October 16, 2015 - Progress Times Issue

Friday, October 16, 2015

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THE RISE AND FALL OF STUDENT ENROLLMENT

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By Lea Victoria Juarez ith the exception of Shimotsu Elementary, Sharyland ISD’s student population is down at the elementary campuses in comparison to last year – a drop that could have an impact on the budget.

Director of Finance Jaime Ortega presented the information at the Board of Operations and Finance Committee meeting on Sept.

21. During the same week in 2014, enrollment was at 10, 280, but there was a 222-student drop this year for the closed enrollment

district.

But school districts are funded on average daily attendance, not enrollment.

Even though Sharyland ISD’s total population is lower, the average daily attendance is higher at about 98.16 percent. Sharyland had a historical low ADA at 96.8 percent last year, according to Ortega.

“If our ADA goes down, it could have an impact on our budget,” Ortega said.

“Let’s say were we to end up with 100-less students, we could possibly be down a half million dollars.”

ADA generates a certain dollar amount, but vari-

ous groups of students are weighted differently. For example, special education students earn the district a different amount than career and technology students, Ortega said.

“It’s still early, but we’re still in the gathering information process,” the director of finance said. “We’re still trying to figure out where did we lose students, what grade levels, and trying to pinpoint what happened.”

Neighboring school district La Joya ISD also had an enrollment drop the last week of September in comparison to 2014. The numbers fell from 29,437 to

29,308 in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Sharyland ISD Superintendent Robert O’Connor said he called McAllen ISD and found their numbers were down as well.

Mission CISD, however, had more than 1,000 students transfer from other districts this year, according to Superintendent Ricardo Lopez. With a total of 15,471 students, Mission High School has 157 more students than last year and Veterans Memorial High School is up by 80 students.

In addition, there are 255 more prekindergarten students due to the all day pre-k

Young royalty

Pictured, from left to right, are Ella Grace Hartzog, third alternate; Madeline Lesa-Lovelle Flowers, Princess of Red Grapefruit Blossom; Amarissa Magali Castillo, Princess of Lime Blossom; Alanai Celest Rivera, Princess of Tangerine Blossom; Ariana Nicole Gomez, Princess Anna 66th; Lillian Yvette Garza, Princess of Lemon Blossom; Cassity Faythe Williams, second alternate; Zoe Juliana De Leon, first alternate. Progress Times photos by Julie Silva

Texas Citrus Fiesta names Princess Anna

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ight young ladies competed Saturday for the title of Princess Anna, continuing a Texas Citrus Fiesta tradition that has existed more than 60 years.

In the end, 6-year-old Ariana Nicole Gomez was named the 66th Princess Anna. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Luis Marcos Gomez, Ariana attends Escobar Rios Elementary School in Mission.

Ariana was confident at the competition, held at the Mission Community Center, strutting the makeshift runway and stopping to smile for the judges before taking the stage to bow before Queen Citrianna, Rachel Tunberg. The princess wore an organza dress with coral swirls and rhinestone-covered Mary Jane shoes.

The rest of the court includes Madeline Lesa-Lovelle Flowers, named Princess of Red Grapefruit Blossom; Amarissa Magali Castillo, Princess of Lime

Blossom; Alanai Celest Rivera, Princess of Tangerine Blossom; Lillian Yvette Garza, Princess of Lemon Blossom.

The 6-year-olds are the youngest members of the Texas Citrus Fiesta Royal Court.

They’ll be honored in the 2016 festivities, and over the next year, they’ll represent the Texas Citrus Fiesta across the state at parades, representing the Valley’s citrus industry.

Madeline is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Flowers and is a first-grader at Milam Elementary. Amarissa is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cesar Castillo and is a kindergartener at Cavazos Elementary School. Alanai is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eduardo Rivera and is a first-grader at John H. Shary Elementary. Lillian is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leopoldo Garza and is a first-grader at Bryan Elementary School.

Pictured, from left to right, are Alexis Lorenn Garcia, Princess of Tangerine Blossom; Rachel Christine Tunberg, Queen Citrianna; Mia Isabella Ayala, Princess Anna 65th; Carolina Isabel Gonzalez, Princess of Red Grapefruit Blossom.

Other contestants were Zoe Juliana De Leon, a kindergartener at Hendricks Elementary School was named first alternate; Cassity Faythe Williams, a first-grader

at Bryan Elementary School who was named second alternate; Ella Grace Hartzog, a first-grader at Milam Elementary School who was named third alternate.

program that launched this school year.

The transfers have come from mostly the surrounding areas, Lopez said, like La Joya ISD, Sharyland ISD and McAllen ISD. IDEA Public Schools also opened up a prekindergarten through sixth-grade campus in Mission this year.

IDEA North Mission has a total of 236 students, according to its website.

Parents must apply to have their child attend IDEA public schools, but Mission CISD is an open enrollment school district and has been for some time.

“The open enrollment’s

traceable impact is kind of negligible,” said MCISD spokesman Craig Verley. “It might have helped us maintain or minimize losses but it didn’t help us grow above where we had been before.

This is really the first year in a number of years that we’ve seen an appreciable increase.”

Enrollment numbers are reported on a weekly basis and everything is subject to change, according to Ortega. Sharyland ISD board members are hopeful that the population will jump once again, pending the development of apartment complexes in the area.

Alton finishing up construction of new fire station

The newest addition to the current Alton city complex area will be a fire station to house a full-time paid department.

“Alton went from an all volunteer department in 2007 to its current staff of 17,” said Jeff Underwood, assistant city manager.

City services have increased to keep up with this growth. The station is the latest city facility upgrade. A city hall was constructed in 2008, and the public works shop came online in 2010.

The new Alton Fire Station was completed this month. The fire station has several fetchers that are unique to this type of facility in the Valley. The building was funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Facilities program. This funding came in at a 50 percent grant and a 50 percent loan, totaling $1,000,000 with $300,000 match from the city.

“This was outstanding to get this type of break down from USDA. It took a while but it was well worth the effort,” said Steve Peña, CEO for the City of Alton Development Corporation.

The city also acquired a grant from Texas A&M University Kingsville, under the Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment program, called a Phase II Nonpoint Source Water Quality Management Planning and Implementation Grant to help construct, promote and implement low impact development in the rapidly growing Lower Rio Grande Valley. This grant was funded under the Clean Water Act section to facilitate a paver project that would pave the driveways to the new Fire Station. The grant was $100,000 with a match of $62,000 from the city.

In the past two years the fire department, in anticipa-

tion of the new fire station, has bulked up its staffing to 17 paid firefighters and 10 volunteers and has implemented policy to increase to three shifts with an increase of two firefighters per shift to 5 firefighters per shift. The Fire Marshal’s office was created and is certified though the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and has been doing cross-training between the city’s fire and police departments.

Currently, Alton has three certified peace officers who are also arson investigators and one police officer who is also a firefighter. To date, Alton has seven fire Investigators and four inspectors.

Most recently the fire department was certified as a training center through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection to teach seven disciplines (Instructor 1&2, Aircraft Rescue, Fire Investigator, Fire Inspector, Structural Fire Fighting, and Pump Operator) and has eight instructors to teach these. More disciplines will be added periodical.

Current equipment that will be housed at the new fire station include two engine pumpers, two brush trucks, one 3,000 gallon tanker and three emergency vehicles.

The City invested in an upgrade to the new 800 MHz radios for the department to provide further coverage.

See FIRE STATION 12

INSIDE

Football almost in home stretch

Celebration of Life service

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Citrus Fiesta stalwart Don Lester passed away Sept. 10. The family will serve Don’s famous Citrus Fiesta barbeque at the life celebration service on Friday, Oct. 23.

With all seven teams still harboring playoff aspirations, the next four weeks will separate the pretenders from the contenders.

See story page 9

See story page 6

Entertainment | pg. 2

Lifestyle | pg. 3

Sports | pg. 6

Author helps fourth graders with writing

Mission CISD held writing workshops across elementary campuses last week, and Polly Holyoke was one of several authors on hand to work with students.

See story page 8

Obituaries | pg. 9

Classifieds | pg. 11

entertainment Original production, ‘Last Battle of the Civil War,’ plays in Pharr October 16, 2015

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

Coming P s Attraction October 16 • The Houston Ballet II will perform at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Performing Arts Complex on the Edinburg Campus at 7:30 p.m. The evening features six dance pieces and several contemporary ballets.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students (valid student ID required) and children. For more information, contact the UTRGV Dance Program at 665-2230.

October 16-18 • South Texas College Theatre opens their 2015-2016 production season with the production of Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus’ adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s classic novel “Crime and Punishment.” Performance times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will be held at STC’s Cooper Center at 3201 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen.

General admission tickets are $5. The Oct. 18, matinee production will be interpreted in American Sign Language.

Tickets can be purchased one hour before the performance at the box office. For more information about the show or for group rates, call 872-2301 or email namaro1@southtexascollege.edu or jrodriguez@ southtexascollege.edu.

