December 1, 2017 - PT ISSUE

Friday, December 1, 2017

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Vol. 46 No. 17

Mission: south side development moving forward

By Joe Hinton Mission’s city council has awarded a $3.4 million contract to a Mission-based civil engineering firm to continue work on phase 2 of the Anzalduas Highway wastewater and potable water trunk lines.

Mission Purchasing Director Eduardo Belmarez told the council at its Nov. 27 regular meeting his office recommended Mor-Will, LLC for the project from among seven companies that bid on the project because it was best qualified and its bid was about a half million dollars lower than the city’s second choice.

The Mission Redevelopment Authority is the funding agent created to develop thousands of acres of former agricultural and underutilized land west of the Anzalduas Highway and south of Expressway 83.

The first phase of the project involved placing lift stations at Los Indios Parkway and Military Road.

The second phase involves the installation of about two miles of water and sewer lines along the Anzalduas Highway. MRA Executive Director Daniel Silva previously explained the lines are

necessary to facilitate further commercial, industrial and residential development in the area west of Sharyland Plantation to Conway Avenue and bounded by Trinity Road on the north and the international crossing to the south. In all an area of about 6000 square acres are slated for development in that area, Silva said.

Belmarez said the project should take 270 days to complete.

During it’s Nov. 14 meeting the MRA board of directors were told plans are moving along to widen about 6.8 miles of roads that will eventually connect with the planned Madero International Bridge expected to be completed sometime before 2021.

Armando Sandoval of L&G Engineering told the MRA board the $46 million project is set to widen Inspiration Road from Expressway 83 south to Military Road, which, during his presentation Sandoval referred to as Military Parkway. The project will also widen to five lanes Military Road from just west of Schuerbach Road to south Conway Avenue. The project also includes construction of a “loop road” connecting Los

Ebanos Road with Conway Avenue, Sandoval said.

“Basically it’s a five lane section everywhere with a little bit of boulevard section in front of the Veteran’s Cemetery,” Sandoval said.

The city of Mission’s portion of the project is about $8 million or 18-percent of the total cost, Sandoval said. Sandoval said the city is working with the Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization and the county’s area drainage district to fund portions of the project. And Mission City Manager Martin Garza said the city is working with state senator, Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa to secure additional funding.

Sandoval said the project will entail construction of two bridges over the city’s main canal, one at Inspiration Road and the other at Military Road. He said the project includes $10 million in drainage improvements above the $46 million project cost he said the county’s drainage district will fund.

Sandoval said his company is currently working on the first phase of the project that entails creating schematics and necessary environmental impact studies. He said his company is working

with the Texas Department of Transportation in developing the project plans. Sandoval said the next step will be to hold public hearings on the project sometime in the spring of 2018.

“After that, once the schematics and the environmental documents are approved then we’ll go ahead and start doing the plans and right of way mapping and acquisitions and ultimate construction,” Sandoval said.

Garza said the city has already spent $1.3 million of its $8 million share of the project on preliminary studies. He said the Hidalgo County MPO has dedicated $19.1 million to the project and with the city’s $8 million the project still is lacking approximately $19 million in funding.

“But we are working together with other organizations to be able to continue the funding,” Garza said.

“We’ve had several meetings with people who deal with the Department of Transportation at the state level and we’re hoping to continue receiving some of that funding.”

Garza said Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas is working with fellow Anzalduas

See MOVING FORWARD Pg. 11

The lines in red on the above map depict the roads on the city’s southwest side that will be widened from two to five lanes and connected to make a looping highway. The expansion is part of the city’s plans to develop the area and accommodate increased traffic anticipated with the construction of the Madero International Bridge linking Mission with Mexico and the residential and commercial development planned for the area. Courtesy diagram.

From resilience to opportunity

City of Mission rises to occasion for Thanksgiving

Mission native among Forbes’ 30 under 30

By Jose De Leon III

Mission resident Sonia Ramirez (third from right) and her family were among the more than 700 people who enjoyed the city of Mission’s first annual Thanksgiving Table Nov. 23 at the city’s Social and Support Center on south Mayberry Road. From the right are Ramirez’s children, Aleny and Sonia Peña, Ramirez, her son, Kevin Peña, her sister, Melena Ramirez and her son, Edel. Also pictured is family friend, Nora Cruz and her son, Jerek Chaires.

Progress Times photo by Joe Hinton.

Alberto Altamirano

and Support Center.

City Manager Martin Garza said the city provided 750 tickets to persons identified through outreach counselors with the Mission Consolidated Independent School District, the city’s Housing Authority and Community Development Block Grant office. Garza said city department directors and staff were on hand to provide individualized service to each of the 24 tables set up for

By Jose De Leon III

By Joe Hinton For a decade Renee’s of Sharyland hosted a free Thanksgiving dinner for the community. But the restaurant recently changed hands and the new owners decided not to continue the tradition.

This year, with the help of numerous sponsors, the City of Mission took up the tradition holding its First Annual Thanksgiving Table held Nov. 23 at the city’s Social

the event. In addition the city made food deliveries to residents who could not attend.

And Garza said anyone who showed up without a ticket was not turned away.

“This is for anyone in the community who wants to come,” he said.

The city could not have asked for better weather.

Children and adults alike were delighted to watch the thousands of multicolored

See THANKSGIVING Pg. 9

courtesy photo

Nearly five years after installation of sewer lines along one of Sullivan City’s main north-south thoroughfares, the road continues to experience deterioration due to poor drainage and possibly the failure of the contractor that installed the lines to adequately compact the soil above the sewer line.

“What else could it possibly be,” said the board’s recently appointed member

See Pg. 5

INDEX

Entertainment | pg.2

representing Sullivan City, Ivan Sandoval.

Since the sewer lines were installed under about two miles of the north lane of El Pinto Road north of Expressway 83, the road has become degraded by potholes and outright cave ins in some areas, said interim city manager and city police chief, Richard Ozuna.

One resident who did not want to be identified pro-

See PINTO ROAD Pg. 11

A season to remember

A Progress Times reader provided this picture of her daughter’s car the reader said was damaged in mid-October by a deep pothole on El Pinto Road near Expressway 83 in Sullivan City.

A writer’s homecoming

Though defeated in the second round of state high school playoffs there remain positive developments for the VMHS Patriots and Sharyland High School Rattlers football teams. Reporter Luciano Guerra gives his analysis inside.

A dedication for a Mission skate board park provided an opportunity for attendees to recount memories of the park’s beloved namesake, Rolando F. Barrera. Find out more about him inside.

See ALTAMIRANO Pg. 10

Agreement aimed at long awaited repair of Sullivan City’s El Pinto Road

INSIDE Barrera Skate Park

When he was a senior at Sharyland High School, Alberto Altamirano’s father was deported.

“It was during my final semester of school and I found out his visa was being revoked and he could no longer spend time in the country,” Altamirano recalled. “He said I should still believe in the American dream and in myself, because that was the only way to embrace life, learn from its ups and downs, and move forward. That was

a turning point for me where I knew I had to focus on what I wanted to do and leave the days as a young, irresponsible kid if I was to contribute to the household.”

A decade later, Altamirano, 28, has used his father’s words as his main motivation to get involved in politics and community engagement.

From those interests, Altamirano co-founded Cityflag, a tech startup that has developed a mobile application that can be used by residents as a

A woman whose family owned the now-defunct Carl’s Supermarkets chain returns to the Valley to sign copies of her first book. Find out more about the former Cyndy Waitz and her book inside.

See Pg. 8

Lifestyle | pg.3

Sports | pg. 8

See Pg. 12

Obituaries | pg. 9

Classifieds | pg. 11

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entertainment

PCT presents ‘A Tejano Christmas Carol’

PHARR – The Pharr Community Theater (PCT) will once again present the play “A Tejano Christmas Carol.”

Performances will be presented at the theater from Wednesday, Dec. 6, through Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. The play will also be presented Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. at the Pharr Events Center, 3000 N Cage Blvd.

Pedro Garcia, PCT artistic director, has been directing the theater company for the last 10 years and plays the role of Mr. Codos, the equivalent to Charles Dickens’ “Scrooge.”

Many of last year’s performers are also returning, including Danika Leal as Tiny Tina, Adan Rodriguez as Beto Gonzalez, Joel Gutierrez as Martinez and doubling as the Ghost of Christmas Future and Adelita, the ghost of Christmas present is Armandina Sesin “Our Christmas play has a modern day Rio Grande twist and of course all the intrigue of the Dickens original Christmas story, including the three ghosts, the children

and their families and the battle between good and bad and an outcome that surprises everyone,” said Garcia.

The play is also a tribute to the mighty Rio Grande River and it’s nearly 1,900 mile journey that begins in Colorado and ends in Brownsville.

“So many people take our most precious water source for granted, but in reality, without it we would be lost,” said Garcia.

The two act play with a cast of 16 local actors is set in the city of Pharr and is told predominately in English with a little Spanish.

PCT tickets are $7 general admission and $5 for students, seniors and military.

Tickets will be sold at the door starting one hour before each play, on a first come, first serve basis. The 60seat theater is located at 213 W. Newcombe in Pharr. For more information, call 956239-0412 or 956-655-9308.

Tickets for the Dec. 19 performance at the Pharr Events Center are $3 each.

Call 956-402-4500 for that night.

McAllen String Quartet

Chamber Music Nights features McAllen String Quartet

McALLEN – The next Chamber Music Concert Nights by Viol Consort features the McAllen String Quartet in concert on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. at the McAllen Public Library Auditorium, 4001 N. 23rd St. A pre-concert talk begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.

