March 24, 2017 - PT ISSUE

Friday, March 24, 2017

www.ptrgv.com | 25 Cents

Vol. 45 No. 33

Beloved former congressman eulogized, laid to rest

By Joe Hinton The late singer/song writer Harry Chapin famously wrote, “All My Life’s a Circle,” a song title that could have been written for former Democratic U.S. Rep. Eligio “Kika” de la Garza.

De la Garza, who died March 13 of kidney failure at 89, was eulogized in the church where he was baptized, received first communion and served as an altar boy before serving in the Korean War, representing South Texas in Austin, Texas in Washington and the U.S. around the world. Following a 75-minute service March 17 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission, attended by about 600 people, he was laid to rest following a 21-gun salute at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in McAllen, in the county in which he was

Pallbearers stand over the flag-draped coffin of former Texas Congressman Eligio “Kika” de la Garza inside the foyer at the entrance of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where his funeral was held March 17 in Mission.

raised and the city in which he died.

De la Garza was eulogized by his priest, son, daughter and other family members as a good, humble man who loved others and always tried to do best for his family, community, Texas, the U.S. and the world.

Parish Priest Father Roy L. Snipes recalled Kika’s mother, Elisa, suffered a difficult birth with the child everyone would know as Kika.

“Little did they dream of all the great adventures that awaited this baby and them,” Snipes said. “He had his first communion here. He went to Mission public schools. He didn’t get to graduate from Mission High because he took off for World War II and missed his graduation. He did come back and graduate.

I think it was the class of ’94 he came back and walked

See LAID TO REST Pg. 10

“It’s a sad day in our neighborhood.

But where he has gone there are no more sad days.”

- Father Roy L. Snipes

Progress Times photo by Joe Hinton

Agua SUD, La Joya ISD, Peñitas, respond to bill seeking to curb conflict of interest

Mission’s EDC awards $42,500 to three start up businesses

By Joe Hinton A math teacher, web page designer, aeronautical engineer and jeweler-cum- party designer are the latest recipients of grants from Mission’s Economic Development Corporation, each of whom have start up businesses in Mission.

Recipients of a total $42,500 in grants from the EDC’s Ruby Red Ventures Program were introduced Tuesday during the corporation’s regular monthly meeting at the Center for Education and Economic Development. The grants are provided from a half-cent sales tax assessed by the city.

The newest venture belongs to brothers Raul and Noe Peña, who plan to open their mobile game and computer application company, “Gameswipe, LLC ” within the next month in the CEED building on Bryan Road, said Raul Peña, 26. Peña, a graduate of Premier Charter High

See EDC AWARDS Pg. 7

By Jose De Leon III Five weeks after a senate bill was filed seeking to limit who can work for the Agua Special Utility District, three local entities affected by the proposed legislation have almost simultaneously passed resolutions against it.

Around mid-day Monday the Agua SUD board of di-

rectors, the La Joya School Board and the Peñitas City Council each passed resolutions in opposition to Senate Bill 814.

Filed Feb. 10 by State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, if passed the proposed legislation would prevent Agua SUD from employing elected officials who oversee the schools and cit-

ies where utility board members work. Blood relatives in the third degree of an elected official within the city and school district would also be prevented from being hired

by Agua SUD, if the bill passes.

Both the Agua SUD and La Joya School Boards held

See AGUA SUD Pg. 11

Safety concerns prompt road restrictions near two area schools

By Joe Hinton

The latest recipients of the Mission Economic Development Center’s Ruby Red Ventures grants are from left, Noe Peña, Raul Peña, David Avila and Abraham Neave.

Progress Times photo by Joe Hinton

Parking tickets are so rare in the City of Mission a municipal court employee recently could not find a statute for the violation to cite the amount of the fine.

“That’s like something that happens in McAllen,” said the worker, whose name will not be used.

But that may soon change as this week students returned to two southside schools with new traffic and parking restrictions in place.

On March 13 Mission’s city council voted unani-

See SAFETY CONCERNS Pg. 11

Citing safety concerns near the student drop off and pickup sites at two south side schools, Mission’s City Council has passed ordinances restricting parking and U-turns along two stretches of Glasscock Road.

Progress Times photo by Joe Hinton

INSIDE

INDEX

Soccer playoffs begin this weekend

New wildlife rehabilitator

Eight area high school soccer teams have qualified for this weekend’s bi-district round of UIL state playoffs.

Sports reporter Luciano Guerra has the roundup.

A former Houston nurse has become Hidalgo County’s first certified wildlife rehabilitator and is working at the National Butterfly Center in Mission.

Palmview’s City Council has voted to create a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone to “incentivize” business development in the city. Reporter Jose De Leon III has the report.

See Pg. 6

See Pg. 5

See Pg. 5

Entertainment | pg.2

Lifestyle | pg.3

Opinion | pg.4

Sports | pg. 6

Palmview sets economic development in motion

Obituaries | pg. 9

Classifieds | pg. 11

entertainment Coming Attractions

People’s Choice

On Saturday, Feb. 11, Fernando Torres was selected as the recipient of the People’s Choice Award for his photo, “San Diego Panorama” during the Upper Valley Art League’s Photographic Art Show 2017. The selection was made by UVAL patrons during the opening reception of the annual exhibit held in the UVAL gallery of the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center in Mission.

UTRGV hosts 16th Guitar Ensemble Festival, Competition

BROWNSVILLE – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will again host the 16th Annual Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Festival and Competition. This is the only national competition for acoustic guitar ensembles, and brings together young musicians, gifted artists and teachers for three days of collaboration and performance.

Created in 2001 by Dr. Michael Quantz, UTRGV music professor, the festival was designed to benefit students of all levels studying music on the guitar. Ensembles from more than 40 cities across the country have participated in the annual competition.

Competition categories include elementary, middle school, high school, and college/university. A complete schedule is included on the event website.

Professional musicians conducting master classes are later featured in performances. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. in the TSC Arts Center, 90 Taylor Ave., and Eidman Hall, Ridgely Road.

On Friday, March 24, Grammy-winner Jason

Vieaux, performs. Perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation (NPR), goes beyond the classical. His latest solo album, “Play,” won the 2015 Grammy for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. He plays a 2013 Gernot Wagner guitar.

Grisha Goryachev performs Saturday, March 25.

A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Grisha Goryachev is renowned for his extraordinary musical sensitivity and technical virtuosity in both classical and flamenco styles. Grisha is one of very few guitarists in the world who is reviving the tradition of solo flamenco guitar in a concert setting that was practiced by legendary flamenco masters such as Ramón Montoya and Sabicas.

Ticket prices are $15 for general admission, $10 for seniors 65 and over and $5 for students and children.

There is no charge for Patron of the Arts members. Tickets are available at tickets.vendini.com.

For more information, call Patron of the Arts at 956-882-7025, or refer to the Brownsville Guitar Festival website.

March 25 • Texas Onion Fest headlines with Johnny Lee and the Urban Cowboy Band at Mayor Pablo G. Pena City Park, 300 N.Airport. Valley native Bo Garza will return to headline on the Texas Onion Fest main stage. The festival brings the community together for a fun filled day of onion eating contests, cooking demonstrations, recipe contests, dancing horses, more live musical entertainers and dancing and more. Admission for adults is $10, $5 for children and ages 3 and under get in free. Free parking will be available at the park, through the Airport Drive entrance. To purchase tickets, visit topboxtickets.com, call 800514-3849 or go to Hermes Music, any Boot Jack store or Ticket Zone in Edinburg. For more information, visit weslaco.com/ onionfest.

April 14-23 • James and the Giant Peach JR, based on the popular children’s book by Timothy Allen McDonald, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, will be performed at the Camille Playhouse by YOUTHeatre Production. Performances are at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and matinees at 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $20 for adults. Camille is located at 1 Dean Porter Park, Brownsville. Call 956-5428900 or go to camilleplayhouse.net for more information.

April 19 • The McAllen Symphonic Band and the South Texas College Department of Music present a concert of chamber music for winds featuring works by Mozart and Strauss. It begins at 7:30 p.m. in the South Texas College Cooper Center Auditorium, 3200 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. Admission is free.

(For more Coming Attractions, go to ptrgv.com)

MOSTHistory explores oil prospectors, Mexican revolutionaries EDINBURG – The MOSTHistory Happy Hour series is a great way to learn more about South Texas and northeastern Mexico heritage while enjoying a relaxing, sociable environment. On Thursday, March 30, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., young professionals – and the young at heart – can join the MOSTHistory Happy Hour for the Wildcatters and Revolutionaries event in an evening of beer tasting, appetizers and historically engaging activities.

During the event, guests can explore the museum’s River Crossroads gallery, telling the story of the Rio Grande Valley during the 20th century, through a competitive and interactive scavenger hunt. MOSTHistory staff and other historians will be available to provide information on the roles of independent oilers, known as wildcatters, and the effects that Mexican revolutionaries had on the Rio Grande Valley and its residents.

Local costumed inter-

preters, Los Liberadores, will portray men and women fighters of the Mexican Revolution. Guests can also test their marksmanship at the Revolutionary Firing Range by shooting at empty cans off a board with rubber band guns.

This month’s event will include a new partner: The Prelude Songwriters Club from Harlingen. Jose Sanchez, a singer-songwriter residing at South Padre Island, is part of the organization and will entertain the crowd with music of the 20th century and original compositions.

