December 19, 2014 - Progress Times Issue

Friday, December 19, 2014

www.progresstimes.net | 50 Cents

Steel company announces 100,000-square-foot Mission plant S outhwest Steel Coil has purchased seven acres in the Mission Expressway Business Park with plans to construct a 100,000-squarefoot facility in Mission.

Ed Camden, president of Southwest Steel Coil Inc., a subsidiary of Calstrip Industries based out of Los Angeles, California, made the announcement after the company considered several other cities in the Valley. The company expects to create at least 25-40 jobs.

Earlier this year, Mission Economic Development Corporation, through a referral from McAllen EDC, began communicating with South-

west Steel Coil Inc. The company, located in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, processes and distributes flat-rolled steel and aluminum.

“The company’s growth in New Mexico has come primarily from helping to create a more local supply chain by capturing business formerly provided to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) companies from outside the local market. We are hoping to duplicate that business model and success in Mission,” Camden said.

The MEDC authorized the sale for $800,000 at the end of October. The MEDC also authorized $450,000 in in-

THE END OF A GUERRA; DA readies to leave office

centives for the steel company to locate in Mission.

“The Mission EDC team has been working with Southwest Steel for the past several months and we are excited to see their hard work has paid off,” said David Deanda, MEDC/MEDA chair. “The creation of up to 40 jobs is a substantial number of new jobs for a city like Mission; these are great jobs that will support families.”

Southwest Steel Coil performs slitting, cutting to length and blanking of carbon and stainless steel, and aluminum from master coils of 40,000 to 45,000 pounds.

Its customers include OEMs

mainly in the border cities of Mexico, but also in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.

“This project is not only an example of two neighboring communities, like Mission and McAllen, working together to strengthen the region but an indication of the region’s business-friendly climate, commitment to customer service and it’s highly skilled workforce,” said Alex Meade, Mission EDC chief executive officer.

In August, the Mission Redevelopment Authority agreed to spend $300,000 to expand rail lines to the proposed site. The money will be taken from $6 million bud-

geted for improvements at the park. At that August meeting, Meade said the original plan was to construct a 60,000 square foot building in the first phase of the building, but Calstrip had been considering a larger facility.

“The project is a big deal for us,” Meade said at the time. “The company is looking at investing between $16 million and $20 million.”

Calstrip had asked for tax abatements from both Hidalgo County and the city of Mission, but because the Mission site is within the tax increment reinvestment zone, the county’s share of the property tax improvements go

back into the TIRZ, which is managed by the Mission Redevelopment Authority. That meant the county couldn’t give Calstrip a tax abatement because those taxes are going to the authority.

“Southwest Steel’s expansion into Mission is a testament to the prosperous business climate that this region offers,” said Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas. “I am thrilled about the expansion, and I am fully supportive of their decision to bring additional jobs and added revenue to our community.”

For more information, please contact: Mission EDC at (956) 585-0040.

MAKING CHRISTMAS

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By Julie Silva

s his time as Hidalgo County district attorney comes to an end, Rene Guerra finds himself exactly where he was in 1972 when he was released from the Army–in the unknown.

“People are asking me that question now that I’ve been retired by the voters: What am I going to do?”

Guerra said with just weeks left in his tenure. “I don’t know.”

Guerra has served as district attorney since 1982 when he beat Robert Salinas out for the office by 162 votes, “a landslide.”

“Everybody was against me,” Guerra said. “Everybody in the hierarchy was against me except for three little mayors and a whole lot of grassroots people that helped me, including the opponents that kicked me out of office now.”

Guerra now finds himself out of a job after Ricardo Rodriguez, who resigned from his seat as 92nd District Court judge to take on Guerra, won the March primary.

Rodriguez takes office Jan. 1.

The DA said he knew Rodriguez, a member of the Palacios family that once supported Guerra, would run for the DA post the moment Rodriguez was first elected an Edinburg city commissioner. Guerra declared himself a Palacios family political enemy–officially.

“They wanted the power.

They got the power. Now let us see what they do with it,” Guerra said.

But Guerra, who over the

past three decades has developed a reputation as an outspoken official who rarely, if ever, backs down from a fight, said he’s going out with a bang. In recent weeks, Guerra made headlines speaking out against gaming machines in La Joya, dismissing a DWI case against a local judge and suggesting probation for Ismael “Melo” Ochoa, former Pct. 3, Place 2 justice of the peace found guilty of bribery.

“I’ve tried to come across to the public as an honest decision-maker who’s not going to run away from a tough decision,” Guerra said.

“And I’ve gotten myself into a couple of scrapes that if I’d known better…I would have kicked myself with two wooden legs.”

A career in politics In 1977, Guerra joined the District Attorney’s office as a prosecutor under Oscar McKinnis, who would soon be charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Guerra eventually was named interim district attorney, having less than two years of experience working in the office. “[County officials] thought I was going to be

See GUERRA 7A

La Joya students donate to community T

By Lea Victoria Juarez

Students in La Joya travel house-to-house delivering gifts to families in need. For 29 years La Joya ISD has provided a Christmas to locals, donating gifts such as food, clothing and any other basic necessity they may be lacking due to their financial situation. Progress Times photos by Lea Juarez

INSIDE

National Butterfly Center to feed soldiers

Troops stationed in the Rio Grande Valley are invited to a community Christmas party on Saturday. The community is invited to the potluck dinner.

See story page 3A

INDEX

Entertainment | pg. 2A

Lifestyle | pg. 6A

Conway Avenue Baptist Church hosts snow day

Hundreds of children lined up to play in the snow, drink hot chocolate and play on Saturday morning as residents get into the holiday spirit.

See story page 1B

Opinion | pg. 4A

Sports | pg. 10A

was the week before Christmas, when all through the town, students in La Joya were dressed like elves from head down.

Instead of a sleigh and reindeer to pull, yellow school buses rode down street with presents bountiful.

Families remained at home without a clue in their minds of the gifts to be brought to them one stack at a time. For 29 years, La Joya ISD has donated to families in need; for 10 years Juarez-Lincoln High School has helped with the deed …

This year, 47 families were identified as needing a Christmas by Juarez-Lincoln High School. The National Honor Society and

other student organizations collected sizes, ages and descriptions of other necessities for the Gifts of Love and Adopt-a-Family drives. Each family was given a sponsor in October and the sponsors are responsible for donating and wrapping items for their family.

La Joya High School delivered their gifts Dec. 12, but Tuesday was Juarez-Lincoln’s turn to make their runs, followed by Palmview High School on Wednesday.

“Today we’re giving out presents to our community, especially those that need it more,” said Juarez-Lincoln senior Valeria Moncada. “We all came together to do this.

Even if it’s just three or four

See GIFTS OF LOVE 16A

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Closed for Christmas

o give staff time off to spend Christmas with their families, the Progress Times will not publish an issue the week of Christmas. The office will be closed from noon Dec. 24 through Friday, Dec. 26. It will re-open at 8 a.m.

Monday, Dec. 29.

The next issue of Progress Times will be the Jan.2 edition.

The Progress Times staff wants to take this opportunity to wish readers and their families the joy, happiness and wonder of the Christmas season.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Obituaries | pg. 13A

Classifieds | pg. 15A

entertainment Danville Chadbourne exhibit opens at IMAS

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cALLEN – The works of sculptor Danville Chadbourne are on display in an exhibit at the International Museum of Art and Science (IMAS) now through April 12, 2015.

Chadbourne’s exhibition features 51 works, most of them created within the past year, including both large and small-scale wood and ceramic sculptures, a

series of suspended works, wall-oriented works in ink and acrylic on wood panel, and several large-scale outdoor sculptures in ceramic and stone.

Primarily a sculptor in clay and wood, Chadbourne works in a range of materials and in both two- and three-dimensional formats.

Known for his craftsmanship and use of primal materials, his work is often likened to

Dresses express cultural heritage The Mission Historical Museum has opened an exhibit of traditional Mexican dresses from six regions and seven states of Mexico to be on display through Feb. 7, 2015 in the main lobby of the Museum at 900 Doherty, in Mission. The dresses, showcased with elaborate dress from the Texas Citrus Fiesta, represent the traditions and culture of the partner cities in Mission’s Sister Cities Organization in the states of Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Quintana Roo, Jalisco, Coahuila, Mexico and Sinaloa. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free, and donations are welcomed.

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a body of cultural artifacts.

The visual and ritual impact of these beautiful objects is made more complex by their provocative, poetic and often paradoxical titles. They are, in essence, monuments to irrational ideas and human impulses.

Danville Chadbourne was born in Bryan in 1949. He received a BFA from Sam Houston State University in 1971 and an MFA from Texas Tech in 1973. After teaching studio art and art history at the college level for 17

Half-millionth visitor can win $500

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he Gladys Porter Zoo is on the verge of reaching a milestone, and staff at the zoo is seeking the public’s help to reach their goal of half a million visitors in a year. The Zoo has already surpassed last years' record-breaking attendance of 447,000 visitors. As an incentive, the Zoo will award a $500 cash prize to their half-millionth visitor.

For those who have not visited the zoo recently, there are new attractions to see: new South Texas Discovery Education Center; two white rhinos; Raja, the Zoo’s new male Komodo dragon; and the new Russell Aquatic Ecology Center.

Zoo employees, Valley Zoological Society board members, GPZ Docent Council members and their immediate family are not eligible to win. The promotion ends on Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. For more information, please call5467187 or visit www.gpz.org.

African Children’s Choir to perform in Mission

he African Children's Choir will perform Sunday, Dec. 28, at 10:30 a.m. at Primera Baptist Church, located at 408 E. 6th St. in Mission.

The group melts the hearts of audiences with their smiles, voices and lively African songs and dances. The program features well-loved children's songs, traditional Spirituals and Gospel favor-

ites.

Concerts are free and open to all. A free-will offering is taken at the performance to support African Children's Choir programs, such as education, care and relief and development programs.

Music for Life, parent organization for the choir, works in seven African countries such as, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Nigeria,

Ghana and South Africa. The organization has educated over 52,000 children through its relief and development programs and is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The African Children's Choir has performed before presidents, heads of state and most recently the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, for her diamond jubilee. The Choir has also had the honor

of singing alongside artists such as Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Michael W. Smith, and other inspirational performers.

Most recently, the choir has accompanied South African opera singer, Pumeza Matshikiza, on some tracks for her debut album which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.

December 19, 2014 page 2A www.progresstimes.net NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

years at various institutions, Chadbourne devoted himself full-time to his art. He has exhibited extensively at both state and national levels, including more than 100 one-person exhibitions. He

lives in San Antonio with his wife, Diana Roberts.

For more information, call 682-0123 or info@imasonline.org. Admission to the exhibit is included in the price of general admission.

Coming Attractions

Daily • Hidalgo’s Festival of Lights is open nightly with trolley rides through the lights, dinners provided by school organizations and service groups, with varied entertainment nightly.

Visitors may walk and drive through the lighted scenes on their own through Dec. 31 or purchase a trolley ticket at the drop-off point.

The dinner, entertainment and trolley ride combination is available for $12. The combination tickets are sold only at the State Farm Arena.

Call 843-5311 for information or stop by the box office.

December 19 • Ballet Folklórico South Texas College and Ballet Folklórico de la Universidad de Guanajuato will share the stage on Friday, Dec. 19, at the McAllen Civic Auditorium, 1300 S. 10th St., for one performance only as part of a cultural exchange that includes this one-day only performance.

Tickets are available at the McAllen Convention Center Box Office and on the day of the performance. All tickets are $12, general admission.

