Friday, August 23, 2019_PT ISUUES

INDEX

Mission News

Local Spotlight Established in 1899, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church can be seen at 620 N. Dunlap Ave. See our article on the church in Mission, and find out more information about their history, tradition and role in the community.

This week we have articles on the latest happenings in the city of Mission and the Mission Economic Development Corporation, including details on the proposed property tax rate.

See Pg. 5

See Pg. 4

Entertainment....pg. 2 Lifestyle...................pg. 3 Death Notices......pg. 8 Classifieds..............pg. 9

Your Hometown Newspaper, Bringing Communities Together.

Vol. 48 - #01

Progress times Friday, August 23, 2019

50¢ cents

9 candidates file for La Joya City Commission

By Dave Hendricks Nine candidates for La Joya City Commission made it official in August.

Months after they started campaigning — covering the city with signs, knocking on doors and furiously posting on Facebook — the candidates filed ballot applications at La Joya City Hall.

Nine candidates filed for three seats on the City Commission, setting up three-way races for mayor, Commission Place 2 and Commission Place 4.

“It’s nothing out of the ordinary,” said former police Chief Isidro Casanova, who is running against Mayor Jose A. “Fito” Salinas and Jaime Gaitan, a former state trooper, for the city’s top job. “We expected there to be three slates from the beginning.”

Casanova is running with Agua Special Utility District board Director Roger Hernandez, who filed for Place 2; and real estate agent Laura Mendiola Macias, who filed for Place 4. They’re running as team “We are La Joya.”

Mayor Salinas is running for re-election with Daniel Flores Jr., a teacher who filed for Place 2; and Dalia Arriaga, the wife of police Chief Adolfo Arriaga, who filed for Place 4. They’re running as team “Un1ty.”

Gaitan is running with Sylvia Cerda Oxford, a businesswoman who filed for Place 2; and Aurora Ruiz, the co-owner of Pete’s Muffler shop, who filed for Place 4. They’re running as team “3 Candidates One Vision.”

Neither incumbent Place 2 Commissioner Anna Lisa Ruiz nor incumbent Place 4 Commissioner Maria E. “Geny” Salinas is running for re-election.

La Joya residents know the candidates well.

Mayor Salinas served on the La Joya school board before he joined the City Commission. His running mate, Daniel Flores Jr., lost to Geny Salinas in November 2015.

Casanova worked for the La Joya Police Department from 1999 to 2004, when two women accused him of sexual harassment. The city pressured Casanova to resign, but he denied the allegations.

La Joya paid more than $513,000 to settle the sexual harassment claims, according to documents released under the Texas Public Information Act. After he resigned, Casanova served on the La Joya Board of Aldermen. He also ran against Mayor Salinas in 2015.

Aurora Ruiz, who is running with Gaitan and Cerda Oxford as part of team “3 Candidates One Vision,” ran against City Commissioner Rey Acosta in November 2017.

During the last two election cycles, standard municipal issues, including street repairs and water rates, dominated the discussion. In the 2019 campaign, however, corruption may become the marquee issue.

FBI agents executed a search warrant at La Joya

See LJ COMMISSION Pg. 8

Mission city council extends city manager’s contract

By Jamie Treviño Following a six-month probationary period, Randy Perez has been officially approved as a permanent city manager.

At a special called meeting held this week, the Mission City Council evaluated the city manager and presented him with a contract as permanent city manager for the next three years. Perez, who took over the position following the retirement of Martin Garza, Jr., has been with the city for over 17 years in the finance department and as Deputy City Manager.

Council held discussions on this item during executive session, and reconvened before announcing that Perez would be staying with Mission. Perez was on a probationary period, and was offered a contract that would extend his position for three years.

“I’m very excited, I’ve been working hard and will continue to work hard for our great city of Mission,” Perez said.

“I appreciate the opportunity, it’s truly a blessing to serve in this capacity.”

BUSINESS AS USUAL During the meeting, council discussed which auditing firm the city would engage in contract negotiations with. Finance Director Angie Vela presented information from the different firms that had submitted bids for this service.

Of seven applicants, six were deemed acceptable possibilities by the committee that evaluated them (including Vela, Deputy City Manager David Flores and Assistant Finance Director Isasa Garcia).

Acceptable firms included ABIP, PC; BKD, LLP; Burton, McCumber & Longoria, LLP; Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC; Garza/Gonzalez & Associates; and Oscar R. Gonzalez & Associates.

Following the presentation - which included information about where the firms are located, profiles on their financial standings and business models, employee count, history, staff and experience, references, peer reviews and data processes - council asked Vela what the finance department recommendations were. Vela noted that BKD was at the top of their list.

“My top three would be BKD, LLP, Garza/Gonzalez & Associates and CRI,” Vela said.

www.ptrgv.com

La Joya Housing Authority board member charged with bribery

By Dave Hendricks

Randy Perez (Photo courtesy of city of Mission)

All committee members present gave their top three choices, and the first choice for all three was BKD, LLP (located in San Antonio). Council member Ruben Plata made a motion to enter negotiations with Burton, McCumber & Longoria, LLP, which has handled Mission’s auditing services for the last three years.

“I’d like to recommend BML [Burton, McCumber & Longoria, LLP] due to the experience they have,” Plata said. “Their offices and staff and employees are in the Rio Grande Valley.”

Plata’s motion died after the other council members did not second. During the discussion following, Mayor ProTem Norie Gonzalez Garza noted that her daughter used to work with ABIP, PC, but she is no longer employed there so there was no conflict.

Each council member was asked to list who they believed should be the top three choice firms to enter negotiations with BKD, LLP; Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC; and Burton, McCumber & Longoria, LLP. Council voted to begin the process with BKD.

The FBI arrested a member of the La Joya Housing Authority board Monday after a wide-ranging investigation that targeted public corruption in La Joya.

Sylvia Garces Valdez — who works for the La Joya Independent School District, serves as vice chairwoman of the La Joya Housing Authority board and handled public relations for the city of La Joya last year — surrendered to federal agents on Monday.

Prosecutors believe Garces Valdez participated in a pay-to-play scheme, which allowed her to win a public relations contract in La Joya.

She pleaded not guilty to bribery, a federal felony.

Garces Valdez “agreed to give cash to Person A intending to influence and reward Person B, an elected official for the City of La Joya, for their influence in granting a public relations contract,” according to the indictment against her.

The indictment doesn’t identify Person A or Person B by name.

Attorney Carlos A. Garcia, who represented Garces Valdez during her detention hearing Monday afternoon, declined to comment.

Garces Valdez had been a supporter of the Salinas family, which is a major player in La Joya politics.

Mayor Jose A. “Fito” Salinas and his wife, Mary Salinas, serve on the City Commission. Their daughter, Frances A. Salinas, served on the La Joya school board and became interim executive director of the La Joya Housing Authority.

Garces Valdez frequently

Sylvia Garces Valdez posted on Facebook about socializing with Frances Salinas.

Neither Mayor Salinas nor Frances Salinas responded to requests for comment after the FBI arrested Garces Valdez.

In June 2018, the city hired Garces Valdez to manage social media accounts, write news releases and maintain the city website.

“Smart lady. She’s a local person,” Mayor Salinas told the Progress Times last year.

“We looked at a couple of other people, but she’s head and shoulders above everybody else.”

The contract included an unusual clause: In addition to $2,000 per month for public relations work, La Joya would pay Garces Valdez a $12,000 “retainer” after she accepted the job.

Mayor Salinas signed the contract on June 12, 2018, according to a copy released by the city under the Texas Public Information Act. La Joya paid Garces Valdez the next day.

Documents released by the city show that Garces Valdez submitted a monthly

See BRIBERY Pg. 8

Palmhurst purchasing $15K bus shelter

By Jose De Leon III Palmhurst residents relying on public transportation will feel some relief as they wait for their bus once the city installs a bus shelter.

At their Monday meeting, city commissioners voted to purchase a $14,800 bus shelter for the city’s bus stop.

The bus shelter will be purchased from Michigan-based company Brasco International which will deliver the bus shelter within 60 days, city Manager Lori Lopez said.

“It will make it more convenient for residents and complement our business district,” Lopez said.

The bus shelter will be paid through a grant with the Weslaco-based transportation company Valley Metro

and will be located in front of the McDonald’s restaurant located east of Conway Ave. and Three Mile Road.

While most bus shelters are about 4 feet by 10 feet and cost $7,000, the city voted to go with a much larger bus shelter that will measure 5 feet by 12 feet. It will include a 4 feet by 6 feet bulletin display case, a bike rack, a trash receptacle bin and a canopy ceiling with solar powered lighting.

Currently, two Valley Metro bus routes stop at Palmhurst which has no official bus stop. People on this route have to wait at the Walmart parking lot across the street from the McDonald’s restaurant to be picked up or dropped off by the bus.

“That will change now with the bus shelter,” Lopez

said. “Now there’s a designated spot that will provide shelter from the sun and rain.

It’s a safe location and the much larger shelter means an entire family can wait there.”

The location for the bus shelter was picked because the east side of the street had a shoulder lane while the west side did not. This will make it easier for the Valley Metro buses to pick up and drop off people, Lopez added.

“And the concrete padding is already in place for the bus shelter,” Lopez said.

“It’s now just a question of ordering and having this shelter delivered and placed there.”

Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.

The concrete padding in place for the upcoming Palmhurst bus shelter.

Agua SUD prepares for switch to single-member

By Dave Hendricks With assistance from a prominent San Antonio attorney, the Agua Special Utility District board is preparing for a switch to single-member districts.

Senate Bill 2552, which the Texas Legislature passed in May, requires the utility board to switch from seats that represent city and county residents to single-member districts with roughly equal populations.

The board must approve districts by Dec. 31 and se-

lect three members who will run for re-election in May 2020.

“There’s going to be no more at-large county rep-

resentatives,” said attorney Frank Garza, who discussed the switch July 27 during a board workshop at the Isla Grand Beach Resort on

South Padre Island.

Four members of the board — board President Lloyd Loya of Peñitas, board Vice President Cesar Rodriguez Jr. of Mission, board Secretary Adolfo Arriaga of La Joya and board Treasurer Ivan Sandoval of Sullivan City — attended the threeday workshop. Director Roger Hernandez, who represents rural Hidalgo County residents; Director Esequiel “Zeke” Ortiz Jr., who represents Palmview residents; and Director Homer Tijerina, who represents rural Hidal-

go County residents; didn’t attend.

