Friday, January 22, 2016
www.ptrgv.com | $1.00
‘A BIG GAME CHANGER’
79th TEXAS CITRUS FIESTA Schedule of Events “Citrus, Cartoons & Comic Book Characters” ROYAL RECEPTION BALL Saturday, January 23 7 p.m.-12 a.m. Mission Community Center 1420 E Kika de la Garza $50 per person
ROYAL CORONATION OF KING CITRUS & QUEEN CITRIANNA Thursday, January 28, 7 P.M. $5 General Seating, $10 Reserved Mission High School Neuhaus Gym 1802 W Cleo Dawson St. PARADE OF ORANGES Saturday, January 30 Line up starts at 11 a.m. on 2 Mile Line and Conway, Parade starts at 3 p.m. Along Conway Ave. from FM 495, South to 4th St. FUN FAIR EVENTS FIESTA FUN FAIR SATURDAY, January 30 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Leo Pena Plazita 9th St. (Business 83) & Conway Free Admission Food Vendors, Arts & Crafts, Entertainment
SHARYLAND WATER SUPPLY OPENS NEW PLANT
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By Lea Victoria Juarez
he $22 million project for Sharyland Water Supply Corporation’s Water Treatment Plant No. 3 is finally finished. The company accrued debt and a 40-year note with the United States Department of Agriculture, but ratepayers don’t have to worry about a price increase just yet. General Manager Sherilyn Dahlberg said the company is evaluating their process used for determining rates. The study will be completed later this year and then reviewed by the board, which will then determine if the rate should increase. The plant project was blend of Sharyland Water Supply money and USDA money. The water company applied for money in 2009 and received approval for an $18.5 million loan and $3.5 million grant six months later.
Sharyland Water was federally required to use $9 million of its own money to begin the project, but ultimately spent nearly $15 million. USDA reimbursed the company for the exceeded amount. “The return of our investment is the quality of life of our rural residents and hopefully increasing economic opportunity,” said USDA Area Director Roel Gomez. “This is going to be a big game changer for the whole region. This is going to change lives and we’re very happy to be a part of it.” The entire project consisted of a two million gallon storage tank, a service building, a water irrigation line from the United Irrigation District canal, a 48 million gallon reservoir and an eight million gallon a day water treatment plant. Plant No. 3 can serve 9,258 connections for homes in
FIESTA FUN RUN Call 956-580-8760 Mission Parks & Recreation MISSION HISTORICAL MUSEUM Fiesta Display 900 Doherty, Mission 956-580-8646
Board Director Mark Moseley of Sharyland Water Supply cuts the ribbon to signify the completion of treatment Plant No. 3.
the Sharyland Water Supply service area, which equals a population of 27,775 people, according to Board Secretary of the Texas Rural Water Association Brian Macmanus. The water supply corp. is one of the largest non-profit water supp. corps. in the state. “The leadership of Sharyland Water Supply Corpora-
tion recognizes the potential for growth, the responsibility to be ready for that growth and the reality of implementing a plan and building infrastructure for that oncoming growth,” Macmanus said. Dahlberg announced that the water company will also serve the forthcoming Texas
See WATER 12
Cities address open carry
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By Lea Victoria Juarez lmost a month has gone by since Texas’s open carry law went into effect, but not much has happened in the area regarding open or concealed weapons. Both the Palmview and Peñitas police chiefs said they haven’t seen any handguns on a hip or shoulder holster since Jan. 1. “Everything is the same. If we get calls then we’ll respond. We’ll check for permits but that’s as far as we’ll go,” Palmview Police Chief Chris Barrera said. “We haven’t seen anything yet. We’re this far into the month and nobody has reported anything.” The legislators gave governmental bodies three ways to prohibit weapons – in municipal courts, in the coun-
cil chambers and at polling places when voting is occurring. Mission, Alton and La Joya did pass their own policies regarding guns on city property for employees and the general public. For city of Mission employees, no employee, other than a licensed peace officer, can posses a firearm or other weapon on city property. Employees licensed by Texas to carry a concealed weapon or open carry may have a permitted weapon only on the city parking lot if it is locked in the employee’s vehicle. These employees must report their identity to the chief of police, along with the license plate numbers of vehicles that may be parked in the city parking lots. In addition, the city coun-
