Friday, October 12, 2018_PT ISSUE

MISSION ELECTION TRIAL TIMELINE

Progress www.ptrgv.com

Your Hometown Newspaper, Bringing Communities Together.

20% Precip.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Agua SUD Resignation

by Jamie Treviño

See Pg. 6

MCISD News and Event

The Mission Consolidated Independent School District invited local community leaders to shadow their principals, and held a board meeting this week.

For more details, see the stories

by Jamie Treviño.

See Pg. 7

For Colonel Roman J. Cantu, a career with the U.S. Army is something he always strived for and worked toward, but he never imagined where it would take him.

Cantu was recently promoted to be Commander of the 5th Recruiting Brigade in the United States - putting him in charge of recruiting operations for the Army in all or part of 14 states.

“I characterize it as everything from eastern California to Illinois, and Nebraska to Texas,” Colonel Cantu said. “With that much ‘battle space’ as we say, close to 900,000 square miles of area, and being able to get out and really have that face-to-face dialogue with the soldiers

5 DAYS FORECAST Oct. 13 H 95 L79

20% Precip.

Oct. 14

H 97 L74

Oct. 15

H60% 81Precip.

L57

Oct. 16 Oct. 17

10% Precip.

H60% 66Precip.

L57 H40% 69Precip.

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INDEX Entertainment...... pg. 2 Lifestyle................... pg. 5 Sports....................... pg. 8 Obituaries............pg. 13 Classifieds..............pg.15

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the Mission election trial.

Attorney Richard D. Gonzales of Edinburg released an affidavit Wednesday that details a meeting between political consultant Marco Pe-

rez and a politiquera named Esmeralda Lara.

Lara wanted Perez to pay $6,000 for roughly 225 mailin ballots, according to the affidavit. When he didn’t accept the deal, Lara sent him proof: a photo of six mail-in ballots.

If the affidavit is accurate, Lara committed perjury during the Mission election trial — when she denied handling any mail-in ballots.

“Everything that Ms. Lara talked about on the stand was completely untrue,” Gonzales said. “She perjured herself,” Gonzales released the affidavit and the photo Wednesday morning during a news conference hosted by attorney Rick Salinas, the

See COLONEL CANTU Pg. 4

Colonel Roman J. Cantu Courtesy Photo.

Attorney says politiquera committed Progress Times honors perjury during Mission election trial Mission’s finest

by Dave Hendricks

An attorney claimed Wednesday that a politiquera committed perjury during

GAME

WEATHER

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Army asks him. “As they say, we shall see what the future holds.”

A graduate of Mission High School and the University of Texas Pan-American, Cantu still calls the City of Mission his home base. Born and raised in the Valley, he is the son of Rafael and Dolores Cantu (educators in Mission for 35 years).

“Mission has always been my home and will continue to be my home,” Colonel Cantu said. “Great family and friends always looking out and praying has always been very appreciated.”

Cantu has three siblings: Rafael Jr., Elda and Lina. His wife Patricia, who he met in Reserve Officers' Training

Eagles vs.

Huskies

See Pg. 9

YEARS

in the areas that they work, it does present a challenge sometimes.”

After 24 years in the military with many assignments around the world to his credit, Cantu now finds fulfillment in finding the "best and the brightest" young men and women the nation has to offer to serve as soldiers.

“It’s worth it,” Cantu said.

“Recruiting the best and the brightest to be able to take up the mantle of guardians and sentinels of the nation is a very important mission, not only for the Army, but for the nation as well.”

“I fully believe that the sons and daughters of this country are the most precious commodity, they are the future of the nation,” Cantu added, saying he would be happy to serve however the

SPORTS

The Mission High School Eagles are facing the Juarez-Lincoln High School Huskies this week. Bryan Ramos writes about the rematch of last year’s shootout in the sports section of this issue.

2018

MHS graduate promoted to Commander of the 5th Recruiting Brigade PROGRESS TIMES REPORTER

Billing Manager Rodolfo Flores III resigned from the utility district last month amid the internal investigation currently underway. Dave Hendricks has the latest on where Flores is now, and the case, inside.

Palmhurst, Texas

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times

Shary Chapel

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Vol. 47 - #8 50¢ cents H 93 L78

INSIDE

Recap on pg. 12

(from left) Raul Cruz, Attorney Richard Gonzales and Attorney Rick Salinas at the press conference held Wednesday. Progress Times photo by Dee Rendon.

See POLITIQUERA Pg.11

Billboard urges western Hidalgo County to vote la palanca

by Dave Hendricks The billboard on Interstate 2 couldn’t be clearer: When western Hidalgo County residents head to the polls, they should vote “STRAIGHT TICKET DEMOCRAT.” Candidates with Republican opponents — Richard Cortez, who’s running for Hidalgo County judge; JoAnne Garcia, who’s running for probate court; and J.J. Peña, who’s running for justice of the peace Precinct 3 Place 2 — purchased the billboard near the intersection of Interstate 2 and South Conway Avenue.

Cortez and Peña, though, wouldn’t say whether or not they’ll actually support ev-

Billboard on Interstate 2. Progress Times photo by Dave Hendricks.

ery Democrat on the ballot.

“The party is supporting all of our candidates,” said Cortez, the former mayor of McAllen. “Who I’m going to

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vote for is my private, personal choice.”

Peña, a businessman who

See BILLBOARD Pg. 11

Maxilou Link First Lady of Mission

by Jose De Leon III

PROGRESS TIMES REPORTER

The Progress Times honored two of Mission’s finest through the Citizens Awards at the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet last week.

Dedicated to highlighting those who selflessly serve others, The Progress Times awarded Maxilou Link and Brad Bentsen as First Lady of Mission and Mr. Mission, respectively.

The awards were presented by Progress Times Publisher Dee Rendon at the annual banquet Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. Rendon said the banquet was a chance to recognize the commitment to volunteering that both individuals have, who have a combined 43 years of service to the city.

“Dedicated hearts like yours are not easy to find,” Rendon said in her speech.

“Quality of caring for your fellow man is all too rare nowadays and yet you give your time and talents for anyone in need. In life, there are no guarantees, except that people like you will rise to the occasion and make this world a better place.”

Holding the event at

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Brad Bentsen Mr. Mission the Mission Events Center, which opened last spring, was a dream come true for the city according to City Manager Martin Garza.

“For many years we’ve always had to look for different venues to hold events like galas, or the one we’re holding today,” Garza explained.

“It’s a great center and we’re pleased with it, this is where the city will hold other annual events like our banquets and the Mayor’s Brunch.”

First Lady of Mission The 2018 recipient is an artist, but not your typical artist. As president of the Upper Valley Arts League, a position she has held 16 times since moving to Mission, Link has cultivated the artistic growth in the community and has worked tirelessly to fill rosters, recruit teachers, and provide resources, exhibits and workshops for the betterment of the community. She’s been a volunteer and organizer for providing a space for both local and international artists and created the Legacy Art Project and worked to have 21 pieces of art donated which generated more than $40,000 to benefit Mission Regional

See MISSION’S FINEST Pg. 4

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page 2

October 12, 2018

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Saxophonist ‘Ashu’ to perform Oct. 13

The Prickly Pear Social takes place on Saturday, Oct. 20, with Benito and Toni Treviño demonstrating their culinary skills and knowledge of local heritage and culture.

Quinta Mazatlan celebrates Native Plant Month

McALLEN – It’s time to celebrate Texas native plant month with Quinta Mazatlán’s Prickly Pear Social on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. The event works to advocate and educate citizens on the importance and use of native plants in our landscapes.

Nature-lovers of all kinds will enjoy cactus inspired art, prickly pear infused cocktails, sip and painting sessions, cooking demos, local vendors, tapas cuisine, live music, a native plant sale and more.

Husband and wife team, Benito and Toni Treviño of Rancho Lomitas, will be featured on the main stage with a presentation on the historical uses of the prickly pear cactus. Their ranch, Rancho Lomitas, is located on 177 acres of native Tamaulipan brush land in Starr County near Rio Grande City. When they purchased the ranch in 1986, much of the brush was damaged by overgrazing.

Since then, Benito has dedicated himself to restoring the health of the brush and educating others about the importance of preserving this integral part of the local

heritage and culture.

They have pursued their passion of growing, selling and teaching about native plants of the Valley. They have grown and sold over 800,000 seedlings, mostly used for habitat restoration, with the majority of the seeds gathered from local plants in the Rio Grande Valley. Benito is a well-known ethnobotanist featured in magazines, television shows and has traveled to Washington, D.C. to promote the Wildlife Corridor.

Wendy Espinosa will be performing a Fire and Light Show at the Prickly Pear Social, dancing with objects engulfed in flames and a variety of LED lights.

A local artist will hold a “Sip and Paint” session for all interested patrons. Traditionally, a sip and paint is a $35 value, but for guests at the Prickly Pear Social it’s free.

Lupe Hernandez and Celerino “Cele” Castillo III will be among the local artists showcasing their artistic talents. Hernandez creates “cubism” pieces of art that gives a unique and intricate look to his paintings. He will

EDINBURG – The UTRGV Patron of the Arts program will host saxophonist “Ashu” in the Distringuished Artist Series this Saturday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. The performance will be held in the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex on the Edinburg campus.

Tw e n t y - s i x - y e a r - o l d Ashu, began playing the saxophone at age 10 and was soon entering competitions which opened the door to a wide range of opportunities, including his recital debut on the stage at Carnegie Hall in New York City. His talent has

placed him on stages around the world with appearances throughout Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Finland, New Zealand, Singapore, France, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, Poland, Austria, Portugal, Norway, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Estonia, Azerbaijan, Canada and the United States.

General admission tickets are $10 and $5 for seniors and students and are available at patron.utrgv.edu. For special accommodations, call 956-665-3881.

Inspiration comes straight from the Rio Grande WESLACO – South Texas College’s Mid-Valley Campus Library Art Gallery presents “Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon,” an exhibit featuring charcoal drawings by artist and STC faculty member Luis Corpus.

The Mid-Valley Campus Library Art Gallery is located at 400 N. Border in Weslaco.

Admission is free and open to the public.

This exhibit will be exhibited through Dec. 1 and also marks the opening of the newly renovated Library Art Gallery at the Mid-Valley Campus and will be exhibited through Dec. 1.

Corpus uses a symbolic medium of handmade charcoal from branches and water from the Rio Grande River to create portraits while attempting to express a cultural identity whose dual nature does not handily offer itself to absolutes.

“Artists are simply catalysts reacting to their environment. The best singers create tone by allowing the sound to bellow from deep

be painting a piece of art live at the aocial and selling other works.

Castillo is known for his “Chicano Arte.” His paintings embrace Latino history and religion and his works

“Untitled” – Luis Corpus, handmade charcoal on paper

within their diaphragm,” said Corpus. “Art should be created with a similar concept in mind. It should emanate from a person’s ‘core’, translating experiences and the concept of self in the process.”

For more information, contact Gina Otvos at 956872-3488 or gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit library.southtexascollege.edu/ libraryart. will be available for purchase.

Advanced tickets are required. Call Quinta Mazatlán at 965-681-3370 for more information and tickets.

PALMHURST POLICE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2018 5:30 PM - 10 PM

Mariachi

CHURCH OF CHRIST 1410 E MILE 3 RD PALMHURST, TX 78573

Free School Supplies

Talent Show

Food

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL PALMHURST CITY HALL AT (956) 583-8697

We look forward to seeing you at the 7th Annual Palmhurst National Night Out

Ramiro J. Rodriguez, Jr. Mayor

Roberto A. Salinas Mayor Pro-Tem

Jaime Aranda Councilman

Ruben De Leon Councilman

Israel Silva Councilman

www.cityofpalmhursttx.com

McALLEN – The next season of Sunset Live concerts kicks off Saturday, Oct.13, at 6 p.m. at the Oval Park outside of the McAllen Convention Center.

With about a dozen regional and national bands that range in style from Indie to Blues playing on one stage, Sunset Live packs plenty of entertainment in one season.

The October lineup features SEFO – guitarist, singer and songwriter from Madrid, Spain; SWELLS; FEA, a Chicana punk rock band out of San Antonio; and Linda Crystal, McAllen native artist.

Sunset Live is more than great live music. The series combines music, outdoor activities, a variety of food trucks, beverages and local artisans.

The next dates are Nov. 10 and Dec. 8. Held every second Saturday of the month, with three concerts in the spring and three concerts in the fall, Sunset Live focuses on promoting the arts and giving up-and-coming artists and musicians a broader exposure outside of the local bar scene.

For more information on the full line-up and concert series, visit mcallenconventioncenter.net.

Coming Attractions

F PALMHURST POL YO ICE T I C

Games Rides

Sunset Live concerts begin Oct. 13

Ofelia Peña-Perez Councilwoman

October 12 & 26 • Lucero & the Giants, a UTRGV Theatre for Young Audiences play, and will be performed at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex on the Edinburg campus on Oct. 12 and again at the TSC Performing Arts Center in Brownsville on Oct. 26. Written and directed by Eric Wiley, the comic play features over 20 performers and includes giant, Mexican-styled, 11-foot tall puppets, called mojigangas. Admission is $5 per person. The box office opens one hour prior to each performance. All performances are subject to change. For information or special accommodations, call 956-665-3581 or visit UTRGV.edu/theatre.

October 13 • Solido will headline at the South Texas Music Festival as it showcases an evening concert under the stars with some of the best regional music in South Texas, food and arts vendors, cold beverages, and activities for audiences of all ages.

Doors open at 3 p.m. on the San Benito Fairgrounds, 551 Cesar Gonzalez Parkway. Admission is $5 at the gate, and free for children age 10 and under. For more information, contact Luis Contreras at 956-361-3804, Ext. 418.

• Tejano artists Chente Barrera & Hugo Guerrero will be performing at Outta Town Dance Hll, 204 Elida St. in Mission.

There will be an opening performance by Adixxon beginning at 8 p.m. For details call M & E Productions at 956227-5968.

October 14 • The McAllen Society for the Performing Arts 2018-19 program McAllen Live! presents seven-time Grammy winner, Buddy Guy: Live in Concert at the McAllen Performing Arts Center. For general information, pricing and special membership features, go to LiveinMcAllenClub.com. For questions, contact the ticket hotline at 888-200-4035, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

October 15 • UTRGV Patron of the Arts presents Shauna Thompson on flute in the Guest Artist Series at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex in Edinburg. General admission tickets are $10 and $5 for seniors and students and are available at patron.utrgv.edu.

October 16 • The Invitational Choir Festival, part of the Student Ensemble Series, will be held at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex in Edinburg. The annual UTRGV Invitational Choral Festival will feature the Harlingen High School Choir, the Economedes High School Choir (Edinburg), and the UTRGV University Choir under the direction of Dr. David Means. Each choir will sing a portion of the concert on their own and then combine for a grand finale! All tickets are $5 general admission, available at patron.utrgv.edu. For special accommodations, call 956-665-3881.