October 17 • Tracy Byrd headlines at the Sharyland I.S.D. Education Foundation’s annual “Denim & Diamonds” benefit concert. Tickets are now on sale for the concert, live auction and dinner at Las Palmas Race Park in Mission.

Four sponsorship levels from $400 Denim sponsorship to the $10,000 Platinum Title are offered with benefits ranging from seating for 10 only for the concert and auction all the way to multiple tables complete with the steak and chicken dinner, beverages, company recognition and more. Individual SRO tickets for the show and auction are $25 pre-sale and $30 at the

gate.

For information or tickets, stop by the SISD Administration building, 1200 N. Shary Rd. or call Judith Ramirez at 580-5200, Ext. 108, or via email at jramirez@sharylandisd.org. Tickets are also available at laspalmasracepark.com or at Cavender’s Western Outfitters.

October 18 • Heart throb Marc Anthony travels to the Rio Grande Valley with his “Tour 2015.”

The show begins at 7 p.m. at State Farm Arena. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets range from $69.50 to $225.50. Call 800-745-3000 or go to ticketmaster.com to purchase.

October 22 The La Hoya High School Choir Concert, with choirs from De Zavala and Chavez Middle School, takes place at 7 p.m. on the Mainstage of the Alejandro H. Saenz Performing Arts Center, 604 N. Coyote Blvd. Call 323-2895 or 323-2896 for information and ticket prices.

October 23-24 • The South Texas Indians Dancers will gather for the 26th Annual South Texas Pow Wow at the Lark Community Center, 2601 Lark Ave. in McAllen. The Friday grand entry begins at 6:30 p.m. The Saturday line-up begins at 11 a.m. with an exhibition dance followed by gourd dancing from 1 to 4:30 p.m. and the grand entry at 6:30 p.m. The event is free.

A variety of activities are planned and an array of Indian jewelry, dream catchers, arts and crafts and jewelry making supplies will be sold.

For more information, contact Robert Soto at 648-9336.

October 29 • Bose’s Amo Tour will be in town at State Farm Arena for an 8 p.m. show. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $49 to $160 per person. Call 800-745-3000 or go to ticketmaster.com for tickets.

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

HARR – The Pharr Community Theater Co (PCTC) invites the public to the premier of its newest original story, ‘’The Last Battle of the Civil War”

by Jefferson Williams.

Elva Michal, founding producer of PCTC, is producing this as her last play for the company with her husband Keith. After eight years of producing local theater, they will retire and move up to Ohio in November to be closer to family.

About the play, she said, “This play is about actual RGV history. A lot of people did not know this, including myself…but the last actual ground battle of the Civil War was fought near Palmito

Ranch close to Brownsville, Texas in 1865, 34 days after Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox.”

One hundred and fifty years after the Civil War’s last battle this local theater company of 11 actors and 6 crew members tell the story of a Union Soldier from the 34th Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry who, after marching up Brazos River in deep south Texas with his fellow soldiers, is captured and taken prisoner by Confederate forces in spite of the rumors that the war has ended. Beaten down by war, fatigue, a hot-tempered Confederate guard and the hot Texas sun, the union soldier’s only desire is to be

24th annual Conjunto Festival runs Oct. 23-25 in San Benito

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AN BENITO – The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center announces the 24th Annual Conjunto Festival, a threeday event celebrating the best of live Texas Mexican Conjunto music. The festival runs from 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday, 5 to 11 on Saturday and 5 to 10 on Sunday at the San Benito Plaza, 225 E. Stenger.

This year’s festival will include a car show by Los Viejitos Car Club of McAllen along with dancing, food and beverages. Cost is $5 per person each day.

The public is encouraged to bring chairs, but no outside beverages or food is allowed.

Sixteen conjuntos come from the Rio Grande Valley and across Texas will be on stage.

Boni Mauricio, conjunto artist and recent inductee into the Conjunto Hall of Fame in San Antonio, will bring his unique style to the festival. David Farias & Band along with Mando y La Venganza of Corpus Christi, Conjunto Los Leones of Laredo and Kinto Rey of Victoria, will make their festival debut.

Also featured will be Flavio Longoria y Los Conjunto Kingz, son of pioneering

conjunto musician, Valerio Longoria from San Antonio.

The conjunto sound of the Kingsville/Bishop area will be represented by Lazaro Perez y Su Conjunto. Leticia Urbina of Leti y El Conjunto Central will represent the women of conjunto, and talents of Conjunto Aztlan will represent the spirituality of El Movimiento Chicano.

Los Garcia Bros from Eagle Pass will add their pachuco style to the festival.

The sound of the Valley includes 2012 Texas Folklife Big Squeeze winner Peter Anzaldúa y Velocidad from Brownsville; Juan Lugo y Su Conjunto and Ole Treviño y Los Imposibles from the famed Laureles Chicken Club; and Los Angeles del Sur and Los Dominantes del Valle from La Feria. Ruben Vela Jr., son of the great Ruben Vela “El Chaparrito de Oro,” will close out the festival on Sunday.

Artist Joe Lopez from Gallista Gallery in San Antonio brings his unique style of Chicano art to the festival. Lopez has designed this year’s Conjunto Festival T-shirt.

For information, contact Soledad A. Núñez at 244-0373 or via email at nmcacsanbenito@gmail. com.

free again and return home to his new wife and start a family. But, his fate is to be determined by his Confederate captors .

The Play also contains three new songs and an old Civil War Melody adapted for the play. Scott Michal is the composer/arranger and Kyra Howell is the songwriter. Pedro Garcia and Gabriela Pedraza share in directing the play. Pedraza is also the play’s choreographer and Henry Treviño and Elva Michal are vocal directors.

Just recently the play held a full preview performance at the Las Palmas Community Center in McAllen as part its compliance for a grant that was awarded to PCTC.

The show was well attended and received enthusiastic applause and excellent reviews.

The show will now open from Oct. 22 through Nov. 1 for eight performances at the newly-remodeled Pharr Community Theater, 213 W. Newcombe Ave. in Pharr.

Show times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $7 general admission and $5 for anyone under 13 and for senior citizens. Tickets will be sold beginning one hour before each show, upon availability. Seating is limited to 60 persons per show. Advance tickets are recommended by calling 648-2488.

Two exhibits open at IMAS

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cALLEN – The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) has opened its latest exhibitsm “Human Rights Art Exhibition: Works from the Permanent Collection at South Texas College” and “Connecting with Nature: Selections from the Permanent Collection.”

The Human Rights Art Exhibition is comprised of a growing collection of more than 50 artworks that are part of the College’s permanent collection. The STC Art Department developed the permanent collection over the last 10 years from donations of participating artists who exhibit in their Annual Human Rights Art Exhibition each spring. It will be on display through Jan. 3, 2016.

It addresses global and regional human rights and social justice and environmental issues through the eyes of the artists.

The artists hope to connect with viewers on an emotional and personal level while bringing awareness to human rights issues and encourage contemplation, refection and activism.

“Connecting with Nature” is a survey of na-

ture-derived art and folk art with natural specimens from the IMAS permanent collection, some on display for the first time. The IMAS Permanent Collection, in its endless variety, patterns and beauty, renews man’s vital connection with nature. It will be on display through Feb. 14, 2016.

The IMAS Permanent Collection began with the institution’s founding in 1967 through numerous gifts from local donors.

Since its inception, the collection has grown to include over 2,000 natural history and geology specimens and 4,500 folk art and textile objects. The 1,500 fine art works represent many countries and date from the 16th century to the present.

The collection continues to expand through museum purchases and donations from collectors and artists.

The exhibits are included in the price of general admission.

General admission is $7 for adults, $5 for senior age 55 and over or student with I.D., $4 for ages 4 to 12, and free for IMAS members.

For more information, call 682-0123.

lifestyle

Events Calendar

Oct ober 16 – Join staff at the Edinburg World Birding Center at 6 p.m. for a presentation by local butterfly expert Mike Rickard. Admission is free. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Seats are limited; call 381-9922 to reserve a spot. It is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. Oct ober 16-17 – The Goodwill Cook-off celebrates its second year at the Valley Race Park, 2601 S. Ed Carey Dr. in Harlingen. Professional and amateur barbecue cooking teams will compete for best fajitas, beans, chicken, ribs, and brisket. Entry fee is $150. The $4,000 cash prize payout will be given to top winners in each category and one overall Grand Champion will be named. Proceeds benefit Goodwill’s job training and job placement services. The event is free to the public and food judging available for attendees. Teams can register at GoodwillSouthTexas.com or call Nick Posada at 361- 884-4068 for more details.

Oct ober 17 – Aglow International McAllen Community Lighthouse invites the public to a complimentary prayer breakfast from 9:30 a.m. to noon. This month’s speaker is Pastor Adolfo Alvarado. He has been a pastor for 30 years and holds a doctorate in theology from California Christian University. For location, call Criselda Alvarado, president at 534-7941.

