Huskies Have Heart
Friday, September 19, 2014
newsbriefs
Citizens awards nomination deadline nears
The nomination deadline for the Mission citizens awards for Mr. Mission, First Lady of Mission, Man of the Year and Woman of the Year is 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25. The nomination form, selection criteria for the awards, and a list of previous recipients are posted on the Progress Times website, www. progresstimes.net. The nomination form may also be picked up at the Progress Times office at 1217 N. Conway. To request forms to be faxed or emailed, call 956-585-4893. Email requests should be sent to awards@progresstimes.net. Nominations may be submitted in person at the Progress Times office at 1217 N. Conway or by mail to Citizens Awards, c/o Progress Times, P.O. Box 399, Mission, Texas 78573. Nomi¬nations may also be submitted by email to awards@progresstimes.net or by fax to 956-
See AWARDS Pg. 7A Peñitas White Wing Festival set for Saturday
The fifth annual Peñitas White Wing Festival is set for Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Walmart parking lot on Liberty Boulevard. Costumbre is one of multiple attractions scheduled for the event. Other bands scheduled to perform include Notable, Estruendo and Atrapado. The festival also will include a kiddie carnival, and food vendors will be serving up everything from fajitas to brisket to fish tacos. Admission and parking are free to the public. No outside food or beverages are allowed. Another event planned for Saturday, in part with the festival, is the IBCA sanctioned cookoff competition, which will give away $5,000 in cash prizes. For more information on the festival, call 581-3345.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Although the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies are 0-3, Coach Tomas Garcia says, “Our kids fight until the end, regardless of what the score is. It shows their true character.” See story page 1B
Friday Night Football Coverage Online at www.progresstimes.net >> Game stories and photos online Saturday morning. >> Follow us on Facebook for updates Friday night.
This week:
Sharyland Rattlers vs Laredo Alexander Mission Eagles vs Edinburg
www.progresstimes.net | 50 Cents
MCISD remembers the 21 By Julie Silva Ciro Ochoa Jr. still can remember the face of every parent he saw in the aftermath of a bus accident that killed 21 students on a September morning 25 years ago. After a temporary morgue had been set up to identify the bodies of students killed, Ochoa, then-vice president of Mission Consolidated Independent School District Board, sat in a back room of a community center with two lists of names as one-by-one parents came in to find out if their children were alive or dead. Also in the room were the chief of police, the mayor and a member of the clergy. On one list were the names of children who lived and had been sent to area hospitals. On the second list were the names of students whose bodies had been identified at a nearby pavilion. Each time a parent came in, Ochoa checked the survivor list first. “It’s the hardest thing I ever had to do,” Ochoa said. “Every
parent was hurting.” Friday morning, Sept. 19, MCISD will hold a ceremony to remember the 21 students who died when a Dr. Pepper truck hit a school bus at the intersection of Mile 5 and Bryan Road, sending the bus into a caliche pit filled with water. About 60 students escaped through a single open window. The remembrance ceremony is set for 9 a.m. at the Alton Memorial Jr. High School gymnasium. This school was named in memory of the students killed as a result of the accident that occurred on Sept. 21, 1989. Students to be remembered are Maria Alfaro, Roberto Bazaldua Jr., Margarita Buentello, Carmen Canales, Elda P. Cruz, Raul Flores, Elizabeth Flores, Abdon Garcia, Armando Gonzalez, Ruby Lopez, Marta
Amelia Lozano, Jose L. Ortega, Veronica Perez, Yesenia Perez, Roman Quintero, Apolonia Regalado, Maria Regalado, Anna Rodriguez, David Saenz, Michael P. Saenz and Alberto Vasquez. The ceremony will be a time of reflection and a time to celebrate the lives of the children and the positive impact they had on their families and their community. Weather permitting, officials plan to end the ceremony with a butterfly release in the memorial garden at the AMJH campus. The morning tragedy struck That September morning in 1989, Cynthia Cantu-Del Bosque, a senior, had been running late for the bus, but she made it. She’d been up the night before studying for a test in trigonometry, and felt
ready to ace it. She’d dressed up for the occasion in white pants, a fuchsia shirt and white shoes with rainbow colored stars on them. The bus was near the end of its route, having picked up the Saenz brothers last near Bryan Road, and Cantu-Del Bosque said it was packed with students standing in the center aisle. She had a seat on the right side of the bus and was still studying as it traveled west on Mile 5. To her left she heard a noise, but when she looked over, her view was blocked. She looked to her right and noticed the bus wasn’t facing the right direction. That’s when she blacked out. When she woke up, it was dark, and she was under water. That morning started out like any other day for then-Superintendent Rafael Cantu. He was in the office at around 7:30 when the superintendent for business received a call about a bus accident. When the two arrived at the
See THE 21 Pg. 5A
Hidalgo County confirms West Nile virus fatality
EDINBURG – Authorities have confirmed an 83-year-old Donna man died last week of the West Nile virus, and a 92-year-old Pharr area man has been hospitalized with what is expected to be the second local case of West Nile. The Hidalgo County death is the third West Nile virus fatality in Texas this year. West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne illness. People more than 50 years old and those with weakened immune systems are the most vulnerable; however, all residents are urged to take precautions when working or playing outdoors. Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia and Health and Human Services Chief Administrator Eddie Olivarez held a news conference last week to provide details. “Our county precincts are identifying low lying areas that have accumulated water and began spraying those areas,” Garcia said. “I urge residents to take precautions; the chance of being
See VIRUS Pg. 11A Billy Leo to receive lifetime achievement award
By Julie Silva La Joya resident and longtime democratic leader William “Billy” Leo will receive a lifetime achievement award at a gala hosted by the Hidalgo County Democratic Party. Party Chair Ricardo Godinez said lifetime achievement awards have been giving out in the past, but he hopes to start a new tradition with the Dorothy Ann Willis Richards Legend Award, and Leo will be the first recipient. “Clearly he’s a good Democrat and he’s always been a good Democrat,” Godinez said. “We felt that he was very deserving of the award, and we hope that he and his family are able to revel in it.” The Noche Azul gala is set to begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, with the awards ceremony at 8 p.m. It will be at the Valencia Event Center, 3012 S. Jackson Road in McAllen. Leo served as mayor of La Joya for 15 years, until he was defeated in 2012 by Jose A. “Fito Salinas. Before that, he also had been elected Hidalgo County clerk and served as president of the La Joya Independent School District school
INDEX
See LEO Pg. 10A
Entertainment | pg. 2A
Mission seeks dog lovers for furry friends
By Julie Silva Mission city employees said the biggest reason dogs aren’t adopted out of the kennels is the requirement to have those pets spayed and neutered. Last month, the city started featuring a pet of the week, a dog they deemed friendly and adoptable, to raise community awareness about dogs picked up by animal control. Dogs can be adopted free, but the new pet owners must show proof that they’ve taken care of vaccines and spaying/neutering within 30 days. Rusty was a friendly 6-month-old lab and the first featured pet of the week. City Manager Martin Garza said the
city received 50 calls on the puppy, but nobody would commit to adoption.
Noel Barrera, health director and registered sanitarian, later said most people who call the
kennel decide not to adopt because of the state’s spaying and neutering requirement. “We have people all the time that come out, but don’t take a dog because we require them to spay and neuter,” said Noel Barrera, health director and registered sanitarian, adding that the state requires shelters to follow up on pets that have been adopted. “They say, ‘Well, you know, I want to take it to the ranch. I have some calves, and I really don’t want to spay and neuter,’” he added. “Down here, we’re an old-school generation. We have a lot of people with ranches.”
See DOGS Pg. 7A
Mission Collegiate HS under construction
By Jim Brunson Mission CISD students attending Mission Collegiate High School will have a brand new campus next year. Construction on the new campus, located behind Alton Memorial Jr. High and Cavazos Elementary on Los Ebanos Road, began this summer and buildings are now beginning to take shape. Since initiating the Collegiate High School with a freshman class of 125 students in 2012, the school’s classrooms have consisted of portable buildings located at Mission High School. Each year, a new freshman class with another 125 students is added and pres-
Lifestyle | pg. 6A
Photo courtesy Mission CISD
ently 321 students attend the school, representing 9th, 10th and 11th grades. When the new campus opens next fall, total enrollment is expected to be
Opinion | pg. 4A
about 450 students, and will include 9th through 12th grades. The new buildings are designed to accommodate approximately 600 students.
Sports | pg. 1B
Obituaries | pg. 9A
“It’s a smaller version of a complete high school without the athletic facilities,” said MCISD Executive Director for Facilities/Maintenance/Construction Rick Rivera. In addition to classroom space, the new campus will include a library, administration building, science labs, computer labs, restroom facilities for staff and students, plus a kitchen and dining area. The contractor, E-Con Group LLC, is right on schedule, according to project architect Eddie Vela of EGV Architects. The foundation has been
See MCISD Pg. 10A
Classifieds | pg. 11A
Highest Quality Design & Print Services
956.585.4893
www.progresstimes.net
Printed marketing materials at rock-bottom wholesale costs.
page 2A
www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com
September 19, 2014
entertainment
Decisions, decisions: Fundraiser combats hunger The seemingly endless line of empty bowls accentuates the challenge faced by individuals and families across the Rio Grande Valley each day—hunger. The annual Empty Bowls Luncheon & Silent Auction to benefit the Food Bank Rio Grande Valley will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Pharr Events Center, 3000 N. Cage. One of the more popular fundraisers, guests sample food prepared by local restaurants after choosing a bowl, which they take home as a reminder. Tickets are on pre-sale now at www.foodbankrgv.com for $25. Tickets will be $30 at the door. For more information, contact Philip Farias at 904-4513 or by email at pfarias@foodbankrgv.com.
Rain date change for art exhibit
The Upper Valley Art League’s (UVAL) monthly art exhibit was cancelled last week due to rain. The opening of Veronica Jaeger’s art exhibit, “Building Being,” will now be held this Saturday, Sept. 20, at the UVAL facility. The opening reception for the exhibit runs from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center and will be on display in the gallery through Oct. 3. It is located at 921 E. 12th Street, Mission, next to Speer Memorial Library. The event is free and open to the public. Artwork will be available to purchase and light refreshments will be served. Call 583-2787 for further information.