For additional, contact Victor Gómez at 872-2070 or at vgomez@southtexascollege. edu.

• The “Pirate & Princess Adventure” of Disney Junior Live On Tour! at State Farm Arena. It’s in town for one day only with shows at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. featuring characters from the smash hits “Sofia the First” and “Jake and the Never Land Pirates.”

Ticket prices range from

$15 to $47 and are available at ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

December 20 • The Pharr Events Center, 3000 N. Cage, hosts the Eli Young Band with doors open at 7 p.m. All tickets are $35 for general admission.

Go to ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.

December 27 • Kyle Park performs at Las Palmas Race Park, 9809 N. Taylor Rd. in Mission, with gates opening at 7 p.m.

Gates open at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at ticketfly.com or by calling 877-435-9849.

Prices increase the day of the event.

December 29 • Kevin Fowler’s Holiday Hangover tour, featuring the Casey Donahew Band, opens at 7 p.m. at the Pharr Events Center, 3000 N. Cage. General admission is $22, and reserved tables for 10 are $37 per person. Purchase tickets online at ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.

Weekly • Catholic War Veterans Post #1065 in Mission invites the public to their “Get Away Thursday Dance” held every Thursday evening, from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. It is located at 500 W. Business 83. Music by the Electro Band provides country western, Tejano, the Oldies, cumbias and more.

No cover charge. Call 5835961 or email Doodrey@ netzero.com for more information.

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

December 19, 2014

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U.S. seizes account of former Mexican political appointee

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n investment account in McAllen alleged to be owned by Homero De La Garza Tamez has been seized as a result of an the efforts of a multi-agency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Tamez is the former Instituto Tamaulipeco De Vivienda Y Urbanismo director in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico.

The account, held at UBS Financial Services Inc. in McAllen, contained $1,109,989.66 as of Nov. 4, 2014. According to the civil forfeiture complaint, the funds in the account were involved in a money laundering transaction that the property constitutes or was derived from proceeds traceable to offenses, including bribery of a public official, or the misappropriation, theft or embezzlement of public funds by or for the benefit of a public official.

Tamez is allegedly the holder of that account. The complaint alleges Tamez transferred money from

bribes from Mexico into the account in the United States.

ITAVU is the Tamaulipas Institute for Housing and Urban Development. Tamez was appointed as director by former Tamaulipas Gov. Eugenio Hernandez Flores.

ITAVU is the department in Tamaulipas responsible for supporting lower income residents with housing programs and financing programs. One of the programs under ITAVU assisted municipalities by paying half of the costs associated with the repair of city streets and the construction of new streets within their city. The city would pay the remaining half of the costs. The program did not require municipalities to participate in the program.

ITAVU also developed properties and built homes, in conjunction with providing special financing programs, which allowed low-income families to move into new homes.

The complaint alleges that during his tenure as the director of ITAVU, Tamez

page 3A

Community Christmas party for the National Guard

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he National Butterfly Center will host a community Christmas party for the National Guard Troops stationed in the Rio Grande Valley as part of Operation Strong Safety on Saturday, Dec. 20.

The young men and women deployed here will not be able to join their families for the holidays, so everyone is invited to share the holiday spirit at this potluck supper.

The price of admission for this special event is a covered dish, dessert or ham, to help the center feed approximately 160 people.

Food service will begin at 1 p.m., and continue until all shifts are fed. Packaged foods or donations to offsets expenses may be dropped off at the National Butterfly Center all week, for those who cannot attend Saturday.

“Please join us in serving those who serve, as we show our gratitude to these

men and women in uniform,” said Marianna Treviño-Wright, executive director of the center.

The National Butterfly Center is in Mission, before Bentsen-RGV State Park,

National Guard soldiers are pictured at the National Butterfly Center during a meal held in their honor in September.

and open to the public seven days a week.

To learn more, call 956583-5400, visit www.na-

tionalbutterflycenter.org or find out more about us on our family-friendly Facebook page.

gested areas of the city were considered to be a problem.

Salinas said building the new bridge would increase the speed with which commercial goods could be moved from Mexico throughout the United States.

However, no plans have yet been made. Salinas said the first step would be to meet with the RMA and see exactly what it was they want to do. After they met early next year, possible plans for a new bridge would be more definite.

In other action Salinas was strongly opposed to a plan by city staff to do inhouse work to upgrade the water and sewer lines as part of the Mile 2 Road project between Conway Avenue and Moorefield Road.

“That means we are competing against contractors in our area by using our own crews,” Salinas said. He then asked how many men would be taken from their regular duties to do the project.

Public Works Director Roberto Salinas said it would take two crews of five men for about two months to get job done.

“Who is going to do

their job of maintaining the streets?” Mayor Salinas asked. “Do we have so many people in our streets department we can take 10 men away from their regular jobs for two months? If we do, we don’t need them, so will we let them go after the project completed? And do they have the expertise to do a job that big?”

Roberto Salinas said city crews had done similar jobs on a smaller scale.

Mayor Salinas questioned the liability issue. “Does the city want to take on the liability for a project that big?

Why not get proposals and hire a contractor who has to get insurance for the project and protect the city against liability? If something goes wrong, the city could get in a lot of trouble by doing the project in-house. This project involves state money, not jut local funds.”

Mayor Salinas then asked if there was a budget for labor in addition to what was being presented during the meeting for materials to do the project. He contended the city had no business trying to

Council authorizes mayor to negotiate with RMA on railroad bridge

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See SEIZURE 14A By Kathy Olivarez

ission Mayor Beto Salinas and City Manager Martin Garza were authorized to begin negotiations with the Regional Mobility Authority on a proposed rail project related to Mission’s presidential permit for construction of a railroad bridge across the Rio Grande after a discussion in executive session Monday evening.

According to Salinas, the project would include building an international bridge, which would be Mission’s responsibility. The project would also include the purchase of right-of-way for a new railroad line that would extend to Alice.

Mission has had a railroad permit since the 1980s to build a bridge in the Madero area, but it has not yet been acted on because trains moving through increasingly con-

Reminiscing...

30 Years Ago This Week

Juan Rosel was named a municipal judge in Mission Municipal Judge Arturo Leal was relieved of his duties, and Justice of the Peace Juan Rosel, who had been serving as assistant municipal judge, was named as his replacement.

Arnaldo Corpus, the incoming justice of the peace who won the seat from Leal, was appointed assistant municipal judge.

City Attorney Hollis Rankin III said the municipal judge traditionally had been a justice of the peace because historically municipal judges did not have all of the powers needed to carry out some of their duties.

Mission awarded a contract to construct a new school The Mission School Board awarded a contract for construction of a 32-classroom elementary school to JLD Construction Co., out of Brownsville. The firm submitted the low bid of $1.7 million.

See COUNCIL 12A

opinion

December 19, 2014 page 4A www.progresstimes.net NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

A Christmas message in a bottle

By Mendi Brunson

For those who don’t know, June Brann is my mother. My mother LOVED small Cokes. She ordered them by multiple cases and cartons and always had a large stash in her garage.

Even if she didn’t have food storage for a hurricane or any other emergency, we always knew she would have enough small Cokes to get her through any shortages.

My mother also loved Christmas, and she intensely loved her family. All the extended family members who lived in the area would go to her house the first Saturday after Thanksgiving to decorate her tree.

We would devour tamales, hot chocolate, and all that the HEB sandwich and relish trays had to offer. Although, the pimento cheese sandwiches were a toss-up—depending on just how much of an appetite we worked up.

The testosterone-laden teen-age grandsons would head out to the back patio corner to conquer and wrap the Italian Cypress in lights.

Her patio faced the Mission golf course. With her Cypress outside and the Christmas tree inside in front of the patio door, it was her Christmas greeting to golfers making their final approaches on the course in the late evenings between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

And, every year, we would discuss and tackle the challenges of lighting that ever-growing Italian Cypress – everything from climbing on the neighbor’s patio roof to lassoing the top and pulling it over. Finally the lights at the top just had to stay there while more strings were added below.

Some of the males in the family would be at her

house earlier in the day on Saturday, and/or the Friday before, to help her set up the snow village. Black Friday shopping didn’t exist then and still doesn’t on our calendar. It’s all about family on Thanksgiving weekend.

That village seemed to grow bigger every year. Yet, somehow, it still managed to occupy the same amount of space in the corner of the tight living room of Mom’s condo. She made it work and calculated and prepared for the placement of each piece and electrical component.

There would be arms and legs everywhere as we stepped over each other to find the next ornament to decorate the tree. No matter how we tried, we never could fit in the same place at the same time. Go figure why those laws of physics would defy us in our purpose. So, adults and children learned a little patience, and we got the job done without busted heads and emergency room visits.

The storage containers would be cleared. The lights in the house were dimmed.

Christmas music was playing throughout the house.

Cousins and siblings would crash on the couch, the chairs and the floor—joking, teasing and bonding. Adults would find a spot to squeeze in. A few family members would always be found on the steps of the stairs, peering through the bannister for a strategic view.

After the Christmas tree skirt was placed, it was the “piéce de résistance”—the final lighting of the tree.

A hush would fall across the house. Each year the same exclamation would be heard trickling through the living room, the adjacent dining room and from the stairs and loft above.

It rolled off the lips of one family member and then another and another. “I think that’s the best Christmas tree yet.”

It was what opened the Christmas season for all of us—mother/grandmother, sons, daughter, daughtersin-love, son-in-love, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. We were all somebody to everybody. It’s what families are all about. And, Mom held us tight.

Mom would spend the next weeks shopping very specifically, thoughtfully for each family member and wrapping each present to place under the tree.

With 20 grandchildren plus children and their spouses, that meant a lot of presents.

It was all preparation for Christmas day, the family meal that afternoon and exchanging gifts.

Somehow, with her traditions, we all still managed to have our own family traditions. Ours is a Christmas Eve dinner with whatever extended family members want to join in. It is a time to capture the reflective aspects of the true meaning of Christmas with carols and the Christmas story. Jim’s family would join us for both Christmas Eve dinner and again for breakfast and exchanging gifts on Christmas morning.

Christmas day would be presents early in the morning before eating, and usually a house full of family and church missionaries for our Christmas breakfast before heading off to Mom’s in the afternoon.

They were allowed to open one gift on Christmas Eve—a new pair of pajamas.

That was always in preparation of the Christmas morning photo “line-up.” Many

are the photos of stair-stepping our kids in the hallway before heading to the tree.

I’m still humored by the countenances on their faces as they age from youth to teen. They go from sleepy to youthful eagerness and anticipation to “Can we get this over already?!” I’ve noticed some of our children have continued the Christmas morning line-up. Expressions in the photos haven’t changed much between the generations.

Every year, no matter their age, there was a stuffed animal waiting under the tree. It’s interesting to see how all the grandchildren today—male and female— love stuffed animals. The grandchildren span ages 3 to almost 20. Maybe it gets passed down in the genes.

But, I think it’s what comes with “traditions”—making memories.

Family members have

long since moved away, and Christmas traditions have changed along with the dwindling numbers and the distance it takes to return “home.” Our five children and their children scattered across four states creates a lot of barriers in getting together. But, “home” is always in the heart.

There’s a little melancholy and some things are bitter sweet without the hustle and bustle of the activity of years past. But, gratefully, the memories are more on the sweet side.

Now that you have the background, here’s the rest of the story—the small bottle of Coca-Cola you see in this picture.

Mom passed away on August 14, 2009.

I arrived home from Dallas this afternoon, and my dear husband had that bouquet of flowers you see in the picture waiting to greet me.

