Progress www.ptrgv.com
Friday, November 2, 2018
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Vol. 47 - #11
Your Hometown Newspaper, Bringing Communities Together.
This year, Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 AM Sunday, November 4.
Sgt. Fieldy named Military Hero Dog of the Year
INSIDE
Ted Cruz visits Mission
McAllen native Corporal Nick Caceres and his K-9 brother reunited in 2014, and are still going strong By Jamie Treviño
The incumbent candidate for Texas Senator recently held a campaign rally in the city of Mission this week. Jose De Leon III has the latest on the event and what happened during his visit, as well as local early voting numbers.
See Pg. 12
Mission Amnesty period
After being deployed to Afghanistan four different times with the U.S. Marine Corps, Sergeant Fieldy is enjoying retirement with his second handler, Corporal Nick Caceres, and his family. Sgt. Fieldy was recently named the 2018 Military Hero Dog of the Year by the American Humane Association, and he and Caceres were flown to New York City for the awards ceremony and an appearance on the Today Show. In 2010, Sgt. Fieldy, who had already been deployed once, met Caceres in South Carolina while in training with a group of specialized units created to combat IEDs (improvised explosive devices) in Afghanistan. “Fieldy is just like someone I served with,” Caceres said. “That experience, the things that we went through, we went through it together,
so it’s a bond just like brothers in arms, it’s the same connection, it’s just that he’s
a K-9.” Originally planning on choosing a different dog to
work with, Caceres said that during a demonstration given by the K-9s there, Sgt.
Fieldy stood out as the clear choice. While stationed, their job was to look for IEDs. “We were there to be in front of the patrol,” Caceres said. “And Fieldy led the way.” If they were patrolling in vehicles and spotted anything questionable, Caceres would send Fieldy to double check and see what it was. Sgt. Fieldy would sniff out and source any potential explosive devices and signal to Caceres. “When he got the scent [of IEDs and explosives] that we worked with, he would pinpoint it,” Caceres said. “When he found where it was coming from, he would lay down on top of it, looking at me, and that would let me know that’s where it’s at.” Sgt. Fieldy wouldn’t get off the spot until Caceres called him back, gave him
Corporal Nick Caceres and Sergeant Fieldy while serving in Afghanistan in 2011 (left) and them today (right). Photos courtesy of Facebook.
See DOG OF THE YEAR Pg. 14
White Cane Walk & Resources Fiesta held After resignations, La Joya hires new fire chief to rebuild in Mission for the first time
The city of Mission Municipal Court will be making an amnesty period available to the public from Nov. 5 through 17. More details about the program, as well as Municipal Court Week, can be found inside.
See Pg. 4
SPORTS VMHS Volleyball
VMHS volleyball has earned their seventh bi-district championship and are moving on in the state playoffs. Bryan Ramos has more information about what their goals are and what they hope to achieve.
See Pg. 6
INDEX Entertainment...... pg. 2 Sports....................... pg. 6 Lifestyle.................pg. 10 Obituaries............pg. 11 Classifieds..............pg.13
By Jamie Treviño Mission residents got to experience walking while “blind” for the first time outside the Parks and Recreation Center and Mission CEED building last Saturday. The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) held their 8th annual White Cane Walk and Resources Fiesta for the blind and visually impaired for the first time in Mission last weekend. The event drew crowds from all over the Rio Grande Valley, and included the participation of about 20 vendors. Macarena Peña, the president of the RGV Chapter of the NFB, was excited to hold
the gathering in Mission and observe how it would open up new possibilities for the visually impaired in the city.
“We want to reach out to the blind community, we
See WHITE CANE WALK Pg.13
Mayor Armando O’caña and other participants of the white cane walk participating during the White Cane Walk & Resources Fiesta for the Blind and Visually Impaired last Saturday. Progress Times photo by Jamie Treviño.
Sullivan City hires former Palmview city manager as consultant by Dave Hendricks The Sullivan City Commission hired former Palmview City Manager Ramon Segovia on Tuesday. Sullivan City will pay him $3,000 per month for consulting services, according to the proposal Segovia submitted. He agreed to work a minimum of 10 hours per week. “He’s very easy to get along with,” said police Chief Richard Ozuna. “Very easy to work with.” Sullivan City depends
Ramon Segovia on Ozuna, who doubles as the interim city manager, and City Secretary Veronica
“Vero” Gutierrez, who doubles as the municipal court supervisor, to handle a dizzying array of duties. They’re responsible for everything from purchasing and payroll to economic development and drainage. Segovia — who spent nearly 17 years working for Palmview, including four as city manager — will lighten the load, tackling projects assigned by Ozuna and the City Commission.
See SULLIVAN CITY Pg. 3
by Dave Hendricks Roughly a month after La Joya firefighters resigned en masse, leaving the all-volunteer department largely defunct, the city hired a new chief on Wednesday. The La Joya City Commission hired Frankie Joe Salinas, 43, of Edinburg — a driver for the Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department — on Wednesday afternoon. “He’s willing to come to us, recruit and work hard for the city of La Joya,” said Mayor Jose A. “Fito” Salinas. Frankie Salinas faces a daunting task. His predecessor, Fire Chief Leroy Salinas, resigned Sept. 30 to join the Peñitas Volunteer Fire Department. The La Joya volunteers followed Leroy Salinas, leaving the city in the lurch. Frankie Salinas will start over from scratch, recruiting new volunteers and rebuilding the department. “I’m excited,” Frankie Salinas said, adding that he wants to bring new ideas to La Joya, including public education about fire prevention and hands-on training for volunteers. “There’s going to be a lot of training.” Frankie Salinas joined the Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department after graduating from high school. “But prior to that I was a
Frankie Joe Salinas
fire boy scout for the city of Edinburg,” Frankie Salinas said. “So I was actually in the ninth grade when I got involved with the fire service.” The volunteer job, though, didn’t pay. Frankie Salinas supported himself by working for Hidalgo County, taking jobs with the Motor Vehicle Department, the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office and the District Clerk’s Office. Edinburg eventually offered him a full-time job in May 2011. He spent five years inspecting commercial buildings and investigating fires before taking a driver position. “I’ve always liked serving the community,” Frankie Salinas said, adding that he views firefighting as public service. When he heard La Joya
See NEW FIRE CHIEF Pg. 8
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LOCATIONS IN
LA JOYA • PALMVIEW
page 2
November 2, 2018
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Coming Attractions
November 2 • The Phoenix Gallery, 10 S. Main St. in McAllen, presents a Día de los Muertos art exhibit from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. with artwork by 16 different artists. There will be complementary beverages and appetizers, along with live music. • The Old Hidalgo Pumphouse, 902 S. 2nd St. in Hidalgo, will present a Dia de los Muertos celebration from 4 to 10 p.m.. A parade will kick off the celebration at 4 p.m. The parade route will end at the Pumphouse with the festival. There will also be food, arts, crafts, decorated altars and entertainment. To participate, or for more information, call 956-8438686. November 2-3 • The McAllen International Airport and McAllen Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the McAllen Mexican Cultural Center, are showcasing presentations on the ornately decorated altars created for “Dia de los Muertos,” or “Day of the Dead” in the airport lobby. The Center will do special presentations at the altars on Friday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 3, at 10 and 11 a.m. and 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 p.m. November 2-5 • The PSJA Southwest Theatre presents “Willy Wonka” by Robert Dahl at the school at 300 E. Rancho Blanco Rd., in Pharr. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Monday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children and can be purchased at the door. For more information, call 956-354-2480. November 3 • The World Championship Shrimp Cook-off’s 25th annual celebration will be held on Hwy. 100 at Southerland’s parking lot from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Port Isabel. In addition to world famous shrimp recipes and family entertainment, there will be vendors with original artwork, gifts and collectibles, live music by “The Agency” and activities for kids of all ages. Admission is $5 per person and children 10 years of age and under are $2. • The La Noche de la Guitarra performance, part of the UTRGV Patron of the Arts special event series, begins at 7 p.m. at the TSC Performing Arts Center, 90 Taylor Ave. in Brownsville. Admission is $10 and $5 for seniors and students. For special accommodations, call 956-882-7025 November 3-4 • The La Joya High School Academy Coyote Theatre presents “The Witches,” written by David Wood and Road Dahl, at the Alejandro “Alex” H. Saenz Performing Arts Center, 604 N. Coyote Drive. w w Show times are 2 and 5 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $7 general admission and available online at lajoyaisdtr.eventbrite.com. For events information, contact Nanette Limas at 956-323-2898. November 4 & 11 • The UTRGV faculty artist series presents “A Classical Celebration” featuring works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert at 3 p.m. at the TSC Performing Arts Center, 90 Taylor Ave. in Brownsville, on Nov. 4. It will be repeated at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W. University Drive in Edinburg, at 3 p.m. on Nov. 11. Admission is free. For special accommodations, call 956-882-7025. November 5-6 • The UTRGV School of Music’s Patron of the Arts Series hosts American guitarist Andrew Zohn at 7 p.m. at the TSC
Fine Arts Center, 90 Taylor Ave. in Brownsville, and on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W. University Dr. in Edinburg. Tickets are available for $10 general admission and $5 seniors and students online at patron. utrgv.edu. November 6 • The UTRGV Brass and Woodswinds Ensemble presents clarinetist Jonathan Guist at 7 p.m. at the TSC Arts Center, 90 Taylor Ave. in Brownsville. Admission is free. November 7 • Singer, songwriter and cellist Gabriel Royal will be in concert at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W. University Dr. in Edinburg. Royal is influenced by Stevie Wonder, Burt Bacharach and John Legend with a relaxed and jazzy feel. Tickets, $10 general admission and $5 for seniors and students, are available online at patron.utrgv.edu. • The UTRGV Night of Percussion Student Ensemble Series begins at 7 p.m. at the TSC Performing Arts Center, 90 Taylor Ave. in Brownsville. General admission is $5. November 7-11 • The 25th Annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in Harlingen will be a five-day event, offering 120 field trips for birding enthusiasts, keynotes and presentations, a large trade show, free family activities, silent auction and Texas-friendly socials. There will be a pre-trip to Laredo and post trip to El Cielo Biosphere Reserve. For more information, go to rgvbf. org or call 956-423-5565. November 9-10 • Mariachi Juvenil Aztlan will hold two concerts at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W. University Dr. in Edinburg. Performances are 7 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for seniors and students and can be purchased at tickets.vendini. com. November 9-11 • “The Addams Family – a Musical” will be presented by the Palmview High School Lobo Theatre on Friday at 7 p.m,; Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 general admission and available online at lajoyaisdtr. eventbrite.com. For events information, contact Nanette Limas at 956-323-2898. November 10 • The Upper Valley Art League will host the opening of the UVAL Members Exhibition with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. The exhibition will be on view through Dec. 1. The event is free and open to the public. For information, call 956-5832787 or email uval.texas@gmail.com. • Singer Marc Anthony returns to the Rio Grande Valley for a performance at 8 p.m. at Bert Ogden Arena, 4900 S. I-69, Edinburg. Tickets are available at bertogdenarena.com and at the H-E-B Park box office. Call 956-562-7362 for information. • The Sunset Live concert begins at 6 p.m. at the Oval Park outside of the McAllen Convention Center. Featuring regional and national bands ranging in style from Indie to Blues playing on one stage it includes outdoor activities, food trucks, beverages and local artisans. For more information on the full line-up and concert series, visit mcallenconventioncenter.net. November 10-11 • Harlingen Community Theatre presents “Forever Plaid: The Heavenly Musical” at 1209 Fair Park Blvd., Harlingen. When four young singers are killed in a car crash, they posthumously take the stage for one final gig in this goofy, 1950’s nostalgia trip. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students (under 18). Box office hours are listed at harlingencommunitytheatre.org. For more information call 956-412-7529. (For more Coming Attractions, go to ptrgv.com)
Honoring the departed at MOSTHistory
EDINBURG – Learn more about the offerings used in altars based on the traditions of Meso-Americans and Catholicism during the “Día de los Muertos: Calaveras y Ofrendas” celebration at the Museum of South Texas History, 200 N. Closner, on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event will highlight the traditions of celebrating and honoring the deceased through a community altar exhibit, which will be on display through Nov. 18.