Coming Attractions
October 8 Tim McGraw makes a stop at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo for his Valley fans. The performance, featuring special guest Jana Kramer, begins at 8:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $75 to $175 and are available at ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. October 11 Individual and VIP tickets are available, along with sponsorship seating and special perks for the upcoming performance of Wynonna & the Big Noise. Opening band is Costello. Proceeds benefit
the Sharyland ISD Education Foundation. It takes place at Las Palmas Race Park in on Bentsen Road in Mission. Individual tickets are $45 per person, and VIP tickets are $200. Sponsor tables for 10 are $2000, $5000, $7500 and $10,000, each with varying benefits. VIP tickets include a steak dinner, beverages and VIP seating. Purchase tickets at ticketfly.com, Cavender’s Western Outfitters, laspalmasracepark.com or at the Sharyland ISD administration by calling 580-5200, Ext. 1080.
www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com
September 19, 2014
Republican hopes to turn county
By Julie Silva With 30 years of experience in law enforcement, Al Perez believes the “R” next to his name on the November ballot shouldn’t dissuade voters from supporting him in the race to be Hidalgo County’s next sheriff. Perez said he retired from the sheriff’s office in a June with a vision of what the department could be free of corruption, focused on public safety. He wants to put more deputies on patrol and restore accountability internally. The former sergeant is the Republican nominee for the office, which was vacated by Lupe Treviño earlier this year, shortly before Treviño pleaded guilty to money laundering. The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court took applications for interim sheriff before appointing then-Pct. 4 Constable Eddie Guerra to the open position in April. Guerra was later chosen by the Hidalgo County Democratic Party as its nominee for the November election. Vince Ousley also has joined the race for sheriff as the Libertarian candidate and La Joya Police Chief Geovani Hernandez, who had hoped to earn the democratic nomination, is running as an
independent. “Two of the last three sheriffs have gone to prison. They’re democrats. Did they do that because they have a ‘D’ next to their names? No, because I know a lot of them that are very good people,” Perez said of his republican status. “Pretend that you’re hiring a chief of police for the county. Would you hire Mr. Guerra or would you hire me? “When I go to a call, I don’t ask, ‘Before I provide a service to you, are you a republican, democrat or independent?’ I don’t do that. We provide a service to everybody.” Perez retired from the sheriff’s office in June after
nine years with the agency in preparation for a run at sheriff when he said he didn’t see enough change under Guerra’s administration. Over the years, he said he saw the number of deputies patrolling the western portion of Hidalgo County drop from eight, nine and 10 to two and three per shift. The first thing he’d do as sheriff, Perez said is do an assessment of the department to find deficiencies, and he’d try to get more deputies onto the streets. As the county continues to grow, it’s developing big city problems like burglary and theft, Perez said, adding there’s also been an increase in home invasions. “In my experience in the sheriff’s office, we are a responsive agency,” he said. “What I mean by that is we’re not proactive. Deputies are going from call to call, and this is due to the lack of units on the road.” Perez worked under the Treviño administration, but he said he was kept out of the loop on any illegal activities that occurred during that time. In fact, he said he was told he never had been promoted to captain during his tenure with the county because he had friends with the FBI. Sure, Perez said he heard rumors, but he never had concrete evidence to take to authorities on anything illegal happening within the department. Perez also emphasized he would not force deputies to campaign for him
Clarissa Noyola, a student at Texas A&M University- Kingsville, has graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky. The fourweek course is a leadership internship for cadets for college students to experience and examine the Army with-
out incurring an obligation to serve. They are eligible to receive two-year college scholarship offers and attend the ROTC Advanced Course at their colleges. Noyola is the daughter of Cruzsema Chapa of Mission and a 2012 graduate of Mission High School.
Army Pvt. Irene Garza has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., after a rigorous nine-week program from classroom to field exercises. Garza is the daughter of Maria Garza of Mission. She is a 2008 graduate of La Joya High School.
Al Perez
Noyola Completes leader training
Garza graduates
to keep their jobs or earn a promotion. In fact, he said, he’d like to return testing for promotions to the depart-
ment. “There’s no room for politics in a law enforcement agency,” Perez said. “A law
page 3A
enforcement agency has to be impartial to the max. The only politician is the sheriff, not the deputies.”
September 19, 2014
Party of Ideas: A Republican blueprint for governing
By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association
STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn More than a decade since I first arrived in the United States Senate, the chamber has become unrecognizable. What had traditionally been a forum for thoughtful debate of principled ideas has gradually devolved into a venue for carefully orchestrated theater. Look no further than the Senate’s September agenda: Amid high unemployment and stagnant wages, widespread frustration over the consequences of ObamaCare, and genuine humanitarian and security crises at home and abroad, Senate Democrats decided that their most-urgent order of business following the August work period was a designed-to-fail campaign bill to gut the First Amendment. Despite all the challenges facing our country, my colleagues in the majority continue to prioritize political stunts and show votes over serious legislating. Indeed, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. has allowed so few amendments that one of his fellow Senate Democrats recently told Politico, “I got more substance on the floor of the House in the minority than I have as a member of the Senate majority.” By contrast, our colleagues in the House of Representatives have sent over scores and scores of bills on job creation, taxes, health care, immigration, and other issues, only to have Senator Reid declare them dead on arrival. No wonder Congress has a 14 percent approval rating; the American people are frustrated with Washington, and rightly so. If the Majority Leader and his colleagues were serious about solving the problems at hand, they wouldn’t need to look far for positive, progrowth ideas to address our nation’s most pressing challenges. They would see that Senate Republicans have
joined our House counterparts in offering a bevy of thoughtful proposals. First and foremost, we have long stressed the need to pass a pro-growth, fiscally responsible budget that actually cuts spending and reforms government. We should leave the next generation more economic opportunity, not more debt. Americans and small businesses across the country budget responsibly every month, and so should their government. In addition, we have pushed sensible, pro-growth energy policies that enjoy bipartisan support, such as approving the Keystone XL oil pipeline and boosting U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas. We need energy policies that enhance our energy security, reduce prices, encourage investment, and create jobs here at home. We also need a regulatory system that fosters economic growth and prosperity, not one that furthers Washington’s overreach. Republicans believe we must continue aggressive oversight of the Obama administration’s out-of-control regulatory agenda, which is hurting hard-working Americans while empowering federal bureaucrats. Senate Republicans believe that the president’s health care law was absolutely the wrong way to expand insurance coverage. We think that families and individuals should be free to purchase
whatever kind of insurance they prefer, without having to worry about government meddling. We believe that future reforms should allow healthcare decisions to be made by patients and their doctors, not by Washington. We believe those reforms should make quality health insurance and quality care more accessible for everyone, including people with preexisting conditions. On tax reform, Republicans believe that our overriding goal should be to lower the rates, broaden the base, and simplify the entire system, in order to help restore America’s global competitiveness. Republicans also favor ending “too big to fail,” thereby ending the implicit government subsidy currently enjoyed by America’s largest banks. There are a number of ways to achieve that goal, but we all agree that Dodd-Frank did not solve the problem. Immigration continues to be among the most pressing issues we face, especially given this year’s record surge of Central American minors pouring across our southwest border. Republicans understand that one of Americans’ top priorities is to make sure that our laws are being enforced and our border is secure. We share that priority, and we will keep advocating the necessary reforms, along with others to fix our overall immigration system. Republicans are proud to be a party of ideas, and we view our intellectual diversity as a sign of strength. Moreover, we are firmly united on the core ideas and principles that define us. Republicans remain committed to tackling our country’s biggest challenges and promoting greater prosperity for all Americans. Originally published on FoxNews.com Sept. 17.
ilies on both sides of the border. That is why your comments last week were particularly concerning. I believe strongly that our continued prosperity depends on a partnership that works collaboratively to address our shared border security challenges, rather than marginalizing the legitimate views of one side. Our partnership cannot advance if we fail to acknowledge the serious issues associated with lax border enforcement along both of our southern borders. Our unique relationship as neighbors who share a nearly 2,000 mile border not only requires a spirit of cooperation, but a willingness to confront problems with direct, candid dialogue. The fact is, cartel violence plagues our international border and jeopardizes the security of citizens on both sides of the border. Furthermore, the number of illegal alien apprehensions in this country has been on the rise for the past few years. While many seek only economic opportunity, some seek to exploit our porous border with criminal intent. I will continue to act as necessary
to uphold my constitutional obligations, and when it comes to the safety and security of Texans, I will not be dissuaded by rhetoric of any kind. This crisis has manifested itself in the faces of scared children undertaking perilous journeys, traveling from Central America across Mexico to reach the United States. The threat posed to these young children, families along the border, and communities across Texas as a result of a porous border is real. That is why I directed the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas’ National Guard to provide additional law enforcement resources in the border region. As the Governor of Texas, I have an obligation to put the safety of our citizens first. Those obeying our laws have nothing to fear from our increased law enforcement presence. In fact, I would like to invite you to visit my state to see firsthand the professionalism of our National Guard soldiers and their law enforcement partners as they work to secure the border. Our challenges today
are partly a consequence of the failure of the Mexican government to secure its southern border from illegal immigration by unaccompanied children and other individuals from Central America, or to deploy adequate resources to control the criminal element in Mexico. Whether along Mexico’s southern border or Texas’, we must ensure our borders are secured in a manner that discourages illicit activities while allowing for legitimate commerce and lawful immigration, and I encourage you to take the necessary steps to do so along your country’s southern border. Our shared border represents a common opportunity to enforce the rule of law and continue a productive dialogue that addresses the evolving realities and challenges of border security. I would be honored to host you in Texas, and am hopeful the United States and Mexico can work as partners to find solutions to these challenges, now and in the future. Sincerely, Rick Perry Governor
John Cornyn
AUSTIN — While the governor and a group of trade-with-Texas promoters were in Japan and China last week, the 13th anniversary of the “9-11” terrorist attacks on the United States was broadly observed. Perry acknowledged the anniversary from afar and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who serves as acting governor when Perry is out of the state, also made a similar, solemn statement on Sept. 11. Perry posted another statement in absentia, calling attention to the fact that some 1,000 National Guard troops, at his request, had taken positions at observation posts along the Texas-Mexico border to deter crossings of the Rio Grande by terrorists and drug traffickers. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto reacted, criticizing the deployment of National Guard to the border as a less-than-neighborly act. Dewhurst responded to President Nieto’s statement, saying, in part: “I find it puzzling and frankly offensive that the government of Mexico chose the 13th anniversary of the most tragic attack on our homeland to call on Texas to throw open our international border to illegal immigration, trafficking in drugs and human lives, and potentially even terrorists who wish to harm America.” Rosalba Ojeda, Mexican consul general in Austin, followed with her own calmative statement, saying: “Mexico has collaborated with the U.S. to ensure that our common border becomes a prosperous and dynamic region to benefit the people that inhabit the area on both sides. Mexico, through the Consulate General of Mexico in Austin, Texas, recognizes the message expressed by the Government of Texas as an invitation to open up a space for coordination and dialogue, which is most
welcomed.” Meanwhile, over the ensuing weekend, the Texas Capitol was being readied for the traditional Diez y Seis de Septiembre Mexican Independence Day celebration, with festivities that draw a multiethnic crowd numbering in the thousands. Staples decries meatless day An editorial concerning “Meatless Monday” by state Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples was published in the Austin American-Statesman on Sept. 8. “Recently,” Staples wrote, “I learned some Texas school districts, such as Dripping Springs ISD, have adopted a policy deemed ‘Meatless Mondays’ for some of their campuses. These actions have me very concerned. “Restricting children’s meal choice to not include meat is irresponsible and has no place in our schools. This activist movement called ‘Meatless Mondays’ is a carefully orchestrated campaign that seeks to eliminate meat from Americans’ diets seven days a week, starting with Mondays. “For those Texans who choose not to eat meat, I say more power to you. If you want to take the personal challenge to go meatless on Mondays, go right ahead. However, we cannot force such an agenda-driven diet on anyone who has not chosen such a diet, especially our school children.” In other news, Staples on Sept. 10 announced the Texas Department of Agriculture will receive $317,600 in federal funding to help growers and handlers of organic agricultural products defray the costs of obtaining organic certification. Grant funds will be available to help producers recover part of the cost of applying for the U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture organic certification and applications are due Oct. 31. Dewhurst speaks on TWIA Lt. Gov. Dewhurst on Sept. 9 spoke at a Senate Business & Commerce Committee hearing with the permission of the chair, Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) has insured obligations that have grown from about 85,000 policies representing $16 billion since January 2003, to more than 270,000 polices representing almost $77 billion currently, Dewhurst said. “Should Texas, God forbid, endure two targeted Category 5 hurricanes in a single year, the impact on the state budget from claims on TWIA’s $77 billion in coverage could be devastating. I encourage the senators to explore ways to carefully move Texas coastal policy holders to commercial insurance carriers over time, thus avoiding a rate shock and reducing the risk of a massive financial tsunami to Texas taxpayers,” Dewhurst added. Sales tax revenue rises State Comptroller Susan Combs on Sept. 10 announced state sales tax revenue in August was $2.57 billion, up 7.5 percent compared to August 2013. Revenue gains, she said, were led by remittances from the oil and natural gas, wholesale trade and retail trade sectors. Also, fiscal year 2014 ended (on Aug. 31) with total collections at $27.27 billion, up 5.5 percent over fiscal year 2013. Combs said the Office of the Comptroller will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts their September local sales tax allocations totaling $627.8 million, up 9.2 percent compared to September 2013.
