June 26, 2015 - Progress Times Issue by Progress Times

Friday, June 26, 2015

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A FIRST FATHER’S DAY Council hires two

city attorneys

By Kathy Olivarez

Mission assisted living center holds celebration

By Lea Victoria Juarez

TOP: Amy Smith (left) fountain fishes with her grandfather Vallie Toney for Father’s Day at The Bridges at Mission. Toney was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and moved into the assisted living center a year ago. ABOVE: Vallie Toney is one of eight fathers living at the home. The Bridges celebrated the day with a cookout, fishing and live entertainment. Progress Times photos by Lea Victoria Juarez

or the first time in her life, 18-year-old Amy Smith was able to celebrate Father’s Day. She sat with her grandpa as he fished from his wheelchair for plastic sea creatures in a courtyard fountain. For almost a year, her grandpa Vallie Toney has been living with Alzheimer’s disease at The Bridges at Mission assisted living center. “He has good days and bad days. Some days he’s more confused or forgets who I am,” Smith said. “He gets reality confused with something he saw on TV or something he thought about. But today’s a good day.”

JFK teacher an example for her students

By Julie Silva hen Alicia Garcia addresses her students at La Joya ISD, one of the most low-income school districts in the state, she has a better idea than most about the challenges they face. She was born in Los Ebanos and grew up a product of La Joya Independent School District before dropping out in 1974. Garcia later went back and obtained her GED. In 1981, she took a job as a library clerk for the district while taking basic courses at South Texas Community College. Over the next decade, she moved up to instructional assistant and eventually became a HOSTS teacher. In those years, Garcia said she

learned a lot about teaching while watching others. By 1991, Garcia was appointed a first-grade teacher at J.F.K. Elementary on an emergency teaching permit while working toward a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies at Pan American University. She earned her degree in 1995. Garcia, now a second-grade teacher at J.F.K.

Elementary, is this year’s elementary Teacher of the Year at La Joya ISD. “A dream is but a dream until someone like me comes along to lovingly transform it to reality, and no, my outstanding accomplishments will not become a mere statistic, for it is through my love, commitment, determination, initiative, and diligence that I am (proof) that I too was one of the many best teachers there can be … and the dream goes on,” Garcia wrote in her application for teacher of the year. In her time as a teacher, Garcia has walked the streets in her community, visiting with parents and asking them to come by the school. She’s participated in communi-

See GARCIA 8

The Bridges celebrated Father’s Day with a cookout, fishing and live entertainment. Even though its eight dads might not have known it was a day dedicated to them, the assisted living center’s staff wanted the honorees to participate in traditional “fatherly” activities. “It gives them a sense of pride that they’re outside and that they’re together and there’s barbecue – that’s something that they used to do way back when they were living at home,” said Presilla Castillo, supervisor activity director. “They no longer can do that for physical reasons... but they can continue doing activities with us supervising

See FATHERS DAY 10

wo new city attorneys, who will work inhouse for the city only, were hired Monday by the Mission City Council. Abiel Flores was appointed City Attorney and Jaime Tijerina takes the position of Deputy City Attorney. City officials opted to create their own department after the resignation of David Guerra in March. Guerra had a contract with the city for nearly 30 years. Flores is a native of Mission and graduated from Mission High School in 1998. He holds a degree in finance from the University of Texas in Austin, which he received in 2001. He received his law degree from the University of Texas in 2005. Upon graduation, he worked for the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office for a year and a half before joining the firm of Garcia, Quintanilla and Palacios in McAllen, where he stayed for four and a half years. In 2012 Flores started his own firm, The Law Offices of Abiel Flores in 2012. He will be closing his office and coming to work for the city full time. Flores is the son of Arturo and Margarita Flores. He is married and has two daughters and another due to arrive in a few weeks. His wife Sylvia is the daughter of the late Councilman Celestino Ramirez and former Councilwoman Maria Elena Ramirez. Flores stated he was excited to have been selected as city attorney and looks forward to the challenges presented by representing a growing city like Mission. He is sure there will be more

Jaime Tijerina, left, and Abiel Flores are Mission’s two new in-house attorneys.

than enough to keep him occupied full time. Tijerina, who was named as Deputy City Attorney, is a 1981 graduate of McAllen High School. He received an undergraduate degree from Pan American University in business administration. His Juris Doctorate degree was earned at Texas Southern University in Houston. Tijerina spent 25 years in the U.S. Army Reserve as part of the JAG (Judge Advocate General) division. He also was an elected judge serving Kenedy County for 12 years. He and his wife, the former Diane Galik of McAllen, have three children. Tijerina is the brother of Tomas Tijerina, who with his wife, Renee Martin, own Renee’s in Mission. Tijerina said he is also looking forward to serving the city. The duties of the city attorney will be broken down between the two attorneys have not been determined as of yet. In other action, the council went into executive ses-

See MISSION 10

La Joya High teacher identifies with students

By Julie Silva andra Lomeli didn’t speak English when she moved to the United States at the age of 15, but she credited both her mom and an ESL teacher named Mrs. Black for encouraging her to reach her goals under any circumstances. Lomeli, now an English teacher at La Joya High School, is La Joya Independent School District’s secondary Teacher of the Year. “(Mrs. Black) would always tell me that not knowing the language was not an excuse,” Lomeli wrote in her application for teacher of the year. “She told me that if I wanted to succeed I needed to let go of my fears and learn how to swim like the rest of the students. Although I only

had her for one semester, she continued to push me the rest of my high school years.” When Lomeli graduated high school, she had a full scholarship to junior college. She said she never saw Mrs. Black again, but the seed already had been planted. Mrs. Black is the reason Lomeli became a teacher after earning a bachelor’s degree in liberal and performing arts

from the University of Texas-Pan American. Lomeli’s mother always encouraged her to reach for the stars and had dreams of Lomeli becoming a nurse, so her daughter could take care of her in her old age. However, Lomeli’s mom also believed education is the best inheritance. Lomeli believes she’s doing her part by teaching the community’s future medical students. “And the best reward you can get from this profession is when you see your former students following your footsteps,” Lomeli said. “So far, there are five teachers on my campus that at one point were my students and now they are my colleagues. It makes me feel old, but at the

See LOMELI 8

INSIDE

INDEX

Santa Maria Bullring to test heifers

When math makes summer fun

Marine Lt. Col. Edward Jeep, an aficionado practico, will perform July 4 in La Gloria.

The math department at La Joya ISD is hosting camps and classes to students of all ages.

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Entertainment | pg. 2

Lifestyle | pg. 5

Opinion | pg. 4

Sports | pg. 6

Fourth of July office closure

The Progress Times and Winter Texan Times offices will close at 11:30 a.m. Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day. Normal business hours will resume Monday, July 6.

