Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Results See Page 5
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Progress times Vol. 47 - #30
Friday, March 22, 2019
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“Job well done” Mission bids farewell to canine officer Cezar
By Jamie Treviño The memorial service was closed with several active K9s and their handlers walking up to Cezar’s ashes, eager to salute him for his service to the city one last time. Police officers, family, friends and canines from Mission and all over the RGV gathered at city hall on Wednesday morning to honor Cezar, a retired K9 officer who spent eight years with the Mission Police Department. This is the first time the city has organized a memorial service for a K9 officer. Cezar passed away March 5 due to ongoing health issues. He retired from service in 2017, and was subsequently adopted by his handler Officer Alexandria Leal. Cezar, a long-coat German Shepherd, was described as an aggressive dog when he came to the Mission PD and was about to be put
Progress Times photo by Jamie Treviño.
Officer Alexandria Leal (left) looks on at Cezar’s ashes during the memorial service held in honor of the K9. down. He had served with three other officers before Leal, who worked with him for six years before his re-
Underwhelmed by city attorney candidates, Mission city councilman submits application By Dave Hendricks Underwhelmed by the candidates for city attorney, Mission City Councilman Gus Martinez made an unconventional decision: He applied. “I didn’t know how it would be looked upon if I applied,” Martinez said. “But then, after a while, I realized ‘You know what, I’ll just give it a shot. If I get it, I get it. Great. If I don’t, I’m still on the council.” The application made waves in Mission, where Martinez is considered the swing vote on the City Council. If hired, he would be required to resign. Along with political considerations, the application also prompted legal and ethical questions. “We checked with legal to see if he was an eligible applicant to be interviewed,” said Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña, referring to conversations with attorney Robert “Bob” Galligan of Weslaco-based law firm Jones, Galligan, Key & Lozano, which is temporarily representing the city. “And legal responded that yes, he was a legal applicant.” Whether or not it’s ethical for a member of the City Council to apply for a city job is another matter. “I will not comment on
tirement. “Cezar was a special dog, he was aggressive,” Lieutenant Javier Ramon, Canine
Supervisor for Mission PD, said. “Leal, when she came on to the unit, was just like Cezar - two peas in a pod.”
Ramon said Cezar and Leal were both “hard-headed” when they started training together.
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“As time and training progressed, you could see both of them make that transformation,” Ramon said. “You could see Cezar’s temperament come down a lot. It was a match made in heaven.” The memorial service included the presentation of colors, a presentation of Cezar’s ashes, an invocation and benediction by Father Roy Snipes and a final salute from K9 officers from Mission, the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Department and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The Mission PD Canine Unit has been in existence since the late 1980’s. It was started, originally, in order to help with several burglaries that were taking place in a few Winter Texan parks in the city. “We had five to ten burglaries at the trailer parks every other day,” Ramon said.
See K9 CEZAR Pg. 7
Mission loses ‘giant of a man’
By Kathy Olivarez When 2016 Mr. Mission Don Reinhardt died March 7, Mission lost “a giant of a man,” according to his neighbors at Aladdin Villas. Don dedicated his life to the service of others, starting to live by that motto while a member of the Boy Scouts while growing up in Kansas. Don did nothing without doing it well and he stayed in scouting long enough to earn his Eagle Scout badge. In addition to scouting, he loved music and was a mem-
Don Reinhardt ber of the band and choir of his high school growing up. Don was also an accom-
plished gymnast. Immediately after finishing high school in 1944 he joined the Navy and served as an aerial gunner on a torpedo bomber during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946 after the war ended and returned home to attend Kansas State University. He earned a degree in biological science and took pre-dental requirements. He graduated from dental school in Kansas City, Missouri in 1954. He married his college sweetheart Bonna Maxfield,
and set up a dental practice in Great Bend, Kansas. He and Bonna had five children, who remember him as a loving father, who was a bit of prankster but who was dedicated to serving others. According to his daughter Cindy, he was a Scout master for 15 years and received the Silver Beaver Award, the highest honor given to a scout master. She said he regularly took the family to Philmont, a scout camp in New Mexico as a part of his
See DON REINHARDT Pg. 8
Social workers organization honors local figures Gus Martinez the ethics behind it,” O’caña said, adding that, ultimately, Martinez must answer that question. Mission solicited applications after City Attorney Abiel Flores — who earned $160,000 per year, making him the second-highest-paid city employee — resigned in December. Applicants included former Donna City Councilwoman Cathy Alvarado, who works for the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office; Guillermo “Will” Trevino, a municipal attorney from Dallas; and Daniel Jones, an attorney from Mississippi. After interviewing the candidates, Martinez decided to apply. He submitted an
See CITY ATTORNEY Pg. 10
McAllen City Commission
By Jose De Leon III An elected official, a nun and a teacher walk into a bar and end up receiving awards recognizing them for their
six individuals Wednesday. Among those recognized was Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, who earned
the distinction of public citizen of the year. Joe Flores, Precinct 3 commissioner, was recognized as elected
See SOCIAL WORKERS Pg. 7
Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.
The recipients of the 2018 NASW awards (from left) Joe Flores, Sister Norma Pimentel, Jack White, Bonnie Solis, Estela Soza Garza, Monica Hernandez Sanchez and chapter President Celina Garza.
INSIDE
La Joya ISD Severance The LJISD board of trustees approved a six-figure severance package for Superintendent Alda Benavides last month. Dave Hendricks has the details on the agreement, inside.
An attorney filed a complaint against McAllen City Commission candidate Tania Ramirez with the Mission PD. An investigator determined that it “held merit.” See the story for more on the complaint and what it means.
See Pg. 4
achievements in the Rio Grande Valley. As part of social work month, the local branch of the National Association of Social Workers recognized
City of McAllen
See Pg. 9
INDEX Entertainment....pg. 2 Lifestyle...................pg. 3 Sports.......................pg. 6 Obituaries..............pg. 8 Classifieds...............pg.9
page 2
March 22, 2019
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Coming Attractions
Tickets are on sale for the Valley Symphony Orchestra’s season finale, “The 3B’s: Beatles, Brahms and Beethoven,” to be held April 5 in McAllen.
VSO season finale is April 5 McALLEN – Maestro Peter Dabrowski and the Valley Symphony Orchestra are ready for their season finale, “The 3B’s: Beatles, Brahms and Beethoven,” on Friday, April 5, at 8 p.m. to be held at the McAllen Performing Arts Center, 801 Convention Center Blvd., McAllen. “This concert features… pieces by some of the greatest musicians, classical or modern,” said Dabrowski. “Attendees will hear something familiar in an entirely new way at this concert, performed by the 80-member orchestra and 120-member chorale.” VSO patrons will hear Beatles’ classics such as A Hard Day’s Night, Michelle and Yesterday, as well as a major performance by the VSO Chorale featuring Beethoven’s Ode to Joy in a mix of classical pillars and orchestral arrangements of pop favorites. Vocal soloists Soon Cho (soprano), Christina Marie Pier (alto), Eric Schmidt (tenor), and David Grogan (bass) also perform. Under the direction of Dr. David Means, the chorale is
made up of 120 individuals from the community. Henry Mancini’s Portrait of The Beatles was written in 1967 and highlights six of the beloved British band’s most popular songs from the mid-1960s. His knack for arranging pop music and The Beatles’ exemplary songwriting skills come together in the nostalgic composition. “Academic Festival Overture” was written by Johannes Brahms on the occasion of receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Breslau. Written with a sense of humor, and relying heavily on popular student drinking songs of the time, the piece features colorful performances from the bassoons, strings, and oboes. Purchase tickets at the McAllen Performing Arts Center box office anytime, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or online at valleyorchestra.org. For more information, patrons may also call the VSO office at (956) 661-1615.
MHS students qualify for state Skills USA Mission High School Criminal Justice students participated in the Skills USA competition recently, placing them in various categories, and will now move on to the state competition to be held in Corpus Christi on April 4 to 7. Alexis Aranda placed first in firefighting; Jetlynn Gonzalez was first in Criminal Justice – Individual; and the Quiz Bowl teams placed first and third.
There are seven officers for Skills USA District 13-A and four of the officers are Mission High School students. They are Ryan Vick, president; Jesus Molina, vice president; Noevelyn Garza, treasurer; and Yaretzi Gonzalez, parliamentarian. District 13 director is Minnie Rodgers. Criminal Justice Skills USA advisors are Frank Rios and Belinda Anzaldua.