In the pre-concert talk, guest artist Dr. Justin Writer will present the work and life of 20th Century composer Philip Glass.

The performance by the

McAllen String Quartet will bring a selection of classical and contemporary repertoire for strings together, starting with Luigi Boccherini’s Quintet for Guitar and Strings featuring violins, viola, cello and guitar. The group will also premiere the work of Venus Rey string quartet N.1, “The Jewish.”

It closes with a 20th Century piece, the String Quartet N.3

by Philip Glass.

For more information, call 956-616-9668.

Quinta Mazatlan hosts Parula Winds Concert & Santa in the Park

Veteran, local stage actress Armandina Sesin returns as Adelita, the ghost of Christmas Present in “A Tejano Christmas Carol” playing Dec. 6 through Dec 10 at the Pharr Community Theater. Also pictured is Pedro Garcia as Ezequiel Codos.

McALLEN – Quinta Mazatlan is kicking off the holidays with the “Parula Winds Concert & Santa in the Park” and plenty of Christmas Carols to sing-a-long.

On Thursday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. visitors can join in for a little of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and Klughardt’s Woodwind Quintet music.

There will be a special appearance by Santa Claus.

Light refreshments will be provided. Visitors should dress for the weather for this outdoor event.

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Special guests, Parula Winds, will be performing a few of the compositions from their latest recital along with music of the season. Created from the Town Band Association’s chamber music concerts, the Parula Winds is a versatile woodwind chamber ensemble now performing in their second year together.

The ensemble is made up of flautist Beth Van Epps, oboist Carlos Cantu, clarinetist Cecilia Smith, hornist Oscar Medina and bassoonist Christopher Jones. They are all members of the McAllen Wind Ensemble and are local band directors, woodwind consultants and private lesson teachers.

The program fee is $3 per person; no advance reservation is required. Quinta Mazatlan is located 600 Sunset in McAllen. For more information, call 956-6813370.

December 1, 2017

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

Coming Attractions

December 1-2 • The UTRGV Patron of the Arts Series will present two performances of the one-act comic opera “The Ugly Princess” at 7 p.m. at the Library Auditorium on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, children, and UTRGV students and staff. Group rates are available for schools.

Tickets are available at the door or at patron.utrgv.edu. For the Dec. 1 performance, access the campus from Schunior due to the Edinburg Night of Lights Festival & Parade taking place.

December 1-2, 7- 9 • The Veterans Memorial High School (VMHS) Harlequins present “Fiddler on the Roof” at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets $5 for students and $10 for adults – can now be purchased at the VMHS front office weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or at the VMHS Theater door the night of the show.

December 1-3 • UTRGV’s University Productions presents “The Get Out and Play Play: A Play about Playing.” It runs Dec. 1-2 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 2-3 at 2 p.m. in the Albert L. Jeffers Theatre, at the corner of University Drive and Sugar Road of the Edinburg Campus. The play is written for youth and family audiences. General admission is $5. For more information or special accommodations, call the University Productions Box Office at 956-665-3581.

December 2 • Sing along to holiday tunes with the UTRGV Master Chorale at its “Home for the Holidays” concert at 7 p.m. at the TSC Arts Center in Brownsville. Come early at 6:15 p.m. for a pre-concert performance by the Community Flute Choir, featuring middle and high school students, UTRGV students and flute lovers throughout the Rio Grande Valley. For more information or for special accommodations, email patron@ utrgv.edu or call 956-665-3881. To purchase tickets, visit patron.utrgv.edu or tickets.vendini.com.

December 3 • Then take in a performance of the Christmas portion of G.F. Handel’s Messiah at 3 p.m. at the TSC Arts Center in Brownsville. The UTRGV Master Chorale, Brownsville Festival Chorus and high school choirs will perform with the UTRGV Symphony Orchestra and soloists Cathy Compton, Jasmin De la Cruz, David Sadlier and Daniel Hunter-Holly. For more information or for special accommodations, email patron@ utrgv.edu or call 956-665-3881. To purchase tickets, visit patron.utrgv.edu or tickets.vendini.com.

December 5 • Lon Caldwell is the instructor for a woodcarving workshop at the Upper Valley Art League from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to learn how to carve a feather or book. Cost is $25 per workshop for members and $35 for nonmembers. Payment is due at sign up. All materials are provided. Participants should bring a sack lunch and wear work clothes. To register, to become a UVAL member, or for more information, call the UVAL gallery at 956-583-2787. Classes are in the UVAL Art Link annex located in the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th St. in Mission.

• “A Chopin Affair” will be the first Chamber Concert for the Valley Symphony Orchestra season beginning at 8 p.m. and will be held at the Sky Tower Club at the top of the Chase Bank Tower at 10th and Business 83 in McAllen. For information, call the VSO at 956-661-1615. For tickets, go to tickets.vendini.com.

December 6 • Take in all of the sounds and color of a traditional Mexican celebration with the UTRGV Ballet Folklórico and Mariachi Aztlán’s “A Mexican Christmas” performance at 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Complex on the UTRGV Edinburg campus.

For more information or for special accommodations, email patron@utrgv.edu or call 956-665-3881. To purchase tickets, visit patron.utrgv.edu or tickets.vendini.com.

• An art exhibition by the residents of The Bridges, 1201 St. Claire Blvd. in Mission, will be open to the general public from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Call 956519-9800 for information.

December 7 • Enjoy an hour of holiday music outdoors under the oak tree of Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center with the Dean Canty band. It begins at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 per person.

Quinta Mazatlan is located at 600 Sunset in McAllen.

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

lifestyle

Cowboy Christmas Cook-off is Dec. 16

Sign-up is underway and judges are needed for the Sixth Annual Bert Ogden Cowboy Christmas Cookoff at the Mission Chevrolet dealership parking lot. Set for Saturday, Dec. 16, there is $15,000 in prize money waiting for the winners in the IBCA-sanctioned event.

IBCA categories include brisket, pork spare ribs and half chicken, and there are

$25 jackpots for rib eye steak, beans and fajitas.

There is $175 entry fee for one or all IBCA categories to compete for places, grand champion and reserve grand champion prizes. Vendors are welcomed. Set-up is Friday, Dec. 15, from 4 to 8 p.m.

Register and pay online at cowboychristmascookoff. com. For more information, call Johnny at 956-212-1163.

Palmview High creates first Music Honor Society chapter LA JOYA – This month the first Tri-M Music Honor Society in the Rio Grande Valley was presented its official charter certificate at Palmview High School.

Palmview principal Yvonne Ayala, presented the official Charter #7775 to the chapter advisors Jacob Banda and Esperanza Medina.

Twelve newly-inducted students from the various music disciplines – band, mariachi, choir and orchestra – were sworn in as the first official Charter members of the organization. The student run chapter will work towards providing leadership and service opportunities throughout the year through service projects show casing the student’s musical talents.

Tri-M Music Honor Society, formerly known as Modern Music Masters, is a high school and middle school music honor society and is a program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). There are approximately 6200 participating chapters in several countries.

It is designed to recognize students for their academic and musical achievements.

To be eligible, a student must maintain a “B” average in their music classes and all of their academic courses, be presently enrolled in a music course at their school, and be recommended for membership by their school’s music faculty.

December 1, 2017

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

Wernecke Elementary turns into Winter Wonderland tonight

EVENTS

CALENDAR

December 1 – Staff at the Edinburg World Birding Center begins a Beginner Birder series on Fridays throughout December. This first adult session on raptors will be led by local raptor expert Roy Rodriguez, Bentsen State Park interpreter, from 2 to 3 p.m. The fee for the program is $2. Space is limited; call to reserve a spot. The EWBC is located at 714 Raul Longoria Rd. in Edinburg, TX (inside the Edinburg Municipal Park). For additional information, call 956-3819922.

December 2 – This session for the Gladys Porter Zoo Saturday Safari series focuses on “River Giants” at 10 a.m. Kids will be taught about the alligator gars, commonly found in fresh waters in the southern U.S. A zoo tour, arts & crafts, animal encounter and snacks are included in each class. Cost is $15 per child or adult with a $5 discount for Zoo members. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. For more information or to register, call 956-548- 9453 or e-mail educ@gpz.org.

December 9 – Learn woodcarving at the Edinburg World Birding Center, 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. It will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Registration is required at least two days prior to each class. For more information, or to register, call 956-381-9922.

December 9 – Kids can enroll for the next Saturday Safari, “Toys for Animals,” at Gladys Porter Zoo, 500 Ringgold in Brownsville. From 10 a.m. to noon, they will learn how playing is serious business for zoo animals. A zoo tour, arts & crafts, animal encounter and snacks are included in each class. Cost is $15 per child or adult with a $5 discount for Zoo members. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. For more information or to register, call 956-548- 9453 or e-mail educ@gpz.org.

December 12 – Amigos de Los Niños de Mexico will meet at 1:30 p.m. at the First Methodist Church, 228 S. Main St. in Donna to prepare to bring food and toys to the children of Progresso, Mexico, for Christmas. At the meeting, sign up for committees, drop off donated items and get general info.

For information, contact Carol Schnase, publicity chairman, at 956-332-8855.

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

MHS students selected for NASA program

Two Mission High School (MHS) T-STEM Academy students have been accepted into the NASA High School Aerospace Scholars program.

Linda Chapman and Brianna Sosa have already started their journey that ends during the summer of 2018.

