June 16, 2017 - PT ISSUE

Sunday, June 18, 2017 Friday, June 16, 2017

www.ptrgv.com | 25 Cents

Vol. 45 No. 45

One year later

Mission CISD expecting tax cut for second year

Mission housing growth continues; City weighs dog park

By Joe Hinton

By Joe Hinton

For the second year in a row residents in the Mission Consolidated Independent School District can expect a reduction in the property taxes assessed by the school system next year.

“In all it comes to just under a penny,” said Craig B. Verley, district spokesman, referring to the tax reduction from $100 of assessed property valuation the district is expecting in the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year.

The anticipated reduction is the result of the district’s refinancing tens of millions of dollars worth of bonds, Rumalda Ruiz, assistant superintendent for finance told the district’s board of trustees during a June 7 budget workshop meeting. The refinancing means a reduction in the district’s debt service tax from last year’s rate of $0.1882 to next year’s anticipated rate of $0.1802, Ruiz said.

In all the district is anticipating a total tax rate of $1.3502 in the 2017-2018 fiscal year, down from $1.3582 last year and $1.3672 in FY2015-2016, according to figures contained in the MCISD budget workbook.

Next year’s figures are a little more than ten cents higher than the $1.24 rate assessed in FY 2008-2009.

Tax rates began increasing soon after the district sold

Mission’s city council has approved two new housing subdivisions and has taken steps toward creating the city’s first “off leash” dog park. The actions were among many on the council’s Monday agenda.

During Monday’s meeting the city council gave preliminary plat approval for two new subdivisions with a combined total of 155 single-family residences on the city’s northwest side.

The council approved the plat request from Everman Development, Inc. to build 81 homes on just more than 62 acres. The Camino De Abram subdivision will be located a half-mile north of 3 Mile Road between Abram and Brushline Roads. The frontage road for the development will be on Abram Road, according to city planning documents.

The council also approved the plat request from Peña Chapa Development to build 74 single-family residences on 50 acres of land located nearby the Camino De Abram subdivision. The Rancho El Portrero subdivision will be located about a half-mile north of 3 Mile Road near the northeast corner of Western Road and 3 Mile Road. The frontage road for the subdivision will be Western Road, according to city planning documents.

See TAX CUT Pg. 8

Granjeno Mayor Yvette Cabrera stands inside her home that is being reconstructed after it was destroyed in a storm last year that damaged nearly 40 other homes in her city. Progress Times photo

by Jose De Leon III

Granjeno mayor reflects on powerful storm

By Jose De Leon III Granjeno Mayor Yvette Cabrera still remembers that fateful Tuesday night when her city was hit by straight line winds with speeds between 85 and 95 miles per hour, damaging at least 40 homes and the city’s community center building May 31, 2016 .

“I was asleep when all of a sudden it started raining and hailing,” Cabrera recalled. “I walked out of my bedroom to check it out, that’s when I heard a really loud noise against our house followed by glass shattering. The wind from

the storm had broken all our windows and rain was getting everywhere.”

Cabrera said the winds awakened her two daughters who were screaming in terror from the violent winds that threatened their home. The best Cabrera could do to calm her daughters was wait with them in their room, praying for the storm to pass.

“The storm lasted maybe 30 minutes but it felt longer,” Cabrera said. “I couldn’t even sleep I was worried about what was happening in Granjeno outside my home. It wasn’t until I went to my living

room and noticed that our roof had flown off, causing water to drip into the house, did I say to myself ‘I think this is serious.’”

Once the storm passed, Cabrera walked down the street to the city hall to make several phone calls requesting aid from public officials. Along her walk she noticed broken electric power poles and destroyed trees, patio covers and carports along the two streets in her city of 313 residents.

Large sections of rooftops had their shingles stripped away and some homes had power poles or trees resting on the rooftops as downed

electrical wires lay strewn on the ground.

“I couldn’t even drive around because of the down power lines,” Cabrera said.

“We went through a lot that day, it was the first time we’ve ever experienced something like this. It was a learning experience; we were all out there trying to do our best with what we had.”

Arcadio Anzaldua, Cabrera’s neighbor, was also impacted by the storm.

All the shingles on his roof were blown away, causing water damage to his ceiling.

See ONE YEAR LATER Pg. 8

See DOG PARK Pg. 8

Mission plans new design for Leo Peña Placita Park

By Joe Hinton If approved by Mission’s city council the theater in the round at Leo Peña Placita Park will be replaced with a more traditional outdoor stage setting. Plans to completely refurbish the 2.5 acre park, site of numerous community events including the Texas Citrus Fiesta’s Fun Fair, were unveiled Monday

during the council’s annual planning session at City Hall.

Carolina Civarolo, of the McAllen-based Orange Made Architecture, showed proposed plans to the city’s mayor and council that would eliminate the existing center stage and rows of concrete seating surrounding it and replace them with a stage on the west side of the current amphitheater with

natural rock seating near the front of the stage with a grassy lawn throughout the remaining seating area where guests can either sit on the grass or lawn chairs.

“And now when you have a performance completely to the west everybody is now looking in the same direction,” said Mission City

See LEO PEÑA PLACITA Pg. 9

Local athletes dominate awards Five area athletes took home six of the 24 most highly coveted individual awards at the annual All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet last weekend. Reporter Luciano Guerra has the details inside.

Above is the proposed plan rendering by Orange Made Architecture for the proposed $1.5 million redesign of Leo Peña Placita Park located at 8th Street and Conway Ave. Courtesy photo.

INSIDE Summer activties

Entertainment | pg.2

Lifestyle | pg.3

One of the last living priests to attend seminary school at St. Peter’s Novitiate Mission has passed away at 102. Read inside about the Oblate priest, who died Tuesday.

Looking for summer fun?

Start with Yoga in the Park or a sunset nature walk at the McAllen Nature Center where reporter Jose De Leon III spent a recent morning with park patrons.

See Pg. 5

See Pg. 6

INDEX

A dying breed

Opinion | pg.4

Sports | pg. 6

See Pg. 5

Obituaries | pg. 7

Classifieds | pg. 9

entertainment Coming Attractions

MHM program

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

UVAL offers ceramics workshops

The Upper Valley Art League is offering three, one-day ceramic workshops this summer: June 30, July 28 and Aug. 25. The instructor is Alex Comminos.

All classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th St. in Mission.

Cost is $25 per class for members and $35 for nonmembers. Sign-up and payment must be completed in advance of the desired class.

Deadline for the June 30 class is June 28.

To sign up and pay, stop by the UVAL gallery during regular hours or call 956583-2787.

MCALLEN – South Texas College (STC) Theatre presents Georg Büchner’s play “Woyzeck” running June 22 to 24 at 8 pm. There will also be a Sunday 2 p.m. matinee on June 25 at STC’s Cooper Center for Communication Arts Main Stage, 3201 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen.

Woyzeck is a soldier, father, and a God-fearing man. He also happens to see visions of apocalyptic violence, and slowly begins to lose his mind as he tries to fulfill the needs of his wife, Marie, and a son born out of wedlock. At the same time his captain berates him for lack of morality due to his being part of the proletariat, and a doctor uses him to conduct ludicrous experiments that take a toll on his sanity.

Shadows and red rivers

plague his mind, promising him a tragedy that he cannot escape. The dark parable that illustrates frightening madness, impossible pressures and the devastating truths of humanity through the eyes of Woyzeck are all set against the backdrop of The Great Depression.

General admission tickets cost $5. This play contains strong language and mature themes. Parental discretion is advised. The June 25 matinee will be interpreted in American Sign Language.

Ticket cash purchases can be made one hour before the performance at the box office. For additional information or for group rates, call 956-872-2301 or email rdehoyos_8271@southtexascollege.edu or jrodriguez@ southtexascollege.edu.

STC Theatre presents Woyzeck

Mission First United Methodist Church 1101 Doherty Ave.

June 16-18 • Explore prehistoric life at the McAllen Convention Center, 700 Convention Center Blvd., in the hands-on exhibit “Discover the Dinosaurs Unleashed.” Experience encounters with lifelike dinosaurs; visit the Kids Adventure Zone filled with bouncy houses, crafts, face painting and more; test skills playing Mesozoic Mini Golf course; become junior paleontologists in a 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.

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 information, go to DiscoverTheDinosaurs.com.

June 17 & 29, July 8 & 29, August 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 956682-0123.

