Friday, May 25, 2018
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Vol. 46 No. 41
Palmhurst Police Department holds memorial ceremony in honor of National Police Week By Jamie Treviño
Gathering at the Shary Memorial Chapel, police officers from across the Rio Grande Valley gathered for a memorial service for those who have fallen in the line of duty. Last Friday, May 18, the Palmhurst Police Department and the city drew officers and service members, as well as local families and officials, in order to pay respects to those who have given their lives as officers of the law. The service, which took place outside the newly renovated Shary Memorial
See MEMORIAL CEREMONY Pg. 14
(from left) Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra, Palmview Chief of Police Michael Vela, Councilman Ruben De Leon, Councilman Robert A. Salinas, Mayor Ramiro J. Rodriguez, Jr., Councilwoman Ofelia Peña-Perez and Councilman Israel Silva at the Palmhurst Police Department Police Officer Memorial Ceremony. Progress Times photo by Jamie Treviño.
MCISD holds 6th annual Advanced Academic Services Fair By Jamie Treviño For Veterans Memorial High School sophomore Alexis Treviño, as well as students from all over the Mission Consolidated Independent School District, the Advanced Academic Services Fair is an opportunity to highlight their accomplishments and develop their presentational, academic and creative skills. This past Saturday May 19, MCISD held their 6th Annual Advanced Academic Services Fair. The event included representation from all 21 campuses in the district, ranging from children in kindergarten to seniors in high school, and involved presentations of various
Sharyland Water Supply Secretary of State's Office celebrates 50th anniversary finds no major problems By Jose De Leon III When it first opened in 1968, the Sharyland Water Supply Corporation served 700 customers in northwestern Hidalgo County. Now, 50 years later, the water company has three water plants with the ability to produce a total of 22 million gallons of water per day spread out in their service area that covers 18,000 customers in Alton, Palmhurst, a portion of McAllen
and northwestern Hidalgo County. “This was started by community individuals who lived in and around the Sharyland area as farmers, businessmen and owners,” General Manager Sherilyn Dahlberg said Tuesday. “They saw a need for affordable drinking water in the area and through this vision, created the Sharyland Water Supply Corporation.” Dahlberg was among the many in attendance at the
Dr. Sharon Roberts (center) speaking to K. White Junior High students about robotics and their competitive robotics team, the Metalhawks. Progress Times photo by Jamie Treviño.
projects from Gifted and Talented Students and Advanced Placement Students, Robotics teams and Destination Imagination teams.
The fair took over both Veterans Memorial High School gyms, as well as the
By Jose De Leon III
“Downtown is where you have cool little shops people enjoy and we feel Mission should have that as well so we decided to help property owners in downtown Mission attract new tenants.” To attract those tenants, the EDC Board and Mission City Council agreed in 2013 to set aside $100,000 from Mission EDC’s annual bud-
Downtown facade program celebrates fifth year
with Agua SUD election
by Dave Hendricks
The Texas Secretary of State’s Office didn’t observe any shenanigans during the Agua Special Utility District election on May 5, according to a report released last week. Concerned about the potential for “inappropriate and unlawful activities,” state Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa See SHARYLAND WATER Pg. 14 Sen. asked the Secretary of State’s Office monitor the polls. The Secretary of State’s Office sent a single inspector, who visited polling places across western Hidalgo County on May 5. She didn’t witness any major problems. “It was pretty neutral, I guess,” Hinojosa said. “Or pretty vanilla.” The Secretary of State’s Office provided the inspector with an eight-page form, which included 69 yes-or-no questions about each polling place. Inspectors may Sharyland Water Supply Corporation General include additional observaManager Sherilyn Dahlberg and Sen. Juan “Chuy” tions on a separate page. “I don’t think it was an inHinojosa. Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.
depth report,” Hinojosa said, adding that the form basically asked the state inspector to check a box. “Instead of really drilling down on how the election was really conducted and voters were being taken to the polls.” The Secretary of State’s Office released the report after a public information request from the Progress Times. While the state inspector didn’t witness any major problems, she reported the Sullivan City Volunteer Fire Department may not be accessible to voters with physical disabilities. The parking lot was strewn with gravel, according to the report, potentially posing problems for people with wheelchairs or walkers. “Loose rocks make accessibility difficult/slippery,” according to the report. The Hidalgo County Elections Department disagrees with the state inspector, said spokeswoman Hilda
See AGUA SUD Pg. 16
See MCISD ACADEMICS Pg. 16
Mission Economic Development Corporation CEO Alex Meade hopes the downtown facade program-now in its fifth year- is the boost downtown businesses need to improve the look of the city’s center. “It’s an element we feel people want in the community,” Meade explained.
See DOWNTOWN FACADE Pg. 13
Paloma Blanca Adult Daycare and the vacant building next to it, in downtown Mission will have exterior renovations as part of a program with the Mission Economic Development Corporation. Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.
INSIDE
INDEX
Campus Chronicles
Cartel Scout Sentenced
LJISD Board Meeting
See the accomplishments of the Class of 2018! Special features from our La Joya Independent School District graduation edition can be found inside this weeks issue.
A federal judge senteced a former drug cartel scout to five years in prison. The scout worked for a drug trafficker from Sullivan City. Dave Hendricks has more details.
At this week’s La Joya board meeting, Shepherd Government Affairs gave a presentation for the advocay of the district and what they plan to do to promote it. Jamie Treviño has the latest.
Entertainment | pg.2
See Pg. 11
Lifestyle | pg.6
Rio Script Pharmacy
• Immunizations available year round – no appointment needed • 10 Minute Prescription Refills – By phone or in person • 90 day prescriptions available! • Specialty Compounding Available! • Full Line DME supplies and wheelchairs • Free Delivery Valley Wide ( now serving Rio Grande City and Roma) • All insurance welcome (Medicaid/medicare/workman’s comp/chips/private pay)
Sports | pg. 7
See Pg. 12
Obituaries | pg. 13
Apple Pharmacy #1 2501 N 23rd St B, McAllen 956-627-6652 Apple Pharmacy #2 810 E Veterans Dr. Palmview 956-352-6485 RioScript Pharmacy 2308 Expressway 83, Penitas 956-271-1064
Classifieds | pg. 15
Apple Pharmacy #3 (formerly Paloma’s Pharmacy) 909 Buss. Park Dr, Mission 956-424-6268
Your Friendly Neighborhood Pharmacy
* Free Valley Wide Delivery
entertainment Coming Attractions
Take a walk back in time in Rio Grande Valley history during the “Summer Nights at the Museum” at the Museum of South Texas History in three nights of interactive, hands-on experiences and challenges.
‘Summer Nights at the Museum’ returns to MOSTHistory
EDINBURG – Back for its eighth year, the Museum of South Texas History presents Summer Nights at the Museum on June 14, June 28 and July 12 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This three-night series brings history to life with hands-on activities, living history re-enactors, music and entertainment. Children’s favorite puppet characters will be back with new adventures and an interactive scavenger hunt designed to guide families through the galleries. Children who complete the hunt will be entered in a drawing for a nightly prize from the museum store. Museum guests who participate in all three nights of the summer activities will be entered for a grand prize drawing. The River Frontier exhibit will be the focus for June 14 and showcase the heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico from prehistory through the Spanish Colonial era to the end of the Mexican War of Independence. Favorite activities such as atlatl throwing, the archaeological dig pit and rebozo wrapping will return this year. Learn how Spanish explorers struggled to survive in a new land and how they navigated the seas to come to the New World. On June 28, the River Highway exhibit will feature the history of South Texas
and northeastern Mexico from the beginning of the Texas Revolution through the steamboat era on the Rio Grande through the United States Civil War and cattle kingdom to the end of the 19th century. The steamboat and wharf will be loaded with tradesmen, musicians and stocked with cotton to trade. Guests will learn about vaquero skills such as roping, cattle roundup and cattle branding. Finally, the River Crossroads exhibit will be featured on July 12 when families will discover the great technological feats of the 20th century. Visitors can dress like a Mexican revolutionary, learn the impact of the railroad lines, and use a decoder to decipher secret military telegraphs and then be transported into the WWII era by learning to spot enemy planes, working on a recycled goods drive, and looking through a German U-boat periscope. Admission to Summer Nights at the Museum is the regular admission price. As a participating Blue Star Museum, all active duty military personnel and up to five family members receive free admission to all three events. MOSTHistory is located at 200 N. Closner Blvd. in Edinburg. Call 956-383-6911 for more information.
June 5 • The Upper Valley Art League will hold two ceramics art classes for youth from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30 to 3 p.m. Each session is $25, payable by check or cash at the time of registration. Space is limited. Call UVAL at 956583-2787 to sign up. Ask at the time of registration how Girl Scouts can earn a badge with the workshops. UVAL is located at 921 E. 12th St. in Mission. (For more Coming Attractions, go to ptrgv.com)
Spazmatics to perform for MCISD Foundation fundraiser
The Education Foundation of Mission C.I.S.D. is hosting a summer fundraising concert featuring The Spazmatics on Thursday, July 5, at the new Mission Event Center, 200 N. Shary Rd. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the evening runs to midnight. Sponsorships with benefits are now available at $1,000 for Silver, $2,500 for Gold and $3,500 for Plati-
num. Benefits range from unlimited VIP food and beverages and concierge service with meet and greet passes up to 20-chair table seating. Proceeds benefit the organization’s philanthropic endeavors. To make reservations, or for more information, contact Hector Olivarez at 956445-4255 or Candy Martinez at 956-240-2059.
