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Vol. 47 - #12 H 77 L53
Your Hometown Newspaper, Bringing Communities Together.
SPORTS
Community Events in Mission
Game of the Week: Eagles vs. Coyotes
Mission leaders break ground on the future Tennis Center at Birdwell Park on Monday. Photo courtesy of Facebook.
The city of Mission was the host for several events this past week, including a social media summit, free health care temporary clinic and a community festival. For the latest information, see the stories we have on what was happening in Mission.
See Pg. 5
Recent Agua SUD Updates
The special utility district’s finance director recently resigned for a new position in the city of Edinburg, and the board of directors may raise water rates for the next five years. Dave Hendricks has the stories, inside.
See Pg. 4 &12
City of Mission breaks ground on new tennis center By Jamie Treviño Ready to get started on the construction of the anticipated Tennis Center at Birdwell Park, the city of Mission held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday. The park was approved
after Mission’s Parks and Recreation created a public survey for a ten-year plan for the city. In that survey, tennis ranked number three in the top ten needs of Mission residents. The Tennis Center at Birdwell Park, located at E
24th Street in Mission, will contain 16 tennis courts, a walking trail, workout stations and playscapes, along with resurfacing the grounds and improvements on lighting and fencing. The project, estimated to cost $1.9 million, is anticipated to be
completed in 180 days. Funds for the project come from several sources: a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department through Texas Sporting Goods tax funds, the Land
See TENNIS CENTER Pg. 12
Palmhurst Crime Control Prevention district renewed By Jose De Leon III Residents in Palmhurst have elected Tuesday to continue funding the city’s police department for another 10 years. According to results from the Hidalgo County Elections Department, nearly 88 percent of voters in Palmhurst cast their ballots in favor of Proposition A, which maintains the city’s Crime Control and Prevention District through a half-cent sales tax. The district oversees the police department and was set to expire at the end of 2019. With its renewal, the sales tax will maintain in effect for an additional 10 years through 2029. The decision made by Palm-
hurst residents means a difference of about $600,000 in the police department budget. With an annual budget of approximately $1.4 million, it would account for over 40 percent of what they have been able to use for the last ten years. “This covers almost half of what we [the police department] have to have,” Palmhurst
Police Chief Michael Vela said. “Without it, it would be very hurtful to the community and to the department.” To educate citizens on the vote, the city held two public hearings during election season. Vela thanked voters for helping the proposition pass. “This is a sales tax so it does
Photo courtesy of the Hidalgo County website.
not affect property taxes,” Vela said. “A lot of times, people have misconceptions, sometimes when they see something they don’t usually read the whole thing. We’re just trying to educate them - this is not a property tax, this is only a sales tax.” Currently, the city police department is gearing up for their annual toy drive. Starting today, residents can drop off a new, unused toy at the police department or at the city’s Applebee’s, H-E-B, Walgreens and R.V. parks through December 15. The toys will be donated to students at Hurla M. Midkiff Elementary School sometime next month, Vela said.
The La Joya Coyotes are up against the Mission Eagles in the Game of the Week. With both teams vying for that playoff spot, Bryan Ramos has the details on how they are gearing up for tonight’s season finale.
See Pg. 7
INDEX Entertainment...... pg. 2 Lifestyle................... pg. 3 Sports....................... pg. 6 Obituaries............pg. 11 Classifieds..............pg.13
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Prosecutors raise questions about professionalism, integrity of the Palmview Police Department by Dave Hendricks
Mary Hernandez’s campaign signs outside Palmview City Hall. Progress Times photo by Dave Hendricks.
Candidate who campaigned against corruption wins seat on La Joya school board by Dave Hendricks Businesswoman Mary T. Hernandez, who campaigned against compadrismo and corruption at the La Joya Independent School District, won a seat on the school board Tuesday. Hernandez defeated three-term incumbent Johnn Alaniz, winning nearly 59 percent of 11,400 ballots cast, according to preliminary results published by the Hidalgo County Elections Department. “I’m very emotional,” Hernandez said. “I don’t even know what to tell you — I just thank God and everybody for sticking with me all this time.” Alaniz had support from voters in Sullivan City, but Hernandez won La Joya,
Peñitas and Palmview, according to precinct-level data published by the Elections Department. “I’m shocked by the numbers,” said school board Trustee Oscar “Coach” Salinas, who supported Alaniz. The campaign pitted Team Un1ted, a coalition formed by western Hidalgo County power brokers, against three independent candidates. Team Un1ted brought together key players from Team L1berty, which dominated western Hidalgo County politics from November 2016 to August 2018, and Precinct 3 Commissioner Joe Flores. They kept the “1” and adopted the moniker “United,” telegraphing the fact they’d come together.
After a meeting on Aug. 1, the power brokers coalesced behind three candidates: Place 1: Businesswoman Nereyda Cantu, 40, of Palmview, the sister-in-law of school board Trustee Alex Cantu. Place 2: Educator Espie Ochoa, 49, of Palmview, a former teacher who served on the school board from 2007 to 2016. Place 3: La Joya Area Federal Credit Union CEO Johnn Alaniz, 42, of Palmview, an incumbent who joined the school board in May 2006. Team Un1ted faced three challengers:
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See LJISD SCHOOL BOARD Pg. 13
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The Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office questioned the professionalism and integrity of the Palmview Police Department on Tuesday, when prosecutors took a murder case against a former dispatcher to trial. After partying in downtown McAllen, former police dispatcher Jacobo Daniel Rivera, 24, of Mission drove home with his girlfriend, 21-year-old Kryztal Luna, and an acquaintance from work, Palmview police Officer Juan Martinez, on Aug. 17, 2016. A state trooper attempted to stop Rivera on Expressway 83. He sped away and crashed the car — killing Luna and injuring Martinez. “This case is about a 21-year-old girl that isn’t here today,” said Assistant District Attorney Vance Gonzales. Questions about how Palmview police handled the investigation may complicate the case. During a pretrial hearing on Monday, prosecutors told state District Judge Noe Gonzalez that police apparently misplaced a key piece of evidence: Luna’s phone. “They alerted us that it was found in a box that they had misplaced,” said Assistant District Attorney Lauren Sepulveda. “There were actually two boxes for this case. They could find one but not the other.” What happened to the phone and why the box went missing remains unclear.
Jacobo Daniel Rivera Photo courtesy of Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Department.
With the trial in progress, neither Interim police Chief Gilberto Zamora nor District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez could comment on the situation. Investigators downloaded all information from the phone, producing a roughly 4,000-page report, said Vance Gonzales. However, prosecutors agreed not to discuss the phone data unless defense attorney O. Rene Flores, who represents Rivera, makes the phone an issue at trial. “But the sloppiness of keeping a piece of evidence, whether the piece of evidence was used at trial or not, is very relevant,” Judge Gonzalez said. The phone isn’t the only potential problem for prosecutors. During his opening argument Tuesday morning, Vance Gonzales told the jury that Rivera and Martinez didn’t tell the truth when investigators questioned them.
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“Beyond a reasonable doubt, Martinez is a liar,” Vance Gonzales said, adding that Martinez still works for the police department. Vance Gonzales also said he expected Flores, the defense attorney, to question whether or not police handled the situation appropriately. “And I’m not suggesting to you that Palmview is the worst police department ever,” Vance Gonzales said, but prosecutors agree with many criticisms of the investigation. The witness list includes 14 current and former Palmview Police Department employees, ranging from Det. Jose Lopez, who investigated the case, to former police Chief Chris Barrera. If he takes the witness stand, Lopez will face tough questions. Lopez resigned on Aug. 30 after police department administrators accused him of failing to properly investigate several cases, including a sexual assault. Sgt. David Salinas, who supervises the Criminal Investigations Division, wrote a memo about the situation on Aug. 1. “Detective Lopez has been counseled on numerous occasions and has been administratively disciplined for the same occurrences during his tenure in the Criminal Investigations Division,” Salinas wrote. “Corrective actions (sic) has been
See PALMVIEW POLICE Pg. 12
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entertainment
UVAL presents 2018 Members Open Exhibition
The Upper Valley Art League (UVAL) will host the opening of the UVAL Members Exhibition with a reception this Saturday, Nov. 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. The exhibition will be on view through Dec. 1 in the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center Gallery, 921 E. 12th St., Mission. The event is free and the public is welcome to attend this exhibit that will showcase an array of works in a variety of media created by UVAL members. Paintings, drawings, collage, photography, mixed media, digital art, print-making, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, and fiber arts, all handcrafted by student and professional artists will be on display. UVAL is one of the oldest non-profit organizations in the Rio Grande Valley. Since its beginning in 1935, it has been dedicated to serving the artistic needs of the Rio Grande Valley by providing art instruction, art exhibitions and a forum for artists to gather. For additional information about UVAL, its classes, membership, events and exhibitions, visit the website at uppervalleyartleague.org, call 956-583-2787 or email uval.texas@gmail.com.