The vibrant and festive centerpiece is an altar sponsored by the museum’s Collections Department. The altar will feature photographs of unidentified persons from the museum collection, which are currently housed in the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives. Those nameless individuals will not only be honored and remembered but are a reminder of the importance of preservation practices and the need See DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Pg. 5
New UVAL programs announced
After multiple requests from artists with jobs, attending school, etc., the Upper Valley Art League is expanding their fiber arts program to include an ongoing evening group for fiber, weaving, crochet and knitting. The new Evening Fiber Group begins meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13, and will be meeting each Tuesday thereafter from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Art Link. UVAL is housed in the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center Patricia Ballinger will be the facilitator. UVAL members can also join in a life drawing group that begins this Saturday, Nov. 3. The group will meet in the ceramics area from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $10 to pay models. Members
should bring their own lunch or snacks. Sessions will be held Nov. 3, 17 and 14 and Dec. 8, 15 and 22. Dates for 2019 will be announced at a later time. For questions and information, contact the life drawing facilitator Katherine Robinson via email at katrobin1@yahoo.com. All UVAL members, or those who want to become a UVAL member, are welcome to participate in the two programs. To become a member, stop by the UVAL gallery, 921 E. 12th in Mission or call 956-583-2787. Membership is based on the calendar year, and dues are $50 for a family, $30 for adults, $12.50 for students and free for children.
McALLEN – The McAllen Music Club will once again host a free concert of the Camarata Cellist on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 3 p.m., at Valley Keyboards Music Store, 900 Harvey in McAllen. Camarata Cellist is a group of young musicians from across the Rio Grande Valley performing under the direction of Benjamin Ponder, principal cellist for the Valley Symphony Orchestra and string instructor at Brown Middle School, with the McAllen I.S.D. The free concert features a wide range of music styles with the following music selections: The Easy Win-
ners - Scott Joplin, Canyon Sunset - John Caponegro, Shenandoah - arranged by David Shaffer, Pavane pour une infante défunte - Maurice Ravel, Bachianas Brasileiras No.1 - Movement 2: Preludio (Modinha) - Heitor Villa-Lobos, Ave Verum Corpus - Wolfgang A. Mozart, Yesterday - Paul McCartney, and Tango - Carole Neuen-Rabinowitz. Donations to the McAllen Music Club’s scholarship fund will be accepted. The scholarships are awarded to deserving high school students who will pursue a music degree after graduation.
Next Camarata Cellist concert is Nov. 4
GO City of Palmhurst
Special Election for Palmhurst Police Department
EARLY VOTING:
October 22 - November 2 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
ELECTION DAY:
Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Location:
Faith Baptist Church 4301 N. Shary Rd., Palmhurst, TX 78573
a Musical Presented by Palmview HS Lobo Theatre
November 9, 7pm November 10, 2 & 7pm November 11, 2pm
Ticket Information:
$7 General Admission Pre-sale Tickets Online Only http://lajoyaisdtr.eventbrite.com/
Alejandro “Alex” H. Sáenz Performing Arts Center FOR MORE INFORMATION
(956) 323-2898
604 N. Coyote Drive La Joya, Texas 78560
For further information please contact Chief Michael Vela at
956-239-0011
Your
Vote Co unts.
“THIS IS NOT A PROPERTY TAX” “THIS IS NOT A PROPERTY TAX” “THIS IS NOT A PROPERTY TAX”
November 2, 2018
page 3
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Elect Coach Pamela Flores La Joya ISD School Board Place 2
Election Day - November 6, 2018 Trust that every decision made by me will be in the best interest of your child. • I want to be the voice of everyone who feels change is not possible. • I want to make sure every student leaves La Joya with the same passion as I did when I graduated back in 1987.
Change can happen! Let’s make it happen! La Joya is my home. The children are our future. God is good … Si se puede! Political ad paid by candidate
Donations from attorneys fuel Team Un1ted campaign for La Joya ISD school board by Dave Hendricks
The Team Un1ted candidates for La Joya school board collected more than half their campaign cash from attorneys. Team Un1ted — incumbent school board Trustee Johnn Alaniz, former school board Trustee Espie Ochoa and businesswoman Nereyda Cantu — reported donations worth about $71,000 from Aug. 27 to Oct. 29, according to campaign finance reports filed with the district. Attorneys donated nearly $39,000, more than half the total haul. “People have opened up to us and said ‘Hey, how can we help out?’” Alaniz said, adding that Team Un1ted accepted financial and in-kind donations from many supporters, including attorneys. Donations from the attorneys, however, provided a major boost. Attorney Jaime “Jerry” Muñoz, who represents the school district, is the biggest donor to Team Un1ted since August, according to the campaign finance reports. He forked over $13,000. Along with advising the school district, Muñoz serves as justice of the peace for Hidalgo County Precinct 2
Place 2. He declined to comment on the donations. Amarillo-based law firm Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott, which collects delinquent property taxes for the school district, donated $12,500 to Team Un1ted. “We support good government,” said attorney Hiram Gutierrez, a partner at the firm. “And we believe those candidates will be good for the school district.” Perdue competes with Austin-based Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson for delinquent tax collection contracts. Both firms make hefty campaign donations, attempting to curry favor with school board trustees. Linebarger made in-kind donations to Team Un1ted, according to the campaign finance reports. The law firm donated signs worth nearly $5,000 in September and spent about $3,300 on a mailer for the Team Un1ted candidates in October. “They’ve been friends of ours over the years,” Alaniz said, adding that an attorney from Linebarger called and asked how he could help. Other attorneys made smaller donations to Team Un1ted. Austin-based law firm O’Hanlon, Demerath and
Castillo, which represents $35,000 from her own pocket the school district, donat- during the past two months, ed $3,000 to Team Un1ted according to her campaign candidates. Attorneys for the finance reports. firm handle public informa“I’ve been very blessed by tion requests and issues that God and my businesses, and require expertise in educa- now I have the opportunity tion law. to give back to the commuTeam Un1ted also at- nity,” Hernandez said. “I’m tracted significant financial doing this, my fundraising, support from political con- on my own,” sultant Mike Robledo and Hernandez said she’s public relations consultant troubled by Team Un1ted Karina Cardoza. They donat- accepting money from attored $5,000 through a compa- neys and vendors who work ny called Absolute Business for the school district. Consulting Group and an“I just see it as wrong,” other $3,000 worth of ad- Hernandez said, adding that vertising through a company the school board needs to focalled The Positive Program. cus on students and teachers, RGV Redlight, a con- not how the district awards sulting company owned by contracts. Peñitas Chief of Staff Andy The two remaining school Morales, donated $7,000. board candidates, Frances A. “Campaigning down here Salinas of La Joya and Pameis costly because of the signs, la Flores of Palmview, didn’t the literature, all that stuff,” properly disclose campaign Alaniz said. “But I can tell donations and spending. you that in the previous camSalinas missed both the paigns — I don’t know the 30-day and 8-day deadlines numbers exactly, but I don’t to file campaign finance rethink we’ve spent what’s ports. been spent in past camFlores also failed to file a paigns.” 30-day campaign finance reThe donations provided port. Her 8-day report, which Team Un1ted with a major purports to cover the whole advantage over business- two-month period, listed just woman Mary T. Hernandez, $74.66 in spending. who’s self-funding her cam-T:10.5” paign. Hernandez spent about
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from pg. 1
SULLIVAN CITY
“They’re doing a great job. There’s always room for growth and improvement,” Segovia said, adding that he enjoyed working with Ozuna and Gutierrez. “And I think there’s a lot of potential for us to help the city move forward.” Segovia said he would research whether or not converting the Sullivan City Economic Development Corp. to a municipal development district would provide more flexibility for projects. Palmview went through a similar transition. “I think that is something that we need to look into in the future,” Ozuna said. “And for him to be with us, to help us go through it, it would be most advantageous for our community.” Segovia may also represent Sullivan City at regional meetings and assist with major projects, including plans for a library and youth center. “Raymond brings a good work ethic,” said former Palmview City Manager Johnn Alaniz, referring to his protégé by a nickname. “He’s got a lot of experience.” Segovia handled the Palmview budget, supervised two major annexations and prepared reports for the City Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Texas-Pan
American. Members of the City Council, though, accused both Segovia and Alaniz of mismanaging public funds. Financial problems forced Palmview to borrow money from Lone Star National Bank in 2008 and 2014, according to city records. Palmview spent the money on day-today expenses, including legal bills and vehicle purchases. Questions also surfaced about how Palmview spent federal asset forfeiture funds when Segovia served as city manager. The U.S. Department of Justice suspended Palmview from the asset forfeiture program in April after the city self-reported 10 potential violations. “At this point there’s some litigation pending between the city of Palmview and Ramon Segovia with regards to malfeasance,” said City Councilman Javier Ramirez, who added that he remains troubled by how Alaniz and Segovia managed the city budget. The City Council fired Segovia in June 2017. He filed a lawsuit against Palmview the following month. “I wish him well. I hope things have changed,” Ramirez said. “And I hope he can help the city of Sullivan.”