The workshop cost about $13,300, which included 13 hotel rooms, meals and other expenses, according to documents released by the utility district under the Texas Public Information Act. Garza, utility district General Manager Jose E. “Eddie” Saenz, consultant Jeff Snowden and lobbyist Elvia Caballero Lopez discussed a wide array of issues

See AGUA SUD Pg. 8

entertainment ming August 23-25 • Bird Brains, a children’s musical, plays at the Pharr Community Theater (PCT), 213 W. Newcombe Ave. in Pharr.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Friday, 5 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 3 and 6 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available in advance or at the door starting one hour before curtain for $5 for students, military and seniors and $7 general admission. The intimate theater seats 50 persons at a time. For advance tickets or more info, text or call 956-239-0412 or 956-655-9308.

September 6 • Juan Pablo Andrade, piano, will perform at 7 p.m. in the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W. University Dr. in Edinburg. The program includes works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Chaminade and Matarrita. Admission is free. For special accommodations, call 956-665-3881.

September 14 • The Life Drawing Group at the Upper Valley Art League in Mission will be exhibiting works showing what they have accomplished over the past year in an exhibition entitled “Language of Line.” The free exhibition will open with a reception at the Upper Valley Art League, 921 East 12th Street in Mission, from 7 to 9 p.m. The public is invited. The exhibit will run through October 9.

September 15 • Nickelodeon star and YouTube sensation JoJo Siwa is coming to Bert Ogden Arena with Nickelodeon’s JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M. – The Tour. Tickets are available at bertogdenarena.com with a range of prices from general admission to the Kids in a Candy Store VIP Package. The arena is located at 4900 S. I-69 in Edinburg. Call 956-562-7362 for more information.

• Featuring music ranging from magical to maniacal and hilarious to harrowing, pianist Dr. Brendan Kinsella performs a “one-man band” voice, piano, and multi-media music event for the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse’s “Creative Imperatives” series. The performance is at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W. University Dr. in Edinburg. Admission is free. For special accommodations, call 956-665-3881.

(For more Coming Attractions, go to ptrgv.com)

Now accepting Texas Young Masters applications

AUSTIN – The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) and Texas Cultural Trust are now accepting applications for the 2020 class of Texas Young Masters, a joint initiative that provides exemplary Texas-based arts students in grades 8 to 11. The program offers financial help needed to pursue advanced study

in the areas of visual arts, literary arts, music, theatre, dance, musical theater, folk arts, and media arts.

Texas Young Masters will welcome its 10th class in 2020—a significant milestone for the biennial program, which first launched in 2002. The state’s most talented young artists will

receive the esteemed “Texas Young Master” title and be awarded grants of $5,000 per year for two years to advance their studies in the discipline of their respective arts discipline.

To date, TCA and Texas Cultural Trust have named 154 Young Masters, awarding nearly $1 million to ex-

NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

MOSTHistory seeks items related to the 1910 Jail

EDINBURG – The 1910 Jail has been a landmark in Edinburg since the city’s founding. It is also the foundation upon which the Museum of South Texas History was built.

While recent renovations should ensure a solid future for the jail, museum staff is always trying to remember the past as well. Development of the new exhibit space in the jail is underway, and the museum staff is looking for help from the public.

If anyone with any items

related to the original jail is asked to contact the museum. This would include photos, newspaper articles, artifacts and architectural plans.

The jail was in operation from 1910-1922 so this is the time period that will be the primary focus for exhibits.

Anyone with information or donations should contact museum archivist Kelly Francis-Love at 956-3836911 or kfrancis-love@mosthistory.org. MOSTHistory is located at 200 N. Closner Blvd.

It’s a radioactive spider night at Quinta Mazatlán

McALLEN – Dress up as a favorite spider and crawl over to Quinta Mazatlán’s #SummerThursdayNight where David Moellendorf will turn into a radioactive spider and share his passion for arachnoids this Thursday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. with his array of spiders, scorpions, tarantulas and more.

Moellendorf is an arachnologist arachnid expert who has nabbed a spider immortality with a tarantula species named after him.

He has been longtime manager and arachnid wrangler of Austin’s own ZooKeeper Exotics, a pet store for children who love creepy-crawlies. He may be best known for his work on the TV show “Phobias,” where he helped participants overcome their fear of spiders and snakes.

Visitors are encouraged

David Moellendorf to bring a camera to take a photo with Spiderman and to their free spider face paint.

Everyone is also encouraged to arrive early and stay late for the radioactive night of creepy, crawly fun and snow cones.

For more information, call 956-681-3370.

Brew at the Zoo set for Sept. 19

BROWNSVILLE – There’s something brewing at Gladys Porter Zoo, and supporters can raise a glass for animal conservation as the Gladys Porter Zoo (GPZ) and Brownsville Beer Fest invited the public to the annual Brew at the Zoo, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept.

19.

During this age 21 and over event, guests will sample selected premium and craft beers paired with food tastings from area chefs from among a few of the top Rio Grande Valley top restaurants participating in this

“feast with the beasts.”

Plus, guests can take part in games such as a beer pong tournament and jumbo jenga.

GPZ members can purchase a Brew at the Zoo ticket for $20 pre-sale or $25 on the day of the event.

Nonmembers can purchase a ticket for $25 pre-sale and $30 on the day of. Tickets are available online at gpz. org.

GPZ is located at 500 Ringgold St. For more information, call 956-546-7187.

For the latest news and updates

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ceptionally talented young Texans.

To apply or learn more about the Texas Young Masters program, visit https:// tinyurl.com/youngmaster.

Applications and required supporting materials must be submitted by Nov. 15, 2019.

A citizen panel of experts from across the state selects Young Masters based on artistic excellence, level of commitment, and quality of their proposed plan of study.

The 2020 Texas Young Masters recipients will be honored at an awards event on April 20, 2020, at ZACH Theatre in Austin.

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

progresstimes

The Valley Symphony Orchestra season begins Sept. 27, and season subscription tickets are now available to the general public.

McALLEN – The Valley musicians in the Rio Grande Symphony Orchestra and Valley playing greats by Peter Dabrowski, music di- composers such as Paganini rector/conductor, are ready and Brahms, as well as some for the 2019-20 “Symphony of the most dynamic film

by Design” Concert Season. scores that exist,” said MaeTickets are now on sale for stro Dabrowski. the five concert series packSeason tickets start at just age that opens the season $170 for all five concerts, on Sept. 27 with “Back to and seats in all sections are School,” a concert of aca- still available. Subscriber demic celebration featuring benefits include a guaraninternationally-renowned pi- teed annual seat reservation period ahead of the general anist Alex Slobodyanik.

The season also includes public, first notice on all upsymphonic performances of grades, exclusive guest artist music from the James Bond information and content, no films on Oct. 25 and a guest hassle ticket replacements appearance from UTRGV’s for lost or misplaced tickets Ballet Folklorico on Dec. 13. and more.

For a complete list of All five concerts will be held at the McAllen Performing concerts, season savings, Arts Center located at 801 music repertoire and guest Convention Center Blvd. on artist information, go to valFriday evenings from 8 to 10 leyorchestra.org or call the VSO office at 956-661-1615. p.m.

“The 2019-20 season will feature some of the finest

Co Attractions

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progresstimes

Valley Symphony season subscriptions now on sale

August 23, 2019

lifestyle

MCISD earns state’s highest fiscal accountability rating

MISSION-Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) has received the highest possible rating under the Texas School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) ratings system.

The district earned a letter grade of “A” (Superior).

The rating is the highest, demonstrating the quality of MCISD’s financial management and reporting systems and has received the highest possible rating 17 years in a row (every year possible) under the accountability system.

The School FIRST was developed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in response to Senate Bill 875 of the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001. The primary goal of

School FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school district financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school finance system.

“We are very pleased to receive the highest rating yet again,” said MCISD assistant superintendent for finance Rumalda Ruiz. “It is important that our taxpayers know that the district is continuing to make the most of our taxpayer dollars.”

More information about FIRST and the ratings of all districts can be found online at tea.texas.gov/index4.aspx?id=3864.

MISSION-The Mission C.I.S.D. Child Nutrition Program announced the district will begin the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) at the following elementary campuses: Alton, Cantu, Waitz, Castro, Leal and Pearson.

The program is an initiative that provides fresh fruits and vegetables for students during the school day and was developed through a grant funded by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) with an objective to introduce new and different fresh fruits and vegetables to children.

Campuses had to follow specific criteria in order to qualify for the grant. The campuses had to operate under the National School Lunch Program, submit an application, and meet the

requirements in order to be eligible. Selected elementary schools will receive $50 to $75 per student each school year to implement the initiative.

“We are excited to have some of our schools selected for this new initiative spearheaded by the USDA. It provides our students several opportunities throughout the week to increase their intake of fruits and vegetables,” states Rosie Woodrum, Child Nutrition director. “Each campus will determine their own selected dates and times for their healthy snack distribution, and they will be announced at a later date.”

For more information, call 956-323-3800.

Six MCISD campuses qualify for fruit, veggie program

SAN BENITO – The Rio Grande Valley Chapter Texas Master Naturalist is offering a new class of volunteer training beginning Aug. 28.

The training will be held at

August 23, 2019

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www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

MCISD now offers students ‘Breakfast on the Go’

EVENTS

CALENDAR August 24 – Attend the free Fall Vegetable Planting class from 9 to 11 a.m. at the South Texas Master Gardener Educational Garden, 509 E. Earling Rd., San Juan. Learn which vegetables to plant for the fall, preparation of the soil, when to plant by seed or transplants, and the importance of drip irrigation. Pre-registration is required; class size is limited.

Register online at hidalgo.agrilife.org/horticulture/upcoming-horticulture-events. For information, contact Elena Almendarez at 956-383-1026 or ealmendarez@ag.tamu.edu.

August 31 – Hone fishing skills at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park & World Birding Center. For ages 7 and up, learn basic fishing to learn fishing knots, fish I.D. and using a spin-cast rod and reel. Kids can earn their basic junior angler certification. Parents are encouraged to participate. Call 956-584-9146 for registration (required) and information.

September 5 – “Space Travel” is the next theme for the International Museum of Art & Science Family Fun Night. It runs from 3 to 8 p.m. with theme-related activities. IMAS is located at 1900 W. Nolana Ave. in McAllen. Call 956-6812800 for more information.

September 10 – The public is invited to Speer Memorial Library in Mission for a discussion of Little Fires Everywhere.

It takes place in the library’s Community Room at 6:30 p.m. Copies of the book are available to check out for those who sign up. Stop by the library reference desk or call at 580-8754 to reserve a copy. The title is also available as an eBook and eAudiobook at hidalgocotx.oneclickdigital.com.

Speer Memorial Library is located at 12th and Kika De La Garza in Mission.

September 12 – The next Buenas Tardes Luncheon and community leader spotlights celebrates Women in Leadership with a panel discussion from women in various business sectors. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Mission Event Center, 202 N. Shary Rd. Call 956-585-2727 for tickets or email events@missionchamber.com.