2017 People’s Choice Award: “My Mentor “ Pastel Painting by Emilia Arancibia
Concert takes musical walk through the movies
McALLEN – America loves the movies. From the days of Clark Gable and “Gone with the Wind,” through the Harry Potter series to today’s superhero flicks, there has been a long relationship for audiences with the big screen. The McAllen Wind Ensemble will take people on a journey through popular movie scores and more on Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the McAllen Performing Arts Center (PAC) with its first performance of the season, “America Loves the Movies.” The 70-plus musicians, led by director Roger Olivarez, will keep the audience on
a roller-coaster ride through twisting compositions that highlight different sections of the orchestra in romantic and beautiful renditions in musically moving pieces for a night of great music. McAllen Wind Ensemble is made up of a wide range of musicians, from amateur music lovers to professionals. Olivarez was the Rio Grande City band director for 30 years and has been the director of fine arts for the school district for the past eight years. Formerly called the McAllen Town Band, which performed at Trinity Worship Center, this is the second full
season that the ensemble will perform at the McAllen PAC. Olivarez said they enjoyed their time and are very appreciative of the opportunity they had to play previously at the Trinity Worship Center. The group had been called the McAllen Town Band until recently, changing the name to better reflect the ensemble’s compostion. “This building (McAllen PAC) was made for performances like what we do,” Olivarez said. “We can move panels around to make the acoustics what we need; there is ample dressing room space
See MUSICAL WALK Pg. 12
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
November 9, 2018
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Coming Attractions
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 956-3232898. 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 956-583-2787 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 956562-7362 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 lineup 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. November 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 956882-7025. • Yaqui Animal Rescue will host a Fall Fest 2018 at Sofie’s SS Saloon, 6801 S. 10th St. in McAllen, from 3 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and go on sale Nov. 1 at paypal.com. There will be music, kids’ games, a costume contest, a dog costume contest, a magician, drawings, prizes, food and drink. November 12 • South Texas Theatre Auditions (STTA)
NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS will offer 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 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Texas College Cooper Center for Communication Arts, 3200 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. Students interested in attending the auditions can register at stta.finearts.utexas. edu. For more information, call 956-8722639 or email jrodriguez@southtexascollege. edu. November 13 • The Upper Valley Art League’s Evening Fiber Group begins meeting and continues each Tuesday thereafter from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Art Link in the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th in Mission. Must be a UVAL member; 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. November 14 • The UTRGV Jazz Combo will perform at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W. University Dr., in Edinburg. Tickets are $5 for general admission and can be purchased at tickets.vedini.com. November 14-18 & January 25-27, 2019 • Neil Simon’s classic play Barefoot in the Park will be performed at the Albert L. Jeffers Theatre in 2018 and again in 2019. This UTRGV Mainstage production is directed by Trey Mikolasky. Show times on all dates are 7:30, except for Sundays, which will be 2 p.m. matinees. The box office opens one hour prior to each performance. Musical, Mainstage & Studio productions are not suitable for children below the third grade. All performances are subject to change. General admission is $15 with $5 for UTRGV students/faculty/ staff with valid university I.D. For more information or special accommodations, call 956665-3581 or visit UTRGV.edu/theatre. November 16 • The McAllen Society for the Performing Arts (MSPA) program Broadway in McAllen presents The Sound of Music at the McAllen Performing Arts Center. For general information, pricing and special membership features, go to LiveinMcAllenClub.com. For questions, contact the ticket hotline at 888-2004035, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. November 18 • Jason Bonham’s “Led Zeppelin Experience” tour comes to the Rio Grande Valley with a performance at 6 p.m. at the Boggus Ford Events Center, 3000 N. Cage Blvd., Pharr. Bonham is the former drummer for the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame Led Zeppelin and brings with him music from the band and more. Tickets start at $32 and can be purchased at the box office, ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. November 28-December 20 • The Pharr Community Theater, 213 Newcombe Ave. in Pharr, presents “Tejano Christmas Carol,” a South Texas twist on the Charles Dickens classic. For information, call 956-600-9463. (For more Coming Attractions, go to ptrgv.com)
lifestyle
November 9, 2018
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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS
EVENTS
Innovative thinking leads to award
CALENDAR
present their projects and get recognized on Capitol Hill. Their apps are still on display at Capitol Hill for viewing. The students were Marco Perez, and Nyo Cruz from Thelma Salinas ECHS, and Eric Ledesma from Juarez Lincoln High School. The teachers were Miguel Aguilera and Guillermo Flores.
Registration open for Texas Master Naturalist training
to joining cutting-edge university studies, developing public native gardens, learning about native plants and habitat, bird migration and shore birds to Gulf and beach inhabitants and trends. Rio Grande Valley Chapter, Texas Master Naturalists also offer free PowerPoint presentations to groups on a variety of native subjects and free guided nature tours at Harlingen’s Hugh Ramsey Nature Park; they train as docents and nature guides at local wildlife preserves. The chapter has monthly guest speakers the second Tuesday each month at 7 p.m. Meetings are free and open to the public. Deadline to apply for the 2019 class is Nov. 30; training begins Jan. 9. The cost is $150 and includes text book, fees and one-year membership. Full scholarships are available. Requests for scholarships are due by Nov. 15. Information about scholarship categories and registration forms are on the chapter’s at rgvctmn.org. Also visit the site for a list of partners, speakers’ bureau topics, monthly speakers schedule, live bird cam, gallery of articles written by members, a list of Valley native plant growers and a bimonthly native habitat blog. To speak to a Texas Master Naturalist, call 956-4557310 or e-mail rgvctmntreasurer@gmail.com.
McALLEN – Before gobbling up Thanksgiving dinners, and to help fight the battle of the bulge, the South Texas College Kinesiology Department invites the public to the 13th Annual Turkey Trot on Saturday, Nov. 17. The purpose of the 2.2mile run/walk is to promote a healthy and active lifestyle to community members while benefitting those whose plates may not be full every day of the year. Admission fee is eight cans of food or non- perishable items with all donations to be transported to the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley. “Over the last 13 years we’ve had considerable involvement from our Kinesiology majors, the STC community and many committed members of the public. Participation in both the production of the event and running the 2.2 miles, gives everyone a greater sense of purpose and allows them to see first-hand what working to help others in need feels
like,” said Janice Lee Perez, coordinator of Kinesiology Instructional Facilities at STC. “At the end of the race, when we load the truck full of canned goods, we know that together as a community we were able to help many families throughout the Valley. If you’ve never been to an STC Turkey Trot make this the year.” On-site registration opens at 6:30 a.m. at the South Texas College Cooper Center located at 3200 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. The Trot begins promptly at 7:30 a.m., rain or shine. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in men’s and women’s divisions. Free T-shirts and goodie bags will be available to the first 250 participants. The Turkey Trot is family-friendly and strollers, children, pets on a leash, and those in turkey costumes and attire are welcomed. For more information, contact Perez at 956-8723839 or by email at jperez1@ southtexascollege.edu.
Speakers needed at Quinta Mazatlán
McALLEN – Quinta Mazatlán World Birding Center staff is looking for more speakers to give professional presentations at their weekly Thursday Evening Lecture Series. The lectures are held every Thursday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. and speakers are needing from January through April, 2019. Any professional, college student or life-long hobbyist who is passionate about their work, hobby or talent in the Rio Grande Valley is encouraged to reach out. In previous years, a wide range of topics have been accepted for the lecture series, including habitat preservation, wildlife population studies, state park tutorials, cultural medicine, edible native plants, sustainability of natural resources, folk art, craft demonstrations and more. Quinta Mazatlán is locat-
Sunday Service Times: Adult Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 10:30 AM Wednesday Services: Adults, Teens, Kids 7:00 PM
ed 600 Sunset in McAllen. For more information, call 956-681-3370 or visit quintamazatlan.com.
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Registration is open to join the 2019 Rio Grande Valley Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist training class for Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy county residents. Texas Master Naturalist is an educational volunteer program sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Sea Grant Program and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Classes are taught by local university professors and field experts from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Beginning Jan. 9, 2018, students attend weekly Wednesday evening classes in San Benito from 6 to 9 p.m. through April 3, in the Cameron County Annex Building conference room at Williams Road & Hwy. 83/77. There are some Saturday field trip classes to many of the Valley’s nature parks and other locations of interest. Enrollment will be capped at 25 trainees. Trainees are encouraged to join volunteer teams with other chapter members and work among more than 60 local partners that include federal and local wildlife parks, coastal naturalist programs, cities, schools, and other public entities. There are hundreds of opportunities available to volunteers from studying ocelots and other mammals,
13th Annual Turkey Trot set for Nov. 17
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Dr. Mollie Ramon
The 13th Annual Turkey Trot at South Texas College will again put food on the table of those who might otherwise go without on a daily basis. Runners – large and small, young and old – can join in the Nov. 17 race with a donation of eight cans of food in lieu of a fee.
November 9-10 – The McAllen Public Library’s South Texas Book Festival main event begins on Friday and will feature nationally recognized authors. Saturday 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. November 9-11 – The 25th Annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in Harlingen continues with 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 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, knick-knacks, 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. November 13-15 – The public is invited to come out and cheer on Mission C.I.S.D. Special Olympic athletes during the Area 1 Special Olympics Bowling Tournament at Incredibowl Entertainment Center in Mission. November 15 – Go to Quinta Mazatlán on at 6 p.m. to hear Danielle Lopez speaking on “Faith Healing: Past, Present, Future: A community medicine in the modern age.” A borderland native, Danielle’s studies focus on healing through traditional “faith healing” in interdisciplinary spaces. The informal presentation will explore regional medicinal plants and intersecting holistic healing practices. Admission is $3 per person. Quinta Mazatlan is located 600 Sunset in McAllen. Call 956681-3370 for information. November 17 – Join in the “Where in the Wetlands” scavenger hunt at the Edinburg World Birding Center from 10 to 11:30 a.m. 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: $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. (For more Events, go to ptrgv.com.)
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LA JOYA – The TEA Reviewer Award was presented to Dr. Mollie Ramon, Instructional Technology coordinator for La Joya ISD, when she wrote the La Joya ISD Girls Who Code Camp 2018 Grant. The award funds provided a Coding Camp for 6th and 7th Grade girls in the district where they learned coding, completed Computer Science projects and basic engineering projects, and built their own computer. Dr. Ramon spearheaded the Congressional App Challenge 2017 in the district. Two students from Thelma Salinas ECHS and one student from Juarez Lincoln High School won the app challenge. Dr. Ramon traveled with the students and their teachers to Washington, D.C. to
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November 9, 2018
www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association
STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
AUSTIN — Statistics compiled by the office of the secretary of state show Texans cast ballots in record numbers during the early voting period before the Nov. 6 midterm general election. Of the 12,255,607 registered voters in the 30 most-populous counties of Texas, some 4,884,528 individuals voted in person or by mail during the early voting period of Oct. 22 through Nov. 2. That comes to nearly 40 percent of registered voters for those counties. If not a record, that is unusually high in comparison to early voting in previous non-presidential elections. Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos, the state’s chief elections officer, on Nov. 2 encouraged the 11 million registered voters who did not take advantage of early voting to get to the polls and vote on Election Day. “As you head to the polls, please be prepared to join the millions of Texans who are eager to cast their votes,” Pablos said. “I ask you to be patient and respectful as Texans celebrate this privileged event of civic duty to exercise their fundamental right
to vote.” Pablos addressed rumors that electronic voting machines might be inaccurately processing ballots. He assured voters that each of their choices on their ballots would be counted accurately and securely and that “every polling place in Texas is staffed by trained elections officials and personnel who are there to help you, are ready to assist and can ensure that you are able to successfully cast your vote.” Abbott requests declaration Gov. Greg Abbott on Oct. 30 sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting a presidential disaster declaration for counties especially hard-hit by severe weather and flooding that caused widespread damage across the state in mid-October. More counties may be added to the declaration as local, state and federal agencies continue to assess damages, Abbott said. “The magnitude of recent severe weather and flooding has taken a serious toll on Texans across the state. With such widespread flooding and devastation, additional resources are needed to help Texans recover,” Abbott
said. In addition to his request for a presidential disaster declaration, Abbott on Oct. 30 expanded his state disaster declaration to cover some 111 Texas counties. Abbott has authorized the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions to aid in the response efforts. TxDOT urges more safety The Texas Department of Transportation on Nov. 1 announced that since Nov. 7, 2000 — a period of 18 years — at least one person has died on Texas roadways every single day. To increase awareness, TxDOT called for Texans to post photo and video testimonials using the social media hashtag #EndTheStreakTX. “We all have the power to end the streak of daily deaths on Texas roadways,” said Texas Transportation Commissioner Laura Ryan. “Don’t drink and drive; put away the cell phone; buckle up; and obey traffic laws. Be the driver you would want next to you, in front of you or behind you. Together, we can end the streak.” “It’s heartbreaking to know that every day for the past 18 years someone has lost a spouse, child, friend or neighbor on our state’s roadways,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “Ending this deadly daily streak is a shared responsibility. We will continue to engineer our roads to be more forgiving of drivers’ errors, but we all must work toward ending such preventable contributing factors as distracted driving, speeding and drunk driving.” Revenue total increases State sales tax revenue totaled $2.6 billion in October, an amount 7.3 percent more than the amount reported in October 2017, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said on Nov. 2. Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in October 2018 was up 12.6 percent compared to the same period a year ago. The
sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 57 percent of all tax collections. However, revenue from other major taxes on motor vehicle sales and rentals, motor fuel and oil and nat-
ural gas production were mixed for the month, as follows: — Motor vehicle sales and rental taxes, $438.4 million, down 2.6 percent compared with October 2017; — Motor fuel taxes, $298
million, down 4.2 percent compared with October 2017; and — Oil and natural gas production taxes, $439.9 million, up 52.4 percent compared with October 2017.
