See Story Pg.7
Your Hometown Newspaper, Bringing Communities Together.
Vol. 47 - #47
Progress times Friday, July 19, 2019
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• MISSION
Mission discusses city charter
A ‘Starry Night’ for local stars
• LA JOYA
Judge sentences former La Joya police chief to 20 years in prison
By Jamie Treviño
By Dave Hendricks
Mayor Armando O’caña is attempting to fulfill a campaign promise that would implement term limits for the mayoral position in Mission. During a workshop held at the city hall on Tues. July 16, the mayor, city manager and council members discussed a couple of potential changes to the Mission organizational chart as well as the city charter. O’caña promised to create term limits for the mayor’s position when he ran for mayor in 2018. This week he suggested a two-term mayoral limit as one of the changes to the city charter, which has not been amended since 2007. “The term limit will only be for the mayor, not for the city council,” O’caña said. “This is based on the philosophy in the United States constitution - the United States constitution gives the president of the United States to have two terms with four years each. If it’s good enough for America, if should be good for the city of Mission. That’s my belief.” O’caña modeled another potential city charter change after the constitution as well. Citing that the population determines the amount of representatives from your area at the House of Representatives, he believes that because the U.S. Census is happening in 2020 and the Mission population is increasing, there should be more commissioners representing residents. This charter change would include the addition of two more city commissioners, bringing the council from four to six in total. O’caña suggested that four of the council members be from designated geographical districts within Mission, while the two other members be elected from anywhere in the city or “at-large.” “When the city charter was created, there were less than 2,000 people [living in the city],” O’caña said. “Now we have 88,000 or more, and if the census comes through we may have 100,000.” By making this change, passing or denying items during city council meetings would require a majority of four council members or three council members and the mayor voting in favor. “That creates checks and balances, which are the basic fundamentals of our constitution for the United States of America,” O’caña said. “I think that in 10, 20 years
A judge sentenced former La Joya police Chief Geovani Hernandez to 20 years in federal prison Thursday for drug trafficking. U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced Geovani V. Hernandez, 45, of McAllen — a career cop who campaigned for Hidalgo County sheriff and served as police chief in La Joya — on Thursday morning. Homeland Security Investigations, a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arrested Hernandez in 2017. Hernandez pleaded not guilty, but a jury convicted him at trial. “I never understood why you didn’t plead guilty,” Crane said, adding that prosecutors had a strong case against Hernandez. During the past two decades, Hernandez worked for police departments across the Rio Grande Valley, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. He also challenged former Sheriff Guadalupe “Lupe” Treviño in the March
See MISSION CHARTER Pg. 6
Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.
Marcus Achilles Quintana reacts to the cheers from guests at the red carpet of “A Starry Night: Capable Kids Prom 2019“ Saturday, July 13, 2019.
By Jose De Leon III For one night, teens who’d otherwise feel like outcasts in high school had the spotlight shining on them. That’s according to Melanie Watson, president of the local non-profit Capable Kids Foundation, which hosted a prom night for special needs individuals in the upper Valley last week. Held Saturday, July 13 at the Mission Event Center, the Capable Kids Prom featured 125 students with special needs dancing the night away. The theme of the night was “A Starry Night.”
“We just want to allow them to have a night to shine,” Watson said of the attendees. “They can be themselves and we can show them that they can make connections with other people and have a great time.” The Capable Kids Foundation-which has locations in McAllen and Port Isabel-works to improve the quality of life of those with disabilities with experiences that help them enjoy life and make sure parents feel equipped to handle any issues that come their way, Watson said.
See CAPABLE KIDS PROM Pg. 4
• PALMVIEW
• PEÑITAS
Court records:
Sheriff’s deputy harassed and insulted Palmhurst police during arrest An off-duty sheriff’s deputy harassed and insulted Palmhurst police when they arrested him on a felony assault charge last month, according to court records. Officers arrested Roberto “Bobby” Rivera, 42, of Palmhurst on June 15, when they responded to a call about an “unwanted male subject at a female’s residence, who was intoxicated and was possibly armed,” according to court records. Rivera, who had been drinking, dared the officers to arrest him and called one a “dumbass.” Police charged Rivera, a deputy assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division of the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, with assault on
Gerald “Jerry” Bell’s legacy in the Rio Grande Valley can be found in the metaphorical and physical growth of Peñitas. The city of Peñitas, along with Bell’s family and friends and local officials held a memorial ceremony that honored the late businessman, who passed away last week on July 10, 2019 at the age of 85. The event took place at the Peñitas Public Library on Wed. July 17. After growing up in the Rio Grande Valley and graduating from McAllen High School in 1948, Bell found a home in Peñitas. According to a press release from the city, people driving into Peñitas will find it “impossible to miss” hundreds of oak trees that line the expressway Bell Farms (one of Bell’s properties), representing his contribution to the “rich history, current development and promising
Courtesy photo.
See ROBERTO RIVERA Pg. 8
INDEX Entertainment....pg. 2 Lifestyle...................pg. 3 Death Notices......pg. 8 Classifieds..............pg. 9
Rio Script Pharmacy
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(Courtesy photo)
2012 Democratic Party primary. Treviño crushed him, winning more than 80 percent of the vote. Hernandez reached the peak of his law enforcement career in March 2014, when La Joya hired him as police chief. He lasted less than a year. By the time Homeland Security Investigations arrested Hernandez in August 2017, he’d taken a low-paying job with the Progreso Police Department.
See POLICE CHIEF Pg. 4
City honors community founder and staple Gerald “Jerry” Bell By Jamie Treviño
a peace officer, a second-degree felony. “I want to apologize to the Palmhurst Police Depart-
Geovani Hernandez
Peñitas mourns
By Dave Hendricks
Roberto “Bobby” Rivera
www.ptrgv.com
See JERRY BELL Pg. 9
Photo courtesy of the city of Peñitas.
INSIDE The city of Mission held a workshop to discuss the preliminary 2019-2020 budget, and the Mission Economic Development Corporation held a meeting also regarding their budget.
See Pg. 5 Apple Pharmacy #1 2501 N 23rd St B, McAllen 956-627-6652 Apple Pharmacy #2 810 E Veterans Dr. Palmview 956-352-6485 RioScript Pharmacy 2308 Expressway 83, Penitas 956-271-1064
We have the latest on the La Joya election campaign finance report and the city’s housing authority. Dave Hendricks has our stories on what’s happening in the city, inside.
See Pg. 10
Apple Pharmacy #3 (formerly Paloma’s Pharmacy) 909 Buss. Park Dr, Mission 956-424-6268
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entertainment
July 19, 2019
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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS
Coming Attractions
July 20 • Legendary 70’s soft-rock band Air Supply of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock will perform all of their greatest hits at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg. VIP packages are available and include one premium seat in the first 12 rows, access to an exclusive sound check followed by a meet-n-greet, and a VIP swag bag. For more information, go to bertogdenarena.com or call 956-562-7362. July 28 • Five world-class illusionists make up the Champions of Magic and bring their show to State Farm Hidalgo Arena. The show features illusionists Young & Strange (Richard Young/Sam Strange), mind reader Alex McAleer, escapologist Fernando Velasco and close-up magician Kayla Drescher. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased online at hidalgoarena.com.