The program offers the students a one-of-a-kind experience to help them explore the possibilities of a STEM-related major or career. The interactive, online learning experience culminates in an all-expenses-paid, week-long visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in

Houston during the summer.

Their online coursework will include design challenges that include 3D drawings, Science and Math quizzes, discussion posts, technology writings and virtual chats with NASA engineers and scientists.

The six-day summer experience will include team projects and briefings directed by NASA engineers and scientists, hands-on design challenge and engineering activities to plan a mission to Mars, as well as tours of NASA facilities.

Pictured are Linda Chapman and Brianna Sosa, along with their engineering teacher, Lorena Lopez. The two students were selected to be part of the NASA High School Aerospace Scholars program.

page 3

The Sharyland I.S.D. Donna Wernecke Elementary School, located at 4500 W. Dove, presents their Winter Wonderland Festival fundraiser tonight, Dec. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m.

There will be a snow park, snow tubing, games, moon jumps and a rock wall to keep kids moving. Families can wander through the food trucks, bazaar and Kids Christmas Store to shop and

eat, or participate in the library reading night, ride the train, decorate cookies or take holiday pictures.

Wrist bands, to have unlimited access to participate in the snow activities and rides, are $25 per person. All children must be accompanied by an adult and children age 3 and under must be accompanied by an adult with a wristband to participate in the attractions.

EDINBURG – Holiday time is family time at the Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC) during the month of December. The EWBC is offering family-friendly programs throughout the month to engage and entertain all ages.

Begin the season by joining the EWBC for Recycled Ornament Craft Day on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Instead of buying new ornaments and decorations, visitors can learn how to make fun and creative ones out of recycled and natural materials. The fee for this program is $2 for EWBC members and $4 for non-members.

On Saturday, Dec. 16, take the family on a photography scavenger hunt throughout the gardens. Join Texas Master Naturalist and Adventure Guide Neil Cassady as he leads groups in an exploration of the trails to search for and photograph wildlife.

Cameras will be provided, but families are encouraged

to bring their own. These photo adventures will run from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 16 and in 2018 on Jan. 20 and Feb. 17. Participation is free with regular paid admission: $3 adults, $2 seniors and children ages 5 and under and EWBC members are free.

During winter break, visit the EWBC Wednesday, Dec. 27 to 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Winter Wonder Wetlands. On Wednesday, become a Nature Explorer with a Junior Ranger Field Pack, take the scavenger hunt, search for wildlife and more.

On Thursday, there will be Nature Games and Crafts.

Build for Nature on Friday lets visitors build and paint a bird or butterfly house. Entry to the EWBC is free all week.

Bird and butterfly houses must be purchased for $3.

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

For more information, call 956-381-9922.

EDINBURG – The Museum of South Texas History hosts Mary Ozuna Torres, president of the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Genealogical Society, presenting “Researching Your Hispanic Ancestry” on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m.

The presentation will cover the basics of Hispanic genealogical research and how to get started, organize data and find available records related to genealogy. Torres will also provide a brief overview of the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Genealogical Society, a non-profit organization.

Torres, a native of Harlingen, earned a bachelor’s degree in management from

St. Edward’s University in Austin. After 30 years with the State of Texas, she retired and began researching her family history and has traced some of her ancestry back to Mexico in the 1700s.

Currently, she writes a weekly column for the Valley Morning Star, “Harlingen Happenings.” Torres has presented programs on genealogy for local organizations at the Texas State Genealogical Society’s Annual Conference and at the 2016 Rootstech Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

MOSTHistory is located at 200 N. Closner Blvd. Call 956-383-6911 for further information.

EWBC packs in family fun for holidays

MOSTHistory program explores Hispanic ancestry

Earn first place at Area Competition

The Mission High School Sr. Parliamentary Procedure team earned first place in Area Competition on Nov. 20 during the Thanksgiving Break. They now advance to the Texas FFA Leadership Development State Competition which will be held on Dec. 1 and 2 at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. Team members are Amelia Perez, Ariana Pena, Leanna Pecina, Julissa Alvarez, Benito Garza, Jorge Calderon, Julian Arellano and Sebastian Carrillo.

Ten Man Jam benefits Food Bank

MERCEDES – County music fans can help provide over 100,000 meals for children in the Rio Grande Valley through the Eighth Annual Ten Man Jam planned for Saturday, Dec. 2, at the RGV Livestock Show Grounds.

The gate opens at 12 p.m., and the music starts at 1 p.m.

Tickets are $10 presale, available at all Boot Jack and Craig’s Furniture locations, and $20 at the gate. Monetary donations can also be made online at foodbankrgv. com or in person at 724 N. Cage Blvd. in Pharr.

HOME GAMES:

Tuesday, december 12 - 7pm & Thursday, december 14 - 7pm vs. agua calienTe clippers Tuesday, december 19 - 11am vs. canTon charge

page 4

December 1, 2017

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By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Hurricane recovery continues with extension of disaster declaration

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on Nov. 20 extended the disaster declaration for counties affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Some 60 counties are included and they will continue to be eligible for assistance as they recover and rebuild.

“The most important message I want to send to the victims of this storm is that they are not alone as they continue to recover from this storm. While we still have a long way to go to return to a new normal, I have no doubt that Texas will eventually emerge from this disaster stronger than ever before,” Abbott said.

Declarations must be renewed every 30 days for assistance to remain available.

Gov. Abbott said he would continue to renew them as needed throughout the recovery process.

Counties covered in the disaster declaration include: Angelina, Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bexar, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Colorado, Comal, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kerr, Kleberg, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Live Oak, Madison, Matagorda, Milam, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Polk, Refugio, Sabine, San Patricio, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Wailer, Washington, Wharton, Willacy and Wilson.

Aid request is granted On Nov. 17 Abbott announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency granted his request to extend the deadline to Jan. 16 for Transitional Sheltering Assistance for victims of Hurricane Harvey. Nearly 17,000 families are receiv-

ing this form of assistance, which is intended to help those who have been unable to return to their homes find short-term shelter in hotels or other temporary housing locations. Abbott said he remains “committed to doing everything possible to get these families back under their own roofs.”

HUD funds committed In other hurricane-recovery news, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Nov. 17 awarded $5 billion through a community development block grant program supporting the repair of damaged homes, businesses and critical infrastructure.

HUD Secretary Ben Carson said the agency would work with Abbott and his staff “to do whatever is needed to rebuild damaged homes and to restore shuttered businesses in some of the hardest-hit areas of the State.”

U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz acknowledged the importance of federal disaster aid to Texans who are continuing to suffer as a result of Hurricane Harvey and expressed support for the programs.

In September, President Trump signed legislation securing $7.4 billion in funding for Harvey and major disasters, such as Hurricane Irma (Florida), Hurricane Maria (Puerto Rico) and the California wildfires.

Court blocks new law Austin U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel, in a Nov. 22 ruling, granted permanent injunctive relief to abortion providers who have been trying to prevent enforcement of a law passed last spring by the Texas Legislature.

The law would require a provider to perform an additional procedure to ensure fetal demise before continuing a dilation and evacuation

abortion. Yeakel, in finding for the plaintiffs, said the additional procedure, which involves a lethal injection to a fetus in the second trimester, would be invasive, risky and medically unnecessary.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the state would fight the injunction in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Job growth continues The Texas Workforce Commission on Nov. 17 reported that the state’s economy added 71,500 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in October while annual employment growth was 2.6 percent for the month, marking 90 consecutive months of annual growth.

The agency also touted Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, which fell to 3.9 percent and set a record for the lowest unemployment rate recorded in four decades.

Notably, the agency pointed out, the leisure and hospitality employment category rebounded by adding 34,700 jobs in October after experiencing its largest monthly decline in September due to hurricane-affected business closures. Also, in 2017 to date, leisure and hospitality has gained 41,000 jobs, while trade, transportation and utilities employment grew by 10,300 jobs, and professional and business services expanded by 6,300 jobs.

The Amarillo and Midland Metropolitan Statistical Areas recorded the month’s lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs with a non-seasonally adjusted rate of 2.4 percent, followed by the College Station-Bryan MSA with a rate of 2.5 percent. The Austin-Round Rock and Lubbock MSAs registered a rate of 2.6 percent for October, Texas Workforce Commission reported.

Prepared by the Hidalgo County Public Affairs Office

“TUBACHRISTMAS” concert set for Sunday, Dec. 3

In honor of a unique concert planned this weekend the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court proclaimed Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 as, “TUBACHRISTMAS Day” in Hidalgo County.

Members of the Nikki Rowe High School band performed “Carol of the Bells” prior to the reading of the proclamation during the commissioner’s Nov. 28 regular meeting.

“Thank you for that wonderful performance,” said Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia. “This is certainly a wonderful holiday event and I encourage everyone to attend.”

The performers included students Jorge Segovia, Jesus Rodriguez and Nick Garza and Assistant Band Director Abel Ocaña. This year marks the 29th anniversary of the annual holiday event. The concert, which features 450 tuba and euphonium musicians, will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3 at the Nikki Rowe High School gym, located at 2101 N. Ware Road in McAllen.

Admission is free and open to the public.

“The Rio Grande Valley TubaChristmas Concert has grown in recent years to become the largest tuba Christmas event in the state and one of the largest worldwide,” said Ocaña. “I want to thank for this proclamation and for helping raise awareness of this annual event.”

Preparing for the 2020 Census Hidalgo County will register with the Local Update of Census Operation. LUCA allows counties and municipalities to submit addresses to be included in the 2020

Nikki Rowe High School musicians perform Nov. 28 for the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court where Sunday, Dec. 3 was proclaimed TubaChristmas Day in the County. Courtesy photo Census.

