Happy New Year! Friday, January 2, 2015
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New DA ready to take over R
By Julie Silva icardo Rodriguez intends to be a district attorney who’s tough on domestic violence, treats everyone equally and intolerant of any violence spilling over from Mexico. As he prepared to take over the office from Rene Guerra, who’s reigned over Hidalgo County prosecutors for more than 30 years, Rodriguez said he’s doing everything he can to hit the ground running. Rodriguez has said he wants to do more to fight public corruption and find grant money to help fund investigations. “I’m excited, I’m nervous
Children’s home alum aims to help others
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By Lea Victoria Juarez ogelio Salazar returned to the children’s home he lived in for 10 years to work with kids who were dealt a similar hand he was dealt as a child. He lived in poverty until age 6 after his mother placed him and five of his seven siblings in the Rio Grande Valley Children’s Home. Although he is from Miguel Aleman, Tamaulipas, Salazar considers Palmview his home, and attributes that to growing up in the children’s home in Mission. The now 29-year-old said he doesn’t remember much of his time before the home, but he understands that his mother did what was necessary for the family. “I definitely wouldn’t be the person I am now if I wasn’t placed here,” Salazar said. “Everything happens for a reason.” At the time of his admission, the center was privately owned by Buddy Owens, so the ins and outs of foster care worked differently. Family visits weren’t required as they are now by the state, and Salazar enjoyed his time at the children’s home so much that he only visited his mom during summers and winter holidays. He discharged himself at 16 years old and made his way to the Dallas area with his mother, promising his caseworker that he would graduate high school and pursue a higher education. “I needed to do something more. Just getting by without a high school diploma was rough, and I saw the importance of having a high school diploma,” Salazar said.
“I think this is an amazing place. I got closer to God because of this place.” – Nicole Soto
“That helped me moved forward into my associate’s and bachelor’s and so on.” Now a husband and father of two, Salazar graduated high school at 20 years old. About 54 percent of children who transition from care to adulthood graduate from high school, and only 2 percent go on to earn a degree, according to Foster Care Alumni of America. Salazar returned to the Valley for college. After sifting through a number of majors, he finally decided on social work and found his way back to the children’s home to which he once belonged. The Rio Grande Valley Children’s Home celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2014. The children’s home takes responsibility for hundreds of children and families each year, providing necessities such as food, shelter and clothing for those whose lives lack stability. The Christian-based home works to heal children and aid in emotional growth. “If you want positivity, put it in your life and you’ll get it. That’s what I learned from this place,” Salazar said. “There’s always going to be someone that cares about you. But you have to let them care about you. I think this place does that to people if you’re willing to open up to them.” They call him Mr. Roger
See SALAZAR 16
and I’m scared,” Rodriguez said. “I think it’s just human instinct. That’s the same way I felt when I was elected to take the bench.” Rodriguez took a risk last year when he stepped down from the 92nd District Court judge post–he was in the middle of his second term– to take on the three-decade incumbent. It paid off on election night when Rodriguez received 64 percent of the more nearly 46,000 votes cast. There’s a lot more to the district attorney’s office than capital murder and burglary of a habitation cases, he said. Rodriguez wants to find a way to help low-level
offenders who still have a chance to reform and function in society, but keeping in mind the overall safety of the community. Everyone, Rodriguez said, knows someone who has made mistakes in life and looked back to regret them. “If we help them in a sense of, ‘I’m going to give you a little more rope to play with, but you’ve got to show us that you can do good,’ we’re trying to do good. We’re trying to do what’s right,” Rodriguez said. “Yes, we’re going to take some risks, but we’re going to take well informed risks using all the resources that we have at the DA’s office, probation of-
fice, the judge.” Rodriguez said he’s already reached out to some of the staff inside the district attorney’s office. There are good prosecutors in the office now, he said, particularly in the felony division. He said he understands there’s going to be some loyalty among employees because Guerra’s been in office so long, but Rodriguez is giving them the benefit of the doubt. In the weeks leading up to the transition, Rodriguez was putting together an organizational chart laying out assistant chiefs of certain divisions, with a couple
See RODRIGUEZ 15
THE GOOD
THE BAD
THE UGLY
2014 full of action in western Hidalgo County
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By Julie Silva he landscape of western Hidalgo County is evolving as new construction projects made progress in 2014, but new businesses, services and infrastructure weren’t the only benchmarks of the year. From corrupt politicians to retirements after decades of service, there were many changes in public office around the county. Mission’s long-time fire chief Ricardo Saldaña retired at the end of October, joking that he was, “going out with a boo.” The city quickly named Rene Lopez, deputy fire chief, as interim. And in February the city of La Joya hired former Hidalgo County sheriff candidate Geovani Hernandez as chief of police after firing Julian Gutierrez, stating the move was in the best interest of the city. Meanwhile Patty
Bazaldua, was arrested on theft and forgery charges in September and remains on the school board. On June 8, the Mission community mourned the death of Kenneth White, the longest serving superintendent in Mission Consolidated Independent School District’s history. By the time White retired in 1988, he’d served 23 years. He died in his sleep at the age of 87. Also over the summer, the region made national headlines as an influx of Central American immigrants, particularly unaccompanied minors streamed across the border. The federal government responded with increased facilities to hold detainees and the state sent in Department of Public Safety and National Guard troops. Still, 2014 saw its fair share of successes. Royal
See 2014 REVIEW 12
TOP: Viviana Villalon sings and plays along with her ukulele during a photo shoot in January. Villalon was featured in the first episode of American Idol. MIDDLE: La Joya ISD students, staff and board members break ground on the district’s sports and learning complex. BOTTOM: John Da Graca, director of the Texas A&M University Citrus Center, discusses a long-term approach to combating citrus greening across the globe.
INSIDE
Historically significant
INDEX
Blank slate means fresh start
Home-cooked Christmas
City of Peñitas celebrates settlement in state landmark unveiling ceremony.
Area residents share their New Year’s resolutions as 2015 begins.
National Butterfly Center hosts community meal for National Guard troops.
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See story page 3
See story page 7
Entertainment | pg. 2
Lifestyle | pg. 6
Opinion | pg. 4
Sports | pg. 10
Obituaries | pg. 13
Classifieds | pg. 15
entertainment
January 2, 2015
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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS
Ranch offers unique view into
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By Kathy Olivarez
organic lifestyle
our years ago, the Schalk family made a lifestyle change when they left Santa Monica, Calif. to downsize their home and up size their land to a 100acre homestead, Grace Heritage Ranch, north of Harlingen.Parents Brian and Mary and their three youngest sons, Caleb, Matthew and Joseph, have adopted a simpler, organic lifestyle living off the land for most of their needs with organically grown fruits and vegetables and raising their own animals. The Schalks offer educational tours of their homestead ranch where visitors can interact with special heritage farm animals and learn more about their organic lifestyle raising organic fruits and vegetables. Visitors take a step back in time to see how the Schalks cultivate the land with simple hand tools producing almost everything they need. All the animals are heritage breeds— hence the name of the ranch—which date back thousands of years and have not been genetically altered. All of the food crops also come from heritage seed stock which has not been genetically altered. Their animals include Buff Orpington and Dorking chickens, Bourbon Red and
Mexican arts, crafts International Travel Show is Jan. 7-8 festival begins Jan. 7 M
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cALLEN – The McAllen Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Mexican Consulate in McAllen, will host the 6th Annual “Vibrant Heritage” Mexican Artisan Expo with 80 artisans from various states in Mexico. It runs from Jan. 7 to 11. This year the event will take place in two locations starting with the McAllen International Travel Show on January 7 and 8 at the McAllen Convention Center. The McAllen Travel Show usually draws thousands of visitors throughout the two-day event where exhibitors from all over the country attend to promote their cities or locations as Tourism destinations. After their participation on the
Travel Show, the artisans will exhibit and sell their products January 9, 10 and 11 at the McAllen Creative Incubator located at 601 N. Main, previously McAllen’s Main Library. Admission is free. The schedule for this event is as follows: Jan. 7 and 8, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Travel Show; January 9 and 10, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and January 11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Incubator. During the show, artisans representing different Mexican States will display some of the best arts, clothing, crafts and candies Mexico is renowned for. In addition, live performers from the Rio Grande Valley will entertain visitors of all ages with their music and talent.
cALLEN – The annual McAllen International Travel Show will be held Wednesday, Jan. 7, and Thursday, Jan. 8, at the McAllen Convention Center on Ware Road. The show is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free.The annual event offers a variety of vendors displaying opportunities for travel adventures across the Rio Grande Valley and on trips north. There will also be opportunities for foreign adventures through travel companies attending the show. Local cities and other communities across Texas will be represented to showcase the various activities offered in their communities, and various tourist-based businesses will have own information booths. For those travelling into Mexico, the Turismo of San Luis Potosi, Sinalo, Tam-
aulipas and Zacatecas will have booths, and the McAllen Passport Division will be there to advise any travelers of what they need before traveling internationally. A Mexican artisan Expo will be held in conjunction with the travel show on Jan. 7 and 8. Over 80 artists from Mexico will display their products made in Mexico ranging from pottery and children’s toys to salsa. On Jan. 9, this show will move to the McAllen Creature Incubator located at 601 N. Main. There will be a full lineup of entertainment including “Experience the Mind Magic and Mystery of David Sage” Gary (Gomer) & Patsy Crain, David Saenz, “Strings, Keys & Harmony,” folkloric dancing and other entertainment.
Chocolate turkeys, Embden geese, registered American Milking Devon cattle and registered San Clemente Island and Nigerian Dwarf goats along with one French Angora rabbit and several hives of bees. The three Jerusalem donkeys named Faith, Hope and Love, provide protection from coyotes and other predators. The Devon cattle, dating back to the 1600s, are known as being useful not only for milking and producing meat, they can be used as beasts of burden to plow fields as well. The three rare San Clemente goats are among only 600 left in the world, and the sheep date back to Old Testament lineage. The Schalks sell baby turkeys and geese which have been raised without hormones in their food, producing eggs with a nutritious, orange-colored yolk. Cattle, sheep, goats and donkeys all graze on grass that has not been treated or fertilized with commercial products. On Saturdays, the ranch is open for tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tour admission is $10 for adults and $9 for seniors. Call 855-447-8687 to make a reservation. Private tours for 12 or more are available upon request. The ranch is located at 27539 Old Alice Road (FM1650 and 1651) in Santa Monica. Call 230-6902 for information and directions. In the event of inclement weather, it is recommended to call first to see if the tour will be held.
Coming Attractions
January 9-11, 16-18 • The Sharyland High School (SHS) Carpe Diem Players present “Alice in Wonderland” for two weekends. Show times are 7 p.m. for Friday and Saturday night performances and 4 p.m. matinees on Sundays. All performances will be held at the SHS auditorium, 1216 N. Shary Road, Mission. Tickets are $7 for general admission, $5 for ages 12 and under and $6 for seniors. February 10 • The McAllen Symphonic Band’s next performance, “Let’s Dance,” begins at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Worship Center in McAllen. They are under the direction of Rogelio Olivarez. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at
all Wilder Resorts locations, Weslaco Chamber of Commerce, all McAllen Community Centers and at the door the evening of the concert (if available). Visit the Band’s website at www.mcallentownband.org for more information. Weekly • Catholic War Veterans Post #1065 in Mission invites the public to their “Get Away Thursday Dance” held every Thursday evening, from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. It is located at 500 W. Business 83. Music by the Electro Band provides country western, Tejano, the Oldies, cumbias and more. No cover charge. Call 5835961 or email Doodrey@ netzero.com for more information.
