𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗨𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦~𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟬

 submitted by Rene Torres

𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘'𝗦 𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗚𝗘~𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗬 𝟰, 𝟭𝟵𝟮𝟴!

 submitted by Rene Torres

𝘽𝙍𝙊𝙒𝙉𝙎𝙑𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙀'𝙎 𝙁𝘼𝙈𝙊𝙐𝙎 𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙍𝙍𝙊𝙎 𝙊𝙁 𝙔𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙔𝙀𝘼𝙍~~𝘾𝘼𝙉𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙁𝙇𝘼𝙎, 𝙅𝙊𝙃𝙉𝙉𝙔 𝘾𝘼𝙑𝘼𝙕𝙊𝙎, 𝙋𝘼𝙐𝙇 𝙎𝙋𝙍𝙄𝙉𝙂𝙈𝘼𝙉 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙅𝙐𝘼𝙉 𝙕𝘼𝙍𝘼𝙏𝙀!!

 submitted by Rene Torres

𝗪𝗘 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗢 𝗔𝗛𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗔'𝗦 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜-𝗕𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗧

 

From the editor:  Below is a rant from former Mayor Pat Ahumada (He now prefers "Patricio").

Ahumada basically regurgitates the QAnon, Newsmax, Fox News talking points.

While not disagreeing with every point Ahumada makes, we'll try to limit ourselves to facts, not the propaganda spewed by Rupert Murdoch et al, who, after all, as the principal at Fox News, settled in 2023 for $787.5M for a batch of lies told.

Hilariously, Ahumada thinks it in the best interest of our country that Donald Trump be elected as President in 2024. 

Patricio, seventeen, yes, SEVENTEEN who served in the Trump administration have come forward to declare Trump incompetent, unqualified to serve as President.  Do you think these men and women are liars, Patricio, or that you know better?

Chief of Staff John Kelly, Defense Secretary James Mattis, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, National Security Advisers John Bolton and H.R. McMaster, Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert, Special Assistant Cliff Sims, Communications Directors Omarosa Manigault Newman and Anthony Scaramucci, National Economics Director Gary Cohn, White House Counsel Ty Cobb and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have all stated that Trump did not understand the duties and responsibilities of the Office of President.

All of the above, who actually SERVED in the Trump administration, have said Trump was incompetent, unqualified for the office and yet, you, Patricio, know better?

Just a few more facts for Patricio. . . .

While Trump promised to "eliminate the national debt in two years" as president, he actually added more debt in one term than any president in history~$8Trillion!

Trump also promised to "drain the swamp," but ended up filling the swamp with all sorts of criminal types, swamp rats he then pardoned despite their misdeeds; Michael Ashley, bank fraud, Stephen Bannon, wire fraud, money laundering, Elliot Broidy, lobbyist, Randall Cunningham, bribery, Paul Erickson, wire fraud, money laundering, Rick Renzi, extortion, bribery, insurance fraud, money laundering, racketeering and of course, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort and Charles Kushner and many others.

Anyway, it would take all day to factually refute the many false claims Ahumada makes, but, please remember, he's merely repeating the pablum he's been fed by Fox News.

Like so many in our country, Patricio Ahumada has been totally duped, tricked and fooled by the purveyors of falsehood in the sick, right-wing media.

Patricio Ahumada

The radical Marxist, socialist and Communist who has taken over our Democrat Party starting with Biden and Obama cannot stand on the merits of their polices, as they have been exposed and proven to be to destroy America.

They and the main stream media blow smoke to avoid the fact that Biden is the most corrupt President treasonous President who could care less about our America, our constitution and our bill of rights.

Biden and Obama are racist and evil who hates America. It is because of them their is so much chaos and instability in our country and abroad.

It is because of them and their appeasement policies that has embolen our enemies, resulting in three wars today and potentially World War III.

Their policies and actions has destroyed our economy, destroyed our national security with an open border allowing 10 million illegals to invade our country in 3 years.

