NOVEMBER 27, 2024 by Starr County Town Crier

Texas Regional Bank Hosts Grand Opening in Rio Grande City

Texas Regional Bank (TRB) hosted a grand opening event at its new Rio Grande City banking center, its 30th location in Texas and 14th in the Rio Grande Valley on Thursday, November 21, 2024 The event featured a ceremonial ribbon-cutting led by the RGC Greater Chamber of Commerce, with honored guests, including TRB’s Board of Directors, Executive Team, and key community leaders. Speakers included TRB Chairman and CEO Michael

Scaief, Market Manager Dalinda Guillen, and Alex Meade, TRB’s President of Economic Development. Each highlighted the bank’s commitment to Rio Grande City, emphasizing its role in fostering growth, supporting local businesses, and creating lasting community partnerships. Mayor Gilberto Falcon and Dalinda Guillen both reﬂected on the importance of collaboration and the bright future ahead for Rio Grande City. The new banking center

offers a comprehensive suite of ﬁnancial services, including personal and business banking, trust and wealth management, and commercial loans. It is conveniently located at 4389 E US Highway 83 in Rio Grande City.

2024 Roma ISD Middle School Christmas Card Design Contest winners

the opportunity to congratulate the winners of the 2024 Roma ISD Middle School Christmas Card Design Contest at the Nov. 20, 2024 School Board Meeting. This is the 7th year of this contest, which has allowed our middle schools to showcase the abilities of budding young artists. The cards are used throughout the community and sent across the

were selected by the Roma High School Art Department. They can’t wait to have these talented artists as their students!

Valley and state, representing the best talent at Roma ISD. Dayannette Barrera was the winner from Ramiro Barrera Middle School and Carlos de Jesus Eguia Alcala was the winner from Roma Middle School. The two winners, which both received art kits to encourage them in their art,

Roma High School Mighty Gladiator UIL Robotics Team on taking home 4, 1st Place Trophies at their competition at Region One, earning a trip to the National Competition!!! On behalf of the Roma High School, we are so proud of these amazing students and their teachers!!!

San Isidro High School students had an incredible opportunity to attend a two-day training at Noble Construction in La Feria, TX, thanks to the Region One PIM grant! They earned their OSHA 10 certiﬁcation, equipping them with valuable skills for the workforce. A big thank you to the GEAR-UP Facilitator, Mr. Cris Vela, for always seeking new opportunities for the students and ensuring they take full advantage of them. Mr. Cris Vela dedication is making a difference in their futures!

to our newly elected and re-elected board members

On Monday, November 18, 2024 Rio Grande City Grulla ISD hosted a Special Board Meeting to canvass election results and swear in the newly elected Board Members. During the meeting, the School Board unanimously approved changes in leadership roles. We are proud to congratulate Veronica Barrera as President,

Rene Peña as Vice President, Eduardo “Eddie” Ramirez as Secretary, and Pattsy Garcia and Jesse Solis as Board Members. On behalf of Interim Superintendent of Schools, Mrs. Elsa V. Morris, and the entire School Board of Trustees, we extend our gratitude to everyone who made this event memorable.

A special thank you to our Child Nutrition Sta for providing delicious meals and to Mariachi Grulla de Plata and Mariachi Cascabel for their outstanding performances, which added a festive touch to the evening. Congratulations to all, and thank you for your dedication to our district!

The Rio Grande City Cross Country team will host their annual 5K Glow Run/ Walk on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Fort Ringgold Campus starting at 7:00 PM. RGC Cross Country team Annual 5K Glow Run/ Walk

Annual Veterans Day Appreciation Event

On Thursday, November 7th, the Rio Grande City Public Library, Kelsey-Bass Museum, and Medina Electric Cooperative, Inc. teamed up to host the annual Veterans Day Appreciation Event, a heartfelt celebration honoring local veterans for their dedication and service. Veterans attending the event were treated to a turkey meal, gratitude bags, and additional donations as tokens of appreciation for their sacriﬁces.

Local businesses contributed by donating thank-you bags ﬁlled with assorted items for the veterans, offering thoughtful gestures of gratitude to the men and women who have served.

The South Texas Food Bank also played a signiﬁcant role, generously providing perishable

goods to ensure that all veterans enjoyed a nutritious and wellrounded meal.

