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Progress times Friday, February 7, 2020

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Local forum raises awareness on disabilities

La Joya discussing new funding opportunities

By Jose De Leon III

By Jose De Leon III When officials with the Pharr-based R. Gutierrez Engineering Corporation met with councilmembers of the city of La Joya, the firm presented city officials with a 20-minute presentation on the services they could offer the city.

The firm offers drainage, land surveying and transportation services as well as grant writing and development to cities, among other services, RGEC owner Humberto Garza said. The firm has serviced the cities of Mercedes and La Feria and has collaborated with state, local and federal agencies on different projects, according to the presentation held during a city council workshop Friday, Jan. 31.

“We know in the past, La Joya has been under the microscope for many reasons, and I want to help with that by helping you find money,” Garza told the board. “I’ve been here before offering my services but I’m back because there’s a new energy and spirit in La Joya.”

At the end of the presentation, La Joya Mayor Isidro Casanova had just one question for the firm: “How much?”

“I sent a contract out here and the fee for that is the same I am charging the city of La Feria, $7,500 a month,” Garza replied. “That’s a retainer that handles everything I presented.”

Casanova, alongside council members Roger Hernandez and Laura Mendiola Macias, balked at the amount.

“Can you find us $7,500 per month?” asked Macias after Garza explained the retainer wouldn’t cover work outside the contract such as engineering fees. “This is an investment, but it’s also a risk...we don’t have those funds right now. Our goal is to have this money-but I still cannot shake the fact that that’s a big risk.”

Garza assured the council members that as part of the retainer, his firm would try to help the city find cost effective

See LJ NEW FUNDING Pg. 8

Photo courtesy of city of Mission Facebook.

Mission leaders discuss the future of Lions Park during a charette held last month.

Everyone will be able to roar at Lions Park

By Jamie Treviño

Mission has plans to make Lions Park the first all-inclusive park in the city.

Last month, leaders from the Parks & Recreation Board, Lions Club, city council, Texas Citrus Fiesta, and several city departments (Planning, Sanitation, Engineering, Parks and Recreation, Facilities), Mayor Armando O’caña and City Manager Randy Perez held a charrette where they discussed future plans for Lions Park, located at 1500 Kika de la Garza Loop. Currently classified as a neighborhood park, several entities are involved with the location so the city wanted to ensure every voice is heard in the planning process.

“It was the first of several that we will schedule to work out what everyone wants,” Perez said. “We want to make sure we look at everything collaboratively.”

Lions Park currently houses two baseball fields, a playground, two picnic tables, six covered picnic shelters, a Scout Hut, the

community center and the Texas Citrus Fiesta office. Perez, and Mission Parks and Recreation Director Brad Bentsen, spoke on the need for an inclusive park in the area.

During the Jan. 17, 2020 city council meeting, council approved ARKiiFORM, LLC as the architect firm handling the Lions Park project. The firm is currently working on the roof replacement projects for the Speer Memorial Library and the Mission Historical Museum, and was also present at the charette.

“The driving force behind it all is to replace the feature that is there,” Bentsen said of the playscape. “I think the Lions Club purchased that back in 1986, and it’s totally obsolete. Mayor wants to be an all-inclusive city.”

Nothing has been finalized as the city is in the preliminary process of the project, but it is expected to be completed over four phases and include an inclusive playscape redesign, a redesign of the Mission Community Center,

See LIONS PARK Pg. 5

With early voting for the March 2020 primary elections set for later this month, one local non-profit is ensuring that local candidates are aware of local issues affecting the disabled community in the Rio Grande Valley.

On Wednesday, the McAllen-based Capable Kids Foundation teamed up with the Disability Advocates Coalition RGV to host the inaugural Disability Issues Candidate Forum.

Held at the UTRGV Small Business development Center, the forum invited candidates from the counties of Hidalgo and Cameron to address policy decisions that affect the disabled community.

“It’s important to host events like this so the candidates and legislators who can make systemic change are aware of what our families are experiencing on a daily basis and the things we can do to impact that,” Marissa Pulido Pecina- board member and cofounder of Capable Kids-said. “We’re hoping to bring awareness leading to our

See LOCAL FORUM Pg. 8

Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.

Attendees at the inaugural Disability Issues Candidate Forum listening to state rep. Bobby Guerra Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020.

Mission Housing Authority receives $54K in federal funds

By Jose De Leon III A program at the Mission Housing Authority dedicated to ensuring tenants are able to get back on their feet received federal funds last week.

During a press conference at the Mission Housing Authority, state Rep. Henry Cuellar presented the local agency with a $54,456 check Friday, Jan. 31. The federal funds will go toward funding the Family Self-Sufficiency Program in the agency.

“In order to break the cycle of poverty, we must give families the

tools and services to do so,” Cuellar said of the FSS program. “This program will give people the ability to expand their education, obtain job training, and plan for their future in order to gain independence and financial security.”

The FSS is designed to help people seeking assistance from housing authorities to grow their income and make them financially stable to leave their housing authority. People taking the program attend numerous workshops to help them set and work toward goals of self-sustainability,

See MISSION HOUSING Pg. 4

Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.

Congressman Henry Cuellar along with officials of the city of Mission and Mission housing Authority at a check presentation Friday, Jan. 31, 2020.

INSIDE

INDEX Entertainment....pg. 2

Hinojosa joins local brewery

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

Hinojosa, a Marine Corps veteran from the Vietnam era, became an investor in a local craft brewery located in Mission last week. Jamie Treviño has more details.

SPORTS District Realignments

MCISD News This week the Mission Consolidated Independent School District met for three committee meetings leading up to next week’s regular board of trustees meeting. Details insde.

See Pg. 4

The 2020-21 and 2021-22 tentative volleyball, basketball, and football district assignments from the UIL. John Hamann has more details.

See Pg. 4

See Pg. 6

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February 7, 2020

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UVAL opens All Member exhibit Feb. 8

The Upper Valley Art League (UVAL) 2020 All Member Art Exhibit, a non-juried open exhibit featuring diverse works created by the Upper Valley Art League’s members, will be on display in the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center gallery Feb. 8 through March 7.

The opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. The gallery is located at 921 East 12th Street in Mission.

Open exhibits are not limited by theme, medium, process, or content. Paintings, drawings, photography, mixed media, digital art, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry,

eague

and fiber arts, all handcrafted by student and professional artists, will be shown in the exhibition.

UVAL is one of the oldest non-profit organizations in the Rio Grande Valley.

Since its beginning in 1935, the Upper Valley Art League has been dedicated to serving the artistic needs of the Rio Grande Valley by providing art instruction, art exhibitions and a forum for artists to gather.

For additional information about UVAL, its classes, membership, events and gallery hours, visit the website at uppervalleyartleague.org or call 956-583-2787.

r Art Exhibit

ch 7, 2020

“Apple Time” Oil by Berry Fritz

Mission First United Methodist Church

Sunday Services:

8:00 a.m. Informal 9:00 a.m. Contemporary 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Traditional 5:00 p.m. Spanish Worship Join us for communion the First Sunday of every month.

Dinner with Friends every Friday @ 5:30pm

Everyone is Welcome!

Soup & Sub Fundraiser Feb. 25th, 2020

Coming Attractions

February 7 • Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin will be performed by Daniel Hunter-Holly, baritone, and Juan Pablo Andrade, pianist, in the UTRGV Patron of the Arts Faculty Artist Series at 7 p.m. in the TSC Performing Arts Center at 90 Taylor Ave. in Brownsville. Admission is free. The work will be presented with full-stage projections. For special accommodations, call 956-882-7025.