The beer tasting selection is from Guns and Oil Brewery out of Austin which specializes in brews resembling “traditionally brewed pre-prohibition style full-bodied American lagers.” Wine will also be provided for those who wish to skip the beer tasting. Guests who aren’t hungry enough for a full dinner can enjoy local food truck and caterers.

Make reservations by calling 956-383-6911. MOSTHistory is located at 200 N. Closner.

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

Romeo & Juliet love story told through music

McALLEN – The legendary play Romeo and Juliet becomes an orchestral experience when the Valley Symphony Orchestra transforms Shakespeare’s timeless classic into music. The performance will be held at the McAllen Performing Arts Center on Thursday, April 6. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the concert beginning at 8 p.m.

Featuring percussionists Philip Johnson, Mark Ramirez and Joe More, the bold introduction depicts a

war fought between the families of the teenage lovers.

The musical version of Romeo and Juliet was originally written by Sergei Prokofiev as a ballet. The story is now told solely through the music and dynamic instrumentation.

Tickets are available online at goo.gl/VRv2pl; at the McAllen Convention Center Box Office, Ware Rd. and Expressway 83, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; or by calling 800745-3000.

Tickets on sale for IMAS Brew-seum week McALLEN – The Ninth Annual Brew-Seum Craft Beer Week at the International Museum of Art & Science takes off April 4 and ends April 9.

The first event takes on home brewers in the Battle of the Brew Tap Takeover on Tuesday, April 4. In its sixth year, home brewers compete for “Brewmaster of the Year.” It takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Roosevelt’s, 821 N. Main, McAllen.

On Thursday, April 6, only 100 guests will be seated at the Brew-seum Beer Dinner for the exclusive event. The menu for the feast is kept a secret, but Executive Chef Larry Delgado will prepare a feast inspired and paired with the various beers of Southern Star Brewing Company. It’s set for 7 to 10 p.m. at IMAS, 1900 W. Nolana, McAllen.

Tickets are $125 per person

or $1,000 per table seating eight people.

For the Ninth Annual “A Night at the Brew-seum” guests will sample over 100 craft beers along with mouth-watering cuisine from our local eateries. This event takes place Saturday, April 8, at IMAS from 7 to 11 p.m. and until 12 a.m. for VIPs. Tickets are $40 for Designated Driver, $50/VIP Designated Driver, $55/IMAS Member, $70/Non-Member and $100/VIP (limited).

To end the week, check in at IMAS on Sunday, April 9, for “Beers and Brunch” from 12 to 4 p.m. to continue sampling brews, listening to music and dining from local food trucks on site.

For tickets, sponsorships or information, stop by the museum during regular hours or call 956-682-0123.

Pan American Cello Festival showcases local, professional talent

EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley presents the Pan American Cello Festival Ensemble Concert featuring seven cello ensembles with skill levels from advanced beginners to the highest professional caliber.

The free event is open to the public and will be held on Sunday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Complex on the Edinburg campus.

Cellists will be performing music in a wide variety of styles and by a range of composers, patrons will be entertained with a variety, from Mexican folk music and old classic standards to new music.

In the Guest Artist Showcase Recital, featured guests

artists will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 24, at the Performing Arts Complex.

Distinguished guest artist Walter Gray (Seattle Symphony) and Andrew Smith (University of Nevada Las Vegas) will perform with Stacy Kwak (UTRGV) as part of the Pan American Cello Festival.

The performance includes music by Claude Debussy, Gian Carlo Menotti, Robert Schumann, and a premiere

by Seattle composer Ken Benshoof.

Tickets for this performance are $5 general admission and are available at tickets.vendini.com.

For more information, call the UTRGV Patron of the Arts at 956-665-3881.

Easter Bunny Run/Walk is April 15

Join in the Easter Bunny Fun Run/Walk at the Second Annual Spring into Fitness Expo. The 1K and 5K events start at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, and end at 11 a.m. at 3930 Plantation Grove in Mission. Proceeds benefit the Latinas in Progress for The Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas RGV. The top three runners from each male and female

category will receive medals. All runners will receive a finisher’s medal and T-shirt. The family event was organized to educate about health awareness and fun in the outdoors.

The race fee for ages 5 to 12 is $15 and 13 to 90 is $30.

There is also a $2.50 sign-up fee. Registration is available on runsignup.com ends Friday, April 14, at 11:59 p.m.

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lifestyle

Canyon Lake residents continue Mabel’s vision

By Kathy Olivarez

Mabel’s Building Mission, a group of men from Canyon Lake RV Resort in Mission, have now completed their 498th home for poor families living in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico since the program started in 1992.

The project began in 1992 as a direct off-shoot of the work done by Mabel Clare Proudly, who began trying to help the people of Mexico after the disastrous Hurricane Beulah in 1967. Many people were left homeless and many children were orphaned by the storm. Mabel worked to find homes for these children.

In 1992 there were still many families who did not have homes or had very poor quality homes, so a group of men at Canyon Lake RV Resort decided to do something about it and began raising money to build the small, modest homes. The homes are small by U.S. standards, only 12 feet by 16 feet with two windows and a door.

According to Bill Kun-

zman, a total of 20 houses were built this year. The unusually good weather this year allowed the builders to finish by the third week of February. Kunzman said that about 15 to 20 men living at Canyon Lake Resort in the winter work on the houses.

While the homes are not very large, many of the people who receive these homes are living in shacks that may not be completely closed in or well enough constructed to keep the weather out when it rains or gets cold. Some live in ramshackle shelters built of giant packing crates or large heavy-duty cardboard boxes.

Construction begins with a Mexican national, who pours the concrete slabs in advance for them so it is dry and ready to add the walls.

It takes about two weeks for the slab to be ready for construction.

The wife of the man who builds the slabs works to determine who qualifies for a home. They must have a job, own the property where the home is being built and not

be involved in a scamming scheme to have a house to rent to someone else.

The men build much of the house at Canyon Lake by constructing the walls and installing the windows and door.

Bill’s wife, Phyllis, works with him to coordinate the furnishings for the homes.

A group of quilters at Canyon Lake RV Resort makes quilts for each member of the family. Residents also organize a clothing drive that provides a box of clothing for each member of the family including layettes for babies.

The men build a table for each home and other furnishings are also provided. If Phyllis is able to find a hidea-bed, a recliner, chairs or a mattress from someone who is giving furniture away and replacing it with new furniture, the old furniture is donated. Each family is also presented with a Spanish Bible and a box of food.

Money to fund these homes is raised by churches up north or given by in-

Mabel’s Building Mission, a group of Winter Texans from Canyon Lake RV Resort in Mission, gather in front of a home they completed in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico.

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS dividuals who want to help improve the life of a family in Mexico. Building is restricted to those who live in Canyon Lake unless someone outside the park donates the money for a home.

Due to rises in the costs of construction materials, the houses now cost $1400 to build, a considerable increase in cost from when they first started. That is one reason they limit themselves to 20 per year. Whenever possible the builders look for old windows from homes that are being torn down or have their windows replaced.

If they are in reasonable condition, they can use them in their construction projects.

Mabel began the mission, but the residents of Canyon Lake RV Resort caught the vision, and her legacy lives on in their hearts and hands.

LJISD Scholarship Golf Classic set for April 7 LA JOYA – It’s time to sign up for the 11th Annual LJISD Superintendent’s Scholarship Golf Classic. The scholarship fundraiser will be held Friday, April 7, at Howling Trails Golf Course located at 1910 Hole In One Drive in Mission. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m. shotgun start.

Golfers can vie for the $1,000,000 shoot-out and a $10,000 hole-in-one prize.

Top team prizes are $900, first place; $600, second; and $300, third. Additional prizes include closest to the pin, $50; longest drive, $50; and door prize giveaways.

Sponsorship levels offered begin at Hole Sponsor with advertisement, $300; Silver – $600, enter 1 team of three players with 1 Mulligan per player; Gold – $900, one team, Mulligans for each, plus hole sponsorship; Diamond – $1,200, two teams, Mulligans for each and hole sponsorship.

For registration and payment, send via mail: LJISD Superintedent’s Golf Classic, c/o Administration & Finance Department, 201 E. Expressway 83, La Joya, TX 78560. For more information, call 956-323-2051 or visit lajoyaisd.com.

EVENTS

CALENDAR

Jesus and Gloria Porras honored their daughter, Kelly Johana, on the occasion of her 15th birthday. A mass was held Saturday, March 18, at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Alton and was followed by a reception at the Mission Community Center. She is a ninth grade student at Edinburg North High School.

March 27 – The Río Grande Valley-Texas Democratic Women general membership meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Almaguer Law Firm, 801 E. Fern Ave., McAllen. Guest speaker is Cynthia Sakluenski, president of the RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Cindy Bass-James, Texas Democratic Women president-elect, will present the Chapter Charter at the meeting.

April April 1 – Juan Diego Academy’s (JDA) Sixth Annual Spring Festival fundraiser takes place on the JDA campus located at 5208 S. FM 494 in Mission, beginning with a 5K Fun Run/Walk at 8 a.m. and a 25-Mile Bike Ride at 8:30 a.m.

