La Feria News 1-11-23

La Feria’s “Crying Tree”

Looking Through Our History

The La Feria Newspaper is celebrating its 100th year anniversary and to commemorate the occasion we are digging deep into our archives each week to bring you images and stories from our paper's colorful past history.

This story is brought in from December 18, 2015, as part of our "100-Year Centennial " special that the paper did for the City of La Feria. The article can be found on our website, at laferianews.net

A 30-foot acacia (huisache) tree became quite the conversation piece for the town of La Feria back in the late 60’s. At one time, the leaves of the tree were shedding up to 18 gallons

of liquid a day! The spectacle earned the tree the moniker “crying tree” and earned its owner 50 cents a visitor! The tree gained so much notoriety the story even ran in regional, state and finally

nationally when the story was run in the pages of Time Magazine! Below is reporter Jack Keever’s account that ran in several Texas papers…

People Flock to Backyard in Texas to Look at Crying Tree

By Jack Keever LA FERIA, Tex. (AP)

– It isn’t much of a tree to look at. Its branches don’t give much shade and its leaves are crowded by telephone wires.

But it does leak water and hundreds of people crowd into Sam Morse’s backyard at 50 cents apiece because they think the drippage is a sign of magical healing.

Dozens of long distance calls and letters have asked for samples of the liquid.

“I hope it cures them all, but I don’t think it will,” said Morse who, at 65, suddenly finds his

quiet life interrupted with a yard full of people wanting water from a 13-year-old acacia tree he once almost cut down.

“I havn’t drunk any of that filthy water and don’t intend to,” he said. And he’ll tell you frankly that the tree stands on a water formation six feet below the surface.

His doubts, however, haven’t stopped the crowds or letters.

Like a gold rush, dozens, then hundreds, mostly MexicanAmericans, poured into his yard after the word got out about a month ago that water was flowing

from the 30 foot tree.

Clutching paper cups and glass jars, they pushed and shoved to get to the tree, a common variety here in the lower Rio Grande Valley.

Some knelt to mix the water with dirt and rub it on their bodies.

Most dubbed it the “Crying Tree” but some called it “God’s Tree” and Morse’s yard “the Holy Land.”

One excited man cried, “It belongs to God, me and God.”

After a week of feet scuffing his grass and trampling bushes, and noise that kept him awake

all night, Morse decided, “I don’t want anybody to get hurt. I want some order.”

He tried a five-foot high extension on a four foot fence around his lot. But that didn’t stop the night visitors, so he ringed the tree with an eight-foot high fence topped with barbed wire.

After much free water at the rate of 14 to 18 gallons a day had flowed from the tree, Morse built a gate in the fence and began charging 50 cents admission. The daily take runs as much as $200.

“We don’t limit how long they stay in there,” Morse said.

“You have to understand these people when they’re ready to come out they will, and we’ll let some more in.

“I could’ve charged a dollar each, but I don’t want to profiteer.

“Why, if I wanted to, I could sell seeds that fall off this tree for 25 cents each.

“I know most of the people. They’ve either lost hope in doctors or they’re too poor to pay.”

Dr. Gary Miller, a Harlingen, Tex., psychologist, asked for his interpretation of the interest in the tree, called it an example of people’s ability to “think magically.”

“You never know when the tree will run dry. I may come out one morning and the water will be gone,” said Morse.

“But people will still want to see it, sort of like a shrine.”

Poem: The God of Creation by James E. Arnold

The tree gained so much notoriety, the story broke in several regional, state and national outlets, including the front page of the August 23, 1966 edition of The Abilene Reporter-News.

Introducing Shrdlu!

Looking Through Our History

The Corner

Same Ol’ Routine

Last week we committed Shrdlu our Office Cat to do hard labor in the back shop until Ground Hog’s Day because he had made some irreverent remarks about our New Year’s dish of blackeyed peas and hog jowl.