February 8 • The Love Yourself Healthy Fest will be held at Quinta Mazatlán, 600 Sunset Dr. in McAllen from 4 to 8 p.m. Keynote speaker is Dr. Wendy Guess presenting “Love Yourself in 5 Part Harmony,” and the event will feature Sound Healing with Tibetan Singing Bowls, cooking demonstrations, health inspired vendors, forest bathing, mini-massages, sunset yoga, locally sourced harvest dinner, live music and more. Register at LoveYourselfHealthyFest.com; admission is $40 per person. Advanced tickets are required.

• The Fourth Annual Resaca City Bike Tour takes place around the resacas of San Benito with three events – 20 mile, 40.4 mile, and a 62.2-mile. It starts at Heavin Memorial Park, 705 N. Bowie, and all three begin at 7:30 a.m.

Entry fee is $25 until Jan. 31 and $30 after that date, with a no refund policy. Medals will be given to all participants.

Only the first 100 registrants receive T-shirts. Register at https://bit.ly/2QdxdtM. February 11 • The McAllen Wind Ensemble’s next concert, “Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue,” features some of the band’s favorite music along with a little jazz. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at the McAllen Performing Arts Center (MPAC). Tickets are on sale at the MPAC box office or through ticketmaster.com. Seats start at $10. For information, call 682-227-2101 or go to mcallenwindensemble.org.

February 13 • Latin dance instructor Solenne Reyna will share her passion for dance at Quinta Mazatlán, 600 Sunset in McAllen, at 6 p.m. as she leads a Valentine’s Salsa Night with a “Beginners Bachata Class,” for couples and singles. Reyna has been dancing for over 10 years and is ranging from Hip-hop to Tango. Admission is $3 per person. For more information, call 956-681-3370.

February 18 • Flutist Krista Jobson performs at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W. University Dr. in Edinburg. Jobson’s career has covered the musical performance spectrum as soloist, chamber musician, orchestra member and teacher and has taken her across the country and abroad. Admission is free. For special accommodations, call 956-665-3881.

February 19 • Join Dr. Mark Joseph Ramírez for an evening of percussion and free jazz at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W. University Dr. in Edinburg. He will be performing original compositions as well as works by Gordon Stout, Michio Kitazume, Steve Reich, Anders Koppel, and Morton Feldman. The program will also feature students of the UTRGV Percussion Studio and Dr. Josiah Boornazian.

Admission is free. For special accommodations, call 956665-3881.

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

The UTRGV Ballet Folklórico celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. In honor of the major milestone, the company will bring to the stage their annual show, “Alegría,” which tells the story of Mexico’s history and culture through dance told in several sections. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

UTRGV Ballet Folklórico celebrates 50 years of excellence

By Amanda L. Alaniz EDINBURG – Celebrating its 50-year anniversary, the UTRGV Ballet Folklórico presents Alegría 2020 for two weekends in February and another in March.

Performances have been sent for this weekend, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7 and 8, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m., and again the next weekend, Feb. 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. All performances will be staged at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, 1201 W. University Dr. in Edinburg Then, on Saturday, Mar. 22, a final performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the TSC Performing Arts Center, 90 Taylor Ave. in Brownsville.

UTRGV Ballet Folklórico was founded in 1970 at what was then Pan American University by the late Dr. Amilda Thomas, a professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education. Thomas

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retired in 1987, and the reigns of the program were handed over to husband and wife team Francisco Muñoz and Maria Oralia Muñoz.

Following Francisco Muñoz’s retirement in 2018, Miguel Peña, a UTRGV dance lecturer, became the new program director.

Peña said the UTRGV Ballet Folklórico is widely considered one of the most influential ensembles at the collegiate level, in the region and nationally.

“It’s an honor to be here with the Ballet Folklórico,” he said. “Whoever is here in this position, they’re in charge of being the face of folklórico in the Valley.

There’s a lot of other groups here in the Valley, there’s middle school groups, high school groups, that I know look up to this group because it’s the university company of the Rio Grande Valley.”

Some of the dancers say the nationally recognized program has become such a UTRGV cornerstone because of its uniqueness and its representation of culture.

Dance major and Palmview native Brizaida Garcia said after joining the company she switched her major because she grew to love the program.

“Folklórico is rich in culture, and it says a lot about the culture we have here in our region, in the Valley. A lot of people have a passion for it, and I see more people come in and try it and start liking it,” the junior said. “I think that’s why it keeps growing and people keep coming in and falling in love with it, just like I did.”

In celebration of the major milestone, the company will bring to the stage their annual show, “Alegría,” which tells the story of Mexico’s history and culture through dance told in several sections.

Each year they perform it, Peña invites choreographers to help the dancers and change up the dance, as well as bringing something new to the stage.

“Mexico is super rich in tradition and culture and in dances. So, each year we try to show something different from Mexico, to honor the richness that Mexico has in culture, music, dance and traditions,” he said.

About 60 people are involved in the production, including dancers and musicians.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for students and seniors and $5 for children and are available online at patron.utrgv.edu/alegria.

For more information, call 956-665-2230 or visit utrgv. edu/balletfolklorico.

Progress times

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EVENTS

MCISD to offer pediatric virtual care for kids

CALENDAR February 8 – Join the staff at the Mission Historical Museum, 900 Doherty Ave., at 11 a.m. when they host W. F. Strong speaking on “Great Iconic Companies of Texas.” Strong, a Fulbright Scholar, is a Communication and Culture professor at The University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley and writes for Texas Highways magazine. For more information call the museum at 956-580-8646 or go to missionmuseum.org.

February 8 – Cub scouts can earn their Fur, Feathers and Ferns badge observing wildlife and plants, learning about endangered species and doing some gardening at Quinta Mazatlan from 2 to 4 p.m. Each requirement of the badge will be fulfilled, from formulating a plan for their hike and identifying native flora within the thorn forest to recognizing various threatened and endangered species. Registration is $6 per Scout; advance registration is recommended. Quinta Mazatlán is located at 600 Sunset Drive in McAllen. For information, call 956-681-3370.

February 8 – La Posada Providencia will host a brunch and auction at La Sierra Event Center, 3742 N. Expwy. 77, Harlingen. The Ninth Annual Hands & Hearts Brunch and Auction, event raises general funds for hundreds of men, women, children and families who seek shelter at the facility. Tickets are $40 per person in advance and $45 per person at the door.

For more information, contact Alejandra Zepeda at 956-3993826 or azepeda@lppshelter.org or Colleen Price at cprice@ lppshelter.org. To purchase tickets and sponsorships online go to https://lppshelter.org/events/.

(For more Events, go to ptrgv.com.)

Visitors at the annual IMAS Lunar New Year Festival can learn about the cultural practices that occur during the Asian two-week long celebration across the globe.

IMAS festival rings in the Lunar New Year

McALLEN – The International Museum of Art & Science will be hosting its eighth annual Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrate the Year of the Mouse (Rat) alongside RGV’s vibrant Asian community.

Designed for all ages, visitors will explore China, Korea, and Taiwan with traditional calligraphy, art, games and story times by McAllen Public Library children librarians, and more.

Entertainment includes a hip-hop dance by X Studio, a piano performance

by Dr. Jooyoung Kim from UTRGV, and a martial art performance by students from Bob Davis Martial Arts school. A food sampling from local restaurants will take place (while supplies lasts), plus boba tea will be for sale by the Filipino Student Association from UTRGV. Each year, IMAS hosts the Lunar New Year Festival which celebrates the rich traditions of Asian cultures. While the Gregorian calendar that is used in the United States is based on the solar year, the calendar used in most Asian countries, including China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and Tibet, is based on the phases of the moon. Lunar New Year festivals began on Jan. 25, with the first new moon of the lunar calendar, and will end on the first full moon 15 days later. The yearly festival celebrates the coming of spring, and each year is represented

by an animal from the Chinese zodiac. This year, the calendar started at the beginning making 2020 the Year of the Rat. “One of the customs of Lunar New Year is spending time with families and friends. I hope your family will join us for this joyful celebration. I am eager for the RGV community to learn from the Asian organizations that are volunteering their time to teach visitors about their beloved traditions,” states Claudia Gray, IMAS Director of Education.