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Community looks to
fresh start in
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t’s a time for reflection for area residents as one year ends and 2015 begins. Here’s a look at some of the New Year’s resolutions around the community as we look at getting a fresh start. u Christine Compton, founder of RGV Forgotten Friends: Well, I want to improve my health. I have been sick on and off, and I need to take better care of myself. Also, I want to make Texas a no-kill state (not sure where to start), but that is my dream. u Alex Meade, CEO of Mission Economic Development Corporation: Professional resolution: To work with other EDCs to help redefine how the business community is engaged at the school district’s level. Personal resolution: Get off my couch and on the treadmill, which is right next to it and also in front of the TV. u Eden Ramirez, La Joya ISD spokesman: Want to get better at my everyday things, work, family, friends. Make each of those more meaningful and valuable. And join a cross-fit box and actually stay in it longer than 3 weeks! u Ramon Segovia, Palmview city manager:
Strive each and every day to make Palmview a better place than it was yesterday … by working with all city departments and our citizens, we can achieve our goals. u Lt. Jody Tittle, Mission police spokesman: Definitely lose weight and spend more time with the kiddo. u Craig Verley, MCISD spokesman: I stopped doing them years ago. I use the New Year as a point for reflection on where I stand on personal challenges/goals. u Eliseo Palomarez, Mission native: I just want to wish everyone a happy new year. I want people to have a great year.
The tax laws are getting so complicated and I want to just bring a lot of people into the light of legislation and potential legislation.
Meri Gomez
u Pete Chapman, owner of Discount Lighting, Paint Wholesale and Retail: Make more money, and I’ll try to do it legally if I can.
Eliseo Palomarez
u Meri Gomez, bookkeeper for Meri’s Accounting and Tax: For sure I definitely want to help more people.
Pete Chapman
2015
u Karen Villarreal, graphic designer at Pharr Advance Newspaper: I hate them because I never, ever keep them. I always try not to make one because I know I’m not going to keep it. If I were to have one it would be to exercise more like a lame-o, but that one I know that is not going to happen. u Filomena Leo, Sharyland ISD Interim Superintendent: To strengthen relationships with family and friends. Just the desire to work at being closer and continue being genuine with those that I care about. I know specifically what I need to do, but the big picture is to work on relationships because it’s my belief that that’s what brings happiness in life. u Amy Tijerina, Sharyland Education Foundation member: To continue to keep my family in God’s path, to be the best mom I can be. To continue to keep my children in God’s and lead them to his greatness. I always tell my girls that you need to live your life for God’s glory. I think, as a mom, that’s my new year’s resolution every year.
MCISD looks to the new year
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By Lea Victoria Juarez he sleeping giant that is Mission CISD has awoken, according to Superintendent Ricardo Lopez. With the new year rolled in, various projects are in store for the district and Lopez is confident “team Mission” will be at the forefront in all aspects. They’ll be kicking off 2015 with a new vision statement and collective commitments that the board approved in December, focusing on district-wide success not only at a local level, but state and national as well. “It’s a very dynamic statement because we’re committing to a lot of things as a school district, as a team,”
Lopez said. “So when you look in there, you’re going to see verbs that sound like dominate...serve...inspire. We’re not asking them to just know; we want them to be at the forefront.” The superintendent said in the 1990s the Mission school district was a force to be reckoned with, earning accolades at a national level. As time went on, MCISD’s success was not as constant, and he wants to change that. The newest program to be implemented is Ford Next Generation Learning, which is a partnership with the Ford company and local businesses that exposes students to real-world business experience. This initiative is aligned with Career and Technology Edu-
cation curriculum. Several schools in the Valley are participating, including La Joya ISD but Lopez is going to see to it that Mission students take command. “When we met with Ford NGL a few weeks ago, they were amazed about the commitment from Mission,” he said. “They were blown away about the level of talent we have that is going to execute this and they’re really counting on us to lead the way for the rest of the Valley to follow.” Some of the other strategies that will continue to pick up speed in the 2015 year include the 1-to-1 initiative and technology implementation, which works to give every student an electronic device.
The idea is to provide tablets to every freshman class and teach them the functions for schoolwork. The junior highs are rolling out the 1-to-1 in sixth grade. The Mission community will also see its first dual enrollment graduates this spring, six of which are from Mission High and six of which are from Veterans High School. Early college is a large focus for the district so students will also see the expansion of the Career Tech Early College program at Mission High to grades nine and 10 next school year. Three construction projects will be completed, including the canopies at
See MCISD 12
H-E-B donates $1 million to UTRGV diabetes research
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he University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ended the year with a $1 million gift from H-E-B. H-E-B’s gift will assist UT Rio Grande Valley in establishing an endowed chair, benefitting the South Texas Diabetes & Obesity Institute. With this gift, UTRGV gained an ally in the fight against diabetes and obesity and the promotion of health. The crowd at the Regional Academic Health Center cheered when Guy Bailey, UTRGV president, and H-E-B representatives opened a large present with the check inside. Bailey said he has had many good Christmases, but none quite this good. He praised H-E-B for being a
leader and an advocate for education through its partnerships with The University of Texas at Brownsville and The University of Texas-Pan American. “As president of UTRGV, I take great pride knowing that we have leaders like H-E-B that have chosen our university to be the recipient of its continued generosity,” he said. “ We look forward to forging new partnerships and working together to transform the future of this critical region of our state." UTRGV announced the creation of the institute in October. Under the direction of renowned genetics and infectious diseases expert
See H-E-B 14
Reminiscing... 30 Years Ago This Week
Volunteer firemen ousted Chief Alaniz Mission Volunteer Fire Department members chose Rene Lopez Sr. as the new chief. The move was taken through through a bylaws amendment that incorporated the positions of paid chief and volunteer chief into one. The change still had to be approved by City Manager Benito Lopez. Arl Mann was named head of police division The Mission Police Department was reorganized to combine patrol and criminal investigations. 1st Lt. Arl Mann was named head of the new division to be known as Operations. 2nd Lt. Efren Flores was placed in charge of criminal investigations as a section under the Operations Division. First Presbyterian Church of Mission celebrated its 75th anniversary Rev. Walter Guin, who served as minister for the church from 1950-1953, was brought in to offer a sermon as part of a month-long remembrance. De Los Santos was named to a state committee La Joya ISD Superintendent Miguel de los Santos was one of 17 individuals named to a statewide committee to develop standards on the duties of a school board member.
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opinion
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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS
By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association
STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
USTIN — 2014 has been a banner year for job creation in Texas, according to government assessments. Drawing on figures calculated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas Workforce Commission on Dec. 19 reported employers added 34,800 seasonally adjusted total non-farm jobs in November, for a total of 441,200 jobs added since last year. “This broke the state’s previous record set in October, as the state’s annual job growth expanded to a new high for a fourth month in a row,” according to an agency news release, which also said, “even more Texans were employed in November as the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent from 5.1 percent in October, and down from 6.1 percent a year ago.” “The Texas economy continued its record-breaking expansion, providing job opportunities across a wide range of industries,” said Texas Workforce Commission Chair Andres Alcantar. “Texas employers set another record by adding 441,200 jobs over the year and we must continue to focus our efforts on expanding our state’s skilled workforce to meet employer needs in high-demand industries.” Also as reported, seven of 11 major industries added jobs over the month, including 13,500 more jobs in Professional and Business Services, 7,200 jobs in Education and Health Services and 6,000 jobs in Leisure and Hospitality. Notably, the Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area had the lowest November unemployment rate in the state at 2.3 percent; the Odessa MSA had the second-lowest at 2.8 percent; and the Amarillo MSA placed third-lowest at
January 2, 2015
3.3 percent. Perry renews proclamation Gov. Rick Perry on Dec. 22 announced the renewal of the emergency disaster proclamation he originally signed in July 2011, certifying that exceptional drought conditions posed a threat of imminent disaster in specified counties in Texas. Even with more than welcome rains in many regions this month, the proclamation applies to 94 of the state’s 254 counties. In contrast, the proclamation applied to 92 specified counties in the month of November. The drought proclamation directs that “all necessary measures, both public and private” as authorized by state law “be implemented to meet that threat” and “all rules and regulations that may inhibit or prevent prompt response to this threat are suspended for the duration of the state of disaster.” ‘Cramming’ pact reached The Office of the Texas Attorney General on Dec. 19 announced the State of Texas, 49 states and the District of Columbia resolved an investigation into wireless carrier T-Mobile USA Inc. for its role in the practice of unlawful cell phone “cramming” – the unlawful practice of placing unauthorized third-party charges on mobile phone accounts. T-Mobile agreed to settle states’ claims for a total nationwide monetary value of at least $90 million. “As part of this legal action,” the Texas AG’s Office said, “T-Mobile has agreed to no longer bill for third-party Premium Short Message Services (PSMS) — which led to the unlawful cramming — and will be isolating other third-party billing charges on customer bills.” Cramming, as explained in the announcement, “occurs
when third-party content providers enroll and bill mobile phone customers for their services – such as ringtones and recurring text messages containing trivia or horoscopes – without the customers’ knowledge or consent.” Air readings improve Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Dec. 18 announced ozone levels in 2014 were “either equal to or lower than the best levels ever measured in most areas of the state.” In making the announcement, the agency pointed out: • The year 2011 had high ozone readings in many areas of the state because extreme drought, wildfires in Texas and elsewhere in the United States, few cloudy or rainy days and unusually quiet winds combined to form “conditions favorable for ozone formation.” • “Better air quality has been achieved through targeted emission reduction strategies. In Houston, industry has cut NOx (ozone components nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide) production over 80 percent in the last 10 years. Tougher rules on compressor emissions in North and East Texas have helped, as well as tougher emissions rules on electricity generating plants. Fleet turnover of both passenger cars and heavy-duty trucks also played a substantial role.” • “Lower emissions from newer trucks and cars and new diesel fuel standards also reduce ozone precursor emissions.” • Gas production has expanded rapidly near the San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth areas, but TCEQ scientific studies “have not to date seen significant impacts of oil and gas activities on ozone in those metropolitan areas.”
Building upon a record of success
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n 2002, I began my service as the attorney general of Texas honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve fellow Texans. Over the past 12 years – by fostering a strong network of law enforcement, crime victim advocates and communities, we have made Texas a better place to live, work, and raise our families. I'm proud of what we have accomplished together in service to the people of Texas. As the dedicated employees of the Attorney General’s Office resolve in 2015 to continue their tradition of excellence at the agency, let’s take a look back at some of the great accomplishments and special moments we’ve had since 2002. Here are just a few of the highlights: • Record-setting years for the Texas Child Support Division. Last year, for example, the Texas CSD gained a Number 1 national ranking in several categories, including: total collections – almost $3.7 billion, beating the number two state by more than a billion dollars; collections per full-time employee – $1.35 million, more than twice the national average; and cost effectiveness, also more than twice the national average. • Earning national impact with our antitrust and consumer protection enforcement efforts – including a verdict against Apple for price fixing of e-books and a $120 million national settlement to stop improper mortgage servicing packages. • Expanding the Civil Medicaid Fraud Division to protect the taxpayer-funded Texas Medicaid program and ensure its funds are available to benefit the Texans for whom they are intended. Since 2002, CMF’s recoveries for the State of
Texas have surpassed the $500 million mark – while total recoveries for the state and federal governments now exceed $1.1 billion. • Furthering our commitment to transparency and open government, including establishing formal open records and open meetings training for all elected and appointed government officials; expanding civil and criminal enforcement efforts of the Public Information Act; and interpreting its new provisions on matters such as homeland security and pension fund investment information. • Successfully defending religious liberties for all Texans by defeating constitutional challenges to the Texas Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Moment of Silence law; defending graduates’ constitutional rights to freely express their religious beliefs during graduation ceremonies; leading a multistate coalition of attorneys general to defend the annual National Day of Prayer; defending the right of the U.S. President to include references to religion during the presidential inauguration; and defending the State’s right to retain on the Capitol grounds a monument commemorating the Ten Commandments as a vital part of Texas’s cultural and legal history. • Leading the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force and developing resources to help Texas fight the scourge of this despicable crime: a guide for Texas education professionals to recognize and report instances of suspected human trafficking; and a human trafficking prevention manual for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, parole officers, social workers and other vic-
tim assistance professionals who can help further the task force’s efforts to identify, investigate and prosecute human traffickers. • Creating the Cyber Crimes Unit to protect children from online sexual exploitation and the Fugitive Unit to locate sex offenders who have violated the terms of their parole. Combined, the two law enforcement units have arrested more than 2,100 child sex predators – including DPS Top Ten Sex Offenders and DPS Top Ten Fugitives. The Fugitive Unit has also led successful law enforcement operations to locate and recover endangered children. • Orchestrating the only successful efforts to prosecute Warren Steed Jeffs for the sexual assault of minor girls. Jeffs had evaded law enforcement in both Utah and Arizona, but our office had him extradited to Texas where he was sent to prison for life plus 20 years. • Our Special Litigation Division’s completion of a multi-million-dollar settlement of an environmental case against a polluter – the third highest amount assessed and recovered from a single facility in the history of the Texas Clean Air Act. • Continued emphasis in our Consumer Protection Division to investigate and pursue litigation stemming from complaints brought to us by our Spanish-speaking population – resulting in the shutdown of almost 40 firms statewide that were not authorized to provide legal advice or document preparation services. • Successfully arguing in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of the rights
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1217 N. Conway • Mission, TX (956) 585-4893 MEMBER 2015
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
The Progress Times (USPS 971-420; ISSN 0890-2666) is published each Friday by Mission Publishing Co., 1217 N. Conway, Mission, Texas 78572, (956) 585-4893. Subscriptions $20 annual in Hidalgo County; $25 outside of Hidalgo County. Second class postage paid in Mission, Texas 78572. ©2015 Mission Publishing Company, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the PROGRESS TIMES, P.O. Box 399, Mission Texas 78573.
