s done in the classroom. “To me … winning is not everything. I think winning and seeing them win and enjoy their wins, seeing their excitement after a great win in a playoff game … that’s what keeps me going, what makes my day,” Martinez said. “One thing I will remember after I retire is being selected teacher of the year – not once but twice. That was a recognition that was given to me back then and it was a very distinct honor. You do that and people know what kind of a person you are, what kind of a teacher you are. I hope I’ll see former students of mine 10, 15, 20 years down the line and they’ll tell me I was still the best history teacher every had.” As for how much longer he’ll keep roaming the sidelines as the Queens head coach, Martinez said he strongly felt that this season would be his last, but he isn’t ready to hang it up just yet. He said his biggest concern wouldn’t be walking away, but ensuring the program was in the right hands when the time came to say goodbye to the sport he’s loved for so long. “When I do retire I want to leave the program in good hands … with someone who will take the team in the direction I have taken it. Even if they don’t do it the way I did, I want the program to continue to be successful and for

these girls to continue feeling as though it’s a family,” Martinez said. “I’m looking at maybe three more years, but only God knows. Every year the girls will tell me ‘you said you were going to retire when I was a freshman,’ and every year a new group of girls comes in. I know every good thing comes to an end, but when I see another coach that can bring the same success and happiness to the girls that I have then I’ll know it’s time to retire.” Martinez has led his team to district championships, to the state’s Sweet 16 round and he’s been named coach of the year multiple times. He’s won tournaments, sent players on to collegiate programs and has more plaques and trophies than he can remember. And when his time as a coach comes to an end, Martinez said none of that will mean as much as the young women he guided on the pitch. “Never in a lifetime did I dream that I would go this long in coaching. It’s like I tell the girls I must be doing something right because I’m still here. I love working with these girls and I love coaching. I think if it wasn’t for soccer I would have already retired,” Martinez said. “The district titles, the bi-district and area wins and making the Sweet 16 … those are great moments I will remember, but more than that I will remember the players. Girls like Isabel Treviño, Clarissa Leon, Melissa Garcia, Beatriz Lerma, Greta Linares, Kristina Rosas, Serenna Ortiz … those are some of the greatest people I’ve coached and I’m here because of them.”

MAKE PLANS FREE INCOME TAX PREPARATION (Jan. 15 to April 15) For the 11th year, Border Federal Credit Union will participate in the VITA program and preparing free income tax returns for families of combined household income less than $54,000 a year. Taxpayers must present ID’s, social security cards, and all necessary forms (W2’s, 1099’s, etc.) Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Border Federal Credit Union, 600 E. Gibbs St.

WOMEN’S CONFERENCE (Jan. 22, 23) This event, conducted by Billie Hunt, begins on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. and continues Jan. 23 with a 9:30 a.m. brunch and service beginning at 10 a.m. Grace Community Church, 709 Kings Way, Del Rio, (830) 774-5755

SACRED HEART RAFFLE (April 3) The annual Sacred Heart Festival will be held April 3, and the highlight of the event will be the unveiling of the winners of the raffle. The grand prize will be a 2016 Jeep Patriot Sport SUV or a $20,000 VISA Gift Card. There are six big prizes in all including $500 VISA Gift Cards, out of town trips and a stay in the Ramada Inn’s Honeymoon Suit. Tickets are $35 each or 3 for $100. Tickets available from any Sacred Heart Student, at the Sacred Heart School Office, Church Office, or Festival Committee Member.

DEL RIO

GRANDE

Want to see your event included on the Del Rio Grande’s Make Plans Spring 2016 calendar? If you’re hosting an event after April 15, please submit the information, including a brief description of the event, to norma.flores@ delrionewsherald.com by March 15, 2016. Make sure to include contact information in case there any questions. The ‘Grande’ part of the Logo has a stroke to make it a bit thicker. If you are going to change Logo color. Stroke must be same color on the ‘Grande’ part.