Experience the customs unique to China, Korea and Taiwan with activities and performances based on these countries’ common traditions. In the Taiwan room, make a lantern and learn about Taiwanese rituals with a question and answer at 2:30 p.m. In China, learn all about the Chinese zodiac, make a mouse bookmark, and see the art of Chinese calligraphy. Play traditional games, experience Korean calligraphy, color a folk-art mask, and try on a hanbok in the Korea room.

For the full event program, visit theimasonline. org. The Lunar New Year Festival is included in cost of general admission and free for IMAS Members. WIC and EBT cardholders can visit the museum for $1 per person. Public school PreK12 educators enter free with a valid ID. IMAS is located at 1900 W. Nolana in McAllen. Call 956-681-2800 for more information.

Telling the story of legendary Texas Ranger EDINBURG – The great, station for steamboats on great grandson of Henry the Rio Grande. In addition Clay Davis, a famous Tex- to the landing, Henry Clay as Ranger, will give a pre- Davis established barracks sentation about his ancestor called Camp Ringgold, latduring the Sunday Speaker er named Fort Ringgold, in Series program, 1848.

Henry “The LegendClay Davis is ary Henry Clay buried at the Davis in EarRio Grande ly Texas,” at City Downtown the Museum Historic Cemeof South Texas tery.

History (MOSDavis, a THistory) on Mission resiSunday, Feb. 9 dent, graduatat 2 p.m. ed from Texas L. Michael Davis L. Michael Women’s Uni“Mike” Davis is the great, versity-Denton/Houston in great grandson of Henry 1980, and is now a retired Clay Davis. He created a physical therapist. booklet with the goal of tellThe program is included ing his ancestor’s story to in the fee for regular museum his family and other history admission. MOSTHistory enthusiasts. Using Dick D. is located at 200 N. Closner Heller Jr.’s manuscript, “The Blvd. Call 956-383-6911 for Story of Henry Clay Davis,” information.

Davis will discuss the life of the former Texas ranger, frontier fighter, enterprising merchant, state senator, brigadier general and founder of Davis Landing, a docking

As parents of Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) work on their child’s online registration for the coming school year, they will have a new form included in the process. This new form could unlock healthcare services to their child that can help parents meet their child’s healthcare needs, and also save time.

MCISD is launching a new partnership with Virtual Care for Kids (VCFK) that will allow the district to bring pediatrician services to each campus nurses’ office via online telemedicine.

The program is designed to provide student-patients the ability to connect via an on-demand video call with a Texas-based pediatrician director from the nurse’s office within minutes. It can provide immediate treatment to many common illnesses as well as onsite rapid testing for strep and flu. The program is being designed to meet the needs of all students, regardless of whether or not they are insured.

“We want to ensure every child in Mission CISD has the highest quality health-

RGV March for Life set for Saturday

McALLEN – The Rio Grande Valley’s March for Life begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at St. Joseph the Worker Church on South 23rd Street in McAllen.

Rev. Daniel E. Flores, bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville, and Rev. Mario A. Avilés, auxiliary bishop, will lead the opening prayers and the procession. Rev. Derlis Garcia, director of the Diocese of Brownsville’s Pro-Life Office, will serve as emcee.

“We’re not protesting,” said Melissa Beltran, associate director of the Diocese of Brownsville’s Pro-Life office. “Rather, we are gathering to celebrate the beauty, value, and dignity of every human life from the moment of conception. We gather to celebrate life. We will pray

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Other MHS DECA students who also participated in the District 1 contests are Gissel Lopez, Miajolie Resendez, Yarah Garcia and Vanessa Garcia.

Mission High School (MHS) DECA Chapter students who recently competed at the DECA District 1 competitions are, left to right, Gissel Lopez, Miajolie Resendez, Yarah Garcia, Vanessa Garcia, Marissa Sandoval, Kimberly Chavez, Robert Ramirez, Joana Juarez, Rochelle Saenz, Emily Gonzalez, Lisa Montez and Makayla Treviño.

that we will soon live in a world where every life is celebrated, valued and protected.”

The event begins with a family-friendly rally at St. Joseph the Worker where Lolis Flores, a local singer, will perform at 8:30 a.m. As the rally ends, the march will form and set off for downtown McAllen, passing near the only abortion clinic in the Rio Grande Valley on its way to a second gathering for prayer at Sacred Heart Church on 15th Street.

Two students Patricio Oliva and Sofia Olivares from the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley will lead the rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet along the way. Both students are active in the Newman Center.

CONGRESSMAN HENRY CUELLAR

MHS DECA students heading to state The Mission High School (MHS) DECA Chapter will be sending eight students to state competitions to be held in Fort Worth in mid-February. The students earned the

care right at their fingertips and we are thrilled to make this a reality,” said Dr. Carol G. Perez, superintendent.

“We’re excited to expand options for access to care for all of our students and families.”

With this, the new Online Telemedicine Program form is a part of online registration. VCFK provides patients the same high-quality pediatric care through a “facetime” style conversation minimizing the typical in-clinic wait times and eliminating the drive time to a clinic.

The online telemedicine visits will be automatically billed to the child’s insurance company. A telemedicine visit typically costs the same as a normal trip to their doctor. Texas Medicaid/ CHIP plans shall be accepted and most visits for Medicaid/ CHIP covered patients will cost nothing.

The online telemedicine program will be piloted at a handful of Mission CISD schools this spring and will then made available at all MCISD schools beginning this fall.

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page 4

February 7, 2020

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MCISD discusses Tom Landry Stadium scoreboard project and gifted and talented services

By Jamie Treviño This week the Mission Consolidated Independent School District met for three committee meetings leading up to next week’s regular board of trustees meeting.

Administration, members of the board present and Superintendent Dr. Carol Perez discussed items that will impact the gifted and talented services and the Tom Landry Stadium scoreboard project.

Transforming Teaching and Learning Committee John Hill, the Director for Advanced Academics at MCISD, presented how the district plans to implement the new state plan for Gifted and Talented Services. Gifted and talented students are children/youth who perform at or shows the potential for performing at a high level of accomplishment when compared to others with the same age, experience and environment.

Hill said gifted and talented students exhibit high performance capability in an intellectual/creative artistic area, possess an unusual capacity for leadership or excels in a specific academic field.

“It’s not necessarily the performance that makes a child gifted, it’s that potential,” Hill said, noting that there is a difference between high-achieving students and gifted students. “A high-achieving student will excel at an assignment pretty much no matter what. They’ll knock it out of the park because that’s what they’re good at. A gifted student might look at that assignment and say ‘why am I going to do it the same way the teacher told me to? Let me try this…’

And then they get distracted.”

Hill said that divergent thinking and creativity is coming into play, and sometimes it comes at a cost because they might not always arrive at the correct answer.

He added that gifted students

sometimes even make an assignment more challenging because they are looking for a different way to do things.

The state goal for gifted and talented students can demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research and communication, and will develop innovative products and performances reflecting their individuality and creativity advanced to those comparable to them.

High school graduates who have participated in gifted and talented services will make “projects and performances of professional quality as part of their program’s services.”