Register online at juandiegoacademy.org to enter. Festival activities continue with a garage sale, games and booths, barbecue chicken plates for lunch, Grand Chalupa bingo game, a drawing and a drive/ride sponsored test drive. All proceeds support the school. For information, call 956-583-2752 or visit juandiegoacademy.org.

April 4 – The next book discussion at Speer Memorial Library in Mission covers “Necessary Lies” in the library’s Community Room at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited. For more information, to obtain a copy or to sign up, stop by the library or call at 956-580-8754 or 956-580-8750. Speer Memorial Library is located at 12th and Kika De La Garza in Mission.

April 5 – Children ages 5 and under can discover how seeds become flowers and how plants help animals at the IMAS Young Adventurer Day. It begins at 10 a.m. The program lasts about 30 minutes. Admission is $5 per IMAS member and $10 per nonmember. To register, call 956-682-0123.

IMAS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave., McAllen.

(For more Events, go to ptrgv.com.)

We are not only keeping our full-day Pre-K program, but we are also keeping it open to four year olds, regardless of language or income.

Plus- we are offering a dual language program in Pre-K. To register your child for our 2017-2018 Pre-K classes, go by the elementary school within your zone. Bring along as many of the following items: valid form of identification (parent), child’s birth certificate, social security card if available, immunization records, proof of residence within Mission CISD. Parents in neighboring areas are required to apply for an out-of-district transfer; those applications can be picked up at the Mission CISD Central Office, 1201 Bryce Drive, Mission. For more information call 956-323-5578.

Our Elementary Schools also offer: • Dual language instruction • Individualized instruction • 100% of teachers meet Federal “highly qualified” standards • Computer Science and Coding • Expanding computer tablets and laptops for instruction • Robotics • Read to Lead community literacy focus • STEAM instruction (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) • SAT preparation

opinion

By Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

State budget progresses toward vote by full Senate AUSTIN — The Senate Finance Committee, at work on the 2018-2019 state budget since January, on March 16 approved workgroup recommendations in preparation for a final vote.

Committee Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, said she expects her panel to vote on the state budget, Senate Bill 1, this week, March 20-24. After the committee votes, the next step for the budget is consideration by the full Senate.

So far in the process, the committee has approved more money to reduce the caseload for foster care workers, an increase in payments for people who take in foster children and an expansion of a privatized case management program. Funding for mental health would be maintained at current levels while adding beds for maximum-security patients.

Health and human services takes up the largest share of the state budget.

Senate Health & Human Services Committee Chair Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, who serves on the Senate Finance Committee, commented on SB 1, saying, “Just like the people of Texas, we must live within our means. With that said, I believe the product before you represents a responsible budget that will meet the health and human services needs of Texans and address the most pressing issues we will face in the coming biennium.”

SB 1 would include less money for education — the second-biggest element in

the state budget. One issue is funding for so-called “special items” or one-time appropriations to help colleges start new programs or increase capacity. Higher education institutions that have come to rely on the renewal of special items every budget cycle would be at a disadvantage under SB 1, according to Senate Finance Committee member Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, who serves as chair of the body’s Higher Education Committee. Previously, the state spent more than a billion dollars on “special items.” On March 15, the Senate Finance Committee approved language cutting that amount to $700 million.

Immigration bill is heard An overflow crowd numbering in the hundreds gathered in the state Capitol on March 15 to testify on a House committee substitute for SB 4, the immigration law enforcement bill written by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, and passed by the full Senate on Feb. 8.

The bill proposes to prohibit “sanctuary city” policies that prohibit local law enforcement from inquiring about a person’s immigration status and complying with detainer requests by the federal government.

Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, laid out the committee substitute, followed by hours of deliberation by the House State Affairs and five hours of public testimony.

Among those testifying against the bill was Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of the Tex-

as Catholic Conference of Bishops. Vásquez called immigration reform a moral issue and said Pope Francis’ position is that immigrants should be supported.

Jackson County Sheriff A.J. “Andy” Louderback of Edna, a member of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas, was among those testifying in favor of the bill.

Senate OKs bathroom bill On a vote of 21-10, the Texas Senate on March 15 approved Committee Substitute SB 6, legislation to require people in public buildings, including schools, to use the bathroom that corresponds with the sex marked on their birth certificate.

Opponents said the bill unfairly targets transgender Texans, but the bill’s author, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, said the legislation is necessary to keep men out of women’s restrooms.

The bill, which has moved to the House for consideration, applies to multi-stall restrooms, showers, dressing rooms and locker rooms in public buildings. Private entities and businesses would be left to decide their own policy, and government entities would not be able to use those policies as criteria when deciding how to award government contracts.

Study examines health care Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar on March 15 posted notice that the cost of health care is rising faster than both the general inflation rate and the growth of the state’s population. In fiscal 2015, he said, the state spent $42.9

March 24, November January 2,2017 2015 25, 2016

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS billion on health care services, or 43.1 percent of all appropriations from state, federal and other sources.

The March issue of Fiscal Notes, a publication produced by the Comptroller’s office, examines and quanti-

fies health care spending by 68 state agencies and higher education institutions over a five-year period.

“Emerging technologies, demographics and the growth of our great state will ensure the demand for health

care services continues to increase even while the cost of these services is on the rise,” Hegar said. “The question for policymakers is how to contain these costs.”

Texas Republicans divided as health care overhaul hangs in the balance In Wednesday’s dawn-to-dusk fight over repealing the law that served as a central campaign issue for Republicans over the last four election cycles, Texans were right in the middle.

By Abby Livingston The Texas Tribune WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions of Dallas had a long day Wednesday.

He set off a mild firestorm early in the morning in a CNN interview when he conceded his party needed to do a better job selling its replacement to President Obama’s 2010 health care overhaul and promised Americans they would be able to keep their current insurance plan and doctors.

But those remarks were largely forgotten just hours later amid the continuing chaos surrounding the runup toward a Thursday vote in the U.S. House. By nightfall, Sessions found himself sparring with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi over repeal in a marathon meeting of the House Rules Committee, which he chairs.

In the dawn-to-dusk fight over repealing the law that served as a central campaign issue for Republicans over the past four election cycles, Pelosi’s troops were in lockstep behind her — all House Democrats oppose repeal.

Instead, the fight is among Republicans; allies of House leadership are trying to pass the bill, while hardline conservatives, many of whom are members of a group called the Freedom Caucus,

are trying to stymie it.

Many in Congress — including at least one Texas Republican House member who asked not to be named — predict that if the bill reaches the House floor Thursday, it will fail. Sources tell the Tribune that heading into Thursday, House leaders were working with a deficit of about five votes.

The fight consumed both the White House and the House of Representatives all day Wednesday. President Donald Trump and U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan used every carrot and stick at their disposal to convince Republicans to fall in line with their proposal. Some Republicans suggested the vote could go down to the wire, all the way to the House floor for the kind of in-the-moment arm-twisting that made former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay famous in his day.

As of Wednesday evening, 16 House Republicans from Texas backed the bill, three opposed it and six were either undecided or unclear in their positions.

U.S. Rep. Randy Weber of Friendswood, a Freedom Caucus member, announced his opposition to the bill late Wednesday.

The most stunning moment among Texas Republicans came at the hand of a member of the party’s House

leadership, Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, who pulled his support for the bill and announced he was undecided.

All the drama in the House may be leading to an anticlimax in the Senate — even if the plan passes in its current form, hardly anyone thinks the bill will make it through the upper chamber.

Many Republicans doubt repeal will even become law.

The political fallout of failure in the House could set off a conflagration between the two factions of the House GOP, including in Texas.

Tea Party types say they are licking their chops to take out Republican incumbents in primaries with charges of selling out in support of “Obamacare lite.”

Meanwhile, those in the Republican establishment say they will charge rebels who might fight the bill into failure as essentially siding with Democrats to maintain the status quo of a law the entire party spent seven years campaigning against.

The countdown to a vote has raised several questions, the most prominent of which is: What happens if the bill fails?

The anonymous Texas House Republican forecasted political catastrophe: “I don’t know what happens then.”

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March 24, 2017

page 5

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Former nurse named county’s first wildlife rehabilitator A former Houston nurse has become Hidalgo County’s first certified wildlife rehabilitator and is working for the National Butterfly Center in Mission.

The NBC’s executive director, Marianna T. Wright, said Angelica Garcia recently completed an intensive course of study and examination by the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.

Per an NBC press release, wildlife rehabilitators are committed to the treatment and subsequent release of native wildlife in need. Certified rehabilitators like Garcia are specially trained to care for injured animals that are not accustomed to human interaction and should not be kept as pets.

In a telephone interview Wednesday, Wright said like any professionals as a doctor or lawyer, Garcia has some hurdles remaining before becoming fully licensed.

Wright said Garcia is a licensed vocational nurse who worked with gastroenterologists in Houston before deciding to take a break from working with human patients. She said Garcia has for the past three years been wearing several hats at NBC as her administrative assistant, running the gift shop, and scheduling events and field trips. She said Garcia is also put in charge when it comes to viewing specimens under a microscope.

Wright said Garcia’s medical background is particular-

ly valuable, as every call for assistance requires an assessment of the animal’s general health, level of trauma and likelihood of survival.