AUSTIN – Investigative work by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Texas Attorney General’s office and the F.B.I. helped federal prosecutors obtain convictions in a health care fraud case against the two owners and operators of Austin-based Psychological A.R.T.S., P.C. Following a trial that lasted three weeks, jurors found 73-year-old Dr. William Dubin guilty of paying illegal kickbacks and two other charges. His 33-year-old son, Dr. David Dubin, was convicted of three charges, including health care fraud and aggravated identity theft. Previously, a third defendant in the case, Glen McKenzie, Jr., pleaded guilty to charges involving illegal kickbacks. McKenzie used his position at an emergency shelter outside Austin to refer children to Psychological A.R.T.S. for mental health
services billed to Medicaid. In return, Dr. William Dubin gave McKenzie a 10-percent kickback for each patient referral. During the trial, evidence revealed that Dr. David Dubin facilitated at least one fraudulent billing to Medicaid and unlawfully used a patient’s personal identification information to obtain payment for another claim. The Dubins were accused of directing unlicensed individuals to perform psychological testing and billed Medicaid as though licensed psychologists had performed the services. “Cheating Medicaid steals taxpayer dollars and harms patients in legitimate need of medical treatment,” said Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Division Chief Stormy Kelly. “Prosecution of cases such as this one help deter fraud. The attorney general’s office will continue to ag-
gressively investigate fraud and abuse by healthcare providers to protect Texas taxpayers.” Dr. William Dubin faces up to five years in federal prison for each of the three counts against him for illegal kickbacks. Dr. David Dubin faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the health care fraud charges against him, along with a mandatory two-year prison term for aggravated identity theft. The Dubins and McKenzie are scheduled for sentencing on February 19, 2019. Earlier this year, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit received the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General award of excellence for fighting fraud, waste and abuse. During fiscal year 2017, the unit obtained 108 indictments, 137 convictions and led the nation in recovering more than $534 million.
Agua SUD finance director leaves for Edinburg City Hall By Dave Hendricks A top-level administrator resigned from the Agua Special Utility District last week, becoming the second senior manager to leave since September. Finance Director Dagoberto Soto Jr. resigned from the utility district Nov. 2 and accepted a job with the city of Edinburg. “He’ll be sorely missed,” said General Manager Jose E. “Eddie” Saenz. Soto managed the five-person finance department and briefed the utility board on budget matters. He also handled the annual audit report, which received plaudits from the Government Finance Officers Association. After four years with the utility district, Soto accepted
a job with the city of Edinburg. He and Edinburg City Manager Juan Guerra previously worked together in Pharr. “I never fault anybody for moving up in the world, as far as their individual responsibilities,” Saenz said. “It’s a great step for him, and we look forward to seeing him move up even further if he can.” Soto couldn’t be reached for comment. He’s the second senior manager to leave the utility district since September, when Billing Manager Rodolfo “Rudy” Flores III abruptly resigned. Neither attorney Frank Garza, who represents the utility district, nor Flores would comment on what happened. However, records released by the utility district under the Texas Public Information Act show Saenz sus-
pended Flores without pay. “This action is based on a current investigation due to unsatisfactory performance in the Billing Department,” Saenz wrote in a memo dated Sept. 6. Saenz apparently became concerned after reviewing payroll records, which showed two billing department employees rarely worked 40-hour weeks. One employee hadn’t worked 80 hours during a two-week pay period since January 2017, according to payroll records released by the utility district. The other had worked just three. Flores, though, kept approving requests for sick leave, vacation hours and time off without pay. “Since this concern was never addressed by your Billing Department Supervisor Rodolfo Flores III, this warning will be placed in your employee file,” Saenz wrote in memos dated Sept. 7. The utility district placed both employees on probation for 90 days, citing “excessive absenteeism and consistent lateness.” Flores resigned on Sept. 10 and accepted a job with the city of Palmview. While the utility district is short two senior managers, Saenz said he’s not concerned. Experienced employees will handle management tasks until they’re either promoted or the utility district advertises the positions. Senior Accountant Parthkumar Naik, who joined the utility district in July 2014, is managing the finance department. Krysthal Conchas, a clerk who joined the utility district in April 2002, is managing the billing department. “We’re giving opportunities to the individuals that worked with them,” Saenz said, adding that he wants to promote qualified employees whenever possible.
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Amid border wall anxiety, National Butterfly Center holds community day By Jose De Leon III
Diane Hermanson admires a group of Monarch Butterflies in an outdoor garden during the National butterfly Center’s annual Community Day Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.
With more than 100 different species of butterflies recorded at the National Butterfly Center last Saturday, the Center welcomed hundreds of guests to their annual Community Day. The free event, which kicks off the center’s threeday long Butterfly Festival, saw visitors from across the country visiting the center and enjoying the different species of plants and wildlife in the area. For Linda Cooper, who came from Florida to visit
the center, the festival is a tradition she has attended since 2002. She, her family and her friends stay in the Valley for six weeks every year in the fall, she said. “I come because I love butterflies and the camaraderie provided here,” Cooper said while she and a group of her friends were tracking a Definite Patch-a species of butterfly that she said she’s never seen recorded at the center before. “A lot of people come here and it’s a lot of the same people you see here at these events so it’s nice being reunited with them ev-
ery year for this occasion.” The Center’s Community Day-which invited the public to enjoy all the amenities the center offers free of charge-came days after the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced they have awarded a $145 million contract for border wall construction to begin in February, according to a news release sent out last week. The release, dated Friday, Nov. 2, stated that the contract went to the Galveston-based SLSCO Ltd. and
was funded through CBP’s 2018 fiscal year appropriation. The project, dubbed RGV-03, calls for a “reinforced concrete levee wall to the height of the existing levee, 18 feet tall steel bollards installed on top of the concrete wall, and vegetation removal along a 150-foot enforcement zone throughout the approximately 6 miles of levee wall system” within the McAllen station area.
See COMMUNITY DAY Pg. 9
Project SHINE offers free healthcare to RGV residents in Mission
By Jamie Treviño Continuing their efforts of providing basic health care screenings for people in the Rio Grande Valley, students have brought Project SHINE to Mission for the second time in 12 years. Project SHINE (Service & Help through Interprofessional Networking Experience), run by pharmacy students, was present at the Mission Parks and Recreation Center last Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Developed by the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) at Texas A&M (College Station) according to Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, these Aggie students have been setting up pop-up clinics all over the RGV once or twice every school semester since it began. Students provided free screenings of glucose and cholesterol levels, A1C monitoring, Body Mass Index (BMI) evaluations, as well as measured weight. In addition, free counseling from medical professionals was offered to people who were seeking further information about the medications they are currently taking. “Sometimes we have guests at the event,” Lyna Lee, one of the pharmacy students and organizers of the event, said. “Today we
have the Hidalgo Health Department, and they’re educating on the Zika virus.” Several of the students organizing and working the free clinic have roots in the RGV, and were glad to be part of a program that has given them the opportunity not only to hone their skills, but also give back to their community. “It also promotes that pharmacists do more than just ‘count pills,’ as people call it,” Lee said. “We can counsel them on the medications they are currently taking, any adverse effects that they are experiencing, or just more education that they didn’t realize about their medication. We can do more. There’s a lot that goes into our curriculum.” According to Domingo Rodriguez, one of the students at the pharmacy school and Valley native, Project SHINE chooses where these clinics are set up depending on who is in the organization at the time. “A member’s dad was able to get us this place [Mission Parks and Recreation],” Rodriguez said. “In the past, we’ve used places like the flea market, because we have relations with the School of Public Health, we’ve used a church that one of our members went to and several other locations.” He said that because of the nature of the clinic, they
cannot always rely on the insured. them into every event, that at a discounted rate. The same locations each semes“Most of them don’t see way they have a follow-up pharmacy students hope that ter. doctors,” Ortiz said. “We and they can see the trend in people who may be intimi“We can’t guarantee that encourage them to come in the state of the disease they dated by the white lab coats or medical garb may start to we’ll get the flea market ev- every time we have a health may have.” Getting the location set, feel more comfortable comery time, or the church every fair, because most of the time,” Rodriguez said. “So time their follow-up from ordering supplies through ing forward and seeking their it’s good that we have a lot of their last visit will be with us the school and getting ap- services when they visit the proval for what is being pro- Valley. members that can bring a lot again.” “We know the culture to the table.” Ortiz added that due to vided took them about two For Rodriguez, who grew lack of insurance, people in months. The services were here, and we know the pride up without insurance, these the area still won’t see a doc- completely free of charge, that a lot of Hispanics like clinics are important for the tor after they’ve visited Proj- but turnout was not strong in ourselves have, and [they] underprivileged in the com- ect SHINE. the morning. don’t want to seek help,” munity. “They’re slowly trickling Brianna Garza, a pharmacy “Most of them still won’t “My parents and I are seek out a physician’s help in,” Lee said. “In the past, student and Valley native, okay now, but it could have for what they find at these the afternoon is when it picks said. “We know that, we’re familiar faces and we want been bad if I had juvenile health fairs,” Ortiz said. “I up more.” Project SHINE also of- to come back here and prodiabetes or something and I think that’s the biggest part didn’t know, or if my parents of Project SHINE, we want fered resources directing vide those services. We’re all had diabetes and they didn’t to maximize the amount of people to local centers and family here. That’s important know,” Rodriguez said. people we help and bring clinics that are free or offered to us.” “Sometimes you just can’t afford it, so I think it’s good that we offer something for free, that anyone can come to and we can give them all the information they need.” He noted that it wasn’t just students available at the clinic - preceptors who work with the university and have decades of professional experience in pharmacy were also available for questions and counseling. “The knowledge they can give to patients is very valuable,” Rodriguez said. “It’s beyond the numbers we give them.” Arizel Ortiz, another pharmacy student and Valley native, said they target the RGV area because mostT:10.5” patients they see here are un- A banner outside the Mission Parks and Recreation building leading people into the Project SHINE event. Progress Times photo by Jamie Treviño.
