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Your Community Newspaper, Serving the Heart of the Rio Grande Valley VOLUME 96 NUMBER 32
Tax Free Holiday This Weekend Paying No Sales Tax Means Back To School Savings by Tony Vindell/LFN
FEMA Offers Free Rebuilding Tips at Local Home Improvement Stores page 2
La Feria High School Mascots Win Awards at NCA Summer Camp
page 4
New Study Shows Changes in Texas Borderlands Over Time
Parents and consumers alike can take advantage of savings for back to school items during the Texas Tax Free Holiday which is scheduled for August 9 through 11, 2019. Photo by: Tony Vindell / LFN Get your vehicles or your an array of school supplies parents save just before the net savings of $8.25. Residents from La Feria feet ready and get to your without having to pay the start of a new school year. Consu mers ca n ma ke and its surrounding areas favorite general merchandise sales tax of 8.25 percent on It allows shoppers to save purchases either in a store, will most likely shop for store this weekend. every dollar spent. taxes on any single item online or from a catalog qualifying free sales tax T he a n nu al sales t a x T he st ate t ax is 6.25 worth up to $100 and it can seller doing business in merchandise at Rio Grande holiday will start Friday, percent but the state allows be combined with other Texas. Aug. 9 and goes through a city to collect an additional purchases. The three-day shopping Valley Premium Outlet Mall midnight Sunday, Aug 11. 2 percent as most cities in For example, a pair of holiday applies to qualifying in Mercedes, in Weslaco, T he i n it iat ive allows Texas do today. ten nis shoes wor th $60 items such as clothing, Harlingen and in McAllen people to buy most clothing, T h e h o l i d a y w a s and a back pack worth $20 this weekend. footwear, backpacks and implemented in 1999 to help equals $100, resulting in a footwear and backpacks.
Primera Hires New City Manager by Tony Vindell/LFN
page 7
VBHS Urging Community to Stay Safe Outdoors as Sweltering Summer Continues
page 8
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Sports.........................pg. 4 Classified...................pg. 5 ® Cricket’s Corner.........pg. 7
A new city manager has come on board with the City of Primera and the mayor said he is glad to have someone with a financial background. Celina Gonzales is the new a d m i n ist r at or a nd probably the first woman to manage this city of about 4,300 residents. The city operates on a $2.1 million budget that will end on Sept. 30 of this year, down from the previous budget of more than $3.2 million. Gonzales, 42, reported to work on July 22. “It’s great to be here,” she said. “Primera is growing and I am looking at ways to make improvements.” Gonzales said the city needs to upgrade its drainage
system. The city was hit hard during the June 24 flood. Scores of homes were affected by the rising waters and many residents reported losses to personal property. Gonzales said she would li ke to est ablish bet ter relationships with Harlingen Wat e r Work s a nd w it h Cameron County Drainage District Number 5 so the city can cope better in the event Mother Nature strikes back. Before joining the City of Primera, she worked as director with Harlingen Water Works for about a year and as finance director with the City of Los Fresnos from 2007 to 2017. The city has a workforce about 50.
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2 • AUGUST 7, 2019 • LA FERIA NEWS
FEMA Offers Free Rebuilding Tips at Local Home Improvement Stores
AU S T I N , Te x a s – Disaster survivors from Cameron, Willacy, and Hidalgo counties who are rebuilding and repairing their homes af ter the severe storms and floods of June 24 -25, 2019, can visit Lowe’s or Home Depot stores to get free hazard mitigation consultations from FEMA mitigation representatives. Mitigation advisors will be on-hand to answer questions about rebuilding
and protecting homes f rom f ut u re disasterrelated damage. Topics include flood insurance and elevating of utilities. Most of the information provided is geared toward do-it-yourself work and general contractors. FEM A Mitigation Specialists will be available at the following locations:
10 from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Cameron County Lowe’s Store 525 East Ruben Torres Blvd. Brownsville, TX 78520 Hidalgo County Home Depot 801 Trenton Rd. McAllen, TX 78504
Open Monday, August 5 through Saturday, August
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Lyford Police Chief Resigns As Top Law Man by Tony Vindell/LFN
The top lawman with the City of Lyford has resigned from his job as police chief. Andy Maldonado turned in his resignation Monday July 29, ending a bickering between him and some members of the city council. Maldonado has been police chief since January 2015 and his last day at work will be Aug. 8. According to sources, he and Mayor Wally Solis have been at odds and his
resignation came as no surprise after Solis got re-elected this past May defeating opponent Albert Cavazos. Cavazos was M a l d o n a d o ’s m a i n supporter in the council. Maldonado, who reportedly is taking a job as an investigator with the Willacy County Sheriff’s Office, is exploring the possibilit y to r un for county sheriff in next year’s election. So far, Ernie Garcia, a
former sheriff deputy has made his intention to run for the post held by Sheriff Larry Spence, who is one of the longest serving sheriffs in the Lone Star State.