Auditions set for Hidalgo Pumphouse play PHARR – The Pharr Community Theater (PTC), 213 W. Newcombe Ave. in Pharr, will hold open auditions for Tales of the Hidalgo Pumphouse, written by Lucio Rivera and Pedro Garcia. The bilingual, but predominately in English play, will be directed by Jaime Magaña. Auditions will be with a cold reading from the script on Monday, June 4, and Tuesday, June 5, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. for 20 roles. No appointment necessary to audition for the first come, first served readings. N e e d e d are five men and five women ranging in ages 18 to 65 and five boys and five girls ranging in ages 11 to 14. The
general public is invited to try out. Rehearsals run June 11 until Aug. 15 and will be held at the theater between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Monday through Fridays. The play will run from Aug. 16 through Sept. 9 for 10 shows at the PTC and other RGV locations. For more information, call 956-239-0412 or 956655-9308 Tales of the Hidalgo Pumphouse tells the story of Luisito and Janie and their pals who come of age in Hidalgo in the 1970s. Luisito and his buddies are searching for the hidden treasure while the girls are writing a history report about the old Pumphouse and practicing the ancient dance in its honor. The story is also about the parents and ancestors who worked and lived around the Pumphouse since it was built, and the tale is laced with history and folktales including the creepy and sometimes funny characters.
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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS
IMAS summer camps begin June 12
McALLEN – Registration is now open for the Operation Imagination Summer Camps planned this summer by the International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W. Nolana Ave., McAllen. The camps will run June 12 to Aug. 17. Camps are designed for children in grades 1st
through 8th, and will run Tuesdays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $160 a week for IMAS members and $180 a week for nonmembers. For more information and to register, call 956-6812800.
BROWNSVILLE – Tickets are on sale for the Yappo Bands and Brewskis for Saturday, June 23, hosted by the Gladys Porter Zoo, will be held from 7:30 p.m. to midnight at Gladys Porter Zoo, 500 Ringgold St. in Brownsville. Part of the YappoPalooza event, it is a fundraiser for the Bi-national Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Recovery Project. The night features beer
sampling, shrimp plates, a silent auction and a live music showcase with bands from across the Rio Grande Valley. Tickets are $20 presale and $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.com or in the zoo’s front office of the Zoo. For more info, go to gpz. org or yappopalooza.net. For questions, call 956-5489453 for information.
McALLEN – The International Museum of Art & Science will participate in the ninth annual Blue Star Museums program, to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day. IMAS will host special programs with a focus on family learning in conjunction with the current exhibition “ReTooled: Highlights from the Hechinger Collection” throughout June. Activities include youth and adult art classes and a Father’s Day celebration on Sunday, June 17, from 1 to 5 p.m. Gallery tours of ReTooled will be offered every
weekend throughout June. The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military –Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, as well as active duty and Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.
BROWNSVILLE – The Gladys Porter Zoo (GPZ) is holding a variety of Summer Safari camps and classes from June through August in GPZ South Texas Discovery Education Center. Sign up is underway. Summer Safari classes include activities such as puppet shows, games, stories, crafts and tours. Each child will receive a certificate of completion, rewards, and mementos for participating. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provid-
ed each class day. Each class runs for two days. Camps run all day, Monday through Thursday with the Starlight Sleepover on Friday. Age 7 is the minimum for the week-long camps. Minimum age is 4 for the two-day, three-hour classes. For more information or to register for classes call the GPZ education department at 956-548-9453. The zoo is located at 500 Ringgold.
Yappo event benefits Ridley sea turtle project
IMAS to participate in Blue Star Museum program
Gladys Porter Zoo plans Summer Safaris for kids
May 25, 2018
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Record number graduating with CNA certifications More Mission C.I.S.D. (MCISD) students than ever are graduating from high school with professional health science certifications that enable them to immediately step into the workforce. Over the past three years, interest in earning Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certifications has increased. This resulted in the district not only offering a CNA dual
enrollment program with South Texas College (STC), but to also offer the training through Careers Unlimited. Originally, in 2016, 22 MCISD high school students earned their CNA certifications. This year it has grown to 62 students – 25 through the dual enrollment program with STC and 37 through Careers Unlimited. The passing rate of students in the
dual enrollment program on the state certification exam was 100 percent. Completing their CNA requirements this year through the STC program are Analy Barajas, Carolina De Leon, Diana Gamez, Victoria Gonzalez, Samantha Hernandez, Rayleen Nava, Kimberly Pacheco, Vanessa Zavala, Mya Belton, Mercedes Cuevas-Rendon, Karliza Garza,
Valeria Guerra, Sarah Marquez, Sendy Raudales, Jessica Rodriguez, Daisy Suarez, Kayla Cantu, Sidney Cantu, Marisol Carrillo, Anneth Espiritu, Keila Garza, Ximena Lopez, Tanya Rodriguez, Ruby Salazar and Rosalinda Sandoval. Completing requirements with Careers Unlimited are Delilah Moreno, Jaqueline Garcia, Ashlynn Contre-
ras, Alondra Garza, Yasmin Castillo, Aylin Longoria, Lizeth Soto, Alexis Trevino, Daisy Carrillo, Adamaris Silva-Contreras, Brianna Garcia, Nidia Villagomes, Xochilth Garza-Lara, Kathya Moreno and Kaesy Diaz-Martinez. Also, Kassandra Martinez, Rafael De Leon, D’banhi Ramirez, Jesus Aparcicio, Sarahi Rico, Josue Silva,
Destanie Garcia, Gerardo Gonzalez, Aliza Arevalo, Vanessa Botello, Dulce M. Garcia, Brenda Ruiz, Elisa Zaragoza, Carolina Franco, Rosalin Saenz, Jacqueline Zamarron, Brendy Hernandez, Jacqueline Rodriguez, Jose R. Rodriguez, Angela Salazar, Yahaira Elizondo and Abigail Garza.
The Sabas Family proudly gives Mayor Beto Salinas their votes and would like to encourage you to do the same
My wife and I have always supported Norberto Salinas in every election that he has had. He is not just the Mayor of Mission, but also our friend, however, our vote for him goes beyond friendships. As a citizen of Mission for many years, I have had the opportunity to see the work of Mayor Salinas. I believe that Mission is a great city and that his leadership has made a difference. I am very proud of our community and the reputation that we have. Norberto is the experienced candidate! He also has a proven record of success and the vision to make our city an even greater one. As we go into the run-off election, I would like to thank everyone who already voted for our mayor. With the utmost respect, I am asking everyone to vote for Norberto one more time so that we can get him elected and so that our City of Mission will continue to prosper.
No one likes to have a run-off, but the election results have all of us, as citizens of Mission, needing to vote ONE MORE TIME! Therefore, I am recommending Norberto “Beto” Salinas as our mayor. He needs all of us to show our VOTE of confidence and to vote for him ONE MORE TIME! Please remember to vote during the upcoming RUN-OFF election. We need to support the continued work of our mayor and the projects that are still pending for our City of Mission! I urge you to vote NORBERTO “BETO” SALINAS in the upcoming run-off election! -- Sabas Sandoval III
--Sabas Sandoval Jr.
Let’s Keep Mission In Good Hands RE-ELECT MAYOR
Bet
RUNOFF
Salinas
Early Voting: May 29 - June 5, 2018
Election Day: June 9, 2018
POLITICAL AD PAID FOR BY CANDIDATE - 500 E. 9TH ST. MSSION TEXAS
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May 25, 2018
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‘The beginning of the end’ Palmview begins street paving project By Jose De Leon III In the last year, Palmview residents have seen lots of road construction work around the city as the crews lay down sewer lines for the Palmview Wastewater Project. Now, those residents will begin to see freshly paved roads in the city-signaling relief for them according to officials. On Tuesday, the city held a groundbreaking ceremony for the street paving project. This project will repave 20 miles worth of streets dug up by crews contracted by the Agua Special Utility District to lay down sewer lines all over the city. “[The Wastewater Project] is a project we hope will get accomplished by early next year to provide sanitary sewer to the city of Palmview,” Agua SUD interim General Manager Eddie Saenz said. “We are servicing the citizens and we thank them for their patience. It’s the beginning of the end for the project, we’re almost there.” The groundbreaking was held at the intersection of Flores Lane and Goodwin
Road as Flores Lane and other nearby streets and subdivisions will be repaved. “It’s a long wait, but it’s here,” Palmview Mayor Gerardo “Jerry” Perez said at the groundbreaking. “The citizens needed to have these streets and roads and like the sewer project, it was due.” The groundbreaking came more than two months since the city and Agua SUD- the utility district in charge of handling the $42 million project-signed an interlocal agreement to repave the streets. The interlocal agreement, which was approved last March, stated the city would pay for the repaving of all the streets that were dug up as part of the project through a $2.8 million bond the city issued last December. Originally, contractors hired by Agua were set to only replace the part of the road that was dug up by crews instead of repaving the whole roadway, Saenz said. This caused the city to look for a third party to repave the whole road. Ultimately, the city picked the Peñitas-based construction company 2gs LLC to repave the streets. 2gs’ owner,
Beto Garcia, said the status of the streets had many residents complaining to the city and Agua SUD as they were heavily damaged by the construction. “The citizens have approached us wondering when their streets would be paved and when the project would see progress. It’s fi-
nally here,” Garcia said at the groundbreaking. “We’ve come to the tail end of it but like I always tell residents, the construction gets worse before it gets better. It’s almost there, bear with us, we are here to help.” By the end of this week, an additional seven streets will have been turned over to
2gs for them to repave, Garcia said. According to Saenz, the Palmview Wastewater Project is 60 percent completed. The final phase of the project will be to connect the sewer system to Mission’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. “We’re looking to have that connection completed
by early next year to start connecting to homes,” Saenz said, “We’ll be able to start flushing soon and maybe in the future, connect more homes to the plant besides the ones we are currently connecting.”
Flores Lane, a street in Palmview that has been repaved following ongoing construction work as part of the Palmview Wastewater Treatment Plant. Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.