CMYK
Hoping to encourage people to understand the court’s role in the city, the Mission Municipal Court is kicking off the proclaimed Municipal Court Week (Nov. 5-9) with a two-week amnesty period. The municipal court will hold the amnesty program from Nov. 5 through Nov. 17. Mon. through Fri., the court will be available from 8 - 5 p.m., and Saturdays they will be open from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. “This year we’re doing a two-week amnesty period to celebrate Municipal Court Week,” Municipal Court Judge Jonathan Wehrmeister said. “We usually put them on, and we’re planning on implementing them in the spring of every year.” During an amnesty period, any Mission tickets or warrants people have
can be taken into the municipal court and be paid off. Those who wish to can pay off their tickets in full and have their warrant fees ($50) and any “failure to appear” charges removed or waived. Wehrmeister mentioned that people can also utilize this amnesty period in conjunction with the court’s newly-implemented walk-in docket, which is available from 8 a.m. through 12 p.m. Mon. through Sat. in order to explore their options with a judge. Amnesty programs have been implemented several times in Mission before, according to Wehrmeister. The court is aiming to highlight the benefits of coming in on time. “We hope people come out and take advantage,” Wehrmeister said. “They can come in without the fear of getting arrested,
pay their fines in full, save money and at the same time, will be taking care of the tickets that they have here.” The judge also said that many people have taken advantage of the amnesty periods in the past. “Even if they can’t pay it in full, a judge will be here, and they can communicate with a judge to look at alternative methods,” Wehrmeister said. “Whether it’s community service, payment plans or things like that. They can still take advantage of the amnesty program even if they’re not financially able to pay in full.” The municipal court wants to prompt people to come in to discuss different ways to pay if that is what they need. “It’s important so people aren’t driving around in fear,” Wehrmeister said. “They can take care
Hidalgo County sees increase in early voting
With early voting set to end today, polling locations across Hidalgo County have seen an increase in the number of people casting their ballot during the two-week early voting period, as the numbers have easily surpassed those back in 2014. As of Wednesday, 92,537 Hidalgo County registered voters cast their ballots in the 2018 midterm general elections, according to unofficial numbers from the Hidalgo County Elections Department. This represents
an increase from the 2014 midterm election, which saw a total of 59,190 ballots being cast during the two weeks of early voting. In 2018, a total of 83,522 votes were cast in the election, a number that this year’s early voting total has surpassed. However, according to numbers from the Hidalgo County Elections Department, those numbers are behind that of the 2016 presidential election, which saw a total of 176,160 ballots cast in the county.
Since the 2016 presidential election, the county has seen an increase of registered voters in the county from 338,990 to 362,815. Some of the local races include city council races in the cities of Weslaco, Donna, Edcouch and Palmview as well as school board races in Edinburg, Weslaco, La Joya, Donna, Edcouch-Elsa, Mercedes and Monte Alto. Early voting ends today at 7 p.m. And Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6.
of their matters and be able to drive in peace and save money.” Starting the two-week amnesty period at the same time as Municipal Court Week was a decision made intentionally to promote awareness about the services provided by
the Mission court. “Our court is here not just during the amnesty period, but during all periods, for the people,” Wehrmeister said. “That’s why we have the walk-in docket established, so people can know that the court is here to serve them and see
how best they can handle their tickets.” “Ideally, we’d like to get to a point where amnesty is not even needed,” Wehrmeister added. “Where people just feel comfortable coming in.”
by Dave Hendricks
campaigning for the 13th Court of Appeals. He stopped making public appearances and didn’t bother with distributing campaign signs. In a motion filed Sept. 5, attorney Michael McCrum of San Antonio, who represents Delgado, explained the situation. “Defendant has been advised that the only way another candidate can be listed on the Democratic ballot is if Defendant Delgado was convicted in the instant case or surrendered his law license,” according to the motion. “Defendant has surrendered his position as a state district judge. He no longer makes public appearances as a candidate. He no longer is actively disseminating campaign materials. The law does not require that he surrender his law license during the pendency of a case, so he has not done so. But regardless, he is not practicing law. Defendant is no longer campaigning for office.” Delgado didn’t campaign, but he kept spending campaign cash. On Feb. 6 — four days after federal agents arrested him — Delgado paid $15,000 to Austin-based law firm Minton, Burton, Bassett & Collins, according to campaign finance records. Under “description,” the campaign finance report explains the expenditure as: “Attorney’s fees for representation before Texas Ethics Commission.” It remains unclear what matter Delgado had pending before the commission, which handles campaign finance violations.
Complaints filed with the commission aren’t public. Delgado also spent $465.46 at Best Buy on March 22, when he purchased an iPad “for campaign use and reports; 13th Court of Appeals,” according to campaign finance records. He also dropped $100.65 on iPad accessories. At the time, the Delgado campaign already had a laptop computer, according to records filed with the commission, which requires candidates to disclose all campaign assets worth at least $500. On July 16, however, Delgado returned to Best Buy. He purchased an iPad Mini for $442.72 and accessories for $80.07, according to campaign finance records. Under “description,” the campaign finance report includes the same explanation: “to use for campaign reports; 13th Court of Appeals.” Delgado also spent hundreds on gas, rental cars and meals, including more than $500 at Austin Land & Cattle Company on Feb. 25. The campaign finance report Delgado filed in July explains the expense as: “Dinner meeting with supporters/contributors to discuss 13th Court of Appeals campaign.” He spent another $280 at the restaurant in April. “I was surprised to see he had spent money on the campaign,” said Tijerina, who’s running against Delgado for the 13th Court of Appeals. “Because he had told a federal judge that he wasn’t campaigning.”
13th Court of Appeals candidate says he’s not campaigning but spends money anyway
After federal agents arrested him on bribery charges, former state District Judge Rudy Delgado stopped campaigning for the 13th Court of Appeals — but that didn’t prevent him from spending campaign cash. From Feb. 2, when FBI agents arrested him, to Oct. 29, when Delgado filed his most recent finance report, he spent more than $22,000. Delgado purchased two iPads, dropped $500 on a dinner and rented cars for trips to Austin. “If he’s not campaigning, what does he need that stuff for?” said Adrienne Pena-Garza, chairwoman of the Hidalgo County Republican Party. Delgado couldn’t be reached for comment. The FBI started investigating Delgado in November 2016, according to the criminal complaint against him. Agents interviewed an attorney who claimed Delgado accepted bribes for “favorable judicial consideration.” During a sting on Jan. 17, the attorney handed Delgado a white envelope stuffed with $5,500, according to the criminal complaint. FBI agents arrested him two weeks later. Delgado pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, bribery and obstruction of justice. While he resigned from the bench, Delgado remained a candidate for the 13th Court of Appeals. He won the Democratic Party primary and faces Republican state District Judge Jaime Tijerina on Nov. 6. Delgado, though, isn’t
PT
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Mission Municipal Court will begin amnesty period for two weeks By Jamie Treviño
November 2, 2018
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Auditions return at South Texas Theatre McALLEN – Drama departments from colleges across the nation will begin scouting exceptional talent from the Rio Grande Valley this month. In collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin, PSJA I.S.D., and South Texas College’s drama department, South Texas Theatre Auditions (STTA), will begin offering high school seniors and college students from the Valley who intend to pursue a degree in theatre, an opportunity to present monologues, musical theatre selections, and technical theatre portfolios for the consideration of college admissions representatives. Auditions will be held Monday, Nov. 12, from 9
from pg. 2
a.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Texas College Cooper Center for Communication Arts, 3200 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. To date, universities attending South Texas Theatre Auditions include The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, University of Texas at El Paso, University of Houston and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. “We are excited to be hosting this event for a second year,” said Joel Rodriguez STC drama department chair. “The partnership with PSJA ISD and The University of Texas at Austin on this project is invaluable and it is great to see how STTA made pursuing a theatre degree ac-
cessible to everyone. …Students across the Rio Grande Valley will have an opportunity to audition and present their work to university representatives from some incredible theatre programs across Texas.” STTA was a pilot program between The University of Texas at Austin and local theatre educators from across the Rio Grande Valley which has now grown to include South Texas College. Students interested in attending the auditions can register at stta.finearts.utexas.edu. For more information, call 956-872-2639 or email jrodriguez@southtexascollege. edu.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
to document family photographs. A tradition of this spectacular event is showcasing local talent on the performance stage, which will be located on the museum’s parking lot. Performances will include a variety of musicians, mariachis and folklorico dancers from across the Rio Grande Valley. A new and special performance by Edinburg-based Conceptos Entidad Dancística, directed by Catí and Raul Gomez, will perform to the beats from Totome, a brother and sister musical duo. This talented duo from Tonalá, Jalisco, Mexico, mixes traditional Mexican music with electronic elements and other instruments from across the world. For the first time at the museum, local Tejano singer Veronique Medrano will perform. Medrano launched her debut album “Encantadora” in 2013 and has since
been nominated three times at the Tejano Music Awards. The Brownsville native will be available after the performance to sign copies of any one of her three albums including “Loteria” that can be purchased on site. Roma native Melenie Lissette Gonzalez will also perform. Earlier this year, Gonzalez was the first female teenager to win the Conjunto Grand Prize in the 2018 Texas Folklife Big Squeeze competition. She started playing accordion at the age of 14, and was taught by instructors Jesus and Jaime Lozano at Roma High School. Purchase a sugar skull and decorate it with supplies provided by the museum. Free crafts and activities will include writing a memory of a loved one who has passed on a paper calavera (skull), decorating edible calaveritas made out of marshmallows, and creating a paper calavera mask and cempasúchil (mari-
gold) from tissue paper. Take photographs at the life-sized monarch wings, eight-foottall flower archway and the station of Los Liberadores, a living-history group. Book Buzz, a student literacy organization from UTRGV, will host book presentations in the River Highway gallery amd explore the signature Rio Grande Legacy exhibition, which will include museum volunteers in costumes, and discover the history of this bicultural region. Artisan and food vendors will be stationed inside and outside the museum, along with food trucks on the grounds. Admission is $8 for adults; $6 for seniors with ID, active military and students with ID; $5 for children ages 4 to 12; and free for children ages 3 and younger. For information, call 956-3836911 or visit mosthistory.org/ events.