• Pianist Yury Martynov performs at 7 p.m. at the TSC Performing Arts Center in Brownsville. Martynov combines the best traditions of the Russian piano school and the Western-European keyboard school. He has performed the Russian premier of Bach’s entire “Well Tempered Clavier” on Clavichord and was the first to perform a number of solo and chamber works of the Renaissance, Baroque and early Classicism eras on period instruments. Admission is $10 and $5 for seniors and students, available at patron.utrgv.edu. For special accommodations, call 956-882-7025.

October 17 • A closing artist lecture for the “Marcando el Relámpago” exhibition of drawings and paintings by Tina Fuentes will be held at the South Texas College library art gallery at 1 p.m.

A reception follows from 5 to 7 p.m. at the library located at 3201 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Gina Otvos at 956-872-3488, gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

October 20 • Award-winning and multi-platinum Latin recording artist Romeo Santos comes to South Texas performing at the Bert Ogden Arena, 4900 S. I-69 in Edinburg, at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at bertogdenarena.com and at the H-E-B Park box office. Call 956-562-7362 for information.

• Flutist Kate Flum performs at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex in Edinburg. Admission is $10 and $5 for seniors and students, available at patron.utrgv.edu.

For special accommodations, call 956-882-7025.

• Tejano artists Little Joe y la Familia will be performing at Outta Town Dance Hll, 204 Elida St. in Mission. There will be an opening performance by Oscar Garza & Valley Express beginning at 8 p.m. For details call M & E Productions at 956-227-5968.

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

October 12, 2018

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Leo Peña Placita Park opens to hundreds with a successful National Night Out

by Bryan Ramos

PROGRESS TIMES REPORTER One month after inclimate weather caused its postponement, the skies were clear, the community was out and everybody was having a good time last Thursday at Mission Crime Stoppers National Night Out. Earlier in the day, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the newly renovated Leo Peña Placita Park, and hours later, the same park was filled with families and local law enforcement agencies enjoying live music, festival rides for the kids and food vendors who delivered

the South Texas taste.

“Working together for a safer community” was the theme of the event and everybody truly was as organizations from different high schools to law enforcement agencies to small businesses were on hand to interact and give back to the community.

Mission Mayor Armando O’cana opened the ceremony by thanking the local law enforcement agencies on hand for their commitment to keeping the city safe.

“I do want to thank each and every law enforcement officer and first responders, thank you for your service,” said Mayor O’cana. “Thank

you for taking the time to serve your community. I know a lot of you are not from the city of Mission, but I know if we call you, you’ll be there to serve our community.”

Officer Mike Rosales, a seven-year veteran of the Mission Police Department, said it’s nice to see all the different people, from fellow law enforcement to community members to small businesses, all celebrate National Night Out. “It’s good to see all the agencies and meet new people,” Rosales said. “You get new connections and it makes it easier to work

together. It’s neat to see a bunch of restaurants, small business that come out.

That’s the good thing to see, all the community members themselves.”

One group who was out giving back to the community were the people from Enlightened Barber Academy.

Joel Garcia, the Lead Custodial Engineer and barber instructor brought his students to provide free haircuts to

anybody looking for a fresh cut.

Garcia, who grew up in Mission and calls Leo Peña Placita Park his old stomping grounds, said it feels amazing to be able to give back to the city that raised him.

“We’re here giving back to the city of Mission, because I’m from Mission, so I want to give back to the community that raised me,” he said. “I actually grew up

a couple blocks from here, that’s why I brought all my students, so that way they can provide free haircuts for the community, because it’s a good thing to give back.

By giving back, we grow, we learn and we get to network with other people from all walks of life. They get a free haircut, they get the free practice, it’s a win-win all around.”

9th Annual MissionPink Breast Cancer Walk/Run Kicks Off Saturday, October 20th Mission, TX – On Saturday, October 20th, the grounds at Mission Regional Medical Center will resemble a sea of pink. That’s when thousands of people from across the Rio Grande Valley will meet on the south side of the hospital to take a stand against Breast Cancer and walk to save lives in the Ninth Annual Mission Pink Walk/Run for Breast Cancer Awareness and treatment.

An estimated 4,000 peo-

ple are expected to participate in this year’s event. Previously in 2016 more than 3,200 people of all ages registered for the walk. It is one of the largest breast cancer walks in the Rio Grande Valley and draws people from as far away as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Monterrey.

Twenty-five percent of the proceeds will provide Free Digital Screening Mammograms to uninsured women over the age of 40 who live

in the Rio Grande Valley.

The remaining funds benefit the Foundation at Mission Regional Medical Center, which continues to have a vision of serving and making a positive impact to the Rio Grande Valley community.

The Mission Regional Medical Center is still a non-profit organization and the foundation is still intact.

“I would like to cordially invite everyone in the community to take part at this life changing event. Let us show our support to every woman as we walk/run together in the fight against breast cancer. Together we can win!” says Kane Dawson, CEO, Mission Regional Medical Center.

An estimated one out of every eight women born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives, according to the National Cancer Institute.

For more information or to register visit www.mis-T:10.5” sionpinkrgv.com

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October 12, 2018

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from pg. 1

COLONEL CANTU

from pg. 1

MISSION’S FINEST

Corps (ROTC) in UTPA, and his kids Alejandro and Eva keep him grounded, and have always been anchor points as they lived all over the world.

According to Cantu, the prayer and support from his entire family is what has given strength. “[My family has given] continued love and support through multiple trying times,” Cantu said. “The support of a soldier oftentimes extends past the immediate family, it’s the entire community.”

Patricia was awarded the Yellow Rose of Texas for her dedication to other military families and those in need, and Rafael Sr. and Dolores Cantu said her fortitude on

Medical Center’s Sexual Assault Forensic Unit.

Link has also served on countless boards and committees in the city of Mission and was hailed as “a true work of art” by Rendon during her presentation.

“It was an awesome surprise,” Link, 93, said of the recognition last week.

“When I first found out about the award, I didn’t feel like I deserved it and thought I remembered how I’ve worked really hard for the city and thought, ‘maybe I do deserve this.’ It’s been a lot of passion and hard work to promote the Valley. Words fail me. I’m so appreciative and grateful.”

Mr. Mission A remarkable man with a tender heart and desire to do good, The Progress Times’ Mr. Mission is the city’s Parks and Recreation director, Brad Bentsen.

He is one of our own, having been born and raised in the city of Mission and belonging to First United Methodist Church, he and

the home front has allowed all of them to adapt wherever they go. Colonel Cantu would agree.

“An army wife is a special individual,” Cantu said.

“They’re the ones who are oftentimes both the mother and the father, through training events or deployments, Patricia was the one that kept the family together, and I love her dearly.”

His parents and brother spoke about seeing Colonel Cantu grow and succeed, and how they were proud of his accomplishments and experience.

“It is incredible,” said Rafael Cantu, Jr., a teacher and coach at Veterans Memorial High School. “I tell my

his wife-Janet Stuart-now attend McAllen’s The Family Church where he assists her in weekly services and serve as team directors of the church greeters.

He has always been a dedicated man, having joined the Mission Lions Club 26 years ago where he helped them with their annual banquet.

He also volunteers with the Mission Boy Scouts where he currently serves Troop 84.

“He chooses to go above and far beyond,” Rendon said. “If there’s a problem, you won’t find him sitting at his desk, you’ll find him looking for a solution.”

In a statement prepared by Bentsen, he called the award a great honor and dedicated it to his family and God. “I only do, what I do, because this is what God has gifted me with. I grew up serving and helping others,” he stated. “My wife Janet went so far to say that had I had been born with better dexterity I would have probably helped the doctors clean up the delivery table. This is

students all the time that he [Colonel Cantu] was sitting where they were some years back, and now he’s a colonel in the Army.”

Crediting several mentors who have served in the U.S. military, Cantu noted that being able to listen to advice from veterans and those with experience allowed him to find that call to serve the country, which he wanted to do since he was young.

“I had great mentors: Dr. Kenneth White, who was a World War II veteran, Carlos Martinez, who was my godfather and a Korean War veteran, Mr. Ciro Ochoa as well, another Korean War veteran, Mr. Tony Pena, a veteran of the European theater, and Mr.

an honor, and a pleasure. And yes, I am totally humbled to be considered but I do owe it all to my Lord.”

Chamber Choice The awards were also a chance to honor several members for the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber recognized the owners of: Ranch House Burgers, The Bryan House, Hector M. Rivera Business & Tax Services, The Grounds Guys Lawn Care and Landscaping Services, and Waterford Gardens as the Top 5 Small Businesses of the year.

The Chamber also awarded the owners and presidents of: Texas Regional Bank, Valley Land Title Company, Raising Cane’s Mission location, Oceangate Hotel Management, and Mission Regional Medical Center as the Top 5 Corporate Businesses of the year.

Three individual chamber

See MISSION’S FINEST Pg. 6

Lupe Gonzalez, a Vietnam veteran,” Cantu said. “Between the discussions with them and watching them as they led their various organizations, whether it was in the education field or business, there was an understanding about what the Army was able to do for them.”

“It was about how best to emulate the examples they set for the character, the competence and the commitment to their jobs,” Cantu added. “I’ve been doing that as best I could.”

Cantu has served and lived in South Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, and in several states across the U.S. He currently resides in San Antonio, but still travels around the 14 states he over-

sees very often for work.

“It’s a considerable amount of travel,” Colonel Cantu said. “I’m getting way more experienced at travelling through airports and staying in hotels than I ever have in the past.”

Dolores and Rafael, along with the entire family, have kept Colonel Cantu in their prayers, often calling on their fellow parishioners at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Mission to pray for the colonel.

“We’re very grateful to our church friends for praying for him,” Dolores Cantu said. “Our friends at St. Paul’s and El Mesias have taken care of him and all the soldiers with prayer. It’s powerful.”

Colonel Cantu wants young people all over the RGV and Mission to know that the opportunities are always out there for them.

“The Army is not ‘the’ way, the military is not ‘the’ way, but it does represent ‘a’ way to be able to make your dreams come true,” Cantu said. “Whether it’s the over 150 jobs that are available, the educational benefits that arise from a successful tenure in the Army, to just the overall fact of the leadership skills that are developed by an individual as part of the military, they helped me considerably throughout the course of my life.”

Mission tables item regarding installation of T-Mobile monopole

by Jamie Treviño

PROGRESS TIMES REPORTER Although it was recommended for approval by the planning and zoning committee, mixed messages were given regarding the construction of a telephone pole made with APC Towers.

City council tabled the installation of a 100-foot monopole wireless communications facility with T-Mobile at this week’s council meeting. If reviewed again and approved, the pole would be built on a 3.29 acre tract of land in the unplatted commercial reserve in the Cimarron Country Club.

T-Mobile hoped to construct a wireless tower to increase coverage, and some of the residents of Cimarron voiced their concerns of the initial location of the antenna. Staff recommended that based on changing the location of the antenna itself, the tower can be approved to be built.

However, when representative Charlie Mitchell came forward to speak on the item, they could not move the tower to the northwest side of the lot as originally agreed upon. They could only have it placed on the northeast corner, adjacent to a public roadway.

“For people who live in the area right now who would be affected in a positive way, it would be 14,000 people,” Mitchell said. “People come through that area for work would be 15,600. The average daily vehicle that’s covered on I-2 that goes across there, there’s about 48,000 people that would be affected.”

Council member Jessica Ortega-Ochoa expressed in the discussion that she was looking forward to the item being passed and the monopole being placed in that location.

“I’m a little selfish on this one, because I am a T-Mobile user for over 15 years,” Ortega-Ochoa said. “And my kids will be so ecstatic once this goes up, because once we hit that area, I was at Walmart earlier and there was no service whatsoever. I thought I had lost my phone.”

“I’ve taken into account everything that you all have said, and the hard work and

everything, making sure that our Missionites get cell service in that area,” Ortega-Ochoa said. “From my personal experience, it is really bad.”

The representatives said that they had already been working on the environmental reports, which is why T-Mobile preferred to keep the tower on the northeast corner. When the amount of coverage was questioned, they stated it would cover seven-tenths of a mile indoors.

This was news to City Manager Martin Garza and council member Norie Gonzalez Garza.

“That’s not a lot,” Martin Garza said.

Mayor Armando O’caña and Ortega-Ochoa voted in favor of passing the item, and council members Gonzalez Garza, Ruben Plata and Gus Martinez all voted to table the item until the city manager would review the proposal again.

“I would like to see a more clear foundation of what we’re doing,” said Garza. “I was under a different impression, so I’d like to review this a little bit further.”

Ortega-Ochoa mentioned that she didn’t want the representatives from T-Mobile to have made the trip to city hall only to not get the item passed.

“I’m very disappointed that we’ve gotten to this point just to table it,” Ortega-Ochoa said. “Obviously this company has taken a lot of effort, time and energy, and whenever something comes before us, I expect it to come with full information.”

Following the decision, Ortega-Ochoa followed the presenters out of the hall and spoke to them before they left.

In addition to this item, a debate about a single family residential lot (R-1) lot on the northwest corner of East Griffin Parkway and Bryan Rd. in the Bodine subdivision that wanted to be rezoned as a general commercial plot (C-3) went on for over 40 minutes.

The owner of the property, Dr. Norma L. Cavazos, hoped to change the zoning in order to sell the land and home her family grew up in

because she no longer had a need for the large space. It was implied during the presentation of the item that she hoped to have it zoned C-3 in order to have a Starbucks built in its place.

A few residents who live behind her property came forward to voice their concerns about the level of traffic and the space a commercial business would add to their already heavily-trafficked area.

Staff recommended denying the rezoning, citing neighbors of the lot complaining about the potential traffic.

“They [neighboring residents] would support a rezoning when Bryan Rd. gets widened, but not at this time,” said Planning Director Jaime Acevedo. “There was public opposition during the P & Z [Planning and Zoning] meeting, the board unanimously recommended denial of the rezoning.”

Other residents supported the change, saying it was inevitable and pointing out that all three other the corners on that street area are already zoned as commercial to some capacity. They also mentioned that the traffic issues are due to the size of the road, and if anything should be worked on, the road should be reconstructed.

“This is a very busy area, I think everybody has conceded to that and agrees,” Cavazos said. “There’s a lot of traffic, and the widening of Bryan Rd. needs to be reconsidered.”

Cavazos said that she has been trying to get her land rezoned to no avail.

“Three corners are being allowed to be rezoned accept for mine,” Cavazos said. “I think it would be discrimination not to allow my corner to be zoned that way. I’m open and willing to sit down with the council.”

After listening to both sides, city council approved the rezoning, but on the condition that it would be rezoned C-2 rather than C-3, which means whatever gets built or sold on that property must come before council again for approval.

EVENTS

lifestyle

CALENDAR October 13 – The “Fall into Better Health 5K Run/Walk” sponsored by the by the Mission CISD begins at 8 a.m. at the Mission Hike & Bike Trail. This is a free event with onsite registration, but donations will be accepted for the 2019 Back to School bash held by the school district. For information, call the MCISD Risk Management department at 956-323-5545.