MCISD aims to provide these services so students can achieve when they get to high school and beyond. Currently MCISD provides services such as curriculum enrichment, teacher resources, professional learning communities (PLCs), identification and testing, GT training, Texas Performance Standards Project, Duke TIP and extracurricular activities such as Destination Imagination, Science Bowl, Math Counts and the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association (TMSCA).

At MCISD a student can be tested for the GT program as many times as they want, and once they are classified as gifted they will stay in the program unless their parent wishes to remove them.

The new state plan mostly follows the former state plan, but level descriptors changed from “in compliance” to “recommended,” and “exemplary” to “accountability” and “exemplary.” Hill said MCISD won’t have to change much from their current program because they are already meeting requirements, and most of the changes involve moving activities that used to be “recommended” to “in compliance.”

The new state plan must be implemented fully by

2022-2023.

Facilities/Environment Committee Ricardo Rivera, the Executive Director for Facilities, Maintenance and Construction, discussed what the next steps for the Tom Landry Stadium scoreboard project will be.

Last fall, the district entered into a contract with Hinojosa Engineering, Inc. to do an assessment of the stadium.

Rivera said he, Dr. Perez, representatives from the firm and administration met to discuss the status of the assessment last week.

The firm contracted Millennium Engineering to do a forensic evaluation of the piers, and they plan to do a radar scanning of all the piers to see if there was still proper bonding. For a preliminary test they looked at one pier (out of 156), and Rivera said it did show there was “too much space between the rebar and the anchor bolts.” The firm wants to do a forensic scan for this reason.

At this time, Rivera said MCISD is only going to do a scan on half of the piers and see how the results come in before presenting to the committee and seeing if they can do the other half. For all 156 piers to be tested, it will cost $56,000.

“According to the plans and specs there’s a minimum of four inches that there should be between the anchor bolts and the rebar,” Rivera said. “On the only one [pier] that they checked, there was a seven-inch difference, a gap.

When that happens, if they sway, that’s going to be the breaking point.”

The Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium Scoreboard Project will include a new LED video panel, sponsor panels and an improved sound system. It is estimated to cost $1.6 million, and will be internally financed.

Photo courtesy of the city of Mission.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa and the 5x5 Brewing Co. team toast with glasses of craft beer made at the brewery in Mission.

Veteran, senator, now craft beer investor Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa joins local brewery team

By Jamie Treviño Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa is taking his support of 5x5 Brewing Co. to the next level.

Hinojosa, a Marine Corps veteran from the Vietnam era, became an investor for the local craft brewery located in Mission last week.

An announcement was made regarding his joining of the ownership team at the brewery, located in the Mission Center for Education and Economic Development.

Hinojosa first became a fan of 5x5 at their opening in 2016. Since then he has become a strong supporter.

“I like the program,” Hinojosa said. “They focus on helping veterans, they have apprenticeship programs, they have employees who are veterans, they train veterans to start their own businesses such as breweries.”

5x5 Brewing Co. is owned and operated by veterans of the United States Military. Hinojosa is glad to be joining as an investor.

“It’s owned by veterans, 100 percent, and I’m a veteran so I was honored to join the team,” Hinojosa said.

“It’s in support of veterans, and it’s the best draft beer I’ve ever tasted.”

Being a veteran includes a

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history of shared experiences that connect people across generations, and Hinojosa is glad to be promoting that through 5x5.

“We’re bonding from Vietnam to Afghanistan to Desert Storm to other parts of the world,” Hinojosa said.

“These are men and women who volunteer for the armed forces to defend our country, defend our freedom and protect our families.”

Hinojosa found 5x5 to be a great place to meet up with other veterans, and thinks it is good for the heart and soul that their experiences are shared.

“The focus is not politics, it’s not Republicans or Democrats, the focus is on who we are as Americans,” Hinojosa said. “We want to talk to other veterans that need our help.”

Hinojosa added that veterans are family - they are the brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers, uncles, aunts and neighbors - so it is important to support them in adjusting back to civilian life.

“We are one family,” Hinojosa said. “For 20 years after the Vietnam War, veterans were not provided with the proper support by our communities.”

Returning to America now after serving has been better

in recent history according to Hinojosa, but there is still support and services that are necessary for all veterans.

“They need to feel welcome here at home, that the community will help them to be successful after being in combat zones.”

The initiative, energy and discipline of the team at 5x5 Brewing Co. is what initially caught Hinojosa’s attention in 2016.

“It’s like in the Marine Corps, you get things done,” Hinojosa said. “When you have challenges, you meet those challenges, you don’t answer questions with ‘I don’t know,’ you say ‘I will look into it, let me find out, I’ll get an answer,’ and that’s the kind of can-do attitude and leadership that was born in the military.”

Hinojosa hopes to help continue what 5x5 is doing in growing the industry, reaching out to veterans and ensuring they have a place to call home.

“We want to enjoy and conduct events where we have vendors come in and share part of the profit with charitable veteran organizations,” Hinojosa said. “We’re very pro-community. I’m just so happy and proud to be part of this team.”

MISSION HOUSING

Gloria Rodriguez, a caseworker and coordinator with the Mission Housing Authority said.

To graduate, a participant must be free of welfare assistance for 12 months after learning how to tackle their financial challenges, grow their income and earn a little extra for their troubles in the form of an escrow savings account that the housing authority cashes out for them upon completion.

Participants must finish the program within five years unless they are granted a twoyear extension, or risk forfeiting their escrow.

The funding will go toward the salary of Rodriguez and a second coordinator, MHA Chairwoman Connie Garza said.

“We’re going to be able to help more families to obtain the self-sufficiency they need to better their lives,” Garza said.

Cuellar also presented the Housing Authority of Hidalgo County with a $95,306 check at the press conference. The program currently serves 101 families in the agency.

HUD awarded nearly $80 million to 700 Public Housing Authorities across the country, 35 of those in Texas. According to Zuleika K. Morales-Romero, every housing authority in the Valley received funding for their FFS program.

“It’s a successful program, it helps the residents of the housing authorities become self-sufficient to be independent in the long

run and no longer live under the assistance of the housing authority,” Morales-Romero said. “Every housing authority and community is different so there’s a lot of tailoring being done so it’s very important you work with those residents and with these programs funded they can do that.”

Cuellar praised the Mission Housing authority which graduates families from its FSS program every six months and had one family graduate last month.

“The housing authorities in the Valley get it, they understand people need public housing but we need a way to move them out to get the training and education they need to stand on their own,” Rep. Cuellar said. “We want to make sure we put more money in the program by making sure it works to continue to fight for more funding.”

The program concluded with Chairwoman Garza receiving a special recognition from Cuellar for 50 years of community service.

According to Cuellar, Garza was the city’s first female patrol officer, the first female firefighter in the city and has served on numerous boards including the Mission school district, Mission Boys and Girls Club and Mujeres Unidas.

“I am so honored to be the recipient of this recognition,” Garza said. “I’ve volunteered so much because I care about the community, it’s why I’ve done it all these years.”

February 7, 2020

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MHA to suspend taking housing applications

By Jose De Leon III Due to a waiting list containing four years’ worth of applications, the Mission Housing Authority will temporarily refuse incoming housing applications next month.

“We really don’t have a problem, it’s just we have an excessive amount of applications on file which is normal,” newly appointed interim MHA Executive Director Antonio “Tony” San-

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doval said. “Some agencies regularly close their waiting lists for weeks or months, we just want to get a handle on it since I just started here.”

The suspension was approved at the regular board meeting for the housing authority last month and a legal notice announcing the upcoming suspension was published on the Progress Times’ Friday, Jan. 31 issue.

The suspension will go into effect Friday, March 13 at 5 p.m.

