December 15, 2017 - PT ISSUE

Friday, December 15, 2017

www.ptrgv.com | 25 Cents

Vol. 46 No. 19

Mission attorney key witness in Irene Garza murder trial

By Joe Hinton

Irene Garza

There are some things people never forget, like for those who are old enough, where they were when they heard John F. Kennedy had been assassinated in 1963.

Or for those who are younger, when they first learned the twin towers had been struck in 2001.

For Mission attorney, Darrell Davis, it was the day he joined six or eight other reporters for an “off the record” meeting in the early 1960s with then Hidalgo County Attorney Robert Lattimore to discuss the murder of Irene Garza, a 25 year old McAllen school teacher, beauty queen and devout Catholic. At the time of Garza’s murder Davis was in his first year as a reporter for KRGV channel 5 news.

In April 1960, Garza’s body had been pulled from a McAllen canal several days

Darrell Davis

John Feit - Then

John Feit - Now

Two years after touting him as the best man for the job, La Joya’s top administrator has fired the city’s police chief.

City Administrator Mike Alaniz fired Police Chief Ramon Gonzalez Monday after consulting with the city commission, he said.

“Unfortunately he was let go,” Alaniz said in a

Wednesday phone interview.

“It was a difficult decision to go ahead and take that route to go to a different direction. Of course I do have the utmost respect for the chief and I wish him all the endeavor and hope that even though one door closes here there will be a different one to open for him. He’s a good man, educated and I wish

After one game played in the new Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium at least one member of Mission Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees is calling for a new scoreboard to go with the new stadium.

Trustee Jerry Zamora

See MURDER TRIAL Pg. 8

See CHIEF FIRED Pg. 9

$1 Million scoreboard for Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium?

By Joe Hinton

about that period like which news director sent him to the meeting with Lattimore, Leigh Cardwell or Jim Metcalf, and whether he was 19 or 20 at the time of Garza’s murder. But he still remembers where Lattimore’s office was on the third floor of the Hidalgo County Courthouse and what Lattimore told the group of reporters, one of whom Davis recalls was former Monitor reporter Virginia Armstrong. And Davis can’t recall if Lattimore called the meeting with reporters just before or after Feit’s no contest plea. But Davis is sure of what Lattimore told them about Father Feit.

“Certain things I remember verbatim what he said,” Davis recalled during an interview Tuesday in his office on Tom Landry Street.

“He reviewed the facts about the assault and he made the

First area snowfall in 13 years claims four lives

La Joya police chief fired

By Jose De Leon III

after she disappeared over Easter weekend. An autopsy showed she had been beaten, raped and suffocated to death. At the time the last person known to have seen her was John B. Feit, then a 27-year-old Catholic priest who had taken Garza’s confession April 6, the day before Easter, at McAllen’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church where Feit was a visiting priest.

Twenty-three days prior to Garza’s disappearance, another woman, Maria America Guerra, had been attacked by a man she later identified as Feit, while she was praying in an Edinburg church. Feit was subsequently tried for the assault resulting in a hung jury. Instead of going to trial a second time Feit pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge and was fined $500.

At 77, there are some things Davis doesn’t recall

asked the proposal be placed on the agenda of the board’s Dec. 6 Facilities/Environment Committee meeting.

Zamora said there was $1.6 million remaining from the $10 million budgeted for the new stadium that could be used for a new scoreboard.

See NEW SCOREBOARD Pg. 8

A man walks his dog north along St. Marie Avenue near Oblate Park during last Friday morning’s snowfall. Progress Times photo by Joe Hinton

By Joe Hinton Not since Christmas 2004 have Mission residents experienced snowfall. On Friday, Dec. 8 snow fell from just before sunrise to about mid

ternoon there was nary a sign it had fallen here.

That wasn’t the case Dec. 7 when predictions of snow prompted the Mission Consolidated Independent School District to delay the start of classes for two hours

Friday. School staff was given until 9 a.m. to report to work.

In La Joya classes started an hour later than normal Friday due to snow predictions.

See SNOWFALL Pg. 10

National Butterfly Center files lawsuit over border wall

By Jose De Leon III

The scoreboard at Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium as it appeared minutes before the start of the Nov. 17 game between the Veterans Memorial High School Patriots and Lopez High School Lobos of Brownsville. Progress Times photo by Joe Hinton

morning in a band of snow that, according to National Weather Service charts, spanned from the tip of Texas to North Carolina. The charts indicated Mission received less than an inch of snow accumulation. And by early af-

In a lawsuit filed Monday against the federal government, the National Butterfly Center accuses the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies of trampling on the center’s private property rights and violating the Endangered Species and the National Environmental Policy Act over the construction of a border wall through the center.

The lawsuit comes after the center’s executive director, Marianna Treviño-Wright, found a crew of five men from the Alas-

ka-based Tikigaq Construction LLC firm with machinery cutting trees, mowing brush and widening a private road that runs through the property. The crew told her they were on orders from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to clear land for the border wall. Treviño-Wright ran the men off her property, she said.

According to the lawsuit, the center is home to over 100 species of butterflies and also houses several endangered animals and plants.

If the wall is built through

See LAWSUIT Pg. 12

In this July 20 photo, machinery used by workers to clear the area within the property of the National Butterfly Center for a border wall is shown abandoned after the crew was discovered by NBC’s executive director Marianna Treviño-Wright. Progress times photo by Jose De Leon III

INSIDE Growing pains

College Center

Having lost nine veteran players to graduation from last year’s Pioneer Diamondbacks basketball team Head Coach Rene Gonzalez is working with a group of youthful starters this year.

Luciano Guerra has the story.

South Texas College and La Joya ISD recently celebrated the opening of a $2 million expansion of the college’s facilities at Jimmy Carter Early Learning High School. Jose De Leon III has the details.

See Pg. 5

INDEX

Entertainment | pg.2

Palmview development Palmview has hired State Rep. Sergio Muñoz to assist it in selling bonds to help finance needed infrastructure.

It also passed another revenue generator. Find out what it is inside.

See Pg. 12

Lifestyle | pg.3

Opinion | pg.4

Sports | pg. 5

FREE

See Pg. 12

Obituaries | pg. 9

Classifieds | pg. 11

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

entertainment

Create comic strips in digital art workshop In a three-day workshop, learn how to make a short comic strip using programs with Photoshop, InDesign or other digital programs with instructor Francisco Rodriguez. By the end of the series participants should have a small comic strip to present.

Workshop dates and times are Dec. 30 and Jan. 6 and 13, 2108, running from 5 to 7 p.m. each date. A minimum class size of five participants is required for it to be held, with a maximum of nine.

Cost to UVAL members is $40 and $50 for nonmembers.

The skill level required for the class is basic knowledge of the individual’s software program. Participants should bring a laptop computer with Photoshop or another digital drawing program. Materials provided will be pencils, erasers and paper.

All classes will be held in the second floor of the UVAL gallery housed in the main building of the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 912 E. 12th St. in Mission. For more information, call 956583-2787.

SEE YOU THERE! DEC. 15 • $6pp • 6:30 PM • WINTER GREEN ESTATES 500 N. Bryan Rd. Mission, TX 989-708-0921

DEC. 16 • $10pp at door • 2 PM • BORDER THEATER 905 N. Conway • Mission, TX • 417-230-8198 DEC. 18 • $7 pp door $6 adv. • 7 PM • TROPIC WINDS 1501 N. Loop 499 • Harlingen, TX • 956-423-5484

DEC. 20 • $7 pp • 7 PM • PARK PLACE

5401 W. Baus. 83 • Harlingen, TX • 956-412-0375

DEC. 21 • $7 pp • 7 PM • WINTER RANCH 600 State Hwy. 495 • Alamo, TX • 417-293-4438

DEC. 22 • $6 pp • 7 PM • TROPIC STAR 1401 S. Cage Blvd. • Pharr, TX • 956-787-5773

DEC. 23 • $7 pp • 7 PM • SUNSHINE RV RESORT 1900 Grace Ave. • Harlingen, TX • 830-765-0272

For information concerning booking Ralph for a performance at your facility call 417-230-8198

ralphkuster@sympatico.ca - www.ralphkuster.net

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December 15, 2017

page 2

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

Coming Attractions

December 15 • The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce will hold a Welcome Back Winter Texans Party from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15, (weather permitting), with entertainment, tourist attractions, discounted food and more.