North American Butterfly Association begin negotiations with CBP By Jose De Leon III After the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced last month they have begun the process to begin real estate, environmental and design planning to construct a new border wall, one local organization is trying to negotiate an agreement before CBP steps foot on their property. Jeffrey Glassberg, founder of the North American Butterfly Association which owns Mission’s National Butterfly Center, confirmed the center received letters from the CBP to sign a Right
of Entry for Survey and Site Assessment, a document that authorizes the Government’s entry onto their property. This letter, according to a CBP press release, will allow the CBP to begin real estate, environmental, and design planning to install gates along the existing border wall, construct new access roads, and to construct a new border wall. In response to the letter, Glassberg sent a list of proposals to the CBP that they must follow before starting work on their property. “When CBP wishes to conduct the survey on land owned by NABA, CBP will
contact NABA and NBC and inform them of the nature of the work, time of duration of occurrence, type and amount of machinery that is intended to be used, and the number of personnel that will be carrying out the work,” the letter, dated May 1, stated. “NBC and NABA will then evaluate the request and determine if it’s possible within the operational necessities of running the NBC and if it is not, will suggest alternative arrangements if possible.” The letter also requests CBP places $1,000 into an escrow account to pay for any damages during their work, and pay NABA $50
per hour as reimbursement for the cost of having NBC personal present to monitor the ongoing work. “These are common sense, reasonable requests,” Glassberg said. “If they want to come in and do this kind of work in our property, we’re going to have to monitor what they do. We can’t just have people come to our property and do whatever they want.” Glassberg said CBP has yet to respond to NABA’s request. These stalled negotiations come after the city of Mission and Diocese of Brownsville were contacted
last month regarding survey work being planned near the historic La Lomita Chapel. The 2018 fiscal year appropriation included $445 million to construct up to 25 miles of new border wall in Hidalgo County and $196 million to construct new border wall in Starr County, according to “Our attorney is currently reviewing the request so we can determine how best to proceed,” Brenda Riojas, a spokeswoman for the diocese, said of the letter last month. She did not respond to requests for an update as of press time. NABA’s request occurred
while the butterfly center is suing the federal government after the center’s executive director discovered contractors hired by the CBP trespassing on the center’s property clearing land for construction of the border wall. The butterfly center is home to at least 100 species of butterfly, and serves as critical habitat for the migration of the threatened Monarch butterfly. Glassberg said the federal government has yet to respond to the lawsuit but that did not play a role in the letter he sent to CBP.
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1217 N. Conway • Mission, TX (956) 585-4893 MEMBER 2018
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; $30 outside of Hidalgo County. Second class postage paid in Mission, Texas 78572. ©2018 Savy Publishing, LLC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the PROGRESS TIMES, P.O. Box 399, Mission Texas 78573.
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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.
May 25, 2018
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lifestyle
May 25, 2018
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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS
Delta Kappa Gamma installs new officers The Epsilon Upsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International recently installed new chapter officers for 2018-2020 at the May meeting. Karolyn Caldwell conducted the ceremony. Pictured at left, shown left to right, outgoing president, Gloria Dietrich, passes the gavel to Pam Bond, president, who is pictured with Eloisa Villanueva, first vice president; Terry Dreibelbis, second vice president; Anabel Guerra, recording secretary; Raquel Tijerina, corresponding secretary; and appointed office holder Gretchen Chapa, parliamentarian. Jenny Hudsonpillar, treasurer, is also an appointed officeholder. Dr. Gloria Crum announced two Achievement Award recipients – Jenny Hudsonpillar and Gloria Dietrich. Pictured right at the presentation, left to right, are Hudsonpillar, Dr. Crum and Dietrich, with committee members Elena De Los Santos Mycue and Esther Tijerina. The recipients were recognized for their service to the chapter prior to and including the 2016-2018 biennium.
MCISD Staff Member of the Year Amanda Cedillo (right) was selected as the Mission C.I.S.D. District Staff Member of the Year. The announcement was made Friday, May 18, during a special luncheon honoring each Staff Member of the Year from the district’s campuses and main buildings/departments. Cedillo is an instructional aide at Roosevelt Alternative School and has been with MCISD for five years. She is pictured with Cris Valdez, interim superintendent.
VMHS Patriot Engineering capture second at state In their first time competing in the UIL state robotics competitions, the Veterans Memorial High School (VMHS) Patriot Engineering Team brought home the second place trophy. UIL has been piloting robotics competitions the last two years, through invitation only competitions. The VMHS Patriot Engineers were among 32 teams invited to compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge (5A-6A Division). Pictured are team members, left to right, Juan Cavazos, Joseph Salazar, Roy Villanueva (coach), Michael Iglesias and Stephan Jabs.
May 26 picnic kicks off Family Summer Adventure Challenge
EDINBURG – Looking for something different to do with your family this summer? The Rio Grande Valley Family Summer Adventure Challenge (FSAC) may be an answer for the family to get outside and experience more of the outdoors. Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC) kick-off for FSAC begins a free Family Day Picnic from 4 to 7 p.m. this Saturday, May 26. Families can take their picnic dinner to dine under the EWBC pergola and join in
traditional picnic activities such as a water balloon toss, sack races, giant bubbles and more. Admission is free the entire day. The FSAC program is for families with children ages 18 and under and involves visits and challenges at different nature centers and parks across the Rio Grande Valley. Families keep a journal of their activities in each park and, after submitting the journal, each family’s name will be placed in a drawing for an opportunity
to win prizes. The deadline to complete challenges and turn in journals is Saturday, Aug. 25. Pick up a copy of the journal at the EWBC and other RGV nature centers, or print a copy by visiting edinburgwbc.org. Only one prize pack will be awarded per winning family. The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Road. For more information, call 956-381-9922.
THE
May 25, 2018
Sports week
BIG7 SCHOOLS
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Covering Mission, Veterans Memorial, Sharyland, Pioneer, La Joya, Palmview & Juarez-Lincoln Sports
Local athletes representing Big 7
Successful season puts standouts in spotlight at All-Valley Awards By Bryan Ramos As the nominations for the 2018 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet are unveiled, several athletes from Big 7 teams are being recognized Valley-wide for their success on the field, court, and track over the past year. The 2018 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet, hosted by RGVSports.com and AIM Media Texas in conjunction with the RGV Sports Hall of Fame, is set for June 19 at Mario’s Banquet & Conference Center in Mission and will honor the best athletes from across the Rio Grande Valley. Sharyland soccer’s Kaitie Watson is one of the Big 7 athletes nominated for a player of the year award after putting together a successful campaign on the soccer field for the Lady Rattlers in 2018. For the second time in three years, Watson, one of the Valley’s top scoring threats and District 31-5A’s co-Most Valuable Player, is up for the All-Valley Girls Soccer Player of the Year award. After being nominated for the award in 2016, Watson missed time with a leg injury in 2017. The senior said she’s happy to have the opportunity as an All-Valley
nominee and is hoping to go out with a bang. “I’m very honored to have the privilege of being nominated again and I’m so happy to have the opportunity again, especially since I’m a senior, so hopefully I can go out with a bang,” she said. Watson was responsible for 72 goals for the Lady Rattlers this season, scoring 51 of her own and assisting on another 21, even while being marked by one, two and three defenders at times. The forward also was a knack to make big plays in big moments, as big-time players do. It was Watson’s free kick goal with four minutes left against rival Pioneer in their March 6 meeting with the 31-5A championship on the line that forced overtime, allowing the Lady Rattlers to eventually claim another district title. “My hard work and dedication to the sport after all these years has paid off and really proven its worth,” she said. “To be able to have this privilege while being apart of Sharyland really makes me proud of where I’ve come from and all that I’ve worked toward.” Watson will continue playing soccer at the next level as the Lady Rattler great has signed to play for
the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Brianna Robles, Palmview Cross Country Palmview’s Brianna Robles is nominated for the Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row and hopes to add another honor to her collection after taking home the award last summer. Robles won the District 30-6A championship for the third consecutive year by running a season best time of 18.22.6. Robles qualified for her third straight UIL state competition where she finished in 32nd place. Robles will continue her athletic career as she’s signed to run collegiately at Adams State University in Colorado. Gerardo Reyes, Juarez-Lincoln Soccer The Juarez-Lincoln Huskies’ scoring-machine, forward Gerardo Reyes is nominated for the Boys Soccer Player of the Year after leading his team to another District 30-6A championship in 2018. Reyes sparked the Huskies’ offense all season with 29 goals on the year. A year after making a run to the state tournament in 2017, the Huskies qualified for this year’s regional tournament but fell short to the state runners-up San Antonio Reagan.
Luciano Farias-Ramirez, Sharyland Swimming Sharyland senior Luciano Farias-Ramirez has made his presence felt in the swimming scene over the last four years with three state appearances under his belt, earning him a nomination as the Boys Swimmer of the Year. Farias-Ramirez finished third at state in the 100 butterfly with a time of 50.34 to win a bronze medal, and a seventh-place finish in the 100 backstroke with a 51.36. Andrea Fernandez and Michael Davis, Sharyland Tennis The mixed doubles team of freshman Andrea Fernandez and junior Michael Davis proved to be lethal on the court this season for Sharyland and have earned nominations for the Girls and Boys Tennis Players of the Year award. The duo of Fernandez and Davis finished as District 31-5A champions, second-place at this year’s regional tournament and earned a spot to compete in the state tournament in May, Sharyland first since 2016. Michael Howell, Mission Veterans Tennis Junior Michael Howell is nominated for the Boys Tennis Player of the Year award after winning the District 315A singles title in a two-set
sweep. Howell was one of the few Valley representatives to win his first-round match at the regional tournament in April. Jin Mun Lee, Sharyland Golf Junior Jin Mun Lee has been nominated for the Boys Golf Player of the Year award in each of his three seasons at Sharyland and will be looking to go back-to-back after bringing home last year’s award. In 2017-2018, Lee dominated the District 31-5A with a first-place finish, pushing Sharyland to a second overall. He then won the regional tournament before finishing third-place in the state tournament. Raquel Flores, Sharyland Golf Senior Raquel Flores is nominated as the Girls Golf Player of the Year after leading the Sharyland Lady Rattlers to a second-place finish in the team competition at state. Flores also picked up wins in the 31-5A tournament by five strokes and in the regional tournament by seven strokes, leading the Rattlers to regionals and state. The award winners will be announced at the 2018 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet on June 19 at Mario’s Banquet & Conference
Center in Mission. The banquet is hosted by RGVSports.com and AIM Media Texas in conjunction with the RGV Sports Hall of Fame, and will present 33 awards to athletes, coaches and teams across all 12 UIL sports. The prestigious Tom Landry Award of Excellence will honor a student-athlete for outstanding achievements on and off the field. Sean Elliott, the former NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs and the team’s color commentator, will be the keynote speaker at the event, which will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets for the banquet are $40 per person.