November 1, 7pm November 3, 2 & 5pm November 4, 2pm
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Alejandro “Alex” H. Sáenz Performing Arts Center FOR MORE INFORMATION
(956) 323-2898
604 N. Coyote Drive La Joya, Texas 78560
THE
November 2, 2018
Sports week
BIG7 SCHOOLS
page 6
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Covering Mission, Veterans Memorial, Sharyland, Pioneer, La Joya, Palmview & Juarez-Lincoln Sports
Lady Patriots move on in state playoffs
Mission Veterans earns 7th straight bi-district championship By Bryan Ramos The Mission Veterans Memorial Lady Patriots (38-4, 14-0) picked up their seventh straight bi-district championship Tuesday night, and while they’re proud of the accomplishment, this team is focused on much more. Since the first day of practice, the Lady Patriots were talking about making program history. The team has a copy of the 5A state playoff bracket in their locker room that has been posted for weeks. The Lady Patriots have sent teams into the fourth round regional semifinals before, but never past it. This year’s group is determined to be the first to do so at Mission Veterans. “Now that playoff season is here, we’re just that much more hyped and that much more excited to reach By Luciano Guerra With two weeks left in the Valley high school football season, two of the seven football teams from the Mission, Sharyland and La Joya school districts, the Big 7, are already assured of extending their seasons into the University Interscholastic League’s (UIL’s) state playoffs. Of the remaining five teams, four are in the thick of the playoff races in their respective districts. That leaves only one of the seven that has already been eliminated from playoff contention. The two teams that have clinched playoff spots are the 7-0 (7-1 overall) Mission Veterans Patriots and the 5-0 (6-3 overall) Sharyland Rat-
our goal and to reach our full potential,” said senior Makenzie Gerlach. “For us, the seniors, we just want to reach the goal that all the years before us wanted to achieve and make school history.” The senior pair of Gerlach and Jackie Howell already have their names in the Mission Veterans record books. They became the first group to go unbeaten in district play in four straight seasons earlier this year. Now they’re looking to break more records. “We told them it was a new beginning because if they let their guards down, they’re out,” said Lady Patriots’ Head Coach Diana Lerma. “We had Coach Gilpin come in and pump them before the game and they responded well. It’s a new beginning for us to try and break our school record, to go beyond the Sweet 16 and
make a state appearance.” On Tuesday night, the Lady Patriots made quick work of the Brownsville Lopez Lady Lobos. After a 2515 win the the opening set, Mission Veterans flexed their muscle and powered through Lopez 25-10 in the second and 25-17 in the final set while giving some play time to younger players. Howell and Gerlach both finished with 12 kills, but it was the youngest of the Lady Patriots’ three-headed monster of an attack Kassandra Lerma who led the team with 15 kills and eight total blocks. When all three are rolling, Mission Veterans is tough to beat. The Lady Patriots and their dangerous attack are out to keep their season alive as they move on to the second round. “Playoff mode is a different mentality,” Howell said.
“Hopefully a different beast comes out of all our players and we each step it up another level, because the competition only gets bigger, stronger, faster than us, and we need to keep up and play physically and mentally strong too.” Standing in between the Lady Patriots and their quest for program history is the Victoria West Lady Warriors (28-16) in the area round of the playoffs. Victoria West advanced to the second round with a 3-1 (25-16, 2520, 21-25, 25-19) win over Tuloso-Midway on Tuesday night. The Mission Veterans Memorial Lady Patriots and the Victoria West Lady Warriors are scheduled to meet 4 p.m. today at Bishop High School in Bishop. The two other Big 7 playoff qualifiers, the Sharyland Lady Rattlers and Pioneer
Lady Diamondbacks, had their season come to an end after losing their bi-district matchups. The Pioneer Lady Diamondbacks lost their first round playoff game against Brownsville Veterans Memorial 3-1 (23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-27). Senior Daizy Coronado posted 16 kills, five blocks and three aces, junior Daniela Alvarez had a team-high 18 kills and five blocks of her own, and freshman Natalie Reyes had 49 assists and 20 digs. The Sharyland Lady Rattlers were eliminated from the playoffs on Tuesday night as they fell in their bi-district match against Donna 3-1 (19-25, 25-15, 14-25, 16-25). Jacqueline Howell, #3 of Veterans Memorial, spikes the ball past opponent helping lead the Lady Patriots to 3-0 win over Brownsville Lopez Lobos. Progress Times Photo by: Mario Magallon.
playoffs Six Big 7 teams remain on road to
tlers. In addition, these two teams are currently atop the standings in Districts 16-5A1 and 16-5A-2 respectively which means that should they win-out, they will both be assured of claiming outright district championships.
This is something that the Rattlers have not done since the 2014 season and something that the Patriots have never done. As for the last time they went undefeated against their district opponents, the same thing goes.
The Rattlers have not done so since the 2014 season and the Patriots have yet to accomplish this in their previous 14 years of existence. The four Big 7 teams that are in playoff contention going into tonight’s games are
the 5-2 (5-3 overall) Palmview Lobos, the 3-1 (5-3 overall) Pioneer Diamondbacks, the 3-2 (6-2 overall) La Joya Coyotes and the 3-2 (6-2 overall) Mission Eagles. That leaves the 0-5 (0-8 overall) Juarez-Lincoln Hus-
kies as the only Big 7 team that has nothing left to look forward to but possibly playing the role of spoilers. With the district races heating up as we head into the next to the last week of the regular season, we will now take a look at each of the three districts involving Big 7 teams and how they’re stacking up. District 16-5A-1 Thanks to their 48-35 victory over the previously undefeated Brownsville Pace Vikings last week, the 7-0 Mission Veterans Patriots are sitting atop the District 165A-1 standings all by themselves. And while all the Pa-
See PLAYOFFS Pg. 7
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November 2, 2018
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GAME OF THE WEEK Follow Us on Facebook for Friday Night Football Scores and Updates
/ProgressTimes
AT Friday 7:30 pm
Palmview
LOBOS
Mission Veterans
PATRIOTS
Game of the Week: Patriots, Palmview meet with playoff implications on the line
With Mission Veterans in, Lobos look to punch their own postseason ticket By Bryan Ramos With two weeks left to go in the regular season, playoff pictures are beginning to become a little more clear. The 10-team district of 16-5A Division I has been a marathon, not a sprint, and now, teams can finally see the finish line approaching. Two teams that find themselves currently in the playoffs are the Mission Veterans Memorial Patriots (7-1, 7-0) and the Palmview Lobos (53, 5-2), who are set to clash Friday night at Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium in the Progress Times’ Game of the Week. Mission Veterans is fresh off a 48-35 win over Brownsville Pace Vikings in a battle
PLAYOFFS
from pg. 6
triots have to do to guarantee themselves at least a share of the district championship, is win one of their two remaining games, victories over both the 5-2 Palmview Lobos tonight and the 1-6 Brownsville Lopez Lobos Thursday will earn the Patriots their first ever undefeated district season and their first ever outright district championship. At 6-1 the Pace Vikings are in sole possession of second place with the 5-2 Brownsville Vets Chargers
of district unbeatens to claim the top spot in 16-5A DI. The win also locked up a playoff berth for the Patriots, no matter what happens in their last two games, which means Mission Veterans has made the playoffs in 9 of the last 10 years. The Patriots were ranked No. 4 in the Class 5A, Division I, Region IV Week 9 THSCA Coach’s Poll and with two wins in their last two games, they can become the first group to win a district title outright at a perfect 9-0. “It’d be a great thing for all of our seniors; alot of our seniors have been playing since our sophomore year, we’ve been on this team for a long time,” Landry Gilpin
said. “It would be awesome if we finally got to get one outright and got the first one in school history, so it’d be nice for us and the seniors to go out like that.” Standing in between the Patriots and their perfect district season are the Palmview Lobos, a team hungry to clinch a playoff berth of their own. After going winless in district a season ago, the Lobos have turned things around to put together a solid 5-2 district record and have won each game by one possession scores, proving Palmview has what it takes to win the close one in 2018. The Lobos are coming off back-to-back wins for the second time in district play
with victories over Brownsville Lopez, 30-22, and PSJA Memorial, 29-26. As things stand, Palmview is tied with Brownsville Veterans for the third spot in 16-5A DI, but with two games remaining, things will surely change. Palmview’s remaining opponents? Mission Veterans this week, and Brownsville Veterans in the season finale, matchups with two district champions from a year ago. And while Palmview is determined and upset-minded entering the final two games, Donna High is right on their tail as they push for one of the top four spots. “Come Friday night, we’ve got a game against a Palmview team that’s fighting for their playoff lives,”
said Mission Veterans’ Head Coach David Gilpin. “They came back and kicked a field goal to beat Lopez, they’re fighting with Donna for that fourth spot right now, so we know we’re going to have our hands full and the bullseye on us once again.” Against the Patriots, Palmview will need a big performance from running back Mario Chapa, the team’s leading rusher with 960 rushing yards. He has led the Lobos offense and proven they can put up points, and he’ll be lining up against a Mission Veterans defense that surrendered 290 rushing yards just one week ago to Pace. The Lobos defense faces the daunting challenge of
stopping Landry Gilpin and the high-scoring Patriots’ offense. Since the Mission Eagles held the Patriots to just 12 points in Week 1, Mission Veterans has gone on to score 40-plus points in seven straight games. And with just two games left, the Patriots are focused on finishing perfect. “Our goal coming in to this year was to be the outright district champions, and we’re two games away from doing that,” David Gilpin said. Kickoff between Palmview and Mission Veterans is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium in Mission.
and the 2-5 Rio Grande City Rattlers remaining on their schedule. Tied for third in this district of Division 1 schools are those same Chargers and the Palmview Lobos, both with 5-2 records. Of the remaining six teams in the district, the 4-3 Donna Redskins have the best shot of breaking into the top four by season’s end and making the playoffs; especially with the 0-7 Brownsville Porter Cowboys and the 2-5 PSJA Memorial Wolverines remaining on their schedule.
District 16-5A-2 Thanks to their 5-0 district record, the Sharyland Rattlers have already clinched at least a share to the District 16-5A-2 championship. However, a victory tonight against 2-2 Valley View will earn Coach Ron Adame’s squad their first outright district title since 2014. At 3-1, the second place Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks still have some work to do. Should they win out by defeating 2-2 Roma tonight and 1-3 Edcouch Elsa a week
from tonight, they will close out their district schedule in no worse than second place. However, a loss to either team, or worse yet losses to both teams, could result in the Diamondbacks being left on the outside looking in come playoff time; especially with the Mercedes Tigers, the Valley View Tigers and the Roma Gladiators all nipping at their heels with 2-2 records. District 30-6A The 5-0 PSJA Bears and the 4-1 PSJA North Raiders are leading the way in Dis-
trict 30-6A with only two weeks remaining and will almost certainly claim two of the district’s four playoff spots. The remaining two spots will most likely go to one of three 3-2 teams that are currently tied for third place; the La Joya Coyotes, the Mission Eagles or the McAllen Memorial Mustangs. Which two of these three teams succeed in extending their season into the playoffs will of course depend on how they each do against their two remaining oppo-
nents. With PSJA (tonight) and La Joya (next Friday) still remaining on their schedule, the Mission Eagles have what seems to be the toughest remaining schedule of the three third place teams. The Coyotes have 2-3 Nikki Rowe and Mission remaining on their schedule while the Mustangs have 4-1 PSJA North and Rowe remaining on their schedule, so whichever two teams do punch their tickets into the playoffs will certainly have earned it.