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March 23 • The 30th Annual Texas Onion Fest will be held at Mayor Pablo Peña City Park in Weslaco celebrating the 1015 onion, featuring a day of live music, dancing horses, free kiddie rides, onion eating contest, cooking demonstrations and more. Admission for adults is $6 and $4 for children. Ages 3 and under get in free. For more information, contact the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce at 956-968-2102. • The UTRGV Jazz Combo, under the direction of Dr. Bill Haugeberg, will perform student arrangements of jazz standards at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W. University Dr. in Edinburg. Admission is $5. Tickets are available at patron.utrgv.edu. Call 956-665-3881 for information or special accommodations. March 24-25 • The UTRGV Wind Orchestra will perform at 5 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W. University Dr. in Edinburg on Sunday and at 7 p.m. on Monday at the TSC Performing Arts Center, 90 Taylor Ave. in Brownsville. Admission is $5; tickets are available at patron.utrgv.edu. For special accommodations, call 956-665-3881. March 25 & April 1 • The UTRGV Trombone and Low Brass Choirs perform at 7 p.m. on March 25 at the UTRGV Library auditorium, 1201 W. University Dr., Edinburg, and 7 p.m. on April 1 at the TSC Performing Arts Center, 90 Taylor Ave., Brownsville. Admission is free. For special accommodations, call 956-665-3881. March 28-31 • The Harlingen Community Theatre will present the long-running, off-Broadway hit Greater Tuna at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre, 1209 Fair Park Blvd., Harlingen. Admission is $10 and $5 for students under age 18. Go to harlingencommunitytheatre.org for box office info to purchase tickets. Email playhousefairpark97@gmail.com for questions. March 29 • The McAllen Wind Ensemble’s season finale, “A Gatsby Gala,” will be a celebration of music from the Roaring ‘20s. The concert will take place at the McAllen Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. The band will perform the music of Gershwin, Holst, Grainger, Cole Porter, and more, and features pianist Francisco Rocafuerte who will also lead the band as guest conductor. Tickets start at $10 and are available at the McAllen Convention Center Box Office, ticketmaster.com, and at the door the evening of the concert. For more information, visit mcallenwindensemble.org or call 682-227-2101. April 4-6 • The Upper Valley Art League (UVAL) will host a sculpture workshop with Douglas Clark in the UVAL Art Link building; from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The workshop features a live model and a relaxed atmosphere. Clay and tools will be provided. Cost is $150 to members and $180 to nonmembers; class size is limited to 15 students. Payment is required at registration. Sign up at the UVAL gallery in the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th St., Mission. (For more Coming Attractions, go to ptrgv.com)
The UTRGV Ballet Company will present two performances of its annual concert on March 29 and 30 at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex (PAC) in Edinburg.
UTRGV Ballet Company presents annual concert March 29-30 EDINBURG – The UTRGV Ballet Company will present two performances of its annual concert on Friday and Saturday, March 29 and 30, at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex (PAC) on the Edinburg Campus. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. The concert will feature a cast of 17 dancers performing classical ballet and contemporary works, including excerpts from the classical ballets “Le Corsaire” and “Don Quixote.” The concert also will feature a musical jazz, “What a Kick,” by acclaimed Texas educator and Fulbright Scholar Libby Rhodes, and performances by the UTRGV School of Music. The Ballet Company at UTRGV is under the direction of Min Kim, associate
professor of dance. Production manager is Zeidy Enedy Garza Peña. Members of the 2018 UTRGV Ballet Company are Andrea Cantu, Illiana Cantu, Tirzah Claus, Aliana Garza, Alyssa Garza, Guadalupe Garza, Katzin Garcia, Jennifer Jimenez, Veronica Leal, Jennifer Ledezma, Joana Lozano, Katherine Lozano, Alexandra Marino, Consuelo Mireles, Erick Perales, Fatima Torres and Kimberly Torres. General admission, general seating ticket prices are $8 for adults and seniors and $5 for students and children. Tickets will be available at the PAC box office one hour prior to the events. For more information, call 956-665-2230, or email danceprogram@utrgv.edu.
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EDINBURG – Tickets go on sale today for MANÁ’s “Rayando El Sol Tour” that will make a stop on Nov. 14 at Bert Ogden Arena. The Latin rock superstars will make their debut at the Arena, and the stop marks the highly anticipated return of the band to the Rio Grande Valley in four years. Named after Maná’s critically acclaimed single, “Rayando El Sol,” the Live Nation-produced tour will now make at least 29 stops across the U.S. Forming in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1986, the quartet of Fher Olvera, Alex González, Sergio Vallín and Juan Calleros have gone on to be global envoys for the Latin Rock genre, while sell-
(courtesy photo)
ing over 40 million albums. In the United States, Maná holds nine #1 albums and 10 #1 singles, more than any other band in the history of Billboard’s “Hot Latin Songs” chart. Maná has become the top-drawing, all-Spanish language concert band in the U.S. The New York Times declared the group has “Redefined ‘Crossover’ in Latin Pop...with its mix of love songs and more pointed political material about immigration and the environment, ...Maná has a mass appeal nearly unrivaled in the Latin pop world.” Bert Ogden Arena is located at 4900 S. I-69C. Call 956-562-7362 for information.
March 22, 2019
page 3
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MCISD Campus teachers of the year announced
Hole-in-One can win a car
Calling all golfers to practice their drives and hope for a hole-in-one to win one of four vehicles up for grabs at the RGV Aggie Mom’s “Gig ‘Em Scholarship” golf tournament to be held on Saturday, March 30, at the Los Lagos Golf Course in Edinburg. The three-man teams will have breakfast, beverages, lunch and door prizes included with the $500 entry fees, all while helping to raise scholarship funds for local kids attending Texas A&M. Tee time is 8 a.m. with registration beginning at 7 a.m. Prize vehicles include a 2019 Ford Mustang Premium, 2019 Toyota Tundra Crew Max, 2019 Lexus RX 350 F Sport and a 2019 Can-Am Ryker 600. For more information, call Cynthia Sakulenzki at 956-451-5255 and Michelle Timmer at 956-358-0673.
Greater Texas Foundation awards $895K grant to LJISD LA JOYA – The Greater Texas Foundation awarded La Joya ISD’s College and Career Center a “Jobs for the Future” (JFF) grant of $895,000 to help students to stay on a postsecondary education path. The JFF Back on Track to College model is being awarded to five programs across Texas with youths who have veered off track from achieving a high school diploma. Each program will receive funds and training so these students will not only complete their high school diploma or GED but will continue their education to prepare for careers. “As a student who is also a mother, I am grateful for the new opportunities that I am receiving at College & Career Center. The fact that I will be able to graduate from high school, obtain a career certification as a medical assistant, and become college ready is amazing,” said student Blanca Recendez.
The Foundation’s mission is for all Texas students to have equal opportunity to access and succeed in postsecondary education. That includes students who do not follow the traditional timeline to complete their high school diploma credits. It is known that a clear path forward and a strong support system are critical for students to complete a postsecondary credential with market value,. “We are extremely excited to partner with Jobs for the Future. This merging of educational tools will play a vital role in guiding our students to successful postsecondary education and careers,” added Maria Leal, LJISD grant coordinator. Other articipating Texas organizations that received this grant include American Youth Works in Austin, Fort Worth CAN Academy, Westcreek Restore Education in San Antonio and Goodwill Excel Center in Austin.
‘Going for the Gold,’ flower show turns 50
HARLINGEN – The Harlingen Flower Show has been showcasing beauty for 50 years with an annual show open to the public, and this year’s golden anniversary will be celebrated March 23 and 24 at the Harlingen Cultural Arts Center, 576 ’76 Drive, next to the Harlingen Public Library. The flower show is open from 1 to 4:30 p.m. both days. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. Exceptional horticulture specimens will be judged and on display with exhibit categories including wild native blooms, floral designs and artistic crafts. Houseplants and native plants will be available for purchase and garden-related items will be included in a drawing. PowerPoint presentations will be at 2 p.m. each day. On Saturday, Christina Mild will present “Edible Native Plants,” and Sunday, Frank Wiseman will present “Landscaping with Natives to Attract Wildlife.” Lecture seating is limited and available on a first come basis. Wiseman and Mild are native plant specialists and knowledgeable Texas Master Naturalists. They volunteer
weekly at Harlingen’s Hugh Ramsey Nature Park where they teach volunteer team members about native plants and the animals they support. They will share their experiences in promoting and establishing native species in their own home yards and elsewhere.
EVENTS
CALENDAR March 18 – Melissa Jones, Ph. D., habitat conservation biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, State Parks Division, will speak at the next meeting of the Texas Master Naturalist South Texas Border Chapter. Jones’ presentation is on Valley herpetology (amphibians and reptiles), entitled, “Herpetofauna of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.” The presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited, free, to the 6 p.m. social prior, and to the general meeting after, at St. George Orthodox Church Hall, 704 W. Sam Houston, in Pharr. For more information, visit stbctmn.org. March 28 – Kim Wahl, plant ecologist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and who works at the South Texas National Wildlife Refuge, will present, “An Introduction to Endangered Plants of South Texas” at 6 p.m. at Quinta Mazatlán, 600 Sunset in McAllen. She will discuss why and how south Texas is one of the “hotspots” for rare plants across the nation. Admission is $3. For more information, call 956-681-3370. March 30 – The RGV Aggie Mom’s annual Gig ‘Em Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held at Los Lagos Golf Course in Edinburg. Sign up with a three-man golf team is $500 per team. Hole sponsorship is $100 to help raise scholarship monies for local kids attending school at one of the Texas A&M campus. The tournament will include a breakfast, snack, goody bag, tournament shirt, beverage, door prizes and lunch. For information or to sign up, call Michelle Timmer at 956358-0673 or Cynthia M. Sakulenzki at 956-451-5255. April 9 – Speer Memorial Library in Mission will host a book discussion of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café. It takes place in the library’s Community Room at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited. Stop by the library or call at 580-8754 to reserve a copy of the book or find it as an eBook at hidalgocotx.oneclickdigital.com. For more information, call 5808754 or email reference@missiontexas.us. The library is located at 12th and Kika De La Garza in Mission. (For more Events, go to ptrgv.com.)
