Starr County Memorial Hospital Hosts Community Gathering for Strategic Planning
In a strong demonstration of our commitment to the health and wellbeing of the local population, Starr County Memorial Hospital recently hosted a gathering of the Hospital Board Members, community members, local leaders, healthcare providers, and hospital staff. This important event focused on developing a long-term plan to address the healthcare needs of the county. The gathering served as a platform for open dialogue and participants were allowed to share their insights and perspectives of the healthcare landscape. Community members were encouraged to discuss challenges being faced in accessing healthcare services. Local leaders and healthcare providers shared valuable information on available resources and future plans for improvement and enhancement of services.
San Isidro High School Lady Tigers Basketball Team won 3rd Place at Santa Rosa Tournament
Roma High School Diving Team participated at The La Copa Championship
Starr County Appraisal District Announces Name Change
The Starr County Appraisal District has announced that it will change its name for the first time since its establishment.
The district’s board of directors voted on May 14, 2024, to change the name to Starr Central Appraisal District, effective as of the district’s new fiscal year, beginning January 1, 2025.
This change distinguishes that the appraisal district is not part of the Starr County Government, but a separate and unique entity that is a subdivision of the state.
This subdivision is governed by a board of directors representative of the taxing entities in our county.
The Texas Legislature established appraisal districts in 1979 to take the tax valuation process from the taxing entities and place it with appraisal professionals for an equal and uniform standard of appraisals.
The first Appraisal Roll for Starr County Appraisal District began in 1982.
The appraisal district sets the taxable value of every property in the county based on the condition of the property as of January 1st of each tax year, which in turn determines the tax base for each taxing entity. Property owners have an opportunity to file a protest for the appraised value
of their property and can either meet with an appraiser to seek an adjustment or can appeal before the District’s Appraisal Review Board (ARB). The Appraisal Review Board members are community members, and per state law, district judges are required to appoint the panel of members to provide an extra layer of independence from appraisers. Additional duties and responsibilities of the office include but are not limited to: Property Tax Administration.
• Reporting to the state comptroller’s office: School Property Value Study (SDPVS) and Methods & Assistance Program review (MAP).
• Reporting certified values to taxing entities.
• Meeting mandatory comptroller’s deadlines for reporting, including but not limited to Electronic Appraisal Roll submission and Electronic Property Transactions Submissions. Property Tax Cycle (Basic information below)
• Appraisal Phase (January 1st to MAY 15TH): property renditions, appraising property, applying limitation on residential homestead value APPRAISAL, page 4
Congratulations to the Roma High School Diving Team on a great showing at their 2nd meet of the season at The La Copa Championship at the Carrol E. Summer Aquatic Center. They did an outstanding job with their performances and are continuing to improve towards District! Jayda Perez-2nd place and Dayanetzy Moran-7th place. Way to go Mighty Gladiators!! (Report courtesy Coach Clemente Martinez.)
RGC Economic Development Corporation Hosts Inaugural Business Breakfast Club
PUBLIC NOTICE: Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) is proposing to modify equipment on an existing 307-foot guyed-type telecommunications structure located near 3009 N Hwy 83, Roma, Starr County, Texas (26° 34’ 11.4” N, 99° 5’ 35.1” W).
HISTORIC PROPERTIES EFFECTS - Public comments regarding potential effects on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: to Environmental Corporation of America, ATTN: Annamarie Howell, 1375 Union Hill Industrial Court, Suite A, Alpharetta, GA 30004 or via email to publicnotice@eca-usa. com. Ms. Howell can be reached at (770) 667-2040 x 108 during normal business hours. 24-003377 MMT
Executive Director of RGCEDC, highlighted the importance of the initiative. “Our goal with the Business Breakfast Club is to provide resources and hands-on support to our local businesses. Adding their business to Google is a simple but powerful way to connect with customers and grow their presence. We are excited to see the impact this will have
Gator Wrestling Teams Season Start Great!! Rio Grande City Library Awarded 2024 Texas Book Festival Grant
The Rio Grande City Public Library is thrilled to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of the 2024 Texas Book Festival Collections Enhancement Grant. This generous award, totaling $2,500, will support the expansion of the library’s nonfiction collection, with a focus on a variety of important genres including Self-Help, Health, Fitness & Dieting, Cookbooks, Business & Money, Parenting & Relationships, and Poetry.
“This grant will greatly enhance our ability to offer valuable resources to our community,” said Norma Gomez Fultz, Director
for the Rio Grande City Public Library. “With the help of the Texas Book Festival, we are excited to expand our collection and provide patrons with books that will inspire personal growth, improve well-being, and foster lifelong learning.”