Gov. Rick Perry this week sent the following letter to Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto following the President’s comments last week regarding Governor Perry’s decision to deploy the Texas National Guard to disrupt criminal activity along the Texas-Mexico border. Dear President Peña Nieto: I read with interest and concern your comments regarding border security on the week of September 11, which called Texas’ increased law enforcement presence on the border “un-
pleasant” and “reprehensible.” As neighbors and economic partners, Mexico and the United States are inextricably bound by shared interests and culture. As friends we might not always agree, but we must have an honest and respectful dialogue about the challenges we share, which is why I write to you today. My time as governor has seen significant changes for both of our nations. Under your leadership, Mexico has undergone remarkable reforms, including measures to increase economic competitiveness and create op-
portunities for hardworking families, such as education reform, fiscal reform and the privatization of its energy industry. All the while, our two countries have continued prosperous trade and cultural relationships. Texas is a national example of job creation in the United States, and our economic climate and strong infrastructure network have allowed us to become the nation’s largest exporting state. As Texas’ economy has grown, commerce between Texas and Mexico has flourished, creating opportunity for fam-
TEXAS
page 4A
TIMES
Perry sends letter to Mexican President Peña Nieto, invites him to Texas
2015
Mission/Sharyland Duchess & Princess Anna Pageants 2015 Mission/Sharyland Duchess Contest 1st Week of October 2014
At The Texas Citrus Fiesta Office 220 E. 9th
Application Deadline: September 25, 2014 Duchess must be 16-19 on or before Jan, 31, 2015 Must reside in these areas or attend these school districts.
www.progresstimes.net
2015 Princess Anna Pageant Saturday, October 11, 2014
2pm at the Mission Community Center
Application Deadline: Friday, October 3, 2014 Must be 6 years old on or before Jan. 31, 2015. Participants from all over the Rio Grande Valley are encouraged to participate. 5 princesses will be selected to be a part of the 2015 Texas Citrus Royal Court. Call Texas Citrus Fiesta For Information About These Events:
(956) 585-9724
1217 N. Conway • Mission, TX (956) 585-4893 MEMBER 2014
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. ©2014 Mission Publishing Company, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the PROGRESS TIMES, P.O. Box 399, Mission Texas 78573.
LETTER GUIDELINES
Letters to the Editor are welcome but must conform to certain guidelines. All letters must be original, dated, signed and bear the complete name, address and phone number of the writer/signer. No photo copied letters will be printed. No letters addressed to others will be printed. Letter content must be relevant to concerns and interests of Mission and the surrounding area. Relevance is determined by the editor. Anonymous cards or letters are neither read nor printed. Letters may be submitted by e-mail to letters@progresstimes.net, but must include the author’s name and daytime phone number.
September 19, 2014
THE 21
from pg 1A
scene, Cantu remembers asking where the school bus was after he spotted the Dr. Pepper truck nearby. Then, he saw people running toward the gravel pit. At the rim of the pit, Cantu looked down and saw the outline of a school bus under about a foot of water. Volunteer firefighters were attempting to pull students out of it. They carried the bodies to the side of the pit and put them in body bags. “You could see and count the bodies that were being placed on the side of the bank,” Cantu said. When Cantu-Del Bosque woke up, she could see light coming in through the windows on the left side of the bus, which was on its side. She didn’t know how to swim, but she made her way over to the one open window, but when she got her hands on it, she was pushed out of the way. Everyone was trying to get out of the single underwater exit. “I was hoping that I could get some air in my hands, so I remember trying to put my hands together and trying to breath air, but I ended up drinking water, obviously,” Cantu-Del Bosque said. “I thought maybe I could have a miracle. I tried it again, and drank water again.” She remembers being
www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com
somewhat calm as she realized she was going to die. She said her prayers, thanked God for her life and surrendered. In that moment, Cantu-Del Bosque was rescued from the water when a neighbor pulled her up by her hair. He had been on the side of the bus reaching for the window, grabbing at whatever he could find. In turn, Cantu-Del Bosque was able to rescue her best friend at the time. Cantu-Del Bosque’s mom was a registered nurse and weeks prior to the accident, she happened to attend a CPR class with her mother. That CPR class saved her best friend’s life. That morning Ochoa arrived at work at around 8 a.m. and the phones lines all were lit up. The first call he answered was from his father, who told him there had been an accident involving a bus. When he arrived at the scene, officers didn’t want to let him in the area, but Ochoa emphasized not only was he a member of the board, but he also was the Alton city attorney. “I said, ‘I’m going to go, and if you feel you have to shoot me, shoot me,’” Ochoa remembered, adding that they let him pass, and as he did, he saw a bus filled with wet students driving away. Cantu already was at the scene and the two got to work trying to get a list of
everyone who had been on the bus. Parents also had arrived at the scene, and Cantu remembers literally having to tackle a couple of mothers who were running and ready to jump into the pit to try to save their children. There was panic as officials tried to sort out who was on the bus, who had been taken to an area hospital and who hadn’t gone to school that day. Eventually, parents were asked to go to the nearby community center and wait for news as the bodies were identified. Cantu-Del Bosque asked to be placed on the bus headed for McAllen Medical because that’s where her mom works. There, her mom had been told her daughter was in an accident in which a bus had run into a ditch. It sounded minor, and she didn’t think much of it. But as students began to arrive, word spread that there were fatalities, Cantu-Del Bosque’s mom described the longest elevator ride of her life as she descended to the emergency room to check on her daughter. The aftermath The football game scheduled the following Friday night was changed to a memorial. More than 10,000 people showed up to mourn and leaders from the community spoke. Valley residents were asked to turn their car
lights on in remembrance, and almost all complied. However, the next week, district leaders decided everyone needed to start moving forward and that week’s game was played as scheduled. At the time, Mission High School had a tradition of releasing balloons as its team was introduced. This week, however, it was decided that a black balloon would be released for each of the 21 students killed in the bus accident. Every five yards, someone stood with a balloon, ready to release it whenever that student’s name was called. Ochoa was the public announcer at the game, and he did the honors. From the press box, he remembers expecting each of the balloons to take off one-by-one with the wind. That’s not what happened, though. Ochoa watched as all of the balloons gathered at the center of the field and floated out together. “I don’t have an explanation,” he said. “I don’t know how. A lot of people noticed it, that they left together.” Cantu remembers the investigations and requests that bombarded the district after the accident. Everyone banded together, he said, from teachers to administrators to counselors to nurses. Media from across the country was calling to ask questions and make requests for informa-
tion. The National Transportation Safety Board came in and started looking through the district’s bus maintenance records. They checked over the bus involved in the accident “from stem to stern,” Cantu said, adding that investigators also went over the personnel record of the bus driver. No wrongdoing was found on behalf of the school district. Ochoa remembered a reenactment of the accident that showed if there had been six more inches of space, the bus wouldn’t have gone over the rim of that caliche pit. In Cantu’s 34 years with MCISD, Sept. 21, 1989, is the one day he wishes he could go back and change, but he doesn’t know how. The district, he said, did everything right. “Everything was according to how it had been for a long time. We’d been doing that same bus route every morning, going to the same places at the same speed and so forth,” Cantu said. “Twenty-five years later, it’s still a very tragic memory. You think about it, and of course, year after year on the anniversary, you watch TV and you see the bus being pulled out on the crane, and you relive that time.” “I remember them coming to ask a question about where should we set up a temporary morgue and thinking, ‘When
page 5A
you go to take your administrative classes to get certified to be an administrator, that’s not one of the things they prepare you for.’” Shortly after the accident, the president of Coca-Cola worldwide came to Mission and met with some of the families, who at the time were heartbroken and numb, Ochoa said. Attorneys soon came to town and things got crazy, said Ochoa, acknowledging that he himself is an attorney. Families took Coca-Cola to court and millions of dollars in settlements were awarded. Expensive houses were built and members of some families began to abuse drugs and alcohol, some died as a result. “A lot of those people were not ready to handle that kind of money, and they wasted it, and kind of feel like they lost their kid and at the end they got nothing,” Ochoa said. “They needed somebody to help them.” It wasn’t the kind of help the board could provide, Ochoa said, and its members felt inadequate when trying to comfort families. Choking up, Ochoa said he and others tried to do the right thing. “You’re on the school board and people give you the most important thing in their life, and they put them in your charge,” Ochoa said.
