August 11, 2017 - PT ISSUE

Friday, August 11, 2017

www.ptrgv.com | 25 Cents

Vol. 46 No. 1

Progress accepts citizens awards nominations

Father Roy Snipes with friends in an undated photo in front of La Lomita Mission.

Courtesy of Texas High-

ways Magazine

Border wall protests set for this weekend

By Joe Hinton Protests against portions of the new border wall promised by President Donald Trump are scheduled for this weekend. The proposed wall would run through the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge and possibly put La Lomita Mission behind the wall.

On Saturday the public is invited to join organizers at 7 a.m. at Mission’s Our Lady

of Guadalupe Church, 620 N. Dunlap Ave., Mission, for a sunrise ecumenical walk to La Lomita Mission, the historic chapel that gave Mission its name. La Lomita, an active Catholic shrine, would be in no-man’s land between the wall and Rio Grande River if the proposed levee-border wall is built according to plans unveiled by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection last week, said Clarissa Riojas, an event organizer

and volunteer with the Lower Rio Grande Valley Sierra Club, one of the event’s hosts.

Persons who cannot or don’t want to participate in the sunrise walk can join the event, billed by organizers as, “Save the Mission! Save the River! Resist the Wall,” at 9 a.m. with a rally at La Lomita that will include speeches and music and will be followed by a community picnic beginning at 10:30

Passage of SB 814 causes La Joya ISD leaders to quit jobs

Oscar “Coach” Salinas, Armin Garza leave Agua SUD

By Jose De Leon III Rather than giving up their leadership positions on the La Joya ISD School Board of Trustees, two high-profile employees with the utility that provides water to much of western Hidalgo County have quit their jobs. But the state senator who sponsored the bill that forced the decision said the utility should disclose details of the departing worker’s severance package.

The departure last month of La Joya ISD Board of Trustees President Oscar O. “Coach” Salinas and Vice President Armin Garza from the Agua Special Utility District came one month after the passage of Texas Senate Bill 814 and before the bill takes effect on Sept. 1.

Enacted in the last legislative session and sponsored

by McAllen Democratic Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, the bill prevents Agua SUD from employing elect-

ed officials who oversee the schools and cities where utility board members are employed. The bill’s passage left Salinas and Garza the choice between quitting their paying jobs with the utility that serves more than 15,000 customers or keeping their elected but unpaid positions on the school board which oversees a $330-million annual budget.

a.m. Free tacos will be available with music by Rumbo Al’ Anacua and the Treble Thrivers. La Lomita is located three miles south of Expressway 83 on FM 1016.

Speakers at Saturday’s event will include Scott Nicol, an executive member of the Sierra Club, Martha Sanchez, community organizing coordinator with La Union del Pueblo Entero,

See BORDER WALL Pg. 11

Progress Times Publisher Jim Brunson today announced nominations are now open for the annual Mission citizens awards for Mr. Mission, First Lady of Mission, Man of the Year and Woman of the Year.

Nominations for the awards will be accepted until 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 4 at the newspaper office.

The annual awards will be presented at the Mission Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet on Thursday, Oct. 19 at Mario’s Banquet and Conference Center.

“We invite clubs and organizations as well as individuals to submit nominations for these citizens awards,” said Brunson. “These awards are designed to recognize and honor those who serve others and have helped to make Mission a better place to live and raise our families. Take a look at the movers and shakers in your organizations and send us your nominations.”

“While Mission certainly has excellent leaders who are paid executives and administrators in some of our local organizations, the Mission citizens awards are designed to recognize those who have made significant contributions to Mission through volunteer service,” Brunson added.

Citing an imminent loss of substantial revenues, Alton is now the third city in the Rio Grande Valley to sue the state of Texas over a senate bill that prohibits cities from charging telecommunications companies for putting transmitters in public rights-of-way.

During an Aug. 8 meeting, city commissioners unanimously voted to join

the cities of McAllen and Pharr in suing the state over passage of Senate Bill 1004 to stop it from going into effect Sept. 1.

SB 1004 significantly restricts cities from regulating construction, development, and maintenance of network structures and wireless sites.

It also prohibits cities from entering into franchise agreements with telecommunication companies for the use of public land or rights-of-way.

master celebrates 35 years teaching area families

See QUIT JOBS Pg. 10

SB 1004 requires cities to allow companies to install cell phone wireless nodes on utility poles, city light poles and other city rights of way.

Alton Mayor Salvador Vela said the city stands to lose around $100,000 per year because of SB 1004.

Revenues from all governmental funds in fiscal year 2016-2017 were estimated to be $7.1 million, according

See ALTON LAWSUIT Pg. 10

By Joe Hinton Thirty-five years ago next month Dae Sup An, a fourtime Korean grand master left his successful school system in Chicago to introduce Tae Kwon Do to the Rio Grande Valley.

His purpose for moving here was two-fold, he said.

He wanted to return to the Latin culture he experienced teaching self-defense in Mexico and Ecuador where he said he found Latin culture’s focus on family similar to that of his native South

See MASTER AN Pg. 10 Dae Sup An, known among his students as Master An, has been operating his Tae Kwon Do studio in McAllen since 1982.

INSIDE

High school football returns

Life for crime?

VMHS Football Coach David Gilpin lost his stellar starting quarterback to graduation and his offensive coordinator to another team.

Reporter Luciano Guerra has his game plan for this season inside.

Entertainment | pg.2

Lifestyle | pg.3

Sullivan City tax hike

A Mission cop was injured trying to stop a Mission man from fleeing in his car.

Find out inside why the man, 27, may be exposed to a potential life sentence if convicted.

A proposed property tax hike is just one of the funding measures a new administration is considering to stimulate development in “the city of sunshine.” Find out what they are inside.

See Pg. 5

See Pg. 5

See Pg. 7

INDEX

See CITIZENS AWARDS Pg. 11

Korean Tae Kwon Do

Potentially losing $100K annually, Alton joins lawsuit vs. TX

By Jose De Leon III

While a resume for the nominee is helpful, it is not required. Nominations may simply provide a description of the ways the nominee has served the community, along with your name and phone number.

Nominations may be submitted in person at the Progress Times office at 1217 N. Conway or by mail to Citizens Awards, Progress Times, P.O. Box 399, Mission, Texas 78573. Nominations may also be submitted by email to awards@ progresstimes.net or by fax to 956-585-2304. A pdf version of the nomination form, selection criteria, and a list of past recipients are available online at www.progresstimes.net.

Man and Woman of Year Selection criteria for Man of the Year and Woman of the Year are as follows: To be recognized for superior service either for a significant project or continuing broad service to the community in the past two to 10 years. This may be for work with one organization or for work in several different areas or orga¬nizations.

The combined dura¬tion of service should span no less than two years.

Opinion | pg.4

Obituaries | pg. 9

FREE

Classifieds | pg. 11

WEDDING, QUINCEAñERAS & SWEET 16 ANNOUNCEMENTS Call (956) 585-4893 for details, or email Community News at: ptcomnews@gmail.com

entertainment

August 11, 2017

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

Local documentary covers four decades of music in the RGV Mission Historical Museum to host screening Aug. 12 at Border Theater

By Mendi Brunson It’s a unique story 40 years in the making – that waited another decade and a half to be told.

First-time film makers Charlie Vela and Ronnie Garza saw what others had missed – the unique path music genres had taken in the Rio Grande Valley over the last four decades of the 20th century.

Now the story is documented in the film they conceived, “As I Walk Through the Valley.” Their efforts to document and bring attention to the RGV’s unique cultural influence in music received recognition earlier this year when it was chosen to be premiered at the South by

Southwest Film Festival in Austin.

This Saturday, Aug. 12, the Mission Historical Museum will host a screening of the film at 7 p.m. in the historic Border Theater at 905 N. Conway in downtown Mission. The screening of the 81-minute documentary will be followed by a question and answer session with Vela and Garza and is free and open to the public.

According to Vela and Garza, the film was “conceived, shot and edited and co-directed” by them, producing a thorough examination of the evolution of the RGV music scene from the 1960s through the 90s.

It was two-and-a-half years in the making and will be

Coming Attractions 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 956-682-0123.

August 25 • The Upper Valley Art League is offering one-day ceramic workshops with Alex Comminos as the instructor. 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 with payment made in advance of each class. To sign up and pay, stop by the UVAL gallery during regular hours or call 956-583-2787.

August 31 • The Valley Symphony Orchestra will hold auditions for musicians wanting to become a member of the orchestra. Auditions are from 12 to 8 p.m. by appointment only in the UTRGV orchestra room. Fill out an audition form downloaded from the VSO website, and email it to personnel@valleyorchestra.rog.

Musicians should download their instrument excerpt. For more information, call 956-661-1615.

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

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released for purchase online and streaming in late 2017 or early 2018.

Vela, from Weslaco, and Garza, from Brownsville, met as students in high school at the Science Academy in Mercedes. They started a film club, Cintech, while attending there.

That beginning has taken Vela on to become a record producer with Sound of Rain Studios. Garza has been an experimental musician under the moniker “Winter Texan” and, as a “democracy activist,” has been involved in recording video documentary shorts of current events for several years.

The duo had a message and an image they wanted to be understood by those outside of the Valley and by local residents who haven’t been tapped into the transitions of the unique Valley music scene.

Their official press release before the Austin premier stated, “At a time when the prevailing narrative about the border is one of conflict and corruption, [the movie] explores the beauty, creativity, and self-determination of the artists who call this region home. And while the cultural backdrop for this story is unique, the motivations and struggles of these musicians resonate inter-culturally.”