Wright quoted the National Wildlife Rehabilitator Center’s estimate that approximately 75% of all wildlife in need of rehabilitative care is affected by human activity, such as automobile traffic, target practice or habitat destruction. Certified wildlife rehabilitators treat hundreds of thousands of animals annually, according to the NWRC; some provide care with little or no financial support. Many, like Garcia, also provide educational programs to the public in an effort to reduce the number of animals killed or injured,

Tax delinquent home sale adds to Alton general fund

By Jose De Leon III The city of Alton will receive nearly $3,500 following sale of a delinquent property on the city’s east side.

The results of the delinquent tax sale was announced during the March 14 city council meeting where city commissioners approved a $21,000 bid for the sale of a residential property located in the 3000 block of East McKinley Avenue.

According to Assistant City Manager Jeff Underwood, the money will go to the city’s general fund balance. The city’s overall general fund totaled $4.2 million at the close of the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, per the city manager’s annual budget report.

The home on the lot was a rental property that was claimed on behalf of the city by the Edinburg-based

tax delinquent law office, Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, as the owners hadn’t paid their taxes in years, Underwood said. The property had previously been posted for sale at an opening bid of $30,000 but no one matched that price, Underwood said.

“It’s actually normal for that to happen to a property the first time around. People will want to get the property for as little as possible so they won’t vote for it, leading to a resale,” Underwood explained.

The resale causes properties to go out for bids again with no base amount, leading bidders to place any amount they see fit. Underwood said the winning bid was the only one received by the firm.

The amount from the bid will be split up through each tax entity based on their taxing rate.

whether by malice, misinformation or mistake.

Although most wildlife rehabilitators are focused on preserving individual animals, rather than entire populations and their habitats, at the National Butterfly Center, Garcia gets to teach people about wild animals as well as the intertwining web of life and the importance of conservation, for the continued well being of all species, per the NBC press release.

My work here is rewarding on every level,” Garcia was quoted in the press release which also stated she secretly pursued her certification for over a year before informing her coworkers of her goal.

“I’ve found my second

The city of Palmview will soon be equipped with a new tool to help fund economic growth in the city.

The Palmview City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday to establish a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, or TIRZ, for the city.

During the meeting, the city council voted to allow staff to receive proposals from companies or individuals that would handle the process of creating the TIRZ. Michael Leo, director of Hidalgo County Economic Development, explained to the board how a TIRZ is a designated zone within the city that will collect the taxes generated in the zone. Those funds will be reinvested for economic development projects without the money going into the city’s general fund.

“The TIRZ will freeze the value of the zone so more businesses will feel incentivized to develop in the area,” Leo said.

As more development takes place, the taxes on the increased property values go into the TIRZ account, while the city does not give up any existing taxes.

At the meeting, Palmview City Manager Ramon Segovia explained to the council they will need to determine who will control the TIRZ, the city or the Municipal Development District (MDD.) “Whoever will pay for it will be the one who oversees it so my recommendation is to let the MDD oversee it,” Segovia said. “Even if the MDD controlled it, it’d still be under the umbrella of the city, we’re hoping to get proposals from three or four different companies.”

Segovia told the board the TIRZ would ultimately provide the city with more flexibility in providing incentives for new development to come in, creating more business and revenue for the city.

According to Leo, the TIRZ would be able to fund “quality of life” projects such as street, drainage, sewage and water improve-

Former Houston nurse Angelica Garcia has become the first certified wildlife rehabilitator in Hidalgo County. She is working for the National Butterfly Center in Mission.

Courtesy photo

Mission Jr. high bands receive honors

The city of Alton, with a tax rate of 45 cents per $100 evaluation, will receive $3,498.47 Underwood said.

The Sharyland Independent School District, with a tax rate of $1.33 per $100 valuation, will receive more than half of the total amount, or nearly $11,000.

In other business, the city voted to cancel the city council elections. As previously reported, no candidates filed paperwork to run against the three incumbents currently on the commission by the filing deadline of 5 p.m., Feb. 17. That means the sitting incumbents will maintain their positions on the four-member commission for another four years.

The unopposed incumbents are Ricardo Garza, Place 2; Richard Arevalo, Place 3 and Emilio Cantu Jr. in Place 4.

A pair of Mission Junior High School instrumental groups have received honors in an area competition.

Per a Mission CISD press release, the Mission Junior High School Honor and Symphonic Bands both earned a Sweepstakes trophy at the UIL Concert & Sight Reading Contest held at La Joya High School on March 9.

Palmview establishing tax increment reinvestment zone

By Jose De Leon III

calling, and find great fulfillment in fostering these creatures and nursing them back to health,” Garcia is quoted in the release. “Sharing my knowledge with school children and adult visitors is the icing on the cake—changing attitudes about wild animals and helping people react with wonder, instead of fear.”

Per the NBC, Garcia is currently the only certified wildlife rehabilitator in Hidalgo County. Those seeking to engage her services or seek treatment for injured, ill or abandoned wildlife should contact the National Butterfly Center via the Contact page at www.nationalbutterflycenter.org, or call 956.583.5400.

The center can also be found on Facebook.

ments. The TIRZ can also fund parks and new public buildings such as a library and a new city hall.

“It all depends on whether or not you have the development to create it,” Leo told the board. “It’s a valuable resource that’s really for areas that wouldn’t otherwise get developed so it’s really more fitting in rural areas.”

During the meeting, Leo brought up the TIRZ for the neighboring cities of Mission and Peñitas. According to Leo, the Peñitas TIRZ is so successful that the city is in the process of going out to sell bonds. The Mission TIRZ meanwhile has been used to fund several drainage and road expansion projects as well as several buildings such as the fire and police substation on 4500 S. Glasscock Road.

“When you have a place like Palmview with the potential for growth, it just needs a tool or resource to help that growth be successful,” Leo said.

A Sweepstakes award is received by earning a “superior” rating on the stage performance and sight reading portion of the contest.

“Students and staff invested countless hours preparing for this event,” said Head Band Director Annie Rodriguez. “We are extremely proud of all our Mission Jr. High band students and want

to thank the administration, staff, and parents for their continued support.”

In addition to Rodriguez, the he bands are under the direction of Assistant Band Director Meredith Gersten, and Assistant Band Director Jackie Tellez, per THE press release.

Mission Jr. High Honor Band

Mission Jr. High Symphonic Band

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March 24, 2017

page 6

Felissa Ponce de Leon first powerlifting state champion in La Joya history

By Bryan Ramos

Palmview junior Laisha Lopez (left) and senior Felissa Ponce de Leon with their medals from the Girls State Powerlifting Meet. Lopez finished fourth in the 105-pound division and Ponce de Leon won the State championship in the 148-pound division.

Progress Times Photo by, Bryan Ramos

Eight Big 7 teams qualify for playoffs

By Luciano Guerra Of the 14 Big 7 schools’ soccer teams, eight qualified for postseason play and will be participating in this weekend’s bi-district round of the UIL state playoffs. The fact that so many Big 7 teams qualified for the playoffs is a testament to the quality of soccer being played at Mission, Sharyland and La Joya schools. This is especially true of the two Sharyland high schools where three of the four teams extended their seasons into postseason play and the fourth missed out on the playoffs by only one point.

Unlike every other high school team sport, in soccer it

is the accumulation of points teams earn throughout the season that determines how teams line up in the standings and which teams qualify for the playoffs and which don’t. When a game ends in regulation, the winning team gets three points and the losing team gets none. However when a game is decided by penalty kicks, the winning team gets two points and the losing team gets one. That is why it is possible in high school soccer for one team to finish the regular season with a better record than another team but still finish behind that team in the standings.

The Juarez-Lincoln Huskies and Lady Huskies are two of the eight Big 7 teams

A pair of Lady Lobos and Lady Diamondbacks brought medals back to the Valley after competing amongst the best across Texas at the Girls State Powerlifting Meet March 17 and 18 in Waco.

Palmview senior Felissa Ponce de Leon won a state championship in the 148-pound class, becoming the first student-athlete to accomplish the goal in La Joya Independent School District history.

“It honestly means that anything is possible,” Ponce de Leon said. “We all start somewhere. I’m the perfect example, it just takes dedication, meal prepping, you have to be mentally strong, physically and emotionally.

I’ve grown tremendously through this.”

Palmview powerlifting Head Coach Renzo Tamez said the way Ponce de Leon worked her way to a state championship in her senior year came strictly from her

committment.

“Day-in-day-out, she was here always working, always asking what can I do? She was confident and I was confident in her that she would do well. She knew what she had to do and she knew it was possible. You always want to have that from a student-athlete that will do anything to make themselves better.”

In Ponce de Leon’s sophomore year, she posted a total of 705 pounds lifted. After finishing fourth in state last year, Ponce de Leon lifted an impressive 1,075 pounds this year – squatting 450, benching 220 and deadlifting 405.

She shattered her personal squat record of 410 pounds by 40 pounds, a number she was focused on topping this year on the biggest stage.

“I felt very accomplished and proud,” she said. “By 40 pounds, it wasn’t just by 5 or 10. I’ve come along way and I’ve worked really hard for it. You have to go beyond your comfort zone, if not you’re never going to know

what you’re capable of.”

Palmview junior Laisha Lopez, a former cheerleader who gave up the sport to focus on powerlifting, finished fourth in the 105-pound class by lifting 705 total pounds. Lopez’ 170 pound bench press set a record in the 105-pound weight class.