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Each Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) campus has made their selections for Teacher of the year at their school. It is from this program that one elementary and one secondary teacher will be selected to represent Mission CISD in the Regional Teacher of the Year contest. The 14 elementary Campus Teachers of the Year for this year are Graciela Vela, Alton Elementary; Sandra Peña, Bryan Elementary; Melissa Lopez, Cantu Elementary; Selma Jones, Cavazos Elementary; Tanya Martinez, Castro Elementary; Roxanna Barraza, Esco-
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bar/Rios Elementary; Maria N. Vasquez, Leal Elementary; Sarah Wilson, Marcell Elementary; Irma Gomez, Midkiff Elementary; Elvira Villarreal, Mims Elementary; Pearl Cantu, O’Grady Elementary; Jessica Hernandez, Pearson Elementary; Rigoberto Botello, Salinas Elementary; Maria G. Barrera, Waitz Elementary. The nine secondary teachers selected include: Guadalupe Tijerina, Alton Memorial Jr. High; Criselda Muñoz, K. White Jr. High; Elizabeth Tuttle, Mission Jr. High; Monica Ibarra, R. Cantu Jr. High; Amparo Rosales, Mission Collegiate High; Ana L. Estrada, Mission High;
Andres Ayala, Veterans Memorial High; David Martinez, Options Academy; and Liliana Barth, Roosevelt Alternative. Each of these teachers fills out a questionnaire used in the Texas Teacher of the Year program. It is then reviewed by a panel of judges from the school district community to select the two teachers to represent the district in the regional competition. The judges’ decision will be announced at a special Teacher of the Year Luncheon to be held Friday, May 10, at Balli’s Social and Event Center in Mission.
Program covers Spanish, Mexican Land Grants EDINBURG – The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signaled the end of the Mexican War in 1848, settling the Rio Grande—not the Nueces River—as a boundary between Mexico and Texas. The events leading up to establishing the validity of existing land grants will be discussed by Yolanda Zarate, a local researcher, who will present “History of Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in Texas,” on Sunday, March 24, at 2 p.m. at the Museum of South Texas History. The program is included in the museum admission. According the Texas State Historical Handbook, “As a provision of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the boundary dispute with Mexico, the new state of Texas officially recognized the land grants made under Spanish and Mexican rule as valid.” In order to validate the land grants, then-Texas governor Peter H. Bell requested William H. Bourland and James B. Miller to verify all the land grants in South Texas. After all the findings were complete, “Miller decided to make the voyage from Port Isabel to Galveston on the steamer Anson before going
Yolanda Zarate overland to Austin. Two days out, the Anson sank fifteen miles from Matagorda. Miller lost his trunk, the original titles, and about $800 in fees from claimants.” As a result, the Bourland-Miller Commission repeated all its work. The result met with skepticism among many Mexican and Tejanos who owned land in South Texas. Zarate, a registered nurse by profession, is currently a researcher of the history of the Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in Texas. MOSTHistory is located at 200 N. Closner Blvd. Call 956-383-6911 for information.
page 4
March 22, 2019
www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association
STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
Supplemental funding legislation draws from ‘Rainy Day Fund’ AUSTIN — A few of the funding priorities expressed by the executive, legislative and judicial branches are not covered in Senate Bill 2, the state’s tentatively approved appropriations bill for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. So, on March 13, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of SB 500, $6 billion in supplemental funding to plug many holes. Some $4.3 billion of the total would be taken out of the Economic Stabilization (“Rainy Day”) Fund. Authored by Senate Finance Committee Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, the legislation proposes the following allocations: • $3 billion for Hurricane Harvey recovery expenses; • $2.1 billion to address the Medicaid shortfall; • $100 million for school safety, with an amendment that gives districts greater flexibility on the type of safety equipment they can buy; • $300 million to improve state hospital facilities; • $542 million to address pension liabilities for the Teacher Retirement System and provide retired teachers a “13th check” up to $500; • $211 million to pay obligations of the Texas Tomorrow Fund, a college tuition savings program; • $160 million to address the Correctional Managed Health Care shortfall; and • $100 million to refill the Governor’s Disaster Fund to help rebuild from natural disasters. “The supplemental budget provides funding for some of the Legislature’s key priorities: Hurricane Harvey relief, school safety and healthcare needs. It provides significant resources to im-
prove the state’s flood control infrastructure and helps communities along the Gulf Coast rebuild,” Nelson said. Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, said hurricane disaster recovery and flood mitigation “are exactly what the Rainy Day Fund was designed for” and added that the fund, now at a historically high balance, is projected to reach $15 billion. The state constitution caps the maximum biennial “Rainy Day Fund” balance at an amount not to exceed 10 percent of certain general revenue deposited during the previous biennium. Declaration is extended Gov. Greg Abbott on March 15 extended the state disaster declaration he originally issued on Aug. 23, 2017, to counties affected by Hurricane Harvey. Thirty counties were named in the original declaration. As reports revealing the extent of the disaster came in, Abbott amended the declaration on Aug. 26, 27, 28 and Sept. 14, 2017, to include 30 more counties. Abbott has renewed the disaster declaration every month since then, saying that a state of disaster continues to exist in those same counties. Panel OKs pension bill The Senate State Affairs Committee on March 14 approved SB 12, legislation to keep the state’s Teacher Retirement System fund actuarially sound by increasing teacher, school district and state contribution rates gradually over the next few years. Last August, at the end of fiscal year 2018, the fund had $47 billion in unmet debt obligations and a funding period of 87 years, the time it
would take to pay off all of its liabilities under current revenues, according to the Senate News Service. If nothing is done, unfunded liabilities would increase to $124 billion by 2050, said Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, chair of the committee. Under her proposal, the active teacher contribution would rise from the present 7.7 percent to 8.25 percent in 2024; state contributions would rise from 6.8 percent of payroll to 8.25 percent over the same period, and district contributions would rise from 1.5 percent of eligible payroll to 2 percent by 2025. SB 12 next moves to the full Senate for consideration. Effort targets trafficking The Texas Department of Transportation, in partnership with the governor’s office, law enforcement and industry partners, on March 12 announced the launching of the “On the Road to End Human Trafficking” initiative. Similar to a neighborhood watch program, the initiative encourages everyone to know, watch for and report signs of trafficking. TxDOT said University of Texas research showed more than 300,000 people are trafficked in Texas at any given time, including 79,000 youth victims. “These innocent human beings are horrifically abused by being forced into slavery, either in the form of hard labor or sex/prostitution,” TxDOT said. TxDOT is encouraging citizens to use a toll-free, confidential phone number, (888) 373-7888, to report suspected trafficking. Victims are encouraged to call 911.
Palmhurst approves sidewalk improvement project By Jose De Leon III Palmhurst council members approved a sidewalk improvement project along three miles of their major road. Councilmembers approved the Palmhurst sidewalk improvement project at their Monday council meeting for three miles of sidewalk from Stewart to Taylor Roads along the 3 Mile Line. The project, which was awarded to the Mission-based Celso Gonzalez Construction, Inc, firm, will improve the sidewalk south of the roads on Palmhurst’s busiest road. The sidewalk project will connect the retail stores alongside 3 Mile and Conway to residents in the city, Palmhurst City Manager
Lori Lopez said. “We’re trying to make the city more pedestrian friendly,” Lopez said Thursday. “This is the culmination of five years of implementing sidewalks along the threemile line starting on Conway to accommodate the businesses in the area. When H-E-B arrived they added a sidewalk to the street and we’ve been following suit since then.” According to Lopez, safety was a motivation to include the sidewalks as most residents used to walk along the streets when cars were crossing before the sidewalks were put in place. Lopez said the project should begin within 45 days and should take approximately 90 days to finish. In the future, Lopez said
the city is interested in including more bus shelters along the sidewalk to accommodate residents using the public transportation system Valley metro, which currently has two bus lines that go into Palmhurst. Palmhurst awarded the sidewalk improvement project to CGC after they made a base bid of a little more than $74,000 for phase one of the project, which consists of sidewalk improvements from Stewart to Glasscock roads. The other two roads in the project will improved in the following two phases of the project for an additional $124,000. The city will pay for this project through money from their general fund. “We’re excited to kick off this project,” Lopez said.
Report: 11 measles cases Eleven cases of measles have been reported in the Lone Star State since Jan. 1, according to information posted by the Texas Department of State Health Ser-
vices. In all of last year, nine cases of measles were reported statewide, the agency said. The DSHS and the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention recommend children get a dose of measles vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age and again at 4 to 6 years old.
Texas Rangers arrest suspected smuggler and scout after fatal crash near La Joya By Dave Hendricks Investigators believe they’ve arrested the smuggler and the scout responsible for a deadly car crash near La Joya last week. The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Jesus Eduardo Estrada, 18, of Peñitas, who is accused of driving the Ford Expedition that caused the crash, and Humberto Garcia, 25, of Peñitas, who is accused of scouting for him. Investigators tracked Estrada and Garcia to the Pueblo de Palmas neighborhood near Peñitas, where the Texas Rangers arrested them on Tuesday, according to arrest affidavits prepared by the Department of Public Safety. Estrada is charged with two counts of murder, a first-degree felony; one count of engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony; and smuggling of persons, a second-degree felony. Garcia is charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony. Judge Jaime “Jerry” Muñoz set bond at $2.5 million for Estrada and $1 million for Garcia. Investigators believe they caused the crash that killed Leonel Martinez Jr., 45, of San Juan, and his mother, Aurora Chavez, 69, of San Juan. They died on the morning of March 13, when a state trooper attempted to stop a Ford Expedition on U.S. 83
eastbound between Sullivan City and La Joya. The driver of the Expedition refused to stop, crossed the median and struck a Nissan Sentra. Both people traveling in the Sentra — Martinez and his mother — died. The driver of the Expedition fled, leaving behind six people who the Department of Public Safety identified as “Undocumented Aliens.” With assistance from U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Texas Rangers tracked down the smugglers. They found a phone near the crime scene. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations, a division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, downloaded a photo taken March 12 that showed Estrada and two other men. “Estrada was wearing a cap that resembled a cap that was located inside of the Ford Expedition,” according to the arrest affidavit. The Texas Rangers also interviewed the owner of the Expedition, who confessed to transporting four migrants last month, according to the arrest affidavit. During the interview, the owner of the Expedition said someone nicknamed “Pajaro” offered $500 to borrow the car. The Texas Rangers, who identified “Pajaro” as Garcia, the scout, asked the owner of the Expedition to call him. They recorded the call.