LETTER GUIDELINES
Letters to the Editor are welcome but must conform to certain guidelines. All letters must be original, dated, signed and bear the complete name, address and phone number of the writer/signer. No photo copied letters will be printed. No letters addressed to others will be printed. Letter content must be relevant to concerns and interests of Mission and the surrounding area. Relevance is determined by the editor. Anonymous cards or letters are neither read nor printed. Letters may be submitted by e-mail to letters@progresstimes.net, but must include the author’s name and daytime phone number.
January 2, 2015
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lifestyle
EWBC hosts winter raptors presentation
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DINBURG – Learn about the “Winter Raptors of the RGV” with Roy Rodriguez at the Edinburg World Birding Center at 10 a.m. on Jan. 10. The EWBC is located at 714 Raul Longoria Rd. Rodriguez, Bentsen park ranger, has been a professional birding guide, consultant and natural resource interpreter for 14 years. His
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experience has taken him across North America, the Arctic Circle and the shores of the Yellow Sea. He is a Hawk Watch volunteer instructor who trains others on how to identify raptors in flight. During the presentation, Rodriguez will focus on 10 species of wintering raptors and delve into the lifestyles and habitat preferences. Ro-
MCISD partners with Boys and Girls Club growing partnership for competitions between the Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) and Mission Boys and Girls Club is promoting healthy physical activities and developing friendly competitions through school-based teams. The Boys and Girls Club hosted several joint tournaments in recent weeks that included a sixth grade girls basketball tournament held at the Boys and Girls Club cross country meets for sixth
graders and elementary students and a seven-on-seven football tournament for elementary students. At the sixth grade girls’ basketball tournament, Alton Memorial Jr. High School and K. White Jr. High School tied for first place. Third place went to Mission Jr. High School. Fourth place went to R. Cantu Jr. High School.
See PARTNERSHIP 7
driguez will also discuss the specific factors that make the Valley such a prized birding area. “Winter Raptors of the RGV” is the third installment of the EWBC’s “Adult Birding Series.” The fee for this program is $2 for members and $4 for non-members. Space is limited; call 3819922 to reserve a spot.
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Completes basic training
AN ANTONIO – Air Force Airman Henry E. Castro graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. He completed an eight-week program that also applies towards an associates degree from the Community College of the Air Force. Castro is a 2012 graduate of Mission High School. He is the husband of Marcella G. Soto-Castro and son of Maria I. Castro of Edinburg and Jose L. Castro of Mission.
Making Christmas merry Christmas came early to more than 150 children in the Mission and La Joya area. Mission Regional Medical Center (MRMC) and the physician medical staff donated $5,000 worth of toys to share the joy of Christmas with more than 40 families. “There is nothing more rewarding than to see Christmas through the eyes of a child. I wish all of us could take that to heart and see the holidays the same way,” said Nick Espinosa, Director of Marketing at MRMC.Kitchenette sets, stuffed animals, and remote-control cars were among the wide variety of toys that were gift wrapped by several hospital employees. Toiletries and blankets were also included with the gifts. Wearing Santa hats and even one department director dressed in full Santa Claus costume, MRMC employees personally delivered all gifts to children in low income families.
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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS
Explore wonders of King Ranch at Quinta Mazatlan
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cALLEN – Visit Quinta Mazatlan on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 6 p.m. to join Tom Langschied on an indoor wildlife safari of the magnificent King Ranch to get insight into some of the premier wildlife habitat in the country. Besides being famous for the quality of antlered white-tailed deer in its pastures, King Ranch is home to a diverse range of animal species including javelina, bobcat, wild turkey, American alligator and a host of other mammals, birds, and reptiles. As early as 1947, famed conservationist Aldo Leopold called King Ranch “one of the best jobs of wildlife restoration on the continent.” Today, the ranch is a vital part of an incredibly diverse landscape in South Texas dubbed “The Last Great Habitat.” Langschied is the coordinator of the King Ranch Nature Tour program, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Originally from Fort Wayne, Ind., he came down to South Texas in 1991 to earn his master’s degree from Texas A&M University- Kingsville. His thesis delved into how bird communities changed from fall through early summer on King Ranch. He has worked as a research associate for the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute coordinating a South Texas wintering birds program and is in his second stint as coordinator of the Nature Tour program. The program fee is $3 per person and no advance reservation is required. Quinta Mazatlan is located at 600 Sunset in McAllen. Call 681-3370 for more information.
Events Calendar
Jan uary 2 – The Mission Computer Club will meet at 10 a.m. in the Speer Memorial Library Community Room. Focus is on Windows, but Mac, Linux and computer “gadgets” are also addressed. Demonstrations with question and answer time are part of each meeting. All levels of users are welcome to attend, and meetings are free. Contact Edna Morales at the library at 580-8478 for more information. Jan uary 9 – From 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., take a tour of the beautiful Rancho Lomitas and learn about the historical uses and interesting properties of native plants. This winter, the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center (EWBC) will take small groups to this native oasis north of Rio Grande City. Ranch owner and ethnobotanist, Benito Treviño, will lead participants through a tour of the ranch and discuss local plants, their practical uses and how they have helped people survive in the Rio Grande Valley for hundreds of years. Cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Participants should bring money for lunch or a sack lunch. Seating is limited. Reservations are required by Jan. 7 to reserve a seat. Call 381-9922 for information or a reservation. Jan uary 13 – Mission Regional Medical Center provides a free monthly support group meeting for all breast cancer survivors and those still battling with the disease. It’s held at 6 p.m. in the meeting room at the hospital, 900 S. Bryan Road. Guest speaker is Dr. David Hernandez, OB/GYN. Jan uary 14 – The Upper Valley Home Owners Association meets at Twin Lakes RV Park, 301 N. Shary Road at 9 a.m. for discussions on tax issues. Owners of RVs and park models are invited. Jan uary 15 - Mission Regional Medical Center provides a free monthly support group meeting for people that have had a stroke, as well as their families. It begins at 3 p.m. in the hospital meeting room, 900 S. Bryan Rd. Guest speaker is Dr. Tajul Chowdhury, pain management specialist. Jan uary 16 – The Mission Computer Club will meet at 10 a.m. in the Speer Memorial Library Community Room. Focus is on Windows, but Mac, Linux and computer “gadgets” are also addressed. Demonstrations with question and answer time are part of each meeting. All levels of users are welcome to attend, and meetings are free. Contact Edna Morales at the library at 580-8478 for more information. Jan uary 16 – The Edinburg World Birding Center will host Luciano Guerra during his “Birding Texas Style” presentation at 6 p.m. Guerra, local photographer from Mission is currently with the National Butterfly Center, where he helps with groups as well as photographing any sightings. Admission is free. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation begins at 6 p.m. Seats are limited; call 381-9922 to reserve a spot. The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. To see the complete Events Calendar for the coming weeks, go to www.ptrgv.com.
Future educators head to state competition Following regional contests, nine members of the Mission High School (MHS) Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) are now advancing to state Teach Tomorrow Summit which will be held in February at Texas Tech University. In individual categories Kayla Muniz and Dominique Contreras are advancing in the teacher created materials competition; Julissa Perez, Jennifer Juarez and Brittney Farias, project visualization; and Julissa V. Perez, Carmen Charles, Alysha Sandoval and Alyssa Sanchez, bulletin board competition. Pictured in front, left to right, are Carmen Charles and Julissa V. Perez; center row, Kayla Muniz, Brittney Farias, Dominique Contreras and Alysha Sandoval; and back, Deanna Vallejo, Julissa Perez, Jennifer Juarez, Alyssa Sanchez.
Free Society News Announcements
Quinceanera, engagement, wedding, milestone anniversary* and milestone birthday** announcements are run FREE of charge in the Progress Times. The quinceanera, wedding, anniversary and birthday announcements should be submitted no later than two months after the event date. Engagement announcements must be submitted no later than three weeks prior to the wedding date. Quinceanera and milestone birthday photos are upper body, single column of the individual only; no group shots. Engagement, wedding and anniversary photos of the couple are run two columns in size. For questions or to obtain the appropriate form to submit with a photo, send an email to communitynews@progresstimes.net, call the Progress Times at 585-4893. Please include a contact name and phone number for all inquiries.
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National Butterfly Center hosts community Christmas Party TCF deadlines approaching
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By Luciano Guerra here may be no place like home for the holidays, but for 200 National Guard troops deployed along the U.S./Mexico border the National Butterfly Center was the next best thing. The center, based in Mission, was the site for a community Christmas party Saturday, Dec. 20, in which volunteers gave their time and culinary talents to show their appreciation for those serving their country as part of Operation Strong Safety. With many of the young men and women stationed in the Valley not being able to spend their Thanksgiving or Christmas at home, the idea of having members of the community provide them with a home-cooked meal originated with somebody who could relate to being away from home for the holidays – a veteran. Marianna Treviño Wright, National Butterfly Center director, said Jerry Maples, who was career Army and is now a retired military member, came up with the idea for Thanksgiving. But, she said, so many people travel at Thanksgiving that the center wasn’t able to coordinate a community meal. While the National Butterfly Center hosted the event, it was its members and the volunteers that made the party happen. “We provided the facility and we may have provided the impetus for this through Mr. Maples, but it really was our members and our generous community members, including Winter Texans and other veterans in the com-
Members of the National Gaurd line up to be served lunch December 20 at the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas. Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra
munity, who stepped up and helped us feed this many,” Wright said. “As a non-profit we don’t have the resources necessary to pull off an event like this on our own, so making use of the resources we do have to facilitate something like this is the best we can do.” Capt. Mike Perry, public affairs and joint visitor bureau officer for Operation Strong Safety, said the National Guard must maintain its operations over the holidays. Troops are allowed to go home for one of the three holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. They choose which holiday they want off and get four days to go home. “It means the world to the guys,” Perry said. “Some of them aren’t going to get to go home for Christmas. Food is always something the guys like to fellowship with and the community,
“It means a lot, not just to me but as a whole to the military community.” – 2nd Lt. Stella Pinon not just here in Mission but along the whole Rio Grande Valley, coming together like this is just one more example of how receptive everybody has been.” The community Christmas party was not the first time that the National Butterfly Center has hosted an event in which National Guard troops were provided a meal. The center hosted a meal in September to welcome the troops. “In September we fed approximately 80 young men and women,” Wright said. “This time we were told to expect twice that many but I honestly lost count of how many we served. I know that we packed about 70 plates to go but since they came in here in waves from 12:30 to
5:30 I don’t know how many we fed here. I do know that we had seating set up for 60 or 70 at a time and that it was standing room only at times.” 2nd Lt. Stella Pinon is one of the young women who volunteered to be part of Operation Strong Safety. The fact that she is from the Valley means that she gets to spend Christmas with her family. Even so, she said the fact that the community came together to throw her and her fellow guardsmen a party symbolized how appreciated Valley residents have made them feel. “It means a lot, not just to me but as a whole to the military community,” Pinon said. “I think that it’s a great representation of how much it means to the citizens of this area that they would do this for us to show their gratitude. And not really just to us but this also symbolizes the appreciation Valley residents feel for all of those soldiers who have sacrificed here in the U.S. and overseas. It means a lot.” For more information about the National Butterfly Center, call 956-583-5400, visit its Facebook page or go to www.NationalButterflyCenter.org.
