Friday, July 5, 2019_PT ISSUE

Palmview News

Local Spotlight In this week’s spotlight, we highlight the Mission First United Methodist Church, which has recently celebrated 110 years in the city. Jose De Leon III brings us the latest on the church and what they are doing for the community.

INDEX

The city is planning on borrowing $2.1 million to pay off several loans, and approved a $240,000 proposal to inspect the Palmview sewer system.

Dave Hendricks has the details, inside.

See Pg. 10

See Pg. 5

Entertainment....pg. 2 Lifestyle...................pg. 3 Death Notices......pg. 8 Classifieds..............pg. 9

Your Hometown Newspaper, Bringing Communities Together.

Progress times Vol. 47 - #45

Friday, July 5, 2019

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• LA JOYA

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• MISSION

• PALMVIEW

‘Treasured forever’

La Joya hires attorney with history of disciplinary problems as city administrator Photo courtesy of the city of Palmview.

Miguel de Luna, center wearing a black suit, with members of the Palmview City Council and his family.

Palmview City Council thanks ‘founding father’

By Dave Hendricks

Jacqueline Bazan (Courtesy of Jorge Bazan)

By Dave Hendricks The La Joya City Commission hired Jacqueline Bazan, an attorney with a history of disciplinary problems, as city administrator on Tuesday.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Bazan, 43, of La Joya is the sister of La Joya City Attorney Kennedy Salinas and is married to businessman Jorge Bazan, who serves on the La Joya Housing Authority board.

After meeting with her for about 41 minutes, the City Commission voted 5-0 to make Jacqueline Bazan the city administrator.

“She has worked for other cities as well,” said City Commissioner Maria E. “Geny” Salinas. “And so, just her background in law and all that, I think that it’s something that’s really needed. Like a good structure to have everything run smoothly with so many projects that we have coming.”

The City Commission hired Jacqueline Bazan after interviewing four applicants.

Businessman John Pena, a disc jockey who heads the La Joya Housing Authority board and serves on the La Joya Economic Development Corp. board; police Chief Adolfo Arriaga and former Sullivan City Manager Juan Cedillo interviewed on June 27.

The City Commission held a special meeting at noon Tuesday, when members interviewed Jacqueline Bazan during executive session.

“First of all, I would like to thank all the applicants,” said Mayor Jose A. “Fito” Salinas. “We feel that they

See ATTORNEY Pg. 8

The City Council honored a “founding father” of Palmview last week.

Mayor Rick Villarreal presented a certificate of recognition to Miguel de Luna, who pushed to incorporate Palmview in the 1970s, during a City Council meeting on June 25. de Luna served in the military during the Korean War, graduated from Texas A&I University with a master’s degree in education and served as a principal at the La Joya Independent School District for 28 years, according to information provided by the city. He also served on the La Joya Federal Credit Union board of directors.

See FOUNDING FATHER Pg. 8

Photo courtesy of the city of Mission.

Fallen Police Corporal Jose Luis “Speedy” Espericueta’s family and the proclamation from the city declaring Oct. 4, 2019 as a day in his honor on Mon. July 1, 2019.

Mission proclaims Oct. 4 Jose Luis “Speedy” Espericueta Jr. Day

By Jamie Treviño The memory and legacy of a fallen patrol corporal continues to echo in his family and the city of Mission.

During this week’s city council meeting, the family of Corporal Jose Luis

• RIO GRANDE VALLEY

Consumer knowledge

“Speedy” Espericueta, Jr. was presented with a proclamation declaring Oct. 4, 2019 (his birthday) as an official day in his honor. They were also given framed flags from local political leaders.

“The city of Mission honors and commemo-

By Jose De Leon III With nearly one-third of Americans using credit cards every day, chances are credit card users in Texas may have noticed additional charges on their credit card in the last year.

Last summer, a federal judge in Austin ruled that the state law prohibiting merchants from charging customers a surcharge to cover the cost of the credit card swipe was unconstitutional. This, in effect, al-

lowed businesses to charge customers up to four percent for use of a credit card.

“It's a court battle in many states right now, not just in Texas, that are battling the issue of credit card surcharges,” Ahmed Elnahas, a finance professor at The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley said. “A lot of states such as Texas, California, New York and Florida had these bans against surcharges that were ultimately turned over by their state

high court. We could see something where within a few years, all 50 states will allow credit card surcharges.”

The surcharge ban was overturned after opponents argued that the law violated the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution because it prevented merchants from letting customers know about the swipe fee that credit card companies charge for each transaction and how using plastic

See SURCHARGES Pg. 7

See TREASURED Pg. 9

• McALLEN

U.S. Marshals Service arrests star witness against former State District Judge Rudy Delgado

By Dave Hendricks

What local customers can do about credit card surcharges

rates the life of Jose Luis “Speedy Espericueta Jr., who lost his life in the line of duty on June 20,2019 at the age of 44,” Mission Police Chief Robert Dominguez read from the

The U.S. Marshals Service arrested the star witness against former state District Judge Rudy Delgado on Tuesday, just hours before he was scheduled to testify.

Deputy marshals arrested Noe Perez Jr., 58, of McAllen — an attorney who pleaded guilty to bribing Delgado — on Tuesday morning, said Deputy U.S. Marshal Juan Lara, a spokesman for the federal agency.

The bribery case against Delgado is scheduled to start Wednesday morning in McAllen.

“Mr. Perez is going to be

our first witness,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter M. Nothstein, a prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice Public Integrity Section, which is handling the case.

Perez claimed that he bribed Delgado from January 2008 to November 2016.

“During the course of the conspiracy, Defendant paid Judge Delgado with money or other items of value in exchange for favorable judicial consideration,” according to the criminal information against Perez. “On some occasions, Defendant would

See STAR WITNESS Pg. 10

Progress Times photo by Dave Hendricks.

Former State District Judge Rudy Delgado left the federal courthouse Tuesday afternoon accompanied by his attorneys.

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July 6 • Grill masters at the 14th Annual Texas Cook’Em: High Steaks will battle to cook the best rib-eye steak, pork spare ribs, chicken and brisket to take home one of the largest purses in Texas – $30,000. It takes place at HEB Park, 1616 S. Raul Longoria Rd., in Edinburg. Teams pay only $250 for all four categories in the competition. There will be free entertainment, vendors and a children’s play area. Fireworks will kick of a free concert by Los Lonely Boys. To request a team registration form, email marketing@edinburg.com. To learn more, go to edinburg.com or call 956-383-4974.

July 9-26 • Pharr Community Theater, 213 W. Newcombe Ave. in Pharr, is offering a script writing course for teens on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. each date. Cost is $100 per student. To register and receive a class syllabus, text or call 956-655-9308. Class size is limited.

July 20 • Legendary 70’s soft-rock band Air Supply of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock will perform all of their greatest hits at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg. VIP packages are available and include one premium seat in the first 12 rows, access to an exclusive sound check followed by a meet-n-greet, and a VIP swag bag. For more information, go to bertogdenarena.com or call 956-562-7362.