Obituaries | pg. 7

Classifieds | pg. 10

entertainment

UTPA’s Mariachi Aztlán selected to perform at Chicago’s Millennium Park on June 28

eing a part of The University of Texas-Pan American’s acclaimed Mariachi Aztlán is a blessing for freshman and violinist Clyde Guerra, one that has allowed him to share his love for traditional Mexican music nationwide and, soon enough, with the Chicago community. UTPA’s 16-member mariachi group has been invited to perform at the first-ever Chicago Mariachi and Folklórico Festival on June 28 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park. “I’m excited because I’ve never been to Chicago and it’s a really nice experience to travel,” said Clyde, one of three newest members to join Mariachi Aztlán. “I look forward to sharing the culture that we have over here with Chicago. I’m hoping to gain a lot of experiences, meeting new people and becoming more independent.” Hosted by the Mariachi Heritage Foundation, the National Museum of Mexican Art and the City of Chicago, the 3 p.m. event is free and will feature the best in mariachi and traditional Mexican dance performances as part of Millennium Park Presents. Dr. Dahlia Guerra, dean of UTPA's College of Arts and Humanities and interim dean of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's College of Fine Arts, said the members’ hard work year-round is one of the reasons they are in such demand to deliver an excellent workshop. On several occasions in recent years, Mariachi Aztlán brought its amazing sound to Chicago, where they delivered encore performances with the Chicago Lyric Opera. They also performed the world's first Mariachi opera with the Houston Grand Opera and played for President

Barack Obama in the White House. Mariachi Aztlán is directed by Francisco Loera, lecturer III at UTPA. Dr. Guerra recognized Chicago’s growing Hispanic

community and hopes Mariachi Aztlán will continue to inspire young people to pursue higher education. “Mariachi Aztlán members are reaching a profes-

f you walked back in time at a rate of one million years per step….how far out your door would you have to go to shake hands with a T-Rex? What is it like to be a “Paleontologist?” Did dinosaurs come from reptiles that could fly or mammals that developed feathers? How many children would fit into the neck of a Brachiosaurus? Could you win “Dino-jeopardy?” This Summer Quinta Mazatlán is offering two new and exciting camps for young dinosaur enthusiasts which are sure to send their minds soaring out of the forest and roaring with excitement. The four-day, half-day Dinosaur Camps starts on July 7-10 for ages nine to 12, and on July 28-31 for children ages six to eight. Each

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Roar into summer at Quinta Mazatlan’s ‘Jurassic Park’

Dr. Gerlinguncovers a triceratops rib cage.

camp will run from Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Both older and younger campers will have an opportunity to touch real dinosaur bones. Older campers will meet Dr. Gerling, a local dinosaur enthusiast who has spent several summers on actual dig sites in South Da-

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kota. Campers will romp into Quinta’s own version of “Jurassic Park,” the new “Paleo Forest,” where they will discover the living plant remnants from the dinosaur age, and learn all about Archaeopteryx -- the “first bird.” Campers will be challenged

See QUINTA MAZATLAN 5

June 26, 2015

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

Coming Attractions

June 26-July 2 The Upper Valley Art League is hosting the Annual STC/VAM: Visual Arts & Music Club Exhibit. The exhibit will be on display through July 2. UVAL is located at 921 E. 12th St. in Mission. Call (956) 5832787 for hours or visit www.uppervalleyartleague.org. June 26 • Metro PCS Friday Night Knockout will be at the State Farm Arena at 7 p.m., doors will open at 6 p.m. The event will feature No. 2 World Ranked Middleweight Gilberto Ramirez and two-time Mexican Olympian Oscar Valdez. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.statefarmarena.com. • McAllen Creative Incubator will host a McAllen Blues Night starting at 7 p.m. The evening’s entertainment includes Leigh Holles Band, Ram Danesse and Ray Prim Band. Tickets are $35 per person and are available at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and the McAllen Creative Incubator. For more information, contact Nancy Millar or Maritza Munoz at (956) 682-2871. McAllen Creative Incubator is located at 601 N. Main St. June 26-27 Omnicon 2015 will return for its eighth. Omnicon is the largest anime and pop-culture event in the Rio Grande Valley. Attendees can meet their favorite voice actors and obtain signatures, join gaming tournaments, win prizes, watch current anime hits, participate in fan panels and get lost amongst the multitudes of anime and pop-culture merchandise. The event starts on Friday at noon and runs through Saturday afternoon. Tickets start at $50 for a twoday pass. For more information and tickets, visit http://www.omnicononline. com/event/. June 26-28 The Pharr Community Theater will run it’s latest play, Una Huelga Singular, another three days from June 26-28. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Performed entirely in Spanish, this high energy comedy/drama tells the story of housewife Teresa Pacheco from Mexico City who takes a stand against her tyrant husband and becomes the country’s newest hero. The play will be performed at the Carnahan Auditorium at 317 W Gore Street in Pharr. Tickets will be sold starting one hour before each show and will cost $10 general admission and $8 anyone under 18 and senior citizens. The show is equivalent to a PG-13 rating. For more information call

(956) 655-9308 or (956) 655-7915. June 27 • Texas Hunters & Sportman’s Expo will kickoff with Tracy Lawrence performing at the Las Palmas Race Park. Gates open at 7 p.m. For more information visit www.laspalmasracepark.com/ events. • Latin Grammy winner for Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album in 2014, Camila – Elypse World Tour will perform at the State Farm Arena at 8:30 p.m., doors will open at 7:30 p.m. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www. statefarmarena.com. July 2 The Spazmatics will be live at Louie’s Backyard on South Padre Island at 11 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.rgvevents.com. July 3 • Music After Hours at the McAllen Creative Incubator will feature various style of music ranging from acoustic guitar, blues, jazz, indie and alternative rock. The evening starts at 7 p.m. McAllen Creative Incubator is located at 601 N. Main St. • Aaron Watson will be live at Louie’s Backyard on South Padre Island at 11 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.rgvevents.com. July 4 • Santa Maria Bullring will present a grand forma farewell to breeding program with a Grand Formal Bullfight Festival. Bullfighters will include Jim Verner, Lt. Col. Ed Jeep, Cesar Martinez, Marco Antonio Garza and David Verner facing the brave animals of Don Fred Renk and Longino Mendoza. There will be live music, food and cold drinks. All tickets are $20. Call (956) 481-3300 for reservations. Sant Maria Bullring is located at 4877 FM 1017 in Santa Elena. • The Life in Color Big Bang World Tour will have an outdoor concert at the State Farm Arena from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.statefarmarena.com. • ZZ Not Live will be live at Louie’s Backyard on South Padre Island at 11 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.rgvevents.com. July 9 Mana – Cama Incendiada will perform at the State Farm Arena at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.statefarmarena.com. July 11 Here’s a chance to show off your sidewalk chalk drawing skills and win prizes. Get your own sidewalk block and let your imagination run wild. All ages and skills levels are welcome at the Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest at the Palm View Community Center in McAllen from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be categories and age divisions for contests. Each sidewalk block is $3. For more information, call the community center at 681-3360. July 11-August 12 Upper Valley Art League will host Christopher Brown Sports Artist One Man Exhibit fromJuly 11 through August 12. An opening reception will be held July 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. where there will be refreshments and art sales. Browns artwork is in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame where he is trusted with creating each inductees Hall of Fame portrait that is displayed in the museum. Some of the inductees include Shaquille O’Neil, Marshall Faulk and Nick Saban. Brown was a former pro baseball player who now combines two of his life long passions, sports and art, into his artwork. He is primarily a prismacolor artist who has recently established some new mixed media techniques. UVAL is located at 921 E. 12th St. in Mission. To see the complete Coming Attractions calendar, go to www.ptrgv.com.

June 26, 2015

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Marine Lt. Col. Edward Jeep When math makes to be featured at Santa Maria Bullring summer fun

By Kathy Olivarez arine Lt. Col. Edward Jeep’s passion for bullfighting began early in his military career in 1996 when he worked with some Spanish Navy officers sent to America for special skills training. Jeep speaks fluent Spanish and became friends with them men who invited him to visit Spain. There, they introduced him to bullfighting, and he enjoyed watching the matadors who dared to fight the huge bulls in the bullring. Eventually he decided he wanted to try it himself because “bullfighting forces the bullfighter to conquer his fear.” It teaches the person to respect himself and to also respect the people to enjoy the sport, or art as the Spanish consider bullfighting, Jeep said. A bullfighter must learn a number of intricate moves in order to successfully subdue the huge animals. “Two hours in a bullring can teach you all you need to know about life,” said Jeep, now an aficionado practico, who will test heiffers at the Santa Maria Bullring in La Gloria on July 4. An aficionado practico is a person who fights bulls but is not a fullfledged matador. Instead of a suit of lights like those worn by a matador, they wear a suit that would be considered a Southern Spanish country horse-riding outfit. “The first lesson it teaches you,” Jeep said, “is that life is fleeting.” Jeep said he had been knocked over, flung across the ring and bashed by bulls, but fortunately, never severely injured. “The second lesson is that the most beautiful thing a person can do in his or her short time of earth is to find something he or she is passionate about, something that is worth risking their life to do.” Jeep does not believe it has to be as unusual as bullfighting.