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November 2, 2018
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SHS graduate named TGCA Athlete of the year in golf By Jamie Treviño While she wasn’t expecting to be back at SHS so soon, Laura Rodriguez had a good reason when she was presented with a major award this past weekend. Rodriguez is the first female honored with the “Athlete of the Year” award from the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) in the Rio Grande Valley. A graduate of Sharyland High School, Rodriguez was a three-year letter winner in girls golf, qualified for the University Interscholastic League (UIL) 5A Golf Tournament during all three of her years in the SHS program and was part of the team that won the silver medal at the state tournament (Rodriguez finished in 7th place). She thanked her parents, the district, coaches and teammates for their continued support and motivation
Laura Rodriguez (center) surrounded by family, coaches and SISD administration after being presented with the TGCA “Athlete of the Year” award last Friday. Progress Times photo by Jamie Treviño.
throughout her time playing with SHS. “I never expected to receive this award,” Rodriguez said. “This is amazing. Thank you all, and thank you for your support. She signed a letter of intent during her senior year, and is currently competing for St. Edward’s University in Austin. Rodriguez was honored with the award at the SHS gym this past Friday surrounded by her family, coaches and former classmates. “It’s not easy, it takes a lot of work and a lot of effort in order to win these things,” Richard Thompson, former SISD athletic director said. “And you know what, you have to pass [academically] in order to receive those awards.” The Athlete of the Year golf award goes to one girl in all Texas 5A and 6A schools, which is about 5,000 stu-
dents. Ron Adame, the SHS Athletic Coordinator, spoke at the event about Rodriguez’s contribution at the state tournament her senior year. “It was an amazing accomplishment, not just by her but by all of our team,” Adame said. “She definitely led our team to our best finish yet.” Lee Grisham, the Assistant Executive Director of the TGCA, was at the high school ceremony to present Rodriguez with a plaque. “The Texas Girls Coaches Association is extremely happy to be here to present this award,” Grisham said. “Not only is this the first for Sharyland, it’s also the first for an Valley female athlete.” “She is a very deserving young lady,” Grisham added. “For Laura to be singled out [out of 5,000 girls] is a great accomplishment.”
Mission Boys and Girls Club holds anti-bullying rally
Speakers and some of the attendees at the Boys and Girls Club of Mission Anti-bullying Rally Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III. By Jose De Leon III With October marking the scariest time of the year for kids, the Boys and Girls Club of Mission held a rally Tuesday to address a different type of monster they can encounter; bullies. October is National Bul-
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF MISSION
Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 7:00pm Friday 8:00am - 6:00pm
! w o N r e t s i g Re Basketball
lying Prevention Month and officials with the Boys and Girls Club of Mission held an anti-bullying rally with a simple message to the children in attendance. “Stand up, speak out when you see bullying,” Director Juan Arevalo said. “It’s extremely important advice to all the boys and girls here.” The event had guest speakers which included Mission Mayor Armando O'Caña, Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez and State District Judge Renee Rodriguez-Betancourt. Children in attendance heard the speakers speak out against bullying and received pizza afterward. According to the website stopbullying.gov, one in five students aged 12 through 18 have experienced either physical, verbal or cyber bullying daily. Kids who are bullied are more likely to experience
from pg 1
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depression and other health issues and a decrease in academic interest. A very small number of bullied children might retaliate through extremely violent measures, the website states “We don’t know what happens in everyone’s home, that’s why it’s so important for you to stand up and speak out,” Rodriguez-Betancourt said. “It starts with you to check on your classmates and friends to see if they’re OK. You don’t have to be friends with everyone but as long as you respect other people, you’ll go a long way.” DA Rodriguez offered similar advice to the children in attendance “Actions speak louder than words but if no one speaks up, that is as dangerous as bullying,” he said. “This is a critical time in your life to reach out and be nice to each other and set an example for everyone else in the community.”
NEW FIRE CHIEF
needed a fire chief, Frankie Salinas drove to City Hall and asked for an application. “I had the opportunity to talk to the leadership. And I kind of liked what I saw,” Frankie Salinas said, adding that the City Commission wants La Joya to provide the best possible fire protection. “And they want somebody qualified.” How much La Joya will pay Frankie Salinas for the part-time position remains subject to negotiation. Leroy Salinas received a $1,200 monthly stipend. La Joya also reviewed applications submitted by former Palmview Fire Marshal Severo Ochoa, who spent nearly 28 years with the McAllen Fire Department; Gilbert Salinas Jr. of Mission, a longtime volunteer firefighter; and Raul Cruz, the former vice president of
Blackhawk Security & Investigations. The City Commission selected Frankie Salinas after spending nearly 40 minutes in executive session. “I just want to go on record that he is not related by blood to the mayor,” Fito Salinas said, adding with a chuckle: “And I hope one of these days he might be, I don’t know.” Both Fito Salinas and his wife, Mary Salinas, serve on the City Commission with Maria E. “Geny” Salinas. The surname isn’t limited to the City Commission. La Joya also employs Youth Services Director Juan D. Salinas and police Inv. Adan Salinas. “It’s amazing, mayor, how we got so many Salinas applying here for the city of La Joya,” said City Administrator Mike Alaniz.
November 2, 2018
page 9
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2018
FOOTBALL
THE
BIG7
CONTEST
DISTRICT 30-6A
DISTRICT 16-5A DIV.I
SCHOO LS
DISTRICT 16-5A DIV. II
$50 WEEKLY PRIZE & $200 BOOSTER CLUB GRAND PRIZE
Football Contest Official Entry Form
Booster Club Grand Prize
WIN $200
WEEK #10 - NOV. 8 - NOV. 10, 2018
For Your School’s Athletic Booster Club
Check your school or favorite team below. The team with the most entries at the end of the season will win $200 for the school’s Athletic Booster Club. ❑ Sharyland Rattlers ❑ Pioneer Diamondbacks
❑ Juarez-Lincoln Huskies ❑ La Joya Coyotes
❑ Mission Eagles ❑ Veterans Memorial Patriots
Check the box next to the team you think will win from each of the games below
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑
❑ Palmview Lobos
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High School Football Contest Rules A $50 cash prize will be awarded each week for the winning entry. The entry coming closest to calling all the games correctly wins. In event of a tie, the tying entry that comes closest to the score of Tie Breaker #1 wins. If a tie remains, the tying entry that comes closest to the score of Tie Breaker #2 wins. If a tie still remains, the $50 prize will be divided evenly among the winning entries. Booster Club Grand Prize: At the end of the regular football season, the total number of complete, qualified entries will be tallied for each team with the team’s check box marked. The $200 Grand Prize will be awarded to the Athletic Booster Club of the team with the most entries submitted. No Purchase necessary. Limit one entry per household each week of the contest period. Must be age 18 or older to enter the contest. HOW TO ENTER: Check the box next to the team’s name that you predict to win each high school game. Next, for the tie breakers, predict the total points scored by the winning team in the Tie Breaker #1 game, and the total points scored by the winning team in the Tie Breaker #2 game. Fill in your name, address, phone number (This is how we notify the winners!), and email address. Check the box to receive the FREE Progress Times weekly newsletter and mail or drop off your entry form at Progress Times, 1217 N. Conway Ave., Mission, TX 78572. Or submit your entry online at www.progresstimes.net. All entries must be received by the Progress Times no later than 2 p.m., Thursday preceding the listed games. All entries must be submitted on the Official Entry Form printed in the Progress Times or Sharyland Times, a photocopy of the entry form, or submitted electronically from our official website submission form. Only one entry per household per week. Previous winners and all members of the same household are ineligible for subsequent weeks of the contest. Prizes must be claimed within 7 days of notification or announcement in the Progress Times. Decisions made by the Progress Times staff are final. The winners agree to allow the Progress Times to use their names and photographs to announce the winners and for promotional purposes online and in print. Employees of the Progress Times and their immediate family members are not eligible to win.
PALMVIEW LA JOYA JUAREZ- LINCOLN VETERANS MEMORIAL PIONEER MCALLEN MEMORIAL LAREDO ALEXANDER Tie Breaker 1
Enter the number of points scored by the winning team of the following game:
La Joya vs. Mission High
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Pioneer vs. Edcouch- Elsa
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November 2, 2018
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Community Day kicks off Texas Butterfly Festival
Community Day kicks off day one of the 23rd annual Texas Butterfly Festival, scheduled Nov. 3 to 6 at the National Butterfly Center (NBC), 3333 Butterfly Park Dr. in Mission, where visitors can enjoy the extensive butterfly gardens during the peak of butterfly season. The fstival features field trips exploring different Rio GrandeValley hotspots for both birding and butterflying, led by butterfly and birding experts with a wide range of knowledge to share. The annual Community Day at the Texas Butterfly Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 3. Community Day is a free event filled with games and activities for the entire family. The NBC is the home not only to more than
230 different species of butterflies but nearly 270 species of birds and 90 different types of dragonflies. There will be plenty of things to see, to learn and do at this year’s festival. Visitors will be able to learn how to make a Banana Brew (which butterflies love), attend Butterfly U, enjoy Wild Things arts and crafts as well as view exhibits and purchase items from dozens of vendors, which will be set up in the Visitors Pavilion and throughout the gardens during the peak of the South Texas butterfly season. For more information about the National Butterfly Center’s Texas Butterfly Festival, visit TexasButterflyFestival.com or call 956583-5400.
South Texas Book Festival begins next week
McALLEN – The McAllen Public Library is kicking off the South Texas Book Festival next week and culminating with the main events on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9 and 10, at the McAllen Public Library, 4001 N. 23rd Street. The event is free and open to the entire family. South Texas Book Festival will kick off with weeklong festivities including activities from Monday, Nov. 5, to Friday, Nov. 9, to preview the festival. The main event begins on
Friday, Nov. 9, and will feature author discussions with local school groups so that students may directly engage with nationally recognized authors. Saturday, Nov. 10, will continue to be free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with multiple story times, author sessions, book talks, activities, presentations, books giveaways, free cotton candy and popcorn and more. For more information, call 956-681-3000.
Celebrating Unity Week In celebration of Unity Week, and an effort to promote social inclusion through sports training, over 100 Mission C.I.S.D. Special Olympic athletes and High School TAFE students (Texas Association of Future Educators) partnered to participate in a Unified Bowling Day on Oct. 25 and 26. The Unified Program creates opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities to team up with people without intellectual disabilities. Mission CISD students will participate in the Area 1- Special Olympics Bowling Tournament at Incredibowl Entertainment Center Nov. 13 to 15. The public is invited to come out and join the TAFE high school students in cheering on the Special Olympians.
