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A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
The trial against suspended Justice of the Peace Cesar Perez is proceeding quickly with jury selection taking place on Tuesday until about 3:00 P.M. and opening statements and the calling of the first witness subsequently thereafter.
One key motion in Tuesday's phase was the state dismissing charges of organized criminal activity against Perez which was filed in district court just before the prosecution called Andres Rodriguez III to the witness stand late Tuesday followed by former Maverick County Auditor Carlos Pereda early Wednesday morning which ended in a series of questions by prosecution and objections by the defense before Pereda left the witness stand.
Collections Director Ruben Montemayor was called in and was asked to produce documents from 2007 to 2013 to which he replied they would probably be in storage and that he honestly didn't know what kind of condition they would be in to which defense counsel Earl Herring responded, "We want them all."
The Honorable Amado Abascal, 365th District Judge ordered Montemayor to effectively advise his superiors to retrieve those records by order of the court.
Four state witnesses that followed were individuals who allegedly made payments to the JP's office anywhere from 2007 to 2008.
Of the four witnesses, at least two of them stated that they had made cash payments to secretaries and one stated that he paid with a money order and was asked five years later to produce a receipt of that money order which he said would be impossible.
Defense attorneys Herring and Rogelio Munoz worked to question the validity of the witnesses accusing one of the state's witnesses of having a questionable attitude toward the seriousness of citations issued as the witness admitted to disposing of them in the trash at the time they were given and yet a second was discredited for allegedly testifying to Texas Rangers and to the state against Perez in retaliation to a civil case in which he was ordered to pay a sum of $1,300.00 for not repairing a computer back in 2008.
The court recessed at noon on Wednesday and the result of Wednesday afternoon's deliberations were not available at press time.
Lead prosecutor in this case is Lance Kutnick. Kutnick is being assisted by Jonathan White, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Prosecutions Division White Collar Crime & Public Integrity Section.
Martinez' appointment marks cycle of
Community service coming full circle
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
Hilda Martinez, daughter of Francisco 'Cisco' Martinez has been symbolically called upon to serve her community much in the way her father served on the board in the late 80's.
This cycle came full circle on Thursday, August 8th when now EPISD Board Secretary Lupita Fuentes made the motion to recommend Hilda Martinez, a local businesswoman and licensed pharmacist, to fill the vacant spot recently left by Ana Santleben.
"I'm very excited and thankful for this opportunity to work for the students of Eagle Pass and hope to assist the teachers and staff of the EPISD," stated the EPISD's newest trustee, "I also hope to educate myself in the process and do the best of my ability to serve."
Board President Ignacio Saucedo added that they are "Excited in having someone with her intelligence. She is well respected, brings energy to the position and a different view than that we're used to seeing on the board," stated the highest ranking board member, "We have high hopes that she will adjust quickly and do well for the community."
Brother Francisco, a local attorney and our Municipal Court Judge was also on hand to see his sister appointed and this reporter is sure he had his father in his thoughts much as I have mine every time I walk into the DSC Board Room.
Martinez comes in right at budget time and at the beginning of the school year just before registration, back-to-school time and as state test results await to be approved and accreditation statuses for our schools to be officially declared next month.
A.D. Ibarra
-Eagle Pass
In what is being heralded as the best news coming from the EPISD in recent memory, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved a proposed increase for all personnel effective this September.
EPISD Superintendent Gilbert Gonzalez presented his recommendation to the board during the second budget workshop after the presentation made by Executive Director for Finance Ismael Mijares.
"It was something that was long overdue," stated Board President Ignacio Saucedo, "The superintendent and I have been discussing it for some time and we appreciate our employees' patience during the years we were in our cost savings plan. We understand that their jobs are ever more strenuous now in the age of accountability and the amount of work that is having to take place because of state and federal mandates are much more stringent than when I was a student."
School Board trustee Hector Alvarez made the motion for the salary increase and newest board member Bennie Rodriguez seconded the motion.
The recommended increases are as follows: Professionals will receive a 4.2% pay hike, a 3% increase plus a 1.2% step increase; Campus Administrators will receive a 3% increase; Non-Campus administrators will get 2.25%; Paraprofessionals will get 3.5%; and manual Trades will get a 3.5% increase as well.
The board met last night to discuss recommendations for a replacement for exiting board member Ana Santleben, but results of this meeting were not available at press time.