Call GMCC at 956-585-2727 for info. • Now in its 43rd year of making music, the McAllen Wind Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the McAllen Performing Arts Center with “Let Christmas Ringâ€? Christmas concert and carol sing-along. Tickets are $8, $10, $15 and $25 and are available at the McAllen Convention Center Box Office, ticketmaster.com and at the door that night.

For more information call 956-681-3800 or email tickets@ mcallentownband.org. • The Historic Brownsville Museum, 641 East Madison St., will host a Historical Happy Hour Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest Friday for adults from 5 to 7 p.m. at the historic Laureles Ranch House. The event, complete with a prize for the ugliest sweater, is free to museum members and $5 for nonmembers. For information, call 956548-1313. They also have a miniature holiday village on display through Jan. 6 with more than 500 Department 56 ceramic pieces of figurines, animals and lighted structures.

The exhibit can be seen with paid museum admission. The museum is also participating in the Brownsville Holiday Village in Dean Porter Park. Admission is free to stroll past the decorated, child-sized cottages, with the park open until 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

December 15-17 • Due to technical difficulties, the Harlingen Community Theatre has rescheduled performances of Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Parkâ€? at the theater located at 1209 Fair Park Blvd. in Harlingen. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday. Doors open for ticket sales one hour prior to curtain and seating begins 30 minutes prior to curtain. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students 18 and under. • Based on the television series, Edinburg High School’s Dramaticats present “Happy Days,â€? Dec. 14-16 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Edinburg High School Performing Arts Theater, located at 2600 E. Wisconsin, Edinburg.

Tickets are $8 • The Camille Playhouse presents Irving Berlin’s musical “White Christmasâ€? at the theater, 1 Dean Porter Park in Brownsville. Tickets are $20 for adults. Call 956-542-8900 for more information.

December 16 • The City of La Joya 12th Annual Christmas Parade begins at 12 p.m. at Expressway 83 and travels down La Joya Ave. • The City of Mission and Hands in Art Studio present a Winter Wonderfland Festival from 4 to 10 p.m. at Leo PeĂąa Placita Park in Mission. It includes a night of music, handmade crafts and local food. Admission is free. • The Border Theater, 905 N. Conway in Mission, presents Ralph Kuster’s tribute, “Traditional and Country Christmas,â€? at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10. Call 417-230-8198 for more information. • iTheatre and First Baptist Church Weslaco present “It’s Christmas,â€? a series of Christmas carols and skits complemented with cookies. It begins at 6 p.m. at the Tower Theatre located at 120 S. Kansas Ave. in Weslaco. Suggested donation is $10. For more information, call 956-261-5656. • The Antique Automobile Club of America RGV chapter will host a Christmas Toy Drive and Car Show at 9 a.m. at El Centro Foods located at 500 N. Main St. in La Feria.

Admission is free, but the chapter is asking spectators to bring a toy to donate.

December 16-17 • First United Methodist Church of La Feria will host a live nativity from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Each night the church parking lot transforms into the town of Bethlehem. It is free and open to the public. The church is located at 331 S. Main St. For more information or to volunteer, call 956-245-5742 or 956-797-1393.

December 16-17, 22-23 • The International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 Nolana in McAllen, is holding gingerbread workshops to decorate graham cracker houses. IMAS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave. Call 956-682-0123 for more information.

December 19 • Chabad RGV presents its annual Chanukah Concert at Archer Park at 101 N. Main St. in Presents McAllen. The event is El Paseo Arts Foundation open to the public; admission is free. It begins at 4:39 p.m. with the Menorah lighting and concert. Music begins at 6:30 p.m.by the folk/rock bandFestival from Israel, the Solomon A Classic Film Brothers Band.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017 • The Pharr Community Theater (PCT) presents “A TeThe Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Directed

by Sergio Leone Carol.� Performances will be presented at jano Christmas Starring: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach PCT, 213 W.scamNewcombe, through Saturdayat 7:30 p.m. and A bounty hunting joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to discover a fortune of gold buried in a remote cemetery.

Sundayat 3 p.m.

It will alsoFilmbe presented Dec. 19, at 7 Regarded as a highly influential example of the Western genre, it is acclaimed as one of the greatestEvents films of all time. p.m. at the Pharr Center, 3000 N Cage Blvd. Tickets areTuesday, $7 general and $5 for students, seniors and January 24,admission 2017 It Happened One Nightwill be sold at the door starting one hour military.

Tickets Directed by Frank Capra Starring: Clark Gableplay, and Claudette before each onColbert a first come, first serve basis. For more Regarded as one of the best romantic comedies ever made, this was the first information, 956-239-0412 or Best 956-655-9308. Tickets film ever to sweep the call Oscars, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Actress awards for the stars. A spoiled heiress, forWriting thetoand Dec. 19herperformance atonthe Pharr Events Center are trying run away from controlling parents, is helped her journey a man who isCall really a reporter in need of a big story. for that night. $3byeach.

956-402-4500 • The Upper Valley Art League (UVAL) hosts Rio Tuesday, February 7, 2017 Love Story Grande Valley Woodcarver member Lon Caldwell teaching Directed by Arthur Hiller Starring: O’Neal and Ali MacGraw how toRyan make Christmas ornaments. All materials will be The film is the love story of a wealthy, upper-class Harvard law student provided.

The fee is talented $25butper session who falls in love and marries a bright, lower class Radcliffe for UVAL members student. This romantic drama is tragedy that is considered one of the most and $35 for nonmembers. Payment is due at sign up. To romantic films of all time. This film also spawned dozens of imitations. It remains, today, of the top 100 films the Americanmember, Film Institute list or for more informaregister, toonebecome a onUVAL of the top 100 list for love stories. tion, call the UVAL gallery at 956-583-2787. UVAL is located in February the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th Tuesday, 21, 2017 Like It Hot St.Some in Mission.

Directed by Billy Wilder Starring: MarilynUpper Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon • The Valley Art League (UVAL) hosts Rio The film’s plot is based on the story of two male musicians who witness Grande Valley member the Valentine’s Day MassacreWoodcarver and flee Chicago. They take a job in an all- Jan Jansen teaching female band that is heading to Florida and disguise themselves as women. how towascarve orintocross.

All This film one of the a firstfeather 25 films inducted the U.S. National Filmmaterials will be proRegistry. vided.

The fee is $25 per session for UVAL members and $35 for nonmembers.

Payment is due at sign up. To regisTuesday, March 7, 2017 in the Rain a UVAL member, or for more information, ter,Singin’ to become Directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly Starring: Kelly, Debbiegallery Reynolds, and at Donald O’Connor call theGeneUVAL 956-583-2787.

UVAL is located This film is often regarded as the best movie musical ever made. The plot in ofthe Kika detrials laandGarza Arts Center, 921 E. 12th St. in the film follows the tribulationsFine of a silent film production company trying to make a very difficult transition to sound. The film tops Mission.

AFI’s Greatest Movie Musical list.

December 23, 27-30 • Discovery Days are going on all month long from 11 a.m. to noon andIsland 2 to 3 p.m. at Quinta Mazatlan, SPI’s Cinema 7:15 p.m. 600 Sunset in McAllen.

Decorate the nature7,tree on the Dec. 23; paint Tuesdays: January 10, 24, February 21, and March 7, 2017 watercolor nature scenes, Dec. 27; check out “Thorn Forest Tickets: Purchase at the door of the cinema for $10 per person Skulls to Bones toSeason Fur &Pass More,�

Dec. 28; take per film; available pre-sale at the Feather Fun Foto nature walk on Dec. 29; learn survivor skills, Paragraphs Book Store forand $40 person Dec. 30. The fee www.elpaseoarts.org is $3 per person. For more information, call 956-681-3370.

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

Timeless Tuesdays

Perfect holiday mix

Santa Claus, kids and the great outdoors makes the perfect holiday mix at Santa’s Animal Forest Fest taking place at Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset in McAllen, on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. There will be a snow flurry machine, nature caroling, stage shows, storybook stations, inflatable animal characters, crafts, photos with Santa and more. The fees are $5 for kids and $3 for adults.

For more information, call 956-681-3370.

Program honors conjunto music history EDINBURG – With its strong connections to the working class, conjunto music has greatly influenced the culture of South Texas. Lupe Saenz from the South Texas Conjunto Association will present a program about the history of conjunto music this Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. at the Museum of South Texas History.

Conjunto music was born in the Rio Grande Valley during the settlement and development of many towns growing along the railroads as the tracks crossed the Rio Grande Valley in the 1920s.