EVENTS
CALENDAR November 3 – Juan Diego Academy in Mission will hold their Eighth Annual Gala from 6 to 11 p.m. at the school campus, 5208 S. FM 494 in Mission. For more information on tickets or sponsorships, call the school at 956-583-2752. November 3 – Quinta Mazatlán is offering a “Begin to Birdwatch” program at 2 p.m. with John Brush, urban ecologist. Participants will get an indoor presentation about the tips and tricks of birdwatching and then a guided bird walk with an experienced birdwatcher. Admission is $5. Quinta Mazatlán is located at 600 Sunset in McAllen. For more information, call 956-681-3370. November 4 – The Tip of Texas Orchid Society monthly meeting will be held at 2 p.m. at the Valley Nature Center, 301 S. Border in Weslaco. The speaker is Dr. Robert Marsh, an associate professor and associate head of the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and chairman of the Undergraduate Education Committee in Biology at the University of Texas-Dallas. Dr. Marsh has done work with 15 species of the genus called Barkeria, related to the Cattleya orchids used as corsage orchids. Admission is $5 for non-members and free for members of TOTOS. November 6 – The next book discussion at Speer Memorial Library, 12th and Kika de la Garza Loop in Mission, will feature “Big Little Lies” in the library’s Community Room at 5:30 p.m. in Spanish, and at 6:30 p.m. in English. Copies of the book are available to those who sign up for the book discussion. Stop by the library or call at 956-580-8754. This title is also available as an eBook and eAudiobook at hidalgocotx.oneclickdigital.com. November 7-11 – The 25th Annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in Harlingen will be a five-day event, offering 120 field trips for birding enthusiasts, keynotes and presentations, a large trade show, free family activities, silent auction and Texas-friendly socials. There will be a pre-trip to Laredo and post trip to El Cielo Biosphere Reserve. For more information, go to rgvbf.org or call 956-423-5565. November 8 – Raptor expert Erik Bruhnke will be at Quinta Mazatlán Word Birding Center at 6 p.m. to present “Raptors of the Rio Grande Valley.” Bruhnke’s wildlife photography has won national awards, and his writings have been featured in Birder’s Guide via the American Birding Association, BirdWatching, and Birdwatcher’s Digest. The program is included in the $3 admission. Quinta Mazatlan is located 600 Sunset in McAllen. Call 956-681-3370 for information. November 10 – The First Presbyterian Church in Mission is hosting Treasures & Gifts Sale to benefit missionaries in Zambia, Africa. Doors will be open at the church’s fellowship hall from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. to sell an array items. Entrance fee is $1. Items include jewelry, scarves, belts, purses, glassware, dishes, kitchenware, lamps, furniture, knickknacks, paintings, picture frames and more. For more information, call the church office at 956-455-7502. November 11 – The Veterans Day march and ceremony in San Benito begins at 8:50 a.m. when veterans and surviving family members are invited to march down Sam Houston Street with a police escort to the San Benito Veterans War Memorial site at the railroad tracks and Rowson Street. For more information, call Victor Garza at 956-399-7464. (For more Events, go to ptrgv.com.)
406 W. Veterans Blvd. • Palmview, TX 78572
2018 Winter Youth Sports Registration
Baseball AGES: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 9-10, 11-12
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League Games: January 7 , 2019 – February 15, 2019 Method of Payment: Money Orders & Credit/Debit Cards Early Registration: $20 if registered by Nov. 16, 2018 Late Registration: $35 starting Nov. 19, 2018 Copy of Birth Certificate Must be Presented at Registration For more information, contact: Robert Lugo, Parks & Recreation Director 956-600-5426 or 956-432-0310
Learn butterfly baiting, take a scavenger hunt at EWBC
EDINBURG – Fall is a great season to get outdoors in the Rio Grande Valley, and the time to take in the wonders of butterflies migrating through the area. Visit the Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC) this month to On Saturday, Nov. 3, try a hand at butterfly baiting. Learn a simple technique to view butterflies up close, and then walk through the gardens to see and identify the wide variety of species. The program will run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and again from 2 to 4 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 17, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., join in the “Where in the Wetlands” scavenger hunt. A program to see the abundant wildlife wetlands, it is a family-friendly scavenger hunt competition. This program is free with regular paid admission, and the winning family will receive a small prize. The community is also invited to enjoy free family fun during the monthly Spectacular Saturday series. On the last Saturday of each month, the entry fee is waived for all visitors from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Activities will be available 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Families with children are invited to rent a
Mission High School (MHS) librarian, Margie Longoria will be honored on Nov. 3 by the South Texas Literacy Coalition when she will receive the Literacy Excellence Award for Librarians during the Coalition’s annual Historias De La Vida Celebration. It will be held at the Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library in Edinburg. Each year, the Coalition selects a librarian from each of three sectors to honor: public, school, and academic. She was chosen from 10 nominees in the school category based on participation in activities, Coalition, community involvement, and innovation.
Junior Ranger Field Pack or Children’s Garden Play Set to use while on the grounds. Rentals are free; however, a valid picture ID is required for the loan. The programs are free with regular paid admission: $3 adults, $2 children and seniors, children under 5 and EWBC members free. The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Road. For more information or to register for any of the programs, call 956-381-9922.
Named National Blue Ribbon School
LA JOYA – The U.S. Secretary of Education released the names of 349 schools, from across the country, as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2018, and the La Joya I.S.D. Jimmy Carter Early College High School earned the Exemplary High Performing School status. On Nov. 7 and 8, the Secretary and the Department of Education will celebrate with 300 public and 49 private school honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores, and graduation rates: • Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. • Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students over the past five years. “I’m pleased to celebrate with you as your school is named a National Blue Ribbon School,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in a video message to the honorees. “We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives.”
November 2, 2018
By Jose De Leon III
Palmview hosts second annual town hall
During a meeting meant to highlight the growth of Palmview, residents demanded answers on a current Palmview project to pave dozens of streets across the city. On Thursday, Oct. 25, the city of Palmview held their second annual town hall meeting where the public was invited to hear from city officials on updates in the city. Officials spotlighted several recent developments in the city, such as $72 million in public works projects including a $20 million project to expand Veterans Boulevard between Abram Road to La Homa Road to five lanes that would start in 2020. However, during the question and answer section that was open to the pub-
Notices Everardo Abrego
MISSION – Everardo Abrego, 66, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, at Doctors Hospital in Edinburg.
James Allen
MISSION – James Dale Allen, 78, passed away on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, at his home. Pamela Depper MISSION – Pamela Alice Depper, 70, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Mission. Maria Gallegos MISSION – Maria Cruz Gallegos, 86, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Adan Garza MISSION – Adan Roel Garza, 66, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, at Edinburg Regional Medical Center. Amelia Gonzalez SULLIVAN CITY – Amelia B. Gonzalez, 92, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, at her home in Sullivan City. Richard Heftner MISSION – Richard Heftner, 85, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.
lic, the two dozen attendees confronted officials over unpaved streets in the city. “In my street, it’s full of soquete-mud,” Sylvia Blanca said. “Every time people go outside we have to cover our shoes and feet with plastic trash bags to not get dirty. It’s unbelievable.” Perez and the rest of the attendees were from Perez Street, which is one of the many streets that were torn up as part of the Palmview Wastewater Project to add sewer lines and provide wastewater to Palmview residents provided by the Agua Special Utility District. Earlier this year, Palmview hired a contractor to pave the streets released by Agua SUD after the sewer lines had been installed. A small segment of Perez Street was released by Agua SUD but has yet to be paved,
Pedro Hernandez MISSION – Pedro Hernandez, 73, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Steve Marshall MISSION – Steve A. Marshall, 69, passed away on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen. Clara Martinez ALTON – Clara Martinez, 63, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen. Eliazar Martinez ALTON – Eliazar Martinez, 60, passed away on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, at Kindred Heights Hospital in Houston. Robert Parmentor MISSION – Robert Bruce Parmentor, 91, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, at Las Palmas Heathcare Center in McAllen. Aranza Rodriguez MISSION – Aranza Yajaira Rodriguez, 18, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Mary Shawhan MISSION – Mary Kay Shawhan, 65, passed away on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, at her home in Mission.
said Humberto Garcia of EarthWorks Enterprises, the company hired by the city to pave the street. Council members at the event were Linda Sarabia, Javier Ramirez, Joel Garcia and Joselito “Hoss” Hernandez They replied to any questions regarding the street paving by reminding residents that while it is a project from the city, the city has to wait till Agua finishes their project of installing the sewer lines before they can be paved. “If this was a project from the city, do you think we’d allow ourselves to be this open to criticism,” Ramirez said. “It’s kind of hard when you take a beating for someone else but I get their frustrations.” At the agenda for the event, Esequiel “Zeke” Ortiz Jr., a director at the Agua SUD board was listed as a speaker of the event but wasn’t in attendance. Coun-
cilmembers pointed out this out. “This project and the paving is something we need to address,” Garcia said. “So why aren’t they here.” The meeting represented another strain in the relationship between Agua SUD and the city. One week earlier, the city announced they would seek to sever ties with the Agua Special Utility District to provide wastewater services to their city. This decision came months after a state judge ordered the city to cease construction on a nearly $600,000 sewer project. In an email obtained by the Progress Times that was sent to Palmview officials hours before the town hall, Ortiz accused the city of failing to notify him of the meeting in time, making him unavailable to attend the town hall. “I take my position on the Agua SUD board very seri-
BREAD OF LIFE CHURCH 2820 N. Conway Ave. • 581-1411 CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD 2322 N. McColl. - McAllen 682-2092 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 5609 S 29th St. - McAllen 682-4881 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 2Mile & Bryan Rd Mission. CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Missonaries • 580-2570 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH 911 N. Main - McAllen 686-4241 CONWAY AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH 2215 N. Conway • 585-2413 EL FARO BIBLE CHURCH 15 miles W. of Mission on Exp. 83 Sullivan City, TX • 585-5617 EL MESIAS UNITED METHODIST 209 E. 6th • 585-2334 FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH 3 miles N. Shary Rd. • 581-1465 FAITH FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH 1 mile N. Exp. 83 on Tom Gill Rd. 519-6311 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1302 Doherty • 585-1442 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH 12th and Miller - Mission 585-7281
FIRST 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
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ously as a representative for the City of Palmview,” Ortiz said. “I find it extremely unprofessional and a lack of professionalism that I was not afforded the courtesy of more advance notice or that I would be listed as a participant in this meeting.” In response to the email, the city released to the Progress Times an email response dated Monday, Oct. 29 showing a call log to Agua SUD from the city of Palmview made a month in advance. “Contrary to your assertion that you were provided insufficient notice of the meeting, the City contacted Agua staff thrice Sept. 24 to notify you of [the meeting,]” the email from City Secretary Annette Villarreal states. “This represented more than three weeks’ notice.” Ramirez told residents at the town hall to be patient with the street paving project and said he relates to them as his street is also waiting to be
paved. “People had questions about the street and rightfully so,” Ramirez said. “Right now we’re just asking residents to be patient and call Agua SUD for any questions they have. Agua should come to the table and plan with us. That would make a big difference.” Interim City Manager Leo Olivares praised attendees asking questions and trying to remain informed on the project. He said despite issues with agua SUD, the city is still interested in having a relationship with them. “We’re continuing to work with them, they’re part of this community and we want to make sure they are working and if there’s an issue we’ll bring it up in a professional manner,” he said. “The city will not shy away from a controversial issue because it’s controversial.”