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THE
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7 BIG week Sports IT’S DO-OR-DIE TIME SCHOOLS
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Covering Mission, Veterans Memorial, Sharyland, Pioneer, La Joya, Palmview & Juarez-Lincoln Sports
By Luciano Guerra TWith only one week remaining in the Valley high school football season, three of the 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 four teams, one has been eliminated and three are going into tonight’s games fighting for their playoff lives. With a bye this week, the 6-0 (7-3 overall) Sharyland Rattlers have already assured themselves of not only a playoff berth, but of an un-
2018
FOOTBALL
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the season. Therefore, assuming that Coach David Gilpin’s Patriots took care of business by defeating the Lobos last night, they will be entering next week’s bi-district round of the playoffs having accomplished two firsts for a Mission Veterans football team, an outright district championship and an undefeated regular season. The three Big 7 teams that have not yet clinched a playoff berth but are still in playoff contention entering this week’s games are the Mission Eagles, the La Joya Coyotes and the Palmview Lobos. As our Game of the Week, tonight’s La Joya at Mission game is being previewed here separately and those two teams’ playoff clinching scenarios are detailed there. That leaves just the Palmview Lobos’ playoff scenarios which we will look at here. Entering tonight’s slate of District 16-5A-1 games,
the Palmview Lobos and the Donna Redskins are tied for fourth place with identical 5-3 records. Since the Redskins defeated the Lobos in Week Four, the Reskins hold the head-to-head tie-breaker with the Lobos should they end the regular season in a two way tie. However, a Lobos win over the 6-2 Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers along with a Donna win against PSJA Memorial, would create a three-way tie for third place between the Lobos, the Redskins and the Chargers. With only the top four teams in each district qualifying for the playoffs, two of those teams would be in and one would be out. Should this three-way tie scenario come-to-be, a Palmview win tonight would result in the Lobos making the playoffs and either the Chargers or the Redskins being eliminated. However, whether the Lobos would enter the
playoffs as the third seed or the fourth seed in the district depends on how many points they defeat the Chargers by. If the Lobos defeat the Chargers by 17 points or less and Donna defeats PSJA Memorial, then the Redskins will enter the playoffs as the third seed, the Lobos will be the fourth seed and the Chargers will be out. If the Lobos defeat the Chargers by 18 points or more, then the Lobos will be the third seed, the Chargers will be the fourth seed and the Redskins will be out regardless of whether they win or lose. While there is the possibility of the District 16-5A-1’s regular season ending in a four-way tie for second place between the Lobos, the Redskins, the Chargers and the 6-2 (6-3 overall) Brownsville Pace Vikings, that scenario, and its playoff implications, are a bit too involved to go into here.
THIS WEEK’S GAMES - WEEK #10
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defeated regular season and the outright District 16-5A-2 championship. As for the 4-1 (6-3 overall) Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks, while they have punched their ticket into the state playoffs as well, they still have something to play for. That’s because with a win over the 1-4 (2-7 overall) Edcouch Elsa Yellowjackets tonight, the Diamondbacks will not only enter the playoffs as 16-5A-2’s second seed, but they will also finish the regular season in sole possession of second place. In District 16-5A-1, the 8-0 (8-1 overall) Mission Veterans Patriots traveled to Brownsville to play their final district game of the season against the 1-7 (2-7 overall) Brownsville Lopez Lobos last night. While the outcome of that game was not known at the time we went to print, a Lopez win over the Patriots would be one of the biggest upsets of
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THE BIG 7 PLAYERS OF THE WE OFFENSE
MISSION EAGLESSPECIAL TEAMS DEFENSE
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OFFENSE
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Game of the Week: Playoffs on the line for La Joya, Mission in season finale
Mission
EAGLES
Postseason spot up for grabs as Eagles, Coyotes clash By Bryan Ramos
District 30-6A has proven to be one of the toughest in the Rio Grande Valley. With six of the eight teams boasting records over .500, it’s only fitting the last two playoff spots up for grabs comes down to the final week of the regular season. Two teams fighting for those final two spots in the postseason are the Mission Eagles (7-2, 4-2) and La Joya Coyotes (6-3, 3-3) who will meet Friday night in a must-win game between the Big 7 teams. For Mission, it’s simple: win and you’re in. The Eagles currently sit at 4-2 in district play, and with a win, could clinch the first playoff berth under Head Coach Koy
Detmer in his three years with the program, and the school’s first since 2012. In order for the Coyotes to claim a playoff spot, they’ll need to win while picking up a little help from McAllen Memorial. If La Joya beats Mission, they’ll need the Mustangs (4-2) to win over Nikki Rowe (3-3) to lock up the fourth and final playoff spot. If La Joya beats Mission but Nikki Rowe beats Memorial, it will create a four-way tie at 4-3 for the third and fourth seeds, which will then be determined by points. PSJA and PSJA North have already clinched playoff spots, setting up a drama filled season finale for the four schools--La Joya, Mission, Memorial, and
Rowe--fighting for the final two spots in this year’s state playoffs. In last year’s meeting between Mission and La Joya, the Eagles bested the Coyotes 20-15 in what was the district opener. The Mission defense held La Joya’s bruising running back Eddie Villarreal to 152 scoreless yards on the ground, a tough task for any unit. This year, Villarreal enters Week 11 as 30-6A’s leading rusher with 1,470 yards and 21 touchdowns on 223 carries, as he’s coming off a 375 yard, four touchdown performance against Nikki Rowe just last week. Now, he’ll be looking to cement his status as the district’s top back against the Eagles’ defense in the season finale.
Lining up across from Villarreal, however, is a defense ready and willing to take on the challenge. The Mission defense has been lights out in their last two games as they held the district champion PSJA Bears’ high-scoring offense to just seven points after holding Nikki Rowe to seven the week before. The linebacker combination of Aleksander Gomez, Joe Resendez and Justin Soto will be ready to meet Villarreal head on come kickoff Friday night. Perhaps the biggest eye-opener is the fact that Mission has been getting it done with a freshman quarterback under center. When junior starter Damian Gomez broke his collarbone in Week 7 against Juarez-Lin-
coln, Detmer brought in freshman Jeremy Duran. Duran finished that game with a dramatic come-from-behind 16-14 victory, and has gone 2-1 as a starter to prevent the Eagles from losing any ground, with a 24-7 win over PSJA and a 38-7 win over Rowe. In the backfield with Duran are two dangerous weapons who can dish out some punishment of their own. Junior running back Horacio Moronta and sophomore fullback Andrew Maldonado have helped lessen the load on Duran’s shoulders with their ability to break games open by running around and through people. Now, the freshman quarterback and his backfield mates can help the Eagles
earn their first playoff berth in six years with a win over the Coyotes, but it won’t be easy--he’ll have to do it against District 30-6A’s stingiest defensive unit. La Joya is allowing just 283.1 yards per game this season, and they’ll be determined to shutdown Mission’s balanced offense as the Coyotes hunt for their second-straight playoff appearance. Kickoff between the La Joya Coyotes and Mission Eagles is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium. For live game updates Friday night, follow The Progress Times on Facebook
ary Training Center in Mexico Center two weeks ago, where he will learn Spanish and receive training as a missionary before traveling to Chile to share the gospel. However, sharing the gospel and missionary work are not new for Klein. He has shared the message about God and Jesus Christ with several of his friends from high school. As a result, three of his football teammates have been baptized. One of those teammates is current Sharyland High quarterback Edgar Longoria. Longoria was baptized two years ago and just recently received his call to serve a mission in Los Angeles after he graduates from high school in December. He will leave for his mission on Dec. 31.
The Church of Jesus Christ encourages the youth to prepare for missionary service while still in high school. While the Church maintains that the most important gospel instruction takes place in the home and family, the youth are encouraged to attend early morning
seminary every day for four years before school to study the scriptures and learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Longoria said he decided to serve a mission because of the joy the gospel has brought him, and he wants to share that message with
Blake Klein
Edgar Longoria
others. “I’ve been talking to some of my friends at school [about the church] and just by talking to them I’m catching some glimpse of what it may be like to go on a mission,” Longoria said. “It has brought a lot of happiness in my life.” Longoria added that he wants to help others and teach them about how the gospel of Jesus Christ can bless their lives. He too has already felt the joy of sharing the gospel with others, even before going on a mission. His father and brother were baptized last year. He is currently helping teach the gospel to two of his friends, and he is going to seminary each morning as he prepares to go on his mission.
Blake Klein is the third of three sons of Paul and Jill Klein who have all graduated from Sharyland High School and gone on to serve missions for the Church. Casey Klein served a two-year mission in Pocatello, Idaho and Bradley Klein was called to serve a mission in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Lorena Phelan, a friend of the Klein family who was present the evening when Edgar received his mission call, said, “It’s incredible to see young men making incredible choices in life, choosing the Lord’s path rather than something easier. Some people say, ‘You could get a football scholarship and get a lot of money.’ But Edgar said, ‘It’s not about money, it’s about God.’”
Two Sharyland football players to serve two-year church missions
By Jim Brunson While most high school graduates are busy planning on furthering their education and pursuing their career path, two Sharyland High School varsity football team members plan to first serve as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Blake Klein, who graduated from SHS last June, will spend the next two years as a missionary in Antofagasta, Chile – literally following in the footsteps of his father, Paul Klein, who served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ in Antofagasta from 1986-87. Blake Klein entered The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Mission-
EEK
WEEK 9
2018 Football Scoreboard
Season 8-1
Last Week’s Games Week #9
District 8-0
MISSION MEM.
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On Veterans Day, we’d like to share our admiration and appreciation for the brave men and women in uniform whose service and sacrifice have protected our freedom and our way of life through the generations. To all of our dedicated soldiers both past and present, our deepest gratitude and best wishes remain with you and your families on Veterans Day and always!
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Martin Garza, Jr. CITY MANAGER
LA JOYA • PALMVIEW
(956) 585-6207 www.lajoyafcu.com
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VALLEY MEMORIAL
Honoring Our Veterans!
3611 N Taylor Rd, Mission, TX
MAYOR PRO-TEM
COUNCILMAN
ALEX GUAJARDO JOSE ROEL FLORES
MAYOR
RIGO LOPEZ
COUNCILMAN
COUNCILMAN
FELIPE QUINTANILLA RAMIRO LOYA
956-994-1238
Jose A. “Fito” Salinas Mayor Mary Salinas Mayor Pro-Tem
Anna Lisa Ruiz Commissioner
Rey Acosta Maria E. “Geny” Salinas Commissioner Commissioner Michael Pruneda Mike Alaniz Julianita Sabala City Attorney City Administrator Administrative Secretary
Ramiro J. Rodrigurez, Jr. Mayor
www.cityofpalmhursttx.com
Roberto A. Salinas Mayor Pro-Tem
Jaime Aranda Councilman
Ruben De Leon Councilman
Israel Silva Councilman
Thank You
to all of our veterans who sacrificed so much for our way of life!