Lt. Col. Edward Jeep

A person can be passionate about the arts, love, or courage such as a soldier fighting an enemy. Because Jeep is an active duty marine who has been deployed to locations all over the world, including Afghanistan and Iraq, he has been unable to attend a bullfighting school. However, Jeep was stationed in Spain in 2004 and took some classes at the famed bullfighting school in Granada. Jeep is currently stationed at the Pentagon. Over a period of 17 years, he has fought bulls in Spain, Mexico and in the United States at the Santa Maria bullring. Jeep especially appreciates the work done by Don Fred Renk, who is passionate about bullfighting and who has one of two public bullfighting rings in the United States. Since bullfighters in the United States are not allowed to kill the bulls, the fights are bloodless bullfights, where the bullfighters must get close enough to the bull to remove the rose taped to the location where they would drive their swords in for the kill if they were in Mexico or Spain. The Santa Maria Bullring is located in La Gloria, 40 miles northwest of Mission in the Rio Grande Valley. It can be accessed of State Highway 281 via Farm-to-Market 1017 to the west, a distance of

Reminiscing... 30 Years Ago This Week

Taylor resigned Jerry Taylor resigned as administrator of Mission Hospital. He did not announce future plans, and the hospital board did not immediately release a statement. The resignation came just a few days prior to the formal ceremony for the groundbreaking of the new $15.6 million hospital. Neuhaus family established Marine Academy endowment Gertrude Neuhaus of McAllen donated $100,000 to the Marine Military Academy to establish the Vernon and Gertrude Neuhaus Endowed Scholarship. PAU named Benbow SPID Vivien Benbow, of McAllen, sports editor of the Pan American University student newspaper for two years, was named the university’s assistant sports information director.

about 23 miles. After passing through San Isidro, the ring four miles farther on the right side of the road. Tickets will be available at the gate or reserve seats in advance by calling Renk at (956) 481-3300. Tickets are $20. The show starts at 4 p.m. On July 4, in addition to Jeep’s performance, there will be a mariachi group from Our Lady of San Juan shrine and a number of other performers by rank include Jim Verner of Arizona, Caesar Martinez of San Antonio, Marco Antonio Garcia of McAllen and David Verner of Arizona. Renk said the purpose of this special event is to test brave heifers for future breeding purposes. It is the only live practice a bullfighter gets because it is possible to fight an animal one time. The bravery of a fighting bull comes from the mother cow while the physical appearance and body construction comes from the bull. The braver mothers produce the best fighting bulls.

he math department at La Joya ISD has been busy this summer offering meaningful camps and classes to students of all ages. The summer Math Enhancement Program is a new initiative designed to build confidence and skills in mathematics for students in the fifth grade. Happening throughout the summer school dates, boys and girls from 23 elementary campuses create, problem solve, predict, and improve various projects by testing their plans and designs on a daily basis. This inquiry-based learning curricula instills discovery and appreciation of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) along with the Engineering Design Process. By learning and following such skills, the students practice applying math knowledge to purposeful tasks, college readiness, and career connections. Another great and productive opportunity being offered is the (Girls Engaged in

Jaime Tijerina, left, and Abiel Flores are Mission’s two new in-house attorneys. Courtesy photo

Math) GEM Summer Camp. This weeklong experience provides an excellent venue for third- and fourth-grade girls to explore and change the way they feel about math. During the camp, girls develop skills and attitudes conductive to improving achievement in the subject. Organizers hope the camp

motivates girls to pursue careers in the fields of math and science. The LJISD GEM Program is not only about encouraging a positive notion of math, but also exemplifies the importance of building relationships and finding their voice in order to pursue lifelong dreams..

Chief patrol agent of the Rio Grande Valley Sector retires

evin W. Oaks, chief patrol agent of the Rio Grande Valley Sector is retiring after 30 years of service to the U.S. Border Patrol. Oaks’ last day on duty was Thursday. “I would like to thank Chief Oaks for his dedication to mission and commitment to excellence,” said Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol Michael J. Fisher. Before becoming Chief of the Rio Grande Valley Sector, Kevin W. Oaks served

as the Operations Division Chief, Office of Border Patrol in Washington, D.C. His distinguished career in the Border Patrol has included a variety of supervisory, managerial, and leadership positions, including Chief Patrol Agent of the Buffalo Sector and Commander of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit. He has served 34 years with the federal government, including his service in the U.S. Marine Corps. As Chief Patrol Agent of RGV Sector, Oaks managed

South Texas congressional candidate Paul Williams, of McAllen, formally ended his campaign for the House District 15 seat last week, saying he needs to focus on professional and personal priorities that would take away valuable time from seeking elected office. “There are other opportunities before me that will help my business and professional careers, and by working on those prospects first, it will make me an even stronger candidate for elected office in a few years,” he said. “But I have learned a great deal about South Texas, including that the bright future of our state and nation is being shaped by the incredible people who are my family, friends, and neighbors here in the Valley.”

But Williams, a Democrat,

Paul Williams ends congressional bid

See WILLIAMS 8

more than 3,000 Border Patrol agents and had oversight of nine Border Patrol stations, three traffic checkpoints and an intelligence office. The Rio Grande Valley Sector encompasses more than 34,000 square miles in 34 Texas counties, shares 316 river miles with Mexico, and covers 317 coastal miles. The sector also incorporates the use of unprecedented technology and tactical infrastructure to help secure the borders of the United States. Under CPA Oaks’ leadership, RGV Sector was able manage an unprecedented influx of unaccompanied children and family units within fiscal year 2014. His expertise as a high level manager was crucial in formulating an effective and efficient plan

of action in order to mitigate the situation, along the way, becoming a beloved member of the South Texas community. RGV Sector was able to acquire five aerostat surveillance platforms that have been a valuable resource in providing enhanced situational awareness within our area of responsibility. Also notable, under his command, RGV Sector increased its transparency to the local community, media and stakeholders by providing all available information referencing critical incidents involving the RGV Sector Border Patrol. “After retirement, I plan on staying here in the Rio Grande Valley, it’s a beautiful place,” Oaks said.

opinion 3. The researchers stated that their work is ongoing and that better data could enhance their modeling and research. Abbott expands declaration On June 18, Gov. Abbott added 24 more counties to his disaster declaration related to widespread severe weather, tornadoes and flooding events that started May 4. The addition of those counties increased the total number of counties named in the declaration to 104. “The use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster” are authorized by the disaster declaration. More counties may be added as the situation develops, according to the Governor’s Office. Fifth Circuit rejects appeal The New Orleans-based U.S. Fifth Court of Appeals on June 19 rejected a motion by plaintiffs to stop the abortion law revised by the Texas Legislature from taking effect. Plaintiffs, the operators of several women’s health clinics that provide abortions under strict guidelines, have an emergency appeal pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. Unemployment edges higher Texas Workforce Commission on June 19 announced the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.3 percent in the month of May from the 4.2 percent recorded for the month of April. Still, Texas gained 33,200 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in May bringing the over-the-year total to

286,400 jobs added. Ronny Congleton, the agency’s commissioner representing labor, said Texas now has 13 million workers. Notably, the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics calculated the nation’s unemployment rate at 5.5 percent for the month of May. Scorecard compares Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar on June 16 announced his office’s launch of an Internet-based way to compare Texas to other states in key areas. The scorecard, he said, “takes a balanced look at Texas and paints a mostly positive picture.” However, he suggested, there are “challenges the state needs to address. For example, the scorecard shows Texas has some of the nation’s highest local debt, has a population in which 10 percent of households have no bank account and has the second-highest percentage of residents above the age of 25 who lack a high school diploma.” Texans who have access to the Internet may visit cpa. state.tx.us and click their way to the scorecard and its contents. Governor names SBOE chair Gov. Abbott on June 18 nominated Donna Bahorich of Houston to succeed Barbara Cargill as chair of the 15-member State Board of Education. Bahorich lists on her resume service as district director and communications director for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick when he was a state senator. Bahorich’s appointment as SBOE chair is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