9th Annual Mission Pink 5K Walk/Run for Breast Cancer Awareness Huge Success for Community Mission, TX (October 30, 2018) – Thousands gathered at Mission Regional Medical Center for the Ninth Annual Mission Pink 5K Walk/Run for Breast Cancer Awareness on Saturday, October 20th. More than 3,000 people participated in the event and raised over $77,000. Some were there to support loved ones, friends, the cause, some to celebrate their personal victories over the disease and yes, some to continue the battle against breast cancer. The people, the survivors, the children, the sponsors, volunteers, spectators, race participants, and the emotion of the day… everyone helped to make the 9th Annual Mission Pink 5K Run/Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness a magical experience for everyone.
The fundraising event could not have been possible without the support from its sponsors: Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart Neighborhood, City of Mission, Mission CISD, McAllen Oncology and many more. Part of the proceeds will go to provide FREE Mammograms to uninsured women over the age of 40 in the RGV. “As a non-profit organization, Mission Regional Medical Center is always proactive about engaging in activities that will benefit the health of the community,” says Kane Dawson, CEO, Mission Regional Medical Center. “And Mission Pink does exactly that – it reminds women to get themselves checked and schedule their annual mammograms.”
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1102 Ash St. • 585-4829 for worship schedule.
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LA RESPUESTA CHURCH 405 W. 12th Street • 585-0787 MISSION CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 1 mi. E. 495 • 585-6683 NEW HOPE AT THE BORDER 905 N. Conway • 369-3603 NORTH MISSION CHURCH OF CHRIST 1410 E. Mile 3 Rd. • 585-0146 Palmhurst NORTH PALMVIEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH 7612 W. 6 Mile Ln. ONLY THRU JESUS 1511 E. Mile 2 Rd. Mission • 918-760-1625 OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS One-half mile South Leo Avenue La Joya • 585-5223 OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHURCH 6634 El Camino Real • Granjeno OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH 2.5 miles S. Conway (FM 1016) Mission OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH 620 Dunlap • 585-2623 OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY CHURCH 923 Matamoros St. • 581-2193 PALM VALLEY CHURCH 1720 E. Griffin Pkwy. 585-3203 PEÑITAS BAPTIST CHURCH 1/3 Mile S. of Exp.83 on FM 1427 583-6236 PRIMERA BAPTIST CHURCH Corner of 6th & Oblate 585-4711
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SAN MARTIN DE PORRES 5 mi. N. Conway, 1/2 Mile West Alton • 585-8001 & 585-8002 SPIRIT OF PEACE EV. LUTHERAN CHUCH 3104 Los Milagros Mission • 581-1822 ST. JOHN OF THE FIELDS CATHOLIC CHURCH 1052 Washington Ave. • 585-2325 ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH 1119 Francisco • 585-2701 ST. PETER & ST. PAUL EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2310 N. Stewart Rd. 585-5005 SHINING LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH 6 1/8 N. Doffing Rd. (FM 492) 580-4078 TEMPLO BIBLICO 5 Mile/Conway 581-4981or 585-3831 TEMPLO EVANGELICO, M.B. CHURCH La Joya TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 3905 W. 3 Mile Line • 585-3261 VALLEY FELLOWSHIP 1708 E. Griffin Parkway Mission • 424-7200
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September 14,November 2018 2, 2018 page 5
Hundreds attend Ted Cruz rally in Mission
By Jose De Leon III Drawing out a total of 2,000 supporters in two sep-
arate events, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz visited the Valley Monday during the second week of early voting.
Cruz was at a rally at the Harlingen Christian Fellowship Church Monday morning followed by a second rally that
afternoon at the Mission manufacturing plant Royal Technologies that drew out 800 supporters. The attendance surprised many local supporters of Cruz. “We had very little time to spread [awareness] so I am impressed with the turnout,” Adrienne Peña-Garza, Hidalgo County GOP chair said of the event. “People that say there’s no Republicans in Hidalgo County are falsely informed.” The rallies marked Cruz’s 38th town hall across the state and his second visit to the Valley this election season since April. Cruz is running in a hotly contested race against his Democratic challenger U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso. A Wednesday poll released by the University of Texas at Tyler shows Cruz with a 3.6 percent lead over O’Rourke. At the Mission rally, guests such as State Sen. Dawn Buckingham, Utah Sen. Mike Leigh, Jim Vander Kolk, owner of the Royal Technologies plant and Paul Perez, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council, endorsed Cruz. Cruz spoke to supporters for nearly 40 minutes telling the crowd that the race underscores the stakes of the election. According to Cruz, a vote for him is a step in the “Alpha Path” where “common
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to the crowd at a rally in the Mission Royal Technologies plant Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III. sense conservatism” becomes the majority of the House and Senate, Trump’s border wall is built, taxes are cut further, and the country sees an increase of new jobs. “Or there’s the Beto Path,” Cruz said, eliciting several boos from supporters. “It begins in Jan. 2019 with Nancy Pelosi sworn in as speaker of the House and beginning the impeachment process on President Trump...utterly paralyzing the Trump administration and end all the positive progress we’ve done on repealing job killing regulations, rebuilding our military and defeating our enemies.” Cruz’s visit drew out a conservative audience in an area that is predominantly Democratic. In the 2012 election, Cruz received 31 percent of the Valley vote with 76 percent of the ballots cast were for straight ticket Democrats. Nearly three-quarters of the
ballots cast in the last two general elections were for straight ticket Democrats. However, Cruz and many of his local supporters said the rally is a sign of an increase in turnout for Valley conservatives. “The Rio Grande Valley is conservative,” Cruz said amidst cheers from the crowd. “The Democrats and much of the media thinks the way you earn the votes of Hispanics is by going to the left and supporting open borders, amnesty and socialism. And what they don’t understand is Hispanics, our community, is a conservative community. The values that resonate in our community are faith, family, patriotism. We work for the American dream.” Attendees at the rally also noted an increase in Republican voters in the Valley. J.J. Ballenger, an officer for the Hidalgo County Young Republican organization, noted that its membership has increased in the hundreds. “When there was a rally for Gov. Greg Abbott four years ago, the people attending that was maybe one-tenth of the size of the crowd today,” Ballenger said of the rally in Mission. Among the attendees at the rally was La Joya High School senior Caleb Guerrero who said he and his friends cut school that day to attend the rally. “We did the same thing when President Trump came to Houston last week to endorse Cruz,” Guerrero said. Though he is 17 and can’t vote, Guerrero said he does what he can to support Cruz and other Republican candidates. “I just try to tell people the facts of the world we are in and have support for Cruz and Trump,” he said. “The Valley is conservative but people just don’t know it. People are conditioned to vote a certain way and once people see for themselves the impoverished area we are in, we’ll see more democratic areas like the Valley turn Republican.” Progress Times does not endorse any political candidate or slate.
November 2, 2018 from pg 1
WHITE CANE WALK
want to reach out to the families,” Peña said. “Because a lot of the times and because of the Hispanic culture, we want to enable the person.” Peña has noticed that since opening the RGV chapter in 2010, the education and awareness this particular fiesta has motivated has been essential and important. “We want to educate,” Peña said. “In this event, you’re going to see a lot of blind people doing the demonstrations, talking about the services and the programs.” “We want to reach out to the families so that they understand that a blind person can be independent and productive,” Peña added. “Ev-
eryone needs to understand that we’re able to get a job, that we’re able to produce like anybody else, that we have the same dreams and we want the same challenges. We’re normal, we just happen to be blind.” She mentioned that the day before the event, Peña got a phone call from a mother with a six-year-old who is blind. “She said ‘I saw you, and I just can’t believe that there’s so much a blind person can do,’” Peña said. “‘My son is blind, I don’t know anything of blindness, I don’t know how to talk to him, I don’t know how to explain or how to teach him how to live in this world.’”
Peña told that mother that she came to the right place, noting that the NFB is a major local resource that people have access to. “If we only touch that one person, this program and this event has made a difference,” Peña said. “He can learn about the resources available, and that’s one of the reasons why we have this event - a lot of people don’t know what’s available.” The event included a White Cane Walk, where participants donned blindfolds and used white canes to aid them in order to attempt walking for a few minutes in a blind person’s shoes, and a demonstration tennis match between two children who
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PUBLIC NOTICE
The Mission City Council will hold a Special Meeting on November 16, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: 2.444 acres out of Lot 254, John H. Shary Subdivision from (AOI) Agricultural Open Interim to (C-3) General Business If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement. Anyone interested is invited to attend. Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS SHARYLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT’S Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) Sharyland Independent School District will hold a public meeting at 5:45 p.m., November 26, 2018 in the Sharyland High School Auditorium, 1216 N. Shary Road Mission,Texas. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss Sharyland Independent School District’s rating on the State’s Financial Accountability System.
CONSTABLE’S SALE
Notice is Hereby Given that by virtue of a certain Writ of Execution issued out of the HONORABLE 275th District Court HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, on the 3rd of October, 2018, for the sum of $8,446.53 with interest thereon at the rate of 5% per annum from the 28th day of June, 2018 and cost of suit, under a judgment in favor of Heritage Square Recreation, Inc. in a certain cause in said court, No. C-0258-18-E and styled Heritage Square Recreation Inc. vs. Raymond Manning, et al and placed in my hands for service on the 18th day of October, 2018, I, Lazaro Gallardo Jr., as Constable Pct.3 Hidalgo County, Texas, did on the 22nd day of October, 2018, levy on real property in Hidalgo County, Texas, described as follows, to-wit: Lot 7, Block 1, Heritage Square Subdivision Unit 2, an addition to the City of Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas-known as 300 S. Bryan L-7, Mission, Texas 78572. And levied upon as property of Raymond Manning, et al and that on the first Tuesday of December 2018, the same being the 4th 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 10:00a.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 Raymond Manning, et al 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 22nd day of October, 2018
Lazaro Gallardo, Jr. CONSTABLE PCT.3 Hidalgo County, Texas
are visually impaired. Over 250 people attended the fiesta. Mission Mayor Armando O’caña, who participated in the White Cane Walk himself, was not expecting the turnout the event had. “I was very impressed with the number of people that have responded,” O’caña said. “There’s a big impact here.” O’caña spoke about his grandmother, who was blind for 50 years, and said that she never used or had access to a white cane. The event is important, he said, so people can be aware of the options available. “Obviously this has to do with educational awareness,” O’caña said. “For those who are blind to have
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HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MISSION 1300 EAST 8TH STREET MISSION, TEXAS 78572 The Housing Authority of the City of Mission, Texas and Coto De Casa Inc. Announce a Public Hearing Wednesday November 07, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. at its administrative offices located at 1300 East 8th Street. The purpose of this hearing is to obtain input from city residents in reference to 1. Capital fund Program annual submission of the 5 yr action plan to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Calendar Year 2019. Total funds being allocated are estimated at $335,000. 2. Coto De Casa Inc. Annual Plan. All residents are encouraged to attend this hearing. A copy of the proposed budgets will be available for review from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the day of the public hearing. Persons can also submit written comments prior to public hearing. For more information please call Joel A. Gonzalez-Executive Director at 956-585-9747 or Jaime Ayala – Deputy Executive Director at 956-585-9748. The Housing Authority of the City of Mission, Texas is an affirmative action equal opportunity employer.