See AFTER Pg. 7A
September 19, 2014
Events Calendar
Backyard steward workshops return
McALLEN – Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center is again offering its “Backyard Habitat Steward” hands-on workshop on Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. to Noon for six weeks starting Oct. 14. Each week, experienced professional guests will provide their expertise. On Oct. 14, it begins with an overview of the ecosystem, and a fieldwalk into the forest to see the habitat. Dr. John Goolsby will discuss native vs. invasive species, and non-chemical alternatives to backyard pests. On Oct. 21, after a native tree identification workshop session, Ed Kuprel, Edinburg
page 6A
city forester will provide hands-on tree planting and maintenance advice. Native plant nurseryman Mike Heep will pay a visit on Oct. 28 to discuss soil preparation and native shrubs for butterfly gardening. Nov. 4, professional birder Tiffany Kersten will teach how to identify local backyard birds and what to plant to create bird habitat followed by a presentation on how to identify backyard butterflies. Delilah Martinez will provide insights on Nov. 11 about water conservation, composting and recycling,
See STEWARD Pg. 7A
Adriana Lysa Alcocer and Christopher John Diaz
Alcocer-Diaz nuptials set Eduardo and Diana Alcocer of Mission announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Adriana Lysa, to Christopher John Diaz. He is the son of Cirstobal and Argentina Diaz of Haverstraw, New York. The couple resides in Briarwood, New York. Rev. Roy Snipes, OMI, will officiate over the nuptial mass on Saturday, Oct. 11, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in
Mission. The bride-to-be is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology. The prospective groom attended Pace University in Pleasantville, New York, where he received a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He also received a bachelor’s degree in game design from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.
Sep tember 19 & 20 – Local naturalist and watercolor artist, Juanita Gibson will give a presentation on hummingbirds at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Edinburg World Birding Center, 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. A reservation is required as seating is limited. The program is free. For more information, call 381-9922 or visit www.edinburgwbc.org. Volunteer training for the Native Plant Nursery will be held on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers can learn as they serve while going through the steps of the methods used to maintain the plants in the Native Plant Nursery. Training will include discussing soil mixtures used to increase plant survival, maintaining the waterlines/sprinkler system, the steps to rescuing plants and maintaining them in the nursery, as well as transplanting plants from one area to another. Volunteer training days are for those willing to commit to volunteer 15 or more hours during the fall and winter season. Sep tember 20 – Robert Vanderveer, master gardener, will present a workshop on “Landscaping with Natives,” at 10 a.m. at the Fronter Audubon, 1101 S. Texas Blvd. in Weslaco. Cost is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Call 968-3275 to reserve a space or for more information. Sep tember 23 – The Coalition of Independent Voters at South Texas College hosts the Hidalgo County Sheriff Sit-Down with all four candidates in the upcoming election. The discussion takes place in the STC Cooper Center at the Pecan Campus in McAllen from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sep tember 23 – The annual Empty Bowls luncheon and silent auction, benefitting the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, runs from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Pharr Events Center, 3000 N. Cage. Tickets are $25 per person and online registration is available until Sept. 22 at www.foodbankrgv.com. Valley restaurants showcase their menus for guests to sample a wide array of cuisines. Donations are still being accepted for auction items and sponsorships are available. Call Philip Farias at 904-4513 or via email at pfarias@foodbankrgv.com to sign up. Sep tember 24 – Art Talk begins at 10 a.m. at the Pharr Memorial Library, 121 E. Cherokee. Program presenter is Dr. Tom Ball discussing “Computer-Generated Art.” There is no admission charge, and the public is invited. Call Dr. Keith Michal at 648-2036 for more information. Sep tember 25 – Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center hosts Buckets of Fun – Fun with Sticks! at 10 a.m. for preschool children and their parents. The program is $3 for adults and $2 for kids and seniors. Call 681-3370 for more information or visit www.quintamazatlan.com. They are located at 600 Sunset in McAllen. Sep tember 26 - The Mission High School Class of 1994 will be having their annual get-together during the Sept. 26 football game against McHi at Mission’s home stadium. Kick-off is at 7:30 pm. Classmates will gather for dinner at Buffalo Wings and Rings on South Shary Rd. after the game. Classmates should ask for the “Class of 1994” section for game tickets to be assigned to the correct area and for seating at the restaurant. For more information, contact Angie Jimenez at 533-5595 at angiem1994@yahoo.com. Sep tember 27 – The Sharyland Pioneer High School Diamond Belles Booster Club is holding a garage sale from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 1219 N. Glasscock. Items range from basic household items, clothes and children’s games to office equipment. Sep tember 27 – The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) annual benefit fundraiser, “Collage 2014: Legacy of Generosity” will be held from 6 p.m. to midnight at the museum, 1900 Nolana in McAllen. Tickets are $150 for IMAS members and $175 for nonmembers for the cocktail hour, dinner, valet parking and Aprés Féte. Tickets to the Aprés Féte only, the official Collage after party, are $35 per person and $60 per couple which includes cocktails, valet parking and heavy appetizers. Live music and museum exhibits round out the evening’s festivities. For tickets or more information, call IMAS at 682-0123. To see an extended Events Calendar for the coming weeks, go to www.progresstimes.net.
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.
www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com
September 19, 2014
STC library celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
South Texas College’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month festivities officially kicked off on Tuesday, Sept. 23, and will continue through mid-October with several campus-wide activities, including the “Pláticas Sol de Aztlán Lecture Series” that will feature several award-winning authors. The STC Library events during the month-long Hispanic Heritage celebration are free and open to the pub-
STEWARD
from pg 6A
and participants will look at the xeriscape practices on display in Quinta’s cactus garden. Finally, on Nov. 18, Allen Williams, native landscape designer, will provide personal advice to each participant that brings a photo of their yard to be landscaped. Advance registration is required and $60 covers all materials. For more information, contact Carol Goolsby at 681-3370.
lic. Historian and poet Teresa Palomo Acosta will visit STC from Sept. 22 to 24. She is a seminal figure in collecting and uncovering oral histories and preserving the stories of Mexican-Americans across Texas. Palomo Acosta will present her lecture, “Preserving Historias Familiares: An Oral History Workshop” on Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. at STC’s Starr County Campus in Rio
AWARDS
585-2304. Last year’s award recipients were Beatriz Tijerina, First Lady of Mission; Ben Olivarez, Mr. Mission; Heather Marks, Woman of the Year, and Richard Hernandez, Man of the Year. The Progress Times oversees the selection process for the annual awards and makes the awards presentations. The awards will be
Grande City, on Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. at the college’s Pecan Campus Library in McAllen, and conclude on Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. at the Mid-Valley Campus Library in Weslaco. The following week, on Sept. 30 at 6 p.m., Rio Grande Valley distinguished poets, Emmy Perez, Lina Suarez, Erika Garza and Isaac Chavarria will read at the STC Pecan Campus library’s
See STC Pg. 8A from pg 1A
presented by the Progress Times at the Mission Chamber of Commerce banquet on Thursday, Oct. 16 at Mario’s Banquet & Conference Center in Mission. Tickets for the chamber banquet may be purchased at the Mission Chamber of Commerce, located at 202 W. Tom Landry, phone 5852727.
DOGS
page 7A from pg 1A
David Guerra, an animal control officer, said a dogs, particularly male dogs, are much calmer and sleep more after they’re neutered, making ranchers reluctant to follow through with the procedure. Barrera only recently had his own dog neutered through a partnership the city has with the RGV Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic. Following up on Rusty, the city chose a Beagle mix
named Shorty for their second featured pet. Shorty had been rescued by someone who took the dog to the vet to get checked out after he was hit by a car. Garza said the city would send the dogs to Palm Valley Animal Shelter, so they’d have a longer chance at getting adopted. On average, Barrera said, the city brings in about seven dogs a day. He didn’t have figures on how many
are adopted out, euthanized or sent to Palm Valley’s shelter for a fee. He said the law requires the city keep the dog 72 hours in case its owner comes to claim it, but the city keeps dogs five days. “But if the dog is pretty and in good shape, we’ll give him more time,” Guerra said, and Barrera added some dogs have been kept up to four months.
“I just felt we let them down. I don’t know that there’s anything we could have done, but we let those people down. “I’ve carried that with me. I think about those kids every year.” It’s the thought of those 21 lives cut short that was the driving force for Cantu-Del Bosque to make sure she did something with her life. Months after the accident, she checked into Charter Palms Behavioral Health
System for a month and Coca-Cola footed the bill. She missed a month of her senior year, but she believes it was worth it. There, counselors had her talk about the accident over and over again until she could tell the story without crying. That’s why, she thinks, she’s able to talk about it today. Cantu-Del Bosque eventually went to college and earned a law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston. She’s married with two sons, aged
15 and 9. Surviving the accident was her second chance at life, and Cantu-Del Bosque said she was determined not to waste it. “Those children never got a chance to be married, they never got a chance to have children, to get an education, to go to college, to have a career, so I wanted to do those things, obviously for myself, but for them as well because I didn’t want it to be in vain,” she said.
AFTER
from pg 5A
page 8A
www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com
More than $15.5 million worth of marijuana seized over past 2 weeks
Agents from the Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector seized nearly 19,400 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated value of more than $15.5 million and arrested thousands of people suspected of being in the country illegally in a two-week span from Aug. 28 –Sept. 11. One of the largest marijuana busts occurred in La Casita when agents found more than 1,100 pounds hidden in an underground bunker Aug. 30. Additionally, agents arrested nearly 6,800 people suspected of being in the country illegally, nearly 4,300 of those are from countries other than Mexico. Approximately 19 have prior convictions for sex-related offenses, more than half of those involve children. In addition, three illegal immigrants with active arrest warrants were apprehended by agents. One of the warrants was for child pornography
charges out of Houston, another for child sexual abuse in Washington, D.C., and the third was on child sexual assault charges out of Plano, Texas. The arrested individuals were extradited to the locations with jurisdiction over their cases. From Oct. 1, 2013, to Sept. 11, RGV Sector apprehended nearly 250,000 people who entered the country illegally – a 71 percent increase when compared to the same time period for fiscal year 2013. That number includes nearly 190,000 people from countries other than Mexico, an increase of nearly 110 percent. The Rio Grande Valley Sector is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. To report suspicious activity, call the sector’s toll-free telephone number at 800-863-9382.