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Kops for Kids A Mission girl smiles as she prepares to ride off on a bike she was given the Friday before Christmas at the ninth annual Kops for Kids toy giveaway hosted by Mission Crime Stoppers.
PARTNERSHIP
At the sixth grade cross country meet, K. White Jr. High School won the girls competition with Alton Memorial Jr. High School winning the boys competition. The rest of the results for the boys: Mission Jr. High School, second, and K. White Jr. High School, third. The remainder of the girls’ results: Alton Memorial Jr. High School, second, and Mission Jr. High School, third. Team results for the elementary girls cross coun-
try meet: Leal Elementary School, first; Salinas Elementary School, second, and Mims Elementary School, third. Team results for the elementary boys cross country meet: Salinas Elementary School, first; Castro Elementary School, second; and Waitz Elementary School, third. At the seven-on-seven football tournament held at Veterans Memorial High School, Bryan Elementary School was the gold cham-
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pion with Alton Elementary School as the gold runner-up. The silver champion was Midkiff Elementary School. The silver runner-up was Mims Elementary School. Salinas Elementary School was the bronze champion. At the seven-on-seven football tournament held at Mission High School, first place went to Leal Elementary School. Second place went to O’Grady Elementary School, and Marcell Elementary School came in third place.
he 78th annual Texas Citrus Fiesta, themed “Old Time Rock and Roll,” is right around the corner and members of the community are invited to participate in the tradition. Deadlines for the fun are approaching soon: • There will be craft, food and commercial vendors as well as educational exhibits at the Fun Fair, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The deadline for vendors is Jan. 9. The commercial fee is $150, and the noncommercial fee is $100. • Applications are also being taken for participants in the Parade of Oranges scheduled for Saturday, Jan.
31, at 3 p.m. at 2 Mile Line and Conway. The noncommercial fee to enter is $40. The commercial fee is $250. The deadline for entry is Jan. 20. • Applications for the Vaquero cook-off will be accepted through Jan. 30; however, entrants must contact the City of Mission Health Department for a food permit by Jan. 23. The cook-off is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 32 at Leo Peña Veterans Park, at Ninth Street and Conway Avenue. The entry fee is $225 per team. Applications can be picked up at the Texas Citrus Fiesta office, 220 E. Ninth St., Mission. Call (956) 5859724 for more information.
Woman asks deputies to kill her
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he Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office safely took a woman into custody Tuesday when she walked into the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office Adult Detention Center and asked to be killed. According to a news release, at about 6:15 p.m., the woman walked into the public area of the jail and told staff at the service window she had a gun, causing bystanders to run out of the building. Several deputies responded to the area and negotiated with the woman, who faced the window, giving her back to
the deputies. The news release states she told deputies she was holding a gun, had just committed a robbery and asked them to kill her. During negotiations, a sergeant seized an opportunity to use a Taser to immobilize the woman, and the handgun fell out of her hand. Deputies restrained her and took her into custody. When inspecting the weapon, they found it was an airsoft gun. The woman was identified as Marisela Martinez Zamora, 53, and the news release states appropriate charges will be filed.
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Eagles to host Bulldogs in district opener
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“Making the playoffs would mean a lot because we’d be the first Eagles team here will be plenty of dribbling, passing to do that in a while.” – Rene “R.J.” Diaz and shooting at V. F.
By Luciano Guerra
Neuhaus Gymnasium today as the Mission Eagles open their 2014/2015 District 30-6A schedule against the McAllen High Bulldogs. While which team’s fans will be doing the bulk of the cheering remains to be seen, Mission head coach Everardo Castellano is hoping to get the 9-9 Eagles off on the right foot with a win against the 16-5 Bulldogs. A win against one of the district’s preseason favorites would go a long way towards boosting the confidence of a Mission team that came within three seconds and one shot of forcing a playin game against Edcouch for the fourth and final playoff spot last year. “Last year we had a very young team,” explained Castellano. “We had a freshman, a sophomore and three juniors playing and we had to compete against four playoff teams that were all seniors. They were Mercedes, Edcouch Elsa, Rio Grande City and Roma. We came really close but our last shot with three seconds left on the
clock didn’t go in.” “Even so I was really proud of the kids,” added Castellano. “Especially after what we went through with R.J. (Diaz) suffering a heart attack during one of our practices before the season even started.” While the Eagles’ current record is under .500, that is not necessarily an indicator of the kind of season Mission will have. “Last year was a good learning experience for us,” Castellano said. “Now we’re moving up to 6A and one of the things I did in the spring was to schedule tough non-district competition for us to get us ready for district. We played Edinburg Vela, Brownsville Hanna, Saint Joe, these are all playoff contending teams so while our record doesn’t show it we’re playing decent and we’re getting better every game.” In his fourth year on the Eagles’ varsity roster 5-foot11 guard and post player Jose Garcia has one goal in mind for himself and for the team this season.
“My personal goals as a senior are to do everything I can to help the team win. As a team our goals are to make the playoffs and win district,” shared Garcia. Like Garcia senior Jesus Cuellar is in his fourth year on Mission’s varsity roster and like Garcia his goals are team oriented. “I’m a good leader by example but my personal goal for this season is to be a better leader with my teammates,” said Cuellar. “As a team we want to make the playoffs. We haven’t done that the last four years so we want to come together as a team, make the playoffs and ultimately try to win the district title.” As for how he expects the district, which includes the three McAllen and the three La Joya high schools, to shape up Cuellar said, “The McAllen teams will probably be the tough teams in the district. McAllen High and Memorial will both be tough but even the La Joya schools will be tough to beat too.” Junior point guard Caleb
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30. The following is the list of Big 7 football players receiving First and Second Team All-District recognition. District 30-6A First Team Offense Halfback: Alfredo Villarreal, La Joya Palmview Split end: JC Maldonado, La Joya High Slot back: Andrew Hidrogo, Mission High Guard: Arturo Gutierrez, La Joya Palmview Tackle: Jonathan Garcia, La Joya Palmview Athlete: Robert Veliz, Mission High First Team Defense Defensive lineman/nose tackle: Leo Garza, La Joya High; John Alaniz, La Joya Palmview Inside linebacker: Jaime Ybarra, La Joya Palmview Outside linebacker: Amador Garcia, La Joya Palmview; Ricardo Ornelas, La Joya High Safety: JD Alaniz, La
Joya Palmview Punter: Damian Quintanilla, La Joya Palmview; Ricardo Ornelas, La Joya High Returner: Isaiah Calderon, La Joya High Second Team Offense Quarterback: Julio Garcia, La Joya Slot back: Damian Quintanilla, La Joya Palmview; Joel Casas, La Joya High Tight End: Hector Barrera, La Joya Palmview Fullback: Justin Leanos, La Joya High Center: Adan Garcia, La Joya Palmview Guard: Jose Deleon, Mission High; Ricardo Leyva, La Joya High Tackle: Mark Peralez, La Joya High Kicker: Edgar Cortina, La Joya High Second Team Defense Defensive lineman/nose tackle: Felipe Otakara, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln; Juan Martinez, La Joya Palmview Defensive end: Steven Tamez, Mission High; Elea-
Mission High School Varsity Basketball Team
Oviedo is in his third year on Mission’s varsity roster. When asked what being an Eagle means to him Oviedo said, “It’s been a great experience. I’ve played with these guys since we were little and now in my third year with them as an Eagle we’re going to try winning games and make the playoffs.” While senior guard Rene “R.J.” Diaz is a four-year member of the Eagles’ varsity roster he missed all of last year’s district schedule after collapsing on the basketball court at V.F. Neuhaus gym-
nasium Halloween morning with a heart attack. Being back on the court just one year later, after he was told that he would never play basketball again, is a testament to his love for the game and his desire to play. While his near-death experience makes his story a unique one Diaz, like his teammates, is all about helping the team to win and making the playoffs. “Making the playoffs would mean a lot because we’d be the first Eagles team to do that in a while,” said
Diaz. “I’ve been through a lot over the past year but I’m just happy to be playing again. All I want to do now is to go out there, do my best and win for my coaches because of all they’ve done for me.” Today’s district opener against the Bulldogs has a scheduled start time of 2:30 p.m. but will begin upon the completion of the Lady Bulldogs vs Lady Eagles game which is scheduled to tip-off at 1 p.m. Both games will be played at Mission’s V.F. Neuhaus gymnasium.