SHS Mariachi Nuevo Cascabel takes top spot in national competition On July 12, Mariachi Nuevo Cascabel from Sharyland High School won first place in the open category and Overall Most Valuable Performance Award making them the national champion at Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque Showcase Competition Concert, a three-day conference in Albuquerque, N.M. Middle schools, high schools, universities and professional ensembles from across the nation competed in the competition as they vied for the opening slot in the Mariachi Spectacular concert. Mariachi Nuevo Cascabel shared the stage with Aida Cuevas, “The Queen of Mariachi.”
(For more Coming Attractions, go to ptrgv.com)
Dr. Seuss story comes to life at Quinta Mazatlán
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McALLEN – Children can experience the Dr. Seuss Story Book Trail through the forest at Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center next Thursday, July 25 at 7 p.m. Quinta Mazatlan staff will bring alive on the trail the wacky adventure book “What
was I Scared of?” Quinta Mazatlán’s Forest Trail will feature Dr. Seuss characters that bring out the pages of the book featuring “Empty Pants.” The famous book illustrates the importance of not judging a book by its cover and having the
courage to communicate with others who may appear to be different. After walking the Story Book Trail, kids can then have fun at the Dr. Seuss craft stations and photo opportunities with the Cat in the Hat and the Lorax.
There will also be face painting and a snow cone food truck. Visitors are invited to dress as their favorite Dr. Seuss character! For more information, call Quinta Mazatlán at 956-681-3370.
Seeking night stalkers for National Moth Week
PHARR – The South Texas Border Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist invites the public to learn about moths, an often unnoticed community of night-flying insects during National Moth Week 2019. The program serves a twofold mission -- to encourage awareness of National Moth Week and to introduce the use of iNaturalist, a Smartphone habitat data app. Texas Master Naturalists will join nature park staff during activities this summer beginning with National Moth Week 2019 events. Moths will be attracted by various means. Participants are invited to help photograph
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and upload species that they will be seeing during events using their iNaturalist mobile applications. Texas Master Naturalist volunteers will help individuals download the free app, and participants are asked to have their phone password ready. Alternately, the app may be downloaded prior to the events. Texas Master Naturalist volunteers will help demonstrate how to use the iNaturalist app during events. Join nature center staff and Texas Master Naturalists at any of the local National Moth Week 2019 events: • McAllen Nature Center, Fridays, July 19 and 26, 8:3010 p.m. Night Hikes include a Moth Sheet setup and introduction to iNaturalist phone app, 4101 W. Business 83, 956-681-3333. Free; open to the public. No reservation needed. • Estero Llano Grande State Park, TBD, 3301 South International Blvd., Wesla-
co. Call for nighttime moth events, 956-565-3919. • Quinta Mazatlán, Tuesday, July 23, 8:30-10 p.m. Flashlight Night, $3 admission. All ages welcome. Come with friends and family for a guided night hike and black-lighting for insects. Bring a flashlight or borrow one (first-come-first-serve), 600 Sunset Drive, McAllen. Call 956-681-3370 to reserve a spot. • Valley Nature Center, Wednesday, July 24, 8-10 p.m. Family friendly Night Hike and Moth Sheet setup with introduction to iNaturalist phone app by Texas Master Naturalists. We will be focusing on moths, but will see other creatures of the night too. Bring a flashlight, 301 South Border Avenue, Weslaco, 956-969-2475. Free and open to the public. Registration is not required. • Bentsen-RGV State Park, Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27, 8:30-10 p.m.
Families welcome. Meet at Birding Center (HQ) Gardens to help map moth distribution and provide important information, 2800 S. Bentsen Drive, Mission, 956-5849156. Free; no reservations required. The iNaturalist is an online network of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists often used by research scientists to help identify the creatures and habitat of an area. Many species of greatest conservation need are recognized through the iNaturalist data base. The more individuals upload local species, the more knowledge that will be available for research and valuable information will be available to help protect the native nature of the Valley. For more information about the citizen science project, visit iNaturalist.org.
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2nd Annual
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lifestyle
July 19, 2019
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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS
UTRGV graduate program ranked 14th in nation
Mission CISD offers new choices for 2019-20 year
Mission area parents will have several new options for their children’s education this coming school year through Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD). At the elementary level, the district is introducing two new academies: Salinas Elementary School Fine Arts Academy and Leal Elementary School of Technology and Engineering. In each case, students who live in those two attendance zones will get the added benefits of the fine arts or technology focuses without needing to complete any additional paperwork. Students living outside the attendance areas of the two schools will need to complete a transfer request form. Those are available on the district’s webpage, at the campus, or at Central Office (1201 Bryce Drive). MCISD is also starting a full-day pre-k program for children who will be three years of age on or before Sept. 1, 2019. Students must meet certain state eligibility requirements. This program will only be offered at the following three schools: Salinas Elementary Fine Arts Academy, Escobar/Rios Elementary School, and Leal Elementary School of Technology and Engineering. The disctrict now has three early college high
Makes dean’s list WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has announced that Vanessa Hernandez of Mission, a member of the class of 2020 majoring in biology and biotechnology, was named to the university’s Dean’s List for academic excellence for the spring 2019 semester.
Receives Baylor scholarship
WACO – Baylor University has selected nearly 2,800 recent high school graduates as recipients of scholastic awards for the 2019-20 academic year. Claudia Gonzalez-Chavez, of Mission and graduate of Sharyland Advanced Academic Academy, has earned the Provost’s Gold award, one of five available to Baylor students. The scholarship, earned on a combination of class rank and test scores, provides $68,000 to $76,000 for up to eight semesters at the university.
school options for interested students. In addition to Mission Collegiate High School and the Career Tech Early College program at Mission High School, Veterans Memorial High School is now offering the Patriot Early College Academy. The Patriot Academy will focus on Engineering, Architecture, and Business. While not an official early college high school program, Mission High School does also offer a state recognized T-STEM academy. Monday, Aug. 19, will be the first day of classes for students in the district. This will be a regular/full-day of school for all students, including Pre-K. The school day for elementary students this school year will start at 7:45 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m. The school day for junior high school students will start at 8 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. The school day for high school students will start at 8:15 a.m. and end at 4:15 p.m.
By Victoria Brito
Sabrina Tamez and Aaron Garcia
Sabrina Tamez to wed Aaron Garcia
Gary and Bertha Dixon of Mission announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Sabrina Tamez to Aaron Garcia of Raymondville. He is the son of Tony Garcia and Carmen Ramirez of Lyford. The couple will exchange their vows Tuesday, Aug. 6, in Cozumel, Mexico. The bride-elect is a 2009
EVENTS
CALENDAR July 22-26 – Children ages 9 to 13 can join the Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC) Nature Photo Camp led by professional nature photographer Ruth Hoyt. Campers will learn the basics of cameras and photography, including focusing, lighting and composition. It runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Cameras will be provided for use during the camp. The fee is $150. Registration is required; space is limited. Registration deadline is one week prior and full payment is due two days prior. The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. For more information call 956-381-9922. July 30 – Staff at Speer Memorial Library in Mission will hold a book discussion of Murder on the Orient Express in the library’s Community Room at 5:30 p.m. in Spanish and at 6:30 p.m. in English. The public is invited. The library has copies of the book available for those who sign up for the discussion. Stop by the library or call at 580-8754 to obtain or reserve a copy or for more information. Speer Memorial Library is located at 12th and Kika De La Garza in Mission. July 28 – The International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 Nolana Ave., McAllen will host a youth art workshop, “Flower Crowns,” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Youth ages 10 and up can celebrate summer and create a flower crown while learning about native flowers in the Rio Grande Valley and taste flower-inspired beverages. Register online or call the IMAS at 956-681-0123 to sign up. July 30-Aug. 2 – The Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC) will hold Aquanauts camp for children ages 8 to 12. Participants will get wet while learning about wetland critters and coastal ecology. This camp includes a day trip to South Padre Island to visit the Coastal Studies Lab and Sea Turtle, Inc. It runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. The fee is $70 for EWBC members and $78 for non-members. Registration is required; space is limited. Registration deadline is one week prior and full payment is due two days prior. The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. For more information call 956-381-9922. (For more Events, go to ptrgv.com.)