Armed with the recording, which linked Garcia to the fatal crash, the Texas Rangers asked State District Judge Luis Singleterry for permission to track his phone. He signed the warrant. The Texas Rangers tracked Garcia to the Pueblo de Palmas neighborhood near Peñitas, where they arrested him. They found Estrada hiding nearby. Estrada said he picked up six people in Los Ebanos and drove east on U.S. 83, according to the arrest affidavit. When a state trooper attempted to stop him, Estrada crashed the Expedition and attempted to escape. “Estrada ran through a thick brush and hid near an embankment,” according to the arrest affidavit, which summarizes his statements to investigators. “Estrada covered himself with mud in efforts to camouflage with the surroundings. After hours of burying in the mud, Estrada walked Northbound through the thick brush alongside the fence line of FM 2221 (Jarachinas Road).” Garcia confessed to scouting for Estrada. “I asked Garcia about the crash in La Joya,” according to the arrest affidavit, which summarizes his statements to investigators. “Garcia became very emotional and admitted that he was ‘checking’ (scouting) for the Ford Expedition.” Garcia said someone promised him about $150 to $200 for the job.
Investigator determines complaint against McAllen candidate ‘held merit,’ refers case to Attorney General’s Office By Dave Hendricks The Texas Attorney General’s Office may investigate whether or not McAllen City Commission candidate Tania Ramirez illegally voted in Mission last year. Houston-based attorney Jerad Najvar filed a complaint against Ramirez with the Mission Police Department on March 1. An investigator determined the complaint “held merit” and contacted the Texas Secretary of State’s Office on March 6. “After reading the incident report I found the complaint held merit,” according to notes written by Mission police Inv. Tomas Garces Jr., who determined the Secretary of State’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office or the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office would handle any resulting investigation. “I submitted the complaint to the Secretary of State of Texas on March 6, 2019. This matter is going to be closed pending for further review from these agencies.” Najvar provided the Progress Times with a copy of the police report. The Secretary of State’s Office forwards credible complaints to investigators with the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office didn’t respond to an inquiry about the referral. Asked about the complaint, which may result in a criminal investigation,
Ramirez responded in a text message. “I respect that it was forwarded to the AGs Office,” wrote Tania Y. Ramirez, 30, a lawyer who worked for the District Attorney’s Office before entering private practice. “I am waiting for their response as well.” Illegal voting — which the Texas Election Code defines as voting “in an election in which the person knows the person is not eligible to vote” — is a second-degree felony punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison. Questions about where, exactly, Ramirez lived during the past two years surfaced in February, when Victor De Leon, the brother of McAllen City Commission candidate Mario De Leon, filed a complaint with the City Secretary’s Office. The ballot application Ramirez filed Jan. 29 stated that she had lived in McAllen for the past 22 months. Hidalgo County Elections Department records, however, revealed that Ramirez voted from a Mission address last year. “Based on cited findings, Ms. Ramirez has continued to vote in City of Mission elections, and thus affirms her residency to the elections clerks that she resides in Mission,” according to the complaint. “Therefore Tania Yanet Ramirez should be disallowed from running for the office of Commissioner in the City of McAllen’s Dis-
trict 4 as she does not meet the six month minimum residency requirement.” McAllen didn’t remove Ramirez from the ballot. State law required the complaint to “conclusively establish” non-residency, a standard that is extremely difficult to meet. Najvar, the Houston-based attorney, said he filed the complaint against Ramirez because he’s concerned the District Attorney’s Office is selectively prosecuting voter fraud cases. Ramirez addressed the controversy March 7 during a candidate forum hosted by Futuro RGV. “I’m transparent, I mean, that’s something that, obviously, was going to come up. It’s not like I’m hiding it or anything,” Ramirez said. “So yeah, I was registered at my parents’ house ever since I was 18. And I’ve been moving around for a very long time, continuing my education.” Ramirez moved to San Antonio and Michigan, where she attended law school, but voted from her parents’ address in Mission. After she returned to the Rio Grande Valley and became an attorney, Ramirez said she moved to McAllen. She had been living in McAllen for 22 months when she filed the ballot application. “And I guess that would explain it,” Ramirez said. “But I’m transparent. I’m not denying that.”
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Local Youth Excel at Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show
By Luciano Guerra Last year Sharyland Pioneer FFA member Danielle Rangel exhibited the Grand Champion steer at the 79th Annual RGVLS (Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show). Her AOB (All Other Breeds) steer, named AMC, earned the then freshman $21,000 at last year’s Sale of Champions. Last week Rangel returned to the RGVLS, the Valley’s largest and longest-running livestock show, with what she believed to be another grand champion quality steer. Only this time it was a 1,399 lb. Charolais steer named Buddy. Rangel was out to win backto-back grand championships in the steer division, a feat which few, if any, have ever accomplished. All went well for Rangel in the preliminary rounds as Buddy won his weight class and his breed championship; both of which are worthy accomplishments in-and-of themselves. However, Rangel knew that there was still a major hurdle ahead as she would soon be leading Buddy into the show ring to go up against the other breed champions in the grand champion drive. While Rangel, an experienced and award winning showman who has been showing livestock since she was in third grade, showed Buddy off to the best of her ability, the judge went with an AOB steer belonging to Logan Thomas of the Willacy County 4-H as the grand champion. While Buddy was named reserve grand champion, Rangel couldn’t help but feel a somewhat disappointed about falling just one spot short of taking the grand championship for the second year in a row. “I am a little bit disappointed, but it was tough competition and Thomas had a very nice steer,” Rangel said. “It all comes down to the judge’s decision and for whatever reason, or reasons, he decided to go with his steer over mine as grand champion.”
While most steer exhibitors buy their steers as calves from professional ranchers, the Rangels raise their own show steers at their ranch northeast of Mission; this includes AMC and Buddy. When asked when it was that she knew that Buddy would be a champion quality steer, Rangel said, “My Dad knew he was a good steer when he was born, but later on he started getting better so that was when we put him in the barn and I started working with him as a show steer.” With the grand champion steer having sold for $22,000 at Saturday’s Sale of Champions, while Buddy sold for $11,000, the judges’ decision to go with Thomas’ steer ended up costing Rangel $11,000. According to Rangel however, it was not about the money. “My disappointment is not about the money,” Rangel said. “It’s more about the fact that I thought I had my second grand championship in two years. At the end of the day however, it is the judge’s decision that counts and not mine.” While most exhibitors would be thrilled to win a reserve grand championship, Rangel has set the bar extremely high and she expects to win each and every time she walks into the show ring. While she did fall just a little bit short of reaching that bar this year, she still enjoys showing livestock. “You meet new people and you raise money for college when you show livestock,” Rangel said. “You also get the opportunity to socialize with your fellow exhibitors. Also, I believe that showing livestock makes you a better person.” Rangel was not the only student from the Sharyland, Mission and La Joya school districts to exhibit a top winning animal. As a matter of fact, five other local youth won a reserve breed championship or better at
the 80th Annual RGVLS. They are Abram Vargas of the Mission FFA who exhibited a breed champion market lamb, Cory Murillo of the Sharyland FFA who exhibited a breed champion market hog, Melanie F. Turrubiates of the Sharyland 4H who exhibited a breed champion market lamb, Daniel Garza of the Mission FFA who exhibited a reserve breed champion market lamb and Alexandra Salinas of the Mission Veterans FFA who exhibited a reserve breed champion market goat. While Vargas is only 14-years old, he is a four-year veteran when it comes to showing lambs. As a matter of fact, raising livestock runs in his family with his uncle, Marcos Villarreal, being an Ag teacher at Mission High School. Vargas even had the grand champion winning lamb at the San Antonio Livestock Show in 2015. Having won a breed championship, Vargas, like Rangel, was one of the select few to compete in a grand champion drive. When asked to describe that experience, Vargas said, “I thought my lamb had a chance to be the grand champion. But the judge picked the breed champion Fine Wool lamb as the grand champion and then he picked the reserve breed champion Fine Wool as reserve grand champion.” Vargas’ lamb, which he named Powerhouse, sold at auction Saturday for $1,800. He plans on using that money to help finance his livestock project next year.
Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra.
Sharyland Pioneer sophomore Danielle Rangel takes her reserve grand champion Charolais steer through the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show’s Sale of Champions Saturday.
Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra.
Mission FFA member Abram Vargas takes his breed champion market lamb through the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show’s Sale of Champions Saturday.
Courtesy Photo
Eleven-year old Palmview FFA member Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra. Carolina Peña shows her market goat, Courtesy Photo. Eleven-year old Pioneer FFA member Max, which placed 3rd in the breeding Grand Champion Dark OPB Market Hog Duke Gonzalez poses with his light cross goat division. pig, Money.
Courtesy Photo.