July 28 • Five world-class illusionists make up the Champions of Magic and bring their show to State Farm Hidalgo Arena.

The show features illusionists Young & Strange (Richard Young/Sam Strange), mind reader Alex McAleer, escapologist Fernando Velasco and close-up magician Kayla Drescher. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased online at hidalgoarena.com.

MISD art teachers’ exhibit opens July 13

“Our Day in the Sun,” an art exhibit comprised of works by art teachers within the McAllen I.S.D. (MISD), will open Saturday, July 13, at the Upper Valley Art League in Mission with a reception. The exhibition will be on display through the first week of August.

Art teachers spend much of their time and energy guiding students to create artwork, often resulting in a lack of personal art produc-

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

tion. “Our Day in the Sun” is a celebration of personal art practice among McAllen visual art teachers. The work and techniques are as varied as the teachers themselves.

Participating MISD teachers are Xavier Perez and Ingelise Johnson from Lamar/ Options High; Lorena Gonzalez and Gabriel Martinez, McAllen High; and Carmen Valladares Fortuna, Rowe High. Middle school teachers Wendy Gilbert and Fred Gonzalez from DeLeon and MISD lead art teacher Lisa Saenz-Saldivar also have works in the show.

Snacks and beverages will be served at the opening reception.

Mauro Sierra III EDINBURG – Presenting for the first time at the Museum of South Texas History (MOSTHistory) is Mauro Sierra III who will discuss the history of Pentecostalism in the Rio Grande Valley. Sierra’s topic, “Los Aleluyas: A Socio-Cultural History of the Apostolic (Pentecostal) Movement in the Rio Grande Valley,” will be presented during on Sunday, July 14, at 2 p.m. in the museum’s Courtyard Gallery.

Pentecostalism branched out from the Azusa Street Revival of 1906 in Los Angeles, Calif. In 1914, a theological division split the Pentecostal Movement into a traditional Trinitarian faction, and the Oneness (or, Jesus Only) Movement. The Pentecostal Movement began to arrive in the Rio Grande Valley as early as the 1920s and, in the

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McALLEN – Ten murals by international artist, Erica Daborn, Dialogues with Mother Earth, at the IMAS will be on exhibition beginning this July at the International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS). An opening reception and lecture will be held Saturday, July 13, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the museum located at 1900 W. Nolana.

Daborn’s large scale charcoal drawings reflect the

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July 12th-13th, 8:00 to 2:00 Donations also welcome in July!

Join us for communion the First Sunday of every month.

1930s, a Oneness Pentecostal church was established that would lead to the Formation of the Apostolic Assembly of the Faith of Christ Jesus, Inc. A minority church, filled with minorities, Apostolics in the Rio Grande Valley showcase alternative religious beliefs than those of the mainline Catholic and Protestant churches found in the region. This presentation will showcase the struggles and discrimination, as well as the successes, of the Apostolic Movement in the Rio Grande Valley.

Sierra is the director of the Apostolic Archives of South Texas and a professor with the International Apostolic Bible College of Donna. Sierra is also a dual credit faculty member at La Joya Early College High School and teaches U.S. history and advance placement macroeconomics.

The program is included in the regular museum admission. FRIENDS of MOSTHistory are admitted free as a benefit of FRIENDship and must present their FRIENDship card at the Admissions Desk.

MOSTHistory is located at 200 N. Closner Blvd. Call 956-383-6911 for more information.

Dialogues with Mother Earth exhibition opens July 13

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MOSTHistory to host RGV Pentecostalism history program

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relationship between 21st century societal values and the subsequent related degradation of the environment.

Art critic Viridiana Gutierrez Tejeda said, “Erica Daborn uses art as an educational and socially transformational tool. Her goal is to generate positive change by capturing the attention of the public in unconventional ways.”

Daborn uses a non-alarmist, story-book manner to depict aspects of contemporary living that have impacted the environment, including consumerism, depletion of natural resources, effects of the meat industry, disposable plastics, genetic modification, etc. Her medium is charcoal over acrylic ground on canvas.

Dialogues with Mother Earth: The murals will remain on display through Jan. 5, 2020.

For more information, call 956-681-2800.

Battleship Texas visiting hours reduced

AUSTIN/La Porte – Starting July 8, the Battleship Texas State Historic Site is reducing its visitation hours at its site in La Porte to allow staff full accessibility to the ship and its historic artifacts ahead of the Battleship Texas Foundation’s repair project.

The ship will be closed to the public Monday-Thursday and open weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

During the partial closure, staff will catalog and storing the thousands of artifacts on board. Artifacts being secured from the ship include a flag that flew on D-Day, a silver presentation to the Battleship from the citizens of Texas, crewmember scrapbooks from World War I and World War II, and objects of daily life, like barber chairs and bunks.

Visitors can still tour the Battleship Texas Friday-Sunday but, as artifacts are continuously removed, should expect a different visual experience when visiting the ship.

Following the refurbishing, the battleship will be returned to Texas. Its final destination is still to be determined.

For more information about the Battleship Texas State Historic Site, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s website.

lifestyle

STC receives prestigious award

MCALLEN – South Texas College has recently received a designation that reaffirms more than 25 years of creating a college-going culture for Hispanic students of the Rio Grande Valley. STC has been bestowed the inaugural “Seal of Excelencia”

by Washington D.C.-based Excelencia in Education.

The College was the only RGV higher education institution to receive the designation and demonstrates a significant success in serving Latino students according to the organization, when STC was announced as the Seal’s recipient on June 20. Excelencia created the seal to challenge colleges to increase Latino enrollment and improve student retention rates and faculty representation on their campuses.

The Advisory Council reviewed STC for several elements including positive momentum in the data for Latino students, evidence of

effectiveness and intentionality in institutional practices, alignment of data and practice, and strategies in leadership that clearly articulate institutional focus on advancing Latino student success.

Members of the Seal of Excelencia’s Advisory Council were comprised of leaders with expertise in postsecondary education and large-scale change arenas.

Members include J. Noah Brown, president and CEO of the Association of Community College trustees; Danette Howard, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, Lumina Foundation; William Moses, managing director of the education program for the Kresge Foundation; Lisette Nieves, director of educational leadership and clinical professor, New York University Steinhardt; and Havidan Rodriguez, president, University at Albany, SUNY.

Graduates with honors

CLINTON, NY – Daniela Gonzalez of Mission received a bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College on May 26 in a ceremony concluding the college’s 207th

year. A biochemistry/molecular biology and Hispanic studies major, Gonzalez graduated with departmental honors.

Named to dean’s list

BOSTON, Mass. – Fernanda De La Rosa of Mission has been named to the Dean’s List at Boston University for the Spring 2019 semester. To be named to the list, she had

to attain a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, or be in the top 30 percent of the class, and take a full course load as a full time student.

Baylor grads walk

WACO – Four area residents were among the nearly 3,000 Baylor University graduates who walked across the stage at the Ferrell Center on the Baylor campus and received their degrees during spring commencement exercises in the Ferrell Center on the campus.

