Girl Scouts Deliver Handmade Scarves for Christmas

Two Drown in Fishing Accident

The Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office reported that two people drowned in a fishing accident two weekends ago.

The man and his grandson were fishing, along with two other children, when the 4-year old slipped on the concrete bank and fell into the water. His grandfather jumped in to rescue the child and started drowning. One of the other childen also jumped in to help her grandfather, but began drowning when the third child rescued her with a tree branch.

The two made it back to the road where they found help and were taken to Crystal City. The authorities were alerted and began searching the river for the missing man and grandson.

Deputies found the pair and rescued them from the water. EMS personnel attempted life-saving techniques to no avail. They were pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Alfredo Martinez and their bodies ordered for autopsy in Laredo.Community Council of Southwest Texas, Inc. receives various grants for HousingCCSWT, Inc. announces the finding of various housing programs for 2009. Residents in the Southwest area can receive assistance ranging from counseling to home ownership thru the non-profit agency. CCSWT received $261,905.00 from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Housing Trust Fund to provide Down Payment and Closing Costs assistance. The program is designed to assist twenty four (24) income qualified First Time Homebuyers with the purchase of decent, safe, and sanitary housing by providing $10,000 of financial assistance for down payment and closing costs. "In the past four (4) years, we have been able to assist over one hundred (100) families with the purchase of their new home. This program is very rewarding to the families that we serve. Becoming a homeowner is one of the best investments a family can make" states Cynthia Rodriguez, Housing Director.

CCSWT, Inc. also received $23,369.59 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide credit counseling and credit repair for those families that are experiencing credit issues. Training is offered in the areas of: Mortgage Delinquency and Default, Homebuyer Education, Home Improvement and Rehabilitation, Money/Debt Management, Pre-Purchase and Post Purchase, and Foreclosure Prevention. If homeowners are facing problems in making your mortgage payments, CCSWT can assist you. These programs are availabe in Dimmit, Edwards, Real, Kinney, Uvalde, Maverick, Val Verde and Zavala counties.

"Our goal is to continue to bring more programs to our families within our community and improve housing conditions within our service area," states Cynthia Rodriguez, Housing Director and Grant Wirter.

For more information, please contact Cynthia Rodriguez, Housing Director at Community Countil of Southwest Texas, Inc., 713 E Main, Uvalde, Texas 78801 or call (830) 278-6268 ext. 3006.JP’s Report November Stats to Commissioners Court at Last Meeting of the YearAs the Dimmit County Commissioners Court wrapped up the year at their regular meeting on December 22, they heard reports from the Justices of the Peace for the month of November.

Justice of the Peace Sonia G. Mendoza reported 38 traffic and 175 non-traffic misdemeanors were filed in her court. 11 traffic and 32 non-traffic cases were fined, and 1 traffic and 2 non-traffic cases were dismissed. There were five "failure to attend school" cases filed and one case referred to juvenile court for delinquent conduct. One Class A/B misdemeanor complaint was filed, and four felony complaints were accepted. Mendoza conducted two inquests and gave 13 magistration warnings. She collected $10,361.66 for the month, of which the county retained $6,512.71.

Justice of the Peace Alberto Esquivel reported that 14 traffic and 28 non-traffic misdemeanor cases were filed. 5 traffic and 11 non-traffic cases were fined, 3 traffic and 1 non-traffic case were dismissed. JP Esquivel held one detention hearing, conducted one inquest and gave 8 magistration warnings. Esquivel collected $3,630.50, of which the county retained $2,525.04.

Justice of the Peace Catarino Ruiz, Jr. reported 34 traffic and 35 non-traffic cases were filed. 19 traffic and 6 non-traffic cases received fines. One "failure to attend school" case was filed, five "parent contributing to nonattendance" cases were filed, one felony complaint was accepted, and 18 magistration warnings were given. Ruiz collected $6,325.43 of which the county retained $4,172.30.

Justice of the Peace Alfredo Martinez reported 64 traffic and 28 non-traffic misdemeanor caes were filed. 20 traffic and 12 non-traffic cases were fined. Two "failure to attend school" cases were filed and 6 magistration warnings were given. Martinez collected $7,609.43 for the month, of which the county retained $5,019.54.