Ofelia Peña-Perez Councilwoman
Gerardo Perez Mayor
www.cityofpalmview.com
Salvador Vela MAYOR
Ricardo Garza COMMISSIONER
Leo Olivares Interim City Manager
Joselito Hernandez Councilman
Linda Sarabia Councilwoman
Javier Ramirez Mayor Pro Tem
Joel Garcia Councilman
Arturo R. Galvan Jr. MAYOR PRO-TEM
Richard Arevalo COMMISSIONER
Emilio Cantu Jr. COMMISSIONER
509 S. Alton Blvd. Alton, TX 78573 www.alton-tx.gov • (956) 432-0760
November 9, 2018
La Joya Housing Authority may be under federal scrutiny — again By Dave Hendricks The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General may be scrutinizing the La Joya Housing Authority — again. HUD Office of Inspector General Special Agent Walter Zapata visited the housing authority headquarters on Oct. 24, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “We do not confirm or deny any investigative actions that may or may not be underway,” said Darryl Madden, a spokesman for the HUD Office of Inspector General. Whether or not FBI agents accompanied Zapata remains unclear. “Pursuant to policy, I can’t confirm or deny any action on part of our personnel,” said Special Agent Michelle Lee, a spokeswoman for the FBI. “Nor can I comment on what they may have been doing if they were there.” Regardless, the HUD Office of the Inspector General knows La Joya well. In the late 1990s, then-Executive Director Jose Reynaldo Trevino and Section 8 Director Ovidio Ramirez embezzled more than $195,000 from the housing authority. “The two defendants duplicated Section 8 landlord checks and used the proceeds for their personal benefit,” according to a semiannual report the HUD Office of Inspector General submitted to Congress. Trevino and Ramirez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States.
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After the scandal, La Joya Mayor William “Billy” Leo approached Juan Jose “J.J.” Garza about the housing authority position. The board hired Garza in July 1999, according to personnel records. He learned on the job. Seventeen years later, though, the HUD Office of Inspector General returned to La Joya and arrested Garza on bid rigging charges. The FBI and the HUD Office of Inspector General also accused Garza of accepting kickbacks, awarding contracts to friends and misusing a credit card. U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa sentenced Garza to 37 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. After federal agents arrested Garza in September 2016, the housing authority needed a new director. Frances A. Salinas, the daughter of La Joya Mayor Jose A. “Fito” Salinas and City Commissioner Mary Salinas, started working closely with Interim Executive Director Melissa Armijo. They clashed. Armijo quit. And Frances Salinas became the interim executive director. The housing authority board, which is appointed by the mayor, supervises the executive director. HUD considered the arrangement a conflict of interest and refused to pay Frances Salinas with federal money. Bank records, however, show the housing authority paid Frances Salinas with non-federal funds. Board Chairwoman
See LA JOYA HOUSING Pg. 10
1200 E. 8th St. Mission, TX 78572 956-584-5150
Mission rolls out official app By Jose De Leon III Aimed at connecting residents with their own local government, the city of Mission released their first official app last week. At a press conference held Thursday, Nov. 1, city officials announced the launch of “Mission TX,” a 311-app where residents can report issues in the city. The app was a collaboration between the city’s economic development corporation and Cityflag-a San Antonio-based company co-founded by Mission native Alberto Altamirano. “As part of economic development we improve the quality of life in our city,” Alex Meade, CEO of the city’s EDC said at the press conference. “One of the ideas is when we attract new companies in, they see a community invested in the city. For us to be able to communicate, we have be aware of what they need and want. This app will help us with that.” The app is available on the Apple and Google play store for free under “Mission TX.” Users with the app can report and submit photos of problems in the city such as potholes, graffiti, and illegal dumping. The app is a pilot, Meade explained, meaning that users who download it can provide feedback on the app usage. “Most companies just roll out their app without waiting for feedback,” Meade said. “This app is a work in progress because we want to learn from the community to make sure that anything we’re lag-
ging on can be improved.” Users can also use the app to post about job openings, highlight and recommend their favorite spots in the city to other users. Altamirano said at the press conference a version of this app rolled out in San Antonio last year and was downloaded by 6,000 users. Nearly 92 percent of the issues across the city that have been reported by users have been fixed, he said. “It’s the first time we see an app that shows how a government works and builds more transparency in the process,” Altamirano said. “It’s a social platform. There’s a lot of noise online but we have to filter between the constructive and deconstructive chatter. Social platforms have become chaotic
AMENSTY PROGRAM
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“We always ask ourselves, ‘how can we make Mission better,’” O’Caña said. “We coordinate with so many businesses and cities around that social media platforms help us navigate all of that.” Meade agreed with the mayor, adding that the app will be interactive for users. “Today is a testament in how the Valley is evolving,” Meade said. “The Valley is perceived as being far behind the rest of the country, but social media is helping us be up-to-date. With this app, we can learn what the community needs are. Cities can only do so much, this allows us to be aware of these issues and be more efficient in how we handle the situation.”
Alberto Altamirano during a press conference announcing the launch of the “Mission TX” app Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.
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but are an opportunity to build a community. How it’s used defines the momentum of the platform.” The app was launched during the MEDC’s 2nd annual Social Media Summit, an all-day event where two dozen speakers held social media and digital marketing workshops at the city’s Center for Education and Economic Development. Speakers at the event and attendees at the press conference for the “Mission TX” app acknowledged that social media plays a role in connecting residents with their local government. Mission Mayor Armando O’Caña has begun doing a weekly series called “Facebook with the Mayor” where he answers citizen’s questions on Facebook.
RGV Celebrations Salute Veterans
Multiple events across the Rio Grande Valley to salute all military veterans this Veteran’s Day weekend.
EDINBURG - The city of Edinburg will host a Veterans Parade on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 10:00 a.m. It will begin at Richard R. Flores Stadium and end at McIntyre St. & 10th. *** HARLINGEN - The Marine Military Academy will hold its annual Veterans Day parade Saturday, November 10 at 10 a.m. on the MMA Parade Ground. Veterans from all military branches are encouraged to attend and to join the MMA superintendant for the pass in review. All parade-goers are also encouraged to participate in the flag retirement ceremony following the parade. MMA’s battalion-size parades held in front of the historic Iwo Jima Monument. Bleacher seating is available. MMA is located at 320 Iwo Jima Blvd, next to Valley International Airport. Call 956-421-9225 for more information. *** MCALLEN - Veterans Day will be celebrated on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 11:00 a.m. at the Veterans War Memorial of Texas, Col. Plummer Drive and 29th St. next to the Convention Center, McAllen. This is a day that we all pause for a few minutes to remember all veterans who have placed their lives on the line to protect our precious freedom and independence. The rapidly declining WWII veterans will be recognized and honored for their service to our country. Our principal speaker will be Vietnam Veteran and Texas Senator “Chuy” Hinojosa. Come join us on this great day of remembrance. Bring your children. Please call Cristina Wilson, Master of Ceremonies at 956-956-212-1584 or Col. Frank Plummer at 956-631-2511. *** MISSION- Veterans day flag placing ceremony will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 10:00 a.m. at the Rio Grande Valley State Veteran Cemetery located at 2520 S. Inspiration Rd. For more information call 956-5837227. *** PHARR - Come join us at we celebrate our Veterans with a parade and fireworks. Parade will begin at Saturday, Nov. 10 at 4:30 p.m. and will start at Poncho’s Café and will end at Same Houston. Fireworks will light up the sky at 6:30 p.m. followed by a concert. Call Dolly at 956-402-4500 for additional details. *** MCALLEN- A tribute to our Veterans will be held Sunday, Nov. 11 at the Alfredo Gonzalez Texas State Veterans Home located at 301 E. Yuma Ave. at 10:00 a.m. This is sponsored by the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Texas Chapter 23-15, RGV. If you would like further information call Diana L. Zarate at 956-6824224 ext. 205 or 956-478-2539.
Free Meal
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November 9, 2018
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Sprint awards tablets with Internet access to La Joya ISD as part of their 1 Million-Project Grant sen by home Internet access need. These students were then chosen by a lottery system to award the tablets. The purpose of this grant is to target the homework gap in this country. According to a press release by Sprint 70% of America’s school teachers assign homework to be completed online, but more than 5 million families with school-aged children do not have reliable internet connectivity at home. This disconnect leads to dramatically inequitable outcomes among our students. This isn’t fair. It isn’t right. And it doesn’t need to happen. “Today’s students need equitable access to essential digital tools and connectivity to succeed in high school,” stated, Alma Salinas, LJISD Library Media Director “Those students who are disconnected when they leave school every afternoon should not be at a disadvantage just because
their families cannot provide them connectivity at home. With the support of Sprint, a national wireless company, we are in a powerful position to do something about this problem by arming eligible students with the critical tools they need to succeed and to believe that they can succeed.” Without access to these free devices and service, for many of these students the go-to solution is to do their homework at fast-food restaurants, where the Wi-Fi is free. Other students spend hours in restaurant parking lots. Many also wait in long
lines at libraries to secure the time online to complete their homework. Thelma R. Salinas Early College High School was also a recipient of this grant and will be awarded 48 tablets with Internet access. This gives students access to Internet anywhere they may be. 3GB per month of free high-speed LTE data while on the Sprint Network. Unlimited data is available at 2G speeds if usage exceeds 3GB in a month. Students are eligible for four years of free Sprint wireless service, depending on the student’s grade level and when they
of the street-paving project. “It’s a process that won’t happen overnight.” Hernandez acknowledged that the project may have impacted his race, but said he was still proud of the four years he served in office. “I’m proud I was able to achieve what we’ve done in the city to improve it, I hope they do the same,” Hernandez said Tuesday. “Palmv1ew Proud,” which ran with the slogan “Paving a better future for Palmview,” criticized the street paving project on their Facebook page. A few posts dated Friday, Oct. 26 promised that the slate will pave the roads if elected. In a statement to the Progress Times Uresti thanked supporters and said he and Perez look forward to working together with the current
city council members. For Perez, who sits on the city’s zoning board, the win is a reversal of his failed 2016 city council bid where he lost to councilwoman Linda Sarabia. “We think that the amount of people who voted are waiting for something to happen” Perez said. “We have to go from there to enact change.” Despite the loss of his slate members, Villarreal said he will work with the new city council members who will be sworn in at a future city council meeting. “And not just them, but any member of the community who wants to contribute to the progress of Palmview,” Villarreal said. “We’re taking the city to another level and want to do what is best for the constituents.”
