RG Herald

MISSION VETERANS MEMORIAL PATRIOTS OVERCOME RATTLERS 14-3 IN DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Thu, 5 Nov 2015 15:30:00 -0600

By Kenneth Roberts
Freelance Writer

The Mission Veterans Memorial Patriots used a strong defensive effort to achieve a 14-3 victory over the Rio Grande City Rattlers in a rugged District 31-5A battle Thursday night at Joe R. Sanchez Stadium.
The Patriots improved their playoff seeding with the hard-fought win over the Rattlers. The Patriots will face the undefeated Edinburg Vela Sabercats in the crucial regular season finale Thursday night. The loss eliminated all playoff hopes the Rattlers had entering the contest.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Patriots scored with less than four minutes remaining until halftime to take a 7-0 advantage into intermission. The Patriots added another touchdown midway through the third quarter, and the Rattlers got on the scoreboard with a 36-yard field goal by Joel Duarte with less than 90 seconds remaining in the third stanza.

The Rattlers had several promising opportunities, but could not penetrate the Patriot end zone. Patriot quarterback Landry Gilpin threw for one touchdown and ran for another score.
The Rattlers gained excellent field position after the game’s opening series when the Patriots badly shanked a punt that rolled dead at the Veterans 42 after traveling only nine yards. On third and 11, running back Gerardo Garcia took a handoff and raced toward the right sideline for a 12-yard gain to the 31 and a first down.

Two plays later, quarterback Jason Perez kept the ball to the right, raced toward the sideline, and broke several would-be tackles for a 15-yard gain to the 26. On fourth and five, Perez aimed a pass toward the right sideline, but a Patriot defender batted the ball away at the 15, turning the ball over on downs to the Patriots at their 26.

A few minutes later, a deep pass by Landry Gilpin across the middle was intercepted by Rattler defender Ivan Garcia and returned almost 20 yards to the Patriot 26, but a holding penalty on the return forced the Rattlers back to their 49. On third and 15, a Rattler receiver was unable to make a diving catch of a deep pass at the Patriot 30.

Midway through the second quarter, the Patriots took over at the Rio 35 after a punt into a stiff wind sailed out of bounds after covering 23 yards. Four plays later, Gilpin connected with Roman DeLeon for a 12-yard completion to the 7. On first and goal, Gilpin dropped back, but scampered through right guard into the end zone for a seven-yard scoring run with 3:55 left until halftime to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead.

Moments later, the Patriots took over at the Rio 31 after blocking a punt. On fourth and one at the 22, Gilpin scrambled to his right but was dropped at the 26 for a four-yard loss.

The Rattlers gained excellent position when Jorge Hinojosa intercepted a pass and returned the ball 19 yards to the Veterans 46. On fourth and three at the 39, a deep pass was intercepted by a Patriot defender at the 16. The two teams then went into intermission by the Patriots still holding a 7-0 lead.

Aaron Leal returned the second half kickoff 45 yards to enable the Rattlers to start at the Patriot 49, but Rio couldn’t advance past the 41.

The Patriots then executed a 70-yard scoring drive, overcoming a major penalty and capitalizing on a couple of major penalties against the Rattlers. Gilpin connected with Roman DeLeon for a 17-yard completion to the Rio 40. On third and four, Gilpin hit Bobby Tovar in the right corner of the end zone for a 12-yard scoring pass with 6:11 left in the third quarter to increase the Patriots’ margin to 14-0.

Moments later, a bad snap and a fierce Rattler rush forced a shanked Patriot punt that rolled dead at the Veterans 15 after covering only nine yards. On third and 14, Perez aimed a pass toward the right corner of the end zone and the receiver made the catch, but was slightly out of bounds. Joel Duarte then kicked a 36-yard field goal to narrow the deficit to 14-3 with 1:24 left in the third period.

Early in the fourth quarter, Iram Galvan made a diving catch of a Perez pass at the Veterans 43 for an eight-yard completion, and a late hit penalty against the Patriots advanced the ball to the 28. The threat fizzled when Perez was sacked at the 45.

The Patriots drove to the Patriot 33 with the help of two 14-yard completions by Gilpin. Two plays later, Gilpin was sacked at the Patriot 46 for a 15-yard loss. With under 90 seconds remaining, a roughing the passer penalty gave the Rattlers a first down at the Patriot 39. The opportunity evaporated when quarterback Diego Garcia was sacked for a 13-yard loss at the Rio 48, and the Patriots then walked off the field as 14-3 victors.

No team or individual statistics for the Rattlers were available as of Monday afternoon. Landry Gilpin paced the Patriot offense with 229 yards passing and 54 yards rushing.

The Rattlers will conclude their 2015 season on the road this Friday night against the Sharyland Rattlers.

RATTLERS DEFEAT VALLEY VIEW 24-18 IN FOUR OVERTIME

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 10:37:00 -0500

By Kenneth Roberts
Freelance Writer

In one of the most dramatic football games in many years, the Rio
Grande City Rattlers staged an epic comeback to defeat the Valley View
Tigers 24-18 in a four-overtime District 31-5A thriller at Joe R. Sanchez
Stadium Saturday night.

The Rattlers trailed 15-7 in the fourth quarter, but executed a 50-yard
scoring drive that culminated when quarterback Jason Perez threw a
four-yard scoring pass to Bobby Reyes with 17 seconds remaining in
regulation. Perez then ran for the two-point conversion that tied the
score at 15-15 and forced overtime.

After two scoreless overtime periods, the two teams traded field goals in
the third overtime and Perez ran four yards for a touchdown to give the
Rattlers a 24-18 lead in the fourth overtime. On a fourth and long play,
the marathon game finally ended when a Tiger receiver could not haul in
a pass in the end zone.

