July 1, 2016
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Investigators seek person of interest
person of interest, identified as 24-yearold Jose Francisco Ballinas-Trevino, is being sought for questioning related to an aggravated kidnapping investigation in Peñitas. Sheriff’s investigators are seeking Ballinas-Trevino, aka Paco and Pakin, for questioning related to an aggravated kidnapping investigation. The crime allegedly took place on May 23 in rural Penitas when an 11-year-old female went missing from her home and was found the same day nearby.
Water loop project update
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Information on the whereabouts of Jose Francisco Ballinas-Trevino can be given to the HCSO Investigations Division at 956383-8114. Anonymous calls can be made at the Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers hotline at 668-TIPS (8477). Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the smart phone app “P3 Tips.” If the information provided through the crime stoppers program leads to an arrest, the tipster may be eligible for a cash reward.
By Lea Victoria Juarez
Criminal trespass suspect shot by homeowner
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criminal trespass suspect was shot after fleeing a Mission home. The county sheriff’s office is investigating an incident that led to the shooting. Deputies responded to a burglary report at a home on the 7200 block of Bentsen Palm Drive in rural
Mission at about 4:30 a.m. on June 20. The homeowner reported seeing an unidentified male in his fenced backyard. According to a media release, the owner informed deputies that he went outside and confronted the alleged trespasser, while discharging a firearm. The
male suspect ran away and jumped over the fence, fleeing the scene. The homeowner suspects the male stole alcoholic beverages from an outside cooler in his backyard. Shortly after, the sheriff’s office was notified of a person with a gunshot wound at a local hospital.
Deputies and investigators responded to the hospital and determined it was the same suspect seen in the homeowner’s backyard. The suspect is currently in the hospital receiving medical attention for his injuries. Criminal charges are pending and the investigation is still ongoing.
troopers responded to the 1200 block in La Joya to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection aircraft personnel after their aircraft was illuminated by a laser light on the ground. The DPS officers were
able to locate the suspect, 57 year old Juan Peralez, from La Joya. Peralez was arrested and transported to the Hidalgo County Jail. He was charged with illumination of aircraft by intense light, a Class A mis-
demeanor. Pointing a laser light at an aircraft can temporarily blind individuals inside the aircraft or potentially cause permanent eye injuries to the pilot or crew.
Transportation has awarded a STEP Impaired Driving Mobilization grant to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office will use this funding to focus DWI saturation patrols within high-risk locations where alcohol-related
crashes are most frequent. The enforcement period for this operation will be from June 24, 2016 through July 5, 2016. Texas Department of Transportation statistics show that holiday periods continue to be some of the most dan-
gerous times for Texas motorists. In the combined period of June and July 2015, there were 163 DUI (alcohol) related fatal crashes and 179 fatalities in Texas. The 2015 yearly total is 861 DUI (alcohol) related fatal crashes and 960 fatalities.
La Joya man arrested for illuminating aircraft
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he Texas Department of Public Safety arrested a male suspect on June 20 for allegedly illuminating an aircraft with a laser light in Hidalgo County. At about 1 a.m., DPS
DWI enforcement operation
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he Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office is initiating an enforcement operation to help keep streets safe from impaired drivers for the Fourth of July holiday. In an effort to reduce alcohol-related car wrecks, the Texas Department of
Reminiscing... 30 Years Ago This Week
City wins blood drive trophy Sixty pints of blood were collected ruing a two-day blood drive in Mission, sponsored by American Legion Post 93. The United Blood Services of McAllen helped to organize the event. Local officials join ceremony for Olympic torch The Olympic torch will pass through Mission on July 11, on its way to open the U.S. Olympic Festival ’86 in Houston. The torch will be received at La Homa Road at 7:30 a.m. and will be run to city hall for a short welcoming ceremony at 8 a.m.. It will then continue along Business 83 to Taylor Road, where it will be given over to representatives of the City of McAllen. Coyotes place two players on All-District team The La Joya Coyotes landed two senior players on the first team District 16-4A all district basketball team — pitcher Jose del Angel and outfielder Carols Cienega.
Emergency alert system now available to Hidalgo County residents
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he Hidalgo County Office of Emergency Management has launched a new online alert system, called E-Dalgo, for residents who want to be notified of emergency situations. The county will use E-Dalgo to alert residents about events ranging from severe weather, fires, floods and other emergencies, to more routine announcements, such as road closures and water utility maintenance. Messages will be sent to residents on their preferred contact paths— cell phone, SMS, home phone, email, fax, pager and more—to ensure real-time
access to potentially lifesaving information. To register for E-Dalgo go to www. co.hidalgo.tx.us “We have a commitment to ensure public safety, community awareness and emergency response,” said Hidalgo County Emergency Management Director and County Judge Ramon Garcia. “To uphold this, when critical information and public service announcements are available, we need to reach our residents as quickly and reliably as possible.” The E-Dalgo emergency notification system allows the county to disseminate this information across all types of devices, ensuring residents have access to real-time public information when they need it the most, said Emergency Management Coordinator Ricardo “Rick” Saldaña. While anyone can register for E-Dalgo, Saldaña said that alerts will cover incidents affecting residents who live outside of city limits and countywide weather and emergency events.
ission’s Military water loop project is ahead of schedule and moving along nicely, according to Mario Reyna, the vice president for engineering company Melden & Hunt. But in an effort to accommodate the Madero Bridge construction, the engineers suggest adding two valves to the project to turn off the water while the bridge is being built. Reyna reported the potential change order at the Mission Redevelopment Authority’s June 18 board meeting, but the board will make a decision at the next meeting. The additional two valves
would cost $17,000, and would allow for the uninterrupted flow of water for residents, which is sourced from a main line located on the East side of Conway and the West side of Inspiration. By next month, construction on the water loop will be across Conway and the canal. The water line will be ready to be tested by then. The valves need to be added before the lines are tested. The Madero Bridge location is not set in stone, but according to the coordination meeting on June 27 between engineers and city leaders, the bridge is going to be between Los Ebanos and Conway.