USTIN — Governor Greg Abbott on June 20 completed the task of reviewing all bills that were passed by the Texas Legislature. He had until midnight on June 21 to get the job done. Of the 6,276 bills filed by the House and Senate during the Legislature’s 84th regular session that ended June 1, some 1,323 were passed by both bodies and therefore earned a trip to the governor’s office for final scrutiny. Of those bills, Abbott signed 1,202 into law, let 162 become law without his signature and vetoed 41. Preliminary findings released Questions about earthquakes in a zone where oil and gas exploration is widespread brought together state agency personnel, researchers and industry representatives in a June 5 meeting on a study titled, “Causal Factors for Seismicity Near Azle, Texas.” Texas Railroad Commission, the state agency that regulates the oil and gas industry, on June 18 released a summary based on information presented at the meeting. Three of seven “key findings” by the researchers were these: 1. Hydraulic fracturing was not a cause of these earthquakes, and that this is a common misconception in the public and media that should be resolved. 2. The vast majority of disposal wells do not have associated seismicity, but disposal wells in close proximity to critically stressed faults could change pore pressure and reduce effective stress, resulting in seismicity if faults are oriented in a particular way.

June 26, 2015

Senator Hinojosa announces re-election campaign

fter putting South Texas at the forefront of critical state budget negotiations as Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa announces his intention to seek re-election to a fourth term in the Texas Senate. Hinojosa intends to continue his work for Senate District 20 in creating jobs, furthering economic development, crafting smart border security solutions, and providing for an educated and healthy workforce. Hinojosa issued the following statement: "South Texas is increasingly playing a larger role in shaping our state's future. Now more than ever we need experienced leaders who have the courage to put people over politics and govern with compassion. Though the session is over, the critical issues we face in Texas continue and challenges remain. I am not done working. “I am honored to serve the constituents of Senate District 20 and I look forward to continue fighting to make Texas a better place to live for all our families. Semper Fi." Known for his ability to work across party lines, rise above petty politics, and get things done for working Texans, Hinojosa's experience and leadership helped craft a balanced budget addressing many of our state's needs that will pave the way for a successful Texas economy. As Vice Chair of Senate Finance, he secured millions of dollars in funding for Senate District 20 priorities that will create local economic opportunities, including: • Infrastructure: Over $700 million in funds secured for the Harbor Bridge replacement in Corpus Christi. More than a decade of planning and development has come to fruition and will

ensure the Coastal Bend will thrive as a local and international port promising economic growth, prosperity, and jobs for years to come. • First Medical School in South Texas: In 2013, Senator Hinojosa championed historic legislation with the passage of Senate Bill 24 creating the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the first ever medical school in South Texas. This expansion of educational opportunities will create greater access to healthcare, more jobs, a healthy educated workforce, and a great economic boost to our families and communities in South Texas. • South Texas Universities: $61 million for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Medical School, $30.6 million in tuition revenue bonds for construction of an interdisciplinary engineering academic building at the campus in Edinburg, and a total of over $326 million for UTRGV. This places UTRGV as the second-highest among UT System institutions in appropriated funds, an enviable position proving the reality that our region is transforming through the creation of a new university. Also, $60 million in tuition revenue bonds for Texas A&M Corpus Christi for construction of a life sciences research and engineering building, $7 million for the Engineering Program, and $10 million for Texas A&M Healthy South Texas Initiative. • Tax Relief: Over $4 billion in tax relief to our Texas homeowners and small businesses. $1.2 billion in property tax relief will benefit homeowners by raising the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000 and decrease the taxes they will have to pay. Small business owners will get a tax break with $2.6 billion in franchise

tax relief, including a 25 percent rate reduction. • Military Communities: $30 million to help our military communities protect their facilities from closures or reductions. This is critical to Corpus Christi who is home to the Corpus Christi Army Depot, the world's largest military helicopter repair facility that accounts for over 6,000 jobs in the Coastal Bend. • Border Security: Senator Hinojosa advocated that we need to make better use of taxpayer dollars by developing a smart border security plan to phase out National Guard troops and replace them with a permanent solution. Through hard work and compromise, we invested $800 million into border security that includes a new Texas Rangers Company along the border, more Game Wardens, more Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission agents, additional funding for our local law enforcement agencies, and additional DPS troopers statewide. • Mental Health and Healthcare: We significantly increased our commitment to mental health services with behavioral health and substance abuse services funded at $3.6 billion in All Funds, an increase of $150.7 million over the last biennium. Women's Health Services are a priority and were funded at $262 million, an increase of $50 million. We also increased community services for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities, including expanding crisis intervention centers across the state. Hinojosa has received the prestigious honor of being named "Top Ten Best Legislators" for Texas Monthly magazine three times, and named "Top Ten Legislator" by Capitol Inside three times.

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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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lifestyle

June 26, 2015

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

Events Calendar

Tournament to benefit Mission CISD’s Back to School Bash

he Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce will host its All “Fore” The Kids Golf Tournament on Friday, July 17, 2015 at 8 a.m. at the Club at Cimarron located at 1200 S. Shary Rd. in Mission. Funds generated from the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce’s All “Fore” the Kids Golf Tournament will help provide 2,000 backpacks for the Mission CISD Back to School Bash. Mission CISD’s Back to School Bash will be Friday, August 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial High School Gym. "Studies have shown that children who do not have new school supplies at the beginning of the academic year often skip the first

QUINTA MAZATLAN from pg 2

to comprehend dinosaur numbers in clever new ways and uncover their own “find” in a simulated archaeology dig. Register online through the City of McAllen, or at Quinta Mazatlán or any McAllen Community Center. Phone (956) 681-3370 or visit quintamazatlan.com for more information. Cost is $50 for residents; $60 for non-residents. Breakfast and lunch will be available. Pick up time is at noon.

MARIACHI

discovered the value of promoting an activity for children that values their cultural heritage while promoting an art form that requires discipline, focus and dedication.” Headliners at the festival include Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernandez, Mariachi Monumental de México, Academy of Mexican Dance and Music, Mexican Dance Ensemble and the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago as well as student mariachi showcase perfor-

several important weeks of class" said Ricardo Lopez, Mission CISD Superintendent. “Proper supplies will help prepare the children for school and make them more at ease so that they can concentrate on learning.” The Back to School Bash is about more than simply distributing backpacks however, the festive atmosphere is designed to get children excited to return to their classrooms. "This event provides a positive experience for the whole family while playing a crucial role in the academic and personal lives of these children," Lopez said. All “Fore” The Kids Golf Tournament Prizes include Hole-in-one prizes are a Myrtle Beach Golf Vacation and a Cadillac sponsored by Bert Ogden Rio Grande

Valley; team prizes worth $1,200, $800 and $400 for first, second, and third places; closest to the pin winner and longest drive winner each win two tickets to one of the following: NFL, NBA, NASCAR, MLB, NHL or a PGA event of their choice; and putting contest winner will receive a five-Day Carnival Cruise for two to the Caribbean, Mexico or the Bahamas. Format is an 18 Hole, Four Player Team Florida Scramble. Entry deadline for teams and players is Monday, June 29. For more information, call (956) 585-2727 or visit www.allforethekids.com. For more information on the Back To School Bash, contact Craig Verley at (956) 323-5530 or cverley@mcisd. org.