Graduates, and degrees earned, included Jacque-

line Compean, bachelor’s in nursing, and Samantha Lauren Peña, bachelor’s in biology, both from Mission; Benjamin Robert Jones, mechanical engineering bachelor’s, from Palmhurst; and Roberto Sergio Hernandez, master’s in statistics, Palmview.

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NEWS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTOS

UTRGV professors receive special honors

EVENTS

CALENDAR

July 7 – The program topic for the next Tip of Texas Orchid Society meeting will offer ideas for out-of-the-box ideas for growing orchids. The meeting begins at 2 p.m. and will be held at the Valley Nature Center, 301 S. Border in Weslaco. The discussion will cover some of the nontraditional and unique ways orchids can be repotted and showcased. There will also be orchids and planting supplies available for sale, and a drawing will be held.

July 8-12 & 15-19 – South Texas College is offering drone pilot training fundamentals for ages 18 and older with the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM). The camp utilizes current techniques and principles to pilot a recreational or industrial drone following the FAA regulations and air space limitations with instruct by aviation experts. Participants will design, build, and fly their own custom drones. A choice of morning or afternoon sessions will be offered both weeks from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 to 5 p.m. at STC’s Technology Campus. Cost is $135. For information, call 956-872-6148.

For a complete schedule, visit southtexascollege.edu/summer-camps/index.html.

July 16-19 – The Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC) will hold the Naturally Creative Camp for children ages 5-8 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. each day. From building forts to painting with mud, this camp is all about creativity and fun through interactive play. The fee is $28 for EWBC members and $32 for non-members. Registration is required; space is limited. Registration deadline is one week prior and full payment is due two days prior. The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. For more information call 956-381-9922.

July 22-26 – Children ages 9 to 13 can join the Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC) Nature Photo Camp led by professional nature photographer Ruth Hoyt. Campers will learn the basics of cameras and photography, including focusing, lighting and composition. It runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Cameras will be provided for use during the camp. The fee is $150. Registration is required; space is limited. Registration deadline is one week prior and full payment is due two days prior. The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. For more information call 956-381-9922.

July 30 – Staff at Speer Memorial Library in Mission will hold a book discussion of Murder on the Orient Express in the library’s Community Room at 5:30 p.m. in Spanish and at 6:30 p.m. in English. The public is invited. The library has copies of the book available for those who sign up for the discussion. Stop by the library or call at 580-8754 to obtain or reserve a copy or for more information. Speer Memorial Library is located at 12th and Kika De La Garza in Mission.

July 30-Aug. 2 – The Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC) will hold Aquanauts camp for children ages 8 to 12.

Participants will get wet while learning about wetland critters and coastal ecology. This camp includes a day trip to South Padre Island to visit the Coastal Studies Lab and Sea Turtle, Inc. It runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. The fee is $70 for EWBC members and $78 for non-members. Registration is required; space is limited. Registration deadline is one week prior and full payment is due two days prior. The EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. For more information call 956-381-9922.

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

Congratulations!

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EDINBURG – Two UTRGV faculty members from the College of Health Professions and College of Sciences have been honored with one of the highest awards in the nation that recognizes teaching excellence – the 2019 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards.

The 2019 UTRGV recipients are Sue Anne Chew, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences, and

Hyun-chul Lee, Ph.D., lecturer III, Department of Physics and Astronomy.

In all, 27 faculty members from across The University of Texas System’s 14 academic and health institutions will be recognized during the UT Board of Regents meeting Aug. 14 in Austin.

Each recipient will receive a certificate, a medallion and $25,000 in appreciation of their impact on students and their institutions.

Hyun-chul Lee, Ph.D.

Sue Anne Chew, Ph.D.

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FINANCIAL FOCUS

By Joe Califa

Work Toward Your Own Financial Independence Day Article 9 – July 1, 2019 Once again, it’s time for fireworks, picnics and parades as the nation celebrates Independence Day. Collectively, we enjoy many liberties, but some freedoms can be elusive – and financial freedom is one of them.

What actions can you take to help yourself eventually declare your own financial independence?

For starters, you’ll want to determine what financial independence means to you.

Is it the liberty to meet all your cash flow needs? The freedom to retire comfortably, at the age you choose?

The ability to set up the kind of legacy you’d like to leave?

If any or all of these things are important to you, consider the following suggestions: • Liberate yourself from oppressive debts. The cost of living is certainly not cheap, so it’s hardly surprising that so many people incur significant debt. Yet, the higher your debt load, the less you’ll have available to invest for the future. Debt might be one of the biggest barriers you face on the road to your financial independence. To avoid piling on too much debt, live within your means. Take steps such as saving for a vacation, rather than putting it all on your

July 5, 2019

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credit card, and getting just one more year out of that old car. Look for bargains everywhere – and find out what you can live without. And if you have sizable debts, see if you can consolidate them and lower your interest payments.

• Free yourself from chaotic investing. The financial markets can be unpredictable – but that doesn’t mean your investment moves have to be chaotic. So, for example, instead of responding to a sudden plunge in stock prices by selling stocks that still may be fundamentally sound with strong growth potential, you might be much better off by holding your ground.

And you’ll be in a better position to do nothing during periods of market volatility when you’ve already done something – namely, built an investment portfolio that reflects your goals, time horizon and risk tolerance.

With this type of portfolio in place, you’ll be in a good position to overlook the dayto-day fluctuations in the market and keep your focus on your long-term goals.

• Unleash the potential in your retirement plan. Your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan is a great way to save for retirement.

You can contribute pre-tax dollars, so the more you put in, the lower your taxable income, and your earnings can grow tax deferred. (With a Roth 401(k), you put in after-tax dollars, but your withdrawals are tax-free, provided you meet certain conditions.) But despite these tax advantages, your 401(k)’s full potential won’t be realized unless you fund it adequately. Try to contribute as much as you can afford each year and increase your contributions as your salary goes up. Another way to uncap your 401(k)’s potential is by choosing appropriate investments. Your 401(k) likely contains a dozen or more investment options, so you’ll want a mix that offers the greatest possibilities for growth within the context of your personal risk tolerance.

Gaining your financial independence requires time and commitment. But once you’ve achieved this freedom, you’ll know it was worth the effort. And who knows? You might even want to wave a sparkler or two to celebrate.

This article was written

by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Summer Vibes: Sober Minds Summer is upon us, and with it, many youth find themselves with an opportunity to spend more time with friends and family; the daily routine activities from school comes to an end and youth may suddenly find themselves going to more gatherings and parties with friends or relatives. However, one thing that sometimes adults may not keep in mind is how easy it may be for youth to access alcohol and other substances when participating in social activities.

According to the Texas School Survey, 2018, alcohol consumed by youth is done at parties with friends, and is accessible through family and friends primarily. Summer may be an opportunity to relax and have fun, but it may also mean an increased opportunity to drink alcohol.

Every day, more than 11,000 kids will try alcohol for the first time during the months of June and July (AddictionCenter.com).

