February 27, 2015 - Progress Times Issue

Friday, February 27, 2015

www.ptrgv.com | 50 Cents

Agua SUD, Mission reach deal on Palmview sewer

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By Julie Silva rank Flores pointed to pictures of flooded yards from overflowing septic tanks as he emphasized the need for sewer services in Palmview even as the estimated base price for residents is jumping from $11 a month to $24.

The pictures weren’t taken after a hurricane, said Flores, district manager of the Agua Special Utility District. They were taken in January after about an inch and a half of rain.

“You can’t have this,”

Flores said. “To me, this is the driving factor on these things.”

After the Agua Special Utility District lost a lawsuit against the city of Mission at the end of last year, the district manager said he doesn’t have much of a choice. Agua SUD had planned to build a sewer plant on property purchased in 2012 south of Palmview, but that land had been annexed by the city of Mission in 2010. Mission leaders made it clear they did not want another sewer plant constructed within city limits or extraterritorial jurisdic-

tion.

As a result, Agua SUD no longer has a place to build a sewer plant and must work with the city of Mission to divert sewage from Palmview to Mission’s plant, Flores said. Instead of building a wastewater treatment plant on the purchased property, Agua SUD now plans build a lift station, and a 24-inch line will carry the waste to Mission’s plant 5 miles away. Flores said when Mission leaders stated they wouldn’t allow a plant within the city’s ETJ, they wiped out other possible properties.

He said Agua SUD even offered to spend $1 million more on the plant for odor control.

Mission Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas said the new plan is the same one discussed 10-12 years ago when Mission first constructed its regional plant. At the time the city of Palmview had a grant for $10 million that was going to be used to buy in to the Mission plant.

“At the end, they got into a squabble over there between Palmview and La Joya Water Supply, so Palmview said, ‘No, we don’t want to

do anything,’ and we lost the $10 million,” Salinas said.

“And here we are with the regional plant and no Palmview.”

The city of Mission ended up having to borrow the $10 million to cover the money Palmview had pledged in the project, Salinas said.

“The $10 million came out of our pocket because they failed to keep their word in those days,” Salinas said.

“They’d rather let the grant die than give it to us because they had a squabble.”

Agua SUD’s plan to build the plant would have been

fine had it been inside Palmview’s city limits, Salinas said.

Mission City Manager Martin Garza said the city always has been willing to provide the service to Palmview residents, and it already services school campuses in the area.

Garza recalled a few years ago when Mission looked at building a sewer plant on the north side, but the council received so much opposition that the city didn’t follow through. Instead, the city ex-

See AGUA SUD 11

RGV Civil War Trail explores region’s history

Liam Ezra Martinez. Photo by Martiza Esqueda

Calendar gives hope to fulfill children’s dreams

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By Mendi Brunson

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By Julie Silva s the War Between the States separated the country in the 1800s, a smaller, lesser-known version of it played out in the Rio Grande Valley.

“Really nobody in this area sort of bought into the Confederate argument, but they did buy into the idea of being left alone,” said Christopher Miller, a history professor at the University of Texas-Pan American. “Also, there were so many old disputes that divided families – they were called these clan disputes – that caused some people to stay loyal to the Union.

“It was a civil war in the worst possible sense – cousins against cousins, brothers against brothers.”

Saturday, the Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools, or CHAPS, program at UTPA will mark the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War by launching the Rio Grande

Valley Civil War Trail. The tour also is virtual, so people can log on to the website from a computer and listen to audio podcasts or read more about the sites along the trail without having to visit it physically.

In person, when the app is open on a mobile phone, it will ping the user when he/ she is close to a site on the trail.

A lecture series and living history exhibit will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday at the UTPA Student Union Theater, 1201 W. University Dr., in Edinburg to mark the launch of the trail. It is free and open to the public.

Lectures will include: Jerry Thompson, on Tejanos in Civil War Texas, Jim Leiker on the African American Military Experience in the Valley, Irving Levinson on The Other Civil War: Mexico from 1857 to 1867.

In front of the Student

See CIVIL WAR TRAIL 10

TOP: CHAPS is launching the Rio Grande Valley Civil War Trail with a community event Saturday at UTPA, the first of its kind in Texas. BOTTOM: Pictured are Tejano Union soldiers Jose Lino Hinojosa and his brother-in-law Luis Gonzalez in 1863. Photo ourtesy of Eva Hinojosa

ISSION – Liam Ezra Martinez is a 2-year-old fighting

cancer.

Son of Miguel Martinez and Bianca Hibarguen of Palmview, he was diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma amplified in July 2014. He currently receives chemotherapy locally and in Houston. Eventually, he will need a bone marrow transplant after the successful completion of his chemo.

He has a dream – to meet Woody and Buzz Lightyear from “Toy Story.”

The Faith-Family-Friends Foundation wants to make Liam’s dreams come true – along with a lot of other Valley children stricken by cancer.

After five years of operation, the board of the nonprofit organization has branched out. According to Maritza Esqueda, president and co-founder, the board recently formed the FFF Dreams Division where funds are exclusively designated for children battling cancer. Proceeds will grant the fulfillment of the dreams of children whose diagnosis is incurable.

Twelve Valley children and their families partnered with the organization to create a calendar to raise funds for the new effort. Each month on the calendar fea-

tures a child who is battling or has battled cancer, and each calendar is just $15 to purchase.

For each family, life is one day at a time. Side effects of treatments and the disease can’t be coordinated or calendared. Liam was selected as little Mr. August, but his dream is on hold because of his current treatment schedule, and his white count has to come up.

Cancer is not benign. It comes in many forms. Its pronouncement is nothing less than frightening. It has no respect for age, gender, race or religion. Its path does not acknowledge the talents and future aspirations. It has no concept of the hope called “dreams.”

To children, it’s a word attached to a bad moment, day or series of days. It’s accompanied by pain, fatigue and fog through numerous tests and treatments and the faces of strangers attached to hands gingerly trying to help.

They find comfort in moments cradled in the warmth of the loving arms of parents.

They find the strength to smile or laugh in a moment of humor offered by another’s feeble attempt to lighten the load.

Yet, somewhere in a resiliency born of innocence, children diagnosed with the dreaded “C” word still hope

See CALENDAR 14

INSIDE

Sharyland student achieves perfect score

Sofia Cortez Padilla didn’t miss a single question on the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam. She’s one of only 91 people in the world to do so.

See story page 3

INDEX

Entertainment | pg. 2

Lifestyle | pg. 6

MHS studies Mexican American culture

Varlack siblings taking singing to state level

Six students are making history as part of the first duel-enrollment course in Texas study on Mexican American development.

Three Varlacks, all Mission residents attending school in McAllen, participated in the Texas Music Educators Association’s all-state choir.

See story page 5

See story page 5

Opinion | pg. 4

Sports | pg. 8

Obituaries | pg. 11

Classifieds | pg. 13

entertainment Advance tickets on sale for 2015 Livestock Show

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ERCEDES – Advance season tickets for the 2015 Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show, to be held March 13 to 22, are now on sale at locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The advance tickets will be available through March 11.

Advance tickets sell for $35 for adults and $20 for children under 12 years of age and grants the holder main gate admission during all 10 days of the show.

There is a $5 daily charge per vehicle for parking.

“There is more to experience than ever before at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show and Rodeo so it just

makes good sense to save by buying in advance and take advantage of the savings….

We are presenting over one hundred thousand dollars in free entertainment daily,” said Sam Magee, general manager.

In addition to Country superstar Gary Allan performing on opening night March 13, the daily free entertainment lineup includes The Freddie Prez Show, The Agriacadabra Agricultural Magic Show, Master hypnotist Tina Marie, Noah’s Way Exotic Petting Zoo, the Fables of the West Little Horses, Swifty Swine Pig Races, Lone Star Action Sports BMX Stunt Team, Robin-

son’s Chainsaw Artists, Kids Pedal Power Tractor Show, juggler Wade Hendry, Walking with Dinosaurs, Rusty Gears the robot, entertaining Timberworks Lumberjack Show and the Southwest Dairy Farmers Mobile Dairy Classroom. Plus, local bands will be performing multiple shows each day on the Beer Garden Stage.

Tickets are available at the

following locations: Cavender’s Western Wear locations, The Boot Jack, Martin Farm and Ranch, Bullrider Western Wear, Circle G Enterprises, Borderland Hardware, Earl’s Agri-Business, Boots ‘n Jeans and Lionel’s Western Wear, Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Box Office and on-line at www. rgvls.com.

ITheatre presents ‘An Unspeakable Triumph’

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ESLACO – ITheatre presents their next production “An Unspeakable Triumph of Supreme Brilliance.” Performance dates are February 27 and 28 and March 6 and 7 with all shows at 7 p.m. It will be staged at the Eugene Braught Memorial Theater at 525 S. Kansas Ave. in Weslaco.

It’s a fast-paced comedy that follows a small town

community theatre trying to win a $10 million dollar prize for best performance. The problem is they only have two days to put together a show. Hilarity ensues as the script keeps changing and the actors’ egos keep getting in the way.

Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the box office the day of the show, online at www.itheatreoftexas.com or reserved by calling 261-5656.

VSO presents Chorale Masterpiece Concert V

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he Valley Symphony Orchestra presents Chorale Masterpiece Concert V at the McAllen Civic Center at 10th St. and Expressway 83 on Thursday, March 5, from 8 to 10 p.m.

The VSO concert features compositions from the 19th to the 21st centuries with the participation by the Valley Symphony Chorale and soprano Dr. Rebecca Coberly.

The concert will open with Poulenc’s Gloria, a masterpiece for orchestra and chorus. Gloria sets the movement of the Ordinary of the Mass in celebratory, joyful and contemplative moods. Dr. Coberly, professor of voice at the University of Texas Pan American, has sung in several solo recitals,

oratorios and concerts and has performed in opera and Broadway musicals such as Susanna in Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro” and Mother Abbess in “The Sound of Music.”

After intermission, the concert will continue with the orchestra’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien Op. 45. Tchaikovsky composed this orchestral fantasy in 1880 inspired by the Carnival of Rome, which he experienced during a visit to Italy. The catchy tunes evoke Italian street songs and folk melodies audible at that occasion. Then, the orchestra will perform Fetes from Nocturnes by Claude

See VSO 7

February 27, 2015

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

Coming Attractions

February 27-28 South Texas College Theatre presents their production of John Heimbuch’s “William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead.” Performances will be Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. with a Sunday, March 1, matinee at 2 p.m. at the STC’s Cooper Center for Communication Arts Main Stage, 3201 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. The matinee will be interpreted in American Sign Language.

General admission tickets are $10. Student, faculty, staff, military and senior citizens are $5. No children below the third grade are permitted entry. Tickets can be purchased one hour before the performance at the box office. For additional information, call 872-2301 or email namaro1@southtexascollege.edu or jrodriguez@ southtexascollege.edu.

February 27 – March 1 The Pharr Community Theater presents “The Chisolm Trail,” written by Romeo Rosales Jr. and directed

by David Cid. The two-act western comedy, drama and adventure of South Texas history will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday through Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Performances are at the Carnahan Auditorium, 317 W. Fore, Pharr. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for anyone under age 18. Tickets will be sold one huor before each show. For more information, call 648-2488 or 655-9308.