Social movements and local cultural roots and traditions influenced a transition unique from the rest of

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

Join us at Speer Memorial Library in Mission, on Tuesday, Aug. 29, for a discussion on the book “Isaac’s Storm” to take place in the library’s Community Room at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend and discuss the book.

As the story begins, it is Friday night, Sept. 7, 1900, and Isaac Cline is having difficulty sleeping. He has a sense that something is wrong, although exactly what, he can’t say.

As chief meteorologist for the U.S. Weather Bureau office in Galveston, Isaac is trained in the new science of weather forecasting. Nothing in his observations has given any cause for alarm, and the telegrams from Washington say that the storm that hit Cuba earlier in the week is moving toward the eastern Gulf coast and is

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the country. Locally, on one side of town, 1960’s garage rock bands sprang up and patterned themselves after the British music invasion across the globe. While Chicano funk, influenced by multiple genres, enriched the other side of the culturally diverse communities.

Social movements transitioned the 1970’s music scene and pushed itself into the 80’s punk and hardcore genres – at the height of what had evolved from Chicano funk into the Tejano music scene. That’s when the generational cultures clashed.

The traditions of the fathers, and music familiar to their ears, were soon challenged by the punk and hardcore sounds of a new wave of music.

Garza stated that some of this generational disconnect was brought on by a growing language barrier when parents had encouraged their children to learn and speak English only. The message of the music of the fathers was not familiar to the next generation’s ears.

It was the history of the 90’s punk rock musicians that was the catalyst for the entire 40-year story that became the documentary.

The 90s brought the final change when the punk rockers caught the vision, embraced their own ingenuity and created the framework to cooperatively move it forward.

Garza said, “Kids would

not very strong. Yet the tide is unusually high at Galveston. Something seems amiss.

Written by Erik Larson, and first published in 1999, Isaac’s Storm is a fascinating and informative look at the history of weather prediction, the study of hurricanes, the city of Galveston and the errors that led to one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.

Copies of the book are available for check out to those who sign up for the book discussion. For more information, call William Renner or Rose Alvarez at 580-8754 or 580-8750. To obtain a copy, register at the Reference Desk, or by email at reference@missiontexas. us. This title is also available as an eBook at hidalgocotx. oneclickdigital.com.

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

Charlie Vela, on the left, and Ronnie Garza have created an in-depth documentary on the history of music in the Rio Grande Valley over a 40-year period. form their own structure to hold punk rock shows. It was a principled process to create that world. We thought in our infinite experience, that is where it all started. Very quickly after that, we learned there was a much broader history.”

When asked what their take-away was from the experience, Garza said, “The lack of venues created something different in the music community in the Valley.

There really is nothing like it in the rest of the country, with the exception of Gilman Street in California. What that was is this coming together of kids – pooling their

money and resources to rent spaces to play in.”

The RGV punk musicians created a structure to encourage, validate and support one another in their new craft, and then pooled their resources to find venues to express their common language through music.

Music styles change from generation to generation, and the generational gaps will always exist as one makes way for the other. Maybe 40 years bridged into one story will prove the old adage: “The more things change, the more they really stay the same.”

Volunteers needed for annual project The Upper Valley Art League gallery is closed for exhibitions during the month of August for annual maintenance and repairs to get ready for the next year.

More volunteers are needed this Saturday, Aug. 12, starting at 9:30 a.m. to help with the painting and other projects to put the gallery in pristine condition for the coming year’s exhibitions.

The work began last weekend and will continue until completed.

“This is a place for all artists and our goal is to make it a place that all of us are proud of. Whether a member or not, we would appreciate your help. So we will work every Saturday until we feel it is ready,” said Maxilou Link, UVAL president.

Individuals, organizations, church groups and businesses are invited to pitch in. To participate, call the UVAL gallery at 956583-2787.

McALLEN – Explore the world of geology and learn how much the earth really rocks at Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center on Thursday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. for a presentation of the world rock show collection.

Guests will go back in time with ancient ammonites, trilobites, and fossilized dung and use microscopes to get a closer look at sands, volcanic ash and minerals.

The Grand Rock Collection will give everyone a hands-on examination of

rocks most people didn’t know existed. The interactive experience continues with rock painting, face painting and a Throwback Thursday bonus with a rock band performing to celebrate “all things rock.”

The park admission is $3 per person which includes the program; no advance reservation is required. Quinta Mazatlan is located at 600 Sunset in McAllen.

For more information, contact Quinta Mazatlan at 956-6813370.

Things will be ‘rocking’ at Quinta Mazatlan

lifestyle

Julia Otken, a Mims Elementary 4th grade teacher with the Mission C.I.S.D., was announced as the Region I ESC Elementary Teacher of the Year on Aug. 3. Pictured from left are Dr. Manuel Gomez Jr., Region I board member; Dr. Eduardo Cancino, deputy director for Instructional, School Improvement and College Readiness Support; Otken; Dr. Ricardo Lopez, MCISD superintendent; Yvonne Zamora, Mims principal; Dr. Cornelio Gonzalez, Region I executive director; and Ricardo Gutierrez, Region I vice-chairperson.

MCISD teacher named Region One Teacher of the Year

On Aug. 3, the Region One Education Service Center held its annual recognition dinner to honor the region’s District Teachers of the Year and to announce the names of the two teachers that will represent the region at the state’s Texas Teacher of the Year competition.

Julia Otken, a 4th grade teacher at Mims Elementary School in the Mission C.I.S.D. was named Regional Elementary Teacher of the Year. Andrea Joy Garza, a World History teacher at United South High School (United ISD) was named Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Both were nominated by their own school districts, to represent the region in the statewide Teacher of the Year program. In all, 46 District Teachers of the Year, representing 24 school districts/

charter schools were honored for their excellence in the classroom.

Nominees submitted an application consisting of several essay questions ranging froma lesson or unit that defines them as a teacher to what their message would be to education professionals and the public if they are a spokesperson for teachers and students. A committee comprised of representatives from various teacher and administrator groups evaluated the essay applications.

Otken has spent her 12year career at Mission CISD where she has served as a 2nd grade teacher, as well as a testing and academic strategist. Her current teaching assignment is in a gifted and talented classroom.

Each district teacher of the year nominee received a commemorative gold apple

bell for their achievement.

Dr. Cornelio Gonzalez, Region One ESC executive director, awarded each regional teacher of the year with a Star Polisher Award. Each Regional Teacher of the Year recipient also received a personalized Teacher of the Year ring.

Each of the state’s 20 regional education service centers nominate their regional elementary and secondary teachers of the year, where Otken and Garza will now be included. The semi-finalist judging will take place at the Texas Association of School Administrators headquarters in Austin to determine the six Texas Teacher of the Year finalists. The Texas Elementary and Texas Secondary Teachers of the Year will then be announced on Sept.

14 at an awards ceremony in Austin.

Hosting Job Fair Aug. 12

McALLEN – The McAllen Public Library and Workforce Solutions invites the public to “Networking for the Future: Connect with Employers” this Saturday, Aug. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Main Library.

Those attending can connect with employers from over 30 different companies,

fill out printed and online applications, and have onsite interviews. Applicants should bring updated resumes and dress interview ready.

The job fair will act as a “one-stop shop” for people to gather and network for the future and to offer faceto-face communication with

employers and a computer lab for online applications.

The job fair will feature the following employers ranging from banking and tech companies to fast food restaurants.

Call McAllen Public Library at 956-681-3000 for more information.

August 11, 2017

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

First Presbyterian VBS teaches children purposeful living

EVENTS

Registration is now open for this year’s Vacation Bible School weekend to be held at First Presbyterian Church in Mission. Planned for Friday through Sunday, Aug. 25 to 27, children will learn about clean water as they “travel” and learn about Thailand.

Each day the children will hear a Bible story, play games, have a snack and work on “Projects with a Purpose.” In this year’s project, the children will stuff bags with diapers and wipes which benefits those in need in the local community through the Mission Food Pantry.

It all begins Friday, Aug. 25, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the church’s Fellowship Hall by the children’s playground.

On Saturday, Aug. 26, it runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., ending with a hotdog picnic.

On Sunday, Aug. 27, it runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., and

August 15, 19 & 26 – The UTRGV Office of Continuing Education will hold a college application essay writing workshop in two formats – an in-class version at the McAllen Teaching Site, and an online version offered via Blackboard. On Aug. 15, the class will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and the Aug. 19 and 26 classes will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Cost for the classroom version is $89 and online is $79. The purpose is to simplify the essay writing process. For more information, contact the Office of Continuing Education at continuinged@utrgv.edu or 956-665-2071.

August 28-29 – The Mission Hospital Auxiliary will host a $5 Jewelry and Accessories Sale from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The sale will be held in the Mission Regional Medical Center meeting rooms, 900 S. Bryan Rd. Cash, credit and debit cards and payroll deduction will be accepted.

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

CALENDAR

the children will participate in the 10:30 a.m. worship service with a blessing on the Projects with a Purpose donation.

Children ages 5 to 12 years are invited to participate, and there is no charge for the Vacation Bible School.

Individuals who

would like to donate diapers and wipes are encouraged to do so.

First Presbyterian Church is located at 1102 Ash Dr. in Mission. Call 956-585-4829 to register a child or to make a donation for the project.

Four MCISD schools named healthiest in America The extra focus by four Mission C.I.S.D. on providing a healthy learning environment has resulted in them being recognized as among the “323 Healthiest Schools in America” by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an organization founded by the American Heart Association and Clinton Foundation to empower kids to develop lifelong health habits.

Last year, all Mission CISD schools, with the exception of Alton Elementary School earned Bronze awards for the 2015-16 school year through the Alliance. Alton earned a silver award.