June 20 • The next book discussion at Speer Memorial Library in Mission begins at 6:30 p.m. in the library’s Community Room.

This month’s discussion of “438 Days,” a true story written by Jonathan Franklin, is free and open to the general public. 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. The library is located at 12th and Kika De La Garza in Mission.

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 956-522-8753 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 956240-2059.

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

EWBC plans night to honor members

Mission TX 78572 (956) 585-1665

Sunday Services: 8:00 a.m. Informal 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Dinner with 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Friends every 11:00 a.m. Traditional 11:00 a.m. Childrens Church Friday @ 5:30pm 5:00 p.m. Spanish Worship

Everyone is Welcome!

Join us for communion the First Sunday of every month.

www.missionfumc.com

EDINBURG – As a token of gratitude, the staff at the Edinburg World Birding Center invites members to an evening of music, food, live animals and fun. The event will be held on Friday, June 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. The entry fee is free for members and their guests.

Members are encouraged to bring their families and friends to learn more about the programs, offerings, and

Drefke resigns from Food Bank PHARR – In a June 13 press release, the board of the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley announced the resignation of CEO Terri Drefke.

In the announcement, they offered their appreciation and acknowledged she “has been pivotal in helping feed hundreds of thousands of people over her 28 years of service.” It was noted that during her time there, the or-

Transforming Lives...

La Joya ISD

Transforming Communities!

INVITES YOU TO OUR

Sundowners

Tuesday, June 20th

A 3-man scramble with prizes for overall 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, skins, and closest to the pin.

$25 per person

Tee-off time starts at 5:30pm

Please call 956-585-6330 to reserve your team’s spot!

1910 Hole-In-One Dr. Mission, TX 78582

habitat restoration activities at the EWBC. There will be a chance to win prizes, along with a membership drawing – with one award entry each for new and returning members. Two entries will be given to members who refer a friend to sign-up for a new membership.

The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Road.

For more information call 956-381-9922.

7am - 6pm 956-585-6330

ganization grew from a small emergency pantry to the largest non-religious charity in South Texas.

With the changes, services provided by the Food Bank RGV board and staff will continue as they work with partner agencies, donors and the community for food distribution across the Valley.

June 16, 2017

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

UTRGV Productions Summer Stock begins June 29

EDINBURG –The UTRGV’s University Productions RGV Summer Stock 2017 line-up begins June 29 with their first performance.

They lead off with “Rough Magic,” a fantasy

by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa that provides a range of emotions, from horror to romance and heroism. “Rough Magic” runs June 29, 30 and July 1 at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on July 2.

“RX,” a comedy by Kate Fodor, is a humorous look at workplace depression – fitting and delightful entertainment for anxious people living in anxious times. “RX” runs July 6-8 at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on July 9.

Both plays will be presented at the Albert L. Jeffers Theatre, in the ELABS

building, corner of University Drive and Sugar Road, on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $5 for non-UTRGV students and UTRGV students, faculty and staff with a current school ID. Bring your general admission ticket to the second show and get the second show for $5.

No children below the third grade will be admitted.

Subscriptions for the 2017-2018 University Productions theatre season are available, along with individual tickets for the productions. To subscribe, call the University Box Office at 956-665-3581 or email Elva Galvan at elva.galvan@ utrgv.edu for more information.

Planning historical weekend fun for all ages

EDINBURG – The weekend fun begins at the Museum of South Texas History on Saturday, June 17, with children’s author and educator Patty York Raymond.

She will present “The ABCs to Ranching” at 11 a.m. On Sunday, June 18, two local re-enactors, Ruben Cordova and Jack Ayoub, will present “Confederate and Union Tejanos in the RGV” at 2 p.m.

“The ABCs to Ranching” illustrates the story of a mischievous boy who is determined to help his father with the chores. During his efforts, the boy develops an appreciation for nature and his heritage – centered on the alphabet. The book, which includes a music CD, will be sold in The Museum Store.

This presentation is included in the fee for regular museum admission.

Raymond, a native of Laredo and now residing in McAllen, earned a master’s of education in Early Child-

hood Education from the University of Houston. Raymond’s debut book, “It’s Too Windy!” recently received the International Latino Book Award for 2016.

On Sunday, Cordova and Ayoub discuss the history of the men who were involved in the Civil War while residing in the Rio Grande Valley and northeastern Mexico.

Cordova is a former member of the Cameron Country Historical Commission, and Ayoub is active with the annual Texas Independence Day Celebration in San Benito. Both are current members of the Texas Heritage Independence Celebration Association.

The Sunday program is included in the fee for regular museum admission.

MOSTHistory is located at 200 N. Closner Blvd.

Call 956-383-6911 for further information.

Exhibit, reception opens STC ceramics conference

MCALLEN – South Texas College begins its 11th annual ceramics exhibition and workshop, “More than Coincidence: Continuations in Clay” in the Rio Grande Valley with an opening reception on June 22 at the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery.

The event includes a full display of ceramic work by distinguished Texas ceramicists Gregory Tegarden and Amanda Calhoun as well as ceramic work from 12 universities and community colleges across the U.S. The three-day South Texas Ceramic Showdown will begin with an opening reception on June 22 at the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery and the Art Building B Gallery from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The exhibit will be on view through Aug. 11.

The conference will continue with Ceramic Demonstrations on June 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and then from

1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

One more demonstration will take place on Saturday, June 24, at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at STC’s Pecan Campus Art Building (Bldg. B) Ceramics Lab. Art talks will be held on that day from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the same location. All activities are free and open to the public.

Joe Peña, painting professor at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, will also exhibit his recent series, “Food Trucks at Night.”

Reminiscent of Edward Hopper’s diners that emanate light into the dark streets, Peña paints South Texas eateries like taco trucks in the late night urban landscape.

For more information contact Gina Otvos at 956872-3488, or via email at gotvos@southtexascollege. edu or library.southtexascollege.edu/lag.

lifestyle

June 16, 2017

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

EVENTS

CALENDAR

(Angela Garmendia Photography)

Autumn Chandler and Trevor Gowdy

Chandler-Gowdy engagement announced Brice and Emily Chandler of Mission announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Autumn M., to Trevor J. Gowdy. He is the son of William and Shelley Gowdy of Cumming, Ga. The couple will exchange their marriage vows in the Salt Lake City, Utah temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, Aug. 19.

The bride-to-be graduated from Sharyland Pioneer High

School in Mission in 2015.

She is a student at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, where she is studying physical education.

She is currently employed by the City of Mission Parks and Recreation Department.

The prospective groom graduated from North Forsyth High School in Cumming in 2012. He is also a student at BYU majoring in accounting and is employed by the school.

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.

June 24 – The Río Grande Valley-Texas Democratic Women will host a Legislative Update on Saturday, June 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Don Pepe’s Restaurant, 306 N. McColl Road, McAllen. Featured guests are State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa and State Rep. Oscar Longoria. Tickets are $20 and $10 for seniors and students. For information, contact Kenna Giffin at 956-283-4669 or rgvtdwtreasurer@ gmail.com.

June 24 – At the Edinburg World Birding Center, from 10 a.m. to noon, Brownie Girl Scouts can participate in handson activities that will fulfill the badge requirements for the Home Scientist badge. Patches are not included, but scouts will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program. The program fee is $4 per scout. Entry is free for scout leaders. This is not drop off program; children must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or scout leader. To register, call 956-381-9922. Registration is required by June 19. The EWBC is located 714 S. Raul Longoria.

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

Ruben and Norma Armendariz of Mission honored their daughter, Monica Nicole, on the occasion of her 15th birthday. The celebration was held June 10 at Marleen’s Dance Hall in McAllen. The honoree was escorted by Brandon Barbosa of McAllen. She is a ninth grade student at McAllen Memorial High School. (Austin Studio)

Jovanny Lucero was honored by his parents, Jose and Linda Lucero of Palmview, in celebration of his 15th birthday. A mass was held at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Alton followed by a reception at Mariscos El Culichi in McAllen. The honoree is an 11th grade student at La Joya High School. (Austin

Studio)

MHA scholarship recipient

On May 19, the Mission Housing Authority presented their 2017 $1,000 scholarship to Jose Nava. He will be attending the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley and majoring in communications. Pictured with Nava is Severo Rodriguez, MHA board chairman, on the left.