Oct ober 22 – Family Fun Night at the International Museum of Art & Science features Disappearing Art working with special paper as a pH indicator: learn to use acids and bases to make a drawing and then make it disappear. Not included in the regular museum admission, fees are $2 per person and supplies are included. IMAS is located at 1900 Nolana in McAllen. Call 682-0123 for information.

Oct ober 23-24 – The Native Plant Festival with award-winning author Douglas Tallamy will be held at Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center, 600 Sunset in McAllen.

Enjoy Tapas & Talks on Friday in the courtyard from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with an outdoor presentation by Tallamy on the big screen. Admission is $15, which includes tapas, drinks, music and the program. On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tallamy returns with other experts, tours, booths, a book signing, plant sale and more. The fee is $5 for adults.

Oct ober 24 – The first Veterans Golf Tournament, benefiting Catholic War Veterans Post #1065 of Mission, will be held at the Mission Shary Golf Course, 1900 N. Mayberry. It is a three-man scramble tournament and includes door prizes, drawings, food and more for the players. A 2016 Chevy Cruze has been put up as the hole-in-one prize.

Sponsorships are available ranging from $300 to $1,000.

To sign up a team, or to become a sponsor or make a donation, contact Robert Garza at 222-3871; David Silva, 5816973; Ernesto Flores, 240-6319; Tomas Ocana, 821-5185; or the Shary Pro Shop, 580-8770.

Oct ober 24 – Boy Scouts can pass of requirements for the art merit badge from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the next International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) Scout Workshops. Webelos can complete requirements for the artists badge from 1 to 4 p.m. All workshops are led by certified merit badge counselors. Program capacity is 25 scouts.

Admission rates are $5 for IMAS members and $10 for nonmembers. Call 682-0123 to register. IMAS is located at Nolana and Bicentennial in McAllen.

Oct ober 29 – The RGV Partnership Foundation is hosting the 28th annual golf tournament benefitting the RGVP Foundation Scholarship Program. It takes place at Tierra Santa Golf Course in Weslaco. Registration for the three-man scramble format begins at 12 p.m. with a 1 p.m. tee-off start. There will be door prizes, hole-in-one prize, drawings, barbecue stations and more. For sponsorships or more information, call 968-3141.

(For daily events and upcoming weeks, see the full calendar at www.ptrgv.com.)

October 16, 2015

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

Planta Nativa event illuminates natural heritage

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cALLEN – A celebration of natural heritage will take place at Planta Nativa on Friday, Oct. 23, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center, 600 Sunset. Along with tacos, tapas and art, guests will view “Creating Living Landscapes” by nationally renowned author Dr. Douglas Tallamy on a giant outdoor movie screen.

The evening begins with the reception while viewing the UTRGV Science poster presentation by agroecology students in the Mazatlan Grand Hall. In the gallery, Upper Valley Art League artist Jessica Monroe opens her exhibit, “Arte Nativo.”

Following the reception and exhibit, Tallamy’s presentation covers the development and subsequent habitat destruction acceleration with the increasing pressures on wildlife

Dr. Douglas Tallamy

populations and how small, personal steps can be made toward sustaining biodiversity. Tallamy asserts there is a link between native plant species and native wildlife: native insects cannot, or will not eat alien plants. When native plants disappear, the insects disappear, impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals. He will be available for a book signing following the program.

Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased in advance at Quinta Mazatlan.

For more information, call 681-3370.

Spooky Science Fest conjures knowledge and fun

WESLACO – “Jurassic Estero” is this year’s theme for the Ninth Annual Spooky Science Fest. It is open to the public from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. Estero Llano is located at 3301 S. International Blvd.

Families are encouraged to come out and compete with their knowledge in nature and the legendary rep-

tiles of long ago. There will be a variety of activities in the pursuit of knowledge, including identifying live animals, archery, tracking and fishing. Park staff has also planned a costume contest, crafts, an obstacle course, wild edibles and more.

Entry fee is $5 per person, all ages. Call 5653919 for more information.

McAllen event makes Trick-or-Treat accessible

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CALLEN – Halloween is around the corner and families are beginning to prepare for fall festivals and trick-or-treating, but this can be a challenge for families who have children with special needs. The Capable Kids Foundation has lined up an Accessible Trickor-Treat Event at La Plaza Mall on Saturday, Oct. 31, beginning at 10 a.m.

Children with special needs and their families will be able to trick-or-treat from store to store in the “Children’s Wing” near JC Penney. There will also be valet parking passes avail-

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able for those who need to unload children with special equipment.

Registration for the event can be found on the Capable Kids Foundation website ww.capablekidsfoundation.com or by calling Maegen at 328-6883.

Golf tourney benefits MCISD Education Foundation

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he first Superintendent’s Golf Tournament, benefitting the Education Foundation of Mission C.I.S.D., is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6, at the Shary Golf Course, 1900 N. Mayberry in Mission. Organizers plan to make it an annual event.

The tournament is a three-person Florida Scramble. No professional players allowed on a team and only one single-digit player per team. Minimum team handicap is 34.

Early registration is $250 per team. Late registration

after Oct. 23 is $275. Registration includes green fees, one-half cart, drinks and food.

Sponsorship fees and benefits include the following: Hole Sponsor, $200; Silver, $1,000—one golf team, one hole sponsorship and Mulligan package; Gold, $1,500— Two teams, hole sponsorship, flag at one hole and Mulligan; and Platinum, $2,500—three teams, two hole sponsorships, flag at hole and Mulligan.

For registration and more information, call the Shary Pro Shop at 585-8770; Hiram Burguete, 323-5522; or Minnie Rodgers, 802-8645.

Outdoor drawing class offered

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cALLEN – Join artist Jessica Monroe at Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. and create a memory of the Center’s forest to take home.

The one-hour class will provide the basics of drawing outdoors, covering composition, form and texture. No prior drawing experience is necessary and all ages are welcome. Materials will be provided, although the public is invited to bring their own.

Monroe creates artwork intended to be felt as much as seen. Influenced by memories of time spent outdoors,

her paintings embrace the idea that observing nature offers an opportunity to reflect and better understand ourselves. She often works on location using watercolor and pastels.

Born in McAllen, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern University and has studied painting at New York University and the School of Art Institute of Chicago.

The park entrance fee is $3 per person; no advance reservation is required. Quinta Mazatlan is located at 600 Sunset in McAllen. For more information, call 681-3370.

Reminiscing...

30 Years Ago This Week

Progress Times gave out Citizens Awards Named Man of the Year and Woman of the Year were Gerald Cook and Ruth Perez. Lucy Wallace was named First Lady of Mission and Richard Walsh was named Mr. Mission.

Special chamber awards were also presented. The President’s Award went to Fernando Peña, and the VIP Award went to Billie Mutz.

A former editor received national recognition A former resident of Mission was honored at the Centennial Convention of the National Newspaper Association, held in Minneapolis. Joe. T. Cook, who was editor and publisher of The Mission Times from 1932 to 1958, was recognized as one of a four-generation newspaper family.

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By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

A

October 16, 2015

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STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

USTIN — BP, one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, has settled with the federal government and the states of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida over claims related to the Deep Water Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced on Oct. 5 that Texas stands to receive $800 million of the $20.8 billion settlement “to restore Gulf resources with portions dedicated to the coastal economy as well as restoration projects to address damage to natural resources.”

“When we include money from previous settlements with these new funds, Texas will have more than $1 billion to fund projects that restore and enhance the Texas Gulf coast and mitigate economic impacts of this disaster,” said TCEQ Commissioner Toby Baker.

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Paul Zukunft said the settlement “ensures that BP repays the Government for its costs in responding to the Deepwater Horizon tragedy. The historic civil penalty also sends a clear message of accountability for those who pollute the U.S. environment.”

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil suit against BP and several affiliates, and proved the spill was caused

by BP’s gross negligence.

Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas also filed civil claims against BP relating to the spill, including claims for economic losses and natural resource damages.

Sales tax revenue up Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Oct. 7 announced that sales tax revenue for the state in September was $2.2 billion, up 1.9 percent compared to September 2014.

However, the $616.2 million in local sales tax alloca-

tions for October to be sent to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts represent a decrease of 0.9 percent compared to October 2014.

“The modest growth in state sales tax revenue, in line with the Biennial Revenue Estimate issued in January, continues the trend of recent months. Stronger growth in collections from the retail trade, restaurant, services and construction sectors offset declines from the oil and gas-related industries,” Hegar explained.

Abbott announces grants Gov. Greg Abbott on Oct. 2 announced the award of some $133 million in criminal justice and victim services grants to local law enforcement agencies, domestic violence shelters, child sex trafficking victims programs and other governmental and non-profit agencies across Texas.

According to the announcement, grants include state and federal funds administered by the Criminal Justice Division of the Governor’s Office and are part of the Governor’s efforts to implement his “Bicentennial Blueprint” policy plans for the state.