September 19, 2014
Hidalgo man sentenced for exporting grenade launcher barrels Erik Perez-Bazan, 27, has been sentenced for his involvement in unlawfully exporting grenade launcher barrels and other munitions to Mexico, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson along with Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala, of Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio. Perez-Bazan, of Hidalgo, entered a guilty plea Aug. 28, 2013, to conspiring to export items on the U.S. Munitions List without permission or authorization. U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced Perez-Bazan this week to 75 months of imprisonment to be immediately followed by a three-year-term of supervised release. “This sentencing sends a clear message to individuals who purchase, transport or facilitate the attempted smuggling of weapons, ammunition and other related items. Preventing these items from being acquired from or delivered to the wrong hands
is a top priority for HSI,” Ayala said. “We will continue working with our domestic and international law enforcement partners in this effort.” Perez-Bazan was convicted of engaging in a conspiracy to illegally export munitions to Mexico From December 2012 through June 2013. However, as part of his plea, he admitted he had been doing so for approximately five or six years. Law enforcement discovered Perez-Bazan was acquiring M203 40 mm grenade launcher barrels which are designated as defense articles on the U.S. Munitions List for export into Mexico. Perez-Bazan admitted he had recruited other individuals to acquire, receive and export firearms from the U.S. into Mexico without an export license or permission to do so. In one specific instance, Perez-Bazan recruited Jose Gonzalez-Salinas, 41, of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, to receive five M203
barrels so they could then be collected and unlawfully exported into Mexico in December 2012. Later that month, Perez-Bazan assisted in acquiring money orders to purchase three additional M203 barrels however Perez-Bazan and his co-conspirators became aware of federal investigators and fled to Mexico. Perez-Bazan was later taken into custody when he entered the Pharr Port of En-
try and was questioned by HSI agents. Gonzalez-Salinas also pleaded guilty in a separate, but related, case and is set for sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa on Oct. 21. Perez-Bazan has been on detained without bond pending since the time of his arrest due to nature of the offense and the fact that he had previously fled to Mexico.
poetry event, “Voices of the Border.” Perez is the author of Solstice and a new poetry manuscript “With the River on our Face.” The event will be followed by pan dulce and a book signing. On Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room, author Alfonso Gonzales will give a presentation and receive the Américo Paredes Book Award for his work titled, “Reform Without Justice: Latino Migrant Politics and the Home-
land Security State.” To conclude the lecture series, internationally renowned journalist and author Sonia Nazario will give a presentation at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room on Oct. 18 at 12 p.m. Her book, “Enrique’s Journey: The True Story of a Boy Determined to Reunite with His Mother” has won over a dozen awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, and was named a national best seller.
STC
from pg 7A
NOW PROVIDING STATE INSPECTIONS
COUPON
10 Off
$
COUPON
A/C OR BRAkE $ SERVICE
w/coupon Exp. 10-31-14
3 Off
COUPON
OIl CHANGE WITH
FREE
15-POINT INSPECTION
w/coupon Exp. 10-31-14
Bring your TLC Pharmacy Bottle and Receive
5 Off
$
ANy SERVICE
w/coupon Exp. 10-31-14
September 19, 2014
obituaries
www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com
Noemi Garza Flores REMOLINO - Noemi Garza Flores, 57, passed away on Friday, Sept. 12, 2014 at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Mrs. Flores was born on Jan. 27, 1957, to Arturo and Severina Corona Garza in Roma. She graduated from Roma High School in 1975 and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A & I University in Kingsville. She was a retired teacher of 33 years, having taught in Roma, La Joya, Hidalgo and Mission School Districts. Survivors include her husband of 23 years, Arturo Flores Jr., and brother, Martin Garza. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Dr. Jesus Roel Garza and Arturo Garza Jr. A funeral mass was held on Sept. 15 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission. Rockson Omar Flores MISSION - Baby Rockson Omar Flores, 17 days
old, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. He is survived by his parents, Luke Flores and Ashley Beretta Sierra; maternal grandparents, Armando and Melissa Sierra; and paternal grandparents, Javier Omar and Irma Flores. A funeral mass was held on Sept. 18 at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Mission. Interment followed at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Mission. Zulema G. Flores MISSION - Zulema G. Flores, 92, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, at Comfort House in McAllen. Mrs. Flores was born on March 25, 1922, in Fronton to Natividad and Maria Guerra. She was a member of Our Lady of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Mission. Survivors include her children, Lupita Ramirez, Domingo Flores, Yolanda Rivas, Carlos Flores, Ricardo Flores and Ruben Flores; and 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Bernardo Cavazos MISSION - Bernardo Cavazos, 71, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Jose E. Deleon MISSION – A funeral service for Jose E. Deleon was held on Monday, Sept. 15, 2014, at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission. Zenaida Delgado ALTON – A funeral mass for Zenaida Delgado was held on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Lord and I Cemetery in Palmview. Juan Diaz MISSION - Juan Diaz, 71, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, at Edinburg Regional Medical Center. Gloria Dillard MISSION – A funeral mass for Gloria Dillard was
held on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at San Jose Cemetery in Mission. Florentino Gomez MISSION - Florentino Gomez, 68, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, in McAllen. Virgil Wilson Mortuary in Mission handled the arrangements. Iker Gonzalez MISSION - Iker Gonzalez, age 2, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center. Juventino Gonzalez Sr. ABRAM – A funeral mass for Juventino Gonzalez Sr. was held on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Abram. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen. Nora Neyda Garcia Gonzalez MISSION - Nora Neyda Garcia Gonzalez, 59, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 14,
Notices
She was preceded in death by her husband, Domingo Flores. The funeral mass was held on Sept. 17 at Our Lady of Holy Rosary. Interment followed at Valley Memorial Gardens on North Taylor Road in Mission. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation be made to Comfort House, 617 Dallas Ave., McAllen, TX 78501. Jose Garza MISSION - Jose “Joe” Garza, 84, passed away Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. He was born on Sept. 19, 1929, in Mission. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Maria Carmen Garza; daughters, Maria Alma Warner and Lucy Mares; siblings, Francis Flournoy and Alonzo Garza; and three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Santos and Teodora Garza; siblings, Mario Garza, Gabriel Garza, Lupe Garza, Anita Pena and Aurora Pena; and a grandson, Christian Mares. A funeral mass was held on Sept. 17 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed
2014, in Mission. A funeral service was held on Sept. 17 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at San Jose Cemetery in Mission. Jesus Angel Reyna MISSION - Jesus Angel “Jesse” Reyna, 46, passed away on Friday, Sept. 12, 2014 at his home in Mission. A memorial service was held on Sept. 17 at Virgil Wilson Mortuary in Mission. Juan Vasquez MISSION – A funeral service for Juan Vasquez was held on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission. Burial followed at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission. Scarlett Vasquez MISSION – A funeral service for Scarlett Vasquez was held on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission. Burial followed at Garden of Angels Cemetery in Abram.
at San Jose Catholic Cemetery in Mission. Rafael Reyna ALTON - Rafael Reyna, 86, passed away on Friday, Sept. 12, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center. He was born on Aug. 28, 1928, to Demetrio Reyna and Rafaela Rodriguez in Dr. Coss, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Survivors include his wife, Lydia Reyna; children, Rafael Reyna, Jr., Rosa Perez, Mario Reyna, Minerva Reyna, Hector Reyna, Ricardo Reyna, Jorge Reyna and Maria Mungia; and 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The funeral mass was held on Sept. 15 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Mission. Interment followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission. Virgil Wilson Mortuary in Mission handled the arrangements. Elia Moya Rivera Elia Moya Rivera, 76, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Mission. She was born in Nordeim to Enrique Moya Sr. and Margarita Moya on July 20, 1938. Survivors include her husband, Diego Rivera Sr.; sons, Diego Rivera Jr., Enrique Rivera and David Rivera; daughter, Jessica Rivera; brothers, Enrique Moya Jr. and Ramiro Moya; and six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Imelda Moya.
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.
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
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
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
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
that I am announcing I will be stepping aside as the Commissioner of Agriculture within the next two months to ensure a smooth transition. “I want to thank the people of Texas, my tremendously talented staff, the Texas leadership, and current and former members of the Legislature for giving me and supporting me in the best job in Texas. Together, we have expanded our domestic ability to sustain our nation’s food and fiber needs, expanded markets for our food and fiber producers, enhanced consumer protection, promoted healthy living and independence, created a platform for business and job expansion, and reduced the cost of doing so by employing cutting-edge efficiency measures that have returned more than $50 million to Texas taxpayers. “I am pleased the Texas Department of Agriculture will be in good hands for the time between my departure and when a new commissioner takes office. Chief of Staff Shannon Rusing and Deputy Commissioner Drew DeBerry, who by statute holds all the authorities of the commissioner, will continue in their roles during this transition time.