Alzheimer’s disease program planned

VMHS students earn animal science certifications

At the end of school this year, 23 students at Veterans Memorial High School (VMHS) have become the first students to complete the Fundamentals of Animal Science Certifications.

It requires students to complete 18 modules of study through the district’s agriculture curriculum provider, iCEV, and goes beyond the regular course of study. Completed online, the students gage their own progress with teachers acting as facilitators before completing the final certification exam. Students earning the certification are, seated, Marlinda Guerra, Sophia Ponce de Leon, Illiana Contreras, Alyssa Vento, Valerie Ramirez, Samantha Diaz and Gabriela Casas. Standing are Fidel Garza (principal), Fernando Perez (teacher), David Dudley, Isaiah Gonzalez, Osvaldo Garcia, Maximo Gallegos, Cristian Trevino, Jose Salinas, James Gulley, Kayli Vela, Andre S. Garcia, America Cortez, Brandon Martinez, Raizza Lopez, Sergio Pena (Career Technical Education director) and Jose Mejia (assistant principal). Not pictured are Sabrina Luna, Ruth Morales, Jacqueline Villarreal and Sergio Guerrero.

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Edward Camarillo, will be the guest speaker at a presentation on “Alzheimer’s Disease” presented by Senior Care Centers and Mission Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. It will be held Thursday, June 22, at 6 p.m. at Mission Nursing, located

at 1013 S. Bryan Rd. in Mission.

The discussion will cover the facts and myths about aging, Alzheimer’s and dementia. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, call Lisa Garcia at 956-580-2100.

opinion 85th Legislative Overview Op-Ed: Rio Grande Valley By: Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa With 140 days behind us, I reflect on a difficult 85th Legislative Session that ended with tension and conflict. Legislation targeting immigration status, women, undocumented students, same sex couples, and even local government control, was prevalent. While many pieces of legislation passed, a substantial achievement was the many pieces of legislation that did not pass. Many bills that were discriminatory and not good public policy could have become law if we did not fight for what we know is right.

Despite a challenging session, I am proud of what we accomplished for South Texas and the entire State. We had important legislative victories and crafted a balanced budget that takes care of Texans. This session I passed 60 pieces of important legislation and secured millions of dollars for our priorities in Senate District 20.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and one of five Senate conferees on SB 1, the state’s General Appropriations Act, I was involved in countless hours of budget negotiations that resulted in many of the cuts in the original version of the budget being restored. I was able to put the Rio Grande Valley at the forefront of critical discussions and secure funding to help stimulate our local economies.

A tremendous achievement was the $56.6 million appropriated for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine.

The original budget allocated only $5.5 million to the medical school which proved an extremely difficult challenge all session to work to increase critically needed funding. Part of the challenge was the perception by lawmakers that there is a lack of local community support for our medical school.

While higher education funding overall decreased, financial aid for our college students was a bright spot as we increased funding by $71 million for the TEXAS Grant program. A total of $786 million will serve 92% of all eligible students this coming biennium which is a significant increase from last session. We also secured $78.3 million for South Texas College, $4.5 million for Texas Academic Innovation and Mentoring (AIM), and $9.1 million for Texas A&M’s Healthy South Texas to engage families, promote behavior change, and improve quality of healthcare and health outcomes.

We had important legislative victories for the Valley, many of which focused on continuing our regions’ significant economic growth to ensure a competitive and prosperous future. I authored SB 1136 to allow the City of Edinburg to collect municipal Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue to construct sporting-related facilities surrounding their new soccer stadium thereby attracting tourists and overnight guests to our region. Another significant accomplishment was working with TxDOT to secure $150 million to expand the Pharr Interchange to address the traffic congestion. Our

region is of one of the fastest growing areas of the state.

Preparing Texas students for the growing technology workforce demands is a priority, and I am proud to have authored HB 728 that gives more computer science options to high school students statewide by directing the State Board of Education to develop and implement a rigorous computer science program that will count as an advanced math or science credit towards graduation.

I also worked to secure $10.2 million to fund grants for our local law enforcement agencies for border security efforts, $12 million for the Border Prosecutions Grant Program, $8 million for the replacement of Game Warden boats to increase safety and provide faster rescue operations, $3.2 million for a new DPS Law Enforcement Operations in Penitas, and $5 million for the Center for Urban Ecology at Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen.

While we could have done better by prioritizing jobs, increasing healthcare services for our most vulnerable citizens, and investing more money into education and our workforce, there was too much focus on ideology and politics.

And this is not the end, as Governor Abbott has just called for a special session beginning July 18. There are 20 items to be considered in his call. I will return to Austin and face these critical challenges. Now more than ever we need experienced leaders to have the courage to put people over politics and focus more on the needs of our working families.

June 16, 2, 2017 November January 2015 25, 2016

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Governor demands action, calls lawmakers back to Austin

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on June 6 announced a special session of the Texas Legislature to begin on July 18 to address issues that went unresolved during the contentious 140-day regular session that ended May 29.

Abbott explained why he thinks it necessary to order lawmakers back to Austin.

“Considering all the successes of the 85th legislative session, we should not be where we are today,” he said.

“A special session was entirely avoidable and there was plenty of time for the legislature to forge compromises to avoid the time and taxpayer expense of a special session.

As governor, if I am going to call a special session, I intend to make it count,” he added.

Special session agenda items Abbott named for lawmakers to address will begin with sunset legislation — bills on the continuation or abolishment of certain state agencies, including the Texas Medical Board.

Once the sunset legislation meets the governor’s expectations, he said, the rest of the items on lawmakers’ todo list would be as follows: - Teacher pay increase of $1,000; - Administrative flexibility in teacher hiring and retention practices; - School finance reform commission; - School choice for special needs students; - Property tax reform; - Caps on state and local spending; - Preventing cities from regulating what property owners do with trees on private land; - Preventing local governments from changing rules midway through construction projects; - Speeding up local government permitting process; and - Municipal annexation reform.

Also: - Texting while driving

preemption; - Privacy; - Prohibition of taxpayer dollars to collect union dues; - Prohibition of taxpayer funding for abortion providers; - Pro-life insurance reform; - Strengthening abortion-reporting requirements when health complications arise; Strengthening patient protections relating to do-not-resuscitate orders; - Cracking down on mailin ballot fraud; and - Extending maternal mortality task force.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, reacted to the governor’s announcement with a Twitter social media posting: “The people of Texas have a right to expect that we will finish the job on these critical issues.”

House Speaker Joe Straus did not react, but during the regular session he and Patrick disagreed over the so-called “bathroom bill” addressing the treatment of transgender students and property tax reform. Both items are on the special session call, with the bathroom bill referred to as “privacy.”

Paxton applauds decision Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on June 6 announced his support of the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to give states more time to comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standard, an ozone regulation issued in 2015. Texas has a pending lawsuit contesting the rule.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt sent a letter to governors informing them that the Clean Air Act enforcing federal agency is extending the deadline for promulgating initial area designations for the standards by one year.

Since 1980, wrote Pruitt, total emissions of the six principal air pollutants have dropped by 63 percent and

ozone levels have declined by 33 percent. Despite the continued improvement of air quality, costs associated with compliance of the ozone NAAQS have significantly increased.

“Texas has continually reduced ambient ozone concentrations in the state without stifling the growth of Texas’s industry or population, and looks forward to continuing efforts to improve air quality while bolstering the Texas economy,” Paxton said.

Hegar distributes revenue Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on June 7 announced his office would send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $640 million in local sales tax allocations for June, an amount 3.6 percent more than in June 2016.

Allocations are based on sales made in April by businesses that report tax monthly.

The cities of Round Rock, Frisco, San Antonio, Midland and Odessa saw noticeable increases in sales tax allocations, Hegar said. The cities of Houston and Austin saw small decreases, he added.

Hurricane readiness begins Hurricane season began June 1 and continues through Nov. 30.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management on June 5 brought together personnel from more than two dozen state and federal agencies at the Texas State Operations Center in Austin for a weeklong hurricane exercise.

Dubbed Hurricane Charlie, the exercise was conducted “to bolster our preparedness efforts for this year’s hurricane season,” said Nim Kidd, chief of the division.

“Early preparation is critical to saving lives when a hurricane or severe weather occurs, so we are asking the public to do just that — get ready now.”

For more information, visit www.texasprepares.org.