“We are making sure that we are properly counted,” said Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia, adding that an accurate count is tied to funding.

“We met with area mayors to begin the process of preparing for the 2020 Census in a roundtable discussion last September,” Garcia said. “We are holding a second meeting on December 7 at 9:30 a.m., to continue that effort and I encourage all of the Commissioners to take part in it.”

Dr. Ivan Melendez appointed to another twoyear term Ivan Melendez M.D. was sworn in Nov. 28 by County Judge Ramon Garcia as the Hidalgo County local health authority.

Melendez has served the county for 14 years and has worked closely with the Hidalgo County Health Department diagnosing and investigating community health problems and hazards.

“What an honor to have these opportunities,” said Melendez. “It’s a blessing to take care of Hidalgo County residents; I feel very privileged.”

STC students experience #CountyGovInAction firsthand Commissioner Joseph Palacios took a moment during court to recognize a group of South Texas College students. The students were there to observe a Commissioners Court as part of a Texas government class.

Following the meeting, Palacios took time to sit with the students and answer questions about county government.

“I love everything about public service,” said Palacios. “Every day we’re challenged with the duty to meet the growth of the county and we have to be creative with the tools we have to in order grow progressively while taking care of the tax payer.”

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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 Savy Publishing, LLC, 1217 N. Conway, Mission, Texas 78572, (956) 585-4893. Subscriptions $20 annual in Hidalgo County; $25 outside of Hidalgo County. Second class postage paid in Mission, Texas 78572. ©2017 Savy Publishing, LLC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the PROGRESS TIMES, P.O. Box 399, Mission Texas 78573.

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Mission honors late children’s advocate with skate park Before his death in 2013 Rolando F. Barrera had served 13 years on the Mission Parks & Recreation Department Advisory Board and two years heading the city’s Boys and Girls Club.

But perhaps his most important contribution to area youth was his role in establishing the local office of the non-profit foster care agency, A World For Children, which by the time of his death at age 58 had found homes for more than 100 neglected and abused children.

“He embraced the challenges of these children but enjoyed the rewards of working with them,” said Mission Deputy City Manager Aida Lerma, one of several speakers at the Nov. 22 dedication of the park at 200 S. Palma Avenue in Barrera’s memory.

“His passion was not only public service but a passion to be kind to kids and making sure the kids were going to have a great future not only for themselves but for their families,” said City Manager Martin Garza, addressing about 75 of Barrera’s friends and family members who attended the ceremony.

“He touched a lot of hearts and changed a lot of lives for the better,” said his brother, Ramiro Barrera, adding his brother always wanted to create a safe place for kids to skate board .

Barrera’s nephew, Jaime Barrera, said, “To see his dream come to life like this it means a lot to me and my family.”

Barrera recalled when his uncle was the designated driver on a night out in which his nephew and others had been drinking. They were pulled over by a cop and Barrera said he became increasingly concerned be-

cause his uncle seemed to be detained for about a half hour by the officer. When his uncle returned to the driver’s seat Barrera said he asked his uncle what happened.

“Oh, that was one of my kids from the Youth Village and we were reminiscing,” Barrera recalled his uncle telling him. “That’s when I realized how he touched the different youth in the community. So it couldn’t be more fitting that this park is opening on the fourth anniversary of his passing.”

Among those attending the park’s grand opening was Daniel Cuellar, who brought four of his five foster children and their skateboards to the event. Cuellar said he first met Barrera in 1982 when he was 17 and Barrera was director of Hidalgo County Youth Village in Weslaco. Cuellar said Barrera took him on as a summer intern while Cuellar was studying at the University of Texas Pan American. Cuellar said the pair worked together at Youth Village and left together to work for another program for foster children until each became Boys & Girls Club directors, Barrera in Mission and Cuellar in Mercedes.

Cuellar said while working with the Boys & Girls Club he was approached by operators of the Round Rock-based non-profit, A World For Children, who wanted to open a regional office in McAllen to oversee area foster homes for abused and neglected children.

“And I told them if you want to open foster homes and work with the community kids here, there’s only one man to talk to and I’m not him. But I know him,” Cuellar said referring to Barrera, his mentor he refers to as Mr. B and who he credits with

launching his career in social services.

Cuellar said eventually the two worked together opening the first of what became 50 foster homes in the Valley. By the time of Barrera’s death the agency was providing assistance to over 150 children, Cuellar said.

“And my current bosses said, ‘Thank you so much for introducing us. This is the man we’ve been looking for.’ So what was supposed to be a six-month internship for Pan American ended up being a career along side him. That was the beginning of a wonderful relationship where we serviced so many kids and we continue to do so. And it’s all thanks to Mr. B. I just miss him, that’s all.”

Niece, Alejandra Barrera, recalled her uncle as a fun loving, great-spirited man who loved helping children.

“His spirit will continue to live on as the community enjoys this park,” she said.

Mission Parks and Recreation Department Director Brad Bentsen said the dedication was the culmination work that started in 2012 when the city spent just under $90,000 on a concrete slab for skaters measuring just under 17,000 square feet. Since then the city has spent just over $17,000 installing lights, a 400 squarefoot shade structure, a drinking fountain, new signs – including the new sign unveiled last week that includes the park’s namesake – and a sprinkler system for a grass lawn on the park’s northeast corner.

Mission Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas said the city plans to eventually increase the size of the concrete skateboard deck and said the city has ordered a bronze bust of Barrera, whom Salinas said he has known since his days

The Association for Migrant Educators of Texas awarded two persons for their service to the La Joya Independent School district earlier this month at the association’s annual conference

in McAllen, according to a district news release.

Norma L. Garza earned the Support Staff of the Year award for her 12 years of outstanding performance and service to the district’s

migrant students. As secretary of the district’s migrant students program, Garza’s responsibilities include ordering the necessary school supplies for the migrant program for all grade levels at

By Joe Hinton

Angelo Brito, 16, a senior at McAllen’s Mid Valley Academy High School, was among the first to enjoy Mission’s Rolando F. Barrera Skate Park following its official Nov. 22 dedication. Brito was brought by his foster father and Barrera devotee, Daniel Cuellar. Progress Times photo by Joe Hinton as a county commissioner and Barrera was a probation officer.

“So we will have another unveiling ceremony once that is complete,” Salinas said.

Tony Guerrero, chairman

of the Mission Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, joked he forgot his 10 page speech adding no words could give justice to Barrera’s contributions to the community. Guerrero described Barrera as the “richest man

in Mission” because of the number of people who loved him.

“We lost a good person but we will always have something to remember him by,” Guerrero said.

10 different campuses and overseeing the hiring of all new summer school staff.

“She is always the first person to volunteer her services to any school and community activities and she is always ready to take on any project and is dedicated to completing the most professional job possible,” the district’s Migrant Director Jose Luis Morin said in a statement. “She remains calm, cool and collected – she is really a great employee and we are lucky to have her.”

Garza’s co-workers describe her as the kind of individual who always makes sure that migrant students have healthy snacks when they are in tutoring sessions,

on educational field trips or during summer school activities.

The 2017 Parent of The Year Award went to Gladys Martinez from Palmview and represents all campuses from elementary through high school. She is the president of the Migrant Parental Advisory Committee and as a former migrant student herself, she continues to this day to migrate to North Dakota, according to the release.

“I see volunteering as a way to be a part of my community which is why I have been consistently involved with the La Joya ISD PAC for the past 5 years,” Martinez said.

Martinez has served as

president and vice president for the State Migrant Parental Advisory Committee and was also recruited for the National Migrant Parental Advisory Committee. She has participated in several panels discussing policies and procedures affecting the migrant population and has also conducted presentations throughout the United States on her life’s journey as a migrant.

Arturo Figueroa, the department’s social worker, nominated both women for these awards the, release said.

Migrant Educators of Texas Award La Joya ISD

Norma L. Garza and Gladys Martinez. Courtesy photo

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December 1, 2017

Sports week

BIG7 SCHOOLS

page 8

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Covering Mission, Veterans Memorial, Sharyland, Pioneer, La Joya, Palmview & Juarez-Lincoln Sports

Pioneer Diamondbacks Boys Basketball

Sharyland Rattlers Boys Basketball

Mission Veterans Boys Basketball

Teams around the Valley are back to balling and hitting the hardwood with tournaments and non-district action, gearing up for the start of district play in less than two weeks.

Here’s a look at the Big 7 Teams on the boys’ side of 31-5A. Pioneer Diamondbacks Pioneer was the only Big 7 team in 31-5A to qualify for the postseason a year ago. That Diamondback team was led by nine seniors who are now gone, and with only two returning lettermen, Head Coach Rene Gonzalez is hopeful his youthful group can come together to put Pioneer in the playoff picture once again.

“We’re taking a little different approach because we don’t have too much experience,” Gonzalez said.

“They’ve responded really well in practice. They listen, they pay attention, they’re always asking questions and they’re eager to learn, and that’s one thing that’s good about this team this year.

They know what they want to do this year.”

The Diamondbacks were 2-2 before taking part in this weekend’s Craig Smith Tournament hosted by Edinburg Vela and Edinburg North high schools from Nov. 30

through Dec. 2. With the district start date of Dec. 12 rapidly approaching, Gonzalez said this year’s Pioneer squad will be depending on the leadership of its two sophomores and two seniors.

The two returners are sophomore big man Lavar Lindo who played in 18 games a freshman a year ago for the Diamondbacks and senior guard Cody Sanchez, who appeared in 14 games.