It is important to consider the risks associated with alcohol consumption at a young age. In 2013, there were approximately 119,000 emergency rooms visits by persons aged 12 to 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol (CBHSQ Report). Also, alcohol is of-

ten taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended by youth, resulting in binge drinking behaviors that impair decision-making ability, resulting in an increased chance of driving while intoxicated and being involved in crashes and injuries. Furthermore, adolescents who start drinking at 12 or younger, their lifetime risk of alcohol dependence is 41 percent, whereas if they wait until 18 or 21, their risk is 17 percent and 11 percent, respectively (American Academy of Pediatrics). In turn, adults should be aware of what risk factors may increase the likelihood of youth engaging in risky behaviors and alcohol consumption. These factors include parental approval of substance use, family history of substance use, and association with alcohol-using peers, peer pressure, and early age of first use; all of which may contribute to an adolescent’s decision to drink alcohol.

This summer, rather than making a decision to drink, ADAP coalition wants to encourage youth to seek healthy alternatives to enjoy their summer and have fun, and encourage parents and adults to promote protective factors and create opportuni-

ties for positive engagement with youth. Some protective factors, which are defined as characteristics that lower the likelihood of problem behaviors, include family support and bonding; healthy peer associations; engagement in positive social and extracurricular activities; and clear rules and expectations from parents (PRC Risk and Protective Factors Handbook, 2018). Opportunities to engage in positive and fun alternatives are always present. Families are encouraged to spend quality time together by practicing sports, having family fun nights, enjoying indoor movie nights or playing games, and always keeping open communication with each other.

ADAP Coalition is a program of Behavioral Health Solutions wants to remind parents and adults within the community, the importance of being involved in a child’s life and taking active steps to be a positive role model for them. If you would like more information or tips on safe and healthy alternatives for this summer follow the ADAP Coalition on Facebook. For more information, please contact Vianca Vieyra at Vvieyra@bhsst.org.

Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights read aloud in honor of Independence Day

By Jamie Treviño

On Wed., July 3, four attorneys stood in front of the U.S. flagpole by the federal courthouse in Bentsen Tower and read from the document which highlights the principles by which our government is based.

The Hidalgo County Bar Association Criminal Law Section held a reading of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights in honor of yesterday, Independence Day. The annual ceremony overseen by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association is “part of a statewide effort by local criminal defense lawyers groups.”

Statewide readings are held throughout Texas in order to “honor the liberties we enjoy and celebrate the significance of Independence Day.” Typically just the Declaration, written and signed in 1776, is read aloud, but according to the TCDLA “many American institutions exemplified by our Bill of Rights are under attack,” so organizers of local readings were encouraged to include a reading of the Bill of Rights.

In McAllen this year, four attorneys took part in the reading: (from left) Leonard K. Whittaker, Joseph A. Connors III, Roberto Colegio and Jose Daniel Ozuna.

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Business Spotlight:

Mission First United Methodist Church celebrates 110 years

By Jose De Leon III After 110 years in the city, the Mission First United Methodist Church is still standing, and has plans to continue serving the community for years to come.

Pastor Bill Duke, who was appointed to serve the church after Reverend Charles Baskin left a decade ago, has been serving Mission First for his longest tenure, and said he is grateful to be here-and to continue to lead the church’s many programs.

“The fact that the church is still standing after 110 years speaks well of how this church has seen Mission as a vital part of its persona here,” Duke said. “A lot of great people, past leaders in the church also, have served the community such as the late Jim Miller who was a past mayor and his wife, Esther, who was the choir director here for 40 years.

There’s been a great presence in the city through the church. Since it was created in 1909, it has continued to grow and be vital.”

The church, currently located at 1101 Doherty Ave., offers to its congregation five services every Sunday.

These include an 8 a.m. traditional service, a 9 a.m. contemporary praise service, 10 a.m. Sunday school and a traditional Methodist service at 11 a.m. This year Mission First will introduce a new pastor to lead the 5

Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.

Mission First United Methodist Church Pastor Bill Duke. p.m. Sunday Spanish service the church has had for nearly five years.

“I think that that fulfills what Jesus wants us to do because the great mission is to ‘go ye therefore onto all peoples.’ It’s all people regardless of race,” Duke said of the Spanish services. “Being in a place that is majority Hispanic, it would be a disservice to our Lord and Savior not to reach those people, a language barrier shouldn’t be a barrier. It shouldn’t be.”

MISSION Mission First held its first service November 21, 1909 in a 24 by 60-foot-tall building that saw eight people attend its first church service, according to records. Duke said that in 1925, the church was rebuilt to look like a traditional church-style courthouse in its current location.

The church then underwent another change 40 years later to add the sanctuary where church service is now held.

“It was done a few years

after the great freeze of 1963 that toppled the local economy because all the citrus had frozen,” Duke said.

“Despite that the congregation was able to fund for the sanctuary and our beautiful stained-glass windows that the church is known for. I think it says a lot about how belief and faith in a project can take you far. Despite so many financial hurdles, the church was able to continue growing.”

The church has several

feeding programs to provide meals to families in the area through partnerships with the Rio Grande Valley Regional Food Bank every first and third Thursday of the month.

The church even has “Dinner with Friends” every Friday evening where the public is invited to be neighborly to have dinner together at the church.

“The food distribution program is based upon if you’re 200 percent above the poverty level,” Duke said.

Mission Housing Authority graduates two families

By Jose De Leon III Two families in the Mission Housing Authority are leaving the program with nearly $13,000 between them thanks to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development initiative aimed at financially assisting families.

During their Wednesday, June 18 meeting, the Mission Housing Authority celebrated the graduation of the families of Rocky “Rafael” Segovia and Laura Hinojosa from the housing authority.

Hinojosa did not attend the meeting.

Both Segovia and Hinojosa were part of the Family Self-Sufficiency program, a program from the U.S. Department of Housing and

Urban Development which is designed to help people seeking assistance from housing authorities to grow their income and make them financially stable to leave their housing authority.

People taking the program attend numerous workshops to help them set and work toward goals of self-sustainability, Gloria Rodriguez, a caseworker and coordinator with the Mission Housing Authority said.

“This program encourages people to leave with a sense of accomplishment just with the fact that they no longer have to depend on the housing authority to support their family,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve had so many graduates come to me and say how glad they are

to have done this, especially since with them out of the program it means someone else can use their voucher for assistance.”

To graduate, a participant must be free of welfare assistance for 12 months after learning how to tackle their financial challenges, grow their income and earn a little extra for their troubles in the form of an escrow savings account that the housing authority cashes out for them upon completion.

Participants must finish the program within five years unless they are granted a two-year extension, or risk forfeiting their escrow.

Both participants received a total of $12,652.47 in escrow, with Hinojosa receiving $9,200.14 and Sego-

via receiving $3,452.33.

The money, generated by increasing their income while in the program, is given to participants within days of completion of the program and can be used for savings, retirement, continued education or buying a car or home.

Segovia, who is part of a family of four, works as a truck driver for the McAllen-based Glazer’s Beer and Beverage distributor. Rodriguez said Segovia plans to use his money to purchase a

new vehicle for his family.

