June 9, 2017 - PT ISSUE

SEE SECTION B INSIDE

E N A C I HURR

PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Friday, June 9, 2017

www.ptrgv.com | 25 Cents

Vol. 45 No. 44

Mission Regional Medical Center lays off over 120 employees

By Joe Hinton Less than two weeks after announcing it was being acquired by a California-based health-care foundation Mission Regional Medical Center has terminated the employment of between 120 and 140 employees. That’s according to a source closely connected to the hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity and who was outraged the workers, some of whom had been with the hos-

pital for more than 25 years, were fired without notice on June 2.

“Those numbers are pretty reliable and I’m being conservative,” the source said Tuesday.

The hospital’s marketing and planning director, Nick Espinosa, did not confirm the number of employees laid off or when, but released a statement Tuesday acknowledging that, “We value our people and those who will be leaving, we thank them for

all they have contributed.”

On May 24 MRMC and Prime Healthcare Foundation of Ontario, Calif., released a joint statement announcing the California non-profit foundation would be assuming immediate management of the hospital with the official acquisition effective July 1.

Espinosa acknowledged Tuesday that over the past two years MRMC “has experienced a significant decline in inpatient volumes, and a

reduction in reimbursement common with standalone hospitals throughout the country.”

As of Wednesday the hospital had not provided details regarding the layoffs or the amount the layoffs would total in payroll reduction.

At the time of the acquisition announcement, the 297-bed facility employed more than 1,000 workers, according to the May 23 news

See MRMC LAY OFF Pg. 9

Superintendent urges MHS grads to finish college

Mission police SWAT team member appeals suspension

By Joe Hinton

Above is the Feb. 10 Hidalgo County Jail booking photo of Steven J. Wilson taken a month after he was shot in the stomach with a door breaching round fired by a member of the department’s SWAT team which attempted to arrest Wilson on Jan. 9.

A Mission Police SWAT team member is appealing his 10-day unpaid suspension resulting from a shooting mishap during a suspect takedown in January, the city’s top cop said Tuesday.

Mission Police Chief Robert Dominguez said Sgt. Teodoro “Ted” Rodriguez Jr. is seeking arbitration to determine whether his punishment was too severe for what happened during the arrest of Steven J. Wilson, 49 of Mission.

According to Dominguez,

See SUSPENSION Pg. 7

Mission sergeant resigns following controversial Facebook post

By Jose De Leon III

Screenshot of Facebook video showing former Mission Police Sergeant Manuel Casas

Just three days after his suspension from the Mission Police Department, a 16-year veteran with the police force has resigned from his position following a live Facebook broadcast that was recorded and published on Youtube. And the second person in the broadcast has been identified as the officer’s nephew.

Mission Police Chief Robert Dominguez announced the resignation of Sgt. Manuel Casas at a June 1 press conference at the Mission Police Department.

See CASAS RESIGNS Pg. 8

Palmview City Council fires city manager

By Jose De Leon III

Marcela D. Rodriguez enjoys the moment minutes after graduating with honors from Mission High School’s Class of 2017 at the McAllen Convention Center June 2. Progress Times Photo by Joe Hinton.

By Joe Hinton Perhaps no one knew better the 409 members of the Mission High School graduating class of 2017 than principal Edilberto Flores, who for some students had been their top administrator since they entered Kenneth White Junior High School seven years earlier.

To those among that group Flores said during June 2 graduation ceremonies at the McAllen Convention Center, “Forever in my heart you

will be a special graduating class. Thank you for the honor and the privilege.”

Flores drew laughter from the several thousand in attendance when he referred to the graduating class as the “class of construction,” referring to the $33 million renovation and new construction project at the high school that has been years in the making with an anticipated completion date near the end of this year. Flores acknowledged the graduating class had to endure parking substantial

distances from campus and walking to class as construction had disrupted normal parking and traffic patterns around the campus.

During his remarks, Flores recognized three students who, besides their high school graduation, had already graduated from South Texas College where they received associate’s degrees.

They were Samantha Reyna, Samantha Banda and Juan Rodriguez, the latter two receiving their degrees in science and engineering and the

former in arts and interdisciplinary studies.

Mission Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Ricardo Lopez congratulated the graduates and urged them to graduate from college and reverse the fact Hispanics have the lowest college graduation rates among minorities in the nation.

Lopez recognized a trio of students for their unique achievements. Among them

See MHS GRADS Pg. 8

Peñitas City Council has taken the first steps toward creating the city’s own water utility. Reporter Jose De Leon III has the story.

See MANAGER FIRED Pg. 8

Harvard masters

2017 All Valley Sports Awards

Two La Joya Independent School District teachers have become the first in a new program to receive master’s degrees from Harvard University. Reporter Jose De Leon III tells who they are.

The Valley’s top athletes gather tomorrow night in Mission for the 2017 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet recognizing the standouts for their performances over the past year. Bryan Ramos has the details.

See Pg. 5

See Pg. 6

See Pg. 5

Entertainment | pg.2

Ramon Segovia

INSIDE

Peñitas water

INDEX

After weeks of settlement negotiations the Palmview City Council has voted to fire City Manager Ramon Segovia.

The move Tuesday during the council’s monthly meeting came more than a month after Segovia, who had served as city manager since 2013, was placed on paid administrative leave.

The vote to remove Segovia from office was split 3-2 with council members Joselito “Hoss” Hernandez and

Lifestyle | pg.3

Opinion | pg.4

Sports | pg. 6

Obituaries | pg. 7

Classifieds | pg. 9

entertainment

Movement raises glass ceiling for Mexican Americans

The next lecture at the Mission Historical Museum (MHM) features Carlos Cantu, Ph.D., on the topic of “Creating Their Own Institutions: The Chicana/o Movement in South Texas and the Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO) Conference of December 1969.”

The program will be held Saturday, June 17, at 11 a.m. at the museum, located at 900 Doherty in Mission.

Admission is free and open to the public.

In 1969, conferences organized by Mexican Americans throughout the Southwest, including the Chicano Youth Liberation Conference in Denver, Colo., and the Coordinating Council of Higher Education conference in Santa Barbara, Calif., provided settings for new expressions of ethnic nationalism and laid down plans for Chicana/o Studies in colleges and universities. While these conferences inspired and influenced Chicana/o youth throughout the United States, Cantú will show how the Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO) conference held in December of 1969 at La Lomita Monastery in South Mission was an equally significant event.

Unfortunately, the MAYO conference in Mission has not received the same kind of scholarly attention among historians of the movement.

Over 600 individuals attended the four-day conference where they exchanged ideas about political, educational and economic self-determination and community empowerment. Out of this conference emerged the decision to found La Raza Unida Party, a third political party; Colegio Jacinto Treviño, an independent Chicana/o college; and Amigos Unidos Credit Union, a community-based financial cooperative for migrant families.

Cantú examines how the MAYO conference led to the creation of alternatives to mainstream political, educational and economic institutions.

Dr. Cantú graduated with his doctorate in U.S. History in May of 2016, from the University of Houston, where he currently teaches.

Cantú has presented papers on the history of educational struggles at annual regional and national conferences, including the Texas State Historical Association, the American Historical Association-Pacific Coast Branch, and the Alumni of Color Conference at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His work has been published in South Texas Studies and The Journal of South Texas Studies.

For more information, call the museum office at 956-580-8646.

The “Discover the Dinosaurs Unleashed” interactive exhibit comes to the Rio Grande Valley June 16 to 18. (Courtesy Photo – VStar Entertainment Group)

Dinosaurs Unleashed exhibit opens June 16-18

McALLEN – Explore the mystery of prehistoric life at the McAllen Convention Center on Friday to Sunday, June 16 to 18, in the handson exhibit “Discover the Dinosaurs Unleashed.” Tickets are on sale now.

Visitors can experience up-close encounters with a lifelike Stegosaurus, Velociraptor and the king T-Rex in the walk-through exhibit.

Meet a baby dinosaur, take a spin in the Jurassic Jeeps on the Dino Raceway and visit the Kids Adventure Zone filled with themed bouncy houses, crafts, face painting

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and more. Then they can test their skills playing an all-new Mesozoic Mini Golf course, become junior paleontologists while completing the scavenger hunt, and dig for fossils in the Valley of the Bones.

Friday hours are 2 to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The McAllen Convention Centre is located at 700 Convention Center Blvd., at the corner of Expressway 83 and Ware Rd. Tickets are $15 for adults and children; $12 for seniors; children under age 2 are free with a paid adult ticket.

T-Rex Tickets (available for ages 2-12) are available for $39. For tickets and more information, go to DiscoverTheDinosaurs.com.

Child general admission tickets include the Dinosaur Exhibit and access to these attractions: Valley of the Bones, Ride the Dinosaurs, Cretaceous Crafts, Dino Raceway, Mesozoic Mini Golf, Kids Adventure Zone and Scavenger Hunt. T-Rex Tickets are available for children ages 2 to 12 and include one child general admission ticket, one face paint, one Fossil Find bag, one green screen photo print, a makeand-take T-shirt, one drawstring backpack and a pair of socks for the inflatables.

For general admission tickets, additional fees apply for face painting, Green Screen Photo Print, makeand-take T-shirt, socks for inflatables, drawstring backpack and Fossil Find bag.

These can be purchased individually at the Souvenir Shop inside the exhibit. Other restrictions and additional fees may apply.

The Mission Consolidated Independent School District announces the sponsorship of the Summer Seamless Option Food Service Program.

Meals will be provided at no charge to all children ages 1 to 18.