The Texas Book Festival’s Collections Enhancement Grant program has become a vital source of support for libraries across the state, and this year, it awarded a total of $112,500 to 45 libraries.
Since the launch of the grant program, the Texas Book Festival has contributed more than $3.6 million in funding to libraries throughout Texas.
The Rio Grande City Public Library is among the many Texas institutions that benefit from the festival’s commitment to fostering literacy and supporting
local communities. “We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing our mission of providing quality resources to those we serve,” the Fultz added. The funds from the 2024 grant were used to purchase new materials in the specified categories, enhancing the library’s ability to meet the diverse interests and needs of its patrons. This investment in educational and self-improvement resources underscores the Rio Grande City Public Library’s dedication to supporting the growth and development of individuals in the community.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Texas Book Festival for their ongoing commitment to the advancement of libraries and literacy in Texas.
What a night for the Grulla High School Gator Wrestling teams at the dual against McHi! The boys came out on top with an impressive 42-30 victory, showcasing their hard work and determination. The girls fought hard in a close match but fell short, 30-24. On behalf of the entire Grulla High School, we’re proud of their effort and resilience on the mat. Great job to both teams for their performances! The season is just getting started, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
increases, issuing notices of appraised value, applying for exemptions, applying tax ceiling, agricultural appraisals.
• Equalization Phase (May 15th to July 25th): receiving protests on appraised values, issuing hearing notifications, protest considerations, limited binding arbitration for certain procedures, and appeals to ARB Orders.
• Assessment Phase (July
Continued from Front Page
25th to October 1st): calculation and determination of tax rates, calculation of taxes due, issuing tax notices.
• Collection Phase (October 1st to January 31st): collection of taxes due and distribution of tax payments to entities, action on failure to pay taxes.
The information outlined above is a basic overview of what is required by each county appraisal
district in Texas, in addition to all other requirements set out under the Texas Property Tax Code. The location of our office will remain the same at 100 N. FM 3167, Ste 300, Rio Grande City, Texas, and any questions regarding this press release can be made to Sonia R. Garza, Chief Appraiser at Starr County Appraisal District at (956)4875613.
It is not too late to quit
Although cigarette smoking rates have been declining for decades, cigarette smoking remains the most preventable cause of serious illness and death.
• Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke cause more than 480,000 deaths in the US every year.
• Smoking cigarettes increases the risks of at least 12 different cancers.
• In the US, cigarette smoking
using tobacco
causes about 3 out of every 10 cancer deaths. It is not too late to quit using tobacco. No matter your age or how long you have been smoking, quitting improves some aspects of your health immediately and even more over the long term.
Quitting smoking is a process, and success may look different for different people. There are many ways to quit smoking, and some work better than others.
The American Cancer Society can tell you about the steps you can take to quit smoking and help find quit-smoking programs, resources, and support that can increase your chances of quitting successfully.
To learn about the available tools, call 1-800-227-2435. You can also find free tips and tools at Great American Smokeout | American Cancer Society . Message from the Starr County Community Coalition
Advance Care Planning Might Feel Uncomfortable, but is an Important Conversation to Have
Patients Can Express Care Wishes Before Serious Illness
Strikes
Thinking about end-of-life medical care plans can seem uncomfortable, especially for someone who is healthy – but physicians who care for older patients and those with terminal illnesses say it’s essential to plan ahead.
“Having these conversations and potentially completing documents in advance is really a gift to family members,” said Sandra Frellsen, MD, a member of the Texas Medical Association (TMA) Council on Health Service Organizations. As chief medical officer at Hospice Austin, Dr. Frellsen has seen patients fall into a health care crisis without having plans in place. Their family must then make medical care decisions not knowing their loved one’s preferences.
Physicians recommend having an “advance directive” to convey your wishes concerning the care you want at end of life, and a
“medical power of attorney,” which gives someone you choose the ability to make health care decisions for you.
TMA has an informational medical power of attorney document explaining the concept with a link to a form people can use to indicate their wishes. Today, a patient’s advance directive becomes part of their medical record including an electronic medical record which hospitals and emergency medical personnel can access easily.
By advance care planning, patients can convey treatment options they prefer, such as:
•In-hospital care versus care at home.
•Treatment preferences like hospice care, that focus solely on alleviating symptoms.
•Life-sustaining measures like resuscitation or intubation.
•Designating a person to express the patient’s wishes when they can’t speak for themselves.
Hattie Henderson, MD, a member of TMA’s Council on
Science and Public Health, said she noticed after the COVID-19 pandemic more patients wanting to discuss their end-of-life wishes with her during routine checkups.
Dr. Henderson is a geriatrician and vice chair of a statewide advisory council on palliative care.