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graduate of Mission High School. She is employed by Edinburg Transition Center in Edinburg. The prospective groom graduated from Lyford High School in 2008 and is employed by Arnold’s U.S. Mail Service in Mission.
EDINBURG – UTRGV’s Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling is now ranked 14th in the nation among Best Rehabilitation Counseling Schools by U.S. News and World Report for the 2020 education category. Dr. Elizabeth Chavez-Pa lacios, UTRGV clinical assistant professor and graduate coordinator of the program, said this is an important ranking and gives the program increased recognition. “We have been on this list for a while now, and the last time the rankings were put out, in 2015, we were tied for 15th with the University of North Texas in Denton,” she said. This time around, UTRGV moved up a slot nationally. It is also first among all UT System schools, and second in the state of Texas. The U.S. News and World Report cited the following
faculty achievements: Dr. Bruce Reed, professor and director of the UTRGV School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling, received the 2016 Rehabilitation Educator of the Year by the National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE). Dr. Jerome Fisher, professor and PhD coordinator in the UTRGV School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling, received the 2018 Rehabilitation Educator of the Year Award by the NCRE. Chavez-Palacios said the goal now is to have the program in the top 10 for the next ranking cycle. “Progression is definitely something to strive for,” Chavez-Palacios said. “That goal helps keep us motivated to continue putting out groundbreaking research, and to keep up with our teaching and how we approach changes within our field.”
Free 2019 Summer Fun!
CHILDREN’S SUMMER WORKSHOP
July 22nd-26th 9:30am - 11:30am
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July 19, 2019
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Latest LUPE demonstration calls for an end to detention centers
Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.
Protestors outside the McAllen Border Patrol Processing Facility in McAllen Friday, July 12, 2019.
By Jose De Leon III Amid U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to the Valley last week, a local non-profit participated in a nationwide vigil protesting the inhumane conditions they say many undocumented immigrants in holding facilities are encountering. La Union del PuebloEntero-LUPE-organized the McAllen location of “Lights for Liberty: Luces para la Libertad Friday,
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July 12 outside the “Ursula” detention center in McAllen. It is the local Border Patrol processing center and the largest U.S. Customs and Border Protection detention center for undocumented immigrants according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The facility-a warehouse that can hold more than 1,000 people, gained notoriety last year after it was reported that children there were being kept in cages.
Dozens of protestors lined up outside the facility, holding either crosses bearing the names of the 12 children who have died in custody at detention centers since last year, or drawings made by children at the Sacred Heart Respite Center. “It’s a vigil for all the kids who have died at their hands,” Blanca Muñoz, a member of LUPE said of the current administration. “It’s not fair or right and we want more people to understand
POLICE CHIEF
A federal informant approached Hernandez and requested help. Hernandez agreed to provide security for drug shipments and accepted cash from the informant. Prosecutors said Hernandez didn’t just betray the badge, he also allowed the informant to borrow it. “He offered me a T-shirt showing ‘drug police.’ To show that I had done my job and that I had been with him,” said the informant, Hector Obed Saucedo-Rodriguez, when he testified
at trial. “But I didn’t want to accept it and I told him ‘No.’” When he rejected the shirt, Hernandez had another suggestion. “But he gave me, instead, his police officer badge,” Saucedo-Rodriguez said. The jury convicted Hernandez on two counts of attempting to aid and abet possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Hernandez returned to
court Thursday wearing black leather shoes, dark blue jeans and a wrinkled shirt. After four months in jail, he looked slightly thinner but appeared nonplussed by the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence. When the judge asked whether or not he wanted to say anything, Hernandez thanked the court for considering the case and his family members for their support. He didn’t apologize or acknowledge any wrongdoing.
that these people are humans, not strangers because of their skin color or because they speak another language. In God’s eyes we are all the same. They come here with a dream of an American dream everyone talks about. Now they’re being separated for wanting to escape their homes.” Pence’s visit Pence toured the McAllen facility and the Donna processing facility that same day. An organizer with LUPE stressed that the vigil was planned prior to the announcement of Pence’s visit. According to the White House press pool that visited the facility with the vice president, the McAllen facility was described as “overcrowded” with a “horrendous stench, a news release said. “The cages were so crowded that it was not possible for all the men to lie down at the same time, the pool reporter said. “There were no mats or pillows — some of the men were sleeping on concrete.” At a press conference following the tour, Pence called for additional beds in Immigration and Customs Enforcement jails and said the situation was the reason
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he had called for more funding for the Department of Homeland Security. “I was not surprised by what I saw,” Pence said. “I knew we’d see a system that was overwhelmed.” Those conditions are similar to the ones described by Elias, 13, a migrant from El Salvador who spoke at the protest alongside his lawyer, Eugenio “Gene” Delgado. Elias, whose last name wasn’t provided, stayed at a different detention facility and was split up from his little brother-Abraham, 8for three weeks, he said. “My brother was left with an uncle but I was alone,” Elias said. “I didn’t have anyone to talk to. It was cold, I had to sleep on the floor and the food wasn’t properly cooked. It looked expired and I felt bad after I ate the food. I thought I’d stay there forever.” Elias was at the vigil with his brother and Dayra, a 10-year-old from Mexico who also stayed at a processing facility. The three were accompanied by Delgado. “Last June the nation was shocked to learn about Ursula, the largest detention center for undocumented immigrants in the US. which was the epicenter for
the family separation crisis where children were kept in cages without access to simple toiletries and showers,” Delgado said. “Sadly today, a year later, it’s only gotten worse. Earlier this summer it was reported that the conditions in Ursula could be compared to torture facilities with extremely cold temperatures, lights on 24 hours a day, no adequate access to medical care or basic sanitation, water or adequate food. This is not what our community or nation is about.” Delgado, who also represents LUPE, said he will continue to work for more people like Elias, Abraham and Dayra until they are released from detention centers and continue to thrive. “Look at them, these kids are not criminals and should not be treated like criminals,” Delgado said of the children. Tania Sanchez, a strategist at LUPE, said the local community should continue to protest these immigration practices, even without a politician touring the area. “People just come for the photo op, we are the ones who are always here standing against the atrocities this administration is doing against the people,” she said.