In the first overtime, the Tiger kicker was wide on a 33-yard field goal
attempt and the Rattlers seemed poised to grasp victory. The Valley View
defense, however, forced a Rattler fumble inside the 5, forcing a second
overtime. A third overtime became necessary when the Tigers missed a
36-yard field goal try that would have won the second overtime. Rattler
kicker Joel Duarte booted a 36-yard field goal to make a fourth overtime
necessary.

Most of the first half was basically uneventful, with the Tigers kicking a
field goal in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead. In the second quarter,
Valley View quarterback Richie Sanchez completed two 13-yard passes
to advance the Tigers to the Rio 2. Running back Joseph Alvarez then
scampered two yards for a touchdown with 6:20 left until halftime to
boost the Tigers to a margin that remained 9-0 when the extra point kick
failed.

The Tigers drove to the Rattler 22 later in the second quarter, but the
drive fizzled due to a chop block penalty. On fourth and 17, Marcos

Campos caught a pass for a 12-yard completion to the 26, five yards shy
of a first down. The two teams then went into intermission with the
Tigers still holding a 9-0 edge.

Midway through the third quarter, the Rattlers executed a 56-yard
scoring drive that started when Perez ripped off a 10-yard run to the
Tiger 46. On fourth and one, Casimiro Olivarez pounded out a two-yard
gain to give the Rattlers a first down at the 35.

Two plays later, Iram Galvan caught a pass near the right sideline just
short of the 25, evaded a defender, and raced down the sideline into the
end zone for a 33-yard scoring pass with 5:35 left in the third period.
Joel Duarte then kicked the extra point to draw the Rattlers to within 9-
7.

The Tigers expanded their lead when Diego Monjaras caught a punt
inside the 25, raced toward the right sideline, cut back to his left, and
bolted down the left sideline for a 76-yard touchdown return with 9:46
left in the game. The score remained 15-7 when a two-point conversion
try failed.

Late in the fourth quarter, a Tiger punt rolled dead at the Rio 35 and an
illegal block penalty against Valley View advanced the ball to midfield.
On second down, Perez sprinted down the left sideline for a 13-yard gain
to the Tiger 36. On a fourth and three play, Casimiro Olivarez slammed
through left guard for a six-yard gain to the 23 and a crucial first down.
Perez connected with Aaron Leal for an 11-yard completion to the 14,
and found receiver, Jesus Oviedo, for a 10-yard completion to the 4. On
first and goal, Perez connected with Bobby Reyes in the right flat for a
four-yard touchdown pass with 17 seconds remaining in regulation.
Perez then rolled to his right and looked to pass, but took off running
and lunged across the goal line for the two-point conversion that tied the
game at 15-15.

In the final seconds, a pass interference penalty against the Rattlers
advanced the Tigers into Rio territory. On the final play, the Tigers lined
up to try a 57-yard field goal, but a delay of game penalty moved them
back five yards. Regulation play ended when quarterback Richie
Sanchez tried a sprintout around left end, but was stopped at the Rio 32.

After being stopped just short of a first down on the first possession of
overtime, the Tigers misfired on a 33-yard field goal attempt. Victory
seemed a certainty for the Rattlers as Aaron Leal and Olivarez each
scampered for nine-yard gains to advance the ball to the 4. Two plays
later, however, the Tiger defense forced and recovered a fumble at the 5,
triggering a second overtime.

In the first possession of the second overtime, the Rattler offense was
stopped outside the 35. After three Tiger plays gained six yards, a 36-
yard field goal attempt was wide to the left, forcing a third overtime.
On the initial possession of the third overtime, Sanchez completed a 22-
yard pass to advance the Tigers to the 3. On third and goal at the 1, the
Rattlers stopped a running play for no gain and a personal foul penalty
against the Tigers moved the ball back to the 16. The Tiger kicker then
booted a 33-yard field goal to give the Tigers an 18-15 advantage.

The Rattlers gained six yards on three plays, and Joel Duarte then drilled
a 36-yard field goal to tie the game at 18-18 and force a fourth overtime.
On the first possession of overtime four, Perez connected with a receiver
near the right sideline for an eight-yard completion to the 16. An offside
penalty against the Tigers on fourth down gave the Rattlers a first down
at the 11. Olivarez then bolted through the left side for a nine-yard gain
inside the 2. Three plays later, Perez kept the ball through right guard
and lunged across the goal line for a four-yard scoring run. The Rattlers’
lead remained 24-18 when a two-point conversion attempt was
unsuccessful.

On third and 10, Sanchez threw a swing pass to the left, but the Tiger
receiver was tackled at the 24 for only a one-yard completion. On fourth
and nine, Sanchez rolled to his right and was heavily rushed, but threw a
pass into the right corner of the end zone that a receiver could not bring
in, ending the game and enabling the Rattlers to walk off the field as 24-
18 victors.

No individual or team statistics for either the Rattlers or Tigers were
available. Jason Perez threw touchdown passes to Iram Galvan and
Bobby Reyes, and also ran for the touchdown in the fourth overtime that
ultimately won the game, as well as the two-point conversion that forced
overtime.

The Rattlers, now 1-2 in district play and 3-4 for the season, kept their
playoff hopes alive with the dramatic victory. They will enjoy an open
week before facing the potent Edinburg Vela Sabercats on the road on
Thursday night, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. As last week’s action concluded, the
Sabercats were undefeated for the entire season and ranked by virtually
all pundits as one of the top teams in the entire Valley.

Pioneer Diamondbacks Use Second Half Comeback to Edge Rattlers

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Fri, 9 Oct 2015 11:29:00 -0500

By Kenneth Roberts
Freelance Writer

The Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks used a late third quarter uprising, triggered by a blocked field goal return for a touchdown, to achieve a 20-10 comeback victory over the Rio Grande City Rattlers at Thompson Stadium in Sharyland Thursday night.