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Photos by Ashley Lopez

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

ON THE SCENE

CHRISTMAS UNDER THE STARS

3 (1) Mom with the Salinas brothers. (2) Diana Eich and Ruby Adams welcome the guests at Christmas Under the Stars. (3) S’mores by the fire - Mary Lou St. Germain, Leyna Garcia, Kaitlin Lewis, Nataly Mead and Ayva Flores. (4) The first Christmas for little AJ. AJ and his mom Priscilla Padilla.

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ON THE SCENE WILD GAME DINNER

Saturday, March 5th 7-11PM Dancing, Live Music, Beer, Food

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• Val Verde Courthouse County Judge - Efrain Valdez ........................... 830-774-7501 • County Clerk Honorable Generosa (Janie) Gracia-Ramon .... 830-774-7564 • Fairgrounds/Parks Commissioner - Lewis Owens .......................... 830-774-7509 • Health Department/Risk Management Health Inspector - Roger Cerny ........................ 830-774-7569 • Veteran Services Veterans Service Officer - George Sosa........... 830-774-7548 • Library ................................................................. 830-774-7595 • Commissioners Office Commissioners’ Secretary - MaryAnn Gonzalez .. 830-774-7656

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ON THE SCENE

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Jack Johnson, Amistad National Recreation Area integrated resources program manager, stands in front of a mural depicting a portion of Panther Cave, a rock shelter decorated with elaborate prehistoric rock art near the mouth of Seminole Canyon on the Rio Grande arm of Amistad Reservoir. The mural, located in the ANRA Visitor Center on U.S. Highway 90 west of Del Rio, was made used detailed photographs of the site, one of hundreds in the area.

JACK OF ALL TRADES Johnson working to bring areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s artifacts back home Story and photos by Karen Gleason

efore the construction of Amistad Dam, archeologists recovered hundreds of thousands of artifacts left behind by the hunter/gatherer peoples that roamed the area of present-day Val Verde County and called it home. Most of those artifacts remain in storage at the University of Texas at Austin,

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

Projectile points like this flint dart were affixed to the ends of shafts and heaved at prey animals using an atlatl spear thrower by prehistoric hunters who lived in this area thousands of years ago. Different types of projectile points were used at various times and places, and archeologists use that information to determine the age of a particular site.

but Jack Johnson, whose duties as integrated resources program manager for the Amistad National Recreation Area include working as the park archeologist, is creating a permanent exhibit that will bring many of those artifacts back home for display in the near future. Johnson’s passion for the area’s prehistory was born in an early love of science and the outdoors. “I actually started off in aerospace engineering, so I’ve always loved science, and I’ve always loved being outdoors, but at some point it dawned on me that I didn’t really want to spend my whole life in a cubicle. I grew up in the Hill Country northwest of Austin, running around creeks and lakes and rivers and hills and was always kind of curious, how ancient people would’ve experienced that landscape and made their living off it,” he said. Participation in an archeological field school in Belize in 2000 sealed the deal. He came to Amistad in 2005 to work as an intern for Amistad’s former archeologist, Joe Labadie, and from there, immersed himself in the area’s rich and vibrant prehistory, working as a tour guide for Seminole Canyon State Park and for the Shumla School while finishing his master’s degree. Johnson said he believes humans first settled in the area because of its many special qualities. “This was an area of deep, deep canyons, and this is a unique area, because we’re right where the Chihuahuan Desert in the west meets the South Texas Brushlands to the southeast meets the Edwards Plateau/Texas Hill Country to the east and northeast, and in addition to that, you’ve got three rivers converging here, the Devils, the Pecos and the Rio Grande,” he said. Johnson said because the area is at the edge of the Edwards Plateau, it also has many springs, flowing from the Balcones Escarpment, a geological feature that more or less separates the flatter, wetter eastern half of Texas from the drier, rockier western half. The amount of surface water made – and still makes – this area something of an oasis in an arid and forbidding landscape. “So you’ve got deep limestone canyons from these rivers, and then there’s