The next closest bench press score was 150 pounds of Lopez’ and she is eager to break her own record as a senior next year.

“It was amazing, especially knowing this is my first year at state,” Lopez said. “This was amazing for me and I’m hoping to break my own bench record next year.”

The Sharyland duo of senior Brissa Ramirez and junior Amanda Rodriguez brought a second place and fourth place medal for their performances at the State Meet. With powerlifting being an individual sport, the pair has worked together ev-

See POWERLIFTING Pg. 7

to make the playoffs. However, both played their bi-district round games last night.

The Huskies hosted Laredo United South while the Lady Huskies traveled to Laredo to play Eagle Pass. The remaining six teams are playing either tonight or tomorrow.

Here is a look at how each of those teams qualified for the playoffs and who, when and where they’re playing in the opening round.

Sharyland Lady Rattlers The Sharyland Lady Rattlers may have ended their regular season tied with the Pioneer Lady Diamondbacks with a 15-1 record, but thanks to their two point advantage over the Lady Di-

See PLAYOFFS Pg. 7

Sharyland senior midfielder Vanessa Guevara splits two Pioneer defenders as she dribbles the ball down the field during the Lady Rattlers’ 2-1 second round win over the Lady Diamondbacks.

Progress Times photo by Luciano Guerra

Basketball All-District Selections The following Big 7 schools boys and girls have been named to the 31-5A All-District basketball teams: District 31-5A Boys Defensive MVP - Alex Rodriguez, VMHS; Offensive MVP – Jordan Wilson, Pioneer 1st Team All-District Derrick De Leon, VMHS; Mike Madrigal, Pioneer; Sean Tucker, Sharyland 2nd Team All-District

- Marc Doran, VMHS; Andrew Ogletree, Pioneer; Jake Olivarez, Sharyland All-District Honorable Mention - Noe Cantu, Adrian Castaneda, Oscar Perez, VMHS; Sean Curtis, Jorge Suarez, Chaunts Weston, Braden Wilson, Pioneer; Alex Castello, Josh Garcia, Sharyland District 31-5A Girls Defensive MVP – Ana Marshall, Sharyland; Newcomer of the Year – Ronnie Cantu, VMHS 1st Team All-District –

Daylann Garza, Pioneer; Lyndsey Garza, Andrea De La Garza, Jackie Howell, VMHS; Aydee Hinojosa, Sharyland 2nd Team All-District – Chelsea Chandler, Mariah Youngblood, Pioneer; Ania Pelayo, Sharyland All-District Honorable Mention – Kayla Alanis, Miranda Ramos, Pioneer; Daphne Castillo, Sharyland; Selinda Cortez, Gaby Gallardo, VMHS

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March 24, 2017

page 7

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EDC AWARDS

from pg 1

School in Mission and who holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the former University of Texas Pan American, is currently a web page designer whose clients are Harlingen-based tractor dealerships, he said.

Peña’s brother, Noe, 36, is a Mission High School math teacher. Both are expected to receive their master’s degrees in computer science via an on-line course from the University of Illinois in May, Raul Peña said.

The younger Peña said his interest in gaming starting playing his older brother’s games as a child. The one he enjoyed most was Nintendo’s, “Metroid,” an action-adventure video game.

“It’s basically a high scoring game where you’re shooting monsters and Aliens and things like that,” Peña said, adding he gave up playing video games when he entered high school and started studying computer science.

“You can either play games all day or work on games all day but you can’t do both,” Peña said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

At UTPA as a senior Peña said he mentored other students in game development volunteering for the business school’s Association for Computing Machinery.

Peña said he and Noe won their grant demonstrating a

game they had been developing for about month before the demonstrated it for the EDC selection committee they call “Rogue Ball.”

“There’s a ball bouncing on the screen of your telephone and you have to catch it by tapping on it with your finger,” Peña said. “It’s not as easy as it sounds and we purposely make it harder and harder for you to catch the ball. The games are short and challenging. Something to do while you are waiting for something. ” But Peña said he expects once up and operating, the majority of the brother’s revenue will come from creating computer applications such as programs for inventory and employee communications.

Peña said he and his brother hope to have their company up and running in April. He said they’re investing an amount about equal to the $12,500 they received from the EDC. The EDC awarded $14,000 to Mission businessman, David Avila, owner of Geeks and Jocks, a sports and comics collectables shop located on the northeast corner of Conway Avenue and Kika de la Garza Loop.

EDC program director Cristina Garza said one of the reasons Avila received the grant was its location in downtown Mission which the city is trying to develop.

Avila has a degree in Aeronautical engineering from the former UTPA and is a manager for the aerospace engineering firm RBC Bearings, Inc., of Oxford, CT, which provides ball bearings to companies such as Boeing, Bell Helicopter and Airbus among others. The company has a ball bearing factory in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico where his parents live. Avila said he has dual citizenship having been born in Hidalgo but raised in Reynosa before moving back to McAllen where he first opened his business in a much smaller location . He said he learned of the Mission location via Camera de Commercio International, a non-governmental organization that promotes cross border trade and provides rent subsidies for some start up businesses, he said.

On Wednesday afternoon following the EDC meeting Avila returned to his 1,800 square foot business where he sells sports and comics collectables. He has a fullsized, fully dressed statue of Batman in his store where on Wednesday about ten young men sat at three tables some playing board games and others on-line electronic games that he also sells. Sunday through Wednesday players play for free but must pay a nominal entry fee for tournaments that occur Thursday through Saturday nights.

POWERLIFTERS

Avila said he plans to use the grant money to expand and improve the business by putting vinyl wrapping on the storefront windows so he can better advertise his products and services. He also wants to purchase classic 1980s arcade games such as Donkey Kong and Pac Man. He also plans to expand his sporting goods, starting with skateboards.

“We wanted to venture out into some sports but figured out extreme sports would be better for us to bring in a different kind of clientele,” Avila said.

Avila said he plans also to return to the Alamo Comic Con in May. He said in October he was only one of two Rio Grande Valley stores in attendance at the San Antonio event. He also plans to attend the Laredo Collector’s Expo in Laredo in October.

Avila said he opened his doors in McAllen two years ago on May first and grossed approximately $50,000 in his first year. He said he might have made more except for the move to Mission in October of last year.

“If our calculations are correct we’re looking to gross sales between $80,000 and $100,000 this year,” he said.

In addition to his engineering job and his business, Avila is a sports writer for the Spanish language magazine, Latino Hits.

The third grant recipient from pg 6

ery step of the way, pushing each other to be their best.

“We both support each other a lot,” Ramirez said. :We work out together so we try to go as heavy as we can, we push ourselves and no matter what we’re cheering for each other at the meets.”

Ramirez, a former soccer player, lifted a total of 760 pounds, the highest total she’s hit in her senior season.

Her 305 pound squat and 320 pound deadlift at the State Meet were her best performances in any meet this year.

Ramirez, who qualified

for state in her three years competing in powerlifting, fell just short of medlaing in her two previous tries at state. As a junior she missed out on a top five finish by just five pounds after bottoming out at state her sophomore year.

“It’s my last year so it was give it your all or nothing,” Ramirez said. “I had to realize that if I had the potential to make it to state the first year that I was in it, that meant I have something. I’m good at what I do so I had to push everything aside and

think not everybody gets this far and you have the opportunity so don’t let the nerves get in the way.”

Rodriguez joined her in setting personal bests at State, lifting a season-high total of 745 pounds. Her 290 pound squat, 140 bench press, and deadlift of 315 were all personal bests for the junior.

“Going in, I wanted to give it my all and get the highest I’ve ever gotten and I worked really hard for that,” Rodriguez said. “It was amazing to see the hard work

payed off.”

Rodriguez and Ramirez both credited Sharyland powerlifting Head Coach Joe Alex Leal for pushing them to do their best and helping them realize their potential.

“My assistant and I preach on taking care of each other encouraging one another,” Leal said. “They competed with one another, one would win one week and the other would win the other week.

They’re fierce competitors who pushed each other and that’s what we expect out of them.”

David Avila, stands in front of a group of gamers playing in his Conway Avenue business, Geeks and Jocks. Avila was the recipient of a $14,000 business development grant from Mission’s Economic Development Corporation.

Progress Times photo by Joe Hinton

was Abraham Neave, who received the largest sum of $16,000. Neave’s family owns a Mission jewelry store also located on Conway Avenue but Neave said Wednesday following the EDC meeting his passion is creating party decorations for upscale events. He said his specialty is creating desert and candy tables for weddings, quincenearas and other events. He calls his fledgling company “Sweet Confetti.”

Neave said he plans to invest his grant in large printers to produce special backdrops for corporate logos and 3-dimensional printers to create specialty decorations, among other equipment.

“For example if there’s an Oscar themed party we can create Oscar shaped table ornaments,” Neave said.

His family’s jewelry store is

already using the printers to create custom rings, he said.

Neave said his company is also looking to expand into virtual realty theme parties where clients place themselves in nearly any setting such as the Eieffel Tower wearing virtual reality glasses.

But he said the bread and butter of his company will be in working with clients to create unique dessert and candy table displays.

“Right now the candy tables and dessert tables are very ‘in,’” Neave said. “So you’re going to see those pretty much now. It’s a trend.