The presentation will explain the beginnings and the evolution of conjunto music in South Texas, including how it spread among the migrant field workers. In addition, Saenz will share examples of the music as it evolved and credit those pioneers who are responsible for creating the genre, including Narciso Martinez.

During his school years in the mid-1960s, Saenz

Lupe Saenz

worked at KSOX 1240 AM. In 1998, after many decades in public education at Weslaco I.S.D. and Donna I.S.D., he founded the South Texas Conjunto Association. Since then, he’s written, produced and directed conjunto culture documentaries and television shows. Saenz currently lives in Weslaco.

The program is included in the regular museum admission. MOSTHistory is located at 200 N. Closner Blvd. in Edinburg. Call 956383-6911 for information.

International printmaking exhibition opens at IMAS

MCALLEN —The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) now has on exhibit The Fifth Mexican Shinzaburo Takeda Biennial of Printmaking through Feb. 18, 2018.

This year, jurors made selections from 748 entries from artists in 26 Mexican states, from Baja California to Yucatan. The exhibition at IMAS includes the top six award-winners, including the blue-ribbon aquatint and etching by Carlos Castaùeda. This year’s guest country is China, represented by 12 works of art that are made from woodcut, etching and serigraph printmaking processes.

The jury who selected the art for this exhibition consisted of the writer AndrĂŠs de Luna; fine artists Ismael Guardado, Maximino Xavier and Luis Hampshire; curator BenjamĂ­n MartĂ­nez; and Maestro Shinzaburo Takeda.

The exhibition opened in Oaxaca on September, 2017, and will travel to Veracruz, Mexico City, Durango, and Yucatan. Its sole American

venue is IMAS in McAllen.

The Takeda Biennial was created in 2008 by a group of artists from Oaxaca, and organized by Japanese printmaker Maestro Shinzaburo Takeda as a way to promote contemporary printmaking using traditional techniques.

These efforts have brought new energy to the city of Oaxaca, which is now a major center of printmaking.

As part of The Fifth Mexican Shinzaburo Takeda Biennial of Printmaking exhibit, on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m., the museum will host Dr. Ricardo Pizzinato, professor of art history at UTRGV. He will present the lecture, “A Closer Look at Mexican Prints: Highlights from the Takeda Biennial of Printmaking.� The topic focuses on the styles and printmaking methods of the artists featured in the exhibition.

The lecture is included in the price of museum general admission. IMAS is located at 1900 W. Nolana Ave. Call 956-682-0123 for information.

UVAL holiday closing hours

The Upper Valley Art League gallery will be closed to the public Friday, Dec. 22, to Friday, Dec. 29 and will re-open Saturday, Dec. 30, for regular hours from 10

a.m. to 2 p.m. But, the Art Link building will be open to UVAL members for any scheduled workshops and studio work.

MCALLEN – Interstice, the literary arts journal of South Texas College, is accepting submissions for the upcoming 2018 issue.

STC encourages all students, staff, faculty and the general public to submit their poems, stories, photography, and art at southtexascollege. edu/interstice. The deadline for entries is Jan. 15, 2018,

with an anticipated print of April 2018. Samples of last year’s publications and information on receiving a print copy of past Interstice issues are available on the website.

For information, contact English instructor Isaac Chavarria at ichavarria@southtexascollege.edu.

STC now accepting Interstice submissions

lifestyle

Entries sought for 12th Annual Mission Quilt Show The Mission Historical Museum will begin accepting entries on Dec. 19 for the 12th Annual Quilt Show. Entries will be accepted in three categories: hand-quilted bed quilts, machine-quilted bed quilts and Wall hangings.

The show is open to all quilters.

Quilts may be pre-registered by submitting an entry form, which is available at the Museum. Only one submission per person will be accepted. Entry forms will be accepted at the Museum from Tuesday, Dec. 19, through Wednesday, Jan 31, 2018, between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Museum will be closed Dec. 25 and 26, and Jan 1. The quilts may be delivered on any date through the Jan. 31 deadline.

Quilts and wall hangings exhibit must be ready to hang with a sleeve for display purposes. Entries are

accepted on a first-in/first accepted basis. Because of limited space, the museum reserves the right to close entries before the deadline.

This will allow for the best possible presentation for all entries. Any quilt entered in this show within the past five years is not eligible for entry this year. The quilts will be judged by a panel of independent judges, with ribbons awarded for first, second, and third places in each category.

Best-of-show and viewers’ choice ribbons will also be awarded.

The show opens on Saturday, Feb. 10, and runs through Saturday, Mar. 17, 2018. An awards reception and “Turning of the Quilts” program will take place on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, at 2 p.m.

The museum is located at 900 Doherty in Mission. Admission is free. For information, call 956-580-8646.

LJISD students win Congressional Challenge LA JOYA – Josue Herrera, Nyo Cruz, Elmo Garza, and Marco Perez, students at Thelma R. Salinas STEM Early College High School for winning the Congressional App Challenge for Texas Congressional District 28.

“Launched in 2015, this competition is a nationwide event intended to engage students’ creativity and encourage participation in STEM fields. This competition allows students to compete with peers in the district by creating and exhibiting their software application or

“app,” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice,” said Henry Cuellar, U.S. Congressman 28th District of Texas The winning team will be recognized and honored Dec. 15 and their app will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website at house.gov and displayed in a U.S. Capitol exhibit in Washington, D.C. Guillermo Flores is their computer science dual enrollment instructor.

December 15, 2017

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

EVENTS

CALENDAR

December 16 – The Sixth Annual Bert Ogden Cowboy Christmas Cook-off will be held at the Mission Chevrolet dealership parking lot. There is $15,000 in prize money waiting for the winners in the IBCA-sanctioned event. 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. 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.

December 16 – Take the family on a photography scavenger hunt at 9:30 a.m. at the Edinburg World Birding Center with Texas Master Naturalist and Adventure Guide Neil Cassady.

Cameras will be provided, but families are encouraged to bring their own. It is included with regular paid admission.

The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. For information, call 956-381-9922.

December 16 – The next Saturday Safari at Gladys Porter Zoo, 500 Ringgold in Brownsville, is “Pets 101” from 10 a.m. to noon. Children will learn from the animal experts about taking care of 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 27 – Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset in McAllen, hosts “Watercolor Wednesday,” a special holiday program, for all ages and artistic skill levels to paint a nature theme using a unique watercolor stencil technique. Workshop times are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Admission is $3 per person. For more information, call 956-681-3370.

December 27-29 – Visit the Edinburg World Birding Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Winter Wonder Wetlands. With different activities each day, become a nature explorer, join in nature games and crafts, and build and paint a bird or butterfly house. Entry 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 956381-9922.

December 28 – Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset in McAllen, hosts Thornforest Thursday, with a close-up look at the features on the creatures in the thorn forest using hand-lenses to microscopes. Program times are 11 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Admission is $3. For more information, call 956-681-3370.

December 29 – Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset in McAllen, hosts Feathery Fun Foto Friday for a family-friendly birding hour, including nature photography basics, a bird-call lesson, and feathery crafts. Program times are 11 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Admission is $3. For more information, call 956681-3370.

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

Grapefruit pie baking showdown announced

Named Coach and Athlete of the Year

Mission C.I.S.D. Diana Cremar, physical education teacher and Special Olympics coach (left), and Adrian Rodriguez, Mission High School athlete (center), were named Coach of the Year and Athlete of the Year, respectively.

They are pictured with Minnie Rodgers, MCISD board member (right), when the announcement was made by Area 1 Special Olympics at the Area Bowling Tournaments held at Incredibowl in Mission on Nov. 16. Cremar has been an adapted physical education teacher and coach for MCISD for over 27 years. Rodriguez is enrolled in the 18-plus program/community based instructional program and competes in five sports: bowling, Bocce, powerlifting, basketball and track and field.

page 3

Pull out the measuring cups and pie pans and hone favorite family recipes for the Second Annual Ultimate Grapefruit Pie Baking Showdown. Sponsored by the Mission chapter of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, it takes place Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, in conjunction with the Texas Citrus Fiesta (TCF).

Competitors will deliver their pies between 9 and 11 a.m. that day to the Mission Community Center, 1420 E. Kika de la Garza, Mission.

Winners will be announced during the TCF Product Costume Show that begins at 2 p.m.

Entry fee is $10 per person. To enter, contact Nydia Alonzo at nydalonzo14@sbcglobal.net for an entry form and contest guidelines.

Palmhurst...Get Grand Opening

Quinta Mazatlan hosts John Yochumon with a program on “Bountiful Butterflies” on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. Yochum is a Texas Parks & Wildlife park ranger at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco. Admission is $3 per person. Quinta Mazatlan is located 600 Sunset in McAllen. For information, call 956-681-3370 or visit www.quintamazatlan.com.