Hinojosa, who lives with her daughter according to Rodriguez, has two jobs as a seamstress at Worldwide Inc. and as a home health provider at La Fuente Inc. Both families completed their goals without asking for an extension.

The Mission Housing Authority is the only housing authority in the Valley other than the city of Pharr that participates in this program, Rodriguez said.

Progress Times photo by Jose De Leon III.

Rocky “Rafael” Segovia (center) along with his family and board members of the Mission Housing Authority Wednesday, June 18, 2019.

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Since the program started in 1996, Mission Housing Authority has graduated 97 families, Rodriguez added “We want participants to have a sense of accomplishment where they can go out and continue to accomplish more goals and do better after the program,” Rodriguez said. “They come here without jobs and education and that changes at the end of the five years, I’m always proud of these success stories.”

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“So a lot of people qualify, they just don’t know it. All they need is proof of residency to participate.”

The church even partners up with the Mission school district for “In his shoes,” a fundraiser to purchase shoes for needy school children during the summer.

The fundraiser usually raises enough for 200 pairs of shoes every year, Duke said.

Mission First United Methodist Church even hosts events for kids.

Last month, the church held their weeklong Vacation Bible School that provided snacks and dinner to kids and their parents, Duke said.

The theme for this year’s Bible School was “Miraculous Mission; Jesus Saves the World” where students learned about how through Jesus, people can ask for forgiveness to receive a second chance. Duke said the vacation bible school is part of the many youth services the church offers. These also include a service project where teens can help repair homes in the area and a United Methodist Youth Fellowship for teenagers every Sunday at 3 p.m.

Duke said these services are open to the public, even for non-congregation members.

“Our mission statement of the church is loving Christ, serving others,” Duke explained. “With these services, we take that mission seriously.”

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TREASURED

proclamation on Monday. “[He] was a beloved husband, father and public servant for 17 years, 5 months before his ultimate sacrifice.”

Espericueta’s wife Bobbie and children, Brianna and Joaquin, were present along with his parents and extended family members.

The proclamation includes Espericueta’s history as a law enforcement officer in the RGV and highlighted his love for his family and passion for traffic enforcement.

“A man of courage, strength and generosity, Jose Luis “Speedy” Espericueta Jr. gave unselfishly to others and his enthusiasm for living each day to the fullest will not be forgotten,” Dominguez said. “[He] was beloved by all who were privileged to share in his life, and leaves behind memories that will be treasured forever by his family and countless friends.”

The city was not the only entity to extend condolences to the family, as several entities and dignitaires sent word.

Deputy City Manager

Aida Lerma read a state resolution for Espericueta from Texas House Representatives Bobby Guerra (District 41) and Sergio Munoz Jr. (District 36), who presented the family with a Texas flag (which has flown over the state capitol) honoring Espericueta’s service to Mission and the RGV. Nicole Hernandez, outreach coordinator for U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, spoke on his behalf and read a congressional record sent to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Hernandez then presented the family with a United States flag and plaque.

“It is important to remember that law enforcement officials risk their lives every day for our safety,” Hernandez said. “Corporal Espericueta’s heroic life and career embodies the integrity and servitude of a truly influential community leader and law enforcement official.”

Espericueta’s brother-inlaw, Victor De Leon, spoke on behalf of his sister and the family, thanking everyone

for their support in this time.

“We want to thank you [the city of Mission] and the community at large for your continued support for my sister and hers and Joey’s two kids,” De Leon said. “The amount of support has been beyond generous. Thank you for taking your time today to recognize and honor my brother-in-law.”

BUSINESS AS USUAL During citizen’s participation, former Mission Associate Municipal Judge Horacio Peña, Jr. stood up to speak (regarding an item in executive session about him) despite not signing up to prior to the meeting. Citizens wishing to speak during the public comments of Mission city council meetings are now expected to sign up with the city secretary prior to the meeting start.

Council members asked City Attorney Gus Martinez if they were required to let Peña speak, and he said while they were not required to, they could allow him the designated three minutes.

Peña did not move, and

council listened to his comment.

As previously reported by the Progress Times, Peña has been having issues communicating with the city on a potential lawsuit he may be filing for the cash value of approximately 3,800 hours of sick and vacation time throughout over thirty years of working for Mission. He has sent two letters to city leaders in an attempt to receive payment, which would total at about $146,000.

Mission did not extend Peña’s employment contract in April this year - prior to that he was paid $63,000 annually and his last paycheck lists 1,727.49 hours of sick time and 2,101 hours of vacation time.

In May, a correspondence between Peña and then Interim City Attorney Robert Galligan started following Peña’s threat of a lawsuit.

Galligan and the city disputed Peña’s status as a fulltime or part-time judge and a leave of absence Peña took in 2005.

On Monday this week,

Peña accused the city of treating him “like common dirt swept underneath the rug.”

“For 30 years I served as the city judge for the city of Mission, 18 as a presiding judge and 12, 13 as an associate judge,” Peña said during the citizen’s participation. “Never during the period of time that I have served as a city judge have I been treated in such a matter as I have been treated now.”

Peña said that “all he wanted” is for the city to “follow the law.”

“Some of these council members, I know that they practice the politics of political destruction. It’s come to that, especially with me,” Peña said. “I’ve sent you two letters, Mayor, never have I received a response from you or from your administration.”

According to him, he was still salaried and took a pay cut when he returned to work for the city following his leave of absence.

“I don’t know why I’m being treated in such a man-

ner - I expect it from some of the city council members, but from some I don’t,” Peña said. “My son asked me a question, he said to me ‘Dad, after serving and sacrificing 30 years for the city of Mission, how do you feel about that?’ I said I’d do it all over again, because I took an oath to tell the truth, I took an oath to follow the law. I would hope that any of you, at the end of your career - whether it’s with an institution, a corporation, whatever it is, for the 30 years I have served this community - I hope they don’t treat you in such a manner.”

Council convened in executive session at the end of the meeting and Peña waited.

When the council returned from executive session, they took no action on the matter.

Because of the potential lawsuit, the city could not give the Progress Times a statement regarding Peña or his allegations.

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July 5, 2019 from pg. 1 SURCHARGES plastic instead of cash ultimately leads to higher costs for the products and services being bought.

These surcharges, according to Elnahas, cover the “swipe fee” merchants are charged by the credit card companies for using a credit card machine to complete a purchase. These swipe fees are typically two to three percent of a purchase and Elnahas said merchants typically charge to customers either the swipe fee or the four percent maximum, depending on which fee is lower from the total.

“However, the merchant has to clearly state with a sign or vocally tell their customers ‘Hey, there is a surcharge of two or three percent of your purchase if you use your credit card,’” Elnahas said. “This has to be clear on the point of purchase and it has to be disclosed on the receipt itself. Some businesses

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will do this with a little sign near the front...but that’s the equivalent of buying a new computer and skipping the long user agreement terms of purchase. No one is going to read that.”

The Progress Times went to several different establishments in the Mission, McAllen and Edinburg area and observed multiple business-most of them restaurants-that had surcharges.