February 27 Bling it up for the final UTPA Alumni Ball, “Boots and Bling,” at the Boggus Ford Events Center, 3000 N. Cage in Pharr, at 6:30 p.m.

Proceeds will benefit student scholarships.

Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased online at bronccountry.utpa.edu/alumniball or at the UTPA Alumni Center in Edinburg, 2402 S. Closner Blvd. For ticket information

and accommodations, call 665-2500.

February 28 & March 7 The Upper Valley Art League will host mini receptions from 2 to 6 p.m. for the 2015 Photography & Digital Imaging Exhibit at the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Gallery, 921 E. 12th Street in Mission. The exhibit is on display through March 10.

Exhibitor photographers will be on hand. Call 583-2787 during gallery hours for more information. Email inquiries to uval.texas@gmail.com.

March 1 & 12 The Senior Ambassadors will perform at Seven Oaks Country Club in Mission at 7 p.m.

March 8 The Rio Grande Valley Concert Band will perform at McAllen Mobile Park at 3 p.m. To become a member of the band, contact Gene Goede at 682-9225.

March 14 The Upper Valley Art League (UVAL) is hosting the All Valley Art Exhibit.

It begins with an opening reception at 7 p.m. will be on display through April 14 at the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th St. in Mission. The opening reception is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

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.

To see the complete Coming Attractions calendar, go to www.ptrgv.com.

February 27, 2015

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Rattler student earns international honor Reminiscing...

30 Years Ago S

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By Lea Victoria Juarez

haryland High School junior Sofia Cortez Padilla walked into her high school gym in spring 2014 to take her AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam unable to know she know she would soon join an elite group of students worldwide.

She was nervous, Padilla said, and didn’t know where to sit. The gym was noisy and after the test began her equipment underwent technical difficulties, causing her to lag behind. But she got herself situated and trudged through.

Not only did Padilla receive a score of 5 on the AP exam, the highest score possible, but she earned every possible point – a feat only 91 people in the world have achieved.

“I didn’t think I would get a perfect score, not in a million years,” Padilla said with a grin stretched across her face. “Some of the questions, I mean, even though we study for them, the texts are totally different. The questions were a little confusing.”

The AP Spanish test is split into five parts ¬– read and answer, essay, an audio portion and two speaking sections. AP courses and exams are at a college-level, if passed with a grade 3 or higher, most colleges will accept the credit.

This Week

Sharyland High School junior Sofia Cortez Padilla is one of only 91 people worldwide to earn a perfect score on the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam.

A leg-up on classes is not something Padilla is used to since she enrolled at Sharyland ISD. The Guadalajara native transferred from Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, in 2013 and had one more year to graduate high school.

When she entered Sharyland, most of her credits didn’t transfer so she enrolled as a four-credit freshman.

The now 19-year-old has spent the last year and a half playing catch-up, doubling up on classes and doing homework into the midnight hour. Although she admits

her evenings are rarely free from schoolwork, Padilla is ranked third in her class and has teachers singing her praises.

“She’s just the dream student that every teacher wishes to have; you get them once and a while,” said foreign language teacher Juan Vasquez. “It was like winning the lottery. Right away, first day of school she was very into the class, dedicated and devoted.”

Although Padilla is older than her classmates and should be attending college by now, she said she’s al-

South Texas College and the University of Texas Pan American in order to provide services and help to the students at each event venue.

The gymnasiums of the high school will be turned into giant computer labs with about 150 computers for the students to use to work on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid . This application also plays a major role in many types of scholarships and financial aid from universities and organizations throughout the country. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children in order to assist in the FAFSA and to get information they may need in

order to help their children through the financial aid application processes. Income tax information from parents is needed in order to complete the FAFSA. Students will rotate through sessions in the “computer lab” and the other break-out sessions during the Operation College Bound event. T-Shirts and door prizes will also be given out to the seniors.

Operation College Bound will be at Mission High School on Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 8:20 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.

It will be held at Veterans Memorial High School on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Operation College Bound continues focus on helping students with college financial aid

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ission CISD officials are preparing for the district’s ninth annual Operation College Bound: FAFSA Completion events to be held at Mission High School and Veterans Memorial High School. Mission CISD was the first district in the area to create an event designed to not only help high school seniors start or complete their FAFSA; but to also attend sessions on financial aid, credit, making the transition to college, and other related topics. This year a meningitis clinic will also be included in the events.

Operation College Bound brings together support from

ways made her studies a priority. She felt she owed it to her parents to do well in school, which was one of the reasons she decided to not take the GED test.

“My parents made the decision to come here because they wanted us to get better opportunities for college and life in general,” the junior said. “So if I want to get into the school I want, I need to have a good GPA and actually prepare myself to go to college.”

The Rattler hopes to attend the University of Pennsylvania to study international business. She believes her rigorous schedule will only better prepare her for the post-high school experience, as well as her history of travel.

Growing up, Padilla and her family moved around because of her father’s job.

Before moving to Mission, the family lived in five other Mexican states, and Padilla studied abroad for a year in Belgium.

Although the extended high school career has been challenging, 19-year-old Sofia looks at the positive.

“It’s kind of hard because most of my friends in previous places are already in college, and people my age are already long gone,” she said. “But it’s good because I get to have a little more time to really think about what I want to do in life.”

PD promoted two officers to sergeants Victor Pagan-Levy, Mission police chief, announced their selection. The two promoted were Robert M. Casey and Gary L. Evans, and the promotions marked the first time elevation in rank occurred under new procedures, which included written and oral examinations.

Manuel De Leon asked for reelection Incumbent Mission city councilman De Leon announced his candidacy for reelection to Place 4. A World War II veteran, De Leon was a Civil Service employee for 20 years.

“I will work toward increasing job opportunities for our citizens and our young people. I will also work toward a better program for our Senior Citizens,” De Leon stated.

Peña sought a second term in office Councilman Leo Peña announced he would be seeking a second term.

“The city of Mission should be run in a business-like manner. This includes the selection of personnel. Positions should be filled by the most qualified applicant,” Peña said.

Alicia Guerrero filed for Place 1 Guerrero, a life-long Mission resident, announced her candidacy for city commissioner Place 1.

“A special concern for me is the honest handling of our taxpayers’ money, since the incumbent commissioner has been totally unresponsive to that concern,” Guerrero said.

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opinion combined with comprehensive reforms.

- Providing property owners with $2.2 billion in property tax relief.

- Using any revenue that exceeds initial estimates or a portion of any surplus cash to reduce state non-self-supporting debt.

- Preventing future overspending by passing a constitutional amendment ending the use of funds in statutorily dedicated accounts for budget certification; - Providing the governor expanded line-item veto authority to ensure prudent and sensible spending reductions.

In a set of official proclamations released Feb. 20, Abbott named five emergency items for state lawmakers to address without delay: (1) improvements to early education; (2) higher education research initiatives; (3) transportation funding; (4) border security funding; and (5) ethics reform. The Texas Constitution requires lawmakers to take action on the governor’s emergency items by March 13, the 60th day of the 140day regular session of the 84th Texas Legislature.

With the governor’s wishes now expressed, committees in both houses of the Texas Legislature will continue to work on their own versions of a state budget for the next fiscal biennium. Those versions will have to be reconciled by the two bodies, and ultimately, with the governor, who has veto power.

Court rules on immigration On Feb. 16, a Brownsville U.S. district judge issued a preliminary injunction, pending the outcome of a multistate lawsuit, to stall an executive order President Obama issued last fall that would allow some five million undocumented immigrants to apply for work permits and avoid

deportation.

In issuing the injunction, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen reasoned that the U.S. Administrative Procedure Act’s requirement that public notice and a public comment period did not take place before a change in U.S. immigration policy could take effect.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton lauded the ruling and noted in a Feb. 20 news release, “Texas leads a 26-state coalition fighting the president’s attempt to unilaterally grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants.”

The Obama administration has filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for a stay of the district court’s injunction.

Same-sex marriage is conducted Austin State District Judge David Wahlberg, citing “unconstitutional prohibitions against same-sex marriage” in Texas, gave Travis County the green light to proceed with official paperwork culminating in a marriage ceremony uniting two women on Feb. 19.

Attorney General Paxton quickly obtained a stay from the Texas Supreme Court that prevents same-sex marriages.

Paxton also seeks to invalidate the one marriage that was conducted.

Gov. Abbott said, “Article 1, Section 32 of the Texas Constitution defines marriage as consisting ‘only of the union of one man and one woman’ and was approved by more than three-quarters of Texas voters. I am committed to ensuring that the Texas Constitution is upheld and that the rule of law is maintained in the State of Texas.”

The constitutionality of same-sex marriage is a matter pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. A ruling is expected by June 30.

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

USTIN — On Feb. 17, Gov. Greg Abbott delivered his first State of the State address during a joint session of the Texas House and Senate and released his recommendations for the two-year 2016-2017 state budget.

In his 43-page Governor’s Budget document, Abbott said he aims to: “Constrain the size and growth of government. Reduce agency spending. Suspend, reduce, and eliminate unnecessary taxes and fees. Ensure government supports job creation and is accountable and transparent.”

Abbott is recommending general revenue spending of $99.4 billion for 2016-2017, slightly less than a 5 percent increase in general revenue spending compared with the current budget. “By keeping spending levels lower than the growth in population plus inflation, we can ensure that the size of government does not grow. This allows Texas to significantly reduce tax burdens,” Abbott asserted, and promoted the building of the budget on the following “core principles”: - Passing a constitutional amendment to limit the growth in state spending to the historic growth in the state’s population plus inflation.

- Limiting the size of government by reducing most state agency general revenue expenditures by 3 percent.

- Securing additional funding for transportation infrastructure by passing a constitutional amendment to dedicate one half of the motor vehicle sales tax to transportation needs and ending many transportation funding diversions.

- Stimulating private sector job growth by permanently decreasing the business “franchise” tax by $2 billion,

February 27, 2015

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Rep. Guerra joint authors bill to enhance public safety

USTIN – State Rep. R.D. "Bobby" Guerra (D-McAllen) joint authored HB 68, granting Texas driving permits to those eligible with undocumented status.

HB 979 would issue driving permits – not licenses – to undocumented immigrants who can prove they have lived in Texas for at least a year and have no criminal records. The bill would authorize those who qualify to drive and buy auto insurance, eliminating the high volume of uninsured drivers on our Texas roads, and increasing public safety measures across the state. In addition, those eligible for Texas resident driver's permits would be required to en-

roll in a driver education program, which is a requirement for all Texas drivers. Similar legislation has already been implemented in 12 other states, with California being the latest.

“From an economic and public safety standpoint, issuing Texas residential permits to those who qualify makes a lot of sense. These individuals are already here and working, but unfortunately cannot be a part of the system because of their undocumented status. This bill would guarantee valid permits, enhancing the safety of our roads and highways for Texas residents and drivers,” Guerra said.

Senator Chuy Hinojosa has filed the companion bill

in the Senate, SB 132. In addition, current policy allows some undocumented immigrants to obtain a provisional license, such as those who qualify for deferred action, where they are granted a two-year reprieve from deportation proceedings.