No one is really sure how ancient people used this piece of shaped limestone. A little larger than an egg, the stone has a carved grove around its equator and may have been used as a weight for a fishing net or snare or as part of a bola, a hunting tool in which several balls tied together with a cord are thrown at the legs of prey animals. The enigmatic stone is one of hundreds of thousands of prehistoric artifacts removed from the lower Pecos region before Amistad Dam was built. lots of large protected rock shelters, which have always provided a good place for people to stay. And it would have been like that when the first human beings to experience this area came here,” Johnson said. There is evidence from a bison jump kill site west of Del Rio that human beings were in this area more than 10,000 years ago. The hunter-gatherers didn’t settle in any particular place, but moved through the landscape, staying for periods of time in rock shelters, carved into the canyon walls by the forces of nature. “Our understanding is that the Lower Pecos canyonlands – and we’re talking about an area centered on where the Pecos and Rio Grande come together, about a 50-mile radius north, east and west and probably a little farther south into the Burros Mountains in Mexico – would have been the ‘home range’ of a set of related cultural groups,” Johnson said. The first residents of Val Verde County left much evidence of their occupation. “One of the spectacular things about this area – a lot of people have heard

about the amazing rock art we have, and this area has one of the most dense and most impressive bodies of prehistoric rock art in North America and actually, one of the most impressive bodies anywhere in the world – but besides the incredible rock art, these large, dry rock shelters have preserved organic artifacts, things like baskets and mats, sandals and things that archeologists get really excited about, like coprolites, dried pieces of human feces that tell us a lot about diet and health and nutrition,” Johnson said. The dry climate was key in preserving those artifacts. “And also the overhangs. For instance, if you go to Fate Bell Shelter in Seminole Canyon State Park, and you’re on that tour and you’re standing in that rock shelter, you’re standing someplace where it hasn’t rained for 10,000 years. It’s never been wet. So those protected, dry environments are really, really, really good for preserving these types of artifacts. And those things, taken together, give us a much more complete picture of how people would have lived than someplace where you don’t have these

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

protected sites,” Johnson said. But the decision by the United States and Mexico to build Amistad Dam threatened hundreds of those rock shelter sites. The lake to come would cover them with water and put them out of the reach of archeologists. State archeologists and researchers began a massive effort to save what they could. “There was about 10 years’ worth of archeological research done, more or less from 1958 through 1968, and they excavated many sites, many large rock shelter and terrace sites,” Johnson said. The work carried out by those archeologists is described in detail at the University of Texas’ Texas Beyond History web site. Actually, there’s some great information about that on the web, at TexasBeyondHistory, dubbed as “the virtual museum of Texas’ cultural heritage.” Most of the artifacts recovered from the area that would one day be Amistad Reservoir were carefully packaged and moved. “We have probably about a little over 800,000 objects in the Amistad collections, most of which are stored in Austin at the Texas Archeological Research Lab, and those collections include baskets, sandals, mats, projectile points, spear thrower fragments, rabbit stick fragments, traps, snares, the day-to-day objects that belonged to the people who called this area home,” Johnson said. He noted that there was nowhere locally to properly curate the items and since many of the reservoir salvage projects from all over the state were being managed by the Texas Archeological Salvage Project, now the Texas Archeological Research Lab, Austin became the main archeological repository in the state. Have any of the artifacts ever come back for a local exhibit? “As a matter of fact, they have. We’re working on a new exhibit designed to teach people about the nuts-and-bolts of how people would have lived on this landscape and how they would have made their living. How they hunted. How they fished. What tools they used. What they would have been looking for and how they would have gone about getting it,” Johnson said.

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016

He said the planned exhibit will focus on hunting and fishing, activities he believes will strike a chord with many of the park’s present-day visitors. “A lot of our visitors today are hunters and fishermen, and I figure that’s a good way to connect our people today with the ancient people who were here, who were professional hunters and fishermen, every day,” he said. Johnson added, “There’s a tendency in archeology, certainly in the past, to get hung up on objects and forget that we’re talking about people. Sure these are cool objects, but what do they say about the

lenge is the lake level going up and down. Wave action causes erosion on sites, and so we try to keep an eye on that. When the lake came up really high in 2010, the water got to the foot of Panther Cave. It didn’t get onto the wall, but it got very close to the wall, and back in 1972, I think it actually got onto the wall, and of course there’s really nothing we can do about that except to make sure that we have everything documented as well as possible, so if something ever does happen to it, we’ll still have it, in a sense,” he said. The devastating floods that roar

