It’s been years in the planning and much needed in North Laredo to improve the quality of life for area residents.  This Thursday, February 2, Webb County Commissioner Jerry Garza will be hosting the official ribbon cutting ceremonies of the new Trautmann International Park.    

     “The park has something for everyone to enjoy,” said precinct three Webb County Commissioner Jerry Garza.  “Residents will now have access to jogging and walking trails, basketball courts and a football field,” he added. 

     Future plans include the addition of a soccer field, tennis courts and a skateboard park and playground.

     The park is a joint effort between Webb County and the United Independent School District.

     The ceremony starts at 10 a.m. and the public is invited to attend.  The physical address for the new park is 809 International Blvd.

(Laredo, Tx)- The Office of District Attorney Isidro R. Alaniz reports that Ricardo Gomez  pled guilty yesterday to one count of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and was sentenced to fifteen years in prison.   Gomez was charged with having violated two female children in April of 2009.  The children are not related to him, but he was in a position of trust when he violated them.  After the children’s mother became suspicious of Gomez, a report was filed with the Laredo Police Department. 

The case was assigned to the Special Investigations Unit of the Laredo Police Department, which then investigated the matter and generated the warrant for Gomez’ arrest.  Ramon Villafranca, Jr., Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit, worked closely with the victims’ family in arriving at the plea agreement.   Gomez was immediately taken into custody and, once he is released from prison, he is required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

(Laredo, Tx)- More than eight-hundred thousand dollars in checks will be presented by Webb County to area school districts at ceremonies to be held in the Webb County Court House Thursday, January 26 at 9:30 a.m.

LISD, UISD and the Webb Consolidated School District will be presented with checks that are part of the Permanent School Land Fund, an arrangement in which the County acts as a land trustee for the school districts.

Revenues raised come from 10,000 acres of school land in the north part of the County.  The revenues on the land come from cattle grazing, hunting leases, petroleum royalties or anything else is automatically turned over to the school districts according to size and need.

The United Independent School District will receive $553,679.96, the Laredo Independent School District will receive $320,782.84 and the Webb Consolidate Independent School District will receive $4,394.29.

The check presentation ceremony will be held at the Webb County Commissioners Court located on the second floor of the Webb County Courthouse located at 1000 Houston Street.

 The Office of District Attorney Isidro R. Alaniz reports that Gilberto Tello was formally charged  for the murder of his wife, Marisela Flores-Tello. 

 Chief Prosecutor for the Domestic Violence Unit, Melinda Vidaurri-Galvan, presented the case today to a grand jury in the 49^th District Court.  Upon completion of the presentation, the grand jury indicted Tello and charged him with having caused the death of his wife by shooting her multiple times on October 23, 2011.

 On that night, police responded to a “shots fired” call at 7:23p.m.  Upon arriving at the Tello residence, located on the 1500 block of South Bartlett Avenue, police found a motionless Flores-Tello.  They called for an ambulance, which transported the woman to the Laredo Medical Center where she was declared dead at 8:09p.m. 

 Defendant Tello remains in custody at the Webb County Jail under a five hundred thousand dollar bond. 

 Murder is a first degree felony with a range of punishment between five and ninety-nine years in prison or a life sentence.

 An arraignment date has yet to be set by the 49^th District Court.

(Laredo, Tx)-Webb County Commissioner, Precinct 2,  Rosaura “Wawi” Tijerina and 10 Female members of her Community Involvement Team will be participating in a Women Build Event for Habitat for Humanity on Friday, January 20, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Tierra Prometida located on Hwy 359 behind the Self Help Center.  The group will assist in the building of a home for a qualified Habitat family.

All Webb County administrative offices will be closed Monday, January 16 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.  Included in the holiday closure is the Webb County Tax Assessor Collector’s Office.The Webb County Sheriff’s Department Administrative Offices will also be closed.  All emergency services will be available.

Webb County Offices will re-open at 8 a.m. Tuesday, January 17, 2012.

Webb County Commissioners will hold their next scheduled meeting on Monday, January 23, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. at the Webb County Courthouse located at 1000 Houston Street.

 The Office of District Attorney Isidro R. Alaniz reports that three individuals have been arrested due to having written hot checks in Webb County. 

 On Friday, January 6, 2012, investigators with the District Attorney’s Office arrested Rafael Jimenez, Jr. at his home.  Jimenez is charged with having purchased advertising in a local circular and having paid for the ad with a check from a closed account.  The advertisement promoted weatherization services by Jimenez Refrigeration.  Mr. Jimenez is charged with having paid with a check totaling $2,052.02 from an account that had been closed for over one year. 

 That same Friday, DA investigators also arrested Rito Salomon Palacios, Jr.  Palacios was arrested at his place of employment on three warrants, which were written from closed accounts.  The hot checks were for auto repair, flowers and other services.  The Hot Check Division of the District Attorney’s Office reports that Palacios is a habitual hot check writer and that two additional hot checks have been submitted ‘since the issuance of the warrants.  Those two checks were written to a local liquor store and florist. 

 On December 5, 2011, DA investigators arrested Fidencio Galvan  for having failed to comply with the terms of his payment agreement with the District Attorney’s Hot Checks Division.  Although Galvan entered into an agreement to make good on thirty-seven outstanding hot checks, he violated the agreement when he wrote six checks on a closed account to El Bufalo Pawn Shop in September of 2011.  Galvan was arrested at his place of employment. 

 The District Attorney’s Hot Check Division continues to make their services available to local merchants and reminds them to be diligent when accepting checks by verifying identification and to contact the Division with any questions or concerns at 523-4919.

In observance of the New Year’s Day holiday, all Webb County administrative offices Monday, January 2, 2012. 

The Webb County Sheriff’s Department administrative offices will also be closed.  All emergency services will be available.

Webb County Offices will re-open at 8 a.m. Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Webb County Judge Danny Valdez and the Webb County Commissioners Court wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year.

Webb County Commissioners will meet Monday, January 9, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. for their regularly scheduled meeting at the Webb County Courthouse located at 1000 Houston Street.

Please note that the Webb County Tax Assessor Collector’s Office will be closed Friday, December 30 and Monday, January 2, 2012.  Anyone wishing to make a payment may do so by using the night deposit box located on the west side parking lot of the building.

The office will re-open at 8 a.m. Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

          Anyone wishing to make payments can use the night deposit box located on the west-side parking lot of the Tax Office.

The holiday closure includes the Webb County Tax Assessor Collector’s Office.

The Webb County Sheriff’s Department administrative offices will also be closed.  All emergency services will be available.

Webb County Offices will re-open at 8 a.m. Tuesday, December 27.

Webb County Judge Danny Valdez and the Webb County Commissioners Court wish everyone a safe and happy Merry Christmas.

Webb County Commissioners will meet Monday, January 9, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. for their regularly scheduled meeting at the Webb County Courthouse located at 1000 Houston