VMHS students selected for NASA program

Veterans Memorial High School students Stefan Jabs and Alexis Aranda, (l-r), have been accepted for the NASA High School Aerospace Scholars program. The six-day summer experience will include team projects and briefings directed by NASA engineers and scientists, handson design challenge and engineering activities to plan a mission to Mars, as well as tours of NASA facilities. It also includes an interactive, online learning experience with coursework that include 3D drawings, Science and Math quizzes, discussion posts, technology writings, virtual chats with NASA engineers and scientists.

New program showcases elementary students’ basketball skills Spectators attending a Mission High School or Veterans Memorial High School home basketball game this season should be sure to stay seated for a new halftime treat. Elementary students will be showcasing their basketball skills as a part of a new program called Mission Ballers.

Over 300 elementary students are participating in the Mission Ballers program.

P.E. Coordinator, Martina Carrillo has been working with principals, coaches and administration for months to get the program up and running. Through Mission Ballers, Carrillo hopes to encourage an early interest in basketball by working with the younger students on ball handling skills, along with improving their agility and general fitness.

There are a total of seven Mission Ballers groups that are made up representatives from each Mission C.I.S.D.

elementary school. Each school is grouped with a nearby campus for a team of 10 to 30 students, each. The team members will perform at halftime of the high school basketball games.

District officials have also partnered with the UTRGV Basketball program and the RGV Vipers to perform at some of their halftimes during February and March.

The east schools groups are Alton Elementary School and Salinas Elementary School; Castro Elementary School and Bryan Elementary School; Mims Elementary School and Midkiff Elementary School. The west side groups are: Cavazos Elementary School and Cantu Elementary School; Escobar/ Rios Elementary School and Waitz Elementary School; Marcell Elementary School and O’Grady Elementary School; Pearson Elementary School and Leal Elementary School.

In a new program, “Mission Ballers,” Mission C.I.S.D. elementary students will be the featured entertainment at Mission high school basketball games during half-time shows this season.

Ready!

Monday, Dec. 18, 2017

• MISSION • MCALLEN • WESLACO • HARLINGEN • BROWNSVILLE

page 4

December 15, 2017

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Abbott picks TCEQ to manage Clean Air settlement funds

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on Dec. 4 announced his selection of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as the lead agency for Texas’ participation in the Environmental Mitigation Trust.

The trust was established in 2016 and early 2017 by the settlement of certain federal Clean Air Act claims against Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche related to the car companies’ use of “defeat devices” to pass emission standard tests. As a participating state, Texas must develop a draft mitigation plan outlining how it would spend its $209 million share of the settlement funds in efforts to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides.

“Our agency looks forward to developing a plan to efficiently administer these funds to help address issues associated with the emission of nitrogen oxides, which leads to ozone formation,” said TCEQ Commissioner Jon Niermann. “We look forward to working with all stakeholders to develop a plan that effectively mitigates the emissions from vehicles that did not meet the emission standards.”

Comments on the use of the settlement funds may be submitted by email to VWsettle@tceq.texas.gov.

Hurricane help is offered Many citizens who live in “Presidentially Declared Major Disaster Areas” — like the nearly 50,000 square miles of Texas hit by Hurricane Harvey — have home loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration.

And of them, those who are having trouble making mortgage payments were encouraged, in a Dec. 4 announcement by Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and Texas Land

Commissioner George P. Bush, to contact their service providers to learn about available resources or call the FHA Resource Center at (800) CALL-FHA. “While we rebuild, many Texas homeowners are facing a second struggle of returning to work and making mortgage payments. To help these Texans, the General Land Office is proud to team with our disaster recovery partners at HUD to help those who need help avoiding foreclosure or assistance in financing repairs to damaged homes,” Bush said.

The Federal Housing Administration, an agency within the Department of Housing and Urban Development, insures more than one quarter of home loans in Texas.

Report cards are posted State Education Commissioner Mike Morath on Dec. 7 announced Texas’ 2016– 2017 School Report Cards are available on the Texas Education Agency website, at http://tea.texas.gov/perfreport/src/index.html.

The purpose of the report cards is to inform parents and guardians about a school’s characteristics and achievements, combining parts of other recently released accountability reports to provide campus-level information detailing student and campus performance.

The School Report Card includes the following information for each campus in Texas: — 2017 state academic accountability rating; — Campus distinction designations; — Attendance rates; — Enrollment figures; — Dropout rates; — Class size averages; — State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness results; — ACT/SAT results; and

— Per-student financial expenditures.

These campus reports, required by the Texas Legislature and prepared by the Texas Education Agency, will be sent to the parent or guardian of every child enrolled in a Texas public school by local school districts.

State revenue total is up State Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Dec. 4 said state sales tax revenue totaled $2.78 billion in November, 11.1 percent more than in November 2016.

“The double-digit growth in sales tax revenue compared to last year was fueled, in part, by increased collections from oil- and natural gas-related sectors.

Recent higher oil prices have spurred increased well drilling and completion. Collections from retail trade and restaurants were also up, reflecting growth in consumer spending,” Hegar said.

Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in November 2017 was up 9.5 percent compared to the same period a year ago.

Sales tax revenue is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 58 percent of all tax collections. Motor vehicle sales and rental taxes, motor fuel taxes and oil and natural gas production taxes also are large revenue sources for the state.

Hegar distributes revenue Comptroller Hegar on Dec. 6 announced he would send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $695.2 million in local sales tax allocations for December, an amount 10.8 percent more than in December 2016. Allocations were based on sales made in October by businesses that report tax monthly, according to the Office of the Comptroller.

Prepared by the Hidalgo County Public Affairs Office

Appraisal District Chief: We report to State Comptroller, not local entities

The Hidalgo County Appraisal District was invited to provide information on the appraisal process to Commissioners Court and interested residents after repeated comments by a member of the Objective Watchers of the Legal System, or OWLS, that the county has a say in how homes are appraised by appointing members to the board.

Chief Appraiser Rolando Garza reminded citizens that the Hidalgo County Appraisal District is its own entity created by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, and is not a part of Hidalgo County government, nor does the Appraisal District receive instructions from the board on either lowering or raising appraisals.

“The Board of Directors cannot tell me, the chief appraiser, to increase or decrease property values,” said Garza.

County Judge Ramon Garcia asked Garza to explain how the board is selected, to which Garza responded that there are 50 nominating entities with 5,000 votes distributed among them, depending on the size of the entity. The entities have until December 15 to vote on the board and the chief appraiser declares the winners before the end of the year.

“The county, school districts, cities or any entity has nothing to do with how property values are set,” Garza said, adding that no entity has ever requested an increase in property values in order to help balance a budget. “That does not happen.”

Residents with questions about their property taxes

are invited to a free presentation featuring the county’s Tax Assessor’s Office and the Hidalgo County Appraisal District in partnership with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson on Thursday, Dec. 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Edinburg City Hall council chambers. For more information, contact Anissa de la Garza at (956) 289-7954.

Garza reported that appraisal notices will be mailed to property owners by April 15. The deadline for protests will be May 15. Homeowners who have concerns about an appraisal value of their home should contact the Hidalgo County Appraisal District directly by phone at (956) 3818466 or can visit its website at www.hidalgoad.org Elections Department seeks to extend countywide polling Several people spoke in favor of countywide polling locations and praised the county’s new voting system at a public hearing held during Commissioners Court.

“This is the first election that I can recall, where at 6:30 or 7 p.m. I didn’t have to send anyone away because they were at the wrong polling location and that felt good,” said Jim Barnes, a longtime election worker, who served as an Election Judge during the November 7 Constitutional Election.

Elections Administrator Yvonne Ramon showed maps indicating that the polls attracted voters from throughout the county and declared countywide polling a success.

She compared the results to the 2015 Consitutional Election where 49 voters were rejected because they went to

the wrong location.

“You can look at these maps and see the advantage that Hidalgo County voters have with countywide polling on Election Day; they already have countywide polling during early voting,” Ramon said.

Ramon added that, with the support of Commissioners Court, the Elections Department will pursue countywide status in 2018.

“Thank you for your leadership and your staff,” said County Judge Ramon Garcia. “You obviously have a winner with your new voting machines.”

The Elections Department is looking for residents interested in working two weeks during early voting and on Election Day. Those interested are encouraged to call (956) 318-2570 for more information.