The prehistoric people who called Val Verde County home made use of many items found in the environment. They pounded the leaves of the lechugilla plant and created fiber that was used in sandals, baskets and mats, like these replicas that can be seen inside the Amistad National Recreation Area Visitor Center on U.S. Highway 90 west of Del Rio. people who made them, who used them, what their lives were like? That’s what we’re really going for. My favorite definition for archeology is that it is the art of using the sciences to illuminate the humanities. And that’s what we’re going for, that it’s about the humanities, ultimately, and the artifacts and the science is just how we get there.” Johnson said archeology at the Amistad National Recreation Area has faced many obstacles in the past, but many more remain. “Something that’s a constant chal-

through the canyons from time to time create additional problems. “There’s this talk about extreme weather events now, but there’s always been big floods in this area. In fact, that’s one of the reasons the people in this area stayed hunter-gatherers and never adopted agriculture. You’ve got these narrow slot canyons, and when you get a lot of rain up on the watershed, it sends a lot of water down the canyon, and that’s always been an issue here. You think of the 1932 flood, the 1954 flood. Every few years, we will get a lot of water coming

A bundle of barbed spines from a type of fishhook cactus that grows in the area may have made an effective lure for a prehistoric fisherman of the Lower Pecos Region. This lure was one of hundreds of thousands of artifacts collected from sites in the canyons of the Pecos, Devils and Rio Grande rivers, which now lie under the waters of Amistad Reservoir. This prehistoric lure was select by Amistad National Recreation Area staff to represent the park in an online exhibit for the Google Cultural Institute.

HOOKED ON AMISTAD

Ancient fishhook to represent area in Google exhibit Story and photo by Karen Gleason

ike the occupants of the pricey bass boats that stream to Amistad Reservoir every weekend, the hunter-gatherers who lived in this area thousands of years ago were fishermen. But instead of filling their tackle boxes at Bass Pro Shops or Academy, the first fishermen here relied on materials they found in the landscape and on their innate human inventiveness to catch fish. Before the construction of Amistad Dam created the huge Amistad Reservoir, many, many artifacts left by the area’s first human inhabitants were recovered from the dust of long-abandoned rock shelters. That those humans were professional hunters and fishermen is clear from the tools and weapons they left behind.

One such artifact is two-inch long bundle of barbed spines from the local fishhook cactus, bound with twine, believed to be a prehistoric fishing lure. Jack Johnson, integrated resources program manager for the Amistad National Recreation Area, recently selected the little prehistoric fishhook to represent the Amistad National Recreation Area in an online exhibit for the Google Cultural Institute. “The plan was for every park in the National Park System to choose one artifact from their collections that was most representative of the park for this online exhibit, and the artifact that I chose for Amistad was something that we believe to be a prehistoric fishing lure,” Johnson said. The fishhook artifact was recovered during a period of intensive research and artifact collection that took place before and during the construction of Amistad Dam in the late 1950s and 1960s. By the

down the canyons. Some of the rock art sites we have in some of these canyons are at risk from these flood events,” Johnson said. Vandalism has also been a problem at rock art sites in the park, though Johnson is an optimist regarding human nature. “It breaks my heart, but I think education is so important, I

time the research ended in 1969 with the completion of the dam and the filling of the reservoir, more than 800,000 artifacts had been collected from the area that were to be covered by the lake waters. Johnson said he began the task of selecting a single artifact to represent Amistad by reviewing a database of artifacts collected from the Lower Pecos region. He said as soon as he saw the prehistoric fishhook, he knew he’d found the perfect match. Archeologists were at first mystified by the artifact, speculating that it may have been a device used for ritual scarification, the etching of designs or pictures into the skin. But replicas of similar artifacts have been used to actually catch fish, Johnson said, noting that when the barbed ends of the cactus spines are spread out, the lure functions like a modern treble hook.

think if people really understand how important it is, that if we mess it up we’re not getting it back, that this is history that belongs to all of us as humans and an understanding of this place where we live, and we need to protect it and preserve it and do our best to understand it and respect it. I think most vandalism is done out of ignorance rather than malice,” he said.

DEL RIO GRANDE / WINTER 2016