Sharyland Rattler player Kaitie Watson seen dribbling the ball.
Lady Rattlers golf team takes silver at state By Luciano Guerra It may be Ashley Garza’s first year as the girls’ head golf coach at Sharyland High School, but she has led the Lady Rattlers to their best ever finish at the UIL Girls Golf State Championship. That’s because the Lady Rattlers’ team made up of Raquel Flores, Laura Rodriguez, Carolina Cantu, Amanda Shinn-Roldan and Paulina Flores had a twoday score of 644 to place second among the 12 5A teams that earned the right to compete at the state tournament which was played at the White Wing Golf Club in Georgetown, Texas Monday and Tuesday of this week. Formerly the assistant girls’ golf coach at Sharyland Pioneer High School, Garza took over the Lady Rattlers extremely successful program this year after former head coach Fernando Rodriguez retired. How successful was the program under Rodriguez? Six trips to the state tournament over the past six years should give you a pretty good idea. “This was the seventh year in a row that the Lady Rattlers have made State,” Garza said. “Their best finish prior to this was three years ago when they placed third.” Going into the second day of the tournament, the
Lady Rattlers were in fourth place, three strokes behind third place Midlothian, four strokes behind second place Magnolia and 19 strokes behind first place Grapevine. As a result, unless Grapevine completely collapsed on the second day, first place was pretty much out of their reach as they took to the course on Tuesday. However second and third place were well within their reach and as Garza explained, her girls came through when they really needed to. “The girls didn’t play as well as they wanted to the first day,” Garza said. “But they came out and played better the second day and they made every shot count.” “Going into state, we had the best score from the Regional tournaments so I anticipated us being able to finish in first place,” added Garza. “But we didn’t shoot like I wanted us to on Monday. After that I was excited to be among the top four and all I could do was to hope for the best on Tuesday. As it turned out, second place is not a bad deal.” Individually, senior Laura Rodriguez had the best two day score for the Lady Rattlers with a three over par 75 on Monday and a one over 73 on Tuesday for a four over total score. That earned her seventh place overall.
This being her third and final state tournament, Rodriguez shared what finishing second at State means to her when she said, “It means a lot for me because his is my last year at Sharyland. Having finished in third place my freshman year but doing even better as a senior, and doing it with a new coach, makes it mean even more.” Rodriguez, who has already signed a letter of intent to attend and play golf at St. Edwards University starting in the fall, then added, “The first two times I went to State, it was at Wolfdancer (Golf Club) so this was a new course for me. It was
a really nice course though and the conditions were very good.” The elder of two sisters on the Lady Rattlers’ golf team, senior Raquel Flores shot a four over 76 the first day and a seven over 79 the second day of the State tournament. As the only four time state tournament participant on the Lady Rattlers’ team, Flores shared how it felt to make the jump from fourth place to second. “Well of course we were proud of ourselves,” Flores said. “We knew that we were capable of doing that, so being able to see that we got there showed us that every-
The Sharyland Lady Rattlers golf team placed second at this week’s 5A Girls’ Golf State Tournament. Pictured here from left to right are, SISD Athletic Director Richard Thompson, Head Coach Ashley Garza, Laura Rodriguez, Raquel Flores, Paulina Flores, Amanda Shinn-Roldan, Carolina Cantu, Assistant Coach Jordan Meiners and SHS Athletic Coordinator Ron Adame. Courtesy photo.
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Shinn-Roldan, who shot an 85 the first day and an 82 the second day was considering continuing her golf career at the college level like her two fellow seniors, but at this point, she doesn’t think that’s going to work out. Junior Paulina Flores is the younger of the two Flores sisters on the Lady Rattlers team. Her only other exposure to the state tournament was as a member of last year’s sixth place team. Like Shinn-Roldan, the younger Flores credits her coach for the motivation they needed to make the jump from fourth place to second. “Our coach motivated us by telling us not to give up and by reminding us that every shot counts,” Flores said. “She also kept after us to play better, and better, and better.” Junior Carolina Cantu, who shot an 87 the first day and an 86 the second day for the Lady Rattlers, shared her theory on how she and her teammates were able to make the move from fourth place to second when she said, “I felt that the first day was the day we worked out all our nerves. On the second day, we were determined to come back because our second days are always our lowest scoring day.”
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thing we did and everything we went through to get there was worth it.” Like Rodriguez, Flores has already signed a letter of intent to play golf at the college level. However, Flores will be attending and playing for Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma. When asked what it is about the sport of golf that has had her playing since she was 7 years old, Flores said, “It’s all about you playing against yourself. That and always wanting to be better makes you want to stick to it. You keep telling yourself that you can do better, you can do better and since you can never get to the perfect golf game, then you just keep trying to get there.” Amanda Shinn-Roldan is the third senior on the Lady Rattlers golf team. This was her second trip to the State tournament. ShinnRoldan shared how she and her teammates were able to make the move from fourth place to second on day two. “We encouraged each other to play better on the second day,” Shinn-Roldan said. “Also, Coach Garza spoke to us and gave us the confidence we needed to play even better. We all thought we still had a shot at first place but we played our best and we left it all out on the course.”
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RE-ELECT
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Terry Plata, Dalith Cantu and Hugo Salinas
Front Row seated l to r: Janelle Valdez, Yolanda Plata, Martha Elias, Roxanna Gomez, Terry Plata, Dalith Cantu and Janie Gutierrez. Seco Carlos Espinoza, Mayor Salinas, Ruben Plata, ---, Arturo Longoria, Abel Elias, Ramon Ponce and Abel Hernandez. Thirtd Row: Jose Cruz, Luis C Juan Jose Chapa, Jorge E. Gomez, Paloo Garcia, Arnulfo Rodriguez, and Dionicio P
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Election Day: June 9, 2018
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May 25, 2018
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MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBER AND HONOR THIS IS THE DAY THAT’S SET ASIDE TO REMEMBER WITH GRATITUDE AND PRIDE ALL THOSE WHO SERVED AND DIED FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR FREEDOM. MAY YOUR DAY BE FILLED WITH MEMORIES AND PEACE. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
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PAC created by Team L1berty spent $69,000 without filing campaign finance reports by Dave Hendricks The dominant political party in western Hidalgo County spent nearly $69,000 last year without filing a single campaign finance report. Team L1berty created a political action committee
called the “Liberty Executive Committee,” which spent thousands supporting candidates in Sullivan City and La Joya. The Liberty Executive Committee, though, didn’t file any campaign finance reports last year.
“It’s a new PAC and we were unaware that we had any other requirements about reporting to the state,” said Peñitas Chief of Staff Andy Morales, who serves as treasurer for the Liberty Executive Committee, in a statement. “We are looking into
Drug cartel scout sentenced to five years in federal prison
by Dave Hendricks A federal judge sentenced a former drug cartel scout to five years in prison last week. U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced Jose Soto, 29, a Mexican citizen who lived in San Antonio, to 63 months in federal prison during a hearing on May 17. Soto worked for Jose Merced “Chacho” Arechiga, a drug trafficker from Sullivan City. Thanks to a sophisticated surveillance team and help from corrupt cops, the Arechiga drug trafficking organization avoided detection for years. “The only thing I have to say is that I ask the United States and this court to forgive me,” Soto said, speaking through a translator. Arechiga moved thousands of pounds of marijuana through western Hidalgo County for Gulf Cartel plaza boss Gumercindo “El Aguila” Gamez-Villarreal, who controlled Diaz Ordaz and rural ranchland south of Starr County. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration started investigating “El Aguila” in February 2009, according to federal court records. With permission from a judge, agents monitored phone calls to identify key players. The investigation revealed “El Aguila” worked with the Arechiga drug trafficking organization to move marijuana between Diaz Ordaz and Sullivan City. Smugglers loaded boats with bundles of marijuana, crossed the Rio Grande and hauled the bundles to waiting cars, according to federal court records. Drivers whisked the marijuana to stash houses in Sullivan City and Mission. Arechiga avoided Border Patrol and local police with a sophisticated surveillance network, which communi-
Photo courtesy of the Williamson County Sheriff's Office. cated with push-to-talk radios. Arechiga also bribed Sullivan City police Chief Hernan Guerra, paying him $500 to $1,000 every few weeks, according to federal court records. Guerra provided information about Border Patrol and kept local police away from smuggling routes. He also rigged auto auctions for Arechiga. Soto wasn’t just a scout. He dated Arechiga’s daughter. “He was a lookout but, of course, because of his relationship with Arechiga’s daughter he was, in that sense, a more valued member of the team,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Cook Profit, who prosecuted the case. When the U.S. Marshals Service started making arrests, though, “El Aguila” slipped away. “We made several attempts to arrest several people. And by the time we would get there, they would be gone,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Agent A. Marisol Farias, who testified during a February hearing. “Because, somehow, they would hear of it before we would actually be out there.” The Marshals Service spent years searching for “El Aguila” but never caught him. The Tamaulipas Attorney General’s Office found him dead in August 2016,
apparently murdered during a cartel power struggle. Prosecutors eventually indicted 32 people. The names of 12 defendants remain sealed. Concerned about leaks, federal agents didn’t enter information about the fugitives in law enforcement databases. That allowed Soto to avoid arrest for nearly eight years. Soto moved to Georgetown, Texas, where police arrested him for assault and possession of marijuana on Oct. 18, 2014, according to Williamson County jail records. Apparently unaware of the warrant, the federal government deported him. When he returned to Texas remains unclear, but Soto had settled in San Antonio by July 2017. Soto kept in touch with Arechiga’s daughter, which helped the Marshals Service break the case, said Deputy U.S. Marshal Franco Quintanilla, who testified during a February hearing. The Marshals Service discovered that a car registered to Arechiga’s daughter had been spotted by automatic license plate readers in San Antonio. Deputy marshals arrested Soto on July 3, 2017, in the parking lot of a San Antonio restaurant — nearly eight years after prosecutors indicted him. After serving the prison sentence, Soto will be deported. “If you’re ever found here, now that you have this big drug conviction on your record, you’re going to be arrested, prosecuted in federal court like this (and) be facing very significant time just for coming here,” Crane said during the sentencing hearing. “So please stay in Mexico and resist the temptation to come back.”