The Diamondbacks drew first blood with a field goal early in the second quarter, but the Rattlers caught fire to take a 10-3 halftime lead. The Rattlers had two scoring chances deep in Pioneer territory in the third quarter, but the second opportunity ended with a blocked field goal that the Diamondbacks returned 72 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. Moments later, the Diamondbacks scored immediately to take a 17-10 lead after returning an interception to the Rattler 3.

The Pioneer defense dominated the fourth quarter, holding the Rattler offense completely in check. The Diamondbacks put the game out of reach with a field goal midway through the final stanza.

The Rattler offense was productive in the second quarter as running back Casimiro Olivarez broke loose for runs of 46 and 38 yards and quarterback Jason Perez threw a 13-yard scoring pass to Aaron Leal.

After a punt pinned the Rattlers inside their 10 midway through the first period, the Diamondbacks set up shop in Rio territory and drove to the 22. The Rattler defense stiffened and forced a 37-yard field goal attempt by Leo Rios that was wide to the right.

Later in the opening quarter, the Diamondbacks drove within inches of the Rattler goal line. On third and goal inside the 1, Pioneer quarterback Alejandro Ramirez kept the ball through right tackle, but was stopped inches short of the goal line. On fourth and goal, Salvador Gonzalez took a handoff and tried to dart to his left, but was upended in the backfield at the 4, abruptly ending the Diamondback threat.

Early in the second quarter, the Diamondbacks drove to the Rattler 18, but the stubborn Rio defense yielded no more ground. A false start penalty on fourth down moved Pioneer back to the 24, but Leo Rios kicked a 41-yard field goal with 8:59 left until halftime to give the Diamondbacks a 3-0 edge.

The Rattlers quickly responded as Casimiro Olivarez broke loose through the middle for a 38-yard gain to the Pioneer 26. Quarterback Jason Perez kept the ball around left end for an 11-yard pickup to the 15. Three plays later, Perez connected with Aaron Leal over the middle just across the goal line for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 6:10 remaining until intermission. Joel Duarte booted the extra point to give the Rattlers a 7-3 advantage.

Late in the second quarter, Olivarez slashed through right guard and exploded into the secondary for a 46-yard gain to the Diamondback 31. On fourth and six, a personal foul penalty against the Diamondbacks gave the Rattlers a first down at the 12. A defensive holding penalty against Pioneer then advanced the ball to the 6. On the final play of the first half, Joel Duarte kicked a 23-yard field goal to give the Rattlers a 10-3 lead going into intermission.

The Rattlers gained a golden opportunity early in the third quarter when they recovered a fumbled punt at the Pioneer 28. On third and seven, however, a quarterback sack for a 14-yard loss moved the Rattlers back to the 39.

Moments later, Rio’s free safety, Ivan Garcia intercepted a pass inside the Pioneer 25 and returned the ball to the 19, giving the Rattlers great field position once again. On third and 11, a deep pass was batted away near the goal line. The Rattlers then attempted a 37-yard field goal, but the roof caved in as the kick was blocked and Anthony Jimenez returned the ball 72 yards for a Diamondback touchdown with 3:24 left in the third period to tie the game at 10-10.

On the first play of the ensuing Rattler possession, Pioneer defender Romeo Lopez intercepted a pass inside the Rio 35 and returned the ball all the way to the 3. On first and goal, Brandon Casas took a handoff around right end and darted into the end zone untouched for a three-yard scoring run with 3:06 remaining in the third quarter to give the Diamondbacks a 17-10 advantage.

An interception at the Rio 33 gave the Diamondbacks another opportunity, but the Rattler defense snuffed out the threat, stopping a fourth down running play for a 15-yard loss at the Rattler 43.

With roughly seven minutes left in the game, the Rattlers faced a fourth and two situation at their 34 and decided to gamble, but a running play was stopped for a one-yard loss, giving the Diamondbacks the ball at the Rio 33. Moments later, Leo Rios booted a 42-yard field goal with 5:40 remaining to increase Pioneer's margin to 20-10.

On the first play of the ensuing Rattler possession, an interception at midfield was returned to the Rio 11. The Diamondbacks reached the 5, but a running play was stopped at the 7 for a two-yard loss. Pioneer lined up for a 24-yard field goal try, but the holder was tackled at the 17 for a 10-yard loss after fielding a high snap and attempting to run around left end.

Moments later, the Diamondbacks left the field with a hard-earned 20-10 comeback win, staying undefeated with a 6-0 overall record and a district mark of 2-0.

No team or individual statistics for either the Rattlers or Diamondbacks were available as of Friday afternoon.

The Rattlers, now 2-4 overall and 0-2 in district play, will host Valley View on Saturday night, Oct. 10 in their Homecoming game. The Diamondbacks will travel to Edinburg to face the potent Vela Sabercats on Thursday evening, Oct. 8.

RATTLERS LOOK FORWARD TO SOLID 2015 FOOTBALL SEASON AFTER 2-1 START

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 17:05:00 -0500

By Kenneth Roberts
Freelance Writer

The Rio Grande City Rattlers, benefiting from a strong nucleus of talented veterans as well as several gifted newcomers, have high hopes for an excellent 2015 season and a potential playoff berth after getting off to a 2-1 start in non-district play.

On Saturday, Sept. 12, the Rattlers achieved a 35-34 overtime triumph on the road against the La Joya Palmview Lobos, a District 30-6A team that reached the second round of the state playoffs last year. In that contest, junior running back Casimiro Olivarez romped through the Lobo defense for 196 yards and senior linebacker Victor Martinez blocked two extra point attempts and a 37-yard field goal try with seven seconds left in regulation. Olivarez scampered 15 yards for the game-tying score with 49 seconds remaining in regulation.