He was so happy to present it to me with a kiss—and then a few more.

The day before, he phoned me while I was in Dallas to let me know that a FedEx package had arrived.

It was adding to the growing pile of packages I had ordered for family members who will be at our house this year. But, I didn’t know what this package was.

Once I saw it, the name and address of the sender on the outside of the FedEx box was unknown to me. I was puzzled and thought it might be an item that had been shipped from an outside vendor for one of my Christmas orders.

The shipping address was in my name, Mendi Brunson (correct spelling), Progress Times, at our office physical address. Although I have packages sent to our office, I

See MESSAGE 13A

www.progresstimes.net

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.

December 19, 2014

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page 5A

lifestyle

December 19, 2014 page 6A www.progresstimes.net NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

MHS FFA advances in state finals

Bentsen RGV offers basic fishing for beginners

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or anyone who has wanted to try fishing, but doesn’t have the skills or experience can learn how as Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park presents Basic Fishing for Beginners.

It will be held on Saturday, Dec. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m.

All ages of anglers can learn about basic fishing skills such as tackle assembly, fishing knots, aquatic habitats and fishing regulations.

The indoor program offers several stations as participants learn to master at least two common fishing knots and practice casting technique with a spincast

rod-and-reel combo. Students will also learn to identify freshwater game fish as well different types of baits and lures. Upon completing the course, students will receive free materials, a Basic Angler Certification and a fish recognition pin.

Basic Fishing for Beginners is limited to 40 students, ages 7 and up. Parents are encouraged to participate.

The park is located at 2800 South Bentsen Palm Drive in Mission. For more information or to pre-register, call Ranger Roy at 5849156. No fishing license or stamp is required at state parks.

he Mission Historical Museum is once again looking for antique (or just “old and interesting”) quilts for a “Turning of the Quilts” program to be offered on Feb. 6, 2015. Turning of the Quilts” will be presented as part of the awards ceremony at the Eighth Annual Mission Quilt Show at the Mission Historical Museum at 2 p.m.

Quilts are presented stacked on a bed. As each

quilt is shown, it is turned down to reveal the next quilt, until all have been presented.

The museum will be accepting vintage quilts from now until Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, which can be brought in Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The museum is closed on holidays.

Contributors may submit more than one quilt and are asked to provide as much in-

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ission High School FFA Chapter Parliamentary Procedure Team traveled to Huntsville to compete in this year’s Leadership Development Events. The state-wide tournament in parliamentary procedure began with 260 teams.

The Mission FFA team won the Rio Grande Valley FFA District Championship, the Area 10 Association Reserve Championship, State semi-final championship and then advanced into the state finals at the Huntsville meet where they placed eighth overall.

The competition focused on creating situation for

Rogelio Rodriguez scores an Alligator Gar from the resaca at Bentsen-RGV State Park. Courtesy photo

Entries now accepted Keeping kids for ‘Turning of the Quilts’ busy during Winter Break T formation as they can about their submissions, i.e., who made it, how old is it, how did they received it, etc.

Viewers would also be interested in any stories associated with the quilt. All quilts will be handled by trained and knowledgeable individuals.

The Mission Historical Museum is located at 900 Doherty in Mission. Admission is free. For more information, call 580-8646.

Cavazos Elementary wins book drive contest The students and staff at Cavazos Elementary School went all out for their book drive to support the H-E-B Read 3 School Book Drive Challenge. In just one week earlier this semester, the students and staff brought in 2,540 new or like-new children’s books, raising more books than any other school in a region that extends up to El Paso. On Dec. 11, the campus of 520 students was presented with a prize of $1,000.

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DINBURG – During the winter break families looking for things to do are invited to head over to the Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC) for four days of activities in the Spectacular Saturday and Winter Wonder Wetlands On Saturday, Dec. 27, families can participate in craft activities, puzzles and games, walks and an educational puppet show titled, “Predator, Prey, & Getting Away” at 2:30 p.m.

On Monday, Dec. 29, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., it’s all about turtles as the EWBC debuts a new puppet show, “From Land to Sea,” followed by an outdoor game.

On Dec. 30 from 1 to 4 p.m., learn about capturing “critters” and discover what lives in the waters of the EWBC Dragonfly Pond.

Then on Wednesday, from 2:30 - 4 p.m., children and their parents can craft butterflies while learning about what makes them special.

Entry for December’s Spectacular Saturday is free all day. Entry for Winter Wonder Wetlands for each day is regular admission: $3 adults, $2 students and seniors, and 5 and under are free. Admission is free for EWBC members only. Reservations are recommended.

The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Road.

For more information or to register, call 381-9922.

Completes basics

Air Force Reserve Airman Daniel Morales and Airman Andrea L. Gonima graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio.

After the eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Airmen earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Morales is the son of Adriana P. Hernandez of Alton and Daniel Morales and grandson of Aurora Hernandez of Mission. Gonima is the daughter of Amy and Eric Gonima of Mission. They are both 2014 graduates of Sharyland High School in Mission.

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.

members to demonstrate their abilities in public speaking, decision-making, communications, and their knowledge of agriculture and the FFA organization, Robert’s Rules of Order, and their ability to conduct a business session while following correct rules of procedure.

Team members included Benito Garza, FFA advisor; Brianna Saenz, vice president; Amanda Granados, president; Andrea Gonzalez, treasurer; Christopher Venecia, sentinel; Sebastian Martinez, secretary; Sebastian Guevara, reporter; and Daniel Rodriguez, student advisor.

Events Calendar

Dec ember 19 – The Mission Computer Club will meet at 10 a.m. in the Speer Memorial Library Community Room.

Focus is on Windows, but Mac, Linux and computer “gadgets” are also addressed. Demonstrations with question and answer time are part of each meeting. All levels of users are welcome to attend, and meetings are free.

Contact Edna Morales at the library at 580-8478 for more information.

Dec ember 19 – The Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center hosts a presentation by Javier de Leon on “How to be a Citizen Scientist” from 6 to 7 p.m. Participants will learn how to help in data collection for birds, butterflies and other animals found in the Valley. De Leon, superintendent at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, is an avid birder and butterfly watcher. Admission is free. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation begins at 6 p.m. Seats are limited; call 381-9922 to reserve a spot. The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. in Edinburg.

January

Jan uary 2 – The Mission Computer Club will meet at 10 a.m. in the Speer Memorial Library Community Room. Focus is on Windows, but Mac, Linux and computer “gadgets” are also addressed. Demonstrations with question and answer time are part of each meeting. All levels of users are welcome to attend, and meetings are free. Contact Edna Morales at the library at 580-8478 for more information.

Weekly

Monday TOPS #415 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 3 p.m. weigh-in, Mission Historical Museum, 900 Doherty. For info: Shirley Earp, 254-258-2380.

Crossroads Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1101 Doherty. For info: Lydia, 330-6559, or Shirley, 581-8084.

AARP Driver Safety Classes, 12:30 p.m., Salvation Army, 1600 N. 23rd, McAllen. AARP members, $12; non-members, $14. Checks or money orders only. Class size limited to 15.

For info: 682-1468.

Tuesday Quinta Mazatlan: Songbird Strolls, 8:30-9:30 a.m., 600 Sunset, McAllen. Included in regular admission. Call 6813370 for info.

Wednesday Mission Lions Club, 12 p.m., Danny’s Mexican Restaurant, 122 W. Tom Landry. Meals are $8. Fellow Lions welcomed.

Upper Valley Art League: open painting for members, any medium, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., 921 E. 12th St., Mission. Annual dues, $30. Info or to join: 583-2787.

“In Step to Health” free Wednesday seminars, Mission Hope Seventh Day Adventist Church, 203 W. Mile 3 Rd., Mission, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: exercise, marriage and relationship enhancement, financial empowerment and addiction support; ends November 19. For info or to register, call 454-4596.

Quinta Mazatlan: Garden Walk and Talk, 10 –11 a.m., 600 Sunset, McAllen. Included in regular admission. Call 681-3370 for info.

Helping Other Patients Emotionally (H.O.P.E.), cancer patient support group, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., McAllen Library at Nolana and 23rd, Conference Room B; Marsha Nelson, Ph.D., facilitator. Info: 624-3840.

Thursday Mission Rotary Club, 12 p.m., Club at Cimarron, 1200 S. Shary Rd. Salad bar buffet, $10; Mexican food buffet, $15.

All Rotarians and interested persons welcomed.

Friday Upper Valley Art League, open clay/pottery group (coil method), 9 a.m. to noon, 921 E. 12th Street, Mission. Participants furnish their own clay or contribute toward purchase.

No instructor, no fee. UVAL membership required/$30 annually. Info: 583-2787.

Quinta Mazatlan: History of Quinta Mazatlan Tour, 10 –11 a.m., 600 Sunset, McAllen. Included in regular admission. Call 681-3370 for info.

Saturday Creatures of the Night program led by Bentsen-RGV State Park naturalists; call 584-9156 for program time and to reserve a spot. Located at 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive, Mission.

Quinta Mazatlan: Songbird Strolls, 8:30-9:30 a.m., 600 Sunset, McAllen. Included in regular admission. Call 6813370 for info.

Sunday “In Step to Health” free Sunday seminars, Mission Hope Seventh Day Adventist Church, 203 W. Mile 3 Rd., Mission, 3-5 p.m.: health lectures, screenings and healthy cooking; ends November 23. For info or to register, call 454-4596.

Bentsen Bird Walk, Bentsen-RGV State Park, 2800 Bentsen Palm Drive, Mission, 8:30-10:30 a.m. For beginning to expert birders; no experience necessary. Call 584-9156 for info.

Weekends McAllen Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., McAllen Public Library, 4001 N. 23rd St. Friday-Sunday, Bayside Habitat Tours, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1 to 4 p.m.; wheelchair accessible, open-air tram: Tickets: $4, adults (16 & over); $3, seniors (62 and over); free, under 16. Reservations required; call 748-3607, Ext. 111.

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

December 19, 2014

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Peñitas to unveil historical marker Dec. 20

Juan Miranda

hospital where he died.

Gamez had last been seen at his home in the 4600 block of Marshall Drive when he was forcefully taken by several people to the home on Amber Drive. Gamez tried to escape, but he was shot in the lower back.

According to a news release, “Monchies” was identified as 38-year-old Juan Miguel Miranda, and investigators believe a possible

motive is money owed to the victim.

Miranda was charged with capital murder and taken to jail on a $1 million bond.

Meanwhile, Dec. 12, the U.S. Marshal Gulf Coast Violent Offender and Fugitive Task Force, in cooperation with Hidalgo County and San Juan police, arrested Robert Rivera Jr., 25, after a police chase.

According to a news re-

lease, Rivera admitted to being involved in Gamez’s kidnapping with three other people.

This week, brothers 24-year-old Omar Morin and 26-year-old Oliver Morin, were arrested in connection to the kidnapping. The Morins turned themselves in Wednesday to the sheriff’s office.

They were due to be arraigned on capital murder charges Thursday after press time.

PEÑITAS – The Peñitas Historical Committee will host the official unveiling of a historical marker in a ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Peñitas Public Library at 9 a.m. The public is invited to the unveiling in the conference room of the library located at 1111 S. Main St. Refreshments will be served.

Guest speaker will be Dr. Francisco Guajardo from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley who will expand on the local history of Peñitas.

According to Efren Garza, committee chairman, the historical designation recognizes the Los Ejidos de Reynosa Viejo settlement area established in the 1700s.