Those used to be simple and now they’re getting more elaborate. What we want to do is take it a step further to create those custom designs and custom experiences for our customers.”

PLAYOFFS amondbacks, they emerged as the District 31-5A champions. As a result, the Lady Rattlers will be playing District 32-5A’s fourth seed, Brownsville Pace (9-5) tonight at 7 at Donna North High School.

The winner of this game will face off against the winner of the Gregory-Portland/San Antonio McCollum game in the area round of the playoffs.

Sharyland Pioneer Lady Diamondbacks Despite the fact that the Lady Diamondbacks defeated the Lady Rattlers for the first time in school history this season and despite the fact that they ended the regular season with an impressive 15-1 record, the Lady Diamondbacks are entering the playoffs as the second seed in District 31-5A. As a result, they will be playing Brownsville Porter (9-5) at Veterans Memorial High School tonight at 8:30. The winner of this game will play the winner of the C.C. Veterans Memorial/Eagle Pass Winn game in the area round of the playoffs.

Sharyland Rattlers Last year the Sharyland Rattlers soccer team advanced into the fourth round of the playoffs where they lost to the then fifth-ranked team in the country and the eventual state champions, the Brownsville Porter Cowboys.

While the Rattlers’ 13-3 regular season record this year has them entering post season play as the second seed in District 31-5A, they will

from pg 6

be looking to go even deeper into the playoffs this year.

First things first however, and the Rattlers will be going up against Brownsville Lopez at Donna North High School tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the bi-district round of the playoffs. The winner of this game will face off against the winner of the C.C. Ray/Uvalde game in the area round of the playoffs.

Mission Eagles Due to the ongoing renovations at Tom Landry Stadium, the Mission Eagles had to play all their games this season on the road. Even so, they tied McAllen High for second place in District 30-6A with a 9-3 record. As a result, the Eagles will be playing Laredo Alexander at Kreuger Field in Laredo tonight at 7 in the bi-district round of the playoffs.

La Joya Lady Coyotes With a 6-6 District 306A record, the La Joya Lady Coyotes are entering the bi-district round of the playoffs as the district’s fourth seed. They will be playing San Antonio Southwest at Laredo’s Student Activity Center (SAC) this evening at 6.

La Joya Coyotes While the La Joya Coyotes 4-8 District 30-6A record and 15 points were enough to punch their ticket into the playoffs, they are going in as the fourth seed.

As a result, they are playing District 29-6A’s top seed, the Laredo United Longhorns in Roma tonight at 8.

ProgressTimes

Sharyland junior Amanda Rodriguez (left) and senior Brissa Ramirez (right) took home fourth and second place medals in the 114-pound division at the Girls State Powerlifting Meet.

Progress Times Photo by, Bryan Ramos

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La Joya ISD congratulates the Huskies & Coyotes on a successful season and wishes them the very best in the Playoffs.

Continue to make LJISD Proud!!

Playoff Bound!

Juarez-Lincoln Huskies

DISTRICT CHAMPS

- Thank you Sharyland ISD School Board for supporting our athletes! -

Best of luck from the Board of Trustees!

Mission Eagles

Joselito Hernandez Mayor Pro-Tem

Ramon Segovia - City Manager David Nacianceno -Assistant City Manager

Gerardo Perez Mayor

Joel Garcia Councilman

Ricardo Villarreal Councilman

Linda Sarabia Councilwoman

Javier Ramirez Councilman

BesT of luCk!

would like To CongraTulaTe you on making The Playoffs.

The CiTy of Palmview

La Joya Coyotes

Good Luck!

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GO RATTLERS!

GOOD LUCK AT PLAYOFFS

HIGH SCHOOL

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Congratulations!

2017 SOCCER PLAYOFF BOUND “Success is no accident.

It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”

--Pelé

page 8 March 24, 2017

March 24, 2017

VMHS Mariachi Earns Superior Division 1 Rating

Veterans Memorial High School’s mariachi band scored in an exclusive high-ranking group earlier this month in a regional contest of school mariachi groups.

The VMHS Toros de Plata traveled to San Antonio’s Southwest High School for the 2017 State UIL Mariachi Contest and was among only six of 23 competitors awarded a Superior Rating in the Division 1 competitionon, per Mission CISD press release.

The March 21 competition was judged on tone, technique, and musicianship, per the release.

“Thank you to all who support our wonderful students in all their endeavors and provide a quality environment in which to be successful,” band director, Francisco Vela, was quoted

as saying. “It is only in this kind of environment that students can truly Unlock Their Dreams.”

Vela also congratulated VMHS principal, Fidel Gar-

za, and Mission Collegiate High School principal Orlando Farias for their support.

Two MCHS students are part of the VMHS mariachi group.

Veterans Memorial High School’s Toros de Plata Mariachi Group from left, Edgardo Perez, Korayma Alba, Adam Barrera, Ayla Gonzalez, Ashley Gonzalez (MCHS), Gerardo Gonzalez, Joshua Alcaraz, Horacio Salinas, Zeleen Leal, Phillip Cantu, Valeria Munoz, Samantha Perez (MCHS), Victoria Cantu, Aylin Salinas, and Aurora De La Rosa.

obituaries Neal M. Dorsch MISSION – Neal M. Dorsch, 91, passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2017, at his home in Mission.

Mr. Dorsch was born in Bird City, Kan. on Jan. 13, 1926 to George and Emma Dorsch.

He graduated from Bird City High in 1943, served in the Korean War and then married Audrey Lucille Shoemaker on Dec. 4, 1949.

They were wheat farmers in Flagler, Colo., and he went on to patent the sweep plow.

In 1965, he built three water stations in the Congo to serve a village. In 1968, he took his family to Haiti to work on a project building a hydro-electric system to give electricity to a hospital, orphanage and the village of Limbe. He and his wife moved to Mission in 1988 to start Melody Lane Christian Renewal Center.

Survivors include his children, James and Mauro Dorsch of Houston and Nancy King of Mission; brother, Norman Dorsch of Bird City; and two grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Harold Dorsch, Evelyn Harvey, Adeline Sawyer and Nobel Dorsch.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 24, from 1 to 9 p.m. at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission.

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Family will be present from 4 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 25, at 2 p.m. at Palm Valley Church in Mission.

Burial follows at Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission.

Agustin Flores ALTON – Agustin Del Angel Flores, 58, passed away on Sunday, March 12, 2017 in Mission.

He is survived by his wife, Eduwigis Hernandez, and daughters, Jessica and Janet Del Angel.

A funeral service was held on March 17 at Rivera Funeral Home in Mission.

Burial followed at San Jose Cemetery in Mission.

Patricia Rodriguez SAN ANTONIO – Patricia Rodriguez, 45, passed away March 18, 2017.

Mrs. Rodriguez was born in Mission on Nov. 11, 1971.

Survivors include her husband, Roberto Rodriguez; children, Jose Rodriguez, Maria Rodriguez; mother, Guadalupe Cardoza; and siblings, Claudia Duran, Dania Montes, Karina Martinez and Irene Mendez.

Visitation took place on Wednesday, March 22, from 2 to 9 p.m. with a prayer service at 6 p.m. and a rosary at 7 p.m. at Funeraria Del Angel.

Ramiro Solis MISSION – Ramiro Roberto Solis, 82, passed away

on March 13, 2017, at his home in Mission.

Survivors include his children, Alma Gloria Solis, Ramiro Solis Jr., Rosario Munoz, Marta Acevedo, Diana Diaz, Veronica Solis, Gerardo Solis, Melba Quintero and Francisco Javier Solis; sister, Evila Mercado; and 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Andres and Gertrudes Solis; wife, Ana Maria Solis; and grandson, Mark Rodriguez.

A funeral mass was held on March 17 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission.

Glenn Sunderman LAKE KATRINE, N.Y. – Glenn E. Sunderman, 96, of Lake Katrine, N.Y., passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2017, at Northern Duchess Hospital.

Born in Huntington, Ind., he was the son of the late Carl and Elizabeth Gunzenhauser Sunderman, the second child and first son. He

Texas residents can now order replacement Social Security cards online

The Social Security Administration has announced Texas is one of the first states in the nation in a new program being rolled out this year that allows residents to order replacement Social Security cards online.

“I’m pleased to offer the residents of Texas the added convenience of replacing a Social Security card through the my Social Securityportal,” said Acting Social Security Commissioner Nancy A. Berryhill on March 20.

The Social Security Administration introduced the expansion of online services for residents of Texas available through its mySocial Security portal at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount, Berryhill said, adding it will allow people to replace their SSN card from the comfort of their home or office, withwas born on a farm. He loved it, and the family did not receive electricity until after he graduated from high school.

He progressed from that kind of a life to being on Facebook at age 96. Glenn was a retired farmer and truck driver for Huntington Hatchery.

He was also a photographer for the Winter Texan Times in Mission for many winter seasons. He enjoyed music, photography, gardening, bird watching and word find puzzles.

Glenn is survived by his wife of 72 years, Virginia Lamb Sunderman of Lake Katrine, whom he married on Nov. 19, 1944; daughter, Bonnie Langston and her husband, Sid Leavitt, of Lake Katrine; and two grandchildren, Brett and Todd Langston of Ravena, N.Y. In addition to his parents, Glenn was predeceased by a son, Roger Lee Sunderman, in 1970.