4705 South Expressway 77/83 Harlingen, TX 78550 Fo r Tex a s d i s a s t e r mitigation information, v isit w w w.fe m a .gov/ texas-disaster-mitigation. For additional information about mitigation, visit w w w.fe m a .gov/wh atmitigation. For information on protecting properties from disaster, visit www. fema.gov/protect-yourproperty. Survivors can register for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance. gov, or may call 800621-3362 or (TTY) 800462-7585. Those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 800621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers federal low-interest loans to businesses of all sizes, most nonprofits, homeowners and renters.
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Apply online using SBA’s secure website at https:// disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Survivors can apply in person at any disaster recovery center and receive personal, one-on-one help from an SBA representative. For additional information or to find the nearest location, visit www.sba.gov/disaster, call SBA at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339. To apply by mail, send completed paper application to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
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115 E.Commercial Ave. • La Feria, Texas 78559 • (956) 797-2261
AUGUST 13, 2019
TRANSLATION:
Commission Meeting Room 115 E. Commercial Avenue • La Feria, TX
AUGUST 27, 2019 6:30 PM City Commission Meeting Commission Meeting Room 115 E. Commercial Avenue • La Feria, TX
Publisher
mANAGING eDITOR
Donald R. Wright
Cayetano Garza Jr.
Administration
Advertising
“A dog that barks, does not bite.”
Gen. Manager / Editor Mary Beth Wright
Contribuido por: Héctor Zapata
Office Staff
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Also distributed to each LFISD School Student.
This spot is available. Call LA FERIA NEWS for more information.
797-9920
Nelda Briones Office Manager 797-9920 l Fax 797-9921
Victor Moreno 956-797-9920
Mailing Address P.O. Box 999 La Feria, TX 78559 MEMBER 201
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
Correction Policy Although the La Feria News Staff strives for excellence in all stories and advertising, spelling or typographical errors can occur. If you find any confirmed factual or other type of error, please call 956-233-9928 during business hours or leave a message. weekly columns printed in the La Feria News contain the opinions of the Authors. They may or may not be the opinion of the Newspaper. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: 1 year subscription delivered by U.S. Postal Service…$27.95 or can be purchased at several convenient locations throughout the cities of La Feria, Santa Rosa, Santa Maria & Blue Town for 50¢. The La Feria News is mailed and delivered Monday, August 5, 2019 and published weekly by Wright Ventures, Inc., President Donald R. Wright, Secretary Mary Elizabeth Wright. Periodical Postage Ratespaid at La Feria, TX., Post Office. Advertising deadline is noon Thursday at the office at 128 W. Oleander Ave., La Feria, TX 78559. (POSTMASTER send address changes to La Feria, P.O. Box 999, La Feria, TX 78559.)
AUGUST 7, 2019 • LA FERIA NEWS • 3
Beyond Firefighting Message from La Feria Fire Department New gear is in! Thanks to the City of La Feria, The Sons of the American Legion and The American Legion Post 439 for all the support and for believing in us. Me mbe r s of t he depa r t ment would like to extend their gratitude to all who have donated a nd supported them. All donations a nd help t h r ou g h f u n d r a i s i n g h a ve helped acquire the gear and equipment needed to safely do the job! Stay tuned for more news a nd joi n u s every Thursday at The American Legion Post 439 for music and $5 philly cheesesteaks. To donate to your local fire department please visit www. laferiafirerescue.org or visit the fire station. Your generous donations could go to purchase a new stove, washer or dryer for the department. THANK YOU! Attention: Small kitchen fire extinguishers are available for purchase at the Fire Department for $10.