“Many of my patients lost loved ones during the pandemic who had not discussed the care they wanted at the end of their lives with their families or physicians … and now they realize why having these conversations is so important,” said Dr. Henderson.
Her patients and their families learned avoiding these conversations means they are less likely to receive the care they want at the end of their lives.
If patients do not discuss health care preferences in advance with their physicians, they may spend their final days receiving care they did not choose for themselves and will “have very little control over their end of life choices,” Dr. Henderson said.
Rio Grande City Main Street to Host First Indoor Market at Triple L Building
The Rio Grande City Main Street program is set to host its first-ever indoor market, offering residents and visitors an exciting new way to shop local this holiday season. The 3-day market will take place at the Triple L Building, located at 300 E. Main St., starting Dec. 6.
The event promises a vibrant atmosphere with food and craft vendors, live music, and festive activities, including photos with Santa Claus. Entry for customers is free, making it an accessible and family-friendly outing.
“This indoor market is a wonderful addition to our community events, providing a space for local vendors to thrive while bringing the holiday spirit to downtown Rio Grande City,” said Mayor Gilberto Falcon. “We invite everyone to come out, shop local, and enjoy the festivities.”
Returning vendors can take advantage of special discounts, and those interested in participating are encouraged to
contact the Main Street Office at 956-488-0047 or 956-487-3476 for more information.
The market is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to support
PERMIT (BG), by: 2360 MEATS, LLC dba ROBERTO GARZA, to be located at 174 S. FM 2360, LA GRULLA, STARR COUNTY, TEXAS Manager Managed: ROBERTO GARZA.
RETAILER’S
PERMIT (BQ) by:
MARTINEZ, dba MAC DRIVE THRU, to be located at 5529 FM 1430, RIO GRANDE CITY, STARR COUNTY, TEXAS.
Mexican Santa can be seen on Main Street
Diana Lopez-Saldana:
“My father had a vision and passion for creating different things for different occasions.
We took out his Mexican Santa from storage and with a little refurbishing he came to live.
He will be greeting everyone as you pass by. The Santa can be seen on Main Street. Beautiful Memories, Triple L”
Lauro Lopez “Mr. Discount” Triple L Furniture.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
RGCGISD senior student-athletes participated in a South Texas Student Seminar
On Tuesday, November 19th, RGCGISD senior student-athletes representing the Rio Rattlers and the Grulla Gators participated in a South Texas Student Seminar designed for those considering a career in coaching. This event that took place at the Harlingen Boys & Girls Club, was hosted by Texas A&M University, the Future Coaches of Texas Association (FCTA), and Harlingen ISD, brought together senior students from across the Rio Grande Valley. During the seminar, students engaged in sessions focused on leadership development, team building, seasonal planning, and communication through sport-
South Texas College is accepting competitive proposals for the following: RFP Number Description Date Due Time 24-25-1040 Electric Sport Utility December 17, 2024 3:00 PM Vehicle
Request for Proposals packages may be obtained at the Purchasing Department located at
3200 W. Pecan Blvd, Bldg N, Ste 145, McAllen, TX 78501 (Corner of Quince & 31st Street) or by calling 956-872-4681. Responses received after the specified time and date will not be considered and will be returned unopened. Facsimile responses will not be accepted. All responses must be submitted in a sealed envelope. Responses need to be clearly marked on the envelope with the RFP number.
The successful respondent will not be determined on opening date.
Questions regarding this RFP or requests for additional information should be addressed to Deyadira Leal, Director of Purchasing 956-872-4681 daleal@southtexascollege.edu, or Billy Langley, Senior Buyer, 956-872-4682 welangle@southtexascollege.edu. Responses to the RFP must be submitted to South Texas College, 3200 W. Pecan Blvd, Bldg N, Ste 145, McAllen, TX 78501.
South Texas College is an equal education and equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. As an equal opportunity employer, the College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, genetic information, or veteran status.
Purchases made as a result of this solicitation will be funded through The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Perkins Basic Grant Program.
Vendors are encouraged to visit the South Texas College’s Purchasing Department website to complete the 2-part Bonfire vendor registration for receiving solicitations at: https://southtexascollege.bonfirehub.com/login
specific instruction. These clinics were expertly guided by Dr. Mike Thornton and staff of the Texas A&M Thornton-McFerrin Coaching Academy in College Station.
On behalf of the RGCGISD
we are incredibly proud that our student-athletes had the opportunity to expand their knowledge, develop leadership skills, and explore a potential future in coaching. This experience not only enhanced their perspective on coaching but also equipped them to inspire and lead our future generations of Rattlers and Gators. A special recognition to Coach Jayne Gomez and Coach Justin
for being group leaders and mentors during this seminar.
Ortega