CAPABLE KIDS PROM
Half of the kids at Capable Kids are diagnosed with autism while the rest have down syndrome or a range of developmental delay disorders such as muscular dystrophy and spina bifida, Watson said. “Children have opportunities to make friends, experience fun and joy in their lives,” Watson added. “It’s important for these kids to attend the prom for self-esteem reasons. They’re being accepted as they are, you can see the joy in their faces on the dance floor.” At the prom, attendees were greeted with a red carpet lined up with volunteers who-depending on their sensory vulnerabilities-clapped and cheered or waved at them to make them feel like a celebrity. Kids received corsages after leaving the red carpet where they were led to a hair and makeup touch
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up corner if they needed it before going to the ballroom. At the ballroom, Watson said extra care was used to make sure all kids were accommodated. This included providing pizza and tamales for lunch-as the latter food option is allergy friendly-and kids were given a complimentary prom portrait with their plus one-a volunteer from the organization or a friend. At the dance floor, the music was played at low volume and the organization ditched strobe lights to help the kids feel calm in this setting. A quiet area was even opened to allow the teens to decompress after a while. “We have kids who for some reason or another they didn’t want to go to prom at their school,” Watson explained. “They felt bullied or were scared of the loud music and strobe lights which could affect our kids with epilepsy. So when they come to our prom they are exposed to [a prom setting] in a friendly area.” Among the attendees was 14-year-old Omar Teran from Harlingen, who has been a member of Capable Kids Foundation’s cheer squad for the last four years and attended the lower Val-
ley prom earlier this year. “Before I was very shy, then decided to push myself to make friends which I’ve done because of Capable Kids,” Teran said. I’ve gained confidence here. Having autism makes it hard to make friends but this prepares you for a more social setting like high school. I feel like if I can do this, I’ll be OK once I start high school.” Omar’s mother, Maya, praised Capable Kids for their prom night and the work they’ve been doing to help her son feel more comfortable with himself. She said she became involved in the organization after Omar expressed an interest in becoming a cheerleader but his school didn’t allow him to join the team after finding out about his disability and feared he’d be a liability. “But then we heard about Capable Kids looking for cheerleaders and they were so accepting of him,” Maya said. “Omar usually gets nervous around big groups but is gaining more socialization and interactions with people. He doesn’t spend his days at home, he’s exploring new things everyday because of Capable Kids. It makes my heart melt seeing him like this.”
July 19, 2019
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Texas Citrus Fiesta to receive less financial assistance from MEDC By Jose De Leon III If the budget for the next fiscal year of the Mission Economic Development Corporation is approved next month, all of the organizations incentive programs will be impacted-including the one that financially assists the city’s biggest celebration. At their Tuesday workshop, MEDC board members discussed the proposed 2019-2020 fiscal year budget. Among the biggest changes in the budget is the amount of money the MEDC plans to give to the Texas Citrus Fiesta which will be almost slashed in half. Instead of the usual $75,000 provided by the MEDC, TCF will receive $35,000 from the organization. “This is more of an educational assistance kind of way to make them become self-sustainable,” MEDC
CEO Daniel Silva said. “We normally give [TCF] $75,000 and they’ve been doing a great job as far as all the events they do but have been relying on the same revenue sources. If we can get a way for them to not rely so much on the city supplementing this, they can become self-sustained and everything we’ll get them will become spaced to take on new programs.” Despite the decrease, Silva said the MEDC was open to continue to assist TCF by pledging $7,000 as a sponsor and $18,000 from the MEDC’s marketing department to advertise the event. The Texas Citrus Fiesta, which celebrated its 82nd year last January, is among the oldest celebrations in the Valley that celebrates how Mission pioneered the citrus industry in the area. The event climaxes into a parade with a Texas Citrus King and
Queen. The $75,000 requested by TCF reflects about a third of the 2019-2020 TCF budget, according to the TCF presentation. TCF Director Lisa Rivera, who attended the MEDC workshop, said that $30,000 of the money received by the MEDC usually goes toward payroll to pay its three employees-one full time and two part timers- and is looking to hire more employees. “We are advancing with more events, programs and traveling to promote the event-take that into consideration. It takes more manpower and expenses to do that,” Rivera said. “It’s why our presentation asked for a possibility of an increase to $90,000 from you. With this in consideration maybe you can help us out. I do appreciate what you’re doing for us.” Silva said as important as
Progress Times photo by Dee Rendon.
File photo of the 2019 Texas Citrus Fiesta Parade. TCF is to the community, the organization needs a good marketing plan to find more sponsors. “With as big an event the TCF is, there’s an opportunity for them to receive much more money from the private sector,” Silva explained. “They’re an asset to our community, we value that and all the work they do and want to make sure they continue to be able to do all the work they do. We want to
be of assistance, we just want to make sure they’re able to start finding other sources of revenue.” Other incentive programs such as rent subsidy program, downtown facade improvement program and the small business fund also had their MEDC funds decreased. Silva explained that the decrease reflected how much money those programs actually used up. “We’ve taken a lot of obli-
gations and the MEDC functions to try to incentivize and develop others and that costs money,” Silva said. “Even though we reduced the funds in the programs, there’s still money there. What we did was we looked at how much we’ve expensed in those three accounts and matched that. We leaned out that account to reflect the expenses.”
Mission mulls over preliminary budget in workshop City may raise property tax rate by four cents By Jamie Treviño In order to raise the general fund and budget outlook in general, Mission is contemplating changes to the 2019-2020 preliminary budget and the city’s insurance plan for employees. This Mon. July 15, the city of Mission held a workshop to discuss the potential insurance plans and preliminary budget for the next fiscal year. City Manager Randy Perez presented the preliminary budget, which is not finalized and only was in discussion during the workshop because not all the information was available to the city at the time of the workshop. When looking at the preliminary totals in Mission, property taxes have had an increase of almost 6 percent. “The net taxable is $4.4 billion,” Perez said. “One of the things I wanted to point out here, and this is why it’s a preliminary budget presentation workshop is because one, we don’t have certified values and two, they have not provided us with the TIRZ [Texas Increment Reinvestment Zone] values, which is a big portion of our evaluation as well.” The presentation also included a tax analysis of the city over 10 years. When taking the tax rates into account for the 2019-2020 preliminary budget, the city estimated what it would look like with an adopted tax rate of $0.5262, four cents higher than last year’s tax rate
($0.4862), which had been frozen by the council and Mayor Armando O’caña when he took over the position. Perez said that in terms of sales tax collections, Mission had a good year. “Overall we’re estimating that so far right now, we’re at about 10 percent,” Perez said. “So we’re anticipating a 12 percent sales tax increase from last year to this year, which is very good because we need that additional revenue.” The preliminary budget presentation included an estimated fund balance analysis of all funds for the 2019-2020 budget. The estimated beginning general fund balance (starting Oct. 1, 2019) would be $1,313,025 and the estimated ending general fund balance (ending Sept. 30, 2020) would be $890,214 if the property tax rate remains the same. Before final numbers can be presented, the city has to wait until the county gives Mission their valuations at the end of the month. “We don’t foresee that we’re able to continue the current tax rate,” Perez said. “We did our calculations based on a four cent increase based on what we currently have.” Perez included a property tax analysis comparing Mission’s tax rate from 2009 to 2019, which showed that in 2009, the city’s tax rate was at $0.5566 per dollar before lowering a few cents every year until the current tax rate
of $0.4862 per dollar. “Every year when we would decrease the tax rate, it would decrease the maintenance and operations only and increase the I&S [Interest and Sinking] rate,” Perez said. “Over the years, we’ve absorbed all these through our reserves and through our operating funds to be able to cover the additional debt on these issues.” Perez said that they prepared the preliminary budget with a four cent increase for now, before they get certified values from the county. With that increase, the property tax revenue for the city of Mission will increase from 1
percent to 15 percent in one year. “It’s substantial in the sense where that is needed,” Perez said. “The total revenues would go from $35,502,374 to $38,030,800.” Perez also said that with this change, the expenditures in Mission are predicted to go from $43 million to $44 million. “Overall, it’s a reduction from the previous year of 2018, an increase in revenue but a decrease in appropriation,” Perez said, adding that the council should consider that 77 percent of the general fund budget is allocated
toward employee salary and benefits. “So we have 23 percent that we can work with as far as each department,” Perez said. “There’s really
not much room that we currently have, so we’re looking at how we can increase revenue.”