These businesses (see table) notified customers of surcharges via signs near the cash register but did not verbally disclose the surcharges to customers prior to paying unless they were asked about it.

STRENGTH IN CONSUMERS According to a June 2018 CNBC article, 29.5 percent of Americans use a credit card while 48 percent of consumers use a debit card.

Eight percent of consumers

use cash.

Adding to the confusion of swipe fees, Elnahas said, is that most businesses already charge a “convenience fee” for those who pay with a debit card as opposed to a credit card.

A convenience fee, Elnahas explained, covers the “swipe fee” for debit cards but whereas the fee for credit cards is at a percentage that varies per purchase, a convenience fee is a flat rate amount in dollars.

“So debit card users can be charged $1, $2 or $3 no matter how big the purchase is but it always stays at that fixed number,” Elnahas said. “Like a credit card surcharge, it’s legal but it’s also another way that merchants pass the burden of the swipe fees from their shoulders to their customers.”

Customers who notice a violation, such as a surcharge higher than four percent on

their credit card purchase, not being notified of the surcharge at the time of purchase or noticing a debit card transaction receiving a credit card surcharge, are urged to report it either to their credit card companies or to the Texas Attorney General's Office for a possible refund.

“We should report all violations no matter how minor,” Elnahas said. “Some violations are a small amount usually, but those small amounts accumulate. So for our own good, we should report these violations so that these businesses know that their customers are keeping them in line.”

Most businesses that charge surcharges or convenience fees are small, local businesses as big chain businesses usually cover those fees themselves, Elnahas said. Should customers feel like they are being cheated with surcharges, Elnahas

said customers can let the businesses know with their wallet.

“They can take their business elsewhere and find one that doesn’t have these charges,” Elnahas said. “People need to ask if there's a fee upfront. With more and more merchants using surcharges, I think that customers are better off having the power in their hands. They have a leverage over merchants and credit card companies and that leverage is: they have the option of using either a debit card, credit card or cash or switching to a different merchant. They should use that leverage.”

Despite the surcharges, Elnahas says he understands why most businesses use them. While businesses can choose to not have credit card surcharges, the burden of the swipe fee is placed on the merchants, which eat into their profits.

“So to some degree it is fair for them to try to keep most of their profit margins by passing that fee to customers through the surcharge fees,” he said. “However, consumers should still watch out for excessive fees on their receipts. Should merchants decide to not use surcharges, then you can help those businesses by paying in cash or with a debit card so they won’t be hit with a hefty swipe fee.”

Some local businesses we’ve encountered with credit card surcharges: • La Fruteria 1410 N Conway Ave, Mission • La Herradura Taqueria - Multiple locations • Zamoras’ Restaurant - Multiple locations • Taco Ole - Multiple locations • Margaritas Mexican Grill and Cantina 3505 TX-107, Edinburg

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page 8 from pg. 1

July 5, 2019

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ATTORNEY

were very qualified applicants. We’re sorry that only one can be hired.”

Jacqueline Bazan said she moved to La Joya about seven years ago and applied for the job because she wanted to serve the community.

“I look forward to working with the community and City Commission to keep the city of La Joya growing,” Jacqueline Bazan said. “And to work hard on economic development and our city infrastructure.”

Jacqueline Bazan said she hadn’t signed an employment contract yet and didn’t know when, exactly, she would start work.

Her employment contract may become an issue during the mayoral election in November.

“We have a city attorney.

We don’t need another attorney,” said Jaime Gaitan, a retired state trooper who is

from pg. 1 running for mayor. “We need a city manager.”

Jacqueline Bazan represented the city of Rio Grande City in lawsuits against Allied Waste Services of the Rio Grande Valley. During the past decade, however, she also had a series of disciplinary problems.

On Feb. 5, 2008, when Jacqueline Bazan went by Jacqueline R. Salinas, she was suspended from practicing in federal court.

“The District 12-B Grievance Committee found that Salinas neglected a property seizure case, failed to return the client’s file upon termination, and failed to respond to the grievance,” according to court records.

Along with a six-month suspension, the committee ordered her to pay $600 in restitution and $1,500 in attorney’s fees and expenses.

The committee disci-

plined her again on Sept. 24, 2008, when she was known as Jacqueline R. LeFevre.

“The District 12-B Grievance Committee found that LeFevre accepted a legal matter beyond her confidence, neglected the representation by failing to respond to a motion to dismiss and a motion for summary judgment, failed to communicate with her client, failed to render candid advice to her client, made misrepresentations to her client and failed to respond to the grievance timely,” according to court records.

She received a two-year, partially probated suspension.

The committee also disciplined her on Sept. 30, 2008, for failing to respond to two grievances. She was ordered to pay about $4,100 in attorney’s fees and expenses.

Then-Chief U.S. District Judge Hayden Head ordered her removed from the list of attorneys authorized to practice in the Southern District of Texas on Sept. 11, 2009.

Jacqueline Bazan also had

problems with the State Bar of Texas.

In August 2018, the star bar determined that Jacqueline Bazan had violated the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and suspended her for three years.

“Respondent shall be actively suspended from the practice of law for a period of 4 months beginning October 1, 2018 and ending January 31, 2019,” according to an order released by the state bar. “The 32-month period of probated suspension shall begin on February 1, 2019 and shall end on September 30, 2021.”

Asked about her disciplinary history, Jacqueline Bazan declined to discuss the matter Tuesday and asked the Progress Times to submit questions in writing.

“It just baffles me, the stuff that they’re doing,” said Gaitan, the mayoral candidate. “And they just do it in front of everybody like they don’t really care.”

FOUNDING FATHER

“When we started, there was nothing here,” de Luna said. “It was all brush, orchards and that was it. Ranch land.”

A neighbor named Ramiro Vela approached him and suggested they work together to incorporate Palmview as a city.

“Mr. Ramiro Vela talked to me and he said ‘Mission is coming this way. We need to try to see if we can organize ourselves into a city so we can be on our own,’” de Luna said, recalling the conversation. “And I said ‘Ok.’” Both Vela and de Luna later served on the Board of Aldermen.

“We used to meet at different houses because we didn’t have anything else.

Until, finally, we got a little money from the telephone company and CP&L, and that’s when we bought this land where we’re at right now,” de Luna said, referring to City Hall. “We struggled because we didn’t have anything, but we kept going.”

Attorney Brinkley Oxford of Edinburg advised the fledgling city.

“And he said ‘We’re going to call this the city of dreams because we’re going to be dreaming big until we succeed,” de Luna said.

“And that’s what we did.”

Death Notices

Miriam Alvarado MISSION – Miriam M. Alvarado, 38, passed away on Sunday, June 30, 2019, at her home in Mission.

Felix Aranda Sr. MISSION – Felix Aranda Sr., 95, passed away on Friday, June 28, 2019, in Edinburg.

Enriqueta Flores PALMVIEW – Enriqueta Garcia Flores, 93, passed away on Friday, June 28, 2019, at Village Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in McAllen.