Nesting Birds Program at EWBC next week

page 5

ummer time marks the beginning of breeding season for many of the resident birds in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Many build their nests on trees in this particular area to rear their young. Learn which species reside in the area on Thursday, July 2 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center. The EWBC’ Nesting

Birds Program will highlight the types of nests built by resident birds, their individual building techniques and their site preferences. There will be an indoor presentation followed by a walk along the gardens in search of nesting doves, mockingbirds, and maybe even hummingbirds. Plus, learn what to do when you find a baby bird on the

mances. “I have played beside them before but I think it never gets old to be playing alongside somebody that you look up to so much,” Clyde (no relation to Dr. Guerra) said of Mariachi Sol de México. “They’re a worldwide famous mariachi group, and to see them every time it’s like the first time because they’re so good.” Clyde, who performed with the university’s mariachi last summer as a Roma High School student, said he

is proud to represent UTPA and what will soon become UTRGV. “I’m taking something that was really special to me from high school to UTRGV,” Clyde said. “It’s a really nice way to show that UTRGV provides a great way to pursue your passion." For more information about the Chicago Mariachi and Folklórico Festival, visit www.mariachiheritagefoundation.org or call (312) 7421168.

See EWBC 10 from pg 2

Jun e 27 – The Mission High School Class of 1980 will celebrate their 35th Class Reunion from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Mission Community Center with a dance and dinner. The “Let the Good Times Roll” evening of music and food will be highlighted with Class of ’80 memorabilia. For more information, contact Alice Chapa Gonzalez at 225-3652, Irma Flores Lopez at 789-9429 or Tito Garza at 607-7796. Jul y 2 – Estero Llano Grande will hold Full Moon, New Moon Night Hikes from 8 to 10 p.m. Program is free with park entrance fee. Park is located at 154A Lakeview Drive in Weslaco. Also will be held July 16 and 31. For more information, call (956) 565-3919. Jul y 9 – MOSTHistory: Summer Nights at the Museum will be held. The museum’s signature exhibition, Rio Grande Legacy, will come to life section by section, providing different adventures through time. Event will include a puppet show, interactive history, hands-on activities, and multiple chances to win prizes. MOSTHistory is located at 200 N. Closner in Edinburg. For more information, Call (956) 383-6911. Jul y 9 – Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park will hold their Nature Walk from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Regularly scheduled programs are free with paid admission. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is located on 2800 South Bentsen Palm Drive in Mission or visit www. theworldbirdingcenter.com for more information. Jul y 10 – Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park will hold their Friday on Foot from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Regularly scheduled programs are free with paid admission. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is located on 2800 South Bentsen Palm Drive in Mission or visit www.theworldbirdingcenter.com for more information. Jul y 11 – Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park will hold a Creatures of the Night activity from 8 to 10 p.m. Regularly scheduled programs are free with paid admission. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is located on 2800 South Bentsen Palm Drive in Mission or visit www.theworldbirdingcenter.com for more information. Jul y 11 – Palm View Community Center will host a Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest from 6 to 8 p.m. Get your own sidewalk block and let your imagination run wild. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Categories and age division apply. Each sidewalk block is $3. The community center is located at 3401 Jorden Ave. in McAllen. Call (956) 681-3360 for more information. Jul y 11-12 – Estero Llano Grande will have their Camping with a Ranger, overnight camping trip from families. The event is limited for up to 10 families. The park will supply all camping gear – tents, lanterns, sleeping pads, cooking stoves and more. Cabins will be offered to first five families. All you need to bring is your sleeping bag, food and personal items. Cost is $65 per family of six. Park is located at 154A Lakeview Drive in Weslaco. For more information, call (956) 565-3919. Jul y 12 – Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park will hold their Bentsen Bird Walk from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Regularly scheduled programs are free with paid admission. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is located on 2800 South Bentsen Palm Drive in Mission or visit www. theworldbirdingcenter.com for more information. Jul y 12 – Mission Skeet and Trap Club will hold a 3D Archery Tournament for men, women, youth, cubs and mini-cubs. Targets include deer, feral hog, javelina, coyote, bear, turkey and raccoon. Trophies will be awarded. For more information and pricing, call Reyes L. Cortez at (956) 424-6528 or Jeff Simpson, Manager, at (956) 583-5996 during office hours.

Weekly

Wednesday Estero Llano Grande State Park will hold their Junior Rangers program from 9 to 10:30 a.m. through August. Program is free with park entrance fee. Park is located at 154A Lakeview Drive in Weslaco. For more information, call (956) 565-3919. Thursday Estero Llano Grande State Park will hold their Reptile Walks from 4 to 6 p.m. through August. Program is free with park entrance fee. Park is located at 154A Lakeview Drive in Weslaco. For more information, call (956) 565-3919. Friday Estero Llano Grande State Park will hold their Butterfly/Dragonfly Walks from 10:30 to 12 p.m. through August. Program is free with park entrance fee. Park is located at 154A Lakeview Drive in Weslaco. For more information, call (956) 565-3919. Estero Llano Grande State Park will hold their Campfire S’mores, Stories and More from 7 to 9 p.m. through August. Bring your own favorite camp snacks. Program is free with park entrance fee. Park is located at 154A Lakeview Drive in Weslaco. For more information, call (956) 565-3919. Saturday Forest Tots at Quinta Mazatlan will feature a different theme each week from 10-11a.m. through July 25. Sing about nature, explore the trails, make a nature craft and help out Earth. Not held on July 4. Fee is $3 for adults, $2 for children and seniors. Call 681-3370 for more information. Quinta Mazatlan: Morning Nature Walks, a half-mile walk through the forest, 10-11 a.m., 600 Sunset, McAllen. Included in regular admission. Call 681-3370 for info. Estero Llano Grande State Park will hold their Nature Walk from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. through August. Program is free with park entrance fee. Park is located at 154A Lakeview Drive in Weslaco. For more information, call (956) 565-3919. Sunday Estero Llano Grande State Park will hold their Bird Walk from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. through August. Program is free with park entrance fee. Park is located at 154A Lakeview Drive in Weslaco. For more information, call (956) 565-3919. Estero Llano Grande State Park will hold their Junior Tram Tour from 2 to 4 p.m. through August. Program is free with park entrance fee. Space is limited, reservation is required. Park is located at 154A Lakeview Drive in Weslaco. For more information, call (956) 565-3919. To see the complete Events Calendar for the coming weeks, go to www.ptrgv.com.

Free Society News Announcements

Quinceanera, engagement, wedding, milestone anniversary* and milestone birthday** announcements are run FREE of charge in the Progress Times. The quinceanera, wedding, anniversary and birthday announcements should be submitted no later than two months after the event date. Engagement announcements must be submitted no later than three weeks prior to the wedding date. Quinceanera and milestone birthday photos are upper body, single column of the individual only; no group shots. Engagement, wedding and anniversary photos of the couple are run two columns in size. For questions or to obtain the appropriate form to submit with a photo, send an email to communitynews@progresstimes. net, call the Progress Times at 585-4893. Please include a contact name and phone number for all inquiries.

Keeping our community safe is everyone’s responsibility. If you observe suspicious activity or witness a crime, be a good neighbor and report it to the police. And remember, you don’t have to give your name or personal information to report a crime.

June 26, 2015

page 6

LJISD Top 10 Sports Achievements of the Year

By Luciano Guerra Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. With the 2014-15 school year marking the third year that the three La Joya ISD high schools all competed in the same district, it stands to reason that one school’s success in a particular sport would come at the expense of the other two. In other words, one team’s capturing of a district title or playoff berth being the action and the other two teams’ failure to capture that title or playoff berth being the equal and opposite reaction. While all three high schools had teams and individual athletes that captured multiple district titles and/or playoff berths, it was Juarez-Lincoln High School that dominates our Top 10 LJISD Sports Achievements of the Year list with five, Palmview High coming in second with three and La Joya High having two. Here are the LJISD Top Ten:

Leslie Oliva – Lady Huskies Wrestler – State Silver Medalist Juarez-Lincoln Lady Huskies junior wrestler Leslie Oliva won her second state silver medal in as many years as she fell one win short of bringing home the gold medal in the 95 lb weight class at the UIL State Wrestling Tournament in Garland. Oliva, who claimed the District 166A championship and was the Region IV runner-up, compiled a 43-4 record over the 2014-15 wrestling season.