SITES

ADDRESS

DATES

Escobar-Rios Elementary

3505 N. Trosper Rd., Mission

June 5 – June 28 (Monday - Thursday)

O’Grady Elementary

810 W. Griffin Parkway, Mission

June 5 – June 28 (Monday - Thursday)

Pearson Elementary

315 Holland, Mission

June 5 – June 9 (Monday - Friday)

Salinas Elementary

10820 N. Conway Ave., Mission

June 5 – June 28 (Monday - Thursday)

Alton Memorial Jr High

521 S. Los Ebanos Blvd., Alton

June 5 – June 28 (Monday - Thursday)

Mission Collegiate High School

605 S. Los Ebanos Blvd., Alton

June 5 – June 8 (Monday - Thursday)

Mission High School

1802 Cleo Dawson, Mission

June 5 – July 27 (Monday - Thursday) (Closed July 3 - July 7)

Veterans Memorial High School

700 E. Two Mile Rd., Mission

June 5 – July 28 (Monday - Friday)

Agape Christian School

115 S. Mayberry, Mission

June 5 – July 14 (Monday - Friday)

Alton Recreation Center

509 South Alton Blvd., Alton

June 5 - July 28 (Monday - Friday)

Boys and Girls Club of Mission

209 W. 18th Street, Mission

June 5 - July 28 (Monday - Friday)

Boys and Girls Club of Mission CWV Mayberry

115 S. Mayberry, Mission

June 5 – July 27 (Monday - Thursday)

Our Lady of San Juan de los Campos

1052 Washington Street, Mission

June 6 – June 29 (Tuesday – Thursday)

San Martin de Porres Catholic Church

621 West Main Ave., Alton

June 12 – June 23 (Monday - Friday)

Speer Memorial Library

801 E. 12th Street, Mission

June 5 – July 28 (Monday - Friday)

Castro Elementary

200 S Mayberry, Mission

June 5 – June 28 (Monday - Thursday)

Serving times will be posted at each building and will vary. Please check the building nearest you for serving times or call the Child Nutrition Program Office at (956) 323-3800 for more information.

June 9, 2017

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

Coming Attractions

June 13 • Every Tuesday through the end of summer, the La Joya I.S.D. hosts the Sundowners tourney at Howling Trails Golf Course.

Tee-off time begins at 5:30 p.m. This is a three-man scramble with prizes for first, second and third places winners and skins and closest to the pin. Entry fee is $25 person. The course is located at Hole-In-One Dr. in Mission and is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 956-585-6330 for information or to reserve a spot.

June 17 & 29, July 8 & 29, Aug. 12 • Explore the world with Robotics Workshops at the International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 Nolana Ave. Junior Robotics classes will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on June 29, July 8 and Aug. 12. Robotic Tech is set for June 17 and July 29 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $2 for IMAS members and $9 for nonmembers (includes the price of general admission. Space is limited; make reservations by calling 956-681-2800 or 956-682-0123.

June 22 & July 6 • The Museum of South Texas History (MOSTHistory) presents Summer Nights at the Museum at 7 p.m. with hands-on activities, living history re-enactors and more. The evenings include a puppet show, scavenger game, prizes and different interactive activities focusing on different exhibits at the museum on each date. Each event is included in the regular admission. As a participating museum in the Blue Star Museums, all active duty military personnel and up to five family members receive free admission to all three Summer Nights events. For more information, call 956-383-6911. MOSTHistory is located at 200 N. Closner Blvd.

June 23 • Support the Mission Crime Stoppers at their 14th Annual Golf Tournament. The three-person net scramble format tees off with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. at Shary Municipal Golf Course. Team registration begins at 11 a.m., and sign-up is $300 per team. The minimum handicap per team is 36, with one single digit handicap per team. Sponsorships are available. For more information, call Officer Robert Rodriguez at 956-648-9326, T. Plata at 956-5228753 or the golf course at 956-580-8770.

• Bo Garza is the headliner for the kick-off of the first Education Foundation of Mission C.I.S.D. Concert Series performance at the Mission Community Center, 1420 E. Kika De La Garza Loop. Doors open at 7 p.m. opening act country-western group Texas Dezire. The evening includes a silent auction, food and non-alcoholic beverages in the ticket price. Guests can come B.Y.O.B. Tickets are $400 for a table for 10 guests or $50 for a single ticket. To purchase tickets, or for more information, call Hector Olivarez at 956-445-4255 or Candy Martinez at 956-2402059.

(For more Coming Attractions, go to ptrgv.com)

‘Paint Your Pet’ with Veronica Jaeger

Budding artists can take their pick of one of two workshops, “Paint Your Pet,” a one-day acrylic workshop with instructor Veronica Jaeger. Hosted by the Upper Valley Art League (UVAL), the first workshop is scheduled for Thursday, June 29, and the second on Thursday, July 27. Both run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th St., Mission.

The class is for beginner and intermediate artists who will be taught how to build a

painting by layers, creating the effect of hair or feathers.

The finished piece will create a luminosity offering a sense of depth to the subject.

The classes are limited to 15 students each, ages 14 and up. The cost is $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers. Each student is responsible to bring their own materials. Contact Jaeger for a list.

Reserve a spot by contact Jaeger at veroniajaeger.art@ gmail.com or call the UVAL gallery at 956-583-2787.

The Upper Valley Art League is hosting the opening of an exhibition of works by FotoWerks, the South Texas Clay Club, and Friends. Featuring the work of students at South Texas College, it opens with a reception on Saturday, June 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th St. in Mission.

The public can vote on their favorite artwork for the “People’s Choice Award” which will be used to promote next year’s exhibition.

Last year’s winner was “Motel” by Sabrina Garcia. The event is free and open to the public.

The entire exhibition runs through Friday, June 30, and is open in the UVAL gallery on Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. Call the gallery 956-583-2787 to confirm hours. For additional information about UVAL, its classes, events and exhibitions, visit the website at uppervalleyartleague.org or call the gallery.

HOUSTON – If Texas is the family’s destination for summer fun this year, and everyone in the family thinks teleportation, holograms, invisibility and mind control were only in the movies – think again. Space Center Houston’s new summer exhibition will be the place to stop on a trip.

It brings fiction to fact in the “Science Fiction, Science Future,” exhibit opening May 27 to Sept.4. Visitors will be able to move objects with their mind, be mimicked by a lifelike robot and see augmented reality in action.

“Our summer exhibit takes visitors on an adventure connecting science fiction to actual science principles,” said William T. Harris, the center’s President and CEO. “There’s something for everyone whether you’re a science fiction fan, interested in how robots work or in what’s happening now in space exploration.”

Created by the renowned Scitech Discovery Centre in Western Perth, Australia, and produced by Imagine Exhibitions, the exhibit provides visitors with hands-on experiences that challenge the mind and body.

From future housing to how humans will live on Mars, visitors will discover links to science fiction films

and pop culture references, it delves into science principles through medical technology, communication and transport. The exhibit incorporates robots, invisibility, mind control, holograms and augmented reality with hands-on and full-body experiences.

• Take a page from Phillip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and use augmented reality to design a cyborg.

• Make different facial expressions and watch a lifelike robot mimic expressions, like the shapeshifting androids in Terminator 2.

• Become an X-Man and compete with others to move an object with your mind.

• Steal a page from Star Trek and navigate a computer using only the eyes or climb aboard a transporter and give the illusion of being beamed out and back again.

The summer exhibit is just one of the more than 400 things to see and do at Space Center Houston. For tips on planning a trip, go to the spacecenter.org/visitor.

Save on admission with a CityPASS and explore Space Center Houston plus four other top attractions. Purchase a CityPASS in-person or online at spacecenter.org/citypass.

For more information, visit spacecenter.org.

STC student exhibition opens at UVAL

Science fiction meets science reality in new exhibit

EVENTS

lifestyle

June 9, 2017

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MCISD posts summer office hours

CALENDAR June 10 – The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla at South Padre Island and the Texas Parks and Wildlife are offering a required course, “About Boating Safely,” at Bass Pro Shop in Harlingen from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $50 per person payable via check or cash. Register at 956-592-2003 or email sray@stpm-llc.com. Class sizes are limited.

June 16-17 – Members of the Mission High School Class of 1977 will hold their 40-year reunion. On Friday, they gather at 7 p.m. at Double Tree, 1800 S. 2nd St. in McAllen. On Saturday, it takes place at the Catholic War Veterans Hall, 900 N. Slabaugh in Mission, for dinner, dancing and door prizes, from 6:30 to 12 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. To make reservations and payments, contact one of the following: Bobby Guerra, 956-342-0672; Maggie Mustard, 956212-3321; Pam Rodriguez, 956-400-8114; Dolores Reyna, 956-309-0234; or Perla Garcia, 956-321-1107.

June 17 – Toddler Play Date at the Edinburg World Birding Center features “Nature Patterns.” For ages 1 to 4, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., there will be hands-on, interactive play, including puppet shows, story-telling, puzzle time, free play, coloring, crafts and guided walks throughout the grounds.

Admission is $2 per toddler with free admission for one guardian. Additional visiting family members pay regular admission. Space is limited, and registration is required by calling 956-383-9922. The EWBC is located at 714 Raul Longoria Rd. June 18 – From 1 to 5 p.m., celebrate Father’s Day at the International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 Nolana Ave. in McAllen. Spend time as father-child and/or grandparent-grandchild making crafts and exploring the museum together. Spaces are limited in BioZone and available on a first come, first served basis. Two sessions of rocket workshops will be available that day, each session will be limited to 25 visitors only. Activities are included in the general admission. For more information, call 956-681-2800.

(For more Events, go to ptrgv.com.)

LJISD goes cyber with student courses LA JOYA – As the cyber world takes over most daily activities, an online education is becoming a mainstay for education across the globe. The La Joya Independent School District (LJISD) has joined the trend and is offering an alternate credit attainment opportunity through Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN). It is now one of 10 school districts in the state to do so, according to an announcement from Lilliana Salgado with the LJISD Public Relations office.