Prior to the victory over Palmview, the Rattlers defeated Ingleside 13-0 in the season opener before coming up short by a 13-7 margin against Port Isabel. The Rattlers were scheduled to host Corpus Christi King Friday night, Sept. 18 in their final 2015 non-district game.

Rattler Head Coach Carlos Longoria commented on Wednesday, Sept. 16, “So far, I feel we're headed in the right direction. All four teams in the non-district portion of our schedule made the playoffs last year. I feel we had a good chance to win the game we lost (to Port Isabel); we had several opportunities to win but didn't capitalize.”

“I'm proud of the effort and commitment our youngsters are showing,” emphasized the coach. “You have to follow the standard of not looking behind or looking ahead. This group is very united and really cares about each other. The commitment to work hard is very strong and constant.”

In its 2015 preseason preview, Texas Football magazine indicated that the Rattlers return 11 starters from 2014 – six on offense and five on defense. Longoria declared, “We have a good mixture of veterans and youth. We've had our fair share of injuries, but we have more quality depth this year. Thankfully, we haven't had any season-ending injuries to this point.”

The fifth year Rattler skipper explained, “We've tweaked our offensive approach some to fit what our talent lends itself to. We're planning on running the ball a little more this year because of our talent in that area. Right now Casimiro Olivarez is our best running back and offensive threat, but we're hoping other players will also step up as the year moves along...We hope to open up our offense with more passing in the coming weeks.”

Longoria stressed that sophomore starting quarterback Jason Perez “is doing an excellent job and progressing nicely both as a runner and passer. He's working within his abilities and not trying to do too much. His calm demeanor helps him in a high pressure position.”

Olivarez, who started for roughly half of the 2015 season, is the clear pacesetter at running back. The receiving corps is comprised of inside receivers Iram Galvan and Luis Garcia, outside receivers Lee Roy Lund, Victor Marquez and Jesse Oviedo, and tight end Bobby Reyes. Longoria noted that Reyes “is a proficient receiver and blocker, having won second team All-District honors in 2014. Galvan saw as much action as anyone last year, and Oviedo and Marquez also played some.” Longoria indicated that senior wide receiver and return man Aaron Leal has much experience and scored a rushing touchdown on an end-around play against Palmview.

The coach emphasized that “we had to play a lot of young guys in the offensive line last year due to injuries. The experience they gained is paying dividends...Our offensive line is shaping up to be a strong overall unit.” Three returning starters are junior left tackle Jose Guerrero, senior right guard Jaime Morin, and junior left guard Edgar Rodriguez. Starting center Dillon McGuffin, a junior, saw significant action at guard and tackle in 2014. Longoria commented that senior Brandon Garza “is doing a very good job at right tackle.”
Longoria contended, “Right now I feel our defense is the strength of our team. Their performance has kept us in every game; they've played solid football. I think our pursuit is the strong point of our defense. I thought our defense was really good last year.”

The coach declared that senior free safety Ivan Garcia “is probably the defensive leader of the team and the vocal leader of the entire team. He plays with reckless abandon at safety; he's a smart and instinctive player.” Texas Football noted that Garcia collected 46 tackles, one interception, and two tackles for loss in 2014.
Both Garcia and senior linebacker Victor Martinez received second team All-District recognition in 2014. Longoria pointed out that against Palmview, Martinez blocked two extra point tries and a likely game-winning field goal attempt in the final seconds of regulation. Longoria evaluated Martinez as “a smart player who seems to be in the right place at the right time.”

Other vital defensive players are senior tackle Javier De La Torre, junior nose guard Oscar Montalvo, and senior inside linebackers Kevin Garcia and Juan Toscano. Longoria stressed that defensive backs Michael Garza and Jorge Hinojosa are “doing well in both coverage and tackling.”

Longoria emphasized that he has tremendous confidence in the range and accuracy of placekicker Joel Duarte, as well as punter Kevin Garcia.

The Rattlers are scheduled to start district play on Friday evening, Sept. 25 against the Roma Gladiators. Concerning the District 31-5A outlook, Longoria suggested, “I think our district is the toughest in the Valley, not only in football, but in virtually all sports. Edinburg Vela looks very strong, Roma will be a contender, and Mission Veterans is a perennial contender. Sharyland is always strong, and Sharyland Pioneer is an up and coming team.”

Rio Grande City Police Dept. - Synthetic Drugs Public Service Announcent

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 08:43:00 -0600

A public service announcement from the Rio Grande City Police Department.

Rio Grande City PD Chief Castillo 'Meet & Greet' Event - Jan. 23, 2015

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 09:44:00 -0600

Ringgold Elementary Announces 2012-2013 PTO Officers

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 09:00:00 -0500

Ringgold Elementary School proudly announces the PTO Officers for 2012-2013 school year. Dr. Erica G. Canales-Principal, Idani Salinas-Assistant Principal, Adriana Gonzalez-President, Linda Canales-Vice-President, Jessica T. Saenz-Secretary, Elena Hinojosa-Treasurer and Sylvia Flores-Reporter.