NOW TAKING CCD REGISTRATIONS THE SPIRIT OF LA LOMITA LIVES HERE AT
Mission • 580-4551
ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH 1119 Francisco • 585-2701
MISSION THE FATHERS: †FR. JIM, FR. PHILION & FR. ROY (†MAGNA, †SENTINEL, †MAGNO, †AUGIE, †DIDYMUS, †CHUNkLY, VALENTINE, NEWLY, BENDITO & FRITZ)
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
AUSTIN –Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples announced this week he will be stepping aside after a lengthy tenure serving the State of Texas as an elected official. Staples released the following statement about his decision: “Serving the people of Texas in elected office for more than twenty years has been an indescribable honor. From working at the local level as a city council member in my hometown of Palestine to serving in both the House and Senate of the Texas Legislature to now serving statewide as the elected Agriculture Commissioner, one element has been consistently clear to me: God has blessed Texas beyond description. “These last few years of working with all Texans as your Commissioner of Agriculture on far ranging policy areas such as rural economic growth and urban water availability, job creation, national security, home and landowner rights, and alongside the farmers and ranchers of Texas who provide the food and fiber upon which we all rely has reinforced my confidence in the future of our grand state. “With every season comes change, and it is with much thought and consideration
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH
ROAD TO SALVATION ASSEMBLY OF GOD 239 W. 2nd St. - La Joya 1312 Oblate • 585-3261
GRACIA DIVINA MINISTRY 4122 N. Conway • 584-3112
Staples to step down after 20 years of service
THE SPIRIT THAT CONQUERS SIN AND DEATH! CELEBRATE LIFE & LOVE WITH US
NORTH PALMVIEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH 7612 W. 6 Mile Ln. Mission • 735-2569
FREEDOM LIFE CHURCH 2214 W. Griffin Pkwy. • 519-7000 Mission
page 9A
IMPLEMENT COMPANY, INC. MISSION 585-1618
PADRES OBLATOS
THE MISSIONARY CATECHIST OF THE POOR: SR. LUPITA THE SISTERS OF ST. DOROTHY: SR. CINDY, SR. COLLEEN DAUGHTERS OF MARY MOTHER OF MERCY: SR. ELIZABETH, SR. BIBIANA & SR. MADONNA †DEACON AYALA, DEACON CASTANEDA
THERE’ S MORE TO IT THAN WE’ LL EVER FIGURE OUT, BUT FOR SURE, GOD IS ALWAYS CALLING US TO GROW BIG-HEARTED, GENEROUS, AND COMPASSIONATE. BE CAREFUL WITH ENVY, IT CAN MOVE YOU IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND EAT YOU ALIVE!
“Texas Friendly” spoken at all masses (and confessions). Saturday (English) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4:00 P.M. Saturday (Spanish) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7:00 P.M. Sunday (Spanish) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7:30 A.M. Sunday (English) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9:00 A.M. Sunday (English) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10:30 A.M. Sunday (Tex-Mex) Mariachi Mass . . . .(Noon)12:30 P.M. Sunday (Tex-Mex) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5:30 P.M. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday (Tex-Mex)6:55 A.M. Thursday (Tex-Mex) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7:00 P.M.
CONFESSIONS
Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00 P.M. Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3:00 P.M.
620 DUNLAP, MISSION, TX • 585-2623 ONE BLOCK WEST OF CONWAY ON MAGNA DRIVE (6TH ST.)
www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com
page 10A
MCISD
September 19, 2014
from pg 1A
poured and walls are beginning to go up for the library building and classroom building C. The contractor was readying to pour the foundation for Building A, which will include administration and dining areas, when over seven inches of rain pounded the Mission area over the weekend, Vela said. Much of the site work is done, including infrastructure for drainage, electrical and sewer. The outline of the parking and driveways is also visible. As soon as the site dries out, the contractor will proceed to pour concrete for Building A, and then build the foundations for the other wings of the buildings. “It’s actually progressing pretty brisk, notwithstanding the recent pelting that we got with rain,” said Vela. “The contractor E-Con has progressed fairly well. Actually, I’m impressed that I’m seeing the 3-dimensional at this point.” The construction contract was awarded for $13.6 million, plus another $1.2 million for soft costs such as
LEO
board. Filomena Leo, his wife, said the entire family was humbled Leo was being recognized for his wok. And the fact the award is named after Gov. Richards, a personal friend of Billy Leo’s, is an added honor, Filomena Leo said. “The entire family grew up believing in the rights of the underserved and the role that government has in helping that population,” Filomena Leo said. “This is
engineering and architectural fees, utility work, testing and landscaping. The school board originally budgeted a total cost of $13.4 million for the project, including soft costs. Verley said the final cost would likely be less than the $14.8 million total, as a certain amount is included in the contract for contingencies. Why Mission Collegiate High School? “Mission Collegiate High School is following the true early college high school model in the state that is designed to help more of the middle ground…students who are from an economically-challenged background to graduate with as many college hours as they can. In some cases, they can actually graduate with an associates degree, or up to 60 college credits,” Verley said. After their sophomore year, the students are taking primarily college-level courses. Verley explained that a campus like this with smaller class sizes allows for smaller learning communities. For example, the freshman class is only 125 students, which is much smaller than the regular high school. from pg 1A
the way the Leo family has always operated–in service to others.” Valley legislators also will be recognized at the event, as will both a male and female Democrat of the Year. District attorney-elect Ricardo Rodriguez will be honored with the Hidalgo County Rising Star Award. The gubernatorial debate also will be live-streamed during the event. Tickets are still available for $25.
CONSTABLE’S SALE The State of Texas County of Hidalgo Notice is Hereby Given that by virtue of a certain Writ of Execution issued out of the honorable JUSTICE COURT OF PCT. 2 PL. 1 OF DALLAS COUNTY TEXAS, on the 28TH of JULY 2014, for the sum of $1,623.28 with interest thereon at the rate of 5% per annum from the 24th of OCTOBER 2012 and cost of suit, under a judgment in favor of SOCA FUNDING LLC AS ASSIGNEE OF STEPHANIE MATLOCK DBA EMPOWER BOOKING FIRM in a certain cause in said court, No. JS1200283D and styled SOCA FUNDING LLC AS ASSIGNEE OF STEPHANIE MATLOCK DBA EMPOWER BOOKING FIRM Vs. GRAHAM, JOHN KEVIN And placed in my hands for service for service on 11TH of AUGUST 2014, I, Lazaro Gallardo Jr., as Constable Pct.3 Hidalgo County, Texas, did on the 11TH of AUGUST 2014, levy on certain real estate in Hidalgo County, Texas, described as follows, to-wit LOTS TWENTY- FOUR (24) AND TWENTY-FIVE (25), RIVER OAKS ESTATES AN ADDITION TO CITY OF MISSION, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, AS PER AMENDED MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 31, PAGE 106, MAP RECORDS, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS. That being the same property conveyed to John Kevin Graham by Warranty Deed with Vendor’s Lien dated November 22, 2005 in File No. 2005-1551388 in the Official Records of Real Property of Hidalgo County, Texas. GRAHAM, JOHN KEVIN and that on the first Tuesday in OCTOBER 2014, the same being the 7TH day of said month, at the court house door of Hidalgo County, in the City of Edinburg, Texas, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (sale starts at 10: a.m.) by virtue of said levy and said writ of execution, I will sell said above described real estate at public venue for cash, to the highest bidder, as the property of said GRAHAM, JOHN KEVIN and in compliance with the law, I give this notice by publication, in the English language, once a week for three consecutive weeks immediately proceeding said day of sale, in THE PROGRESS TIMES a newspaper published in Hidalgo County. Witness my hand, this 21ST Lazaro Gallardo, Jr. CONSTABLE PCT.3 Hidalgo County, Texas
day of AUGUST 2014 By: _________________ Deputy Ruben Salinas Jr.
COLLISION MASTERS
2510 W. EXPRESSWAY 83 * MISSION, TX 78572 (956) 519-8414
SECOND NOTICE
You are hereby notified that pursuant to state or city ordinace we are in possession of the described vehicles. Please reclaim the vehicles by paying charges which continue to accrue and produce satisfactory evidence of ownership. If the vehicles are not reclaimed, we will take necessary steps to obtain ownership under appropriate provision as per Texas law. Transportation Code Chapter 685 provides that an owner whose vehicles have been moved and placed in storage without consent may challenge the legality of the two by filing a written complaint with a magistrate or justice of the peace having jurisdiction before the 14th day after the vehicle was removed and placed in storage excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Unresolved complaints concerning tow trucks and vehicle storage facilities may be addressed to: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation P.O. Box 12157, Austin, Texas 78711 (512) 463-6599 List of vehicles area as follows: Year & Make & Model 1990 Honda Accord 1988 GMC Sierra 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe Gray Chevrolet Silverado 2001 Chevrolet Astro 1993 Mazda 626 Green Chevrolet Suburban 1984 Chevrolet Pickup Utility Trailer
VIN# Plates JHMCB7559LC133877 (MX)XFV7932 1GTDC14KDJZ526393 1GNEC13T6YJ156937 1GCCC14HOES191005 1GCDM19WX1B137875 1YVGE22A0P5242117 1GDEC1C16K3NJ726525 1GCEK14H6DJ134971 7WH4139
Total storage charges cannot be computed until vehicles are claimed. Storage charges will accrue daily until vehicle is released. Vehicles available for release 24 hours per day within 1 hour notice, picture ID and proof of ownership. If you have no further interest in this vehicle, please send a properly executed title assigned to the storage facility.
www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com
September 19, 2014
VIRUS
bitten by a mosquito infected with the virus can be avoided by practicing preventive methods.” A statewide campaign, called Fight the Bite, encourages residents to protect themselves from the West Nile virus by following these four steps: Stay indoors at dusk and
from pg 1A
dawn. This is the time of day that mosquitoes are most active. Dress in long sleeves/ pants, loose and light-colored clothing when outdoors. Defend yourself from mosquitoes by using an insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin or oil of
lemon eucalyptus. Drain standing water in your yard and neighborhood. Also make sure that flower pots, water dishes, bird baths and wading pools are properly drained so they are not breeding grounds for mosquitoes. “Alerts have been sent out to schools, cities, and hospitals notifying them of the situation,” Olivarez said.
theclassifieds buy • sell • trade • rent • hire
this page is your oyster opening up to a world of opportunity
Submit online:
4 Weeks
In Print & Online
Send us your classified today! forrent
FOR RENT, P.I. condo, 10w off season rates (October, November, December), $100 a day, three day minimum $50 cleaning fee, 956-821-4157.
garagesale
GARAGE SALE: SAT. 9/13. 8am2pm. Mission: 2 1/2 miles & Glasscock. Clothing, furniture, shoes.
lots4sale
WE FINALLY HAVE lots available for mobile homes. 6 RV spots left. 1901 N. Glasscock Rd., office. Must be 55+, 956-585-9829.
miscellaneous
SHARI’S BERRIESORDER Mouthwatering Gifts for Any Occasion! SAVE 20 percent on qualifying gifts over $29! Fresh dipped Berries starting at $ 19.99! Visit www. berries.com/easy or Call 1-888-9191668! DISH TV RETAILER. Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 mos.) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/ month (where available.) SAVE! Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 1-800-3462186.
mobilehome
3BR 1-1/2 BA stays in park C/A $10,500, 55+ park, 1998 park model 8’ x 40’, $6771 or rent $500 a month 956330-0560.
services
NEED A DJ Call Eddie with Unique DJing Production. All Music...Customized to your Preferences! All special events. Web: www. myspace.com/d j_by_eddie Email: d j _ b y _ e d d i e @ y ahoo.com - Eddie 956-219-9072. NEED A MAID? Cleaning and cooking services - bilingual - affordable rates. Call Carolina 956-827-1853 or 956-683-6243.
novena Oracion Al Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo, tu que me aclaras todo, que iluminas todos los caminos para que yo alcance mi ideal, tu que me das el don divino de perdonar y olvidar el mal que me hacen y que en todos los instantes de mi vida estas conmigo, yo quiero en este corto dialogo agradecerte por todo y confirmar una vez mas que nunca quiero separarme de ti por mayor que sea la ilusion material. Deseo estar contigo y todos mis seres queridos en la gracia perpetua. Gracias por tu misericordia para conmigo y los mios. La persona debera rezar esta oracion 3 dias sequidos sin decir el pedido. dentro de tres dias sera alcanzada la gracia por mas deficil que sea. (Publicar en cuanto se recibia la gracia). Agradece gracia alcanzada. T.R.