September 15 – Camara de Comercio and the Mission Historical Museum will host Grito de Independencia Noche Mexicana, a celebration of the Independence of Mexico. It will be held from 12 to 11 p.m. at Mission Events Center.

September 17 – The 14th Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon and Auction will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Pharr Events Center, 3000 N. Cage. Sponsorship packages are available for businesses and slots are available for local restaurants to promote their gourmet dishes. Companies and individuals are encouraged to donate silent auction items that help promote their products, services or talents. There will be food, music, silent auctions and drawings. Purchase tickets at foodbankrgv.com. For information, contact Philip Farias at 956-904-4513 or pfarias@foodbankrgv.com.

MISSION-Students at two high schools now have a new way to get their breakfast in the mornings.

The Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) Child Nutrition Program (CNP) is now offering “Breakfast on the Go” at Mission High and Veterans Memorial High.

The Breakfast on the Go will provide students with several stations throughout the campus where they can grab their breakfast and head off to their next class. This breakfast option will runs from 9:05 to 9:20 a.m.

Students are not required to stop and input their identification information, allowing for a quicker process.

The breakfast is also being offered during a time when most of the students are already on campus and able to take advantage of the meal.

“We are always looking for ways to improve our services and we also value

student feedback in order to provide them with options they would enjoy,” states Rosy Woodrum, Child Nutrition director. “The goal is to get more students to eat breakfast because it improves concentration for learning.”

Currently they are servicing on average about 800 students when they come to the cafeteria to eat but with this new concept they hope to double that number.

Mission High School will have a total of 18 stations throughout the campus while Veterans Memorial High School will have 16 stations.

Specialty items will also be available for anyone that may have any food item restrictions or allergies. Band and athletic students will also be provided the Breakfast on the Go concept at their regular time and location.

For more information, call 956-323-3800.

Eating on the run, students at Mission High School and Veterans Memorial High School can grab “breakfast on the go” from various stations this year on campus.

(For more Events, go to ptrgv.com.) the Cameron County Annex located at the corner of Williams Road and Hwy. 77/83 in San Benito.

Joining the class requires a serious time commitment

TMN fall training begins Aug. 28

by all trainees. The fall series of classes completes in about seven weeks, unlike the Winter/Spring class that completes in three months.

This concentrated series will

require attendance every Wednesday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 28 through Oct. 16 as well as every Saturday in September from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the

r e t s i g Re ! w o N

first two Saturday mornings in October.

Classes are limited to the first 25 people who register.

The $150 registration fee includes all training materials;

scholarships are available.

For details and registration, go to rgvctmn.org.

Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 7:00pm Friday 8:00am - 6:00pm

August 1st - August 31st Late Registration September 1st - 7th

Flag Football Age Division 3u-4u 5u - 6u 7u - 8u 9u - 10u 11u - 12u CO-ED

Volleyball

Cost:

$50

After Cost: School Education Program Per Semester

$50

Ages 5 - 12

Please Call 956-585-3606 or 956-212-5012 209 W. 18th, Street • Mission, TX

*Must Have Birth Certificate Upon Registration. Boys & Girls Club Membership is Required - $10

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August 23, 2019

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

$275,000 transferred into MEDC from MEDA’s general fund

By Jamie Treviño In order to create new incentive programs for local businesses, $275,000 was transferred into the Mission Economic Development Corporation general fund.

This Wed. Aug. 20, 2019, three meetings were held at the Mission Center for Education and Economic Development for the MEDC, Mission Economic Development Authority and the Mission Education Development Council. During the MEDC meeting, the transfer of funds was discussed.

“The [M]EDA has purposed the bylaws to provide us assets for assistance and economic development purposes,” Daniel Silva, Mission EDC Chief Executive Officer, said. “We are being asked, as we typically do incentive projects, to incentivise things throughout the city.”

Silva said that as the EDC is publishing a $40,000 project, there are infrastructure needs on Shary Rd. and Business 83.

“There’s a lot of flooding issues with the property,” Silva said. “It’s a large, substantial piece of property

that’s very prominent in the community, and we want to make sure that we can provide assistance.”

Silva said in order to receive that assistance, the EDC was asking the MEDA to transfer $275,000 of unobligated funds to help assist in the incentive programs that they are planning over the next year.

“I made sure that [with the MEDA] there is enough funds there to carry on all the obligations that the [M]EDA has,” Silva said. “We have two other pieces of property that we may sell under the EDA’s name - the whole idea was to dissolve the [M]EDA at some point, so we’ll move and make those funds available for profits.”

There are currently eight business incentive programs listed on the MEDC website, detailing how local entrepreneurs can benefit. Some incentives can be given based on job creation, training and infrastructure improvement.

The MEDC board of directors present (President S. David Deanda, Treasurer Dr. Sonia Treviño, Mayor Armando O’caña, Mario Garza, Alberto Vela and Bal-

de Morales) authorized the CEO to transfer the funds in an amount not to exceed $275,000 from the Authority to the MEDC general fund, and approved the amendment in the MEDA 20182019 budget.

During the MEDC meeting, the board also adopted the 2019-2020 budget. Silva presented a brief overview describing the funds available.

The operations fund has a beginning fund balance of $104,962. The total revenues for the fiscal year at $5,140,000, total appropriations at $5,136,354, leaving the EDC with an estimated fund balance of $108,608.

The MEDC debt service fund has an estimated beginning fund balance of $426,908, with total revenues at $1,878,077, total appropriations at $1,877,557, leaving an estimated fund balance of $427,428.

During the MEDA meeting, the board adopted their budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Their total available fund balance at the end of the fiscal year will be estimated at $398,186.

Will they or won’t they?

Mission city council unable to come to consensus on tax rate

By Jamie Treviño Following two hours of discussion, Mission city council is still unsure of how they want to set the proposed property tax rate.

This Wed. Aug. 21, 2019, a workshop was held specifically to discuss the proposed tax rate and how it relates to the 2019-2020 preliminary budget.

City manager Randy Perez presented several different tables highlighting comparisons between Mission and other comparable municipalities, benchmark tax rates from Hidalgo County, revenue projections, impacts to the taxpayer, 20-year historical trends in Mission, fund balance trends, changes in budget by department and comparisons between personnel & benefits costs and operations costs.

The current property tax rate in Mission is 0.4862, and Perez recommended that the city raise the rate to the rollback tax rate from the county figures: 0.5411 (a 0.055 cent increase). The average homestead value of a residence in Mission costs $135,000, and if this rate is adopted it would lead to a tax increase of $74.12 per year ($6.18 per month).

Included in Perez’s presentation was a table detailing how the budget would look based on one cent increases, from no change to the full 0.5411 proposed change, with added expenditures from the group health adjustment, collaborative commitments made to the Police Department and a minimum wage increase for full-time employees from $9.50 to $10.50. Without any changes to the property tax rate, Mission will end the 2019-2020 fiscal year with $3,045 in the general fund bal-

ance.

If the city were to adopt the nearly six-cent property tax increase, the fiscal year will end at $2.2 million in the general fund balance.

In total, seven different potential budgets with their respective proposed tax rates were shown to council. Perez, Mayor Armando O’caña and City Attorney Gus Martinez noted that because of the cap that will be implemented on property tax rates because of Senate Bill 2, they needed to take advantage and capture revenues this way before next year.

Senate Bill 2, which will go into effect Jan. 2020, will cap the maximum a city can increase property taxes in one year at 3.5 percent. Cities will be able to combine yearly property tax rate increases if increases from the previous three years are not used.

O’caña was in favor of raising the taxes as recommended

by Perez, but stated that he would not be if the minimum wage increase was not included in the plans. Jessica Ortega-Ochoa was in favor of an increase, but wanted more detailed information about how each department was using funds in past years and this year.

Council member Ruben Plata and council member Alberto Vela were against raising taxes more than 2 cents, and wanted the public to decide.

Council member Norie Gonzalez Garza wanted more information about how each department was spending money and how the budgets were determined.

Perez explained that they used the figures from this year’s budget and included several budget cuts to the majority of general government, culture & recreation and high-

ways and streets departments in the city of Mission, either through personnel or operations.

Plata asked if there was even more fat that the city could trim, and that the directors of the departments find out what they can do with less.

Gonzalez Garza added to these questions, wondering if some of the money being allocated toward vacant positions that have not been filled in the city in over 6 months can be adjusted and changed to be more beneficial.

Perez agreed, but noted that the staff has already been creative when it came to slashing their own budgets. He said that the amounts presented were not what the departments were asking for, rather they were already trimmed down as far as they can while operating.

For example Perez pointed out that traditionally, the city has allocated $500,000 toward streets/road material, and used all of that budget multiple years. Following the cuts made by staff, that budget was halved to $250,000 before included in the proposed tax rate chart and presented.

Following the discussion, it was decided that council members would meet with Perez and city staff in pairs this week to have all their questions regarding budget, spending and operating costs answered. They will meet again to discuss how they want to vote at 11 a.m. on Mon. Aug. 26, 2019 before the regular city council meeting at 5:30 p.m., where they will vote on the proposed tax rate.

Following their vote on Monday, public hearings will be held in order for residents in Mission to ask questions and learn more details before voting on the property tax rate.

Mission Housing Authority executive director blasts commissioner

By Jose De Leon III

After suffering through a seemingly endless four-hour meeting filled with questions, bickering, snide comments and a visit from the Mission Police Department, Mission Housing Authority Chairman Romeo De La Garza had a question.

"Can we move on?"

Fellow Commissioner Irma Flores agreed with him.

“I’ve got to wake up at 4 to take my mom to work,” she said These comments came near the end of Wednesday’s regular meeting of the Mission Housing Authority where two board members-Connie Garza and Flores clashed with Executive Director Joel A. Gonzalez.

During a discussion of the Mission Palm Plaza senior center-which the Mission Housing Authority operates-the arguments came head to head after Gonzalez accused Garza of trying to “defund” the program.

According to Deputy Director Jaime Ayala, Garza and Flores approached him with concerns that the center was open to the public, instead of just to members of the housing authority like its funding sources indicate it be open to.

The center is run through funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Area Agency on Aging. Garza reached out to these agencies to share her concerns.

“I received a letter from a director at the Area Agency on Aging telling us that our funding is placed on hold pending a letter from the board stating it’s OK that the center be utilized for the general public, not just our residents,” Ayala told the board, adding that the hold is temporary.

The agenda item read “Discussion on Mission Housing Authority commissioner’s attempt to defund the senior center operations at Palm Plaza funded by the Area Agency on Aging.”

Gonzalez said that he chose the wording of the agenda item to illustrate what he thought of Garza’s actions to reach out to AAA and HUD with her concerns.

“She went directly to the funding source to destroy

this program, disrupting services to the 40 some elderly we serve in our projects,” Gonzalez said. “She was going to kill the program because people from the community are coming in. I think it’s wrong for her to pursue that. She did an injustice to the elderly. I’m stating it the way it is.”