“Nothing is more important than ensuring the safety of all Texans,” Abbott said.

These new grant awards for services and organizations were established “to go beyond simply providing shelter for victims of domestic violence, but also assist the victims in filing police reports, obtaining emergency protection orders and prosecuting their abusers,” according to the Governor’s Office.

Population study released The Office of the State Demographer on Oct. 8 released a report titled, “The Foreign-Born Population in Texas: Sources of Growth.”

Texas State Demographer

Lloyd B. Potter listed these as some of the key findings of the report: • From 1990 until the present, Texas’ share of the U.S. foreign-born population has increased so that by 2010, Texas had 7.8 percent of the U.S. native-born population and 10.4 percent of the U.S. foreign-born population.

Thus, in recent decades, the state’s foreign-born population has grown more rapidly than its native-born population.

• Recently, for every 10 foreign-born persons entering Texas, roughly 4 moved from another state in the U.S. • High domestic in-migration to Texas has fueled the growth of foreign-born population increases; about one in five domestic migrants was foreign-born.

• Between 2005 and 2013, declines in Latin American origin migration to Texas were largely offset by increases in Asian origin migration.

• In 2013, one of every five foreign-born domestic migrants moved to Texas from California.

• In 2013, the majority of foreign-born migrants to Texas settled in the state’s four most populous counties.

The report is available at http://osd.texas.gov.

Ban lift clears hurdle On Oct. 9, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 261159 in favor of H.R. 702, a bill for the nation “to adapt to changing crude oil market conditions.”

If also passed by the Senate, and not vetoed by President Barack Obama, the legislation would lift the ban on the exportation of crude oil that was signed by President Gerald Ford in 1975.

Authored by U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, a Republican whose district includes the counties of Navarro, Ellis and part of Tarrant, the bill had 137 House members as co-sponsors.

AMJH ‘Science Dynamic Duo’ asked to present at upcoming conference

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all them the Science Dynamic Duo of Alton Memorial Junior High School. Ana Cristina Perez and Jennifer Rodriguez have been asked to present at a special conference later this month. The pair of science teachers are part of a science collaborative through the Region One Education Service Center since June of this year and have been mentoring other science teachers at AMJH. Perez and Rodriguez were recently asked to participate and present at the Rio Grande Valley Science Association on Saturday, Oct. 3, in which they presented a lesson on topographic maps. They were also invited to present at a conference for science teachers: High Performance-Best Practices for Student Success Confer-

Pictured are Ana Cristina Perez, left, and Jennifer Rodriguez, right.

ence on Oct. 27 that will be hosted by Region One ESC. They were selected from among their peers because of their outstanding Science teaching demonstrated at AMJH. “We, in the Region One Science Department and the Texas Regional Science Collaborative are proud of your teaching knowledge

and would like to showcase your expertise with other techniques learned through your trainings here at Region One to a group of your peers,” said Elda Christian, Region One ESC Science Specialist, in the invitation to present.

They will co-present with ESC Science specialists at the conference.

Pictured on the front row from left to right are: Dara San Martin, Aylin Salinas, Ashley Alaniz, Angel Paniagua. On the back row are Selee Mercado, Vanessa Cano, Anthony Lopez, Julian Rivera.

VMHS choir members advance to TMEA pre-area auditions

Nine members of the Veterans Memorial High School choir recently competed in the Texas Music Educators Association District and Region choir auditions. Eight of the students earned places in the District Choir. Of those eight, five of them, and two who will

serve as alternates, earned places in the TMEA Region choir and are advancing to the pre-area auditions to be held in mid-November.

The VMHS choir students making the TMEA District Choir are: Ashley Alaniz, Vanessa Cano, Anthony Lopez, Selee Merca-

do, Angel Paniagua, Julian Rivera, Aylin Salinas, Dara San Martin.

The students making the TMEA Region Choir are: Vanessa Cano, Aylin Salinas, Anthony Lopez, Julian Rivera, Dara San Martin, Ashley Alaniz (alternate), Angel Paniagua (alternate).

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October 16, 2015

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Big 7 football heading into home stretch tions, the next four weeks will separate the pretenders from the contenders.

Through the first three weeks of District 31-5A and 30-6A play, the 2-1 Pioneer Diamondbacks and the 2-1 La Joya Coyotes are the only two Big 7 teams with

I

By Luciano Guerra

t’s Week 8 of Valley high school football and the seven Mission, La Joya and Sharyland teams are preparing to enter the home stretch. With all seven teams still having playoff aspira-

winning records. However that does not mean that they are the only two contenders.

At 1-1, the Palmview Lobos, Sharyland Rattlers and Veterans Memorial Patriots are all in the thick of their respective district races and even though they’re current-

Coyotes. Whether an extra week of healing and preparation will help the Eagles avoid a repeat of last year’s 26-7 Week 8 loss to the Coyotes remains to be seen. But with the undefeated and topranked McAllen Memorial Mustangs still ahead on their

Sharyland High Rattlers at Roma Gladiators Like the Eagles the Sharyland Rattlers are coming off their bye week so they’ve had two weeks to prepare for tonight’s game against the Roma Gladiators. After opening their District 31-5A schedule with a heartbreaking 48-47 loss to the Edinburg Vela Sabercats and following that up with a dramatic 29-27 win over the Veterans Memorial Patriots, the Rattlers are overdue for an easy win. Will the Gladiators oblige? Their two most recent losses to Edinburg Vela and Veterans Memorial by a combined score of 62-3 is a pretty good indicator that they will. Therefore look for the Rattlers to improve their record to 2-1 (4-3 overall) tonight as they look forward to the second chapter of their cross-town rivalry with the Pioneer Diamondbacks next week.

Palmview Lobos at Nikki Rowe Warriors It’s been a roller coaster-like season for the Palmview Lobos. First they opened their non-district schedule on top with wins over Brownsville Lopez and PSJA Southwest by a combined score of 103-33. Then, just when it looked like they

La Joya’s J.C. Maldonado, Tito Delgado and Juan Resendez celebrate the Coyotes’ first touchdown of the game during the first quarter of the Coyotes’ 60-14 District 30-6A loss to the McAllen Memorial Mustangs.

Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra

ly at 0-2, the Mission Eagles and the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies are by no means out of playoff contention.

Case in point, the 2014 La Joya Coyotes football team started their district season with a 0-3 record but won their final three games to clinch District 30-6A’s fourth seed in the playoffs.

So which teams are the pretenders and which are the contenders? Only time will tell, but this week’s games will go a long way towards determining which teams will be extending their seasons and which will be putting their pads, helmets and uniforms into storage.

Mission Eagles at La Joya Coyotes With their bye week now behind them, the Mission Eagles have had two weeks to prepare for tonight’s game against the surging La Joya

schedule, Mission pretty much needs to start putting games into their win column starting tonight if they are going to have any chance of avoiding missing out on the playoffs for the third year in a row.

Going back to last season, the La Joya Coyotes have now won five of their last six District 30-6A games. This after having lost 18 straight District 30-5A and 30-6A games over the past three seasons. Why the dramatic turnaround? Coyotes’ head football coach George Espinoza attributes it to the fact that in this his fourth season at La Joya, his seniors have had four years of going through his program and now that they’ve experienced the success they had last year they believe in his program, but more importantly they believe in themselves.

were getting ready to coast through their non-district schedule, the Lobos plummeted to the bottom with back-to-back losses to two 5A teams, the Rio Grande City Rattlers and the Roma Gladiators.

Week 5 saw the Lobos climb their way back to the top when they opened their District 30-6A schedule with a 35-21 win over Mission.

However the view from the top did not last long as the Lobos soon found themselves back at the bottom the very next week with a 28-20 loss to the La Joya Coyotes.

Tonight the Lobos will be looking to climb back to the top of their District 306A ride when they travel to McAllen’s Veterans Memorial Stadium to take on the 1-2 Nikki Rowe Warriors.

With the state playoffs having a sign that reads, “You must be at least 3-3 to get on this ride,” Palmview needs to win at least two of their remaining four games to have any chance of turning their 2014/2015 season into a ride to remember. And with the Warriors being one of the teams the Lobos should be able to pick-off like ducks in a shooting gallery, a win tonight is pretty much a must for the Lobos.

Sharyland’s Manny Campos breaks into the open by running over Veterans Memorial’s Carlos Mercado during the fourth quarter of the Rattlers 29-27 District 31-5A win over the Patriots. Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra

PROGRESS TIMES

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pioneer

HUSKIES

LOBOS

DIAMONDBACKS

SPECIAL TEAMS

SPECIAL TEAMS

Carlos Gonzalez #30

WEEK 7

SPECIAL TEAMS

Mark Salinas #2

Brandon Casas #24

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

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Diamondbacks out Patriots’ QB out to earn respect for season D winning track tonight at home against the Patriots.