According to Sandoval, that waiting list of applicants for housing has 2,000 applicants waiting to be either housed in one of the 245 low rent units at the housing authority or be part of the 745 section 8 housing units where rent is fully covered by the housing authority. The housing authority is running at about 90 percent capacity for all of its units, Sandoval said.

The housing authority will contact those on the

LIONS PARK

a redesign of the park and a potential satellite recycling center. The first phase of the project will include the inclusive playscape, a project the city has been working on for some time.

“We had been discussing it for some time,” Perez said.

“Lions Park, because we felt it was central, it became the designated park that we would do first.”

Bentsen said that ever since he has been Parks and Recreation Director, the need has been brought up by residents in the form of comments and complaints.

“It is a growing need that the states are being faced with,” Bentsen said.

“There’s been a lot of murmuring and discussions in the background.”

As nothing has been decided, Mission does not know what the cost estimations for the projects would be. Perez noted that the city would be seeking grant funding for Lions Park, and Bensten added that other inclusive parks have funding sourced from donors.

“The grant process is like a year,” Bentsen said.

“There’s individuals as well as corporate support for something like this.”

“We’re already working on that,” Perez added, speaking on the grant seeking process. “I believe there’s plenty of opportunity out there.”

With an inclusive park and satellite recycling center, Mission leaders aim to meet the needs of residents and members of surrounding communities.

“We want everyone to have access to our amenities,” Perez said. “All-inclusive includes everyone in our community, regardless of any disability that they might have.”

The satellite recycling center, which may be at Lions Park or located in another park depending on the final redesign, will work as either a drive-thru or dropoff model.

“Whether it’s there or a different location - because we have several properties that we’re looking at throughout the city - the goal is to have a building where you either drive through or drive by and drop off your recyclables,” Perez explained. “We’re looking at a central location at first, and eventually we want to have other locations to be able to have everyone utilize it through the different areas of our city.”

The priority for Lions Park, however, is the inclusive playscape. Bentsen said that often, disabled children have had to watch on the sidelines as their siblings utilized amenities, so creating an inclusive park will open up the opportunity for everyone - parents and children alike - to partake.

“Somebody with a disability will be able to enjoy the same things, they can play along side by side,” Bentsen said.

Perez hopes that the all-inclusive park will draw people not only from Mission, but surrounding communities.

“Our parks are open to any and all,” Perez said. “In a lot of our projects we look at regionalization, and we welcome everyone to our city. Everyone is welcome to use our amenities, especially our parks.”

Once completed, Mission expects to host new all-inclusive events at Lions Park, and are already facilitating with local organizations to make it happen.

Perez and Bentsen added that Mission has already begun making strides toward growing parks and amenities, citing the bustling Mission Tennis Center which opened just last year.

The CTA (Community Tennis Association) is hosting a tournament this weekend, and the complex has worked with blind tennis players in their own tournament.

“We don’t want to leave anyone out,” Perez said.

No set meeting has been planned for Lions Park, but Bensten and Perez are ready to get started no matter how long it takes.

“Now that it’s evolved and gotten to this level, that kind of cuts out a year of the project, but we still have to do the whole design phase, do the feasibility study and come up with funding,” Bentsen said. “The magnitude of the playground equipment itself is sizable.

It’s something that won’t happen overnight, but there’s some outlying structures so that we can at least get the ball going.”

waiting list by mail to ask if they still want to be on the list. Those who do not respond will be “purged” from the list, Sandoval said.

“Some of them may not need housing anymore but it could take up to six weeks to hear back from them. We may have to keep the applications closed because of all the people we have,” San-

doval added. “I hate to give someone a false sense of hope because we get people who apply and then constantly call to ask if they have moved up on the list. You hate to be the one to tell them ‘You’re at the bottom.’”

Sandoval, who previously served as the executive director for the Edcouch Housing Authority, said his

housing authority had a similar backlog at one point that caused a suspension in applications that lasted more than eight months.

“I don’t think it will take that long to purge it and get a handle on it because we are blessed with more staff members in this agency,” Sandoval said. “It can be done.”

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February 7, 2020

www.ptrgv.com

SPORTSweek

Luciano Guerra

www.ptrgv.com/sports

Sports Editor

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

The UIL released it’s realignments for the 2020-21 and the 2021-22 school years this week at a meeting attended by Valley high school coaches, athletic coordinators, athletic directors and members of the media. Progress Times photo by John Hamann.

All mixed up UIL reveals new district assignments

By John Hamann The box is sealed and clearly marked. “Do not open until 9:00 A.M. (CST) Monday, February 3, 2020.” Inside the box are packets that will reveal the 2020-21 and 2021-22 tentative volleyball, basketball, and football district assignments from the UIL. Waiting along with the box at the Harlingen CISD Aquatics Center this past Monday were coaches, athletic directors, administrators and members of the media from all over the Valley, anxious to see the contents. At 9 am many of them crowded the table the box sat upon to be given a copy of the assignments while others used their cell phones to bring up the same information from the UIL website. Both groups would now find out what had been the subject of predictions and speculation dating back to last year: what district their schools and teams would be a part of for the next two years and who their opponents would be.

For those associated with the seven high schools from the Mission, Sharyland and La Joys school districts, the Big 7, there was a mixture of emotions before the information became available.

Sharyland High head football coach Ron Adame has been through the process, which takes place every two years, numerous times. “They’re always interesting,” said Adame about the reveals. “You’re going to have some people that are pleased; you’re going to have some that are surprised.

We’ve been in situations where we’ve felt both. But hopefully today there’s no surprise.”

“It’s exciting; it’s always a fun time,” said Mission Veterans head football coach David Gilpin. The Patriots have already known since December that their football team would be moving from UIL Class 5A Div. I to UIL Class 5A Div. II based on earlier released enrollment numbers. A number of other Valley schools were anticipating moving down from 6A to 5A as well, fueling the speculation and the nerves. Gilpin felt confident on where his football team would be placed but wondered about the assignments the school’s other sports would receive. “I am curious to see what’s going to happen to our other sports,” he said. Not knowing exactly what would be revealed was on the minds of others too, perhaps none greater than some in attendance from La Joya.

“I’m a little nervous,” said Juarez-Lincoln head football coach Tomas Garcia. “You know there is a lot of talk about us going over to play in the district with the Laredo schools.”

La Joya ISD Athletic Director Victor Garza was clear about what he wanted to see.

“We’re hoping to stay in the Valley. That’s number one,” said Garza. Valley teams have at times in the past found themselves included in districts with schools from Laredo and Corpus Christi and the extra travel, among other things, is always a concern. “Somebody has to travel,” added Garza.” That’s what they (the UIL) will always tell you. Hopefully it’s not us.”

As the assignments became public, Garza, along with a few others received mixed results.

For starters, the schools of the Big 7 will

get to stay in the Valley when football season rolls around next fall, although there will be some changes. Like the last two years, the seven teams will be split among three different districts although some new opponents will be there to greet them.

La Joya High, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln and Mission High are still in the 6A class but will now be part of District 31-6A instead of 30-6A. The new alignment keeps them with PSJA High and PSJA North while adding the four Edinburg high schools to the mix in a nine team district. The same schools will be grouped together for volleyball and basketball too.

“It was a little bit different than what we expected,” said Mission High football coach Koy Detmer, “but it was one of the things we thought could happen.” Detmer went on to comment how he expected it to be a challenging district.

La Joya High head football coach Reuben Farias agreed with Detmer’s assessment of the new district. “It’s a bigger district; a tougher district. But overall we won’t have to travel, better for us community-wise. It’s good to go back to Edinburg.”

UIL District 16-5A Div. I remains a ten team football district that includes La Joya Palmview along with four schools from Brownsville, three from McAllen, Donna High and Weslaco East. Five of the ten teams, including Palmview, made the playoffs last season.