Gonzalez argued that Garza should’ve come to him with her concerns so they investigate the matter internally.

Throughout Gonzalez’s comments, Garza remained silent. At one point she gathered her belongings as if she was about to walk out of the meeting but ended up remaining in her seat.

“The ideal situation would’ve been to handle it in house, but the reality is you do not afford us to have that dialogue with you,” Garza shot back at Gonzalez. “There’s nothing more I would like than for us to have that open line with you. I’ve set up appointments, you’ve cancelled them. You’ve said you want an agenda of what I want to talk about which I’ve given, and you still refuse to see me. I try to come speak to Jaime and he tells me he has been instructed by you to not answer our questions.

We’re back to ground zero.

So if I have questions, I will get them answered, if I have concerns.”

After the meeting Ayala explained that he had been instructed not to discuss any old items that have already been addressed so that the housing authority can move on to new items and continue to run effectively.

Similar arguments have become routine at board meetings for the Mission Housing Authority since Garza and Flores were sworn in last January. They regularly spend as much as 20 minutes per item requesting more information on the item.

After the meeting, Garza said that the senior center still concerned her since she was contacted by a representative from HUD stating that the center is supposed to be used for housing authority members only, not the public.

“The issue raised a red flag for me...I wasn’t trying to be deceitful. It was not an underhanded move on my

part either. I was transparent to [Gonzalez] all along,” Garza said. His libelous statements don’t discourage me from wanting to remain on the board.”

During the meeting, the board also voted to deny Ayala’s proposed appointment to the position of executive director, approved a new oneyear legal service contract for their current lawyer, Carlos Ortegon, and discussed a $455,000 project to build a new warehouse storage facility that Flores and Garza criticized for taking too long.

These items and others had motions led by Garza and Flores.

The item to discuss Ayala’s appointment occurred during an hour-long executive session which was briefly interrupted when Flores called the Mission Police Department for security concerns after Gonzalez became “aggressive” toward her, causing her to run to the lobby to make the 911 call.

“He aggressively got up and started shouting at me, I have to do what’s right,” she said as she made the call.

The responding officer ended up staying for the duration of the meeting.

Arguments between Gonzalez, Garza and Flores continued after the discussion of the senior center where Gonzalez said he felt attacked by Garza and Flores whenever they talk to him.

“It feels like harassment on your part since day one,” Gonzalez said. “You’re seeking not to improve the housing authority, but to enhance your position in the board.

I have to avoid you except when I deal with you on the board publicly. You two keep disrupting the operations here and expecting staff to drop what they’re doing to attend to you.”

The meeting concluded with a plea from lawyer Carlos Ortegon to keep the peace amongst board members.

“At the end of the day, you all serve the board. Everybody here is here to serve the best interests of the housing authority and put politics and personal feelings aside,” Ortegon said. “It’s not about us, it’s about members of the housing authority that we serve. We need to unite.”

justed the property tax rate since September 2017, when it jumped from 46.06 cents to 50 cents. The City Commission reviews the tax rate every summer as part of the annual budget process.

When the City Commission met Tuesday afternoon, City Manager Richard Ozuna and City Secretary Veronica Gutierrez said they recommended keeping the property tax rate at 50 cents.

“We are trying to not go up or down on our tax rate,” Gutierrez said.

Sullivan City would collect about $521,000 in property taxes — about $7,800 more than last year, thanks to new development or higher property valuations, according to documents reviewed by the City Commission.

“That money would be used to help us in the road repairs,” Gutierrez said.

City Commissioner Sylvia Castillo motioned to keep the property tax rate at 50 cents. City Commissioner Julian Peña seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.

The City Commission will hold public hearings on the property tax rate Sept.

3 and Sept. 10. The tax rate

may be formally adopted Sept. 17.

“What’s going to be generated is going to be minimal,” said Ramon Segovia, a consultant who advises Sullivan City on the budget. “We didn’t want to go up, but at the same time we didn’t want to go down. I think it’s a fair rate considering the rates of everybody around us.”

La Joya collects 56.68 cents per $100 of taxable assessed valuation, according to the county appraisal district. Peñitas collects 55.62 cents.

Alton and Mission maintain significantly lower property tax rates.

Alton collects 44.4 cents per $100 of taxable assessed valuation, according to the county appraisal district.

Mission collects 48.62 cents.

Sullivan City’s property tax rate is roughly the same as Palmview, which collects 50.01 cents per $100 of taxable assessed valuation.

“The City Commission and the mayor strongly felt it was best to leave it as-is,” Segovia said.

Sullivan City’s fiscal year starts Oct. 1.

Sullivan City plans to keep property tax rate steady next year

By Dave Hendricks

The Sullivan City Commission plans to keep the current property tax rate.

Members of the City Commission voted 3-0 on Tuesday to recommend that Sullivan City keep the property tax rate at 50 cents per $100 of taxable assessed valuation next year.

“The city’s doing fine, financially,” said Mayor Leo Garcia, adding that Sullivan City didn’t want to burden residents with bigger tax bills.

Sullivan City residents pay a lower property tax rate than Peñitas and La Joya residents, but a higher rate than Alton and Mission residents.

Palmview residents pay roughly the same rate.

Every penny adds $10 to the annual tax bill for a property worth $100,000.

The average single-family home in Sullivan City is appraised at approximately $56,600, according to Hidalgo County Appraisal District records. Without any exemptions, the owner would pay about $283 in city property taxes.

Sullivan City hasn’t ad-

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2 men who robbed La Plaza Mall sentenced to prison

By Dave Hendricks

Mission EDC continuing cybersecurity boot camp

By Jose De Leon III

Aiming to prepare 130 local students for a career in computer science, the Mission Economic Development Center marked the return of their “CyberMission” program last week.

The program is set to begin next month and will train 130 students through 11-week courses offered throughout the year. Upon successful completion of one of the CyberMission program courses, participants will have earned one of two pairs of industry-recognized certifications through CompTIA giving them the needed credentials preparing them for more than 32 job roles in the information technology field.

“We are continuing to build momentum on all the initiatives regarding technology and workforce development,” Cristina Garza, director of social impact said at a press conference.

The MEDC commemorated the start of the program with a press conference that occurred Friday, Aug. 16 at the CEED building where the classes will be held.

The MEDC was on hand as Julian Alvarez III-commissioner of the Texas Workforce Commission presented the MEDC with a $490,268

check to fund the program.

“We’re preparing for the future not just for south Texas but the state,” Alvarez said. “What you’re doing here should be implemented all over the state. We are along the border. You would think something like this wouldn’t be possible but it is. When people start talking about where the best computer science technicians are being produced, we’re gonna be looking at Mission, Texas.

We don’t prepare people for jobs. We’re preparing them with careers.”

According to the website for the international vendor CompTIA – which is partnering up with the MEDC in this training – people with cyber security training are in demand because they can prevent, detect and combat cyber security threats.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that information security analysts will be the fastest growing job by 2022 with a 37 percent overall growth.

For this cohort of students, the classes will be moving to a part-time model to give more students the opportunity to sign up and participate.

“The whole point of these programs is to get people into a much better, higher paying position and we un-

derstand not everyone has the privilege to drop whatever they’re doing and go into a full time program,” Garza said, adding that if chosen, tuition will be covered for students by the MEDC. “No matter what type of employment you have, there will be a time slot for you.”

The CyberMission program started in 2017 and continued in 2018. According to Daniel Silva, CEO of the MEDC, the reason there wasn’t an earlier cycle of the program was due to the MEDC missing the deadline to request funding.

With the funding, Silva said, the CyberMission program will continue at the MEDC. “We help people foster that entrepreneurship mindset and the computer science realm not so they can become computer programmers, but so they can be exposed to an opportunity,” Silva said. “We are giving them a fundamental education and access to this soft skills training. We know there are a lot of individuals hungry for this. They’re trying to retool themselves and start a new career.”

To apply to the program, go to cybermissionedc.com.

The deadline to apply is Thursday, Aug. 29.

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amonds and jewelry, according to an inventory prepared by the McAllen Police Department. They also caused about $900,000 in damage to Deutsch & Deutsch.

All seven men who participated in the poorly planned heist pleaded guilty to five counts of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony punishable by 5 years to life in prison.

Mejia, who brandished a BB gun during the robbery, will serve 15 years in pris-

on. The judge also assessed a $2,500 fine and ordered Mejia to pay $10,000 in restitution.

Olvera, who smashed the glass display cases with a hammer, will serve 12 years in prison. The judge also assessed a $1,500 fine and ordered Olvera to pay $10,000 in restitution.

Attorneys for Mejia and Olvera didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Local Spotlight:

By Jamie Treviño Over one century ago a parish was established in deep South Texas that would shape the religious and cultural landscape in the Valley for years to come.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (located at 620 N. Dunlap Ave. in Mission) was established in 1899 as a daughter church to the historic La Lomita Mission. Originally a wooden structure named Our Lady of the Mission (Nuestra Señora de la Mission), a fire burnt the original church down.

In 1927, the establishment was rebuilt with brick and renamed Our Lady of Guadalupe (Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe). Since then, it has undergone a $2.5 million renovation/expansion project in 2013 that increased the quality and capacity of the building.

The Mission revival-inspired structure includes a four-story tower topped by a dome belfry, and features mission parapets, arched windows and elaborate limestone detailing. Our Lady of Guadalupe was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1990 for it’s cultural legacy.

When entering the Catholic Church for mass, secular country western music is often being played on the speakers (an uncommon practice in most traditional parishes in this denomination). Father Roy Snipes, who has been the priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe for

almost 27 years, spoke on his motivation to include country music in church services when in 1979, as an intern, he was asked to go to an event at Mission High School to say a blessing.

“The superintendent was there [Dr. Kenneth White], and he got up and gave a little talk,” Snipes said. “He said ‘this country song kind of tells you what I’m trying to talk about.’”

Snipes could not recall the song, but said the idea struck him as White held the cassette player up to the microphone.

“I said ‘that’s true,’” Snipes said. “Often the words of a song express things much better than we can say, or the sense, the wisdom, the tenderness of a

particular point of view can be illuminated.”

Snipes took his final vows in La Lomita in 1980 and was subsequently sent to work in Starr County, taking the idea with him there.

When he returned to Mission in 1992, he brought it with him, now incorporated in many services, gospels and sermons.

“Some people would say that’s inappropriate, they say ‘well that’s not Christian music,’” Snipes said. “When we play it, it’s Christian music because we’re Christians.”

His stance is that country music, particularly the poetry within the lyrics, reminds attendees of God, “and what could be better than that?”

“Sometimes it reminds us

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Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.