The 6 foot 4 inch Lindo will be tasked with holding down the paint for Pioneer, while guards Luke Padilla, a sophomore, and Geo Garza, a senior, run things up top.

Gonzalez has tested his team early with a non-district schedule and tournament action to prepare them for the grind of 31-5A. “Our district is once again very tough; if you don’t bring your A-game, you’re going to get beat,” he said.

“That’s one thing that we’re trying to do, prepare our team mentally and physi-

cally. We played teams that are tough starting with Harlingen South, Nikki Rowe and we’ve played Palmview, then we played Santa Rosa last night. Two tournaments, tried to get them as much experience as we can to get them ready for district and the kids are responding the way we want them to and I like what I see.”

The Diamondbacks will kick off district action against Laredo Nixon at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 at Pioneer High School.

Sharyland Rattlers The Sharyland Rattlers made a coaching change over the summer but in steps a familiar face to Rattler faithful.

Taking over the program for former Head Coach David Keith is first-year Head Coach Danny Moran, who played for Keith in high school at Sharyland, graduating in 2006. Moran has spent the last six years coaching at Sharyland, three years as an assistant on the girls’ team

and the last three years as the boys’ first assistant coach.

Moran said the transition from first assistant to head ball coach has been a smooth one thanks to the support of the staff surrounding him.

“We have a great coaching staff here that’s been established for a while,” he said. “Now, we have Coach Whitaker who’s with us who’s been coaching for a while, so I think I have a great support staff here with me, so I think the transition has been pretty smooth so far.”

This year’s Sharyland squad was 5-5 before playing in this weekend’s South San Antonio Tournament from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2.

The team also just received a boost in the form of big man Servando Pruneda, who joins the Rattlers on the court now that football season has come to an end.

“He’s going to make a great impact,” Moran said about Pruneda. “He just

came over from football and they had a great season over there, he’s going to be one of our leaders, one of our more vocal leaders and bringing that winning culture that he’s bringing over from football so I think he’s going to be a great addition for our team.”

The junior post will anchor the Rattler team while fellow returner and junior Mauro Fernandez runs the point. Fernandez has size and experience Moran knows can benefit Sharyland, but will need others to step up to play point guard in hopes of moving Fernandez off the ball to produce more offensively.

Moran believes this year’s team has more depth than teams in recent years, with all 10 players able to contribute on the floor.

Three seniors, Ernesto Robinson, Brandon McCormick and Max Aguilar, figure to have a role both on and off the court, while sophomore starter Johnny Escamilla is a promising product for Shary-

land’s future.

“I see us getting in there and making a push in there, we have a good group of kids and they want to win so we’ll be competitive, that’s for sure,” he said.

Sharyland opens up district play against the Laredo Martin Tigers on the road at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 in Laredo.

Mission Veterans Patriots Mission Veterans narrowly missed the playoffs last season, and this year’s team has something to prove. The Patriots were voted to finish 8th in District 31-5A by the RGV Basketball Coaches Association when they released their predictions back on Oct. 17. 16th year Patriot Head Coach Romeo De La Garza Jr. believes he has a reloaded group with a chip on their shoulder who will be out to prove doubters wrong.

“We were picked eighth to finish in district play and these guys heard about it, I

By Luciano Guerra

both years, such a dramatic improvement served as a pretty good indicator of the fact that the Big 7 as a whole was about to have a pretty good year.

While an improved non-district record does not in-and-of-itself make for a successful season, an improved district record does.

So let’s take a look at the four Big 7 teams that did improve over last year’s results in regards to their district records.

Veterans Memorial Patriots After compiling a 5-3 District 31-5A record and a 6-4 overall record last year, the Patriots posted the biggest improvement of any Big 7 team by going 7-1 against district opponents and 9-1 overall this year. In addition, the 2017 Patriots earned a share of the district title which was something they had not done since 2010 when they were co-district champions with Weslaco

See BIG 7 BASKETBALL Pg. 12

Big 7 football – A season to remember

Sharyland senior linebacker Noe Cortez and senior safety Brandon Garcia console junior linebacker Javo Lopez after the Rattlers’ 42-39 triple overtime loss to Alice in the area round of the state playoffs on Nov. 24 at Memorial Stadium in Alice. Progress Times photo by Bryan Ramos

PLAYOFFS ROUND 2

The 2017 high school football season marks only the second time in the past six years that a Big 7 team has not advanced into the third round of the University Interscholastic League’s (UIL’s) state playoffs. Does that mean that when it comes to the seven teams from the Mission, Sharyland and La Joya school districts, the 2017 season was a failure? Not at all. There were many positives that occurred during the recently completed season that the majority of the seven teams can look back at with pride even if most of them did not occur during postseason play.

The positives actually began during non-district play when this year’s Big 7 teams combined for identical 5-2 Week 1 and Week 2 records compared to a 1-6 Week 1 and a 3-4 Week 2 record last season. Considering the fact that these games were played against the same opponents

See BIG 7 FOOTBALL Pg. 10

Players of the week

VETERANS MEMORIAL PATRIOTS

SHARYLAND RATTLERS

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

SPECIAL TEAMS

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

SPECIAL TEAMS

#12 Landry Gilpin

#27 Elias Delgado

#90 Agustin Rodriguez

#3 Blake Klein

#33 Noe Cortez

#38 Erwin Von Nacher

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obituaries Roberto Bourbois Sr. MISSION – Roberto “Beto” Agustin Bourbois, Sr., 72, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, at his home in Mission.

Survivors include his wife, Diana Bourbois; children, Belinda Garza of Ft. Worth, Roberto Bourbois Jr. of Mission and Ricardo Bourbois of Ft. Worth; sister, Elisa Bourbois of Mission; and 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Cynthia Ann Bourbois; parents, Virginia and Manuel Bourbois; and siblings, Maria Castillo and Ramiro Bourbois.

A funeral mass was held on Nov. 22 at St. John of the Fields Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at San Jose Cemetery in Mission. Arrangements were under the care of Flores Funeral Home of Mission.

Maria Contreras PALMVIEW – Maria F. Contreras, 83, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017 at her home in Palmview.

Mrs. Contreras was born on Aug. 10, 1934, in Mexico to Remigio and Albina Gonzalez.

Survivors include her children, Rosa Lara, Efrain Contreras Jr., Roque Contreras, Valentin Contreras, Celia Contreras and Esmeralda Garza; sister, Socorro Ibarra; and 18 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Efrain Contreras, and daughter, Gloria Contreras.

A funeral mass was held on Nov. 27 at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in La Joya. Burial followed at La Joya City Cemetery.

Rebecca Irene Garza 1941-2017 Rebecca Irene Garza, 76, passed away on Friday, November 24, 2017, in Katy, Texas.

Irene was preceded in death by her soulmate, John J. Garza, and her parents, Ismael and Rebecca Pena. She is survived by her two, loving children, Jay and Becky (Rusty); her grandson, Hunter; siblings, Gracie (Alfonso), Norma, Judy (Pete), Soni and Richard (Karen); and a host of nieces and nephews.

Irene enjoyed quilting, knitting, gardening, baking and spending time with family and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 1, 2017, at 12:30 p.m. at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210.

Robert Hulett MISSION – Robert “Bob” Hulett,\ passed away on Nov. 12, 2017.

Mr. Hulett was born in Mankato, Minn. and grew up in Duluth, Minn. He attended the St. Paul Seminary and was a priest for a number of years. In 1971 he married his wife Jackie and they resided in Apple Valley, Minn.

He ran a teen youth center in Burnsville, Minn. for five years and then was an urban forester for the City of Burnsville for 22 years. He retired to Mission where he became a Master Gardener and served in the RCIA program at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in McAllen.

Survivors include his wife, Jackie; sons, Chris and Andy; siblings, Ray Hulett, Alan Hulett, Steven Hulett, Peter Hulett, John Hulett, Brian Hulett, David Hulett and Delores Easty; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugenia and Robert Hulett, and sisters, Alice Egge and Barbara Anderson.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Dec. 1, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers the family asked that donations be made in his name to Our Lady of Sorrows Guardian Angel Program, 1108 W. Hackberry Ave, McAllen, TX, 78501-4370.

Salvador Lopez MISSION – Salvador Lopez, 76, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at his home in Mission.

Mr. Lopez was born in General Teran, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and lived in Mission since 1975.

Survivors include his wife, Enedelia Lopez of Mission; children, Salvador Lopez Jr. of Mission, Rolando Lopez of Pharr, Nereida Singleterrry of Edinburg, Jesus Lopez of Mission, Noelia Gonzalez of McAllen and Gerardo Lopez of Alton; siblings, Pablo Lopez of General Teran, Mirtala Duran of Weslaco and Gilberto Lopez of General Teran; and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Encarnacion and Maria Lopez, and sisters, Hortencia Tamez and Elida Lopez.

A funeral service will be held at a later date.

Ninfa Peña MISSION – Ninfa Trevino Peña, 104, passed away on Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, in her home in Mission.

Mrs. Peña was born on May 8, 1913, to Manuel and Procora Treviño in Mission.

She graduated from Mission High School and earned her teaching degree from Texas A&I College (University) in Kingsville. Her first position in the classroom was with the Zapata Independent School District. She married Ernesto Peña in 1937 and resided in Mission.

She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission where she was an elementary grade school teacher in the original Catholic school. She was an active member Damas Catolicas.