“It’s going to be a dog fight just like last year,” said Palmview head football coach Margarito Requenez.

“The sad thing about it is there is going to be a couple of teams that aren’t going to make the playoffs next year.

Hopefully I’m not one of them.”

The same scenario could also happen in UIL District 16-5A Div. II as the nine team district also features five teams that made the playoffs last season. The five includes Big 7 schools Mission Veterans, Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer. The rest of the district includes PSJA Memorial and Southwest along with Valley View, Roma, Edcouch-Elsa and Mercedes.

“It’s going to be a good football district and a really good all-sports district for us,” said Sharyland Pioneer head football coach Tom Lee. Coach Lee was referring to the district that Pioneer, who along with Sharyland High, will compete in when it comes to the sports of volleyball, basketball, and most likely, some other sports beginning in the fall.

Along with the Rattlers and Diamondbacks, District 31-5A will have the three McAllen schools, PSJA Memorial, PSJA Southwest and Valley View.

Sharyland High volleyball coach Raul Castillo spoke about the make-up of the new district too. “It’s going to a good one. It’s going to be a very competitive district. This is what you want as a coach and as players is to be with the toughest teams.”

Not every school could, however, stay completely in the Valley. The reveal for volleyball and basketball placed La Joya Palmview and Mission Veterans in District 30-5A along with Laredo Cigarroa, Laredo Martin, Rio Grande City and Roma.

Mission ISD Athletic Director Leticia Ibarra expressed concern that the six schools may be hard pressed to find non-district opponents to play but stayed positive about the morning’s atmosphere and its outcome.

“It’s always exciting to show up every two years; (the) anticipation. We’ll make it work.”

February 7, 2020

page 7

www.ptrgv.com ond half the Rattlers struck again, when a deflected cross found Marcelo Rodriguez standing alone at the far post. His volley extended the Sharyland lead to 3-0 before Alonzo Gonzalez closed out the scoring; putting a shot in from close range with 34 minutes left in the game after a nifty bit of dribbling got him past the defense.

Rodriguez talked about the importance of keeping everyone involved in the game. “If you’re not willing to play with the team the results at the end of the day are not going to come out.”

Coach Reveriano Hernandez talked about the offensive play of his team.

“We’re just trying to get a feel for the ball. Right now I think we are in the process of learning to play as a team.

I think we are headed in the right direction.”

Like the Lady Rattlers, the Rattlers also got solid play from their defense. Led

Repeat sweeps Sharyland High soccer teams take down Pioneer

Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra.

by goalie Julian Garza and a back line of Luis Lastra, Cristobal Flores, Alejandro Espinoza and Felipe Andrade, the group gave the Diamondbacks only a few real opportunities to score.

Pioneer came into the night’s game having struggled to get results with a very young team. “We’re playing a lot better than from the very beginning,” said Diamondbacks coach Alex Lopez. Pioneer opened district play with a narrow 3-2 defeat against PSJA Southwest before beating La Joya Palmview 1-0. As far as the way his team performed against the Rattlers, Lopez added, “My guys played the best they could have but this time we just had a very tough opponent.”

Both teams are on the road tonight with Sharyland travelling to Rio Grande City and Pioneer visiting Mission Veterans. Both games are scheduled to start at 8 pm.

Pioneer’s Nicolas Contreras goes up to hit a header while Sharyland’s Marcelo Garza looks on during the first half of the Rattlers’ 4-0 victory over the Diamondbacks Tuesday evening.

By John Hamann One week after opening district play with a pair of victories over La Joya Palmview, the Lady Rattlers and Rattlers soccer teams of Sharyland High did it again with identical 4-0 victories over Sharyland Pioneer Tuesday night at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission. Combined with their victories over Roma last Friday, both teams are now 3-0 in District 31-5A. In the opener both the Lady Rattlers and Lady Diamondbacks took turns probing openings in the others defense over the first 20 minutes of the first half but neither put any significant pressure on the other.

That changed soon after when Sharyland High’s Xochitl Nuguma was fouled while making a move from about 28 yards out. Nguma put enough power on her ensuing free kick to keep the Pioneer goalie from securing it cleanly, allowing Anacecilia Pena to put the rebound into the back of the net for the game’s first goal. The Lady Rattlers tried to extend the lead on a number of shots from Nguma in the last five minutes of the first half but the Lady Diamondbacks defense was able to keep the deficit at 1 going into the half.

Pioneer saw their best chances to tie the game 10 minutes into the second with a free kick of their own and two corner kicks, only to see their shots either stopped or fly over the net.

A short time later Nguma was back on the attack, winning a penalty kick after being tripped up in the box, and putting it home to increase the Lady Rattlers lead to 2-0.

Her next shot made it 3-0 after she dribbled past several

defenders before guiding the ball past the goalie and into the net just inside the far post. Pena scored her second, and the team’s last of the night, when she hustled to a loose ball in the box and tapped it in with 10 minutes to play.

The four goals were more than enough for the win as the Lady Rattlers goalie Yarisbeth Zarate and the teams back line of Mattison Gonzalez, Erin Requenez, Lilibeth Zarate and Chole Ribera stopped or sent back all of the Lady Diamondbacks attacks.

“Our back line has to ready for anything,” said Gonzalez, one of seven sophomores on a very young team that also suits up seven freshmen.

Goaile Zarate is one of the freshmen and she is glad to have a rock solid defense in front of her. “They know how to talk to each other and they really know how to work together. They really save my life sometimes.”

Lady Rattlers coach Mario Ribera was pleased with the night’s efforts. “I’m very proud for our girls,” he said.

“Everything went our way.

We did the right things and the goals came in.”

After starting district play with two wins of their own, Pioneer coach JJ Lopez was pleased with how his teams opened this game. “The first twenty minutes it was a pretty even match and then they had that one goal off of the free kick and it brought us down a little; got us a little distracted and disorganized in the back. They (Sharyland) opened it up in the second half and we just couldn’t recover.”

Both teams are back in action tonight as Sharyland High travels to Rio Grande City and Pioneer visits Mis-

sion Veterans. Both games are scheduled for 6 pm starts.

In the second game of the night, the Sharyland High boys’ teams combined relentless pressure all over the field with an unselfish passing attack in taking down Pioneer 4-0.

The Rattlers dominated possession and kept the Diamondbacks defense on their heels for most of the night with attacks from every side of the goal. Jose Ponce headed in a well-placed corner kick from Luis Delgado just 12 minutes in to the game to open the scoring and Aldo Rosales was in the right place at the right time, putting Manuel Cantu’s hard shot on goal into the back of the net after it rebounded off the Diamondbacks goalie to make it 2-0 seven minutes later.

Ponce spoke about how his team responds when they score. “When we score that first goal everything gets easier for us.”

The Rattlers didn’t relax

Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra.

Pioneer’s Bella Austin and Sharyland’s Mattison Gonzalez both go for the ball during the first half of the Lady Rattlers’ 4-0 victory over the Lady Diamondbacks Tuesday evening.

with the lead either, putting together a number of other opportunities before the half ended. Pioneer managed to hold them off for the rest of the half but early in the sec-

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February 7, 2020

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LJ NEW FUNDING

ways to run the city and its projects to help them save money.

“What I can guarantee is I will get you funds for your projects,” Garza said. “I’m helping you find ways to find money that way the $7,500 is not a burden for you. What’s the return on that? Look at the cities I’ve been involved in, we’ve had new parks, public works buildings and a hospital coming there soon. I feel optimistic I will be doing the same thing there.”