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Grulla Middle School Educator Named 'Math Teacher of the Year'

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 08:00:00 -0500

Grulla Middle School 8th grade teacher, Daniel Lopez won 2012 HESTEC Math Teacher of the year. His nomination by GMS Principal, Serapio Trillayes and GEAR UP Facilitator, Mary Lou Garcia was based upon Mr. Lopez’s aspiring efforts to help his GEAR UP students succeed. “At Grulla Middle School we strive to assist our students to soar high and mighty and it is teachers like Mr. Daniel Lopez that get our cranes to reach their highest potential,” said Mary Lou Garcia. He has been a math teacher at Grulla Middle School for seven years and this year he has moved to the 8th grade to continue helping his GEAR UP students. Eventually, Mr. Lopez plans to utilize his Master’s degree in Mathematics to continue mentoring and teaching his students at the high school and college level. “Grulla Middle School faculty and staff are very proud of Mr. Daniel Lopez’s honorable accomplishments. He truly deserves this prestigious award for his commitment and dedication to our Mighty Cranes," said Mr. Serapio Trillayes. Pictured left to right are Norma McCormick- GEAR UP Coordinator, Serapio Trillayes- GMS Principal, Daniel Lopez, Mary Lou Garcia- GEAR UP Facilitator, and Ms. Tina Atkins- GEAR UP Director. Photo by: Sandor Lopez.

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Hot Diggity Dog: RGCCISD Making Science Hands-On

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:00:00 -0500

It wasn’t lunch time as some fourth grade students at Dr. Mario E. Ramirez Elementary School chanted, “weanies, weanies, weanies.” Instead, it was in the middle of science class. The lucky fourth graders were anxiously awaiting the chance to eat their science experiment, hot dogs cooked by solar energy.

Coach Mark Olivarez used Pringles cans, wooden skewers, transparency film (or a sheet protector), a knife, a hammer, a nail and two strips of clear packing tape to make thermal ovens. He demonstrated the entire process of creating the thermal ovens for the students who avidly looked on.

“We are gonna take the sun’s radiant energy and bring it down into the can through the clear plastic, and we are gonna reflect it off the silver on the inside of the can and then it turns into thermal energy, or heat. We are keeping all the heat in the can, just like an oven, and that will cook the hot dog. It’s important that we place the cans towards the sun so we can get the most energy from the sun as possible.”

The students paraded outside, proudly displaying their cans and set them down one by one.
The hot dogs were skewered inside the cans and cooked for 40 minutes outside using the sun’s energy and the reflective silver from the inside of the can.

Student Aalyana Murdock said, “I am feeling excited because we are using the sun to cook these hot dogs. This makes learning fun for me and I might be a science teacher one day too!”

“I can’t wait to eat this delicious food,” said student Mario Garcia. “It’s very exciting to do a science project like this and see the thermal energy cooking the hot dogs. It was a good surprise for us.”

And as an additional surprise, the students learned they would also enjoy the Pringle chips from inside the can to go with their hot dogs. “Mmmmmmm,” expressed the students loudly and clearly. The experiment was a clear winner for the students and coach.

“It is a simple way to show the kids how solar energy works and hands-on experiments keep the kids interested,” said Olivarez. “It’s great to look at books and talk about theory, but when you get them doing a project like this with objects they can relate to, it gives them a better perspective of what science is; it keeps them excited.”

But Olivarez warned the students that although experiments like this are fun, they should not be tried without the help of a parent.

“We have done other experiments with the students and it’s been a real hit,” concluded Olivarez. “My advice to parents is to speak with your child’s teacher and find out what the students will be covering each six weeks. We can give parents ideas, but also a simple search on the Internet will give anyone many experiment ideas that will be step-by-step. It’s a good way to enhance your students’ learning at home.”

Photo caption 1:
Students show off their science experiment.

Photo caption 2:
Coach Mark Olivarez demonstrates creating a thermal oven to his fourth grade science class.

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Meet the Teacher Night at Ringgold Elementary

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:56:00 -0500

Meet the Teacher Night at Ringgold Elementary was held on Thursday, October 13, 2012. Parents were invited to come to the school to meet their son/daughter's teacher and talk to them about their classroom expectations for the year. We would like to THANK all the parents for coming by to visit with your child’s teacher and for making this a successful event.

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RGCCISD Receives Project 'Lead The Way' Certification for STEM Education Program

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Mon, 1 Oct 2012 08:30:00 -0500

RGCCISD Receives Project Lead The Way Certification for STEM Education Program. Students from certified PLTW schools may receive college admissions preference, college credit, and scholarships at PLTW affiliate universities.

Mrs. Adelina G. Villarreal CATE Director, announced today that it has received national certification for its Project Lead The Way (PLTW) program that has been offered since 2006. This is the second time the school has gone through the national certification process to validate its program. PLTW, a nonprofit organization and the nation’s leading provider of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education programs, offers a rigorous world-class curriculum that allows students to apply what they are learning in math and science class to real-life engineering and technology projects.

PLTW also prides itself on high-quality professional development of its teachers and an engaged network of business, community and university partners to give students the fullest experience. The national PLTW recognition program distinguishes schools for successfully demonstrating a commitment to PLTW’s national standards. Additionally, certification as a PLTW school provides students with the opportunity to apply for college credit or receive college-level recognition at PLTW affiliate universities when they successfully complete select PLTW courses in high school. PLTW has more than 40 affiliate college and university partners including Rio Grande City High School and now Grulla High School.

In order to remain competitive in the global economy, America needs approximately 400,000 STEM college graduates annually, according to a National Business Roundtable report. Currently, the U.S. is graduating only 265,000 annually. PLTW is providing students with the skills, foundation, and proven path to college and career success in STEM areas to increase the number of STEM graduates. Mr. Adolfo Pena, Jr., principal of Rio Grande City High School said, “We’ve seen how the PLTW program draws more students to engineering and technology courses and gets them thinking about college and their careers.

We are extremely proud to be PLTW certified and ecstatic that our students are eligible for college-level recognition, which may include college credit for select PLTW courses, scholarships and admissions preference.” As part of the recognition process, Mr. Joel Trigo, Jr., Principal of Grulla High School, and a team composed of teachers, staff, students, and members of the community submitted a self- assessment of the school’s implementation of PLTW’s Pathway To Engineering (PTE) program. A site visit by a PLTW trained team followed. PLTW’s team met with teachers, school administrators, counselors, students, and members of the school’s Partnership Team.