Political newcomers join Palmview city council By Jose De Leon III After electing a new set of city council members to spur change in the city, Palmview residents seem to have done the same Tuesday night. Jose Luis Perez, a math instructor at Salinas Middle School, beat incumbent Joselito “Hoss” Hernandez with nearly 54 percent of the votes for a Place 2 seat on the city council. Perez ran in the “Palmv1ew Proud” slate with political newcomer Anthony Uresti who as of Tuesday received 50 percent of the vote, beating his opponent Arturo “Art” Alaniz by 18 votes, according to results from the Hidalgo County Elections department. Ricardo “Ricky” Villareal, a former city council member who ran unopposed
for mayor, was in the “Palmview Strong” slate along Hernandez and Alaniz. According to Villareal, the victory for the “Palmv1ew Proud” slate may have been attributed to the resident’s frustrations with the city’s progress on their street paving project. As part of the $42 million Agua SUD wastewater project, Agua SUD has torn up 20 miles worth of streets in the city to lay down sewer lines last year. As part of their agreement with Agua, the city oversees paving the streets and can pave them only after streets have been released to the city. The $1.5 million project began last May with several streets in the city left to go. “It’s something everyone was talking about during the election,” Villarreal said
began the 1MP program. These mobile devices include Free Children’s Internet Protection Act compliant content filter. This filter blocks adult content and malware while on the Sprint Network. Specifically designed for the 1Million Project. This filter in always on and cannot be disabled and was specifically designed for the 1Million Project.
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LA JOYA HOUSING
Board Chairwoman Maricruz Sifuentes signed a $10,000 check to Frances Salinas in March 2018, according to bank records. Frances Salinas signed smaller checks to herself. The bank records also showed a series of cash withdrawals from the nonprofit account and the low-rent account. Sifuentes and board Vice Chairwoman Sylvia
from pg. 5
Here at La Joya ISD we believe all students are curious, want a bright future and are willing to work hard to earn it. We also believe having Internet access at home means more time to learn, imagine, create, accomplish and graduate. This is why we seek for opportunities like these to aid our students academically.
Garces Valdez said they never authorized cash withdrawals from housing authority bank accounts. The board fired Frances Salinas on Nov. 1. Attorney Dennis Ramirez of Donna, who represents her, said Frances Salinas hadn’t been contacted by the HUD Office of Inspector General.
COMMUNITY DAY
Residents have long criticized construction plans of the border wall which either go through or leave local places such as the La Lomita Chapel, the National Butterfly Center and Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park south of the border wall. “We’d lose the habitat if that happens,” Cooper said of the impending wall construction. “I hope the center is still operational after the wall is built, but the habitat loss along the river from construction will impact it and I can’t see myself coming back here. It’d impact my plans to visit the area next year for sure.” Mariana Trevino-Wright, director for the National Butterfly Center, is one of the many residents who have publicly criticized border wall construction. However, she praised attendees of the Community Day, which she said is a sign of support from the public. “Judging by the volumes of cars in the parking lot and the people here, it’s a success,” Wright said. “It is
tremendous to see all this support and have the people who live here understand this is a safe, welcoming, family-friendly place to be.” Wright also expressed concerns about how different the Community Festival would be like next year. Among the most popular attractions at the center is a riverboat tour on the Rio Grande River, something she said this could be the last year they promote such a tour. “Community day brings in so many first-time visitors to the center so it’s definitely a celebration,” Wright said. “They’re excited to know we’re here to experience the magic of this place, especially during the peak of butterfly season. I think the mood will change as our new and returning visitors visit the area and see what a treasure it is. In light of these experiences, we may have a border wall or greater military presence in our area. Who knows? It could be very different next year.”
406 W. Veterans Blvd. • Palmview, TX 78572
2018 Winter Youth Sports Registration REGISTRATION: Nov. 5, 2018- Dec. 7, 2018 Monday – Friday 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Baseball AGES: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 9-10, 11-12
Ages as of August 31, 2018
AGES: 4-6 Co-Ed, 7-8 9-10, 11-12, 6th Grade Girls: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 6th Grade
Ages as of September 1, 2018
Basketball
Sprint awards tablets with Internet access to La Joya ISD as part of their 1 Million-Project Grant Sprint along with La Joya ISD announced that 240 high school students have received a free mobile device and free wireless service as part of the 1Million Project Foundation. The program launched with Sprint in August 2017 with a mission to help one million high school students achieve their full potential by ensuring they have the digital tools and connectivity they need to succeed in school. In its first year, the initiative connected 113,000 students across the country, and by the end of the 2018-19 school year, more than 260,000 students total at over 1,700 high schools in 33 states will receive internet access and devices. La Joya Palmview High School was awarded 192 tablets with Internet access. These students were cho-
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
November 9, 2018
LJISD receives ‘College, Ready, Set!’ grant funds
LA JOYA – Three middle schools in the La Joya Independent School District (LJISD) have been selected to be recipients of a new GEAR UP – Gaining Early Awareness and Reading Undergraduate Program. The grant came through the Region One ESC program “College, Ready, Set!” The grant will be implemented in 25 middle schools and 17 high schools in 17 school districts across south Texas. Funded as part of a $4.54 million for the next seven years, current 7th graders attending Ann Richards, Domingo Treviño, and J.D. Salinas Middle Schools will have supplemental aid for post-secondary exploration, preparation and graduation.
“What this means is that students in our region will have access to tools – such as programs that offer career skills that align with in-demand employment sectors, work-based learning, enrichment courses in science/ STEM related areas, tutoring and academic counseling, opportunities for internships and apprenticeships, and so many more enriching activities,” said Melissa I. Lopez, Region One director of the Office of College, Career, and Life Readiness Last school year, La Joya ISD was one of three school districts in the Rio Grande Valley to be awarded the “College In ACTion” $21 million grant for six of LJISD middle schools.
obituaries Edna Billman MISSION – Edna Marie Billman, 98, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, at her home. Born in Alto to Aldridge Eugene and Harriet Charlotte Lewis Lawrence, she was a resident of Mission and married Laurence Avery Billman. She worked at Carl’s Jewel Box in Mission for 29 years and was a member of the First Christian Church. Survivors include her children, Laurence Billman and Albert Billman. Private services will be held at a later date. Baudilia Gonzalez PEREZVILLE – Baudilia Perez Gonzalez, 86, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2018 at her home. Mrs. Gonzalez was born in Peñitas on Dec. 28, 1931, to Camilo and Maria (Cuellar) Perez where they established the small town Perezville. She was a member of
the Catholic Church. Survivors include her children Arnoldo Gonzalez, Alicia Perez and Anita Estrada; siblings, Sigifredo Perez and Camilio Perez; and 16 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arturo Gonzales Sr.; parents; children, Arturo Gonzalez Jr. and Adelina Hinojosa Gonzalez; and grandchildren, Nancy Jimenez Estrada and Rosalva Perez. A funeral mass was held on Nov. 8 at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Abram. Burial followed at Lord & I Cemetery in Palmview Pallbearers were Rudy Lee Gozalez, Ramiro Perez Jr., Arturo Gonzalez III, Roel Perez, Ricardo Hinojosa Jr. and Willie Jordan Estrada. Elena V. Treviño ABRAM – Elena V. Treviño, 101, passed away on Sun-
Learn about Day of the Dead altar history
EDINBURG – There are many ways to honor those who departed this world: flowers at a grave, a photograph hanging on a wall or setting up an altar around Día de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead. Learn about the symbolism of the items placed on an altar during the Community Altar Exhibit reception to be held Sunday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. at the Museum of South Texas History. This reception will feature the Community Altar Exhibit in the courtyard gallery composed of eight altars created by local community organizations such as the RGV Families and Friends of Murdered Children and other Valley citizens. The exhibit also features a centerpiece created by the Collections Department at the Museum of South Texas His-
tory with vintage photographs from the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives of unidentified people. The altar will honor nameless individuals and carry a preservation message about the importance of documenting family photographs. Families will also have the opportunity to create crafts that will celebrate and honor a departed loved one’s life. To complete the festivities, Grupo Folklorico Juvenil de Palmview, directed by Yanelly Rodriguez, will perform dance routines from Mexico. Refreshments will be available to purchase. This reception is included in the fee for regular museum admission. MOSTHistory is located at 200 N. Closner Blvd. Call 956-383-6911 for information.
day, Nov. 4, 2018 Village Healthcare & Rehabilitation in McAllen. Mrs. Treviño was born on Sept. 26, 1917, in Abram to Pedro Villarreal and Juanita Garza Villarreal. Survivors include her children, Olivia Champion, Reynaldo Treviño, Oralia Rodriguez, Rene Treviño and Esther Guerra; sibling, Elvira Cerda; and five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-greatgrandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Domingo Treviño; daughter, Orfelinda Montez; granddaughter, Marlene Treviño; and two sisters and four brothers. A funeral mass was held on Nov. 7 at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Abram. Burial followed at San Jose Cemetery in Abram. Guillermo Venecia Jr. DIMMIT/MISSION – Guillermo “La Vaqueta” Venecia Jr. passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Dimmitt. Mr. Venecia was a lifelong truck driver. Survivors include his children, Guillermo Venecia III and Valentin Venecia; siblings, Flerida Salinas, Adela
Villallon, Maria Hernandez, Alma Venecia, Edelmiro Venecia and Arnoldo Venecia; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosa Venecia; parents, Guillermo and Sylvestra Venecia; and siblings, Natalia Venecia, Jose Venecia, Eliseo Venecia, David Venecia and Teodoro Venecia. A funeral mass was held on Nov. 2 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at La Grulla City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Valentin Venecia Jr., Juan Hernandez Jr., Luis Hernandez, Rick Venecia, Ted Venecia, Arnoldo Venecia Jr., Eliseo Venecia Jr., Kine Venecia and Joel Venecia. Honorary pallbearers were Guillemo Venecia Jr., Valentin Venecia, Arnoldo Venecia, Jason Venecia and Raul Bazan.
Notices
Linda Caudillo MISSION – Linda Nelly Cantu Caudillo, 33, passed away on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Doctors Hospital in Edinburg.
ChurCh DireCtory BREAD OF LIFE CHURCH 2820 N. Conway Ave. • 581-1411 CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD 2322 N. McColl. - McAllen 682-2092 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 5609 S 29th St. - McAllen 682-4881 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 2Mile & Bryan Rd Mission. CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Missonaries • 580-2570 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH 911 N. Main - McAllen 686-4241 CONWAY AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH 2215 N. Conway • 585-2413 EL FARO BIBLE CHURCH 15 miles W. of Mission on Exp. 83 Sullivan City, TX • 585-5617 EL MESIAS UNITED METHODIST 209 E. 6th • 585-2334 FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH 3 miles N. Shary Rd. • 581-1465 FAITH FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH 1 mile N. Exp. 83 on Tom Gill Rd. 519-6311 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1302 Doherty • 585-1442 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH 12th and Miller - Mission 585-7281 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1102 Ash St. • 585-4829 for worship schedule.