Mayor Casanova however brought up the financial issues the city is facing, such as a recent fine from the Texas Commission on Environmental Equality over irregularities at the city’s water treatment plant and the budget for the current fiscal year that was approved last fall-before he, Hernandez and Macias were elected to the city council.

“It’s just not budgeted right now,” Casanova said. “We need to have the monies allocated before we jump in. I know you guys are doing something important but with all the issues we’re having we have to be careful with the way we spend the money and take small steps before taking big ones.”

The council members discussed the possibility of having a relationship with RGEC in a grant-by-grant basis so the firm can help the city go after grants and give a fee to the firm, which council members said they felt comfortable with.

“It’s certainly not the optimal momentum you’ll want but it’s one that will get you where you want to be or, based on what you said, you need to be,” Garza said. “I made an analysis of all the money I could go after this year and it totals $1.375M. We’re not going to get those on a grant by grant basis, we’ll probably get a quarter of that but let me be a component in what you want to do.”

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LOCAL FORUM

community becoming aware of what challenges face this community and maybe make it part of their platform.”

Candidates who participated in the forum included incumbents Senator Eddie Lucio Jr., Rep. Sergio Munoz Jr, Rep. Bobby Guerra and Rep. Terry Canales. The four individuals were in panels joined by their opponents in their respective races.

Questions asked in the panel included what sort of policies should be put in place to improve employment opportunities for those with disabilities, increase access to public transportation and what steps are needed to ensure Texas public schools can adequately provide resources to special needs students.

All the candidates agreed that more funding is key to

provide adequate resources to the disabled community.

“You’re not getting the funding you need,” Sara Stapleton-Barrera, a Democratic candidate for Texas senate District 27 said. “We need to figure out why that is to ensure we don’t have trouble doing something like paying our special education teachers adequately. I have a sister who is a special education teacher and she frequently calls me to tell me how underfunded her department is.”

Vanessa Tijerina, a republican candidate for Texas senate District 27, said that with funding for those programs, disabled individuals will learn valuable skills.

“We need to make sure we prepare them for the real world,” Tijerina said. “We need an initiative to prepare

them for adult living which includes employment skills and we also should remove the stigma of hiring disabled individuals by creating policy to hire folks with disabilities.”

State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. said he has previously introduced legislation to extend equal job opportunities to the disabled community and plans to prioritize education to special needs students.

“We need to start with the goal that people with special needs should be able to participate in the workforce to ensure job opportunities are available to all,” Lucio said.

“Ensuring all Texas educators are prepared to teach all students is a top priority. We need to have a meeting sum-

Notices Francelia Arredondo MISSION – Francelia Arredondo, 85, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, at her home.

Dubiel Barrias ALTON – Dubiel Barrios, 27, passed away on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at Scenic Mountain Medical Center in Big Spring.

Irma De Leon MISSION – Irma R. De Leon, 73, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in San Antonio.

Paul Earp MISSION – Paul J. Earp, 80, passed away on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, at Alfredo Gonzales Texas State Veterans Nursing Home in McAllen.

Violet Evans MISSION – Violet Evans, 99, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, at Waterford Gardens in Mission.

Librada Gandaria PALMVIEW – Librada Aguilar Gandaria, 78, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

mit here in the Valley inviting all stakeholders to come before Valley delegation to share these concerns.”

Ultimately, Pecina said, she hopes that candidates leave the forum with an understanding of what issues disabled voters are prioritizing.

“We want the candidates to see we are a unified community,” Pecina said. “There are a lot of voices here and we all believe education and awareness is key to affect individuals who remain in the forefront such as our representatives and senators. We want to be on their mind when they’re up there making legislation that could help the disabled community.”

Ramona Garza MISSION – Ramona C. Garza, 76, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, at her home in Mission.

Carlos Grosso PALMVIEW – Carlos Grosso, 86, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, at his home in Palmview.

Baldemar Morales MISSION – Baldemar Morales, 61, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Claudia Mornout MISSION – Claudia Ann Mornout, 71, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at her home.

Rogelio Salazar MISSION – Rogelio Salazar, 87, passed away on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Guadalupe Salinas MISSION – Guadalupe “Lolo” Salinas, 76, passed away on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Remilo Salinas MISSION – Remilo Salinas, 77, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

February 7, 2020

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www.ptrgv.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 Sale LIVING ROOM FURNITURE, only 1 sofa and 1 loveseat left, $550 OBO; Dining room furniture plus china, 2 arm chairs and 4

regular chairs, price drop to $680 OBO, call 956-445-7562, leave message if no answer.

FOR SALE, LOTS 157, 158, 159 to be sold as 1 unit at The Lamplighter 55

ORDINANCE NO. 01-20-20 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALMHURST ADOPTING AND ENACTING REVISED RATES FOR GARBAGE COLLECTION, WHEREAS THE CITY ADOPTS THE FOLLOWING: $26.53 FOR ONE CART; $34.62 FOR TWO CARTS; $48.58 FOR THREE CARTS READ, CONSIDERED, AND PASSED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF JANUARY 2020 Ramiro J. Rodriguez, Jr., Mayor Attest: Lori A. Lopez, City Manager

and over community located at 2240 S. Bentsen Palm

Dr. in Palmview, TX, includes 2 septic systems, water, and

electric, call 717418-0461 for more information.

Services ANAHI’S CLEANING SERVICE, we

clean houses, apartments, offices, etc., we have references, free estimates, call

Maria Hernandez at 956-651-2792 or 956-468-1637.

Sharyland Independent School District: Public Hearing Notice Sharyland Independent School District will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m., February 24, 2020 at the Sharyland Pioneer High School Auditorium, 10001 N. Shary Rd. Mission, Texas.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school district’s Academic Performance Report for the 2018-2019 school year. In accordance with Texas Education Code Chapter 39, each district’s board of trustees is required to publish an annual report that includes the TAPR, campus performance objectives, a report of violent or criminal incidents, and information received under Texas Education Code §51.403(e) from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The board of trustees is required to hold a hearing for public discussion of the report.

PROBATE NO. P-39,686 CITATION BY PUBLICATION ************* THE STATE OF TEXAS DON PRICE AND THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF EARNEST PRICE, DECEASED On the 30th day of December, 2019, JERI MILLER filed an Amended application for Probate of will as Muniment of Title in a proceeding styled the ESTATE OF EARNEST PRICE, DECEASED, and bearing Probate Case Number P-39,686 in the Probate Court of Hidalgo County, Texas.

The Court may hear the said Amended application for Probate of will as Muniment of Title at 10:00 A.M. on the first Monday after the expiration of ten (10) days from the date this citation is published, at the County Courthouse in Edinburg, Texas.

All persons interested in the aforesaid estate are commanded to appear at or before the time set for said hearing by filing a written contest or answer to the Amended Application for Probate of will as Muniment of Title should they desire to oppose or contest it. Said written contest or answer shall be filed in the office of the County Clerk of Hidalgo County, Texas, in Edinburg, Texas.

The officer serving this citation shall, in compliance with the law, serve it by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation in this, the county in which such proceeding is pending, for not less than ten (10) days before the return day hereof, exclusive of the day of publication and the date of publication said newspaper bears shall be the day of publication.

If this citation is not served withing 90 days after the date of issuance, it shall be returned unserved.

ISSUED UNDER MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF SAID COURT at office in Edinburg, Texas, this the 30th day of January 2020.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that the Palmview Zoning Board of Adjustments will hold a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Palmview City Hall Council Chambers, 400 West Veterans Blvd, Palmview, Texas to consider the following: • Discussion and possible action for a Variance, requested by Matilde C. Garcia, to allow a mobile home at LA ESTRELLA LOT 25.