Because of these disastrous policies designed to do away with our democracy to maintain power, approximately 300 youths die daily due to fentanyl, many children are raped and sex trafficked, many gang members and terrorist are allowed by Biden to come in and some have killed or committed crimes in our cities and our tax dollars are used to support the illegals instead of helping our veterans and our poor.

This Biden invasion is to destroy America and if you support these radicals, you are part of the problem.

This is not about Party, it is about our country and our freedoms. Biden and the complicit media has done so much damage, but it is you and me that must push back by putting God, Country and family values before Party.

I am a proud Democrat with conservative principals and will not support an Evil President or any one who does not stand for our country and freedom.

My consolation is that Biden and Obama have been exposed for who they truly are, even though some who conveniently ignore the facts and the truth by denying, lying and attacking those who stand with Trump against the Swamp, the complicit media and corruption.

Some go willingly like sheep with the Evil Biden represents against God, Country and Family, which says a lot about them when we should know and stand up for truth and righteousness.

However, you are entitled to believe and follow the devil himself, you can go along with the gender neutral indoctrination, the racist policies and actions by Biden, the two tier system of law, the censorship and persecution of those who oppose Biden.

You are entitled, but your KARMA will come, it always does. I stand with God, Country and Family and will push back on those who stand with Biden to destroy our country.

I spit on the black national anthem, we have one anthem and that is it. I spit on the gender free policies and indoctrination.

I love my gay friends and do not judge and ask that they respect that God defined what a man and a woman is.

We do not need Biden and Obama to tell us we must accept men as women competing in women’s sports. I stand with our military and law enforcement and they should not be used to be weaponized for political reasons costing lives like in Afghanistan for politics.

Biden’s chaotic and disastrous withdrawal, the Ukraine war, the Iran/Hamass cowardly and Barberis attacks are owned by Biden and Obama and the possibility of Taiwan being attacked by Ciña is their doing. We are on the verge of WW III.

Please put country first when you vote next November. Otherwise we will not have a country

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𝙈𝙔 𝙀𝙉𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙒𝙄𝙏𝙃 𝘿𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙍𝙊𝙐𝙎 "𝙀𝙎𝘾𝘼𝙋𝙀𝙀𝙎 𝙁𝙍𝙊𝙈 𝙋𝙍𝙄𝙎𝙊𝙉𝙎 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏𝘼𝙇 𝙄𝙉𝙎𝙏𝙄𝙏𝙐𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎" 𝙄𝙉 𝙍𝘼𝙄𝙉𝙔 𝙈𝘼𝙏𝘼𝙈𝙊𝙍𝙊𝙎

My son dropped me off at the old bridge for my rainy walk through Matamoros Wednesday.  

My first goal was to locate Papagayos, my old lunch venue from the 60's and it was there, as it's always been, along the railroad track.

I did encounter of group of so-called asylum seekers huddled up near the bridge.  An older man at the front of the line informed me they were "todos de Nicaragua."

The group did not look like escapees from prisons and mental institutions our mentally-challenged former president has described, but more like the family units who accompanied Benjamin Rich (bald and bankrupt) on that historic trek through the Darien Gap.  

When I shouted "bienvenidos!" to the entire group, I got an animated response, but knew very well that they faced many future complications in their quest for a new, better life.
 

𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦~𝟬𝟭/𝟮𝟯/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰

 With my phone battery nearly run down, I thought I could take a few pics downtown before totally losing power:

The always dapper Juan Kenigstein of El Conquistador Fabric Shop

Hotel El Jardin

Samano Building

UANL Tigres Super Fan

𝙏𝙍𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙒𝙄𝙉𝘿𝙎 𝙈𝙊𝙏𝙀𝙇 𝙎𝙄𝙂𝙉 𝙎𝙐𝘾𝘾𝙐𝙈𝘽𝙎 𝙏𝙊 𝙃𝘼𝙍𝙎𝙃 𝙒𝙄𝙉𝘿𝙎

Remnants of the same trade winds that have driven ships across the ocean for hundreds of years have done a number on the sign advertising the Tradewinds Motel on Central Boulevard, battering it to smithereens.