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July 19, 2019
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MISSION CHARTER
from now, it would create a lot of stability.” He noted that when he discusses these possibilities with the public at local coffee shops, they have varying
opinions on how council members should be elected in terms of geographic districts or at-large Mission residents. He said cities with council members who are all
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determined by single-member districts have problems, as well as cities where all council members are atlarge. “The cities that are more functional have a balance,” O’caña said. O’caña also brought up the compensation of the mayor and council members, though he stated that this potential change to the charter was not his idea. Typically the mayor is paid $100 per month and council members receive $25 per month. “I know that the compensation was stated back in the 1930’s when the charter was first created,” O’caña said. “Back then, $25 was maybe considered a lot of money for a council person, but it’s not today.” The mayor and council member Jessica Ortega-Ochoa are not paid currently, as they are both employed with the La Joya Independent School District (state and school district employees who are elected to office in Mission do not receive compensation). Or-
tega-Ochoa noted that this is not always the practice in other municipalities. “Other municipalities on the west side, even their state employees still do get paid for whatever reason, and that’s neither here nor there,” Ortega-Ochoa said. “I think that out of all the cities, my colleagues here are the least [compensated], and we’re a bigger city.” Ortega-Ochoa said that in other cities, some commissioners are compensated anywhere from $50 to $100 per meeting. “I would like to see, in fairness, what that would constitute,” Ortega-Ochoa said. “And then some of them even go by hours. I think that all of us put in a lot of time.” She added that sometimes she sees council member Ruben Plata’s check for his service, and said she would be surprised if it covered the gas it takes to drive to the city hall. Mayor Pro-Tem Norie Gonzalez Garza did not agree with all the potential
changes that would be made to the charter, particularly in regards to compensation and the mayoral term limit. “I’m not in favor of changing the charter in terms of compensation,” Gonzalez Garza said. “I don’t think any of us do it for the $25 or $100. And I certainly wouldn’t want to go into a per meeting thing, because that would be very, very expensive. And an hourly thing would probably not work as well.” Gonzalez Garza said she was in favor of adding additional council members to the charter and let the city residents decide who they want to elect from where they want to elect. “The term limits thing, I could go either way,” Gonzalez Garza said, adding that our state governor or representatives do not have term limits. “I don’t think it’s something that’s absolutely necessary. It’s only the president of the United States.” Gonzalez Garza, who is also a board member for Amigos Del Valle, said that
because they are federally funded over there, board members must submit their social security numbers and their credit reports are checked. She suggested that if Mission wanted to go the presidential route, maybe they should also consider submitting personal financial statements. O’caña said that in his research of city charter amendments, it is harder to get them passed by the public as more amendments are included. Gonzalez Garza said that because it has not been amended since 2007, there are probably several amendments and language changes to the charter that need to be amended. While council did not come to a complete consensus during the workshop, they decided to bring the potential charter changes to executive session at next week’s city council meeting. The organizational chart will be presented and voted on at the meeting as well.
July 19, 2019
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SHS commemorates 50th anniversary of NASA moon landing By Jose De Leon III
Courtesy photo.
Students with the Sharyland High School History Department with a model of the Saturn V rocket on display at the Mission Historical Museum.
To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11’s Moon Landing, the Sharyland High School History Department-in partnership with the Mission Historical Museum-is presenting a Space Race Rocket Triad exhibit. The exhibit, features three 8-foot scaled models of the American Space Race rockets used by NASA during the 1960s to advance the space race before that fateful moon landing on Sunday, July 20, 1969. “It’s especially important for people to continue to learn about this even 50 years later because now our area is involved in the new space race because of SpaceX in Brownsville,” said Robert Barbosa, head of the social studies department at Sharyland High School. “There’s so much buzz with our space race against China and India.”
The earliest of the three rockets on display is the Mercury-Redstone, which was used by the United States for Project Mercury to put the first Americans in space. The second rocket is the Titan-II, a repurposed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile which was used in Project Gemini to test the logistical operations needed to travel to the Moon. The final rocket is the Saturn V, of the Apollo Program, which through its five stages allowed Americans to land on the Moon. The exhibit models were created by students taking Barbosa’s Topics in Social Studies class as a semester-long learning project, Barbosa said. Students used a wood and cardboard framework, along with papier-mâché to create a scaled model of the rockets, which are displayed alongside a video display created by students that showcases the history of the space race between the United States and
the Soviet Union. “We looked at this project as a STEM component, a cross curricular lesson where they learn about the history of the space race, and incorporate different subjects like math and computer science,” Barbosa said. “It shows how the Cold War impacted technology. Today, it’s difficult to imagine NASA doing something like this even though they’re getting much more money compared to how much they received in the 60s. Maybe once our competitors in China and India start to successfully launch people into space, we’ll start revamping efforts to further our space exploration. Maybe even jumping to Mars to be pioneers there.” The exhibit is currently on display at the Mission Historical Museum through September. The museum, located at 900 Doherty Ave., is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays.
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ROBERTO RIVERA
ment, the HCSO and to my family and my girlfriend for my behavior that day,” Rivera said in a statement released by his attorney, Artemio De La Fuente of Edinburg. “It is uncharacteristic of me to conduct myself the way I did that evening. I spoke in an unprofessional tone to the responding officers and for that I am deeply sorry.” Rivera, however, denied that he assaulted a police officer. “As far as the charge against me, I assaulted nobody and I trust the legal system will run its course and justice will prevail,” Rivera said in the statement. The Sheriff’s Office placed Rivera on paid administrative leave after the arrest. With an internal investigation pending, Chief Deputy Mario Lopez said he couldn’t comment on the incident. After stints working for an ambulance company, the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the McAllen school district, Rivera joined the Harlingen Police Department in October 1999. Then-police Chief Michael Blake terminated Rivera in October 2000 for “unsatisfactory” performance, according to personnel records. The Port Isabel Police Department, where he accepted a job two years later, determined the termination resulted from “internal political problems at the department.” Port Isabel commended Rivera for arresting more than 250 drunken motorists during a one-year period. Rivera also worked for the Progreso Police Department before joining the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office in April 2005. On his job application, Rivera disclosed that he had been charged with driving while intoxicated in 2003.