Survivors include her children, Ernesto Peña of

Mission, Margarita Lozano of McAllen, Fernando Peña of Mission, Mary Lou Perez of Mission, Joe Peña of Mission and Bobby Peña of McAllen; and 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and grandson, Humberto Lozano Jr., and sisters, Amelia Davis, Adela Gomez, Olivia Garza and Ramona de los Santos.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, Dec. 1, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial follows at San Jose Cemetery in Mission.

Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons, Ricardo Lozano, Ernesto Pena III, Xavier Pena, Marco Perez, Omar Pena and Roberto Pena. Honorary pallbearers will be Art Martinez, Milton Lopez, Zach Gaubert and Steve Jube.

Pedro Requenez Jr. PALMVIEW – Deacon Pedro H. Requenez Jr., 71, passed away on Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, at his home in Palmview.

Deacon Requenez was born on July 19, 1946, to Pedro Requenez Sr., and Maria Cristina Hinojosa in Edinburg.

Survivors include his wife, Alicia Rodriguez Requenez; children, Melissa Yanes, Blanca Guerra and Sandra Rodriguez; siblings, Amador Requenez, Margarito Requenez, Cristina Garza and Saul Eli Requenez; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass was held on Nov. 30 at St. John of the Fields Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission.

Notices Bertha Cavazos MISSION – Bertha Cavazos, 68, passed away on Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3805 Plantation Grove Blvd., Ste. 5

Mission • 580-4551

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

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

KING, GUERRA, DAVIS & GARCIA ATTORNEYS AT LAW

DAVID H. GUERRA

DARRELL DAVIS

301 E. Tom Landry • Mission • 585-1622

MISSION AUTO ELECTRIC, INC. DBA

ER MAE EPQOU IW PMENT

Commercial Lawn Equipment “Since 1954”

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

Jose Esquivel MISSION – Jose Roberto “Carrasco” Esquivel, 57, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, at his family’s home.

Jesus Garcia MISSION – Jesus Garcia, 53, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, at his home in Mission.

Odilia Garcia PALMVIEW – Odilia Garcia, 81, passed away on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Rene Gonzalez PALMVIEW – Rene Gonzalez, 63, passed away on Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, at Edinburg Regional Medical Center.

Alicia Hernandez MISSION – Alicia Hernandez, 85, passed away on Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, at her home in Mission.

THANKSGIVING butterflies that seemed to have come out for the occasion, patronizing the flower gardens planted on the center’s grounds.

Miss Mission, Bianca Medina, 18, a University of Texas RGV student, was passing out candy to all the children who were also treated to free face painting and an inflatable bounce house.

Live music and a covered tent with picnic tables were available on the center’s grounds. Besides Garza, who greeted many arrivals at the door, his deputies, Aida Lerma and Randy Perez were on hand as was Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas, most city councilmember’s and the city’s top police and fire department personnel.

Lerma said the event was a group effort with Foy’s Supermarket providing the turkeys. Tamales were provided

by Delia’s, gravy was provided by Balli’s Social Event Center and Mission Regional Medical Center provided the mashed potatoes. The city provided corn, pies and cupcakes, Lerma said.

Hortencia Mata MISSION – Hortencia G. Mata, age 74, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Javier Rodriguez MISSION – Javier Rodriguez, 58, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, at Doctors Hospital in Edinburg.

Veronica Rodriguez MISSION – Veronica Rodriguez, 49, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Rafaela Vasquez PEÑITAS – Rafaela Reyes Vasquez, 27, passed away on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, at her home in Peñitas.

Aida Vega MISSION – Aida Vega, 80, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, at McAllen Medical Center.

from pg 1

Also providing table service was Mission CISD Board of Trustee Minnie Rogers who said she didn’t believe there were as many attendees to the city’s event as have attended the Renee’s-sponsored event. But she believed as more people become aware of the city’s event more will attend in the future.

Among those attending the event was Soñia Ramirez, a 43-year-old single mother who brought her three children, Kevin, 13, Soñia, 10 and Aleny, 7. She was joined by her sister, Melena Ramirez and her son, Edel. Also joining the table was family friend, Nora Cruz and her son, Jerek Chaires.

Ramirez said she and her family were grateful to the city for hosting the event that helped bring their family together and made for a special day. Ramirez declared the meal, “Muy Rica.”

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ALTAMIRANO

311 service to report problems such as potholes, graffiti and broken streetlights to their local government.

The app is expected to be released later this month in San Antonio followed by a release in Mexico City next March, Altamirano said.

Because of his app, Altamirano was named one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 in their list of social entrepreneurs, one of 600 rising stars the magazine named last month among 20 different categories.

Altamirano, a Mission na-

tive who now resides in San Antonio, said he was surprised at his inclusion in the list.

“It’s a very competitive ranking list to get into,” he explained. “For me, being named 30 under 30 represents that there’s a lot of progress and innovation and entrepreneurship in south Texas. It puts this area on the map and highlights the work and I’m proud of that.”

Altamirano was nominated to the list by his colleague, Felix Ortiz, the founder of the technology platform Vir-

ProgressTimes

from pg. 1

initiative that rotates in-house distinguished professionals and companies in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Alex Meade, MEDC chief executive officer, said Altamirano’s inclusion on the list validates the corporation’s decision to pick Cityflag as their latest Expert-in-Residence.

“Cityflag’s commitment to civil society goes beyond building digital products and applications; their goal is to increase digital inclusion, which is a value at the core of Mission EDC’s programming,” Meade said. “Over the past few years, social entrepreneurship and innovation has been at the top of Mission EDC’s efforts. It’s why our team gets up and comes to work every day.”

The road to the creation of Cityflag came after Altamirano became involved in politics in college, he said.

As a 21-year-old, Altamirano worked at the Texas House of Representatives drafting legislation. He then worked in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in the U.S. Senate under Sen. John Kerry’s leadership, and in the U.S. Department of State, working at the U.S. Consulate in Barcelona, Spain.

While working in Barcelona, Altamirano said he began to study smart cities, urban areas that use different types of electronic data collection systems to supply information used to manage assets and resources efficiently.

Altamirano said he realized technology could potentially impact how communities deal with urban challenges while finding an outlet for his passion for public service and civic engagement.

“When I came back to Texas, Cityflag was created shortly after,” Altamira-

no said. “I focused on civic technology to help neighbors connect to the government.

My interest in politics plays a huge role in my life, so why not get involved and help others do so? Everyone has a story to share and people have a connection of some sort to what’s going on in politics, it affects our lives.”

Despite his success, Altamirano remains humble and hopes his story will inspire more local entrepreneurs.

“Even though it’s glamorous to be named a Forbes’ 30 under 30, there was a lot of effort behind that,” he said. “We all face issues but it’s how we overcome those challenges that defines us.

Within those challenges lies a narrative and that narrative is that you push yourself to do whatever you push yourself to do what you can to succeed.”

from pg. 8

ville Pace by a score of 5943. Also like the Patriots, the Rattlers failed to advance into the Regional round when they fell to the Alice Coyotes in triple overtime by a score of 42-39.

Coming off a 6-2 district record last season, the Rattlers did not improve quite as much as the Patriots did but it was their 48-42 Week 10 victory over the Patriots that allowed them to claim a one-third share of the district championship. Considering the fact that they

opened their season with a 62-0 non-district loss to the Weslaco East Wildcats, the Rattlers put together a highly successful season even if they did fall just a bit short against Alice.

La Joya Coyotes The La Joya Coyotes improved just enough this season to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2014 season. After compiling a 2-4 District 306A record and a 3-7 overall record last season, the Coyotes improved to 3-3 in district play and 6-4 overall this season. That district record tied them for fourth place with the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies but as a result of their 24-10 Week 9 victory over those same Huskies, the Coyotes held the tie-breaker advantage that gave them the fourth and final 30-6A playoff berth.

The 2017 Coyotes not only qualified for the playoffs, they went into them on a roll. After dropping their first three district games, La Joya defeated Juarez-Lincoln, Nikki Rowe and Palmview in consecutive weeks to even up their record at 3-3 and take their momentum into their bi-district round game against District 29-6A’s co-champions, the 6-1 San Antonio Southwest Dragons. While the Coyotes played the Dragons tough, they fell short by a score of

14-7.

Even though the Coyotes failed to pull off the upset that would’ve earned them a bi-district championship, the 2017 season was still a highly successful one for second year head coach Reuben Farias and his team.

Juarez-Lincoln Huskies The Juarez-Lincoln Huskies were the fourth Big 7 team to post an improved record in 2017 (3-3 6-4) as compared to 2016 (2-4, 4-6).

They won three District 306A games in a row to compile a 3-1 record through Week 8 and while it looked as if they were well on their way to the playoffs, consecutive losses to La Joya and McAllen Memorial to closeout their district schedule, left the Huskies in a fourth place tie with the Coyotes.

Unfortunately for Coach Tomas Garcia and his Huskies, their loss to La Joya was the determining factor in the tie-breaker that allowed the Coyotes to clinch the district’s fourth and final playoff spot. As a result, the Huskies failed to qualify for the playoffs this season like they did last year. Therefore, whether or not they had a more successful 2017 season than they did in 2016 is debatable.

Even so, there is no debating the fact that the Huskies did have a more successful regular season this year than they did last.

idis Learning. “[Altamirano] is a thoughtful leader dedicated to building a more connected and civic-minded community through the use of technology,” he said in a statement.

“Being named to Forbes 30 under 30 is reflective of his dedication to creating a successful business and solving a problem people care about.”