zar Garcia, La Joya Palmview; Tony Cerda, La Joya High Inside linebacker: Dustin Ruiz, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln; Rey Hernandez, La Joya High Outside linebacker: Hector Torres, Mission High Safety: Ernest Hernandez, Mission High; Diego Salinas, La Joya Palmview; Gabriel Rios, La Joya High; Jorge Munoz, La Joya High Punter: William Arias, Mission High Returner: Abel Torres, La Joya Palmview
Kicker: Abraham Chan, Sharyland High Punt Returner: Bobby Tovar, Mission Veterans First Team Defense Defensive Line: Marcelo Martinez, Sharyland High; Albert Garcia, Mission Veterans Inside Linebacker: John Trevino, Mission Veterans; Rudy Tornero, Sharyland High Outside Linebacker: Joel Mares, Mission Veterans; Xavier Garza, Sharyland High; Adrian Flores, Mission Veterans Safety: Armando Regalado, Mission Veterans; Kevin Liebano, Mission Veterans Cornerback: Tristan Flores, Mission Veterans; Raciel Garcia, Sharyland High Second Team Offense Running Back: Loredo Guerra, Sharyland High; John Garcia, Mission Veterans Wide Receiver: Bobby
Tovar, Mission Veterans; Seth Carter, Sharyland High Guard: Jordan Deleon, Mission Veterans Tackle: Jose Ramirez, Sharyland High; Kevin De La Garza, Mission Veterans Kick Returner: Bobby Tovar, Mission Veterans Punter: Cesar Chapa, Sharyland High; Diego Hernandez, Mission Veterans Punt Returner: Elijah Reyna, Mission Veterans Second Team Defense Defensive Line: Stephen Ramos, Mission Veterans; Edgar Villarreal, Mission Veterans Inside Linebackers: Joe Garza, Sharyland Pioneer; Outside Linebackers: Justin Valles, Mission Veterans; Dylan Salinas, Sharyland High Safeties: Raul Garcia, Sharyland High Cornerback: Jon Boyles, Sharyland High; Jay De Leon, Mission Veterans Punt Returner: Elijah Reyna, Mission Veterans
Big 7 football players receive All-District recognition By Luciano Guerra ne hundred fifty eight Big 7 football players and one head coach received All-District recognition recently in Districts 30-6A and 31-5A. Most notable among the 30-6A selections were Palmview’s Jose Bernal and La Joya’s Yonny Villarreal who received Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year honors respectively. In District 31-5A the most notable selections included Sharyland High’s Sean Landez and Lance Madden who received CoMost Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year honors respectively, Sharyland’s Ismael Garcia and Veterans Memorial’s Hugo Cabrera who were named Defensive Newcomers of the Year and Sharyland head coach Ron Adame who was named Coach of the Year. The Rattlers had the highest number of players honored from any one school with
District 31-5A First Team Offense Quarterback: Santos Villarreal, Mission Veterans Wide Receiver: Roman Deleon, Mission Veterans; James Cole, Sharyland High; Adam Solis, Mission Veterans Center : Keith Mora, Sharyland High Guard: David Rodriguez, Sharyland High
January 2, 2015
Mission council prepares to annex land
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By Kathy Olivarez he Mission City Council began proceedings to annex two tracts of land at its Monday, Dec. 14, meeting. Tract A includes all of Lots 32-1,32-2, 31-2 and the north 30 acres of lot 30-2, West Addition to Sharyland including all lot in Basham No. 2 Subdivision, Vela-Zamora Subdivision, Alex Cavazos Subdivision and Premier Subdivision. Tract B includes lots, two, three, four and six of Mission Farm Estates. Final adoption of the land into the city is scheduled for Jan. 11. In other action, a conditional use permit for a drive-thru service window at T-Rey’s Convenience Store, 2502 W. Business 83, was approved. The site is the northwest corner of Paisano Street and Business 83. A request by residents of a neighborhood that an abandoned canal right-of-way
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be converted into a public street was approved; although council members said it would take time to plan and create the street. The area to be served is a small neighborhood of seven property owners one-fourth mile south of Griffin parkway along the west side of Los Ebanos. The tax collection report for October had the adjusted tax levy at $17,355,466.31. Collections to date are $48,340.47 or 0.28 percent of the total levy. Collections stood at $215,589.20 or 1.31 percent. Ordinance No. 3522 designated Fire Station No. 3, 1804 N. Shary Road, as the new polling place for voting for Precinct 63 on Election Day. Currently, voting is held at Castro Elementary but research showed that 2,311 of the precinct’s residents resided in the Sharyland area while only 953 were located in the area near Castro Elementary. Also, the council reviewed board appointments and made
recommendations for changes on some boards. Mario Lizcano, Javier Ireguas and Ignacio Pecina were all reappointed to the Ambulance Board. Irma Fernik, Rosie B. Lopez, Hector Leal, Lupe Ozuna, Severo Rodriguez and Roel Rivera were all reappointed to the Citizen’s Advisory Board. Rosalinda Gonzalez was reappointed to the Civil Service Commission. Oton “Tony” Guerrero and Pat Townsend Sr. were reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Board. Jose Guadalupe Vela was reappointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Carlos Lopez will replace Raul Sesin and Rene A. Flores will replace Henry Rodriguez. Richard Hernandez and Tony O’Cana were reappointed to the Shary Golf Course Advisory Board. Lina Cantu Cruz, Ann Whitfield and Linda Fraser were reappointed to the Speer
Memorial Library Board. Cynthia Leon will replace Mary Ellen Salinas, who resigned. Eunice Sanchez and Hector Leal were reappointed to the Tax Increment Reinvestment Board (TIRZ). David Crook will replace Martha Tagle and Joel A. Gonzalez will replace Geoff Hall. Rey Garza, Robert Garza and Jerry Cruz were reappointed to the Traffic Safety Committee. Richard Hernandez was reappointed to the Youth Advocacy Advisory Board. Jorge Garcia was reappointed to the Zoning Board of Adjustments as a member while Jon D. Lowen was reappointed as an alternate. Ned Sheats was appointed to fill the vacant position. City staff was authorized to accept an energy efficiency and conservation block grant
in the amount of $629,500. The money will be used to upgrade traffic signal lights, pedestrian walk signals and streetlights along Expressway 83 with LED lights. Use of the new lights is estimated to save the city 85 to 90 percent in energy costs for those lights. In a related action, staff was authorized to solicit bids for the purchase of electrical materials to upgrade all traffic signals, pedestrian walk signals and streetlights along Expressway 83 to LED. The council approved a change order for repairs of train filters in the downtown Mission Water Treatment Plant and a new building with parking at the proposed north Mission Water Treatment Plant. The change order will increase the project by $1,536,350 changing the low bid of $6,207,000 to
$7,743,350. It will also add 120 workdays to the project for a total of 600 days. Engineer Fred Kurth said the city wanted to take advantage of a zero interest loan the city received by doing as much work as they possibly could with the funds available. A contract for waterline maintenance supplies with HD Supply Waterworks was extended one year with an eight percent increase for brass service material. A contract with Fred’s Electrical Service Inc. for purchase of electrical repair and maintenance was approved for a second year. There were no price increases. The bid for self-contained breathing apparatuses was awarded to Hoyt Breathing Air Products for $236,812.05. Celso Gonzalez Con-
See MISSION 15
Peñitas continues search for proof of its origins
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By Julie Silva
Serving the Community Since 1988 Skilled Nursing Services
Efren Garza reads a historical marker erected in Peñitas, recognizing the city’s history. Progress Times photo by Julie Silva
As it is, there are very few local records that mention the history of Peñitas. Guajardo found a small folder at the Museum of South Texas History with about four or five sheets of paper, most of them newspaper clippings, he said. He found one newspaper article in particular compelling. It was published in the 1940s, and contained collected stories from elders, people born in the 1800s, in Peñitas. “So this already had currency in the 19th century,” Guajardo said, joking, “So this is not some concoction of Efren Garza who made it up.” There are a few theories on how Peñitas came into existence, and Guajardo dismissed the theory that Cabeza de Vaca founded the settlement right away. When Guajardo was asked to speak, he made contact with a scholar in Spain who has access to the General Archive of the Indies in Seville, Spain. The scholar had not found any mention on Peñitas, but he pointed out over the last two decades, scholars had debunked much of Cabeza de Vaca’s work. “Cabeza de Vaca for many, many years was taken as an authority, as a guy who we have to believe him because we really don’t have too many other accounts,” Guajardo said. But around 1995, people
started analyzing his work and found, “he was a fantastic story teller, but some of the stuff is kind of hard to triangulate.” It is possible, Guajardo said, that Peñitas was founded when Panfilo de Narvaez was sent in 1520 to capture Hernan Cortes. Narvaez traveled with a group of about 800, Guajardo said, including women and religious types who were discontent. “I would encourage your people to go and find more evidence,” Guajardo said. “I’m thinking this was not made up in the 20th century. I’m thinking I think I believe this story.” Guajardo suggested an archaeological dig in Peñitas. In one of the newspaper articles he dug up, an elder said he found a 16th-century Spanish coin on his property, but Peñitas residents will need more than that to prove it is indeed the nation’s oldest settlement. Guajardo said researchers are looking for artifacts like pottery or a cemetery. He suggested city leaders talk to professors at UTPA trained to do this kind of thing. “I do think you need to push the issue on finding this story because it’s a really good story,” Guajardo said. “This is the crossroads of the Americas, and we don’t know enough about ourselves.”
24-hour licensed nursing care I.V. Therapy Medication Management Enteral Therapy Infusion Therapy Comprehensive Wound Care Respite Care
In-patient and Out-Patient Rehabilitation Physical Therapy
Fall Prevention Program Strength and Endurance Program Gait Training Decrease healing time for injuries
Occupational Therapy
Neuro Re-education Activities of Daily Living Training Contracture Prevention Program Home Evaluation and Assessment
Speech Therapy
Swallowing Program (Vital Stim Therapy) Speech Intelligibility Cognitive Retraining
Social Services Activities & Recreation Family Program Barber & Beauty Shop Services
The services provided are but a glimpse of how we can help your loved one receive the best services available in the community. Mission Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is able to provide services that focus on treatment and our primary objective is on returning you home as soon as possible.
Conveniently located across from Mission Regional Medical Center
Contact us for a private tour of our facility. 1013 S. Bryan Road Mission, TX 956.580.2100
Mission, TX
To La Joya & Rio Grande City
To McALLEN
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Bryan Rd.
EÑITAS–More than 20 years after Efren Garza began searching for proof that his hometown is the oldest European settlement in the country, Garza is no closer to validating local lore that the city was founded in 1520. And as Garza and members of the Peñitas Historical Commission unveiled a plaque issued by the Texas Historical Commission on Dec. 20, he said the wording left it open for the city to continue to research its founding. The plaque recognizes Peñitas as a settlement under Jose Escandon in the 1700s. “We’re working diligently to get more information from the past,” Garza said. “Every day, every month, every year, we have acquired additional documentation on the past. We are looking forward to the day when we eventually uncover some of that documentation.” Garza began his own search because his mother used to tell him they were heirs to a lot of the land in the area. He was able to trace their ancestry back to 1767 to Nicolas Zamora, who received about 25,000 acres with his sons. About five years ago, Garza made a trip to Spain, hoping to find information on Peñitas, but access to the archives had just been blocked. However, he said at the plaque unveiling he hoped new information would be released via the Internet. But Francisco Guajardo, a University of Texas-Pan American professor who was recruited to speak at the unveiling after mentioning Peñitas in a presentation to the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court on Hispanic Heritage Month, suggested researching church records in Mexico.
Expressway 83
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MISSION NURSING HOME
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2014 REVIEW from pg 1
Technologies opened up a $40 million plant, and the Mission Economic Development Corporation announced plans for a steel plant to set up shop in the city’s industrial park. La Joya Independent School District’s Victor Garza was named athletic director of the year and Mission resident Vivianna Villalon was featured on American Idol. These are just a few of the water cooler moments that occurred in 2014. In no particular order, the following are Progress Times top 10 stories of the year. • Sharyland ISD lost its superintendent. Virginia Richter offered her resignation at the end of September after months of tension within
the district. Over the summer, the board initiated a survey to gauge the district’s leadership, and it reflected poor morale among administrators. Former La Joya ISD superintendent Filomena Leo was named interim superintendent while the board conducted a search for a new district leader. • Hidalgo County voters rejected a tax for a hospital district. In November, the 8-cent tax rate was voted down by 52 percent of residents who cast a ballot. Mission Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas, who believed the tax would quickly increase to the state max of 7 5 cents, openly opposed the tax. • Sharyland ISD opened its second high school. Sharyland Pioneer opened its doors to students in the fall of 2014, though the $60 million facil-
ABOVE: Federal officials unveil a campaign to discourage Central American residents from traveling to the U.S. LEFT: Sharyland Pioneer High School sits under construction.
ity wasn’t 100 percent complete. • Longtime Pct. 3, Place 2 Justice of the Peace Ismael “Melo” Ochoa resigned in October and soon was charged with bribery and money laundering for taking money to lower bond amounts. Ochoa was given 10 years probation. Then-Peñitas Mayor Marcos Ochoa, of no relation, was appointed the new justice of the peace by the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court. Peñitas Mayor Pro Tem Antonio Flores Jr. was named interim mayor. • La Joya ISD purchased Martin Valley Ranch Golf Course, renamed it Howling
Trails, and broke ground for a $9.5 million natatorium on the property. Another $2.5 million will be used to construct soccer fields and tennis courts. The district also plans a learning center and $2 million planetarium. • Members of the corrupt Panama Unit, a narcotics task force headed by the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office and housed at the Mission Police Department, were sentenced in federal court in April. Among those sentenced were Jonathan Treviño, son of former sheriff Lupe Treviño. Jonathan was pegged the ringleader of the group and given the harshest sentence of 17 years. • In July, Lupe Treviño was sentenced to 5 years in prison on a separate money laundering charge. In April, he pled guilty to accepting money from a known drug trafficker. Pct. 4 Constable Eddie Guerra was appointed sheriff by the commissioners court when Treviño resigned in March, and Guerra was subsequently elected to the position in the November election. • The $2.5 million Conway Streetscape project kicked off and neared completion as the year rounded down. The project repaved sidewalks on Conway Avenue from First to 14th Street and added palm trees, planters and benches in an effort encourage people to visit downtown Mission. • Former 92nd District Court Judge Ricardo Rodriguez beat out 30-year veteran District Attorney Rene Guerra in the March primary election with 64 percent of the votes. The La Joya city leaders, who publicly backed Rodriguez, claimed to be caught in the crossfire Hidalgo County moved the La Joya polling location to Peñitas. The polling place eventually was moved back. • As of August, more than 600 citrus trees in the Valley had been confirmed as infected with citrus greening, a deadly disease that has affected 80 percent of the citrus trees in Florida. Infected trees had been found in the downtown Mission area. The fruit produced by an infected tree is not useable, depending on the stage of the disease. The quarantine zone was expanded to encompass almost all of Hidalgo County, and a 5-mile radius in Harlingen was named a second quarantine area.