the requirements of supporting local elections and will make the necessary reports in the future.” The Liberty Executive Committee also failed to file campaign finance reports for the March 2018 Democratic Party primary and the May 2018 Agua Special Utility District election. It wasn’t until April 19 — after the Texas Ethics Commission threatened to refer the Liberty Executive Committee to the Texas Attorney General’s Office for noncompliance — that the political action committee filed an annual campaign finance report. However, that report didn’t include all donations and spending. The Liberty Executive Committee attempted to file the annual report by fax, but the Ethics Commission requires political action committees with more than $20,000 in donations to file electronically. After the Ethics Commission rejected the fax, the Liberty Executive Committee attempted to file the report electronically. That created another problem: the computer system wouldn’t allow the Liberty Executive Committee to report transactions before a campaign treasurer had been appointed. The Liberty Executive Committee filed the incomplete report anyway. The Progress Times obtained copies of the original report and the electronic report from the Ethics Commission. Members of Team L1berty plan to discuss the filing requirements and how to correct the problems at an upcoming meeting. “I don’t think there were any bad intentions on our part, to be honest with you,” said Johnn Alaniz. “I think it was just an oversight.” Morales filed an appointment of campaign treasurer form with the Texas Ethics Commission on July 27, 2017, listing himself as treasurer. The document also lists Morales, Alaniz and La Joya Mayor Jose A. “Fito” Salinas as members of the decision-making committee, which controls donations and spending.
None of them had ever managed a political action committee before, Alaniz said, adding that they weren’t aware of all the deadlines and requirements. The Ethics Commission accepted the campaign treasurer appointment, registering the Liberty Executive Committee as a general-purpose political action committee. With a campaign treasurer, the political action committee could legally accept donations and spend money. The Liberty Executive Committee, however, hadn’t waited for permission. Donors had already forked over $43,000, according to Ethics Commission records. The haul included checks from a fundraiser at Hacienda La Encantada, an event venue northwest of Mission, on March 13. Major contributors included Amarillo-based law firm Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott, which collects delinquent property taxes; engineer Richard LeFevre, who later became the interim general manager of the Agua Special Utility District; and state Rep. Oscar Longoria, an attorney who handled legal work for Peñitas. The Liberty Executive Committee spent the money quickly. Nearly $16,300 paid down campaign debt for La Joya school board Trustee Alex Cantu. Another $5,000 went to La Joya school board President Oscar “Coach” Salinas, who provided consulting services during the May 2017 campaign in Sullivan City. And Sullivan City Mayor Leo Garcia received nearly $13,700. After blowing through the money, the Liberty Executive Committee borrowed from the La Joya Area Federal Credit Union, where Alaniz serves as CEO. On April 26, 2017, the Liberty Executive Committee borrowed $10,000 at 5 percent interest, according to Ethics Commission records. The political action committee borrowed another $10,000 on Sept. 23. Records filed with the Ethics Commission don’t list any collateral or guarantor. Alaniz said he didn’t know whether the records filed
with the Ethics Commission were accurate. Garcia, who won the mayoral election in Sullivan City, disclosed the donations on campaign finance reports, according to documents filed with the Sullivan City Secretary’s Office. The Liberty Executive Committee, which hadn’t appointed a campaign treasurer yet, didn’t file any campaign finance reports during the Sullivan City race. After the Sullivan City election, the Liberty Executive Committee appointed a campaign treasurer and shifted focus to La Joya. The political action committee donated nearly $9,600 to La Joya City Commissioner Mary Salinas, according to Ethics Commission records. Incomplete campaign finance reports filed by her husband — Mayor Jose A. “Fito” Salinas — don’t disclose the donations. Her opponent didn’t bother to file any campaign finance reports at all. Neither did the Liberty Executive Committee. Texas law allows the Ethics Commission to assess a $500 civil penalty for candidates or political action committees that don’t file a campaign finance report by the deadline. In some cases, the law allows an additional $100 fine every day the report is late. “The fines can be pretty hefty for these pre-election reports,” said Houston-based attorney Jerad Najvar, an expert on Texas election law. Historically, the Ethics Commission only investigated when someone filed a complaint, Najvar said. During the past few years, though, the Ethics Commission started making statements about more proactive enforcement. Determining when an organization or association becomes a political action committee depends on several factors, including donor intent and the pitch by the person receiving the money, Najvar said. Failing to file a campaign finance report after appointing a treasurer is more clearcut. “It sounds like an obvious violation,” Najvar said. “And they should know they should file those reports.”
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La Joya ISD makes moves to increase funding and advocacy By Jamie Treviño After recognizing several students, teachers and parents for their various achievements throughout the school year, La Joya heard a presentation from Shepherd Government Affairs about how the company intends to promote the district. At this week’s board of trustees meeting, the La Joya Independent School District was told by Augustin Garcia about the state the district is currently in when it comes to grant funding and infrastructure. Garcia said that Shepherd Government Affairs’ main goal for La Joya is advocacy for the district in Austin and bringing in more grant funding. After evaluating the district and meeting with several employees, Garcia was confident in the current set up of LJISD. “As it stands from out
Teenager led police on highspeed chase through Mission
initial discussions, we feel the school district is doing a very good job,” Garcia said. “Your technology, CTE [Career and Technical Education] programs, the infrastructure in place is very sound.” Garcia said that having these programs and successfully executing them is good, because the company doesn’t have to worry about building La Joya ISD up so the district looks better to the Governor’s Office or potential grant programs. “As far as we’re concerned, La Joya is doing as good of a job, if not better, than probably any other school district in the Rio Grande Valley,” Garcia said. “We’re very happy with the programs you have in place. It gives us the ability to go and lobby for the things we want to lobby for and take things to a higher level.” He mentioned that La
Joya serves five communities in the Valley: La Joya, Peñitas, Alton, Sullivan City and parts of Mission. According to the enrollment report as of May 15, 2018, the total students attending a school in LJISD is 28,059. “That makes you the second-largest school district providing services to students in Hidalgo County,” Garcia said. “You’re the third largest in the Valley.” Shepherd Government Affairs, looking ahead, made it clear that losing students would not be good for the district, especially when it comes to grant funding. While the district serves a large community, the tax base from the cities, as far as commercial buildings are concerned, is not at the level of that in McAllen, Brownsville or Edinburg. “It puts a burden on you, in getting the funds for the programs,” Garcia said.
Photo courtesy of the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office.
more.” Shepherd Government Affairs plans to advocate for LJISD even more than they are currently, and that involves a detailed plan that they have already begun executing. Starting next week, they will begin developing a strategic plan to address and fix this issue. “We would like to prepare a strategic plan using some of the things we talked about,” Garcia said. “And find solutions to, number one, retain students and prevent students from leaving by developing either a marketing plan or local advocacy, a way to reach the entire community so students won’t want to leave and parents who’s perception maybe is that there’s other programs or better schooling or educational opportunities for them in the surrounding school districts, and we don’t see that to be the case.” In the month of June,
Shepherd hopes to take Superintendent Alda T. Benavides and one of the assistant superintendents to the Governor’s Office to advocate more for La Joya and the funding of the district. A meeting has already been set. The company has also set up a meeting with the Texas Workforce Commission as well. Because La Joya employs about 4,000 people, it has become one of the largest employers in the area. So far, Shepherd Government Affairs is working on developing the plan for promotion and student retention, hopes to bring that outreach to the community and surrounding areas and will bring advocacy for La Joya to the state level. “There’s a lot of programs right now that the La Joya school district has that other school districts don’t have,” Garcia said.
Let’s Keep Mission In Good Hands
RE-ELECT MAYOR
Bet
by Dave Hendricks Officers arrested a teenager on May 10, when he led police on a high-speed chase through Mission. Rigoberto Beltran, 19, of Peñitas led police on a highspeed chase through Palmview and Mission on the afternoon of May 10, according to the criminal complaint against him. Palmview police chased Beltran — driving a red Pontiac Grand Prix — south on Mayberry Avenue, where the Mission Police Department joined the pursuit. With police behind him, Beltran approached Business 83 and turned west. He started driving against traffic, dodging oncoming cars. Police took side streets, watching Beltran from a safe distance. He eventually struck another vehicle near the intersection of Miller Avenue and East Tom Landry Street, according to the criminal complaint. Beltran and three passengers in the Pontiac Grand Prix, who weren’t legally present in the United States, suffered minor injuries. They were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Border Patrol took custody of the passengers, who were younger than 18 years old. After doctors evaluated him, police took Beltran to jail. He confessed to transporting the migrants in exchange for money, according to the criminal complaint. Beltran is charged with evading arrest with a vehicle, a third-degree felony, and smuggling of persons, a third-degree felony. Court records don’t list an attorney for Beltran, who remained at the Hidalgo County jail Wednesday and couldn’t be reached for comment.