Aging pipes blamed for flooding at the Courthouse Chief Executive Officer Valde Guerra reported that the courthouse was nearly shut down due to a major leak discovered on Friday by Facilities Management during end of week inspections.

Crews worked Friday evening and most of Saturday excavating the site and repairing the cause of the leak. Then, Monday morning, crews removed from 12 to 14 gallons of water from carpets and the hallway near the law library.

After inspections, the consensus was that it was caused by the same leak that had been repaired, Guerra said.

“The issue was resolved, but does not detract from the problems we have at the courthouse,” said Guerra.

www.ptrgv.com

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.

LETTER GUIDELINES

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

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

THE

December 15, 2017

Sports week

BIG7 SCHOOLS

page 5

www.ptrgv.com/sports

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

Diamondbacks experiencing growing pains

By Luciano Guerra The Pioneer Diamondbacks boys’ basketball team’s youth and inexperience was on display Tuesday evening when they fell by a score of 47-68 to the Laredo Nixon Mustangs in their District 31-5A opener.

Coming off a 2016-2017 season in which they lost nine players to graduation, Diamondbacks’ head coach Rene Gonzalez has two freshmen, two sophomores and one senior as his starting five. That youth and inexperience is something that the Mustangs exploited Tuesday as they jumped out to an early lead and never looked back en-route to their 21-point victory.

While the Diamondbacks hung close to the Mustangs through the first half, they never actually led in the game. The Mustangs jumped out to a 6-0 lead shortly after the tip-off and extended that lead to nine points at the end of the first quarter when they led by the score of 19-10.

With 4:35 remaining in the first half, the Diamondbacks pulled to within three points of the Mustangs, 17-20, but the Mustangs bounced back to extend their lead to 11 at

the half when they led by the score of 33-22.

At that point in the game the outcome was still in doubt, since an 11 point deficit is by no means insurmountable, but the Mustangs poured it on in the third quarter as they extended their lead to 29 points to take a 6031 lead into the fourth quarter. While the Diamondbacks made the final score somewhat respectable by outscoring the Mustangs 16-8 in the fourth quarter, it was too little too late as they dropped to 0-1 in district play.

Immediately after the game, Pioneer sophomore shooting guard Luke Padilla, who accounted for three of the Diamondbacks’ 47 points by sinking a three-pointer in the second quarter, shared what he believes it will take for the Diamondbacks to beat more experienced teams like Nixon.

“We have to work more as a team, limit turnovers, make more layups and take better shots,” Padilla said. “We especially need to work on our passing. We were being a bit lazy out there tonight and it cost us.”

The fact that the Diamondbacks committed 32 turnovers Tuesday night

played a major role in their loss to the Mustangs. It also played a role in their being outscored 27-9 by the Mustangs in the third quarter.

When asked what else accounted for the way the Mustangs pulled away in that quarter, Padilla said, “Just because we were down at halftime, we got our heads down and we let that get into our heads. They then took that momentum and ran away with the game.”

Pioneer sophomore post, Lavar Lindo, accounted for four of the Diamondbacks points by sinking one field goal and making two of six free throws. Lindo shared what he attributed the Tuesday night loss to when he said, “Our decision-making was not quick enough so they intercepted a lot of our passes. Also, we needed to make more layups because we missed a lot of layups tonight.

“If we’re going to beat them in the second round, we’ll need better passing, to make more of our shots and to box them out on rebounds,” Lindo added.

Despite the loss, Coach Gonzalez’s pep talk to his team shortly after the conclusion of Tuesday night’s

game was for the most part positive. When asked what he said to his team, Gonzalez shared, “I told them that even though we’re young, I know that we can compete.

I told them that we have to take something out of this game and that if we continue making 32 turnovers, we’re not going to win any games.

I also told them that despite the loss, I was proud of them and I was proud to be their coach.”

Last year the Diamondbacks finished in third place behind district champions Laredo Martin and second place Nixon. Gonzalez knew that his young team would have their work cut out for them against the Mustangs even before the two teams took to the court.

“Nixon’s experience showed up tonight but my coaches and I worked on a game plan we believed would give us a chance against them,” Gonzalez said. “Nixon’s a good team.

They have a lot of returning lettermen, they’re well coached and they’re very well experienced.”

Next up for the Diamondbacks is a road game tonight at Mission Veterans against the Patriots.

Pioneer sophomore Ethan Lee goes in for a layup as a Laredo Nixon player defends during the second quarter of the Mustangs’ 68-47 District 31-5A win over the Diamondbacks Tuesday evening. Lee, the Diamondbacks’ top scorer on the night, scored 15 points with one field goal, three 3-pointers and four free-throws. Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra.

District 30-6A girls’ hoops underway

Big 7 teams looking for improvement in ’17-’18

By Bryan Ramos District action tipped off on the hardwood Tuesday night for the six 30-6A girls’ basketball teams and so begins the race to secure a playoff spot. Here’s a look

at how the Big 7 teams in 30-6A stack up against their competition.

Palmview Lady Lobos The Palmview Lady Lobos, who finished third in 30-6A last season, are back and reloaded with a talented group with big game experi-

ence. The Lady Lobos (11-8, 1-0) and Head Coach Anisa Reyna have qualified for the playoffs three straight seasons, but this year, they’re after a district title.

“Every year we’re chasing the district championship, this is the year to get it

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done,” Reyna said. “We’re very ambitious. We don’t get a lot of credit, which is fine, but we have our own goals and expectations of what we want done. It’s something we haven’t got done in the past and we’re trying to correct those wrongs for this year, as

much as possible. This is the year to get it done with this group.”

Leading this year’s team is a pair of seniors and a pair of juniors who have helped make Palmview into a force in 30-6A girls’ hoops.

Senior post Cyndar Ma-

gallon and senior guard Brittany Cano provide Palmview with veteran leadership on the court, while junior guard Renee Flores and junior post Krystal Bocanegra have grown into consistent con-

See 30-6A GIRLS Pg. 10

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MURDER TRIAL statement: ‘We know that [Feit] killed Irene Garza and the church knows he killed Irene Garza. But can you imagine trying a priest for this murder here in Hidalgo County?’

“We don’t have to imagine it now because it’s taken place now but in a different time and in a different era.

But that was kind of the justification: Can you imagine trying a priest for this murder, the sensational nature of the Irene Garza murder in Hidalgo County? So we’ve reached this agreement that the Catholic Church will put him in a monastery for – and I don’t remember whether the word was troubled priests or disturbed priests – but it was like one of those two words – a monastery for such priests and they will keep him for the rest of his life. And that was emphasized, the rest of his life. And I think the impression that was sought to be given, was this was kind of an equivalency deal, that if we convict him he’ll probably get life in prison. Well, the church is going to keep him confined, you know, for the rest of his life. That was the idea, the phrase, for the rest of his life, was used several times. So that was the concept, we know that he did it but this is the way we’re going to handle it; instead of a trial they’re going to take him and put him away for the rest of his life.”

December 15, 2017

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com from pg. 1 But Davis said that isn’t what happened. He learned later Feit had left the church and within five years of Garza’s death was married and living in Arizona.

“For all these years I always knew the case was solved but when I found out he’d left the priesthood and was having this normal life I thought, you know, boy, he got away with it.”

Throughout the years as he heard news reports of the ongoing “cold case” Davis said he knew why it would never go to trial. He said it was one of the worst kept secrets in the city. That’s why he was surprised when, as the last living person to attend the meeting with Lattimore, he received a call from the office of District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr., asking if he would testify about the meeting.

“The district attorney had told me that I was going to set the stage for what it was like in 1960 and that I was going to tell of this meeting.

And after the trial I realized they were setting up the idea of the cover up, so to speak, to use that phrase, they were setting up the idea that only because of the church making this agreement with the district attorney that that was the only reason that Feit had not been tried before because he was going away for the rest of his life. That’s a phrase I remember. For the

rest of his life.” Davis chuckled.

Davis said throughout the years he believed what Lattimore told he and the other reporters was hearsay and inadmissible in court.

“When they interviewed me I told them the story and I asked, ‘Isn’t that just hearsay? How are you going to get that into evidence?’”

Davis said he was told there are exceptions to the hearsay rule that would allow him to testify.

“In the trial there came out a letter describing a meeting between the sheriff and the church and that’s the first time I had ever heard of that,” Davis said, referring to an August 1960 letter introduced at Feit’s trial between church officials detailing the agreement the church had brokered with Hidalgo County officials to allow the church to handle the matter internally. Davis said prosecutors told him he could testify under the theory he was exposing an illegal cover up.