ONLY $20 up to 15 words
www.progresstimes.net Bring it in: 1217 N Conway
Fax it in: 585-2304
Or Scan This Code With Your Smartphone
PUBLIC NOTICE The City of Alton will hold a public meeting on October 14, 2014 at its office at 509 South Alton Boulevard at 7:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to give an opportunity to become acquainted with the proposed Rural Development project consisting generally of the purchase of a fire rescue truck. Citizens will have the opportunity to comment on such items as the economic and environmental impacts, service area and alternatives to the project.
City of La Joya, Texas Request for Qualifications The City of La Joya, Texas is seeking responses to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from Energy Service Companies to provide a comprehensive energy and operational efficiency program that meets the requirements of the Texas Energy Performance Contracting Requirements per Local Government Code 302. RFQ packets may be secured beginning on Friday, September 19, 2014, at City Hall, or on the City’s website at http://www.cityoflajoya.com. Sealed responses will be received at the office of Mike Alaniz, City Manager, City of La Joya, City Hall, 101 N. Leo Ave. La Joya, TX 78560 until 5:00 PM on Friday, October 3, 2014, at which time and place they will be publicly opened. RFQ responses should be labeled: RFQ - Energy Performance Contracting. The City of La Joya reserves the right to accept or reject any and all responses resulting from this RFQ, as the best interest of the City may require, and to waive any informality in submittals received. The City of La Joya also reserves the right to award the Contract as may be advantageous to the City. City of La Joya, TX Mike Alaniz City Manager
“We are also working hand in hand with the Vector Control Task Force to create an organized plan on handling the issue.” There are two types of West Nile virus; West Nile Fever symptoms include fever, headaches, body aches, skin rash and others. The Donna man died from West Nile neuro-invasive, the most severe form of the vi-
rus. In addition to the symptoms listed for West Nile Fever, the neuro-invasive form of the virus can also include muscle weakness, paralysis, tremors, convulsions, neck stiffness and other symptoms. For more information, visit www.txwestnile.org.
page 11A
ProgressTimes Like Us on Facebook
Constable’s Sale The State of Texas County of Hidalgo Notice is Hereby Given that by virtue of a certain WRIT OF EXECUTION issued out of the honorable JUSTICE COURT OF PCT.4 PL.1, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, on the 29TH of JULY 2014, for the sum of $9,458.17 with interest thereon at the rate of 6% per annum from the 12TH of AUGUST 2011 and cost of suit, under a judgment in favor of SOCA FUNDING LLC AS ASSIGNEE OF AIR PLUS HEATING & COOLING, INC. in a certain cause in said court, No. E11-871 And styled SOCA FUNDING LLC AS ASSIGNEE OF AIR PLUS HEATING & COOLING, INC. VS MELANIE GARCIA & JAVIER GARCIA And placed in my hands for service for service on 6TH of AUGUST 2014, I, Lazaro Gallardo, Jr., as Constable Pct.3 Hidalgo County, Texas, did on the 11TH of AUGUST 2014, levy on certain real estate in Hidalgo County, Texas, described as follows, to-wit LOT 62, SILVERADO WEST SUBDIVISION, AN ADDITION TO THE CITY OF PALMVIEW, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO MAP RECORDED IN VOLUME 26, PAGE 90, MAP RECORDS OF HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, THAT BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO JAVIER GARCIA BY ASSUMPTION WARRANT DEED DATED MAY 26,2009 AND RECORDED FOR RECORD UNDER FILE NO. 2009-2001558 IN THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF REAL PROPERTY OF HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS. LOT THIRTY-EIGHT (38), LOS NOVILLOS SUBDIVISION, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS AS PER MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 49, PAGES 10-14, MAP RECORDS, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS. THAT BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO JAVIER GARCIA & WIFE, MELANIE GARCIA BY WARRANTY DEED WITH VENDORS LIEN DATED SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 FILE NO. 2011-2242669 IN THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF REAL PROPERTY OF HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS., And levied upon as property of . MELANIE GARCIA & JAVIER GARCIA and that on the first Tuesday in OCTOBER 2014, the same being the 7TH day of said month, at the court house door of Hidalgo County, in the City of Edinburg, Texas, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (sale starts at 10: a.m.) by virtue of said levy and said writ of execution, I will sell said above described real estate at public venue for cash, to the highest bidder, as the property of said . MELANIE GARCIA & JAVIER GARCIA and in compliance with the law, I give this notice by publication, in the English language, once a week for three consecutive weeks immediately proceeding said day of sale, in THE PROGRESS TIMES a newspaper published in Hidalgo County. Witness my hand, this 19TH day of AUGUST 2014 Lazaro Gallardo, Jr. Constable Pct.3 Hidalgo County, Texas
By: _______________________ Deputy RUBEN SALINAS JR
page 12A
www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com
September 19, 2014
September 19, 2014
page 1B
Juárez-Lincoln faces Economedes in final non-district contest By Ed Salas Although the triage unit put three players back on the field, the body count continued to mount after La Joya Juárez-Lincoln lost to Mission Veterans Memorial 48-6 on Sept. 12 at a waterlogged Pack Stadium. “That’s the nature of the beast, that’s football,” Juárez-Lincoln head coach Tomás García said. “We’ve been very fortunate the last two years where our injuries were scattered, but this year we were hit in the first three games.” With another three players lost to injury for this week, the Huskies (0-3) prepare to face their last non-district contest on Friday when they host Edinburg Economedes (1-2) at 7:30 p.m. in Week 4 at Pack Stadium in La Joya. “Economedes is big and they’re strong,” García said. “We just got to put our 11 best people on the field. We did a lot of Ironman football this week, where everybody’s going offense and defense for an hour. We just want to put the best players on the field.” After opening the season with a 35-13 win over Brownsville Hanna, the Jaguars have lost their last two games. Economedes was doubled up by McAllen Memorial 69-38 on Sept. 5 and the Jags dropped a one touchdown game to PSJA 21-14 on Sept. 12. While Economedes will try to even their record at .500 against Juárez-Lincoln, the Huskies are just trying to stay healthy and slip in a win before the start of the District 30-6A season next week. “We’re going through a lot of growing pains,” García said. “We have a lot of sophomores and juniors playing. We have good kids, they’re
just inexperienced. Our concern right now is getting healthy.” Among the Huskies’ recent losses are starting running back Obed Fernández, who went down in the Mission Veterans game and will be out of commission for three to four weeks. Fernández rushed for 32 yards on 23 carries. Starting free safety Rey Gutiérrez is another casualty and is out with an ACL injury. On the bright side, wide receiver Anthony Mora returned to the lineup last week against the Patriots.
“That’s the nature of the beast, that’s football”
--Coach Tomás García
Despite the torrential rain, injuries and loss to Mission Veterans last Friday, the Huskies didn’t back down. As a matter of fact, Juárez-Lincoln hasn’t given up in their first three games of the season regardless of what the outcome has been on the scoreboard. “Our kids have a lot of pride,” García said. “That’s one thing that I love since I’ve been at Juárez. Our kids fight until the end, regardless of what the score is. It shows their true character.” The Huskies were led by quarterback Edward García, who completed 7-of-16 passes for 127 yards through the air, including a 28-yard TD pass to tight end Liván Pequeño. The offense punched some holes in the Patriots’ defensive armor that they exploited for a couple of large gains during the game. Juárez-Lincoln was only down 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. However, turnovers pro-
Huskies running back Obed Fernandez is brought down by Veterans Memorial’s Adrian Flores (#43) and Marco Mendiola (#15) during the Patriot’s 48-6 win over Juarez-Lincoln last Friday night. Progress Times photos by Doug Young voked by the rain and the same Patriots defense stopped a few of the home team’s more threatening drives, and the Huskies eventually succumbed 48-6. “For the first time this year, we faced a team that we were pretty even as far as size was concerned,” García said. “The first two games against PSJA Memorial and Rio Hondo, the teams were just huge compared to us. When I looked over to the other side, I said we can play with these guys.”
Watch for Friday night game coverage in our Saturday Edition Online. www.progresstimes.net
On the first play from scrimmage, the Patriots’ Albert Garcia sacks Juarez-Lincoln quarterback Edward Garcia on the way to a Veterans Memorial 48-6 win last Friday night.