OBITUARIES
Gerald Bell PEÑITAS – Gerald E. “Jerry” Bell of Mission, Texas, aged 85, passed away peacefully into the comfort of the Lord on July 10, 2019. Jerry was born on July 23, 1933 to Everett and Irene Bell in Pharr, Texas. He was predeceased by his parents; his first love, Barbara Jean Liberty; two oldest sons, Tom Bell and David Bell; brother, Roger Bell; and second wife, Otilia Flores-Guerrero. His legacy lives on
through his surviving children, Jeannette Womack (John) and Bob Bell; his grandchildren Brad Womack (Connie), Laura Parker (Ruben), T.J. Womack (Shanei), Bonnie Kuelher (Wayne), Allyson Pratka (Bowen), Leslye Womack, and Quinten Womack; ten great-grandchildren; and brothers Duane Bell (Sandra) and Bill Kattmann (Cindy). He is also survived by his third wife, Carolyn Bell. He will be remembered for his love of family and farming, commitment to community, straight-shooting approach to life, and generous spirit. Jerry grew up in the Valley, graduated from McAllen High School—where he was a drum major—in 1948, and attended Rice University and Texas A&I College, eschewing graduation to take up responsibilities at the family farm. Jerry met Barbara in
“On 01-29-03, I was a passenger in a motor vehicle involved in an accident in Edinburg, TX,” Rivera wrote. “The driver fled and I was arrested. Charges were dismissed and the subsequent arrest is in the process of expungement.” A handwritten note on the job application reads: “He initially lied.” The Sheriff’s Office hired Rivera, who earned a promotion to sergeant in March 2010. After nearly eight years with the Sheriff’s Office, he resigned to join the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in 2013. Rivera, though, lasted just two months at TABC. “I resigned from my position because I was going to be terminated,” Rivera wrote in April 2013, when he asked the Sheriff’s Office to take him back. Why TABC planned to terminate Rivera is unclear. The
agency didn’t keep a copy of Rivera’s personnel file. Rivera worked his way back to investigator at the Sheriff’s Office, which assigned him to the fraud unit of the Criminal Investigations Division in October 2018. Palmhurst police encountered Rivera on the night of June 15, when they responded to a call about an unwanted male subject. Rivera, who had been drinking, took a Lyft to his girlfriend’s home in Palmhurst, according to court records. He admitted to drinking four beers. She asked Rivera to leave. He refused. “Officer Martinez began asking Mr. Rivera questions to which he replied by telling officers he had more ‘experience’ than anyone else in the room and proceeded to call Officers ‘rookies,’” according to court records. Officers warned Rivera
that he could be charged with trespassing. Rivera dared them to arrest him. Rivera apparently hadn’t been driving that night, but his girlfriend said “she has seen Mr. Rivera show up intoxicated while driving his patrol unit,” according to court records. He disputed that. “The allegations of me driving my patrol unit while being intoxicated are completely untrue,” Rivera said in the statement. “I strongly deny ever being behind the wheel of any motor vehicle while being impaired.” Police also said that Rivera pushed an officer during the incident. As a result, police charged him with assault on a peace officer, a second-degree felony. That charge may not stick. Video from the incident doesn’t clearly show what happened. With the case pending, the
Palmhurst Police Department declined to release a copy of the video and requested a decision from the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Rivera complained about chest pains after the arrest. Officers took him to Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance, but Rivera refused treatment. Police took Rivera back to Palmhurst, where they booked him on the assault charge. Officers also allowed Rivera to make a phone call. “During the phone call, Mr. Rivera who was apparently speaking to his mother advised her to make calls for ‘a big favor’ referencing Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina and several other subjects who can help him,” according to court records. “Mr. Rivera further stated via his phone call that his charge for assault on a public servant is probably a big deal for a small town like this (Palmhurst).”
high school and started dating when Jerry was home from college for the summer. They married in 1954 and started a family soon after. Their life together took them to Navasota, College Station, Mission, and Peñitas. Jerry’s early life focused on farming. Over the years, he and his family had operations in Peñitas, McCook, Jim Wells County, and Duval County where they grew grain, corn, cotton, peanuts, and watermelons. Though a successful farmer, Jerry’s greatest accomplishment, second only to his family, was what he established in Peñitas. Jerry and Barbara were instrumental parts of the team that incorporated the City of Peñitas in the 1990s. Jerry and his brother, Duane, went on to develop parts of their farm into residential neighborhoods, growing Peñitas and providing quality infrastructure around which so many families achieved their American Dream. Later commercial developments provided numerous jobs and services to his neighbors. His commitment to the citizens and city of
Peñitas came from a sincere drive to see the area flourish and grow. During his life Jerry was a fixture of his community, serving on municipal boards and generously supporting children involved in 4-H, FFA, band, athletics, and other pursuits. He donated time and resources to local churches, the Peñitas library, La Joya ISD’s JFK Elementary, and other worthy causes over his life. Jerry even turned a favorite hobby of his, flying, into an opportunity to serve a greater cause by joining and flying in the Commemorative Air Force. As a Lifetime Member and crew chief, Jerry helped keep aviation history alive for generations to come. In 2012 he was inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame and Mission Historical Museum’s Wall of Fame. While proud of his professional and community life, no award was as dear to him as the titles given to him by his family: Dad and Papa. His children and their families have already celebrated his life in a private memorial service.
The City of Peñitas celebrated Jerry at Peñitas Public Library on Wednesday, July 17th. The family asked those unable to attend to honor Jerry’s memory in their prayers and actions. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that memorial donations be made to the Friends of the Peñitas Public Library, a cause dear to Jerry.
Flores Jr., 86, passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2019, at Mission Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Rigoberto Garcia PEÑITAS – Rigoberto Ramirez Garcia, 41, passed away on Friday, July 12, 2019, at his home in Peñitas. Senaida Gonzalez MISSION – Senaida Gonzalez, 73, passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco. Robert Johnson MISSION – Robert N. Johnson, 91, passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at Alfredo Gonzalez Texas State Veterans Home in McAllen. Robert McDonald MISSION – Robert McDonald, 80, passed away on Friday, July 13, 2019, at Mission Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Maria Sanchez MISSION – Maria Sanchez, 58, passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019, at her home in Mission. Armando Solis LA JOYA – Armando Solis, 54, passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2019, at McAllen Medical Center.
Death Notices
Jose Anzaldua ALTON – Jose A. Anzaldua, 78, passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019, at his home in Mission. Elva Arevalo MISSION – Elva G. Arevalo, 83, passed away on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at her home in Mission. Cosme Cardenas MISSION – Cosme Cardenas, 84, passed away on Friday, July 12, 2019, at McAllen Medical Center. Rogerio Cavazos Jr. MISSION – Rogerio “Roy” Cavazos Jr., 56, passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2019, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Ines Flores Jr. SULLIVAN CITY – Ines
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JERRY BELL
future” of Peñitas. Bell was considered a staple in the community for over 65 years, and “embodied the spirit of entrepreneurship, service and community among ongoing generations of Peñitas residents.” During his life, Bell oversaw the planting of over 1,000 oak trees that currently line the Bell Farms property, and his family contributed to charitable causes, educational organizations and groups in order to highlight the beauty in Peñitas. As his son-in-law John Womack put during the me-
morial, Bell cared. “This town was founded by Jerry and a whole bunch of people who came together,” Womack said. “And they didn’t have a lot to start with, and they moved up.” Bell and his first wife Barbara are regarded as instrumental parts of the team that incorporated the city of Peñitas in the 1990’s, and he and his brother Duane developed parts of their farm into residential neighborhoods which lead to the growth of the city and the creation of necessary infrastructure. Peñitas Mayor Rigo Lo-
pez thanked Bell’s family for lending him to the city in order to do invaluable works of service. He presented them with a plaque during the memorial. “The Bell family is synonymous with Peñitas, and we will continue to work on the vision that Mr. Bell brought to the city,” Lopez said. “He’s been a pillar in this community for a long time, and every time people mention Peñitas, just like a lot of founding fathers, the family Bell comes to mind.” State Representative Oscar Longoria also presented
Bell’s family with a certificate of recognition and a United States flag that flew over the capitol in Bell’s honor. “He was a community patriarch,” Longoria said. “In the state legislature, we always honor valuable and great Texans, and I think Jerry was a great Texan, first and foremost. He was very valuable to his family and the community.” The loss of Bell, who had been inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame and the Mission Historical Museum Walk of Fame in
2012, reverberated in the library during the event. Several community members filled the space, and the library staff put together a photo memorial of Bell throughout the years that they played. City Chaplain and Pastor Juan De La Garza prayed for Bell and his family, highlighting Bell’s commitment and dedication to the area. “We thank you, Father, for his life and his testimony,” De La Garza said. “We also thank you for the love and commitment [he had] to this community.”