The establishment, proudly in business since 1955, offers a short term "Bano y Siesta" stay for "$19.95 and up," likely a euphemism for a discreet, midday sexual liaison.  

Actually, Central Boulevard was dotted with several inexpensive motels when I first came to town in 1966, typically frequented by shoppers from Mexico.

If there was a flagship business for Central back then, it was FedMart, selling groceries and general merchandise roughly where H.E.B. is located today.

An elderly Anglo lady ran a smaller version of the Toddle Inn back then, turning it over to her primary assistant, Alex Torres, when she got sick in old age.

Coffee back then set you back a dime including free refills.

𝙎𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧? 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙄 𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙓𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙡.

By Rene Torres

It all started probably in 1892, when Jesse O. Wheeler, then owner of the Brownsville Herald, wrote in one of his first editorials about the fact that they were too many “muchachos” (a term he used to describe Mexican kids) begging in the streets of Brownsville.

The column headed “Little Locals,” suggested the following: “If some of these muchachos who go around the streets begging would get a box of blacking and a brush, they would earn more by blacking shoes than they can by begging. A few picayunes would set a boy up in the business, and could easily be gotten by subscription. A town the size of Brownville without a boot black in the streets is without a parallel in the United States.”

Wheeler's words did not go unnoticed—soon after, in that same year and just in time for Christmas, Alex Parkerson, made history by opening the first “Shine Parlor” to serve Brownsville’s seven thousands souls. Still later the “local kids” caught the idea, and thus “Shine, Mister?” was born.

Moving forward…

As Brownsville progressed and its population grew—more and more kids were seen in the streets reminding you that your shoes looked shabby.

But starting in the business was not an easy proposition; there was the cost of buying your own liquid, brush, grease and rags.

And if you think that rags were plentiful, think again. A rag was a precious commodity back then—and people held on to them. At one point, the Brownsville Herald was adverting that it would pay 5c for a piece of rag.

Shining shoes was not a seasonal trait, as many boys, who liked the sound of jingle in their in their pockets, would work after school to make extra money.

But the best time of the year for the business, according Reynaldo Barrientos and Alonzo Gaznares, two young enterprising Brownsville young men, was during the Christmas season.

In the late 1940s, Herald staff writer, Joe Oliveira interviewed Rey and Alonzo and what follows is their story:

It was two days before Christmas and the boys were up early to beat the competition, but the day started, unfortunately with a slow morning. So they took a break and stood in front of a downtown display window and said:

“Look Alonzo, see that super duper Buck Rogers flare gun. That’s what I hope to get for Christmas.”

“Yes, replied Alonzo, “it sure is beautiful, Reynaldo, but take a look at that cowboy outfit.” 

Later both admitted that a new shoeshine box would be a good gift too.

Alonzo 11, and Reynaldo 12, went on patrolling the streets shining shoes and running errands for whatever they could earn. In fact, Alonso had a second job cleaning a downtown studio.

“I’ve had a slow morning, earning only 25c” said Reynaldo. “But maybe I’ll make enough this afternoon to buy a gift for my parents. As they spoke their last words to the roving reporter, they turned around and walked away giving the famous old cry, “Shine mister? Five cents.”

Thanks to the police department, various department stores and local civic organizations, Pedro and Alonzo, along with 1,500 underprivileged children enjoyed a “Merry Christmas,” as all received toys, candy, fruits and other gifts.

No, the government did not help the “Shine Boys” of then to set up their own business. Nobody was waiting around for a handout—it was an era when everyone had to work to make a living.