SPONSORED BY:
La Feria Café SUPPORTS
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
First Baptist Church, La Feria
From L-R Oscar Saldivar, Cynthia Saldivar, Johnny Ramirez, Arturo Marroquin. Mr. Johnny Ramirez Candidate for Cameron County Constable precinct 5 is being endorsed by Mr.& Mrs. Oscar Saldivar owners of the La Feria Café. Political ad paid for by the candidate
Custom made Boots, Belts, Shoe Repair and Saddle Repair
This past Friday our church had a family game night at our church. We had a water slide in the shape of a dolphin and other water games. We all had a great time with the children, their parents and relatives. Food was provided. The Lord wants us to gather together as a family of God for fellowship. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34: 3 NIV)
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CHURCH SERVICE DIRECTORY 1st United methodist Church Pastor Federico Perez, 797-1393 331 S. Main St., La Feria, Sunday School 10am, Traditional Worship Service 9am, Contemporary Service 11am, UM Youth 5pm
methodist Church 408 Main Street (Hwy. 107/506) Santa Rosa, across from High School Sunday Coffee and Fellowship 9:30 AM Worship10 AM (Communion fi rst Sunday) Wednesday Prayer Service 9:00 AM Pastor: Carole Lahti (956) 279-3407
international Worship Center Bishop Ronaldo Ortiz 956-797-1204 116 W. Seventh St., La Feria Services Sunday (English) 9:30am Domingo (Espanol) 11am, Miercoles 7pm Interdenominational Worship Extreme Youth Sat. 6 pm
Casa de esperanza Apostolic Church 416 W. Spruce La Feria 965-639-4301 Bilingual Services Sunday at 1:00pm Daniel Martinez - Pastor
first baptist Church of Santa rosa Pastor Harold Parker 956-636-1603 118 Jesus R. Cruz, Santa Rosa Sunday Services 9:30am Bible Study, 10:30am Morning Worship, 7pm Wednesday Evening Worship. Apostolic faith Tabernacle Pastor Ramon Zarate 357-6384 621 South Main, La Feria Sunday School 10am Sunday Worship 4pm, Wed. Evening 7:30pm. All services are bilingual. iglesia oracion en Su presencia missionary Church,inc. Pastors Frank & Janie Gonzalez 797-0044 4th Street, La Feria,TX Sunday 10am & 6pm, Monday 7 pm Prayer Service, Wednesday 7 pm, Friday 7 pm.
St. mary’s Catholic Church FR. Edouard Atangana, 956-636-1211 101 San Antonio Ave., Santa Rosa Saturday Mass 5pm Bilingual, Sunday Mass 8am Spanish, 10am English.
living Water Church and ministry Pastor Henry and Rosie 2805 Memorial Suite B. La Feria Sunday Service 11am, 6pm Spanish Worship Service, 7pm Wednesday Service St. francis xavier Catholic Church Fr. Rodolfo Franco 797-2666, office: 502 S. Canal church: 500 South Canal St., La Feria, Saturday Mass 5:30pm, Sunday Mass 8am Spanish, 10am English, 12pm Bilingual. Christ in our midst missionary Church Pastor: Rev. Daniel Carrizalez 956-742-6311 1 mile N. of FM 506, La Feria Sunday School - 9:45 a.m., Sunday Worship - 11:00 a.m., Wednesday Service - 7:00 p.m., Monday Prayer - 7:00 p.m.
first baptist Church of la feria 797-1214 Main St. & Magnolia, La Feria Wednesday 6:30pm Youth Bible Study & Mission Friends, 9:45am Sunday School, 11am Morning Worship Service
new hope presbyterian Church 208 West Central Ave, La Feria,TX, 956-277-0208 Services Sunday 4:30 pm Sunday School 3:15 pm Communion on the 1st Sunday of every month
St. Albans episcopal Church Reverend Scott Brown 956-428-2305, 1417 E. Austin, Harlingen,TX Holy Communion 8am, Sunday School 9:15, Holy Eucharist 10:30am.
Cowboy Church 11235 Swift Ln. Santa Rosa, Tex. Service at 11:00am Sunday 6:30pm pm Monday 956-975-6144 www.westernoutreach.org
hope in the Word Church St. paul lutheran Church Pastors Jose & Bertha Belmares Pastor Nathan Wendorf 797-3621, Sundays 8:00AM (Traditional) 28354 S. Bixby Rd., La Feria HC fi rst, third & fi fth Services Friday 6pm, Sunday 10am. 10:30AM (Contemporary) All services are Bilingual, English & HC second, fourth & fi fth Church of Christ Spanish. (956) 423-3924 Minister Gene Head 602 Morgan Blvd. 536-9832 primera iglesia Harlingen, TX 78550 912 N. Parker Rd., La Feria, bautista church@saintpaulharlingen.com Wednesday 6:30 pm Bible Study, 956-797-1740 Sunday 9:30am Bible Study, 519 N. Main, La Feria Templo Getsemani 10:30am Service, 5pm Evening Service Bilingual Services: Sunday 