For 2016-17, four Mission CISD schools improved their ratings resulting in being named to the national Healthiest Schools in America list. The schools were Castro Elementary which went from bronze to silver;

Cavazos Elementary, bronze to silver; Mission Collegiate High School, bronze to silver; and Marcell Elementary, bronze to a gold award – the highest possible). Marcell Elementary School was included in an article in the September issue of Woman’s Day magazine that was just published.

All other Mission CISD schools maintained their Alliance awards from the previous school year.

“Thousands of schools across the country are seeing the academic, social and behavioral benefits of prioritizing student health,” said Dr. Howell Wechsler, CEO of the Alliance. “We’re proud to recognize the exceptional efforts of these four Mission CISD schools for serving as a best in class example of what it means to create healthier environments for both students and staff.”

“It has been amazing to see the gradual shift towards promoting healthier lives in our students and staff these past three years since joining the Alliance for a Healthier Generation,” said Dr. Ricardo López, superintendent of schools. “This is still a work in progress, and I know that more of our campuses are planning on improvements that will help them reach higher levels of achievement next year.”

All recognized schools (bronze to gold) meet or exceed updated federal nutrition standards for school meals; offer students school breakfast daily; meet or exceed federal snack and beverage requirements; implement and report annual district wellness policies; and provide students with targeted physical education per week and activity throughout the school day.

On August 3, 2017, Mission CISD held a Back to School Bash designed to bring together all the resources necessary to help parents with last minute back to school needs. Thanks to the generous support of our communities and sponsors, we were able to not only provide services, but also 2,400 backpacks with school supplies!

On behalf of the Mission CISD Board of Trustees, administration, and everyone who benefitted from the 2017 Back to School Bash, a heartfelt thank you to the following sponsors for helping our students start the school year off on the right foot.

Gold Sponsors

Bash Sponsors Boys and Girls Club of Mission Mission Classroom Teachers Association BBVA Compass Bank

Silver Sponsors Mission Board of Trustees MISSION, TEXAS

Bronze Sponsors

Patricia Y O’Caña-Olivarez, President Roy Vela, Vice President Petra B. Ramirez, Secretary Minnie R. Rodgers, Board Member

Charlie Garcia III, Board Member Dr. Sonia M Treviño, Board Member Jerry Zamora, Board Member Dr. Ricardo López, Superintendent of Schools

opinion

By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

House passes bills to give retired teachers relief from rising costs

AUSTIN – The Texas House on Aug. 1 approved House Bill 20, legislation appropriating $212.7 million from the “rainy day” reserve fund to help defray rising healthcare costs for retired school employees.

Primary authors of HB 20 include: Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin; Drew Darby, R-San Angelo; Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston; John Zerwas, R-Katy; and Donna Howard, D-Austin.

The House also approved HB 80, legislation that through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas would make a one-time cost-of-living adjustment to the retirement benefits paid to certain retirees, disability retirees and survivors. To be eligible for the increase, the annuitant must have retired between Aug. 31, 2004 and Aug. 31, 2015.

Primary authors of HB 80 include: Rep. Darby, Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City; Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville; and Bobby Guerra, D-McAllen.

Speaker Joe Straus, who presides over the House, applauded the action, saying: “Since the end of the regular session, House members across the state have heard from retirees who are concerned about some significant increases in premiums and deductibles. Based on the feedback we’ve heard back home, the House cast an overwhelming vote (Aug. 1) to help retired teachers who are facing very steep increases in their monthly

expenses.”

In other news, the House passed HB 25, which would appropriate $34 million from the state’s $11 billion rainy day fund and $45 million in federal funds for fiscal year 2018, plus another $36 million from the rainy day fund and $48.3 million in federal funds for fiscal year 2019 to the Health and Human Services Commission for Medicaid acute care therapy services.

Primary authors of HB 25 include: Sarah Davis, R-Houston; Walter “Four” Price, R-Amarillo; Rep. Guerra; Rep. Darby; and Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth.

These and all House bills, however, must be approved by the Senate in order to move forward to the governor’s desk for final consideration.

Former governor dies Mark White, who served as governor of Texas from 1983 to 1987, died Aug. 5 at age 77. He was the last living Democrat to have held the post.

White also served as Texas attorney general from 1979 to 1983, and as Texas secretary of state from 1973 to 1977.

Gov. Abbott ordered flags statewide to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Gov. White. “Mark White cared deeply about Texas, and he devoted his life to making our state even better, particularly when it came to educating our children,” Abbott said.

While White served as

governor, the Texas Legislature passed the “no-pass, no-play” law affecting secondary school athletes. Lawmakers also passed a tax to fund teacher pay-raises.

Plans are for White’s body to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. Burial will be in the state cemetery.

Tax revenue increases Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Aug. 1 announced that state sales tax revenue totaled $2.56 billion in July, 7.9 percent more than in July 2016.

Sales tax receipts from all major economic sectors were up compared to last year and total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in July 2017 is up 7.3 percent compared to the same period a year ago, Hegar said.

“The most notable increases were from oil- and gas-related industries, as spending on well development continues to rebound.

Despite the recent uptick, sales tax revenue remains in line with recent estimates from my office,” he added.

Railroad funding arrives The U.S. Department of Transportation on Aug. 3 announced the Texas Department of Transportation has received a $7 million federal grant to help rebuild the Presidio-Ojinaga, Mexico, International Rail Bridge and 72 miles of track on the state-owned South Orient Rail Line that runs from the border to near Coleman.

Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Tryon Lewis hailed the “FAST-

August November January11, 2, 2017 2015 25, 2016

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS LANE” grant as a critical investment in the West Texas oil and gas industry.

“Cross-border trade is the lifeblood of many communities in my district,” commented U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-San Antonio, whose congressional district includes the affected area. “As one

of five border crossings between Texas and Mexico, these repairs are vital to Texas’ economy,” he added.

Hurricane briefing is held Gov. Abbott on Aug. 4 announced that he joined President Donald Trump, heads of federal agencies and other governors from across the

country via teleconference for a 2017 White House Hurricane Briefing.

“Texas is in a constant state of hurricane preparedness and the safety of Texans is our top priority,” Abbott said.

Judge dismisses Paxton lawsuit over “sanctuary cities” law

A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed the state of Texas’ lawsuit against Travis County and other defendants over the state’s new immigration enforcement law.

BY JULIÁN AGUILAR THE TEXAS TRIBUNE U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks on Wednesday dismissed the state of Texas’ lawsuit against Travis County and other defendants over the state’s new immigration enforcement law.

Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a pre-emptive lawsuit shortly after the bill was signed in May seeking a ruling that the controversial measure is constitutional. Among the defendants named in Paxton’s suit were the city of Austin; Travis County and its sheriff, Sally Hernandez; and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

The law, known as Senate Bill 4, bans “sanctuary cities,” the common term for local governments that do not enforce federal immigration laws. The law also allows local law enforcement officers to question the immigration status of people they detain or arrest. It will take effect Sept. 1 unless a judge in a separate case out of San Antonio intervenes.

The law was passed in April, and Gov. Greg Abbott signed it in May after he designated the legislation an emergency item needed to ensure Texans were safe from undocumented immigrants that commit crimes.

But opponents of the measure, including the cities of Houston, Austin, San Antonio and El Cenizo, as well as Maverick and El Paso counties, have argued the law vi-

olates several provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Those entities filed a separate lawsuit against Abbott and Paxton in San Antonio, trying to prevent the law from taking effect. Oral arguments in that case were heard in June.

Sparks’ ruling means the case will stay in San Antonio.

In a statement, the attorney general said he was disappointed in Sparks’ ruling but that Wednesday’s decision has no effect on the San Antonio case.

“We were first to file a lawsuit concerning SB 4, filed this case in the only proper court, and moved quickly to consolidate other lawsuits against SB 4 in Austin,” he said. “The health, safety, and welfare of Texans is not negotiable. We’re disappointed with the court’s ruling and look forward to pressing our winning arguments in the San Antonio cases and beyond (if necessary) on this undoubtedly constitutional law.”

Though Sparks’ ruling Wednesday is a small victory for SB4’s opponents, they must now wait and see what U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia decides following a seven-hour hearing in Bexar County on June 26.

Opponents argued then that the law violates several provisions of the U.S. Constitution, including guarantees of equal protection and freedom of speech, and that

given the bill’s broad language, it opens the door to racial profiling.

But the state, with the aid of attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice, said Texas should be able to craft its own laws because of a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld several key provisions of Arizona’s state-based immigration law.

There is an ongoing debate in the country about federal immigration law,” First Assistant Attorney General Darren McCarty told Garcia in June. “That is a healthy and appropriate debate, and it should be decided in [state] legislatures and Congress.

Where it is not appropriate to decide it — respectfully, your honor — is in litigation.”

But Efren Olivares, the director of racial and economic justice at the Texas Civil Rights Project, which represents some of the plaintiffs in the San Antonio case, said he was confident his side would prevail in San Antonio after Sparks saw fit to toss the state’s initial challenge.

“Texas’ misguided lawsuit was a direct attack on democracy and local autonomy. The Texas Civil Rights Project continues its fight against SB4 and will not allow state officials to move their anti-immigrant agenda forward unchallenged,” Olivares said.

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1217 N. Conway • Mission, TX (956) 585-4893 MEMBER 2017

TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION

The Progress Times (USPS 971-420; ISSN 0890-2666) is published each Friday by Mission Publishing Co., 1217 N. Conway, Mission, Texas 78572, (956) 585-4893. Subscriptions $20 annual in Hidalgo County; $25 outside of Hidalgo County. Periodicals postage paid in Mission, Texas 78572. ©2017 Mission Publishing Company. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the PROGRESS TIMES, P.O. Box 399, Mission Texas 78573.