October 13 – The 47th Annual Leo Najo Day will be held 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mission Community Center, 1402 E. Kika De La Garza in Mission. Admission is free to attend the awards ceremony. A brisket lunch with all the trimmings will be served for $7 per plate.

Drinks of water and soda will be available for $1. For more information, contact Vicente Estevis, 956-381-4844; Roberto Zamora, 956-458-5754; Pikey Rodriguez, 956-6871636; Bert Lozano, 956-778-7199; or Carlos Villarreal, 956-240-6066.

October 13 – The Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC) invites Boy Scouts to earn their Bird Study merit badge from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Road. Scouts will learn the basics of birding, how to use binoculars and field guides, and learn to identify birds. Badges are not included, but scouts will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program.

The fee for the program is $6 per Scout. Parents, guardians, and other non-participants may attend with the Scouts and pay the regular admission fee. Registration and payment

are required by Oct. 11. For more information, or to register, call 956-381-9922.

October 13 – Be part of the Inaugural Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Rio Grande Valley, a 5K Run/Walk, at the Mission Event Center, 200 N. Shary Rd. in Mission.

The 5K registration begins at 7 a.m., followed by an 8:30 a.m. start for the event. The event raises funds for breast cancer research and programs. Go to makingstrideswalk.org/ riograndetx to sign up, lead a team or donat.

Call the local ACS office at 956-682-8329 for more information.

October 18 – The Capable Kids Foundation presents the 2018 gala fundraiser, “Havana Nights,” at 6:30 p.m. at the Pharr Event Center. There will be live Cuban music with dancing, dinner and cocktails, and silent and live auctions. Individual tickets are $150 per person. Sponsorships range from $1,500 to $10,000. For information or tickets, call 956227-1776.

October 20 – Mission Regional Medical Center (MRMC) will host their Ninth Annual Mission Pink 5K Run/Walk at the hospital, 900 S. Bryan Rd. Start time is 8 a.m. for runners and 9 a.m. for walkers. Registration is $10 for children, ages 7 to 12 and MRMC employees; $15, teens, 13 to 17; $20, cancer survivors; and $25, adults 18 and over.

Registration for the 1 Mile Run/Walk is $10.

Online registration is at https://bit.ly/2zQDnJM. To become a sponsor, call the Mission Regional Medical Center Marketing Department at 956-566-8163. For information, call 956-323-9000 or go to missionrmc.org.

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

VMHS students achieve AP Scholar status

Veterans Memorial High School had a total of 17 students earning AP Scholar recognition for their exceptional achievement on AP (Advanced Placement) exams.

Prepared students have an opportunity to take college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP exams. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement, based on students’ performance on AP exams.

Stephan Jabs (senior) qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction with an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams.

Logan Dovalina (senior) and Amelia Blanco (Class of 2018) qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award.

They had to have an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams.

Fourteen students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP exams with grades of 3 or higher. They include Michael

October 12, 2018

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

MCHS students earn AP Scholar recognition Mission Collegiate High School had a total of nine students earn AP Scholar recognition for achievements on AP (Advanced Placement) exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program provides prepared students an opportunity to take college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both, for successful performance on the exams.

Carina Y. Martinez (senior) qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction with an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams.

Jeremy Soto (senior) and Chelsie M. Barrientos (Class of 2018) earned AP Scholars with Honor Award by re-

Mission Collegiate High School students earning AP Scholar recognition are, left to right, front row – Jasmine Martinez, Sylvia Cardenas, Carina Martinez and America Rodriguez; back – Mario Marin, Julian Garcia-Hernandez, Jeremy Soto and Isacc Adame. ceiving an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams.

Isacc Adame , Sylvia Cardenas, Julian Garcia-Hernandez, Mario Marin and

honor were Victoria Cantu, Jose Chavez, Matthew Garcia-Perez, Natalia Juarez, Luz Martinez, Daniella Peña, Alyssa Ramirez and Nyla Vela.

Jasmine Martinez, all seniors, and Leslie Hernandez (Class of 2018) earned the AP Scholar Award with three or more AP exams with grades of 3 or higher.

LJISD parent volunteers receive state recognition

Fifteen volunteers from across Texas who collectively donated 223 years of service to Texas public schools received the Heroes for Children award this past September 14th from the State Board of Education (SBOE).

Two of those recipients were from La Joya ISD – Mirthala Vazquez from Irene Garcia Middle School and Elvia Olivarez from Kika De La Garza Elementary.

They were recognized by the State Board of Education for their service, effort and dedication to La Joya ISD students. Both nominees received an individual plaque recognizing their service, a copy of the resolution schedule for board approval, and photographs commemorating the ceremony.

Vazquez has been a school volunteer for seven years.

She serves on the Superintendent’s Parent Roundtable, the District Site-Based Decision-Making Committee, as well as the Parent Advisory

La Joya ISD volunteer parents Mirthala Vazquez and Elvia Olivarez recently received state recognition for the years-long service they have given to the district. Shown left to right, are Santana Galvan, Irene Garcia Middle School principal; honorees Mirthala Vasquez and Elvia Olivarez; and Irene Fernandez, Kika de la Garza Elementary principal.

Committees at the middle school and high school levels. Vazquez also serves on the school heath advisory council and has become an important liaison between the school and the parent community.

Olivarez has volunteered at La Joya ISD for 12 years.

She works on school events,

such as middle school mini proms, making homecoming mums for student council nominees, and raising funds for football and wrestling teams. She also serves on the District Advisory Committee, the Superintendent’s Parent Roundtable, and is the current president of the Parent Advisory Committee.

GO

Veterans Memorial High School students who earned AP Scholar recognition are, left to right, top row – Stephan Jabs, Michael Iglesias and Miguel Ayala; middle row – Citlali Franco, Valeria Treviño and Logan Dovalina; and bottom row – Andrea Martinez and Damian Gonzalez.

Ayala (senior), Damian Gonzalez (junior), Citlali Franco (senior), Michael Iglesias (senior), Andrea Martinez (senior) and Valeria Jimenez (junior). Also, members of the Class 2018 earning the

page 5

City of Palmhurst

Special Election for Palmhurst Police Department

EARLY VOTING:

October 22 - November 2 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

ELECTION DAY:

Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Location:

Faith Baptist Church 4301 N. Shary Rd., Palmhurst, TX 78573

For further information please contact Chief Michael Vela at

956-239-0011

Your

Vote Co unts.

“THIS IS NOT A PROPERTY TAX” “THIS IS NOT A PROPERTY TAX” “THIS IS NOT A PROPERTY TAX”

page 6

October 12, 2018

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

Billing manager resigns from Agua SUD amid internal investigation

by Dave Hendricks Faced with an internal investigation, a well-respected manager abruptly resigned from the Agua Special Utility District last month — and accepted a job with the city of Palmview.

The utility district suspended Billing Manager Rodolfo Flores III on Sept.

6 amid an “investigation due to continued unsatisfactory

supervision performance in the Billing Department,” according to personnel records.

Flores resigned on Sept.

10 and accepted a job with Palmview a few weeks later.

“As far as I was concerned, he was a very capable individual,” said former utility board President Mario Chapa. “He must have felt undue pressure in the environment that he was in today to resign before he was fired.”

Neither the utility district nor Flores would comment on what happened.

Flores graduated from Texas A&M University in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in finance, according to personnel records. After a stint at Texas Rural Legal Aid, he accepted a job with the La Joya Water Supply Corp. in June 2003.

When state lawmakers shut down the La Joya Water Supply Corp. and created the

2019 Princess Anna Pageant Saturday, October 20, 2018 3 pm @ Mission Events Center 700 N. Shary Rd. • Mission, TX Application Deadline: Friday, October 12, 2018 Application Fee: $100

from pg. 4

Must be 6 years old on or before Jan. 31, 2019.

Participants from all over the Rio Grande Valley are encouraged to participate.

5 princesses will be selected to be a part of the 2019 Texas Citrus Royal Court.

Call Texas Citrus Fiesta For Information About These Events

(956)585-9724

Agua Special Utility District, attempting to fix a myriad of problems, Flores weathered the transition. He became the billing department supervisor, managing clerks and meter readers.

“He’s a good guy,” said former Executive Director Julio Cerda.

Flores deftly handled customer complaints, said Cerda, who described him as smart and responsible.

“I liked the way the guy went about dealing with the public,” Cerda said. “He knew his stuff.”

Flores became the assistant executive director in August 2016, when the utility district hired Armin Garza — a member of the La Joya school board — as billing manager.

Along with the promotion, Flores received a 3 percent raise, according to personnel records.

Cerda, though, resigned in September 2016. The new executive director, Oscar Cancino, allowed Flores to keep the title but rescinded the 3 percent raise.

Garza, the new billing supervisor, lasted less than a

68th Princess Anna

Jalynn Danielle Mascorro

year.

In May 2017, the Texas Legislature passed a bill designed to address potential conflicts of interest at the utility district. Part of the bill prevented elected officials from hiring each other.

The utility district approved a $268,000 settlement agreement with Garza in July 2017. He found a new job with the city of Peñitas.

Flores went back to the billing department.

In September, however, utility district General Manager Jose E. “Eddie” Saenz apparently became concerned about how Flores managed the department.

He suspended Flores with pay on Sept. 6.

“This action is based on a current investigation due to continued unsatisfactory supervision performance in the Billing Department,” Saenz wrote in a memo. “I will be meeting with Mr. Flores on Monday, September 10, 2018, to determine the future of Mr. Flores with Agua SUD.” Flores resigned on Sept.

10 before the meeting with Saenz.

“I have decided to pursue another opportunity in a different career field,” Flores wrote in his resignation letter. “I have been very fortunate to have been given many opportunities to learn and grow at Agua Special Utility District.”

Asked why he resigned, Flores declined to comment further. Attorney Frank Garza, who represents the utility district, said management doesn’t comment on personnel matters.

Flores quickly found a new job with the city of Palmview, where he supervises public works, planning and code enforcement. He started on Oct. 1.

The position, however, will remain temporary until approved by the Palmview City Council.

Flores is a straight-up guy, said City Councilman Javier Ramirez, who added that an internal investigation, especially by the utility district, didn’t bother him.

“That doesn’t mean much,” Ramirez said. “At least not to me, it doesn’t.”

MISSION’S FINEST

members were also recognized at the event.

Mario Reyna, a project engineer with the city’s engineering firm Melden & hunt, was awarded the “Emerging Leader” Award. The recognition highlighted his engineering experience where he’s been involved in several projects such as the expansion of Mission’s north water treatment plant.

Sarah Hammond, of Atlas

Electrical, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, was recognized as executive of the year.

As co-owner of the company, Hammond speaks throughout the world and the region, empowering female professionals and business leaders.

The Chamber also recognized Mission’s Deputy City Manager Aida Lerma for Excellence in Government.

Lerma previously served as CEO for the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce before being hired as the city’s public relations director and then was made deputy city manager last year. She oversees what she calls the “quality of life department” which includes the Mission Historical Museum, Speer Memorial Library and more.

October 12, 2018

page 7

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

MCISD invites local leaders to shadow principals

by Jamie Treviño

PROGRESS TIMES REPORTER Hoping to give the community a behind-the-scenes look at the dedication and work of a principal, MCISD recently invited several figures in the Mission, Alton and Palmhurst communities to shadow each of their principals for half a day.

The Mission Consolidated Independent School District has made “Principal for a Day” a tradition for about 15 years, according to Public Relations and Marketing Director Craig Verley. Resolutions have been introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, naming October National Principals Month in order to recognize and honor the contributions principals make in leading schools and students forward.

“It is not something everyone in the Valley does,” Verley said. “And it gives pretty much an open door to see what our schools are really like. That’s why we do it

every year.”

MCISD aims to shed some light on the day-to-day operations of the schools, and participants are able to see everything a principal goes through, good or bad.

In the past, shadowers have experienced average walkthroughs of classrooms to real lockdowns, and everything in between.

“Each and every time, it has always been an eye-opening experience for the participant, to say the least,” Verley said. “But also, they’ve been impressed with how the staff have responded to these situations.”

The event culminates in a luncheon held at the Mission Chamber of Commerce.

Superintendent Carol Perez spoke at the luncheon, thanking the participants for taking the opportunity to see and learn what goes on through the eyes of a principal in the district.

“Our campus principals and their staff work day in and day out to make sure that we prepare our children for the 21st century, because

they’re going to be working with you in the community,” Perez said. “It has been said that the mark of any community is how well it treats its children. So today, we want to thank you for joining us in supporting our children so that they can achieve futures of excellence.”

Participants are able to

from MCISD to win the Texas Teacher of the Year award.

During the superintendent’s report, Dr. Carol Perez spoke about the recent implementation of an attendance incentive for the schools in MCISD. “We have three goals: attendance, academic and also service delivery,” Perez said.

“Without attendance our academic achievement cannot continue to grow.”

For this first six weeks, campuses had to potential to earn $4,000 for their campus budget. Although the incentives have just begun, the district has seen an increase of average attendance by about 1.06 percent.

“Last year for the first six weeks, we had 95.74 percent,” Perez said. “This year, 96.80 percent, which totals in many, many lessons that were gathered. 196 more students had perfect attendance

this school year.”

Perez congratulated the campus staff and parents for contributing to the increased attendance in MCIS. “That means that we were able to save additional dollars in tutorials, summer school and so forth,” Perez said. “Plus, the state will reward us for that 1.06 [percent] with approximately $170,000. That’s not counting the additional revenues we get for special populations.”

The superintendent added that the additional $170,000 will go into giving back to the children by creating “greater, better programming,” and to the staff in “greater and better salaries.”

The incentives are given by benchmarks. For each six weeks of instruction, the high schools need to earn 95 percent, Mission Collegiate needs 98 percent, ju-

speak about their experiences, and thank the principals they shadowed for part of the day. Gathering from Mission, Palmhurst and Alton, leaders who have community members feed into MCISD took part of their day off to trek the various halls of all MCISD schools.

Mission Planning Di-

rector Jaime Acevedo, who shadowed Principal Blanca Lopez at Escobar/Rios Elementary School, said he learned a lot.

“I’ve been able to see the progress she’s done with that campus,” Acevedo said. “I really didn’t know too much about Escobar/Rios, but now I know that it’s one of the gems of the school district.

I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

Palmhurst Police Chief Michael Vela, who shadowed Principal Efrain Zamora at Leo Marcell Elementary School, said that he was glad to be part of this event.

“It was just an honor and privilege to be invited to be principal for the day,” Vela said. “And I’ll be honest with you, when I went into the school I was welcomed with open arms. Everybody from the staff, everyone was so nice to me. The children were very well-behaved.”

Alton Police Chief Jason Simmons, who shadowed Principal S. Garcia at Alton Memorial Junior High School, spoke about his ex-

perience in the school and how it impacted him.

“What an experience. I think you all should have segways, because it’s a lot of walking,” Simmons said.

“On a serious note, Ms. Garcia does a tremendous job at her school, she runs a tight ship. When you talk about leadership, I believe she exudes leadership qualities in her ability to motivate and inspire not only her employees, but the children.”

Verley encouraged the participants to spread the word about the public school system and tell people about the good being implemented into all the programs MCISD offers.