Garza is a descendent of Nicholas Zamora, a Las Porcionés grantee.

us Pilate. I could have given it to Ricardo Rodriguez, the incumbent DA, and he would have been tested right away as to what standards he was going to set in dealing with public officials.”

Guerra said his job is to observe the state’s interest while observing the rights of individuals. Things have to be done the right way, he said. And if he wanted to, at any time he could have put anybody in public office in front of a grand jury for investigation “for whatever reason that somebody was attacking them on,” but he chose not to do that. Guerra said he’s faced plenty of false accusations, and he’s been investigated by a grand jury himself two or three times.

It’s kept secret, he said, but it’s happened.

“If you’re not happy with my decision, you’re going to say that I sold out for politics or money, and I’m not given the benefit of a trial. Elected officials are not given the benefit of a trial, those that make the hard decisions,” Guerra said. “A lot of people are being crucified. Judge Longoria is being crucified.

All we have to do is have her here at the courthouse and have everyone grab caliche or a rock to throw.”

And Guerra said he took a harsh line on amusement machines because Hidalgo County is susceptible to Mexican cartel money laundering.

Often called 8-liners or maquinitas, amusement machine businesses are not regulated like gambling casinos in Nevada, Guerra said.

Cities should not allow the amusement machines, Guerra said, and the only reason they are permitting them is to make money. However, he said, they should be raising money through city taxes. He equated allowing the amusement machine establishments to starting cocaine shops to make a quick buck.

“Here on the border, if they open up this county to gambling, you’re going to have a bigger arm and leg from the cartels money laundering through the operations, and nobody’s going to do anything about it if that’s what the new prosecutor

wants,” he said.

The story behind the man Guerra was born in 1945 in Edinburg to migrant parents. He had five brothers, one sister (who would one day give birth to Tejano musician Roberto Pulido), and a cousin his parents raised as one of their own.

Growing up, Guerra only spoke Spanish, which made him shy when he eventually learned English. People laughed or sneered when he mispronounced a word, “so I had to work that out, and now I don’t care.”

As the son of migrants, Guerra wasn’t immune to discrimination. His family once was kicked out of a restaurant for being Mexican-American even though his brothers had been drafted or volunteered to go to war. His mother was interrogated at the Falfurrias checkpoint by “redneck” Border Patrol agents who, Guerra said, got in her face and called her a liar and a cheat.

“People don’t know that, but we faced that,” Guerra said. “I was there. I didn’t see it, but my brothers were ready to take the weapons out of the trucks because they were abusing my mom verbally, and we could hear it. You can’t forget that.”

Because of the family’s migrant work, Guerra remembered not starting school until he was 7. He then was held back in second grade because he’d missed so much school traveling with his family to pick cotton in West Texas. It was embarrassing, he said, watching his friends move forward, and that moment had a lasting impact on Guerra’s view of life.

After he was held back, Guerra was allowed to remain in Edinburg with his sister and attend school fulltime. He spent his spare time working for his parents in a small tortilla factory.

“That also gave me a kick in the hind side where I tried to be a straight-A student from then on,” he said.

“I graduated second–should have been first, but a young lady went to summer school and beat me out.”

Guerra attended Pan American University and

studied math, which he said came easily to him. After graduating, he volunteered to be drafted into the Army in hopes of being sent to Vietnam. But Guerra said he was assigned to military intelligence stateside. He now jokes that had he been sent to Vietnam, “I don’t like to brag, but I think we would have won the war.”

When he was discharged, the young Army officer ended up following a friend into the University of Texas law school on the GI Bill.

The decision didn’t exactly come from nowhere. Betty Harwell, his former English teacher, once told him to forget the military and consider law school. He also credited Harwell’s book reports for helping Guerra overcome his childhood shyness.

It helped, he said, that he started reading his Edinburg neighbor’s paper at around 8 or 9 years old. The neighbors would later tell him they watched him come over to their house daily, read the paper and wrap it back up for them as if it hadn’t been

read. That’s where he learned about things he’d later see in history books, things like the Vietnam and Indochina wars.

It’s also where he first read about the killing of Irene Garza, the case that would later haunt him in office.

After Guerra earned his law degree, he returned to Edinburg and set up shop in one of his old college roommate’s practice. At the time, he had his eye on a more high-profile elected office, having seen the likes of Kika de la Garza, Sam Rayburn and Lyndon B. Johnson.

“I really was interested in becoming a congressman at a very early age,” Guerra said.

“I wanted to go to Vietnam so that I could build up a war record so I could come back and run for congressman.

That’s crazy, crazy thinking, but I was saying if I became a war hero like Audie Murphy. He made movies, maybe I could run for a political position in Edinburg or South Texas.”

The end of an era Since taking over the office in the ’80s, Guerra has

Oliver Morin

Omar Morin

Robert Rivera

Four face charges in rural Mission homicide F our men have been arrested in connection to a kidnapping and homicide that occurred in rural Mission last week.

When deputies responded to a residence in the 4800 block of Amber Drive just after midnight Dec. 10, they found Edgar Gamez, 25, with a gunshot wound. He gave them the nickname of one of the suspects–Monchies–before he was taken to a local

GUERRA from pg 1A

there about seven days. I stayed 10 months, but then they asked for my resignation, but then the voters voted me in.”

Before Guerra claimed his first victory as the district attorney in 1982, he made a failed bid for 92nd District Court judge against Pete Benavides in 1980. It was a political move, he said, as he always had his eye on the district attorney post.

Over the years, Guerra has come under fire several times, and one of the most notable cases has been that of the death of Irene Garza, a teacher killed in 1960. Her death remains unsolved, but Garza’s priest, Father John Feit, has long been a suspect.

Feit heard Garza’s confession the last night she was seen alive.

“In 2004, (McAllen Police Chief) Victor Rodriguez wanted to arrest the priest in Arizona, and I stopped him,” Guerra said. “I knew the evidence he was relying on was not proper evidence.”

“Unfortunately, there’s a tape recording that shows that the ranger gave him (the priest) all the information.

They cannot go around that tape recording,” he said.

“That case was presented to a grand jury just like the Ferguson case was presented in Missouri,” Guerra added.

“They heard everything, and they chose not to true bill it, which was my thinking from the beginning.”

Guerra wished the case had been brought to his attention when he first took office in the early ’80s. He would have had more living witnesses, he said, like the person who sold the viewmaster to Feit and people who were at the church that night who could pinpoint who was where when Garza disappeared.

Ochoa, the former justice of the peace in the western part of the county who recently pled guilty to taking money to reduce bond amounts, smelled for a while, Guerra said, but he blamed the federal government for not developing a plan to trap Ochoa.

‘The biggest damage done

by Ochoa, Guerra said, is to the families who should have won cases before the judge, but didn’t because their opponent’s attorneys had the political advantage.

More recently, Guerra was widely criticized for dismissing a driving while intoxicated charge against 13th Court of Appeals Judge Nora Longoria after dashcam footage was released showing her failure to pass a sobriety test in McAllen.

Guerra admitted he did not do his job.

“I should have known better that the PD possibly didn’t send all of the information to me,” Guerra said, adding that when a case is sent to the district attorney’s office, it should be complete.

What Guerra did receive was the video taken at the interrogation room at the police department, “and she looks more normal than the officer that’s swaying there explaining the Miranda rights and the other rights she has.”

“So I rushed to, … ” Guerra said, breaking off his thought. “In making the decision, I could have been Ponti-

When Spain initiated the Escandon expeditions, the area of Reynosa was settled across the river, including Camargo, Mier, in 1749. Peñitas was part of Las Porciones created from the Spanish land grant on the north side of the river in the tracts established with the Reynosa headquarters. The area north of the river was considered common ground by all the owners within Las Porciones. It became the gathering place to export livestock, leather materials and byproducts which were put on riverboats and sent out to the Gulf of Mexico for international trade.

The marker identifies the three ranches that were prevalent in the common ground area, which include Ojo de Agua, Peñitas and Tabasco – an old part of La Joya.

overseen the department move from the age of typewriters to a modern office with 59 lawyers. He grew the office despite being underfunded by the commissioners court, he said, by being fiscally efficient and using drug forfeiture funds.

Over the years, Guerra has overseen capital murder cases, sent violent offenders to prison and seen unspeakable crimes. But, he said, the most significant cases to him are the ones in which he’s been able to help get an offender back on track in life.

“People are going to say, ‘Rene was too easy,’ Well, when you’re making the decisions, you decide either to grind them into the ground with a road grader or get them off the roadway to see if they can rehabilitate and recover and become productive citizens,” Guerra said. “This system is equipped to throw everybody under the road grader. It is, and that would create hundreds of families without breadwinners if we administer justice blindly. I chose not to do that.”

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December 19, 2014

December 19, 2014

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page 10A 19, 2014 December

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For the

love of the game

December 19, 2014

Eagles’ R.J. Diaz returns after near-death experience

M

By Luciano Guerra

ission Eagles’ basketball player Rene “R. J.” Diaz does not remember very much about the morning he collapsed on the basketball court at Mission High School’s V.F. Neuhaus gymnasium. All he remembers is the date it happened – Halloween – and that he was running up and down the court during a practice just as he had done countless times before.

As he lay unconscious on the cold wooden floor, nobody knew what had caused the sudden collapse of the seemingly healthy, young athlete but as it would soon be determined Diaz had suffered a heart attack – a heart attack that nearly ended his life.

“Every doctor I saw told me that I was never going to play basketball ever again in my life,” said Diaz. “I’ve been through a lot over the past year but I’m just happy to be playing again. All I want to do now is to go out there, do my best and win for my coaches because of all they’ve done for me.”

While his near-death experience could’ve had much more dire consequences than it did, all Diaz wanted to talk about was Eagles basketball. That came as no surprise to the two people that were affected as much by the events of that fateful morning as anybody, R.J.’s parents Ana and Jubel Salazar. They know it was his desire and determination to play basketball again that led to his miraculous recovery that defied everything they had been told by medical personnel.

“The doctors said that he was never, ever, ever going to be able to play basketball again,” R.J.’s mother said. “He had lost a lot of oxygen to his brain as a result of being out 32 minutes here at school and another 30 or so minutes in the ambulance. We don’t even know how to explain it other than saying that it’s a miracle.”

“The neurologist told me that R. J. was never going to be right,” she added.

“He had given R. J. tests and the tests had determined that he wouldn’t even be able to function anymore at all. He told us that R. J. would either be brain-dead or possibly in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. But from the time he woke up from sedation all he could think about was playing basketball again.”

R. J.’s father, like his wife, never gave up hope that his son would defy the odds and prove the doctors wrong.

“I kept telling the doctor that we

ABOVE: Mission Eagles’ R. J. Diaz escorts his parents onto the basketball court at V.F. Neuhaus Gymnasium on Parents’ Night last week. LEFT: R. J. Diaz displays no signs of the heart attack he suffered last year as he has returned to play basketball for the Eagles. Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra

needed to wait until he woke up because I believe in God more than I believe in doctors,” explained R. J’s father.

“On the third day the doctor told us that he didn’t see any brain wave activity so it wasn’t looking good,” he added. “’I told him that we needed to wait longer.

Then on the fourth day R. J. opened his eyes and when the doctor saw that he said, ‘I’ve never been so happy to be so wrong.’ He then said in 44 years of being a neurologist he had never experienced that before and that he had never been wrong like that before.’”

R. J.’s parents both credit Eagles’ head coach Everardo Castellano, varsity assistant coach Hosea Henderson and the school athletic trainers and nurses for saving their son’s life by taking quick action that Halloween morning.