“HB 68 would help lower insurance premiums for those of us who are legal residents and required to purchase auto insurance. It would also make our streets safer because we will know they have already demonstrated competence along our highways and roads, in the safe operations of a vehicle, as well as having the necessary liability insurance,” Guerra said.

of powers, three branches of government each performing their duties as best they can, working in tandem to make a better country for us all.

“The question before us is whether any President should have the authority to circumvent Congress whenever a legislative battle proves too challenging. Texas, and 25 other states, have come together to say with one voice, that this is fundamentally wrong and entirely unacceptable.

“In any system of government, the rule of law is what stands between freedom and tyranny and we can’t afford to waver in its defense,” General Paxton said.

On Feb. 16, a federal judge in the Southern Dis-

trict of Texas enjoined in full President Obama’s unilateral November 2014 immigration action. The court’s order prevents the Obama Administration from spending taxpayer dollars and taking major steps that would substantially harm Texas and would be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse.

“This genie would be impossible to put back into the bottle,” the ruling stated.

Joining Texas in the lawsuit are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Paxton discusses case against President Obama’s executive amnesty

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ASHINGTON, D.C. – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday was joined by Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson at the Heritage Foundation for a discussion on the case against President Obama’s lawless executive amnesty. Nebraska is part of a 26-state bipartisan coalition led by Texas fighting to stop the President’s attempt to unilaterally grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants.

“The President of the United States is attempting to end-run Congress to impose and implement his own immigration laws. That’s not at all what the country is all about. Our country was founded on the separation

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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.

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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.

February 27, 2015

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CULTURAL HISTORY MHS class studies Mexican American roots A

By Lea Victoria Juarez

six-student class at Mission High School is making history as the first Mexican American studies dual-enrollment course in Texas. Covering a Post-Civil War 1864 to the 2000s, the class is following the United States timeline from the southwest perspective.

South Texas College Instructor Trinidad Gonzales and MHS teacher Victoria Rojas teach the class. Each day the two switch off leading the class in the lesson with an open Socratic learning method, hands-on projects and sampling of the occasional Mexican cuisine.

Most U.S. History courses focus on European colonization, according to Gonzales, but courses 2327 and 2328 prioritize the Spanish, Mexican and Mexican American development.

“There is an under appreciation for our area, an under appreciation for living in the Valley,” Rojas said. “I think if you understand our history then it makes your appreciation for our history grow.”

This semester the class is focusing on Mission history and some hometown success stories that are not typically discussed in state textbooks.

The class has visited the Mission Historical Museum and the University of Texas - Pan American archives to broaden their knowledge.

“It’s really expanded the way we think about ourselves. We usually don’t get too much attention in the Rio

Musical Varlack siblings make it to all-state Members of Mission High School’s Mexican American studies dual-enrollment course are instructed by South Texas College Instructor Trinidad Gonzalez.

Progress Times photo by Lea Juarez

Grande Valley,” senior Ariana Navarro said. “My teacher and professor have taught me that we do matter and we do have an impact on society and history, not just in our area but the United States in general.”

When the class started in fall 2014, Gonzales said that the students weren’t used to the round-table type of class setting and preferred the lecture-and-listen method. As a way to get the students to open up, the STC professor brought in a cultural pastime as a teaching tool – medienda, similar to tea time in the English culture.

“I went and bought pan dulce. We ate some bread and I used that an as occasion to talk about that sort of daily activity people would engage in when I grew up,” Gonzales

said. “Medienda is when it’s 3 o’clock you go and get some bread, have some coffee and people get together. It’s just that afternoon meal break that people get to bond and talk.”

Whether the students realized it or not, the exercise was a way to get them to be more articulate, a vital aspect of the class.

Both Gonzales and Rojas are teaching the students the importance of defending their positions when they speak out. In the class they are required to not only contribute how they feel about a certain topic, but why they feel that way.

“The idea is to develop people who can think, analyze, evaluate and then articulate what those positions are... to somebody else,” Gonzales said. “That’s scary for a lot of

students and a lot of people in general because it may fundamentally lead to some changes in how you see the world, but that’s what education is.”

Senior Kobe Marquez was not prepared for the intensity level of the class and admitted that he enrolled because he thought the elective course would be less demanding.

However, Marquez has learned to appreciate what the program offers.

“The first past of this class made me have a different viewpoint and I just had to take part two of the class,” the 17-year-old said. “Now we’re starting to get closer to the present and I’m starting to see how everything I’m learning is connected. What I really like is that I’m able to know more about where I’m coming from.”

“When Hernandez said, ‘I’m just here to witness.

They don’t feel safe,’ he (Garza) fired him,” Peña said.

After the incident, Hernandez filed a police report to document the incident and the female employee later filed her own report stating she had been afraid of Garza.

Garza said he only recently was able to get copies of the police reports, and what he read shocked him. He has no idea why the female employee felt unsafe around him.

Peña believes there was something deeper behind Hernandez’s actions. Pointing to a raid by federal agents on the housing authority and Garza’s house in December, Peña said Hernandez had been reporting what he believed to be illegal activity at the housing authority to the federal government.

“We got our decision now, so we’re free to file a lawsuit for the whistleblower and the harassment,” Peña said after the grievance hearing.

Garza said he does not know of any illegal activities within the office, and he had no idea Hernandez had talked to the federal govern-

ment. When the raid occurred in December 2013, Garza, a member of La Joya Independent School District Board of Trustees, thought it was the result of a complaint from political enemies.

As an elected official, Garza said he’s used to false accusations. And if any of Hernandez’s accusations of illegal activity were true, the federal government already would have arrested Garza.

As it is, when agents interviewed him after the 2013 raid, it lasted about five minutes, Garza said.

On the January morning Hernandez was fired, Garza said he was angry with the female employee, but he agreed when she asked to have the second female employee as a witness in his office, something he said he didn’t have to do. When Hernandez came into the office, Garza said he told him to leave twice. Hernandez refused.

“He had an attitude. I reminded him that I’m his boss,” Garza said. “I told him to turn in his keys and go.”

It wasn’t the first time Hernandez had given Garza trouble, he said, adding that recently Hernandez had been

acting differently, and there were a lot of little things that added up to the firing.

“He’s always been good to me and honest, and suddenly he wasn’t following a directive, and I was already upset, so I exploded,” Garza said.

“If my boss tells me, ‘Hey, you need to step out,’ I’m going to step out.”

know that there’s different branches in the immigration office -- one that enforces the law, the immigration and

citizenship services is the branch that is there to help

La Joya Housing Authority affirms employee’s termination

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By Julie Silva A JOYA – Housing authority board members took no action on a grievance Tuesday night, affirming the termination of maintenance worker David Hernandez.

Hernandez, who has worked for the housing authority since 1998, was fired Jan. 8 by La Joya Housing Authority Director. J.J. Garza when Hernandez refused to leave Garza’s office despite being told to do so several times.

Javier Peña, attorney for Hernandez, said the incident began with an argument between Garza and one of the office’s female employees.

Garza told her to come into his office, and she asked Hernandez to come into the office as well as a witness, Peña said.

Hernandez felt Garza was being particularly aggressive with the female staff that morning, so he complied with her request, Peña said. But Garza pointed to a second female staff member who also came to the office as a witness, and told Hernandez to leave.

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Mexican consulate visits Peñitas

By Lea Victoria Juarez ven though Brownsville-based Judge Andrew Hanen put an emergency block on President Obama’s immigration order – Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – undocumented immigrants can still apply.

However members of the Buckner Family Hope Center, a non-profit that works with families in need, found that many of those trying to earn a citizenship aren’t well informed on the application process.

On Feb. 18, the Peñitas center hosted two immigration classes conducted by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services and representatives from Congressman Henry Cuellar’s office. The presentation was initially meant to discuss DAPA and DACA, but since the judge put a hold on the deferred deportation, legally they were not able to discuss the two. Instead, the two entities took the opportunity to create a dialogue and dispel any rumors on the citizenship process.

“We wanted for people to

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By Julie Silva

See PEÑITAS 12

ission resident Cherish Varlack was one of three students at McAllen High to sing with the Texas Music Educators Association allstate choir – it's the highest honor a Texas music student can achieve.

Varlack, a senior who sings alto, made it to state the two years prior, but this year was different. This year her brothers were there with her.

Adriel, a junior who sings bass, and Japheth, a sophomore who sings bass 2, were the only other McAllen High students to make the cut to state.

And it's not surprising that the trio come from a musical household as their mom, Faith Varlack, said the Varlacks’ musical experience began in the womb. Their parents, Gerald and Faith, met while in choir together at Lee University. Their grandmother, Faye Cline, is a music teacher who pushed the three to learn to play the piano.

Now, Faith said, there’s never a boring moment at home. Somebody always is doing something musical.

Faith also is choir director at Calvary Baptist Church, and she said her kids sing with her in the choir, while Japheth plays bass for the music team.

To reach the state level, the siblings had to make it past district, region and area.

Preparation for the compe-

tition kicked off in June at choir camp, where they’re introduced to the music, but the final round of the competition doesn’t hit until January.

Throughout the school year, if they couldn’t practice after school, Faith had them practice at home.

Faith, now a choir director herself, said her mom pushed her into choir as a young student who wanted to be a performer. She knew by her junior year she wanted to go into the profession after seeing her own teacher take a student who was tone deaf and teach him to sing.

“I know how it impacted me, so I wanted them to have that experience,” Faith Varlack said. “It really is an experience you have when you actually hear all the harmonies together. There’s just happiness; there’s just all types of emotions.”

This year, the Varlack siblings also all performed in the Seussical the Musical, which starred Adriel as Horton and featured both Japheth and Cherish. They also are the only high school-aged members of the Valley Symphony Chorale, which they joined shortly after making it to all-state.

Of the three, Cherish is the only one who plans to follow in her mom’s footsteps. She plans to attend Lee University after graduation to study music education. Cherish said she wants to have con-

See VARLACK SIBLINGS 12

lifestyle

Spring Hawk Watch begins March 1

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he spring Hawk Watch season begins March 1 at Bentsen RGV State Park, and there is an opportunity for the public to learn more about birds of prey and to join the park’s hawk counters through April. The annual event is part of this important citizen science program.

To participate, volunteers will receive instruction at a training day that takes place on Saturday, March 7, from 1

to 4 p.m. This will be a classroom focus on field identification of raptors in flight. To register, or for more information, contact Roy Rodriguez or Melissa Chadwick at 5849156.

The counts of these birds of prey are indicators of the overall health of the environment, and the annual spring and fall Hawk Watch seasons contribute to HawkCount, a long-term study that monitors

raptor population trends in the world’s largest standardized raptor migration count network. HawkCount is a project of Hawk Migration Association of North America.

Volunteers can ride the park tram to the Hawk Tower every day from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and should bring binoculars, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and drinking water.

Park admission is required.

Weslaco East High School this Saturday, Feb. 28. Referees and about 40 volunteers are still needed for the competition.

The tournament includes 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 basket-

ball team competition plus Individual Skills for athletes.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m., with Individual Skills immediately following and running through Noon in both gyms. Team competition will start at 1 p.m.