Texas Workforce Commission Commissioner Julian Alvarez III and other officials with the city of Mission and Mission Economic development Corporation at a check presentation ceremony to fund the CyberMission program Friday, Aug. 16, 2019.

Two men who robbed a jewelry store at La Plaza Mall last year will spend more than a decade in prison.

State District Judge Israel Ramon Jr. sentenced Jorge Angel Mejia, 29, of Mexico City to 15 years in prison and Javier Leobardo Olvera, 23, of Mexico City to 12 years in prison during a hearing on Monday morning.

Mejia and Olvera caused a panic at La Plaza Mall in July 2018, when they smashed glass display cases at the Deutsch & Deutsch jewelry store with sledge hammers. Shoppers mistook the sound for gunshots.

Off-duty police officers — including an officer shopping with his family and another officer working a security job at the mall — responded within minutes.

They arrested Mejia, Olvera and five other men.

In just a few minutes, though, the men had snatched about $2.6 million worth of Rolex watches, di-

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Sports week

THE

Luciano Guerra Sports Editor

BIG7 SCHOOLS

www.ptrgv.com/sports

Covering Mission, Veterans Memorial, Sharyland, Pioneer, La Joya, Palmview & Juarez-Lincoln Sports

Lady Patriots winning with force, fortitude

By John Hamann As the 2019 high school volleyball season moves into its third week it appears the Lady Patriots of Mission Veterans High School are finding their form. That could be bad news for their opponents.

The Lady Patriots have been one of the Valley’s top teams for several years and others hoping to unseat them have looked at this year as the time to do it.

After all, several key players graduated from last year’s team. This season opened with a couple of losses.

This past weekend’s Mission Volleyball Tournament also showed that others are perhaps closing the gap when it comes to bringing down the Lady Patriots. However, in the end the results were still the same as Mission Veterans won the tournament, compiling six wins against no losses over the two day competition.

It was perhaps the manner in which the Lady Patriots

By John Hamann It is a streak that most football programs would love to have.

Eleven straight seasons of making the playoffs and opening round wins in nine of those seasons.

It is clear that the Sharyland Rattlers football team knows how to win.

It is also clear that the 2019 team will have many new faces on it. Sure there are 34 returning lettermen and the squad has 40 seniors.

However, only two starters return from the offense and six on the defense from the 2018 group that won District 16-5A Div. II and battled

By Luciano Guerra

“As long as they keep winning championships, they have to be considered the top team in the district.

They’re the team that people have to dethrone.”

Those words, spoken

by Palmview Lobos’ head coach Margarito “Mage” Requenez, express how he, and most likely every other head coach in District 16-5A-1, feel about the 2019 Mission Veterans Patriots football team. The Patriots, who not only claimed their first ever outright district championship last season, but went four rounds deep into the UIL state playoffs, left no doubt that they were the class of the district in 2018.

The fact that the Patriots went 9-0 in district play and the fact that they outscored their opponents by such

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won their last two matches of the tournament that showed how knocking off Mission Veterans will be a challenge this year too.

The 32 team tournament, divided into eight pools of four teams each, opened last Friday at Mission Veterans High School and Mission High School. The eight pool winning teams from Friday converged on Mission Veterans High School Saturday for single elimination matches to determine the tournament’s Gold bracket champion.

Four Big 7 teams used perfect 3-0 records on Friday to win their respective pool and advance to the Saturday showdown along with teams from Brownsville and Laredo.

The day opened with the Lady Patriots defeating District 31-5A rival Sharyland High two games to none. The team’s two big hitters (senior Kassy Lerma, freshman Rylie Barnett) recorded kills to open the first set and each won several

2019 Mission Volleyball Tournament champions: Mission Veterans Lady Patriots.

more points with booming hits through the Lady Rattlers defense in the 25-6 win.

Sharyland battled back in the second set behind the play of senior Tristen Maddox. The Lady Rattlers led 16-15 at one point before the Lady Patriots came away with a 25-19 win.

Two other Big 7 schools faced off in another quarterfinal game to determine who would be the next opponent for Mission

Veterans.

The first set between Sharyland Pioneer and Mission High was a tight affair. It was 18-17 before the Lady Diamondbacks outscored the Lady Eagles 7-1 at the end to win 2518. Pioneer finished off the sweep with a 25-4 win in the second set.

That set highlighted the role setter Natalie Reyes plays for the Lady Diamondbacks.

From setting up her teammates

with precision passing to thwarting her opponents with difficult serves the sophomore seemed to be everywhere on the court.

The Pioneer victory set up another all District 31-5A match –up in the tournament’s first semi-final as the Lady Diamondbacks met up with Veterans. The exciting, tension filled contest showed that the district race this year should be a good one and that the future meetings between the teams later this season could be well worth the price of admission.

Pioneer won the first set 26 – 24 scoring the last two points to break a 24 –all tie after the Lady Patriots had tied it with three straight points of their own. Junior Daisy Monie and sophomore Lorelai Hill provided most of the points for the Lady Diamondbacks.

Knowing that another loss would end their day Veterans responded, jumping out to leads of 7-1 and 15-4 in route to a 25 – 17 win in

the second set. Lerma and Barnett were the top point scorers for the game.

The decisive third set highlighted the depth of the Lady Patriots. Senior Karina Salinas started the scoring with one kill and ended it with two more in the 2518 victory that propelled Veterans to the title game.

In the gold bracket championship game against Laredo LBJ, the Lady Patriots were once again put to the test and once again they answered.

LBJ broke open a tight opening set with a six point run at the end to win 25-17, putting the Lady Patriots on the verge of elimination again. Veterans trailed 2321 in the second set before winning it with four straight points at the end 25-23.

Four straight points by LBJ to open the third set the stage for another Veterans comeback. They trailed 2019 before a three point run

“As early as that bus ride back (from Corpus Christi) we started evaluating those kids coming back,” said Adame. “During the spring we evaluated what we had. We saw some defensive players that initially started as offensive players and gave them some offensive reps as crossover players and vice versa.”

This year Adame expects the team to be a combination of the seniors and returning lettermen along with some younger kids that may find themselves getting game reps.

“At the varsity level we are going to play the best eleven that we can on each

side of the football, but they are going to have to grow up rather quick,” added Adame.

The team’s two returning offensive starters are part of the process too.

Senior center Roberto Farias was a first team alldistrict selection who spoke on his role as one of the few returning offensive players.

“Just get everyone in sync and make everyone play together to have a successful season,” said Farias. “I’ve seen a big improvement in the first week of practice and the unity we are creating is amazing.”

won that award. For class 5A he was the offensive player of the year in the AP poll and the Texas Sportswriters poll.

He was first team All-State quarterback in both of those polls. He was All USA team second team quarterback in all classifications. Dave Campbell named him the 5A offensive player of the year for last year and that just came out this summer.”

Now that the younger Gilpin has moved on to play at Southwestern University, the question is who is going to run the Patriots’ high powered offense in 2019?

The answer, which may come as a surprise to most Valley high school football fans, is a sophomore with zero varsity experience. And his name is Ricky Reyna.

“Ricky is a young kid, but he plays like a seasoned veteran,” Gilpin said. “He

is calm, he is poised and he is everything that Landry was when it comes to character and commitment. He is a film study guy, he is a leader out there, he does everything right; just a terrific young man who does things correctly and that is what our quarterback has to do.”

“You can’t have any flaws as our quarterback,” added Gilpin. “You can’t have character issues.

You can’t have commitment issues. Those are criteria which take priority over talent. So we could take a kid with less talent as long as he meets those other criteria, but Ricky meets them all and he is very, very talented. He is going to be a special one and we have him for the next three years.”

Gilpin went on to

Tradition rich Rattlers ready to roll

into double overtime with Brenham before bowing out of the playoffs in the area round.

Fortunately for the Rattlers, eighth year coach Ron Adame has been here before. “Sometimes there is a big gap to fill and this is one of those years,” said Adame.

So how do you go about replacing a star-studded unit that included the overall district MVP, both the offensive and defensive district outstanding linemen, and six other first team selections? That process started last November following the loss to Brenham.

Sharyland senior football players: Mauricio Sanchez – REC, Guadalupe Trevino – LB, Santino Pascual – LB, Roberto Farias – C, Ethan Garza – DE, Sebastian Hinojosa – DB, Andres Bonilla - RB

Patriots remain the team to beat

large margins in the early going of their games, that head coach David Gilpin got into the habit of bringing in the reserves early in the second half, is a testament to how dominant the Patriots were in 2018.

Or as Gilpin himself put it, “In district play, for lack of a better term, we really weren’t tested. And I don’t use that term lightly. There were big games for us along the way and teams that played us tough along the

way, but we had our backups in early in the fourth quarter of our games at least, if not in the third quarter of every district game. In nine district games, we were able to let our guys that don’t get as much playing time play basically the entire fourth quarter. And that was a great feeling.”

With the state’s top offensive player, who just happened to be Gilpin’s son, Landry Gilpin, at quarterback, it came as no surprise to anybody that the 2018 Patriots pulled off not only their best season ever, but one of the best seasons any Valley high school football team has ever had.

“Landry was named Mr. Texas Football, which is among every football player in the state; everyone” Gilpin said. “All positions, all size schools, everyone and he

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put them in the lead. Laredo answered with two straight points to tie it at 22-all.

Fueled at the end with kills from Barnett and an ace by senior Bella Dominguez the Lady Patriots managed to secure the match and the tournament championship with a 25-23 win Coach Diana Lerma summed up the day.

“They made me proud, being able to come back,”

said Lerma. “It was nerve wracking all the way till the end but a win is a win and we’ll take it however it comes.”

Without her big game in the third set of the match with Pioneer the championship for Veterans may have never happened but Salinas downplayed her role.

“I saw my team fighting for me and so I felt that I needed to fight for them back

and I did,” said Salinas. “We came through and we won.

We did it”.

Barnett was a force throughout the two day tournament registering one powerful kill after another.

The freshman talked about how she fits in on the senior heavy squad.

“It’s really nice knowing they have the trust in me to put it away on crucial points,” she said. “I’m thankful that I

have a team that trusts me so I can do well for them.

Perhaps the unsung hero of the day was senior Ronnie Cantu. She has been a varsity setter since her freshman year and did a masterful job of not only delivering the ball to the numerous hitters the team has but sensing too, when to look elsewhere.

“There were times in the last set (against LBJ) that I set to the back row,” she

said. “I felt that if the hitters were not putting it away in the front, so just to get the point and keep the game going. They are people that I can depend on as well; really everyone on the court.”

Senior Kassandra Lerma expressed the attitude the team has when faced with adverse situations like they encountered Saturday.

“We’re a fighting team,” she said. “Even when we

lose we’re not going to give up. As you can see we fought till the very end. We just keep going and going and going because we want to win.”