Highlights from Mission City Council
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By Kathy Olivarez
n addition to approving a smoke free Mission, the Mission City Council tackled the budget, zoning, police matters and plans for upcoming city events at the June 27 city council meeting. The council voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2016 Community Development Block Grant Fund allocations of the $904,240 granted to the city. Jo Anne Longoria presented the final budget for approval. The Lower Rio Grande Development Council Agency on Aging will receive $7,000; Amigos Del Valle, $126,000; Silver Ribbons, $4,000; Easter Seal Society, $4,000; Children’s Advocacy Center, $7,000; Salvation Army, $2,000; Housing Division, $637,000; and Administration of CDBG funds, $217,240. The firm of Burton, McCumber & Cortez, LLP, was selected as the highest qualified firm to conduct the city’s annual audit. Zoning Under zoning matters, a request for a conditional use permit for Monchi Loko, a business located in a portable building located in 1002 Hoerner Drive and Bus. 83, was denied. The business opened last year with another owner selling snacks and raspas. Because ownership changed, a new permit was requested. The mayor stated his opposition to allowing portable buildings that sell food at lower prices than the merchants who operate restaurants and pay taxes to the city. This is an issue that frequently comes up in the council where opinions are mixed. The vote was three to two in favor of denying the request. Salinas and councilmen Dr. Armando O’Caña and Ruben Plata opposed the business; councilwomen Norie Garza and Jessica Ochoa were in favor of the request. City Events Josh Stockel, new CEO of the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce, invited the council and those in the audience to take part in the upcoming Chef’s Barbecue Showdown and Car Show to be held at Mission Market Square, 202 W. Tom Landry Street, on July 30 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will raise money to fun $1,000 schol-
Mission First United Methodist Church 1101 Doherty Ave.
Mission TX 78572 (956) 585-1665
Sunday
Worship Times 8:00 a.m. Informal 9:00 a.m. Contemporary 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Traditional 11:00 a.m. Childrens Church 5:00 p.m. Spanish Worship
Everyone is Welcome!
Join us for communion the First Sunday of every month.
www.missionfumc.com
arships for each of the high schools located in Mission. Chefs from across the Valley will compete in cooking barbecue beef brisket, pork ribs, chicken and the “chef’s choice.” Wristbands to be able to sample food cooked by the chef teams are $15 each. The top chef will win a $2,500 prize. Action items Under action items, the council approved the lowest responsible bidder for the wastewater plant expansion project. R.P. Constructors, Inc. of New Braunfels was awarded the bid in the amount of $14,841,556. The expansion will add an additional 4.5 million gallons daily (MGD) to the plant. That will bring total capacity to 13.5 MGD. Council approved solicitation of bids for a storm drainage project on Perkins’ Avenue between the 11th and 15th blocks. The council approved donations to Sister Cities. A 2004 Chevy dump truck will go to San Fernando, Nuevo Leon. A 1998 International dump truck will go to Francisco I. Madero, Coahuila. A Ford F-250 pickup truck will go to Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon. Representatives of the cities receiving the trucks were present to thank the council and the City of Mission for giving them the trucks. The council approved a “no parking anytime” zone on the north alley-way of the 500 and 600 blocks of Ramirez Street after being told it was impossible to transverse the alley due to the cars parked in it. Police Under police matters Police Chief Roberto Dominguez was given permission to purchase a new Broadband System for the police department’ in-car lap top system through the National Intergovernmental Purchasing Alliance in the amount of $295,294. Funding will come through the department’s drug forfeiture funds. The purchase of Broadband System hardware, software and professional services from Tyler Technologies was approved in the amount of $35,450. Funding for the purchase will also come from Drug Forfeiture Fund. Properties Following executive session, the council voted to enforce the Dilapidated Structure Legal requirements for removal on the following properties: lots one and two, Block 10 Southwest #1; Lot 10, Block 1, Southwest #1; E Part of Lot 1, Block 206, Mission Original Townsite Subdivision; lots six and seven, Glasscock Acres; and lot 12, Block 2, Citriana Heights. The council will use the right of eminent domain to acquire properties needed to complete the Inspiration Road Project. Site to be taken include an .008 acre tract (341 square feet) of a .079 acre tract of s 81.66 acre tract including all of Lots 21-2 and 22-1, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision. The second site to be taken is a 005-acre tract of land (200 square feet), portion of lot 182, Taurus Subdivision. The third site is a .126-acre parcel of land our to 10 acres out of Lot 30-1, West Addition to Sharyland. The council will also acquire property describes as Mission Original Townsite Lot 1, Block 91.