Currently, students in the district are able to enroll in high school classes and advanced placement (AP) or dual-credit courses offered

by Texas Education Agency (TEA) approved catalog course providers. The coursework is available online for public schools that are fully accredited by the Texas Education Agency and is available through the course catalog and full-time schools.

“There is no doubt that La Joya ISD is a trailblazing district when it comes to bringing the most opportunities for our students,” stated Roel Hernandez, LJISD Technology Integrated Strategist.

“We are extremely proud to be one of only 10 school districts, in the state, to provide online courses which ensure student success at all levels.”

The TXVSN statewide catalog includes rigorous online courses offered by approved providers such as

school districts and universities. Credentialed teachers who have been trained in best practices for online instructional delivery teach the over 80 TEA approved courses – assuring students that the courses meet the state’s high standards for teaching and learning.

This provides students with an expanded access to high school courses. Online, students may take traditional high school, Advanced Placement, and dual credit classes from the catalog, or from courses at their campus, in order to meet their graduation plan. Cyber pupils have the option to complete TXVSN courses at school, off-campus, or at any other location where internet access is available.

The La Joya ISD virtual school also offers the TXVSN Online Learning Conference. It gives students a place to interact directly with speakers, moderators and peers; take part in live polls, answer real time discussion questions and ask questions; or chat with peers via live discussions during the sessions.

The TEA, the commissioner of education and Education Service Center Region 10 oversee the day-to-day operations of the TXVSN network.

For more information on enrolling with La Joya ISD Texas Virtual School Network, contact Hernandez at 956-323- 2503.

Alton Memorial Jr. High School seventh grader Nathaly Ramirez was honored with other students by the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) for exceptional scores on the ACT or SAT exams.

A state ceremony was held at Trinity University in San Antonio on May 17. The program identifies students across the nation who scored at or above the 95th percentile on a grade-level standardized test, taking above-level college-entrance exams. The ceremonies honor the seventh graders scoring the highest on the ACT or SAT exams.

Deyanira Picazo, a sophomore at Veterans Memorial High School, has been selected a delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders planned for June 2527 in Lowell, Mass. The honors-only program is for high school students who plan on becoming physicians or go into medical research fields.

She will join students from across the country to hear talks from Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science winners, Ivy League and medical school deans.

Speer Memorial Library 12th & Kika Loop Mission • 580-8750

BETWEEN THE BOOKENDS

By William Renner Join us at Speer Memorial Library in Mission, on Tuesday, June 20, for a discussion of “438 Days,” to take place in the library’s Community Room at 6:30 p.m. The general public is invited to attend and participate in the discussion.

At midday on Nov. 17, 2012, Salvador Alvarenga, an experienced deep sea fisherman, and his rookie companion Ezequiel Córdoba, leave port at Costa Azul, Chiapas, in southern Mexico, for an overnight fishing trip.

They head out into the Pacific Ocean with dreams of a big catch of mahimahi, tuna and shark – worth hundreds of dollars.

Late that night, nearly 100 miles from shore, their dreams become a nightmare as a powerful storm whips the ocean into 10-foot waves.

They attempt to return to port, but their motor conks out, their two-way radio dies and their fishing equipment

Completes USAF basics

U.S. Air Force Airman Erich Pereda Schaldach and Airman 1st Class Luis E. Villarreal recently graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. They completed an intensive, eight-week program ranging from military discipline and studies to Air Force core values.

Airman Schaldach is the son of Loena E. Schaldach of Mission and is a 2016 graduate of Sharyland High School in Mission.

Airman Villarreal is the son of Jose L. Villarreal of McAllen and is also a 2016 graduate of Sharyland High School.

page 3

is washed overboard. When the storm finally subsides, they are left adrift on the high seas, to go wherever the ocean bids them.

Written by Jonathan Franklin, and first published in 2015, it is the story of an incredible journey of courage, faith, resourcefulness and resolve. The most remarkable aspect of the story is that it’s true.

The library has copies of the book available to check out to those who sign up for the book discussion, Stop by the library’s Reference Desk or call at 580-8754 to make arrangements or for more information.

Speer Memorial Library is located at 12th and Kika De La Garza in Mission.

Vanessa Cuevas and Jesus Contreras of Peñitas honored their daughter, Yamile, on the occasion of her 15th birthday. A mass was held June 3 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Peñitas, and the celebration continued at Quinta Doña Gloria in Peñitas. The honoree is a 10th grade student at La Joya High School. (Austin Studio)

From now through the first week of August, office hours for the Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) have changed, according to an announcement from the MCISD Public Relations office.

The district is observing a four-day work week for the business office and ancillary departments with 10-hour work days, Monday through Thursday. Offices will be open 7:30 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.

The Mission CISD administrative office building will be closed from June 30 through July 14 and will reopen on Monday, July 17, observing the four-day work week.

Normal office hours will resume, district-wide, on Monday, August 7.

Calculus program helps future engineering, science students

By J. Edward Moreno EDINBURG – Incoming freshmen looking to strengthen their math skills before the start of the Fall 2017 semester have until June 30 to apply to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Summer Bridge to Calculus program.

The program begins July 13 and runs through Aug. 18 and is available to incoming engineering and computer science freshmen who have not yet received college credit for Calculus I, a prerequisite for most engineering and computer science courses.

It is part of a five-year National Science Foundation-funded project that helps students gain the math

skills they need to pursue majors in engineering and computer science.

The course is tailored to each student’s experience and prepares them to take on Calculus I in the fall.

Students receive one-on-one training with instructors and work with peer mentors from the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

To qualify, students must be incoming freshmen who have declared a major in mechanical engineering or computer science, and must have passed the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) assessment.

For more information, contact Denise De Los Santos at denise.delosantos@ utrgv.edu or 956-665-7257.

10!

Athletic $ Physicals

No Appointment Necessary Middle school and high school students are welcome to come in for their athletic physicals for just $10. No appointment necessary. Bring your school required athletic forms.

900 E. Expressway 83 Mission, TX 78572

sthsermission.com 956-271-1200 Monday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.

330 W. Expressway 83 Weslaco, TX 78596

sthserweslaco.com 956-975-2300 Monday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.

205 E. Toronto Avenue McAllen, TX 78503

mcallenmedicalcenter.com 956-687-6155 Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Friday, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Available May 23 — August 31 Bring your school required athletic forms.

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of South Texas Health System. The system shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. 171881

opinion

June 9, 2017 November January 2, 2015 25, 2016

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By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

State budget awaits final approval from governor AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott as of June 4 had not signed Senate Bill 1, the 2018-2019 state budget finally approved by both houses of the 85th Texas Legislature on May 27. SB 1 appropriates $216.8 billion in total spending for the state’s budget during the 2018-19 biennium.

A long wait for Abbott’s signature may fit a pattern.

The governor did not sign the 2016-2017 budget until June 20, 2015, the final day for him to approve or veto legislation. The governor has the power to veto line items in the bill, instead of rejecting it wholesale.

SB 1, a lot to contemplate at 969 pages in length, could take every remaining day for the governor’s office to digest, until this session’s veto deadline of June 18.

The budget bill, however, has already earned the approval of state Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who signed the document on June 1.

“Even before I released the Biennial Revenue Estimate back in January, lawmakers understood this session would be difficult and coming to a budget consensus would require sacrifice and compromise,” Hegar said. “I commend legislators for crafting a conservative budget that remains within my revenue forecast.”

Bills signed and not signed A mere 1,211 of the 6,631 bills, concurrent resolutions and proposed constitutional amendments filed by state representatives and senators this session gained passage by both houses. That comes to 18.3 percent, or a success rate of about one in five.

Gov. Abbott signed Senate Bill 5, the voter photo-identification bill that opponents promised would be challenged in federal court over constitutionality. Supporters said the bill by Joan Huffman, R-Houston, would allow a person to sign an affidavit stating they have a reasonable impediment to obtaining a photo ID and cast a regular ballot. Opponents, however, testified that proposed changes in the law still would have racially discriminatory effects. The bill is slated to take effect Sept. 1.

HB 62, the statewide ban on texting while driving, has not yet been signed by the governor. Authored by Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, and sponsored by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, HB 62 has been sitting on the governor’s desk since May 25.

SB 8, by Dr. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, was amended in the House to become an omnibus abortion regulation bill. According to the Senate News Service, the bill would require that fetal tissue “be given a proper burial or cremation after an abortion, would ban a certain type of second-trimester abortion and would reaffirm the ban on partial birth abortions in Texas and give state officials the power to prosecute violators.” SB 8 is awaiting action by the governor.

SB 12, by Royce West, D-Dallas, would create a $25 million grant program to help local law enforcement entities pay for body armor resistant to high-powered ammunition. The governor signed West’s bill on May 27 and the legislation took effect the same day.

Revenue total reported Comptroller Glenn Hegar on June 2 announced that state sales tax revenue totaled $2.5 billion in May, an amount 4 percent more than in May 2016.

“State sales tax collections in May indicate a Texas economy expanding at a moderate pace,” Hegar said.

“Growth in sales tax revenue occurred across most major industry sectors, including oil- and gas-related sectors.

Only the construction sector showed a slight decline.”

Hegar also said total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in May 2017 is up 3.2 percent compared to the same period a year ago, but state franchise tax revenue for fiscal 2017 totaled $3.2 billion in May, 8.9 percent less than in May 2016.

Some praise withdrawal Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton thanked President Donald Trump for his June 1 decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement.

According to the United Nations, the international agreement’s goal is “to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”

Examples of other officials publicly applauding President Trump’s decision last week were: Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert of Tyler.