“Tonight’s game is a pump game for us,” explained Pioneer head football coach Jason Wheeler. “That means that going into this season our leadership council picked this game as the game that was the most important for us to win. I think that it’s going to be a pretty evenly matched game and that the team that wins the turnover battle, plays good field position and makes the fewest mistakes will probably win the game.”

With Veterans Memorial having freshman Landry Gilpin starting at quarterback for the first time tonight, Pioneer’s defense will be going up against a different Patriots’ offense than they’ve had all season. As for how much that will affect his team’s defensive game plan Colunga said, “We’ve watched film on Mission Vets and we saw what they were doing offensively last week. We have adjusted our game plan, but not because of Gilpin, but because we know that they’ve had some injuries and I believe that we have a good game plan going into the game.”

While the Diamondbacks will be going into next week’s game against the Rattlers as the visiting team, all three of their remaining games will be played at Richard Thompson Stadium. With one of the district’s four playoff spots in their sights, the Pioneer quarterback believes that what his team has to do to extend their season beyond Week 11 is what they failed to do against Vela last week.

“Our ultimate goal is to make the playoffs,” Ramirez said. “We feel that we can win every game that we go into.

So we just need to get our heads straight and finish….

That is our word of the week – finish!”

Sharyland Pioneer’s Brandon Casas avoids an Edinburg Vela defender during the second quarter of the Sabercats’ 49-14 District 31-5A win over the Diamondbacks.

Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra

“In the locker room and as a team we noticed that we were not ranked,” Colunga said. “But we understand that as a second-year program, respect is not just going to be given to us. We also know that the way we’ve been working and the way we’ve been playing as a team, we will eventually get the respect that we deserve.”

“Every game we play to earn the respect of the opposition,” added Ramirez. “But with us just being in our second year and with us starting out so young, no team is just going to give us that respect.

I feel though that our 6-1 record really proves what kind of team we are.”

Going into tonight’s game against the 1-1 (4-2 overall) Veterans Memorial Patriots, the Diamondbacks are in sole possession of second place in District 31-5A. Having suffered their first loss of the season just last week against the still undefeated Sabercats, the Diamondbacks will be looking to get back on the

By Luciano Guerra

A

retha Franklin once sang about respect and what it meant to her. The 2-1 (6-1 overall) Pioneer Diamondbacks may not be singing about respect but they’re out to earn it as they head into Week 8 of Valley High School football and beyond.

Despite being a perfect 6-0 heading into last week’s game against the Edinburg Vela Sabercats, the Diamondbacks were not listed among the Valley’s Top 10 teams.

However, the 3-3 Sharyland Rattlers were ranked seventh and the 3-2 San Benito Greyhounds were ranked ninth.

While being ranked is not their main goal, Diamondbacks players such as senior defensive tackle Sean Colunga and senior quarterback Alejandro Ramirez know that the accolades they’ve seen other teams receive will be theirs soon enough – if they continue to earn them.

By Luciano Guerra

iego Hernandez, the Patriots quarterback and leading passer for the district, will be out for the season, due to an ankle injury suffered in last week’s game against Roma.

Freshman quarterback Landry Gilpin, Coach Gilpin’s son, will be leading the 1-1 (4-2 overall) Patriots into Richard Thompson Stadium tonight for their District 315A battle with the 2-1 (6-1 overall) Pioneer Diamondbacks.

Originally listed as the Patriots’ third string quarterback, the younger Gilpin moved up to the second team after back-up quarterback Adam Solis left the team for personal reasons. With the district’s leading passer, junior Diego Hernandez, secure in his starting position with the Patriots, Landry’s move to the second team seemed rather inconsequential.

Be it bad luck, fate or the nature of the game, the inconsequential move became consequential during the second quarter of the Patriots’ 34-3 win over the Roma Gladiators last Friday. Hernandez suffered a season-ending ankle injury, suddenly elevating the one-time third-string quarterback to role of full-time starter.

Having seen only limited game action, all at the wide receiver position, prior to that fateful moment, Landry was well aware that as the backup he could find himself calling signals behind center at a moment’s notice. Even so, when Hernandez went down and he was given the reigns

Veterans Memorial’s Adam Solis gets sandwiched between two Sharyland defenders as Landry Gilpin looks on during the Rattlers’ 29-27 District 31-5A win over the Patriots.

Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra

to the Patriots’ offense, he couldn’t help but be a bit apprehensive.

“I was a little nervous about it, but they prepare you for everything here,” Landry said. “They let you know that anything can happen, so you have to be ready for everything. The whole team was ready when I went in and they all rallied around me.

My teammates’ confidence in me put me into a comfort zone I would not have been in otherwise.”

Against Roma, Landry completed six of ten passes for 110 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

He also ran the ball eight times for 150 yards and one touchdown.

As recently as Monday this week Coach Gilpin was under the impression that Hernandez would only be out a matter of weeks. But Tuesday he learned that his No. 1 quarterback’s injury was much more serious than originally believed and that he would require surgery to repair his left ankle. As a result the younger Gilpin will now have the remainder of the sea-

son to prove that his being the only freshman on the Patriots’ varsity roster has much more to do with his abilities than his last name being Gilpin.

When asked if as the coach’s son he feels any added pressure to perform well, Landry said, “I really don’t think about it. I know that the team has confidence in me, so I just try to do my part like everybody else. We try doing everything as a team.”

Having a week to prepare for his first starting opportunity and knowing that he has a talented team around him, Landry is looking forward to tonight’s game.

“Pioneer is a really good team that’s had a really good season so far,” he said. “But everybody on our team is feeling confident with the way we’re playing so we’re feeling pretty good going into that game.”

Prior to last week’s game, Hernandez led the Valley in attempts (184), completions (105), yards (1,597) and touchdowns (17). That leaves big shoes for anybody, much less a 6-foot, 150-lb. freshman, to fill.

Prep Schedule Non-District Football – Oct. 15/16 McAllen High at Juarez-Lincoln (Thursday) Mission High at La Joya High Veterans Memorial at Sharyland Pioneer Sharyland High at Roma Palmview at Nikki Rowe

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Saturday Volleyball – Oct. 17 Roma at Sharyland High La Joya High at Mission High Nikki Rowe at Palmview Sharyland Pioneer at Veterans Memorial Juarez-Lincoln at McAllen High

Sharyland Pioneer’s Brandon Casas returns an Edinburg Vela kickoff during the first quarter of the Sabercats’ 49-14 District 31-5A win over the Diamondbacks.

Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra

Then wide receiver Landry Gilpin runs down the field for a pass play during the Patriots’ 52-14 non-district win over the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies. Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra

12 p.m.

12 p.m.

12 p.m.

12 p.m.

12 p.m.

Tuesday Volleyball – Oct. 20 Palmview at Juarez-Lincoln Mission High at Nikki Rowe Sharyland High at Sharyland Pioneer Veterans Memorial at Valley View

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

PROGRESS TIMES

players of the week veterans memorial

la joya

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COYOTES

OFFENSE

SPECIAL TEAMS

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kevin Liebano #6

Gabriel Rios #28

DEFENSE

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page 8

MCISD holds writing workshop for students

Inspiration Road project should be completed in 2016

W

By Kathy Olivarez

Author Polly Holyoke has volunteers don her scuba gear as a reward during her writing workshop at Mims Elementary. Progress Times photo by Lea Victoria Juarez

S

By Lea Victoria Juarez even authors held writing workshops at the Mission CISD elementaries last week to help fourth graders improve their writing and reading skills.

The students at Mims Elementary had a session with Polly Holyoke. She’s most known for her award-winning novel “The Neptune Project,” a story about teenagers that are genetically altered to live under water.

The book landed on the Texas Bluebonnet List in 2014, a program that encourages students in grades third through sixth to read for entertainment.

“At this age, they still see it as work. Some of them haven’t learned to read for pleasure, and I think that’s what this Bluebonnet List is about,” Holyoke said. “It’s not always the best books; it’s the best books for grabbing their imaginations and getting them involved in reading.”

Holyoke told the tales of her past adventures to the cafetorium of students. She spoke about the time a rattlesnake bit her and when she

October 16, 2015

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climbed 48 of the 53 peaks in Colorado. She told them about when she swam with dolphins in Florida and Hawaii, and then later let a few students try on her diving gear.

The stories were part of Holyoke’s strategy to get the students excited about writing and using their own experiences.

Holyoke was in fifth grade when she wrote her first book. She and her best friend spent two weeks in study hall writing about two girls outsmarting horse thieves, and based it off of her own experience on her friend’s ranch.

“When I was writing the story I found out it’s the most exciting thing you can do,” she said. “It’s like you get to live their adventures when you’re making up one of these stories.”

Texas students take the writing state assessment for the first time in fourth grade. They’re given a topic and rated on a scale of one to four, four being the best score.

Fourth-grade writing teacher Deborah Medina said her students have dif-

ficulty structuring their stories. Although they struggle to organizing a polished product, Medina said she enjoys seeing their creativity.