“You’ve seen the truth about your schools,” Verley said. “There’s a lot of untruths out there in our community about what public schools are like. Correct those imperceptions. We could use that support, and you showed a great deal of that support just by showing up this morning.”

nior highs need 97 percent, elementaries need 98 percent and Roosevelt Options needs 90 percent.

“If the milestone is met, it is $4,000 per campus,” Perez said. “If it’s not met, but it’s close to, they get 50 percent [$2,000], and if they are below that but still close, they get 25 percent [$1,000],” Perez said.

The incentives will be broken down into different levels as to how they are to be used. 75 percent of the incentive will go toward students, with campus principals determining on-site how it is spent in that regard.

“Anything that is going to impact and hook children into coming into school,” Perez said. “The other 25 percent is to reward the staff because of the fact that they’re working collaboratively.”

The board of trustees also spent some time debat-

ing on the facility fee rental schedule they maintain for their non-varsity stadiums, particularly Veterans Memorial High School. After having the financial and athletic departments look over the rental fees they offer for non-profit organizations as compared to other districts, Petra Ramirez still felt the proposed $5,000 for four hours was too costly.

MCISD usually rents their facilities out to non-profit organizations when they are need them and the district does not have anything scheduled. The board wanted to ensure that not only were the stadiums taken care of and safe, but the majority of students utilizing the facilities were MCISD students.

It was suggested that there be some sort of tiered pricing based on the hours the facility would be used, the percentage of MCISD students

among those participating in that event and the additional costs of security and possibly insurance.

The board could not come to a consensus on whether the cost should be $1,200, $3,000 or $5,000. They requested the financial department look at the cost comparisons again, this time with districts similar in size to MCISD, and the item was tabled.

However, after executive session a motion was made

by Jerry Zamora to delegate authority to the superintendent to finalize the fee schedule. It was seconded by Sonia Treviño, and the vote was unanimous.

Dr. Perez indicated it would likely take a few days to further analyze and determine the costs in order to finalize the fee schedule.

Palmhurst Police Chief Michael Vela and Principal Efrain Zamora at Leo Marcell Elementary School.

Photo courtesty of MCISD.

MCISD honors Elementary Teacher of the Year at board meeting

by Jamie Treviño

PROGRESS TIMES REPORTER MCISD decided to give an extra reward to their Texas Teacher of the Year at a board meeting held this week.

The Mission Consolidated Independent School District recognized Rhonda Peña, the newly awarded Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year on Wednesday. After taking a picture with the board of trustees and superintendent, Craig Verley, the Director of Public Relations and Marketing, presented Peña with a giant check from the district worth $2,000, to be used for her personal classroom needs and wants.

Additionally, MCISD presented another giant $2,000 check to Peña’s school principal, Linda Sanchez, for Bryan Elementary.

Peña is the first teacher

HALLOWEEN

SAFETY FAIR

Thursday October 25, 2018 5:30PM - 7:30PM

Join us for this fun, family-oriented event with MUSIC, CANDY, GAMES and PRIZES! FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION will be available to the first 500 children by Mission Police Department Participate in our Costume Constests!

ONLY 25 ENTRIES PER AGE CATEGORY: Infants (0-2 years old) Toddlers (3-5 years old)

Tweens (6-12 years old) Teens (13-16 years old)

900 S. Bryan Rd. Mission Texas

THE

October 12, 2018

Sports week

page 8

BIG7 Six Big 7 teams still in playoff hunt SCHOOLS

www.ptrgv.com/sports

Covering Mission, Veterans Memorial, Sharyland, Pioneer, La Joya, Palmview & Juarez-Lincoln Sports

by Luciano Guerra

PROGRESS TIMES SPORTS It’s Week Seven of Valley high school football and the district races are starting to take shape. With only the top four teams in each district qualifying for the playoffs, the time is now for the cream to rise to the top and for the rest to start looking forward to next year.

In District 30-6A, the 3-0 PSJA Bears and the 2-0 Nikki Rowe Warriors are the only undefeated teams remaining. The Mission Eagles, the La Joya Coyotes and the McAllen Memorial Mustangs have all split their two district games for 1-1

records. That leaves the 1-2 PSJA North Raiders and the 0-2 McAllen High Bulldogs and Juarez-Lincoln Huskies all needing to put a string of wins together pretty quickly if they have any aspirations of post season play.

In District 16-5A-2, the Sharyland Rattlers and the Valley View Tigers are both atop the standings with 2-0 records. Nipping at their heels however are the 1-0 Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks and the 1-1 Mercedes Tigers. As for the remaining teams in the district, the 0-2 Roma Gladiators and Edcouch Elsa Yellow Jackets and the 0-1 Laredo Cigarroa Toros seem destined to remain at or near the bottom

while the top four teams battle it out for the district championship and the remaining three playoff spots.

That leaves District 165A-1. These are the teams from the Division 1 schools and with this being a ten team district, they’ve been playing district games since Week Two. As a result, there is much more separation between the top teams and the bottom teams in this district.

The teams that control their own playoff destiny at this point in the season are the 5-0 Brownsville Pace Vikings, the 4-0 Mission Veterans Patriots, the 4-1 Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers and the 3-1 Donna Redskins.

Of the remaining six 16-

5A-1 teams, the 3-2 Palmview Lobos and the 2-3 Brownsville Lopez Lobos are still in the thick of the playoff race. That leaves the 1-3 PSJA Southwest Javelinas, the 1-4 PSJA Memorial Wolverines and Rio Grande City Rattlers and the 0-5 Brownsville Porter Cowboys with nothing much left to do but try to salvage some respectability by finishing their seasons on a winning note.

This week’s lineup of Big 7 games includes one that was played last night.

Fresh off their huge win over McAllen Memorial last week, the La Joya Coyotes traveled to McAllen to play the Bulldogs last night. Seeing how this paper went to

press before that game was played, we do not know the results of that game. However, with the Bulldogs having been outscored 111-3 by their last three opponents, they should not have been much of a challenge for the Coyotes.

Tonight’s games include Mission Veterans at Donna High, Edcouch Elsa at Sharyland, Sharyland Pioneer at Valley View and our Game of the Week, Mission High at Juarez-Lincoln. The Palmview Lobos have a bye this week.

The game to look forward to next week is the Sharyland Rattlers at Pioneer Diamondbacks. While both teams are undefeated

going into tonight’s games, it remains to be seen if they will remain that way for next week’s game. Even if one, or even both, of these teams suffers their first district loss tonight, the Rattlers and the Diamondbacks always play each other as if the district championship is on the line.

And with the Rattlers having the Sharyland ISD bragging rights since their 56-49 victory over the Diamondbacks last year, the Diamondbacks will be hungry for payback as they look to chalk up their second victory over the Rattlers since the 2014 split of Sharyland High began the cross-town rivalry.

A Look at Big 7 Volleyball

Sharyland tops Pioneer for first sweep in four-year rivalry

by Bryan Ramos

PROGRESS TIMES SPORTS District play is winding down on the volleyball court as some Big 7 teams are preparing for their final run at a district title and playoff spots, while others are looking to turn things around for a strong finish to the season.

Sharyland The Sharyland Lady Rattlers made history at home Tuesday night with a 3-1 (25-19, 20-24, 25-20, 25-17) victory over sister school Pioneer to earn the first sweep in the four-year rivalry between the two.

“You always want to make history and we’ve always been battling with

them,” said Sharyland Head Coach Raul Castillo. “I told the girls this is our year, we have to take it from them. If we don’t, they’re going to come to our court and beat us.”

The Lady Rattlers and Lady Diamondbacks entered the game with 7-2 district records in what was a battle for the second seed with just four games remaining, and after Sharyland swept Pioneer on the road in their first meeting on Sept. 15, the Diamondbacks were looking to even the score.

Sharyland’s Estefania Hinojosa and Tristen Maddox combined for 33 of the Lady Rattlers’ 38 kills and set the tone early, while Ximena Chapa posted 26 digs and

Aydee Hinojosa dished out 17 assists.

“I just really wanted to show my team that we can do this and we can break history,” Maddox said. “It’s possible to do anything playing together. I think we can be unstoppable.”

The Lady Rattlers have four games remaining and they’ll have the chance to avenge both of their district losses on their homecourt as they host the unbeaten Mission Veterans Lady Patriots (10-0) on Tuesday, Oct. 16 and PSJA Memorial (5-3) on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

“We’re feeling more con-

See FIRST SWEEP Pg. 9

Lady Rattlers celebrate a 3 to 1 win over rival school Pioneer immediately after match point. Progress Times photo by Mario Magallon.

THE BIG 7 PLAYERS OF THE WE SHARYLAND RATTLERS

PIONEER DIAMONDBACKS

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October 12, 2018

page 9

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GAME OF THE WEEK

Follow Us on Facebook for Friday Night Football Scores and Updates

/ProgressTimes

AT

Fri. 7:30 pm

Mission

by Bryan Ramos

HUSKIES

EAGLES

PROGRESS TIMES SPORTS

Juarez-Lincoln

Game of the Week: Juarez-Lincoln hosts Mission High in a rematch of last year’s shootout

Eagles eye another win while Huskies hope to get on the right track

EEK

Palmview’s two most competitive games have been against Roma and Rio Grande City District 30-6A The three Big 7 members of the Valley’s toughest district are having a rough go through 30-6A action. The Mission Lady Eagles have played the best of the three as they sit at 4-6 in district after picking up a win over Juarez-Lincoln on Tuesday night. The loss sent the Lady Huskies to 0-10 on the year, while the La Joya Lady Coyotes hold a 1-9 record.

A strong finish to the season can lead to a productive offseason as the teams look for something to build on to close 2018.

FOOTBALL

CONTEST WINNER Week #5

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progresstimes

st

sharylandtimes

harylandtimes

ing the top two.

Pioneer’s three district losses come at the hands of Sharyland (2) and Mission Veterans, and the Lady Diamondbacks have one more crack at the champion Lady Patriots at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 at Mission Veterans High School.

Mission Veterans Cruising through district play are the undefeated Mission Veterans Lady Patriots as they sit at a perfect 10-0 in 31-5A play. The Lady Patriots have been so perfect in district that they haven’t even lost a set, beating opponents by a combined 30-0.

Two Lady Patriots, seniors Jackie Howell and Makenzie Gerlach, have the opportunity to close out their four-year varsity careers

2018

fident and we’re excited for the big games coming up,” said Estefania Hinojosa.

“I’m excited, we’re going to fight hard because we want to give them a good match.”

Pioneer The Lady Diamondbacks have worked their way to a 7-3 district record, good enough for third place and on pace to lock up one of four playoff spots. A team that lost talent from a year ago has found new senior leadership while receiving big contributions from freshmen.

Senior Daizy Coronado, junior Daniela Alvarez and the freshman duo of Thalio Ochoa and Natalie Reyes have led the way for the Lady Diamondbacks, knocking off lesser opponents while chas-

progresstimes

without a single district loss in that time.

While the Lady Patriots have bouts with Sharyland, Pioneer and PSJA Memorial left on the schedule, their eyes are on a perfect finish and a deep playoff run.

Keep your eyes out for a feature on the Lady Patriots in next week’s issue of the Progress Times.

Palmview The Palmview Lady Lobos find themselves in a new district but have struggled to gain any ground. In a district with volleyball heavyweights like Mission Veterans, Sharyland and Pioneer, the Lady Lobos have fallen to 0-10 and with just four games left, Palmview has a chance at putting a W in the win column.

FIRST SWEEP

larreal are more than capable of going deep and making big plays downfield.

Moronta is averaging 105.8 rushing yards per outing with five touchdowns, while Gomez leads the team with six rushing scores, most coming by way of the quarterback sneak, a seemingly impossible play to defend when Mission gets around the goalline.

The clash between the Huskies and Eagles is sure to provide big hits and big runs as both teams fight for a district win.

Kickoff between the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies and Mission Eagles is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at La Joya Pack Stadium.

do every Friday night for 48 minutes.

“When one of us does good, it brings us energy,” Soto said. “We feed off it and we don’t quit until the final whistle.”

While the Eagle is known for taking flight, the Mission offense gets it done with the ground game. Running back Tito Moronta, fullback Andrew Maldonado and quarterback Damian Gomez each prove a threat who can will around defenders, over defenders, or both. And when the defenses send an extra man into the box to try to stop the run, Damian Gomez and his pass-catching corps of Sebastian Gonzalez, Al Tijerina, Rey Garcia and Vil-

sharylandtimes

and Albert Martinez ripped apart the Eagle defense.

Efren, the quarterback, completed just four passes on the night but two of them went for scores to receiver Luis Rodriguez. Albert, the running back, ran all over Mission for 238 yards rushing and two scores of his own.

This year is different though. The Mission Eagle defense is as energized as ever after pitching a shutout last week in their 37-0 dismantling of the McHi Bulldogs.

The play of guys like Alek Gomez, Steve Villarreal, Justin Soto and Joe Resendez sparks a chain-reaction of swagger across the defense. Mission plays with a hit-you-in-the-mouth attitude because that’s what they

progresstimes

over PSJA North, only to lose by a final score of 34-29.

The Huskies have been held scoreless in the second half in three out of five games on the year.

Still, Detmer and the Eagles aren’t taking the winless Huskies lightly. After last year’s 45-28 loss, they know firsthand what the dynamic duo in the Juarez-Lincoln backfield can do.

“We know this is a tough district and every week is a challenge,” the third-year Mission Head Coach said.

“Anybody can get anybody on any given Friday night.

We know they’re a tough defense and they have that quarterback-running back combination that’s really tough, so it’ll be a good one.”

As juniors, brothers Efren

progresstimes

from pg. 8

score of 66-35 over the past two seasons, and nearing desperation mode with a 0-5, 0-2 record this year, Juarez-Lincoln is going to do everything in their power to keep Mission winless in their past three meetings.

The Huskies record may not say much, but their play on the field does the talking.

While Juarez-Lincoln has failed to win a game in 2018, they’ve been competitive almost every week before falling apart in the second halves of games, a trend that has cost them late multiple times.

Juarez-Lincoln tends to storm out of the gates but fades as the quarters pass.

That was the case in their district opener when they held a 29-20 halftime lead

sharylandtimess

The Mission Eagles are flying high this season. Head Coach Koy Detmer and his team on the rise (4-1, 1-1) have put together the best start at Mission High since 2013 and show no signs of slowing down.

“I’m excited--this team is incredible,” said junior quarterback Damian Gomez.

“We can do things that a lot of people don’t expect us to do, but we’re on the come up, we’re on the rise.”

And if the Eagles plan on keeping up heir strong play and adding another victory in Week 7, they’ll have to do something they haven’t been able to in Detmer’s previous two years: beat the Juarez-Lincoln Huskies.

The Huskies have topped the Eagles by a combined

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Check your school or favorite team below. The team with the most entries at the end of the season will win $200 for the school’s Athletic Booster Club. ❑ Sharyland Rattlers ❑ Pioneer Diamondbacks

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Name: _____________________________________________________________ City: _______________________________________________________________ Phone & Alt Phone:_______________________ Email:__________________________ I am age 18 or older.