MCISD from pg 3
Mission Junior High and Alton Memorial Junior High. Mission Collegiate High will complete its expansion to include grades nine through 12 with the start of the next school year, and 14 new running tracks will be constructed for elementary schools. These asphalt tracks will either be a three-lane 400-meter track or a six-lane 200-meter track. Although the new administration building is still in the design phases, construction is scheduled to start this year as well as construction for the MHS Phase III project. The board went through a change in architects for Phase III in 2014, causing some delay in addition to a 100-plus day delay with the Mission High Field House. In spite of the hiccups, Lopez said the students and staff came up strong. In the fall of 2014, at least 10 district entities were state or nationally recognized and Lopez said that people need to be on the lookout for more of the same. “We’re building momentum and people know it, so that was a huge step forward,” Lopez said. “We’re going to have some pitfalls. It’s just part of any organization, such as what’s happening with the Mission High School field house, but it’s not indicative of who we are.”
January 2, 2015
obituaries
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Raquel Q. Carr ISSION - Raquel Q. Carr, 83, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. A lifelong resident of Mission, she was a member of El Mesias Methodist Church in Mission. Survivors include her children, Dinna Cavazos, Ruby Davila, Reymundo Carr Jr. and Robert Carr; siblings, Rosa Sandoval, Roberto Quintanilla, Rebecca Asebedo, Rosario Salinas and Romelia Quintanilla; and 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Reymundo Carr, Sr.; parents, Monico Quintanilla
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Jackie H. Field Jr. ALMHURST – Jackie H. Field Jr., 69, passed away Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, at his home in Palmhurst. A celebration of life service to remember Jackie will be held on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at Kreidler Funeral Home, 314 North 10th St. in McAllen, Tex. Jackie is survived by his wife, Trudy, of 45 years; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jacquelyn and Ryan Star of Bakersfield, Calif., and Janell and Jason Sultz of Round Rock, Tex. Jackie’s legacy also includes seven grandchildren, Natalie (8), Jadon (6), Genevieve (6), Jenna (3), Xavier (16 mo), and twins Jessica and Jocelyn (10 months). Jackie’s family also includes the families of his sister, Jo Dell Mitchell, and brother, Jim Field, of Austin, Tex. He was close with many extended family members and cousins as well. Jackie was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to so many. Jackie was preceded by his parents, Jackie (Jack) H Field Sr., and Harriett Jeannette (Hattie Jean) Sturgeon. Jackie was born in Mission, Tex. and graduated from Mission High School and Texas A&I in Kingsville. An entrepreneur and small business owner in petroleum product sales, Jackie worked
and Melchora Escamilla; and brothers, Ricardo and Rogelio Quintanilla. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 8 a.m. at El Mesias. Interment will follow at the R.G.V. State Veterans Cemetery in Mission. Rebecca R. Diaz ission – Rebecca R. Diaz, 81, passed away on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at her home in Mission. She was born on June 23, 1933 in La Lajilla, N.L., Mexico. Survivors include her husband, Daniel Diaz; children, Guadalupe Jose Diaz, Daniel Diaz Jr., Maria de Jesus Diaz, Jovita Diaz, Oralia Rosales,
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for many years in the Gulf Coast region and the Valley, with many years spent in Houston where he raised his family. Jackie and Trudy moved back to the Valley to be close to the friends and the memories of his roots. Jackie gave generously of his time and wisdom in leadership service to his church, the local Texas Master Naturalists chapter, and the Sharyland Water Supply Corp. He dearly loved fishing, gardening, raising livestock (aka his pets), and growing his property into a naturalist’s paradise. Jackie will always be remembered for his warm and generous smile, as someone who treasured his family, his community, and his friends. Memorial donations in Jackie’s name may be made to the First Church of Christ, Scientist; 911 North Main Street, McAllen, TX 78501. (Kreidlerfuneralhome.com)
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Esperanza Lares and Gloria Suarez; siblings, Adan Rangel, Eva Lopez, Guadalupe Garcia, Maria E. Diaz, Nora Colunga, and Gilberto Rangel; and 33 grandchildren, and 43 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfredo Rangel and Jovita V. Rangel; son, Jose Luis Diaz; daughters, Olga Diaz and Delia Diaz; and brothers, Jose and Juan Jose Rangel. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Dec. 31, and Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, from 1 to 9 p.m. with a 7 p.m. rosary both days at Flores Funeral Home in Mission. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, Jan. 2, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Mission. Interment will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Mission. Guadalupe F. De Leon ISSION - Guadalupe F. De Leon, 72, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, at McAllen Medical Center. Mrs. De Leon was born in Mission on Nov. 20, 1942, to Ernesto and Emilia Flores. She worked for many years with Mission Head Start Program. Survivors include her husband, Ernesto De Leon; children, Jose, Leo, Mary, Noe and Isidro; siblings, Fernando, Ernesto, Armando,
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Kenneth V. Fish enneth V. Fish, 77, baptized in the hope of Christ’s resurrection, passed away on Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, at St. Clare Health Center in Fenton, Mo. A proud retiree of the United States Air Force, he was the Outstanding Federal Disabled Worker of the Year in the late 1970s. Mr. Fish was the beloved husband of Marjorie A. (Muellner) Fish, and loving father of Helen P. (Darryl) Seibert, Diana (the late Brett) McMahon, Stephen P. (Marley) Fish, Angela Rhyne and Jeffery M. (Mary) Fish. He was also the dear grandfather of Lucas (Jessica), Meghan and Amy Seibert; Matthew and Zachary McMahon; Heather (Marcel) Wiley; McKenzie and Brianna Lynn Fish; and Justin, Nicholas and the late Zachary Sanchez. Also, the great-grandfather of
Yolanda and Gloria; and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and a sister. A funeral service was held on Dec. 30 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Interment followed at San Jose Cemetery in Mission. Justino Garcia MISSION – Justino Garcia, 58, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, at his home in Mission. Survivors include his wife, Martha I. Garcia; children Sandra Garcia, Alejandro Garcia, Brenda Garcia and Mayra Garcia; sisters, Maria Ramirez, Juana Garcia, Fermina Peña, Nestora Garcia and Maria Elena Ramirez; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Gustavo, Gulberto and Guadalupe Garcia. A funeral mass was held on Dec. 20 at Iglesia San Juan Diego Catholic Church in Mission. Interment followed at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Mission. Pablo Indalecio ISSION – Pablo Indalecio, 89, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, at Senior Care in Edinburg. Mr. Indalecio was born in Allende, N.L., Mexico on Jan. 15, 1925. He was a eu-
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Harrison George Wiley; son of Mary and the late Vernon Fish; brother of Vince (Carol) Fish, Carolyn (Steve) Sefkow and the late Susan (Bill) Kallstad; brother-in-law of Michael Muellner and the late Richard Muellner. He was the uncle, cousin and friend to many—and special friend of Bruce and Ann Brune. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, Dec. 29, at 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Valley Park, Mo. Inurnment followed at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery under the direction of Schrader Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Rd., Ballwin, Mo. The family has suggested memorial contributions be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the American Cancer Society. The family’s online guestbook may be signed at Schrader.com.
ChurCh DireCtory BREAD OF LIFE CHURCH 2820 N. Conway Ave. • 581-1411 CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD 4501 N. McColl. - McAllen CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 29th & Dove - McAllen 618-0884 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Missonaries • 580-2570 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH 911 N. Main - McAllen 686-4241 CONWAY AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH 1 Mi. N. Conway • 585-2413 EL FARO BIBLE CHURCH 15 miles W. of Mission on Exp. 83 Sullivan City, TX • 585-5617 EL MESIAS UNITED METHODIST 209 E. 6th • 585-2334 FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH 3 miles N. Shary Rd. • 581-1465 FAITH FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH 1 mile N. Exp. 83 on Tom Gill Rd. 519-6311 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1300 Doherty • 585-1442 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH 12th and Miller - Mission 585-7281 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1102 Ash St. • 585-4829 for worship schedule. FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1101 Doherty • 585-1665
NORTH PALMVIEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH 7612 W. 6 Mile Ln. Mission • 735-2569
ROAD TO SALVATION ASSEMBLY OF GOD 239 W. 2nd St. - La Joya 1312 Oblate • 585-3261
OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS One-half mile South Leo Avenue La Joya • 585-5223
SAN CRISTOBAL MAGALLANES & COMPANIONS PARISH
3805 Plantation Grove Blvd., Ste. 5
OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHURCH 6634 El Camino Real • Granjeno 279-4159
SAN MARTIN DE PORRES 5 mi. N. Conway, 1/2 Mile West Alton • 585-8001 & 585-8002
IGLESIA BAUTISTA BETANIA 851 S. Breyfogle Rd. • 585-5688
OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH 2.5 miles S. Conway (FM 1016) Mission • 279-4159
ST. JOHN OF THE FIELDS CATHOLIC CHURCH 1052 Washington Ave. • 585-2325
IGLESIA BAUTISTA CRISTO EL REY 1600 E. Bus. 83 - Mission
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH 620 Dunlap • 585-2623
IGLESIA BAUTISTA COLONIAL 3713 N. La Homa Rd. • 585-5332
OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY CHURCH 923 Matamoros St. • 581-2193
ST. PETER & ST. PAUL EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2310 N. Stewart Rd. 585-5005
IGLESIA BAUTISTA DEL VALLE 217 W. Mile 3 Rd. • 424-1602 Palmhurst
PALM VALLEY CHURCH 1720 E. Griffin Pkwy. 585-3203
SHINING LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH 6 1/8 N. Doffing Rd. (FM 492) 580-4078
FREEDOM LIFE CHURCH 2214 W. Griffin Pkwy. • 519-7000 Mission GRACIA DIVINA MINISTRY 4122 N. Conway • 584-3112 GREAT OAKS COMMUNITY CHURCH 2722 N. Conway • 451-5500 Mission IGLESIA ADVENTISTA DEL SEPTIMO DIA 1725 W. Griffin Parkway 581-9008
IGLESIA DEL PUEBLO 7500 West Expressway 83 581-1900 IGLESIA DEL DIVINO REDENTOR 1020 North Los Ebanos Rd 585-5898
PEÑITAS BAPTIST CHURCH 1/3 Mile S. of Exp.83 on FM 1427 583-6236 PRIMERA BAPTIST CHURCH Corner of 6th & Oblate 585-4711
LA RESPUESTA CHURCH 405 W. 12th Street • 585-0787
PRIMERA IGLESIA DEL VALLE APOSTOLIC ASSEMBLY 210 St. Marie. • 585-8651
MISSION CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 1 mi. E. 495 • 585-6683
PROMISE LAND CHURCH 2300 E. Palm Circle (Corner of 495) Mission, TX 78572 • 624-9307
NEW HOPE AT THE BORDER 905 N. Conway • 585-4122
RIVER OF LIFE CHURCH 901 S. Shary Rd. (Located in the Holiday Inn Express Conference Room) 451-4838
NORTH MISSION CHURCH OF CHRIST 1410 E. 3 Mile Line • 585-0146
Mission • 580-4551
ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH 1119 Francisco • 585-2701
TEMPLO BIBLICO 5 Mile/Conway • 581-4981 or 585-3831 TEMPLO EVANGELICO, M.B. CHURCH La Joya THE DOOR CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