VAQUERO COOK-OFF All Day at Leo Pena Plazita 9th St. (Business 83) & Conway
cil prohibited weapons at public meetings. “The decision was made... for the safety and concern of all the people who attend the meetings,” Mission City Manager Martin Garza said. Firearm free buildings or meetings may have signs on the premises. The signs must be at the entrance, have exact language in English and Spanish, must be in contrasting colors, in block letters, at least 1 inch in height and displayed in a conspicuous manner, clearly visible to the public. La Joya Mayor Fito Salinas also confirmed that the city passed an ordinance not allowing any firearms inside a public meeting and city property. He said signs will be displayed at the entrance of the library, city hall and any building that belongs to
the city. La Joya has not had any issues with the new law, according to Salinas. The city of Alton passed a similar ordinance, prohibiting the carrying of handguns into meeting rooms during open meetings, and the carrying of handguns and rifles by city employees or officials. Again, the ordinance does not restrict licensed peace officers. Alton Mayor Salvador Vela also said the city hasn’t had any issues regarding concealed weapons or open carry weapons. His only concern is people taking guns to parties where alcohol could be consumed, but he doesn’t foresee the open carry law becoming a problem. “I don’t think we have to worry,” Vela said. “People here are civil. It’s not the Old West.”
HEART OF AMERICA CARNIVAL January 21-31 FM 495 & Conway
Palmview holds Winterfest
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By Lea Victoria Juarez
he city of Palmview has a full day of events planned for their inaugural Winterfest, Jan. 23. The festival will be comprised of children’s rides and attractions, music and food, to name a few. This event will be the first for the La Joya ISD Pack FFA Classic Showmanship Competition. La Joya High School, Palmview High School and Juarez-Lincoln High School’s FFA and junior FFA programs will showcase their animals in preparation for the Starr County Fair and the Mercedes Livestock Show. In addition, there will be a silent auction of custom woodwork and ironwork from La Joya ISD students. “We want to provide good, clean, safe fun for the community and have a place for the kids to come out and show their animals,” City Manager Ramon Segovia said. “It’s something to give back to the community, have them come out and enjoy a weekend with their family, and get exposure for Palmview and the kids.” La Joya ISD Crime Stoppers and Palmview Crime Stoppers are hosting the inaugural Guadalupe “Sonny”
Hernandez Memorial Cookoff. Hernandez served as a volunteer fireman for the Palmview Volunteer Fire Department for 12 years. More than $11,000 in cash and prizes are guaranteed. Radio station KQBO La Patrona is presenting nine musical acts such as Solido, Los Herederos and Whiskey D. In previous years, the major festival was held either in the spring or summer, piggy-backing off of KQBO’s events. Due to lack of funds, the city was never able to pin down a specific weekend for an event of their own until this year. This is the third month in a row that Palmview has planned a city-wide event. In November, they held the Thanksgiving feast and in December they held the posada and a toy giveaway. Segovia said these gatherings are a way of keeping the lines of communication open between city leaders and the citizens. “We just want to keep active with the community,” the city manager said. “We want to let them know that we’re out there, that we’re here to help, and they get to enjoy themselves at these events.”
INSIDE
INDEX
Lady Rattlers sweep first round
Valley Latter-day Saint growth continues
TCF sneak peek
The Sharyland High School team took first place in District 31-5A by winning all six of their first round games.
Members of the LDS church celebrate the groundbreaking of the long-awaited expansion of their church in Hidalgo.
For a preview of upcoming events for the 79th annual Texas Citrus Fiesta, see our special edition paper inside.
See story page 6
See story page 5
Entertainment | pg. 2
Lifestyle | pg. 3
Opinion | pg. 4
Sports | pg. 6
Obituaries | pg. 9
Classifieds | pg. 11