Reserve Breed Champion OPB 1st Annual RGV Essential Feeds Swine Futurity
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THE
March 22, 2019
Sports week
BIG7 SCHOOLS
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Covering Mission, Veterans Memorial, Sharyland, Pioneer, La Joya, Palmview & Juarez-Lincoln Sports
S ccer play ffs
kicking off next week
Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra.
Sharyland Pioneer senior defender Ricardo Elizondo tries to escape the grasp of a Rio Grande City Rattler during the second half of the Diamondbacks’ 5-4 win over the Rattlers Tuesday evening.
By Luciano Guerra It’s been a long season for high school soccer teams across the state of Texas, but for at least eight of the fourteen teams from the Mission, La Joya and Sharyland school districts, it’s about to get even longer. Not that any of them are complaining of course, since extending their seasons into the UIL’s (University Interscholastic League’s) state playoffs is one of the goals (no pun intended) that every soccer team sets for itself going into each and every season, but after playing at least two games a week for the past three months, it’s do-or-die time from here on out. Qualifying for the playoffs is not the only goal teams set for themselves each season, winning a district championship is another goal that most of the better teams strive for as well. With eight to 10 teams in each district, that’s a much more difficult goal to attain, but for two of the 14 teams from the aforementioned school
districts, that goal has now become a reality. So which of these 14 teams have already punched their tickets into the playoffs that will be opening next weekend and which have earned the right to be called champions? Read on to find out. District 31-5A Girls Despite having previously won four bi-district championships and despite having qualified for the Sweet 16 round of the playoffs twice, the 2018-2019 season marks the first time in school history that the Pioneer Lady Diamondbacks have clinched a district championship. While some might be surprised by this team’s success, Lady Diamondbacks’ head coach J. J. Lopez is not one of them. “This team has come a long way since the beginning of the season,” Lopez said. “We graduated nine starters from last year so we knew we had our work cut out for us. But here we are as district champions. That’s athletics for you.” Senior Olivia Vasquez
plays defense for the Lady Diamondbacks. When asked if going into the playoffs as district champions will make a difference or not, Vasquez said, “We’ve never really gone into the playoffs as district champions so it’s new territory for us. While we’re really excited about that, we’re hoping that our success so far won’t go into our heads. Also, while a district championship is great, we need to make sure that we’re not satisfied with that. When it’s all said and done, we want to be the best team to come out of Pioneer.” One of the highlights of the season so far for Vasquez was when the Lady Diamondbacks clinched their first district title. “It was after the PSJA Memorial game,” Vasquez said, “We knew that we had secured a co-championship already and that all we needed to clinch the title was to defeat Memorial outright. When we did that, it was an amazing feeling because it was a first for Coach Lopez at Pioneer and it was a first
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for all of us.” Junior Jocelyn Boyle plays center-mid for Pioneer. When asked what winning a district championship means to her, Boyle said, “To me it means a lot because we were able to do it with a team that was underestimated by so many people. We weren’t even ranked at the beginning of the season while other teams were. We’re all so competitive that being told we were the underdogs gave us the motivation to prove everyone wrong.” As for what goals she and her teammates set for this season and if they have changed, Boyle said, “Our goals at the beginning of the season were to play our best and up to par of what we’re capable of playing, so our goals haven’t changed. We always want to play our best in every game. So we’re looking forward to trying to meet what previous Lady Diamondbacks teams have accomplished in the playoffs, which is to reach the regional tournament. And I think we can do that with the team we have now.” In addition to the Lady Diamondbacks, the Sharyland Lady Rattlers have qualified for the playoffs as well. They will be playing Brownsville Lopez in the bi-district round of the playoffs. The day, time and location of this game was yet to be determined at the time we went to press. District 31-5A Boys With three of the four playoff teams in this dis-
trict coming from the seven high schools in the Mission, Sharyland and La Joya school districts, the Big 7 will be very well represented among the 31-5A boys. Sitting atop the district for the first time since the 2015-2016 season are the 13-1 Sharyland Rattlers. The Palmview Lobos finished their inaugural season as members of District 31-5A in second place. And the Pioneer Diamondbacks, who survived a close call against the last place Rio Grande City Tuesday night, pulled out a 5-4 victory to clinch third place and the Diamondbacks’ third playoff appearance in the school’s five year history. The Rattlers will be opening their playoffs against Brownsville Pace, Friday, March 29 at 7:00 p.m. Game will be hosted at Sam’s Memorial Stadium in Brownsville. As for the Lobos, they will be facing off against Brownsville Porter at Porter Thursday at 7 pm. And as for the Diamondbacks, they will also be playing Thursday at 7 pm, but they will be playing Brownsville Veterans at Mercedes Tigers Stadium. District 30-6A Girls Juarez-Lincoln Lady Huskies are the only Big 7 team in this district to qualify for the playoffs. As of right now, and with one game left to play, the Lady Huskies are in second place, one point behind the McAllen High Lady Bulldogs. Should the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Huskies both win or lose
outright, nothing will change in the standings. However, should the Lady Huskies win outright and the Lady Bulldogs lose, either outright or in penalty kicks, then the Lady Huskies will be the district champions. Finally, should the Lady Huskies and the Lady Bulldogs end the regular season tied in points, regardless of how that happens, they will enter the playoffs as co-champions. District 30-6A Boys The Juarez-Lincoln Huskies will be entering the playoffs as district champions for the third consecutive year. Depending on the outcome of tonight’s games, they will be playing Laredo United South, Laredo Alexander or Del Rio in the bi-district round next weekend. The La Joya Coyotes clinched their playoff spot by finishing the regular season in second place. Who, when and where they will be playing in the bi-district round will also be determined after the completion of tonight’s games. The Mission Eagles could be the ninth Big 7 team to qualify for the playoffs. They, along with Nikki Rowe and PSJA North, are the three teams vying for the final playoff spot in the district. There are too many different scenarios involving these three teams to list here, but one thing is for sure, the Eagles need to defeat the La Joya Coyotes tonight to keep their playoff hopes alive.
APRIL 6, 2019 Volunteers Register (956) 432-0792
March 22, 2019
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Two Big 7 girls powerlift their way to gold bench pressing 195 lbs. and dead lifting 405 lbs. for a total of 1,010 lbs. Javi Cavazos is in his first year as the head coach of the Mission Veterans powerlifting teams. He made the trip to Waco last week with Flores who was the Patriots’ only state qualifier this year. “It was my first trip ever to state,” Cavazos said. “It was Brianna’s second so she knew more about what was going to happen than I did. As a result, she kind of guided me at the beginning.” “On the way up to Waco we did our homework and we studied the competitors,” Cavazos added. “We knew the two main competitors that she would be going up against so we paid attention to them to see what they were doing and to see where we would have to throw on some extra pounds here or there to try to beat them. Brianna was positive, she had a game plan and she stuck to it.” While some might expect powerlifters to be so muscular that they look like bodybuilders that is not the case, at least not when it comes to the girls. So what is it that makes Flores on of the best girls powerlifters in the state? Cavazos explained when he said, “It’s about proper form and technique and Brianna is a master at that. My background comes from cross-fit so I have a lot of cross-fit/powerlifting mixture but she’s 100% pow-
erlifting. So she was able to talk to me and we talked about form and technique and she’s the perfect model for technique.” Flores, who is now a senior, got into powerlifting as a freshman. She decided to give it a try after her older brother, Adrian, talked her into it. “My brother got into powerlifting because he was a football player and football players had to do either track or powerlifting,” Flores said. “I’d watch him and I’d be so grossed out. I told myself that I’d never want to compete because the girls would probably get big but he kept telling me to give it a try. So I tried it my freshman year and I ended up loving it. Instead of getting bigger, I’ve lost 20 lbs. and I am now on a much healthier diet as a result of powerlifting.” Having underperformed at the state meet last year, Flores was out for redemption this year. “Last year I was supposed to place fifth but I placed either seventh or eighth,” Flores said. “It was heartbreaking because I really wanted to do something special for my school but I came up short so I went home crying.” The first of the three lifts powerlifters have to attempt at meets is the squat. That is then followed by the bench press and the dead lift. Flores exerted herself so much in the squat at the state meet,
“So they figured that one of the ways to curtail that is through a K9 program.” When it first started, costs for the canine unit were raised entirely through fundraising efforts. Not long after that, it was adopted into the budget. “They purchased three dogs out of Germany, true German Shepherds,” Ramon said. “These dogs were mainly for tracking, but they were also good at smelling narcotics. They were dual-purpose, so they were called patrol dogs.” Currently, there are four
service canines currently with Mission - three trained to smell narcotics and one trained to smell explosives. The canines are busy yearround, not only in their active duties and consistent training, but their public duties as well. Mission PD takes the canines to different schools in the area annually during Red Ribbon Week in order to educate young people about their jobs in the department and how they track illegal substances. Ramon has found that public perception of the PD has improved since
the introduction of the K9 unit decades ago. Cezar was a narcotics canine who had several successful busts in his career. “Sometimes it hurts just as bad when we lose one of our pets,” Police Chief Robert Dominguez said. “I think all of us can reflect back on our life on that special dog, that special cat in our life.” Dominguez also added that K9 officers and their handlers form special bonds that are as strong as those formed between officers. “It’s impressive to see the relationship between an indi-
official of the year and Jack White-adjunct professor at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley and executive director of the Brownsville organization Good Neighbor Settlement House-received the lifetime achievement award.. Other winners included Bonnie Solis, a UTRGV graduate student who was named student if the year, Monica Hernandez Sanchez who was named social worker of the year and Estela Garza who received an award as pioneer of the year. “This is a group who does a lot for their community, Celina Garza, president of the local NASW organization said. “All the contributions made by the different people here have impacted the community in different ways.” Joe Flores, who has been serving as a county commissioner since he was first elected into office in 2000, was recognized for what Garza described was a “selfless desire to be a servant to the community.” “He’s been committed to always step up to help families in need,” Garza said. “I first worked with him in in 2003 when I asked him to help us improve the living conditions of an elderly couple living in a shack. He ended up going above and beyond and built them a new house fully paid for and even installed a septic tank for them and six other homes in the area.” After receiving the award, Flores said his selflessness comes from a sense to duty to his community. “We help people, it’s just what we do,” Flores said. “I’m lucky to be elected to continue to do this.” White, who has been involved in social work as a grant writer, director and in other fields, has served his community for over five decades Garza said. In those years, White has helped raise $1 billion in
funds across multiple organizations across the state. Aside from his duties at the Good Neighbor Settlement House-a non-profit that assists underprivileged families in Brownsville-, White is a social work professor at UTRGV. “It’s a way to get out of the house,” White jokingly said of his many duties. “I’m 80 years old but I don’t see a reason to stop being a volunteer in the community.” Pimental, whose organization runs the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, was praised by Garza for exemplifying the values of traditions of a professional social worker. “Since 2014, before the immigration issue, you stepped up to provide services to thousands of families coming here,” Garza told Pimentel. “We appreciate you and recognize the work you do.” In her speech, Pimentel addressed the overcrowdedness at the respite center, which she said was due to U.S Customs and Border
Protection releasing hundreds of immigrant families due to their local facility being overcrowded. “These couple of days we have had a high number of people being released by border patrol,” Pimentel said. “Just to see the families and the conditions, it makes me go home and wonder why people have to suffer. Why do these people face these conditions and why we can’t just be brothers and sisters to one another and reach out to lend a helping hand to others?” Pimentel praised the NASW organization for helping social workers, a line of work she said is is modeled after how Jesus helped his fellow man. “A social worker is committed and dedicated to the community and in uplifting the dignity of a person,” Pimentel explained. “These people are not scene on the frontlines, but they’re there, behind the scenes, making sure our community is being taken care of.”