This special event united the community in honoring local veterans, highlighting a strong partnership between local organizations, businesses, and residents. The City of Rio Grande

City of La Grulla Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Event

Join

Get into

with

Grulla City Park December 3rd 6:00 PM

Enjoy an evening of festive fun for the whole family, including:

• Pictures with Santa

• Sweets and treats

• Activities for kids

For more information, call Grulla City Hall at (956) 4873341. We look forward to seeing you there!

City, Rio Grande City Public Library, Kelsey-Bass Museum, Medina Electric Cooperative, Inc., Family Health Center, South Texas Food Bank and The Pediatric Care Center extend their sincere thanks to all who contributed to the success of this memorable event.

the City of La Grulla for the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Event!

the holiday spirit

the City of La Grulla at this special event.

Texas Regional Bank held

a grand opening event at its new

Rio Grande City

TRB Chairman and CEO Michael Scaief, Market Manager Dalinda Guillen, and Alex Meade, TRB’s President of Economic Development each highlighted the bank’s commitment to Rio Grande City, emphasizing its role in fostering growth, supporting local businesses, and creating lasting community partnerships in their remarks. RGC Mayor Gilberto Falcon re ected on the importance of collaboration and the bright future ahead for Rio Grande City.

banking center on ursday, November 21, 2024

Market Manager Dalinda Guillen, a longtime advocate for the region, expressed her excitement about TRB Rio Grande City, sharing, “I am deeply honored to support our Rio Grande City branch and community members. is vibrant and growing community holds a special place in my heart—not just because of my roots here, but because I truly believe in the boundless potential of this community. Together, we can continue building a future that re ects the strength and spirit of this remarkable

region.”

e ceremony also featured a presentation of a Congressional Certi cate by Roberto Bazan on behalf of U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar and a City Certi cate by Mayor Falcon. TRB announced a $1,000 donation to Mariachi Cascabel, showcasing the bank’s dedication to supporting local cultural and educational initiatives.

Local mariachi group Mariachi Cascabel performed, adding a vibrant cultural touch to the celebration. e event was well-

attended by community members, small business owners, and civic organizations, emphasizing TRB’s role as a community partner.

e TRB RGC banking center o ers a comprehensive suite of nancial services, including personal and business banking, trust and wealth management, and commercial loans. e branch is conveniently located at 4389 E US Highway 83 in Rio Grande City. For hours and services visit www.trb.bank.

¿Busca un plan de salud? Cómo evitar problemas

El periodo de inscripción abierta de Cuidadodesalud.gov y de Medicare está en pleno apogeo, y muchos texanos están en busca de un plan de salud.

La tarea de comprar un plan puede ser complicada. Nadie quiere ser víctima de estafas y no obtener la cobertura necesaria.

Elija de manera inteligente

La lista de veriﬁcación del Departamento de Seguros de Texas (Texas Department of Insurance, TDI, por su nombre y siglas en inglés) para comprar un plan tiene las preguntas que debe hacer antes de adquirir un plan.

Conﬁrme los detalles del plan

Las primas, las redes de los proveedores y los detalles de los planes pueden cambiar cada año, por lo cual es conveniente comparar precios.

Las herramientas de búsqueda pueden ayudarle a encontrar planes que cubran sus médicos y medicinas recetadas. Tome en consideración la cantidad del deducible, el copago y el coaseguro de cada plan. Estas son

las cantidades que usted pagará cuando reciba servicios. También ponga atención a lo que el plan cubrirá antes de cumplir con el deducible.

Para evitar problemas:

•Compre en sitios web de conﬁanza como Cuidadodesalud. gov y Medicare.gov.

•Cuidado con los vendedores que le sugieran un plan de salud alternativo, en lugar de un plan de la Ley de Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio (Affordable Care Act, ACA, por su nombre y siglas en inglés). Los planes alternativos tienen más límites y no cubren enfermedades existentes.

•Algunos sitios web o vendedores utilizan términos como oro, plata o bronce para que parezcan planes de la ACA. Pero estos tipos de plan pueden tener menos beneﬁcios o no cumplir con las expectativas de cobertura de la ACA.