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FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1101 Doherty • 585-1665 FREEDOM LIFE CHURCH 2214 W. Griffin Pkwy. • 519-7000 Mission GRACIA DIVINA MINISTRY 11809 N. Shary Rd. • 584-3112 GREAT OAKS COMMUNITY CHURCH 2722 N. Conway • 451-5500 Mission HERITAGE BAPTIST MCALLEN 2549 Lindbergh Ave. McAllen • 451-6358 IGLESIA ADVENTISTA DEL SEPTIMO DIA 1725 W. Griffin Parkway 581-9008 IGLESIA BAUTISTA BETANIA 851 S. Breyfogle Rd. • 585-5688 IGLESIA BAUTISTA CRISTO EL REY 1600 E. Bus. 83 - Mission IGLESIA BAUTISTA COLONIAL 3713 N. La Homa Rd. • 585-5332 IGLESIA BAUTISTA DEL VALLE 217 W. Mile 3 Rd. • 424-1602 Palmhurst IGLESIA DEL PUEBLO 7500 West Expressway 83 581-1900 IGLESIA DEL DIVINO REDENTOR 1020 North Los Ebanos Rd 585-5898
IGLESIA PENTECOSTES NUEVA VIDA A/G 211 W. Mile 3 Road Palmhurst • 956-342-9711 Rev. Candelario Banda
LA RESPUESTA CHURCH 405 W. 12th Street • 585-0787 MISSION CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 1 mi. E. 495 • 585-6683 NEW HOPE AT THE BORDER 905 N. Conway • 369-3603 NORTH MISSION CHURCH OF CHRIST 1410 E. Mile 3 Rd. • 585-0146 Palmhurst NORTH PALMVIEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH 7612 W. 6 Mile Ln. ONLY THRU JESUS 1511 E. Mile 2 Rd. Mission • 918-760-1625 OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS One-half mile South Leo Avenue La Joya • 585-5223 OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHURCH 6634 El Camino Real • Granjeno OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH 2.5 miles S. Conway (FM 1016) Mission OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH 620 Dunlap • 585-2623 OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY CHURCH 923 Matamoros St. • 581-2193 PALM VALLEY CHURCH 1720 E. Griffin Pkwy. 585-3203 PEÑITAS BAPTIST CHURCH 1/3 Mile S. of Exp.83 on FM 1427 583-6236 PRIMERA BAPTIST CHURCH Corner of 6th & Oblate 585-4711
PROMISE LAND CHURCH 2300 E. Palm Circle (Corner of 495) Mission, TX 78572 • 624-9307 RIVER OF LIFE CHURCH 901 S. Shary Rd. (Located in the Holiday Inn Express Conference Room) 451-4838 SAN CRISTOBAL MAGALLANES & COMPANIONS PARISH
3805 Plantation Grove Blvd., Ste. 5
Mission • 580-4551
SAN MARTIN DE PORRES 5 mi. N. Conway, 1/2 Mile West Alton • 585-8001 & 585-8002 SPIRIT OF PEACE EV. LUTHERAN CHUCH 3104 Los Milagros Mission • 581-1822 ST. JOHN OF THE FIELDS CATHOLIC CHURCH 1052 Washington Ave. • 585-2325 ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH 1119 Francisco • 585-2701 ST. PETER & ST. PAUL EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2310 N. Stewart Rd. 585-5005 SHINING LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH 6 1/8 N. Doffing Rd. (FM 492) 580-4078 TEMPLO BIBLICO 5 Mile/Conway 581-4981or 585-3831 TEMPLO EVANGELICO, M.B. CHURCH La Joya TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 3905 W. 3 Mile Line • 585-3261 VALLEY FELLOWSHIP 1708 E. Griffin Parkway Mission • 424-7200
PRIMERA IGLESIA DEL VALLE APOSTOLIC ASSEMBLY 210 N. St. Marie. • 585-8651
KING, GUERRA, DAVIS & GARCIA ATTORNEYS AT LAW
DAVID H. GUERRA
DARRELL DAVIS
301 E. Tom Landry • Mission • 585-1622
MISSION AUTO ELECTRIC, INC. DBA
ER MAE EPQOU IW PMENT
Commercial Lawn Equipment “Since 1954”
915 West Bus. 83 • Mission, tX 78572 • (956) 581-7433
‘Sylvia’ opens at STC Theatre
McALLEN – South Texas College Theatre presents A. R. Gurney’s play “Sylvia” next week. The production will run from Nov. 15 to 17 at 8 p.m. and will include a matinee at 2 p.m. on Nov. 18. Performances will take place at STC’s Cooper Center for Communication Arts Main Stage Theatre located at 3201 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. Greg and Kate have moved to Manhattan after 22 years of child-raising in the suburbs. Greg’s career as a financial trader is winding down, while Kate’s career, as a public school English teacher, is beginning to offer her more opportunities. One day, Greg brings home a dog found in the park bearing only the name “Sylvia” on her nametag. A street-smart mixture of Labrador retriever and Poodle, Sylvia becomes a major cause of disagreement between husband and wife. For Greg, Sylvia offers an escape from the frustrations of his job and the unknowns of
middle age, but for Kate, Sylvia becomes a rival for affection. The marriage is put in serious jeopardy until, after a series of hilarious and touching complications, Greg and Kate learn to compromise, and Sylvia becomes a valued part of their lives. General admission tickets cost $10. Students, faculty, military, and senior citizens are $5. Ticket sales from the Nov. 15 production will go towards the Dr. John F. Carroll Drama Scholarship. The Nov. 18 matinee production will be interpreted in American Sign Language. The play contains mature language and adult themes. Parental discretion is advised. Ticket cash purchases can be purchased one hour before the performance at the box office. For advance tickets, additional information, or for group rates, call 956-872-2301 or email drodri72@southtexascollege.edu or jrodriguez@ southtexascollege.edu
Maria Cibrian MISSION – Maria E. Cibrian, 67, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, at McAllen Medical Center. Juana Garza MISSION – Juana P. Garza, 91, passed away on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Pax Villa Hospice in McAllen. Maria Garza MISSION – Maria E. Garza, 57, passed away on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, at Mission Valley Nursing and Transitional Care George Groskurth MISSION – George J. Groskurth, 80, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen. Rolando Hinojosa MISSION – Rolando Hinojosa, 80, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. Delia Lopez MISSION – Delia Lopez, 88, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, at Solara Hospital in McAllen. Angel Mendiola MISSION – Angel Mendiola, infant, passed away on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, at Rio
Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen. Esther Miller MISSION – Esther Ruth Miller, 102, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, at The Gardens at Brookridge in Pharr. Paul Nuñez Jr. MISSION – Paul A. Nunez Jr., 23, passed away on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at his home. Toribia Orozco LA JOYA – Toribia R. Orozco, 90, passed away on Tuesday, Oct.30, 2018, at Amara Hospice in Edinburg. Angelina Ramirez PEÑITAS – Angelina Ramirez, 77, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at her home. Jose Rodriguez SULLIVAN CITY – Jose Luis Balderas Rodriguez, 68, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, at Mission Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Rodolfo Sanchez Jr. MISSION – Rodolfo Sanchez Jr., 32, passed away on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.
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Agua SUD to vote on water rate increase
By Jose De Leon III Next month, the Agua Special Utility District board of directors may vote on increasing water rates for the next five years. During their Monday board meeting, the directors listened to a presentation from Jeff G. Snowden, president of the Frisco-based Capex Consulting Group. The presentation was an update on an August work-
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said. “It starts with the keyboards…goes to the woodwinds and on to the French horns. All sections will be featured, and toward the end it goes into ‘Harry’s Wondrous World’ and the full band is playing there.” First chair flutist Beth Van Epps agrees with her director. “The showcase is the Harry Potter themes – it goes a wicked, wicked pace,” said Van Epps, who is in her 13th year as band director at Sharyland High School and was band director at McAllen Rowe prior to that. “There’s a lot of movement and there are some real hard licks; the woodwinds are all busting fingers. There are so many slides; it just keeps moving.”
You don’t want to give your customers rate shock, but you do want your revenues ahead of your expenses.” Under the proposed rate, Agua customers will pay $26.24 for water a month at the end of the five years. The increase would begin with an increase of a $1.08 in the first year of the rate increase. Right now, residents pay $20.04 for water, Snowden said For sewer services, which Agua charges $20.84,
There will also by an arrangement that includes the arrangement from the whistling scene from the movie “Bridge Over The River Kwai,” another that includes a rendition from “Empire of the Sun,” and a medley of arrangements called “Disney at the Oscars.” “This has been a lot of fun,” Olivarez said. “There’s absolutely something for everyone, and I think most people will recognize a lot of it.” Concert tickets start at $10 and are available at the McAllen Convention Center Box Office and ticketmaster. com. Visit mcallentownband.org for more information.
TENNIS CENTER
and Conservation Fund (with federal dollars) and the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation. Those present at the ground breaking ceremony included Mission Mayor Armando O’caña, City Manager Martin Garza, Texas State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Tony Guerrero, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Judy Quinsenberry, the Executive Director of the Valley Bap-
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shop where Snowden recommended the board begin increasing water rates by a little over a dollar every year for the next five years, a move Snowden still recommended. “You have a growing system, adding roughly 210 water accounts per year and we’re about to add significantly more with the connection to the Mission wastewater sewer system,” Snowden told the board. “Now is the time to start to gradually make changes to your rates.
MUSICAL WALK
and space to practice. It’s really an amazing place.” He said the Nov. 13 show has something for everyone and kicks off with “An American Overture.” “One of the pieces is called ‘Who’s That Masked Man,’” Olivarez said. “It has all the different superheroes who wore masks – like Zorro and Superman and there’s even a piece from “The Incredibles 2.” There’s also a challenging arrangement that will have Harry Potter fans reminiscing about the school-aged boy and his friends and the all the danger and adventures they faced over the years. “A lot of the arrangement is sectionalized,” Olivarez
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tist Legacy Foundation, Susan Sharp, a Local Parks Grant Coordinator from Texas Parks and Wildlife, Angie LaGrange,the President of the South Texas Community Tennis Association, Brenda Enriquez, the new President and CEO of the Mission Chamber of Commerce and Brad Bentsen, the Director of the Mission Parks and Recreation Department. Bentsen said he was glad the city will be able to pro-
mote a “lifetime sport,” and that while tennis was once viewed as a “rich man’s sport,” it can now be accessible and hold no barriers to Missionites who are “rich or poor, young or old.” “Our Goal is not only to help encourage this game, but to bring more public awareness to obesity and diabetes, and how to kick it through exercise and education,” Bentsen said.
PALMVIEW POLICE
taken in the past and it seems to work for a while, but then Detective Lopez falls back again on his case load.” Along with the memo, Lopez’s personnel file includes a stack of written reprimands and a list of cases he failed to properly investigate. City records describe Lopez’s resignation as voluntary but indicate that he didn’t resign in good stand-
ing. Records that Palmview submitted to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement show the city reported Lopez’s separation as a “general discharge,” a category that includes law enforcement officers with performance and disciplinary problems. Prosecutors didn’t discuss Lopez during opening arguments. Vance Gonzales
asked jurors to remember that Texas Department of Public Safety troopers handled the crash investigation. “You’re going to see a very clear line — and we’re drawing it in the sand — between professional law enforcement and local law enforcement,” Vance Gonzales said. “And we’re telling you that DPS, they did their job.”
Snowden recommended an increase of $1.54 in its first year before ultimately increasing to $28.50 per month by 2023. Snowden assured the boar these rates would still be among the lowest in the Valley “At the end of [five years] you’ll have a cash flow that will pay your debt and operations, leaving you a bumper for the end of the year but you will not be a big cash generator,” Snowden said. “Once the recommendations are implemented each year, you’ll be able to meet your expenses, pay off all your debt and have a modest amount
leftover-about $400,000, for your capital projects. The system will also end up with a modest surplus preparing it for emergencies.” The board will potentially vote on this increase on their next meeting slated for Tuesday, Dec. 11. Agua General Manager Jose E. “Eddie” Saenz said the rate increase will go into effect the month after the board votes on it., adding that the board could decide to vote for it in January. Director Homer Tijerina, who represents the county on the Agua board, wondered if customers could afford a rate increase.
“We see 550 disconnections per month and that could go higher with a higher rate,” Tijerina said. “I still think we can cut expenses to ease a need for an increase. To pick up these rates would hurt our ratepayers.” Saenz expressed confidence in the board approving the rate increase. “This is all about ratepayers and making sure we can maintain rates that they can sustain and pay for,” Saenz said after the meeting. “Overall the increase is only going a dollar a year, that’s very minimal to pay for our services. We’re comfortable with these prices.”
By Jose De Leon III
of positive response, but we want to assure you this is not something we’ve sat back and done nothing with.” Among the suggestions offered by the agency include an increase in technology and manpower over a physical wall and reducing the enforcement zone by half, Duggins said. “I don’t think we know yet what will happen to the park until we see what ends up being constructed, but we’d prefer there not be a wall,” Duggins said. The park, which is currently the headquarters for the National Birding Center, was sold to the State Parks Board for $1 in 1944 by the family of the late Democratic U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen on the condition that the 587 acres be used “solely for public park purposes.” The park houses more than 325 species of birds and other wildlife, drawing nearly 30,000 visitors in 2016. The public hearing consisted on presentations from several departments within the agency and remarks from state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, who called the Valley “one of the safest places in the United States.” After the presentations, attendees were invited to speak during the public comments section. A total of 30 speakers went up to the podium, all of them expressing support for the park. “I’m not a great public speaker but the park means a lot to me,” Jennifer Sigler-a Mission resident-tearfully
said. “My family has been going there for years. I know the park is visited and enjoyed by so many people. Please don’t give up the fight. It needs to continue.” Among the speakers was Pam Haven, granddaughter of Lloyd Bentsen. She praised supporters of the park and reminded the commission of why the park was opened in the first place. “We’re all concerned about a legacy left to this community and it meant so much when the park opened. But if the wall goes up, is it still a park,” Haven asked. “I realize we need security, but I hope there is a way that we can managed to preserve the park.” Commissioner Bill Jones and other agency commissioners swore to continue protecting the park and urged residents to contact State Sen. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, to voice their thoughts on the park. “Whatever happens, we’re still committed to the park and we will do whatever we can to make sure it is cared for under any circumstances,” Jones said. “That’s your agency at work, we are committed to doing whatever it takes to make that park enjoyable for you.” A town hall against the border wall is being planned by several local organizations Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. across the McAllen Border Patrol station at 3000 W. Military HWY.
Residents voice support for Bentsen State Park
With the future of a local state park in jeopardy, local residents met with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at a public hearing Tuesday to discuss the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. Residents met with the agency’s commissioners at the Mission Event Center and addressed the future of the park, which would be affected by President Donald Trump’s border wall. Last summer, The Texas Tribune reported that the Bentsen State Park could close if the proposed border wall ends up going through the park after a $1.6 billion spending bill was approved which included the construction of 33 miles of barrier in Hidalgo and Starr County. The 25 miles of border wall construction planned for Hidalgo County consists of an 18-foot-tall fence built on the river levees and a 150-foot-wide “enforcement zone” along the wall. Most of the park is located south of the levee wall, meaning that the Bentsen State Park would not be operational if the wall is built. “We’ve endeavored for some time now to work with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to see if there’s other solutions besides building a wall right through the northern part of the park,” TPW Chairman Ralph H. Duggins told the crowd. “So far our pleas and suggestions have not been met with any type
November 9, 2018 from pg. 1
LJISD SCHOOL BOARD
Place 2: Frances A. Salinas, 51, of La Joya, the daughter of La Joya Mayor Jose A. “Fito” Salinas and City Commissioner Mary Salinas. Place 2: Pamela Flores, 49, of Palmview, a teacher who ran a low-profile campaign. Place 3: Businesswoman Mary T. Hernandez, 52, of Mission, who owns a trucking company with her husband. After blanketing La Joya
with signs, Frances Salinas barely campaigned. Pamela Flores reported spending less than $100 from July 24 to Oct. 27. Ochoa trounced them. And without any opposition, Nereyda Cantu cruised to victory. Alaniz, though, faced Hernandez, who ran with support from members of the Palmview City Council, Agua Special Utility District board Director Homer Tijer-
ina and the Salinas family in La Joya. “The people spoke. And they were heard,” said Palmview City Councilman Joel Garcia, who served two terms on the school board. Hernandez spent more than $35,000 from July 30 to Oct 29, according to campaign finance reports filed with the school district. Hernandez accepted few donations and footed most of the bill herself.
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reports. Amarillo-based law firm Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott, which collects delinquent property taxes for the district, donated $12,500. Throughout the campaign, Hernandez warned about cozy relationships between the school board and politically connected contractors. “I wanted for people to actually see what’s going on in our school district,” Hernandez said. “And for them to come out and vote. That
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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
Sherrif’s Sale- Order of Sale
The State of Texas, County of Hidalgo October 24, 2018 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That by virtue of a certain Order of Sale Cause
No. T-0906-17-E issued out of the Honorable DISTRICT COURT OF THE 275th JUDICIAL DISTRICT, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS on the 24th day of August 2018, and styled Hunter-Kelsey II, LLC (plaintiffs) VS Hector Noe Flores and Norma Alicia Flores (defendant) and whereas plaintiff and intervenors recovered a judgment of foreclosure of the lien for taxes against the Subject Property in the amount of Thirty Thousand Five Hundred Thirty Six Dollars and Eighty Two cents ($30,536.82), plus other amounts, fees and cost awarded and the further cost of suit together with the cost of executing this writ with all costs of suit as of record is manifest, in favor of Hunter-Kelsey II, LLC, Delta Lake Irrigation District, Edinburg Consolidated ISD, and Hidalgo County, and placed in my hands for service on August 27, 2018, I, J.E. “Eddie” Guerra, as Sheriff of Hidalgo County, Texas, did on the 3rd day of October 2018, levy on certain Real Estate in Hidalgo County, Texas, described as follows, to-wit:
Tax Account Number: D380007000021700 & DL020-000-217-000-00
*Moises Flores Road, Edcouch, Texas 78538; DELTA ORCHARDS #7 LOT 217 1.00 AC; and being more particularly described as Being all of Lot 217, Delta Orchards #7, an addition to Hidalgo County, Texas, as per plat thereof recorded in the Plat Records of Hidalgo County, Texas. And levied upon as the property of Hector Noe Flores and Norma Alicia Flores and that on the first Tuesday in December 2018, the same being the 4th day of said month, at 2802 S. Business Hwy 281, The Hidalgo County Administrative Building, Edinburg, Texas, hereby designated by The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by virtue of said levy and said Order of Sale, I will sell said above described Real Estate at public venue for cash, to the highest bidder, as the property of said Hector Noe Flores and Norma Alicia Flores 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 in Hidalgo County Texas.
was my main thing.” The Team Un1ted candidates touted their experience and qualifications. “I don’t know what my opponent’s platform was except for ‘change,’” Alaniz said. “I don’t think she ever expressed what she wanted to do or anything. I ran based on what we’ve been able to accomplish there at the district.”
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“I didn’t see anything different from other campaigns, to be honest with you,” Alaniz said. “I don't think I would spend that amount of money out of my own pocket for a position that doesn’t pay.” Fueled by donations from attorneys and businesses with school district contracts, Team Un1ted spent more than $71,000. Attorney Jaime “Jerry” Muñoz, who represents the district, donated $13,000, according to campaign finance
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Now Hiring Off Site Coordinator (Mission Texas)
Schreiner University seeks an Off-Site Coordinator in Mission Texas, responsible for recruiting, advising, creating co-curricular learning experiences and teaching one IDST course each semester. For full position details and online application please visit our website www.schreiner.edu.
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.
NOTICE OF MEETING REGARDING “HAYES-SAMMONS SETTLEMENT” RE: Cause No.: C-4885-99-F; Alicia Acevedo, et. al. vs. Union Pacific Railroad Company, et.al., situated in the 332nd Judicial District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas, Honorable Judge Mario Ramirez, Presiding. TO ALL CLAIMANTS THAT HAVE NOT SIGNED THEIR RELEASE PACKETS IN THE “HAYES-SAMMONS” CASE. Please be advised that there will be a FINAL meeting conducted by the court appointed Special Master, Honorable Gil Peralez on Saturday, November 17, 2018, beginning at 9:00 A.M. The location for the meeting is Hidalgo County Precinct 3 Community Center located at 734 North Breyfogle in Mission, Texas 78572. The purpose of the meeting is to provide Plaintiffs/Claimants a final opportunity to sign their release documents in order to begin disbursement of the settlement funds. This is a final notice to all Plaintiff/Claimants that have not yet signed releases. Failure to sign releases will be the basis for dismissal of your claims. For further information, please contact the following: LitServ Litigation Settlement Services (713) 952-6699, Ms. Rosie Salinas and/or Ms. Andrea De Leon with the Law Office of Ramon Garcia, P.C. at (956) 383-7441.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS LA JOYA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT’S Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) LA JOYA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT will hold a public meeting at 5:30 P.M., November 28, 2018 in the Central Administration at Nellie Schunior Staff Development Center 200 West Expressway 83, La Joya,Texas The purpose of this meeting is to discuss La Joya Independent School District’s rating on the state’s Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST).
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