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June 16, 2017

page 5

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Priest who studied at Mission’s St. Peter’s Novitiate dies

By Joe Hinton

Matthew Morales, center, teaches a yoga class Tuesday at the McAllen Nature Center. Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III

Summer activities: Yoga classes part of McAllen Nature Center

By Jose De Leon III Despite temperatures in the low 90s early Tuesday morning, the day was cool under the oak trees near the entrance of the McAllen Nature Center. There a group of 24 adults were participating in a yoga class, one of the programs offered by the center during the summer.

“Thank your body for everything it was capable of doing today, give yourself some love,” the instructor, Matthew Morales, told his students at the end of the hour-long class.

“Yoga Under the Oaks” is one of a dozen programs the nature center, located west on Ware Road on Business 83, provides to residents during the summer. The center also provides Tai Chi in the park on Saturdays, a Sunset Nature Walk along the center’s mile-long trail, accessible to people with disabilities, and a crafts night every Thursday.

Marielena Lopez, a Mission resident, has been attending the yoga classes for the past year to deal with a

back injury she said she’s recovered from as a result from her yoga sessions.

“It’s a marvelous place here,” Lopez said of the center. “Taking these yoga classes here is so relaxing, it fills you with a sense of tranquility that makes me feel good.”

According to the American Osteopathic Association, yoga can lessen chronic pain such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome as well as leading to lower blood pressure and a reduction in insomnia.

Morales, the instructor of the class, says his students always walk away from class completely relaxed.

“At the end, I see them be more peaceful as their body strengthens and their mind relaxes,” he said. “I feel like going out in nature calms the mind. Nature has a way of relaxing you so it adds to the element of yoga. Out here you’re under rustling leaves, feel the wind and hear the birds, it has a peaceful effect on you.”

Tiffany Kersten, the recreation supervisor for the

McAllen Nature Center, says the outdoor activities are beneficial to the public.

“A study from the Department of Environmental Conservation says at least 20 minutes of outdoor activities can provide health benefits,” Kersten said. “So that’s why it’s important people visit here and take a half hour walk to take advantage of the center.”

That same study said the health benefits of staying outdoors includes a reduction in stress and blood pressure and an increase in energy levels.

Because the Valley is at the “intersection” of three different migratory flight paths for birds, the center is a popular destination for birdwatchers as 205 species of birds have been spotted there, Kersten said.

The McAllen Nature Center is open every day this summer from 8 a.m. through noon and reopens at 5 p.m. and closes at sunset. Entrance to the center is free but Kersten recommends each visitor donate at least $1 to the center.

Heinen said one of the things Wittenbrink was most proud of was his establishment of a radio information station in Belleville originally designed to assist the blind. Heinen said it was ironic because Wittenbrink eventually went blind himself. In 2000, Wittenbrink was awarded the Agrama Harmony Gold and Light Award at the 27th Annual Vision Awards in Beverly Hills.

The award was given for Wittenbrink’s “special gifts of compassion, dedication and innovative vision.”

In 2006, at the age of 92, Wittenbrink was still an active priest associated with Our Lady of the Snows Shrine in Belleville, Heinen said. While the Shrine honors the Catholic tradition, the Oblates invite people of all faiths and abilities to enhance their relationship with God through spiritual programs, conferences and workshops, according to the church’s website. Wittenbrink was living at the shrine at the time of his death, Heinen said. But his cousin said over the past five years health problems had forced Wittenbrink to greatly reduce his involvement with his church.

“The thing about a priest is they never really retire,” Heinen said.

Wittenbrink’s funeral is June 20 at 9 a.m. at the Church of Our Lady of Snows in Belleville, Heinen said. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Wittenbrink’s honor to Mind’s Eye Radio Information Service for the Blind, 9541 Church Circle Drive, Belleville, Il., 62223-1000.

Father Boniface L. Wittenbrink is pictured among 14 freshmen entering St. Henry’s Preparatory Seminary in Belleville, Illinois in September 1929, a week after stock prices began to plummet, ultimately triggering the Great Depression. The Class of 1933 is pictured below with Fr. Emil “Kipper” Metzger. Three of these freshmen became priests: Clarence Meile (at right, standing), Carl Meyer (fourth from left, sitting), and Boniface Wittenbrink (third from right, sitting). Both Carl and Boni were from St. Boniface parish in Evansville, Illinois. Courtesy Photo

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A Catholic Oblate priest who studied for the seminary at La Lomita Mission more than 80 years ago has died 17 days before his 103rd birthday, a family member has reported.

Father Boniface “Boni” L. Wittenbrink, O.M.I. (Oblates of Mary Immaculate) died Tuesday, June 13 in Belleville, Illinois, said his second cousin, Raymond W. Heinen, of St. Louis, who called the Progress Times Tuesday to report the death.

On June 9, 2006 the Progress Times published a report by writer Dave Silva about Wittenbrink’s recollections of life at La Lomita circa 1935-1936.

Silva reported Wittenbrink was one of 16 novitiate students to arrive at La Lomita in 1935. Wittenbrink came from Evansville, Illinois to study theology, philosophy, psychology and other subjects at La Lomita.

Wittenbrink was inspired to become a priest when he learned his own parish priest was retiring due to illness and Wittenbrink decided as a young man he one day wanted to be his parish’s priest, Silva reported.

Having become a seminary student in Illinois, Wittenbrink volunteered to go to La Lomita Novitiate, which at the time was the training location for all Oblate seminarians hailing from the Midwest and Texas, Silva reported.

Since the 1860s Oblate priests had traveled by horseback throughout the Rio Grande Valley serving residents by performing weddings, funerals and mass, among other services.

Wittenbrink studied under the novice master, Father Isodore Chateau and later became one of the only priests to drive Chateau’s Model A Ford.

Wittenbrink recalled hitching mules to plow fields for crops at the mission and attending mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Mission. During one of the masses he met Father Theodore Laboure, Provincial of the Oblates of Texas at the time, Silva reported.

After a year’s stay at La Lomita Wittenbrink was sent to a Catholic retreat in Port Lavaca, Texas, where he rested a few weeks before boarding a ship in New York for Rome where he continued his studies for four years before returning to the United States. And in 1941 Wittenbrink was ordained a priest at the Evansville parish he attended as a child, his youthful dream coming true.

During his career, Wittenbrink recalled having marched on Washington, D.C. with actor Paul Newman among others in the 1960s to protest the Vietnam War. He told Silva he spoke personally to then Speaker of the House John McCormick and Senator Mike Mansfield, neither of whom were enthusiastic about his war stance, he’d said.

Wittenbrink was a Rotarian and a long time colleague of the Knights of Columbus becoming a fourth degree member, the highest level obtainable, Silva reported.

In 2006, Wittenbrink was still a priest and a proponent of allowing long-time married men to become priests in order to make up for the dwindling numbers of priests.

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The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the suspicious death of a Guatamalen man whose body was found on the side of a road Tuesday on Palmview’s northside and is asking the public’s assistance in determining what happened.

On Tuesday Sheriff’s investigators responded to a report by a passerby of a body of a deceased male about 12:33 p.m. near the intersection of Mile 7 and Giles Roads on La Gallina Road, said Senior Deputy Jena Palacios, the department’s public information officer.

When Sheriff’s Deputies arrived on scene, they discovered the body of an unidentified male with no shirt, lying on the side of La Gallina Road. A Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace pronounced the victim deceased, and ordered an au-

topsy. The Major Crimes Unit and the Crime Scene Specialists responded to the area to continue the investigation and process the scene for evidence. The autopsy results are pending but there were no signs of foul play at this time, according to a sheriff’s press release.

Through fingerprint identification, Sheriff’s Investigators were able to identify the deceased male as 29 year old Elias Alegria Manuel Mejia, of Guatemala. The Guatemalan Consulate, and the decedent’s family were notified.

Palacios said the department was treating the incident as an “Equivocal Death Investigation,” or suspicious circumstance.

As an ongoing investigation the Sheriff’s Office is asking that anyone with information regarding this in-

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Elias Alegria Manuel Mejia

vestigation to please contact the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 956-3838114. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call the Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers hotline at 956-668-TIPS (8477). You can also submit an anonymous tip through the smartphone application “P3 TIPS”.