“It’s only when this case developed that it became a cover up,” Davis said. “All these years I didn’t think of it as a cover up. I thought of it as just a settlement of a case.”

Looking back on the experience Davis believes reporters would have reacted differently today than they did in 1962.

“For some reason the news people were very docile when the nature of the meeting was revealed because nobody jumped up and said, ‘We can’t keep this out of the media.’ But everybody said, ‘OK,’ you know, and just went along with it. It was kind of amazing; a different time. I know good and well if that had been announced to reporters today that it would have been a different situation. They would have immediately stopped and said, ‘This can’t be off the record.’ And that might have ended the meeting. We might not have gotten the information because evidently Robert Lattimore thought it was kind of sensitive what he was telling us.”

Davis said he never second-guessed the settlement the county attorney had reached with the church.

“As I say, the news media was very docile. We just all took it. And in years afterward I’ve often wondered, with seasoned reporters why didn’t somebody say, ‘What if he leaves the priesthood?’

Because if he left the priesthood the church couldn’t keep him for the rest of his life. So I just thought back in 1960 it was such a rare thing for a priest to leave the priesthood and get married and so forth that I don’t know, no one asked that question. No one challenged that idea. The idea was he was going to be put away” – Davis raises both hands signing quotation marks with the iconic two finger peace sign – “for the rest of his life,” he said low-

ering and slowing his voice for dramatic effect.

Davis said while he was testifying his and Feit’s eyes met a few times to no effect.

“I felt very tired at the end of the day but while I was doing it I kind of felt happy that all this was finally being told to the – and I’m talking about the whole case, not just my story – it was all coming through just like a good story.”

Today Davis has his own theory why Lattimore called

the reporters to his office.

“I think he was probably keeping reporters from fishing it out later because a great pursuit was on to find the killer of Irene Garza. And I think this was a way of telling us, ‘Hey, we’ve solved the case and this is the way we’re going to handle it and things will all work out.’”

Davis said it may have taken 57 years but in the end it did.

“After McAllen and Pharr [Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School] constructed their huge scoreboards ours looks kind of minute,” said Rick Rivera, the district’s assistant superintendent for operations. “And now we have a very nice stadium and field house there’s a possibility that we could look into a new scoreboard. The ones at McAllen and PSJA cost one million dollars.”

Zamora told fellow board and committee members he was informed by some coaches following the first and only game in the stadium played Nov. 17 it was difficult to read some of the scoreboard data they rely on during the game.

Zamora said the scoreboard could eventually pay for itself through sponsorships.

In April 2016 the McAllen ISD board allocated $900,000 to build a 75-foot wide by 68-foot high scoreboard that features a high definition screen in the center. It has four “anchor” sponsor spaces that rent for $20,000 to $25,000 per year with two additional, smaller panels that rent for $2,500 to $4,000 annually, according to published reports.

The Tom Landry scoreboard was constructed in 2010 at a cost of almost $511,000 including its sound system and stadium signs, Rivera said. It’s dimensions are 32-feet wide by 27-feet high with a 9 foot by 16 foot video screen. The scoreboard is elevated another 8 feet

above ground by steel girders.

“Even if we do it at a million, in my opinion as long as we keep it and have the sponsors end up paying for it, in the long run after we finish paying the million – or whatever amount we choose for the scoreboard – it will pay itself off,” Zamora said.

Trustee Dr. Soñia Treviño agreed eventually the stadium will need a new scoreboard but she said she wasn’t convinced sponsorship could be relied upon to pay for it.

She said the sponsors did not materialize as expected after trustees approved the stadium’s current half million-dollar scoreboard.

“It’s not a priority right now,” Treviño said. “And I think the million dollars could be spent, obviously, on curriculum right now.”

But Treviño said she might be willing to go along with the idea in the future after the district has had a chance to seek out vendors who would be willing to purchase scoreboard sponsorships. She said she doesn’t want to repeat the same mistake as occurred when the board agreed to double the size of the six foot tall bronze statue of the stadium’s namesake increasing its cost of $50,000 by an additional $79,400. At the time board members were told the statue could pay for itself by selling brick pavers with the names of sponsors but Treviño said the sponsors thus far have not materialized as the district had hoped. By

delaying any decision on a new scoreboard the district would have time to line up prospective sponsors before the scoreboard is purchased.

Interim Superintendent Cris Valdez told board members there are also other considerations in planning a larger scoreboard such as who will produce videos to display on it.

“A lot of the districts that have your upscale, large scoreboards have their local TV stations, like McAllen, you’re bigger school districts have those running the scoreboard. So you would have to expand, pretty much, in that area,” Valdez said, adding a larger scoreboard would also be more likely to attract larger regional events. “It just depends on what your wishes are. But we can explore that and prioritize what we want to do.”

Board members agreed they would not make any immediate decisions on the scoreboard and would revisit the issue at a later date.

During Wednesday night’s school board meeting Zamora was the lone dissenting vote by the board that approved a $369,000 allocation to install tournament lights on the tennis courts at Mission High School. A similarly priced lighting system was installed at Veterans Memorial High School earlier this year. Board President Patricia O’Caña-Olivarez was absent from the meeting.

NEW SCOREBOARD

from pg. 1

Holiday schedule for Sharyland, La Joya ISDs The last day of fall semester classes for students at La Joya Independent School District and Sharyland ISD will be on Friday, Dec. 22 with every campus having early release that day.

According to its website, LJISD elementary school students will be released at 11:35 a.m., middle school students will be released half an hour later, compre-

hensive high schools and the district’s west, east and north academies will dismiss their students at 12:35 p.m. while early college high schools will dismiss at 12:45 p.m.

Classes will resume Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 at their regular times.

Sharyland ISD students will also be released Friday, Dec. 22. According to district spokeswoman Roccio

Landin, pre-kindergarten students will be let out at 10 a.m. while high school students will be released at noon. Junior high school students will be released at 12:15 p.m. and elementary school students will be released 13 minutes later.

Classes resume Wednesday, Jan. 10 at their regular times.

December 15, 2017

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obituaries Jose Rosales ALTON – Jose “Joe” Rosales, of Alton, passed away on Friday, Dec 8, 2017 at his home Mr. Rsoales was employed by Rio Queen/Wonderful Citrus for 47 years.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Maria Rosales; children, Norma Cantu, Gilbert Rosales and Jose Rosales Jr.; siblings, Daniel Rosales, Esperanza Trevino and Josefina Riojas; and 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass was held on Dec. 12 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in McAllen.

Notices Emilia Alaniz MISSION – Emilia Alaniz, 75, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at her home.

Eduviges Alvarez PALMHURST – Eduviges Alvarez, 74, passed away on Monday, Dec. 10, 2017, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Bertha Chavez MISSION – Bertha Chavez, 63, passed away on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Margarita Garza MISSION – Margarita G. “Tito” Garza, 96, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, at her home in Mission.

Oswaldo Garza PEÑITAS – Oswaldo Garza, 78, passed away on Thurs-

day, Dec. 7, 2017, at his home in Peñitas.

Jose Gonzalez MISSION – Jose De Jesus Gonzalez, 79, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, at his home.

Roberto Gutierrez MISSION – Roberto Gutierrez, 67, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, at his home.

Gary Peters MISSION – Gary Peters, 69, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at Pax Villa Hospice in McAllen.

Elva Sanchez MISSION – Elva Sanchez, 84, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at her home in Mission.

Esteban Sanchez MISSION – Esteban Barraza Sanchez, 74, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, at Pax Villa Hospice in McAllen Rosalva Vasquez MISSION – Rosalva Vazquez, 60, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Eugeion Velasquez MISSION – Eugenio Velasquez, 46, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, at McAllen Medical Center.

Sharon Walker MISSION – Sharon Elaine (Elliott) Walker, 72, passed away on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, at McAllen Medical Center.

Edgar Walsh Sr. MISSION – Edgar A. Walsh Sr., 97, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Harlingen.

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La Joya students win 2017 Congressional App Challenge

From left Thelma R. Salinas STEM Early College High School students Josue Herrera, Nyo Cruz, Elmo Garza, and Marco Perez were recently recognized for a computer application they designed. Courtesy image Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) recognized four students from the La Joya Independent School District Saturday as winners of this year’s Congressional App Challenge are from the La Joya Independent School District.

Launched in 2015, the competition is a nationwide event intended to engage students’ creativity and encourage participation in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math, according to a press release from Cuellar’s office.