Currently, Altamirano and Cityflag are serving as the Mission Economic Development Center’s Expert-in-Residence, an MEDC mentorship

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scan this code with your smartphone BIG 7 FOOTBALL

East.

In the playoffs, the Patriots earned their fourth bi-district championship in a row by defeating Brownsville Lopez by a score of 2517 in the first game played

in the newly renovated and renamed Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium. While an Area round loss to Flour Bluff last Friday resulted in the Patriots failing to advance into the third round of the playoffs, like they did for

CITY OF ALTON

CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS City Hall

(956) 432-0760

Police Department

(956) 432-0700

Fire Department

(956) 432-0740

Public Works

(956) 432-0792

Senior Center

(956) 581-4851

Alton Recreation Center

(956) 432-0790

(Includes Administration, Planning, Human Resources, Finance and Municipal Court)

(includes Recycling and Solid Waste)

CLOSED FOR THE FOLLOWING HOLIDAYS:

• December 25th & 26th - Christmas • December 29th - New Years Eve • January 1st - New Years Day 509 S. Alton Blvd.

Alton, Texas 78573

www.alton-tx.gov

December 1, 2017

the first time in school history last year, in pretty much every other way the 2017 season was a highly successful one for Coach David Gilpin and his team.

Sharyland Rattlers Like the Patriots, the Sharyland Rattlers compiled a 7-1 District 31-5A record this season to earn a share of the district title. And like the Patriots, the Rattlers earned a bi-district championship when they defeated Browns-

December 1, 2017

PINTO ROAD

vided photos of her daughter’s car that in mid-October hit what was described as a nearly two-foot deep pothole just north of Expressway 83.

The incident sheared off the wheel’s lug nut stems causing damage to the vehicle’s front quarter panel when the entire wheel came off. Fortunately the woman’s daughter was not injured, the Sullivan City resident said.

So far repairs have been made in piecemeal fashion and residents and city officials want a full repair. How to pay for the repairs remains the question.

Over the last several months city officials have been working out agreements with area agencies trying to obtain funding to repair the problems.

On Monday Sullivan City Mayor Leo Garcia presented his case to the Agua Special Utility District board of directors asking for an inter-local agreement seeking the utility’s assistance to help finance the repairs. Garcia said

MOVING FORWARD

Bridge Board members to complete a funding feasibility study for the entire Madero Bridge and road improvement projects. Garza said that study is expected to be completed in July 2018.

Garza said the city is working with Hinojosa to obtain the $3 million needed for the project’s environmen-

page 11

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com Hidalgo County Precinct 3 Commissioner Joe Flores has agreed to provide the labor and equipment to repave the entire street in the portion of effected areas but the city needs to come up with what Flores estimated as $134,000 for asphalt, Garcia said.

Though Garcia obtained the agreement exactly how the utility can help the city remains unclear.

The agreement states the utility’s legal team, along with its newly hired interim assistant general manager, Emigdio “Milo” Salinas, will work with city officials to determine how the utility can assist the city to pay for paving the street.

“The street is repeatedly caving in and is covered in patches,” Sandoval said.

“We want to fix it, it’s something the people in Sullivan have wanted for years.”

Although Sandoval expressed hope that the paving project could start by early next year, board member, Ricardo Ochoa, said after the tal study. He said once the road projects are completed the city will become responsible for its maintenance.

Garza said part of the equation in obtaining additional state funding is having in place the environmental study and plans developed to show the project is “shovel ready.”

“The idea here, like al-

from pg. 1

help pay for the repaving project because it was the utility’s contractor that installed the sewer lines where the road faults are occurring.

Garcia said the city cannot sue the contractor because the sewer lines belong to the utility nor is he looking to sue the utility saying that might only lead to more delays from possibly years of protracted litigation.

“Right now we just need to fix it and after that we’ll figure out which route to take,” Garcia said yesterday.

Garcia said once the city can assure funding for the paving the city will re-compact the area along the sewer line before repaving begins to ensure the same issues with the sub grade to not reoccur.

Though Agua SUD typically only pays to repave the portion of the road destroyed by sewer line trenching by having the county provide the labor and equipment the $134,000 needed for asphalt equates essentially cutting the cost of the project in half.

“So they should be able to

pave the entire street, which is what we want them to do,” Garcia said In the meantime Agua SUD continues to experience a disruption in leadership that caused its board to put off decisions on several agenda items Monday until it can hire a permanent general manager.

At Monday’s meeting, the Agua SUD board was made aware of the hiring of Emigdio Salinas, as the utility district’s interim assistant general manager. He works as an engineer at LeFevre Engineering and Management Consulting, LLC, the company owned by the utility’s current interim general manager Richard LeFevre.

Salinas told the board Monday he was addressing the board on LeFevre’s behalf because the interim director, appointed about two months ago, was experiencing health problems. LeFevre’s predecessor, Oscar Cancino, was also in office a relatively short time before stepping down as the utility’s

interim general manager.

Board member Homero Tijerina said he was surprised at Salinas’ employment with the district as he was not aware of it until the meeting.

“Ochoa actually asked him who he was during the meeting,” Tijerina recalled.

“I don’t know if the other board members were aware of his employment but surely someone should’ve brought it up.”

In a letter dated Nov. 15 and received by the Progress Times, LeFevre contacted the TWDB to inform them of Salinas’ hiring. However, according to bylaws of the utility district the general manager must seek authorization from the board prior to the termination of or hiring of employees.

Neither Lafevre or Agua SUD attorney, Frank Garza, responded to requests for comment as of press time.

Editor Joe Hinton contributed to this report.

from pg. 1

“What we’re doing is we’re preparing for what’s coming in the future. But everything is looking very, very positive on both projects,” Garza said, referring to both the bridge and the roads.

The MRA was also told that though three months behind schedule, the Bentsen Palm Development Lift Station project has been completed.

Mario Reyna Jr., of the civil engineering firm Melden & Hunt, told the MRA board during its Nov. 14 meeting the project was completed that day. Reyna said the project was delayed 90 days because construction crews had to remove and replace about 3,000 feet of sewer pipe in four different areas where the lines had “sagged” after being in-

stalled.

“It is per plan now,” Reyna told the board.

The work is in conjunction with planned residential and commercial development in the area of Schuerbach Road and Military Highway.

meeting that Agua ultimately is not responsible for paying for the project.

“The Texas Water Development Board gives money to only pave or repave where we trenched, which we did in that area but not for the whole road,” Ochoa said.

Mireya Loewe, the south Texas regional manager for the TWDB, echoed Ochoa’s remarks saying Wednesday the city would ultimately have to find a way to pay for the street project as the TWDB would not financially assist the utility district and Sullivan City.

“We’re not in the paving business,” Loewe said. “If a water or wastewater system is being installed, our money can be used to fix the road back to its original condition but that’s it. In this case, this is for the repaving of a road happening years after the project was completed so these entities are not eligible for any paving programs.”

Garcia said he is hopeful the utility can find a way to ways, like any other project we’ve done, is getting the project shovel ready. What is that?” Garza asked, “Making sure we have all the engineering in place because the state is going to look at the projects that are shovel ready, ready for construction.

And that’s the way we’ve been working our projects and its been working for us.

theclassifieds

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1 Week = $7.00 2 Weeks = $10.00 4 Weeks = $14.00

buy • sell • trade • rent • hire

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HIRING Mr. G’s Fireworks

is looking for responsible persons to operate fireworks stand. Must stay on premises & be over 21 years of age.

Call: (956) 399-3469 PUBLIC NOTICE

The Mission City Council will hold a Regular Meeting on December 18, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: A 0.65 acre tract of land out of Meadow Creek Country Club Phase II-A Subdivision, from PUD (Planned Unit Development – Permanent Open Space District) to PUD (Planned Unit Development – Commercial) 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

PUBLIC NOTICE The Mission Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on December 13, 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: A 2.98 acres (3 acresDeed call) of land out of Lot 16-6, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision, from (C-3) General Business to (I1) Light Industrial; Rezoning: A 1.27 acre tract of land, more or less, out of Lot 182, John H. Shary Subdivision, from (R-1) Single Family Residential to (R-2) Duplex-Fourplex Residential; Rezoning: Being a 14.33 acre tract of land, more or less, lying north of the Expressway 83 comprised of 1.90 acres of Lot 1, 3.12 acres of Lot 2, and 9.33 acres of Lot 3, Goodwin Tract Subdivision #3, from (AO-I) Agricultural Open Interim to (C-3) General Business; and Rezoning: Lot 81, Sharyland Orchards Subdivision, from (R-1A) Large Lot Single Family to (R-3) Multi-Family Residential 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

For Sale GMC 2500 DIESEL PICKUP 2003, extended cab, automatic, 4x4, new tires, 16k5th wheel hitch, 146,000 miles, Alamo, TX, $17,500, call 440-

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2010 JAYCO 5TH WHEEL, approximately 36 ft., 4 slideouts, A/C, fireplace, good to excellent condition, will take trade, asking $25,000, call

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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. both, will sell Trike separately, call 573348-9640.

2003 ALLEGRO 32 ft., 2 slides, in good condition, $22,900, also 2011 Honda CRV tow car with tow $33,000, call 585-813-7218

or can be seen at Canyon Lake RV Resort, #381.

19 FT. 1996 CLASS B motor home, 118K miles, 360 Dodge, new tires, cab roof, air condition, $7,000 call 218-310-8682.

HAPPY JACK FLEXENHANCE PLUS, relieves arthritic joint & muscle pain in older dogs without prescription, Mission Feed & Hardware, 956-5812153 (kennelvax. com)

ORDINANCE NO. 4578

ORDINANCE NO. 4577

ORDINANCE NO. 4576

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE SALE & ON-SITE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – MISSION EVENT CENTER, 200 N. SHARY ROAD, LOT 1, MISSION EVENT CENTER SUBDIVISION (U/R)

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING OF LOT 1, YESSICA PEDRAZA SUBDIVISION, FROM C-1 (OFFICE BUILDING)TO C-2 (NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL)

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS, AMENDING VARIOUS PORTIONS OF CHAPTER 86 – SIGNS – OF THE MISSION CODE OF ORDINANCES, CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING A PUBLICATION DATE

READ, CONSIDERED PASSED, THIS THE DAY OF NOVEMBER,

READ, CONSIDERED PASSED, THIS THE DAY OF NOVEMBER,

READ, CONSIDERED PASSED, THIS THE DAY OF NOVEMBER,

AND 27TH 2017.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4579 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS AMENDING ORDINANCE NO.780 DESIGNATING PLACES WHERE BEER AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY BE SOLD WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MISSION TO INCLUDE THE PREMISES LOCATED AT 200 N. SHARY ROAD, LOT 1, MISSION EVENT CENTER SUBDIVION (UR) READ, CONSIDERED PASSED, THIS THE DAY OF NOVEMBER,

AND 27TH 2017.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4580 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS AMENDING CHAPTER 98 – SUBDIVISIONS, SECTION 98-144 OF THE MISSION CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ALLOW THE USAGE OF PARK ZONE FUNDS WITH CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR REGIONAL RECREATIONAL SITES; AND PROVIDING FOR A PUBLICATION DATE READ, CONSIDERED PASSED, THIS THE DAY OF NOVEMBER,

AND 27TH 2017.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

AND 27TH 2017.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

AND 27TH 2017.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

NOTICE TO PUBLIC/PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF MISSION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FY 16-17 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (DRAFT) Notice is hereby given that the City of Mission’s Draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the 2016-17 fiscal year is available for citizens’ review and comment. The CAPER is a document required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which contains a summary of resources and accomplishments of the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). The Citizens Advisory Committee will hold a Public Hearing on December 12, 2017, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 E. 8th Street, Mission, Texas at 5:30 p.m. Interested parties are encouraged to attend and make their views known. The document will be available for review during normal working hours. Comments may be submitted to the Community Development Office, 1301 E. 8th Street, Ste. 102 until 5:00 pm on December 18, 2017.

Persons with disabilities or non-English speaking who need to communicate more effectively and who may need auxiliary aids or services such as interpreters for persons who are deaf or hearing impaired are asked to contact the Community Development Department at (956) 580-8670 at least three working days in advance of the hearing so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Relay Texas may also be contacted at 800-735-2999 (TTY) or 711 (Voice).

AVISO AL PUBLICO / AUDENCIA PUBLICA Por la presente se da aviso de que el Informe Anual Consolidado de Desempeño y Evaluación (CAPER) del Proyecto de la Ciudad de Mission para el año fiscal 201617 está disponible para que los ciudadanos lo revisen y comenten. El CAPER es un documento requerido por el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de EE. UU., Que contiene un resumen de los recursos y logros del Programa de Subsidios Globales de Desarrollo Comunitario (CDBG). El Comité Asesor de Ciudadanos celebrará una Audiencia Pública el 12 de diciembre de 2017 en la Cámara del Consejo Municipal, 1201 E. 8th Street, Mission, Texas a las 5:30 p.m.

Se convoca a las partes interesadas a asistir y dar a conocer sus puntos de vista.

El documento estará disponible para su revisión durante el horario normal de trabajo. Los comentarios pueden enviarse a la Oficina de Desarrollo Comunitario, 1301 E. 8th Street, Ste. 102 hasta las 5:00 pm el 18 de Diciembre de 2017.

Las personas con discapacidades o que no hablen inglés y necesiten comunicarse de manera más efectiva y necesiten ayuda o servicios auxiliares como intérpretes para personas sordas o con problemas de audición deben contactar al Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario al (956) 580-8670 al menos tres días hábiles antes de la audiencia para que se puedan hacer los arreglos necesarios. También se puede contactar a Relevo Texas al 800-735-2999 (TTY) o 711 (Voz).

page 12

December 1, 2017

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

Former Carl’s Supermarket co-owner publishes book

Cyndy Bartelli

By Joe Hinton A member of the Mission-based family that once operated a chain of Carl’s Supermarkets has published her first book and will be in a McAllen bookstore tomorrow to sign copies.

Cyndy Bartelli, whose family owned and operated seven now defunct Carl’s Supermarkets, will be at Viva Life Christian Bookstore from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday to sign her book, “Heart Healer: God’s Response to Personal Prayer in a Hurting

World.” The bookstore is located at 6601 N. 10th Street.

Born in San Antonio, Bartelli, 66, moved with her family to the Valley in 1960 and remained here, residing in both Mission and McAllen, until moving back to San Antonio, in 2000 where she and her current husband of 34 years, Terry, became full time real estate investors. Bartelli, known as Cyndy Waitz, daughter of Carl Waitz when she attended and graduated from Mission High School, said she and her family attended several Valley churches of varying denominations. But she said it wasn’t until the late 1970s that she became more focused on the meaning of religion in her life during a period in which she found herself a single mother with two young daughters.

“I’d made a mess of my life and realized I needed help,” Bartelli said in a phone interview Tuesday from Los Angeles where she is promoting her book.

“I had made a lot of horrible mistakes and a lot of awful things had been done to me and I decided to turn to God and asked him to change me and help me be the person he wanted me to be.”

Bartelli said her search for healing and a better life led her to begin attending Bi-

ble studies “where I learned more about who God is and how much he loved me. And that, in fact, he loved me so much that he was ready to change my life if I just surrendered it to him.”

Bartelli said the idea to write her book followed her involvement with Cleansing Stream International in 2008. She said the organization, with chapters in 35 countries, utilizes a series of classes, seminars and retreats to teach the power of healing through prayer. She said the organization partners with church pastors to lead teachings and hold retreats to pray for people often through the use of “prayer partners.”

“In going through that process I began to receive so much healing for myself, and healing meaning heart healing, not just physical healing but healing from the broken things in my past that, it transformed me and my husband,” Bartelli said.

“And as the years went by more and more information was gathered and researched by me all to come together for this book. And what compelled me along the way all the different kinds of heart break we had experienced in our lives and the healing we received.”

Among the heartbreak in her life Bartelli said her fam-

ily’s chain of supermarkets suffered under the influx of competitors that resulted in a price war.

“We got caught up in the middle of all that and couldn’t keep up,” she said.

Bartelli said one of the things prayer has helped her overcome was her once pathological reaction to saying good bye to loved ones.

In her book Bartelli describes how twice as a young girl her mother suffered nervous breakdowns and was institutionalized, removed from the home without the chance to say goodbye. She said that emotional trauma eventually caused her at one point to experience fits of crying and remorse if one of her daughters was returning to college from a home visit.

She said her problem became so intense she became upset watching people say goodbye to one another on a TV show.

“There were a series of things that were heart breaking that had happened in my life that, coupled with the training I was getting, made me very aware of how responsive God is to just a

BIG 7 BASKETBALL told them about it and they took it personal,” Coach De La Garza said. “They got a chip on their shoulder and they feel they got a lot to prove. Obviously they’re looking at our youth, but they’re a great group of coachable kids that want to get better every time they step in the gym.”

The Patriots are currently 8-3 entering tonight’s matchup with the Harlingen High Cardinals at 7:30 p.m. at Mission Veterans Memorial High School.

This year’s Patriot team returns three players with varsity experience in junior Noe Cantu who is expected to make his return from a collarbone injury soon, and post players Josh Acosta and Elias Ibarra, both seniors.

While Cantu has been out with injury, Elijah De La Garza--Coach Romeo De La Garza’s son--has been running the point and has led the Patriots to a hot start.

Once Cantu returns, he will provide another threat on the court and give Coach De La Garza the luxury of playing either off the ball while the other runs the one.

simple prayer for our hearts to be healed. And so I published the book at the end of July and the feedback we’ve been getting has been just outstanding.”

Bartelli said besides some of her personal experiences, it includes the stories of about 15 other people.

“The way the book is structured is I tell a story and then back up the point I make with the story through verses from the Bible, with scriptures, and that process continues all the way through the book.”

Bartelli said she’s excited about returning to her former home town and plans to reunite with some former classmates to enjoy “real Mexican food.”

Besides tomorrow’s book signing Bartelli is also scheduled to appear today between 3 and 4 p.m. on La Nueva Radio CristianaNet.com, an online radio broadcast, to discuss her first book. In addition to tomorrow’s book signing Bartelli’s book can be obtained via Barnes&Noble.com and Amazon.com.

from pg 8

The Patriots are not at full strength yet, but the addition of three football players earlier this week in Acosta, Landry Gilpin and Buda Gonzalez, brings added athleticism to the court for Mission Vets.

Mission Veterans will be looking to make their way back into the postseason this year as the team grows together over the course of the season. Coach De La Garza while the team has come out of the gates hot, his goal is to try and build a successful on court chemistry between his players which will put the Patriots back in the playoff picture.

“Getting the team to understand individually what their roles are, and put those roles together collectively as a unit is what formulates success and that’s what we’re working on right now, even though we’ve gotten off to a good start,” Coach De La Garza said.

Mission Vets begin its District 31-5A slate against Laredo Cigarroa on the road at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12.