Yes, I would like to receive the newsletter and promotional emails from the Progress Times. We will NEVER share your email address with anyone else.

High School Football Contest Rules A $50 cash prize will be awarded each week for the winning entry. The entry coming closest to calling all the games correctly wins. In event of a tie, the tying entry that comes closest to the score of Tie Breaker #1 wins. If a tie remains, the tying entry that comes closest to the score of Tie Breaker #2 wins. If a tie still remains, the $50 prize will be divided evenly among the winning entries.

Booster Club Grand Prize: At the end of the regular football season, the total number of complete, qualified entries will be tallied for each team with the team’s check box marked.

The $200 Grand Prize will be awarded to the Athletic Booster Club of the team with the most entries submitted.

No Purchase necessary. Limit one entry per household each week of the contest period. Must be age 18 or older to enter the contest.

HOW TO ENTER: Check the box next to the team’s name that you predict to win each high school game. Next, for the tie breakers, predict the total points scored by the winning team in the Tie Breaker #1 game, and the total points scored by the winning team in the Tie Breaker #2 game. Fill in your name, address, phone number (This is how we notify the winners!), and email address. Check the box to receive the FREE Progress Times weekly newsletter and mail or drop off your entry form at Progress Times, 1217 N. Conway Ave., Mission, TX 78572. Or submit your entry online at www.progresstimes.net. All entries must be received by the Progress Times no later than 2 p.m., Thursday preceding the listed games.

All entries must be submitted on the Official Entry Form printed in the Progress Times or Sharyland Times, a photocopy of the entry form, or submitted electronically from our official website submission form. Only one entry per household per week. Previous winners and all members of the same household are ineligible for subsequent weeks of the contest. Prizes must be claimed within 7 days of notification or announcement in the Progress Times. Decisions made by the Progress Times staff are final. The winners agree to allow the Progress Times to use their names and photographs to announce the winners and for promotional purposes online and in print. Employees of the Progress Times and their immediate family members are not eligible to win.

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October 12, 2018 from pg. 1

POLITIQUERA

son of former Mission Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas.

Lara couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday morning.

The trial pitted Beto Salinas against his successor, Mission Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña, who won the June 2018 runoff election.

Witnesses accused campaign workers of swapping cash for votes and claimed politiqueras collected stacks of mail-in ballots.

After two weeks of testimony, state District Judge J. Bonner Dorsey voided the runoff election results.

“I find the evidence is clear that there was a combination or conspiracy by the campaign of Dr. O’caña to do this,” Judge Dorsey said Friday, when he handed down the decision. “And I say that because the evidence is that several members of the campaign were working together in concert to bribe voters, to

from pg. 1

take the mail-in ballots and mail them separately.”

O’caña, who remains the mayor, filed a formal notice of appeal Monday.

“And I will exhaust the appeal processes necessary to get justice,” O’caña said, adding that he disagrees with the judge.

Esmeralda Lara’s Story Esmeralda “Esmer” Lara, 54, a custodian who works for the Mission Consolidated Independent School District, testified on Oct. 2.

Lara said she volunteered for the O’caña campaign, knocking on doors and distributing fliers.

“I did not do ballots,” Lara said.

While she didn’t explain why, Lara had ample reason to avoid mail-in ballots.

Complaints about politiqueras collecting mail-in ballots prompted an investigation by the Texas Rangers after the May 2005 mayoral

campaign in McAllen.

A grand jury indicted Lara on 20 charges, including unlawful possession of another voter’s ballot. She pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors dropped the case three years later.

Lara said she started volunteering for the O’caña campaign months before the May election.

When the candidates started preparing for the runoff, though, Perez asked her to switch sides.

To prove he worked for the Beto Salinas campaign, Perez showed her a $1,500 check from the campaign account.

Perez promised her $1,500 cash, a job with the city and free State Farm Arena tickets. Assured the deal would remain a secret, Lara accepted.

“He told me that he would get me a better job where I didn’t have to sweat. He made it sound real good. So I believed in him. I really be-

BILLBOARD

serves on the La Joya school board, provided a similar answer.

“We’re nobody to tell anybody who to vote for,” Peña said, adding later: “Everybody has a right to vote for whoever they want.”

Garcia couldn’t be reached for comment.

While la palanca is a tradition for many Rio Grande Valley voters, the November ballot may prompt them to reconsider.

Former state District Judge Rudy Delgado, a Democrat who’s running for the 13th Court of Appeals, remains under indictment.

Federal agents arrested Delgado in February. The charges against him include bribery, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

An attorney bribed Delgado for favorable decisions, slipping him small amounts of cash, according to court records. Federal agents recorded the attorney meeting with Delgado on Jan. 17, when the judge accepted a

page 11

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white envelope stuffed with $5,500.

Delgado pleaded not guilty. He didn’t respond to a request for comment.

While he didn’t withdraw from the ballot, Delgado isn’t campaigning for the 13th Court of Appeals.

“Defendant has been advised that the only way another candidate can be listed on the Democratic ballot is if Defendant Delgado was convicted in the instant case or surrendered his law license.

Defendant has surrendered his position as a state district judge,” according to a motion filed by Delgado’s attorney in September. “He no longer makes public appearances as a candidate. He no longer is actively disseminating campaign materials.

The law does not require that he surrender his law license during the pendency of a case, so he has not done so. But regardless, he is not practicing law. Defendant is no longer campaigning for office.”

Democrats who vote straight-ticket, however, would support Delgado anyway.

“There’s a lot of corruption. And if Rudy Delgado does get elected, that just goes to show how the voters are not aware of the situation that is going on right now,” said Arminda “Mindy” Garza, the Republican candidate for justice of the peace Precinct 3 Place 2. “My personal opinion is if they want him in office again, go ahead and vote straight-ticket Democrat. We’re going to continue with the same results.”

Delgado faces state District Judge Jaime Tijerina, who’s running as a Republican.

“I think that people should become more educated about the people they’re electing,” Tijerina said, “And vote raceby race for the candidate that is the most qualified.”

lieved in him. And they made me feel like ‘Ok. You’re going to have something better,’” said Lara, who appeared on the verge of tears when she testified. “I made the stupidest mistake in helping him.”

Rick Salinas poked holes in her story, questioning how she could hand out campaign fliers for Beto Salinas without the O’caña campaign knowing.

Marco Perez’s Story Her testimony angered Marco Perez, who hired an attorney and approached Rick Salinas to set the record straight.

Perez said he worked for City Council candidate Julian Gonzalez, providing voter data for campaign workers.

After the May election, Lara contacted him. They met at a Whataburger restaurant near the intersection of Nolana Avenue and North 23rd Street in McAllen.

Lara said she worked

with O’caña, incumbent City Councilwoman Jessica Ortega-Ochoa and City Council candidate Gus Martinez during the May election, according to the affidavit.

For $6,000 cash, Lara would switch sides and support Julian Gonzalez and Beto Salinas during the June runoff.

To demonstrate her ability to deliver votes, Lara showed Perez a notebook filled with about 225 names and addresses.

“I advised Esmer that I would see what I could do,” Perez said, according to the affidavit.

However, he never actually told Julian Gonzalez or Beto Salinas about the conversation.

“I knew with my experience as a political consultant that what Esmer was offering was illegal,” Perez said, according to the affidavit.

"All of my political work is based on contracts and any payments made are with checks.”

Ten days later, Lara sent him a photo.

The photo shows six mailin ballot envelopes. Perez provided the attorneys with a copy of the photo, which appears to contradict Lara’s testimony about not handling any mail-in ballots.

When Perez heard what Lara said on the witness stand, he decided to come forward.

“He couldn't believe that somebody would get up and make up such an elaborate story about him,” said Gonzales, the attorney who represents Perez, who added later: “Because of that — because she painted his name in a negative light, he just felt compelled to come out and say the truth. Not for any political reason, but because he wants to clear his name and make sure that he stands up against this type of behavior.”

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Michael Hersey has been a numerologist for over 35 years and has channeled ascended master Sanhia since 1985. He has channeled for numerous groups and individuals and has done numerology readings in the United States and Sweden and has co-led Spiritual Alchemy groups in Sweden with Ulla.

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page 12

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September 14, 2018 October 12, 2018

page 5

MISSION ELECTION TRIAL TIMELINE

The Election Mission Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas fell just three votes short of victory on Saturday, May 5th according to preliminary election results, likely sending him to a runoff with City Councilman Armando “Doc” O’caña.

The Runoff Mission Mayor Norbeto “Beto” Salinas’ 20-year run as mayor ended Saturday after residents voted for a new mayor.

Mission Councilman Armando “Doc” O’Caña was elected mayor of the city in Saturday’s runoff election that saw him receive 51 percent of the votes, beating Salinas by 152 votes according to unofficial results from the Hidalgo County Elections department.

Both mayoral candidates entered into a runoff election after Salinas beat O’Caña during the May 5 general elections but failed to win the majority vote by three votes.

“The key word around everything we will be doing is collaboration,” O’Caña said. “I want everyone to think outside the box. If you think within the box, if you do the same thing, you’re just gonna have the same results...”

“I’m happy with the results, I’m happy things came out the way they did, God wanted it to happen this way,” Salinas told the crowd. “I’ll spend more time at the ranch and with my business and friends. I just want you all to know not to feel bad this is just a stumbling back that we might get up and go somewhere else, but I’m not going to tell you I’m not going to do it anymore. I’m going to stay involved in politics, I’m going to continue to help development in the city.”

The Lawsuit Former Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas filed a lawsuit Wednesday, July 18, claiming that bribery and voter fraud tainted the Mission mayoral runoff — and requesting a new election.

The lawsuit accuses O’caña’s campaign workers of bribing voters, manipulating mail-in ballots and recruiting non-residents to register in Mission.

“The question is: Is it big enough to change the outcome of this race?” said attorney Rick Salinas, the former mayor’s son. “Is it big enough to trigger a new election?”

The Pre-Trial Hearing During a Monday, July 30 hearing, state District Judge J. Bonner Dorsey scheduled a bench trial for Sept. 24.

“We were prepared to go to trial right away,” said Brownsville-based attorney Gilberto Hinojosa, who represents O’caña. “Dr. O’caña is, I think, an outstanding member of the community. He ran this election fair and square. And he won.”

To win the lawsuit, Beto Salinas must prove at least 158 people cast ballots illegally — one more than the margin of victory.

People who claim that campaign workers tampered with their mail-in ballots or offered them bribes must testify in court, Hinojosa said, adding that keeping them semi-anonymous raises questions about whether or not their claims will hold water.

“That’s why we requested sanctions against them,” Hinojosa said.

Attorney Rick Salinas, the former mayor’s son, said he considers the request for sanctions ridiculous.

“He’s saying that we filed a frivolous lawsuit,” Rick Salinas said. “Well, we didn’t make up the stuff that’s in the petition.”

The Trial Day 1 A standing-room-only crowd packed the courtroom Monday, Sept. 24, for the Mission election trial.

Fern McClaugherty — a member of the Objective Watchers of the Legal System, a Hidalgo County watchdog organization — arrived carrying a bright red cushion to make the courtroom benches bearable. Former Mission Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas walked in with his son, attorney Rick Salinas, and a legal team from San Antonio. Mario Lopez, the chief deputy at the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, stopped by to chat. And state District Judge Jaime Tijerina scanned the room, looking for his brother.

The crowd, though, had a conspicuous absence: Mission Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña, who faced not just a lawsuit Monday but threat to his legitimacy.

“Our first witness was going to be Dr. O’caña, who doesn’t find himself here this morning,” Rick Salinas said. “I was made aware of the fact that he had a passing in his family.”

“We wanted to call Dr. O’caña first but, obviously, he’s not here,” Rick Salinas said. “I think every effort to conceal what is really going on is being made.”

Alberto O’caña Sr. of Mission, the mayor’s brother, died Sunday in San Antonio.

Rick Salinas suggested delaying the trial for several days, but O’caña’s attorney, Gilberto Hinojosa of Brownsville, wanted to start without him.

“Dr. O’caña is a major witness in this case. He is a party to this lawsuit,” Rick Salinas said. “And he needs to be here.”

Hinojosa, however, disagreed.

“My client is not here today because his brother died yesterday,” Hinojosa said. “But I don’t have to bring him. And I may not bring him.”

After a lengthy back-and-forth, they reached a tentative agreement: The trial would start on schedule and O’caña would appear on Wednesday.

That forced Rick Salinas to reshuffle the witness list and start calling regular voters with questionable ballots. The results were underwhelming.

Jesusa Marin, 76, of Mission, testified that two women took her mail-in ballot. Marin said she didn’t mark the ballot and didn’t know who they picked for mayor.

Concerned about what happened, Marin cancelled the mail-in ballot. Another political operative drove Marin to the polls, where she requested assistance.

Asked whether or not she really needed assistance, which is intended for the illiterate and people who can’t physically mark the ballot, Marin said she didn’t.

Marin said she reads and writes Spanish, and marked the ballot herself.

With her vote under a cloud of suspicion, the judge allowed Hinojosa to ask a sensitive question: Who did she support for mayor?

“Beto Salinas,” Marin said without hesitation.

On her way out, Marin stopped to shake hands with him.

The next witness, a 92-year-old woman named Maria Munoz, arrived in a wheelchair. She provided confusing testimony from the start.

Asked where she’s from, Munoz said she’s originally from Jalisco, Mexico. The man pushing her wheelchair said Munoz lives in Mission.

“And Mrs. Munoz, how long have you lived in Mission?”

Rick Salinas said.

“For about 20-something years,” Munoz said through an interpreter.

The man pushing her wheelchair interrupted, clarifying that she’d actually lived in Mission for about 60 years. Rick Salinas asked him to stop interjecting.

Munoz denied that anyone tampered with her mail-in ballot.

After asking her several times, Rick Salinas played snippets from an audio recording. The recording captured Munoz talking with Raul Cruz, an investigator affiliated with the Beto Salinas campaign.

Munoz initially said she couldn’t tell whether or not the recording actually involved her.

Attempting to press forward anyway, Rick Salinas said he anticipated that Munoz would be a hostile witness. The judge disagreed, deadpanning that she might just be a 92-year-old woman.

Munoz left the stand with her ballot intact.

The third voter called to testify on Monday didn’t.

Samuel James Deckard, 27, of Mission had barely taken the stand when Hinojosa objected.

Deckard, who Hinojosa described as a “convicted felon,” planned to testify about accepting a bribe to cast a ballot. Tes-

tifying about what happened would expose him to prosecution.

That appeared to catch Deckard off guard.

When the judge warned him about the potential consequences, Deckard abruptly changed his mind.

“I’m not going to do this,” Deckard said.

Deckard declined to speak with the Progress Times. It’s unclear if he will testify Tuesday.

The judge adjourned the hearing, allowing Deckard to find an attorney and make a decision.

“I thought it went well,” Hinojosa said, clearly exhausted, adding that the testimony had cast doubt on just a single ballot — a vote for Beto Salinas.