Lobos Baseball Team – District, Bi-district and Area Champions, Regional Quarterfinalists The Palmview Lobos baseball team went 11-0 in District 30-6A play and clinched their second district title in as many years before losing the district finale against the McAllen Bulldogs. The Lobos then defeated Laredo United South two-games-to-one in the bi-district round and Weslaco two-

games-to-none in the area round before falling to the state’s No. 1 ranked team, Laredo Alexander, in the Regional Quarterfinal round for the second year in a row.

Huskies Boys Soccer Team – District Runner-ups, Bi-district and Area Champions, Regional Quarterfinalists After going 8-4 with 25 points against their District 30-6A opponents the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies boys soccer team went three rounds deep into the playoffs by defeating Laredo United South and Brownsville Veterans Memorial in the Bi-district and Area rounds respectively. In the Regional Quarterfinal round however the Huskies were pitted against the eventual state champions, Brownsville Rivera, and despite taking the Raiders into penalty kicks Juarez-Lincoln came up short and lost 2-1. Daisy Ramirez – Lady Coyotes Wrestler – State Medalist La Joya Lady Coyotes’ senior wrestler Daisy Ramirez placed fifth in the 165 lb. weight class at the UIL’s State Wrestling Tournament by pinning her first opponent at the 2:20 mark and her second opponent at the 3:14 mark before losing to the eventual state champion Kijhla Evans (551) 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. Ramirez, who claimed the District 16-6A championship and was the Region IV runner-up, compiled a 43-6 record over the 2014-15 wrestling season.

Juarez-Lincoln Powerlifting Teams – Regional and State Qualifiers A total of seven members of the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies boys and girls powerlifting teams qualified for the regional meet and all but two of those qualified for the state meet. Robert Hernandez, Julio Garcia, Mauro Vargas and Fernando Hernandez were all regional qualifiers for the Huskies boys with Hernandez and Vargas also qualifying for state. Valeria Banda, Elena Zamora and Jessenia Gaytan were the Lady Huskies regional and state qualifiers. Banda was the only member of the Juarez-Lincoln teams to medal at state with her third place finish in the 148 lb. weight class. As a team the Lady Huskies placed 14th at state. Huskies Boys Wrestling Team – Back-to-Back District Champions, State Qualifiers For the first time in school history the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies boys wrestling team won back-toback district titles. The Huskies added the 2014-15 District 16-6A title to the District Dual Meet, the Coyote Invitational and the Centex Wrestling Tournament championships they had claimed earlier in the season. In addition the Huskies’ Rene Beas and Edgar Delgado both qualified for the UIL’s State Wrestling Tournament in Garland.

Lobos Football Team – Bi-district Champions The Palmview Lobos football team set a new standard of excellence in 2014-15 as they became the first Palmview High football team to have a winning record and to qualify for the playoffs. The Lobos then added a bi-district championship to their growing list of school firsts by defeating Laredo LBJ by a score of 21-17. While Palmview’s season came to an end in the Area round of the playoffs, as a result of their 56-6 loss to the Weslaco East Wildcats, all-in-all it was a historic season for Lobos’ football. Lady Lobos Track Team – District Champions, Regional Qualifiers The Palmview Lady Lobos track team won its first district title in school history by outscoring runner-up McAllen Memorial 175-118. Individual district championships were won by Mirna Tamez (long jump), Brianna Robles (3,200m and 1,600m run), Alyssa Garza (100m dash) and Mia Hinojosa (200m dash) as well as the Lady Lobos’ 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams. Palmview’s regional qualifiers included Tamez, Robles, Garza, Hinojosa, Natali Gonzalez (3,200m run), and Felicia Ponce De Leon (shot put) as well as the Lady Lobos’ 4x100m relay and 4x200m relay teams. Coyotes Football Team – Playoff Qualifiers For the first time since the three-way split of La Joya High School in 2008 the Coyotes’ football team qualified for the playoffs. Three consecutive wins to close out their District 30-6A schedule earned the 3-3 Coyotes fourth place and the district’s final playoff spot. A 62-7 bi-district round loss at the hands of the Laredo United Longhorns ended La Joya’s short-lived playoff run but not before the 2014-15 Coyotes brought La Joya High’s six year playoff drought to an end.

09 05

Huskies Boys Track Team – District Champions, Regional and State Qualifiers The Juarez-Lincoln Huskies boys track team claimed the District 30-6A championship by outscoring runner-up McAllen Memorial 168-152. Individual district championships were won by Carlos Barrera (Triple Jump), Mitchel Lara (1600m run) and Yariel Matute (400m dash) as well as the Huskies’ 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams. Barrera, Lara, Matute and Martin Baez (1600 & 3200m run) as well as the three relay teams all qualified for the regional meet with Matute also qualifying for the state meet where he placed eighth.

June 26, 2015

obituaries

Leonel Barreiro ISSION - Leonel Barreiro, 65, passed away Thursday, June 18, 2015 at Amara Hospice in Edinburg. He was born in McAllen on April 21, 1950. He is survived by his wife, Leonor Barreiro; his daughter, Marissa Gallardo, Mission; his brothers and sisters, Arnoldo Barreiro from Illinois, Eliecer Barreiro, Javier Barreiro both from McAllen, Olga Ramirez from Donna, Juanita Barrera from McAllen, Estela Makrancy from Florida, and Margot Barreiro from Mission; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tirso Barreiro and Trinidad Quintanilla; and four brothers, Ruben, Rene, Rogelio and Vladimir Barreiro. Funeral Mass was held Saturday, June 20, 2015 at Our Lady of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Mission. Cremation followed. Terry Connell ISSION/NEW BRAUNFELS – Terry Connell, 68, died June 5, 2015 in New Braunfels. He was born March 3, 1947 to Tommy and Nita Connell in Mission. He owned and operated Connell Plumbing in Mission for 20 years, before moving to the Dallas area and then New Braunfels. He is survived by brothers, Tom and Tim Connell of New Braunfels; daughter, Julie Venegas of McKinney; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Ron. Inurnment services were held Friday, June 19, 2015 at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Sharon Louise Mainord Garcia A JOYA – Sharon Louise Mainord Garcia was born in Levelland, Texas April 26, 1945 and went to meet her Lord and Savior on June 18, 2015. Sharon attended La Joya High School and received an AS. Preceded in death were her parents, William S. and

Louise Folks Mainord; a brother, Robert W. Mainord; and daughter, Lisa Rome’ Garcia. She is survived by her sister, Lynn Evans; ex-husband, Rodolfo B Garcia; son, William R Garcia; daughters Cheryl King and Rome’ Buckalew; and six grandkids. Juan Mendiola ISSION - Juan Mendiola passed away on Friday, June 19, 2015, at the age of 74. Juan was born to Celestino and Rafaela Villalon Mendiola on October 8, 1940 in Los Ebanos, and lived in the Palmview/Mission area his entire life. He graduated from La Joya High School in 1959. He is survived by his wife, Olga F. Mendiola; his three children, Sylvia Ann Mendiola, Xavier Mendiola and Cynthia Hinojosa; his brother, Celestino Mendiola; and three grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Yvonne Marie Guzman; a brother, Eliseo Mendiola; and sister, Elodia Mendiola-Salinas. The funeral mass was held Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at St. Mary Magdalene in Abram. Interment followed at Garden of Angels Cemetery in Abram. Abelardo “Dancing Bear” Mendoza Jr. ISSION - Abelardo “Dancing Bear” Mendoza Jr., 35, passed away on June 19, 2015 in Vincennes, IN. He is survived by his mother, Maria M. Mendoza; his children, Sarah Lee Mendoza, Valerie Mendoza, Abel Mendoza Jr., and Jonathan Lorenzo Mendoza; and his siblings; Delia Mendoza and Diana Mejia. He was preceded in death by his father, Abelardo Mendoza Sr. A funeral service was held Thursday, June 25, 2015 at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission. Burial followed at Garden of Angels Cemetery in Abram.