Appeal to county It appears that drainage or lack there of is back in the news again. However, to someone who has been an up close and personal observer of the drainage system for some 16 years it was nothing new. This is not a valley it’s a flood plain. Almost every drop of water falling north of Old Route 83 flows northeast. Moreover, since the difference in altitude between the ocean and North Mission is a mere 120 feet, and obstructed by highways, subdivisions and buildings; it does it very slowly. Those are the facts.

Yet, knowing the facts, and the results of not considering them, the county routinely approves nearly all of the subdivision and building requests that come before it; discharging the runoff into the same overloaded system.

Then the cities, knowing the

type of soil we have, refuse to provide effective limits to the amount of land area that can be covered by streets, buildings, patios, driveways, swimming pools, tennis courts etc. They can help control the flooding problem yet they have refused to do so in an effective manner since the first acre of fruit trees was developed into a subdivision.

Retention of water in your back yard or in the Mission Lateral Drainage Ditch is not a solution, it’s a delay. Mr. Raul E. Sesin, the Hidalgo County Drainage District #1 Director knows what needs to be done. However, he can accomplish only that which the money the commissioners give him will pay for.

These are the same county commissioners, who are enthusiastically ready to spend $140 million on a grandiose

county court house. It is almost funny to realize that the completion of such a courthouse will dramatically increase the amount and rate of water discharged into the area northeast of Edinburg that was most recently so badly flooded.

Until the second ditch is completed, and its no cure all, all he can do is move water around the county and in effect, even out the flooding.

Please Judges and commissioners, curb your enthusiasm for a $140 million courthouse and direct our dollars and your responsibility toward lessening the flooding in Hidalgo County and increasing our safety. Why don’t you let us vote on it?

Ned Sheats Mission

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La Joya ISD teachers earn Gas line rupture causes mandatory evacuation in Palmview Master’s degrees from Harvard Two La Joya Independent School System teachers have received master’s degrees in math from Harvard University, the school district reports.

Queen Martin and Crystal Chagoya, mathematics teachers from Jimmy Carter Early College High School and Cesar Chavez Middle School, respectively, took part in the 366th Harvard commencement ceremony last month, a news release from the district stated.

The two were the district’s first-ever cohort for

the Mathteach Collaborative Program in which school districts support their teachers in obtaining a master’s degree in mathematics, according to the Texas Graduate Center website.

Martin was selected as a Class Marshall for the commencement ceremony held in Massachusetts for the Harvard Extension School Class of 2017, an honor bestowed on only three exemplary graduate students who demonstrated academic excellence, and represent the

values and ideals of Harvard University, the release states.

“Aside from the program helping me improve my teaching methods, it also allowed me to network with different people from across the globe who share the same priceless passion for teaching math,” Martin said. “All throughout the program my family and my students became my motivation to push harder, while I became their eyes to dream bigger and see beyond what everyone thinks they are pre-destined to be.”

La Joya ISD teachers Queen Martin (left) and Crystal Chagoya pose for a photo during their May 25 commencement ceremony for Harvard University where they received master’s degrees in mathematics. Courtesy photo

Construction workers hit a high-pressure gas pipeline in Palmview Monday afternoon, prompting a mandatory evacuation in the city that affected 120 homes according to city officials.

Workers on the La Homa Road Expansion Project broke a high-pressure gas line near the intersection of La Homa Road and Farm-toMarket Road 495, Palmview Police Lt. Saul Uvalle said.

“Crews were moving dirt in the area around 2 p.m. and

scraped the gas line causing the rupture,” Uvalle said.

“We evacuated 120 homes in the area as a precaution.”

The homes affected were the ones located from FM 495 to 2 Mile Line and from Bentsen Palm Road to Breyfogle Road — an area that includes at least two subdivisions, businesses and a school.

The Hidalgo County Precinct 3 office complex and Irene M. Garcia Middle School were among the

The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspect that robbed a Mission convenience store last month and is asking the public’s help in locating him.

After surveillance video of the robbery was released to the public, an anonymous tipster called in to the Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers hotline to help investigators identify the suspect as 35-year-old Jesus Garza.

Sheriff’s Investigators have obtained an arrest warrant for Garza, for the charge of robbery (2nd degree felony) and are asking for help to locate him.

The warrant stems from an incident on Monday, May 1, at approximately 10:20 p.m. when Sheriff’s deputies responded to the Stripes Store located at 7820 Shary Road in rural Mission for a report of a robbery. Upon arrival, deputies met with the store clerk who reported that

a male suspect had entered the store, walked around the register, and forcefully taken money from her. The suspect, described as wearing a light colored shirt, blue jeans, and a dark colored baseball cap, fled the store after the robbery.

Anyone with information on Garza’s whereabouts is asked to call the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office at 956-383-8114. Or if one wishes to remain anonymous they can call the Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers hotline at 956-668-TIPS (8477). If the information provided through the Crime Stoppers program leads to an arrest, the tipster may be eligible for a cash reward.

Anonymous Crime Stopper

Mission Stripes robbery suspect sought

Peñitas takes steps towards its own water supply

By Jose De Leon III The city of Peñitas is preparing for growth and is making plans to eventually have its own water supply.

Peñitas City Council unanimously authorized their city manager to apply to obtain a Water Certificate of Convenience and Necesity. Peñitas City Manager Omar Romero said the certificate would give Peñitas the ability to have exclusive rights to provide water and sewer service to the citizens of the area with the hope of providing “better” rates for customers.

The city would work with the Agua Special Utility District_which currently provides sewer and water services to Peñitas_to purchase the water rights once the certificate is obtained.

“It’s a large step for the city, it means quite a bit of economic growth and the city can be accountable for how we can grow to lure businesses and development here and help our citizens,” Romero told city council members Wednesday. “The city has reached a point

where we are strong enough financially and from a management standpoint to become a municipality.”

Romero told council members the process to obtain a certificate can take up to five years but the city would already be prepared for their own water supply by the time their certificate has been approved. The city manager told councilmembers Agua SUD is open to either helping to provide water services to citizens or assisting the city in construction of a water plant for the area.

At that same meeting, council members also approved an agreement between Romero and City Engineer Richard LeFreve, of LeFevre Engineering & Management Consulting, LLC, to do a feasibility study for a water plant and evaluate the city water system.

Hector Moreno, an engineer at LeFevre Engineering, said the feasibility report would commence within a week after the city finished applying for a certificate and would take a few months to complete.

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buildings evacuated, Uvalle said, adding that students in that school were relocated to Memorial Middle School.

The gas line valve was shut off by 10 p.m. at which point residents were allowed back into their homes, Uvalle said, adding that natural gas services were restored to residents the following afternoon. No injuries were reported from the incident, Uvalle said.

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2016-2017 Jose “Joe” Correa Scholarship Fund recipients: MISSION VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL

MISSION HIGH SCHOOL Jacob Flores Andrea González Amanda Granado

Marco Diaz Sara Langley Javier Martinez

On behalf of the Jose “Joe” Correa Scholarship Fund Committee, we would like to take the time to acknowledge and sincerely thank the following individuals for their generous contributions in making this scholarship a reality and success. This scholarship was created to benefit Mission CISD FFA students at Mission High School and Mission Veterans Memorial High School.

Mr. & Mrs. Danny Acevedo (Double A Ranch) Mr. & Mrs. Ruben Alaniz Mr. & Mrs. Jorge Alvarez (Diamond O Ranch) Mr. Aaron Balli (Balli’s Social Event Center) Mr. & Mrs. David Bazan (Palmview Plumbing) Mr. & Mrs. Omar Botello Mr. David Bridgewater Mr. & Mrs. Gary Burt Mr. & Mrs. Rodger Correa Mr. & Mrs. David Crook Mr. & Mrs. Medardo De Leon, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Polo De Leon Mr. & Mrs. Ruben De Leon Mr. Leo Garcia

Miss Celina Garza Mr. Danny & Miss Karissa Garza Mr. & Mrs. Rafael González Mr. & Mrs. Romeo C. González, II Mr. & Mrs. Mike Helle (Green Gold Farms) Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Guerra (La Muneca Ranch) Mrs. Norma Jean Rivas Guerra Mr. John Leidner Mr. & Mrs. Bernie Pena Mr. Randy Powell Ms. Estella Rodriguez Mr. & Mrs. David Santos (L & I and Virgil Wilson Funeral Homes) Miss Veronica Tamez Mr. & Mrs. John Watkins

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June 9, 2017

page 6

Local athletes ready for All-Valley Awards

Big 7 well represented at All-Valley Sports Banquet The Valley’s top athletes will come together tomorrow night in Mission for the 2017 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet to recognize the standouts for their performances over the past year.

The nominees for each award have been narrowed down to the top three in more than 30 categories across 12 UIL sports by various media outlets. The “Big 7” high schools will be sending 15 nominees who are up for 17 awards.

Veterans Memorial’s Diego Hernandez is nominated for two awards this year: Sub6A Athlete of the Year and Football Player of the Year.

The District 31-5A MVP led the Patriots three rounds deep in the playoffs for the first time in program history. Hernandez threw for 4,175 yards and accounted for 45 touchdowns and nine interceptions while running for 11 more TDs. Hernandez also qualified for the UIL Class 5A state meet in golf where he finished in 25th place.

“It’s a huge blessing to represent Veterans and my family’s name,” Hernandez said.

“I came into this year knowing that I was going to work so hard that there was no other option other than success, it was just to what degree of success that was going to be.

What I will remember most are the relationships created; the achievements will be something we can always talk about together.”

Palmview senior and three-sport athlete Tristen Myende is nominated for the 6A Boys Athlete of the Year for his performance in football, track and field and basketball. Myende set the Valley’s high in the long jump this season with a jump of 23 feet, 2 inches. On the gridiron, the big play weapon finished with 923 receiving yards and 324 rushing yards to go with his 19 total touchdowns.