LETTER GUIDELINES

Letters to the Editor are welcome but must conform to certain guidelines. All letters must be original, dated, signed and bear the complete name, address and phone number of the writer/signer. No photo copied letters will be printed. No letters addressed to others will be printed. Letter content must be relevant to concerns and interests of Mission and the surrounding area. Relevance is determined by the editor.

Anonymous cards or letters are neither read nor printed. Letters may be submitted by e-mail to letters@progresstimes.net, but must include the author’s name and daytime phone number.

August 11, 2017

page 5

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Sullivan City to raise property tax, Mission cop injured, man jailed after Monday night incident appoints EDC board Long awaited splash pad to open later this month

On Monday Sullivan City’s Commission appointed seven residents to the city’s Economic Development Corporation. From left they are City Commissioner Adrianna Rodriguez, Carolina Elizondo, Rafael Cantu, Armida Mercado, Laura A. Flores and Ana Valdez. Not pictured is City Commissioner Sylvia Castillo. Progress Times photo by Joe Hinton

By Joe Hinton Sullivan city’s commission will hold two public hearings on plans to increase the city’s property tax rate.

The tax increase is one of several measures the commission is evaluating intended to improve the city’s finances.

During it’s Aug. 7 board meeting the city’s commission voted to propose a property tax increase of just under 4-cents per $100 of assessed valuation from the current $0.4606 to $0.50. Public hearings have been scheduled on Aug. 17 and Sept. 7, both occurring at 5 p.m. in the Sullivan City Municipal Building, 500 Cenizo Drive.

If passed the tax would increase the city’s revenue by just over $38,000, said Mayor Leonel “Leo” Garcia.

However, because the city’s tax collection rate is only about 85 percent the actual tax increase would be less, Garcia said, adding the tax hike would mean an annual tax increase of about $34 for the average household in the city. The city has 1,121 households subject to the tax, Garcia said.

“We’ll have the lowest tax rate in western Hidalgo County,” said Sullivan City Manager Juan Cedillo.

By comparison, Mission’s city council will consider a proposed tax rate of $0.4862 at its Sept. 14 meeting, a reduction of about a penny from last year’s rate, according to figures released during budget hearings in July.

“If you divide the increase by 12 it comes to about a $3 a month increase” for the average household, Cedillo said.

The city’s overall fiscal year 2016-2017 budget is $1.56 million with $372,786 expected to be generated from property taxes, according to the city’s budget.

Also Monday the city commission appointed a seven-member board to head the city’s Economic Development Corporation. The state had decertified the city’s EDC because of its failure to provide tax reports for the past seven years. Cedillo and city secretary, Veronica Gutierrez, reconciled the issue by compiling the missing reports and the EDC was recertified last month. The EDC receives a half-cent for each dollar in retail sales in the city while the city collects 1.5 cents on every dollar of retail sales.

The EDC is expected to collect about $56,000 this year.

The money is intended by law to be used for economic development such as providing incentives for businesses to locate in the city. Last year the city collected just under $166,000 in sales tax, according to the budget.

The commission is also considering the opportunity to accept a $319,000 grant from the Texas Water Development Board. Cedillo said the city grant would be used to hire an engineer to develop a master drainage improvement plan. He said such a plan is required to present to the TWDB and other entities to apply for grants of perhaps $5 million for drainage and road improvement projects.

Cedillo said accepting the grant would mean payments of about $450 a month over 30 years. But he also said some of that debt could be paid via subsequent grants for future infrastructure improvements. But he said the first step in infrastructure improvements is drainage.

Garcia asked the matter be tabled until he had a chance to meet with the engineer, Ricar-

do Salazar of S&GE, to discuss the scope of the plan and the long-range ramifications of the debt incurred if the city accepts the grant. Salazar said the city must present its plan sometime next month or lose the opportunity to accept the grant.

The commission also gave its approval for Police Chief Richard Ozuna to apply for a $15,000 grant from the Texas Department of Public Safety. The chief said the money would be used for overtime pay for officers and for fuel and maintenance on police vehicles.

In a cost cutting measure the commission also voted to terminate the contract it has with it’s financial advisor, Hollis Rutledge and Associates. Garcia said he did not feel the city had utilized Rutledge’s services sufficiently over the past two years to warrant maintaining the

monthly payments the city has been making and because Rutledge declined to provide services on an as-needed, hourly pay basis.

In other business the commission approved a request from Police Chief Richard Ozuna to hold a National Night Out event in the city’s park on Aug. 17. The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. with TV newsman Eduardo Flores as the master of ceremonies.

City Manager Cedillo said he anticipates the city’s long awaited splash pad will be completed in time for the event. The city budgeted $400,000 on the project.

When completed Cedillo said it will be the “premiere” splash pad in western Hidalgo County and should draw visitors from other communities into the city.

By Joe Hinton

A Mission police officer suffered non-life threatening injuries Monday night attempting to arrest a 27-yearold Mission man who now faces a possible life sentence following what, according to police, started out as an attempt to steal some beer and snacks from a Mission convenience store.

The man at the center of Monday’s incident, Emmanuel S. Perez, 27, remains in the Hidalgo County Jail in lieu of $610,000 bond facing four charges.

During a press conference Tuesday following Perez’s arraignment, Mission Police Chief Robert Dominguez said the incident began about 10:30 p.m. when Perez allegedly attempted to leave the H-E-B gas station’s convenience market at Conway Avenue and Griffin Parkway in Mission with beer and snacks without paying. Perez left the store without any of the items after being confronted by the female clerk.

The woman called police to report the incident after Perez left the store, Dominguez said.

According to Dominguez, two responding officers located Perez asleep in his running vehicle parked on the northwest corner of the intersection catty-corner to the gas station. Perez had a knife on his lap and a beer can in his right hand. After some effort, officers woke Perez who, with weapons drawn on him, complied with the officer’s demands he turn

off the engine and put the knife away but ignored their command to exit the vehicle. Officers were eventually able to reach in the vehicle and open the front door after Perez had partially rolled down his window to speak with them. At that time Perez restarted the engine and drove off at a high rate of speed as officers continued to struggle with him. One of the officers fell from the vehicle injuring both knees.

The officer, whose name was not released, was treated at Mission Regional Medical Center and was recovering at home.

Dominguez said Perez was eventually arrested about 20 minutes later after leading Texas Department of Public Safety Officers in a chase. Perez was eventually apprehended near Eight Mile Line and Moorefield Road north of Mission after Hidalgo County Sheriff’s deputies placed a tire-spiking device in the road.

At his arraignment before Mission City Magistrate Jonathan Wehrmeister Perez was officially charged with aggravated assault on a public servant, a first-degree felony the judge said was punishable by a minimum of five years in prison up to a maximum life sentence and up to a $10,000 fine.

Perez was also charged with evading arrest with a vehicle, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by incarceration ranging from 180 days to two years and up to a $10,000 fine, the judge said.

Perez was also charged with

two Class A misdemeanors, resisting arrest and driving under the influence of alcohol, both punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.

During the hearing Perez admitted he had a previous DUI conviction and was currently on two year’s probation for aggravated assault.

According to Dominguez, Perez was no stranger to Mission police. Hidalgo County court and jail records show Perez has been booked into the county jail nine times with as many court cases, the first instance occurring in March 2013 when he was arrested for possession of under 2 ounces of marijuana. His most recent arrest in January 2016 resulted in his two-year sentence to probation after he was convicted of aggravated assault for threatening a man with a knife.

Mission resident Emmanuel Perez at his arraignment Tuesday before Mission City Magistrate Jonathan Wehrmeister.

Progress Times photo by Joe Hinton

August 11, 2017

page 6

Sharyland Football Team Leaders

Pictured are some of the athletes expected to play a key role on this year’s Sharyland Rattlers football team. Returning starters, pictured from left are: junior tackle Josh Williams, junior guard Gabriel Martinez, senior linebacker Noe Cortez, senior slot receiver Blake Klein and junior linebacker Javo Lopez. Senior tackle Jose Resendez (at right), while not a returning starter, is expected to be a key contributor on this year’s team. Returning starters not pictured are senior linebacker Tyger Brigmon, senior defensive lineman Carlos Zarate and senior guard Xavier Luna. Progress Times Photo

Rattlers ready to roll in 2017

By Bryan Ramos To reach a team’s fullest potential in football, depending on the man next to you is pivotal.

The Sharyland Rattlers and Head Coach Ron Adame enter the 2017 football season focused on building a team whose strength and success comes from relying on each other.

“We’ve never been a program or a team that’s centered around one young man or one individual, but rather a team of individuals that all rally together; that forms power in unity,” Adame said.

Last season, the Rattlers finished third in District 315A with a 7-4 (6-2) record and lost in the bi-district round of the playoffs to Mercedes 17-7. Eight starters returning from last year’s team will be looked upon to lead this year’s group.

Sharyland will test themselves early in the season with a scrimmage against the Harlingen Cardinals and

non-district games against the Weslaco East Panthers and Edinburg North Cougars, all playoff teams a year ago. That will be followed by the eight-district grind of District 31-5A. Senior linebacker Noe Cortez says the tough non-district schedule will be beneficial to the Rattlers in the long-run, as they’ll have been battle-tested early and often.

“We have two really good 6A teams up our first two weeks and then our district is extremely competitive week to week; there’s no team that’s any less good than any other team,” Cortez said.

“We know that defensively, doing our job is extremely crucial to help the offense… those 6A teams are going to prepare us for our eightweek district.”

While the Rattlers eagerly await the start of fall practice Monday morning, Aug. 14, the work started in spring ball as Adame and his staff identified players who will

contribute and assume key roles for Sharyland this season.