9:45am Pastor Julio y Claudia Mendoza Los Domingos: 12:00 Medio Dia Los Sunday School, 10:45am Worship Phone (956) 589-5016 Jueves: 7:00 pm Estudio De Biblia Service, 5:00pm WMU, 11418 Fifth St. La Feria 6:00 pm Evening Worship Service, Servicios: faith Church of Christian Tuesday & Thursday 7pm & missionary Alliance iglesia Generacion Friday Pray at 7pm Church en Conquista Sunday Bible Study at 10am & 6pm Pastor Oscar Loredo Pastor Samuel y Magda Cervantes, 797-1739 Phone (956) 536-2215 125 W. First St., La Feria,Tx 2803 W. Exp. 83 Suite A. La Feria Bilingual Ministry Sunday 10am Sunday Sunday Service 10am Bible Study, 11am School, 11am Worship, Wednesday 7 pm Worship Service, Bible Study, Friday 7 pm Prayer. 7pm Wednesday Family Service Santa rosa United
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MONDAYS _____________
WEDNESDAYS _____________
Knights of Columbus Council 12135 1st & 3rd Mondays, 7:30pm St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall at the corner of West & Cypress (956) 797-266 La feria school board 2nd Monday, 6:30pm Board Room Central Administration Office 505 N. Villarreal St. (956) 797-8300 La feria Band boosters 3rd Monday, 7:00pm La Feria HS Band Hall (956) 797-8300 santa rosa SCHOOL BOARD 3rd Monday • 6:30pm Santa Rosa HS Library (956) 636-9800 Mainstream/plus dance Mondays • 9:30am - noon Park Place Estates Ballroom • Harlingen
DIALOGUE MEETINGS 1st & 3rd Wed, 12:30pm Sept. - May Valley Baptist Medical Center East Tower, 1st Floor, Abbot Meditation Room • Harlingen
Line Dancing Weds • 9:00am - 11:30am • $3 Park Place Estates Ballroom • Harlingen
TUESDAYS _____________
THURSDAYS _____________
City of la feria utilities board 2nd Tuesday, 5:15pm La Feria City Hall 115 E. Commercial Ave. (956) 797-2261 City of la feria CITY COMMISSION 2nd & 4th Tues, 6:30pm La Feria City Hall 115 E. Commercial Ave. (956) 797-2261 AMERICAN LEGION POST #439 1st Tuesday, 7:30pm American Legion Post 145 E. Commercial Ave. (956) 797-3701 Chip-O-Texas Woodcarvers Every Tues • 8:30am-noon Park Place Estates Friendship Hall • Harlingen (956) 399-6660 South texas united auto workers retiees 2nd Tuesday • 10:30am Elk Lodge Club 1426 S. Commerce • Harlingen (956) 428-3555 BLUEGRASS JAM SESSIONS Every Tuesday, 1:30pm Kenwood RV Resort 1201 N. Main • La Feria (956) 797-1875
SOROSIS LITERARY CLUB 2nd Thursday Contact Cindy Moore (956) 245-5742
Magic valley quilters Every Wednesday • 10am 1st Christian Church 400 N. Readan • San Benito COUNTRY Jam Wednesdays • 2-4pm Musicians by invite only OPEN TO PUBLIC Park Place Estates Ballroom • Harlingen contact Charlie (308) 379-4589
santa rosa city council meeting 3rd Thursday • 7:00pm Santa Rosa City Hall (956) 636-1113 Men’s Support group Every Thursday • 7-9pm Men’s Resource Center of South Texas 204 N. 1st St. • Harlingen (956) 425-6110
FRIDAYS _____________ Line Dancing Sat • 1:00pm - 3:00pm • $3 Park Place Estates Ballroom • Harlingen
SATURDAYS _____________ Order of eastern Star Harlingen Chapter #641 3rd Saturday • 2:00pm Masonic Temple 702 E. Harrison • Harlingen (956) 423-5544
3009 N. Augusta National Dr. Harlingen, TX
Have a weekly community event you would like us to include in our calendar?
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or call (956) 797-9920
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4 • AUGUST 7, 2019 • LA FERIA NEWS
La feria high school mascots win Awards at nca summer camp Congratulations to Lion Mascots, Noah Guerrero and Jackie Mejia! The two La Feria High School students participated in various mascot contests at the National Cheerleaders A s so ciat ion Su m me r Camp in San Antonio last month. Noah Guerrero “Leon the Lion” received the N CA A l l A m e r i c a n M a s c ot awa r d wh i le
Jackie Mejia “Lexi the Lioness” received awards for: NCA best mascot, NCA mascot unity, NCA mascot all - american nominee, NCA mascot most spirited mascot, NCA senior light blue ribbon, 2 NCA Super ior blue ribbon, NCA Excellent red r ibbon, NCA All American nominee, and the NCA pin representing leadership, spirit,
commitment, kindness, and motivation. La Feria is very proud of and looks forward to seeing their lovable mascots put their spirit skills to word this upcoming season!