De La Garza said that mourning Bell would not be easy for his family, but prayed that God be with them in this time. “We lost a man with a heart for this community,” De La Garza said. “And we just want to thank you Father as we gather here today, and we want to remember him not only because there’s a sign that says ‘Mr. Bell’ at the entrance of Peñitas, but because he left his heart in this community.”
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ORDINANCE # 07-15-19 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALMHURST, TEXAS AMENDING ALL PRIOR ORDINANCES REGULATING SPEED LIMITS WITHIN THE CITY; ESTABLISHING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF, READ, CONSIDERED, AND PASSED THIS THE 15TH DAY OF JULY 2019 Ramiro J. Rodriguez, Jr., Mayor Attest: Richard Garcia, City Secretary
NOTICE TO PUBLIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK PROGRAM FINAL ANNUAL ACTION PLAN 2019-2020 In compliance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Program rules and regulations, the City of Mission hereby announces its Final Annual Action Plan 2019-20 for its Thirty-Sixth Year. On July 8, 2019 the Mayor and City Council approved funding recommendations utilizing the following: 2019 CDBG Allocation $915,349 HUD Matrix Code
Project Name
Amount
Description
05A SENIOR SERVICES •AMIGOS DEL VALLE- $ 4,000- Funding will be utilized to provide senior activities at the Arnaldo Ramirez Senior Center. •AMIGOS DEL VALLE- $ 22,000- Funding will be utilized to provide meals to homebound seniors •AREA AGENCY ON AGING- $ 7,000- Funding will be utilized to assist seniors with medications and Medical supplies and equipment 05B HANDICAPPED SERVICES •EASTER SEALS SOCIETY- $ 4,000- Funding will be utilized to provide outpatient rehabilitation services.
05N ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN •CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER- $15,000- Funding will be utilized to provide counseling services for abused/neglected children and their families. •CASA OF HIDALGO COUNTY INC.- $ 2,000- Funding will be utilized for expenses generated in advocating for abused and neglected children. 05Z PUBLIC SERVICES •SILVER RIBBON- $ 6,000- Funding will be utilized to assist disabled individuals and seniors with rent and rent deposits, utilities and utility deposits, and/or medications,dental, eyeglasses and durable medical equipment
14A REHAB; SINGLE UNIT RESIDENTIAL •HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM- $623,875- Funding will provide Housing Rehabilitation for approximately two (2) eligible low moderate income families whose home is dilapidated and in need of repair $50,000 and Housing Reconstruction for approximately eight (8) eligible low moderate-income families whose homes are not adequate to live in $573,875 14A REHAB: ADMINISTRATION •HOUSING ADMINISTRATION- $ 83,000- Funding for staff costs for administration, operation and maintenance expenses relative to the development, implementation, and monitoring of the overall Housing program.
21A GENERAL PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION •CDBG ADMINISTRATION- $148,474- Funding for staff costs for administration, operation and maintenance expenses relative to the development, implementation, and monitoring of the overall CDBG program. In accordance, with Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, Phase XI of the City of Mission’s Entitlement Community Development Block Grant Program, provides maximum feasible priority to activities benefiting low to moderate income residents and will aid in the prevention and elimination of substandard living conditions within the community of Mission. The activities will be administered and are designed for use by and benefit the residents of neighborhoods predominately consisting of low to moderate-income persons.
After the public comment period expires and comments are considered the Final Annual Action Plan 2019-2020 will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, H.F. Garcia Federal Building/U.S. Courthouse, 615 E. Houston Street, Suite 347, San Antonio, TX 78205. For further information on this document, contact Ms. Jo Anne Longoria, Community Development Director at (956) 580-8670.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given that the Palmview Zoning Board of Adjustments will hold a Meeting on Wednesday, August 07, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Palmview City Hall Council Chambers, 400 West Veterans Blvd, Palmview, Texas to consider the following: • Consideration and possible action for a Variance, requested by Yolanda Benavides, to allow an encroachment of 5ft into the 6ft side yard setback for a garage at Mission West Estates Lot 14.
For additional information, please call the Planning Department at (956)432-0300. Planning Director: Rodolfo Flores III
AVISO AL PÚBLICO
DESARROLLO DE LA COMMUNIDAD PLAN FINAL DE ACCIÓN ANUAL 2019-2020 En cumplimiento con los reglamentos del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (HUD) de los Estados Unidos, la Cuidad de Mission anuncia el Plan Final de Acción Anual del 2019-2020 para su Programa de derechos del trigésimo sexto año. El Alcalde y los miembros de Cámara de Concejo Municipal aprobaron el 8 de Julio de 2019, las recomendaciones utilizando lo siguiente: 2019 CDBG ASIGNACIÓN $915,349 HUD Código de Matriz Nombre del proyecto Cantidad
Descripción
05A SERVICIOS PARA PERSONAS MAYORES •AMIGOS DEL VALLE- $ 4,000- La financiación se utilizará para proporcionar actividades de alto nivel en el Arnaldo Ramirez Senior Center. •AMIGOS DEL VALLE- $ 22,000- La financiación se utilizará para proporcionar comidas a personas mayores confinadas en su hogar . •AREA AGENCY ON AGING- $ 7,000- La financiación se utilizará para ayudar a las personas mayores con medicamentos y suministros médicos y equipos. 05B SERVICIOS DISPONIBLES •EASTER SEALS SOCIETY- $ 4,000- La financiación se utilizará para proporcionar servicios de rehabilitación para pacientes ambulatorios. 05N NIÑOS ABUSADOS Y DESCUIDADOS •CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER- $15,000- El financiamiento se utilizará para proporcionar servicios de asesoramiento para niños abusados / descuidados y sus familias. •CASA OF HIDALGO COUNTY INC.- $ 2,000- El financiamiento se utilizará para los gastos generados al abogar a niños abusados / descuidados.
05Z SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS •SILVER RIBBON- $ 6,000- El financiamiento se utilizará para ayudar a las personas discapacitadas y personas mayores con los depósitos de alquiler, los servicios públicos y los depósitos de servicios públicos,y/o medicamentos, trabajo dental, anteojos y equipo médico duradero. 14A REHAB: SOLO UNA UNIDAD RESIDENCIAL •HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM- $623,875- Los fondos proporcionarán rehabilitación de vivienda para aproximadamente dos (2) familias elegible de bajos ingresos moderados cuyo hogar está deteriorado y necesita reparación $50,000 y reconstrucción de vivienda para aproximadamente ocho (8) familias elegibles de bajos ingresos moderados cuyas casas no son adecuadas para vivir en $ 573,875. 14A REHAB: ADMINISTRACIÓN •HOUSING ADMINISTRATION- $ 83,000- Financiamiento para costos de operación y mantenimiento personal para gastos de administración, relativos al desarrollo, implementación y monitoreo del programa general de Vivienda. 21A ADMINISTRACIÓN GENERAL DEL PROGRAMA •CDBG ADMINISTRATION- $148,474- Financiamiento para costos de personal para gastos de administración, operación y mantenimiento relacionados con el desarrollo, la implementación y el monitoreo del programa general de CDBG.