“Coach Castellano started the CPR on him right away and then the school nurses continued and they never stopped doing CPR,” shared Ana. “And the whole time Coach Henderson kept yelling in

R. J.’s ear the same way he yells at the players in practice and in the games. He was yelling, ‘Get up!’ and ‘Wake up!’ it was amazing. If it wasn’t for them, R. J. wouldn’t be here.’”

R. J. started his first game of the season a week ago Tuesday against Brownsville Lopez. His second start was last Friday against Edinburg High in what was a very emotional Parents’ Night for R. J. and his parents.

While Castellano did give R. J. playing time in previous games he held him out of the starting lineup until he was sure that he was in condition to play.

What does Coach Castellano think of R. J.’s return?

“From what we all experienced on that day and now seeing him on the court it is just a blessing. We prayed before every game last year for his health, but we would have never believed that he would return to play. We thought we had lost him because when they put him in the ambulance, he had no heartbeat.”

December 19, 2014

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Lady Huskies to defend Team Dual Championship

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Huskies boys seek redemption

W

By Luciano Guerra hen it comes to girls’ athletics most people think of sports like volleyball, softball, basketball and tennis. However, the sport of choice for many of the top female athletes at Juarez-Lincoln High School does not require a net, a bat, a hoop or even a ball. All girls like Stephanie Escobedo, Jackie Mendoza, Nancy Becerra, Yaritza Colunga and Leslie Oliva require to compete is a mat and an opponent.

Their sport of choice is wrestling.

With the District 16-6A Team Dual Match Wrestling Tournament being held at Juarez-Lincoln High School today, the Lady Huskies will

be looking to defend the championship they claimed last year at Weslaco East High School. If they win, this will be their fifth championship in six years.

Lady Huskies’ head wrestling coach Humberto Vela explained how team wrestling matches are scored.

“We wrestle one team against another team,” explained Vela. “The boys have 14 weight classes, so wrestlers from one school go up against wrestlers from another school in all 14 weight classes. The girls have 10 weight classes so they do the same but with only 10 girls from each school. Then the points each individual wrestler earns go towards his or her team’s total with the team

having the highest total winning that particular head-tohead match.”

While today’s tournament was originally meant to be a two-day double-elimination tournament, plans have changed.

MHS Booster Club Wins $500 Grand Prize The Mission Soaring Eagles Football Booster Club won the $500 grand prize for this year’s Progress Times Football Contest, as the school with the most entries in the contest. Progress Times Publisher Jim Brunson recently presented a $500 check to Booster Club President Mary Dumond. Pictured, left to right, are: Diana Veliz, club vice president; Brunson; Dumond; and Marty Tamez, treasurer.

“This year, we’ve decided to make it a single-elimination tournament so if you lose you’re out, but if you win you keep on wrestling,” Vela said.

“That way it will go much faster and we will hopefully be able to get what would’ve been a two-day tournament into one day.”

“We want weigh-ins to occur around 8 a.m. and then hopefully we’ll be able to start wrestling around 9 or 9:30. It will be open to the public with admission being $2 for students and $3 for adults,” added Vela One of the girls Vela will be counting on to help take the girls’ championship today will be junior Leslie Oliva.

Oliva, who competes in the 98 lb. weight class and is currently undefeated, is coming off a season in which she fell just short of earning the state championship.

“I didn’t wrestle my freshman year so last year was my first year of wrestling,” shared Oliva. “I was district and re-

ABOVE: Juarez-Lincoln Huskies’ Andres Gonzalez and Rene Beas prepare for today’s District Dual Match Wrestling Tournament by facing off against each other during a practice.

LEFT: Juarez-Lincoln Lady Huskies’ Leslie Oliva and Valeria Olivarez prepare for today’s District Dual Match Wrestling Tournament by facing off against each other during a practice. Progress Times photos by Luciano Guerra

gional champion and I was the state silver medalist. As a team we won the dual match championship and I believe that we can win it again this year because I believe in my girls and we’ve been working really hard.”

Juarez-Lincoln Huskies boys In last year’s District Team Dual Match tournament the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies boys came very close to bringing home the championship trophy. After wrestling their way to the championship match, the Huskies took the Nikki Rowe Warriors to overtime in the final match of the day before falling three points short of making it a clean sweep for the Juarez-Lincoln boys and girls.

While the Lady Huskies lost two of their top wrestlers to graduation, Coach Armando Resendez is having to deal with the loss of a significantly

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

higher number of his Huskies boys wrestlers that helped lead Juarez-Lincoln to the District 16-5A championship last year.

“We lost five seniors from last year so while we are rebuilding we’re looking strong,” explained Resendez.

“My wrestlers are focused and they want to win. They’re hungry to earn the championship that was taken from us last year. We just won the McAllen Memorial Tournament and we’re 6-0 as a team right now.”

“I have two of last year’s state qualifiers back this year,” added Resendez. “They are Edgar Delgado (220 lb.) and Andres Gonzalez (160 lb.).

One of our district champions, Ezequiel Rodriguez (145 lb.) who didn’t compete at the regional meet because of an injury, is back as well.”

See WRESTLING 14A

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New math standards a hurdle for some students and teachers

By Morgan Smith The Texas Tribune

A

lison Howell was shocked when she noticed that her thirdgrade daughter was failing math after just six weeks of class.

“I really was thinking, well, this isn’t right. If a child who isn’t having a behavioral problem, and who is listening, and we know is doing her best and successful in other subject areas, she shouldn’t be failing,” said Howell, whose daughter attends school in the Nederland Independent School District in Southeast Texas.

Howell soon learned that her daughter was not alone in her struggles. Her daughter’s teacher explained that a new, more rigorous math curriculum was now in Texas elementary and middle schools.

Students were now required to learn some concepts as many as two years sooner.

Instead of memoriz-

ing multiplication tables in fourth grade, students do it in third. Lessons on fractions previously taught in fourth grade have moved to third grade. Learning to use a protractor to measure and draw an angle now happens in fourth grade instead of sixth.

State education officials adopted the revised standards in April 2012 after a regular review of curriculum showed a need to better prepare students for high school and college, said Monica Martinez, an associate commissioner at the Texas Education Agency. Among the new requirements, which were developed over a twoyear period, are teaching advanced concepts intended to promote the mathematical reasoning students need for higher education.

“There was a feeling that in order for students to be competitive and successful, we really needed to ratchet up the rigor of those standards and ensure we were

holding students to at least the level of expectation in other states and other countries,” Martinez said at a November State Board of Education hearing.

Three months into the school year, the transition has proved challenging. As parents and educators question whether the rigor of the new curriculum is developmentally appropriate, school officials are reporting that

See MATH STANDARDS 16A

COUNCIL from pg 3A

do the project in-house and expressed ire because no one on staff even consulted him about the proposed method of doing the project. He advised Roberto Salinas to get L&G Engineers involved in the project and do it the right way.

No action was taken on the bid to purchase materials to do the project in-house.

Under board appointments

December 19, 2014

Border Patrol agents apprehend convicted murderer, gang member

B

order Patrol agents took custody of a convicted murderer who was apprehended by a local police department Sunday.

The arrest occurred after La Joya police officers stopped a vehicle and requested the assistance of Border Patrol agents to interview one of the occupants. Once the agents arrived, they interviewed the occupants and discovered the driver was a United States citizen and the pas-

senger, a Mexican national, was illegally present in the U.S. Both subjects were taken to the McAllen Border Patrol Station for further processing.

Once at the station, agents discovered that the driver had been previously convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for murder. Agents also learned that he was a member of the Mexican Mafia.

The convicted murderer will be prosecuted on hu-

man smuggling charges.

The Mexican national will be prosecuted for a reinstatement of a formal order of deportation. The vehicle was seized by the La Joya Police Department.

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 800-8639382.

Linda Requenez, Cathy Garcia, Richard Hernandez, Jody Tittle and David Deanda were reappointed to the Mission Economic Development Corporation while Abiel Flores will replace Polo De Leon. Ruben Plata will be the council representative.

Also under board appointments Marisela Marin was re-appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Dr. John Guerra will replace Abiel Flores while Julio Cerda will replace Rene A. Flores.

Also following executive session, approval was granted to negotiate with the Texas Department of Transportation for a 1.45-acre tract of land out of lot 17-10,WestAddition to Sharyland Subdivision, porciones 53-57.

Staff will solicit the sale of 1.49-acres of land out of 10.36 acres of Lot 24-7. West Addition to Sharyland with the condition improvements to the site must be developed within a specified period of time.

Sale of property describes as Lot 24, block 2 and City of Mission Park in Block 4 depicted in the map of the Erdahl Subdivision was approved for sale either together or separately.

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December 19, 2014

obituaries

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Rafael Echazarreta CALLENRafael Echazarreta, 59, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, in Houston.

Mr. Echazarreta was born on Sept. 16, 1955, in Mission to Antonio and Herlinda Echazarreta.

Survivors include his wife, Leticia Echazarreta; children, Lisa Marie Enriquez and Mark Anthony Echazarreta; his mother; and siblings, Delia Cantu and George Echazarreta.

He was preceded in death by his father; brother, Refugio Echazarreta; and sister, Maria del Jesus Hernandez.

A funeral service was held on Dec. 12 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in McAllen.

Efrain Garcia ISSION – Efrain Garcia, 82, passed away on Monday, Dec. 15, 2014.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jose and Teresa Tudon Garcia; son, Epifanio Garcia; and siblings, Marcolfa Hernandez, Jose Garcia Jr., Antonio Garcia and Josefa Hernandez.

Survivors include his wife, Cristina Longoria Garcia; children, Maria Elena Ortiz, Efrain Garcia Jr., Maria Isabel Ornclas, Maria Guadalupe Garcia, Maria Luisa Garcia-Flores, Edelmiro Garcia, Maria Teresa Villapando, Eleazar Garcia, Maria Asusena Padilla, Eduardo Garcia, Maria Cristina Garcia-Ellis and Maria Del Carmen Miramontes; siblings, Guadalupe Garcia, Celia Guerra, Roberto Garcia, Teresa Garcia and Reynaldo Garcia; and 49 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was held on Dec. 17 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at San Jose Cemetery in Mission.

Maria D. Gonzales ADERO - Maria D. Gonzales, 95, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Mrs. Gonzales was born on June 13, 1919 in Mission.

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www.progresstimes.net | www.sharylandtimes.com

Survivors include her children, Rosa Ramirez of Mission, Gloria Terpening of Meza, Az., Ana Rodriguez of Mission, Rebecca Peña of Houston, Felix Gonzales of Beeville and Johnny Gonzales, Manuel Gonzales, Guadalupe Gonzales and Gilbert Gonzales, all Mission; sister, Rebecca Espericueta; brother, Miguel De Anda of Mission; and 32 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Camilo J. Gonzales.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, Dec. 19, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Madero.

Interment will follow at San Jose Cemetery in Mission.

Notices

Refugio Alejos Jr. MISSION – A funeral service for Refugio Alejos Jr. was held on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission.

Jackie Field PALMHURST – Jackie Field, 69, passed away on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, at his home.

Doris B. Fulford MISSION – Doris B. Fulford, 82, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 at Mission Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

Edgar Gamez MISSION – A funeral service for Edgar Gamez was held on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Virgil Wilson Mortuary in Mission. Burial followed at Lord and I Cemetery in Palmview.

Maria Juliana Garcia PEÑITAS – Maria Juliana Garcia passed away on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Juanita Garza MISSION – Juanita Garza, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, at McAllen Medical Center.

A

Enidia M. De Villalon LTON - Enidia M. De Villalon, 78, passed away on Monday, Dec. 15, 2015.