By Luciano Guerra Fourteen girls from the seven Mission, Sharyland and La Joya ISD high schools, the Big 7, qualified for the THSWPA’s (Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association’s) State Meet in Waco last week. Five of those returned home with state medals; one bronze, two silver and two gold. The bronze medal winner was Palmview’s Donna Mondragon who competed in the 123 lb. weight class and squatted 355 lbs., bench pressed 185 lbs. and dead lifted 315 lbs. for a total of 855 lbs. The silver medal winners were Sharyland’s Ashley Tijerina who competed in the 114 lb. weight class and squatted 355 lbs., bench pressed 160 lbs. and dead lifted 320 lbs. for a total of 835 lbs. and La Joya’s Keyla Puente who competed in the 165 lb. weight class and squatted 460 lbs., bench pressed 170 lbs. and dead lifted 390 lbs. for a total of 1.020 lbs. The two girls that lifted their way to gold medals were Sharyland’s Brianda Resendez and Mission Veterans’ Brianna Flores. Resendez competed in the 132 lb. weight class and earned the gold by squatting 420 lbs., bench pressing 235 lbs. and dead lifting 355 lbs. for a total of 1.010 lbs. Flores competed in the 148 lb. weight class and earned her gold medal by squatting 410 lbs.,
from pg. 1
from pg. 1
K9 CEZAR
SOCIAL WORKERS
Pet of the Week Wilson is a Greyhound mix, believed to be about 1 year old, and is a very friendly dog! If you would like to make Wilson a part of your family, contact the Mission Pawsible Program at 956580-8741, M-F, 8AM-5PM. The City of Mission Animal Shelter is located at 227 Abelino Farias, and is open throughout the week and on Saturdays - 9AM to 4PM. The cost to adopt is $50, which includes: Spay/Neuter, Rabies Shot, 1st Vaccine, Microchip and Deworming. To view more animals in the Mission Pawsible Program, visit missiontexas.us. Sponsored by Jerry Saenz Agent
Jerry Saenz, Agent
1211 Conway Ave • Mission TX Jerry Saenz 956-585-2715
1211 N. Conway Ave. • Mission, TX 78572
Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra.
Mission Veterans’ powerlifter Brianna Flores lifted a total of 1,010 lbs. to earn a gold medal at last week’s Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association state meet in Waco. that she experienced something she had never experienced before. “I didn’t get my first lift of 385 lbs. at the state meet because I didn’t go low enough,” Flores said. “I jumped up to 405 lbs. for my second lift and went low enough to get it. I did struggle however, so much so that I popped some blood vessels on my neck and my face. I was actually hoping something like that would happen because everybody talks about how they experience powerlifting in different ways like passing gas
or popping blood vessels which leaves little red marks on their faces. The fact that I finally got to experience that during my last state meet made me very happy.” While Flores’ total of 1,010 lbs. for her three lifts was 10 lbs. under the state record for the 148 lb. weight class, it was 65 lbs. over the second place lifter’s total of 945 lbs. With the two girls that were supposed to give her the most competition having either scratched or bombed out, Flores knew that all she had to do to take the gold medal was to avoid
bombing out. “On my first dead lift I realized that the girls that were supposed to get second or third were both out so I started to tear up,” Flores said. “My Mom, who was sitting right in front of me, was getting mad because she wanted to know why I was crying. She started texting me and my coach but I ignored her because I was just happy and I realized that all the work I had put in over the past four years was about to pay off.”
vidual human being and that animal,” Dominguez said. “It’s beautiful to see that type of response, that type of unity. That’s why it hurts to have somebody pass away.” “To Cezar: job well done,” Dominguez added. “And God speed.” Leal, Cezar’s handler and owner in retirement, spoke last. She read a note she wrote to Cezar after he was
put down that described how he impacted her life, and talked about his stubbornness. She recalled her first day with Cezar, saying he was so insistent he would actually move the K9 unit cage in the police cars. Determined that she would not be bitten, Leal approached the unit containing Cezar cautiously, throwing hot dog weenies into the
cage to try and get him to calm down as he pushed the cage forward. “From the moment that I put him in my unit and took him home… He saved me as much as I saved him,” Leal said. “As a veteran, as a police officer, this is probably the best assignment I could have ever been given.”
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obituaries Susana Cabrera-Albiar MISSION – Susana Cabrera-Albiar, 56, of Mission, passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2019, in Mission. Mrs. Cabrera-Albiar was born on Sept. 15, 1962, in Mission to the late Rafael Cabrera-Camarillo and Francisca Sandoval de Cabrera. She was a retired U.S. veteran, licensed as a vocational nurse and ranked as a sergeant in the U.S Army. Survivors include her husband, Francisco Albiar; children, Andrei Albiar, Anthony Albiar, Erika Albiar and Aaron Albiar; siblings, Demetria Cabrera, Maria Diaz, Estella Pena, Maria Cabrera, Agueda Hilsabeck, Roberto Cabrera, Angel Cabrera, Jose Cabrera, Amancio Cabrera, Moises Cabrera, Rafael Cabrera and Omar Cabrera; and five grandchildren. A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 22, at 12 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial follows at 2 p.m. the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission.
Richard Edwin Elliott PHARR – Richard Edwin Elliott passed away suddenly at home on Thursday, March 14, 2019, on his birthday having just turned 68, in Pharr, Tex. Funeral services were held on Thursday, March 21, 2019, at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home, located at 621 East Griffin Parkway, Mission, Tex. Visitation was held at 10:30 a.m. with a memorial service at 12:30 p.m.
March 22, 2019
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Internment immediately following was at 2 p.m. at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery, 2520 Inspiration Rd, Mission, Tex. Richard was born in Mission, Tex., to Doyle and Pearl Elliott on March 14, 1951. He was raised in Mission, graduated from Mission High School in 1970, and served in the United States Navy from 1971 to 1974. Upon returning to Mission, Richard Elliott and LeNora Dahlberg were married in the Mission, Tex., at the First United Methodist Church in 1976. Rick and Nodie lived in Sharyland, Tex., where they raised their three girls until Nodie’s death in 2002. Rick was an electrician all of his life, working many years for Doyle’s Electric Service Company. He is loved by all for his gentle spirit, kindest of hearts, selfless and humble nature, love of friends and family and, especially, loved a good laugh. Although his death was unexpected and we are very deeply saddened, we rejoice in knowing that he is reunited with his beloved wife and other family members. He is gloriously happy in the arms of our Lord and Saviour. Richard Elliott is survived by three daughters: Stephanie Elliott and grandson Aidan of Edinburg, Tex.; Kimberly Elliott and granddaughter Taylor of McAllen, Tex.: and Larissa (Mark) Garcia and grandson Deacon of McAllen, Tex. His surviving siblings are Doylene Escue of Houston, Tex., Beth Bird (Carl) of Midland, Tex., Kenneth (Rosalinda) of Mission, Tex., and David Elliott of McAllen, Tex. He was preceded in death by his wife, LeNora Elliott; parents, Doyle and Pearl Elliott; siblings, Artie Elliott and Sharon Walker; and niece and nephew, Kyle and Tina Walker. Pallbearers were Aidan Elliott, Brian Wright, David
Elliott, Jacob Elliott, Jason Walker, Jeremy Walker, Kenneth Elliott, and Tim Wright. Visitation was held at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home on Thursday, March 21, 2019, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a funeral service at 12:30 p.m. officiated by Pastor Roy Velez. Burial followed at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission. Services were under the direction of Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission.