To become sponsor or volunteer or for more information, contact Gloria Cruz at gcruz@sotx.org or Lauro Garza at lgarza@sotx.org or call 630-3434.

Volunteers needed for SOTX competition

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ESLACO – More than 720 Special Olympics Texas (SOTX) athletes from the Rio Grande Valley are set to compete in Area 1 annual basketball competition at

Historical author Karen Abbott to speak at STC

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cALLEN – During Women’s History Month, the community will have an opportunity to gain insight into four women’s lives during the American Civil War when New York Times best-selling author Karen Abbott visits South Texas College on March 4 as part of the college’s Jovita González Lecture Series. The event is free and open to the public.

Abbott will visit the Pecan Campus, 3201 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen, on March 4 at 6 p.m. A book-signing will follow the discussion.

During her visit, Abbott will explore the spellbinding true stories of four very different women – a socialite, a farm girl, an abolitionist and a widow – who took on

the responsibility of soldiers and spies. Her book, “Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War” has been named a best book of 2014

by Library Journal, the Christian Science Monitor, Amazon and Flavorwire, and has been optioned by SONY for a miniseries.

Abbott’s previous books include, “Sin in the Second City” and “American Rose” that were both New York Times Best Sellers. She is a featured contributor to Smithsonian Magazine and also writes for the New York Times series about the Civil War. For more information, contact Esther Garcia at 8726485 or egarcia10@southtexascollege.edu.

Free Society News Announcements

IMAS luncheon, style show is March 7

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he International Museum of Art & Science Guild presents the “A Splash of Spring” luncheon and style show from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. It will be held at IMAS located at 1900 Nolana Ave. in McAllen.

Models will walk the floor with fashions from Caché, Cute Cotton Co., Renee’s of Sharyland and Lionel’s Western Wear. Tickets are $30 per person.

For more information and tickets, call IMAS at 682-1564; Yoanada Barrera, 330-0678; Mariella Gorena, 451-4665; or Graciela Cobo, 605-5243.

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.

February 27, 2015

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

Events Calendar

Feb ruary 28 – The next Upper Valley Art League Photography Group meeting will be held at 11 a.m. in the UVAL Annex, 921 E. 12th in Mission. There will be a review and discussion of the current photography exhibit on display in the UVAL Gallery. Jess Merrill will give a short presentation on “Photographer’s Purpose: Why Do We Photograph?” For more information, call 583-2787.

Feb ruary 28 – St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Mission will serve a fish dinner each Friday through March 27 at the church’s parish hall at 1119 Francisco. Plates of fish with sides of potatoes au gratin, coleslaw, hush puppies and tortillas are $7.50 and will be served 5 to 7 p.m. for dine in or carry out. Diners can pay at the door. For dining in, beverages are free, and desserts will be sold. A drive-thru carryout will be available in the alley that cuts through the St. Paul property behind the parish hall. Call Carlos Ramirez at 867-1882 for more information.

Feb ruary 28 – The official launch of the Rio Grande Valley Civil War Trail, to introduce the public to a new living history exhibit, will be held from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The University of Texas-Pan American Student Union theatre. Visitors can park in Lots A4, B1 or B2.

Feb ruary 28 – Join RGV-Bentsen State Park volunteer Bill Supulski for the Digital Nature Photography 102 introductory classes for people with point-and-shoot and DSLR cameras.

There will be a break for lunch; bring a sack lunch. Pre-registration is required. There is a limit of 20 participants; call early to reserve a spot. For more information, call 584-9156.

The park is located at 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Dr. Feb ruary 28 – The Saturday Safari, “Measuring Up,” begins at 10 a.m. at Gladys Porter Zoo located at 500 Ringgold in Brownsville. Children and their parents can help zookeepers record the weights and lengths of the zoo’s animals. Tour, arts and crafts, animal encounters and snacks are included in the $15 fee per adult or child, ages 4 and up. To register, call 548-9453 or download a registration form at www.gpz.org. Pre-registration is required.

March

Mar ch 3 – The public is invited to join in on the next book discussion at Speer Memorial Library in Mission on at 6:30 p.m. The next book is “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.” For more information or to sign up, call 580-8750 or 580-8754 or stop by the library at 12th Street and Kika de la Garza Loop in Mission. This title is also available as an eBook at http://mission.lib.overdrive.com.

Mar ch 5 – At 6 p.m. Quinta Mazatlan hosts Larry Ditto in a presentation on his travels across the United States in search of wildlife in their native setting with his professional photographs of everything from birds to bighorns. The program is $3 per person. Quinta Mazatlan is located at 600 Sunset in McAllen. Call 681-3370 for information.

Mar ch 6 – The Mission Computer Club will meet at 10 a.m. in the Speer Memorial Library Community Room. All levels of users are welcome to attend, and meetings are free. Contact Edna Morales at the library at 580-8478 for more information.

Mar ch 6 – Take a tour of Rancho Lomitas and learn about the historical uses and interesting properties of native plants with Benito Treviño. The Edinburg World Birding Center will escort a field trip to the ranch in Rio Grande City from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $20 for EWBC members and $25 for nonmembers. Seating is limited; reservations must be made by March 4. Bring money for lunch or take a sack lunch. The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria. For more information, call 381-9922.

Mar ch 7 – The Hawk Watch Volunteer Training Day at RGV-Bentsen State Park will be a classroom focus from 1 to 4 p.m. Training will be on field identification of raptors in flight. To register or for more information, contact Roy J. Rodriguez, park naturalist. For more information, call 584-9156. The park is located at 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Dr. Mar ch 9-13 – The Museum of South Texas History invites children ages 8 to 12 years of age to the museum’s Curator Camp from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The museum is located at 200 N. Closner in Edinburg. The camp tells the story of regional history. Enrollment is $100 per camper or $80 per camper for museum members. It includes a daily snack. Registration deadline is Feb. 27 and space is limited to the first 15 children. To register and for more information, call 383-6911.

Mar ch 11 – 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.

Mar ch 14 – The International Museum of Art & Science will hold “Winter Texan Saturday” for seniors age 55 and over from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s included in the price of general admission. Receive a guided tour of IMAS, free coffee and donuts and a program on technology.

General admission to IMAS is $5 per person. For more information, call 682-0123 or visit www.imasonline.org.

Mar ch 15 – The Valley Nature Center (VNC) will host Paul and Mary Storm, orchid hobbyists, in a presentation at the Shomburghkia Orchid Extravaganza. The doors open at 8 a.m. at the VNC located at Business 83 and Border St. in Weslaco. The presentation begins at 10 a.m. The Storms will also speak at the Tip of Texas Orchid Society meeting at 2 p.m. at the VNC. The Storms are leading experts and their nursery in Florida holds one of the largest collections of the Shomburghkia/Laelia and Myrmecophila species and hybrids in the world. For more information, call 969-2475.

To see the complete Events Calendar for the coming weeks, go to www.ptrgv.com.

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UTPA actress, activist America Ferrera on March 5

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DINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American will host Emmy Award-winning actress and activist America Ferrera as its next guest in the Distinguished Speakers Series. Ferrera will speak March 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

The event is free and open to the public with seating available to 2,000 people.

Students, staff, and faculty with valid ID's will be admitted at 7 p.m. Doors will open for the general public at 7:20

p.m. For special accommodations, call 665-7989.

Ferrera is best known for her role as Betty Suarez on ABC’s hit comedy series known as “Ugly Betty.” Her performance has earned her several awards including an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, an ALMA and various Imagen Awards.

Her most recent achievements include her portrayal as Helen Chavez, Cesar Chavez’s wife, in the film, “Cesar Chavez: An American

Hero.” Ferrera also voices the animated character Astrid from the family-friendly film, “How to Train your Dragon 2.”

She has starred as Roxie Hart in the musical “Chicago” and her leading role performance in the film “Real Women Have Curves” earned her a Sundance Jury Award for Best Actress.

A few years ago, Ferrera joined reporter Nicholas Kristof, and actresses Diane Lane, Eva Mendes and Olivia Wilde in an inspiring program

oin the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in celebrating the ocelots of the Rio Grande Valley in a series of events March 6 and 7.

A free seminar will be held at the University of Texas Pan American ballroom in Edinburg on March 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. when featured speakers will address issues facing ocelot survival.

Speakers include a representative from the Texas Department of Transportation, Dr. Michael Tewes from Texas A&M-Kingsville and Dr. Hilary Swarts, wildlife biologist at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.

Trainers from the Cincinnati Zoo will make an appearance with a live ocelot.

That night, Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge will hold their annual Ocelot Soiree from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Casa Mariposa on South Padre Island. Activities include food, music, a live auction of ocelot-inspired art, exhibits and a presentation about ocelots by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The live ocelot will also make an appearance.

Tickets are available by calling 832-3905.

March 7 is the official “Ocelot Conservation Day,”

an event for families from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Texas Discovery Center at Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. Activities for kids include face-painting and making ocelot masks and magnets. There will be a variety of information tables and exhibits featuring ocelot conservation. Live ocelot shows will be presented throughout the day. The program is included in the regular zoo admission price.

For more information, call 748-3607, Ext.111 or visit the website at fws.gov/ refuge/laguna_atascosa.

UT-Pan American professor and art instructor Douglas Clark will conduct a sculpture workshop in April at the Upper Valley Art League (UVAL). It will be held once a week for four weeks on Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. The course be-

gins April 1. The classes will be held in the ArtLink adjacent to the main gallery.

Members of the class will learn how to interpret in clay what they observe in a live model. Materials and tools will be furnished. No experience is necessary. The

class fee is $150 for UVAL members and $180 for nonmembers.

Sign up at the UVAL desk during regular gallery hours.

It is located in the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th in Mission. Call 5832787 for further information.

men's tennis teams, former men's tennis players John Hunter, George Kon and Jerry Wortelboer, former baseball players Tommy Sandoval and Tommy Simpson, and former women's basketball player Dawn Beachler.

Hall of Honor inductees includes Pan American Board of Regents Orville I. Cox and Ann LaMantia. Contact Chelsea Blakely at 665-2205 or crblakely@utpa.edu to reserve a seat.

The Homecoming Tailgate Party runs from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the UTPA Fieldhouse Parking Lot before the start of the men’s basketball game.

There will be live music, kid’s activities, a mechanical bull, fun rides and a Fajita cook-off. Reserve a tailgate spot with Sergio Martinez at 665-3439. For more informa-

tion or special accommodations, contact (956) 665-7989 or email bucky@utpa.edu.

The basketball game Saturday night pits UTPA against New Mexico State University at 7 p.m. at the UTPA Fieldhouse. Purchase tickets at bronctickets.universitytickets.com or call 665-2221.

The Pan American Class of 1965 will host their 50year class reunion brunch on Sunday, March 1, at 10:30 a.m. at the International Trade and Technology Building. Classmates from Edinburg Junior College and Pan American will reminisce and celebrate with the pinning ceremony and induction of the 50-plus Club members.

To receive a complimentary ticket, call 665-2500 or reply by email at alumni@utpa. edu.

