By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
Sonia Perez
Triumph, adversity, murder.
Considering newspaper sales, website hits and readership feedback, the aforementioned are what topped the San Benito News list of the top 10 stories of 2011.
As much is evident when recalling the profound success of local sports programs, the political intrigue that surrounded a hot election season, existing animosity between city officials and emergency personnel, relevant anniversaries and the shocking homicide of a local educator that later revealed what authorities believe was a sordid plot allegedly masterminded by the victim’s spouse.
Lady 'Hounds
Diving in at number 10, a February freeze brought to the area a 29 degree low that tied an 1883 and a 1912 record for the Harlingen, San Benito and Brownsville area, according to meteorologists from the National Weather Service in Brownsville. But what it also brought were power lines, local plant life and even streets frozen under a thin sheath of ice.
Hitting number 9 was the inspiring story of 19-year-old Janet Mata of San Benito, who despite fighting a terminal illness that doctors say will claim her life in two short years continues to remain optimistic of her chances. Coming to the girl’s aid once her story was featured in the News and on Action 4 News were several citizens of San Benito, South Padre Island and Brownsville, some of whom have donated money toward a puppy fund for the young woman, redecorated her room and even granted Janet her dream of authoring a book.
Mayor Joe H. Hernandez
Moving along, ranked at number 8 on the list is the controversy that surrounded a war of words that escalated between San Benito Fire Marshal Henry Lopez and his supervisor, Assistant City Manager Arturo Rodriguez. The two were at odds with each other in exchanges that included Lopez charging that citizens were put in danger due to understaffing within the fire department. Rodriguez disagreed and, during his rebuttal, said Lopez himself was reprimanded for not fitting into his bunker gear and – according to the assistant city manager – was therefore not able to assist firefighters during several calls. The matter eventually reached its boiling point when Lopez was prohibited from speaking to the media and Martha McClain of public relations was tasked with as much.
Preceding the aforesaid controversy was the Aug. 1 tire fire on Barlow Road between La Paloma and San Benito, which on this list hits number 7. Firefighters from several municipalities responded as a plume of black smoke literally blotted out the sky and obscured the visibility of motorists. The smoke was so thick that it could be seen from nearly every vantage point in Cameron County. The matter resulted in the property owner being sued by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott for allegedly operating an unauthorized waste storage site, where over 20,000 tires burned and cost San Benito and the county in excess of $10,000 to extinguish, not to mention sparked the debate between Lopez and Rodriguez.
Then there were the September reassignments of San Benito police and fire chiefs George Gomez and Severo Ochoa, respectively. Ochoa now serves as operations chief (OC) while Gomez serves as captain of the police department. The restructuring of the fire and police departments led to the reassignments, Rodriguez said. The moves were to help streamline operations and also saw the promotions of Lieutenant Martin Morales to assume the position of OC for the PD, but not before supporters of Gomez lashed out. Additionally, Place 4 Commissioner Celeste Z. Sanchez was displeased with the manner in which the announcement of Gomez’s reassignment was made and said she’d hold City Manager Manuel Lara accountable, landing this at number 6.
Want to know what the top five stories are? Pick up a copy of the Jan. 1 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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