It was also a period when boys and girls created their own after-school programs. They were so active and since fewer calories were around to be consumed, most had a well-defined ribcage. If you know what I mean.

It is not known whether Pedro and Alonzo made enough money to buy their parents a gift or whether Santa got them the flare gun or cowboy suit, but you can rest assure that the Monday after Christmas, both boys were on the streets again, hustling to make an honest nickel.

Photo: unnamed Brownsville kids…ca. early 1900s

Guys, Gals. . . Buy a Chrysler from Raymondville Dodge for $2478!!!!. . . . submitted by Rene Torres

 

𝙂𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙉𝙂𝙎 𝘼𝙍𝙀 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙋𝙀𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝘼𝙏 𝙏𝙀𝙓𝘼𝙎 𝙎𝙊𝙐𝙏𝙃𝙈𝙊𝙎𝙏 𝘾𝙊𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙂𝙀!

 

Former TSC Director Thomas Tynan

Last fall this blog reported on the trials and tribulations of vocational training at Texas Southmost College under the slipshod direction of Thomas Tynan, Director of Construction and Manufacturing Education.

Tynan is long gone, now free to pursue his primary hobby of monitoring undocumented immigrants on the border. 

To replace Tynan, TSC President Jesus Rodriguez ventured a mere 26.2 miles to poach Harlingen's TSTC for one Richard Mesquias, someone whose first move was to hire a welding instructor, also from TSTC, who passed the welding exam with great difficulty.

Richard Mesquias, VP of Workforce Training

To back up Mesquias in TSC's workforce training program, President Rodriguez snagged TSTC's Amanda Posada, a young lady with a background in hotel management.

So, how's TSC's new leadership duo performing?

Let's just say: "Great things are NOT happening at TSC!" 

Comparing TSC's advertised courses posted September 12, 2023 with the course list released just yesterday, January 10, 2024, shows a severe gutting of vocational training programs:

l

So, what happened to courses in laser, orbital, TIG and pipe welding?  

What about pipefitting so necessary for employment at the Port of Brownsville or in construction of the proposed new LNG plant?

Is the $1,000,000 of recently purchased equipment at TSC simply lying idle? 

What about reports that several instructors have resigned over dissatisfaction with the inexperienced leadership? 

This will be an ongoing story as information becomes available.

𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗣'𝗦 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗨𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗣 𝗔𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗬 𝗨𝗡𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗

Trump Attorney D. John Sauer

If you're still supporting Donald John Trump for president in 2024, I implore you to pay close attention to what Trump's attorney D. John Sauer is claiming during the appeals hearing in the District of Columbia.

Sauer, using legal arguments carefully relecting Trump's own statements, is claiming that Trump as President could not be held criminally liable for any actions unless first impeached and convicted by the U.S. Senate.

“You're saying a president could sell pardons, could sell military secrets, could order SEAL Team Six to assassinate a political rival,” Judge Florence Y. Pan said to Sauer. 

Sauer conceded that selling military secrets “strikes me as something that might not be held to be an official act,” but allowed that political assassinations undertaken by Trump as president could not be prosecuted without the requisite impeachment and conviction.

Seal Team 6

So, once elected as President, according to this scenario, Trump could order assassinations of Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton without paying any legal penalty.

Certainly, such actions would make any possible political opponent, Democrat, Republican or independent think twice about speaking up to Fuhrer Trump.

Trump fans, if you think this is bull shit, follow the trial.

𝗙𝗜𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗔~𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗰𝗼, 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟬

 submitted by Rene Torres

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗬 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔!!!!!

 

𝗥𝗜𝗢 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗘 𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗬 𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝟭𝟵𝟮𝟬'𝗦~𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗩𝗦 𝗦𝗔𝗡 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗢

 

By Rene Torres

By the 1920s many of the towns in the Lower Rio Grande Valley provided baseball teams that participated in organized semipro leagues.

The Brownsville team played on a dusty diamond on the outskirts of town.