Celebrating Ocelot Conservation Days

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E

Sculpting class stars up April 1

UTPA Homecoming offers a packed weekend for all

DINBURG – As The University of Texas-Pan American makes way for the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, the final UTPA Homecoming Week is underway with special events for students, alumni and Bronc fans.

The Boots & Bling Alumni Ball takes place Friday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m. at the Boggus Ford Events Center, 3000 N. Cage in Pharr. Tickets are $100 each and proceeds benefit student scholarships. To purchase tickets, visit bronccountry.utpa.edu/ alumniball or call 665-2500.

The UTPA Hall of Fame Induction luncheon takes place Saturday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m. in the UTPA Ballroom.

Join UTPA Athletics as they celebrate Bronc legends. The 2015 Athletics Hall of Fame class includes the 1962-66

called the “Half the Sky” project. The four-hour television series for PBS and international broadcast was shot in 10 underprivileged countries and portrays the stories of struggling females empowering one another for equality, opportunity and change.

Ferrera serves as an Artist Ambassador for the global humanitarian organization Save the Children, a program that seeks to improve the lives of children by helping resolve problems they might face like poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease and also provides emergency aid in cases of disaster and war to help communities recover.

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UTPA plans March 12 Graduate Fair

he public is invited to explore the potential to increase their income, advance their careers or hone their professional skills at the annual Graduate Fair hosted

by The University of Texas-Pan American Office of Graduate Studies on March 12. It will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

The community can learn about the master's, doctoral and certification programs available at UTPA in its Summer Session I and at University of Texas-Rio

Announcing watercolor workshop

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cALLEN – Quinta Mazatlan is holding a watercolor workshop hosted by professional staff artists on Saturday, March 7, from 9 to 12 p.m.

The family friendly event is for ages 8 and up.

The workshop is a threepart session for families of all skill levels, and includes a presentation on watercolor

VSO Debussy, which will open with an explosion of melody and orchestral color. And finally the symphony orchestra will wrap up with Arturo Marquez’ Danzon No. 2 performance, which was written as a tribute to the environment that nourished the genre of dance.

techniques with examples, a short trail walk around the Ruby Pond to view perspectives and focus points, and an hour of supervised, guided painting. Cost is $15 per participant which includes all materials, instruction and entry to park.

For more information, or to reserve a space, call 6813370. from pg 2

Ticket prices range from $25 to $45. Senior, student and group discounts are available. Tickets are on sale at the McAllen Convention Center Box Office located at Exp. 83 and Ware Rd., at ticketmaster.com or via phone at 800-745-3000.

Grande Valley this fall.

The public can speak with program faculty and obtain admissions, financial aid and scholarship information. A number of informational presentations will be ongoing, and there will be an opportunity to begin the application process that evening. Those who register to attend online at www.utpa.edu/gradschool will have a chance to win door prizes.

For more information or special accommodations, call (956) 665-3661 or email gradschool@utpa.edu.

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OBU Honor Roll

ission resident Damaris Perez, senior international relations major, was named to Oklahoma Baptist University’s Dean’s Honor Roll for the fall 2014 semester.

Students who achieved grade point average 3.4 and 3.69 make the list. OBU has campuses in Shawnee, Okla. and Oklahoma City.

Iowa President’s List

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OWA CITY, IA – Ivonne Villa of Mission was named to the University of Iowa President's List for the 2014 fall semester. To receive the distinction, a student must have a minimum 4.0 grade point average in all academic subjects for the preceding two semesters and at least 12 semester hours of credit per semester.

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PROVING THEIR METTLE

BACK TO BACK SILVER MEDALS FOR OLIVA W

By Luciano Guerra

ith only the best of the best from across the Lone Star State competing in the UIL State Wrestling Championship Tournament, the competition was fierce as 25 local high school wrestlers vied for a state medal.

However, of the 19 qualifiers and six alternates from La Joya, Mission and Sharyland ISD, Juarez-Lincoln’s Leslie Oliva and La Joya’s Daisy Ramirez were the only two who won one of the highly coveted state medals.

Leslie earned the silver medal for the second year in a row in the 95 lb. weight class, and Daisy took fifth place at state in the 165 lb. class.

In the last of couple years, the La Joya Juarez-Lincoln High School boys and girls wrestling teams have steadily been top competitors in high school wrestling.

This year alone, the Juarez-Lincoln wrestling teams have claimed top honors at major matches around the state.

One of those contests, the Centex Tournament, which is the second largest wrestling competition in Texas, (after the UIL state competition) is where Juarez-Lincoln earned first place in the competition. The championship victory became a first not only in the school’s history, but also a first in Rio Grande Valley history – no other Valley school has ever attained such a feat in Centex Tournament’s entire existence.

Locally, the Husky Boys Wrestling team ranked first out of 15 teams by clinching the District 6A Championship title for the third year in a row.

“Wrestling at Juarez-Lincoln has been consistently successful for both the boys and girls teams. They’ve truly put Juarez-Lincoln High School on the map,” stated Juarez-Lincoln HS Athletic Coordinator Tomas Garcia.

As a whole, La Joya ISD sent 33 wrestlers from all three high schools to compete at the regional contest in early February. From the group, seven

Juarez-Lincoln HS wrestlers (3 boys, and 4 girls) advanced to compete against the best wrestlers in Texas.

In addition to Oliva’s second place finish at state, fellow Juarez-Lincoln wrestlers Edgar Delgado and Rene Beas placed 12th and 19th, respectively, at the state contest.

As the defending state silver medalist in the 95 lb. weight class, Oliva had her sights set on the gold medal this year. Having qualified for the state tournament by placing second at the Region IV championships, Oliva took to the mat for her first match in Garland last Friday having emerged victorious from 40 of her 43 previous matches this year.

While earning back-toback state silver medals is an accomplishment few wrestlers have ever achieved, Oliva was disappointed she didn’t win the gold, but she said, “at the same time…I

ABOVE: Daisy Ramirez (La Joya HS) pinned Brandi Dominguez of Cypress Creek in the 165 pound class to win 5th place. RIGHT & BELOW: Leslie Oliva (Juarez-Lincoln HS) challenges Aisa Ray (Arlington Martin HS) in the final match of the State UIL Wrestling Championships last weekend in Garland. Progress Times photos by Paul Brick

feel proud because not everybody can say that they’ve won two state silver medals.”

Before advancing to the championship match for the second year in a row, Oliva had to win her first three matches at the state tournament. She pinned her first opponent and defeated her second and third opponents by decisions.

“I pinned my first opponent in the second period,” Oliva said. “My second match was a hard one, but I won it by a decision of 4-3. In my semi-final match I won

3-1.”

By winning all three of her preliminary matches Friday, Oliva earned the right to wrestle again Saturday. That was when she went up against her champi-

onship match opponent, Asia Ray from Arlington, who stepped onto the mat with a 42-0 record.

“I had never wrestled her before so I didn’t know her moves or how strong of a wrestler she was,” explained Oliva. “She scored her first two points when she took me down and I locked hands.

She then scored two more on another take down and then she scored some stalling points. I scored my points on a reversal

and an escape.”

The final score of that championship match was 6-3 in favor of Ray. As a junior this year, Oliva will still have one more chance to compete for another state medal.

Daisy Ramirez Having placed fifth in the 165 lb. weight class La Joya High senior Daisy Ramirez was the only other Big 7 school wrestler to earn a state medal. Ramirez pinned her first opponent at state at the 2:20 mark and her second opponent at the 3:14 mark before losing to the eventual state champion Kijhla Evans (55-1) of Klein in the semi-final round. Ramirez then faced off against the other semi-finals runner-up for fifth place, which she won with a pin at the 2:19 mark.

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CLEAN SWEEP Patriots, Rattlers and Lobos win bi-district

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By Luciano Guerra e Are the Champions” was a ballad performed by British rock band Queen in 1977. While it was first made popular long before any of the players on the current Veterans Memorial Patriots, Sharyland Rattlers and Palmview Lobos rosters were born, it’s an anthem each of them could be singing today. All three teams won their bi-district round in the state boys basketball playoffs Tuesday.

Of the three teams, Sharyland was the only one that had to play in their opponent’s home gym. The Rattlers saw their early double-digit lead erased in the third quarter by a Edcouch-Elsa Yellow Jackets scoring frenzy that tied the game at 39 as the third quarter came to a close. However, the Rattlers pulled out the win, 54-50.

While seven unanswered points to open the fourth quarter did give the Rattlers a little breathing room, it also allowed Sharyland head coach David Keith to implement a strategy that the Jackets’ home faithful expressed their displeasure with by booing off-and-on throughout the fourth quarter.

“We slowed down the game in the fourth quarter,” explained Keith. “We also kept looking for our bigs (big players). I think that we did a great job of passing the ball and of getting it inside to our big players.”

“Edcouch-Elsa is quick, small and they can shoot, so that made it very difficult for us to do the things we wanted to do,” added Keith.

“They’re a good team and they’re well coached so that was to be expected.”

With 10 of the 12 players on their roster being seniors this year and with the lack of depth that is expected to come into play next year due

“I think that we did a great job of passing the ball and of getting it inside to our big players.”

– David Keith to the underclassmen that are now at Pioneer High, this is a make-or-break year for the Rattlers.

One of those seniors, and at 6-foot-6 one of the bigs, is power forward Jose de la Garza. After the game, de la Garza shared how the finality of the playoffs motivated his team to get the job done.

“We seniors went into our most recent practice knowing that it could be our final practice as a Rattler,” said de la Garza. “We also knew that this could’ve been our final game, so we knew that we had to wrap it up in order to play on.”

While the final score may have been closer than most people expected, Sharyland senior center, and at 6-foot5 de la Garza’s fellow big, Patrick de la Torre was just glad to get away with a win against a team the caliber of the Yellow Jackets.

“They’re a great team,” shared de la Torre. “They were shooting from all over.

It was crazy.”

Having just defeated the Yellow Jackets the Rattlers will now be going up against the Flour Bluff Hornets in the area round of the state playoffs. That game is scheduled to be played tomorrow (Saturday) at 6 p.m. at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

The Veterans Memorial Patriots, who defeated the Brownsville Pace Vikings in their bi-district matchup, 65-32, will be playing the Laredo Nixon Mustangs tonight. That game will be played at Tuloso-Midway High School in Corpus Christi and is scheduled to tip-off at 7:30.

The Palmview Lobos pulled off the upset of the night Tuesday when they defeated the state’s No. 25 ranked team, the Laredo United South Panthers, by a score of 64-58. With the victory the Lobos advanced into the second round of the playoffs for the first time in school history. Next up for Palmview will be the Harlingen South Hawks in the area round. The game date, time and location were not available as of press time.

RIGHT: “Big Player” Patrick De La Torre rebounds against a considerably smaller Edcouch Elsa defender.

Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra

Local soccer teams face tight district races in second half

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By Ed Salas o one expected this year’s District 30-6A and 31-5A boys soccer title races to be a cake walk, especially with the realignment for the 2015 season – and it hasn’t been.

Just past mid-season, all Big 7 boys soccer teams are still in the fight for their respective district titles or a playoff spot.

In 30-6A, La Joya Juárez-Lincoln (4-3, 14 points), La Joya (4-3, 12), Mission (4-3, 12) and La Joya Palmview (3-3, 9) occupy the second through fifth place spots. These four teams have occupied first place at one time or another this season, and can easily do so again.