• Discussion and possible action for a Variance, requested by Juan Carlos Torres Jr. and Daniela Garcia, to allow driveway access from Showers Rd. at VILLA RAMA EAST PH. 2 LOT 45.

For additional information, please call the Planning Department at (956) 432-0300.

Planning Director: Rodolfo Flores III CITATION BY PUBLICATION THE STATE OF TEXAS FLORENCIO ABEL LOZANO GARZA 3304 HILLCREST APT 1 MISSION TX 78573 OR WHEREVER HE MAY BE FOUND

Greetings: YOU (AND EACH OF YOU) ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to appear

before the County Court At Law #4 of Hidalgo County at the Courthouse being located at 100 N. Closner, in the City of Edinburg, Hidalgo County, Texas, by filing a written answer at or before 10 o’clock A.M. of the first Monday next after the expiration of forty-two days (MARCH 16, 2020) from the date of the issuance of this citation, the date for answer being the to Plaintiff’s Petition filed in said Court, on the 17th day of July, 2019, in this cause, numbered CL-19-3792-D on the docket of said Court and styled MERI L. GOMEZ; AS NEXT FRIEND OF R.R., MINOR VS FLORENCIO ABEL LOZANO GARZA A brief statement of the name of this suit is as follows, to-wit:* * INJURY OR DAMAGE - MOTOR VEHICLE (OCA) The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates hereof, and make due return as the law directs.

Witness, ARTURO GUAJARDO, JR., Clerk of the County Court(s) of Hidalgo County, Texas.

Issued and given under my hand and the seal of said Court at office this the .

NOTICE You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney’s do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 A.M. on the Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you.

Plaintiff/Plaintiff’s Attorney:

JESUS A. ZAMBRANO 3900 N 10TH STREET SUITE 970 MCALLEN TX 78501

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February 7, 2020

www.ptrgv.com

Mission museum screens movie filmed in Mission

By Jose De Leon III Decades after its release in theaters, a movie set and filmed in the city of Mission was honored Wednesday.

“She Came to the Valley,” a 1979 film set in the city of Mission, was screened to audiences at the Mission Historical Museum at two sold showings throughout the day.

The movie was based on the 1943 novel by Cleo Dawson and is based on her mother’s experiences when her family

moved to the Valley in the early 1900s.

“The Dawson family were pioneers in the city, they arrived in 1908 after the city was formed and were here as the city grew,” museum curator and archivist Vernon Weckbacher said.

The film, starring Academy-Award nominee Ronee Blakley, Scott Glenn, Dean Stockwell and Tejano music star Freddy Fender, follows a family who move to the city of Mission seeking

a better way of life and end up caught in the middle of a battle between revolutionary leader Pancho Villa and government soldiers.

“It’s so far the only major Hollywood production filmed in Mission,” Weckbacher said. “The novel it is based on was popular and went through multiple printings throughout its publications and Cleo because a figure in pop culture as a famous psychiatrist and public speaker. For many people,

Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III

Attendees watching a screening of the 1979 film “She Came to the Valley,” which was filmed in the city of Mission and based on a book by local resident Cleo Dawson Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020.

Y T I N U Comm FREE ADMISSION

of the book, a Hollywood producer met with Cleo and picked up the rights to make the movie.

“The movie was a big deal here back then,” Weckbacher said. “A lot of local people had parts in it, I was here when the movie was made and released and it played to sold out showings in the local theaters because everyone wanted to see their town in a big movie. Of course the movie wasn’t a big hit but you wouldn’t know that from the reaction it got here.”

Cleo taught Spanish at Mission High School before meeting and marrying an army officer and moving to Kentucky where she lived out the remainder of her life, Weckbacher said. Despite the move, Cleo frequently visited the Valley, maintaining friendships with people in the city, having a room in her Kentucky house decorated in Mission memorabilia and participating in the

TxDOT has safety advice for driving in hazardous winter road conditions

3:00 P.M.

434 W. Palma Vista Dr. • Palmview, TX

Saturday -Feb. 22, 2020

In a state as large as Texas, winter driving conditions can vary widely and change quickly. It is important for drivers to be prepared to handle potentially dangerous conditions during cold weather months.

• Always buckle up – every person, every ride. Wearing a seat belt is one of the best safety protections in any kind of weather.

• Before hitting the road, check DriveTexas.org or call

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Texas Citrus Fiesta Parade of Oranges every year until she passed away in 1991.

According to Weckbacher, Cleo only wrote one other book that was unpublished and a screenplay based on the manuscript that is being stored in the museum archives. Despite only having written one book, Weckbacher said “She Came to the valley” leaves behind an impactful legacy in the city of Mission.

“There’s a lot of local pride in the book, movie and in Cleo Dawson,” Weckbacher said. “It’s a historical story that is an accurate portrayal of the spirit and setting of the city back then. The book tells you about some of the building blocks that built the Valley.”

Copies of the book and of DVD for “She Came to the Valley” can be purchased at the Mission Historical Museum.

BE SAFE. DRIVE SMART.

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the story of ‘She came to the Valley’ was the first time mainstream audiences were introduced to the Valley and life there.”

The novel is “historical fiction” according to Weckbacher with many characters and events based on real people and events the Dawsons experienced in Mission.

According to the curator, the Dawsons moved to the city of Mission after living in Laredo and hearing of the agricultural opportunities available in Mission. Dawson’s father and sister eventually died a few years after moving to the area, leaving behind her and her mother. Her mother eventually opened up a general store and a lady’s boutique store and the two held a special bond that led to Cleo writing the novel in honor of her mother after her mother died in 1937.

During a book tour to promote the hardcover edition

Meet Honey. She is an energetic lab mix with a very loving disposition. Honey is about 6 months old and is hoping for a forever home. If you are interested, contact the Mission Pawsible Program at 956-580-8741, M-F, 8AM5PM. The City of Mission Animal Shelter is located at 227 Abelino Farias, and is open throughout the week and on Saturdays - 9AM to 4PM. The cost to adopt is $50, which includes: Spay/Neuter, Rabies Shot, First Vaccine, Microchip and Deworming. To view more animals in the Mission Pawsible Program, visit missiontexas.us.

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800.452.9292 for road closures and listen to weather forecasts.

Tips for Getting Car Ready for Winter Travel • Prepare your vehicle for winter driving by checking its antifreeze, battery, tires, windshield wipers, and lights, including brake lights and blinkers.

• Let others know your route and expected arrival time, building in extra time for delays.

• Put together an emergency roadside kit to keep in your vehicle, just in case. This should include water, snacks, blankets, jumper cables, etc.

Tips for Driving in Winter Conditions • Slow down and increase the following distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. It can take twice as long to stop on wet roads and even longer on icy roads.

• Do not use cruise control, which may cause you to lose control on icy surfaces.

• Brake gently, applying slow, steady pressure to test traction.

• Approach turns, bridges and shaded spots slowly. If you find yourself in a skid, stay calm and keep both hands on the wheel. Take your foot off the gas, look where you want to go, and then steer in that direction.

• Keep a safe distance away from snowplows and TxDOT vehicles as they treat roadways.

Tips for Driving in Fog • Use low beam headlights and fog lights, if you have them.

Do not use high beams (bright lights).

• Slow down and do not drive faster than your field of vision.

Use windshield wipers and the defroster to maximize visibility.

• Increase your following distance to ensure enough room for stopping, and avoid sudden stops.

• Use the right edge of the road or roadside reflectors as a guide. If you cannot see, pull off the road completely — preferably at a rest area or truck stop — and turn on your hazard flashers immediately

PAY HERE

Office: 956-800-9911 Cell.: 956-360-3757

520 E. 9th St. Mission, TX 78572 Raul Cruz -General Manager