June 16, 2017

page 6

Local athletes shine at

By Luciano Guerra Mario’s Banquet and Conference Center in Mission was the place and the 2017 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet was the occasion as the best-of-the-best high school athletes from across the Rio Grande Valley were honored Saturday evening for excelling in their respective chosen sports. In total, 99 athletes, 12 teams, six coaches and six programs from 22 school districts and 33 high schools were nominated for 33 different awards.

Of the 15 individual athletes nominated from the seven Mission, Sharyland and La Joya high schools, six walked away with seven of the 24 highly coveted individual awards. In addition, one Big 7 team received a Best Team award.

Before the awards were handed out however, former NBA player and 7-time NBA champion Robert Horry gave the keynote speech. While he

covered many topics, Horry stressed the importance of having more than one option when planning for the future.

“I always thought I’d go into teaching,” Horry shared.

“However, everybody kept telling me that I was a good enough basketball player to get a free ride through college and that I needed to pursue that possibility. As it turns out, they were right and while playing basketball was my Plan B, that is what I ended up doing. That goes to prove that sometimes Plan Bs can turn out to be the best plans.”

The first Big 7 athlete to receive an award Saturday evening was also one of the two athletes nominated in two different categories.

Palmview High School’s Brianna Robles was named Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year. Robles, who made program history by becoming the first Lady Lobo to qualify for the UIL Class 6A state meet, was also

nominated as Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

However, she did not win that award.

When asked what being named the Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year means to her, Robles said, “It means a lot. It means that all my hard work paid off in the end.”

As for who she credits for helping her attain such a high level of success in both Cross Country and Track and Field, Robles named her father.

“My Dad, Joe Robles, was a runner too. He taught me and he helped me along the way. He would correct me on the little things that I needed to improve on in order to get better.”

The second Big 7 athlete to receive an award on the night was the other athlete nominated in two different categories. However, unlike Robles, Mission Veterans Memorial’s Diego Hernan-

The Juarez-Lincoln High School boys soccer team was named the Class 6A Boys Team of the Year at the 2017 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet.

Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra

dez won both of his awards; Football Player of the Year and Sub 6A Male Athlete of the Year.

While Hernandez has received many honors and awards over his high school career, receiving two of Saturday evening’s biggest awards in this his senior year, gave him an opportunity to recognize those people in his life that helped him the most along the way.

“Each of these awards is a testimony to all the hard work I’ve put in and all the time my parents and my coaches have invested into making me the athlete that I am today,” Hernandez said.

“The coaches only want what’s best for you so waking up every morning, going out and doing what they tell you to do is vital. Also, following my parents’ and my brother’s lead is what allowed me to be as successful as I have been and that is a real blessing.”

When asked who he considers to be his mentors, Hernandez said, “Coach Lupe Rodriguez has definitely made me the football player I am today. I wouldn’t be where I am without him.

And Coach David Gilpin has helped me to become the man I am today.”

The third Big 7 athlete to receive an award Saturday night was Sharyland High’s Jun Min “Jimmy” Lee who was named Boys Golfer of the Year. In only his sophomore year, Lee led his team to a district 31-5A title and qualified for the state tournament for the second year in

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE The MISSION CISD will hold a public meeting at 6:30 PM, June 28, 2017 in 1201 Bryce Drive, Mission Texas (Administration Building, Board Room). The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school district's budget that will determine the tax rate that will be adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited.

The tax rate that is ultimately adopted at this meeting or at a separate meeting at a later date may not exceed the proposed rate shown below unless the district publishes a revised notice containing the same information and comparisons set out below and holds another public meeting to discuss the revised notice.

Maintenance Tax

$1.1700/$100 (proposed rate for maintenance and operations)

School Debt Service Tax

$0.1802/$100 (proposed rate to pay bonded indebtedness)

Approved by Local Voters

Comparison of Proposed Budget with Last Year's Budget The applicable percentage increase or decrease (or difference) in the amount budgeted in the preceding fiscal year and the amount budgeted for the fiscal year that begins during the current tax year is indicated for each of the following expenditure categories.

Maintenance and operations

-2.21 % decrease

Debt Service

-6.03 % decrease

Total expenditures

Veterans Memorial High School’s Diego Hernandez poses with his parents, Richard and Nina Hernandez, and the two plaques he received for being named the Football Player of the Year and the Sub 6A Male Athlete of the Year at the 2017 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet. Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra

a row.

“I’m very honored to receive this award,” Lee said.

“It’s a great pleasure to be named as the best boys golfer in the Valley.”

When asked what goals he has for next year, Lee said, “My goal is to win the big three; district, regional and state. This year I won district, I placed second at regionals and I placed 10th at state so for next year I go win, win, win.”

Mission High’s Guadalupe Rodriguez was selected as the Boys Wrestler of the Year. Rodriguez not only took the gold medal at the UIL Region IV-6A meet but he was named male outstanding wrestler of that meet as well.

“It’s a big honor to be named the top wrestler in the Valley,” Rodriguez shared.

“I’d like to thank my parents for always showing me the right paths to go through.

I’d also like to thank Coach (David) Mann who’s always taught me to be humble.”

Mission Veterans Memorial’s Noel Vela became the second Patriot athlete to receive an award on the night when he was named the Baseball Player of the Year. Vela, who finished with an 8-1 record to go with his 0.94 ERA and 87 strikeouts on the mound, also posted a .462 batting average with 45 RBIs and two home runs.

Vela, who was nominated but failed to win this same award after his sophomore year, shared what winning it this time around means to him.

“It’s an amazing award knowing that the work I put in is paying off right now,” Vela said. “It means a lot knowing that I’m finishing off my high school career with this award.”

As for who he credits for his success on the baseball diamond, Vela said, “Basically my mentor is Coach Casey Smith. He just got a new coaching job at Pioneer but he’s someone that I look up to because he got me out there, he got me exposure and he did everything in his power to make sure I succeeded.”

The Juarez-Lincoln Huskies boys’ soccer team took the final Big 7 award of the evening when it was named the Class 6A Boys Team of the Year. The 2016-2017 Huskies advanced to the state championship game for the first time in school history where they lost in penalty kicks to Dallas Jesuit. Led by head coach Victor Ramos, the Huskies finished the season with an impressive 30-41 record.

“It’s a great honor,” said Ramos about his team’s award. “The kids had a wonderful season. They played tremendously until the end.

We got as far as the state championship game but that’s how soccer is. It’s not only about talent, sometimes it’s about luck. The past six years we’ve lost to five state champions so while it hurts a little more this time because we made it to the state level, it was a good experience and we’ll learn from it.”

-2.40 % decrease

ProgressTimes

Total Appraised Value and Total Taxable Value (as calculated under Section 26.04, Tax Code) Preceding Tax Year

Like Us on Facebook scan this code with your smartphone

Current Tax Year

Total appraised value* of all property

$2,539,523,133 Total appraised value* of new property** $80,109,010 Total taxable value*** of all property $1,869,059,948 Total taxable value*** of new property** $74,175,019 *Appraised value is the amount shown on the appraisal roll and defined by Section 1.04(8), Tax Code. ** "New property" is defined by Section 26.012(17), Tax Code. *** "Taxable value" is defined by Section 1.04(10), Tax Code.

$2,788,877,217 $82,211,900 $2,068,804,503 $39,894,358

Floors

Bonded Indebtedness Total amount of outstanding and unpaid bonded indebtedness* $114,600,000 *Outstanding principal.

Comparison of Proposed Rates with Last Year's Rates

Last Year's Rate Rate to Maintain Same Level of Maintenance & Operations Revenue & Pay Debt Service

Maintenance &

Interest &

Local Revenue

State Revenue

Operations

Sinking Fund*

Total

Per Student

Per Student

$1.1700

$0.1882*

$1.3582

$1,689

$7,989

$1.2428

$0.1803*

$1.4231

$1,808

$8,022

$1,793

$8,022

Proposed Rate

$1.1700 $0.1802* $1.3502 *The Interest & Sinking Fund tax revenue is used to pay for bonded indebtedness on construction, equipment, or both.

The bonds, and the tax rate necessary to pay those bonds, were approved by the voters of this district.

Comparison of Proposed Levy with Last Year's Levy on Average Residence Last Year

This Year

Average Market Value of Residences

$88,796

$88,849

Average Taxable Value of Residences

$61,418

$62,893

Last Year's Rate Versus Proposed Rate per $100 Value

$1.3582

$1.3502

Taxes Due on Average Residence

$834.18

$849.18

by Uncle Frank Where you Don’t Need A Bank Loan To Buy Your Flooring!