A PLTW school’s Partnership Team (sometimes referred to as an Advisory Council) is comprised of teachers, counselors, administrators, post-secondary representatives, business and industry professionals, and other community members who actively support the PLTW program within a school. “Both High Schools should be congratulated for demonstrating once again its commitment to PLTW’s quality standards,” said PLTW President and CEO Vince Bertram. “The real winners here, however, are the students. Students benefit from PLTW’s innovative, project-based curriculum that encourages creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking.

We look forward to many more years of working together to prepare RGCCISD students to become the most innovative and productive in the world.” PLTW electronics engineer / teacher, Ana Cavazos added, “The beauty of PLTW courses is that our kids get to experience how a concept they learned in science applies to real-world projects, including robotics. Rather than sit passively and listen to a lecture, kids are building, developing, and creating. PLTW Manufacturing engineer/ teacher, Juan Andrade, Jr. stated, “It’s the kind of hands-on experience that will engage more students in science, technology, engineering and math—fields that they might otherwise never have considered.” RGCCISD sets policy by having any student enrolled in the pre-engineering classes in Grulla Middle School, Ringgold Middle School or Veterans Middle School receive high school credit when graduating to High School. Students enrolled in the CATE classes with the career cluster for engineering receive articulated credit @ UT, Tyler, Texas.

For more information on PLTW, you may also contact Jennifer Cahill at the national office at (317) 669-0871 or jcahill@pltw.org.

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AC2E School Holds 'Meet the Teacher Night'

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 08:30:00 -0500

The AC2E (Magnet School) invited all the parents for Meet the Teacher Night on September 4, 2012. Parents came in and were able to meet and visit with their son or daughter's teacher. During this time parents get the opportunity to learn about their son or daughter's teacher, classroom environment and the expectations that have been set for a successful year.

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Dr. Mario Ramirez Elementary Students Honor Grandparents

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 08:30:00 -0500

Dr. Mario Ramirez Elementary celebrated Grandparents Day on September 7, 2012. The grandparents were recognized for their hard work and dedication to their grandchildren. Administrators, teachers along with the grandchildren welcomed them to the school. The celebration commenced at the school's library where the grandparents participated in a craft activity together with their grandchildren.They were also treated to pan dulce and coffee at the end of the activity.

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Meet the Rio Grande City FFA 2012 – 2013 Officers

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:30:00 -0500

Congratulations go out to the 2012 – 2013 Rio Grande City High School FFA Officers. FFA Officers consist of (from left to right) Mrs. Randy Martin – FFA Advisor, Cecilia Garza – Chaplain, Justin Cody Salinas – Sentinel, Eli Lopez – Vice-President, Ryan Melton – President, Garrett Gonzalez – Secretary, Beto Garza – Treasurer, Haulen Garcia – Reporter.

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RGC High Cosmetology Students Learn Marketable Skills

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:30:00 -0500

Students in Melissa Limas’ Cosmetology Program at Rio Grande City High School are not just learning how to enhance beauty; they are learning marketable skills that can earn them a professional accreditation and money-making power.

“This is a fantastic program because it helps students get very engaged in all other facets of their academics because they are working at something they love,” explained Limas, who has been teaching cosmetology at RGC High for 10 years. “These are skills they can use to earn money right away once they earn their license, which is around the time of their high school graduation. I have even had some graduates earn their way through college after successfully going through my program and earning their licensure.”

“Any student can be part of the program as long as they are willing to put in the hard work and dedication because it’s a two year course that requires students to complete 1,000 hours of instruction and hands-on lab work in order to qualify to take the licensure exam,” she continued. “That could cost students quite a lot if they had to pay out of pocket, but it’s all free career training offered by the high school. Not everyone can take on the responsibility and only students who really love it, have patience, discipline and determination succeed.”

RGC High students are jumping at the chance to learn these skills because they see the benefits of learning marketable skills in high school.

“My mom is a cosmetologist and I see how much she loves her work and I want to be the same way,” expressed senior Karen Flores. “I already have people that want me to do their hair regularly. Also, there will always be work if you develop a clientele and that’s why I am working hard to take my licensure exam.”

“My mom and sister are cosmetologists and they have been encouraging me to do it because it can be a great career,” said senior Karina Gracia. “There are so many things you can do with it, but it requires a lot of studying and hard work. You have to be determined and you have to be good at science. Much of what we do involves knowing and executing science so that’s an important knowledge set to have.”

According to Limas, starting pay for a cosmetologist depends on how hard a person wants to work, but it could be as much as $45,000 a year.

“It depends on the development of your interpersonal skills and your leadership in helping guide the clients, and those are skills we also teach here,” she said. “And the career options don’t end at working at a salon; you can own your own business, become a product representative, go into management at a product company or build off of this for public relations, marketing, fashion merchandising, business, there’s just so many career paths this can lead to.”

“Two of my sisters took this program and one of them stayed with this profession. Now she has her own salon and makes around $60K a year so I think this is a good money making opportunity,” said senior Celia Hinojosa. “I will earn my license when I graduate and I can work with my sister. And maybe I will open my own salon in a few years and become an entrepreneur. I love hair designing and coming up with new ideas so this is a good opportunity for me.”

For additional information about Rio Grande City High School’s Cosmetology Program contact Limas at 956-488-6000 x7018.

Photo caption: Rio High student Elizabeth Celaya practices her skills on her peer Karen Flores before a recent skills assessment in the school’s Cosmetology Program.