Jacob Flores MISSION – Jacob Flores, 23, passed away on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Pablo Flores ALTON – Pablo Flores, 55, passed away on Friday, June 28, 2019, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Idolina Guzman GRANJENO – Idolina Guzman, 62, passed away on Sunday, June 30, 2019, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Carlos Hernandez MISSION – Carlos G. Hernandez, 69, passed away on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at McAllen Medical Center.

Edith Kilby MISSION – Edith Kilby passed away on Thursday, June 27, 2019, at The Bridges in Mission.

Zacarias Monjaras PALMVIEW – Zacarias Monjaras, 83, passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Eduardo Olguin ALTON – Eduardo R. Olguin, 70, passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at Doctor’s Hospital in Edinburg.

Elva Perez MISSION – Elva S. Perez passed away on June 22, 2019, at her home in Mission.

Wilfredo Portillo MISSION – Wilfredo Aguillon Portillo, 48, passed away on Monday, June 24, 2019, in San Manuel.

Jose Raya MISSION – Jose Antonio Raya, 63, passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at McAllen Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

Guillermina Varga MISSION – Guillermina Varga, 67, passed away on Sunday, June 30, 2019, in McAllen.

July 5, 2019

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Local businessman brings Kona Ice to Mission, pledges to donate 20 percent back to the community

By Jamie Treviño A Mission entrepreneur is aiming to provide a way to beat the scorching summer weather and give back to the community at the same time.

Carlos Ruiz has brought Kona Ice, a shaved ice truck franchise that has over 1,000 trucks in 48 states in the country, to Mission. One of the company’s practices involves giving proceeds from the truck back into local communities where they have a presence.

Ruiz opened his Kona Ice

truck in Nov. 2018, and business has begun to pick up pretty quickly in the summer months. Parked wherever called, Ruiz spent Tues. afternoon outside the Mayberry Pool and the gym of the Mission Boys & Girls Club, selling shaved ice to nearby lifeguards, children and their families amid the heat currently enveloping the Rio Grande Valley.

According to a Kona Ice spokesperson, the franchise has given back over $62 million to non-profits, schools and churches at the local lev-

el since they were founded in 2007. Through their profits, franchise owners are able to donate money, school supplies and athletic equipment for entities that need it. Ruiz intends to give 20% of what they earn back to the Mission community specifically.

“We like to give as much as we can,” Ruiz said. “A lot of times it’s just about being out here with the community, so it’s a fun experience.”

Ruiz, a new franchise owner, said opening a business with charitable practices was part of the reason he

chose to operate a Kona Ice truck in Mission.

“We want to be able to reach out to the community,” Ruiz said. “You can see with the kids and their smiles interacting with the truck, it creates a positive environment that I think is good to bring here.”

Kona Ice allows the customer to purchase the shaved ice and pour their own flavoring and syrup into the cup, giving them several choices depending on the season and truck.

“It’s been a drastic growth

[in the summer], and we love it,” Ruiz said. “It’s a good experience.”

Ruiz called Kona Ice “the best way to give back to the community as much as possible.”

“Without the community what would we have?” Ruiz said. “If we take care of our community and everybody in general, things will be so much better. Everything starts to grow, there’s progress and that’s what we like to see.”

Ruiz hopes to bring more Kona Ice trucks to the Valley.

Because his truck is currently based in Mission, donations from their vehicle will stay strictly in the city.

“We want to be able to cater to everybody as much as possible,” Ruiz said. “We take care of Mission first.”

A Kona Ice truck can be booked for any fundraiser, school, team sport, festival, daycare, tournament, big event, workplace or party.

To bring Ruiz’s Kona Ice truck to your event or party, he can be reached via email at cruiz@kona-ice.com or (956) 746-5275.

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of MICHAEL SHANNON McFARLIN, Deceased, were issued on June 28, 2019, in Cause No. P-39149, pending in the Probate Court of Hidalgo County, Texas, to: VIRGINIA CANTU McFARLIN. All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

VIRGINIA CANTU McFARLIN c/o: Louis C. Brown Attorney at Law 1207 N. Conway Mission, TX 78572 DATED the 28th day of June, 2019.

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LEGAL NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for BQ Wine and Beer Retailer’s Off- Premise Permit by La Cabaña Drive Thru, to be located at 1519 White Rock St., Peñitas, Texas 78576, Hidalgo County. Officer of said Corporation is Maria Guerra, owner.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of LISA KAY KRIENKE, Deceased, were issued on June 28, 2019, in Cause No. P-39296, pending in the Probate Court of Hidalgo County, Texas, to: JOHANNA LEE KRIENKE. All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

JOHANNA LEE KRIENKE c/o: Louis C. Brown Attorney at Law 1207 N. Conway Mission, TX 78572

DATED the 28th day of June, 2019.

Memorial Gardens, adjacent corner plots, Section S, Lot 82, plots A4 & B1, call 956-956335-3555 for more details.

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USE KENNEL DIP to treat fleas, ticks, mange, stable flies & mosquitoes where they breed, El Pase

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RED VALLEY COINS, we buy and sell coins and coin collections, gold and silver, please call Rene De La Garza at 956-780-8411 for an appointment and for more details.

THE STATE OF TEXAS NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT: “You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do (does)not file a written answer with the clerk who issued to this citation by 10:00 A.M. on the Monday next after the expiration of forty-two (42) days after the date of issuance of this citation, a default Judgment may be taken against you.”

TO: ESTATE OF KENNETH R. BOONE, DECEASED AND HIS UNKNOWN HEIRS, Defendants GREETINGS: You are hereby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff’s Petition at or before 10:00 o’clock a.m. of the first Monday next after the expiration of forty-two (42) days from the date of issuance of this citation, the same being Monday, July 22, 2019 at or before 10:00 o’clock a.m. before the 206th District Court of Hidalgo County, at the Courthouse in Edinburg, Texas. Said Plaintiff’s Petition was filed on June 3, 2019 in this case, numbered C-2428-19-D on the docket of said court.

The names of the parties to the cause are as follows: WAGON CITY RECREATION BOARD, INC., Plaintiff and ESTATE OF KENNETH R. BOONE, DECEASED AND HIS UNKNOWN HEIRS, Defendants. A brief statement of the nature of the suit is as follows, to-wit: The suit seeks to have judgment against the Defendants and to foreclose on the lien held by the Plaintiff for unpaid and delinquent assessments assessed against the property that belongs to or may belong to the Defendants, being Lot 26, Block D, Wagon City Subdivision Unit 1, and addition to the City of Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas, according to map or plat thereof recorded in Volume 20, Page 161, Map Records of Hidalgo County, Texas. Judgment and an order of sale of the property is requested in the Plaintiff’s Petition.

If this citation is not served within ninety days after the date of its issuance, it shall be returned unserved. The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates thereof, and make due return as the law directs.

ISSUED AND GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said Court, at office in Edinburg, Hidalgo County, Texas, on this date. 6/04/2019.

LAURA HINOJOSA, DISTRICT CLERK HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS 100 N. CLOSNER BLVD #E EDINBURG, TX 78539

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Agua SUD will pay nearly $240,000 for independent inspection of Palmview sewer system

By Dave Hendricks The Agua Special Utility District will pay nearly $240,000 for an independent inspection of the Palmview sewer system.