Noah Guerrero and Jackie Mejia as “Leon the Lion” and “Lexi the Lioness” pose for a photo op dispaying their awards. Photo: La Feria ISD Facebook Community Page
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AUGUST 7, 2019 • LA FERIA NEWS • 5
Great Classifieds... List Yours Today by Calling 956-233-9928 or 956-797-9920. REMEMBER: Deadline is Thursday at NOON for ads to be published in the following week’s edition.
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La Feria News is seeking a motivated Commissioned Advertising Sales Representative Must have your own dependable, economical, insured transportation and be able to cover large sales areas. Must be knowledgeable and fluent in electronic communications, website navigation and social media platforms. Must understand and be able to work within deadlines, coordinate and manage daily/weekly sales and operations tasks.
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6 • AUGUST 7, 2019 • LA FERIA NEWS
UTRGV Creates Agroecology Professional Development Institute Workshops invite local teachers into Valley agricultural research, show career opportunities by Maria Elena Hernandez
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – Science teachers from 15 school districts in the Rio Grande Valley will head back to their classrooms this fall with new curriculum, courtesy of the UTRGV Agroecology Professional Development Institute. “It’s a four-week workshop where we host a number of teachers from across the Valley and expose them to research and careers in agriculture,” said Dr. Alexis Racelis, a UTRGV assistant professor of agroecology. Racelis leads the professional development program, along with UTRGV master science teacher Tim Sears. “W hat we fou nd i n p r ev iou s work shop s is that teachers often have a misconception about what
it means to have a career in agriculture,” Racelis said. “Often, they think of farmers and laborers. And rarely do they think of entomologists, cell biologists, geneticists and ag specialists.” FIELD TRIPS, LABS FOR TEACHERS Each Friday in June, the group of 24 science teachers took morning field trips, which included visits to the Texas A&M-Kingsville Citrus Center in Weslaco and the USDA research facility at Moore Air Base in Western Hidalgo County. In the afternoons, they headed to the UTRGV Edinburg Campus for cu r r iculu m development workshops. Ya q u e l í n H e l m s , a t e a c h e r a t Pa c e E a r l y College High School in
Brownsville, participated in the professional development institute and will be teaching AP environmental science this coming school year. “I want to learn as much as I can, so then I can take it back to my students,” she said. The high school science teacher said she hadn’t been familiar with the scientific work happening locally, but is glad to know now. “It’s amazing research, and you don’t think it happens in the Valley,” she said. “It’s amazing to know that it does.” LOCAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCHERS D r. Eva n Braswell, a biological scientist at the USDA facility at Moore Air
SANTA ROSA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF NONDISCRIMINATION IN CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAMS Santa Rosa ISD offers career and technology (vocational) education programs in Agriculture and Applied Technology. Admission to these programs is based on current enrollment in the Santa Rosa Public Schools, course requirements, grade level requirements, and prerequisite skills. It is the policy of Santa Rosa ISD not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or age in its vocational programs, services or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. It is the policy of Santa Rosa ISD not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, handicap, or age in its employment practices as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Santa Rosa ISD will take steps to assure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational and vocational programs. For more information about your rights or grievance procedures, contact the Title IX Coordinator, and/or the Section 504 Coordinator, Dr. Angela Gonzalez, at P.O. Box 368, Santa Rosa, Texas 78593, (956) 636-9800. NOTIFICACION PUBLICA DE QUE NO HAY DISCRIMINACION EN PROGRAMAS DE EDUCACION VOCACIONAL Y TECNOLOGIA El distrito escolar de Santa Rosa ofrece programas en carreras y tecnologia (vocacionales) en las areas de agricultura, clases domesticas, y tecnologia aplicada. La admision a estos programas se basa en la inscripcion en las escuelas publicas de Santa Rosa, equisitos del curso, requisites del nivel de grado, y destrezas requeridas. Es norma de distrito escolar de Santa Rosa no discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo, o impedimento, en sus programs, servicios o actividades vocacionales, tal como lo requieren el Titulo VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, segun enmienda; el Titulo IX de las Enmiendas en la Educacion, de 1972, y la Seccion 504 de la Ley Rehabilitacion de 1973, segun enmienda. Es norma del distrito escolar de Santa Rosa de no discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo, impedimento, o edad, en sus procedimientos de empleo, tal como lo requieren el Titulo VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, segun enmienda; el Titulo IX de las Enmiendas en la Educacion, de 1972, la ley de Discriminacion por Edad, de 1975, segun enmienda, y la Seccion 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitacion de 1973, segun enmienda. El distrito escolar de Santa Rosa tomara las medidas necesarias para asegurar que la falta de habilidad en el uso del ingles no sea un obstaculo para la admision y participacion en todos los programas educativos y vocacionales. Para informacion sobre sus derechos o procedimientos de quejas, comuniquese con el Coordinador del Titulo IX, y/o el Coordinador de la Seccion 504, Dr. Angela Gonzalez, en P.O. Box 368, Santa Rosa, Texas 78593 al telefono 956-636-9800.