To win the lawsuit, Beto Salinas must disqualify enough ballots to potentially change the election results.

“You’ve got to disqualify, by clear and convincing evidence, 158 votes,” Hinojosa said, adding that he didn’t think that would happen.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Rick Salinas disagreed.

“There’s no magic number. They keep saying that,” Rick Salinas said. “If the court finds that this is an elaborate scheme, the court can do whatever it wants to.”

Proving that fraud marred the mayoral election isn’t just about a power struggle between two politicians, Rick Salinas said. The case deals with fundamental questions about democracy.

“This little monopoly, this little racket that’s going on in Mission?” Rick Salinas said. “Its got to stop.”

Day 2 Campaign workers paid voters $10 apiece during the Mission mayoral race, according to witnesses who testified Tuesday in state district court — and $20 apiece during the runoff.

When he took the witness stand, Samuel James Deckard, 27, of Mission said a campaign worker contacted him on April 28.

“Yo bro does any of your family wanna vote,” the campaign worker said in a Facebook message, according to an affidavit Deckard signed. “I will pay them 10 bucks free transportation (sic) less than 3 mins.”

Deckard said the man worked for Mission Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña.

“The second time, they didn’t even call me or nothing. I was walking to my house and they pulled up and they said ‘Hey, we were at your dad’s house knocking at the door multiple times. We left. We came back. Knocked again. And now you’re here,’” Deckard said, recalling the conversation. “‘Do you want to vote? We’re offering more money.’ And I said ‘Naw. Not really.’ And he’s like ‘Well, it’s $20. And if you can get three or more people, I’ll give you $60 on top of that.’”

Attorney Rick Salinas, who represents his father, called witnesses who testified about a cash-for-votes scheme and campaign workers who targeted elderly voters.

“The truth is going to come out,” Rick Salinas said.

Deckard testified despite a warning from state District Judge J. Bonner Dorsey that admitting to bribery could result in criminal charges.

People hired by the O’caña campaign roamed Mission in a white van, working the phones and offering people rides to the polls, Deckard said. On the way to City Hall, the driver made phone calls and offered people $10 to support O’caña.

“They were driving all over Mission,” Deckard said. “And they were just stopping at random places to pick people up.”

Deckard accused five campaign workers of participating in the cash-for-votes scheme. None of them testified on Tuesday.

The testimony didn’t reveal whether or not members of the O’caña family knew about the scheme.

When he started talking about the money, Deckard said, a campaign worker named Jesus Rodriguez signaled for him to stop.

“Mr. Jesus Rodriguez said ‘Can we get down and smoke a cigarette?’ Because I was bringing up the amount of money that they were going to pay,” Deckard said. “And Ms. Guadalupe O’caña was in there, so Jesus did not want Lupita to hear that.”

Attorney Gilberto Hinojosa, who represents O’caña, attempted to cast doubt on Deckard by describing him as a felon with a drug problem.

“Mr. Deckard. You do drugs, right?” Hinojosa asked, sparking a protracted sparring match with Rick Salinas.

“Were you on drugs yesterday? Were you on drugs on the day that you voted?”

Fighting through a flurry of objections, Hinojosa quizzed Deckard about his drug use and felony convictions.

Deckard pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary of habitation, a second-degree felony, and received probation, according to Hidalgo County court records. When the Mission Police Department caught him with cocaine a few years later, Deckard went to prison.

“This guy is at least a four-time loser,” Hinojosa said.

“The judge didn’t even let me get into the other times he’s been convicted of serious offenses.”

Approached after the hearing, Deckard declined to comment.

Deckard’s dad worked for the Beto Salinas campaign, Hinojosa said, adding that he considered Deckard just a stooge for Rick Salinas.

“We knew that they were going to try to make a big show of Mr. Deckard. That’s all they got,” Hinojosa said. “And if they want to win their case with a four-time convicted felon, then let them try.”

Day 3 Mission Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña spent Wednesday on the witness stand.

Spectators packed the Hidalgo County courtroom to watch attorney Rick Salinas — the son of former Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas — question O’caña about the 2018 mayoral campaign.

He asked O’caña what “scheme” and “conspiracy” mean.

He posed hypotheticals about how unscrupulous candidates might manipulate elections. And he demanded details about the company that hired campaign workers for O’caña.

“Now the question then becomes: How high up the chain does it go?” Salinas said.

After four hours on the witness stand, the answer remained fuzzy.

The lawsuit pits Beto Salinas, who governed Mission for two decades, against O’caña.

Beto Salinas fell just three votes short of victory in May, when he faced O’caña and another candidate. O’caña narrowly won the runoff in June.

Beto Salinas, though, claimed bribery, illegal voting and mail-in ballot shenanigans marred the mayoral runoff and requested a new election.

Both men hired high-powered lawyers to handle the case.

Rick Salinas, a prominent criminal defense attorney, assembled a legal team that includes election law experts from San Antonio. O’caña is represented by his niece, Patty O’caña-Olivarez, and Brownsville-based attorney Gilberto Hinojosa, who heads the Texas Democratic Party.

State District Judge J. Bonner Dorsey, who retired from the 13th Court of Appeals, will determine whether or not Mission holds a new mayoral election.

Rick Salinas put O’caña on the witness stand Wednesday, attempting to link him to illegal activity.

After he dispensed with the definitions, Rick Salinas started asking hypothetical questions about illegal voting.

“And in some situations, depending on how far you’re willing to go — right, you’ve heard of this in the past — some people will even offer to pay people to vote,” Rick Salinas said.

“That’s correct, I’ve heard it from both sides of the—” O’caña said before Rick Salinas interrupted him.

“Objection,” Rick Salinas said. “Non-responsive.”

Rick Salinas also walked O’caña through his campaign finance reports, asking about donors.

O’caña accepted donations from Peñitas City Manager Omar Romero, who owns a company called Government As-

by Dave Hendricks

set Services; Peñitas Chief of Staff Andy Morales, who owns a company called RGV Redlight; and the Hidalgo County Emergency Services Foundation, an ambulance company owned by businessman Kenneth Ponce.

While the donations linked O’caña to supporters of Team L1berty, the now-defunct western Hidalgo County political party, the significance of that connection remained unclear.

Rick Salinas also mentioned Richard LeFevre, an engineer who owns Mercedes-based LeFevre Engineering & Management Consulting. He donated $500 to the O’caña campaign in March.

“Is this the same Mr. LeFevre that’s in involved in the project out of Weslaco?” Rick Salinas said, apparently referring to the Weslaco water treatment plant. “Do you know whether or not he had anything to do with the water project out of Weslaco, Texas?”

O’caña said he worked with LeFevre in Peñitas, but didn’t know him very well.

Rick Salinas didn’t explain why he considered the Weslaco water treatment plant significant.

After dissecting the donations, Rick Salinas shifted focus to the mayor’s niece, Veronica O’caña, who provided campaign services under the name VO Consulting.

The campaign paid VO Consulting thousands for political work but never signed a contract or requested receipts, O’caña said, adding that he trusted his niece.

Rick Salinas claims the campaign created VO Consulting to distance O’caña from illegal activity.

“He lost the state district court judge’s race against my ex-wife. He lost the school board race. They got desperate,” Rick Salinas said in an interview. “They couldn’t afford to lose another (expletive) race. And obviously members of Patty O’caña’s family were the ones that took control of the (expletive) election.”

Rick Salinas said he believes the O’caña family, desperate to win the mayoral runoff, resorted to dirty tricks.

“Obviously what they did was they created this bogus company to try to distance themselves from whatever it was that VO was doing,” Rick Salinas said.

Courtroom testimony about donors and hypothetical questions about corruption, however, didn’t support that conclusion, said Hinojosa, the attorney who represents O’caña.

“I don’t think it revealed anything, to be honest with you,” Hinojosa said.

Hiring consultants is a normal part of politics, Hinojosa said, adding that Rick Salinas attempted to make the everyday minutiae of elections seem somehow nefarious.

“I just thought it was Mr. Salinas’ grandstanding,” Hinojosa said. “That’s all it was.”

Day 4 A woman who testified during the Mission election trial accused the O’caña campaign of targeting drug addicts.

Pamela Durr, 55, of Mission, who described herself as a cocaine addict, said campaign workers in a white Mercedes-Benz van whisked her to the polls.

When they arrived, Durr said that Guadalupe “Lupita” O’caña — the sister-in-law of Mission Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña — told her to request assistance.

Durr voted. After the van drove away, Durr said a campaign worker slipped her $20.

“And they targeted a lot of people that were drug addicts,” Durr said.

Several witnesses talked about the cash-for-votes scheme on Thursday, which marked the fourth day of testimony in the Mission election trial.

The trial started Monday. Attorney Rick Salinas, who represents his father, called witness after witness to testify about the cash-for-votes scheme.

“What I wanted the people to understand — and the court to understand — is that the people they were preying on were the elderly, old people; people who needed money, the poor,” Rick Salinas said. “And they preyed on people who had addictions, who would do almost anything for twenty bucks.”

Several people testified Thursday about campaign workers paying voters.

Durr admitted taking $20. A woman named Dolores Gomez testified that campaign workers paid her $10. And a man named Arnulfo Navarro testified that a campaign worker paid him $20.

“I did not know she was going to give me money,” Navarro said, speaking through the court translator.

Attorney Gilberto Hinojosa, who represents Mayor O’caña, attacked the credibility of all three witnesses.

“We knew that there were some people that they had lined up that were going to be making these allegations,” Hinojosa said. “And we knew the character of these people as well.”

Asked about her criminal record, Durr admitted to several felony drug convictions. Gomez said she suffers from schizophrenia and a multiple-personality disorder. And Navarro acknowledged several arrests.

They also offered conflicting testimony during cross-examination, making parts of the story unclear.

Hinojosa said they simply weren’t credible witnesses.

“That’s the only thing he’s got,” Hinojosa said, adding that he thought Rick Salinas had a weak case. “That’s the only way that he can put together some kind of argument that he can sell.”

Rick Salinas offered a different assessment.

The witness list isn’t a reflection on his legal strategy, Rick Salinas said. It’s a reflection on the O’caña campaign.

“And you saw it today with Mrs. Pamela Durr. Because he goes up there: ‘Hey! You’re a drug addict! And you wanted drugs! And you wanted this! And you wanted that!’ But those were not the damn questions that Mrs. Lupita O’caña was asking these people — or Veronica O’caña was asking them,” Rick Salinas said. “They didn’t care if they were drug addicts or alcoholics or poor or schizophrenic or paranoid or delusional. They just wanted to be able to say ‘She’s a registered voter.’”

Day 5 When the woman knocked on her door, 93-year-old Maria Canales thought she seemed suspicious.

The woman, a politiquera named Esmeralda Lara, said she worked for Mission Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas.

“I did not like the way she talked to me,” Canales said Monday, when she testified in state district court.

Lara arrived with another woman. They brought a bunch of paperwork, including a list of names. And they asked her to sign something.

Canales supported Beto Salinas, the longtime mayor of Mission. She reluctantly cooperated.

“And she said ‘It’s very, very important. You see, I want you to mark an ‘X’ in this paper,’” Canales said, adding later: “I put the ‘X’ and I said ‘Now you can go because I have a lot of work in my house.’”

Canales recounted the story Monday, when she testified during the Mission election trial.

The trial started on Sept. 24. Monday marked the fifth day of testimony, which focused on witnesses who received mailin ballots — but said they never actually submitted an application to vote by mail.

“There were questions about how their signatures ended up on the applications,” said attorney Rick Salinas, who represents his father, adding that he believed politiqueras hired by the O’caña campaign submitted fraudulent applications for mail-in ballots.

When the mail-in ballots arrived, the politiqueras returned to “harvest” them, Rick Salinas said. They targeted elderly voters, including Canales, and people with disabilities.

Canales said she normally casts her ballot at the polls.

While she recognized her signature on the mail-in ballot application, Canales said she hadn’t seen the document before.

Asked about that, Canales suggested someone copied her signature. The Elections Department received her ballot in June.

See MISSION ELECTION TRIAL Pg. 14

October 12, 2018

page 13

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

New agreement would hand Mission control of Madero bridge project — and the construction bill control of the Madero

by Dave Hendricks cede bridge to Mission. In ex-

In exchange for a major financial commitment, Mission may take a controlling stake in the Madero bridge project.

The Madero bridge would connect Mission with the west side of Reynosa — and become the thirteenth border crossing in the Rio Grande Valley.

“And, keep in mind, Reynosa is growing on that side,” said Mission Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña.

Mission plans to partner with McAllen and Hidalgo on the project. Negotiations over key details, including the percentage of the bridge each city will own and the number of seats each city will control on the bridge board, remain ongoing.

The Hidalgo City Council, however, approved a new version of the Madero bridge agreement last month.

Under the new agreement, McAllen and Hidalgo would

change, Mission would pay for construction and other costs.

It’s unclear whether or not McAllen will accept the new agreement.

“We didn’t say no,” said McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, recalling conversations during a bridge board meeting. “But we posed some questions.”

The U.S. State Department awarded Mission a presidential permit in 1978, which authorized the city to build a railroad bridge and crossing point for cars at Madero.

Mission, though, never built the bridge. Concerned the State Department might revoke the permit, former Mission Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas started aggressively pushing the project.

McAllen and Hidalgo, which own the Hidalgo-Reynosa bridge together, partnered with Mission on the

obituaries

Isabel Chapa MISSION – Isabel M. Chapa, 81, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 at the Amara Hospice in Edinburg.

Mrs. Chapa was born on June 12, 1937, in San Antonio to Victor and Angelita Muñoz.

A Mission resident, she was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church and volunteered with the Sharyland School District for many years.

Survivors include her children, Raul Chapa Jr. of Austin and Sylvia Lopez of Sharyland; siblings,

Aurora Perez, Consuelo Cantu and Raul Cantu; and two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Raul Chapa; her parents; and a daughter, Maria Elena Chapa.

A funeral mass was held on Oct. 10 at the St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Mission.

Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Mission under the direction of Rivera Funeral Home in Mission.

Alicia Lopez PEÑITAS – Alicia R. Lopez, 87, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at Mission Valley Nursing and Transitional Care.

Mrs. Lopez was born in San Pedro Los Aldamas, Nuevo Leon, Mexico on Aug. 30, 1931, to Guadalupe and Facundo Rios.

Survivors include her children, Jose Lopez Jr., Berta Solis and Jessica Lopez; brother, Santiago Rios; and

Anzalduas bridge.

When they inked the Anzalduas bridge agreement, the cities agreed not to build competing bridges. That “non-competition” clause required Mission to work with McAllen and Hidalgo on the Madero bridge project.

To kick-start the project, Mission City Manager Martin Garza sent a letter to McAllen City Manager Roy Rodriguez in March 2016, attempting to assuage concerns about the cost.

“In order to commence the project, several studies are required to be considered, and the City of Mission understands the costs associated with these studies,” Garza wrote. “As we previously discussed, the city of Mission is committed to the Madero Bridge Project, and in furtherance of such commitment, agrees to reimburse the Anzalduas Bridge Board for the actual cost of said studies, should the Board reconsider

commencement of the project.”