“They come up with silly stories, sometimes sad stories. We cry together; we laugh together,” she said.

“We’ve been working with personal narratives, so some of the stories are personal.”

During the writing workshop, Holyoke used various exercises to expand the students’ vocabulary and make their writing more vivid.

Then, she selected students to read their writing aloud.

What stood out about the Mims Elementary students was their work ethic, Holyoke said. She noticed some language issues but saw that the students were still trying to produce their best product.

“I like getting the kids excited and seeing that there are other job options, especially kids from not the most affluent backgrounds,” she said. “I’ve met so many writers who came from nothing.

And they wrote their way to a better life. So if I can make some kids think that’s an option for them, that would be awesome.”

hen the Inspiration Road overhaul is complete, it will carry major traffic on the west side of Mission between Expressway 83 and Mile 3 Road.

“There is no way Mission could complete this beautiful addition to the city without the help of the Texas Department of Transportation and the approvals of grants started under the direction of former Governor Rick Perry,” stated Mayor Beto Salinas, when referring to the planned widening of Inspiration Road into a major north-south thoroughfare in the city.

The first phase of the project included the construction of a $38 million overpass over Business 83 and Inspiration Road. It will now include the widening of the existing two-lane road into a five-lane road that will look just like Farm-to-Market 495. The widening part of the project was on the Oct. 12 Mission City Council agenda to solicit bids for the project.

Construction is expected to start shortly after the bids are in and Salinas estimates the road will be complete by the end of 2016.

“The cost of the road will be 80 percent funded by the TxDOT in the amount of $10.5 million. Mission will pay $2.5 million,” added Salinas.

In other action, the council authorized $50,000 to pay for emergency repairs to the North Water Treatment Plant. Recent severe weather caused damage to system controls and instrumentation within the plant, necessitating replacement of some of the equipment.

The council also agreed to solicit bids for improvements to the Melba Carter Drain Ditch to be done by Hidalgo Country drainage District No. 1. The estimated cost was set at $100,000.

Authorization to payment to Rio Valley Switching Company for replacement of 54 feet of railroad crossing at Holland Avenue was approved in the amount of $39,085.

The council authorized

a change order for rightof-way improvements for Arnulfo “Tatan” Rodriguez Park in the amount of $2,568 to make the sidewalk ADA compliant.

An extension of time to complete Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council’s planned transportation route at First Street and Conway was extended to Jan. 31, 2016.

At the request of Alex Meade, Resolution No. 1414 gave Mission Economic Development Corporation permission to sell $1.5 billion worth of tax-exempt bonds for Natgasoline LLC Project 2015 in Jefferson County (Beaumont) at no risk to the city. In return, the city anticipates earning $672,000 in fees.

Authorization to amend a lease purchase contract with Austin Turf to include seven premier cut units and mounting kits, inadvertently left off the pricing of the bid through the BuyBoard was granted.

The change means an additional $3,576 to the original cost of the project.

Top honors for LJISD Migrant Department

T

By Lilliana Salgado he Association for Migrant Educators of Texas has acknowledged three La Joya ISD employees who will be honored during this year’s state conference.

Though others have been selected in the past, this is the first year La Joya ISD won three out of five categories the association awards to educators in the entire state.

Jose R. Flores, Migrant Education Program Director at La Joya ISD, will be presented with the 2015 AMET Administrator Award.

With over 22 years of educational experience, Flores heads one of the largest populations of migrant students in the Rio Grande Valley – and in the state of Texas.

“This recognition is a reflection of the team – the entire migrant department.

From the office staff to the classroom, everyone plays an important role in the success of our program,” Flores

Pictured from left to right are Viola Canales, Jose R. Flores and Silvia Chapa.

said.

AMET has also awarded Viola Canales with the 2015 Educator Award.

Having served the district for more than 43 years, Canales takes on many roles as she works with the challenges that migrant students face each day.

“I first see my students as children in need of direction and guidance,” Canales said. “… and I’d like to think that what I do truly makes a difference in their lives.”

Third, the 2015 AMET

Recruiter Award is being bestowed upon Silvia Chapa, who is a 35-year veteran at La Joya ISD. Chapa is familiar with the families in her area and can remember addresses and names without hesitation.

She actively monitors that the migrant students at her campus are always equipped with school supplies and is quick to advocate for families in need of assistance.

Arturo Figueroa, La Joya ISD social worker, nominated the winners.

cation and Economic Development (CEED).

The Center of Education and Economic Development will be an educational facility in the City of Mission that will aim to create an entrepreneurial (E) and Science, Technology, Education, Arts, and Math (STEAM) ecosystem. Using three existing programs, Ruby Red Ventures, Code the Town, and Enginuity to jumpstart CEED, Mission EDC is taking the initiative to provide economic development services and E-STEAM edu-

cation related programs to attract and retain both businesses and talent. This goal is to create more sustainable businesses and a 21st Century ready workforce in the City of Mission.

The CEED building will consist of 55,000 square feet and will house the Mission EDC and Mission Redevelopment Authority offices, plenty of co-working space and traditional office space for like-minded entrepreneurial tenants, conference

Mission EDC to create Center for Education and Economic Development

E

arlier this year, the Mission EDC Board of Directors authorized staff to negotiate and execute a lease agreement between the Mission Economic Development Corporation and Sonora Development, the owner of an adjacent building to Mission City Hall.

The property is located at 801 N. Bryan Road and was formerly a ropa usada retailer and wholesaler. After months of negotiation, Mission EDC has executed the lease for the entire building, which will be home to the Center for Edu-

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obituaries

Rosa Garcia MISSION – Rosa Garcia, 64, of Mission, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015.

Born in San Juan, Mrs. Garcia worked with the Texas Department of Human Services for 30 years and then opened All Star Kidz Learning Center. She was an active member of St. John of the Fields Catholic Church in Mission.

Survivors include her husband of 37 years, Fernando Garcia; son, Fernando Garcia Jr.; daughters, Carla Rodriguez and Myra Ross; brothers, Gilberto De Leon Jr. of California and

Notices

Vicente Garcia Alamillo MISSION – Vicente Garcia Alamillo, 74, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, at Rio Grande Regional in McAllen.

Maria Ines Cano MISSION – Maria Ines Cano, 81, passed away on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Inez F. Cortez MISSION – Inez F. Cortez, 66, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

A funeral was held on Oct. 15 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission.

Elida F. Flores SULLIVAN CITY – Elida F. Flores, 99, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, at her home in Sullivan City. A funeral mass was held on Oct. 13 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Los Ebanos. Burial followed at Los Ebanos Cemetery.

Fernando Flores MISSION – A funeral service for Fernando Flores was held on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, at Virgil Wilson Mortuary in Mission. Burial followed at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission.

Annie P. Head MISSION – Annie P. Head, 78, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Maria Irene Lopez

Eduardo De Leon of Mission; sisters, Cecilia Hinojosa, Hermelinda Sanchez and Maria Elena Silva all of Mission; and six grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Gilberto De Leon, and her brother Pedro De Leon.

A funeral service was held on Oct. 10 at St. John of the Fields.

Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen.

Donald Riter Lester MISSION – Donald Riter Lester, 81, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015.

Don was born in Greenville on July 8, 1934, and was a graduate of Paris High School where he played football. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1960 and, at the same time, found the love of his

MISSION – Maria Irene Lopez, 85, passed away on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, at McAllen Heart Hospital. A funeral was held on Oct. 13 at Virgil Wilson Mortuary in Mission. Burial followed at Rio Grande City Cemetery.

Felicitas Martinez MISSION – A funeral for Felicitas Martinez was held on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, at Flores Funeral Home in Mission. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen.

Carmel Mendoza MISSION – Carmel Mendoza, 80, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015.

Erica Moreno MISSION – A funeral mass for Erica Moreno was held on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Alton.

Burial followed at Catholic Cemetery in Mission.

Mario Ozuna PEÑITAS – Mario Ozuna, 43, passed away on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015 in Homer, La. A funeral mass was held on Oct. 9 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Peñitas.

Cremation followed.

Belen Ramirez MISSION – Belen Ramirez, 99, passed away on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, at her home in Mission.

Oscar Mateo Rios MISSION – Oscar Rios, 54, passed away on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, at Doctors Hospital in Edinburg. A funeral mass was held on Oct.

14 at St. John of the Fields Catholic Church in Mission.

Burial followed at Garden of Angels Cemetery in Abram.

Billy Gene Rivera ALTON – A funeral mass for Billy Gene Rivera was held on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, at San Juan Diego Catholic Church in McAllen.

Cremation services followed at Val Verde Memorial Gardens in Donna.

Yolanda Roman MISSION – Yolanda Roman, 55, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Jesus Emmanuel Saucedo MISSION – Jesus Emmanuel Saucedo, 1 year old, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, at Mission Regional Medical Center. A funeral mass was held on Oct. 14 at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Alton. Burial followed at Lord & I Cemetery in Palmview.