810 E. Veterans & La Homa Suite F.
Palmview Crossing Plaza 212-1594/424-1984
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 3701W. 3 Mile Line • 585-3261 WEST MISSION LUTHERAN FELLOWSHIP Pleasant Valley Ranch 7320 W. Exp. 83 • Mission 583-7667 VALLEY FELLOWSHIP 1708 E. Griffin Parkway Mission • 424-7200
MISSION AUTO ELECTRIC, INC. DBA
ER MAE EPQOU IW PMENT
Commercial Lawn Equipment “Since 1954”
915 West Bus. 83 • Mission, tX 78572 • (956) 581-7433
KING, GUERRA, DAVIS & GARCIA
ATTORNEYS AT LAW DAVID H. GUERRA NEAL KING (retired) DARRELL DAVIS ESMERALDA GARCIA (retired) 301 E. Tom Landry • Mission • 585-1622
IMPLEMENT COMPANY, INC. MISSION 585-1618
charistic minister and served in several capacities at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Alton. Survivors include his children, Pablo Indalecio Jr., Juan Indalecio, Jorge Indalecio, Arturo Indalecio, Tomas Hernandez, Ludivina Longoria and Victoria Garces; and 15 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marcos and Victoria Indalecio; wife, Aurora Indalecio; son, Ricardo Indalecio; grandson, Eddie Garces; great-grandson, Isaih Moa; and 13 siblings. A funeral mass was held on Dec. 19 at San Martin De Porres. Interment followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen. Esteban Gutierrez ISSION – Esteban Gutierrez, 63, passed away on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen. Mr. Gutierrez was employed by the City of Mission for 24 years as a supervisor and PGA golf professional. He was a member of St. John of the Fields Catholic Church and the Guadalupaña Association. He was also very involved with the A.C.T.S. community. Survivors include his wife, Julie V. Gutierrez; children, Judy Denise Rodriguez, Estefany Gutierrez and Jennifer Gutierrez; siblings, Alicia Yescas, Fermina Garcia, Nieves Castellanos, Rogelio Gutierrez, Jesus Gutierrez, Rosie Arredondo, Janie Gutierrez and Linda Cardenas; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Julio Gutierrez Sr. and Maria Esmerehilda Gutierrez, and his siblings, Anastacio Gutierrez, Julio Gutierrez Jr., Lucia Chavez, Maria Suarez and Valentin Gutierrez. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, from 4 to 9 p.m. with a 7 p.m. rosary at Funeraria Del Angel in Mission. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, Jan. 2, at 10 a.m. at St. John of the Fields Catholic Church in Mission. Interment will fol-
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low at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Barbara Jo Peña ISSION - Barbara Jo Peña, 63, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014 at Mission Regional Medical Center. Born on Oct. 7, 1951, she was a lifelong Mission resident. Survivors include her sisters, Gloria Ann Saenz, Mary Martinez and Virginia Lee Singleterry. She was preceded in death by her parents, Billy Joe and Virginia Reeves. A funeral service was held on Dec. 29 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Mission. Interment followed at San Jose Cemetery in Mission. Elidia Roberts RANJENO - Elidia Roberts, 87, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen. A lifelong resident of Granjeno, Mrs. Roberts worked for Sharyland I.S.D. for 40 years, retiring in 1996. Survivors include her children, Elma Garza, James R. Roberts Jr. and Sharilee Balderas; and nine grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, James R. Roberts Sr., and daughter, Betty Joyce Moreno. A funeral mass was held on Dec. 27 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Granjeno. Interment followed at Granjeno Cemetery. Pallbearers were John Moreno, James Moreno, Jason Moreno, David Roberts, AJ Garcia and Javier Constantino. Suzanne Rogers ISSION – Suzanne Rogers, 63, passed away on Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, at her home in Mission. She was born in Carlsbad, N.M., to Hubert Nelson and May Elizabeth Lewis Nelson, and in 1969 she married Ronald Glenn Rogers. She worked as a bookkeeper both
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page 14
LJISD to expand resources in the New Year
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By Lea Victoria Juarez he La Joya ISD community can expect to see a slew of new buildings and centers in the year 2015. From a sports and learning complex to a partnership in business education, the district plans to expand its resources to provide more opportunity to its students and staff. Their three main projects
January 2, 2015
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include a teacher resource center, pregnant teen resource center and the sports and learning complex. The complex includes a golf course, natatorium, tennis courts, science fields, a planetarium and a homework center. The idea is to provide more positive activities for the students to keep them off the streets and out of trouble. For teachers, there will be a single go-to zone for
training materials, day-today classroom materials and a support network with the first-ever La Joya resource center. “Because our teachers are truly the backbone of our school district, it is important to give them the adequate resources to teach in this ever-changing education field,” Superintendent Alda Benavides said. According LJISD spokes-
man Eden Ramirez, the district has a high population of mothers to-be. To ensure that they continue with their education in a comfortable environment, the district purchased a home in which to conduct classes for those with child. The resource center will provide support groups and a customized educational experience. “Keeping kids in school is our number (one) priority. And no matter the situation, we have to find innovative ways to provide a quality ed-
ucation to all children regardless of circumstances,” Benavides said. “In 2015, we are going the extra step, on top of all we already do, to provide our pregnant teens with the support they need to finish their education and not drop out because of pregnancy.” When it comes to curriculum, La Joya is taking steps to prepare students for the business world. They’ve partnered up with Ford company for the Ford Next Generation Learning program, where they will be following a rigorous business model designed to supply secondary education students with skills they will need in the workforce. Part of that preparation includes a technologically savvy youth, so the district will continue rolling out its
H-E-B from pg 3
Sarah Williams-Blangero, Ph.D., former chair of the Department of Genetics at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio, the institute will advance research of diabetes and obesity that will lead to more effective treatments and improve the lives of residents throughout South Texas and beyond. Williams-Blangero brought with her 21 additional researchers and support staff to work for the institute. The institute will double the research dollars currently at UTPA and
iPad initiative with incoming freshmen. Another first for the new year is the La Joya ISD Educational Excellence Foundation, an organization meant to raise funds for grants and provide teachers with innovative tools that help with student learning. “We are committed to transforming the way our students learn, transforming their high school experience and, more importantly, renewing and strengthening our civic and business engagement amongst our communities,” the superintendent said. The district finished off the 2014 year with a Met Standard achievement, and its leaders are only looking to further their accomplishments in 2015. UTB. “The opening of UTRGV and the School of Medicine will be monumental for our region and will be at the epicenter of the national education conversation,” said Laura Gump, group vice president and general manager of H-E-B's Border Region. “The positive impact to our families, our students, and our future generations is immeasurable. This is a shining moment in the Rio Grande Valley’s history, and H-E-B is profoundly honored and proud to be a partner in the historic transformation taking place in our great South Texas region.”
January 2, 2015
MISSION from pg 11
struction received the bid for repairing the roof at the Mission Historical Museum in the amount of $33,900. A one-year extension of an interlocal agreement between the City of Mission and Texas A&M-Kingsville for the Regional Task Force dealing with Texas Commission of Environmental Quality Phase II storm water rules and assistance in complying with the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. A change order for the North Bryan Lift Station resulted in a cost reduction of $14,902.39, dropping the project cost of $803,07.61. The council voted to cancel the second December council meeting because it falls of December 28 during
the Christmas holidays. Ordinance No. 3524 was approved setting the official speed limit for the Anzalduas Bridge as 45 miles per hour. Ordinance No. 3525 created a three-way stop intersection at Rio Grande Drive and Glasscock Road. Ordinance No. 3526 created a three-way stop intersection at Rio Grande Drive and Frio Drive. Ordinance No. 3527 created a four-way stop at Glasscock Road as it intersects with Rio Balsas and Jonathon Drive. Mayor Beto Salinas was authorized to nominate a Mission resident to be inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame. The winner will be honored during a ceremony that takes place in conjunction with Border Fest in March.
RODRIGUEZ from pg 1
coming from outside. Maxine Longoria, who has experience as an associate judge for the Texas Juvenile Justice Court, agreed to be in charge of one of the felony divisions, Rodriguez said. Juan Villescas, an assistant U.S. attorney, also had experience at the district attorney’s office and has agreed to return, Rodriguez added. “At the end of the day, with all of these individuals, what I like the most is that I think we all have the same mentality: to be fair, to treat everybody with respect regardless of what kind of case it is and always just try to do the right thing,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t think we’re going to be able to control all the criticism, but as long as
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Holy Spirit, you make me see everything and you showed me the way to reach my ideal. You who gave me the dear gift to forgive the wrong that is done to me and you who are in all the angles of my life with me. I in this short dialogue want to thank you for everything, and confirm once and for all that I never want to be separated from you no matter how great the material desire may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory amen. Thank you for your love towards me and my loved ones. Say this prayer 3 times a day for 3 days without asking for your wish. On the 3rd day your wish will come true, no matter how great the miracle may be. Publication must be promised
M.E.R.
page 15
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PUBLIC NOTICE
we know we did the best we could.” Rodriguez said he plans to not only have his team focus on protecting society, but also on how to save tax dollars by making cases flow more efficiently. Also, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force gives the office more opportunity to bring in additional revenue. Even as Rodriguez prepares to take over the district attorney’s office, Guerra was making headlines in several high-profile cases, most notably that of 13th Court of Appeals Judge Nora Longoria, who had been charged with driving while intoxicated. Guerra dismissed the case, a decision that was widely criticized in the court of public opinion. Dash cam footage of Longoria taking a sobriety test was not included on
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NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of JOHN CRAIG CYRUS, Deceased, were issued on December 16, 2014, in Cause No. P-36,553, pending in the Probate Court Of Hidalgo County, Texas, to: KEVIN CYRUS.
else’s files. Longoria may have been given pretrial diversion and the charge eventually dropped, but she would have been treated like other potential first-time DWI offenders, he said. Instead, he said, “it looked like somebody was trying to hide it from people.” “I was going to stay quiet, but I felt that people really wanted to hear what I had to say about it because they’ve lost trust … I can’t say on everyone because there are a lot of good public officials, a lot of good judges,” Rodriguez said. “Unfortunately, because of things that have happened, we’ve all gotten tarnished because of that. I think because of the recent episodes and things that have happened, they’ve lost trust in the DA’s office; they’ve lost trust in the person that’s in charge.”
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a DVD sent to the district attorney’s office, but the video was listed in the file as evidence. Rodriguez said he’s done his best not to get involved in the disputes, saying, “Rene’s the prosecutor. I’m not privy to any files.” But, when Longoria’s case met public outrage, he felt the need to comment. Rodriguez posted on his Facebook that McAllen police did what they needed to do. It’s the prosecutor’s job to examine all of the evidence, he said. Had Rodriguez been in office, he said the outcome may have been the same but the process would have been different. For example, the case wouldn’t have been on his desk. The case would have gone to the prosecutor who worked with the assigned court, just like everyone
PUBLIC NOTICE The Mission City Council will hold a Regular Meeting on January 12, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: A 0.56 acre tract of land out of Lot 186, John H. Shary Subdivision, from (AO-I) Agricultural Open Interim to (R-1) Single Family Residential If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement. Anyone interested is invited to attend. Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
PUBLIC NOTICE The City of Alton Planning Department will hold a public hearing on January 21, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at the Alton City Hall Legislative Chambers, located at 509 S. Alton Boulevard, Alton, Texas in order to solicit input on the following:
The Mission Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on January 14, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following:
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
Rezoning: The S. 2.5 acres of Lot 22, New Caledonia Unit No. 3 Subdivision, from (AO-I) Agricultural Open Interim to (C-3) General Business, and Rezoning: .424 acres out of Lot 192, John H. Shary Subdivision A/K/A Lot A, Glasscock Acres (U/R), from (C-2) Neighborhood Commercial to (C-3) General Business
KEVIN CYRUS c/o: LOUIS C. BROWN Attorney at Law 1207 Conway Mission, TX 78572
Anyone interested is invited to attend and voice their concerns. Written comments received by 12:00 noon Tuesday, January 27, 2015, will be considered and should be addressed to the above mentioned address.