Sophomore Jackie Howell of Mission Veterans Memorial is nominated as the Sub 6A Female Athlete of the Year for her role on the volleyball and basketball court. Howell led

the Lady Patriots to a volleyball district title, totaling 151 kills, 126 digs, 31 aces and 13 blocks in 31-5A play and averaged 15.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on the basketball court.

The Juarez-Lincoln soccer team is nominated for the Class 6A Boys Team of the Year for their history making season. The Huskies advanced to the state championship where they lost in penalty kicks to Dallas Jesuit after a scoreless regulation and overtime. Led by Head Coach Victor Ramos, the Huskies won the District 30-6A championship and finished the season with a 30-4-1 record.

Nominated for the Boys Soccer Player of the Year is Juarez-Lincoln junior midfielder Manuel Castrejon, District 30-6A’s Most Valuable Player. Castrejon spearheaded the Huskies attack, scoring more than 20 goals on the year. His play led the Huskies to a district title and a spot in the state tournament.

Mission Veterans Memorial senior pitcher Noel Vela is nominated as Boys Player of the Year as he finished with an 8-1 record to go with his 0.94 ERA and 87 strikeouts.

The UTRGV baseball commit also posted a .462 batting average with 45 RBIs and two home runs.

Palmview junior Brianna Robles is nominated for two awards—Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year and Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year, for her standout performance in long distance running. Robles made program history by becoming the first Lady Lobo to qualify for the UIL Class 6A state meet.

She worked her way to state in cross country, finishing in seventh place, and in track and field in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs, finishing eighth in both.

Pioneer senior Jordan Wilson is nominated for the Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year for after qualifying for the UIL Class 5A state meet in long jump, where he finished fourth with a jump of 23-00.75. In only his second year of track and field, Wilson was amongst the Valley’s best

Juarez-Lincoln’s Manuel Castrejon and Coach Ramos Top in Area The Juarez-Lincoln Huskies boys’ soccer team’s historic 30-4-1, 2016-2017 season has led to honors being bestowed on their coach and several of their players.

Coach Victor Ramos has been named All-Area Coach of the Year and junior Manuel Castrejon has been named All-Area Player of the Year.

Ramos led the Huskies to the UIL Class 6A state semifinals where they lost in penalty shots to Dallas Jesuit, the eventual state champions.

Castrejon scored more than 20 goals for the Huskies and

served as the team’s primary distributor.

Three Big 7 schools’ boys were named First Team All-Area and three were named Second Team All-Area. The First Team honorees include two additional Huskies, Jesus Zaletha and Gerardo Reyes, and one Sharyland Rattler, Romeo De Leon. The Second Team honorees include two Mission Eagles, Irvin Cortez and Brandon Ponce and another Sharyland Rattler, Carlos Cabrera.

In addition to the individual honors, the Huskies were named the top team in the area.

By Bryan Ramos

Juarez-Lincoln Soccer Team

Diego Hernandez Mission Veterans H.S. Football & Golf

Manuel Castrejon Juarez-Lincoln H.S. Soccer

Jordan Wilson

Tristen Myende

Jackie Howell

Palmview H.S. Football, Track & Basketball

Mission Veterans H.S. Volleyball & Basketball

Noel Vela

Brianna Robles

Mission Veterans H.S. Baseball

Palmview H.S. Track & Cross Country

Sharyland Pioneer H.S. Track & Field

Sharyland H.S. Golf

Jimmy Lee

Laura Rodriguez

Joaquin Delgado

Guadalupe Rodriguez

Rose Ramirez

Sharyland Pioneer H.S. Tennis

Mission H.S. Wrestling

Sharyland H.S. Golf

La Joya H.S. Wrestling

in the triple jump, high jump, 100-meter dash and 400-meter relay throughout the season.

Sharyland will be well represented in golf, as Jimmy Lee is nominated for Boys Golfer of the Year and Laura Rodriguez for Girls Golfer of the Year. Lee, a sophomore, led his team to a district title at the 31-5A invitational, winning by 19 strokes. He also qualified for the state tournament for the second year in a row. Rodriguez, a junior, finished first overall at the 315A Invitational and helped her team qualify for state, where she finished in eighth place, the best amongst Valley golfers.

Pioneer senior Joaquin Delgado is nominated for Boys Tennis Player of the Year after he fought his way back to the state championship match for the second year in a row. Delgado won the District 31-5A singles championship and a silver medal for his second place finish at state. He will continue playing tennis collegiately at Abilene Christian University.

“It’s been an awesome year and I’m really happy with all these awards and it really shows that hard work is paying off. It really motivates me to work harder the rest of the summer.”

Pioneer freshman Trevor Heath is nominated for Boys Swimmer of the Year after a breakout performance in his debut season. Heath helped Pioneer earn its first boys district championship in program history by winning two gold medals.

Mission High’s Guadalupe Rodriguez is nominated for Boys Wrestler of the Year for his showing at the regional tournament where he won a gold medal. Rodriguez’ performance earned him male outstanding wrestler of the Region IV-6A meet.

Pioneer sophomore Diego Serna is nominated for the Boys Wrestler of the Year for his performance in the 106-pound division. Serna helped lead the Diamondbacks to a district championship and earned a gold medal at regionals.

La Joya Senior Rose Ramirez is nominated for the Girls Wrestler of the Year for her performance in her final year. She won a gold medal at the 30-6A meet helping the Lady Coyotes win the district championship. Ramirez also advanced to the championship match in the state meet.

The 2017 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet will be 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow night at Mario’s Banquet & Conference Center in Mission.

The banquet is hosted by RGVSports.com, AIM Media Texas, in conjunction with the RGV Sports Hall of Fame and presenting sponsor Lone Star National Bank.

Seven-time NBA Champion Robert Horry will be the keynote speaker for the event.

Tickets can be purchased for $40.

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June 9, 2017

SUSPENSION

on Jan. 9 police responded to a report from residents in the 100 block of Sunrise Lane of a naked man in the neighborhood masturbating.

Residents told police they recognized the man as their neighbor. When police went to Wilson’s parent’s home officers could see him inside a bedroom on a bed under a jacket with a knife within reach and a large object under the jacket.

Dominguez said Wilson’s mother reported her son had threatened to kill her before locking himself in his bed-

room. After hostage negotiations were unsuccessful Dominguez said the SWAT team was called in to make the arrest.

Dominguez said when officers entered the bedroom Wilson made a “furtive movement” which caused an officer to shoot Wilson with what the officer thought was a non-lethal bean bag round. Instead it was what is known as a breaching round. According to Wikipedia.com breaching rounds are designed to destroy door deadbolts, locks, and hing-

obituaries

Jose Gracia MISSION – Jose Javier Gracia, 67, passed away on Monday, June 5, 2017, at Village Care Nursing Home in McAllen.

Survivors include his wife, Elida F. Gracia of Mission, and a sister, Nilda Gracia of Edinburg.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jose and Josefa Gracia, and a sister, Nora Rosales.

A funeral mass was held on June 8 at St. John of the Fields Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at RGV State Veterans Cemetery in Mission.

Sotero Martinez PEÑITAS – Sotero Martinez, 80, passed away on Sunday, May 28, 2017, at his home in Peñitas.

Survivors include his children, Hector Martinez, Rolando Martinez, Arnoldo Martinez, Armando Martinez, Abel Martinez, Alonzo Ali Martinez, Alejandro Martinez, Adrian Martinez, Roberto Martinez, Elizabeth Cantu, Edelmira Sanchez and Araceli Allen; siblings, Justino Martinez, Maria de Jesus Martinez, Ofelia Martinez, Irma Martinez and Consuelo Martinez; and 21 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Herminia Martinez; grandson, Erick Andrew Martinez; and siblings,

Juan Jesus Martinez, Antonia Martinez and Mela Martinez.

A funeral service was held on June 2 at Flores Funeral Home in Mission. Burial followed at Garden of Angels Cemetery in Abram.

Notices

Manuel Flores PALMVIEW – Manuel Flores, 73, passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2017, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Javier Garcia MISSION – Javier Garcia, 17, passed away on Sunday, May 28, 2017, at his home in Mission.

Leoncio Lopez PEÑITAS – Leoncio Lopez, 85, passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2017, at Pax Villa Hospice.

Mary Morgan MISSION – Mary Frances Morgan, 88, passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2017, at her home in Mission.

Ovidio Rodriguez MISSION – Ovidio Rios Rodriguez, 71, passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2017, at his home in Mission.

Richard Schmidtman MISSION – Richard Schmidtman, 93, passed away Monday, June 5, 2017, at The Bridges in Mission.

Cremation arrangements are under the care of Rivera Funeral Home in Mission.

from pg 1 es without risking lives by ricocheting or by flying on at lethal speed through the door, as traditional buckshot can. The rounds are typically made of metal powder in a binder such as wax, which can destroy a lock or hinge and then immediately disperse. Dominguez said Wilson was struck in the stomach requiring Wilson to be hospitalized with serious injuries.

Following the incident Dominguez said Rodriguez admitted it was his mistake.

“He’s the one that loaded the weapon that’s why he’s taking responsibility,” Dominguez told the Progress Times. Despite his admission Dominguez said Rodriguez is appealing the chief’s decision to discipline Rodriguez by placing him on two week’s unpaid suspension following a May 26 meeting with Rodriguez. Because it is in litigation Dominguez said he could not comment further on the incident.

According to Hidalgo County jail records prior to his most recent arrest for public lewdness and terrorist threats of family, Wilson had been booked into jail 16 times since June 1989. The charges included driving while intoxicated, racing on a highway, assault causing bodily injury, resisting arrest, possessing a controlled substance, burglary and theft.