Carlos Garza MISSION – Carlos Garza, 62, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2019, in McAllen. Mr. Garza was born on Oct. 7, 1956, in Mexico to Juan and Doretea (Perez) Garza. He was a resident of Mission for many years. Survivors include his wife, Cristina Gonzales; children, Alma Garza and Karla Garza; his mother; siblings, Irma Garza, Maria Garza, San Juana Garza, Edith Garza, Nora Garza, Juan Garza, Jose Garza Perez and Edgar Garza; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father. A funeral service was held on March 18 at Rivera Funeral Home in Mission. Burial followed at San Jose Cemetery in Mission. Arrangements were under the care of Rivera Funeral Home in Mission. Ruby Ingram MISSION – Ruby Marie Ingram, 92, passed away on March 6, 2019, at her home in Mission. She was born in San Benito on Aug. 24, 1926. Survivors include her
children, David Lasley and Carol Ann Stout; siblings, Jerry West and Mary Ann Blanchard; one grandchild and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, George Dewey West and Ottie Marie West; siblings, Francis Brown and Bobby West; and a granddaughter, Shawn Marie Lasley. Private cremation services were held. Reyes Quiroz MISSION – Reyes Aceves Quiroz, 80, passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, in McAllen. Mr. Quiroz was born on Nov. 19, 1938, in Meoqui, Chihuahua, Mexico to Juan Aceves and Concepcion Quiroz. Survivors include his children, Rosa Maria Forester, Mary Quintero, Ricardo Aceves, Rosalinda Aceves, Rosabel Aceves and Connie Aceves; siblings, Primitivo Aceves, Juan Jose Aceves, Cipriana Chavez, Urbano Aceves and Guadalupe Aceves; and three grandchildren. A funeral mass was held on March 16 at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Alton. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission
Notices
Norman Garza PEÑITAS – Norman Garza, 66, passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Comfort House in McAllen. Roberto Karr MISSION – Roberto Karr, 68, passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at Doctors Hospital in Edinburg. Angelina Lopez MISSION – Angelina Lopez, 75, passed away on Friday, March 15, 2019, at her home in Mission. Juan Lopez SULLIVAN CITY – Juan Gabriel Lope , 44, passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at McAllen Medical Center. Angelita Navejar MISSION – Angelita Navejar, 59, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2019,
at Mission Regional Medical Center. Janet Neumann MISSION – Janet Joy Neumann, 74, passed away on Monday, March 18, 2019, at McAllen Medical Center. Isaac Sanchez MISSION – Isaac Sanchez, 84, passed away on Friday, March 15, 2019, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in
from pg. 1
McAllen. Jose Tenorio MISSION – Jose Manuel Tenorio, 66, passed away on Monday, March 18, 2019, at Amara Hospice in Edinburg. Jesus Vela MISSION – Jesus Tomas Vela, 63, passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2019, at McAllen Medical Center.
DON REINHARDT
travels with the boys. Through the years Don was a Free Mason and a Shriner. He was very active with the Lions Club in Great Bend. Cindy also remembers Halloween at their house. Their neighbor was a baker, who gave out donuts for treats. Her father was a dentist so he gave out new toothbrushes and toothpaste to off-set all the treats the children received at other houses. After his retirement Don and Bonna moved to Enchanted Valley west of Mission. Don immediately became involved in the First United Methodist Church of Mission, singing in the choir and later becoming active in the church council. At the same time, he became an active member of the Mission Lions Club. About six months after his retirement Bonna had a severe stroke and Don spend the next seven years caring for her. When Bonna died in 2004 they had been married 55 years. In 2005 he married Helen Bentsen, who had also been married 55 years and widowed two days before Don was. The couple knew each other from church where they both were members of the choir and involved in other church activities. They enjoyed almost 14 years together traveling the world, and participating in activities in Aladdin Villas where they lived. Stepson Brad Bentsen described Don by saying he had never met a man so committed to Christlike behavior, saying he lived by the motto, “We Serve” of the Lions Club and the Boy Scouts.
Don was a charter member of the Mission Historical Museum. He served as a Gideon for 10 years and was a Shriner, a lifelong Elks Lodge member and member of the VFW. He kept up his lifelong love of singing by participating in Senior Ambassadors. Director Virgel Kroeker said Don was active in the group 20 years. He was also a part of The Men of A-Chord, a barbershop group where he sang tenor. At church Don became known as the coffee man because he set up the drink station for many activities including the weekly ESL classes at the church. His participation in Lions Club remained strong and he had a 65-year perfect attendance record for his 70 years of participation. Lions Tim Milam and Ron D’Andrea said Don served as Lion Tamer and set up the meeting, was a past president, and received the Melvin Jones Fellowship, which is the highest award for exemplary behavior for Lions. The fifth Wednesday is bowling day for Mission Lions and Don participated until he was in his 90’s. He also participated in construction of ramps for newly handicapped members of the community. The many things Don did for the Mission community through the years was appreciated, and in 2016 he was named Mr. Mission for his service throughout the years. He was indeed ‘a giant of a man’ who made a difference for many people. His presence and his great big smile will be missed in many places.
March 22, 2019
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Documents reveal La Joya ISD secretly approved $467,000 severance package for superintendent By Dave Hendricks The La Joya school board approved a secret, six-figure severance package for Superintendent Alda T. Benavides last month. Then-Board President Armin Garza signed the $467,000 severance agreement on Feb. 25, when the La Joya Independent School District and Benavides “announced her retirement.” Trustees, though, refused to answer questions about whether or not they approved a severance package that day. An attorney for the district
asked the Progress Times to submit a formal public information request — and the district waited more than three weeks to release the agreement. Palmview City Councilman Joel Garcia, who served two terms on the school board, said the situation troubled him. “I think the people have the right to know what’s going on with their tax dollars,” Garcia said. Trustees approved the severance agreement because they wanted to replace Benavides before her em-
ployment contract expired in August 2021. Benavides received $319,069.06, which compensated her for a year of lost salary; an additional payment of $148,240.05, which compensated Benavides for 105 leave and vacation days at $1,411.81 apiece; and a new job: “Transition Assistant to the Interim or Acting Superintendent,” which allows her to collect a paycheck until June 30. What, exactly, that new job entails remains unclear. Benavides took personal days from March 4 to March
8, according to records released by the district under the Texas Public Information Act. The agreement included a non-disclosure clause, which purports to keep the payments to Benavides confidential. “The Parties agree not to disclose, or cause to be disclosed, the existence or terms of this Agreement (including, but not limited to the fact that Benavides received consideration pursuant to this Agreement), or the substance or content of discussions involved in reach-
ing this Agreement,” according to the 13-page document. After the Progress Times filed a public information request, however, the district released the agreement without requesting a decision from the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Neither the district nor Benavides would discuss the severance payment, concerned about breaking the agreement. As a matter of policy, the district doesn’t discuss personnel issues, said attorney Jaime “Jerry” Muñoz, who represents the board. Along
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PUBLIC NOTICE The City of Alton will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at the City Hall Legislative Chambers located at 509 S. Alton Boulevard to consider the following request: Si desea información en español, llame al departamento de Planeación de la Ciudad de Alton, (956) 432-0760. REZONE REQUEST: Luis Gonzalez is requesting to rezone 1420 S. Trosper Blvd., legally described as Lot 1, Victoria Estates #2 Subdivision, Alton, Hidalgo County, Texas from “R-1” Single Family Residential-Large District to “C-1” Neighborhood Commercial District. The public is invited to attend and express support for or opposition to this application. You may also file written support or opposition to by 12:00 noon on April 9, 2019, for the Planning and Zoning and the City Commission. For questions please call Janie Flores in the Planning Department at (956) 432-0760.
with the policy against discussing personnel matters, the agreement includes a non-disparagement clause. “The Board, individually and collectively, and Benavides do hereby agree that each of them shall refer any third party inquiries regarding Benavides’ employment as an employee of the District and as the Superintendent of the District to the Agreement through the Board President,” according to the document. “Notwithstanding anything to the
See LJISD Pg. 10
LEGAL NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for an On Premise Wine adn Beer Retailer’s Permit by Jaime Montes dba 39 Taqueria, to be located at 2813 Griffin Parkway, Mission, TX 78572, Hidalgo County. Officers of said Limited Liability Company is Jaime Montes, owner.
LEGAL NOTICE
Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Beer and Wine Retailer’s off-premise permit change of location by Circle K Licensing Company, Inc. dba Circle K Store # 274591, to be located at 1900 W 3 Mile Rd., Mission, Hidalgo County, TX 78573. Officers are Larry A Stockton- President/Secretary.