The Rattler defense proved to be one of the best in 31-5A a year ago, and while only three starters are returning, Sharyland’s “9-590%” philosophy, nine guys within five yards of the ball 90 percent of the time, causes problems for offenses year-in-and-year-out.

The Rattlers’ linebacker core will give Sharyland a veteran presence in the middle of the field defensively with two of the team’s top tacklers a year ago returning in Javo Lopez and Cortez.

Lopez hopes to set a tone right out of the gates that lets opponents know the Sharyland defense is ready for anything and everything.

“I’d like to set a tone that the whole defense can handle everything,” he said. “We’re a good run defense, a good pass defense, and we can defend anything that’s thrown our way.”

Lopez, a junior middle

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linebacker, earned Second Team All-District honors for his play last season and is back to lead the Rattler defense. Cortez finished the year with 58 tackles and one sack while Lopez led the Rattlers with 113 tackles and five sacks of his own.

On the other side of the ball, the Rattlers’ offensive line will be relied upon heavily to consistently create room for the new additions getting acclimated to playing under the bright lights.

Returning starters are juniors Gabriel Martinez, Josh Williams and senior Xavier Luna, who, with their size and experience playing together, give Sharyland a formidable frontline weapon.

Martinez, who earned honorable mention honors for his play as a sophomore, said he’s ready for the load the offensive line will carry this season.

“Knowing that we have three returning players makes me feel relieved knowing that I can trust the

guys next to me—I know they’re not going to give up,” he said. “Knowing that we’re playing a big role puts a lot of pressure on us, but we’re not afraid to take challenges.”

Taking over under center for the Rattlers is junior quarterback Edgar Longoria.

Longoria served in a backup role behind senior starter Alan Alvarez last year, but when injury struck, he had no problem filling in and leading Sharyland to two victories over Mission Veterans Memorial and Rio Grande City with the team’s playoff lives on the line.

Longoria is coming off an injury, but if 100 percent healthy, Adame has full confidence in his command of the Sharyland offense and what he can do on the field.

Senior slot receiver Blake Klein, one of Sharyland’s most versatile offensive weapons, returns for his senior year. Klein was voted a unanimous First Team All-District selection

for carving up defenses— he carried the ball for 485 yards and four touchdowns while bringing in 28 receptions for 634 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games last season.

Klein, who Adame likened to a kid with passion having fun playing backyard football, has confidence the Rattler offense can be as lethal as ever in 2017.

“I’d like our offense to be seen as quick, and tire out defenses as best we can,” Klein said. “We hope to win every game. With Edgar and our three returning offensive linemen, I think we’ll be able to do some damage.”

The Rattlers will begin with preseason action against the Harlingen Cardinals at 7:30 p.m. on Friday Aug. 25 in Harlingen. The season officially kicks off on Sept.

1 when Sharyland pays a visit to Weslaco East for a non-district matchup.

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Progress Times Photo by Luciano Guerra

Patriots preparing for transition season

By Luciano Guerra Coach David Gilpin loves a challenge. In this his ninth year as the Mission Veterans Memorial Patriots head football coach, he’s facing one of the biggest challenges of his coaching career. Replacing last year’s All-Valley Football Player of the Year and Sub 6A Male Athlete of the Year, quarterback Diego Hernandez.

Fortunately, he didn’t have to look far to find his new starting quarterback.

He found him under his own roof. Gilpin’s son, Landry Gilpin, will be under center for the Patriots this year.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that Hernandez is just one of several cogs from the 2016 Patriots’ offensive machine that have to be replaced. And while replacing graduating seniors is an annual occurrence for high school coaches, Gilpin has had to replace more than just players this year.

“This is a big transition year for us,” Gilpin said.

“Obviously we lost three statistical warriors in Diego, Jacob (Guerrero) and Roman (De Leon) who all put up unbelievable numbers. We’re taking Landry out of the receiver position and put him back at quarterback. So we lost three out of our top four receivers, we lost our returning quarterback, we’ve lost our offensive coordinator (Lupe Rodriguez) who was hired at PSJA as their head coach, we’ve lost our special teams coordinator (Casey Smith) who’s gone over to Pioneer and we’ve lost our offensive line coach (Jesse Rodriguez) who is now the offensive coordinator at PSJA. So we’ve got a lot of changes.”

“Luciano, you’ve been

around me long enough to know that I enjoy a challenge,” added Gilpin. “We feel like this is a year in which we’re going to put a stamp on who we are as a team. I feel that we’ve done a great job over the last eight years. As a matter of fact, it’s been six years since we won fewer games than we won the year before.”

Despite the fact that the Patriots entered post season play last year as the fourth seed in District 31-5A, they advanced further into the playoffs than they ever have before. Will Gilpin and the 2017 Patriots be willing to settle for anything less this year?

Not at all.

“We went to the third round of the playoffs last year and, having said all I’ve just said about this being a transition year, we expect to be back in the third round of the playoffs this year.

Our expectations have not lessened due to the losses; they’ve actually grown.”

As for the younger Gilpin, while this may be his first opportunity to open the season as the Patriots’ starting quarterback, it won’t be his first experience leading the offense. In his freshman year, after Hernandez suffered a season-ending injury in week six, Gilpin started four district games (3-1) and two playoff games (1-1).

When asked if he thought that experience will help him when he assumes the starting position in week one this year, Gilpin said, “It was a great experience for me to get to play a few games at quarterback my freshman year.

We had a difficult schedule and having to go up against Victoria West in the playoffs ended up being good experience for me and I think it was

for the better of the team. I think we’re going to have a good year this year.”

As a freshman signal caller, Gilpin relied on his athleticism and his legs much more than his passing skills.

So much so that in the Patriots’ 33-21 bi-district round win over the Donna Redskins that year, he ran the ball 24 times for 295 yards and four touchdowns.

According to his father, however, Landry has worked hard and taken great strides in his passing abilities since then.

“I’ve been working really hard this summer on transitioning from a scrambling quarterback to a dual-threat quarterback,” explained the 5-foot-11, 170-pound quarterback. “I think it’s going to help the team a lot if I can be more of a dual threat.”

According to Coach Gilpin, the offensive line is one of the Patriots’ strong points this year. One reason for that is the return of starting offensive guard, Alex De Leon.

When asked what he attributes the Patriots’ playoff success to last year, De Leon said, “I think that the level of competition we had to play in our district last year helped prepare us for the playoffs a lot. Our district was pretty tough, so when we went up against Brownsville Veterans, the toughest team in their district, we were ready for them. Same thing went for Flour Bluff; Brownsville Vets got us ready for them.”

De Leon said, this year he is looking forward to “going to the playoffs again and hopefully making it back to the third round of the playoffs if not further.”

One area of concern Coach Gilpin had coming into the season was the Patriots defensive backfield.

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However, he believes that his players’ hard work during the off-season will pay dividends once the season kicks off.

Senior safety and returning starter Giovanni Grimoldo is one of those hard working players Gilpin referred to. Grimoldo, however, has been training for more than just football.

“I’ve been going to the weight room and to sum-

mer conditioning Monday through Thursday for six weeks now,” Grimoldo said.

“I’ve been in Iron Man for four years and I’ve run routes with Landry.”

The Patriots are scheduled to open their 2017 season with a non-district matchup against the Harlingen Cardinals Friday, Sept. 1 – originally scheduled at Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium. However, the stadium

has been undergoing major renovations this summer and is not expected to be ready in time for that game. Should that be the case, the Patriots are in contract talks with the McAllen school district to play the Cardinals at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 31 instead.

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Inspiration Road project could be declared ‘completed’ this month

Although traffic along Inspiration Road has been flowing smoothly these last few weeks, minor “landscaping” issues are preventing the Texas Department of Transportation from officially completing the project.

That’s what Jesus Noriega, an engineer with TxDOT, reported July 25 to the board of directors of the Mission Redevelopment Authority.

“We’re pretty much done as far as roadway work,” Noriega told the board during a briefing on the connection of Inspiration Road under Expressway 83 in Mission.

The approximately $46 million project is being constructed by J.D. Abrams L.P., a Houston based civil engineering and construction company.

Conceived in 2011, the Inspiration Road expansion required the expressway bridge lengthened to accommodate both Business 83 and Inspiration Road, the latter road previously terminated at the north and south sides of the expressway. Inspiration Road is expected to become the main route north from Mexico for commercial vehicles once the Madero Bridge – still in the planning stages - is completed. The Madero Bridge will create a second international bridge with Mexico in Mission.

The expressway bridge was also widened from three to six lanes, Noriega said.

According to Octavio Saenz, public information officer for TxDOT, the landscaping issues include cracks along the sidewalks and other small “cosmetic” work.

“The essence of the project is basically completed,” he said. “Lanes are open, traffic is flowing, I see that this project could be completed by the end of the month. We’re just verifying what else needs to be done.”

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August 11, 2017

NOTICE OF 2017 TAX YEAR PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR CITY OF SULLIVAN CITY A tax rate of $0.5000 per $100 valuation has been proposed for adoption by the governing body of City of Sullivan City. This rate exceeds the lower of the effective or rollback tax rate, and state law requires that two public hearings be held by the governing body before adopting the proposed tax rate.

The governing body of City of Sullivan City proposes to use revenue attributable to the tax rate increase for the purpose of maintenance and operations.

PROPOSED TAX RATE PRECEDING YEAR'S TAX RATE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE ROLLBACK TAX RATE

$0.5000 per $100 $0.4606 per $100 $0.4577 per $100 $0.5161 per $100

The effective tax rate is the total tax rate needed to raise the same amount of property tax revenue for City of Sullivan City from the same properties in both the 2016 tax year and the 2017 tax year.