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The UTRGV Agroecology Professional Development Institute has been established to help science teachers from school districts across the Valley learn about the diversity of careers available in agriculture, so they can take the information back to their classrooms to share with students. One of the first participants was Yaquelín Helms, a teacher at Pace Early College High School in Brownsville. Shown here up close and personal with a bee colony, Helms will be teaching AP environmental science this coming school year. APDI – led by Dr. Alexis Racelis, a UTRGV assistant professor of agroecology, and UTRGV master science teacher Tim Sears – offers four-week workshops designed to expand how people think about agriculture. Photo: Maria Elena Hernandez/UTRGV Base, said agriculture is a field that uses every branch of science, from physics to chemistry to biology to engineering. “It’s an applied field that uses every scientific tool that we can to solve problems,” he said. Braswell led one of the teacher groups who toured the USDA facility. “It’s fun for us to bring in these teachers,” he said. “We hope it has an impact in their classrooms and brings students into the sciences and into agriculture.” PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK S e a r s , t h e U T RG V Science Master Teacher, said area science and ag science teachers too often
don’t have opportunities for professional development r elat e d t o s cie nc e a nd agricultural science. “So we’re excited to be able to offer this to them locally,” he said. “Some of t he fe e d ba ck we’ve received from our teacher participants has been that they’ve never before been to the sites we’ve taken them to. So we’ve exposed them to local research in the area – local farms, and local organic farms involving agricultural research – so they can take those locally relevant examples back to the students they teach in high schools.” GRANTS AND OTHER POSSIBILITIES Helms, the Pace Early College High School teacher,
called t he professional development instit ute a great opportunity that can help introduce teachers to more ways to expand their knowledge. “They talk about all these grants – not only for students, but for teachers – that I didn’t even know about. So it opens up doors,” she said. T h e A PDI it s el f i s funded by a grant awarded to UTRGV earlier this year. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a part of the USDA, awarded al most $150,000 to the university for the three-year program. You can learn more about agroecology at UTRGV by v i sit i n g u t r g v.e d u / agroecology.
USDA Grant Helps UTRGV Inform Area Science Teachers About Range of Careers in Agriculture by Victoria Brito RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEX AS – UTRGV has created the Agroecology Professional Development Institute, via a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. D r. A l e x i s R a c e l i s , assistant professor in the UTRGV School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences and lead PI on
the project, said APDI is designed to facilitate an increased knowledge of food and agricultural science d i s c ipl i ne s a nd c a r e e r opportunities. It also helps high school science teachers incorporate locally relevant agricult ure examples in STEM teaching. The USDA grant, in the amount of $149,985, will allow 75 high school science teachers from South Texas a
chance to participate in field trips to agricultural, research and demonstration sites in the area. T i m S e a r s , U T RG V associate biology professor in practice and co-principal investigator on the project, helped facilitate curriculum development to integrate agriculture examples from the f ield trips into high school science courses.
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AUGUST 7, 2019 • LA FERIA NEWS • 7
New Study Shows Changes in Texas Borderlands Over Time Addresses trends in population growth, land ownership, fragmentation supports the conclusion that farms and ranches are less profitable as they become smaller,” Lopez said. “As working land profitability decreases, the risk of these operations converting to nonagricultural use increases, thereby losing those valuable ‘ecosystem services’ and other benefits derived from healthy private lands.” She identif ied some of these ecosystem services and benefits as food and fiber production, clean water, providing wildlife habitat and promoting ecological diversity. L opez also not e d t he report shows a correlation between borderland county population density and land
parcel fragmentation. “As population density increases, so do the number of land parcels, which is an indication of land fragmentation,” she explained. “Over the years, where urban centers along the Rio Grande increased in population density, land parcel fragmentation followed adding to the subsequent increase in overall number of parcels.” Lopez said approximately 96% of borderlands are cu r rently u nder pr ivate ow ner sh ip, w it h some landowners owning multiple parcels. “Our data shows there are ► CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Aerial view of working lands along the Rio Grande. Courtesy photo: Ben Masters SAN ANTONIO – Changes in population density, rapid urbanization and rising land values have altered much of the historically rural landscape of the Texas borderlands, according to a recent Texas Land Trends report. The report, “Trends in La nd O w ner sh ip A long Texas Borderlands,” was produced by the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, or NRI, in collaboration with the Borderlands Research Institute, or BRI, at Sul Ross State University. It e v a l u a t e s c h a n g e s in population densit y and exami nes how land ownership patterns and use have changed over the last few centuries within Texas borderland counties due to these drivers of change. It also identifies regions where more rapid transformations have occurred and where similar changes may be expected to occur in the future. The full repor t can be found in Resources on the Texas Land Trends website: http://txlandtrends.org/. County population totals for the report’s 1900 estimates were obtained th rough the Texas State Historical Association, and