Survivors include her husband, Roberto Villalon Garcia; children, Leonardo Guadalupe Villalon, Cynthia Veronica Lopez, Roberto Villalon Jr., Jorge Alberto Villalon, Myrna Laura Arteaga, Melissa Castillo and Enidia Caro Martinez; and 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass was held on Dec. 18 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Granjeno.

Interment followed at Granjeno Cemetery.

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.

Petra Geiger MISSION - Petra Geiger, 98, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Mission Nursing Home.

Jose T. Guerra PEÑITAS – Jose T. Guerra, 74, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, at Comfort House in McAllen.

Martina Guzman PALMVIEW - Martina Guzman, 83, passed away on Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center in Mission. A funeral mass was held on Dec. 17 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission.

Interment followed at San Jose Cemetery in Abram.

Guadalupe Hernandez MISSION – Guadalupe Hernandez, 86 passed away on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014, at Life Care Hospital in McAllen. A funeral service was held on Dec. 16 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Garden of Angels Cemetery.

Margarita Matamoros MISSION - Margarita Matamoros, 69, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Fidelfa Peña MISSION - Fidelfa Peña,

MESSAGE

do not use the business name for shipping.

When I opened the FedEx box, inside was a sweetly wrapped Christmas gift with a tag that said, “To: Mendi,” and “From: Coca-Cola.” I opened it carefully in bewilderment. Protected in Styrofoam peanuts was this small bottle of Coca-Cola wrapped in red tissue paper and a card with text written in Spanish.

I called daughter-in-love, Jennifer, married to our son Heath. She speaks Spanish, so I had her translate as I read it over the phone. It was essentially an invitation from Coca-Cola to invite the recipient to do good works and share the spirit of the season. It included a punch list of ideas that were mostly about small acts of service or spending time with a loved one: wash your father’s car, watch your mom’s favorite novela with her, let your 76, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, at Mission Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Suzanne Rogers MISSION - Suzanne Rogers, 63, passed away on Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, at her home in Mission.

Jaime Medrano Rojas MISSION – A funeral service for Jaime Medrano-Rojas was held on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, at Rivera Funeral Home in Mission. Burial followed at La Piedad Cemetery in McAllen.

Blanca Estela Ruiz MISSION – A funeral service for Blanca Estela Ruiz was held on Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, at Virgil Wilson Mortuary in Mission. Burial followed at Lord & I Cemetery in Palmview.

Eulalia Vela PALMVIEW - Eulalia Vela, 88, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, at LifeCare Hospital in McAllen.

Alejandro Villarreal MISSION - Alejandro Villarreal, 58, of Mission passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, at McAllen Medical Center. Arrangements were under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.

ChurCh DireCtory BREAD OF LIFE CHURCH 2820 N. Conway Ave. • 581-1411 CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD 4501 N. McColl. - McAllen CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 29th & Dove - McAllen 618-0884 CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Missonaries • 580-2570 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH 911 N. Main - McAllen 686-4241 CONWAY AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH 1 Mi. N. Conway • 585-2413 EL FARO BIBLE CHURCH 15 miles W. of Mission on Exp. 83 Sullivan City, TX • 585-5617 EL MESIAS UNITED METHODIST 209 E. 6th • 585-2334 FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH 3 miles N. Shary Rd. • 581-1465 FAITH FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH 1 mile N. Exp. 83 on Tom Gill Rd. 519-6311 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1300 Doherty • 585-1442 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH 12th and Miller - Mission 585-7281 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1102 Ash St. • 585-4829 for worship schedule.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1101 Doherty • 585-1665

NORTH PALMVIEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH 7612 W. 6 Mile Ln. Mission • 735-2569

ROAD TO SALVATION ASSEMBLY OF GOD 239 W. 2nd St. - La Joya 1312 Oblate • 585-3261

OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS One-half mile South Leo Avenue La Joya • 585-5223

SAN CRISTOBAL MAGALLANES & COMPANIONS PARISH

3805 Plantation Grove Blvd., Ste. 5

OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHURCH 6634 El Camino Real • Granjeno 279-4159

SAN MARTIN DE PORRES 5 mi. N. Conway, 1/2 Mile West Alton • 585-8001 & 585-8002

IGLESIA BAUTISTA BETANIA 851 S. Breyfogle Rd. • 585-5688

OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH 2.5 miles S. Conway (FM 1016) Mission • 279-4159

ST. JOHN OF THE FIELDS CATHOLIC CHURCH 1052 Washington Ave. • 585-2325

IGLESIA BAUTISTA CRISTO EL REY 1600 E. Bus. 83 - Mission

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH 620 Dunlap • 585-2623

IGLESIA BAUTISTA COLONIAL 3713 N. La Homa Rd. • 585-5332

OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY CHURCH 923 Matamoros St. • 581-2193

ST. PETER & ST. PAUL EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2310 N. Stewart Rd. 585-5005

IGLESIA BAUTISTA DEL VALLE 217 W. Mile 3 Rd. • 424-1602 Palmhurst

PALM VALLEY CHURCH 1720 E. Griffin Pkwy.

585-3203

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

FREEDOM LIFE CHURCH 2214 W. Griffin Pkwy. • 519-7000 Mission GRACIA DIVINA MINISTRY 4122 N. Conway • 584-3112 GREAT OAKS COMMUNITY CHURCH 2722 N. Conway • 451-5500 Mission IGLESIA ADVENTISTA DEL SEPTIMO DIA 1725 W. Griffin Parkway 581-9008

IGLESIA DEL PUEBLO 7500 West Expressway 83 581-1900 IGLESIA DEL DIVINO REDENTOR 1020 North Los Ebanos Rd 585-5898

PEÑITAS BAPTIST CHURCH 1/3 Mile S. of Exp.83 on FM 1427 583-6236 PRIMERA BAPTIST CHURCH Corner of 6th & Oblate 585-4711

LA RESPUESTA CHURCH 405 W. 12th Street • 585-0787

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

MISSION CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 1 mi. E. 495 • 585-6683

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

NEW HOPE AT THE BORDER 905 N. Conway • 585-4122

RIVER OF LIFE CHURCH 901 S. Shary Rd. (Located in the Holiday Inn Express Conference Room) 451-4838

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

Mission • 580-4551

ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH 1119 Francisco • 585-2701

TEMPLO BIBLICO 5 Mile/Conway • 581-4981 or 585-3831 TEMPLO EVANGELICO, M.B. CHURCH La Joya THE DOOR CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

810 E. Veterans & La Homa Suite F.

Palmview Crossing Plaza 212-1594/424-1984

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 3701W. 3 Mile Line • 585-3261 WEST MISSION LUTHERAN FELLOWSHIP Pleasant Valley Ranch 7320 W. Exp. 83 • Mission 583-7667 VALLEY FELLOWSHIP 1708 E. Griffin Parkway Mission • 424-7200

MISSION AUTO ELECTRIC, INC. DBA

ER MAE EPQOU IW PMENT

Commercial Lawn Equipment “Since 1954”

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

KING, GUERRA, DAVIS & GARCIA

ATTORNEYS AT LAW DAVID H. GUERRA NEAL KING (retired) DARRELL DAVIS ESMERALDA GARCIA (retired) 301 E. Tom Landry • Mission • 585-1622

IMPLEMENT COMPANY, INC. MISSION 585-1618

  

 



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

 

spouse pick the music on the car radio, etc. It was also an invitation to share your moments and blessings gifted to others via a hash tag. I prefer for my acts of service to remain anonymous.

You may think the receipt of this a coincidence. I do not. It is far too specific, for one small Coke—which my mother loved—to be sent to me out of millions of people, and thousands of journalists, across this very vast land. No one else in our office received one. It is far too specific that it be sent at Christmas time, which has an indelible impression on my heart, mind and soul.

That little bottle says, “Holiday 2014.”

In my 60-plus years of life, Heavenly Father has definitively taught me time and time again that he’s in the smallest details of my life—all our lives—even when we think he’s not there.

If we allow, these things are always manifested in the perfect timetable of his wisdom when we are ready to receive and understand. He’s also taught me family members who have gone before are very, very close by and are

page 13A from pg 4A

more intrinsic participants in our daily living than we understand in this very finite existence we call “life.”

Mom asked. Heavenly Father said, “Yes.” It was my mother saying, “Merry Christmas,” in a way that only her family members could perceive and understand. After all, why shouldn’t she say it? It’s the time we commemorate his Son’s birth.

That bottle and its contents are not going anywhere anytime soon. Mom and Heavenly Father know that I don’t drink sodas. It will probably outlive me. But, it’s going to have a place of remembrance next to the Coca-Cola building in Mom’s Christmas village—which I now have. It will be a sweet reminder that the bond of family is, indeed, eternal— because God is in his heavens and, gratefully, in the details—even the smallest ones that we sometimes miss.

Merry Christmas! Jesus Christ is the reason for the season, and Jim and I will ever be grateful for the most perfect gift ever given—our Savior who gives meaning to it all.

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December 19, 2014

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SEIZURE from pg 3A

would receive bribes from the government contractors who received contracts

from the state government of Tamaulipas after the government officials would fal-

legalnotices 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 JP PCT.2 PL., Of HIDALGO COUNTY, on the 13TH of OCTOBER 2014, for the sum of $4,158.23 with interest thereon at the rate of 10% per annum from the 17TH of FEBRUARY 2009 and cost of suit, under a judgment in favor of PHARIA L.L.C. in a certain cause in said court, No.C-1229-08-21 And styled PHARIA L.L.C. Vs. FELIPE RENDON And placed in my hands for service for service on 17TH of OCTOBER 2014, I, Lazaro Gallardo, Jr., as Constable PCT.3 Hidalgo County, Texas, did on the 17TH of OCTOBER 2014, levy on certain real estate in Hidalgo County, Texas, described as follows, to-wit LOT ELEVEN (11), BLOCK SEVENTEEN (17) OF HIDALGO PARK ADDITION TO HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP PLAT OF RECORD AT VOLUME 14, PAGE 12, OF THE NEW MAP RECORDS OF SAID COUNTY AND SUBJECT TO THE EASEMENT, COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS THERE RECORDED. And levied upon as property of FELIPE RENDON and that on the first Tuesday in JANUARY 2015, the same being the 6TH day of said month, at the court house door of Hidalgo County, Texas in the city of Edinburg, Texas, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (sale starts at 10:00 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 FELIPE RENDON 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 20TH day of NOVEMBER, 2014

sify and manipulate the bids during the bidding process.

The complaint further alleges Tamez received multiple payments throughout his political career and that he received these bribes in the forms of cash and bank deposits made into his bank accounts, which were ultimately transferred into the UBS account.

The complaint seeks the forfeiture of the $1,109,986.66 held in the investment account at UBS Financial Service Inc.

WRESTLING

Along with Gonzalez, two of the wrestlers that have played a big part in the Huskies being undefeated this year are sophomore Rene Beas (182 lbs.) and senior Rene Loredo (195 lbs.).

When asked what it is about wrestling that appeals to him Baes said, “I like the discipline it takes to wrestle and I like the camaraderie we have on the team.”

What would it mean to win the dual match championship?

Loredo said, “It would be a really good accomplishment

from pg 11A

for our team. After coming so close to winning it last year we’re planning on winning it at home this year.”

Gonzalez agreed, “Being able to bring any championship trophy home is quite an accomplishment for the team and for us as individuals. But this being a tournament that we’re hosting would make it that much more of an accomplishment.”