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Eliazar Mercado LTON - Eliazar Mercado, 79, who passed away on Friday, June 19, 2015 at his residence in Alton. He is survived by his daughters, Susie Martinez, Maria Lopez; son, Tony Lee Mercado; brother, Eliseo Mercado; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Eliazar is preceded in death by his wife, Dominga G. Mercado; his parents, Guadalupe and Francisca Mercado; and siblings, Lydia Mercado, Guadalupe “Chacha” Rodriguez. Visitation was held Sunday, June 21, 2015 at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission. Fidencio Sepulveda ISSION - Fidencio Sepulveda, 91, passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at Mission Regional Medical Center in Mission. He was born to Florencio Sepulveda and Viviana Lopez on December 7, 1923 in Santa Lucia, Mexico. He is survived by his children, Guadalupe Sepulveda,

Notices

Ronald Biggs MISSION Ronald Biggs, 77, died Wednesday, June, 17, 2015, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Manuel Cavazos MISSION - Manuel Cavazos died Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Rogelio Rodriguez Granados ALTON - Rogelio Rodriguez Granados, 60, died Thursday, June 18, 2015, at his Alton residence. Graveside services for Rogelio Rodriguez Granados were held Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at San Jose Cemetery in Mission. Jesus M. Guerra MISSION - Funeral service Jesus M. Guerra were held Saturday, June 20, 2015, at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Mission. Burial was held at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen. Juan Mendiola MISSION – A funeral mass for Juan Mendiola was held Tuesday, June 23, 2015,

Baldo Sepulveda, Antonio Sepulveda, Consuelo Sepulveda, San Juanita Hernandez and Maria Sepulveda; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Seferina Sepulveda. Funeral Mass was held Saturday, June 20, 2015 at St. John of the Fields Catholic Church in Mission. Interment followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission. 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.

at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in La Joya. Burial followed at Garden of Angels Cemetery in Abram. Andres Nieto MISSION - Graveside service for Andres Nieto were held Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen. Maria De La Luz Ochoa MISSION – Maria De La Luz Ochoa, 81, died Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at McAllen Medical Center. Rodolfo Oliveira MISSION - Rodolfo Oliveira, 92, died Thursday, June 18, 2015, at Gracia Hospice in McAllen. Harold A. Peterson MISSION - Harold A. Peterson, 91, died Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at Mission Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Jorge Eladio Rios III PALMVIEW - Jorge Eladio Rios III, died Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at Renaissance Woman’s Hospital in Edinburg.

ChurCh DireCtory BREAD OF LIFE CHURCH 2820 N. Conway Ave. • 581-1411 CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD 2322 N. McColl. - McAllen 682-2092 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 5609 S 29th St. - McAllen 682-4881 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Missonaries • 580-2570 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH 911 N. Main - McAllen 686-4241 CONWAY AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH 2215 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 1302 Doherty • 585-1442 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH 12th and Miller - Mission 585-7281 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1102 Ash St. • 585-4829 for worship schedule.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1101 Doherty • 585-1665

NORTH MISSION CHURCH OF CHRIST 1410 E. Mile 3 Rd. • 585-0146 Palmhurst

FREEDOM LIFE CHURCH 2214 W. Griffin Pkwy. • 519-7000 Mission

NORTH PALMVIEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH 1511 E. Mile 2 Rd. 867-5872 or 760-1625

GRACIA DIVINA MINISTRY 11809 N. Shary Rd. • 584-3112 GREAT OAKS COMMUNITY CHURCH 2722 N. Conway • 451-5500 Mission IGLESIA ADVENTISTA DEL SEPTIMO DIA 1725 W. Griffin Parkway 581-9008 IGLESIA BAUTISTA BETANIA 851 S. Breyfogle Rd. • 585-5688 IGLESIA BAUTISTA CRISTO EL REY 1600 E. Bus. 83 - Mission IGLESIA BAUTISTA COLONIAL 3713 N. La Homa Rd. • 585-5332 IGLESIA BAUTISTA DEL VALLE 217 W. Mile 3 Rd. • 424-1602 Palmhurst IGLESIA DEL PUEBLO 7500 West Expressway 83 581-1900 IGLESIA DEL DIVINO REDENTOR 1020 North Los Ebanos Rd 585-5898 LA RESPUESTA CHURCH 405 W. 12th Street • 585-0787 MISSION CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 1 mi. E. 495 • 585-6683 NEW HOPE AT THE BORDER 905 N. Conway • 369-3603

ONLY THRU JESUS 7612 W. 6 Mile Ln. OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS One-half mile South Leo Avenue La Joya • 585-5223 OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHURCH 6634 El Camino Real • Granjeno OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH 2.5 miles S. Conway (FM 1016) Mission OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH 620 Dunlap • 585-2623 OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY CHURCH 923 Matamoros St. • 581-2193

RIVER OF LIFE CHURCH 901 S. Shary Rd. (Located in the Holiday Inn Express Conference Room) 451-4838 SAN CRISTOBAL MAGALLANES & COMPANIONS PARISH

3805 Plantation Grove Blvd., Ste. 5

Mission • 580-4551

SAN MARTIN DE PORRES 5 mi. N. Conway, 1/2 Mile West Alton • 585-8001 & 585-8002 SPIRIT OF PEACE EV. LUTHERAN CHUCH 3104 Los Milagros Mission • 581-1822 ST. JOHN OF THE FIELDS CATHOLIC CHURCH 1052 Washington Ave. • 585-2325 ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH 1119 Francisco • 585-2701 ST. PETER & ST. PAUL EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2310 N. Stewart Rd. 585-5005

PALM VALLEY CHURCH 1720 E. Griffin Pkwy. 585-3203

SHINING LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH 6 1/8 N. Doffing Rd. (FM 492) 580-4078

PEÑITAS BAPTIST CHURCH 1/3 Mile S. of Exp.83 on FM 1427 583-6236

TEMPLO BIBLICO 5 Mile/Conway 581-4981or 585-3831

PRIMERA BAPTIST CHURCH Corner of 6th & Oblate 585-4711

TEMPLO EVANGELICO, M.B. CHURCH La Joya

PRIMERA IGLESIA DEL VALLE APOSTOLIC ASSEMBLY 210 N. St. Marie. • 585-8651

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 3905 W. 3 Mile Line • 585-3261

PROMISE LAND CHURCH 2300 E. Palm Circle (Corner of 495) Mission, TX 78572 • 624-9307

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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Four locals among RGV Partnerships leadership program graduates

he RGV Partnership started out with one goal in mind: get emerging leaders from the Rio Grande Valley to learn about the entire area through a regional lens. Mission accomplished. In May, the RGV Partnership graduated the first-ever RGV Leadership class of 25 members from throughout the four-county Valley area. The 25 emerging leaders took part in nine monthly class sessions from an opening retreat September 2014 to a graduation ceremony in May. In between, the diverse group of leaders took part in important discussions on issues with Valley-wide implications such as healthcare, education, transportation, politics, the environment and, of course, leadership. Classes were hosted in cities all around the Rio Grande Valley including Harlingen, Mission, Brownsville, McAllen and Weslaco. There was also a field trip to Austin during the legislative session and visits to companies, schools and health facilities. To help gain a regional perspective on issues they were treated to speakers like UTRGV President Guy Bailey, Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos, State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., RGV Sylvan Learning Center CEO Susan Valverde, Valley Baptist Medical Center CEO Manny Vela and former UT-Brownsville President Julieta Garcia.