“You’re the largest employer in that community of 30,000 students.” A concern brought up by some of the staff at LJISD is that other school districts have been actively recruiting students from La Joya and taking them to their program. “More needs to be done in order to promote different programs,” Garcia said. “The programs that you have are excellent. There’s no reason why a student would have to leave the La Joya school district in order to get the programs and the services that they want.” Garcia said that the promotion should not only be done by the district. “We think that your local community partners need to be doing more,” Garcia said. “The cities need to be doing more, government agencies, non-profit agencies need to be doing more, they need to promote the school district
Salinas
MISSION REALTORS SUPPORT BETO SALINAS FOR MISSION MAYOR
Mission Realtors are proud to endorse Beto Salinas for Mayor. During his past terms as Mission Mayor, Beto Salinas has been instrumental in the progressive development of the city of Mission. His leadership is with foresight, vision and planning. Under his watchful eye, the city has built new parks and updated old ones often with grant money that does not cost the tax payers. The city has found matching federal funding for the new construction of new homes or renovations of existing homes for the poorest of Mission residents. A ‘grand’ new events center has been built for the citizens of Mission. New business has come to Mission as a result of hard work by the Mission Economic and Development Corporation. Other achievements include improved police and fire protection, improved infrastructure for storm water drainage, revitalization of the down town area with new sidewalks, lights and plants. And perhaps best of all, our Mayor has brought in new retail and residential growth as a result of his continued practice to keep taxes low. His pledge is to be fiscally responsible to the city that in turn allows him to provide more and new services at the lowest possible cost. He pledges to always put the taxpayer’s interest first. Mayor Salinas believes that low taxes create a business friendly environment which in turn drives growth and prosperity in the community. Since taking office, property taxes have dropped by 21%. During his term of office he has lowered the property tax rate from .63 cents to .48 cents per $100 assessed valuation of property. Lower taxes have helped Mission to become a ‘hot spot’ for shopping and has created a desire for new residents to look for housing within Mission because of the low taxes. Mayor Salinas listens to the citizens of Mission. He publishes his email address and cell number on his ‘Facebook’ page to give citizens a direct line to the top.
MISSION REALTORS SUPPORT BETO SALINAS
Marilyn Hardison Richard Schumack Jose R. A Rodriguez Raquel lsasi Erma Ramientos Hector Cavasos Nacho Pecina Ill Cindy Machac Yanett Rodriguez Jasen Hardison Danny Chapa Zita De La Garza
Luisa Ruiz Gladys Ramos Monica Gonzalez Norie Garza Ronalda Lacayo Octavio Guajardo Karla E. Ramirez Joyce Toombs Lisa Helle Marina Salinas Nacho Pecina Jr Dolly Elizondo
Eddie Gonzalez Esmeralda Salinas Bethy Beas Cris Gonzalez Walt Toombs Daniela Perez Gloria Lowe Hollis Rutledge Duncan Lozano Crystal Rios
POLITICAL AD PAID FOR BY CANDIDATE - 500 E. 9TH ST. MSSION TEXAS
May 25, 2018
obituaries Alicia Alaniz MISSION – Alicia Vera Alaniz, 47, passed away on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at her home in Mission. Mrs. Alaniz was born on June 23, 1970, to Ambrosio Vera and Maria Andrea Lerma in Mission. Survivors include her husband, Homar Alaniz; children, Homar Alaniz Jr., Mario Alaniz, Roman de Jesus Alaniz and Andrea Alaniz; her mother; brother, Ambrosio Vera Jr.; and a grandchild. A funeral mass was held on May 19 at St. John of the Fields Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at La Piedad Cemetery in McAllen. Ramona Gonzalez MISSION – Ramona G. Gonzalez passed away on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. Survivors include her children, Yolanda Gonzalez, Maria Elena Sital, Cynthia Guzman and Macedonio Gonzalez Jr.; and seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. A funeral mass was held on May 18 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission. Alberto Salinas ALTON – Alberto Salinas, 64, passed away on Sunday, May 20, 2018, at McAllen Medical Center. Mr. Salinas was employed as a machinist for 28 years by Aloe Vera of America.
Survivors include his children, Nancy Salinas of Mission, Alberto Salinas Jr. of Alton and Jazmin Salinas of Edinburg; mother, Maria de Jesus Salinas of Mission; siblings, Graciela Becho, Armando Salinas, Olga Lopez, and Saul Salinas; and 24 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Petra Salinas, and father, Fidencio Salinas. A funeral mass was held on May 23 at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Alton. Cremation followed. Morris Sheitelman MISSION – Morris Sheitelman, 91, passed away on Monday, May 14, 2018, at his home in Mission. Mr. Sheitelman was born on Jan. 28, 1927, to Hirsh and Rebecca Sheitelman in Toms River, N.J. He served in the U.S. Navy and moved to McAllen in 1947. He was employed by Southwestern Bell for 38 years and served as a volunteer fireman there. Survivors include his wife, Mary; children, Jamie Carithers, Cyndi Aldrich and Robert Doty Jr .; and four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Frieda Kravitz and Louis and Emanuel Sheiteman. Graveside services were held on May 18 at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission. Jose Silva MISSION – Jose Hilario “Lalo” Silva, 76, passed away on May 18, 2018, in Edinburg. Mr. Silva was born on
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Oct. 21, 1941, to Canuto Silva Carbajal and Tomasita Guajardo. He worked as a sales manager for American General Life & Accident. Survivors include his wife, Olivia Cantu Silva; children, Jorge Silva, Xavier Silva, Juan Silva and Raul Silva; siblings; Manuela Silva, Hortensia Silva, Servando Silva, Maria Silva, Amanda Silva and Gloria Silva; and 11 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Jose Hilario Silva. A funeral service was held on May 22 at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission.
Notices Guadalupe Ibanez MISSION – Guadalupe Cantu Ibanez, 69, passed away on Friday, May 18, 2018, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston. Rodrigo Rocha MISSION – Rodrigo Espinosa Rocha, 64, passed away on Friday, May 18, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Guadalupe Torres PEÑITAS – Guadalupe G. Torres, 70, passed away on Monday, May 21, 2018, at McAllen Medical Center. Jose Torres MISSION – Jose Ernesto Torres, 56, passed away on Monday, May 14, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Rosalio Vasquez LA JOYA – Rosalio A. Hernandez Vasquez, 63, passed away on Friday, May 18, 2018, at his home in La Joya. Alice Wagstrom MISSION – Alice Wagstrom, 87, passed away on Thursday, May 17, 2018, at home in Mission. Joseph Zylla MISSION – Joseph T. Zylla, 93, passed away on Friday, May 18, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.
DOWNTOWN FACADE get to create the Downtown Facade Improvement Program to encourage the upgrade of commercial buildings downtown and increase the area’s economic vitality. As part of the programs, property owners in downtown Mission can apply for a $10,000 matching grant and $3,000 non-matching grant to help owners renovate their exteriors, Meade said. In the last five years, the Mission EDC has funded the refurbishment of more than 40 aging storefronts on Conway Avenue – the City of Mission’s primary street through downtown. The Downtown Facade Improvement Program has enhanced the curb appeal of photo studios, barbershops, insurance agencies, boot stores, pastry shops and other aging buildings along Conway Avenue. These grants are awarded on a competitive first come first serve basis until all downtown facade improvement funds are exhausted for the respective fiscal year, Meade said. In total, the program has disbursed $318,805 to 41 projects on Conway Avenue in the last
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD 2322 N. McColl. - McAllen 682-2092 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 5609 S 29th St. - McAllen 682-4881 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 2Mile & Bryan Rd Mission. CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Missonaries • 580-2570 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH 911 N. Main - McAllen 686-4241 CONWAY AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH 2215 N. Conway • 585-2413 EL FARO BIBLE CHURCH 15 miles W. of Mission on Exp. 83 Sullivan City, TX • 585-5617 EL MESIAS UNITED METHODIST 209 E. 6th • 585-2334 FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH 3 miles N. Shary Rd. • 581-1465 FAITH FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH 1 mile N. Exp. 83 on Tom Gill Rd. 519-6311 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1302 Doherty • 585-1442 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH 12th and Miller - Mission 585-7281 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1102 Ash St. • 585-4829 for worship schedule.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1101 Doherty • 585-1665 FREEDOM LIFE CHURCH 2214 W. Griffin Pkwy. • 519-7000 Mission GRACIA DIVINA MINISTRY 11809 N. Shary Rd. • 584-3112 GREAT OAKS COMMUNITY CHURCH 2722 N. Conway • 451-5500 Mission HERITAGE BAPTIST MCALLEN 2549 Lindbergh Ave. McAllen • 451-6358 IGLESIA ADVENTISTA DEL SEPTIMO DIA 1725 W. Griffin Parkway 581-9008 IGLESIA BAUTISTA BETANIA 851 S. Breyfogle Rd. • 585-5688 IGLESIA BAUTISTA CRISTO EL REY 1600 E. Bus. 83 - Mission IGLESIA BAUTISTA COLONIAL 3713 N. La Homa Rd. • 585-5332 IGLESIA BAUTISTA DEL VALLE 217 W. Mile 3 Rd. • 424-1602 Palmhurst IGLESIA DEL PUEBLO 7500 West Expressway 83 581-1900 IGLESIA DEL DIVINO REDENTOR 1020 North Los Ebanos Rd 585-5898
IGLESIA PENTECOSTES NUEVA VIDA A/G 211 W. Mile 3 Road Palmhurst • 956-342-9711 Rev. Candelario Banda
LA RESPUESTA CHURCH 405 W. 12th Street • 585-0787 MISSION CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 1 mi. E. 495 • 585-6683 NEW HOPE AT THE BORDER 905 N. Conway • 369-3603 NORTH MISSION CHURCH OF CHRIST 1410 E. Mile 3 Rd. • 585-0146 Palmhurst NORTH PALMVIEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH 7612 W. 6 Mile Ln. ONLY THRU JESUS 1511 E. Mile 2 Rd. Mission • 918-760-1625 OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS One-half mile South Leo Avenue La Joya • 585-5223 OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHURCH 6634 El Camino Real • Granjeno OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH 2.5 miles S. Conway (FM 1016) Mission OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH 620 Dunlap • 585-2623 OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY CHURCH 923 Matamoros St. • 581-2193 PALM VALLEY CHURCH 1720 E. Griffin Pkwy. 585-3203 PEÑITAS BAPTIST CHURCH 1/3 Mile S. of Exp.83 on FM 1427 583-6236 PRIMERA BAPTIST CHURCH Corner of 6th & Oblate 585-4711
EDINBURG – Kids from toddlers to age 13 can dive into the wonders of nature and learn about animals and plants in the outdoor world through hands-on activities, exploration, arts and crafts and more in camps this summer at the Edinburg World Birding Center, 714 S. Raul Longoria Road. Tots Nature Camp is designed for toddlers age 1 to 3 and their parents. It offers an opportunity for parent and toddler to spend time together and learn about nature under guided supervision. The camp runs from June 26 to 28 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. each day. The fee is $10 for
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
from pg 1 five years, and local business have invested an additional $214,480 of their own funds into building and storefront improvements. Norma Delgado has two properties that are being renovated under the program, she said. The properties are at the Paloma Blanca Adult Daycare located at 1020 N. Conway Avenue and the vacant lot right next door, which used to be the Pizza Di Roma restaurant before she closed it down 9 years ago. Delgado said she first heard of the program from Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas who convinced her to apply for the grant. “It seemed like a good idea because the facade needed work and anything that helps the city’s downtown area look better helps to improve it,” Delgado said. Both of Delgado’s lots will receive new awnings, windows and a new paint job with help from the grant, Delgado said. She is renovating the empty lot next to her daycare because she plans to use it to expand Paloma Blanca, she said. “The buildings were
made years ago and weren’t in good conditions,” Delgado said. “It just wasn’t attractive for tourists and potential customers so I’m hoping that once the renovations are done in two weeks, we’ll have contributed to helping Mission grow.” Ultimately, Meade hopes that the Downtown Facade Improvement Program attracts the kind of businesses that will make even residents want to frequent. “Ideally, we’d love to attract a nice restaurant downtown like Salt or House Wine or Rooselvelt’s at 7, any kind of business that makes you want to visit downtown.” Meade said. “Once that is accomplished the city’s downtown center will have a larger presence in the city. It’s taking us time to get there but I know we will.” To apply for the Downtown Facade Improvement Program, interested property owners can stop by the MEDC office located inside the Mission Center for Education and Economic Development at 801 N. Bryan Road.