Other Big 7 schools that will be competing in today’s District Dual Match Tournament are La Joya, Palmview and Mission High Schools.

legalnotices

Job Opportunity: Municipal Court Clerk Classification: Full Time Salary: T.B.D Job Opportunity: Municipal Clerk Job Opportunity: Municipal CourtCourt Clerk Work Hours: 40 weekly Classification: Full Time Classification: Full Time Salary: T.B.D Salary: T.B.D Work Hours: 40 weekly Work Hours: 40 weekly

Description: Under general direction of the City Manager; manages the functions and operation of the City’s Municipal Court; performs administrative and support functions pertaining to Description: Description: Under general direction of work the Cityas Manager; manages the functions and municipal court operations; performs related required. operation of the City’s Court; performs Under general direction of theMunicipal City Manager; managesadministrative the functionsand and pertaining Court; to municipal courtadministrative operations; performs operationsupport of the functions City’s Municipal performs and related work as required.

Abilities: support functions pertaining to municipal court operations; performs Ability to communicate courteously and effectively with other city employees, officials, related work as required.

By: ________________________________ Lazaro Gallardo, Jr. Deputy Ruben Salinas, Jr. Constable Pct.3 Hidalgo County, Texas

citizens, litigants, and judges; operate court computer for work processing, other proAbilities: Ability to communicate courteously and effectively with otherdepositing city grams and specialized court software; manage the process of receipting, and Abilities:employees, officials, citizens, litigants, and judges; operate court accounting of money fortocomputer fines; assist with reception duties for all City Hall functions.

Ability communicate courteously and effectively with other city for work processing, other programs and specialized court software; manage the process of receipting, depositing andcourt accounting of employees, officials, citizens, litigants, and judges; operate

ORDINANCE NO. 4168

ORDINANCE NO. 4169

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING OF THE 33.49 ACRES OUT OF LOT 243, WEST ADDITION TO SHARYLAND SUBDIVISION, FROM R-1 (SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) TO P (PUBLIC ZONE) READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING OF THE 27.97 ACRES OUT OF LOT 244, WEST ADDITION TO SHARYLAND SUBDIVISION, FROM R-1 (SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) TO P (PUBLIC ZONE) READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4177 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS, ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING STANDING OR PARKING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 1500 AND 1600 BLOCK OF ONE MILE SOUTH ROAD AND ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE 1600 BLOCK OF ONE MILE SOUTH ROAD BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:00 A.M. TO 9:00 A.M. AND 3:00 P.M. TO 5:00 P.M. ON THE DAYS THAT MISSION C.I.S.D. HAS SCHOOL IN SESSION; PROVIDING FOR INSTALLATION OF SAID TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES BEING NO STANDING OR PARKING SIGNS AND MAKING PROVISIONS OF THE STATE TRANSPORTATION CODE AND TRAFFIC ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MISSION IN REGARD TO PENALTY FOR VIOLATION APPLICABLE THERETO; READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4178 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS, RESCINDING ORDINANCE NO. 2744 AND ORDINANCE 4106 AND ADOPTING A NEW ORDINANCE PROHIBITING PARKING ON THE WEST AND EAST SIDE OF THE 1800 BLOCK OF CUMMINGS, PEACE, THORTON, JOANNA AND NICHOLSON STREETS TO INCLUDE THE 1500 BLOCK OF NICHOLSON STREET AND ON THE SOUTH AND NORTH SIDE OF CLEO DAWSON STREET BETWEEN CUMMINGS AND NICHOLSON STREET BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:00 A.M. TO 9:00 A.M. AND 3:00 P.M. TO 5:00 P.M. ON THE DAYS THAT MISSION C.I.S.D. HAS SCHOOL IN SESSION; PROVIDING FOR INSTALLATION OF SAID TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES BEING NO PARKING SIGNS AND MAKING PROVISIONS OF THE STATE TRANSPORTATION CODE AND TRAFFIC ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MISSION IN REGARD TO PENALTY FOR VIOLATION APPLICABLE THERETO; READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

The City of Alton will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at the City Hall Chambers located at 509 S. Alton Boulevard to consider the following requests: Si desea información en español, llame al departamento de Planeación de la Ciudad de Alton, (956) 432-0760.

CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS: Maricruz Carbajal Villagomez is requesting a Conditional Use Permit to obtain a Wine and Beer Retailer’s Off-Premise Permit at 700 N. Alton Boulevard, also legally described as Lot 12, Block 4, Nuevo Alton Subdivision, Alton, Hidalgo County, Texas.

The public is invited to attend and express support for or opposition to this application. You may also file written support or opposition by 12:00 noon on January 13, 2015, for the Planning and Zoning and the City Commission.

For additional information, contact Jeff Underwood, Assistant City Manager at (956) 432-0760.

for fines; assist with reception dutiesand for specialized all City Hall court functions. computermoney for work processing, other programs Experience: software; manage the process of receipting, depositing and accounting of No experience required. However, Experience: previous clerical experience is preferred.

money for fines; assist with reception duties for all City Hall functions.

No experience required. However, previous clerical experience is

preferred.

Requirements: Experience: No be experience However, previous clerical experience is All Applicants must 18 yearsrequired. old to apply High Schoolpreferred.

Diploma Requirements: All Applicants must be 18 years old to apply Valid Drives License High School Diploma Valid Drives License Requirements:

Applications may All be Applicants obtained at City located 400 West Veterans Blvd. must be Hall 18 years old toatapply High Diploma Please attach copies of School allApplications required documents. may be obtained at City Hall located at 400 West Veterans Valid Drives Blvd.License Please attach copies of all required documents.

Applications will be accepted until January 12, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

Applications will be accepted until January 12, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

Applications may be obtained at City Hall located at 400 West Veterans Blvd. attachiscopies of all Opportunity required documents.

The City ofPlease Palmview an Equal Employer.

The City of Palmview is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applications will be accepted until January 12, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

The City of Palmview is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

theclassifieds December 19, 2014

buy • sell • trade • rent • hire

this page is your oyster opening up to a world of opportunity

autos

1999 GRAND MARQUIS LS, 49,148 miles, mint condition, lady driver, 701-240-3816.

MERCEDES BENZ 1927, 1985 Chevy Engine 14300ML red good condition, 956-230-4500, antique plate, $7,500.

2011 JEEP LIBERTY, ready to tow, all leather, low miles, new tires, asking $14,900 obo. Call 936-933-0875.

1997 CARDINAL 5TH wheel, 35ft, 3 slides, located in Edinburg, $8,500, call 956-867-6504.

helpwanted

PART TIME & FULL time servers, bar tenders and kitchen helpers needed,

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Riverside Club 214 E. Chimney Road, Mission, call 956581-1033 ask for Jennifer.

EXPERIENCED TAX PREPARERS needed. Also, if you have existing clients but require office space we are

Personal classified rate:

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.

If you can’t drop by, mail it! P.O. Box 399, Mission, TX 78573 Order by phone 585-4893 with a major credit card.

The deadline to get your classified in is Tuesday at 3 p.m.

$7 for 15 words

25¢ each additional word thereafter

Business classified rate: $15 for 15 words

25¢ each additional word thereafter

willing to discuss compensation. Call (956) 585-1818, Fax (956)585-9818, E-mail: atefax@hotmail.com.

miscellaneous SHARI’S BERRIES - ORDER 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.

services

NEED A DJ Call Eddie with Unique DJing Production.

All Music...Customized to your Preferences! All special events. Web: www. myspace.com/ dj_by_eddie Email: dj_by_eddie@ya-

hoo.com - Eddie 956-219-9072.

NEED A MAID? Cleaning and cooking services - bilingual - affordable rates. Call Carolina 956-827-1853 or 956-683-6243.

fifthwheels

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ORDINANCE NO. 4170 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING OF THE E. 1 ACRE OF THE W. 6 ACRES OF THE N. 16.65 ACRES OF THE S. 21.65 ACRES OF LOT 195, JOHN H. SHARY SUBDIVISION, FROM AO-I (AGRICULTURAL OPEN INTERIM) TO R-3 (MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4174 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT A NEW RADIO TOWER ON PROPERTY ZONED C-4 (HEAVY COMMERCIAL), 405 W. 12TH STREET, LOTS 10-12, BLOCK 184, MISSION ORIGINAL TOWNSITE SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4175 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO KEEP A 7’ X 8’ PORTABLE BUILDING FOR THE SALE OF FOOD, 1500 W. BUSINESS HIGHWAY 83, LOT A, MISSION ACRES SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4176 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS ABANDONING A RIGHT OF WAY EASEMENT BEING A 1.93 ACRE TRACT OF LAND OUT OF A 2.18 ACRE TRACT OUT OF LOT 193, WEST ADDITION TO SHARYLAND SUBDIVISION, MISSION, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4171

ORDINANCE NO. 4172

ORDINANCE NO. 4173

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING LOT 3, R & E LOPEZ SUBDIVISION, FROM R-1 (SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) TO C-3 (GENERAL BUSINESS) READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING LOT 7, BLOCK 119, MISSION ORIGINAL TOWNSITE SUBDIVISION, FROM R-1 (SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) TO C-3 (GENERAL BUSINESS) READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO KEEP AN EXISTING 14’ X 20’ PORTABLE BUILDING FOR AN AUTO SALES OFFICE, 1612 W. BUSINESS HIGHWAY 83, THE E. 75’ OF LOT 3, MISSION ACRES SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED AND PASSED, THIS THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014.

Norberto Salinas, Mayor ATTEST: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

MISSION CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

EXHIBIT C-2

STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES - GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2014

10

Data Control Codes

REVENUES: 5700 Local and Intermediate Sources 5800 State Program Revenues 5900 Federal Program Revenues 5020 Total Revenues

0011 0012 0013 0021 0023 0031 0032 0033 0034 0035 0036 0041 0051 0052 0053 0061 0071 0072 0073 0081 0095 0095 0099 6030

50 Debt Service Fund

General Fund $

EXPENDITURES: Current: Instruction Instructional Resources and Media Services Curriculum and Staff Development Instructional Leadership School Leadership Guidance, Counseling, & Evaluation Services Social Work Services Health Services Student Transportation Food Service Cocurricular/Extracurricular Activities General Administration Plant Maintenance and Operations Security and Monitoring Services Data Processing Services Community Services Principal on Long-term Debt Interest on Long-term Debt Bond Issuance Costs and Fees Capital Outlay Payments to Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs Other Intergovernmental Charges Total Expenditures

21,663,196 108,549,052 14,093,696 144,305,944

$

71,234,604 2,360,176 2,095,944 1,580,678 8,095,475 4,235,240 238,729 1,437,326 3,490,006 10,109,340 5,946,726 3,426,918 15,295,520 2,207,835 1,532,055 219,214 129,543 7,481,958

2,318,424 6,512,032 8,830,456

60 Construction Fund 2008 $

81,406 8,741 90,147

Other Governmental Funds

98 Total Governmental Funds

$

$

1,044,942 692,288 14,430,890 16,168,120

25,107,968 115,762,113 28,524,586 169,394,667

2,972 3,239,791

8,543,431 38,352 1,475,561 455,211 281,750 3,096,273 31,695 320,264 978,470 17,840 17,147 1,431 838,170 2,302,504

79,778,035 2,398,528 3,571,505 2,035,889 8,377,225 7,331,513 270,424 1,757,590 3,490,006 10,109,340 6,925,196 3,444,758 15,312,667 2,212,238 1,532,055 1,057,384 5,670,000 6,894,517 10,275 13,024,253

12,445,249

3,242,763

18,398,099

10,664 200,236 175,414,298

2,977,757

(3,614,793)

(3,152,616)

(2,229,979)

(6,019,631)

Other Financing Sources and (Uses): 7912 Sale of Real or Personal Property 7915 Transfers In 8911 Transfers Out 7080 Total Other Financing Sources and (Uses) 1200 Net Change in Fund Balances

52,817 (3,791,915) (3,739,098) (761,341)

3,682,355 3,682,355 67,562

(3,152,616)

109,560 109,560 (2,120,419)

52,817 3,791,915 (3,791,915) 52,817 (5,966,814)

0100 Fund Balances - Beginning 1300 Prior Period Adjustment Fund Balances - Beginning, As Restated 3000 Fund Balances - Ending

77,124,721 362,154 77,486,875 76,725,534

38,063,708 38,063,708 34,911,092

4,644,538 4,644,538 2,524,119

5,670,000 6,764,974 10,275

10,664 200,236 141,328,187

1100 Excess (Deficiency) of Revenues Over (Under) 1100 Expenditures

$

$

607,254 607,254 674,816

$

$

120,440,221 362,154 120,802,375 $ 114,835,561

page 16A

MHS first in the state to offer Mexican-American Studies

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December 19, 2014

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he Dual-Enrollment Mexican-American Studies class started this year at Mission High School is actually making some history of its own. It is the first of its kind in the state of Texas.