2018 estimates were obtained from the Texas Demographic Center. T he repor t also employed data f rom the Original Texas Land Survey, a geographic collection of Spanish and Mexican land grants from the 1700s and 1800s. “Much of what’s special about the Texas-Mexico border relates to the unique historical aspects of the area,” said Dr. Angelica Lopez, an NRI research scientist in San Antonio and the report’s lead researcher. “The borderlands a re also home to ma ny interesting flora and fauna, including several endangered and endemic species, as well as to migrating wildlife that travel along its historic corridors.” Spread out over more t h a n 1, 2 0 0 m i l e s , t h e Texas borderla nd s have the two heavily populated “borderplexes” of El PasoJuárez and BrownsvilleMatamoros at either end. In between are a mixture of rural working lands, growing urban centers, and public park and wildlife refuge lands. “Over t he yea rs, as urbanization throughout the borderlands expanded, it overtook rural lands, leading
t o t h e i r f r a g m e n t a t io n a nd conver sion to nonagricultural use,” Lopez explained. “Historically, El Paso and Webb counties were the largest population centers with the old colonial town settlements of El Paso and Laredo, respectively. “Today, Hidalgo County, which has seen the largest population increase in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan area, closely trails El Paso as the most populated borderland county, followed by Cameron and Webb counties.” The report shows between 1900 and 2018 the TransPecos counties of Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Brewster and Terrell had low population growth, while the Middle Valley counties of Val Verde, Kinney, Maverick, Webb and Zapata had moderate growth. And the Lower Valley counties of Starr, Hidalgo and Cameron saw the highest growth during that period. The report also shows how the borderlands, in keeping with the rest of the state, have lost many of their working lands. “Over the past two decades, we’ve calculated a 13% decrease in total working
land acres among Texas borderland counties, as well as a 36% decrease in the size of the typical working land operation such as a farm or ranch,” Lopez said. “This is due to a number of factors, including population growth, increasing land values and an aging landowner base combined with proper t y heirs who may not wish to perpetuate the operation.” According to the report, from 1997 to 2017 some of the most significant reduction in working lands use among Texas borderlands occurred in Brewster, Cameron, El Paso, Kinney, Maverick, Starr, Val Verde and Webb counties. “Texas Land Trends data
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797-9920 This graphic shows the changes in the population density of Texas borderland counties between 1900 and 2018. Graphic courtesy of Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute
8 • AUGUST 7, 2019 • LA FERIA NEWS
Texas Group Calls for Prompt Passage of Drug-Pricing Reforms by Mary Schuermann Kuhlman
AUST I N, Texa s - As efforts to bring down the cost of prescription medications intensify on Capitol Hill, some Texas groups say it can’t come fast enough. The U.S. Senate Finance Committee meets Thursday to debate the bipar tisan Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019. Charles Cascio, associate state director of advocacy and outreach for AARP Texas, is in Washington to meet with Texas’ congressional leaders, including Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who is on the Senate Finance Committee. Cascio said he’s sharing t he s t r u g g le s of old e r Texans who can’t afford the medications they need. “We have 2.28 million members in Texas,” he said. “Of those, on average, the seniors take between four and f ive prescriptions a month. And, on average, they have an income of
$26,000 a year. This is a lot of medications on a very tight, fixed budget.” The legislation would add an out-of-pocket maximum for Medicare beneficiaries and penalize prescriptiond r ug companies for prices that rise faster than inf lation. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the changes would save Medicare $85 billion and save beneficiaries $27 billion in out-of-pocket costs over 10 years. Cascio said Medicare spends more than $125 billion annually on prescription drugs, and the price for seniors with chronic conditions averages roughly $13,000 a year. That’s why he believes reducing out-ofpocket costs is crucial. “Whatever redesign that they do of Medicare Part D, which is the prescription drug benefit for seniors,” he said, “we just want to ensure
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee will meet Thursday to discuss the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019. Photo: Andy Dean/Adobe Stock
VBHS Urging Community to Stay Safe Outdoors as Sweltering Summer Continues
that the program is better off afterward, and that anything that seniors have to pay for out of their pocket doesn’t increase.” Cornyn also is working on a measure that would target specific patents within the drug market. When it comes to reducing dr ug
prices, Cascio said, more competition and improved a c ce s s t o ge ne r ics a re better. “W hat it would do is really get at the issue of the numerous patents that many brand-name d r ug companies have on certain drugs that keep lower-cost
generic alternatives out of the system,” he said, “and so we appreciate Sen. Cornyn and his work on that effort.” The U.S. House is expected to move on similar legislation after its August recess. More information is online at finance.senate.gov.