www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com
page 2B
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
New look Rattlers
continue winning ways By Luciano Guerra If there’s one thing that the Sharyland High School (SHS) Rattlers football team has excelled at over the years it’s winning. Their 36-1 district record over the past five seasons and their 25-2 overall record under third year head coach Ron Adame is ample proof. With a number of this year’s potential starters and essential back-ups now on the Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks’ roster and with the UIL’s most recent realignment dropping them into what was 4A last year but is now 5A, the 2014 version of the Rattlers have undergone a major makeover since last year. Even so, if their 3-0 record against three 6A opponents thus far
this season is any indicator of things to come, chances are that Adame’s boys will find themselves in familiar territory come season’s end – atop the district standings and expected to go at least three rounds deep into the playoffs. With the Rattlers’ final non-district matchup of the season coming at home tonight against Laredo Alexander, another 6A team, Adame has been preparing his team all week for what he expects to be a tough game. “We’re expecting a huge challenge,” said Adame. “Alexander is a team that likes to throw the ball a lot, very similar to (Laredo) United. They run a different scheme than United. They run a lot of bubble screens, very similar
to what we do. As a matter of fact their head coach, Joel Lopez, learned his offense from Sam Harold – the same individual who shared his offense with us so we’re similar to certain extents.” “They’re going to throw the ball 50 times a game,” added Adame. “They’re probably 75 percent pass and 25 percent run. Defensively they’re a 4-3 based team that can also play in a 3-4 scheme as they played against us last year. That is better suited to defending against the spread offense. They’re doing both by taking out a defensive lineman and bring in an extra outside linebacker when they switch so we’re preparing for both.” With tonight’s matchup against Alexander being
La Joya High 7, Edinburg Vela 59 The La Joya Coyotes dropped to 1-2 in non-district play last Thursday with a 59-7 loss to the Edinburg Vela Sabercats. Turnovers and costly penalties were the Coyotes’ downfall as Coach George Espinoza’s squad dug themselves into a hole that they could not climb out. After Vela scored on their first possession, an Isaiah Calderon return to the Sabercats 2-yard line on the ensuing kickoff went to waste when a missed hand-off between La Joya quarterback Julio Garcia and one of his running backs fell to the ground and was picked up and run back for a 97-yard touchdown by a Vela defender. That play was a sign of things to come as the only points they’d put on the board all night would be a 4-yard touchdown run by Calderon late in the second quarter and the point after by Jorge Munoz. Garcia completed 13 of 29 passes for 122 yards and two interceptions. Justin Leanos ran the ball 13 times for 103 yards, while Joel Casas and Victor DeHoyos caught three passes for 34 yards and two passes for 35 yards, respec-
tively, to lead the Coyotes. Veterans Memorial 48, Juarez-Lincoln 6 The rains came early and often, and so did the touchdowns for Mission Veterans Memorial on a soggy Friday at Pack Stadium en route to a 48-6 victory over La Joya Juárez-Lincoln. The Patriots improved to 2-1 with the triumph over the Huskies who dropped to 0-3 with the loss. Mission Veterans took a slim 7-0 first-quarter lead with 6:41 remaining on an 8-yard TD run by Patriots quarterback Santos Villarreal. Junior John García increased the Patriot lead to 14-0 on a 1-yard TD run with 9:43 left in the second quarter. He followed that up with an 18-yard run a little more than three minutes later to give Mission Veterans a 21-0 lead. The Patriots scored once more on a 14-yard TD pass by Villarreal to go into halftime with a commanding 27-0 advantage. Mission Veterans resumed their scoring clinic in the third quarter when Villarreal and junior wide receiver Bobby Tovar teamed up for a pair of touchdown passes. The Huskies managed to finally get on the board in the same period with a 28-yard
pass from QB Edward García to senior lineman Felipe Otakara for an unlikely score. Mission Veterans wrapped up their scoring feast with an 11-yard TD pass to García with 7:52 left to win their second game of the season. Corpus Christi Ray 37, Sharyland Pioneer 8 After winning the first two games, Sharyland Pioneer High School Diamondbacks finally felt the agony of defeat last Friday night when the Corpus Christi Ray Texans invaded Richard Thompson Stadium and took no prisoners. The Texans jumped out to a 27-0 lead before Pioneer responded with an Alec Garcia 42-yard touchdown pass to Brady Mangseth with 1:38 left in the second quarter. Garcia then connected with Mangseth for the two point conversion making the score 27-8 at the half. The Texans added 10 points in the third quarter while shutting out the Diamondbacks the rest of the way making the final score 37-8 Ray. After having accumulated 393 total yards of offense against Brownsville Pace last week and 411 yards against Hidalgo the week before, Pioneer managed only 80 yards
the final non-district contest for the Rattlers, some might expect Adame to approach the game conservatively in hopes of avoiding injuries to any of his key players. However Adame will be looking to get his offense back on track after an uncharacteristically mediocre performance against Rivera last week, so he is not planning on pulling any punches tonight simply because it’s a non-district game. “We’re not going to play Alexander conservatively in regards to the personnel we’ll be playing,” explained Adame. “We’re looking at this game as the last dress rehearsal before district play starts. We’ll be looking to put together a good performance and bouncing back from our offensive performance against Rivera. Ultimately our goal will be to get the win and head into our district schedule with some momentum.” By scheduling tough non-district opponents
Big 7 Football Week 3 in Review
of total offense against the Texans (68 passing and 12 rushing). With the loss SPHS dropped to 2-1 on the season. Mission High 23, Donna North 16 The Mission Eagles improved their non-district record to 1-2 in a soggy Tom Landry Stadium last Friday night as they handed the Donna North Warriors their third loss of the young season by a score of 23-16. The Mission defense opened the scoring in the first quarter with a fumble recovery in the Donna North end zone. Eagle David Flores then scored the first offensive points of the game when he ran the ball in from three yards out to make the score 13-0, Mission. The Warriors’ only points of the first half came when they recovered a fumble on the ensuing extra point attempt and ran it back for a safety. Mission’s William Arias scored the only points of the second quarter when he broke into the end zone from one yard out. The Warriors did manage to close the gap against Mission by scoring 14 points in the third quarter but it was too little too late as the game was delayed and then ended early in the fourth
See REVIEW Pg. 3B
from bigger schools such as McAllen Memorial, Laredo Alexander, Brownsville Rivera and Alexander, Adame is preparing his team for what is shaping up to be a challenging District 31-5A schedule. “I’ve been saying that our district is going to be tough since the spring,” Adame said. “I saw a report on the news last night about how there are a lot of 6A teams have been beat by 5A teams. So to me this new district is going to be just as tough as the old 30-5A district that we’re coming from.”
September 19, 2014
“Edinburg Vela, for example, is 3-0 right now and you could tell that with their feeder schools and their sub-varsities that they were going to be a force to be reckoned with and it just so happens that we’ll be playing them in our first district game,” added Adame. “I see the district being a dog fight between ourselves, Mission Veterans, Vela, Pioneer, Rio Grande City and even Roma, who you can’t overlook or underestimate because they’re playing very good defense.”
September 19, 2014
www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com
Lady Patriots sweep tenacious Lady Rattlers By Luciano Guerra Last year’s No. 1 ranked 4A volleyball team in the state for 12 weeks in a row had their hands full Tuesday night as they opened their district schedule at home against Sharyland High School (SHS). In the first district volleyball game between the two schools since 2003, the Lady Patriots emerged victorious over first-year head coach Raul Castillo and the Lady Rattlers in straight sets: 25-19, 25-20 and 25-14. The opening of Sharyland Pioneer High School and the University Interscholastic League’s most recent realignment has resulted in SHS and Veterans Memorial High School (VMHS) being members of the same district for the first time since the 2002 and 2003 seasons. In 2002 the teams split their two district games ,while in 2003 the Lady Patriots swept both games. Knowing her girls had just survived a stiff challenge by a surprisingly tenacious Lady Rattlers team Tuesday night, Coach Diana Lerma expressed how impressed she was by their level of play. “I can honestly say that they’ve shown tremendous improvement from the time that I first saw them here at the Mission tournament,” Lerma said. “All the preparation that we’ve done by going to all the out of town tournaments helped us have that winning edge tonight. I know that we have tradition here and that our expectations are high but the first two games
especially tonight were too close for comfort….We need to work a little harder on putting the ball away a lot sooner.” Leading the way statistically for the Lady Patriots were juniors Gabby Lerma (23 kills, six assists, one ace and 21 digs), Daisy Reyna (15 kills, three digs and two blocks) and Valeria Osorio (19 digs), and sophomore Darian “D.D.” Ibarra (nine kills, 28 assists, one ace and 21 digs). As a freshman starter last year D.D. Ibarra contributed greatly to the unprecedented success the 2013 Lady Patriots achieved as they accumulated a 42-1 record, advanced to the regional semifinal (Sweet 16) round of the playoffs and were ranked as high as No. 11 in the nation. Shortly after Tuesday night’s hard-fought battle, Ibarra expressed what having the Lady Rattlers as a district rival means to her. “I know Maddie (Lady Rattlers’ Maddie Garza) personally because she was on our club team so I knew that they were going to be really tough,” shared Ibarra. “In the second game when we were down 16-11 our team came together much like a family comes together when facing adversity and we pushed forward and we won.” Fellow Lady Patriot Gabby Lerma expressed similar sentiments about the Lady Rattlers. “I’m glad that we get to play the Lady Rattlers because they’re always a playoff team as well so
quarter due to heavy rain and lightning in the Mission area. Sharyland High 28, Brownsville Rivera 7 The Sharyland Rattlers continued their winning ways last Friday night as they improved to 3-0 by handing Brownsville Rivera (0-3) a 28-7 loss. The Rattlers’ points were all scored by their special teams and defensive unit with two punt returns for touchdowns (Sean Landez, 70 yards and Manny Campos, 68 yards), a safety (Rudy Tornero), an interception return (Landez, 11 yards), two Abraham Chan field goals (45 and 29 yards) and two Chan extra points.
La Joya Palmview 9, Rio Grande City 14 The Palmview Lobos (21) were looking to open their season at 3-0 for the first time in school history but fell to the Rio Grande City Rattlers (1-2) by a score of 14-9. Six costly turnovers were too much for the Lobos’ offense to overcome as the Rattlers’ opportunistic defense kept Palmview out of the end zone in all but one of their possessions – that one exception coming after a Rattler fumble on their own 5-yard line. Palmview later added a safety for their only other score of the game.
REVIEW
from pg 2B
they’re bringing some stiff competition into our district. I’m sure that having to play them twice will make us stronger for the playoffs. I’m just glad that we won tonight.” So far this season VMHS has accumulated a 21-6 overall record, with only one of those losses coming against a Valley team (Los Fresnos). The other five losses coming in tournaments across the state to teams such as state and nationally ranked South Lake Carrol and other highly rated teams such as Round Rock Cedar Ridge and Lucas Lovejoy. While the loss did drop the Lady Rattlers to 0-2 in district play and 15-18 overall, their coach was pleased with the way his girls responded to the challenge of going up
against the No. 1 team in the Valley. “We did well defensively,” said Castillo. “After losing to [Edinburg] Vela we came back and we actually played well defensively tonight which helped us. Offensively, we were strong. The girls were swinging. They were not afraid and they adjusted well to the setter. You could see it on the court that they were swinging away.” “My girls knew that this was a district match and that Mission Vets is not a team to toy around with and that they’re not going to give them anything,” added Castillo. “Just as I told them before the game, ‘This team is just relentless. They don’t give anyone a break and they’re not going to give Sharyland a break.’”
page 3B
Veterans Memorial’s Gabby Lerma hits a kill shot between the outstretched arms of Sharyland’s Tehya Rassman. Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra
page 4B
www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com
September 19, 2014