Recent changes by the state has resulted in the creation of some elective special topics courses like Mexican-American Studies, which a handful of districts in the state have done. However, the course offered for the first time at Mission High School this year has taken it a little more seriously and created a dual enrollment course through the growing partnership with South Texas College. This makes it not only a high school credit class, but also a college credit course, taught by a college professor, at a college level.

“I wanted to take it to learn my history, where I came from,” said senior Claire Lopez. “I also thought it would help me understand

more of what being in a college class would be like.”

STC professor Trinidad Gonzales said this class covers history from pre-contact and Native American history to the U.S. civil war.

“It is a shift from an Eastern centered narrative concerning the development of the United States to a southwest or south-southwest narrative concerning development of the US.” Gonzales said people tend to forget how extensive the Spanish Empire was and its significance in the development of the United States.

He also indicated that while the class is led by what the Spanish are doing their relationships to the English as colonial powers developed, they don’t ignore other influences through the French and Dutch.

“We are trying to develop a more complex understanding of the development of the US,” he said.

Kobe Marquez, an MHS

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student taking the class admits he figured that it would be an easy class since it is an elective course. He also admits he was wrong in that assumption, but feels this class is just as important as any other history class he has taken.

“This class has opened my eyes and made me realize that Mexican-American history is an important part of U.S. history,” Marquez said.

GIFTS OF LOVE

presents, it was just to bring a smile to those families that maybe weren’t going to have a Christmas present this year.”

Families must have a child in the La Joya school district in order to be eligible for the drive, and the school social workers are the ones who identify families in need. Each year the fam-

“I find myself more interested in learning more. “ “I think this is relevant to anyone living in the United States, regardless of their race or ethnic background,” said course teacher Victoria Rojas. “Demographics are changing very quickly. Being culturally competent is important for any individual in the business realm, or in college. In any context, this is going to be important.” ilies are rotated between the Thanksgiving and Christmas drives so as to avoid giving to any one family multiple years in a row.

Sponsors can be any department, student organization, class or single person, depending on the size of the family they are given. There is no limit on the amount of gifts supplied, but the so-

MATH STANDARDS they lack the resources to help teachers learn the new material.

Because of the transition to the new curriculum, fifthand eighth-grade students will not be held back if they fail their state math exams this year, the state education commissioner, Michael Williams, announced in August.

But some educators have called for the state to do more to ease concerns in the classroom, including the removal of student performance on math exams from school accountability ratings.

“The pace and the concepts are too much. We have children in classrooms who are stressed trying to understand concepts they are not ready for,” Andrea Gonzales, an elementary school principal in Wimberley, said at the November meeting.

Other school officials said they had struggled to train teachers in the curriculum before the school year began.

“I don’t think anyone ever dreamed that we had teachcial workers ask that they provide items such as food, clothes and appliances instead of money.

Erika Salinas was a social worker for 11 years before becoming the graduation specialist at Juarez-Lincoln this year.

“We’ve been able to do it for so many years because we have the support of so many people that are willing to give back to the community. Because if they didn’t care, it would never take place,” Salinas said. “The clubs, the kids, parents are the ones that actually do all the work. It’s so successful because of them.”

As the buses made their stops, students and staff piled the gifts in living rooms, on front porches and lawns.

Some homes didn’t have a single gift under the tree, if they had a tree at all, until the students came by with their presents.

Entire houses were often the size of college dorm rooms or small mobile

from pg 12A

ers at the elementary level or middle school level who can’t teach the higher-level math. Then school districts are having to scramble to find ways to teach the teachers,” said Michael Seabolt, the superintendent of Louise, a small district about 90 minutes south of Houston.

He has begun circulating a resolution to school boards, drawing attention to the challenges presented by the new standards.

Some larger districts, including Alief in Harris County, were able to better prepare for the transition.

Before the state had even adopted the new standards, Alief began changing its curriculum, said Earl Snyder, the district’s elementary school math coordinator.

Synder said he supported the new math standards, but that school districts needed more time to put them in place.

“Our kids can do it,” he said. “We just need a timeline that’s reasonable to bring it into the classroom.” from pg 1A

homes. Student Council President Robert Delgado said one of the homes he visited was about the size of a car.

Several of the students admitted that they had never experienced a living situation like those receiving the gifts, and described the experience as humbling.

“What was going through my mind was that we should have done more,” junior Thalia Alaniz said. “Even though we did a lot and a lot of people contributed, we should do more of this, not just for Christmas. We should be doing it anytime we can to help out.” … So, the families waved from their doorways as the school buses departed with a smile that remained on their faces since the gift-giving started. The students exchanged hugs and thank yous and tears from those who couldn’t find words to say.

They sang carols, snapped photos said “Merry Christmas” and went on their way.

December 19, 2014

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MISSION CHURCH PRESENTS A WHITE CHRISTMAS

J

By Julie Silva

acob and Noel Salazar gathered up snowballs, displaying them for their grandparents who sat happily watching from a nearby haystack.

Ages 9 and 7, respectively, it was the first time the boys ever had experienced snow. Their grandmother, Melinda Salazar, lived in Ohio for five years, but their grandfather, Noel, grew up in the Valley.

“I did get to experience the snow in the winter time as a child, not as an adult, as a child,” Melinda Salazar said. “They’ve been having a grand ole time.”

The boys were part of one of the last groups of area children to enjoy the snow day at Conway Avenue Baptist Church last weekend.

The church also offered hot chocolate, cookies and took the chance to spread the message of Christ. Every few

minutes, Santa drove by in a tractor, pulling wagons full of children as others bounced in moon jumps and explored an Army tank.

For two hours Saturday morning, children lined up to wait their turn in the circle of snow, where they’d take pictures, make snow angels and throw snow at one another as church volunteers yelled for them not to do so. As the noon hour approached, the snow began to melt together with temperatures in the 70s.

Looking on, Melinda Salazar said, the Valley’s snow doesn’t compare with Ohio, but it brought back memories of tobogganing and making snow angels herself.

“My knees are bad, otherwise I’d be out there,” she said It’s the second year the church has hosted the snow day, and organizers said it’s turning into a successful family event.

Church pastor Johnny Mora first started the snow tradition when he was a youth pastor in Edinburg, but he brought it with him when he moved to the Mission church.

“The first year I did this in Edinburg, God showed us what real snow was,” Mora said. “That was the year it snowed during Christmastime, so God had a sense of humor on that.”

Mora grew up in McAllen, so he said he knows how fun the snow must be for the children.

The church’s assistant pastor, Joe Ramey, is from the hills of Virginia. The snow’s great, Ramey said, but it’s not what Christmas is about.

“We’ve had snow on Christmas Eve, snow on Christmas Day, the main thing is to be with your family,” Ramey said. “My daughter is 40 years old, and we’ve never spent Christmas apart.”

Noel Salazar, 7, shows his grandmother a snowball while his brother, Jacob, 9, gathers snow in the background.

Blue Santa delivers presents to Midkiff Elementary students

Santa pays visit to the students at Midkiff Elementary and gives every child a gift for the holiday season. The Palmhurst Police Department and City of Palmhurst bought gifts for the Annual Christmas Toy Drive to ensure every student experiences a Christmas. Santa Clause rode in on a motorcycle, donning a blue suit in honor of the police officers and distributed gifts from the cafetorium stage. Progress Times photo by Lea Victoria Juarez

Leal Elementary performs for residents of Enchanted Valley RV Park L-R: Cesar Solis, Samantha Villarreal and Aidan Hernandez

Elvis, AKA Ricky Rodriguez

Santa (Ernesto Cruz) and Mrs. Claus (Kimberly Espinosa)

For the 25th year in a row, students at Leal Elementary put on a holiday show for residents in the Enchanted Valley RV Park. This year’s show was titled, “Santa’s Holiday Hoedown.” Photos courtesy of Craig Verley, MCISD public relations

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December 19, 2014

December 19, 2014

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Filling the shelves with Christmas blessings

E

ach year, the schools of Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) find ways to help others, especially during the holidays.

This year, the schools joined together for a district-wide MCISD Cares Food Drive to benefit the Mission Food Pantry.

The response from district students and employees was huge. When the district’s maintenance department began the task of collecting all the donations from the schools, they quickly filled a large trailer with all it could hold – then another and another and another. Plus several pick-up trucks were making trips with their beds filled with non-perishable food items.

The final total of donated food items reached 19,287.

The students and staff of Waitz Elementary School collected the most food of all the MCISD Schools. Pearson Elementary School was a very close second, and R. Cantu Jr. High School was third on the donation list.

“This really is a testament

December 19, 2014

City of La Joya hosts annual holiday parade

Mission CISD board members and maintenance department employees unload donated food from MCISD schoolsthat was delivered to the Mission Food Pantry this week.

to the giving nature of our students and employees,” said Ricardo López, superintendent. “I am so proud of what they accomplished in only a two week period of giving. I know this huge infusion of donations to the food pantry comes a good time. When the schools are

closed, this tends to increase the demands on the food pantries in general.”

López also said he hoped this would not only see the Mission Food Pantry through the holiday period, but also give them a very good start to the New Year.

Biker blessings for LJISD families For the past 10 years, the Magic Valley Riders, a Rio Grande Valley non-profit motorcycle club, focuses on giving back to the community. Last Saturday, Dec. 13th, the tradition continued when they adopted 26 disadvantaged families within the La Joya Independent School District.

Christmas wishes were granted to families of students at Dr. Saenz Middle School and EB Reyna Elementary. LJISD social workers help the Magic Valley Riders in qualifying which families needed aid. “Our purpose for the Christmas run is to make sure every child has something to open on Christmas Day,” stated Diana Reed, chapter president and band director at Saenz Middle School. “When we first began, we used to drive into the neighborhoods and hand out gifts. Fortunately though, now the collection of items has grown and the selected families are invited to join us at the schools where we are able to give them more.”

TOP: Tabasco Elementary School students dress as superheroes during the parade. MIDDLE: Miss La Joya Valerie Treviño is perched top of a truck. BOTTOM: La Joya High School dancers perform during the city’s annual parade Saturday, Dec. 13. The parade was filled with students, city officials and Santa himself participated. Progress Times photos by Julie Silva

December 19, 2014

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December 19, 2014