The viewing was held on March 19, and a private funeral service and interment followed later.

The family requested that memorial donations be made to Ten Broeck Commons, Activities Department, 1 Commons Drive, Lake Katrine, NY 12449, or St. Peter Lutheran Church, 648 North Lafontaine Street, Huntington, IN 46750.

Online condolences may be left for the family at SimpsonGaus.com.

out the need to travel to a Social Security office.

The agency is conducting a gradual roll out of the service; Texas is one of the states, plus the District of Columbia, where this option is available. This service will mean shorter wait times for the public in the more than 1,200 Social Security offices across the country and allows staff more time to work with customers who have extensive service needs, per the release.

In addition, they must have a U.S. domestic mailing address, not require a change to their record (such as a name change), and have a valid driver’s license, or state identification card in some participating states.

Per the press release my Social Security is a secure online hub for doing busi-

Notices Maria Alvarado ALTON – Maria Angelica Linares Alvarado, 57, passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2017, at McAllen Medical Center.

Eleoncio Jimenez Arvizu PEÑITAS – Eleoncio Jimenez Arvizu, 37, passed away on Monday, March 20, 2017, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Ramon Cedillo MISSION – Ramon Cedillo, 82, passed away on Friday, March 17, 2017, at his home in Mission.

Maria Esparza MISSION – Maria S. Esparza, 82, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at Pax Villa Hospice.

Graciela Flores MISSION – Graciela Flores, 90, passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at her home.

Johnny V. Galan MISSION – Johnny V. Galan, 83, passed away on Monday, March 20, 2017, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

ness with Social Security, and more than 29 million people have created an account. In addition to Texas residents replacing their SSN card through the portal, current Social Security beneficiaries can manage their account—change an address, adjust direct deposit, obtain a benefit verification letter, or request a replacement SSA1099. Medicare beneficiaries can request a replacement Medicare card without waiting for a replacement form in the mail. Account holders still in the workforce can verify their earnings history and obtain estimates of future benefits by looking at their Social Security Statement online.

For more information about this new online service, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber .

Cresencia Garcia PALMVIEW – Cresencia Garcia, 86, passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2017, at McAllen Medical Center.

Noe Garcia MISSION – Noe Narciso Garcia, 44, passed away on Friday, March 17, 2017, at University Hospital in San Antonio.

Oliverio Garcia MISSION – Oliverio Garcia, 76, passed away on Friday, March 17, 2017, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Valentina Perez MISSION – Valentina Perez, 87, passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2017, at Mission Nursing and Rehabilitaion Center.

Carmen Ramirez MISSION – Carmen Ramirez, 96, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at her home in Mission.

Alma Vasquez LA JOYA – Alma Alicia Vasquez, 63, passed away on Friday, March 17, 2017, at Amara Hospice in Edinburg.

Victor Vega MISSION – Victor Manuel Vega, 43, passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at his home in Mission.

page 10

LAID TO REST

across the stage.”

De la Garza’s oldest son, Jorge, a McAllen vascular surgeon, told a story exemplifying how far the name Kika de la Garza has become known.

“There’s a story that a visitor from the U.S. was in Moscow and he was taken to visit with Russian President, Mikhail Gorbachev.

And Gorbachev asked him, through an interpreter, where in the U.S. he was from. The visitor replied, ‘Texas.’ The Russian president asked him, ‘Ah, do you know Kika de la Garza?’”

“The world is literally overwhelmed with praises and all kinds of good memories about Kika,” Snipes said. “Often it is about what a great legislator he was; what a great public servant he

March 24, 2017

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com was; how much he gave for Texas and the United States.

How he represented us well.

But a lot of that was always: ‘He was always a man of the people.’”

Snipes said it was his humble beginnings as a shoe shine boy and being raised in the rancho that became Mission that grounded De la Garza to his home and its people.

“This town grew up from the old ranch,” Snipes said.

“Those solid, earthy, kind, humble, gentle values were cultivated, I think, from the very beginning.”

Snipes said as a child and altar boy De la Garza accompanied his favorite priest, Father Yves Tymen, known to his parishioners as Father Yvo, throughout the Valley as Tyman conducted wed-

dings, masses, funerals and tended to the people.

“You can tell Kika loved Father Yvo. And he probably learned that Father Yvo loved the people of the Valley,” Snipes said. “And that might have been the beginning of his love for people.”

In charactering De la Garza, Snipes referenced the Bible, Garrison Keillor and British Nobel Laureate poet Rudyard Kipling. Snipes referenced the latter’s poem, “If,” which begins, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you,” and ends, “And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!.”

“That’s Kika,” Snipes said. “He was unflappable; stable, solid, peaceful and strong. I never saw him get freaked out – probably Lu-

from pg 1 cille did,” Snipes said, referring to De la Garza’s widow and wife of 63 years, evoking laughter from attendees.

“But I never did. He was always calm; always said, ‘This is going to work out.

I don’t know how, but it just is.

“And he was a man; a man from us and for us. A man who reminded us how good it is to be here and how good the spirit is working in us,” Snipes said.

In the eulogy for his father Dr. De la Garza said his father lived “a remarkable life.”

“And it’s hard to condense it down to a five-minute talk or a column in a newspaper,” De la Garza said. “Fortunately for me he touched so many lives we all have our own Kika memories. From the

grateful widow for whom he helped bring her three sons home from Vietnam for their father’s funeral to the elderly veteran that he helped to secure disability benefits.

“He dined with presidents, rubbed elbows with royalty, vacationed with foreign dignitaries and even met the Pope. Yet he remained humble and down to earth.

While many on Capital Hill had limos and chauffeurs, Kika would drive to work every day in a little Ford Escort. After the Metro - that’s the subway in Washington was built, he rode that in to work.

“He flew coach every weekend back to the Valley. He could go from a White House State Dinner on Thursday to a Tripa Club Pachanga on Saturday,” De la Garza said, referring to

Lucille de la Garza is comforted by Father Greg Labus, left, pastor of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Edinburg and Monsignor Louie Brume from Holy Spirit Parish in McAllen, following the funeral March 17 of her husband of 63 years, former Texas Congressman Eligio “Kika” de la Garza, outside Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission.

Progress Times photo by Joe Hinton

the McAllen-based informal organization that started with a handful of members when it was started in 1959 until it disbanded in 2006 boasting over a thousand members including many of the Rio Grande Valley’s most rich and powerful.

Prior to De la Garza’s burial, 84-year-old Amador Ybarra blew Taps for his former colleague at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Ybarra, a member of McAllen’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8788, remembered De la Garza as a hard worker and a “good guy” to work with.

“He could really shoot the bull,” Ybarra said.

Summing up how her father felt about the people in his life, De la Garza’s daughter, Angela Cisneros, read from a letter to his constituents she said was found in his papers following his death and written as he neared the end of his career representing South Texas in Washington.

“My dear friends, it has been a privilege and a pleasure for me to have served the people of the 15th District. It is you who made all this possible,” she read. “My goal has always been to do the very best job I could in representing McAllen and the outer areas. I hope I will be remembered as having made a difference. Lucille and I thank you for the confidence you placed in us and the help you have given us along the way.

“I trust we have lived up to your expectations. Your support over the past 32 years is something we’ve always cherished. The years have passed very quickly.

The experiences and memories gathered along the way will forever be treasured.

You friend, Kika de la Garza, member of Congress, 15th District of Texas.”

The service ended with a strong round of applause for Kika de la Garza.

March 24, 2017

SAFETY CONCERNS

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mously to make it illegal to park or stand on the west side of South Glasscock Road across from Shimotsu Elementary School. The restriction encompasses the area between the 3600 block and 3700 block of South Glasscock Road. The west side of Glasscock Road is on the opposite side of the road from the school’s student drop off and pick up area on the school’s west side.

Mission Police Chief Robert Dominguez said the prohibition was needed because of complaints about parents waiting for their children on the west side of Glasscock Road while their children crossed the street in the middle of the block ignoring the nearby crosswalk at San Mateo Road.

“Some parents walk across the street to get their child,” Dominguez said of parents who park on the west side of Glasscock, which heads northbound. “Others just yell at [their child] from the car, ‘OK, there’s no cars.

Run.’ And here they go running across the street. And that’s what we’re trying to prevent.”

Compounding the problem, Dominguez said parents who parked on the east side of Glasscock Road often make U-turns from their standing place to head south on Glasscock Road creating a traffic hazard. So the council also made it illegal to make U-Turns from the east side of South Glasscock Road between the 3600 block and 3700 block of the road.

At the same meeting the council made it illegal to make a U-turn from both the east and west sides of South Glasscock Road along the border of B. L Gray Junior High School, located at

4400 Glasscock Road. The prohibition is also along the student drop off and pick up zone for the school. Dominguez cited the same safety concerns at the junior high but he said the U-turn prohibition was needed in both directions because many parents heading north on Glasscock Road were making U-turns to get in line for the student drop off area. He said the requested changes stem from a March 8 recommendation by the city’s Traffic Safety Committee.