According to court records Wilson successfully completed a 60-day sentence under the Alternative Incarceration Program following his misdemeanor conviction for terroristic threat of family/household stemming from the Jan. 9 incident.

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7-Step Guide To Turning Children Into Young Adults With Healthy Savings Habits

As Jodi walked to class that day the freshman noticed a large circle of booths spread out across the main courtyard of campus.

Scattered among the booths was one giving away free t-shirts with the school’s mascot on it. All Jodi had to do to get the free swag was fill out a form. As a bonus she would receive this little plastic card that was practically free money.

Or so she thought. Four years later she was stuck with a $5,000 t-shirt thanks to the debt she rang up.

Children who learn the importance of saving money at a young age are much better prepared to manage their money independently once they are grown,” says Eric Hutchinson (http://erichutchinsonfinancial.com), certified financial planner and author of the book “The Financial Briefing.”

Jodi’s parents never talked to her about debt. Or how she could have bought a similar t-shirt with cash, stashed away a matching amount in an emergency fund and been in the clear financially by the time she graduated. Instead she has joined the average college graduate in America who leaves school with more than $5,600 in credit card debt alone.

Hutchinson recommends that children begin to build an emergency fund as soon as they can so they can have some money saved up and understand the principals

of savings and creating an emergency account by the time they become young adults.

Here are seven ways to help your child develop a lifetime emergency fund: • Encourage kids to save something. Whether it be a 10-year-old stashing away a dollar or teenagers opening a savings or checking account, get kids in the habit of saving no matter how small the amount.

• Help kids balance treats and sacrifices. Help your kids by setting, and meeting goals. Once those goals are met allow them a little withdrawal to buy something for themselves.

• Loose change goes to the emergency fund. Loose change can add up, so don’t let kids discard those pennies or leave them lying in the parking lot – no matter if they are heads or tails up.

• Set an example. Children don’t miss much, and if they don’t see you saving, they might wonder why they need to save.

• Keep kids away from credit as long as possible.

Credit card companies have large marketing budgets and much of those funds are spent on marketing to older teenagers. Make sure he or she understands what credit pitfalls could lie ahead.

• Schedule money meetings. Meet with your child at regular intervals so that you can discuss their emergency account, answer questions

and discuss money issues he or she might encounter.

• Help kids set up a real budget. The earlier kids learn to manage a budget, the easier things will be down the line. Younger kids can start learning by jotting their plusses and minuses down on a piece of paper, while older kids can be introduced to budgeting on software and apps.

“Circumstances are always changing as people grow older,” Hutchinson says. “I would recommend going over each year’s changing needs with your kids. The emergency fund has to adapt and be ready for whatever circumstances might pop up.”

About Eric Huthinson, CFP Eric Hutchinson (http:// erichutchinsonfinancial. com) is a certified financial planner with more than 30 years of experience in the areas of financial planning, investments, estate and tax planning. Hutchinson has professional affiliations with The Financial Planning Association, the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards and the Investment Management Consultants Association. His new book “The Financial Briefing,” distills time-tested wisdom based on decades of professional experience and provides an overview of many of the financial and life issues everyone will face at some point.

An authoritative blogger, Daniel Lemire, concludes that astronauts age at a faster rate than we earth-bound mortals, reports the Association of Mature American Citizens.

Lemire, a computer science professor at the University of Quebec and a former research officer at the National Research Council of Canada cited bone marrow

research by Dr. Guy Trudel of the University of Ottawa. It seems that the microgravity experienced in the International Space Station is akin to getting too much bed rest here at home; it has an effect on an individual’s bone marrow and blood cells. Trudel’s research for NASA revealed that “after 60 days of bed rest, the marrow of the patients studied

looked as if it had aged and grown by four years.”

In 1911, French physicist Paul Langevin theorized that if one twin traveled through space at nearly the speed of light for two years he would return home to find that it was two centuries later here on earth and that his brother was long dead.

ChurCh DireCtory BREAD OF LIFE CHURCH 2820 N. Conway Ave. • 581-1411 CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD 2322 N. McColl. - McAllen 682-2092 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 5609 S 29th St. - McAllen 682-4881 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 2Mile & Bryan Rd Mission.

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Missonaries • 580-2570 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH 911 N. Main - McAllen 686-4241 CONWAY AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH 2215 N. Conway • 585-2413 EL FARO BIBLE CHURCH 15 miles W. of Mission on Exp. 83 Sullivan City, TX • 585-5617 EL MESIAS UNITED METHODIST 209 E. 6th • 585-2334 FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH 3 miles N. Shary Rd. • 581-1465 FAITH FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH 1 mile N. Exp. 83 on Tom Gill Rd. 519-6311 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1302 Doherty • 585-1442 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH 12th and Miller - Mission 585-7281 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1102 Ash St. • 585-4829 for worship schedule.

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FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1101 Doherty • 585-1665 FREEDOM LIFE CHURCH 2214 W. Griffin Pkwy. • 519-7000 Mission GRACIA DIVINA MINISTRY 11809 N. Shary Rd. • 584-3112 GREAT OAKS COMMUNITY CHURCH 2722 N. Conway • 451-5500 Mission HERITAGE BAPTIST MCALLEN 2549 Lindbergh Ave. McAllen • 451-6358 IGLESIA ADVENTISTA DEL SEPTIMO DIA 1725 W. Griffin Parkway 581-9008 IGLESIA BAUTISTA BETANIA 851 S. Breyfogle Rd. • 585-5688 IGLESIA BAUTISTA CRISTO EL REY 1600 E. Bus. 83 - Mission IGLESIA BAUTISTA COLONIAL 3713 N. La Homa Rd. • 585-5332 IGLESIA BAUTISTA DEL VALLE 217 W. Mile 3 Rd. • 424-1602 Palmhurst IGLESIA DEL PUEBLO 7500 West Expressway 83 581-1900 IGLESIA DEL DIVINO REDENTOR 1020 North Los Ebanos Rd 585-5898

IGLESIA PENTECOSTES NUEVA VIDA A/G 211 W. Mile 3 Road Palmhurst • 956-342-9711 Rev. Candelario Banda

LA RESPUESTA CHURCH 405 W. 12th Street • 585-0787 MISSION CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 1 mi. E. 495 • 585-6683 NEW HOPE AT THE BORDER 905 N. Conway • 369-3603 NORTH MISSION CHURCH OF CHRIST 1410 E. Mile 3 Rd. • 585-0146 Palmhurst NORTH PALMVIEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH 7612 W. 6 Mile Ln. ONLY THRU JESUS 1511 E. Mile 2 Rd. Mission • 918-760-1625 OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS One-half mile South Leo Avenue La Joya • 585-5223 OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHURCH 6634 El Camino Real • Granjeno OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH 2.5 miles S. Conway (FM 1016) Mission OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH 620 Dunlap • 585-2623 OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY CHURCH 923 Matamoros St. • 581-2193 PALM VALLEY CHURCH 1720 E. Griffin Pkwy.

585-3203 PEÑITAS BAPTIST CHURCH 1/3 Mile S. of Exp.83 on FM 1427 583-6236 PRIMERA BAPTIST CHURCH Corner of 6th & Oblate 585-4711

PROMISE LAND CHURCH 2300 E. Palm Circle (Corner of 495) Mission, TX 78572 • 624-9307 RIVER OF LIFE CHURCH 901 S. Shary Rd. (Located in the Holiday Inn Express Conference Room) 451-4838 SAN CRISTOBAL MAGALLANES & COMPANIONS PARISH

3805 Plantation Grove Blvd., Ste. 5

Mission • 580-4551

SAN MARTIN DE PORRES 5 mi. N. Conway, 1/2 Mile West Alton • 585-8001 & 585-8002 SPIRIT OF PEACE EV. LUTHERAN CHUCH 3104 Los Milagros Mission • 581-1822 ST. JOHN OF THE FIELDS CATHOLIC CHURCH 1052 Washington Ave. • 585-2325 ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH 1119 Francisco • 585-2701 ST. PETER & ST. PAUL EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2310 N. Stewart Rd. 585-5005 SHINING LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH 6 1/8 N. Doffing Rd. (FM 492) 580-4078 TEMPLO BIBLICO 5 Mile/Conway 581-4981or 585-3831 TEMPLO EVANGELICO, M.B. CHURCH La Joya TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 3905 W. 3 Mile Line • 585-3261 VALLEY FELLOWSHIP 1708 E. Griffin Parkway Mission • 424-7200

PRIMERA IGLESIA DEL VALLE APOSTOLIC ASSEMBLY 210 N. St. Marie. • 585-8651

KING, GUERRA, DAVIS & GARCIA ATTORNEYS AT LAW

DAVID H. GUERRA

DARRELL DAVIS

301 E. Tom Landry • Mission • 585-1622

MISSION AUTO ELECTRIC, INC. DBA

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Commercial Lawn Equipment “Since 1954”

915 West Bus. 83 • Mission, tX 78572 • (956) 581-7433

Aging in space

page 8

MHS GRADS

was Melissa Molina, who Lopez noted was graduating in the top ten percent of her class despite entering the Class of 2017 as a non-English speaker.

Lopez also recognized Luisangel Venegas who, after losing family support, started his own cell phone repair business to support himself while he completed high school. And Lopez recognized Esdras Ortiz for overcoming personal obstacles to graduate, saying the young man had perhaps surprised even himself that he was among the graduating class.

Among the proud parents in the crowd were Frank Aniceto Jr. and his wife, Adriana, the father and step-mother of Jose “Jo Jo”

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com Rafael Aniceto who graduated with honors. Aniceto said he felt “ecstatic” for his son.