The rollback tax rate is the highest tax rate that City of Sullivan City may adopt before voters are entitled to petition for an election to limit the rate that may be approved to the rollback rate.

YOUR TAXES OWED UNDER ANY OF THE ABOVE RATES CAN BE CALCULATED AS FOLLOWS: property tax amount= (rate) x (taxable value of your property)/100 For assistance or detailed information about tax calculations, please contact: Pablo (Paul) Villarreal Jr. City of Sullivan City Tax Assessor-Collector 2804 S Business Hwy 281 Edinburg TX 78539 (956) 318-2157 propertytax@hidalgocountytax.org http://www.hidalgocountytax.org You are urged to attend and express your views at the following public hearings on the proposed tax rate: First Hearing: August 17, 2017 at 5:00 PM at Sullivan City Municipal Building, 500 Cenizo Dr., Sullivan City, TX 78595.

Second Hearing: September 7, 2017 at 5:00 PM at Sullivan City Municipal Building, 500 Cenizo Dr., Sullivan City, TX 78595.

August 11, 2017

page 9

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As deadline nears just two have filed to run for La Joya city council

By Jose De Leon III With less than two weeks before the filing deadline to run for a spot on the La Joya City Council, only two people have turned in applications for two separate positions.

Mary Salinas, current Place 3 council member, filed late last month to run for what could be her fourth

term in 10 years as a city councilwoman. Joining her is newcomer, Reynaldo Acosta, a current board member for the La Joya Housing Authority who is running for the Place 1 seat.

Victorio Salinas, who currently occupies the Place 1 seat, has yet to file the paperwork to run for city council, said City Administrator Mike Alaniz, noting no one

else has filed to run in the Nov. 7 city council election.

Mary Salinas, a retired nurse and wife of La Joya Mayor Jose “Fito” Salinas, said she hoped to continue serving the community.

“Acosta and I just want to continue with what we’ve been doing which is being successful and bringing in so many different businesses and projects,” she said, re-

ferring to the new apartment complexes being constructed for the city as well the new city hall and ER center. “We need to finish those projects and I want to be here for that.”

Ms. Salinas also said she’d like to continue other city traditions she started such as the yearly National Day of Prayer and community Thanksgiving dinner held in conjunction with La Joya’s Siloe Christian Church.

Acosta, a long-time La Joya resident, said he’d like to ensure continuation of several street renovation projects the city has been making for the last few years and hopes to bring more street lights to the area.

Mayor Salinas said both candidates are running under the “Community Working Together” banner, a political nonprofit he and his wife started 20 years ago the mayor said all council members were members of CWT and campaigned with support from the organization.

Victorio Salinas, no relation to the mayor, is no longer a member of CWT, the mayor said, adding he has no idea if the current Place 1 councilman plans to file for reelection. Calls to Victorio went unreturned as of press time.

Despite Victorio’s possible absence, Mayor Salinas said he’s happy with the two candidates currently running

and said he’s supporting them.

“They’re very dedicated individuals to the community and have been very loyal to the needs of the people,” he said. “They’ve both helped with supporting the projects the city is developing and people want them. They’ll be a tremendous asset to the city.”

The deadline to file to run for the city council is Tuesday, Aug 22 at 5 p.m.

All candidates must pay a non-refundable application fee of $500 at city hall, Alaniz said.

Funeral Home in Mission.

Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission.

Elpidio Mendez MISSION – Elpidio Alonzo Mendez, 57, passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, at home in Mission.

Mr. Mendez was born in Reynosa, Tamps., Mexico, to the late Elpidio and Juanita (Mendez) Alonzo.

Survivors include his wife, Maria Antonia Alonzo; sons, Daniel Alonso, Matthew Alonzo and Marcos Alonzo; siblings, Josefina Alonzo, Elizabeth Alonzo, Sylvia Knight, Ricarda Perez, Gloria Alonzo, Rosalinda Alonzo, Anita Alonzo, Martin Alonzo, Peter Alonzo, Jesus Alonzo, Alfredo Alonzo and Juan Alonzo.

A funeral mass was held on Aug. 2 at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at San Jose Cemetery in Mission.

Tonja Schach MISSION - Tonja Lynn Schach, 48, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Mrs. Schach was employed with Lowe’s.

Survivors include her husband, James Schach; children, Jeromy Valadez, Joshua Wilson, Shantelle Schach, Kevin Schach and Kasey Schach; mother, Sonja Schimmels; and sisters, Tracie Taylor and Tammie Nolan.

She was preceded in death by her father, Doyle Schimmels.

A funeral service was held on Aug. 6 at Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.

Burial followed at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens in Pharr.

Crandell, 89, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, at Pax Villa Hospice in McAllen.

William Davis MISSION – William Davis, 75, passed away on Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Alexis Farias MISSION – Alexis Farias, 19, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017, at East Houston Regional Medical Center in Houston.

Pedro Fonseca Sr. MISSION – Pedro Fonseca Sr., 54, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Ramon Garza SULLIVAN CITY – Ramon Garza, 80, passed away on Wednesday, Aug, 2, 2017, at his home in Sullivan City.

Sergio Garza MISSION – Sergio Garza, 88, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, at Pax Villa Hospice in McAllen.

Jack Hartman MISSION – Jack L Hartman, 85, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, at Mission Nursing Home.

Mario Martinez MISSION – Mario Lucio Martinez, 80, passed away on Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, at his home in Mission.

Ramiro Morin MISSION – Ramiro Morin, 84, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, at Comfort House in McAllen Raul Navejar MISSION – Raul Navejar, 89, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at Pax Villa Hospice in McAllen.

Juana Quintero ALTON – Juana Quintero, 67, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, at Doctors Hospital in Edinburg.

Aristeo Treviño PALMVIEW – Aristeo Treviño, 39, passed away on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, at Doctors Hospital in Edinburg.

Juana Vasquez ALTON – Juana Vasquez, 78, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at her home in Alton.

Donald Waltman MISSION – Donald Ray Waltman, 77, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, at his home in Mission.

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obituaries

Christina Cura-Hernandez MISSION – Christina Cura-Hernandez, 48, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017.

Survivors include her husband, Nestor Hernandez; daughters, Celeste and Crystal Hernandez; parents, Reynaldo and Juanita Cura; and siblings, Steve Cura and Criselda Cura.

A funeral service was held on Aug. 5 at Igelsia Adventista del Septimo Dia in Mission. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens.

Ernestina Flores PEÑITAS – Ernestina Flores, 90, passed away on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, at her home in Peñitas.

Mrs. Flores was born on April 4, 1927, to Nicomedes Ortiz and Anastacia Solis in Falfurrias.

Survivors include her children, Sylvia Rodriguez, Maria Alaniz, Oscar Flores Jr., Thelma Zamora, Anna Valdez and Eleazar Flores; and 21 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and 14

great-great-grandchildren.

A rosary was held on Aug. 6 at Lord and I Funeral Home in Peñitas. Cremation followed later.

Delbert Killinger ALTON – Delbert “Red” Thomas Killinger, 90, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, at his home in Alton.

Mr. Killinger was born in Mission after his family moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1912 from Audubon, Iowa. They were a pioneer family working in the water well drilling business throughout the Valley.

He was the owner of Killinger Water Well Drilling Company.

Survivors include his wife, Maria Killinger of Alton; children, Martin Killinger and Delbert Killinger Jr. of Alton, Angie Gutierrez of Pharr, Sylvia Pacheco of Fredericksburg and Lucy Gonzalez of Alton; and eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was held on Aug. 5 at Del Angel

Notices Elvira Almeida ALTON – Elvira Garcia Almeida, 69, passed away on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Edwin Betancourt MISSION - Edwin Betancourt, 28, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017, at McAllen Medical Center.

Marjorie Crandell PALMVIEW – Marjorie J.

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.

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

page 10

MASTER AN

Korea, without leaving the United States. Here he found the best of both worlds, he said. And at age 80, An is literally still kicking at his McAllen studio located on Pecan Boulevard just east of Scottie Drive.

But An took a circuitous route getting here.

Born in Seoul in 1937, An first became interested in martial arts as a junior high school student watching classes at a local academy after school. Soon after, he began studying Ji Do Kwon, literally translated is “kicking skills,” one of the seven Kwons that later combined to become Tae Kwon Do.

August 11, 2017

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com He had his black belt in two years. Soon after, he began to win national tournaments in the sport. Between 1963 and 1966 An was named “Korea’s Excellent Player,” an award signifying him as a Tae Kwon Do “Champion of Champions,” he said.

In 1969, having completed college with a degree in education, An spent 8 months in Mexico presenting seminars on Tae Kwon Do throughout the country. In 1972, he was invited to Ecuador for two years to teach the fighting art to presidential guards and Army Academy cadets. In fact, today, if you speak with An he is more

from pg 1

comfortable communicating in Spanish than in English.

Standing just 5-feet-3inches, An also taught self defense to officers in the Seoul International Police Department and the Police Academy of Korea. He was often assigned to guard visiting dignitaries to Korea as well as accompanying South Korean senators and VIPs on official tours, he said while displaying photographs of his endeavors.

But in the early 1970s the ninth degree black belt decided to take his experience to the United States, settling in the Chicago area in 1973. But 10 years later, missing the Latin culture he grew to love, An moved his wife and two children to McAllen where he opened his first of three studios.

Though he concentrates his work at his McAllen studio today, at one time he had two others, one in Harlingen and another in Edinburg.

On Tuesday, Aug. 2, An’s studio was host to more than a dozen students, several of them parents and children practicing side by side like 34-year-old Cynthia Cazares, a Weslaco CPA and mother of three. On Aug. 2 she was practicing high kicks alongside her 6-year-old son, Lawrence.