Per the new ordinances U-turn restrictions are in effect at all times. The parking restrictions at Shimotsu Elementary School are in effect only on days Sharyland Independent School District schools are in session and only between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Dominguez said he expected city maintenance workers to have the restriction signs in place before students returned from the student’s spring break. He said police will provide increased presence in the area to enforce the new ordinances.

“The areas are there for the parents to follow to get into the different drop off zones,” Dominguez said following the council meeting.

“They just fail to do that. For example at B.L. Gray Junior High, you have people that create the line to get into the drop off area but then you have like 15 cars that are parked and they don’t move because they want their son or daughter to come to the vehicle. They don’t want to get in line so as soon as they get [their child] in the vehicle they are making these U-Turns. And here comes the other traffic also going

northbound and that’s what’s creating the hazard. ” Dominguez said awareness of the chaotic traffic situation was first brought to the attention of authorities when a Shimotsu Elementary School crossing guard was struck by a vehicle in November and suffered a concussion.

In other business the council authorized Mayor Norberto Salinas to sign proclamations honoring retired Mission area schoolteachers Gustavo Zapata and Janie G. Connelly.

Zapata started his teaching career in 1961 at Citriana Elementary School, now Castro Elementary. During his career he worked at several Mission and Sharyland schools ultimately retiring as the principal of Mission High School in 1996, per the proclamation.

Connelly was noted for her teaching career that started at age 21 as an English teacher and ending with another 39 years at the Mission High School Campus, per the proclamation.

During the same meeting the council awarded a $592,070 contract to RDH Site and Concrete Company, LLC, of Pharr, for construction of drainage improvements at Perkins Avenue between 11th and 15th Streets in central Mission.

The council also eased building restrictions by allowing apartment buildings within the original Mission town site in commercially zoned areas. The newly created ordinance defines the original town site by FM 495 to the north, Expressway 83 to the south, Bryan Road to the east and Holland Avenue to the west.

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PURSUANT TO THE PROVISION CONTAINED IN RULE 85.703. SUBCHAPTER F, FROM CHAPTER 85, PART 4 OF TITLE 16 IN THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, WE ARE OFFICIALLY NOTIFYING YOU THAT THE BELOW DESCRIBED MOTOR VEHICLES HELD IN OUR CUSTODY ARE TO BE PICKED UP, REMOVED AND ALL CHARGES PAID WITHIN (45) DAYS OR THESE VEHICLES WILL BE DECLARED ABANDONED ACCORDING TO TEXAS LAW. YEAR

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from pg 1

special noon meetings Monday at which resolutions were passed against the proposed legislation. The Peñitas City Council unanimously approved its resolution during a special meeting a half hour later.

During Monday’s meeting, Agua SUD Executive Director Oscar Cancino warned the board that the bill is so far-reaching it could negatively impact the district, which provides water service to 15,000 residents in western Hidalgo County.

“It would make us endure some additional cost in the sense that we’d have to hire and train new employees who aren’t from the area,” Cancino said. “It’s a tight-knit community where many share the similarities of the district of living here and people who want to seek office will have to look closely at their relatives to see if they can hold office.”

Agua SUD Board President Rogelio “Roger” Hernandez III, Secretary Lloyd Loya, Treasurer Esequiel “Zeke” Ortiz Jr. and Director Cesar Rodriguez Jr. are current employees of the La Joya school district.

La Joya ISD trustees Oscar “Coach” Salinas and Armin Garza are both employed with the utility district as outreach coordinator and billing supervisor, respectively. If the bill passes it is not immediately clear how the pair would be affected.

Salinas serves as the school board president. As of press time requests for comment from him went unanswered.

However, contacted Wednesday, Garza said he opposes the proposed legislation.

“It’s not just me and Coach who will be affected,” Garza said. “It affects quite a few people and it has consequenc-

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2003 26 FT. THOR Class C, Ford V-10 engine, low mileage, and well equipped, $25,000, call 956–

es people may not be aware of.

The way it reads people could be affected with job loss. It may be unconstitutional.”

The Agua SUD board voted 4 to 1 in passing a resolution to oppose the bill with Board Vice President Homer Tijerina voting against it.

The resolution had not been made public as of press time Wednesday, but Tijerina said it gives full authority to Cancino to move forward as he sees fit.

“It basically gives him the right to respond to any legislative bills without going through the board first, which I didn’t agree with,” Tijerina said after the meeting. “I think it’s a good bill to prevent any conflict of interest within our district so I don’t see how our executive director, not going through the board first in any action, will be helpful.”

Tijerina added that he believes Hinojosa’s bill will prevent Agua SUD from being placed in receivership like its predecessor the La Joya Water Supply Corporation. According to previous reports, the La Joya Water Supply Corporation was dissolved in 2008 after its receivership amid claims of corruption and mismanagement leading to the creation of Agua SUD. Board member Ricardo Ochoa was not able to attend the meeting but in a telephone interview Wednesday, he echoed Tijerina’s comments about preventing a conflict of interest, adding that he would’ve also voted against the resolution.

“We have four people working under the La Joya school district on our board,” Ochoa said, referring to the four Agua SUD board members who are employed by La Joya ISD. “And their employees are basically their bosses with the [school] district

because they serve as school board members,” Ochoa said.

“That’s a big conflict of interest because it’s as if the school district has a hand in the utility district.”

Sen. Hinojosa could not be reached for comment. In a report published last month when the bill was initially filed, he said the bill was the result of several of his constituents contacting his office to express disapproval of Agua SUD board members hiring La Joya school board members as employees.

Though the La Joya ISD board passed the resolution, trustees Garza and Salinas abstained from voting, according to Garza, but the remaining board members voted unanimously to support Agua SUD’s resolution as did the Peñitas city council.

A copy of Peñitas’ resolution states the city opposes “any limitations or restrictions regarding arbitrary circumstances dictated by where an individual has been elected into public office by a majority of the citizens they represent...these arbitrary restrictions may limit the hiring of qualified employees at the Agua Special Utility District.”

City Manager Omar Romero declined to comment, deferring all questions to Mayor Rodrigo “Rigo” Lopez who stated the city supports the Agua board but would not elaborate further, adding he was unaware the La Joya school board was meeting and voting on the same day.

Per the state’s legislative web site the last activity provided about the proposed legislation was in February when the bill had been referred to the Senate’s Intergovernmental Relations Committee. If passed as written, the bill would go into effect Sept. 1.

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 Submit by email or pay by phone 585-4893.

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Miscellaneous SELL, BUY AND trade bicycles and adult trikes, new and used motorcycle helmets, golf carts, call 956–400–2407 or 956–336–3124, in Mission, TX.

FIRST PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The City of La Joya will conduct a Public Hearing on Monday April 10, 2017 at 6:00pm, at City Hall located at 101 N. Leo Avenue, La Joya, Texas 78560 to solicit input on the proposed annexation for the City of La Joya. A service plan and map of the proposed annexation will be presented at the public hearing in accordance with State Law. The Public is invited to attend. All comments will be considered, the proceedings will be conducted in Spanish if required by attendees.

For more information please come by City Hall or contact us at 956-581-7002.

Written comments may be forwarded to Mayor Jose A. “Fito” Salinas, City of La Joya, P.O. Box H, La Joya, Texas 78560.

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Oracion Al Espiritu Santo

Espiritu Santo, tu que me aclaras todo, que iluminas todos los caminos para que yo alcance mi ideal, tu que me das el don divino de perdonar y olvidar el mal que me hacen y que en todos los instantes de mi vida estas conmigo, yo quiero en este corto dialogo agradecerte por todo y confirmar una vez mas que nunca quiero separarme de ti por mayor que sea la ilusion material.

Deseo estar contigo y todos mis seres queridos en la gracia perpetua. Gracias por tu misericordia para conmigo y los mios.

La persona debera rezar esta oracion 3 dias sequidos sin decir el pedido. dentro de tres dias sera alcanzada la gracia por mas deficil que sea. (Publicar en cuanto se recibia la gracia).

Agradece gracia alcanzada.

Y.G.

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- Thank you Sharyland ISD School Board for supporting our athletes! -

between Bryan Rd. & Stewart Rd.

1418 E. Business 83 • Mission

585-0115

Gerardo Perez Mayor

Joselito Hernandez Mayor Pro-Tem

Joel Garcia Councilman

Ricardo Villarreal Councilman

Linda Sarabia Councilwoman

Javier Ramirez Councilman

BesT of luCk!

Juarez Lincoln LADY HUSKIES The CiTy of Palmview

Ramon Segovia - City Manager David Nacianceno -Assistant City Manager

Fred Morón, R. Ph. 956.581.5499 Pioneer 2120 E. Griffin Pkwy. • Mission

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Good Luck!

would like To CongraTulaTe you on making The Playoffs.

Congratulations!

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La Joya ISD congratulates the Huskies & Coyotes on a successful season and wishes them the very best in the Playoffs.

Continue to make LJISD Proud!!

Playoff Bound!

LA Joya Lady Coyotes

(Two-time Olympic Soccer gold medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup winner)

~ Mia Hamm

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GO RATTLERS!

GOOD LUCK AT PLAYOFFS

HIGH SCHOOL

SHARYLAND

SHARYLAND ISD

Sharyland LADY Rattlers

District Champions

2017 SOCCER BOUND Thank YouPLAYOFF Winter Texans!

“I am a member of a team and I rely on the team. I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.”

page 12 March 24, 2017