The utility board voted June 27 to pay Southern Trenchless Solutions to inspect the sewer system with cameras, scouring roughly 30 miles of pipes for any problems.

“We approached Southern Trenchless to come in and give us a demo on what they do,” said utility district General Manager Jose E. “Eddie” Saenz. “And, so, they did do a section there.”

L&G Construction of Mercedes and OG Construction of Edinburg started

building the Palmview sewer system in 2017. Problems with groundwater plagued both contractors, which significantly delayed the project.

The utility district hired S&B Infrastructure to supervise the work. With the project nearing completion, however, the utility board wanted a third party to inspect the sewer system.

Saenz said he asked Southern Trenchless, a La Feria-based company headed

by CEO Ramon Closner, for a demonstration.

Southern Trenchless Vice President Mario Salazar met with the utility board June 27 to present the results.

Southern Trenchless found a shovel at the bottom

(Photo credit: Southern Trenchless Solutions via the Agua Special Utility District.)

of a manhole located near the H-E-B in Palmview, Salazar said. If the shovel had been sucked into the pipe, Salazar said the cost of removing the obstruction could range from $25,000 to $100,000.

The company also found a 6- to 7-inch high pile of rocks in a 10-inch pipe near the bottom of a manhole near Abram Road.

Salazar said rags would cling to the pile of rocks, which would eventually clog the pipe.

“Eddie, from your experience, how did that happen?” asked utility board Director Lloyd Loya, who represents Peñitas. “How did we get that much caliche down there?”

Based on the size of the rock pile and the location, Saenz speculated the caliche had been deliberately dumped down the manhole.

“My only option is that if this is caliche and it’s right on the manhole — if they were cleaning around the manhole, they opened up the manhole and they threw the caliche in there so they wouldn’t haul it away,” Saenz said. “I don’t see any other way caliche would be in a pipe for whatever reason.”

Other problems identi-

fied by Southern Trenchless included an improperly cut sewer main, manholes with poorly constructed seals and faulty seams, and a manhole that wasn’t aligned with the structure beneath.

Impressed by the presentation, the utility board

approved a $239,691.55 proposal from Southern Trenchless to inspect the sewer system. The inspection will take approximately three or four months.

“At this point, with everything that we’ve seen, I don’t think anyone here would

have an objection with this item,” Loya said, adding that he blamed OG Construction, which the Texas Water Development Board forced the utility district to contract with, for the problems. “I guess to quote Randy Travis: ‘I told you so.’”

Palmview plans to borrow $2.1 million to pay off old loans

By Dave Hendricks Palmview plans to borrow about $2.1 million to pay off several old, high-interest loans.

During a meeting on June 25, the Palmview City Council hired a financial adviser and authorized Mayor Rick Villarreal to make key decisions.

“We’re looking at getting a good interest rate, thank God,” Villarreal said.

Palmview hired Philadelphia-based PFM Financial Advisors, a wellrespected financial firm that worked with the Agua Special Utility District on a similar project, to assist the city.

PFM will work with Muñoz and Frankel, the city’s bond attorneys, on the transaction.

Palmview wants to borrow about $2.1 million, which will allow the city to pay off three old, relatively high-interest loans from Lone Star National Bank.

In June 2004, the city borrowed nearly $1.4 million from Lone Star National Bank at 5.25% interest, according to information provided by City Attorney Eric Flores. Palmview pays nearly $122,000 annually but still owes the bank nearly $820,000.

The city asked Lone Star National Bank for another

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loan in November 2008, when Palmview borrowed nearly $1.4 million at 7.25% interest. Palmview pays about $125,000 annually but still owes the bank about $756,000.

Palmview promised to pay back the loans by Oct. 1, 2028.

The city borrowed another $650,000 from Lone Star National Bank in February 2014. That loan came with 5.5% interest.

Palmview pays nearly $65,000 annually and still owes $534,000. It must pay off the loan by 2030.

Taken together, the three loans saddled Palmview with an annual debt payment of about $312,000.

Palmview had few options when the city borrowed money from Lone Star National Bank. Without a credit rating, Palmview couldn’t issue bonds. The city also had lackluster audits, which made lenders reluctant to hand over money.

When the city needed to buy something that required a credit card, staff charged the expenses on a card that belonged to former Mayor Jorge Garcia. The workaround sparked rumors about public corruption, which triggered an investigation by the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators didn’t file any charges.

Paying off the debt and

building a financial cushion will eventually allow Palmview to secure a credit rating.

Villarreal said the city wants to consolidate the loans and secure a much lower interest rate. Initially, the city approached Birmingham, Alabama-based bank BBVA. “BBVA told us no,” Villarreal said. “So when that happened we went to another lending agency.”

Palmview is hopeful the plan — what bankers call a “refunding” — will save the city a significant amount in interest and potentially reduce the annual debt payment by extending the term of the loan.

“We’re looking at getting a 3.5% or 3.3% interest rate,” Villarreal said.

While the refunding will provide Palmview with financial flexibility, Villarreal said he wants the City Council to focus on paying down the debt before spending money on new projects.

Other cost-saving measures under consideration include cutting back on City Council travel, increasing park fees to match surrounding cities and changing police department policies.

“We’re going to save money,” Villarreal said, adding that Palmview may be able to pay down the debt within three to four years.

STAR WITNESS

pay Judge Delgado a bribe after being solicited to do so. On other occasions, Defendant would pay Judge Delgado a bribe on his own initiative.”

Perez claimed he normally paid Delgado small amounts of cash, which ranged from $250 to $350.

In November 2008, though, Delgado “appropriated” a truck from Perez valued at about $15,000, according to court records.

After he became an FBI informant, Perez paid Delgado on at least three occasions, according to court records.

The FBI arrested Delgado in February 2018, weeks after he accepted $5,500 from Perez.

Delgado pleaded not guilty. He hired attorney Michael McCrum of San Antonio and attorney Terry Wayne Shamsie of Corpus Christi to represent him.

After the FBI arrested Delgado on bribery charges, Perez pleaded guilty. He posted a $25,000 bond and

Noe Perez (Courtesy of Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office)

kept practicing law.

The McAllen Police Department, however, arrested Perez last month on a misdemeanor assault charge, which violated the conditions of release set by the court. As a result, the Marshals Service arrested him.

Perez is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker on Wednesday morning, when

prosecutors had planned for him to testify.

“There’s the potential for some unforeseen issues first thing in the morning,” Nothstein said.

U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett of Houston, who is presiding over the trial, said he felt confident that prosecutors could work around any complications.

“That’s why you guys get paid the big bucks as trial lawyers,” Bennett said, half-joking. “To think on your feet.”

Neither attorney Guy Lee Womack of Houston nor attorney Jesus “Jesse” Contreras of Edinburg, who represent Perez, could immediately be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

The trial is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Wednesday with opening statements by the government and Delgado’s legal team. Prosecutors plan to call Perez as their first witness and anticipate he’ll spend the day testifying.