They struck a deal.

Mission would own 23 percent of the bridge, McAllen would own 44 percent and Hidalgo would own 33 percent, according to a copy of the agreement approved by the Hidalgo City Council on March 14, 2016.

The agreement also assigned seats on the five-member bridge board.

Mission would control two seats, McAllen would control two seats and Hidalgo would control one seat.

The Hidalgo City Council approved a new agreement on Sept. 20, which hands Mission a controlling stake.

Under the new agreement, Mission would own 37 percent of the bridge, McAllen would own 33 percent and Hidalgo would own 30 percent.

The new agreement also hands Mission a majority on the Madero bridge board.

Mission would control three seats, McAllen would control one seat and Hidalgo would control one seat.

In exchange for a bigger percentage of the bridge and control of the board, Mission would accept a major financial commitment.

The new agreement requires Mission to acquire all property for the project, secure financing and manage construction.

“The Cities of McAllen and Hidalgo shall not be liable for any costs or expenditures related to the construction of the Madero Bridge until the completion of the bridge,” according to the new agreement. “Upon completion of the Madero Bridge, McAllen and Hidalgo shall begin repayment of costs expended

by Mission, in proportion to its allocation, but such repayment shall come only from the revenues of the operation of the Madero bridge.”

Major questions about the

new agreement remain, including how Mission would initially cover the construction costs.

“The big issue on that is, quite frankly, the way it was worded Mission would bear 100 percent of the cost of the bridge,” Darling said.

Mission, McAllen and Hidalgo funded the Anzalduas bridge with money from the Hidalgo-Reynosa bridge.

Building another bridge just a few miles away may not be feasible for the foreseeable future.

Rather than rush to build the Madero bridge, Mission, McAllen and Hidalgo could ask the State Department to extend the permit.

“We’re all 100 percent in favor of the Madero bridge,” Darling said, adding that McAllen supports Mission and wants the project to succeed.

The Mission City Council may review the new agreement on Oct. 22.

four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jose Aguinaldo Lopez Sr. A funeral mass was held on Oct. 8 at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in La Joya. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen.

Ignacio Moreno Jr. MISSION – Ignacio Moreno Jr., 61, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston.

Mr. Moreno was a city code inspector throughout the Rio Grande Valley for over 20 years. He served as a VBOA board member in various positions, including president.

Survivors include his wife, of 45 years, Alma Vela Moreno; mother, Ernestina Ramirez-Moreno; children, Melva Moreno Sandoval, Ignacio Moreno III, Marisa Moreno, Cristina Moreno and Christopher Moreno; siblings, David Moreno and Melva Flores; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ignacio Moreno Sr.

A funeral mass was held on Oct. 8, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in McAllen.

Maria Pinedo ALTON – Maria Pinedo, 68, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, at Doctor’s Hospital in Edinburg.

Survivors include her children, Victor Pinedo, Angelica Pinedo and Leticia Sandoval; and eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Manuel Pinedo, and her parents.

A funeral mass was held on Oct. 10 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in McAllen.

Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Mission.

Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, at her home in Mission.

Josefina Ferrer SULLIVAN CITY – Josefina Ferrer, 83, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, at Starr County Memorial Hospital.

Abel Flores MISSION – Abel M. Flores, 45, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, at Doctors Hospital in Edinburg.

Rodolfo Garza PALMVIEW – Rodolfo Garza, 89, passed away on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Maria Gonzalez SULLIVAN CITY – Maria Gonzalez (Garcia Garza), 79, passed away on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, at her residence.

Vanessa Gonzalez MISSION – Vanessa Valentina Gonzalez, infant, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at Women’s Hospital in Edinburg.

Jose Guerra MISSION – Jose Alberto Hinojosa Guerra, 33, passed away on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Isidra Juarez SULLIVAN CITY – Isidra

Juarez, 81, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Guadalupe Martinez SULLIVAN CITY – Guadalupe Torres Martinez, 63, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, at Doctor’s Hospital in Edinburg.

Julie Olson MISSION – Julie Olson, 62, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Erasmo Rivera MISSION – Erasmo J. “Mito” Rivera, 69, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at his home in Mission.

Rogelio Sanchez Jr. MISSION – Rogelio Sanchez Jr., 35, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at Doctors Hospital in Edinburg.

San Juan Segovia MISSION – San Juan Segovia, 68, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, at her home in Mission Norma Silva PALMVIEW – Norma Nellie Silva, 54, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Notices Margarita Barrientos MISSION – Margarita Barrientos, 67, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, at her home in Alton.

Matilde Fernandez MISSION – Matilde Fernandez, 97, passed away on

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FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1101 Doherty • 585-1665 FREEDOM LIFE CHURCH 2214 W. Griffin Pkwy. • 519-7000 Mission GRACIA DIVINA MINISTRY 11809 N. Shary Rd. • 584-3112 GREAT OAKS COMMUNITY CHURCH 2722 N. Conway • 451-5500 Mission HERITAGE BAPTIST MCALLEN 2549 Lindbergh Ave. McAllen • 451-6358 IGLESIA ADVENTISTA DEL SEPTIMO DIA 1725 W. Griffin Parkway 581-9008 IGLESIA BAUTISTA BETANIA 851 S. Breyfogle Rd. • 585-5688 IGLESIA BAUTISTA CRISTO EL REY 1600 E. Bus. 83 - Mission IGLESIA BAUTISTA COLONIAL 3713 N. La Homa Rd. • 585-5332 IGLESIA BAUTISTA DEL VALLE 217 W. Mile 3 Rd. • 424-1602 Palmhurst IGLESIA DEL PUEBLO 7500 West Expressway 83 581-1900 IGLESIA DEL DIVINO REDENTOR 1020 North Los Ebanos Rd 585-5898

IGLESIA PENTECOSTES NUEVA VIDA A/G 211 W. Mile 3 Road Palmhurst • 956-342-9711 Rev. Candelario Banda

LA RESPUESTA CHURCH 405 W. 12th Street • 585-0787 MISSION CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 1 mi. E. 495 • 585-6683 NEW HOPE AT THE BORDER 905 N. Conway • 369-3603 NORTH MISSION CHURCH OF CHRIST 1410 E. Mile 3 Rd. • 585-0146 Palmhurst NORTH PALMVIEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH 7612 W. 6 Mile Ln. ONLY THRU JESUS 1511 E. Mile 2 Rd. Mission • 918-760-1625 OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS One-half mile South Leo Avenue La Joya • 585-5223 OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHURCH 6634 El Camino Real • Granjeno OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH 2.5 miles S. Conway (FM 1016) Mission OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH 620 Dunlap • 585-2623 OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY CHURCH 923 Matamoros St. • 581-2193 PALM VALLEY CHURCH 1720 E. Griffin Pkwy.

585-3203 PEÑITAS BAPTIST CHURCH 1/3 Mile S. of Exp.83 on FM 1427 583-6236 PRIMERA BAPTIST CHURCH Corner of 6th & Oblate 585-4711

PROMISE LAND CHURCH 2300 E. Palm Circle (Corner of 495) Mission, TX 78572 • 624-9307 RIVER OF LIFE CHURCH 901 S. Shary Rd. (Located in the Holiday Inn Express Conference Room) 451-4838 SAN CRISTOBAL MAGALLANES & COMPANIONS PARISH

3805 Plantation Grove Blvd., Ste. 5

Mission • 580-4551

SAN MARTIN DE PORRES 5 mi. N. Conway, 1/2 Mile West Alton • 585-8001 & 585-8002 SPIRIT OF PEACE EV. LUTHERAN CHUCH 3104 Los Milagros Mission • 581-1822 ST. JOHN OF THE FIELDS CATHOLIC CHURCH 1052 Washington Ave. • 585-2325 ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH 1119 Francisco • 585-2701 ST. PETER & ST. PAUL EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2310 N. Stewart Rd. 585-5005 SHINING LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH 6 1/8 N. Doffing Rd. (FM 492) 580-4078 TEMPLO BIBLICO 5 Mile/Conway 581-4981or 585-3831 TEMPLO EVANGELICO, M.B. CHURCH La Joya TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 3905 W. 3 Mile Line • 585-3261 VALLEY FELLOWSHIP 1708 E. Griffin Parkway Mission • 424-7200

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

KING, GUERRA, DAVIS & GARCIA ATTORNEYS AT LAW

DAVID H. GUERRA

DARRELL DAVIS

301 E. Tom Landry • Mission • 585-1622

MISSION AUTO ELECTRIC, INC. DBA

ER MAE EPQOU IW PMENT

Commercial Lawn Equipment “Since 1954”

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

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MISSION ELECTION TRIAL

Lara, the woman who visited Canales, is a well-known politiquera with a checkered past.

The Texas Rangers investigated Lara in 2005, when she worked the McAllen mayoral election, according to records released by the Department of Public Safety. Voters said Lara handled their mail-in ballots.

A grand jury indicted Lara on 20 charges, including 13 counts of possession of another voter’s ballot or carrier envelope.

At the request of the District Attorney’s Office, however, Hidalgo County Court-at-Law Judge Arnoldo Cantu Jr. dismissed the charges.

Who hired Lara during the 2018 Mission mayoral campaign remains in dispute. Campaign finance reports filed by the candidates don’t show any payments to Lara during the runoff.

Attorneys for Beto Salinas subpoenaed Lara, but she didn’t appear in court last week.

State District Judge J. Bonner Dorsey signed a warrant for her arrest Thursday. He withdrew the warrant Monday, when Lara arrived at the Hidalgo County Courthouse.

Attorney Gilberto Hinojosa, who represents O’caña, said he didn’t buy the theory about fraudulent mail-in ballots.

“I think it’s what they call a red herring,” Hinojosa said.

The witnesses, who offered conflicting and sometimes confusing testimony, said they recognized their signatures on the ballot applications, Hinojosa said. They also admitted voting for Beto Salinas.

“In my opinion, they brought up some people here today — and this is the big problem with this lawsuit — who were solicited mail-in ballots by Salinas politiqueras,” Hinojosa said. “That’s the only conclusion I can draw from it.”

Far from proving the O’caña campaign committed voter fraud, Hinojosa said, the witness testimony raised questions about the Salinas campaign breaking the law.

“If what they say is true, you think that somebody that’s going to be harvesting votes for O’caña is going to go to a person who is going to fill out a ballot application for the opponent?” Hinojosa said. “And then drop it off at the post office for them?”

Day 6 The Mission election trial took a dramatic twist Tuesday, when a politiquera testified about a secret deal to switch sides during the mayoral runoff.

Esmeralda Lara — a well-known politiquera with a checkered past — said she campaigned for mayoral candidate Armando “Doc” O’caña until May. After the May election, a man approached her on behalf of Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas, who wanted to her switch sides, Lara said. The man promised her cash, a job with the city and free State Farm Arena tickets.

“I took it,” said Lara, 54, a custodian who works for the Mission school district, adding that she wanted a better job.

Lara spent more than three hours on the witness stand Tuesday, the sixth day of the Mission election trial.

After days of testimony about politiqueras manipulating mail-in ballots, Esmeralda Lara took the witness stand Tuesday for three fraught hours.

The mayoral campaign pitted Beto Salinas against O’caña and businessman Jaime Gutierrez.

Lara said she volunteered for the O’caña campaign, block-walking and distributing fliers. Neither O’caña nor his campaign manager, Veronica O’caña, paid her, Lara said, adding that she worked strictly on a volunteer basis.

With the candidates preparing for a rematch, a man named Marco Perez approached her, Lara said. She didn’t specify when or where they met.

Perez showed her a $1,500 check from the Beto Salinas campaign account, Lara said, adding that the check had “Julian” written on the memo line.

During the meeting, Perez asked her to switch sides, Lara said. He wanted her to campaign for Beto Salinas and City Council candidate Julian Gonzalez.

Perez promised her $1,500 cash, a job with the city and free State Farm Arena tickets, Lara said, adding that Perez assured her the deal would remain secret.

“He told me that he would get me a better job where I didn’t have to sweat. He made it sound real good. So I believed in him. I really believed in him. And they made me feel like ‘Ok. You’re going to have something better,’” said Lara, who appeared on the verge of tears. “I made the stupidest mistake in helping him.”

The arena is owned by the city of Hidalgo, where Julian Gonzalez works as city manager.

“I don’t know Esmeralda Lara. I’ve never talked to her,” Gonzalez said when told about her testimony. “So I don’t know where she’s getting that from.”

While she promised to testify truthfully, major questions about Lara remain.

The Texas Rangers investigated Lara and her aunt, a politiquera named Elvira Rios, after the May 2005 mayoral race in McAllen, according to Department of Public Safety records.

A grand jury indicted Lara on 20 charges, including providing unlawful assistance to voters.

Hidalgo County Court at Law Judge Arnoldo Cantu Jr. dismissed the indictment after a request from prosecutors.

The judge barred any questions about the charges on Tuesday. Rick Salinas, however, kept trying to ask about the case anyway.

Whether or not attorneys could play a voicemail Beto Salinas left on Lara’s phone also required intervention from the judge, who ruled the voicemail couldn’t be played until attorneys translated the call and provided the court with a transcript.

Rick Salinas relentlessly attacked Lara’s story about switching sides, bombarding her with questions and raising doubt about her testimony.

Facebook messages between Lara and O’caña supporters formed the crux of Rick Salinas’ argument.

In the messages, O’caña-Olivarez and another woman thank supporters and mention that they “missed” Lara.

“My heart was with u all and my prayers to (sic) I new Lisa wouldn’t let me down I can always count on u,” Lara wrote, referring to another O’caña supporter. “Now I have to celebrate with you all.”

Asked what she did for Beto Salinas after switching sides, Lara said she talked with voters and distributed campaign fliers. She denied handling any mail-in ballots.

“Give me two names of two people that you remember giving them a flier that purportedly was you supporting Beto Salinas,” Rick Salinas said. “Two names — two names that I

October 12, 2018

can call and talk to. Give me two names.”

Lara said she couldn’t remember who received the fliers.

She eventually named one person.

Rick Salinas also ridiculed the idea that Lara made a secret deal with the Salinas campaign.

“So, Mrs. Lara, it wouldn’t have been much of secret if you were handing out multiple fliers to multiple people with the name of Beto Salinas on the flier,” Rick Salinas said.

“That wouldn’t have been a very good secret, would it?”

Day 7 Bribery and mail-in ballot fraud tainted as many as 427 votes during the June 2018 mayoral runoff in Mission, according to an election law expert who testified Wednesday.

After analyzing the election results and reviewing evidence provided by private investigators, George J. Korbel — an election law expert hired by former Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas — concluded the ballots were connected to criminal activity.

Campaign workers linked to allegations of bribery assisted 124 voters, Korbel said. He also determined that 303 mail-in ballots had identical stamps, which may indicate “harvesting” by politiqueras.

“It indicates a very significant, organized effort,” Korbel said.

Korbel, an attorney and redistricting expert from San Antonio, testified Wednesday in the Mission election trial.

The trial Sept. 24. Wednesday marked the seventh day of testimony.