Kay A. Stock MISSION – Kay A. Stock, 77, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, at Mission Nursing Home.

Juan Valenzuela MISSION – Juan Valenzuela, 91, passed away on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, at Mission Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

Maria L. Zuleta MISSION – Maria L. Zuleta, 61, passed away on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, at Comfort House in McAllen.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1101 Doherty • 585-1665

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

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

NORTH PALMVIEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH 7612 W. 6 Mile Ln.

GRACIA DIVINA MINISTRY 11809 N. Shary Rd. • 584-3112

ONLY THRU JESUS 1511 E. Mile 2 Rd. Mission • 918-760-1625

life Mary Jane Block from Mitchel, Neb. They married in 1956 in Paris. In 1965, they moved to Mission with their two children, Rhonda and Scott, where they lived for the remainder of their lives.

When he came to Mission, Don worked in the grove care business with his brother-in-law Don Holbrook as owners of Rio Grande Valley Grove Care.

He went to work for Hidalgo Orchard of Mission from 1975 to 1977. He later worked for more than 20 years with Sharyland Plantation Produce.

His dedication to the Texas Citrus Fiesta began before 1973 when he became one of the Citrus Cavaliers – a group of individuals who were in charge of cooking the barbecue sirloin sandwiches to sell during the Fiesta parade.

He served on the Fiesta Board from 1973 to 2014 and served as president several times. He and other Cavaliers drove the Texas Citrus Fiesta Queens to destinations across Texas to promote Mission and the Fiesta.

They participated in the Cotton Bowl Parade two years, and he was crowned King Citrus in 1977.

In the early 1980s, he was appointed chairman over building the Veterans Pavilion on South Inspiration Road by then Precinct 3 Commissioner Norberto “Beto” Salinas. Don made sure it was equipped with a kitchen for cooking.

The year Mission High School Eagles football team made the state playoffs and played in Houston at the Astrodome, he discovered that the football players did not have the correct shoes to play on Astroturf.

He worked with others in Mission to raise money to buy the team the necessary shoes. He also wanted every player’s parents to be able to go to the game, so he raised more money to rent buses to take the parents to Houston.

Don’s life was the city of Mission, and he loved everything about it. A day would not pass that Don would not be setting out in his driveway in the late af-

ChurCh DireCtory BREAD OF LIFE CHURCH 2820 N. Conway Ave. • 581-1411 CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD 2322 N. McColl. - McAllen 682-2092 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 5609 S 29th St. - McAllen 682-4881 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Missonaries • 580-2570 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH 911 N. Main - McAllen 686-4241 CONWAY AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH 2215 N. Conway • 585-2413 EL FARO BIBLE CHURCH 15 miles W. of Mission on Exp. 83 Sullivan City, TX • 585-5617 EL MESIAS UNITED METHODIST 209 E. 6th • 585-2334 FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH 3 miles N. Shary Rd. • 581-1465 FAITH FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH 1 mile N. Exp. 83 on Tom Gill Rd. 519-6311 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1302 Doherty • 585-1442 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH 12th and Miller - Mission 585-7281 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1102 Ash St. • 585-4829 for worship schedule.

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

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

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

3805 Plantation Grove Blvd., Ste. 5

Mission • 580-4551

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

PALM VALLEY CHURCH 1720 E. Griffin Pkwy.

585-3203

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

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

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

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

TEMPLO EVANGELICO, M.B. CHURCH La Joya

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

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

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

VALLEY FELLOWSHIP 1708 E. Griffin Parkway Mission • 424-7200

MISSION AUTO ELECTRIC, INC. DBA

ER MAE EPQOU IW PMENT

Commercial Lawn Equipment “Since 1954”

915 West Bus. 83 • Mission, tX 78572 • (956) 581-7433

KING, GUERRA, DAVIS & GARCIA ATTORNEYS AT LAW

DAVID H. GUERRA

DARRELL DAVIS

301 E. Tom Landry • Mission • 585-1622

IMPLEMENT COMPANY, INC. MISSION 585-1618

  

 



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

 

ternoon, to visit with all that stopped by. Their home in Mission was the hub of many events and activities, starting from the day they moved in. In September, 2014, Mission returned its love by honoring him as a 2014 Wall of Fame Inductee into the Mission Historical Museum.

Don and Mary Jane celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 8, 2006, in Austin with their family and friends.

Don is survived by his daughter, Rhonda Paxton (Richard) High; son, Scott Riter (Cecilia) Lester; grandchildren, Laney High (Dallon) James, Christopher Scott High, Maryann Elizabeth Lester and Stephen Scott Lester; and three great-grandchildren, Emma Jo James, Riter Boone James and Henley Karrol James.

Scott, and his family will never be far from Don and Mary, as they have made Don’s family property in Paris their home.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, Oct. 23, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Mission Community Center, 1420 E. Kika De La Garza Loop.

The family will be serving his famous barbeque. His Mission friends are invited to attend and share all favorite stories about Don. Don and Mary’s ashes will be placed together in their final resting place at Meadowbrook Gardens, 6245 Clarksville St., Paris, where they began their life together.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission.

Billy Fred Marcus MISSION – Billy Fred Marcus, 91, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015.

Born in Wichita Falls on June 28, 1924, Mr. Marcus lived most of his life in Battle Creek, Mich. and Mission. He served in the U.S. Navy and was a WWII veteran, earning eight Bronze Stars while serving in the Pacific.

Following his service, he

page 9

was owner of Marcus Refrigeration in Battle Creek, Mich.

Survivors include his daughters, Lee Ann Merritt and Billie Jean Collins; son, Mark Marcus; and 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A graveside service with military honors was held on Oct. 15 at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission. It was followed with a service at the Hacienda subdivision clubhouse in Mission.

Mary M. Quigley MISSION – Mary M. Quigley, 91, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Survivors include her stepdaughter, Elnita Porterfield and five step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alejandro and Pearl Lopez; first husband, Albert Stewart; and second husband, Warren W. Quigley.

The funeral was held on Oct. 13 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission.

Maria Del Carmen E. Ramirez MISSION – Maria Del Carmen E. Ramirez, 79, passed away on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, at Solara Hospital in McAllen.

Mrs. Ramirez was born in Mission. After 24 years, she retired as a teacher with the Hidalgo County Head Start program. She was an active member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Jose Carlos E. Ramirez; sister, Alicia Espericueta; and seven children, 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The funeral was held on Oct. 13 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission.

page 10

October 16, 2015

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

La Joya ISD talks campus improvements

By Julie Silva

L

a Joya ISD’s Board of Trustees heard improvement plans for three schools that missed the statewide standard in the past two years – Juarez-Lincoln High School, Saenz Middle School and Tabasco Elementary School.

Juarez-Lincoln and Saenz both met state standards in 2015, but missed it the previous year. Tabasco missed the state standard in 2015. As a result, each school has a campus improvement team, which

remains in place until the school meets standards for two years in a row.

The state rates schools on four indices: student performance (how well they did on state tests), progress (how much students improved from the previous year), closing the achievement gap (how well groups like special education and English Language Learners improved) and post secondary readiness (how ready students are for college).

The Texas Education Agency categorizes each campus as “met standard” or “improvement

required.” Only two campuses amongst Sharyland, La Joya and Mission Consolidated ISDs were listed as improvement required in 2015: Tabasco Elementary at La Joya ISD and the Mission Options Academy.

Tabasco missed the Academics and Closing the Gap categories. The state standard for Academics was set at 60, and the school scored 57. The state standard for Closing the Gap was 28, and the campus scored 27.

The school’s STAAR performance scores went down in every category but math, which increased from 54 in 2014 to 65 in 2015.

Jose Valdez, principal at Tabasco, said the school plans to target science, where only 30 percent of English Language Learners passed; writing, where all subgroups were at 54 percent or below; reading; and attendance, which was listed at 94.2 percent.

Valdez listed his goals at increasing science scores for English Language Learners by at least 15 percent on the 2016 STAAR exam, increasing writing scores by 10 percent for fourth-graders, increasing reading by 6 percent and attaining a 96 percent attendance rate.

While Saenz Middle School met standards, it missed the academics index with a score of 58.

The state standard was 60.

Unlike Tabasco, the only content area the campus didn’t improve from 2014 to 2015 was math, which dropped from 67 to 61.

See IMPROVEMENTS 12

October 16, 2015

A

page 11

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Salinas Elementary students win engineering competition

team of four students from Salinas Elementary School recently flexed their engineering muscle, winning a competition against teams from neighboring school districts. It was called the Manufacturing Day Design Challenge.

The students are Jessica Martinez, Aleckzander Hernandez, Yandel Barrera, and Christine Zayas. Assisting

the event were Gabe Puente, publisher, RGVision Magazine; Jessica Ortega-Ochoa, city council place 1, city of Mission; Trung Nguyen, plant manager, Royal Technologies; Susan Valverde, executive director, Sylvan Learning RGV; Martina Garcia, principal, Salinas Elementary School.