The State of Texas County of Hidalgo
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DON’T VOTE? DON’T COMPLAIN. GO OUT AND VOTE!
access to the services that are here and for those who are not blind, people are coming in and educating themselves. Hopefully, this is very productive.” One of the stations inside the Parks and Recreation Center was run by Karla Gabriela De La Fuente, a local artist and certified art teacher who has been working with Peña and the NFB since the summer. De La Fuente has been helping Peña create her own art by illustrating what Peña visualizes in her mind by putting wire and hot glue on a canvas. “She would think of an image in her mind, and I would create the outline,” De La Fuente said. “It’s kind of like braille, but with painting.”
De La Fuente had several pre-made canvases depicting a still life of oranges and a butterfly at the event that anyone could paint on. “I think it’s important people know about it, because I know sometimes they may feel that maybe people with disabilities are limited,” De La Fuente said. “It gives people with disabilities hope and a good example to follow, like ‘I may be disabled, but I have the ability to do all this.’” Information about RGV Chapter meetings for the NFB, President Macarena Peña can be contacted via email at mpena@nfbtx.org or macarenapena@rocketmail.com.
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS Mission Consolidated Independent School District’s State Financial Accountability Rating Mission C.I.S.D will hold a public meeting at 6:45 p.m., November 14, 2018 in the Mission C.I.S.D. Boardroom, 1201 Bryce Drive, Mission, Texas. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss Mission C.I.S.D.’s rating on the State’s financial accountability system. REVISED PUBLIC NOTICE
The Mission Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on November 14, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: A 0.88 acre tract of land out of Lot 246, John H. Shary Subdivision, from (AO-I) Agricultural Open Interim to (R-3) Multifamily Residential; Rezoning: A 0.85 acre tract of land out of Lot 29-4, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision, from (C3) General Business to (R-1) Single Family Residential; Rezoning: Being a 8.613 acres tract out of the Meadow Creek Country Club Phase 1-B, from PUD (AO-P) Permanent Open Space District) to PUD (R-1) Single Family Residential District; Rezoning: Being a 5.705 acres tract of land out of the Meadow Creek Country Club Phase 1-B, from PUD (AO-P) Permanent Open Space District to PUD (R-1) Single Family Residential District; Rezoning: Being a 6.045 acres tract out of Parcel IV, said parcel forming part out of Meadow Creek Country Club Phase 1-B, from PUD (AO-P) Permanent Open Space District) to PUD (R-1) Single Family Residential District; Rezoning: A 9.089 acre tract of land out of the Meadow Creek Country Club Phase 1-B, from PUD (AO-P) Permanent Open Space District to PUD (R-1) Single Family Residential District; Rezoning: A 60.850 acre tract out of land out of Lot 14-1, 14-2, 15-1, 15-2 and 16-2, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision, from PUD (AO-P) Permanent Open Space District to PUD (R-1) Single Family Residential District; Rezoning: Being a 16.239 acres tract out of the Meadow Creek Country Club Phase 1-A, from PUD (AO-P) Permanent Open Space District to PUD (R-1) Single Family Residential District; Rezoning: Being a 0.864 acres tract out of the Meadow Creek Country Club Phase 1-A, from PUD (AO-P) Permanent Open Space District to PUD (R-1) Single Family Residential District; Rezoning: A 26.335 acre tract out of land out of Lot 16-1, and Lot 151, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision, from PUD (AO-P) Permanent Open Space District to PUD (R-1) Single Family Residential District; and Rezoning: 2.444 acres out of Lot 254, John H. Shary Subdivision from (AO-I) Agricultural Open Interim to (C-3) General Business Discussion and Action to Amend the Drainage Section of the City of Mission Standards Manual Adopted by Ordinance 1409 Discussion and Action to Rescind Ordinance No. 3396 to delete Section 42-38 (d) Discussion and Action to Adopt Ordinance #___ Amending Article VIII, Section 1.42, and Section 1.43. – Use District and Conditional Uses Discussion and Action to Amend Ordinances Nos. 4662, 4663 and 4664 to revert public hearing notice radius from 500’ to 200’ If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement. Anyone interested is invited to attend. Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
RESOLUTION CALLING A HEARING FOR EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN NONIRRIGATED LAND OF HIDALGO COUNTY IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 6 WHEREAS, the following described property is believed to constitute Nonirrigated Land under Texas Water Code Sections 58.731 and 51.759; and WHEREAS, the District desires to call a public hearing in order to receive evidence regarding the status of such land as Nonirrigated Land; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That in accordance with Texas Water Code, Chapter 58, HIDALGO COUNTY IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 6, hereby calls a hearing before the District’s Board of Directors concerning the exclusion from the District as Nonirrigated Land the following described real property, to-wit: And further described on Exhibit “A” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. SUBDIVISIONS TO BE EXCLUDED 1) Camino De Abram Subdivisions 2) El Rancho Estate Phase II 3) Monte Cristo Subdivision That the hearing will be held on November 19, 2018, at 1:00 P.M. in the District boardroom, at 3735 N. FM 492, Mission, Texas wherein all persons interested in the matter of exclusion of the above-described property, or any part thereof, from the District as Nonirrigated Land are invited to attend and to offer evidence in support of or opposing land the exclusion of said property, or any part thereof. READ, CONSIDERED, APPROVED, SIGNED AND EFFECTIVE on this 15th day of October, 2018 at a Regular Called Meeting of the Board of Directors of HCID#6 at which a quorum was present and which as in accordance with Vernon’s Texas Codes Ann., Government Code and pursuant to the Texas Open Meeting Act. ATTEST: Diana Izaguirre, President Brandon Thompson, Secretary
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www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com from pg 1 DOG OF THE YEAR
Saturday November 3
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8:00 am Monarch 5K Trail Run
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9:00 am FREE Community Day Fun for Everyone! For registration, directions and more information visit www.TexasButterflyFestival.com Comes see why USA Today calls Mission, Texas, "the butterfly capitol of the USA"!
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his toy and put him back on the truck. They both experienced the effects of an IED when, during a patrol, one of their vehicles struck a pressure plate and injured some of the occupants of an M-ATV (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle). Fieldy had to clear a landing zone so a helicopter could land safely and take the injured Marine out of the area without having to worry about landing on top of another bomb. Both Caceres and Fieldy “worked tirelessly” to detect more explosives, and eventually found a 60-pound barrel filled with explosives. During Caceres’ tour, they both discovered several IEDs and components that “helped save countless lives.” When Caceres’ tour ended, Sgt. Fieldy still had two more deployments to go. Caceres was informed that once Fieldy was able to retire, he could petition to adopt him. Caceres checked in on Fieldy’s status every three months. “It wasn’t likely that I was going to get him, because they go by the handlers [in order],” Caceres said. “I was number two, so if the number one guy put in his paperwork, they would have called him first.” Sgt. Fieldy was honorably discharged and retired in Aug. 2014, and Caceres got the call that he was able to adopt Fieldy soon after that through the American Humane Association. His wife, Marla, was pregnant with their first child when Fieldy came to McAllen to join their family. “I think the number four guy had also put in his paperwork,” Caceres said. “They said ‘if you can’t, we’ve got another guy next in line,’ and I said ‘well, he’s coming to Texas.’” In Nov. 2014 Sgt. Fieldy participated in the Veterans Day Parade in NYC (and since then, he is the only dog from that particular group that is still alive). In 2016 he received the Lois Pope Life K-9 Medal of Courage Award on Capitol Hill and has been named this year’s Military Dog of the Year.
September 14,November 2018 2, 2018 page 5
Sgt. Fieldy when he was stationed in Afghanistan. Photo courtesy of YouTube.
Fieldy, now 11 years old, has the energy of a threeyear-old. He has been enjoying retirement, although there was a short adjustment period. “For the most part, he’s adapted pretty well,” Caceres said. “He was used to going with me everywhere, so at first he had a little bit of separation anxiety because I wasn’t taking him with me, that was a harder part for him.” Caceres said that now, Sgt. Fieldy doesn’t have to do anything, and there’s no job, which is another change he has had to go through. “Now he knows that we’ll come back at the end of the day,” Caceres said. For Caceres, the biggest benefit he has had from adopting Sgt. Fieldy is knowing that they are giving him the best retirement possible. “It’s good knowing that he’s living a relaxed life, he’s in good health and anything he needs that I can provide for him, I’ll do whatever I can,” Caceres said. “Because he did so much for all of us as a unit out there.” Caceres noted that while his kids are young and don’t understand the impact Fieldy has had, they eventually will. According to him, Fieldy has played an important role in all of their lives. It’s important people know about military dogs like Fieldy, Caceres said, so people realize that those serving our country are not out there alone. “Dogs have been used in
every war that we’ve ever fought,” Caceres said. “They don’t get as much recognition for what they’ve done. They do a lot, they’re out there in harm's way so we don’t have to be.” Caceres and Fieldy hope to make waves in order to start a veterans memorial in McAllen for K-9s who have served. “If we can bring more light to military dogs and what they do, people will have a better understanding as far as how useful they are,” Caceres said. “And they’ll have more of an appreciation.” In the application for the Military Dog of the Year Award, Caceres describes Sgt. Fieldy as his hero - a title he still maintains to this day. “He never quit on me,” Caceres said. “It was 130 degrees [Fahrenheit], and if I asked him to go out there and look for 30 minutes, he never quit.” “He was tired, he was running around with a fur coat,” Caceres added. “It got so hot I had to put boots on him. Everything I asked of him, he did that and more. If that’s not a hero, I don’t know what is.” Sgt. Fieldy has his own Facebook page (Sgt. Fieldy), Twitter (@SgtFieldy) and Instagram (@sgt.fieldy). The video from the 2018 Dog of the Year Awards featuring Sgt. Fieldy can be found at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=4NCmelct8ao.