Though he and Jose’s mother divorced when Jose was 2 years old, Aniceto said he has never let that interfere with his relationship with his son who will study finance at Texas A&M - Corpus Christi in the fall.

“No one could ever be as proud as seeing your child graduate,” Aniceto said. “I’m just thankful to the good Lord above his mother and I could come together for him as he’s been growing up.”

Aniceto’s stepmother said she was also proud of the child she has watched grow up the past 15 years.

“I’m very proud of him,” Adriana Aniceto said. “He’s a very interesting kid. He’s

CASAS RESIGNS Casas was initially suspended with pay by Dominguez a day following the May 29 broadcast. A recording of the broadcast shows Casas in a vehicle with a passenger “rapping to music, drinking alcoholic beverages and displaying what appears to be a clear plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance” according to a Mission Police Department news release.

Mission police identified the passenger as a 23-yearold nephew of the officer but would not release his name.

Since the initial broadcast the recording posted on Youtube by at least two viewers had been seen by nearly 20,000 viewers as of Monday.

An internal investigation was started following the Facebook broadcast but Chief Dominguez announced Casas’ resignation before the investigation was completed.

At the June 1 press conference Dominguez said Casas had turned in his letter of resignation earlier that day.

from pg 1 very athletic, very outgoing, outspoken, spontaneous and he has a great sense of humor.”

Following the ceremony, father and son shared a long embrace near the water fountains in front of the convention center where graduates exited following the ceremony and reunited with friends and families. That’s where graduate Andrea Gonzalez stood searching for her family with two medallions around her neck. One medallion commemorates her alma mater and was provided to each graduate by the board of trustees and another commemorates her academic scholarship by the state of Texas.

Gonzalez, who plans to attend the University of from pg 1

“He was very regretful on what he’s done and apologized to me and the department for what he has put us through in these last few days for conduct that is not condoned by this department,” Dominguez said, adding he wished Casas good luck on his future endeavors.

“Situations like this put us in the limelight and remind us police officers are human beings, too. They make mistakes and, unfortunately in this case, Casas did. Bottom line, he basically admitted to his wrongdoings and resigned.”

As a result of the resignation Dominguez said the internal investigation will stop.

Asked if Casas and his passenger would face any criminal charges following the video, Dominguez said Edinburg PD would be handling an investigation into possible criminal charges as the video was filmed in that city.

Oscar Trevino, assistant police chief for Edinburg PD, confirmed Monday the

city’s Vice Unit is investigating the incident but would not release more details.

At the press conference, Dominguez said Casas was ordered to take a blood test earlier that day, which came back negative for illicit drugs.

“We use social media for positive aspects to keep the public informed on what we do as we help the public in whatever issue is out there.

Unfortunately, it can also be used in a negative way as much as a positive way,” Dominguez said. “This is an isolated incident and I don’t think you can hold every member of this department accountable for what one person did, but I understand the public’s concern. We’re here to forge forward in taking care of our citizens and community.”

Sgt. Casas could not be reached for comment via the phone number or email address contained in various Youtube postings of his evangelical ministry.

Houston in Victoria in the fall said she was relieved high school was over but was not overly apprehensive about at least another four years of schooling.

“I’m not too worried about it,” Gonzalez said.

“Right now I’m just enjoying today.”

During the ceremony, class valedictorian Edgar A.

Garza thanked his principal, school staff, the superintendant and board of trustees for making the day possible.

“Having all of us here preparing to begin the next chapter of our lives would not be possible without the great leadership everyone of you exhibit,” Garza said.

And Salutatorian Roxanna Cortez ended her remarks

MANAGER FIRED Ricardo Villarreal opposing it while Linda Sarabia, Joel Garcia and Javier Ramirez supported the resolution.

Palmview Mayor Jerry Perez said the city council had been trying to get Segovia to sign a settlement agreement but those negotiations stalled in April, leading the council to place Segovia on administrative leave.

“It’s been dragging out, we just want to move on,” Perez said, adding he supported Segovia and did not vote on the resolution. “It’s been going on for a while and obviously they want to go in a different direction.”

Segovia was placed on administrative leave April 27 following a management review by Paul Vazaldua of the McAllen-based consulting firm Vazaldua & Associates.

The report concluded the city lacked proper policies and procedures and highlighted several departmental deficiencies such as a lack of proper Human Resource policies, job descriptions and hiring procedures. The report concluded the deficiencies were due to Segovia’s inexperience and recommended he be fired. Vazaldua also recommended the city terminate then Assistant City Manager David Nacianceno and City Secretary Bertha Garza.

Nacianceno resigned last month and Garza is still with the city.

When reached for comment, Segovia referred all his

June 9, 2017

with advice for her fellow graduates.

“If I can leave you guys with one piece of motivation this afternoon, it would be that no dream is too big.

Just because your life is not perfect, it does not mean that you cannot do it. Come on Class of 2017, go out and change the world.” from pg 1

questions to Houston-based attorney Bernie Aldape who did not respond to Progress Times as of press time.

The city council appointed former Weslaco City Manager Leonardo Olivares to take over Segovia’s duties once he was placed on administrative leave. Since his appointment in April, Olivares said he has been working with the council to ensure the city is in compliance with the city charter.

Olivares said the city has been operating on a “razor-thin” fund balance, an act that Councilwoman Sarabia said played a role in her voting to fire Segovia as he never provided extensive financial information to her fellow council members while in office.

“We don’t know if we can afford to keep paying two city managers at the same time,” Sarabia said.

“We don’t know how much money we have and, from my perspective, I don’t think it was in the best interest of our city and citizens to keep him.”

According to Olivares, the city is also missing important documentation such as records of executive session discussions during the past four years, a discovery he says is “unsettling.”

“It exposes the city because any action we’ve taken is now subject to being void by a court,” Olivares said. “Our city secretary has looked and cannot find them.

We do not know if they were kept and misplaced or never delivered. Usually the items in executive session are the big items dealing with personnel, contract negotiations, real estate, so it’s not good they’re missing. Who’s responsible?”

Segovia has worked for the city since he was 16, starting at the Palmview Youth Club and eventually became its director. He worked at city hall as assistant city manager under Johnn (correct spelling) Alaniz before replacing him in October 2013.

Both councilmembers Sarabia and Garcia said after the meeting that Segovia “inherited a mess” from Alaniz but believe they gave him enough of an opportunity to prove himself to the city council.

“When you have four years by yourself here, when are they going to take the training wheels off,” Garcia asked. “I’ve known him, he’s a good guy. I hope he does good in whatever he does and I think he did try to do his best and we appreciated all the years he’s been here.

Unfortunately, sometimes you have to make decisions you’re not proud of but you have to do it for the sake of the community. It’s a difficult decision. Even when I fire my own employees I’m not proud of it, but sometimes they make their own decisions and fire themselves.”

ply for unemployment.

“It was just a quick, quick thing. As soon as they gave me the paperwork that was it,” Tina said.

Both women say they plan to continue nursing even if they have to leave the area to do it.

“This is the only thing I’ve ever done,” said Lay. “I entered nursing school at 18, graduated at 20 and it’s the only thing I’ve done. I don’t know if I would know how to do anything else.”

Asked, if given the opportunity, what she might say to Prime Healthcare CEO Dr. Prem Reddy about the layoffs Lay had this to say: “I’d ask why, when these people have been with the company for 20 and 30 years, he couldn’t have grandfathered these people into the system and once they left not refill the positions with LVNs? I understand that Texas is an, ‘at will’ state and if you’re a company they can tell you you’re no lon-

theclassifieds buy • sell • trade • rent • hire

this page is your oyster opening up to a world of opportunity Make it happen, we’re located at 1217 N. Conway in Mission, TX Come on in! Our hours of operation are Mon. - Fri. 8 - 5 p.m.

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Garage Sale 1513 BLAKE ST., Mission, Friday& Saturday, June

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Help Wanted HIDALGO COUNTY IRRIGATION District #6 is seeking to hire a full-time Field Supervisor.

The Field Supervisor will be under the direction of the General Manager on all daily operations including, but not limited to, maintaining and repairing canals, supervising employees’, ordering materials and supplies and conduct-

NOTICE OF PRIVATE NONPROFIT SCHOOL MEETING June 14, 2017 1:30-2:00 p.m.

Central Office Building Mission, TX 78572 Notice is hereby given that a private nonprofit school meeting will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, in the Mission CISD Central Office Building, located at 1201 Bryce Drive, Mission, Texas. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the possibility of participation in Mission CISD’s Federal Funding.

Interested Private Non-Profit Schools must hold a current 501 (c) (3) status and serve eligible Mission CISD students. For additional information, please contact Kim Risica at 956-3235550 or at kmrisica@mcisd.org

PUBLIC NOTICE The Mission Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on June 28, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: 3.082 acres out of the South 4.00 acres of Lot 42, BellWood’s CO’s Subdivision “C”, from (AO-I) Agricultural Open Interim to (R-2) Duplex-Fourplex Residential; and Rezoning: 0.780 acres out of the South 4.00 acres of Lot 42, BellWoods CO’s Subdivision “C”, from (AO-I) Agricultural Open Interim to (C2) Neighborhood Commercial Amended Crystal Estates Phase II 8.05 acre tract of land out of Lot 27-2, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement.

Anyone interested is invited to attend.

Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ing shop duties and equipment repairs.

Three (3) years’ experience in field work is preferred but not required.

Applicant must be knowledgeable in operating and maintaining all type of heavy equipment.

Applicant must also be computer literate, possess organizational skills, be able to multi-task, exhibit strong leadership skills, be self-motivated and be safety-minded.

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Applications may be picked up no later than 6/15/2017 4:30pm Central Time at 3735 N FM 492, Mission, TX or call (956) 585-8389.

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gation District No. 6 is an equal opportunity employer.