To the local fans, it was a chicken wire stadium whose playing boundaries were marked off with ropes looped between posts. 

Fans had a choice, either sitting in the stands, standing along the first and third base lines, or watching from their cars, which they could park side by side along the outfield boundary line. The games were popular and usually drew healthy crowds.

The 1925 season was not any different than previous years. The teams were well matched, each with their own local talent, when things suddenly changed.

Archrival San Benito had hired a former big-league pitcher who would often strike out opposing batters—being able to pitch every Sunday, placed his team in an unbeatable situation.

The Brownsville team had suffered several embarrassing losses at the hands of the San Benito Saints. Brownsville fans demanded that the mayor and city commission come up with a solution to equalize matters. This was serious enough that the mayor formed a committee to look for a new coach.

The baseball committee soon approached Fred W. Rusteberg. Fred, they said, “You are the man that can produce a winning team”. 

Fred Rusteberg

Fred took the challenge and soon let it be known around the state that he was looking for new talent. His efforts resulted in recruiting several former professional and major college players.

One of those recruits was a tall cocky eighteen-year-old from Italy, Texas.

The guest introduced himself to Fred as Art Shires. “What can you do?” Fred asked. “I’m a home run hitter” replied the guest and “I’ll play for expenses until you figure I’m worth a salary”. Without hesitation and without knowing it, Fred acquires his future star.

Hearing about the new home run hitter on the roster, it was standing room only for a Sunday single game against the Saints. With the magic sounds of the local Santa Cecilia Band arousing the crowd, spectators filled the base lines and cars lined the perimeter of the outfield. “Play Ball batter up” screamed the umpire, as the home team took the field with Shires at first base.

After striking out the first two batters as usual, the San Benito pitcher walked the third, and Art Shires, the new cleanup hitter, was up to bat. The crowd murmured in anticipation of what this new player might do.

On the first pitch, Shires took a disfiguring swing—hitting the ball high over the cars in the outfield. The crowd roared its approval, and a hat was passed around collecting contributions for the feat. It was a game where a strike out and a home run brought equal cheer.

The game went into extra innings—in the 10th Shires came to bat again. He was given a standing ovation as he came to the plate. With two strikes on him, Art was nervous at the plate.

Sensing a quick strikeout, the pitcher decided to throw a sucker pitch to humiliate his adversary. As the “blooper” barely reached the plate, Shires took one step forward and hit it out of the ballpark for the winning run.

As he crossed home plate he was mobbed by the fans and later presented with a bushel of money dumped into a basket by the hat full. “Great game!” said the manager to his new star. “By the way, what kind of salary were you expecting?” “A bushel or two a game,” replied Shires with a grin.

Since there was no contract to keep him in Brownsville—Art “The Great” Shires disappeared, only to be seen again on the roster of the 1928 Chicago White Sox.

His major league debut was as successful as his debut in Brownsville. He stroked four hits including a triple in his first major league game. He played for 4 years in the major leagues and finished with a .291 lifetime batting average. Art ended his career with the Boston Braves in 1932.

The Brownsville win over San Benito was a story book victory. But one game doesn’t make a season. The San Benito Saints demonstrated to be one

of the strongest teams in the Rio Grande Valley between 1924 and 1927.

The Saints also participated in the Rio Grande Valley League of 1931—a class “D” professional league that included the McAllen Palms, La Feria Nighthawks, Harlingen Ladds, and Corpus Christi Seahawks.

I remind baseball fans that America’s game is controlled by outs. Out of your seat and you miss out—three strikes and your out—make no outs and time is endless.

See you at the park!

Editor’s Note: Excerpts from this story were taken from a letter written by Fred W. Rusteberg to his children.

Photo: Fred W. Rusteberg—The new coach in town

Photo: Art Shires

𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟵𝟭𝟵~𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗔 𝗞𝗢𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗞𝗜s

 

submitted by Rene Torres