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Your Community Newspaper, Serving the Heart of the Rio Grande Valley VOLUME 98 NUMBER 24
Hurricane Season is Here
2021 Graduation Ceremony TAMUK Dean's List
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This June 1, 2021, marked the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane season and NOAA predicts a likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms with sustained winds of at least 39mph. According to NOAA, an average season produces 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes, of which three become major Category 3 storms or above with top winds of at least 111 mph. NOAA’S forecast mirrors a similar prediction made in early April by Colorado State University forecasters.
Climatologists with the Colorado State University Tropical Weather and Climate Research Team forecasted 17 named storms with four of those being major category 3 and above storms. There was also a 44% chance of at least one major hurricane making landfall somewhere along the gulf coast. Last year the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season ended up with a record number of tropical systems. Not only did they go through their normal listed names, but also got into the Greek alphabet
for the second time ever in the history of named tropical storms. Twelve of the storms made landfall in the U.S., including nine that hit the Gulf Coast. From the Cameron County preparedness disaster plan, they encourage everyone to be prepared and make a personal disaster preparedness plan. First, plan by jotting down your emergency point of contacts, choose a meeting place, create an evacuation plan, plan for the needs of the elderly, disabled, children & pets
and share your emergency plan with family members. Second, build a kit. Create a checklist of essential supplies, create a checklist of important documents, have a “Disaster Supply Kit” container/bag ready, and have an “Emergency Document bag ready. Thirdly, know the types of disasters in your area, stay informed about the emergency/disaster, learn the difference between “Watch” vs. “Warning,” and have different sources of information (online, mobile phone weather
app, television, radio, and NOAA Weather radio. Also, if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone and will need transportation to get out before the storm arrives, dial 2-1-1 and register in advance for a ride. You may also want to register your phone for “Reverse 9-1-1” Emergency notification. Just call 855-879-1911 or visit www.cameroncounty911. com. You can find all Cameron County disaster preparedness plans and information on the Cameron County at www. cameroncounty.us.
Obituary: Enrique Salazar Garcia
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Memorial Day remembrance of Marine from Harlingen sacrifice NOAA’s 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook
Lions Back to State 7 on 7
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Draw a superhero.
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Hide and Seek Part 4
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Doc Talk.....................pg. 3 Classified....................pg. 4 Sports..........................pg. 5 Activity Page.............pg. 6 Puzzles........................pg. 7
Texas, who died from Wounds Received in Combat during the Korean War. PFC García at some point in his life realized that he would sacrifice his life so that others may live. This war where PFC US Marine Corp. PFC Ralph Garcia García (Courtesy Photo) died in, They say that “War is sometimes referred to as Is Hell.” To those that “The Forgotten War.” The experienced and survived battles in this war were so war, nothing could be brutal and ferocious that closer to the truth. Yes, many just want to forget “WAR IS HELL.” In hardit, but how can we forget core combat, many die in it, when so many good defense of an ideology. In men were lost. One of the our country, we know it as biggest obstacles in the FREEDOM. Case in point Korean War was the climatic is the sacrifice made by the conditions, where historical United States Marine Corps temperatures dropped to sub PFC Ralph Garcia from -52 degree weather. People Harlingen, Cameron County,
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were losing fingers and toes, to frostbite. Another obstacle where Marines were running out of ammunition and had to revert to hand-to-hand combat. Food and water supplies were also hard to get due to the weather conditions. One area of hills, which they defended and died for was known as the Punchbowl. These positions were of vital importance to the success of the war. PFC Ralph Garcia and other members of, D Company 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division were ordered to defend their position at all cost. On the early hours of one February night in 1952, all hell broke loose as the Marines woke up in the darkness of nights, to the sounds of whistles, buglers, and the shouting of hundreds of attacking Chinese soldiers. Using flares to light up the sky and using their training skills, the Marines held on to their positions, but at a high casualty cost. PFC Ralph Garcia was one
of those casualties. During the battle, he was seriously wounded by a fragmentation grenade, and a few days later on February 22, 1952, he died from those wounds. His body was brought home and buried at the Harlingen, City Cemetery, Harlingen, Texas where you can go and pay your respects for his sacrifice. He was awarded the Purple Heart and other medals. Ralph García left behind a young widow and a son. A son who grew into a respectable man. I have had the honor of knowing this young man, Joe Garcia, on the basketball court, where we initially met
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on opposite teams and later as a productive member of his community. It was through Joe that I found out about this great HERO, his dad, who faced death and yet was willing to sacrifice his life and all his tomorrows, for our todays. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE my friends, someone pays for it at a steep price. My respect for PFC Ralph Garcia and his family. Attention on Deck a Marine has served with honor and respect…SALUTE…..Rest In Peace, Comrade García. Semper Fidelis!t -La Feria Veterans Memorial Monument Project
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