“This is my passion,” Cazares said prior to the start of class. “I’ve been doing it since I was 11.”

Carlos Nino, 17, of McAllen, explained why he likes studying Tae Kwon Do. “I like how you use your feet most of the time,” said Nino.” And they instruct you to use your feet as power.

And they instruct self-confidence, self control and self defense most of all. And it’s really helped me.”

An employs several black

belt instructors but oversees all training.

Nino was asked what he thinks of the man he calls Master An. “He’s very strict and very good, which encourages us to get better.”

Austin Villarreal, 11, of Palmview, said his favorite part of classes are the fights in which students participate after donning protective head and body gear. Villarreal said he really enjoys them even though he has been kicked in the knees a few times.

Villarreal said he likes taking Tae Kwon Do because it teaches self-defense, plus he’s getting stronger from all the exercise. Villarreal’s mother, Frances, said she has

noticed changes in her son since he began studying Tae Kwon Do. “He’s more confident because he’s learning how to protect and defend himself,” Villarreal said. “And as for Master An he’s interactive and oversees their progress.”

Virginia Rodriguez, 10, was taking class as her mom, Norma, of McAllen, watched. Mrs. Rodriguez said she moved her daughter to An’s studio about two months ago because the other school, where Virginia had been receiving instruction about two years, was not as structured as An’s classes.

Rodriguez said her husband, Mario, a marathon runner, usually attends class with his

QUIT JOBS In 2015, the most recent year in which financial reports are available via the utility’s website, Agua SUD’s net position, or it’s total combined assets, were $83.5 million with total operating revenues of $9.3 million and total operating expenses of $6.8 million, according to its 2015 audit.

“They are not with Agua SUD anymore. I don’t remember the exact date but it was about a month ago that they resigned from Agua SUD as the result of Senate Bill 814,” said Attorney Ben Castillo, who represented both men in their departure from the utility.

Castillo said a non-disclosure clause in the separation agreement reached between both men and the utility prevents the involved parties from discussing its details.

At an Aug. 7 special school board meeting Salinas declined to comment while calls made to Garza, Agua SUD Executive Director Oscar Cancino and Board President Rogelio “Roger” Hernandez III were not returned.

daughter except he was out of town on business at the moment.

“She really likes it and she’s happy because it’s more structured,” Rodriguez said, speaking over the shouted commands and student responses, as different kinds of kicks were being practiced just feet away. “At the other place there was no discipline and no structure and she was just wandering around and lost. Here she’s happier. She likes it.”

“Families like Master An,” An says, approaching Rodriguez as she talks to a reporter.

“Yes,” Rodriguez replies.

“We do.”

from pg 1 In a February interview, Hinojosa said the bill was filed after his office was contacted by a number of constituents who were worried of a potential conflict of interest concerning several hires in Agua SUD related to the La Joya school district.

Under the bill, which became law June 9, the utility district may not employ an elected official from a governing entity – such as the La Joya school board – if any member of the utility district board works for that same governing entity.

Of the seven directors on the Agua SUD board, four are employees of the La Joya Independent School District.

Salinas was employed as the utility’s community outreach coordinator and Garza was a project manager Questioned by the Progress Times following the bill’s passage, Salinas and Garza said they would not give up their school board positions.

“I’m not going to resign from the school board,” Salinas said. “I am going to serve

the people that elected me.”

Homer Tijerina, vice president of the utility’s board of directors, said he had heard but could not confirm that Salinas and Garza had each received a severance payment of at least $200,000. Because of the non-disclosure agreement, however, Castillo said he couldn’t comment.

“It’s just rumors,” Tijerina said. “There’s nothing concrete and it’s why I’m trying to find out more.”

Tijerina said he submitted a public information request to Cancino and the utility district at the beginning of July for information on employees affected by SB 814.

But both parties have yet to provide that information, he said.

The Texas Attorney General’s website states a governing entity must reply to public information requests “within 10 business days.”

Tijerina said the resignations may have occurred after the Agua SUD board authorized Cancino, during a July 6 board meeting, to resolve any “potential dispute with employees who will be affected by Senate Bill 814.”

Hinojosa said questions regarding the separation agreement could be resolved if the utility board was more transparent, adding the public has a right to know how the district is utilizing taxpayers’ money. The utility receives grants from public agencies such as the Texas Water Development Board and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, among others, according to prior published audits of the utility.

“It’s not right to keep that from being disclosed to the general public,” Hinojosa said. “If they do not disclose the amount of severance pay or any other details, it makes them seem like they’re hiding something. Maybe the actions are appropriate but you have to disclose that to the public. At some point we’ll get the information.

We have too. The public has a right to know.”

ALTON LAWSUIT

from pg 1

to the city’s budget overview dated Sept. 27, 2016.

“Basically, with this resolution we’re saying we support what McAllen and Pharr are doing and protecting our city,” Vela said.

With the resolution, City Attorney Ricardo Gonzalez has been authorized to engage the services of the Austin-based law firm, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado & Acosta, the same law firm the cities of Pharr and McAllen are using.

“It’s not just about revenue being lost, it’s about how property that belongs to our citizens will be taken away from us and given over to big companies,” Gonzalez said. “It affects us and management of this easement.

The state can’t take property away from someone and give it to someone else, that’s what they’re doing.”

Pharr City Manager Juan Guerre did not respond to a request for comment as of press time Wednesday, Aug. 9. McAllen’s Public Information Officer Xochitl Mora provided a statement dated July 11 saying that the potential loss of right-of-way fees to municipalities is estimated at $813 million annually, according to the Texas Municipal League.

“Any successful constitutional challenge on SB 1004 is going to require coordinated effort from every available Texas municipality,” McAllen City Attorney Kevin Pagan said in the release.

August 11, 2017

BORDER WALL

Efren Olivares of the Texas Civil Rights Project, environmentalist Betty Perez and Father Roy Snipes of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission, among others. Snipes, a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, said he is concerned by what unknowns remain about CBP plans to build a wall that could impact use of La Lomita Chapel. Snipes said neither he or the Catholic bishop were invited to a closed-to-the-press briefing last week hosted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Sector Chief Manuel Padilla who unveiled CBP plans to build new sections of wall along the Rio Grande River. Snipes said the Oblates own the land between La Lomita and the river and the church owns La Lomita Historical Park that borders the river.

“I would love to have gone if I could have but nobody invited me,” Snipes said. “That’s church property. You’d think they would have called me or at least called the bishop and told him, ‘We’re going to wall off one of your chapels. What do you think about that?’”

Snipes said he is concerned by the way the federal government seems to be taking unilateral action in preparing new sections of wall, citing recent activity by surveying teams at Santa Anita Wildlife Refuge in Alamo and the National Butterfly Center in Mission.

“The arrogance of coming into the wildlife sanctuary without even asking anybody

and start digging and surveying and bulldozing and saying, ‘We can do it because we’re the government,” Snipes said. “That’s not the way we thought of our democracy working. We don’t think of our government as operating that way.”

Last week six U.S. Representatives from Texas signed a letter to Elaine Duke, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, urging her department to be more transparent about its plans to extend the border wall in the Rio Grande Valley. Among them was U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a Democrat representing part of McAllen, Edinburg and Weslaco and other areas to the north of the Valley. In an Aug. 4 press release announcing the letter Gonzalez said, “I am adamantly opposed to the construction of a wall along the U.S. – Mexico border, especially one that would go through one of our most precious refuges, the Santa Ana National Wildlife refuge.” Gonzalez urged Duke to exercise greater transparency in the process, a sentiment Snipes echoed in comments to the Progress Times.

On Monday the Progress Times requested an interview with Padilla and a copy of the map of the proposed new sections of wall that was shown but to but not provided to invitees. As of press time Thursday the newspaper had received no response to its request.

The Sierra Club’s Nicol, who attended the briefing,

page 11 www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com do here,” Riojas stated in a Santa Ana National Wildlife change to speed up the entry from pg 1

said he took a phone photo from across the briefing room of the CBP map displayed on an easel during the briefing. He provided it to the Progress Times but as he conceded it was mostly illegible.

Snipes said it is the government’s lack of transparency that concerns him.

“I just want to express our concern we’re the people of the chapel. We’re the people of the river,” Snipes said.

“We don’t want to be walled off down there keeping us away from the chapel. We live in a world of people who are arrogant and cruel. But we don’t want our government to be arrogant and cruel to protect us. And we don’t think our neighbors are arrogant and cruel just because they live across the river.”

Besides Our Lady of Guadalupe, hosts of Saturday’s event are the National Butterfly Center, whose founder, Dr. Jeffrey Glassberg, president of the North American Butterfly Association, was scheduled to fly into the Valley today; Call to Action Rio Grande Valley; the Environmental Awareness Club and La Union de Pueblo Entero.

The Sierra Club’s Riojas said Saturday’s event was conceived as a way to reaffirm the culture and history of the Rio Grande Valley and to highlight the way that border communities are connected to the river and to neighbors in Mexico.

“But we also want to draw attention to the damage that the Trump administration’s planned border walls could

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press release, “like cutting off people’s homes, stripping farmers of their land, closing parks and devastating ecologically sensitive wildlife refuges.”

On Sunday another event is scheduled at the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. Riojas noted published reports revealing Santa Ana could be one of the first locations where new border walls are built because the refuge is on federally owned property.

Participants are asked to arrive by 9 a.m. for the “Protect Santa Ana Protest Hike,” that is hosted by Save

1 Week = $7.00 2 Weeks = $10.00 4 Weeks = $14.00 Services WE BUY OWNER financed mortage notes. Call 956– 279-087 leave message with name, number, and message.