Sign up underway for EWBC summer camps
ChurCh DireCtory BREAD OF LIFE CHURCH 2820 N. Conway Ave. • 581-1411
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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
EWBC members and $14 for nonmembers. Naturally Creative Camp is for children ages 6 to 9. From building forts to painting with mud, this camp is about creativity, having fun and play. Children will discover the fun of nature through interactive play and activities designed to get their brains thinking and their hands dirty. The camp runs July 10 to 13 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. each day. The fee is $28 for EWBC members and $32 for nonmembers. Children ages 9 to 13 can join the Photo Nature Camp led by professional nature
photographer Ruth Hoyt. Campers will learn the basics of cameras and photography, including focusing, lighting and composition. The camp runs July 16 to 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The fee is $150. Cameras will be provided for use during the camp. Registration for all camps is required as space is limited. The registration deadline for each camp is one week prior to commencement, and full payment is due two days prior to the camp. For more information call 956-3819922.
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MEMORIAL CEREMONY
Chapel and municipal park, was followed by a lunch for those in attendance. Ruby Martinez, from the Texas Department of Transportation, was the master of ceremonies for the event. She spoke about the sacrifices police officers make in order to serve and protect the community. “When duty calls, they drop everything and they respond,” Martinez said. “They give up on so much of their family lives to serve and to protect. Thank you to their families as well, for allowing them to do their jobs. Most importantly, thank you for doing a job most of us couldn’t do.” The Mission PD Color Guard did the presentation of colors, and the Mission High School Choir sang the National Anthem for those in attendance. Ramiro J. Rodriguez, Jr., the Mayor of Palmhurst, read a proclamation about National Police Week, and how they plan on upholding it in the city. “The members of the law enforcement agency of the Palmhurst Police Department play an essential role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Palmhurst,” Ramiro Rodriguez said. “It is important that all citizens understand the problems, duties and responsibilities of their police department, and the members of the police department recognize the duty to serve the people by safeguarding the lives and property by protecting them against violence or disorder, and by protecting the innocent against deception and the weak against oppression or intimidation.” Ramiro Rodriguez was proud of how the ceremony came together, and hoped its message would reach the en-
SHARYLAND WATER
the celebration of the water corporation’s 50th anniversary, held Tuesday at the company’s headquarters at 4210 E. Main Ave. in Alton. Among those in attendance were officials from the cities of Alton, Palmhurst and representatives from the offices of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, State Representative Bobby Guerra, Se. Ted Cruz and Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa. Hinojosa presented a resolution to the corporation that recognized the water corporation for all their years of service. “The growth in the Valley depends on clean water that our families rely on. Today, [Sharyland Water Supply Corp.] provides 18,000 connections to a population of 17,000 people to become one of the largest water supply corporations in the state,” Hinojosa said. “They’ve played a vital role in ensuring people in rural areas in the county have access to
tire Valley. Michael Vela, the Palmhurst Chief of Police, spoke about the importance of the ceremony and why it is honored every year. “This year we pay tribute to extraordinary individuals whose stories are a testament to the bravery, patriotism and valor of America’s law enforcement officers at every level,” Vela said. “Their names are now permanently carved into a memorial, and into our hearts, as a reminder of their supreme sacrifice.” Vela said that police officers all come from diverse backgrounds and upbringings, but were joined in life through their service and call to duty. “Today we celebrate and remember all that they were, all that they did and all that they stood for during the precious years we were privileged to have their service, protection, friendship and their love,” Vela said. “May God bless the memories of those we lost, and those who continue to serve.” The special guest speaker for the service was McAllen Chief of Police Victor Rodriguez, who started his speech with an impassioned thanks to all veterans who have served in the United States Military in some way. “We’re able to gather this way, we call this the right to assemble,” Victor Rodriguez said. “We enjoy this because many, many, many moons ago, this was the vision of our founders. So they came here to create this opportunity. And since that time, there have been many men and women who have given their lives fighting here and abroad to preserve this ability.” Victor Rodriguez spoke about the significant impact police officers have, and
May 25, 2018 from pg 1
their role in the community they take an oath to serve. He told a story about how, at a coffee shop he frequents, he recently met two women from Mexico who were surprised to see a police officer out and about without any protection or security, and could be approached freely by civilians. “That’s who we are in the United States of America,” Victor Rodriguez said. “That’s what that thin blue line brings, that confidence in our system of government, that confidence in our public safety system.” The ceremony included recognitions of fallen officers read by Mission PD Chief Robert Dominguez, Precinct 3 Constable Lazaro Gallardo, Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. Guerra, McAllen PD Chief Victor Rodriguez, San Juan PD Chief Juan Gonzalez and Texas Department of Public Safety Lieutenant Jimmy Davidson. Palmhurst’s service ended with a performance of “TAPS” by Veterans Memorial High School’s Guillermo De La Cruz, followed by “Amazing Grace,” played with bagpipes by the Pharr Fire Department Honor Guard. “It takes a strong and brave person to deal with the things they do on a daily basis,” Martinez said. “They have to make quick decisions in life or death situations, and there is never a guarantee that their decision is the right one. A police officer is able to handle the pressure to make the best decision in that moment. Not many people can knowingly put their lives in danger like these men and women do.”
from pg 1 clean water.” For Dahlberg, the anniversary is momentous, as she has been with the water supply corporation for over 40 years. In 1976, she got a job with the corporation as a clerk and eventually moved her way up as general manager. “It’s been a natural progression for me, it feels like I’ve grown up here and been part of everything that’s been good, difficult and worked through them,” Dahlberg said. “I feel very blessed to be part of such an important, relevant organization in this county.” Dahlberg reflected on the 50 years of growth for her corporation, which opened a third water treatment plant January 2016 near the intersection of Mile 6 and Los Ebanos Rd. “I could not imagine this area would grow to the size it is, we’ve always lived in a small area but we are fully prepared for an ever chang-
ing growth,” Dahlberg said. “It’s been 50 years of growth and challenges and we have been dedicated to meet the drinking water needs of our community.” Ultimately, Dahlberg said, the corporation is getting ready for more growth as the water treatment plants have the capacity for up to 6,000 new connections. “As all the land we have for agriculture and citrus in the area start turning into developments, we’ll be adding more customers and services and look at another facility once the existing systems grow out,” Dahlberg said. “It’s very rewarding seeing people acknowledge all the hard work everyone has put in in these last 50 years as important to the community. We have great expectations for doing everything the community needs in terms of water service whether it means business, residential or medical, we are committed to taking care of them.”
Sunday Service Times: Adult Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 10:30 AM Wednesday Services: Adults, Teens, Kids 7:00 PM
May 25, 2018
theclassifieds buy • sell • trade • rent • hire
this page is your oyster opening up to a world of opportunity For Rent
NEW MISSION HOUSE, 1502 Dunlap Ave. Mission, 3Bdrm/ 2Ba, BV/ CA/H, 2 car carport, fenced, no pets, no bills included, available now, walking distance to Mission High School, $1200/ mo., $1200 deposit, call 956-369-0732. ONE BEDROOM APT. for rent at $400.00, we pay the water bill, located at 1312 N.