Increase (Decrease) in Taxes

$15.00 Under state law, the dollar amount of school taxes imposed on the residence homestead of a person 65 years of age or older or of the surviving spouse of such a person, if the surviving spouse was 55 years of age or older when the person died, may not be increased above the amount paid in the first year after the person turned 65, regardless of changes in tax rate or property value.

Notice of Rollback Rate: The highest tax rate the district can adopt before requiring voter approval at an election is $1.3502. This election will be automatically held if the district adopts a rate in excess of the rollback rate of $1.3502.

Fund Balances The following estimated balances will remain at the end of the current fiscal year and are not encumbered with or by a corresponding debt obligation, less estimated funds necessary for operating the district before receipt of the first state aid payment.

Maintenance and Operations Fund Balance(s)

$48,482,197

Interest & Sinking Fund Balance(s)

$3,404,218

SALES & INSTALLATION

Call 956-533-9800

June 16, 2017

Sullivan City seeks to restore EDC, remove mountain of dirt

By Joe Hinton With a new mayor and councilman and a recently hired city manager Sullivan City’s administration is seeking to have it’s Economic Development Corporation charter reinstated more than seven years since it was revoked by the state.

The reason the state Comptroller of Public Accounts revoked the charter in May 2010 are not exactly clear. A public information request to the comptroller for documentation for the reasons why the city’s EDC charter was revoked had not been responded to by press time.

City Manager Juan J. Cedillo, who was hired in December said he isn’t certain the reason but he knows what needs to be done to have the city’s EDC charter reinstated.

“It’s only a matter of submitting the Texas Franchise

Tax No Tax Information Report,” Cedillo said in a telephone interview Wednesday, adding the state also wants to know the names of the governing board members at the time the city lost its EDC charter.

According to the comptroller’s website, the Texas franchise tax is a privilege tax imposed on each taxable entity formed or organized in, and doing business in the state, including economic development corporations.

Under state law EDC’s have a threshold amount that can be collected in taxes after which a tax must be paid to the state.

Cedillo said he was researching who the board members were at the time to comply with the state’s request and that he was attempting to locate the city’s EDC bylaws.

“Once we satisfy all that documentation we’ll be in good standing,” Cedillo told

obituaries

Dorothy Milton MISSION – Dorothy May Milton, 94, passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at her home in Mission.

Mrs. Milton was born in 1922 in Jamestown, N.Y., to Thomas and Rose Edwards.

She lived and went to school in Jamestown until moving to McAllen with her husband, C. Ragnar Milton, in the late 1950s.

A graveside service was held on June 13 at Roselawn Cemetery in McAllen.

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

Mrs. Morgan was born in San Antonio on Aug. 23, 1928, and married Lyle Morgan on April 5, 1947. They owned and operated Morgan’s Turkey Farm in Wesla-

co, she played her accordion on television every day in the early 1960s for the Moulton Ty Cobb Show, and she and her husband ran the Val Verde Swimming pool. She later worked for the Donna I.S.D. as a teacher’s aide, and retired after 17 years.

Upon retirement, she moved to Port Isabel and then to Mission. She was active at the First Methodist Church in Weslaco.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Lyle Morgan.

Survivors include her children, Mary Sue Page of Bloomfield, N.M., Margaret Zieger of Jonestown, Ralph Morgan of Weslaco and Kathy Brown of Mission; and 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was

the city’s board of commissioners June 8.

“We’re in the business of doing economic development and I have served as a board member of other EDCs in other communities that I’ve been a part of and I am familiar with the operations,” Cedillo told the Progress Times Wednesday.

The new administration comes into office as the city is experiencing steady growth. According to the city’s website an estimated 30 to 40 businesses have opened in the city in the last few years with other businesses in the initial development stages. City administrators are counting on the EDC to bring more businesses to the city.

Though the city’s EDC doesn’t currently have a charter it does have a six member governing board.

“I think some of the board members are subject to appointment and some of the

held on June 12 at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission. Cremation followed with a private service at a later date at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission.

Alicia Garcia LA JOYA – Alicia Navarro Garcia, 67, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at McAllen Medical Center.

Mrs. Garcia was born on Feb. 14, 1950, in Mission to Gabriel Jr. and Amelia (Galvan) Navarro.

Survivors include her children, Taneya Ann Williams of Converse and Robert Daniel Navarro of Edinburg; siblings, Rogelio Navarro of Houston, Reynaldo Navarro of Mission, Ruben Navarro of McAllen, Roberto R. Navarro of Pontiac, Ill., Ricardo Navarro of Illinois, Rolando Navarro of Mission, Sylvia Perez of Edinburg and Katie Navarro of Pontiac; and two grandchildren.

She was preceded in death

board members are leaving and we’re going to address that soon,” Cedillo said Wednesday.

During a June 8 city commission meeting mayor pro tem Adrianna Rodriguez asked Cedillo if it wouldn’t be prudent to hire an EDC consultant. Cedillo advised an EDC consultant or administrator could charge the city from between $3,000 to $5,000 per month so he

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.

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

erty owner allowed the city to temporarily place the dirt on their property until it could be moved. The dirt was the product of installing the city’s sewer system about three years ago. Now the property owner wants the dirt removed by the end of the month. Anyone who wants the dirt can remove it free of charge.

MIT Students

by her parents.

A funeral mass was held on June 12 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in McAllen.

Rolando Torres MISSION – Rolando Torres, 73, longtime resident of Mission, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, June 9, 2017.

Mr. Torres was born on August 20, 1943, in Mission.

He worked many years at Campbell Lumber Co. and for the City of Mission as a crew leader and backhoe op-

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

suggested it would be best to first allow him have the city’s charter reinstated before considering hiring an administrator.

In other business the city commission passed a resolution to allow the public to remove what was estimated to be about 30 dump trucks worth of dirt from lots located at 405 and 413 El Faro Road. Mayor Leo Garcia said the private prop-

Three students from Sharyland High School have been accepted to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) class of 2021. Pictured are Joshua S. Jones, Gerardo Cortez Padilla and Fernando Rendon who were among the nearly 1,500 from 50 states and 62 counties MIT admitted. Courtesy photo

ChurCh DireCtory

BREAD OF LIFE CHURCH 2820 N. Conway Ave. • 581-1411

page 7

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DARRELL DAVIS

301 E. Tom Landry • Mission • 585-1622

MISSION AUTO ELECTRIC, INC. DBA

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

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Rolando is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Jesusita G. Torres; his four children, Rosie (Javier) Ruiz of Mission, Rolando Jr, of Austin, Roy (Gracie) of Mission, and Rose (Tony) Morales of Temple; two grandchildren, Steven and Andrew Ruiz; and two sisters, Amelia Sifuentes and Lupi Ingles of Sanger, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Guadalupe Torres, and brother, Rene DeAnda.

Visitation was held on Monday, June 12, 2017, from 3 to 9 p.m. with a 7 p.m. rosary at Rivera Funeral Home, 1813 N. Conway Ave., Mission. A funeral mass was held on Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Mission.

Burial followed at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Mission.

Pallbearers were Rolando Torres Jr., Roy Torres, Javier

Ruiz, Tony Morales, Steven Ruiz and Robert Sifuentes.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission.

Notices

Benancio Garza MISSION – Benancio “Benny” Garza, 77, passed away on Thursday, June 8, 2017, at his home.

David Medders MISSION – David Edwin Medders, 54, passed away on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, in Mission.

Salome Pruneda SULLIVAN CITY – Salome Pruneda, 76, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at his home in Sullivan City.

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

page 8

DOG PARK

The engineer for both projects is South Texas Infrastructure Group. Both subdivision’s water will be supplied by the Agua Special Utility District and all the homes in both subdivisions will use septic tanks.

The homes qualify for septic tanks because they are located on lots of a half-acre in size or larger, according to city planning documents.

During the meeting City Councilman Dr. Armando O’Caña asked why the homes in the Camino De Abram subdivision were not going to be connected to city sewar lines.

Jaime Acevedo, the city’s Planning Department director, said the nearest connection to the city’s sewar lines was nearly two miles away.

“So because of the great distance from the nearest sewer line they’re proposing to use septic tanks for the subdivision,” Acevedo said.

The mayor and council unanimously approved both projects.

In other business Monday the mayor and council took the first steps toward creating the city’s first enclosed “off leash” dog park.