The winning students

were Josue Herrera, Nyo Cruz, Elmo Garza, and Marco Perez from Thelma R. Salinas STEM Early College High School. The four students teamed up to design the Travel Guide app, which helps travelers get around in an unfamiliar area.

In a statement, Cuellar congratulated the students as well as their parents, district Superintendent Dr. Alda T. Benavides, Thelma R. Salinas STEM Early College High School Principal Dalee Garcia and the student’s computer science instructor Guillermo Flores.

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

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

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

so this accomplishment is one we are really proud of as our students faced stiff competition,” Benavides said.

“A special congratulations goes to these four young men, their teacher, principal and their parents for always encouraging the students to do more with technology and to stay in the forefront when it comes to careers in the STEM fields. A special thank you to Representative Henry Cuellar for providing these opportunities for our students.”

The appapp will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website and displayed in a U.S. Capitol exhibit in Washington, D.C., the release said.

Students across the La Joya Independent School District participated in the global event “The Hour of Code,” according to a district news release.

Held Dec. 4, the hour of code had students participating in self-guided, online tutorials that taught the language of computer coding for one hour, the release stated. The nonprofit Code.org initiated this movement that has grown by the millions throughout the years.

To participate in this event, schools in the La Joya district conducted sev-

eral activities that supported the “The hour of Code” celebration. According to the release, some teachers designed lessons geared towards coding in core and elective classes while others took an entire day to focus on the coding initiative.

No matter the subject area, all grade levels were exposed to different activities that dealt with the coding process and computer science. Some students even received a certificate of completion thanks to the Code.org website, the release stated.

La Joya ISD participates in “Hour of Code”

from pg 1

him all the best.”

Alaniz would not elaborate on the direction the city is headed or explain why the police chief was fired. Multiple attempts to reach Gonzalez were unsuccessful as of press time.

Gonzalez was named police chief June 2015 by the city commission after serving as interim chief since January of that year when then-chief Geovani Hernandez resigned saying he was going to run for Hidalgo County Sheriff, an office he ultimately did not seek. Hernandez was recently arrested

on allegations of assisting an area drug cartel member.

Gonzalez had been with the department since 2005.

In a Progress Times article published June 2015 that announced Gonzalez’s promotion during a city commission meeting, Alaniz was supportive of Gonzalez.

“He’s a people person,” Alaniz was quoted as saying in the article. “I believe he also is apt to change and try to embetter himself to become the chief that we truly need here, and I think he will definitely be good.”

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

page 9

“Our future is becoming increasingly dependent on technology, and this competition encourages students to learn how to code and find out about careers in STEM,” Cuellar said. “Parents and educators can further encourage high school students to participate and think outside the box and develop apps that change the world. I’m excited to participate and I look forward to seeing the creativity of our students in the 28th Congressional District of Texas.”

In the same release, Benavides also congratulated the students.

“It is always exciting when the talents of our students bring us recognition,

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

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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

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A student with La Joya ISD participates in the global movement “The Hour of Code.” Courtesy photo

page 10

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Palmview Lady Lobos

Mission Lady Eagles

La Joya Lady Coyotes 30-6A GIRLS tributors.

Magallon was named First Team All-Defense and Second Team All-District for her play a season ago, and is averaging a double-double through 19 games this year. She poured in 20 points against McAllen High to lead the Lady Lobos to a 42-40 win in their district opener.

Flores was named First Team All-District for her ability to create offense for herself and the rest of the Lady Lobos. If this year’s team hopes to make a run at the district championship, it will lie on the shoulders of the group of four returners.

Palmview is back on the court tonight as they prepare to face off with the La Joya Lady Coyotes at 7:30 p.m. at Palmview High School.

La Joya Lady Coyotes The Lady Coyotes (8-15, 0-1) tied for the final playoff spot in 30-6A a year ago, but missed out on the opportunity to take part in the postseason as they dropped a play-in game against Rowe, ending La Joya’s season.

This year, the Lady Coyotes are out to earn their way into the postseason led by a

December 15, 2017

from pg 5 pair of seniors in Karina Casanova and Monica Garcia.

Casanova, a power forward, leads the Lady Coyotes in scoring, while Garcia, a guard/forward, leads La Joya in rebounds and steals.

The combination of the two Second Team All-District players from a year ago gives the Lady Coyotes a dynamic duo on the court who can come up big when needed.

Junior point guard Giselle Villarreal will also be leaned upon to initiate the La Joya offense and set up Casanova, Garcia, and the other Lady Coyotes in their hunt for a playoff spot in 30-6A. The Lady Coyotes dropped their district opener 54-47 to Nikki Rowe on Tuesday, but will be looking to right the ship when the take on Palmview at 7:30 tonight at Palmview High School.

Mission Lady Eagles The Mission Lady Eagles have put non-district play in their rearview mirror and Head Coach Roy Garcia II has his team looking ahead and hoping to improve as District 30-6A action gets underway.

“I truly believe that if

we come each and every night with the mentality of giving all-out effort, leaving everything on the floor from tip-off to final buzzer, that we’ll give ourselves a chance each game,” Garcia II said. “While improving each game during district, I believe we have a chance to sneak in to the playoffs.”

Sitting at 5-18, the Lady Eagles return seven players from last year’s squad, including five seniors.

Senior Brittney Garza enters her fourth year as a starter on varsity, while Ariel Sanchez, who just returned to the court from injury three games ago, begins her third season a starter. The duo earned Honorable Mention All-District honors a year ago, and are looking to build off that this season.

Garza is the team’s best post player, while Sanchez brings athleticism to the floor

SNOWFALL

The snow prompted some parents, like those of 10-year-old Isaac Geronimo, who attends Pearson Elementary School, to keep their children home from school. Geronimo, who was outside his Sixth Street home last Friday cleaning snow off his family’s car, said it was the first time he’d ever seen snow.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said when asked what he thought of it.

Betzayda Garza, 12 and her brother, Mark, 10, took the opportunity to have a snowball fight in front of their home near the intersection of Perkins Avenue and Leo Najo.

“We did have an absentee rate higher than normal but with an unusual weather event like this it’s not unexpected,” said Craig Verley,

Juarez-Lincoln Lady Huskies

for the Lady Eagles. In addition to Garza and Sanchez, other valuable assets are seniors Ashley Sanchez and Jannet Moreno, and junior Natally Montoya. Garcia II said Ashley Sanchez has shown tremendous growth, while Moreno, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, brings an outside threat. Montoya rounds out the group with her toughness and grit on the defensive end of the floor.

The Lady Eagles open up district play tonight when they host McAllen High at 7:30 at Mission High School.

Mission Lady Eagles Last year was a struggle for the Lady Huskies, but this year’s team enters district action with confidence and belief in themselves that Juarez-Lincoln can compete within 30-6A. Head Coach Adrian Treviño said a 53-47 win over

La Joya earlier this season in tournament action and a district victory over Rowe last season has shown the Lady Huskies can play with 30-6A competition.

The Lady Huskies also dropped a tournament game against Rowe by just two points in November, and if Juarez-Lincoln hopes to make a run at a playoff spot, they must beat teams like Rowe, La Joya and Mission.

“I think beating Nikki Rowe last year in district has us believing that these things are possible,” Treviño said.

“It gives me confidence in them, I know what I’ve seen from them. I think when we go into La Joya, when we go into Nikki Rowe, they’ll have it in their back pocket that they can beat these teams. That’s one thing this year’s team has over last year’s team, we’ve got more confidence and we’ve got

Mission CISD spokesman.

Interim MCISD Superintendent Cris Valdez said at Wednesday night’s school board meeting there were enough students absent Friday to seek an attendance waiver from the Texas Education Agency that is permissible when there is a greater than 10 percent decrease in attendance from the same day the previous year.

Schools are funded based on their average daily attendance. Valdez reported the district’s overall attendance was down by four students from the same time a year ago and said it would have been a greater decrease were it not for more than 100 students being absorbed into the district from area Head Start programs.

Mission Fire Chief Gilbert Sanchez said there were no weather related emergency calls last Friday. And Mission Police Spokesman Lt. Jody Tittle reported there were two traffic accidents between midnight and 4

a.m. last Friday but added “during the actual down fall of snow there were no accidents and the majority of calls for service were alarm calls.” Tittle said the decision to start classes later than normal may have helped reduce the chance of traffic related accidents during the snowfall.

Metro Valley bus lines adjusted 25 bus schedules, according to a press release detailing the adjusted route times.

The city of Palmhurst’s first ever Christmas Tree Lightning ceremony at the newly renovated Shary Municipal Park was cancelled.

City Manager Lori Lopez said the event has been rescheduled to Dec. 20 from 6 – 9:30 p.m.

Though the snow was relatively uneventful in the Mission area, the cold front that preceded it was cited as the cause of death for four unidentified persons who died Dec. 7 from exposure, the U.S. Customs and Border

from pg. 1

more people to score points.”

Senior forward Diana Bustos was named an All-District Honorable Mention as a junior. Now, in her final year, Treviño said Bustos has come into her own as a difference maker and scoring threat all over the court as the Lady Huskies’ leading scorer.

Junior post Yolanda Hernandez was voted ‘Newcomer of the Year’ as a sophomore and returns to hold down the paint for Juarez-Lincoln with her presence down low and ability to lock up most rebounds.

The Lady Huskies will travel to take on Lyford in non-district play at 7:30 tonight at Lyford High School.

The Lady Huskies will get their second taste of district action on Tuesday as they prepare to square off against Nikki Rowe at 7:30 p.m. at Rowe High School.

Patrol reported.

In the first incident a man’s body was found on a ranch near Falfurrias, the victim having apparently succumbed to exposure. Later the same day a ranch hand in Norias, Texas, came across a man displaying the symptoms of hyperthermia due to rain and cold temperatures.

The man, who was drifting in and out of consciousness when contacted, was twice resuscitated by agents while emergency medical services were in route but died at the hospital after continuing resuscitation efforts were futile.

That same day, a Falfurrias agent discovered two deceased individuals near Highway 281. Brooks County Sheriff’s Office and a Justice of the Peace arrived at the scene and had the bodies transported to a local funeral home.

None of the four men were carrying identification, the CBP reported.

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PURSUANT TO THE PROVISION CONTAINED IN RULE 85.703. SUBCHAPTER F, FROM CHAPTER 85, PART 4 OF TITLE 16 IN THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, WE ARE OFFICIALLY NOTIFYING YOU THAT THE BELOW DESCRIBED MOTOR VEHICLES HELD IN OUR CUSTODY ARE TO BE PICKED UP, REMOVED AND ALL CHARGES PAID WITHIN (45) DAYS OR THESE VEHICLES WILL BE DECLARED ABANDONED ACCORDING TO TEXAS LAW. YEAR 2004

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page 12

South Texas College expands STEM education center in La Joya ISD

Representatives of the La Joya Independent School District and South Texas College during the DEC. 8 ribbon cutting ceremony for the college’s $2 million Higher Education Center housed at Jimmy Carter Early College High School. Courtesy photo

By Jose De Leon III Noting the need for more access to college for students in western Hidalgo County, officials with the La Joya Independent School District and South Texas College held a ribbon cutting ceremony last week to celebrate the expansion of the college’s higher education center housed at a La Joya campus.

The South Texas College Higher Education Center, located on the second floor of the district’s Jimmy Carter Early College High School, went through a renovation this past spring that lasted until October, officials said during the ceremony held Friday, Dec. 8.

The $2 million for the center’s expansions and renovations upgraded three science labs, three classrooms and two computer labs in the campus. According to STC President Shirley Reed, the money also paid for the addition of an outdoor welding lab equipped with 45 welding stations and new welding equipment, The renovations were

paid for as part of a $159 million bond issued in 2013 that was divided between 26 construction projects across the college’s five campuses across the Valley. STC dedicated $1.6 million into the renovations while La Joya ISD contributed $400,000.

“La Joya students can come here at this facility, day or night, to take these classes, and they don’t have to drive far or fight the traffic to come to our McAllen campus, it’s a great way to get ready for college,” Reed said. “This facility is where high school students can earn their associates degrees while still in high school so they can take additional courses and transfer them to the university of their choosing once they graduate high school.”

Reed said the center would ultimately prepare students for a career in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math while preparing them for college.

“Every student is going to eventually make a living and earn for their family.

These students may be in high school and not realize that so this early college high

school helps students develop a taste of college while in high school. It gives them confidence and wets their appetite with the hope that they will finish college and have a much better life. We invite everyone in western Hidalgo to take advantage of this opportunity.”

La Joya district superintendent, Alda Benavidez, also urged students to take advantage of the center, especially those from low-income families.

“For many of our kids they are first generation college students so to provide the opportunity for that first family member of an associate’s degree or at least a taste of college, that alone is great,” Benavidez said.

“It helps the family believe their kids can be successful and the fact that families are able to save money because their kids are earning college credit and be halfway through their four year program with an associate’s degree by the time they graduate high school is a big help.”

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the center, the wall would cut off two-thirds of the center’s 100 acres, effectively destroying the Center and leaving behind “a 70-acre no-man’s land between the proposed border wall and the Rio Grande.”

“Less than five percent of our native habitat remains in Texas for our native wildlife,” Treviño-Wright said in July. “Birds, butterflies and other animals are looking for natural landmarks as guides when they travel, not unnatural ones that obstruct their movement. Construction will desiccate them.”

The center seeks restitution for its legal fees and says in the lawsuit that the DHS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol and the CBP Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector violate the Endangered Species and Environmental Policy Acts by not consult-

ing with agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or taking steps to conserve threatened and endangered species.

Jeffrey Glassberg, president of the North American Butterfly Association which owns the center - says the actions of the federal government should concern all Americans.

“The activities that are taking place will have extremely bad effects on the Butterfly Center,” Glassberg said. “If things go as the federal government say it will go, that could create a situation where the butterfly center closes and all the $7 million put into it will go down the drain and all the incredible plants and animals there disappear. That’s why we’re filing this lawsuit seeking injunctive relief.”

The lawsuit was filed two months after the House

Homeland Security Committee approved a border security bill that includes $10 billion for a border wall.

The Border Security for America Act, proposed by committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), includes the $10 billion in border wall funding, $5 billion to improve ports of entry and adds 5,000 agents to both the Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection.

The bill has advanced to the House but is unlikely to pass the Senate where it would need a 60-vote majority vote, according to the political website The Hill.

None of the agencies listed in the lawsuit have responded to the lawsuit, Glassberg said. Attempts to reach out to those agencies for comments were unresponsive as of press time.

By Jose De Leon III

torney to represent us as far as borrowing the money through the bonding process,” Chapa said, adding that any interest earned through the bonds are tax free. “With the bonds they will help us pay for the capital projects that we have discussed in the past, that’s why we asked for the property tax increase to borrow this money. That’s how we will service it.”

Interim City Manager Leo Olivares explained to the council that the capital improvement projects include more than $1 million for the street repaving and line connections as a result of the ongoing Palmview Sewer Project which will connect more than 1,600 homes in the city to the Mission Wastewater Treatment Plant. Other projects include the purchases of a new police cruiser for the city’s police department, an ambulance and new software for the city’s finance department.

Chapa said the city is expected to receive its new ambulance by March.

In other business, the city council unanimously approved adopting a hotel occupancy tax for the city’s sole hotel - the Palmview Inn Motel located at 203 Palmview Drive.

“Currently this will affect one hotel but we’re trying to set the groundwork once

our sewer comes in for more business and more visitors,” Chapa told the council.

The action attaches a 7 percent tax on each hotel room and will go into the city’s general funds, the ordinance states. The ordinance only affects hotels but the council could adopt a later ordinance regulating bed and breakfast operations, Olivares said.

“Ultimately, this will be beneficial to all because the money from this will promote the city and any visitors will stay at our hotel,” Chapa said.

Palmview adopts hotel tax, hires state rep. as its “bond council”

The city of Palmview has taken a step closer to paying off several of its capital improvement projects by hiring a “bond council.” And to prepare itself for an anticipated influx of visitors once the city’s sewer system is complete the Palmview city council approved an ordinance adopting a hotel occupancy tax.

On Tuesday the council approved hiring State Rep. Sergio Muñoz Jr. – an Edinburg-based attorney – as the city’s bond council. Muñoz was hired to assist the city negotiate the sale of bonds to pay for the city’s $2.7 million in capital improvement projects, City Finance Director Rachel Chapa told the council.

Chapa explained after the meeting that the city would pay for its capital improvement projects such as constructing schools, hospitals and highways, via a municipal bond that would be paid off via revenues generated by the city’s 2.5-cent property tax rate increase approved in September.

Chapa said Muñoz will be instrumental in negotiating the repayment of the bond and reviewing the terms of the bond from whichever entity issues the bond to the city.

“We need to have an at-

Sergio Muñoz Jr., courtesy image