Attorneys for Beto Salinas put Korbel on the witness stand Wednesday, where he attempted to summarize the case and provide analysis.

Korbel said he interviewed people who claimed that campaign workers manipulated mail-in ballots. After speaking with them, Korbel pored over documents from the Hidalgo County Elections Department.

The ballots linked to shady campaign workers arrived in envelopes with “folded flag” stamps, Korbel said. All the stamps had perforations on the right and left sides.

Korbel said that showed the stamps came from a roll.

Cash strapped voters, including the elderly and people with disabilities, aren’t likely to buy rolls of stamps, Korbel said. Campaign workers, though, might buy rolls of stamps if they planned to mail dozens of ballots.

Korbel re-examined the Elections Department records, checking every mail-in ballot envelope for the folded flag stamps. He found 303 envelopes with identical stamps.

Gilberto Hinojosa, an attorney who represents O’caña, strenuously objected to the stamp theory.

“If you go buy three or four stamps, what does the postman do? He gets the roll of stamps and he cuts those stamps and he gives them to you,” Hinojosa said. “So you can’t say that simply because it was these types of stamps being used, necessarily they were ‘harvested’ by the O’caña campaign.”

Korbel also testified that campaign workers linked to a mysterious white van assisted 124 voters.

Several witnesses testified last week that campaign workers roamed Mission in a white van, bribing voters to cast ballots.

Samuel James Deckard, 28, of Mission, who spent time in jail on drug and burglary charges, testified that campaign workers drove him to the polls, provided him assistance meant for illiterate or disabled voters, and paid him $20.

Providing him with assistance allowed the campaign workers to verify how Deckard voted, Korbel said.

“This is the old Chicago problem. If people vote in person, you can’t tell how they voted, so you don’t know if you ought to pay them the money after they vote. But if you assist them, then you’re sitting there watching them vote,” Korbel said.

“Or, in fact, as Mr. Deckard said, actually voting their vote.

And then you know exactly how they voted. And you can reward them.”

Hinojosa also objected to Korbel’s conclusions about bribery.

“They’re required to disqualify 158 votes. They didn’t do that. Best case scenario, if the judge believes these convicted felons, maybe 25 at the most,” Hinojosa said “They’re way short. So the only way they can try to fill that gap is by this expert testimony that you’ve just heard — that the judge is not buying.”

See MISSION ELECTION TRIAL Pg. 15

October 12, 2018 from pg 14 MISSION ELECTION TRIAL

Day 8 After eight days of explosive testimony in the Mission election trial, attorneys for former Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas called their final witnesses on Thursday.

They called two sisters, who accused a politiquera of harassing their family. They called a process server, who accused two members of Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña’s campaign of dodging subpoenas. And they called George J. Korbel, an election law expert, who summarized testimony about bribery and ballot harvesting.

Attorney Rick Salinas, who assembled a formidable legal team to represent his father, said they proved that voter fraud marred the June 2018 mayoral runoff election.

“I’m hoping that Judge Bonner Dorsey will do the right thing. He seems like a very honest man,” Rick Salinas said.

“If he doesn’t do it here for whatever reasons, I’m sure the appeals court will look at it. And I’m confident that we will create a new precedent. And if not, once that happens, then hopefully the legislature will look at this a little closer and maybe tighten it up.”

Witnesses said campaign workers promised them cash and whisked them to the polls, where members of the O’caña family provided them with assistance — help intended for illiterate voters and people who can’t physically mark a ballot.

Voters also testified about politiqueras who went door-todoor in Mission, collecting mail-in ballots from elderly voters.

The testimony, however, also prompted questions about the Beto Salinas campaign.

Esmeralda Lara, a politiquera with a checkered past, said she struck a secret deal to work for Beto Salinas during the runoff.

To trigger a new election, the judge must find clear and convincing evidence that 158 people cast illegal ballots, said attorney Gilberto Hinojosa, who represents O’caña.

“They’re way, way short,” Hinojosa said. “Best case scenario for them? They’re about 120 votes short.”

Rick Salinas said he never planned to win the case by counting to 158. He went with a different strategy from the start.

Attorneys who litigate election cases for a living typically focus on individual instances of illegal activity or toss ballots on technicalities, Rick Salinas said. He approached the case from the perspective of a prosecutor, attempting to prove a criminal conspiracy tainted the runoff election.

“If this were a criminal proceeding, I would have convicted six — seven people already,” Rick Salinas said.

The runoff, which included documented cases of bribery and what experts call “harvesting” of ballots by campaign workers, is unlike any other case, Rick Salinas said. Fraud tainted an unknown number of votes.

“If you look at our pleadings — and you go take a copy of the pleadings — that’s not an original petition for anything,” Rick Salinas said. “That’s an indictment. And I think that we were able to prove that there was a conspiracy.”

Hinojosa said that strategy just didn’t make sense.

“There has never been a case in the state of Texas, there’s never been a judge in the state of Texas, there’s never been a court of appeals in the state of Texas that has thrown out an election based upon that,” Hinojosa said. “Ever.”

Day 9 - The Verdict Shocked by testimony about bribery and mail-in ballot shenanigans, state District Judge J. Bonner Dorsey on Friday voided the June 2018 Mission mayoral runoff election.

During the two-week trial, witnesses testified about bribery, politiqueras who collected stacks of mail-in ballots and campaign workers who assisted voters.

“I’ve been shocked,” Dorsey said in a short decision, which he announced from the bench Friday morning.

Supporters of Mission Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña conspired to break the law, Dorsey said.

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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 to info@ progresstimes.net or pay by phone 956-585-4893. The deadline to get your classified in is Tuesday at 5 p.m.

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2 CEMETERY PLOTS at Valley Memorial Gardens, adjacent corner plots, Section S, Lot 82, plots A4 & B1, call 956-519-3055 for more details.

PATENTED FLEABEACON CONTROLS fleas in the home without toxic chemicals or costly exterminators,results overnight, El Pase Feed Store(www.fleabeacon. com)

2 MILE LINE & Los Ebanos Rd, 3201 Truman St. in Mission, 4 bedroom/2 1/2 baths, 2,100 living area, asking $169,000, for more details call 707-6312775 or 707-3988539.

Lots For Sale 7 ACRES, 2 irrigation gates, Glasscock Rd in front of Sharyland Pioneer High School to the east, $400,000 or best offer, currently

ORDINANCE NO. 4706 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A REZONING OF ALL OF LOT 1, BODINE SUBDIVISION NO. ONE, (R-1) SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO (C-2) NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL READ, CONSIDERED, AND PASSED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2018.

Dr. Armando O’caña, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4707 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A DRIVE-THRU SERVICE WINDOW – BRICK FIRE PIZZA & MORE, 704 E. GRIFFIN PARKWAY, STE. 130, A 1.24 ACRE TRACT OUT OF LOT 24-8, WEST ADDITION TO SHARYLAND SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED, AND PASSED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2018.

Dr. Armando O’caña, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

ORDINANCE NO. 4708 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MISSION, TEXAS GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR FOUR DRIVE-THRU SERVICE WINDOWS – SNOWBALL EXPRESS #2, 3124 N. MAYBERRY ROAD, BEING 1.27 ACRES OF LAND OUT OF THE WEST 310’ OF THE NORTH 223’ OF LOT 28-9, WEST ADDITION TO SHARYLAND SUBDIVISION READ, CONSIDERED, AND PASSED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2018.

Dr. Armando O’caña, Mayor Attest: Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

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under agriculture status, for more details call 956-6551309.

Wanted PAY IT FORWARD 316, Nonprofit charity organization 501(c) (3) is needing a car and/or minivan for children’s home in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico, also asking for twin & full size beds, tables, Ipads, & volunteers, please call 512-787-0241.

“I find the evidence is clear that there was a combination or conspiracy by the campaign of Dr. O’caña to do this. And I say that because the evidence is that several members of the campaign were working together in concert to bribe voters, to take the mail-in ballots and mail them separately,” Dorsey said. “I find by clear and convincing evidence that the number of illegal votes was in excess of 158 — somewhere in excess of 158. There’s no way to possibly determine.”

“Well, obviously, I’m very disappointed with the judge,” O’caña said. “He was too quick to render a verdict. And we are appealing.”

Attorneys for Beto Salinas didn’t prove their case, O’caña said, adding that comments from the judge about a conspiracy aren’t true.

“I did not bribe anybody. That I can tell you,” O’caña said.

“I did not bribe anybody and I did not have a conspiracy to bribe anybody.”

O’caña will remain the mayor until Mission holds a new runoff election, which could be delayed indefinitely while the 13th Court of Appeals reviews the case.

Beto Salinas, who assembled a legal team that included his son, Rick Salinas, and election law experts from San Antonio, thanked the judge for making the right call.

“I was very, very happy that he saw the evidence,” Beto Salinas said, referring to the allegations of bribery and mailin ballot fraud. “And that’s got to stop. You cannot do that. I mean, this job does not pay anything. Don’t get in trouble for something that is not going to benefit you.”

After attorneys for O’caña left the courtroom, Dorsey shook hands with Beto Salinas and congratulated him.

Dorsey also mused about the 13th Court of Appeals.

“I know I’m correct,” Dorsey said while leaving the courtroom. “But I don’t know if the court will agree with me or not.”

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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 MODEL MAKE VIN# BALANCE trailer utility $625.00 2004 predator 500 polaris 4xagJ50a742212123 $1,080.00 total charges cannot be computed until vehicle is claimed. storage charges will accrue daily until vehicle is released. pursuant to the provision contained in rule 85.704. subchapter d, from chapter 85, part 4 of title 16 in the texas administrative code, we are officially notifying you that the below described motor vehicle(s) held in our custody are to be picked up, removed and all charges paid within (30) days. failure of the owner or lienholder to claim vehicle(s) before the date of sale is a waiver of all right, title, and interest of vehicle(s). and also a consent to the sale of the vehicle in public sale according to texas law.

2nd Notice

YEAR 1993

MAKE yamaha

MODEL yfm400fw kodiak bear

VIN# Jy44gba00pa005564

BALANCE $4,021.00

total charges cannot be computed until vehicle is claimed. storage charges will accrue daily until vehicle is released.

PUBLIC NOTICE The Mission Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on October 24, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas in order to consider the following: Rezoning: All of Lots 1 and 2, Block 7, Bonito Subdivision, from (R-1) Single Family Residential to (C-2) Neighborhood Commercial; Rezoning: A tract of land containing 0.94 of an acre, more or less and being 0.19 of an acre, more or less out of Lot 21-9 West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision and 0.75 of an acre being 1.0 acre out of the Southwest 1/4 of Section 19, La Lomita Subdivision now lot 21-9, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision of Porciones 53-57, Less and Except 0.25 of an acre, from (R-2) Duplex-Fourplex Residential to (R-3) Multi-Family Residential If a zoning is amended during the public hearing, it shall be pursuant to the City of Mission’s Amendatory Zone Policy Statement.

Anyone interested is invited to attend.

Anna Carrillo, City Secretary

AVISO DE AUDENCIA PUBLICA

La Comisión de Planificación y Zonificación de la Ciudad de Mission llevará acabo una Reunión Ordinaria el 24 de Octubre del 2018 a las 5:30 p.m. en la Sala del Consejo del Ayuntamiento ubicada en el 1201 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas para considerar lo siguiente: La Rezonificación de: All of Lots 1 and 2, Block 7, Bonito Subdivision, from (R-1) Single Family Residential to (C-2) Neighborhood Commercial; La Rezonificación de: A tract of land containing 0.94 of an acre, more or less and being 0.19 of an acre, more or less out of Lot 21-9 West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision and 0.75 of an acre being 1.0 acre out of the Southwest 1/4 of Section 19, La Lomita Subdivision now lot 21-9, West Addition to Sharyland Subdivision of Porciones 53-57, Less and Except 0.25 of an acre, desde (R-2) a 4 Apartamentos y su cambio a (R-3) Residencial Multifamiliar Si se modifica una zonificación durante la audiencia pública, se realizará de conformidad con la Declaración de política de zona amonestadora de la Ciudad de la Mission.

Cualquier persona interesada está invitada a asistir. Atentamente, Anna Carrillo, Secretaria de la Ciudad

*This is not a PROPERTY TAX * *This is not a PROPERTY TAX* Esto no es una CONTRIBUCIÓN TERRITORIAL/TIERRA

ATTENTION CITIZENS OF PALMHURST TEXAS ATENCIÓN CIUDADANOS DE PALMHURST TEJAS THE PERMANENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF PALMHURST CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT (POLICE DEPARTMENT) HAS ORDERED A REFERENDUM ELECTION OF THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF PALMHURST TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 6, 2018.

LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA PERMANENTE DEL DISTRITO DEL CONTROL Y DE LA PREVENCIÓN DEL CRIMEN DE LA CIUDAD DE PALMHURST (DEPARTAMENTO DE POLICÍA) HA ORDENADO UNA ELECCIÓN DEL REFERÉNDUM DE LOS VOTANTES CALIFICADOS DE LA CIUDAD DE PALMHURST QUE SE LLEVARÁ A CABO EL DÍA 6 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2018.

“WHETHER THE PALMHURST (POLICE DEPARTMENT) CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT SHOULD BE CONTINUED FOR TEN (10) YEARS AND THE PALMHURST CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT SALES TAX OF ONE-HALF CENT SHOULD BE CONTINUED FOR TEN (10) YEARS.” “SI EL DISTRICTO DEL CONTROL Y DE LA PREVENCIÓN DEL CRIMEN DE PALMHURST (DEPARTAMENTO DE POLICÍA) DEBE CONTINUAR POR DIEZ (10) AÑOS Y SI LOS IMPUESTOS SOBRE VENTA DEL DISTRICTO DEL CONTROL Y DE LA PREVENCIÓN DEL CRIMEN DE PALMHURST DE MEDIO CENTAVO SE DEBE CONTINUAR POR DIEZ (10) AÑOS.” FOR (A Favor De) __________________ AGAINST (En Contra De) ____________

Location Polling Places and Election Hours: Voting shall be conducted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at Faith Baptist Church, 4301 N. Shary Road, Palmhurst, Texas.

Lugar y horario de la votación: La votación se llevará a cabo el martes 6 de noviembre de 2018 en la iglesia Faith Baptist Church, 4301 N. Shary, Palmhurst, TX, entre las horas de 7:00 a.m. hasta las 7:00 p.m.

Early voting by personal appearance: Faith Baptist Church, 4301 N. Shary Road, Palmhurst, Texas between the following hours beginning on October 22, 2018, and ending on November 2, 2018, during the following days and hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Votación Temprana: Empieza el lunes 22 de octubre del 2018 hasta el viernes 2 de noviembre del 2018 en la iglesia Faith Baptist Church, 4301 N. Shary, Palmhurst, TX, entre las horas de 7:00 a.m. hasta las 7:00 p.m. de lunes a sabado y de 10:00 a.m. hasta las 3:00 p.m. el domingo.

Please Support This Proposition Por Favor Apoye Esta Proposición

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October 12, 2018