Tenga cuidado con estafas o llamadas inesperadas

Si usted no llamó para pedir datos sobre un plan, no provea

ninguna información personal, como los números de Seguro Social, de Medicare, su cuenta de banco, ni tarjetas de crédito. Si le interesa un plan, pida la información por escrito.

Otras formas de protegerse: Recuerde que los estafadores pueden hacer que un número de teléfono se vea real, parece un número de empresa legítimo en el identiﬁcador de llamadas.

Tenga cuidado con los anuncios en redes sociales o en cualquier otro sitio por internet que le ofrezcan regalos. Podrían utilizar la información personal que usted comparta sin su permiso.

Desconfíe si alguien intenta presionarle para que compre rápidamente. Los planes de salud no tienen “ofertas especiales”.

Llame a la línea de Ayuda de TDI al 800-252-3439

TDI puede ayudarle con preguntas sobre opciones de cobertura, las compañías de seguro y los agentes que regulamos.

The First Thanksgiving Before Plymouth Rock

By: U.S. Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas

As the holiday season approaches, we look forward to gathering with family and friends, sharing stories, enjoying hearty meals, and giving thanks for the blessings in our lives. For many, Thanksgiving brings to mind images of Plymouth Rock, the pilgrims, and traditional dishes like oven-roasted turkey and pumpkin pie. But what if I told you that the very ﬁrst Thanksgiving may have actually occurred right here in Texas decades before the Pilgrims even set foot on Plymouth Rock?

In 1598, long before the Pilgrims arrived, Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate led the ﬁrst major colonization effort in what would become the United States. On April 30th of that year, Oñate and his men arrived near what we now call San Elizario, just outside of El Paso. Oñate had received a commission from King Philip II of Spain to settle what is now the state of New Mexico, leading him on a grueling 50-day journey through the Chihuahuan Desert.

Before reaching the Rio Grande River, his expedition ran out of food and water, forcing the group to forage for roots and desert vegetation. Upon reaching the river, they took ten days to recuperate—hunting, ﬁshing, and swimming. After enduring the treacherous journey, they

celebrated their survival with a feast. Many historians now regard this as the ﬁrst Thanksgiving. Efforts have been made by Texas leaders to legitimize the claim that the original Thanksgiving occurred in the city of San Elizario. In 1992, a joint resolution passed by the Texas Legislature declared, “More than two decades before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, these colonists… ate and drank and gave thanks for the welcome bounty of their new land.” In 2006, Governor Rick Perry issued a proclamation designating April 30th as “First Thanksgiving Day in Texas,” honoring Oñate and the region’s early settlers. The ﬁrst Thanksgiving in Texas wasn’t just about food or celebration—it was about survival, endurance, and gratitude for the journey ahead.

That spirit of Thanksgiving still resonates with Texans today.

As we reﬂect on gratitude this season, we should also consider how we can show thankfulness through our actions.

Thanksgiving isn’t just about what’s on the dinner table, it’s about giving back to those who are facing hardship, and there’s no better place to start giving back than in our own communities.

Across Texas, there are countless volunteer opportunities available for those interested in serving their fellow Texans during the holiday season. Whether you’re helping package

meals, donating food or clothing, or organizing charitable drives, these efforts reﬂect the same spirit of Thanksgiving that Oñate and his crew expressed centuries ago. Back then, they gathered together to share meals and give thanks for their safe passage to the land we all call home. Today, we share our time and resources with others to show our thankfulness for the blessings we’ve received. Let’s take a page from history and make this Thanksgiving about more than just a meal but also about the kindness we extend to our fellow Texans and the spirit of service and gratitude in hearts across the Lone Star State.

Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.

A Message of Thanks For The Holiday

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays because it gives us a chance to reflect on the many blessings we enjoy today including the friendship of people like you.

We thank you for your support this past year and wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Judge Jose Luis Garza

Family & Staff

381ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT STARR COUNTY, TEXAS

LEGAL NOTICE

Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for WINE AND MALT BEVERAGE RETAILER’S ONPREMISE 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.

LEGAL NOTICE

Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a WINE AND MALT BEVERAGE RETAILER’S OFFPREMISE PERMIT (BQ) by: GLENDA MARTINEZ, dba MAC DRIVE THRU, to be located at 5529 FM 1430, RIO GRANDE CITY, STARR COUNTY, TEXAS.