La Joya and Mission have provided some surprises so far this season and made the 30-6A race tighter than anticipated.

The Coyotes have won three straight since Feb. 17 including a 3-1 victory over La Joya rival Juárez-Lincoln on Feb. 20 to climb into third place. Erasmo Morales

tallied two goals and Noé Mata scored another to lift La Joya over the Huskies in one of their biggest triumphs of the year.

“We’re in a high-level competition with all these teams and this district is tough, and the season has been very demanding, but the kids have been up to the challenge” La Joya head coach Eugenio Milla said.

“The win against Juárez gave us the confidence we need, aside from the three points, to take off.

"The kids have been playing together since the summer and we’re seeing the results from that effort," he added. "We still have five games to play and we want to continue winning, and qualify.”

Juárez-Lincoln recovered from their losses to the Coyotes and Eagles by taking out their frustrations on a hapless McAllen Rowe squad on Feb. 24 by notching a 5-1 rout over the Warriors. With the win, the Huskies took over second place by a two-point difference over La Joya and Mission.

The Eagles made a statement by shocking McAllen 4-2 in the district opener and have continued to remain in the top portion of the standings with key victories over playoff contenders Juárez-Lincoln, La Joya and Palmview.

At Palmview, the Lobos raced to an undefeated 3-0 record after the first four matches of district play and looked to be on their way to securing an early playoff ticket. However, the bottom fell out and Palmview dropped the next three games to conclude the first leg of the season with a 3-3 mark.

Despite the unfortunate turn of events, the Lobos are still very much alive in the playoff race and have a shot at the district title.

District 31-5A In 31-5A things may be brighter for two of the three Big 7 squads, but it’s almost as tight as 30-6A. Sharyland (6-1, 18) is one of the favorites to win district, but the former 5A state champion has to fight it out with 2014 4A state fi-

nalist Valley View to accomplish the feat.

The Rattlers’ only smudge on their district record this season is a 1-0 loss to the Tigers (6-1, 18) on Feb. 17 at Valley View. The loss gave the Tigers the advantage in the head-to-head tie-breaker.

Sharyland and Valley View will most likely decide the district title in the second-last match of the season on March 13 at Richard Thompson Stadium, barring any unforeseen upsets.

Sharyland Pioneer (4-3, 12) pulled off an early season surprise when they defeated Valley View 2-1 in the district opener on Jan. 30. The Diamondbacks are currently in third place and vying for one of four playoff spots available against Edinburg Vela (4-3, 12) and Roma (3-4, 9).

Although Mission Veterans Memorial (0-6, 0) is currently in the 31-5A cellar, they are mathematically still in the playoff race and have an opportunity to alter their future in the second-leg of the district season.

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Bentsen Palm Development

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By Julie Silva

fter several years of hibernation, the Bentsen Palm Development is waking up, owner Mike Rhodes told the Mission Redevelopment Authority at a Tuesday meeting.

“Seven years ago, we went out with a grand vision of the economy that sunk, but we built about 450 lots to start with in three different communities,” Rhodes said.

“Some of those lots are still on the ground, but we’re beginning to see quite a difference in the last 90 days.”

Currently, he said there are 25 houses under construction, and about 550 of the planned 5,000 homes have been erected.

“It’s really got us for a change thinking about the future and what will be next,” Rhodes said. “It’s exciting to see things start happen.”

The development offers several communities at a variety of price points, and Rhodes said he’s ready to open up new phases of subdivisions, which are surrounded by 3,000 acres of wildlife habitat. However, the single lift station serving the area will be at capacity by the end of the year, Rhodes said.

He said he plans to come back to the MRA at its next meeting to request a second lift station at the site.

Rhodes estimated the cost at

to see expansion

$850,000 and said it would serve about 3,000 houses.

When asked if Bentsen Palm could utilize a lift station planned nearby to serve the city of Palmview, Fred Kurth, president of Melden and Hunt, said there would be a lot of politics involved in reaching an agreement.

Located inside the city’s tax increment reinvestment zone, Rhodes said Bentsen Palm represents about 40 percent of the property value within the zone, and it’s added about $50 million worth of tax value to the city. By the end of 2015, Rhodes said he expects the development to be contributing nearly $1 million to the TIRZ, and that amount should increase to $2 million next year and every year for the life of the TIRZ. “It’s really a great value for the money spent,” Rhodes said.

CIVIL WAR TRAIL from pg 1

Union, Donald Drefke and area war re-enactors will set up a confederate-era camp and will act out a minor skirmish.

In May, an event will be held to commemorate the last battle in Palmito Ranch, but Roseann Bacha-Garza, CHAPS program coordina-

February 27, 2015

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Council, staff at odds over rezoning request

A

the vacant lot to allow for a car sales lot.

Planning Director Danny Tijerina objected, said it was normal staff policy to have a buffer between C-3 sites and residential areas to the south.

The current zoning of the site, C-2, was considered a buffer because it was restricted primarily to office use.

Mayor Beto Salinas asked if it would be possible to create a conditional use permit to allow the business on that location. Tijerina said the action would have to be tabled and brought back another time because a permit was not what was requested on the agenda.

Salinas said he thought the street to the south of the lot was enough of a buffer.

But Tijerina warned that if the business disappears and the area is zoned C-3, a number of businesses that were undesirable in residential neighborhoods could be

put in that location if it were zoned C-3.

The council sided with the mayor, voting to approve the zoning change.

In other action, a home occupation daycare center was approved for a residence located at 4204 San Roman.

When asked if there had been any objections to the request, Tijerina said there had been one objection raised at the Planning and Zoning Commission. However, the applicant brought a petition from neighborhood residents speaking in favor of the request, saying they used the applicant’s daycare in another location across the street and wanted to continue to use it.

Also, the council gave its approval to an emergency purchase of a high-service pump for the North Mission Water Plant because an existing pump cannot be repaired. Without replacement, portions of the city could

experience low water pressure. The cost of the pump is $13,395.41.

Excellent Fence was awarded the bid for fencing at First Street Park in the amount of $8,936.

Approval was given to solicit bids for landscaping at First Street Park. Items to be used for landscaping include five palm trees, 12 shade trees and 275 bougainvilleas.

The council meeting regularly scheduled for Monday, March 9, was rescheduled to Thursday, Mar. 12, because the city manager and a councilperson will be out of town.

Following executive session, the Salinas was given authorization to negotiate a professional contract with Mark Sossi, P.C., and Carlos Ortegon.

The council denied a request by Gar-Sal Properties and Land Developers, LLC to withdraw their bid on Lot 24, Block 2, Erdahl Subdivision.

tor, said CHAPS planned its event a few months earlier to have time to meet with the local teachers to discuss lesson plans.

Miller said they plan to talk to teachers about how to move the project into schools.

CHAPS also hopes to expand local tourism though the trail.

“As Russ always puts it, ‘When you come here to look

at birds, there are some days when the birds just aren’t out,’” Miller said.

The entire project kicked off more than a year ago when Miller and Russell Skowronek, a history and anthropology at UTPA and CHAPS director, were talking about the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Knowing that the last land battle of the war occurred on Palmito Ranch in Brownsville, they started doing more research and found dozens of other battles were fought in the Valley.

Neither professors specialized in the Civil War, so they engaged historians and local experts, holding a meeting in May 2014 to gather more information of the historical significance of the Valley in the Civil War. Friday, CHAPS will bring in history teachers from around the Valley to go over course material, but they wanted to come up with an event that marked the sesquicentennial of the civil war that wasn’t just academic.

“We didn’t want it to be about battles, but the lived experience of the Civil War, and the best way to do that was to talk to people,” Miller said.

In January 2014, CHAPS received $7,500 in grant funding from the Summerlee Foundation, and Bacha-Garza said that was about 10 percent of the anticipated budget for the project. Still, she said, CHAPS went to work, laying out a template for the website and creating an audio recording of one of the landmarks along the trail with the help of several offices around UTPA. So when the group came together in May, CHAPS was able to show them an example of what more could be done with the project. The Summerlee Foundation donated another $15,000, and the Brownsville Economic Development Corporation, City of Roma, and Rio Grande City all chipped in another $5,000, taking CHAPS halfway to their goal.

The National Parks Service also is hosting the podcasts and taking control over the mobile website. Bacha-Garza, said they were

able to utilize university resources to put together the bare bones of the project.

Eventually, members of CHAPS plan to turn their work into three books: an academic book about the Civil War in the Valley, a travel guide with an expanded explanation of the sites along the trail and a guidebook for teachers to develop lessons plans. Last year’s project on Native American peoples of South Texas also was turned into a book with detailed lesson plans.

According to Miller, the Valley’s role in the Civil War can almost be boiled down to one word: cotton. The Union’s goal in the war was to strangle the south, blockading all ports so they couldn’t get goods in or out. It worked, Miller said, everywhere but the Mexican border, where the Rio Grande was considered an international waterway, which meant in times of war, no nation could close it.

Also, Mexico was neutral.

“If people could get cotton and other exports to the river, the union couldn’t do anything about it,” Miller said.

“Both sides wanted to control the north side of the river because nobody could control the river itself.

“All of this is going on while they’re trying to control all of that commerce, which was really the only thing that was keeping the south alive.”

Among the stops on the tour are Havana and the Peñitas Cemetery.

Sgt. Ignacio Zamora and Pvt. Jose Maria Loya are both Union veterans buried in the Peñitas cemetery. After the Treaty of Hidalgo was signed, assigning the area north of the river to the United States, “people of Mexican origin whose homes lay north of the boundary became targets of land theft and violence,” according to the CHAPS audio on the site. “This may have inspired them to join the Union army as a form of retaliation against their Confederate neighbors.

Havana, a ranch off of Military Highway, birthed Patricio Perez, a horseman

who joined the Second Regiment of the Texas Calvary, remaining loyal to the Union.

According to information gathered by CHAPS, Perez was given “the standard uniform, saber, and revolver, but a wartime photo shows him holding a big sombrero instead of regular army headgear.”

After the war, Perez returned to ranching in Havana, died in 1908 and is buried in the town’s cemetery.

Bacha-Garza pointed to a postcard featuring Perez, and other faces of the Rio Grande Valley Civil War Trail. She hopes to see it become a collector’s item.

“Some of the school children that we see in these classrooms, they might be related to these people,” Bacha-Garza said. “There are certainly plenty of kids in La Joya ISD with the last name of Perez who could be related to this soldier.”

Bacha-Garza said they are incorporating as many UTPA students as they can into the experience, and she recruited the university’s anthropology and history clubs to dress in garb from the time period and serve as guides the day of the event.

About half a dozen students met Bacha-Garza at the university’s costume shop to find the appropriate attire last week. The girls will be outfitted with petticoats, corsets, gloves and bonnets to complete their looks, while the guys keep it simple with linen shirts and vests or jackets.

Amy Longoria, a UTPA junior who plans to pursue a degree in marine archaeology, found herself in a lavender dress filled with ruffles and trimmed in white lace.

One day, Longoria hopes to explore ancient civilizations now underwater and fill in the gaps to humanity’s evolution.