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Dunlap in Mission, TX 78572, for more information call Dalinda Garza at 956-821-4699. For Sale HOT POINT 24 cu.ft. refrigerator, two door, top freezer, beige, in good condition, asking $150, call 956-5815295 for more information. 90 ACRE ON Bryan Rd., Mission, TX, to be sold at a US Treasury Dept. Pub-
LEGAL NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Wine and Beer Retailers Permit by El Relajo Restaurante Bar and Grill, to be located at 7123 N. Bentsen Palm Dr., Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas. Owner of said corporation is Ricardo Sauceda Jr.
Now
lic Auction on Tues. 6/5 at 10 AM, located near the West Addition to Sharyland w/ electricity, water, pipe fencing & more! INSPECT: Sun. 5/27 & 6/3 from 1-4, www.treas.gov/auctions/treasury/rp or call 703-273-7373. LIVING ROOM (2 sofas) plus 2 end ta-
1 Week = $7.00 2 Weeks = $10.00 4 Weeks = $14.00
bles, 1 cocktail table & 1 sofa table $850 OBO; dining set plus china, 2 arm chairs plus 4 regular chairs, $850 OBO; 2 accessory chairs $140 for both OBO, call 956-445-7562, leave message/ text if no answer. RESTORE LUXURIOUS COAT and
LEGAL NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Wine and Beer Retailers Permit by The Bab, LLC, dba Han’s Katsuya Restaurant, to be located at 600 N. Shary Rd. Suite #D, Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas. Owner of said corporation is Junduck Han.
PUBLIC NOTICE The Boys & Girls Club of Mission will hold a public hearing on June 6th at 12 p.m. at the Mission Boys & Girls Club 209 W. 18th St. Mission, TX 78572 to consider the following:
HIRING Mr. G’s Fireworks
AMENDING “SECTION V ADMENDMENTS” OF THE BYLAWS AS FOLLOWS “These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed at any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at such a meeting.”
Call: (956) 399-3469
Anyone interested is invited to attend. Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
is looking for responsible persons to operate fireworks stand. Must stay on premises & be over 21 years of age.
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.
Classified Rate:
treat fleas & ticks on dogs & cats with Paracide shampoo, Border Enterprises, 956-487-2570, (fleabeacon.com)
Help Wanted NOW HIRING A/C & Refrigeration Technicians, minimum of 3 years experience, call All Tech Heating and
The State of Texas County of Hidalgo
Cooling, 3308.
956-519-
Services ROSEMARY’S HAIR SALON, special men’s haircut $4 and women
haircuts $5 and up, special also for 55+, perms $35 and up, 1003 Lee St., Mission, open Mon.-Sat., 9:30am5pm, call for your appointment today 956-458-8254.
CONSTABLE’S SALE
Notice is Hereby Given that by virtue of a certain Order of Sale For Delinquent Taxes issued out of the HONORABLE 430th District Court HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, on the 20th of April, 2018, for the sum of $10,216.39 with interest thereon at the rate of 11.9% per annum from the 21st of March, 2016 and cost of suit, under a judgment in favor of TEXAS TAX SOLUTION II, LLC in a certain cause in said court, No. C-2101-15-J and styled Texas Tax Solution II, LLC vs. Erasmo Vargas, Olga A. Vargas; and CITIFINANCIAL, INC. (IN REM ONLY) and placed in my hands for service on the 3rd day of May, 2018, I, Lazaro Gallardo Jr., as Constable Pct.3 Hidalgo County, Texas, did on the 3rd of May, 2018, levy on real property in Hidalgo County, Texas, described as follows, to-wit Lot nine (9), Prairie View Heights, Phase I, Hidalgo County, Texas, as per Map or Plat thereof recorded in volume 29, Page 55, Map Records, Hidalgo County, Texas. And levied upon as property of Erasmo Vargas, Olga A. Vargas; and CITIFINANCIAL, INC. (In Rem Only) and that on the first Tuesday in June 2018, the same being the 5th day of said month, at the court house door of Hidalgo County, TEXAS in the City of Edinburg, Texas, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (sale starts at 10:00 a.m.) by virtue of said levy and said writ of execution, I will sell said above described real property at public venue for cash, to the highest bidder, as the property of said Erasmo Vargas, Olga A. Vargas; and CITIFINANCIAL, INC. (IN REM ONLY) and in compliance with the law, I give this notice by publication, in the English language, once a week for three consecutive weeks immediately proceeding said day of sale, in The Progress Times a newspaper published in Hidalgo County.
Witness my hand, this 7th day of May, 2018 Lazaro Gallardo, Jr. CONSTABLE PCT.3 Hidalgo County, Texas
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MCISD ACADEMICS
from pg 1
school’s Band Hall and mariachi room. Dr. Sharon Roberts, MCISD Director for Advanced Academics, UIL [University Interscholastic League] and College Readiness, has been in charge of the event since its inception. “What’s been really great is seeing the kids who have inspired us as educators to want to provide more opportunities,” Roberts said. “They all participate, work hard through the year to get their research, make their products and are able to communicate.” Roberts said that students are prepared and ready to show what they have accomplished to their peers and parents. “I think they get excited about coming and showcasing what they’ve done,” Roberts said. “It brings the parents and the community
members in, and they can see what our kids are capable of.” The administrator noted that some parents and residents in the Mission area may not realize just how much work and dedication Mission CISD students put into their academic projects every year. “I’m amazed at what some of our students can do, they teach me a lot,” Roberts said. “And I think with the community, they see that too. It’s different seeing what our kids can produce, rather just having it in theory.” Roberts was incredibly proud of the MCISD robotics teams. Being relatively new to the district, she credits hardworking students and coaches for already making it far in competition. “It really inspires everybody,” Roberts said. “The
parents really enjoy it, and that’s what it’s about, it’s a learning opportunity for everybody.” Alma Garza, a teacher at Alton Elementary School, was one of the many MCISD employees in attendance. She said that she was proud of the immense talent exhibited, and saw it as a great chance for students to grow in several aspects. “The kids get to show off what they do in the classroom, and they get so excited,” Garza said. “And coming to show it to their parents and the community is just awesome for them.” Garza said that parents get especially excited, and enjoy taking pictures and listening to students discuss their projects. According to her, students will gain important skills through these types of events.
“They’ll know the need to research,” Garza said. “If they need to find out something, if they want to learn about something, they have to do the research, and they have to explain, and that’s the way they’re going to learn about what they need to learn.” Alexis Treviño, a student at VMHS, did her presentation on a potential career path - becoming a physician’s assistant. She got her inspiration from her aunt, who works as a PA. “I just really love helping people,” Treviño said. “I want to be in the medical field, and this was one of my options.” For Treviño, who has participated in the Advanced Academic Services Fair before, gathering the information and research as well as interviewing her aunt about the profession took about a month. She spoke about their
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contributions in medicine. “Patients say that they improve the quality of health care, they make appointments easier and they are trusted healthcare providers,” Treviño said. “I believe that without a physician assistant, society wouldn’t be where it is right now because people are always getting sick, and they always need someone to go to.” Hundreds of parents attended the Advanced Academic Services Fair, including Isabel Salinas. Two of her children were presenting at the fair, one of which is a team captain for Kenneth White Junior High’s robotics team, the Metalhawks. “It’s a big outpour of parents and they get a lot of information, and the kids work so hard the whole school year,” Salinas said. “It has a lot of information that the students and parents can benefit from.”
She said her son has learned a lot since joining the K. White Metalhawks, and what he takes from the experience will benefit him in the long run. “He’s gotten so much out of his comfort zone,” Salinas said. “He’s been able to speak up and be a leader for the team. It has a lot of science involved, and he wants to be a pharmacist, so I think that combining science and pharmacy, it’s going to help him combine both to be able to help him with what he wants to pursue in the future.” For Roberts, the fair was a success that contributes to the educational environment hoping to encourage Mission students and educators to “change the world.” “Our teachers go above and beyond,” Roberts said. “And our students thrive.”
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A. Salinas. During every election cycle, the Elections Department surveys polling places for potential accessibility problems and makes adjustments where required, Salinas said. Along with curbside voting, the fire department had ramps and other accommodations for voters with physical disabilities. The state inspector also witnessed problems with the Sullivan City voting machines, which apparently suffered a “loss of connection,” according to the report. Workers attempted to fix the problem by restarting the machine and changing cables. When they couldn’t fix the machine, workers called the Elections Department, which dispatched a technician. “During the time the units were down, where (sic) at least one voter left the premises as he chose NOT to wait,” according to the report. “Then a candidate came up to find out what the problem is and why voters were not able to cast their votes.” The Elections Department disputed that assessment. “There's no record of
someone stating ‘Oh, I don't want to wait, I'm leaving,’” Salinas said, adding that one voting machine had a problem and another machine remained available. The Elections Department received a call about the voting machine at 10:39 a.m. on May 5 and sent a technician to fix the problem, Salinas said. After driving from Edinburg to Sullivan City, the technician replaced the faulty machine at about 11:30 a.m. A broken cable port caused the problem, Salinas said. “But no people were turned away, at all, because there was another machine there where they could cast their ballot,” Salinas said. Neither Sullivan City Mayor Leo Garcia nor utility district Director Ivan Sandoval said he heard any complaints from voters. Sandoval said he called the Elections Department when the voting machine stopped working, which caused a short delay. “They told me that she had to wait,” Sandoval said, adding that the voter cast her ballot on the other machine.
MAY
SPECIALS
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Beto Salinas is the most qualified and experienced person to run the City of Mission. During his tenure, our taxes have never increased and yet the city has flourished. Beto understands the importance of keeping good records and of dealing congenially with the public. He is honest, reliable, and committed to work the long hours needed to take care of our city. I am giving my support to Beto Salinas. -- Amador Requenez
Experience counts! Vote Beto for Mayor!
-- Richard Walsh
Mayor Beto Salinas, Patrick Landrey, Ed Rodgers, Robert “Bob” Schoon and Charles Lea
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