Something for the rest of the Valley (and perhaps others) to consider as the weather cools down and the volleyball season heats up.

The other returning offensive starter is senior running back Andres Bonilla.

Like Farias, Bonilla too, sees himself as someone who can help lead the new guys.

“As a guy that has been there before and has been in those game situations, I can lead them knowing that if times get rough I’ll be there supporting them,” said Bonilla. “The key is to keep (them) moving forward, never backwards.”

The Rattlers return a bit more experience on the defensive side of the ball and senior linebacker Santino

Pascual expects that to help the offense.

“I see it (the experience) as more of a confidence builder for the offense,” said Pascual. “They have something strong that they can trust. If they do make a mistake they have us.”

Both Pascual and senior defensive end Ethan Garza shared the same sentiments about the role of the defense as the year progresses.

“We expect a lot on defense,” said Garza.

“Turnovers and three-andouts.”

“Get the ball back to the

offense. Have as many stops as possible,” added Pascual.

In addition to Pascual and Garza, the Rattlers defense brings back linebacker Guadalupe Trevino (Sr.), along with defensive backs Jonathon Alanis (Sr.), Sebastian Hinojosa (Sr.) and Luis Gonzalez (Jr.) The Rattlers also return players from two sub-varsity teams coming off nine win seasons in 2018. Adame expects that to be a boost.

“That builds confidence,” said Adame. “The kids know how to win. The biggest difference is can they win on

a Friday night level?

That level is expected to be a high one this year. The Rattlers non-district games include three teams that made the playoffs last year (Brownsville Pace, McAllen Memorial, Brownsville Hanna) and one (La Joya) that was in contention until the last game of the season.

“We’ve got to learn to take it one week, one opponent at a time,” said Adame. “We look at it as an opportunity to bring out the best in our kids. We recognize that there may be some adversity at some point during that game

and that’s how you find out the true character of a team, not by scheduling teams that might not bring out the best in you.”

Things won’t get easier when district play begins either. Besides the Rattlers themselves, Sharyland Pioneer, Valley View and Mercedes return as playoff teams from 2018. The district also includes long time Valley power EdcouchElsa along with Roma and Laredo Cigarroa “Our district is going to have a lot more parity,” said Adame. “I think everybody

in our district is going to be a better team than they were the year before.”

So what should we expect from the Rattlers this year?

“Defending our district title, that’s going to be a challenge. Our boys are up to it; they recognize it and they’re up to it.”

The Rattlers open their season next Thursday, August 29 on the road against Brownsville Pace. The home opener is Friday, September 6 against McAllen Memorial.

District play begins on Thursday, September 26 at Laredo Cigarroa.

him (Reyna) has grown over the summer.” Cantu said.

“We saw him during spring ball when he had to get used to the faster pace of the game at the varsity level. We then went into 7-on-7 which gave him the opportunity to play in quite a few games to get his rhythm on. And then he came out for fall camp and he showed everybody that he’s ready to be there.”

When asked how he feels about the fact that every other team in the district is out to defeat the Patriots, Cantu said, “We know that after having a big season like we did last year, we’ve got a big

target on our backs. But we have a chip on our shoulders and we’ve just got to take it one game at a time. At the same time though, we can’t take any team lightly.”

Another offensive weapon Reyna will be able to count on to take some of the pressure off is junior wide receiver A. J. Gonzaque. At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Gonzaque will be a big target for Reyna as he runs his routes through the opponents’ defensive backfields. Like Cantu, Gonzaque doesn’t expect there to be much of a drop-off offensively simply because there

is a new signal caller in the Patriots’ backfield.

“Losing a player like Landry, who was a great asset to the team, will of course hurt us, but we have a nextman-up attitude,” Gonzaque said. “And while Ricky may not have the running ability that Landry had, I believe he has a better arm. And that is why I am expecting nothing less from our offense this year.”

The Patriots will be kicking off their 2019 campaign against the Mission Eagles next Friday at 7:30 in the Battle of Conway. They will then be opening district play by hosting PSJA Memorial Friday, Sept. 6, at Tom Landry Stadium.

Another offensive weapon Reyna will be able to count on to take some of the pressure off is junior wide receiver A. J. Gonzaque. At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Gonzaque will be a big target for Reyna as he runs his routes through the

opponents’ defensive backfields. Like Cantu, Gonzaque doesn’t expect there to be much of a drop-off offensively simply because there is a new signal caller in the Patriots’ backfield.

“Losing a player like Landry, who was a great asset to the team, will of course hurt us, but we have a nextman-up attitude,” Gonzaque said. “And while Ricky may not have the running ability that Landry had, I believe he has a better arm. And that is why I am expecting nothing less from our offense this year.”

The Patriots will be kicking off their 2019 campaign against the Mission Eagles next Friday at 7:30 in the Battle of Conway. They will then be opening district play by hosting PSJA Memorial Friday, Sept. 6, at Tom Landry Stadium.

They will be playing against Sharyland Pioneer High School at a scrimmage tonight at Pioneer at 7 p.m.

from pg. 6

PATRIOTS REMAIN

add that nothing is going to change in regards to his offensive game plan, which has been the same for the past 10 years, simply because he has an inexperienced sophomore at quarterback.

One thing that Reyna will have in his favor is sharing the offensive backfield with a talented and experienced running back.

“We’re going to pass the ball more than we run it and we’re not going to try to hide that fact, but having said that, we have a great running back in Danny Cantu,” Gilpin said. “Danny is poised for a GREAT year. He had a great

Notices

Otilia De Leon MISSION – Otilia De Leon, 79, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, at her home.

Maria Espinoza ALTON – Maria Santos Espinoza, 81, passed away on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019, at her home.

Juanita Gutierrez MISSION – Juanita “Mami

summer, he had a great offseason, he’s had a great fall camp, he’s done everything right. So we’re going to give him the ball simply because he is one of our best players.

We’d have to be dummies not to give somebody with his talent and skills, the ball.”

Unlike Reyna, Cantu has plenty of varsity experience. As a matter of fact, the 5-foot-10, 205 pound senior running back is entering his third season on the varsity squad. So how do he, and his teammates, feel about having Reyna take the reins of the Patriots’ pass-happy offense?

“The team’s confidence in

Juana” Gutierrez, 83, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, at her home in Mission.

Jose Lopez PEÑITAS – Jose Armando Lopez, 56, passed away on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019, at his home in Peñitas.

Ruth MacMiller MISSION – Ruth MacMiller, 83, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, at McAllen Medical Center.

Raul Moreno LA JOYA – Raul Moreno, 90, passed away on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, at McAllen Medical Center.

Isidra Perez MISSION – Isidra Perez, 94, passed away on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, at her home in Mission.

Candida Rodriguez MISSION – Candida Rodriguez, 97, passed away

on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, at her daughter’s home in Mission.

Heriberto Urbano MISSION – Heriberto “Beto” Urbano, 57, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

page 8 from pg. 1

from pg. 1

BRIBERY

report on social media activity and attempted to fix the city’s defunct website.

Garces Valdez and Frances Salinas apparently had a falling-out between June and October 2018, when the housing authority board fired Frances Salinas.

The city terminated the public relations contract on

from pg. 1

August 23, 2019

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com Nov. 6, 2018, and attempted to remove Garces Valdez from the housing authority board. After the housing authority filed a lawsuit, they reached a settlement that allowed Garces Valdez to remain on the board.

When, exactly, the FBI and the HUD Office of Inspector General started in-

vestigating Garces Valdez remains unclear. Agents executed a search warrant at La Joya City Hall on Aug. 16.

Garces Valdez is charged with bribery, a felony punishable by a maximum of 10 years in federal prison. U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter E. Ormsby set a $30,000 unsecured bond, citing her strong

ties to the community.

As a condition of her release, Garces Valdez is prohibited from speaking with potential witnesses, people involved in the case and anyone who works at La Joya City Hall. The school district also placed Garces Valdez on administrative leave.

spector General, had circulated for months.

“We’re just going to wait and see what happens over the next couple of weeks,” Casanova said. “I’ve been hearing some rumors that the FBI isn’t done, they’re just getting started.”

Both Gaitan and Casanova said they received calls from concerned residents after the FBI arrived at City Hall on Aug. 16. Mayor Sa-

linas didn’t respond to a request for comment.

“I just hope that our citizens here in La Joya open their eyes and see what’s going on,” Casanova said. “It’s time for change.”

The deadline for candidates to withdraw from the ballot is Aug. 26. Election Day is Nov. 5.

LJ COMMISSION

City Hall on Aug. 16. Three days later, the FBI arrested La Joya Housing Authority board Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Garces Valdez, a former public relations consultant for the city.

Garces Valdez “agreed to give cash to Person A intending to influence and reward Person B, an elected official for the City of La Joya, for their influence in granting a public relations contract,”

according to the indictment against her.

The indictment didn’t identify Person A or Person B. “I’m thinking Person A and Person B are going to be questioned,” Gaitan said. “If not indicted.”

Rumors about the investigation, which involved both the FBI and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of In-

AGUA SUD

with the board.

They spent hours discussing Senate Bill 2552, which included the switch to single-member districts and tough new transparency requirements for board members. State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa authored the bill.

Under the current system, a seven-member board of directors sets policy and supervises the general manager.

Residents of Mission, Palmview, Peñitas, La Joya and Sullivan City elect one director each. The remaining two directors are elected by rural Hidalgo County residents.

The current system hands board seats to a tiny sliver of Mission and a relatively small part of La Joya. Residents of rural Hidalgo County, meanwhile, are significantly underrepresented.

Under the new system, the

utility board must approve seven single-member districts with a roughly equal number of residents.

The utility board hired attorney Rolando L. Rios of San Antonio, an expert on redistricting, to draft the maps.

Each district will include about 3,000 residents.

“It’s going to be more precise when the attorney that was hired, Mr. Rios out of San Antonio, gets the census count,” Garza said, adding that Rios probably will present the board with several options.

Along with approving the single-member districts, the board must assign members to the new districts. That decision could become contentious if the board draws two or more members into the same district.

See AGUA SUD Pg. 10

BUY • SELL • TRADE • RENT • HIRE

THE CLASSIFIEDS

CLASSIFIED RATE: 1 Week = $7 Make it happen, we’re located at 1217 N. Conway in Mission, TX Come on in! Our hours of operation are 2 Weeks = $10 Mon. - Fri. 8 - 5 p.m. If you can’t drop by, mail it! P.O. Box 399, Mission, TX 78573. Submit by email or pay 4 Weeks = $14 by phone 585-4893. The deadline to get your classified in is Tuesday at 5 p.m.