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NAIL TECH NEEDED, looking for a friendly and energetic individual to work full-time at Cutter’s Etc. in Mission, if interested call Myrna Boyd at 956–584– 8485 for more information.

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Homes For Sale NEW HOME FOR sale, 3BR/2 Bath/2 car garage- 1,512 sq. ft. live-in area, 2302 Kim Marie Ave., Mission, TX, contact Eloy at 956–432–7090 for more information, great location near expressway.

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HIRING Mr. G’s Fireworks

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ORDINANCE 2017-04-0523 APPOINTING 6 MEMBERS TO THE PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE, CITY OF ALTON REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT, WAIVING SECOND AND THIRD READING. READ, APPROVED, AND PASSED on this the 23rd day of May, 2017.

Salvador Vela, Mayor ATTEST: Baudelia Rojas CPM, TRMCCMC, City Secretary City of Alton, Texas

PUBLIC NOTICE The Mission City Council will hold a Regular Meeting on June 26, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: A 1.258 acre tract of land, more or less, out of the South 10 acres of the North 20 acres of Lot 254, John H. Shary Subdivision, from (C-1) Office Building to (C-2) Neighborhood Commercial; and Rezoning: A 0.65 acre tract of land out of Meadow Creek Country Club Phase II-A Subdivision, from PUD (Planned Unit Development – Permanent Open Space District) to PUD (Planned Unit Development – Commercial) Replat of Lots 3 and 4,Stewart Plaza Subdivision Being 3.057 acres of land, and b e i n g all of Lots 3 and 4, Stewart Plaza Subdivision If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement.

Anyone interested is invited to attend.

Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ST. JUDE May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, love and preserved throughout the world now and forever.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude helper of the helpless, pray for us.

Say this prayer 9 days, 9 times a day. On the 8th day, your prayer will be answered. It has never been know to fail.

Publication must be promised. My prayers have been answered.

Thank you St. Jude Louis C. Brown

ger needed. But I think they should at least give you two weeks to a month’s advanced notice so you can at least try to find something else.”

Part of what outraged the source who informed the Progress Times about the layoffs was the way longtime employees were treated.

“There’s people there 30 years and they’re not given one hour’s notice? I heard many employees were escorted out of the building by security after they were given paperwork on how to apply for unemployment and then, bye, you know? Everyone has bills, living from paycheck to paycheck and to treat them that way is just inhumane.”

Said one long-time employee who asked their name not be used, “I’ve worked at a lot of hospitals before and I’ve never seen anything like this happen.”

Send us your classified today!

from pg 1 were not the only persons laid off. Cafeteria workers, medical, pharmacy and records staff were also laid off, the source said.

Both nurses said they were chagrined by the short notice of their termination and that the only severance pay offered was payment for their unused vacation time and that they would continue to have health insurance through the end of the month.

But as Tina explained, most nurses had depleted their leave in the past 18 months because as the hospital had been reducing the number of hours it was scheduling LVNs from 80 hours per pay period to as little as 40 hours and the nurses were cashing in their unused paid vacation to make up the difference in their paychecks.

Lay said the June 2 meeting lasted long enough for hospital officials to provide documentation of termination so the nurses could ap-

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going to happen. But there were some people in the meeting who were a little blind-sided about the whole thing. They weren’t expecting it.”

According to another nurse in the Labor Department who has worked for the hospital 25 years, nurses had been told sometime in February or March, after Prime Healthcare officials had been evaluating the hospital, that their positions were safe.

“There was a meeting after some nurses had already quit and the chief officer nurse was crying and said to us, ‘Please don’t leave me.

Please, I need you. You guys are not going to be touched,” said Tina. The nurse asked the Progress Times to identify her only by her first name.

“We thought everything was going to be OK and we’d continue working.”

But the source that informed the Progress Times about the layoffs said nurses

Submit online:

release.

Among the workers who lost their jobs last Friday was Rebecca “Becky” Lay, 56, who has worked for MRMC for 19 of her 36 years as a licensed vocational nurse.

Lay, who was working in the hospital’s Labor and Delivery Department, said she received a text message on Thursday, June 1 informing her she needed to attend a meeting the next day at 8:30 a.m. She said the meeting was attended by herself and seven other nurses who met with the hospital’s chief of nursing, Kennetha Foster, the head of human resources and another department head.

“They said the company is taking over the hospital and they do not use LVNs and that Friday was going to be our last day at work,” Lay said. “Rumors had been going around the hospital so when I got the text I had a pretty good idea what was

Or Scan This Code With Your Smartphone

MRMC LAY OFF

page 9

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Fax it in: Bring it in: 1217 N Conway Mission 585-2304

June 9, 2017

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING The City of Palmview Planning and Zoning Board will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at The City Hall Council Chambers at 400 W. Veterans Blvd in Palmview, Texas to consider the following: Rezoning: A 0.571 Acre tract of Land out of Lot 104, Block 3A, The Goodwin Tract Subdivision No. 1 and No. 2, from Agricultural Open Interim (AO-I) to General Business (C-3) Rezoning: A Tract of Land Containing 2.97 Acres, Situated in Hidalgo County, Texas and also Being A Part or Portion of Lot 88, New Celedonia Subdivision No. 1 from Agricultural Open Interim (AO-I) to Single Family Residential (R-1) Rezoning: Goodwin #1 Lot 36 BLK 3 8.82 AC G R 8.29AC NET from Agricultural Open Interim (AO-I) to Heavy Commercial (C-4) Rezoning: 2.37 AC. Lot 38 Block 3, Goodwin Subdivision #1 from Agricultural Open Interim (AO-I) to General Business (C-3) The Public is invited to attend.

Bertha Garza, City Secretary City of Palmview, Texas NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ISSUE CITY OF LA JOYA, TEXAS CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Commissioners (the Governing Body) of the City of La Joya, Texas (the City) will convene at its regular meeting place in the City Hall, 101 Leo Ave, La Joya, TX 78560, at 6:00 o’clock P.M., on July 11, 2017, and, during such meeting, the Governing Body will consider the passage of an ordinance or ordinances and take such other actions as may be deemed necessary to authorize the issuance of one or more series of certificates of obligation in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $500,000.00 (the Certificates) for the purpose or purposes of paying contractual obligations of the City to be incurred for making permanent public improvements and for other public purposes. Funding will be used to pay for the cost overruns relating to a new City Hall facility, which real property and improvements are more particularly described as Lot “A”, QUAIL-HOLLOW ESTATES, an addition to the City of La Joya, Hidalgo County, Texas according to the map or plat thereof recorded in volume 31, Page 179, Map Records, Hidalgo County, Texas; including (1) architect fees; (2) construction costs for the improvements to the aforesaid property; and (3) the payment of professional services related to the construction and financing of the aforementioned project. These cost overruns are in addition to the $3,482,000.00 that was financed by certificates of obligation and refunding bonds of the City in 2016 to finance the aforementioned project. The certificates of obligation will be payable from the levy of an annual ad valorem tax, within the limitations prescribed by law, upon all taxable property within the City and from a lien on and pledge of net revenues derived by the City from the operation of the City’s Waterworks and wastewater system. The Certificates are to be issued, and this notice is given, under and pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Obligation Act of 1971, as amended, Texas Local Government Code, Section 271.041 through Section 271.065 and Chapter 1502, as amended, Texas Government Code.

Julianita R. Sabala City Secretary City of La Joya, Texas

ORDINANCE 2017-05-0523 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING TO ONE GAS, INC., ACTING BY AND THROUGH ITS TEXAS GAS SERVICE COMPANY DIVISION, AND ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, FOR A PERIOD OF TWENTY (20) YEARS FROM APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF THIS ORDINANCE, A NON-EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE AND RIGHT TO ENTER THE PUBLIC WAYS TO INSTALL, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WITHIN, ALONG, ACROSS, OVER AND UNDER THE PUBLIC WAYS OF THE CITY OF ALTON, TEXAS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION AND/OR SALE OF GAS TO CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC GENERALLY IN THE CITY; DEFINING THE WORDS AND PHRASES THEREIN; PROVIDING FOR ASSIGNMENT, SALE OR LEASE OF THE FRANCHISE; PROVIDING THAT THE CITY MAY ENACT AN ORDINANCE CHARGING PERSONS TRANSPORTING GAS THROUGH GRANTEE’S DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM A FEE ON THE CALCULATED VALUE OF SUCH TRANSPORTED GAS; PROVIDING FOR USE AND REPAIR OF THE PUBLIC WAYS; PROVIDING FOR REGULATION OF SERVICE; ESTABLISHING DEPTH OF PIPELINES; ESTABLISHING RIGHTS AND DUTIES IN THE MOVEMENT AND ALTERATION OF PIPELINES; PROVIDING FOR INDEMNIFICATION OF THE CITY OF ALTON; PROVIDING FOR GRANTEE’S RULES AND REGULATIONS; PROVIDING FOR INSPECTION OF GRANTEE’S RECORDS; REQUIRING GRANTEE TO PAY A FRANCHISE FEE; PROVIDING FOR CONDITIONS OF THE FRANCHISE; PROVIDING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THIS ORDINANCE UPON THE INVALIDITY OF ANY PART THEREOF; PROVIDING FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THIS FRANCHISE BY GRANTEE AND BOTH AN EFFECTIVE AND AN OPERATIVE DATE THEREOF; REPEALING ALL OTHER ORDINANCES DIRECTLY IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, WAIVING SECOND AND THIRD READING. READ, APPROVED, AND PASSED on this the 23rd day of May, 2017.

Salvador Vela, Mayor, City of Alton, Texas ATTEST: Baudelia Rojas CPM, TRMC CMC, City Secretary

page 10

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June 9, 2017

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