DATED the 23rd day of December, 2014.
For questions please call Jeff Underwood, Assistant City Manager at (956) 432-0760.
If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement. Anyone interested is invited to attend. Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
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Parneet & Parleen, LLC is requesting the rezoning of property legally described as a 15.87 acre tract of land out of Lot 384 John H. Shary Subdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas from AG - Agriculture District to MF - Multi-Family Residential District.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
ORDINANCE NO. 4179 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS, RESCINDING ORDINANCE NO. 3491 AND ADOPTING A NEW ORDINANCE PROHIBITING A LEFT TURN ONTO THE 200 BLOCK OF E. 15TH STREET FROM THE 1500 BLOCK OF DOHERTY AVE. BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 3:00 P.M. TO 5:00 P.M. ON THE DAYS THAT MISSION C.I.S.D. HAS SCHOOL IN SESSION; PROVIDING FOR INSTALLATION OF SAID TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES BEING NO LEFT TURN SIGN AND MAKING PROVISIONS OF THE STATE TRANSPORTATION CODE AND TRAFFIC ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MISSION IN REGARD TO PENALTY FOR VIOLATION APPLICABLE THERETO; READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014. Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary
City of Alton Public Notice Policy of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicapped Status The City of Alton does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in the admission or access to, or employment in, its program or activities. Jeff Underwood, Assistant City Manager, has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) regulations implementing Section 504 (24 CFR Part 8. dated June 2, 1988).
City of Alton Public Notice Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The City of Alton does not discriminate on the basis of color, national origin, sex, religion, age and handicapped status in employment or the provision of services. The City of Alton has adopted complaint and grievance procedures regarding its Texas Community Development Block Grant Programs. These procedures outline the steps for filing a written complaint on proposed GLO-DR activities. The City of Alton will make every effort to respond fully to such complaints within ten (10) working days. Citizens may obtain a copy of these written procedures at Alton City Hall between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Citizens may also receive the procedures by mail by calling Jeff Underwood, Assistant City Manager, at (956) 432-0760.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR SMALL MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM (MS4) General Permit Authorization No. TXR040162 APPLICATION. City of Alton, 509 South Alton Boulevard, Alton, Texas 78573, has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) under the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) General Permit No. TXR040000 for a renewal of authorization number TXR040162 to discharge from the City of Alton municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). The notice of intent (NOI) and stormwater management program were received by the TCEQ on June 12, 2014 postmarked June 10, 2014. The MS4 is located within the City of Alton limits that is in the McAllen urbanized area in Hidalgo County, Texas. The MS4 will discharge to the drainage area of the Nueces – Rio Grande Coastal Basin, and the Bays and Estuaries. The MS4 is part of a coalition which includes the following MS4s: City of Alamo (TXR040289), City of La Joya (TXR040288), City of Alton (TXR040162), City of Los Fresnos (TXR040270), City of Brownsville (TXR040264), City of Mission (TXR040168), Cameron County (TXR040051), Cameron County Drainage District No. 1 (TXR040236), City of Palmview (TXR040536), City of Donna (TXR040165), City of Primera (TXR040002), City of Edinburg (TXR040323), City of San Benito (TXR040161), City of San Juan (TXR040167), City of La Feria (TXR040286), and City of Weslaco (TXR040262). A copy of the NOI, stormwater management program, general permit, and general permit fact sheet is available for viewing and copying at the City of Alton City Hall, 509 South Alton Boulevard, Alton, Texas 78573. The Executive Director of the TCEQ has made a preliminary decision to approve authorization of this MS4 under TPDES General Permit No. TXR040000. PUBLIC COMMENT. Written public comments may be submitted to the Office of Chief Clerk, at the address provided in the information section below, within 30 days of the date of newspaper publication of this notice. In addition, the public may request a public meeting. If significant interest exists, the Executive Director will direct the applicant to publish a notice of the public meeting and hold the public meeting. The applicant must publish notice of a public meeting at least 30 days prior to the meeting in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the MS4 is located. If the MS4 is located in more than one county, the applicant must publish notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county containing the largest residential population. The Executive Director will consider all relevant information pertaining to whether the applicant meets the requirements of the general permit and will issue a written determination as to any final action on the NOI for authorization under the general permit. INFORMATION. Written public comments should be submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk, MC 105, TCEQ, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087 or electronically at www.tceq.texas.gov/about/ comments.html. For additional information, about the application for authorization under TPDES General Permit No. TXR040000 or the procedure for public participation in the general permit process, individual members of the general public may contact the TCEQ Public Education Program at 1-800687-4040. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040. General information regarding the TCEQ can be found at our web site at www.tceq.texas.gov Issued: December 10, 2014
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Notices
Esteher Lopez Cardoso LA JOYA - Esteher Lopez Cardoso, 78, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at her home in La Joya. Arrangements are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg. Maria Del Rosario Gomez MISSION - Maria Del Rosario Gomez, 37, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Raul Guerra Jr. MISSION - Raul Guerra Jr., 48, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, at his home in Mission. Aristea Hernandez MISSION - Aristea Hernandez, 78, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center. A funeral service was held on Dec. 23 at Our
January 2, 2015
www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at San Jose Cemetery in Mission. Guadalupe Hinojosa PEÑITAS - Guadalupe Hinojosa, 59, died Tuesday, December 30, 2014, at McAllen Medical Center. Arrangements are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Judy Hornschemeier MISSION - Judy Hornschemeier, 77, passed away on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Jovita Jimenez LOS EBANOS - Jovita Jimenez, 89, passed away on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014 at Retama Manor in McAllen. A graveside service was held on Dec. 22 at Los Ebanos City Cemetery.
Jules Aime Lamontagne MISSION - Jules Aime Lamontagne, 72, passed away on Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen. Shona Lowther MISSION Shona Lowther, 78, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, at her home in Mission. San Juana Lucio SULLIVAN CITY – A funeral service for San Juana Lucio will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Sullivan City. Interment followed at Sullivan City Cemetery. Armando Luna PENITAS - Armando Luna, 61, passed away on Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, at his home in Peñitas. Ubaldo Martinez Jr. MISSION/HOUSTON - Ubaldo Martinez Jr., 27, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Margarita Matamoros MISSION - Margarita Matamoros, 69, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center. A funeral service was held on Dec. 19 at Lord and I Funeral Home in Peñitas. Burial followed at Lord and I Cemetery in Palmview. Clemente O. Mendoza ALTON – A funeral service for Clemente O. Mendoza was held on Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, at his home in Alton. Burial followed at Garden of Angels Cemetery in Mission. Jose Palomo MISSION - Jose Palomo, 74, passed away on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at Doctors Hospital in Edinburg. Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg is in charge of arrangements. Fidelfa Peña MISSION - Fidelfa Peña, 76, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, at Mission Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A funeral mass was held on Dec. 20 at St. John of the Fields Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Garden of Angels Cemetery in Abram. Angelita Puente MISSION - Angelita Puente, 87, passed away on
Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014 at her home in Mission. Guadalupe Arevalo Ramos MISSIONGuadalupe Arevalo Ramos, 72, passed away on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at her home in Mission. Yolanda Ray MISSION - Yolanda Ray, 50, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center. A funeral service was held on Dec. 29 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Lucia B. Ruiz MISSION - Lucia B.Ruiz, 83, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center Gilberto G. Sanchez HARLINGEN/MISSION - Gilberto G. Sanchez, 71, passed away on Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, at his home in Harlingen. A funeral service was held on Dec. 19 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Granjeno Cemetery. Doyle W. Scott MISSION - Doyle W. Scott, 77, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Robert Sutton PALMVIEW - Robert Sutton, 84, passed away on Monday, Dec.22, 2014, at his home in Palmview. Clayton Eugene Thiebault MISSION - Clayton Eugene Thiebault, 86, passed away on Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, at McAllen Medical Center. Betty Williams MISSION - Betty Williams, 79, passed away on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at her home in Mission.
OBITUARIES for various local businesses, Border Coffee Service and later Border Equipment Service. Survivors include her husband, Ronald Glenn Rogers; children, Mark Rogers and Brenda Legate; siblings, Lynda Bass, Laverta Kipling, Michael Nelson and Jim Nelson; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents. A memorial service was held on Saturday, Dec. 20,
SALAZAR from pg 1
at the home these days. He’s the activities coordinator, but works like a Swiss Army knife, going above and beyond the job description. In the summer of 2013, he met Nicole Soto, who was admitted into the system at 17 years old. She was initially removed from her birth mother as a baby and adopted at the age of 7 by a family in Brownsville. After 10 years, decided she wanted to return to foster care. Although her adopted life didn’t pan out due to familial disagreements, she doesn’t think she would be the person she is today if it wasn’t for the Soto family in Brownsville. “She is very focused in her studies and that is a compliment that I always gave to her,” Caseworker Ana Maria Vasquez said. “It doesn’t matter if the world is ending, she is studying and passing. She is very clear in what she wants.” Soto said her Brownsville family kept her focused on education, and now she’s attending South Texas College.
ABBOTT from pg 4
of Americans to possess their own firearms under the Second Amendment. For the past 12 years, I have been proud to work at the side of the dedicated men and women of the Attorney General’s Office and at law enforcement agencies across this great state. I am humbled and honored to have shared in their professionalism, talent, enthusiasm and commitment to public service. The hallmark of the Attorney Gen-
She completed her emergency medical training and is pursuing kinesiology to become a coach while working as a restaurant server on the side. As the oldest at the home, Soto often helped the Salazar coordinate his activities, finding comfort in being with the youth. “I think this is an amazing place. I got closer to God because of this place,” the now 18-year-old said of the children’s home. “It was a really good time in my life and this place, I feel like it’s a safe place.” Vasquez has been working in the home since 2000 and was the caseworker for both Salazar and Soto and has seen them grow since their arrival. Although they are both healing from the trauma in their lives, she said, they are working through their weaknesses and toward their future. “They already set goals to pursue, and they are very focused in their personal goals,” Vasquez said. “Both of them are having a good goal to achieve in education. That’s a tool that they can manage as they get older.”
eral’s Office is the superior work done by each of its more than 4,000 hard-working, loyal employees – and I am certain our incoming attorney general will be able to count on the same professionalism that I have witnessed. It is a wonderful honor to have been elected to represent Texas in a new role. Many opportunities lie ahead of us to make sure we exceed expectations so that future generations of Texans experience even greater opportunity tomorrow. from pg 13
at Kreidler Funeral Home in McAllen. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Jose H. Sanchez ISSION - Jose H. Sanchez, 85, died Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at the Alfredo Gonzalez Texas State Veterans Home in McAllen. Survivors include his wife, Aurora G. Sanchez, and chil-
M
dren, Jose Sanchez Jr., Javier Sanchez, Gloria Garza, Lydia Bazan, Angela Sanchez, Irene Chesser and Ricardo Sanchez. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son Luis, three siblings, and two grandchildren. A funeral service was held on Dec. 22 at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission. Burial followed at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission.