WEEK OF August 25, 2021 THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2021
Los Leones Restaurant
www.laferianews.net
Rudy Garza Funerals, Inc.
David Gray D.M.D., P.A. • Jennifer Shawn D.M.D. • Luis Padilla, DDS
LA FERIA
Monday - Sunday 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
317 S. MAIN
(956) 797-3122 800-425-8202
Orders to Go
956.797.1000
Family Owned and Operated by
The Rudy Garza Family
109 N. Main St. • La Feria, TX 78559
Our Family Serving your Family
956-797-3131 200 W. 1st St. • La Feria, TX
Your Community Newspaper, Serving the Heart of the Rio Grande Valley VOLUME 98 NUMBER 34
Former Coach Remembered Billy Watson Special to LFN
In the first week of July of last year, I met Coach V for breakfast at Los Amigos to write a story on him for his retirement. He was wearing a Hawaiian-styled button-up with palm trees and a few American flags on it and was on his second cup of coffee. I had gotten there at 9:01 a.m. planning to meet there at 9 a.m., but you can bet he was there early. We talked about more than his retirement and how he felt about his new daily routine, which included his long morning walk. He asked about how I was doing, which at the time I was interning at the La Feria News and Rio Sports Live as a magazine writer. We recalled some of the old days like my eighth grade football season – the only season I played football in my athletic career. Then, this story stood out about the character he is and the purpose behind his grit and why he was the way he was. He told me a story about a kid in his P.E. class at WB Green Jr. High, typical kid with his shorts below his belt with his underwear showing. Coach V told him with the voice everyone knows, stern and saying for him to pick up his “darn” pants. Coach V said he told the kid if he did not pick up his pants and fix his attitude, he would not
SELENE OLGUIN’S B ook S igning Events!
Meet the youngest author of the Rio Grande Valley. Selene Olguin is only 12 years old and she published her 1st children’s book “Animal Tails”. Please come and join us at this special event. Book purchase will be available..
Locations: Quips “N” Quotes
709 N 77 Sunshine Strip Harlingen, TX 78550
Friday August 27, 2021 @10:00am-12:00pm
Book Signing Events Meet & Greet
Selene Olguin's Book Signing Events!
Page 2
Koffee Klatch 101 S 77 Sunshine Strip, Harlingen, TX 78550 Sunday August 29, 2021 @ 10:00am12:00pm
c
TSTC Welding Technology
Page 3
Lionettes Cross Country
Page 5
How to draw an elephant
Page 6
NEW! Art of Manliness Monthly segment
Page 6 City Calendar............pg. 2 Classified....................pg. 4 Sports..........................pg. 5 Activity Page.............pg. 6 Puzzles........................pg. 7
Former La Feria ISD coach Tommy Villarreal passed away on August 11. Tommy retired last year after 37 years at W.B. Green Junior High School. Photo: Billy Watson amount to anything. remember – and handed dropped a ball during Well, Coach V recalled it to the kid telling him football practice. a few years ago heading he knows he might use it No one can count into the Stripes store on for drugs or alcohol, but the number of district Main Street by the railroad that was his chance to do championships that man tracks. As he was entering, something right and make won on their hands. I know he saw a kid there asking to something of himself classes before mine – if I spare some change. before it was too late, a can remember, my class That was the same kid second chance basically. did it too – swept district he got on in his P.E. class That’s just a smidge of titles in all the sports many, many years before. who and what Coach V year-round. Coach V set Coach V asked what was. the foundation for the happened to him and Of course, all the athletes athletes heading to high reminded him of what he that went through him can school, which subsequently had told him back in that tell you all different sorts of has seen great success in class. After a conversation things he said from good, all sports: football with with the kid and him funny, sometimes insulting its first outright district recognizing who he was like one of my favorites, championship in 2016, talking to, Coach V pulled “Can’t catch a cold on basketball going back-toout some money – it was a cold winter night,” back with district titles too, either $20 or $100, I can’t referring to when someone track and field continuing
the usual tradition of winning district and the area meets, both boys and girls programs sending athletes to state, and many more. Go ask coach Salinas or coach Campos. Coach V bled maroon and gold. I think the only time I did not see him not wear school colors was at church on Sundays. I think if it weren’t for this pandemic, he still would have been coaching. He even told me he didn’t want to deal with a lot of the new changes with COVID-19 impacting everything. I mean, how do you do virtual physical education? Through everything, you can see God through Coach V. He brought out the best in his athletes and kept his faith too, even spreading it. I hope he is welcomed into heaven with open arms for all the wonderful things he was remembered for. Some people wouldn’t be who they are today with him, even if they weren’t athletes or they didn’t have him as a coach. One last thing, Coach V. Field at Lions Stadium has a good ring to it. Rest in peace to a coach, community idol, father, tio, and legend. A true AllAmerican. Sports reporter for The Hutchinson News | USA TODAY NETWORK
County Strongly Recommends Mask Mandate
Nelda Briones LFN
Having to wear a mask has been a big issue around the state of Texas since Governor Greg Abbot put a ban on mask mandates. Especially, since many local schools have started classes and the worries of the new Delta variant spreading quickly here in the Valley, have many concerned about the safety of schools and public places. A couple of school districts here in the Valley have decided to follow CDC recom-
The only Community Bank with locations in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy Counties
mendations and make mask wearing mandatory in their schools. So far, La Feria ISD is still optional. As per Cameron County Local Health Authority order for universal indoor masking “ pending the outcome of legal challenges regarding mask mandates in Texas, School Boards or the governing body of the school shall implement a policy to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for universal indoor masking and require all students
VID-19 and the current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Texas Medical Association, and the Cameron County Health Department, Dr. James
To schedule an appointment, call 956.370.7169 or visit myvbpn.com. Family Care Clinic, 200 W. 1st Street, Suite B, La Feria
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Welcoming New Patients Now Open Monday - Saturday Call for an Appointment Today!
100 S. Main Street
Ph: (956)797-4444
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Physicals | Well Visits | Sick Visits | Immunizations | and more...
• Digital
The Community’s Choice.
Castillo under authority as the Health Authority for the County of Cameron, issued and signed the Cameron County Local Health Authority Order for All Public-School Systems Related to Facial Covers
NOW ACCEPTING PATIENTS Bright Odei, MD & Juan Briones, PA-C
• Bridges
H ARLINGEN M EDICAL C ENTER
BEST HOSPITAL
Member FDIC
(age 2 and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a face mask indoors as soon as they determine it is legally permissible to do so.” Many young children under the age of 12 are unable to get vaccinated and officials want to help keep hospitals from overflowing with COVID-19 patients. In Cameron County, on August 16, 2021 County Judge Eddie Trevino, Jr. Sent out the order below: “Due to the rapidly evolving nature of CO-
La Feria, Texas
Elizondo Family (956)241-0978