De acuerdo con el Título I de Ley de Housing y Community Development Act de 1974, como enmendado, Phase XI del Programa de Subsidios en Desarrollo Comunitario de Derecho de la Ciudad de Mission, brinda la máxima prioridad posible a las actividades que benefician a residentes de bajos ingresos a moderados y ayudará a prevenir y eliminar condiciones de vida deficientes dentro de la comunidad de Mission. Las actividades se administrarán y están diseñadas para que las utilicen y beneficien los residentes de vecindarios que predominantemente son personas de bajos ingresos a moderados. Después que se termine el tiempo de comentarios al público y los comentarios sean considerados del plan final de acción anual 2019-2020, se enviarán al Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de EE. UU. , HF Garcia Federal Building / Estados Unidos Palacio de justicia, 615 E. Houston Street, Suite 347, San Antonio, TX 78205. Para más información sobre este documento, llamar a Ms. Jo Anne Longoria, Directora del Desarrollo Comunitario al (956) 580-8670.
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La Joya candidates fail to file complete, accurate campaign finance reports By Dave Hendricks None of the three teams running for La Joya City Commission filed complete and accurate campaign finance reports by the Monday deadline. Team “We are La Joya” and Team “3 Candidates One Vision” didn’t submit semi-annual campaign finance reports by the deadline Monday. Team “Un1ty” filed incomplete reports. Mayor Jose A. “Fito” Salinas, who is running for re-election, reported that he spent just $1,450 from March to mid-July. “I’m just competing with too much money this year,” Salinas said, referencing the amount of money spent by his opponents. “I can’t keep up with it. I don’t know who’s financing them.” Salinas is running with Daniel Flores, a teacher who works for the La Joya Independent School District, and
Dalia Arriaga, the wife of police Chief Adolfo Arriaga. They call themselves Un1ty. All three members of Un1ty filed campaign finance reports Monday afternoon. They didn’t report any donations. Mayor Salinas reported paying $900 to Rosa Garcia of Reynosa for printing and $550 to Designs & More of Edinburg for printing. Flores and Dalia Arriaga borrowed $10,000 to kickstart the campaign, according to their campaign finance reports. They borrowed the money from BBVA bank on March 29 and must repay the loan with interest by December. Flores paid $1,050 to Sergio Morales of McAllen for rental expenses, according to his campaign finance report. He also paid himself $275 for water. Dalia Arriaga made three payments to Rio Grande City-based Shipping De-
pot for signs. She spent $1,952.83. The campaign finance reports filed by Un1ty, however, appear incomplete. For example, the reports don’t include any indication of how much the candidates paid for a billboard on U.S. 83 near Pete’s Muffler Shop. Un1ty also posted photos on Facebook from a loteria event in April and chicken plate sale in May. Reports filed by the candidates don’t include any expenses or donations from the events. Adolfo Arriaga, who is the campaign treasurer for all three Un1ty candidates, said they may file amended campaign finance reports. Candidates from Team “We are La Joya” missed the deadline. Agua Special Utility District board Director Roger Hernandez, who is running for City Commission with former police Chief Isidro Casanova and real estate
agent Laura Mendiola-Mancias, filed his campaign finance report Tuesday. Hernandez reported five donations that totaled $1,320, but he didn’t identify the donors. Asked about the contributions, Hernandez said a campaign worker collected the checks for an event held on May 19 and he didn’t remember who donated the money. He reported paying $1,000 to Jose Cavazos for political designs and artwork. Neither Casanova nor Mendiola-Macias filed campaign finance reports by 4 p.m. Wednesday. Who paid for their signs, bumper stickers, apparel and trailer-size banners on U.S. 83 remains unclear. Team “3 Candidates One Vision” also missed the deadline. Businesswoman Sylvia Cerda-Oxford and Au-
Progress Times photo by Dave Hendricks.
rora Ruiz, who co-owns Pete’s Muffler Shop with her husband, Homero, filed campaign finance reports Wednesday. Cerda-Oxford didn’t report any donations. She spent nearly $4,000 from her own pocket on signs and campaign-related expenses, including $2,623.38 at The Print Shop in Rio Grande City for advertising. Ruiz didn’t report any donations either. She spent nearly $3,500 from her own
pocket, including $2,158.38 at The Print Shop in Rio Grande City for advertising. Jaime Gaitan, a former state trooper who is running with Cerda-Oxford and Ruiz on the “3 Candidates One Vision” ticket, hadn’t filed a campaign finance report by 4 p.m. Wednesday. Gaitan blamed the misstep on City Hall failing to provide him with the proper forms. Election Day is Nov. 5.
Grande City for the job. Tenant Commissioner Jose Armando Salinas recommended Alcazar on July 10 but nobody agreed with him. “I select her because I have a feeling that she’s very professional and she has a lot of experience,” Jose Armando Salinas said on July 10. “She has a lot to offer to our community. She’s been around this community for a very long time. She comes from a very professional family. She has worked in many government agencies.” Board Chairwoman John Pena and board Commissioner German Reyna, however, supported former Sullivan City Manager Juan Cedillo for the position. Board Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Garces Valdez and board Commissioner Jorge Bazan supported Elizabeth Hernandez, a former supervisor for the Edinburg Housing Authority. The board met again at 2 p.m. Monday, when Garces Valdez had planned a trip to Nashville and Reyna had to attend a conference in Corpus Christi. Attorney Mark Anthony Sanchez of San Antonio, who represents the board, arrived 30 minutes late. After meeting with him in executive session, the board voted 3-0 to select Alcazar. Pena declined to comment on the decision. Alcazar couldn’t be reached for comment after the meeting. Reyna, who didn’t attend the meeting, said Alcazar had experience with grant writing and worked for the city of Rio Grande City. “She was a good candidate,” Reyna said. The board plans to advertise the position and select a permanent executive director as soon as possible. “Supposedly, she was not going to be interested in the permanent position,” Reyna
said. Alcazar replaced former Executive Director Cristi LaJeunesse, who resigned on July 3. LaJeunesse submitted a scathing resignation letter, which accused the board of refusing to comply with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations, violating the Texas Open Meetings Act and attempting to release a $20,000 judgment against the mayor’s daughter, former Interim Executive Director Frances A. Salinas. HUD designated the housing authority “troubled” in April and demanded a recovery plan, concerned La Joya had an unacceptable Public Housing Assessment System score. “The failing score is due to the Authority spending more than it earns, poor rent collection, and below average occupancy of units,” according to a letter from Office of Public Housing Director David Pohler to Pena. “The La Joya Housing Authority has a history of corrupt management and poor oversight by the Board of Commissioners.” HUD demanded the housing authority submit a recovery plan within 30 days. “The LJHA Board should take immediate action to identify the cause if (sic) its financial and management performance deficiencies and develop and implement a plan to recover its PHAS score and ensure long-term sustainability at an acceptable level of performance,” according to the letter. “Alternatively, we recommend the Board consider transferring the Authority’s programs to a neighboring Housing Authority that can provide proper oversight and administration.”
La Joya Housing Authority selects interim executive director By Dave Hendricks The La Joya Housing Authority board hired an inter-
im executive director Monday, about two weeks after her predecessor resigned. All five members of the
housing authority board interviewed candidates for the position on July 10, but they couldn’t reach a consensus.
The board met again Monday — with just three members present — and selected Claudia M. Alcazar of Rio