The Manufacturing Day Design Challenge was part

of Mission EDC, Royal Technologies Corporation, and Sylvan Learning RGV’s newest program called, Enginuity, an initiative that connects local employer, Royal Technologies, with local youth in an effort to expose students to opportunities in Engineering, Design and Manufacturing careers in the Rio Grande Valley. The goal is to create a pipeline of fu-

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ture engineers and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math entrepreneurs that will help strengthen the manufacturing base that already exists in the Mission area.

This is part of a growing list of opportunities for Mission CISD students through the unique business partnerships being created by Mission EDC, to build student interest and knowledge.

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The students are (left to right): Jessica Martinez, Aleckzander Hernandez, Yandel Barrera, Christine Zayas. Pictured on the back row are: Gabe Puente, publisher, RGVision Magazine; Jessica Ortega-Ochoa, city council place 1, city of Mission; Trung Nguyen, plant manager, Royal Technologies; Susan Valverde, executive director, Sylvan Learning RGV; Martina Garcia, principal, Salinas Elementary School.

Make it happen, we’re located at 1217 N. Conway in Mission, TX Come on in! Our hours of operation are Mon. - Fri. 8 - 5 p.m.

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LEGAL NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Mixed Beverage Permit with Late Hours Permit by Contex Restaurants Inc. d/b/a Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar located at 306 E. Mile 3 Road, Palmhurst, Hidalgo County, TX 78573. Officers of said Corporation are Jeffrey D. Nuemann, President/Director and Mark Seymour, Treasurer/CFO.

ORDINANCE NO. 4282 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING OF A 0.84 ACRE TRACT OF LAND OUT OF LOT 25-5, WEST ADDITION TO SHARYLAND SUBDIVISION, FROM AO-I (AGRICULTURAL OPEN INTERIM) TO C-3 (GENERAL BUSINESS) READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 12TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2015.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4283 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING ALL OF LOT 2, MISSION FARM ESTATES, FROM AO-I (AGRICULTURAL OPEN INTERIM) TO I-1 (LIGHT INDUSTRIAL) READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 12TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2015.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4281 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING OF A 3.95 ACRE TRACT OF LAND OUT OF LOT 282, AND A PORTION OF HIDALGO COUNTY WATER DISTRICT NO. 14 CANAL RIGHT-OF-WAY EAST AND ADJACENT TO SAID LOT 282, JOHN H. SHARY SUBDIVISION, FROM AO-I (AGRICULTURAL OPEN INTERIM) TO R-1A (LARGE LOT SINGLE FAMILY) READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 12TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2015.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE The Mission City Council will hold a Regular Meeting on October 26, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following:

Yvonne Ramón Elections Administrator

FOR THE CITY OF PALMVIEW SPECIAL MUNICIPAL REFERENDUM ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 2015 (Para la cuidad de Palmview elección especial referéndum municipal) (3 de Noviembre del 2015) To the Registered Voters residing within the boundaries of the City of Palmview in the County of Hidalgo, Texas (Para los votantes registrados que residen dentro de los límites de la cuidad de Palmview dentro el condado de Hidalgo, Texas): Early Voting by personal appearance will be conducted at the polling place listed on this notice.

(La votación adelantada en persona, se llevara a cabo en la casilla de esta noticia.)

EARLY VOTING POLL LOCATION (casilla para el voto adelantado) County Commissioner Pct. 3 La Mansion 2401 N. Moorefield Rd. Palmview, TX Days/Dias

Monday/lunes

Dates/Fechas

October 19, 2015

Hours/Horas

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Tuesday/martes

October 20, 2015

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Thursday/jueves

October 22, 2015

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Saturday/sabado

October 24, 2015

Wednesday/miercoles Friday/viernes

Sunday/domingo Monday/lunes

October 21, 2015

October 23, 2015

8:00 am – 5:00 pm 8:00 am – 5:00 pm 7:00 am – 7:00 pm

October 25, 2015

10:00 am – 3:00 pm

October 26, 2015

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Tuesday/martes

October 27, 2015

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Thursday/jueves

October 29, 2014

7:00 am – 7:00 pm

Wednesday/miercoles Friday/viernes

October 28, 2015 October 30, 2014

8:00 am – 5:00 pm 7:00 am – 7:00 pm

NOVEMBER 3, 2015 (3 de Noviembre del 2015) ELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATION 7:00 am - 7:00 pm (dia de elección las casillas electorales abren de 7:00 am – 7:00 pm) Precincts / Precinctos

Poll Location / Casilla Electoral

Address / Dirección

78, 100 & 187

County Commissioner

2401 N. Moorefield Rd

145 & 170

“New” La Joya City Hall

701 E. Expressway 83

Pct. 3 La Mansion

Palmview, TX La Joya, TX

Rezoning: A 12.11 acre tract of land out of Lot 304, John H. Shary Subdivision, from (AO-I) Agricultural Open Interim to (R-2) Duplex-Fourplex Residential

At Early Voting and at Election, the following proposition will be submitted to City of Palmview voters to vote either -

Abandonment of right-of-way easement on a 1.194 acre tract out of Lots 16-8 & 16-9, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision, as requested by Melden & Hunt, Inc.

“whether the palmview (police department) crime control and prevention district should be continued for five (5) years and the palmview crime control and prevention district sales tax of one-half cent should be continue for five (5) years?”

If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement.

Anyone interested is invited to attend.

Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

En el voto adelantado y en la elección, la siguiente proposición sera sometida al votante registrado para votar en la cuidad de Palmview

PUBLIC NOTICE The Mission Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on October 28, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: A tract of land containing 0.913 acres of land, more or less, out of Lot 234, John H. Shary Subdivision and Lot 105, Shary Palms Unit III, from R-1 (Single Family Residential) to C-1 (Office Building) If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement.

Anyone interested is invited to attend.

Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

FOR or AGAINST

A FAVOR o EN CONTRA

“si el districto del control y de la prevención del crimen de palmview (departamento de policía) se debe (5) años y los impuestos sobre venta del districto del control y de la prevención del crimen de palmview de una mitad centavo se deve continuar por cinco (5) años?”

continuar por cinco

Applications for ballot by mail shall be mailed to Yvonne Ramón, Elections Administrator, P.O. Box 659, Edinburg, Texas 78540 or 101 S. 10th Ave., Edinburg, Texas 78539. Applications for ballots by mail MUST be received, not simply postmarked, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 23, 2015.

(La aplicación para votar en ausencia por correo será enviada a Yvonne Ramón, Administradora de Elecciones, al P.O .Box 659, Edinburg, Texas 78540 o 101 S. 10th Ave., Edinburg, Texas 78539.

Aplicaciones para votar en ausencia por correo deben recibirse, no simplemente sellada por el correo en la oficina, no mas tardado que las 5:00 p.m. el viernes, 23 de Octubre del 2015.)

page 12

October 16, 2015

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

IMPROVEMENTS Belen Martinez, the new principal at Saenz, listed the areas of need as social studies, which only 16 percent of English Language Learners passed; writing, which 31 percent of English Language Learners passed; reading, which 41 percent of English Language Learners passed.

Her goals are to increase performance of the English Language Learners by 14 percent in social studies, 10 percent in writing and 10 percent in reading.

Juarez-Lincoln met all

from pg 10

of the state standards. Still, Principal Eduardo Alaniz vowed to increase the attendance rate to 93 percent and reduce discipline referrals by 10 percent over the 2015 figure.

He also plans to increase the percent of students participating in Advanced Placement classes to 46 percent and have 75 percent of those students take the exam at the end of the course. The last goal Alaniz listed was increasing both the English I and II end-of-course exam passing rate to 65 percent.

“It’s most important that we’re all working together with our teachers … and the teachers being receptive to drive success for student achievement,” said trustee Esperanza “Espie” Ochoa after the presentations. “I’ve seen gains the last three years … I’ve seen things happening on the campuses, and I know that these campuses are moving forward.

Please thank your teachers for all the hard work that they do.”

MISSION EDC rooms, a small lecture hall, training classrooms, computer labs, industrial space, maker space, a coffee shop, to be utilized by the community as well as it’s future tenants and partners.

Over the next few

from pg 8

months, Mission EDC will be communicating its vision with various community partners, academic institutions, and profit and non-profit organizations to establish the proper strategic alliances to help the City of

Mission position itself to respond rapidly to changes in local economic conditions and training needs.

The property owner will begin redevelopment of the building later this month and expects to have it ready for Mission EDC by summer 2016.

For additional information, contact the Mission EDC office at (956) 5850040.

FIRE STATION from pg 1

All the improvements it will warrant a new evaluation on its current ISO (Insurance Service Office) rating. ISO evaluates fire departments on their capacity to respond to fires.

“This will be very beneficial to Alton residents and business owners where they may qualify through their current insurance for a reduction in their premiums due to the new ISO rating,” said Javier Garcia, fire chief for the city of Alton.

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