CANTU A/C & COMMERCIAL Refrigeration, service, sales & repair, $35 check-up, free estimates for installa-

Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Mission will conduct a public hearing on Monday, August 28, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers of City Hall, 1201 E. 8th Street, Mission, Texas to consider the City’s FY 2017-2018 Annual Budget. The proposed budget is available for inspection by the public on regular business days from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the office of the City Secretary, 1201 E. 8th Street or on the city’s website at www.missiontexas.us.

Everyone interested is invited to attend and present comments.

Publication Date: August 11, 2017 Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

Special Education Records Notice

Sharyland Water Supply Corp.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Business or other related 8+ years of Water Utility experience 3+ years in a management or supervisor capacity Class “A” or “B” TCEQ Water License Valid Texas Driver’s License Operations Manager

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or other related 5+ years of Water Utility experience 2+ years in a management or supervisor capacity Class “A” or “B” TCEQ Water License Valid Texas Driver’s License Water Plant Operator Qualifications: High School Diploma / GED Class “C” TCEQ Water License (preferred) Valid Texas Driver’s License Able to work a shift schedule Interested applicants can email resume to HR@sharylandwater.com or drop off resume at 4210 E Main Ave, Alton, TX 78573 (SW Corner of 5 Mile Line & Shary Rd.)

*Sharyland WSC is an equal opportunity provider and employer

from pg 1

May be for work in civic, church or community groups, if these labors have had significant impact on the citizens of Mission.

Must be a resident of Mission or work in Mission.

Service will be measured in terms of its impact on the entire community as a whole as well as to a particular organization.

Mr. Mission and First Lady Selection criteria for Mr. Mission and First Lady of Mission are the following: Must have provided long term service to Mission through a civic or church group or endeavor, or through charitable or benevolent service to the community, or a combination of these factors.

Service most be ongoing and cover a minimum of 11 years.

Length of service, character and integrity will be

Notice of Public Hearing FY 2017-2018 Budget

Is currently accepting resumes for the following 3 positions: Assistant General Manager

process. Organizers say if the parking lot is full participants can park along Military Highway but vehicles must be off the shoulder and on the grass. Law enforcement is expected to be on hand to assist vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Participants are asked to bring plenty of water and their cameras to record the event and share it “far and wide,” Riojas said.

The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is located at 3325 Green Jay, Alamo,

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Refuge and the Lower Rio Grande Valley Sierra Club.

“In the coming months the U.S. Senate will be debating funding for new border walls, including the Trump administration’s plans for 28 miles of levee-border wall in Hidalgo County and 32 miles of bollard border wall in Starr County and organizers of these events want to ensure that South Texan’s voices are heard,” Riojas said.

The hike will begin as soon as everyone who plans to participate has paid the park’s $5 entry fee. Organizers suggest bringing exact

Student Special Education Records from school years 2005/2006 through 2009/2010 are due to be destroyed from Mission Consolidated Independent School District. These records may be picked up on or before Monday, August 31, 2017 at the Mission CISD Fixed Assets Warehouse located at 723 N. Holland, Mission, Texas.

PUBLIC NOTICE The Mission City Council will hold a Regular Meeting on August 28, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: 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

among considerations.

Value of service to the community in general is the primary factor.

Must live, work or have significant business interests in Mission.

Nomination Procedure Nominations must include the nominee’s name, address and phone number as well as the qualifications of the individual. Qualifications may include positions and offices held, number of years of service and a description of the service the individual has given. Also, list any honors the individual has received, whether civic, church, or professional. Include a description of what is particularly outstanding about this individual. Include the name and telephone number of the person submitting the nomination.

Any person who works or resides in Mission can submit a nomination.

In addition to being available online, the nomination forms and criteria may also be picked up at the Progress Times office located at 1217 N. Conway. To request forms to be faxed or emailed, call 956-585-4893. Email requests should be sent to awards@progresstimes.net The 2016 honorees were Connie Garza, First Lady of Mission; Don Reinhardt, Mr. Mission; Deborah Cordova, Woman of the Year, and Pete Jaramillo, Man of the Year.

Those honored in 2015 were Genevieve “Gen” Long, First Lady of Mission; Amancio Chapa, Mr. Mission; Cathy Garcia, Woman of the Year, and David Deanda, Man of the Year.

Tickets for the chamber banquet may be purchased at the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce, located at 202 W. Tom Landry, phone 956-585-2727.

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.

tion. We sell Goodman, Ruud & Rheem units, over 35 yrs. experience, state license #TACLB18560R, call Raul at 956–457–2530 or 956–329–4636 (Bilingual) and 956– 787–2256 (Spanish).

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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.

La persona debera rezar esta oracion 3 dias seguidos sin decir el pedido. dentro de tres dias sera alcanzada la gracia por mas deficil que sea. (Publicar en cuanto se recibia la gracia).

Agradece gracia alcanzada.

R.M.A.

Or Scan This Code With Your Smartphone

Submit online: www.ptrgv.com Bring it in: 1217 N Conway Mission

Fax it in: 585-2304

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Mission Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on August 23, 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: 5.98 acres of land, being all of Lot 2, 3A Subdivision, from (AOI) Agricultural Open Interim to (C-3) General Business.

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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

The City of Palmview Zoning Board of Adjustments will hold a Special Meeting on Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at The City Hall Council Chambers at 400 W. Veterans Blvd in Palmview, Texas to consider the following: Side setback Variance request: From 6 ft to 4 ft at 702 Viento Tropical Street Owners: Roberto A. and Nylsa G. Morales Cuatro Vientos Lot 7 Subdivision, Rear setback Variance request: From 10 ft to 8 ft at 1500 La Paloma Drive Owners: Uvaldo IV and Karina Gonzalez Ebony Hollow #2 Lot 88 Subdivision, Rear setback Variance request: From 10 ft to 9.6 ft at 1501 La Paloma Drive Owners: Faustino and Yolanda Estrada Ebony Hollow #2 Lot 45 Subdivision, Front and side setback Variance request: From Front 20 ft to 4.6 ft and Side 6 ft to 4.6 ft at 1305 Frances Street Owners: Erasmo and Maria De Lourdes Gonzalez Frances Lot 2 Subdivision, The Public is invited to attend.

Bertha Garza, City Secretary City of Palmview, Texas

page 12

August 11, 2017

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MCISD: new hires and new assignments for coming year

By Joe Hinton

Garza sworn in as Sullivan City magistrate

Sullivan City Mayor Leonel “Leo” Garcia, right, congratulates Roberto Garza following Garza’s swearing in ceremony Monday night as the city’s magistrate. Garza’s wife, Elizabeth, left, assisted. Jesse Lerma Jr., Mission’s Civil Service Department director was also sworn in as alternate city magistrate. La Joya ISD board member, Alejandro “Alex” Cantu, is also an alternate city magistrate. He missed Monday’s ceremony due to a school board meeting but was expected to be sworn in at a later date Garcia said.

Progress Times photo by Joe Hinton

When school begins Aug. 28, students at Leal Elementary School will find they have a new assistant principal. On July 27 the Mission Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the appointment of former Midkiff Elementary School instruction and assessment strategist, Nelda Vela, as the school’s new assistant principal.

Vela replaces Araceli Escalona who left Leal Elementary to become principal of Alton Elementary School.

Adan Ramirez had been Al-

ton Elementary’s principal and was previously selected to replace Ada Castillo as principal at Mission Junior High School after she retired, said MCISD spokesman, Craig Verley.

Midkiff Principal Dora Villalobos said interviews will begin next week for Vela’s replacement in the position responsible for aligning school curriculum with state requirements.

“I’m still grieving,” Villalobos said light heartedly when she confirmed Tuesday the position remained vacant.

Also July 27 the board approved the appointment of Selene Villarreal as a coun-

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selor at Veterans Memorial High School. Villarreal was formerly a counselor at McAllen High School in the McAllen ISD, Verley said.

The board also approved the hiring of Nereyda Treviño as the school district’s new coordinator for secondary math. Treviño had been Mission High School’s academic instructional math coach, Verley said. Treviño’s vacancy had not been filled as of press time, Verley said.

The school board also approved the appointment of Judy Rodriguez as the district’s coordinator for secondary social studies. Rodriguez was formerly a Veterans Memorial High School history teacher, Verley said.

Also July 27 the board approved the appointment of Kristen Schultz as the school district’s personnel specialist. Schultz previously served as secretary to the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources and student services, Mario Solis.

And during its regular board meeting Aug. 9 board trustees hired Edna A. Prado as the school district’s second child nutrition dietician.

Prado had been working previously as a clinical dietician for Aramark Corporation at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.

Also Wednesday the school board approved the hiring of Tahnee M. Netro as the district’s director of special education. She replaces Carolina Campos who resigned to become a private consultant, said Dr. Mario Solis, assistant superintendent for human resources and student services. Netro has worked the previous 11 years in the McAllen ISD as a special education teacher, counselor, assistant principal and in her most recent position as dean of instruction at Nikki Rowe High School.

La Joya ISD football season tickets sale details

Season tickets for previous La Joya football season ticket holders went on sale earlier this week, the district announced in a news release Monday, Aug. 7.

Remaining La Joya ISD season tickets will go on sale to the public Tuesday, Aug. 15. The cost per set of tickets for five home games is $35 per seat for each high school.

Hours for ticket sales are from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Athletics Office located on the south parking lot of the La Joya Football Stadium in La Joya High School, 604 Coyote Drive.

The cost per ticket is $7 per game. Each district high school will have five home games with individual tickets costing $35 for all home games per high school.

Home game tickets for all high school games will cost $105.

For more information about football tickets call the athletic office at 956-3232031.

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