Progress www.ptrgv.com
Palmhurst, Texas
2018
times Community, local law enforcement come together NI
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Vol. 47 - #10 H 83 L69
Your Hometown Newspaper, Bringing Communities Together.
Friday, October 26, 2018
INSIDE
City of Mission Updates
for Palmhurst’s National Night Out
By Bryan Ramos
The city was recently awared the SAFER grant and an additional grant from the National Park Service, which combined total in about $1.5 million. For the latest on Mission and this week’s council meeting, see inside.
See Pg. 3A
La Joya ISD Updates
The school district has had some exciting events this past week, including the first diving and swim meets held at the Sports & Learning Complex and a DPS ride-along promoting bus safety.
See Pg. 9A
SPORTS Football and Volleyball
THE
BIG7 SCHOOLS
The Progress Times has a specific section this week dedicated to sports in the area - including football and volleyball. Check inside for the details about the upcoming season and the game of the week.
See Sec. B
A little rain and cold weather wasn’t going to stop the community of Palmhurst from spending Tuesday connecting with local law enforcement and building relationships as the Palmhurst Police Department and the City of Palmhurst hosted their 7th annual National Night Out. Church of Christ in Mission welcomed all ages and different law enforcement agencies to celebrate the night with live music and performances. Different organizations use this opportunity to raise funds by selling funnel cakes, spiro papas, tacos, drinks and other delicious snacks. Those in attendance had the opportunity to ride on a trolley train around the walking track, play different games available and/or rides, free of charge. And if that wasn’t enough, they also played a movie in the park (“Casper, the Friendly
A look at the crowd during Palmhurst's 7th Annual National Night Out on Tuesday, October 23 at Church of Christ in Mission. Progress Times photo by Bryan Ramos.
Ghost”). The City of Palmhurst administration and staff was more than prepared by providing chairs and tables set up under tents with standing heaters for the crowd to
sit and enjoy their food while watching their movie. Palmhurst’s Chief of Police Michael Anthony Vela, who has held the position for more than nine years, said
Mims Elementary swears in the new leaders of Mustangville
By Jamie Treviño
For the students at Mims Elementary, the implementation of Mustangville means elections, participation and an understanding of some of the inner workings of a city. Recreating the local city government of Mission, Mims Elementary recently swore in the new group of leaders for Mustangville the school’s small city. The Mission Consolidated Independent School District has several campuses that model city government departments, positions and programs such as the mayoral seat, the city council, the post office and the police department made out of the student populous. The entire school and staff were present on Friday morning, and parents seemed eager to take pictures and participate in the special event. Several members of the
City of Mission government were present for the ceremony, including Mayor Armando O’caña, council member Jessica Ortega-Ochoa, City Manager Martin Garza and Assistant Police Chief Jody Tittle. “It’s a great experience, and I think that civic duty is something that we are all responsible for,” Garza said. “This is just a great experience that our kids are having.” O’caña said that they were excited to invite the newly elected student officials to the city hall sometime in the near future in order to allow the children to shadow the actual leaders in their respective positions. “We’re in the planning stages,” O’caña said. “It’s not only Mustangville, but all the other schools’ cities as well, so they can see the real thing.” O’caña said it was critical that students have practical
applications they can take with them. “It’s extremely important that children understand the process of how city government runs,” O’caña added. “A lot of local decisions are made that impact them. Technically, we are representing them.” MCISD School Board President Petra Ramirez was also present, and spoke about the importance of teaching students how to be successful leaders in the future. “It is a great learning experience for all of you,” Ramirez said. “You [the students] are our priority. This is what we work for, and that’s how you become civic leaders or organizations leaders - we want to provide the best for you.” Judge Patty O’caña-Olivarez swore in the children at Mims Elementary for the
See MUSTANGVILLE Pg.10A
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INDEX Entertainment...pg. 2A Lifestyle................pg. 6A Sports..................... Sec. B Obituaries........pg. 11A Classifieds..........pg.13A
See PALMHURST NNO Pg.12A
Mission native recounts Hollywood career By Jose De Leon III With a blockbuster film on the horizon, his first leading role in a movie and a recurring role on a TV show, Mission native Dave Silva is facing a surge of work in a career that spans decades. Even with all this work, Silva never forgets where he is from. “I still have the same circle of friends from when I lived there,” Silva, 66, said. “Every time I come down to the Valley from Los Angeles I always visit them. That camaraderie and loyalty transposes over to where I’m at now. My group of friends helped shape me into a good character and it’s helped me a lot.” Silva can be seen in the short film “Thirsty Girl”
Dave Silva Courtesy Photo which has been playing in film festivals throughout the country in the last year. The film, which follows a young woman who distracts herself from the incoming death of her mother by refusing to consume water, has Silva in his first leading-man role.
See DAVE SILVA Pg.12A
Financial records raise new questions about former La Joya Housing Authority director by Dave Hendricks
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the reason for the City of Palmhurst and Palmhurst Police Department to host National Night Out is because it helps build relationships and helps open up lines of communica-
tion with the community. “We’re here to build that camaraderie between us and the community to show people that we’re here for them and to be together, to be as one,” Vela said. “It opens up the communication between law enforcement and the community. A lot of times there’s some communities that have a hard time communicating with their law enforcement, with us, it’s open communication. We accept everybody with open arms. Our focus is to be community oriented police officers, we want to be good guys.” With nearly 1,000 people in attendance, Corporal Robert Rodriguez, the coordinator for Mission Crimestoppers who has been with the Mission Police Department for more than 17 years, said National Night Out is an important event for every community because it allows the public to see a different side
The Mustangville City Council members with parents before being sworn into office. Progress Times photo by Jamie Treviño.
The La Joya Housing Authority spent thousands on hotels and restaurants during the past 10 months, prompting new questions about how former Executive Director Frances Salinas managed public money. Financial records from the housing authority’s “low rent” account — money set aside for apartment maintenance and board-approved travel — also show more than $10,000 in cash withdrawals. “This is what we wanted to see for the past three months,” said board Chair-
Frances Salinas woman Maricruz Sifuentes, adding that Frances Salinas refused to show her the financial records. “So we thought something was real fishy.” The board fired Frances Salinas on Oct. 10 after
See HOUSING AUTHORITY Pg.10A