SHERIFF’S SALE REAL PROPERTY NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That by virtue of a certain Writ of Execution/ Order of Sale Cause No. C-4604-17-F issued out of the Honorable 332nd District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas on the 11th day of July 2019, and styled HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION OF CIMARRON, INC., Plaintiff(s) VS Jorge Alarcon, Defendant(s) for the sum of Four Thousand One Hundred Seventy Four Dollars Seventy Nine Cents ($4,174.79), before a credit of One Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Seven Dollars Eighteen Cents ($1,577.18) for payments made (actual damages of Seven Hundred Sixty Seven Dollars Seventy Two Cents ($767.72); Attorney’s fees in the amount of Two Thousand Sixty Seven Dollars Ninety Eight Cents ($2,067.98); Court cost of Three Hundred Fifteen Dollars Eighty Seven Cents ($315.87); service fees of One Hundred Ninety Dollars No Cents ($190.00); for post judgment interest from December 4, 2018, through the anticipated foreclosure date of September 3, 2019, in the amount of Eighty Three Dollars Twenty Two Cents ($83.22); and Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars No Cents ($750.00) in Attorney fees for the projected cost of handling the foreclosure, together with the Sheriff’s fees, under Judgment in favor of HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION OF CIMARRON, INC. and placed in my hands for service on JULY 18, 2019, I, J.E. “Eddie” Guerra, as Sheriff of Hidalgo County, Texas, did on the 29th day of July 2019, levy on certain Real Property, situated in Hidalgo County, Texas, described as follows, to-wit: 2124 SABINAL STREET, MISSION, TEXAS 78572, AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 20, BLOCK 6, CIMARRON COUNTRY CLUB SUBDIVISION, SECTION-2, PHASE-1, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS. And levied upon as the property of JORGE ALARCON and that on the first Tuesday in the month of September 2019, the same being the 3rd day of said month, at 2802 South Business Highway 281, Hidalgo County Administrative Building, Edinburg, Texas, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by virtue of said levy and said Writ of Execution/ Order of sale, I will sell said above real estate at public venue, for cash, to the highest bidder, as the property of JORGE ALARCON, and in compliance with the law, I give this notice by publication, in the English Language, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks immediately proceeding said day of sale, in The Progress Times a Newspaper in Hidalgo County, Texas.

Witness my hand on this 30th day of July 2019

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS, THAT: The City Council for the City of Palmview will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at Palmview City Hall located at 400 W. Veterans Blvd., Palmview, Texas, to consider the following:

City of Palmview Municipal Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020

Members of the public are encouraged to provide input through any means available including by mail at the address above and/or by attending the public hearing. A copy of the proposed budget is available for inspection in the City Secretary’s Office located at City Hall.

“This Budget will raise more revenue from Property Taxes than last year’s Budget by $415,409, which is an 18 percent increase from last year’s Budget. The property tax revenue raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $428,874.”

Estimated Revenues Total estimated revenues from all sources for FY 2020 are $7.1 million, an increase from $6.4 million budgeted in FY 2019. This revenue estimate is based on conservative property tax, sales tax and economic activity projections.

Proposed Expenditures The proposed expenditures for all Departments for FY are $6.4 million, an increase from $5.5 million budgeted in FY 2019. These proposed expenditures are based on conservative personnel, operating, and capital costs.

Proposed Capital Expenditures On June 4, 2019, the Council approved the Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

However, this is subject to change before the end of the FY 2019. As the Council amends the CIP, the Method of Financing and corresponding Debt Service must be calculated and included in the FY 2020 Budget.

Net Surplus The Palmview Municipal Budget for FY 2020 does not have a surplus and will not fund the 5.0% General Fund Reserve for this fiscal year.

August 23, 2019

page 9

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

BUY • SELL • TRADE • RENT • HIRE

THE CLASSIFIEDS

CLASSIFIED RATE: 1 Week = $7 Make it happen, we’re located at 1217 N. Conway in Mission, TX Come on in! Our hours of operation are 2 Weeks = $10 Mon. - Fri. 8 - 5 p.m. If you can’t drop by, mail it! P.O. Box 399, Mission, TX 78573. Submit by email or pay 4 Weeks = $14 by phone 585-4893. The deadline to get your classified in is Tuesday at 5 p.m.

For Rent 2 BEDROOM, 2914 N. Conway in Mission, TX, quiet area near Mims Elementary school, $625 plus deposit, for more details call 956-580-0377.

For Sale USE HAPPY JACK PARACIDE shampoo to control fleas & ticks on dogs & cats, eliminate doggy odor, & restore glossy coat, at Tractor Supply (w w w.ke n n e l v a x . com).

Home For Sale 2BDR WITH option of 3rd BDR, 2 baths, 2 car garage in a 55+ community, EVR in Mission, TX, ceramic tile throughout, ceiling fans, water softener system, all appliances, garage for 26’ motor home, and more, call 956-3215441.

Personal

SINGLE MALE seeks female 35-60 yrs and enjoys ka-

raoke, will relocate, call 903-246-5333 or email albertogiliberti@yahoo.com.

Progress Times is made possible by our advertisers.

Please frequent their businesses and tell them you saw their ad in the Progress Times.

MISSION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION NOTICE OF INTENTION TO UNDERTAKE A PROJECT OR PROJECTS TAKE NOTICE that the Mission Economic Development Corporation of the City of Mission, (the “MEDC”), shall convene not earlier than 60 days after first publishing this notice and shall consider authorizing and undertaking a Project or Projects, as hereinafter described, pursuant to the provisions of V.T.C.A. Local Government Code Sections 505.001 et seq. The MEDC is authorized on behalf of the City of Mission, Texas to undertake the Project or Projects by paying the cost of the Project or Projects with sales tax revenues authorized under said Local Government Code sections.

The Board of Directors of the MEDC will determine whether the Project or Projects will be undertaken and whether it will finance the cost of the Project or Projects with proceeds from sales tax revenues.

The Project or Projects shall consist of the following: A) Small Business Fund Programs 2019-2020 proposed budget $230,000; additional funding of $36,000, amended budget not to exceed $266,000; and B) Infrastructure improvements, located on the southwest corner of Shary Road & Business 83, Mission, Texas, in an amount not to exceed $40,000.

Date of publication: August 23, 2019 Anna Carrillo City Secretary

CITY OF ALTON

ORDINANCE 2019-12-0813 Amending Ordinance 2019-10, 2018-02, 2016-02, 2013-09 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND ADOPTING VARIOUS STANDARD CODES RELATING TO INSPECTION OF CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE CITY OF ALTON, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS; AND PROVIDING FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF PROVISIONS PROVIDED IN SAID CODES; ADOPTING VARIOUS FEES RELATING TO INSPECTIONS, ZONING, PLAN REVIEW, AND ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT WITHIN THE CITY OF ALTON, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS; WAIVING SECOND AND THIRD READING AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. READ, APPROVED, AND PASSED on this the 13th day of August, 2019.

Salvador Vela, Mayor, City of Alton, Texas ATTEST: Baudelia Rojas CPM,TRMCCMC, City Secretary

CITY OF ALTON

ORDINANCE 2019-13-0813 Amending Personnel Ordinance 2011-01, 2008-04, 2003-21, 1979-16, 1998-07, 1998-10, 1999-05

AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING REVISED POLICIES PREPARED FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSTILLING ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY HEREINAFTER CALLED “PERSONNEL POLICY ORDINANCE”.

READ, APPROVED, AND PASSED on this the 13th day of August, 2019.

Salvador Vela, Mayor City of Alton, Texas ATTEST: Baudelia Rojas CPM,TRMCCMC, City Secretary Notice of Public Hearing Mission Economic Development Corporation

Notice is hereby given that the Mission Economic Development Corporation will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at the Center for Education and Economic Development, 801 N. Bryan Road, Mission, Texas to consider the following project or projects during the proposed fiscal year 2019-2020: A) Small Business Fund Programs 20192020 proposed budget $230,000; additional funding of $36,000, amended budget not to exceed $266,000; and B) Infrastructure improvements, located on the southwest corner of Shary Road & Business 83, Mission, Texas, in an amount not to exceed $40,000.

Anyone interested is invited to attend and present their comments.

Date of publication: August 23, 2019 Anna Carrillo City Secretary

Notice to Lender Notice to: Jerry Bridgewater, 1820 S. Bentsen Rd., McAllen, Texas, 78503.

The records of the Mission Historical Museum reflect that you have property on loan to it. The property was received by the museum on July 14, 2004.

The museum wishes to terminate the loan. You must contact the museum, provide proof of your ownership, and make arrangements to collect the property. Please contact Vernon Weckbacher, Archivist/Curator, at the Mission Historical Museum, 900 Doherty Ave., Mission, Texas, 78572 (telephone 956-580-8646). If you fail to do so within 65 days after the date of this notice, you will be deemed to have donated the property to the museum. See Chapter 80, Texas Property Code.

PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF ALTON BUDGET

The City of Alton will conduct a public hearing on the 10th day of September 2019, at 7:30 p.m., at Alton City Hall Commission Chambers located at 509 S Alton Blvd., Alton, Texas. The purpose of the public hearing is for the general public to be present and participate in the Hearing relating to the adoption of the Fiscal Year 20192020 City of Alton Budget. A copy of the proposed budget may be viewed at the Office of the City Secretary on regular business days from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. If any person needs special accommodations as specified under the Americans with Special Disabilities Act, please contact the Office of the City Secretary at (956) 432-0760 at least 72 hours prior to the date of the meeting.

Publication Date: August 23, 2019 ATTEST: Baudelia Rojas CPM,TRMCCMC, City Secretary

NOTICE OF 2019 TAX YEAR PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR CITY OF ALTON

NOTICE OF 2019 TAX YEAR PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR CITY OF PALMVIEW

A tax rate of $0.4440 per $100 valuation has been proposed for adoption by the governing body of CITY OF ALTON. This rate exceeds the lower of the effective or rollback tax rate, and state law requires that two public hearings be held by the governing body before adopting the proposed tax rate.

A tax rate of $0.5001 per $100 valuation has been proposed for adoption by the governing body of City of Palmview. This rate exceeds the lower of the effective or rollback tax rate, and state law requires that two public hearings be held by the governing body before adopting the proposed tax rate.

The governing body of CITY OF ALTON proposes to use revenue attributable to the tax rate increase for the purpose of keeping up with the rapid growth that the City of Alton is experiencing. In order to sustain the current level of service required by the taxpayers, it is imperative that Alton realize the additional revenue created by maintaining the tax rate.

The governing body of City of Palmview proposes to use revenue attributable to the tax rate increase for the purpose of provide funds for the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and expand the level of services and general welfare of all residents.

PROPOSED TAX RATE PRECEDING YEAR’S TAX RATE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE ROLLBACK TAX RATE

$0.4440 per $100 $0.4440 per $100 $0.4215 per $100 $0.4454 per $100

The effective tax rate is the total tax rate needed to raise the same amount of property tax revenue for CITY OF ALTON from the same properties in both the 2018 tax year and the 2019 tax year.