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Ringgold Elementary Hosts Counselor's Meeting

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 08:00:00 -0500

Ringgold Elementary hosted the first District Elementary Counselors meeting on Wednesday, September 5, 2012. Several administrators were on hand to discuss pertinent information concerning Special Education homebound services, Gifted and Talented manual, and to set the dates for future counselors meetings. Pictured l to r are; Standing- Elma Compean (Alternative Center), Sandra R. Lopez (General Ricardo Sanchez Elementary), Rosalinda Garcia (Alto Bonito Elementary), Lilia Lopez (La Union Elementary), Aldo Soliz (Roque Guerra, Jr. Elementary), Aurelia Lopez (J & O Hinojosa Elementary), Dalinda Gonzalez (Dr. Mario Ramirez Elementary/Academy for Academic Enhancement), and Rachel Hernandez (Grulla Elementary). Sitting- Minerva Perez (North Grammar Elementary), Jessica T. Saenz (Ringgold Elementary),
Elsa Lopez (Director of Student Assessment), and Veronica Garcia (Roque Guerra, Jr. Elementary).

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Starr County Sheriff's Officers Receive Training on the Newly Acquired COPsync Program

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 08:00:00 -0500

Starr County Sheriff' Rene Fuentes and his staff received training on the newly acquired COPsync which is a program designed to facilitate nationwide information on license plates, criminal records, warrants and as a tool in locating missing persons. The program allows for much faster communication from officers to dispatchers at the command centers and will be installed in 23 units allowing officers to utilize the latest technology from their vehicles. The units will also be outfitted with a GPS system to insure constant awareness of officer location during crucial situations. This state of the art equipment will aid in the safety of
the community as well as the officers who work tirelessly to serve and protect. (County of Starr Public Relations Office)

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Grulla High School 2012 Homecoming King & Queen

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:05:00 -0500

Grulla High School Gators dominated the field with a score of 27 to 7 against PSJA Southwest during their Homecoming game. The student council were busily working to assure that the naming of Homecoming announcements went off without a hitch as they prepared the Homecoming Court sashes. The 2012-2013 Homecoming King- Isaiah Flores and Homecoming Queen- Ruby Martinez were crowned during the halftime festivities. Congratulations to the GHS Gators on their win and also to the newly crowned King and Queen.

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Commissioner Raul "Roy" Pena Expands Fleet

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:52:00 -0500

Commissioner Roy Pena has purchased four (4) new vehicles to serve his precinct more efficiently. The vehicles will be utilized by his staff to cover the more than 300 miles that encompasses his precinct. Commissioner Pena is always vigilant to insure progress and takes great pride in his projects and strives for excellence in the growth of his precinct. He commends his workers for their dedication and hard work in implementing all of the improvements that have been made. (County of Starr Public Relations Department)

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Veterans Middle School Announces Sept. Students of the Month

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:00:00 -0500

VETERANS MIDDLE SCHOOL – Veterans Middle School is proud to announce the VMS Students of the Month for September 2012! These students were selected based on academic achievement and superior character traits. Congratulations to these students for promoting and taking pride in Veterans Middle School and in themselves! Pictured above are the Students of the Month for Sepember:
Pictured are: Eugene Veloso, Ruby Garza, Sergio Garza, Christopher Garza, Celeste Cantu and Brianna Bazan. Not pictured is Saphyer Xavier.

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General Ricardo Sanchez Elem. Students Join the Fight Against Childhood Cancer

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 10:00:00 -0500

Chili’s and General Ricardo Sanchez Elementary fourth and fifth grade students joined efforts to raise funds for children fighting cancer at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. This competition promoted citizenship skills, but best of all enabled students to realize that they have the power to make a difference in another person's life even at a young age. We would like to thank all staff members, parents and students who made donations. The fourth grade winning class was Mrs. Enedina Figueroa’s class; the winning class in fifth grade was Mr. Elias Saenz’ class. The winning classes were rewarded with pepper-pal meals.

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Local Pizza Hut Provides Free School Supplies to Students

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 11:30:00 -0500

Just Say YES!!!- North Grammar Elementary students from Kinder through 5th grade received a supply pack generously provided by the SAY YES foundation and Pizza Hut. Each pack contained much needed school supplies that are vital throughout the school year. North Grammar Elementary Administration and Staff would like to thank Say YES and Pizza Hut for their continued commitment and support of our community and education.

The SAY YES Foundation also generously provided students at General Ricardo Sanchez Elementary school supplies to start of this 2012-2013 school year. GRSE students’ excitement and gratitude were expressed as they received their gifts. Once again, Pizza Hut personnel distributed the school supplies and encouraged students to try their best. On behalf of GRSE staff members and students, we would like to thank The SAY YES Foundation and Pizza Hut employees for placing children first.

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Grandparents Celebrated at RGCCISD Schools

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:14:00 -0500

It’s the time of the year for the national celebration of the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren. RGCCISD marked the celebration of Grandparent’s Day by holding special ceremonies for grandparents to spend quality time with their grandchildren at many of its schools.

At Roque Guerra Jr. Elementary, school administrators served up a breakfast of quiche and sweet bread while grandparents visited with their grandchildren and enjoyed a game of bingo.

“We wanted to change things up this year and have the grandparents come in and do something that they would really enjoy and it turned out well,” said Guerra Elementary Principal Virginia Gonzalez. “Their role is very significant to reinforce the importance of school, to remind their grandchild to stay focused and to learn respect. Those are important lessons that grandparents bring to the table and we are so fortunate so many of them came out to celebrate with us.”

“My granddaughters are both in kindergarten and I really enjoy being a part of their lives,” said Socorro Villarreal, grandmother of Brianna and Amelia Villarreal. “I enjoy my time with them, and as a grandparent I get to help them with fun activities like this, as well as to help guide them become the people they want to be in life.”