For now, however, she’s happy to learn about the Valley’s role in the Civil War. “I was actually surprised that there was a path that the Civil War followed here in the Rio Grande Valley,” Longoria said. “I hope to learn more at the actual event.”

By Kathy Olivarez

gainst staff recommendation, the Mission City Council approved a rezoning request for the easternmost 60 feet of south one-half Block 8, Citriana Heights from C-2 to C-3 in its Monday meeting.

The site faces Del Mar Street and is located next to an auto shop owned by Arnold Cadena, who made the zoning request. The auto shop is behind a C-3 commercial area facing Lomita Avenue, which runs parallel to Conway Avenue. The side street, Ebano Street, where the vacant lot is located, leads into a residential area. Currently, there is only an alley buffering the auto shop and the residential area facing Citriana Street.

The lot where the auto shop is located is already zoned C-3. Cadena wanted to extend the C-3 designation to

February 27, 2015

obituaries

M

Jesus Magallan Jr. ISSION – Jesus Magallan Jr., 24, of Mission passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in an auto accident in Oklahoma.

Mr. Magallan was born on Sept. 30, 1990, in Boulder Colorado. He attended Mission schools and graduated from Veterans Memorial High School and went on to study at The University of Texas-Pan American.

Survivors include his son, Jordan Jay Magallan; grandfather, Tomas Magallan; and sister, Joyce Elaine Magallan.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Luisa Arguello Magallan.

A funeral mass was held on Feb. 23 at Our Lady of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen.

Genaro Castillo Jr. PALMVIEW – Genaro Castillo Jr. passed away on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015.

Secundina Cuellar MISSION – A funeral mass for Secundina Cuellar was held on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Sullivan City. Burial followed at Sullivan City Cemetery.

Mirthala Galvan de Perez MISSION – Mirthala Galvan de Perez, 80, passed away on Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Gilberto Flores SULLIVAN CITY – Gilberto Flores, 74, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015.

Maria Guzman MISSION – Maria Guzman, 38, passed away on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, at her home in Mission. A funeral mass was held on Feb. 25 at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Alton.

Burial followed at Garden of Angels Cemetery in Mission.

Thomas D. Heckenbach MISSION – Thomas D. Heckenbach, 63, passed away on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Contestants, vendors sought for Onion Fest W ipe contests, dancing horse show, and the popular blooming onion.

For the Onion and Salsa Recipe Contests, creativity is the name of the game, as past winners include Chocolate Covered Onion Rings and Butter Poached Baby Onion Tart. The Culinary Center will feature a state-of-the-art kitchen, and both contests will be held in front of a live audience at the event giving people of all ages the chance to show off their culinary

skills and promote the use of onions in today’s hometown kitchens.

For the Onion Recipe competition, participants are required to use a one-half cup of onions in their recipe. The Salsa Recipe Contest adds a local flare to the event which requires participants to include a one-half cup of jalapenos. The contest honors the Mild Jalapeno developed in Weslaco by Dr. Ben Villalon.

Competition age categories include youth ages 7 to

12; students, 13 to 18; adult, 19 and up; and professional (restaurants, cooks, etc.).

Winners will receive trophies and have their recipes published on the Texas Onion Fest website.

Contest entry forms and vendor and food booth applications are available at www. weslaco.com and the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce, 275 S. Kansas. Registration deadline for the contest is Friday, March 20. For more information, call 968-2102.

panded its regional plant, “rather than have separate satellite locations.”

Palmview Mayor Jerry Perez said he’s just thankful a deal was struck, and the citizens of Palmview will soon be getting sewer services.

Perez said at one point he thought there was a possibility the city would lose funding for the project completely.

“It was intergovernmental relations at best,” Perez said.

“There’s no sense of having to fight and fight it. Sewer has been in the works for about 20 years, and I was afraid it wasn’t going to happen again.”

Still, to make it happen, Perez said the costs to residents had to balance with a state formula based on average income. The cost of the service had to be economical, Perez said, and he was happy to learn that it met the standard. He estimated the cost of water and sewer together at $70-75.

It’s more expensive than neighboring cities, but Perez said those plants have been in place for decades and were built at cheaper prices.

“Can you imagine starting from scratch? It’s not like we’re going to build another plant west of there because it takes two years to do the environmentals,” said Perez, adding that the cost of inflation would also factor into the price tag. “It’s not realistic.

Construction of the treatment plant was not a reality.”

Originally, the Texas Water Development Board was set to fund $30 million of the sewer plant with a 95 percent

grant, 5 percent loan package.

Now, Flores said, that package has dropped to 70 percent grant, 30 percent loan to construct the lift station and force main line to the Mission plant and install sewer lines to Palmview.

Another $8 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administered by the North American Development Bank also was pulled, Flores said, adding that representatives of the agency said it was funding a sewer plant, not a lift station.

Lastly, $2 million in grant funding from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund was pulled.

“It’s going to cost twice as much, and I’m saying, ‘Here’s what I’m looking at,” said Flores, gesturing to the pictures. “This is the one last chance that this area has to have any kind of sewer. Is it a raw deal? Yes. Do I like it? No.” The Texas Department of Health and Human Services first cited Agua SUD over the lack of sanitation in the area back in 2000. At the time, children were getting sores on their skin and were sick after playing in flooded yards after it rained. Both Palmview and Sullivan City were listed, but Sullivan City received its own plant in 2010. The Sullivan City plant has a 1.4 million gallon a day capacity.

Back in 2009, 2010, Flores said Agua SUD’s engineers said it would cost more to send Palmview’s sewer to Mission or McAllen than to build a plant. The plan was to start with a 2.5 million gallon

per day facility, but eventually, it would have been expanded to 7.5 million gallons per day.

In the new plan, Agua SUD is buying one million gallons per day of capacity into the Mission plant for nearly $4 million. Once Agua SUD reaches 80 percent of that capacity, it must start looking for funding to buy no less than another one million gallons per day.

Agua SUD also must pay Mission $1.45 per 1,000 gallons of treated water. The plan must still go through the environmental study, but Flores hopes to start construction by summer and to have it complete by the end of 2016.

Flores estimated the total sewer bill for Palmview residents at $35, up from the original estimate of $24.

“The Mission alternative is costly, and it buys us less capacity, and it’s got more hoops to jump through,” Flores said. “We still have to go through a lot of environmental to see that it works, but (the Texas Water Development Board) is behind us 100 percent because it’s needed.”

Another benefit for the city of Mission, Flores said, is that Mission will be able to tie in to the 24-inch line. Currently a six-inch pipe pumps sewer from the area, and that has stalled growth.

Garza agreed the bigger line will help places like Bentsen Palm Development

expand as well as possibly attract additional development, but Salinas emphasized the city of Mission isn’t out to make money on the deal.

“We’re really going to be breaking even,” Salinas said.

“I think it’s been a headache for us, but at the end, we’re going to be helping some of those people.”

Though Agua SUD and the city of Mission have agreed on the plan, the Texas Water Development Board still must approve it. It’s slated for the March 26 board meeting.

Garza said Mission also plans a second item on the state board’s agenda to expand its plant from its current 9 million gallons a day to 13.5 million gallons per day. There is enough current capacity to accommodate Palmview – Garza estimated Mission uses up about 7 million gallons a day – but the plant expansion will move forward even if Palmview falls through because the city is planning for future growth, Garza said.

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

All obituaries must be submitted by the funeral home.

Obituary notices are run FREE OF CHARGE in the Progress Times if they are submitted in a timely manner to run the same week of the date of death. Otherwise, there is a fee for notices submitted later than the closest possible publication date.

Late obituaries will be subject to a $50 charge.

Obituaries can be found online and are updated as they are received. Visit www.progresstimes.net to stay current with obituaries and other news that matters to you.

Notices

Luis Enrique Martinez MISSION – Luis Enrique Martinez 39, passed away on Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, at McAllen Medical Center.

A funeral service was held on Feb. 23 at Virgil Wilson Mortuary in Mission. Burial followed at Lord and I Cemetery in Palmview.

Carolyn D. Maxwell MISSION – Carolyn D. Maxwell, 66, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at McAllen Heart Hospital.

Refugio Martinez MISSION – Refugio Martinez 87, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Juan Moreno MISSION – A funeral mass for Juan Moreno was held on Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, at Our Lady of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen.

Leonel Peña MISSION – Leonel Peña, 81, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at McAllen Medical Center.

Teresa De Jesus Vasquez MISSION – Teresa De Jesus Vasquez, 67, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

ESLACO – Cooks are honing their recipes and vendor and food booth applications are being accepted for the 26th Annual Texas Onion Fest scheduled for March 28 at Mayor Pablo G. Pena City Park in Weslaco.

The Texas Onion Fest celebrates the development of the world famous sweet Texas onion which was developed in Weslaco. The festival features live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, rec-

AGUA SUD

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

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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

  

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

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from pg 1

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PEÑITAS from pg 5

the people,” Buckner Director Ricardo Brambila said.

“They call themselves the good guys. By good guys we mean that they have the access to people and they understand that human side.”

Brambila said there is

legalnotices

hearsay in the colonias about how to go about applying for Obama’s program. The misinformed are visiting sudo-attorneys or notarios and paying more than the $460 application, which could harm their case. Advertisements are played on the Spanish radio, informing people to go to the wrong

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source.

With the immigration classes, the hope is to build a connection between the government and undocumented.

“A lot of our families get their information from their comadre. But when they hear first-hand information and understand it, it’s important because people are at ease now,” Brambila said.

“They’re not worried or afraid of the govern-

ment. There’s an approach you can have with them.

There’s a way to fix your documentation to become a resident.”

Despite the hold, the sessions were not wasted for the approximate 85 people that showed. They spent about three hours asking USCIS Field Director Norma Limon questions and voicing concerns. According to the director, Buckner would like

to host more classes once the hold on DAPA and DACA is appealed.

“People got the impression and the exposure to this federal agency as friendly,” Brambila said. “They also understood the difference between getting a parole and having an actual residence, and they received the right information on how to become a resident.”

VARLACK SIBLINGS

February 27, 2015

ProgressTimes Like Us on Facebook

from pg 5

trol over a choir, starting in ele- character,” Adriel said. legalnotices The Mission Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a mentary and moving up through But Japheth said he’s happy to Regular Meeting on March 11, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. at the City ORDINANCE NO. 01-20-15 middle and high schools. Even- keep his love for music as a hobHall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, tually, she said, she wants her by. His grandfather introduced AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AND Texas in order to consider the following: students to be able to perform him to air conditioning repair, and ENACTING REVISED RATES FOR more complex pieces, like the he’s interested in engineering and GARBAGE COLLECTION Rezoning: 0.06 acre out of Lot 13, Expressway Business ones they perform at state com- studying how math can apply to Park Phase VIII, from (I-1) Light Industrial to (C-4) Heavy petition. real-world situations. Most of the The City of Palmhurst adopts the Commercial; Rezoning: A .50 acre tract of land out of the East Adriel, on the other hand, time, Japheth has a Rubik’s Cube following rates for garbage and trash wants to find a way to incorporate with him for entertainment. He 10 acres of the North 15 acres out of Lot 23-4, West Addition collection within the City: music into video game design. He likes to time himself on how fast to Sharyland Subdivision, from (AO-I) Agricultural Open was inspired by Zelda to learn to he can finish it. $23.98 for one cart Interim to (R-3) Multi-Family Residential; and Rezoning: The play the ocarina, an instrument “He’s the nerd,” Cherish joked. $31.16 for two carts North 938.74’ of Lot A, BL Millers Resubdivision of Lots 16 – kind of like a flute.