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the Palmview Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at Palmview City Hall Council Chambers, 400 West Veterans Blvd, Palmview, Texas to consider the following: • Consideration and possible action for a Conditional Use Permit, requested by B-C Walker, Inc., for one year, for a telecommunications tower on: LA JOYA ISD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL S175’-N210’-W175’ LOT 1 Additionally, notice is hereby given that a hearing before the Palmview City Council will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 6:00 pm at Palmview City Hall Council Chambers to consider the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission on this matter and the items below. • Consideration and possible action to rezone from its present designated land use zoning Single Family Residential (R-1) To Multi- Family (R- 3): LA CAMELIA LOT 10 & 12 BLK 2 • Consideration and possible action for a Conditional Use Permit, requested by Vicent G Huebinger, for one year, for a telecommunications tower on: BENTSEN GROVES “E” W437.92’- N150’ LOT 6 1.51AC If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Palmview’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement. For additional information, please call the Planning Department at (956)432-0300. Planning Director: Rodolfo Flores III
The Mission Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mission City Hall’s Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas: Rezoning: Lot 1, Bannworth Business Center, from (C-1) Office Building to (C-2) Neighborhood Commercial; and Rezoning: Lot 105, Shary Palms Unit III, from (C-1) Office Building to (C-2) Neighborhood Commercial If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement. Anyone interested is invited to attend. Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
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page 10
March 22, 2019
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Mission CISD Board of Trustees approve District of Innovation plan By Jamie Treviño Following the District Education Improvement Council meeting earlier this week, the Mission Consolidated Independent School District board of trustees voted to approve the proposed District of Innovation plan chosen by the DEIC this Wednesday evening. The plan was drafted and revised by the DEIC and MCISD administration since its announcement at the last board meeting. According to Superintendent Carol Perez, administration visited each MCISD campus to present the (DOI) plan to teachers. “We know that our [DEIC] members have a job to do, their primary job is to teach,” Perez said. “Therefore, the administration decided not to give this responsibility of doing the whole presentation to the committee members or campus administrators. We went campus by campus and provided a presentation.” Two public comments during the MCISD regular called board meeting held Wednesday focused on the DOI. Mindy De La Rosa, the DEIC representative for Mission High School, spoke in favor of the designations. “I can honestly say that Dr. Perez, Mrs. Garcia and all other district administration have been extremely transparent throughout the entire process concerning the District of Innovation proposal,” De La Rosa said. “They have never wavered on what the purpose was for considering this plan, and tried their best, in my opinion, to listen and address all concerns of those seeking information.” De La Rosa added that she had documentation that she was elected into her position with the DEIC, which was one of the concerns of some of the teachers at Monday’s meeting. “No one wanted this po-
from pg. 1
The board also approved the new 2019-2020 academic school year calendar, DOI Calendar A, which was voted on by MCISD employees. This week’s meeting also included a presentation of a report conducted by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). The report, called the Employee Compensation Plan Review, compared MCISD employee pay of teachers and administration to other districts in the area, including La Joya ISD, Sharyland ISD, McAllen ISD, Donna ISD, Edinburg CISD, Harlingen ISD, PharrSan Juan-Alamo ISD and Weslaco ISD. Luz Cadena, with TASB HR Services, presented the review. It recommended a change in the pay systems in order to recruit new employees, retain current employees, control costs, stay competitive over time and pay for job value. The review considered the districts in the market (listed above), and compared the market salaries at the median level and market salaries in the 75th percentile to the Mission CISD salary. According to a chart and table comparison, MCISD was near the market median, but still below. TASB made six recommendations, including adopting a 2 percent general pay increase for all job groups, adjustments to address differences in the market and maintain equity within the district and a commitment to annually review the district compensation plan in order to adjust as needed. In total, the recommended costs would create an estimated total increase of 4.2 percent, or $4,048,273 to the current payroll budget. The board listened to the presentation, but took no action on the item.
CITY ATTORNEY
application on March 8. “It’s a very important position, city attorney. It shouldn’t be politicized,” Martinez said. “It shouldn’t be ‘Let’s have my friend become a city attorney’ or whatever. It’s something that is a very serious job.” Martinez worked for Austin-based law firm Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, which collects delinquent property taxes, from 2007 to 2017. He’s currently an associate municipal judge for the
from pg. 9
sition in DEIC for many years when I volunteered to be nominated,” De La Rosa said. Miguel Garcia, an AP U.S. History teacher at MHS, called the democratic process at MCISD into question. “I’m not here to speak against proposed changes our central office administration have decided are in the best interest of our district,” Garcia said. “My issue is that we as a district have done a poor job of imposing a committee for this incredibly important matter.” “I ask the board to decline the DOI plan, and form a committee that is truly representative of Mission CISD,” Garcia added. Board member Betty Mendoza, who has missed a few of the DOI meetings due to a recent medical surgery, had a few clarifying questions for Dr. Perez about the plan. Perez said that the teachers had the opportunity to speak to their DEIC campus representative, they got a presentation on the plan and had time to ask questions about it. Perez also added that administration took teacher feedback and addressed their concerns about being able to amend the plan over the next five years. In the agenda and in the district plan, the district specifically states that no options to amend (add or subtract) the DOI plan. Ultimately, the board members present unanimously voted to accept the DOI plan, which includes designations as a DOI for flexibility with the school calendar and Career and Technical Education (CTE) certification requirements. “Transparency was always there,” Board President Petra Ramirez said. “Everybody was available. We’re not going to go out there and do something that we’re not going to benefit from.” city of Alton. As a lifelong Mission resident and an attorney familiar with municipal issues, providing legal advice to members of the City Council would be another way to serve the public, said Martinez, who described the position as his dream job. Asked whether or not he considered it ethical for an elected official to apply for a city job, Martinez said the answer depends on the facts. “I guess it depends how
you do it, right? Or the circumstances that surround it. It’s not illegal, of course. Is it ethical? It’s case-by-case. Because, I mean, if you’re pulling some strings to do it, then yeah, that would be unethical,” Martinez said. “But I’ve stayed out of the process. I haven’t spoken to anybody. And, really, if I don’t get it, I’ll take it — I’ll take that defeat for the city.”
LJISD
herein, the District, the Board, individually and collectively, and Benavides expressly covenant and agree not to make disparaging remarks about the other party(ies), their agents, representatives, attorneys or assigns to this Agreement. The parties agree to issue a joint public statement.”
Benavides declined to comment. The agreement also includes a copy of the prepared statement, which doesn’t mention the severance package, specify when Benavides will actually stop working for the district or explain why she abruptly retired. “An Agreement has been
reached which allows Dr. Benavides the ability to retire and to pursue other interests,” according to the prepared statement, which the board released on Feb. 25, “And permits the Board to pursue hiring another Superintendent.”
Progress Times photo by Dave Hendricks.
McAllen Police Dept. Chief Victor Rodriguez makes announcement of extradition for suspect in STC shooting Thursday morning at the McAllen Police Department. In the photo with Chief Rodriguez is Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra, District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez, STC Police Chief Paul Varville and FBI Assistant Special Agent Stephen E. Kam.
Suspect in 1998 South Texas College shooting extradited to McAllen on murder charge By Dave Hendricks On Jan. 13, 1998, students arrived at South Texas College to pay tuition. “On that evening, it happened to be registration day,” said McAllen police Chief Victor Rodriguez. “Two people stormed a particular office building. And, in the course of that attempted robbery of the South Texas College Finance Office, they shot four people.” A security guard named Carlos Hernandez died. Two prospective students and a college employee survived. And the suspects slipped away. The McAllen Police Department, though, never stopped searching for them. On Thursday — more than two decades after the robbery — Rodriguez announced that investigators finally had a suspect, Roberto Ivanovich Ojeda Hernandez, 39, of Reynosa, in custody. Rodriguez made the announcement Thursday morning at the McAllen Police Department, flanked by Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra, Hidalgo
Roberto Ojeda Hernandez Courtesy photo of Hidalgo County Sheriff Dept.
County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez, South Texas College police Chief Paul Varville and FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Kam, who supervises the McAllen office. With assistance from the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service, investigators tracked Hernandez to Reynosa and arrested him in July 2018 with help from the Mexican government. “We were able to bring him into Houston yesterday and then into McAllen
last night,” Rodriguez said. “So Roberto Ojeda Hernandez, the suspect in that robbery-murder case, today faces a capital murder charge here in Hidalgo County.” When he fled the country, many questions about the robbery remained unanswered, Rodriguez said. Investigators plan to question Hernandez about the shooting and may arrest additional suspects. “There were two people, at least, that were involved in the robbery that day,” Rodriguez said. “There may be others. What this particular development today affords us the ability to do now is to move this investigation forward.” Hernandez may be able to provide investigators with information about co-conspirators who planned or participated in the robbery. “We intend to bring charges against any and all that may have been involved in this,” Rodriguez said. “To the extent that we can prove up the case against them.”
J.J. Pena announces new office hours By Jose De Leon III To better serve his community, a justice of the peace has increased his office hours, an initiative he announced when he was sworn in last January. Hidalgo County Precinct 3 Place 2 Justice of the Peace Juan “J.J.” Peña announced that his office will be open every second Saturday of the month. As Justice of the Peace, Peña’s office handles “fine only” offense inquests, evictions, and small claims under $10,000 from west of Taylor Road all the way to the Hidalgo County and Starr County Line. His office is typically open on weekdays from 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. and
Juan “J.J.” Peña Courtesy photo
closed for lunch from 12 pm through 1 p.m. At his swearing-in ceremony, Peña said he was planning to hold new hours where once a week his office will be open during lunch and hold court on Saturday once a month. “Having the office closed for lunch makes it difficult for people to come in be-
cause they have infractions they want to take care of but like everyone else, they have to work and we’re closed when they’re available,” Peña said. “I’d like my staff to hit the ground running in the new year and work as efficiently as possible to prevent a backlog of cases.” Under the new hours, Peña’s office will be open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. and from 8 a.m. through 6 p.m. every Tuesday. Every second Saturday of the month, the Precinct 3 Place 2 courtroom will be open from 9 a.m. through 12 p.m. His office is located at 730 Breyfogle Rd. in Mission.
RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER
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