The action follows a June 6 letter to Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas from Mission resident Georgia Montoya of the 3000 block of Viola Street. In it Montoya offers her support for a dog park in the city saying she is a grant writer for the PharrSan Juan-Alamo Independent School District and was offering her services free of charge to draft a grant proposal on the city’s behalf. She pointed out to the mayor there is currently an opportunity to apply for a $25,000 grant from PetSafe Of Knoxville, Tennessee under its “2017 Bark for Your Park” annual grant program.

The company touts itself as the “largest manufacturer of electronic pet training devices” and is providing a total of $275,000 in dog park grants, according to its website, petsafe.net.

from pg 1 “Upon your support and approval to accept me as a team member for the dog park initiative, I will dedicate myself to create and develop a successful application proposal to utilize as a submission to support and sustain the development of a safe off leash dog park,” Montoya wrote in her letter. “In the event Mission’s Off Leash Dog Park proposal is not awarded, I will continue to pursue other potential funding opportunities.”

Montoya added she is not seeking compensation for her efforts.

“It is only with my passion for our furry friends and compassion to contribute as an active citizen to our community is my mission for the future Dog Park,” she wrote.

The mayor and council unanimously voted to accept Montoya’s offer and also passed a resolution authorizing the submittal of an application to PetSafe.

According to city docu-

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ments there are two proposed sites for the dog park, Bannworth Park and Bentsen Palm Community Park.

In other business Monday the mayor and council voted unanimously approving a resolution declaring Municipio de Miguel Aleman, Tamaulipas, Mexico, as a sister city and then immediately passed a resolution dedicating a surplus Vactor Truck, or sewar vacuum truck, and five other surplus utility vehicles to the sister city. The surplus vehicles had originally been set for auction.

The mayor and council also unanimously approved spending just under $39,000 on two Ford F-150 pickup trucks for the city’s Planning Department.

Also approved Monday were drive through windows

at the Chick-fil-A Restaurant at 2501 E. Expressway 83 and La Curva Taqueria at 2575 E. Griffin Parkway.

The council also approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Alton regarding the use of Mission’s animal control facility.

Under the agreement Alton will pay the city a one-time payment of $3,000 for expansion of the facility. Thereafter Alton will pay $70 per each animal housed in the facility and $200 if an animal requires quarantine.

Another interlocal agreement passed by the council would create a cooperative agreement between Mission, Hidalgo County and the cities of McAllen, Palmurst and Alton concerning the implementation of the Mission Police Department’s First Of-

TAX CUT $59 million in bonds in May 2008 for some major construction projects in the district, the largest being the $18 million in new construction and renovations at Mission High School. In 2014 the district refinanced, or “refunded,” in school administration parlance, $73.7 million in bonds and in 2016 refunded $47.6 million in bonds, Verley said. In all the district’s debt service is expected to decline from $9.5 million in FY 2017 to $9.1 million next year, according to revenue estimates provided by the school district. The

from pg 1 district anticipates total general fund revenues next fiscal year of $158.1 million.

Despite the tax cut the district is proposing a 2 percent pay hike next year for district employees and it proposes that teachers receive a $1,000 a year pay increase as requested by Gov. Greg Abbott. Because the state did not increase allocations to school districts for the pay increase the district will have to find ways to cut costs in other areas, said Mission CISD Superintendent Dr. Ricardo Lopez.

The budget is based on

ONE YEAR LATER He said he considered himself lucky as his house was still standing after the storm, but seeing the damage to the city “devastated” him.

“It’s not a nice experience, it totally flips your world upside down. It flipped mine,” Anzalduas said. “Forces of nature, man. We’re lucky it wasn’t worse. I wouldn’t want it to happen again.”

Delayed projects With Cabrera’s home destroyed, she and her daughters are staying at her mother’s home as her home is rebuilt from scratch, an ongoing process that is costing her $95,000.

fender Program.

According the Texas Family Code the program permits first-time offending juveniles age 10–16, who commit a non-violent Class C misdemeanor, other than motor vehicle infraction, to be placed in the program in lieu of having formal charges filed. Successful completion of the program would require the juvenile to pay victim restitution, if any, complete voluntary community service, participate in vocational training, counseling or other rehabilitative services and report periodically to the arresting agency. Juveniles who fail to successfully complete the program would be referred to juvenile authorities via a formal complaint, according to the statute.

a predicted average daily attendance of 14,490 students, up 1.32 percent from last year. A large proportion of that increase is due to the addition of 190 students enrolled in the federally funded Head Start program who next year will have dual enrollment in the school district, Ruiz told the board.

Increased revenues will also be generated by a 4 percent increase in property taxes the Hidalgo County Assessor’s Department is predicting, according to the district’s budget workshop book. from pg 1

The ongoing construction is similar to what the city is facing with two of its projects, the long-gestating city park and the rebuilding of the city’s public facility.

The public facility had been open since 2004 and offered several youth programs such as martial arts classes.

However, the storm tore off two walls of the building due to lack of proper support during the initial construction, Cabrera said.

“I remember when I was walking down the city after the storm and seeing how damaged the public facility was and thinking ‘If that’s

heavily damaged imagine how bad the homes in the area are,’” Cabrera said, adding that they’re working with the Mission-based engineering firm Hinojosa Engineering to see what the city can do with the center.

“We don’t want this problem to happen again so if we were to rebuild it we’d want to avoid the problems the previous center had,” Cabrera said. “We need to make it sustainable enough to survive another storm like this.”

Cabrera said Hinojosa Engineering will deliver

See ONE YEAR LATER Pg. 9

request bids on the project in August or September.

Garza also updated the mayor and council on plans to create a 16-court Mission Tennis Complex at Birdwell Park. Parks and Recreation Department Director Brad Bentsen explained to the mayor and council the city received notice in March it was not awarded the half million dollar-matching grant it requested when it applied to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) in October, 2016.

Bentsen said the grant would have been used in conjunction with a half million-dollar grant already provided by the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation. Bentsen said the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation grant was awarded after the city had already submitted its grant application to the TPWD. Bentsen said he is optimistic the state will award the grant when the city reapplies in October once the city shows it has already received a matching grant from Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation.

In all, the city is planning a $1.8 million tennis facility that conforms to United States Tennis Association specifications, meaning it could be used for USTAsanctioned tournaments.

Garza said since Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation has agreed to extend the deadline on using its grant until next year the city will wait until it obtains the TPWD grant so the project will not have to be done in phases. That plan will move ground breaking from this summer until April 2018, he said.

Mission CISD updates graduation figures Following the June 2 graduation ceremonies the Mission Consolidated Independent School System released the final statistics on the number of students that graduated from its three high schools.

Though 406 names were listed in the Mission High School graduation program the district’s public information office reports the final tally was 409 graduates from the high school.

It also reports 441 seniors

graduated from Veteran’s Memorial High School and 97 graduated from Mission Collegiate High School.

Graduation ceremonies for all three schools were held at the McAllen Convention Center.

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FOR SALE 1997 BUICK LeSabre, runs great, $2,200, also oakwood TV entertainment center, $250, call 956–581-2859 for more information.

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FRIDAY JUNE 16 & Saturday June 17, from 7am-3pm, good shoes, nice clean clothes, purses, decor, furniture and so much more, 1710 Basham, Mission, everything must go!

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

The Field Supervisor will

ORDINANCE NO. 4522 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW FOR A MULTI-LANE DRIVETHRU ORDERING STATION – CHICK-FIL-A RESTAURANT, 2501 E. EXPRESSWAY 83, LOT 8, BLOCK A, SHARY-TAYLOR EXPRESSWAY COMMERCIAL SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 12th DAY OF JUNE, 2017.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4523 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A DRIVE-THRU SERVICE WINDOW – LA CURVA TAQUERIA, 2575 E. GRIFFIN PARKWAY, STE. 12, LOT 1, TRES PICOS PH. I SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 12th DAY OF JUNE, 2017.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

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 conducting shop duties and equipment repairs.

Three (3) years’ experience in field

The Granjeno community facility remains in this state one year after a strong windstorm hit the community on Mission’s south side. Photo by Jose De Leon III, taken June 10, 2017.

blueprints for a new center later this year so the city can seek construction bids. The firm’s president, Ricardo Hinojosa, did not respond to a request to comment as of press time.

The storm also delayed the city’s park project that was being built next to the public facility. Cabrera said the city held a groundbreaking in April 2016, shortly before the storm. The park, which is being built in three phases, was initially expected to be completed within six months from its groundbreaking, Cabrera said. It was planned to have a walking trail along the perimeter of the park, a children’s play area, restroom facilities and a basketball and volleyball court. Instead, a children’s play area surrounded by tall grass sits next to the destroyed facility center.

“It’s not to be used at this time as we’re still working on it,” Cabrera said of the children’s play area. “We had to wait to resume working on

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PUBLIC NOTICE The Palmhurst Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on June 28, 2017 at 6:00 pm at the City Hall Council Chambers, 4417 North Shary Road, Palmhurst, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: 1 acre of land out of Lot 33-5, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision, from Residential to Commercial.

Anyone interested is invited to attend.

Celina Perez, City Secretary

be safety-minded.

Applicant must have a current and clear driver’s license and have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Applications may be picked up at 3735 N FM 492, Mission, TX, or call (956)585-8389.

Hidalgo County Irrigation District No.6 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

The 2016 Drinking Water Quality report for the City of Mission water supply customers is now available online. Starting July 1, 2017 you will be able to view the City of Mission annual water quality report on-line at http://goo.gl/7BouPQ This report contains important information about the source and quality of your drinking water. The web link will be available on your water bill and at City web site. http://missiontexas.us/ If you would like a paper report mailed to your home, please call (956) 580-8780.

El reporte anual de la calidad del agua del año 2016 de la ciudad de Mission, estará disponible en línea a partir del primero de Julio del 2017. Enlace http://goo.gl/7BouPQ Este reporte contiene información importante sobre la calidad de agua potable para tomar. El enlace estará disponible en su recibo del agua de la CD. de Mission y la página de internet. http://missiontexas.us/ Si desea obtener por correo una copia de este reporte puede llamar al (956) 580-8780.

it to get it cleared from the storm but now we’re being delayed by lots of little things like our construction firm not being able to find the proper rock for the walking trail. We can’t even maintain it and cut the grass until after the park’s completed construction.”

Ricardo Saldaña, the Hidalgo County emergency management coordinator, said it’s normal for a city to take a while to recover from a destructive storm such as the one Granjeno encountered.

“I know the city is working with the county on their projects like the facility center but it’s been a slow process for the community itself and some of the residents,” Saldaña said. “The community is still struggling a little.

Residents have to be patient since it is a process for things to resume back to normal, it doesn’t happen overnight.”

Chimney Park According to Saldaña, the mobile homes in the Winter Texan retirement community

Chimney Park also received damages from the storm.

Lloyd Burns, co-owner of Chimney Park, said at least 95 percent of the mobile homes in the area were damaged.

“The front of our main hall was also completely torn off, that was at least $20,000 in damages,” Burns said in a phone interview Wednesday.

“The trailers were damaged in some way but we were completely recovered from the storm within five months, we even had some of our regular residents come down here to help clean up.”

Cabrera hopes her city can also recover from the storm as hurricane season started earlier this month.

“No one wants to be in a situation like this,” she said. “Sometimes when I hear strong winds or storms we get hesitant or scared because of what happened.

We’re all handling it differently.”

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.

If you can’t drop by, mail it! P.O. Box 399, Mission, TX 78573 Submit by email or pay by phone 585-4893.

The deadline to get your classified in is Tuesday at 5 p.m.

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Call: (956) 399-3469 FORMAL NOTICE

The La Joya Housing Authority, located on 945 S. Leo Ave., La Joya Texas, is immediately freezing all acceptance of applications until further notice. (Approved at LJHA Board Meeting, May 30, 2017, 6 p.m., Agenda Item #13) The public can call 956-581-7069 for more information.

ORDINANCE NO. 4524 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO KEEP A PORTABLE BUILDING FOR SALES OFFICE USE – TOEXSA, LLC, 1517 E. EXPRESSWAY 83, LOT 3, HENRY SAENZ SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 12th DAY OF JUNE, 2017.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

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.

Oracion Al Espiritu Santo

Espiritu Santo, tu que me aclaras todo, que iluminas todos los caminos para que yo alcance mi ideal, tu que me das el don divino de perdonar y olvidar el mal que me hacen y que en todos los instantes de mi vida estas conmigo, yo quiero en este corto dialogo agradecerte por todo y confirmar una vez mas que nunca quiero separarme de ti por mayor que sea la ilusion material.

Deseo estar contigo y todos mis seres queridos en la gracia perpetua. Gracias por tu misericordia para conmigo y los mios.

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

utilizing just under $747,000 from federal and local grants.

Civarolo’s plan also calls for moving the La Lomita Mission replica representing the city’s namesake currently located on the corner of the park closet to Conway Avenue. During the meeting some council members objected to completely removing the mission replica.

It’s final location will likely be a point of debate at future council meetings.

The plan also calls for removing the park’s gazebo.

“We thought, should we leave it, should we not?”

Garza said of the Gazebo.

“We just felt we needed a completely new environment there because it was old style so we decided to go ahead and remove it. Because if you look at what we’re using it’s everything that you see in new parks.”

The plan calls for stamped concrete walkways on the north side of the park with pads for vendors and includes new lighting fixtures similar to the ornamental light posts installed along Conway Avenue during the beautification project two years ago.

Garza said the city will have to see what kind of bids come back from potential contractors to determine just how much of Civarolo’s plan can be completed in the first phase. Garza said the first phase should include creating the stage, walkways and other concrete work. He told the Progress Times the mayor and council will use the rest of the summer to finalize what it wants included in the first phase of the project and he anticipates the city will

from pg 8

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Manager Martin Garza, adding performers have said it is a difficult venue in which to perform because they were always playing with their back to part of the audience at some point in their performance. “So this is going to be a lot easier for them and we’re going to create a real nice entrance on the east side.”

Civarolo said a short wall will divide the grassy open space to discourage its use as a soccer field and will have some sort of shade structure near the stage with the remaining open space shaded by existing trees on the park’s west side.

“The greatest asset to this park right now are the giant trees there,” Civarolo said, adding they shade about half the park in the afternoons when most activities occur.

“If you look at the new facilities out there, most of your parks are creating open space areas for like your lawn chairs or your picnic area,” Garza said. “And this would allow us to create a different atmosphere rather than just your concrete benches here.”

Garza said the renovation is in response to complaints from Winter Texans about the condition of the park with uneven concrete and the difficulty some have negotiating the park. He said the new design adheres to specifications of the American with Disabilities Act. Garza said the city is looking at an overall $1.5 million renovation project for the park located at 8th Street on the west side of Conway Avenue. He said the project will likely be completed in phases with the first phase

ONE YEAR LATER

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from pg 1

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June 16, 2017

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June 16, 2017

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La Joya ISD

Transforming Communities!

Bring dad out for a round of golf & save money with our

Summer Specials (Available Monday thru Sunday)

18 Holes & ½ cart: $20 9 holes & ½ cart: $15

7400 W. Expressway 83 • Mission, TX • 956-585-6330 Father’s Day Super Savings Oil Change 216 N Mayberry • Mission • 585-1287

NOW PROVIDING STATE INSPECTIONS

M&H Beauty Salon Staff l to r: Esmeralda, Pam, Pam, Mary Gen and Esmeralda, andMary Gen

Specializing In:

COUPON

3 Off

$

OIl CHANGE

WITH

FREE

15-POINT INSPECTION w/coupon - Expires 8-31-17 w/couponExp. 08-30-15

Shary Municipal Golf courSe SUMMER SPECIALS MONDAY THRU FRIDAY HOLE 1pm / $20 after 1pm SPECIAL $25 before Includes Green Fee & Cart MONDAY THRU FRIDAY HOLE 1pm / $10 after 1pm SPECIAL $15 before Includes Green Fee & Cart

18 9 18

SATURDAY, SUNDAY & HOLIDAYS • 1PM

Green Fee & Cart HOLE SPECIAL Only $25

9

2201 Mayberry Rd. • Mission, Tx 78572 Tee Time Reservations: (956) 580-8770

Green Fee & Cart HOLE SPECIAL Only $15 Folllow Us At: Shary Municipal Golf Course

• Shampoo & Set • Haircuts • Perms • Tinting • Foils • Manicures & Pedicures • Basic/Steam Facials & Extractions

PRIVATE PARAFFIN SPA