Adriel’s also “We’re all nerds. We’re just $43.44 for three carts 20, Block 4, Mission Groves Estates, from (AO-I) Agricultural interested in acting, particularly different kinds of nerds,” Adriel Open Interim to (C-3) General Business voice acting. countered Passed and adopted this “I enjoyed learnJanuary 20, 2015. legalnotice If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be ing the whole musipursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy cal and performing For further information please visit ORDINANCE NO. 4197 Statement. Anyone interested is invited to attend. it, and being able to www.cityofpalmhursttx.com express myself in Anna Carrillo, City Secretary AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, ORDINANCE NO. 4194 ORDINANCE NO. 4195 ORDINANCE NO. 4196 TEXAS AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 780 DESIGNATING PLACES WHERE AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY BEER AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEVERAGES MAY BE SOLD WITHIN MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE REZONING THE EASTERNMOST USE PERMIT FOR A HOME CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO CITY OF MISSION TO INCLUDE 60’ OF THE SOUTH ½ OF BLOCK OCCUPATION – LICENSED CHILD PLACE AN ATM DRIVE-THRU LANE, THE PREMISES LOCATED AT 308 N. 8, CITRIANA HEIGHTS, FROM C-2 DAYCARE AT 4204 SAN ROMAN, 2416 E. EXPRESSWAY 83, LOT 1B, CONWAY, SUITE 5 (NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERICAL) LOT 26, PASEO LINDO PHASE 2 SHARYLAND PLACE SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED AND TO C-3 (GENERAL BUSINESS) SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, APPROVED this 23rd day of READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, this the 23rd day of February, 2015.

February, 2015. this the 23rd day of February, 2015. this the 23rd day of February, 2015.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor Norberto Salinas, Mayor Norberto Salinas, Mayor Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

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CAUSE NO. F-5294-12-B THE STATE OF TEXAS CESAR BARRAGAN, RESPONDENT(S), GREETINGS: You have been sued. You may employ an attorney appear and answer before the Honorable Rodolfo “Rudy” Delgado, 93rd District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas, at the Courthouse of said County in Edinburg, Texas at or before 10:00 o’clock a.m. of the Monday next after the expiration of 20 days from the date of service of this citation, then and there to answer the petition of ADELA AMPARO BARRAGAN, Petitioner, filed in said Court on this the 3rd day of Februrary, 2012 against, CESAR BARRAGAN, Respondent, and said suit being on the docket of said Court, numbered F-529412-B and styled ADELA AMPARO BARRAGAN VS CESAR BARRAGAN AND IN THE INTEREST OF The nature of which suit is a request to the Court that he grant any judgment or decree and such other relief requested in the Petition.

Said child(ren) was/were born on/in: Name:

Date of Birth:

CESAR HUMBERTO BARRAGAN

12/16/2002

FRIDA CARINA BARRAGAN PAOLA BARRAGAN

03/09/1998 08/25/1999

The court has authority in this suit to enter any judgement or decree which will be binding on you.

Said petition was filed in said court by OSVALDO J. MORALES III, 2005 N. CONWAY SUITE B MISSION, TX 78572, 956-584-1081.

ISSUED AND GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said Court at Edinburg, Texas, this on this the 6th day of February, 2015.

THE STATE OF TEXAS NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: “You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do (does) not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 A.M. on the Monday next after the expiration of forty-two (42) days after the date of issuance of this citation and Petition, a default Judgement may be taken against you.”

TO: UNKNOWN HEIRS OF DOLORES MARTINEZ GREETINGS: You are hereby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff’s Original Petition at or before 10:00 o’clock A.M. of the Monday next after the expiration of forty-two (42) days after the date of issuance of this citation the same being the 6th day of April, 2015 before the Honorable Israel Ramon, Jr., 430th District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas at the Courthouse of said county in Edinburg, Texas. Said Original Petition filed in said court on the 30th day of July, 2013 in this case numbered C-4764-13-J on the docket of said court and styled WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., ET SEQ. VS. DOLORES MARTINEZ AND GILBERTO ESPERICUETA AND THE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN HEIRS OF DOLORES MARTINEZ, DECEASED. Said petition was filed in said court by Attorney Clint Chase, 13105 Northwest Freeway, Suite 1200 Houston, TX 77040.

A brief nature of the suit is as follows: PLAINTIFF’S PETITION SEEKS TO FORECLOSE THE LIEN ON THE PROPERTY AND ASSERT SUPERIOR TITLE TO THE PROPERTY. The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates thereof, and make due return as the law directs.

ISSUED AND GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said court at Edinburg, Texas on this the 5th day of January 2015.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AN AIR QUALITY STANDARD PERMIT FOR PERMANENT ROCK AND CONCRETE CRUSHERS PROPOSED AIR QUALITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 129604 APPLICATION. Superior Asphalt, Inc., P.O. Box 720099, Byram, Mississippi 39272-0099 has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for an Air Quality Standard Permit, Registration Number 129604, which would authorize construction of a permanent rock crusher. The facility is proposed to be located approximately 0.23 mile northeast from the intersection of Tablero Road and El Faro Road, Sullivan City, Hidalgo County, Texas 78595. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility’s general location is provided as a public courtesy and not part of the application or notice. For exact location, refer to application. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/hb610/index.html?lat=26.294166&lng=98.545833&zoom=13&type=r. This application was submitted to the TCEQ on January 28, 2015. The executive director has determined the application was technically complete on February 4, 2015.

PUBLIC COMMENT. Written public comments about this application may be submitted at any time during the public comment period. You may submit public comments either in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087, or electronically at www.tceq.texas.gov/about/comments.html. If you choose to communicate with the TCEQ electronically, please be aware that your email address, like your physical mailing address, will become part of the agency’s public record. The deadline to submit public comments is 30 days after newspaper notice is published.

RESPONSE TO COMMENTS. A written response to all relevant comments will be prepared by the executive director after the comment period closes. The response, along with the executive director’s decision on the application, will be mailed to everyone who submitted public comments and requested to be added to the mailing list. The response to comments will be posted in the permit file for viewing.

The executive director shall approve or deny the application not later than 30 days after the end of the public comment period, considering all comments received within the comment period, and base this decision on whether the application meets the requirements of the standard permit.

CENTRAL/REGIONAL OFFICE. The application will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ Central Office and the TCEQ Harlingen Regional Office, located at 1804 W Jefferson Ave, Harlingen, Texas 78550-5247, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning the first day of publication of this notice.

INFORMATION. For more information about this permit application or the permitting process, please call the Public Education Program toll free at 1-800-6874040. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1 800-687-4040.

Further information may also be obtained from Superior Asphalt, Inc., P.O. Box 720099, Byram, Mississippi 39272-0099, or by calling Mr. David Knollhoff CCM, Industrial Meteorologist, Westward Environmental, Inc. at (830) 249-8284.

Notice Issuance Date: February 5, 2015

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page 14

CALENDAR from pg 1

and dream, oblivious to any other possibilities.

Zadee Lopez, daughter of Anna and Rick Lopez of Edinburg, is living such a life.

Also diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, she spends a good deal of that time in Fort Worth for the treatments. In her two short years, she has battled through nine rounds of chemotherapy. Now she’s receiving intense MIBG radiation treatment. It requires isolation from her family for days.

Through it all, Zadee dreams of meeting Minnie

Mouse – a common hope for millions of children enamored by a favorite Disney character. But, it’s her dream.

Zadee was selected as Miss March in the FFF Dreams calendar.

When faced with unfathomable expenses for treatments and travel to doctors and hospitals far from home, dreams aren’t even on the back burner. Parents can only focus on hope and prayer for their child to beat the odds and the disease. Each parent’s only dream is to see their child grow up healthy and happy.

Esqueda said that when Zadee was diagnosed, her

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mother, Anna, had to quit her job to take care of her tiny daughter. Two weeks later Anna learned she was pregnant. For the next nine months, Zadee could not have physical contact with her mother due to radiation treatments. Zadee’s father, Rick, had to quit his job to care for their daughter. It forced the family to turn to Medicaid to help with the medical costs.

They were trapped in a Catch 22 once the Medicaid coverage began. They cannot receive the Medicaid assistance and have a steady source of income from regular jobs. They eke out a little extra cash from an occasional odd job and rely on the benevolence of friends and family to get them through. Now, with an undependable vehicle of their own, they travel to Fort Worth in a borrowed car for her treatments.

Although the works are in progress for Zadee’s Dream Event, Esqueda is also trying to work with the family on some of their more basic needs.

“Our hope is that others

will help us in our journey of making the dreams of our little warriors come true. The Faith-Family-Friends Dreams Division would like to make what seems impossible, possible,” Esqueda said.

Individuals, service organizations or businesses interested in selling the calendars or making a donation can

Zadee Lopez. Photo by Leslie Kitten

contact Esqueda at esqueda. maritza@icloud.com to participate. Calendars are also available in Mission at Jitterz Coffee Bar, 1625 N. Conway, and the Progress Times, 1217 N. Conway, or by emailing Esqueda.

Liam’s family has set up a Gofundme acct to help with expenses. To donate, go to www.gofundme.com/mmwhlo. Zadee’s family also has an account at that site and donations in her behalf can be made at www.gofundme. com/984hms.

FFF began in October 2009. Eddie Vela, a U.S. Border Patrol agent from

Mission, formed it after he was diagnosed with appendiceal adenocarcinoma in June 2009. His hope was to assist other law enforcement families affected by cancer. He lost his own battle in 2010, but others have kept his dream and the organization alive. To date, the FFF members have raised over $100,000 to serve those battling cancer and their families.

Along with Esqueda, the current FFF board members are Jorge Gonzalez, Gilberto Sotelo, Brandy Vela, Marla Muñoz and Adrian Olivarez.

For more information, go www.fff-foundation.com.

Palmview lights up highway

T

By Julie Silva hings are looking bright in Palmview as the city flipped the switch on 144 lights along U.S. 83 this week.

The first official project of the newly formed Municipal Development District, the total cost was about $92,000.

The district is funded through a half-cent sales tax.

“It’s not only for the safety of the public, it’s also for the safety of our emergency personnel. It makes people feel safer,” said City Manager Ramon Segovia. “One of the goals of the MDD was to make Palmview stand

out compared to any other little city. We’re trying to get things going. We want to welcome people to Palmview.”

As part of the project, 72 poles were erected with LED lighting last weekend. Another four poles, eight lights, were erected at the city park to light up the walkway.

The Municipal Development District’s next project is a bit of a larger undertaking. Board members want to expand Farm-to-Market 495.

“Part of our deal has always been Palmview Proud,” Segovia said. “For a city like Palmview, we try to do what we can.”