The Valley Times - January 03, 2018

VOL. I, NO. 23

Early Voting Begins For Dist. 1 Special Election Early voting for the City of McAllen’s special election starts today and runs through Tuesday, January 16. Election day will be Saturday, January 20, 2018.

Early voting by personal appearance will be held at the following three locations: • Fireman’s Pump House - 201 North 1st Street • Palm View Community Center - 3401 Jordan Avenue • Lark Community Center 2601 Lark Avenue Early voting hours are as follows: Wednesday, January 3: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday, January 4: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday, January 5: 8:00 AM 6:00 PM Monday, January 8: 8:00 AM 6:00 PM Tuesday, January 9: 8:00 AM 6:00 PM Wednesday, January 10: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday, January 11: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday, January 12: 8:00 AM 6:00 PM Saturday, January 13: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday, January 15: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday, January 16: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Election Day will take place Saturday, January 20 from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. at one polling location, at Gonzalez Elementary, located at 201 Martin Ave. The City of McAllen purchased new electronic voting machines that will be used for this election during both Early Voting and Election Day. Paper ballots will not be used for this election.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2018

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Edinburg Passes Quarter-Billion Dollar Construction Mark

By David A. Díaz Total construction activities in Edinburg from January through October 2017, including more than $22.5 million for the month of October, has passed the quarter-billion dollar level,, compared with $188.7 million during the first 10 months of 2016, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation has announced.

During October 2017, new construction of multi-family residences and new construction of new homes led the way, with the issuance of building permits for investments valued at almost $14.9

million and more than $5.8 million, respectively.

Those year-to-date and monthly totals do not include the value of any building-related activities at The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley and the UTRGV School of Medicine in Edinburg because the state government, not the city, oversees all construction at the Edinburg campus.

The building permits do not include the value of the land for the homes and buildings.

In general, a building permit is legal permission given by the City of Edinburg, through the Code Enforcement Department, to erect, construct, renovate,

maintain, or conduct any other specified activity on any building or structure, or on any installations or facilities therein.

The term “building permit” includes but is not limited to building permits, electrical permits, mechanical permits, and plumbing permits.

For October 2017, total construction activities in Edinburg was $22,560,876, according to the city’s Code Enforcement Department.

The top construction projects in Edinburg for October 2017, not including the value of the land, are: $12,500,000 – Edinburg Housing Authority Liberty Village, LTD, 4710 Continue -- PG 8

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Wednesday, January 3, 2018

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Wisconsin’s Supreme Court can soon right a flagrant wrong stemming from events set in motion in 2014 at Milwaukee’s Marquette University by Cheryl Abbate. Although just a graduate student, she already had a precocious aptitude for academic nastiness.

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OPINION

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When Judicial Deference Becomes Dereliction Of Duty On Oct. 28, in an undergraduate course she was teaching on ethics, when the subject of same-sex marriage arose there was no debate because, a student said, Abbate insisted that there could be no defensible opposition to this. (Marquette is a Jesuit school.) After class, the student told her that he opposed samesex marriage and her discouraging of debate about it. She replied (he recorded their interaction) that “there are some opinions that are not appropriate that are harmful ... do you know whether anyone in the class is homosexual? ... in this class homophobic comments ... will not be tolerated.” The student’s appeals to Abbate’s superiors were unavailing (the chairman of her philosophy department referred to the student as an “insulin [sic] little twerp”) so he gave John C. McAdams his recording of Abbate rebuffing him.

McAdams, a tenured professor then in his 41st year at Marquette and a conservative who blogs about the school’s news, emailed Abbate seeking her version of the episode. Without responding to him, she immediately forwarded his email to some professors. She has called McAdams “the ringleader” of “extreme white [sic] wing, hateful people,” a “moron,” “a flaming bigot, sexist and homophobic idiot” and a “creepy homophobic person with bad argumentation skills.” This aspiring philosopher’s argumentation skills can be inferred from her reliance on epithets.

Before McAdams had written a syllable, she claimed for herself the coveted status of victim, branding as “harassment” his request for her side of the story. Striking a pose of bravery, she accused him of trying “to scare me into silence.” When, on Nov. 9, McAdams blogged, his post took no position on same-sex marriage but said this should be a debatable issue. The next day, Abbate drafted a letter asking that McAdams be disciplined. He was.

After this matter earned national media attention, she received some critical emails, some of them vile, and Marquette rightly branded them “hate mail.” However, for these, and for the

unspecified “harm” that they supposedly caused Abbate, McAdams was held to be somehow blameworthy.

Marquette, however, offered no evidence that he had anything to do with the emails. After a committee drawn from the university’s monochrome culture recommended suspending McAdams without pay for two semesters, Marquette’s president insisted that McAdams also express in writing “deep regret” and confess that his blog post was “reckless and incompatible” with Marquette’s mission and values. McAdams refused and has been unemployed ever since.

Being a private institution, Marquette had a right to be as hostile as it obviously is to the First Amendment -- except for this: Its contract with tenured faculty says no one shall be disciplined for exercising “legitimate personal or academic freedoms of thought, doctrine, discourse, association, advocacy, or action” and that the threat of dismissal shall not be used to “restrain” constitutional rights.

A circuit court, ignoring Marquette’s ignoring of a Wisconsin contract, refused to adjudicate this dispute. Deferring to Marquette, the court essentially held that a professor’s academic freedom exists only until some other professors, and university administrators, say it does not. So, the deferential court allowed Marquette an unconstrained right to settle a contract dispute in which it was an interested party.

Because there is almost no Wisconsin case law concerning academic free-

dom that could have guided the circuit court, McAdams is asking the state supreme court to bypass the appeals court and perform its function as the state’s “law-developing court.” He is also asking the court to be cognizant of the cultural context: Nationwide, colleges and universities “are under pressure” -- all of it from within the institutions -- “to enact or implement speech codes or otherwise restrict speech in various ways.”

This episode, now in its fourth year, began because McAdams tried to assist a student who suffered unprofessional behavior by a bullying instructor. Abbate has moved on. Now at the University of Colorado, she is still a (perhaps career) graduate student, writing a doctoral dissertation on the importance of the rights of ... animals.

The wreckage she left in her wake illustrates how rights are imperiled when judicial deference becomes dereliction of judicial duty. Prospective Marquette students, and Marquette alumni, must decide whether this school, awash with the current academic hysteria and corruption, merits their confidence and support. Wisconsin’s Supreme Court must lay down the law that can stop some of the rot that this case illustrates.

George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. (c) 2017, Washington Post Writers Group. George F. Will writes a twice-weekly column on politics and domestic and foreign affairs. He began his column with The Post in 1974, and he received the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1977.

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Texans Get Help Accessing Mental Health Insurance Benefits Under a little known law that took effect in September 2017, insurance companies may not cover mental health and substance abuse care differently than they cover medical benefits and offer more help for consumers who believe their insurance is wrongly denying them coverage.

Rep. Four Price, R-Amarillo, chairman of the House Public Health Committee, and author of House Bill 10, said during the last legislative session that the bill gives the Texas Department of Insurance more power to enforce how health insurance plans offer mental health and substance abuse benefits. He said that insurance companies are offering mental health and substance abuse benefits but that Texans currently have nowhere to turn to in the state when problems arise.

“Folks are paying for coverage; they’re just not able to access adequate treatment,” Price said.

Under the new law, insurance companies offering mental health and substance abuse care benefits would not be allowed to make such coverage different than how medical benefits are covered. Price said the bill was not meant to expand insurance coverage for mental health services. In the past, patients who wanted more care or counseling services either had to seek individual approval or pay out of

Texans will have an easier time accessing mental health benefits thanks to a law passed during last year’s legislative session.

pocket.

The bill came as both chambers aim to overhaul how Texas gives access to services and cares for mental health patients. The 2010 Affordable Care Act classified mental health and addiction services among the essential health benefits that must be covered by small and individual plans, without annual or lifetime caps on benefits. The law

built upon 2008 federal legislation that called for large group plans to offer mental health benefits on par with other medical coverage.

Days before the legislative session started in January 2017, the Select Committee on Mental Health released its findings from eight hearings in a report saying that if Texas lawmakers didn’t take bolder steps to fix the

The Top 10 Stats of 2017

By ROBERT J. SAMUELSON

WASHINGTON -- Let us now praise Ben Beach, a Washington writer and longtime friend. Like me, Ben is a confirmed statistics buff. Unlike me, he’s

disciplined. All through the year, he collects interesting stats with the intent of naming the 10 best at year’s end. So I happily outsource my last column of 2017 to Ben’s list, which is in no particular order. It’s fantastic.

1. Motorists spend an average of 17 hours a year searching for parking spots. Highest: 107 in New York City.

2. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture reported that, for only the second time in the past century, the number of farmers under age 35 is increasing. Sixty-nine percent of them had college degrees -a much higher rate than the general population.

3. The number of girls playing on

boys’ high school football teams doubled in the past decade to more than 2,000, and leagues for females are expanding.

4. The World Economic Forum says all the plastic trash floating in the ocean will outweigh all the fish by 2050.

5. According to Pew Research Center, 58 percent of Republicans and conservative independents believe colleges are having a negative impact on the country.

6. Since peaking more than a decade ago at 716,268, sales of new motorcycles have plummeted to 371,403.

7. Americans make up 4.4 percent of the world’s population -- and own 42

state’s mental health system, they do so “at our own peril.”

Some of the recommendations included giving the Texas Department of Insurance more power to investigate behavioral health plans and enacting a state mental health parity law. The agency received a dozen complaints of alleged mental health parity violations in the past year, and only one was confirmed.

The new law also requires the Department of Insurance to create an ombudsman for behavioral health to help uninsured and insured consumers access mental health services. The ombudsman would also be responsible for tracking and reporting on how insurance companies are stacking up with providing mental health benefits.

Another provision of the legislation would be for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to create a Mental Health Condition and Substance Use Disorder Parity workgroup under its Office of Mental Health Coordination. The workgroup would be required to recommend how Texas can improve compliance with state and federal statutes on mental health benefits and make it easier for patients to file complaints.

Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, was the author of Senate Bill 860, which was identical to HB 10. percent of the guns.

8. Ninety-one percent of Trump’s nominees to federal courts are white, and 81 percent are male, according to an AP analysis.

9. The planet will produce only 247 million hectoliters of wine this year.

That’s the lowest production level in more than 50 years, and down 8 percent from last year. Extreme weather in the three nations that produce the most wine is to blame.

10. In 1975 there were three metro areas with at least 10 million people: Tokyo, New York City and Mexico City.

Now there are 31.

Thanks, Ben, for all the hard work.

And to everyone else: Best for 2018.

Robert J. Samuelson writes a weekly column on economics. (c) 2017, The Washington Post Writers Group.

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Students Join Computer Science, Engineering Camp

PSJA high school students took part in the first district wide Mock Trial Clinic at PSJA high schools.

Pictured are, from left, 9th grade student Jose Flores and 11th grade student Marco Perez, both from Mission High School.

Migrant students from several Mission CISD schools took part in a Computer Science & Engineering Camp hosted at Veterans Memorial High School on December 15, 2017.

The MCISD Migrant Department coordinated with College First to offer the camp available to high school migrant students from throughout the district. Students listened to a presentation on 21st century

skills and computer science fundamentals.

In the afternoon, students visited several stations in which they had the opportunity to explore ozobots, drones, spider robots, robotic arms, and virtual reality goggles.

This program empowered students for college and career success. All the participants received a t-shirt with the slogan “These are the skills you need to Succeed.”

PSJA ISD Hosts First District Wide High School Mock Trial Clinic

More than 70 high school students in Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA) gained insightful knowledge about courtroom legal procedures and received firsthand advice from judges and attorneys at the first district wide Mock Trial Clinic held at PSJA Early College High School in December.

Motivated by the need to prepare students for the upcoming Regional Mock Trial Preliminary Competition in January, PSJA ISD hosted the clinic to offer them the opportunity to learn from attorney advisors and speakers. Session topics included: opening/closing statements; direct cross-examinations, objections, witnesses and courtroom simulation and procedures.

“Our goal with this clinic was to revamp the PSJA Mock Trial program by giving students an opportunity to come and learn the process of a trial from beginning to end in preparation for the competition,” said PSJA School Board Vice-President Jesse Zambrano who led the efforts in hosting the clinic.

Student teams from PSJA ECHS, PSJA North ECHS, PSJA Memorial ECHS, PSJA Southwest ECHS and Buell Central participated in the event and networked with numerous professionals in the legal field.

Speakers at the PSJA Mock Trial Clinic included: Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez; Honorable Luis Singleterry; Honorable Nereida Lopez-Singleterry; Honorable Renee Rodriguez-Betancourt; Honorable Marissa Carranza Hernandez; and attorneys Criselda Rincon-Flores and Leah Wise.

“I am very proud of what is happening

here at PSJA,” the District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez told students during his speech about courtroom etiquette. “I wish you all the best and hope you take advantage of this for the competition.”

While in the past PSJA ISD had a Mock Trial team at PSJA North Early College High School, this is the first year that all PSJA ISD high schools participate.

Having learned from the clinic, students are already looking forward to competing.

“This clinic was very helpful,” said Alan Gonzalez, a PSJA North ECHS senior who’s been a Mock Trial member for the past three years. “We learned a lot of tips and great advice that we will definitely be using in the competition.”

After graduating in May with an Associate Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from South Texas College and obtaining his high school diploma, Gonzalez plans to earn his Bachelor’s Degree and then apply to law school. The aspiring attorney said he was grateful for the opportunities he has received as a student at PSJA ISD and feels ready for what the future may have in store for him.

“Thank you to PSJA ISD for offering this amazing clinic and offering Mock Trial for all high school students,” said Gonzalez. “My favorite part was hearing from judges and attorneys that actually practice law and know what we’re going to go through.”

All Rio Grande Valley high school Mock Trial teams, including PSJA’s, will be competing at the Regional Mock Trial Preliminary Competition that will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 at the Hidalgo County Courthouse.

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‘Soy De Tejas’ Exhibit Highlights Conjunto Music In South Texas

Esteban Jordan was one of the pioneers of Conjunto music. Born in Elsa, TX, he was often referred to as “El Parche” and the “Jimi Hendrix” of the accordion.

Throughout the month of January, the Museum of South Texas History’s “Soy de Tejas: Conjunto Music in the Rio Grande Valley” exhibit will tell the story of conjunto regional and feature instruments, records and record players, 8-track cassette tapes, and pictures of musicians and venues for display.

With help from the South Texas Conjunto Association, Hub City Tejano and Conjunto Museum and the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum, MOSTHistory is commemorating this unique genre popularized by Valley musicians.

In the 1930s, a unique music style known as conjunto regional emerged among Mexican-Texan farm workers many of whom were from the Rio Grande Valley. From German and Czech immigrants in Texas, the Tejano workers adopted the accordion and, with it, polka music. Combining that distinctive sound with their bajo sexto guitar produced the conjunto style, its songs reflecting the migrant workers’ experiences. Through live performances and record albums, conjunto music spread throughout the Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Echoes of conjunto are still heard today in Tejano music as well the organizations and bands that keep the genre alive in the Rio Grande Valley.

Visitors can view the exhibit Tuesdays to Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. between Dec. 28, 2017, and Feb. 1, 2018. This exhibit is

included in the regular museum admission fee: Adults $7; Seniors/Students/ Active Military $5; Children (4-12) $4; Children (0-3) Free; FRIENDS of MOSTHistory Free. To become a FRIEND of MOSTHistory, please visit mosthistory. org/donate-here or call the Development Department at 956-383-6911.

For more information about the event, please visit mosthistory.org/events or call the museum at 956-383-6911.

The Museum of South Texas History is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is located in downtown Edinburg at 200 N. Closner Blvd. on the Hidalgo County Courthouse square.

Hours of operation are from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday. Founded in 1967 as the Hidalgo County Historical Museum in the 1910 Hidalgo County Jail, the museum has grown over the decades through a series of expansions to occupy a full city block. In 2003 following the completion of a 22,500 square foot expansion, the museum was renamed the Museum of South Texas History to better reflect its regional scope. Today, the museum preserves and presents the borderland heritage of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico through its permanent collection and the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives and exhibits spanning prehistory through the 20th century. For more information about MOSTHistory, including becoming a FRIEND, visit MOSTHistory.org, like us on Facebook, follow on Twitter, find on Google+ or call (956) 3836911.

These are some of the materials displayed as part to the “Soy De Texas” exhibit.

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Edinburg Rotary Salutes ECISD Student Athletes The Edinburg Rotary recently recognized the top eight student athletes from the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District during its luncheon meeting at the Echo Hotel in Edinburg.

“It’s a great opportunity. We are happy that the Rotarians include us and recognize our student athletes along with their busy agendas,” ECISD Athletics Director Rogelio Garza said.

The student recognition is part of the Edinburg Rotary’s Student of the Month Program, which highlights two senior students from each high school.

“The Rotarians support everything we do and not just by going to the games.

They support us in our fundraisers and things that we need,” Garza said. “These are big community members and busi-

ness leaders that support our programs throughout the year.”

The Edinburg Rotary acknowledged the following students: • Edinburg High School senior Jesus Cantu • Edinburg High School senior Jayla Santa Maria • Edinburg North High School senior Tristen Pena • Edinburg North High School senior Ariana Beth Ramos • Economedes High School senior Ernesto Tijerina • Economedes High School senior Brittany Cantu • Vela High School senior Timothy Ellington • Vela High School senior Bianca Cortez

South Texas Health System this week announced the opening of its new free-standing emergency department in rural Hidalgo County. STHS ER Monte Cristo is the seventh ER in the South Texas Health System providing 24 hour emergency care every day of the year.

STHS ER Monte Cristo will be staffed with the same medical personnel and equipped with the same diagnostic technology available in South Texas Health System’s hospital-based emergency rooms.

“We are honored to serve the growing communities across Hidalgo County,” company officials said in a press release. STHS ER Monte Cristo is located right off of US 281/Interstate 69C, which gives motorists easy access to emergency care whether they are traveling north or south on the interstate.

The public is invited to join for a health fair, tour of the new facility and ribbon cutting involving STHS administrators and

local leaders.

The event will take place this Saturday, January 6, at STHS ER Monte Cristo, 3615 N. Interstate 69C, Edinburg. Tours for first responders and media start at 8:00 a.m. The open house and health fair will run from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. This will also include free health screenings, music, refreshments, and giveaways. The ribbon cutting will take place at 11:00 a.m.

The facility will officially open to the public for business on Tuesday, January 9th at 8 a.m.

South Texas Health System is a multi-hospital system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes five acute care hospitals with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health, rehabilitation, diabetes and weight-loss surgery. Treatment for behavioral and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s behavioral health center.

Ribbon Cutting, Health Fair Highlight STHS ER Monte Cristo Opening

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Organic Produce, Homemade Treats Available At Monthly Farmers Market IMAGINE

TYING YOUR SHOES

Suzanne El-Haj (at left) and Martha Garcia, co-presidents of the UTRGV Environmental Awareness Club, spearhead the monthly UTRGV Farmers Market, open to students and the public alike and held outside the Recreation Center on the Edinburg Campus. All produce sold at the farmer’s market is certified organic, and the focus is on promoting healthier eating habits. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

By Amanda A. Taylor Fresh produce, home baked goods and vegan and vegetarian items are available for a small cost to university students and the public every month, through the UTRGV Environmental Awareness Club’s Farmers Market.

Bunches of deep green kale and fresh rainbow Swiss chard were just a few of the organic items for sale at the November market, the last market for the fall semester. During school breaks, the farmers market, which has been in operation for about two years now, shuts down until students return for the following school semester.

“Our goal is to promote healthier lifestyles to students through food and by making these organic foods available at a cheaper cost than grocery stores,” said Suzanne El-Haj, co-president of the club.

Some of the produce, when available, is harvested from a garden belonging to the Agroecology and Resilient Food Systems department, School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus. Produce also is donated to the Environmental Awareness Club by neighboring farms across the Rio Grande Valley when they either have an excess of product or produce that would be harder to sell.

All produce sold at the farmer’s market is certified organic, having been harvested according to USDA standards.

El-Haj, a sophomore majoring in environmental science, said eating locally

produced food provides benefits to consumers and the economy alike, and has a reduced environmental footprint.

“Eating local is great because not as much gasoline is used for transporting vegetables from other places,” she said.

“It also builds stronger communities and local economies for all the farmers and agricultural professionals involved.”

Martha Garcia, co-president of Environmental Awareness Club, said the menu changes from month to month. For example, November’s market offerings included homemade vegan dishes, like plant-based chili recipes, camote de piloncillo (a Mexican sweet potato dessert), herbal teas, and vegan cheese and chips.

“We mix up the dishes with vegan and vegetarian chilis, sandwiches, and baked goods like brownies, cookies and pumpkin-flavored desserts,” said Garcia, a premed-track biology major.

Though not entirely vegetarian or vegan, Garcia tries to adhere to plant-based foods for their many health benefits and her concerns about the meat industry.

“Plant-based diets lower the risk of developing heart disease because you’re avoiding greasy foods and meats which can lead to cholesterol plaque buildup,” she said. “I feel like I’m doing my best to reduce my carbon footprint, and I think everyone should be trying to do the same.”

The next market is set for February, outside the Recreation Center on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus. For more information on the Environmental Awareness Club Farmers Market, email eac.org@gmail. com.

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Project To Restore Dignity, Identify Burial Plots At Abandoned Pauper Cemetery Dr. Sarah Rowe (kneeling, far left), UTRGV assistant professor of sociology and anthropology, is seen here with searchspecialists from the Institute for Canine Forensics Lynne Engelbert (kneeling, at right) and Adela Morris (back row, fourth from left), along with search dogs Jasper and Piper and UTRGV students in Rowe’s service learning class, all of whom are helping to identify burial sites at the abandoned Hidalgo County Pauper Cemetery.

The cemetery closed in the early 1990s, leaving many graves unmarked and many identification records lost or abandoned. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

By J. Edward Moreno On Schunior Street, just east of Expressway 281, lie the remains of an estimated 1,000 former residents of the Upper Rio Grande Valley.

This is the Hidalgo County Pauper Cemetery, which opened in 1913 and offered free plots for county residents unable to afford a proper burial for their loved ones, or for individuals sadly unidentified at the time of their death.

The cemetery closed in the early 1990s, leaving many graves unmarked and decades of records, including the names and locations of the deceased, lost or abandoned.

However, Dr. Sarah Rowe, an anthropology professor at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, was contacted by Hidalgo County last year to help recuperate that information.

“Ultimately, the goal is to make a publicly accessible database where someone can type in a name and see if that person is buried in the cemetery, a picture of the gravestone and where it is on the map,” Rowe said.

Daniel Flores, the building maintenance manager for Hidalgo County, said that when his department was tasked with the upkeep of the cemetery,

he began doing some research about the grounds.

“We discovered that there were a number of unmarked graves, and something had to be done to correct that,” he said.

“So I reached out to UTRGV for guidance.”

An archaeologist by training, Rowe’s work is focused on precolonial excavations in Ecuador.

And while she won’t be doing any excavating on this project, she did acquire the help of human remains detection dogs from California to help find the bodies of some of the deceased.

The K-9 unit was successful in finding 20 previously unidenti-

fied graves.

So far, 700 of approximately 1,000 graves have been identified. Once all the graves are accounted for, they will begin searching through records to find out who was buried in each plot.

Rowe said one of the most prevalent themes in this project is social justice, and how the Hidalgo County Pauper Cemetery chronicles historic inequality in the Rio Grande Valley.

“A lot of the really prominent threads of how we see the Valley today or how we talk about issues – we can see that reflected in the cemetery population,”

she said. “For example, most of the graves are in Spanish; very few have Anglo names. Also, we see a lot of children buried there. The Valley is medically underserved and has been for some time, so that might be why we see higher instances of infant or child mortality.”

Rowe is carrying out the search and research with the help of 17 students in her Service Learning course. The course is being offered again in the spring and is listed as a special topics in anthropology course called “Public Archaeology Fieldwork.”

Students often have to trav-

el to gain field experience, she said, so being able participate in a project locally is invaluable.

“This is a great opportunity for students since it is actually located here,” she said. “I’ve been very impressed at the impact that experiential learning can have on the students. I’ve seen them take ownership and responsibility of the project and the material in ways that I haven’t seen in a typical classroom.”

Some of the students involved in the pauper cemetery project have recorded their thoughts about it in a blog: https://hcpcp.wordpress.com/blog/

Early Voting Begins For Dist. 1 Special Election McAllen Chamber “Breakfast & Learn” Seminar To Cover New Tax Code From -- PG 1

The machines are different than the ones owned by Hidalgo County.

McAllen’s District One runs from East Nolana Loop north and then west across Tenth Street to Monte Cristo Road.

The three announced candidates are Joseph M. Caporusso, Javier Villalobos and Timothy Wilkins. Caporusso is a podiatrist and former McAllen ISD Board member. Villalobos is an attorney and former Hidalgo County Republican Par-

ty Chair. Timothy Wilkins is a tax property consultant and real estate broker.

Voters in the sprawling northern most McAllen city district will be going to the voting booths to replace City Commissioner Richard Cortez, who has filed to run the March Democratic Party Primary for Hidalgo County Judge. Cortez’s announcement triggered his resignation although he will occupy the seat until a replacement is selected.

With the passage of the Trump administration’s new tax law, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, many areas of tax law will be changing for both individuals and businesses. Although this will not affect your taxes in 2017, there are several things businesses and individuals must know and do to get ready for the new changes.

How this new tax code affects us will be the next discussion at the Chamber’s How Will the Tax Reform Affect Me? “Breakfast & Learn” on Friday, January 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

at the McAllen Chamber, 1200 Ash Ave., McAllen.

The new bill leans heavily toward tax cuts for corporations and business owners, but it also expands or restores some tax benefits for individuals relative to earlier bills passed by the House and Senate.

Significant changes have been made to individual and corporate tax rates and there are still seven tax brackets for individuals, but the rates have changed.

Tax partners of Burton McCumber & Cortez, LLP will

review the highlights of the changes to the tax code and how it will impact you and your business. They will bring decades of professional tax experience to the seminar to share with you. Ricky Longoria CPA, CFE and Managing Partner will be moderating the discussion.

Presenters will be Javier Alarcon CPA, J.R. Betancourt, CPA and Rebecca Garcia, CPA. The cost to attend is $15 per members and $20 for non-members. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Gerry Garcia at 956-682-2871.

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Edinburg Passes Quarter-Billion Dollar Construction Mark From -- PG 1

Pre-Kinder students at Alvarez Elementary take part in a visualization of “The Hungry Caterpillar” as part of their reading and language skills development.Registration for pre-kinder will take place this month at McAllen ISD and other school districts.

Parents Have Lots To Be Excited About As Pre-K/Kinder Roundup Nears

It’s a milestone in a child’s life. The first year in their educational career is a big stepping-stone toward their future. Parents can introduce their child to all the wonders offered at McAllen ISD by bringing their child to register at the Pre-K/ Kinder Roundup, set for January 8-12, at each elementary campus.

The Roundup will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. Staff will be on-hand to walk parents through the process. The best days to register will be January 8-9, since classes will be closed, there will be less traffic.

A few of the many advantages for students in McAllen ISD’s Pre-K and Kinder classes include: • All Day Pre-Kindergarten • Access to modern technology • Free resources for parents • 100 percent of teachers certified in Early Childhood • No tuition for students registering from outside the McAllen ISD zone Students who are enrolled in McAllen ISD’s Pre-Kinder program this year are already enrolled for the 2018-19 school year. This Roundup is for children who will be new to the district.

Students entering Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten are introduced to a world of wonder that includes robotics, science, fine arts and lots of fun. McAllen ISD students get to steer rovers, delve into coding and program robots. In fact, twice, McAllen ISD Elementary Coding Teams have won a state championship and competed on the international stage.

Students even learn about drones – always a popular favorite.

“We enhance student learning with

hands-on experiences,” Dr. Silvia Ibarra, McAllen ISD’s Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services, said.

Another primary focus is on literacy.

This is important because a mastery of literacy is key toward mastering all subjects.

“We really push literacy,” Dr. Ibarra said.

“The goal is to give them opportunities to learn as early as possible.”

McAllen ISD has support and resources for parents too. Through different programs, like H-E-B 3 and Ready Rosie, parents can learn about proper nutrition for their children and can become empowered to reinforce learning at home. Parents even receive free books to build libraries at home and learn how to improve their child’s vocabulary and inquiry skills.

“If we partner with parents to teach literacy as early as possible, we know students will be better off academically,” Dr. Ibarra said. “Here at McAllen ISD, we have very strong parental involvement programs.”

All of this is offered free for parents and students.

All elementary music teachers are certified to teach music.

Parents coming to the Roundup should bring: • Their child’s birth certificate • Their child’s immunization record • Their child’s social security card • Proof of residency (i.e. utility bill showing family name and address. Needs to be fewer than 30 days old) • Child’s report card(s) • Documents which indicate that parents receive food stamps or AFDC/ TANF for their child.

Veterans Blvd., Liberty Village Subdivision (Multi-Family Residences New Construction); and $1,250,000 – South Texas Museum, 200 N. Closner Blvd., Edinburg Original Townsite Subdivision (Non-Taxable Additions/Repairs).

For the month of October 2017, building permits were issued for 46 new single-family residences, valued at $5,872,028, compared with 46 new single-family residences, valued at $5,330,686, during October 2016.

Year-to-date (January through October 2017), building permits were issued for 436 new single-family residences, valued at $51,694,353 compared with 403 new single-family residences, valued at $52,402,028, from January through October 2016.

In addition, for the month of October 2017, building permits were issued for27 additions/remodels of single-family residences, valued at $83,283, compared with 48additions/remodels of single-family residences, valued at

$271,235, in October 2016.

Year-to-date (January through October 2017), building permits were issued for 569 additions/remodels of single-family residences, valued at $5,204,943, compared with 592 additions/remodels of single-family residences, valued at $4,681,475, from January through October 2016.

Multi-family residences – which range from two-unit duplexes to complexes of five or more units – totaled 34 buildings, representing 152 units, valued at $14,891,300, were approved for construction in October 2017. By comparison, there were seven multi-family residences, representing 16 units, valued at $552,151, issued building permits in October 2016.

Year-to-date (January through October 2017), building permits were issued for 285 multi-family residences, representing 856 units, valued at $57,274,702, compared with 237 multi-family residences, representing 944 units, valued at $62,207,415, from January through October 2016.

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Mission Businesses Take Flight With Help Of Ruby Red Ventures Starting a business can be a difficult task, but when you have a vision, sometimes you just have to follow your passion. However, when you consider the cost of maintenance, equipment, payroll, and a ton of other financial obligations, the amount of money needed to follow your dream can be a bit overwhelming. And with so many factors involved in developing a successful startup, a bit of financial assistance can be a load off your shoulders.

Luckily, the City of Mission is here to help those with well-planned business proposals start their own company. Ruby Red Ventures(RRV) is an initiative started by Mission EDC to promote small business growth within the City of Mission. The program is a highly competitive one and is designed for new or existing businesses.

Participants apply, and if qualified, will go through a series of workshops to aid in developing their plan. In the end, candidates present their projects to a committee (in Shark Tank fashion), who then choose the competition’s winners.

Recent winners of the competition include The Bryan House, Virtual Media Planners, The Dream Big Facility, and Banner Transit Services. Each start up was awarded $10,000 to help grow and pursue their vision of developing bountiful businesses.

• The Bryan House has deep roots within the City of Mission. William Jennings Bryan was a well-known politician in the late 1800’s, who would travel down to Mission to escape the harsh winters of Illinois, where he eventually developed his grapefruit empire. Owned by Ariel King, the Bryan House has now been fully restored as a delightful bed and breakfast, and events center. Imagine having the perfect holiday party at such a historical establishment; your guests will be in awe! You can contact the Bryan House at (956) 330-7497 for more information.

• Another winner, Virtual Media Planners, will help your small business in a BIG way. They are a mar-

keting company geared to help lead companies in the right direction by planning and rolling out digital media marketing campaigns. Services include branding and marketing, video production, media management, and other marketing services. You can schedule a free consultation with them by visiting their website.

• If you have ever wanted to develop your leadership skills, then Dream Big Facilities can help you become the leader you always knew you were. Operated by Ryan Krause and Bridgette McAdams, these international trainers, speakers, and executive coaches provide valuable business insight and know-how to RGV leaders looking for that extra push. Visit their website for more information about their services.

• The final winner of the RRV’s most recent competition was Banner Transit Services. This unique company provides much needed transportation services for those needing to attend medical appointments, but without the costs and hassles of ambulatory services.

The Mission community is fortunate to have such innovative, forward minded, visionary entrepreneurs in the area. Helping to develop and improve local businesses is how your Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce strives to push our community’s prosperity.

For more information on the program or the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce, contact them at (956) 585-2727.

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