The rollback tax rate is the highest tax rate that CITY OF ALTON may adopt before voters are entitled to petition for an election to limit the rate that may be approved to the rollback rate.

YOUR TAXES OWED UNDER ANY OF THE ABOVE RATES CAN BE CALCULATED AS FOLLOWS: property tax amount = (rate) x (taxable value of your property)/100

For assistance or detailed information about tax calculations, please contact: Pablo (Paul) Villareal Jr. Hidalgo County Tax Assessor-Collector 2804 S. Business Hwy 281 Edinburg, TX 78539 (956) 318-2157 propertytax@hidalgocountytax.org http://www.hidalgocountytax.org You are urged to attend and express your views at the following public hearings on the proposed tax rate: First Hearing: August 30, 2019 at 4:00 PM at Alton City Hall, 509 S Alton Blvd, Alton, TX 78573.

Second Hearing: September 5, 2019 at 4:00 PM at Alton City Hall, 509 S Alton Blvd, Alton, TX 78573.

PROPOSED TAX RATE PRECEDING YEAR’S TAX RATE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE ROLLBACK TAX RATE

$0.5001 per $100 $0.5001 per $100 $0.4904 per $100 $0.5924 per $100

The effective tax rate is the total tax rate needed to raise the same amount of property tax revenue for City of Palmview from the same properties in both the 2018 tax year and the 2019 tax year.

The rollback tax rate is the highest tax rate that City of Palmview may adopt before voters are entitled to petition for an election to limit the rate that may be approved to the rollback rate.

YOUR TAXES OWED UNDER ANY OF THE ABOVE RATES CAN BE CALCULATED AS FOLLOWS: property tax amount = (rate) x (taxable value of your property)/100 For assistance or detailed information about tax calculations, please contact: Pablo (Paul) Villareal Jr. Hidalgo County Tax Assessor-Collector 2804 S. Business Hwy 281 Edinburg, TX 78539 (956) 318-2157 propertytax@hidalgocountytax.org http://www.hidalgocountytax.org You are urged to attend and express your views at the following public hearings on the proposed tax rate: First Hearing: September 3, 2019 at 6:00 PM at Palmview City Hall, 400 W. Veterans Blvd., Palmview TX. Second Hearing: September 10, 2019 at 6:00 PM at Palmview City Hall, 400 W. Veterans Blvd., Palmview, TX.

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August 23, 2019

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AGUA SUD

2019

Garza addressed that scenario with an example tailored to the board members who attended the workshop.

“If the board or the majority votes — which is four of ya’ll — votes and says ‘OK, us four are going to get our own districts but the other two or three people are going to be stuck.

We’re going to put them in one district.’ Then those three people are stuck in District #5 and then district six and seven are vacant for election purposes,” Garza said. “So those seats could be assigned however the majority votes to assign, basically.”

OLG SPOTLIGHT

from pg. 1

more of him than some of the old, stuffy hymns do,” Snipes said. “It can be more evocative than just a statement.”

Father Roy has incorporated another atypical practice within the church - his dogs. Often seen by his side at public events, his rescue canines are regular attendees of mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“I’ve always been so charmed and delighted by dogs, they have a sweet joy and loyalty, and they’re almost never mad at you; they love you the way you are,” Snipes said. “Some

people may disagree, but I don’t think it’s any accident that Jesus [Christ] was born surrounded by animals. We probably won’t appreciate exactly how much that means until we get to heaven.”

Snipes spoke on the historical significance of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mission, saying its roots are in ranch culture and it is important to maintain eternal values within the city. On a busy week, five to six thousand people make their way to the church for one of the many mass times.

“We still have that coun-

try-style atmosphere and attitude,” Snipes said. “We pride ourselves on being hospitable, and we want everyone to feel at home here.”

Snipes served many of his years with the late Father Jim Phieffer, and called their journey an adventure. Their goal was and continues to be, now with Snipes and Father Richard Philion, making the church a place where people walk out feeling better than when they walked in.

Our Lady of Guadalupe helps the community whenever they can, contributing through charitable works and making connections at pub-

is in us. God is here for us.’”

The most rewarding part about being part of this particular church is the ability to have one’s heart’s lifted, according to Snipes. That’s Our Lady of Guadalupe’s role in the community - to serve as a place anyone can go to for a sense of home.

“We want to lift up your heart - not burden your heart, not break your heart or wound your heart,” Snipes said. “Sometimes we’re better at it, sometimes we’re not good at it. Our job is not to rub salt in people’s wounds, it’s to encourage them on the journey.”

THE

FOOTBALL

BIG 7

CONTEST

DISTRICT 16-5A1

lic events and celebrations.

Snipes wishes they could do more.

“I hope they get some sense that the truth and the goodness and the beauty and the spirit of Christ is working in them,” Snipes said. “The founder of the Oblates was St. Eugene, and he used to say when you celebrate the sacred mysteries and you preach the gospel to people, they should not go away saying that they’re dazzled by your brilliance or baffled by your big words, they should go away saying ‘isn’t that something? The spirit of Christ he was talking about

SCHOOLS

DISTRICT 16-5A2

DISTRICT 30-6A

$50 WEEKLY PRIZE & $200 BOOSTER CLUB GRAND PRIZE

Football Contest Official Entry Form

WIN $200

Booster Club Grand Prize

For Your School’s Athletic Booster Club

Check your school or favorite team below. The team with the most entries at the end of the season will win $200 for the school’s Athletic Booster Club. ❑ Sharyland Rattlers ❑ Pioneer Diamondbacks

❑ Juarez-Lincoln Huskies ❑ Mission Eagles ❑ Palmview Lobos ❑ La Joya Coyotes ❑ Veterans Memorial Patriots

Name: _____________________________________________________________ City: _______________________________________________________________ Phone & Alt Phone:_______________________ Email:__________________________ I am age 18 or older.

Yes, I would like to receive the newsletter and promotional emails from the Progress Times. We will NEVER share your email address with anyone else.

High School Football Contest Rules A $50 cash prize will be awarded each week for the winning entry. The entry coming closest to calling all the games correctly wins. In event of a tie, the tying entry that comes closest to the score of Tie Breaker #1 wins. If a tie remains, the tying entry that comes closest to the score of Tie Breaker #2 wins. If a tie still remains, the $50 prize will be divided evenly among the winning entries.

Booster Club Grand Prize: At the end of the regular football season, the total number of complete, qualified entries will be tallied for each team with the team’s check box marked.

The $200 Grand Prize will be awarded to the Athletic Booster Club of the team with the most entries submitted.

No Purchase necessary. Limit one entry per household each week of the contest period. Must be age 18 or older to enter the contest.

HOW TO ENTER: Check the box next to the team’s name that you predict to win each high school game. Next, for the tie breakers, predict the total points scored by the winning team in the Tie Breaker #1 game, and the total points scored by the winning team in the Tie Breaker #2 game. Fill in your name, address, phone number (This is how we notify the winners!), and email address. Check the box to receive the FREE Progress Times weekly newsletter and mail or drop off your entry form at Progress Times, 1217 N. Conway Ave., Mission, TX 78572. Or submit your entry online at www.progresstimes.net. All entries must be received by the Progress Times no later than 2 p.m., Thursday preceding the listed games.

All entries must be submitted on the Official Entry Form printed in the Progress Times or Sharyland Times, a photocopy of the entry form, or submitted electronically from our official website submission form. Only one entry per household per week. Previous winners and all members of the same household are ineligible for subsequent weeks of the contest. Prizes must be claimed within 7 days of notification or announcement in the Progress Times. Decisions made by the Progress Times staff are final. The winners agree to allow the Progress Times to use their names and photographs to announce the winners and for promotional purposes online and in print. Employees of the Progress Times and their immediate family members are not eligible to win.

$

29

Check the box next to the team you think will win from each of the games below

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No Insurance Need • Open Evening & Weekends Walk-Ins Welcome

Corner of Shary Rd. & Expressway 83 2401 E. Exp. 83 #300 (956) 584-3311

Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 7:00PM Saturday: 10:00AM - 1:00PM

*Offer valid for first visit only. Initial visit includes consultation, exam and adjustment. Please present offer at time of redemption.

vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs.

MISSION HIGH SHARYLAND HIGH PIONEER LA JOYA JUAREZ- LINCOLN RIO GRANDE CITY NIKKI ROWE Tie Breaker 1

Enter the number of points scored by the winning team of the following game:

YOUR HOME TOWN INDEPENDENT AGENT

Serving the Rio Grande Valley Since 1911 220 E. Tom Landry

INSURANCE AGENCY

Phone: 581-2183

Go Mission EaGlEs!

& MH

Beauty Shop

216 Mayberry • Mission • 585-1287

ALL INSURANCE WORK IS WELCOME Pocket Ninjas Available • Collision, Custom Paint & Body Work • Frame Work • Window Tint • Car Wash •

We Repair RVs RV Insurance Accepted

956-580-1999 300 W. Exp. 83 • Mission, TX 78572

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VETERANS MEMORIAL BROWNSVILLE PACE HARLINGEN HIGH PALMVIEW RIO HONDO ROMA WESLACO Tie Breaker 2

Enter the number of points scored by the winning team of the following game:

Mission High vs. Veterans Memorial

*

adjustment*

Sharyland

WEEK #0 - AUG. 29 - AUG. 31, 2019

Rio Grande City vs. Roma

Rio Script Pharmacy

Apple Pharmacy #1 2501 N 23rd St B, McAllen 956-627-6652

Apple Pharmacy #2

810 E Veterans Dr. Palmview 956-352-6485

Apple Pharmacy #3

RioScript Pharmacy

909 Buss. Park Dr, Mission 956-424-6268

Mon.-Fri. 8am-8pm • Sat. 9am-1pm

(formerly Paloma’s Pharmacy)

2308 Expressway 83, Penitas • 956-271-1064

MISSION AUTO ELECTRIC, INC. DBA

1954-2018 A FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS SINCE 1954

In 1954, Mission businessman Ben Cavazos opened Mission Auto Electric, Inc. Now, M.A.E. Power Equipment, we have a reputation for selling top quality products and having excellent service. M.A.E. Power Equipment is an Onan, and Generac generator service center.

CERTIFIED ONAN R/V GENERATOR SERVICE

915 West Business 83 • Mission (956) 581-7433 Mon-Fri • 8am-5:30pm – Sat • 8am-1pm

Good Luck to All Sharyland Teams!

Timothy W. Brann Richard A. Young D.D.S. D.D.S.

Justin Felkner D.D.S.

2407 E. Griffin Pkwy. • Mission 956-581-2773