New Study Shows Changes in Texas Borderlands Over Time ► CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
HARLINGEN – While much of the United States was g r ipped by a shor t heatwave last week, south Texas residents know that there’s no end in sight when it comes to summer’s grueling temperatures. With those high temperatures and humidity being common in the Rio G ra nde Valley t h roug h October, local residents should continue to take precautions against heatstroke when spending an extended amou nt of time outdoors, said internal medicine physician and Valley Bapt ist Medical Center-Harlingen Physician Adviser Dr. Christopher Romero. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heatstroke can be described as “the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down.” With a wide variety of symptoms, Romero said local residents should closely monitor how they feel as they spend time outside as summer drags on, adding that heatstroke is especially dangerous because if left untreated, it can lead to organ failure and even death. “ S o m e of t h e s i g n s are dizziness, weakness, c on f u sion , n au se a a nd
vom iti ng. Patients may develop a high heart rate, begin breathing fast, and have low blood pressure. Depending on the patient and their health conditions they may have increased sweating and appear red or flushed; howeve r some pat ient s will become pale and have dry skin with heatstroke. Depending on how much water someone has been drinking they may or may not notice they are urinating less than normal,” he said. “An elevated temperature or fever is a major red flag. If someone has been exposed to the heat and develops these symptoms it is important to seek medical care right away.” Romero said that while some people, including children, the elderly, outdoor l a b o r e r s , a n d a t h le t e s are more susceptible to heatstroke, anyone exerting themselves for an extended period of time outside in high temperatures and humidity should be cautious. “There are two type of heatstroke. Classic heatstroke tends to happen when we have very hot weather and children, the elderly, and people with health problems are at highest r isk,” he said. “The second type is called exertional heatstroke. Exertional heatstroke can occur in anybody that works very hard in warm weather or conditions. This tends to happen in athletes training in the heat, farm workers, or
those that work in the heat.” Because completely avoiding strenuous activity in high temperat ures is unlikely, there are precautions that local residents can take to reduce their risk of heatstroke, Romero said. “People can reduce their risk of heatstroke by staying in air-conditioned buildings d u r i ng ou r he at wave s , especially those with health problems, the elderly, and children,” he said. “If people have to be exposed to the heat, they should avoid the hottest parts of the day, make sure they don’t over-exert themselves, drink plenty of fluids, and take frequent breaks. We all can help prevent heatstroke by being aware of the risk, and check in on elderly or sick family and neighbors in our summer heat waves to make sure they are OK.” For those who suspect they may be suffering from the initial symptoms of heatstroke, Romero said the best remedy is to cease all physical activity and get out of the sun immediately. “Applying a cool, wet cloth to the skin and fanning the victim can help. If they are awake and not confused, have them start drinking cool water slowly,” he said. “If someone is concerned that they have heatstroke, they should seek medical care. If they are confused, vomiting, or pass out call 911.”
All border counties are not the same, and rural borderland county residents will have different needs than urban borderland county residents as changes continue. Courtesy photo: Ben Masters more than 712,000 private landowners within the Texas borderland counties with 22,50 0 of t hem ow n i ng property within a half-mile of the Rio Grande and 60,190 owning land within 1 mile of the river,” she said. The repor t also shows from 1900 to 2018, the total number of land parcels grew from 30,533 to more than a million. “There are now almost 5,000 parcels along the Rio Grande, more than 31,000 parcels within a half-mile of the river and more than 80,000 parcels within 1 mile of it,” she said. Based on the data, she said, these changes will continue
– and continue to affect land fragmentation and conversion, negatively impacting the benefits provided by private working lands. “While some may view the borderland as much of the same, its rural and urban counties are very different,” she explained. Lopez offered the example of the slightly more than 750 people disbursed over rural Terrell County as compared to the more than 860,000 people who reside in sprawling urban Hidalgo County. “The needs of the residents of rural Terrell County, which has a lower population but larger land parcels of varied shapes, are different than
those of the residents of urban and highly populated Hidalgo County, which has smaller, more uniform parcels.” Lopez said in the coming ye a r s m a ny b orde rla nd counties will be facing very different challenges related to infrastructure, energy, natural resources and other necessities. “Knowing more about the trends relating to their population grow th, land ow nership and use, and differences in their rural and urban areas, is useful in understanding the borderlands as well as planning for their future,” she said.