Former RGV Partnership Chair Deborah Cordova first initiated the idea of starting the program in early 2014. With the support of the RGV Partnership board and CEO Julian Alvarez, “RGV Leadership took off and accomplished what was intended,” said Alvarez. Current RGV Partnership Chairman Atanacio Hinojosa also completed the course. "Deborah deserves a lot credit for pushing this idea, but the entire board got behind it and supported it as something the Partnership should do to build regionalism here," said Alvarez. "The class chosen, from the many that applied, was really awesome. They came to learn. They brought their own perspectives. And what started out as 25 strangers from around the Valley became 25 friends with new appreciations and views of the Region.” The Rio Grande Valley Partnership will begin accepting applications on Monday, June 8 for its second annual RGV Leadership program. The deadline to turn in applications will be the first week of August. Details will be released at a later date. Local graduates included Yolanda Gonzalez, Mission, Wells Fargo Bank; Benjamin Pena, Mission, Burton, McCumber & Cortez, LLP; Daniel Silva, Mission, Mission EDC; and Cristina Trejo, Mission, University of Texas-Pan American.

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page 8

LOMELI from pg 1

same time accomplished.” Over the years, Lomeli has served as a UIL coach, a National Honor Society council member, a PLC member and a reading club member. She’s been a curric-

ulum writer, a teacher mentor and a department chair. Sometimes Lomeli feels like she’s her students’ mother, but Lomeli said she feeds off the younger generation’s youth and energy, calling it her “daily fuel.” Students need to see their teachers care about them,

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not a monthly paycheck, she said. It’s important to be human and smile because students will remember how a teacher makes them feel. She uses her own story and her own success to show students anything is possible. Many students in the area are pushed to get involved in illegal activities like human smuggling or drug trafficking, and Lomeli said her goal is to show them the same importance of education that her mother instilled in her. “There is no better accomplishment than to see my students receive their graduating diplomas and their college acceptance letters, especially when they come back to ask for letters of recommendation,” Lomeli said. “That there, is the greatest feeling in the world.”

WILLIAMS from pg 3

emphasized he would not endorse the incumbent, Rubén Hinojosa of Mercedes, because the embattled lawmaker is caught in a national ethical scandal revolving around Hinojosa taking almost $20,000 worth of air fare for himself and his wife from a foreign government in 2013, an act is that prohibited by federal law. “Rubén Hinojosa has given the Republican Party a mighty weapon to use against him that also will be used to

GARCIA

ty bingo events, the Peñitas W hiteWing Festival and district parades. Garcia said she believes successful schools work with the community to produce successful students. A student’s education isn’t solely the result of spending

discourage Democrats from turning out in the 2016 presidential election,” Williams said. “Even though I may not be in the race at this time, I call on Rubén Hinojosa to do the right thing by not seeking reelection. Otherwise, he will bring dishonor upon the rest of the Democratic Party candidates.” Williams noted Hinojosa has received negative press coverage following an expose by the Washington Post, published in mid-May, that detailed Rubén Hinojosa’s participation in the growing eight hours a day in the classroom, she said. After 33 years of teaching, Garcia said she now knows there is no “right way” to reach a student, so she uses a variety of methods. She’s learned a lot from other

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June 26, 2015

political disgrace. Williams added there are numerous other Democrats in the South Texas congressional district who have the positive image and financial resources who would be superior candidates to replace Hinojosa. “The value of the free round-trip tickets that he and his wife recklessly took from a foreign government is almost $6,000 more than the average income of the people of Hidalgo County, which is $14,222 per year,” Williams said, citing the U.S. Census. from pg 1

teachers, and Garcia said it’s important for teachers to be open to changing their approach in the classroom. “Teaching must always be centered on the needs of the individual student and not a group setting,” Garcia said. “We often make the mistake of trying to teach every student as if we are working on a conveyor line of future leaders.” Garcia believes the true measure for a teacher doesn’t come from test results, but from parents who come to her classroom and ask, “How did you get them to read?” or say, “My son/daughter thinks highly of you.” Parental feedback should be used as an accountability tool, she said. “After becoming a teacher, my colleagues would request for their own children to become my students,” Garcia said. “I have been very lucky to see my previous students grow up to be successful members of society in their professional career.”

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PUBLIC NOTICE

The Mission Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on July 8, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: A 0.39 acre tract of land out of Lot 23-3, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision, from (AO-I) Agricultural Open Interim to (R-1) Single Family Residential; Rezoning: A 15.584 acre tract of land out of Lot 16-9, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision, from (AO-I) Agricultural Open Interim to (I-1) Light Industrial If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement. Anyone interested is invited to attend. Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE The Mission City Council will hold a Regular Meeting on July 13, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: Lot 3, Alex Cavazos Subdivision, from (AO-I) Agricultural Open Interim to (C-3) General Business If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement. Anyone interested is invited to attend. Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

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page 10

FATHERS DAY from pg 1

them.” The home is designed to give its residents as much freedom as possible while still ensuring their safety. Two different activities are planned for the residents every day and special celebrations are planned for holidays. Outings are a regular occurrence for those who are

able to leave the Mission facility. Toney has softened since moving to the home, according to his granddaughter. He’s more appreciative, Smith said, more gentle. “I think he was a lot sadder before he lost some of his mental capability,” she said of the 86-year-old. “Now he’s more content because he thinks this is where he’s sup-

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posed to be. He’s happy here. He’s so much more grateful for little things.” Smith’s father died when she was about 3 years old, and she used to spend days with her grandpa. He played the piano, she sang. The Edinburg native admitted that as she got older she didn’t visit with him that often, but now that he’s at The Bridges she visits 6 to 7

days a week. “Amy came over when she graduated to show him that she had gotten her diploma. She wants to make her grandpa proud,” Castillo said. “I see a lot of youth, at that age, not very close, but she is very close to him and I think that’s lifted his spirit up. That’s a special relationship.” When Toney moved into the home he was placed in the wing that treats stages two and three of Alzheimer’s. The second or moderate stage is when the person can become moody, withdrawn or even aggressive. But the supervisor activity director said Toney was very pleasant and very calm. The father of five posed for selfie pictures with his granddaughter and tapped his hands to the music’s rhythm during the live performance. The staff prepared neckties and hats with “dad” written on them, and gave the eight fathers felt mustaches to wear during the celebration. Although family mem-

June 26, 2015 bers were not invited to that particular celebration, Smith asked if she could be there with her grandpa so he wouldn’t be alone. “Everybody just loves him here, which is the most important thing to us, that he

MISSION

sion to determine what ambulance company would be elected to serve the city. In open session, the council agreed to contract with Med Care for an additional three years. Also Monday, the sale of a portion of Lots 1, 3 and 3 of Block 157, Original Mission Townsite lying east of

would be in a place where people care about him,” Smith said. “Sometimes I hear (the staff) talking to him in his room and they just treat him life family. It makes me feel good that he’s here.”

from pg 1

the Southern Pacific Railroad were sold to the city at a cost of $28,000. The council voted to accept the donation of two school buses from La Joya Independent School District to the city. The buses will be donated to Valle Hermoso and Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas through Mission’s Sister City program. Under zoning matters, a conditional use permit for Tick’s Bar & Grill located in the Stewart Crossing Subdivision, was approved. James Su, a resident living in the subdivision behind the restaurant, expressed concern over having the bar located so close to a residential subdivision. He said he felt drunken drivers leaving the restaurant through the alley behind his subdivision posed a threat to residents living there.

EWBC from pg 5

ground below its nesting area. The fee for “Nesting Birds” is regular admission, $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and children, children under five and members are free. Space is limited, so call ahead to reserve your spot. The Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center is located at 714 Raul Longoria Rd. in Edinburg inside the Edinburg Municipal Park. For additional information, visit www.edinburgwbc.org or call (956) 381-9922.