At General Ricardo Sanchez Elementary, the event started with a greeting from school Librarian Elizabeth Perez.

“On behalf of the staff I want to welcome you here today because you are very important in your grandchild’s development,” she said. “You are as essential as vitamins to them.”

After a special serenade by fourth grade student Diego Marroquin, Perez also took the opportunity to encourage grandparents to engage their grandchildren in stories and reading.

“For those grandparents that don’t speak English, sometimes the children take home their books and they are in English, but you don’t have to read it; you can sit down with the child and have them share the story with you,” she explained. “And sometimes it’s even better to start at the end of the story and work forward so that you can see that the child is picking up the story lines. The big thing is to involve your grandchildren and let them be part of creating the story.”

The festivities concluded with a game of bingo and a snack in the school cafeteria.

Above Photo caption:
Socorro Villarreal, grandmother of kindergartners Brianna and Amelia Villarreal, celebrates Grandparent’s Day at Roque Guerra Jr. Elementary School.

Grandparents Are A TREAT! - On Monday, September 10, 2012, North Grammar Elementary Library hosted Goodies for Grandparents. Grandparents were invited to accompany their grandchild to the school library and read to them or, as in some cases, be read to by them. The school administration provided “goodies” for all of the grandparents. North Grammar Elementary administration and staff would like to THANK everyone who made this event so successful and GRAND.

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Ringgold Elementary Celebrated Grandparents Day on Friday

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Sat, 8 Sep 2012 13:12:00 -0500

Ringgold Elementary celebrated Grandparents Day on Friday, September 7, 2012 at Ringgold Elementary with a bingo and breakfast. On behalf of Ringgold Elementary we would like to THANK all the grandparents for making this day successful.

Local Band Director Inducted into Texas Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame

rgherald@gmail.com (rgHerald.com) — Sat, 8 Sep 2012 07:00:00 -0500

Local resident, Alfredo “Al” Cortinas, has been named to the Bandmaster’s Hall of Fame by the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, an international school bandmaster fraternity. He was honored at the Texas Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on July 22 in San Antonio.
He is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Selso and Beatriz Cortinas from Taft, Texas. He comes from a family of four sisters and two brothers. He was educated in the town’s school system where he graduated from Taft High School in 1965. Al’s father loved music and played guitar with local groups. This love of music was transferred to his family and Al joined the band in the sixth grade. His beginning band director was Mr. Fred Rotzler who taught him to play saxophone.

Al continued in the band and by the eighth grade he was marching with the Greyhound High School band. This experience continued throughout high school. His high school band director, Mr. Sherry Albritton was a big influence in Al’s life. He encouraged him to pursue music education. During the summer of 1965, Al began his undergraduate work at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, the University of Houston and concluded at Texas A& I University in Kingsville where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degree in music education.

While attending college he worked his way through school by being in the work study programs and played professionally with various dance bands and Tejano groups. Mr. Cortinas has been a successful band director for the past forty-one years, having directed bands in Corpus Christi, Crystal City, Rio Grande City, Roma, and La Joya. He is back in Rio Grande City serving the high school as a band director.
Through the years, his bands have received numerous awards. They range from Sweepstakes awards and representing Region XV at the state marching contest to Honor Band. His band have also competed at the Carlsbad, New Mexico, Six Flags over Texas in Dallas, Buc Days Music Festival in Copus Christi, Six Flags over Mid-America in St. Louis, Missouri, and the Contraband Music Festival in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as well as other music festivals in Texas. This past year the Rio Grande City High School band was named Outstanding Varsity Band and Outstanding Band of the La Joya Band Festival while also receiving the UIL Sweepstakes award.

Mr. Cortinas has served in region and state capacities as Region Band Chairman and in several committees for TBA, Phi Beta Mu, UIL and TMEA. He has also served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the state. He is a member of TBA, TMEA, Phi Beta Mu and Phi Mu Alpha. He serves on the Hall of Fame Committee for Phi Beta Mu and was instrumental in starting the Rio Grande Valley Band Director Hall of Fame which honors Valley band directors each year. In 2011, Al received the Lifetime Meritorious Achievement Award from the Texas Bandmasters Association.

Countless people have been instrumental in helping Al throughout his career. These people have taken the time to offer their kindness and invaluable experience with him. One of the most influential people in his professional life has been Mr. Richard Floyd, Director of UIL activities for the State of Texas. He was one of the first clinicians to go to Rio Grande City and work with Al’s bands.

“The many different techniques that Mr. Floyd taught the staff and students in Rio and Roma are still being taught to this day,” said Al Cortinas. “I will forever be grateful to Mr. Floyd for all he taught and shared with us.”
Other people whom have had an influence are Mr. Roel Elizondo, Mr. Nick Gonzalez, Mr. Robert Botello, the late Mr. Eddie Galvan, Mr. Bob Blanton, Mr. Art Guajardo, Mr. Richard Kole, Mr. Marion Busby, Mr. Edward Zamora, Mr. Bruce Taylor and all the directors in the Rio Grande Valley who have always been willing to share their musical expertise.

He is married to Sonja Smith-Cortinas and they have two beautiful daughters, Abbygail Nicole Cortinas, salutatorian of Immaculate Conception School (I.C.S.) 8th grade class and Ella Renee Cortinas, who just completed her first year in the Montessori program at I.C.S. Active parents in the school, Al and Sonja, have served on the school council and both have served as president of this organization. He and his family are all active at I.C.S. of Rio Grande City where he serves as Eucharistic Minister.

Mr. Cortinas would like to thank the Texas Bandmasters Association and Phi Beta Mu for this opportunity of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. This is a great honor for him and his family. Al extends a special thanks to Ben Gollehon and all the members of the Hall of Fame Committee.

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