This week, His multitude of friends— subscribers of this newspaper—came to us and asked us to forgive our feline office boy inasmuch as even cat can make mistakes. His many friends asked us to reinstate him in the freedom to which his position entitles him. After about the 100th person asked us to forgive Shrdlu, we did and so on Tuesday he was back in his old routine

We’ll go to great lengths to please our subscribers.

Shortly after Shrdlu had settled himself at our typewriter where he said he was going to write our editorial this week (see editorial page please), a rat leaped upon the desk, climbed atop the filing cabinet, and proceeded to soap-box Shrdlu in a terrific barrage of squeaks. The rat waved a business-like document in front of Shrdlu and demanded our Office Cat’s undivided attention.

The document the rat was waving was a petition. It was signed by a whole nest of rats. It said, in brief, that the management of The La Feria News was too had on the rats. It said that the

management of the La Feria News only this week had set traps and caught two rats—two rats who no longer would be able to sign the petition.

The document demanded that Shrdlu, in his influential position, take steps to see that the management set no more traps, thus making the life of rats around the place easier.

Shrdlu, recovering from his amazement, did a very, very ordinary thing—ordinary, at least, for a cat.

He seized the cocky rat and ate him.

Then he proceeded to write the editorial on page 2, about other kinds of rats who want something for nothing.

In accordance with the Order of the Office of the Governor issued March 16, 2020, the City of La Feria will conduct the meeting and provide audio/telephonic availability for the public using live stream in order to advance the public health goal of limiting face-to-face meetings (also called “social distancing”) to slow the spread of the Coronavirus (also known as Covid-19). To view the meeting via internet live streaming, please visit https://www.cityoflaferia.com/ boards-and-commissions/city-commission/agendas-2020/ where you will find the agenda for the next meeting. The pdf for the agenda will include a link, meeting ID and passcode for the Zoom meeting. More information is available by calling 346-248-7799.

Members of the public may sign up for public comment on an agenda item or for another item of public concern by submitting an email to amorales@cityoflaferia.com containing (1) the name of the individual wishing to comment; and (2) the item number or subject matter the individual wishes to comment on. Please submit requests for public comment no later than two hours before the meeting. Join the meeting at the time and login listed above and the Mayor will call on you when it is your turn to speak. A recording of the meeting will be made and will be available to the public in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. If during the course of the meeting, any discussion of any item on the agenda is permitted to be held in executive or closed session, whether such item is already so identified on this Agenda or not, the City Commission will convene in such executive or closed session in accordance with Texas Government Code Section 551.001551.146.

Simple Steps to Excellent Exterior Weatherization

StatePoint

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Strong Foundation:

Check for any cracks or breaks in your home’s foundation by doing a thorough search. Issues in this area can lead to water damage inside your home and create the means for pests to invade. Seal up any cracks with quick-dry mortar or expanding foam filler to provide excellent protection.

Frozen Faucet Prevention: Avoid frozen

pipes during those cold winter months with the Duck brand Faucet Cover. This easy-to-install cover helps trap the heat that naturally radiates through the interior pipes to the outdoor spigot and keeps temperatures regulated. Simply place the cover around the spout of any exterior faucet and slide tight for cold-weather winter protection.

Garage Prep: The largest entry point of the home is often the most overlooked – the garage. However, it’s easy to prevent snow, water and cold gusts of air from entering with a Duck brand Garage Bottom Seal. Heavy-duty and waterproof, the rubber material won’t freeze or crack and creates a protective airtight seal all

Looking Through Our History

The La Feria Newspaper is celebrating its 100th year anniversary and to commemorate the occasion we are digging deep into our archives each week to bring you images and stories from our paper's colorful past history.

This piece below is transcribed from our March 2, 1950 edition.

Thieves Take Theater Safe

The City of La Feria which goes unpoliced at night because its only city-employed peace officer simply can't work both ends of the clock, early Monday marked up another burglary mystery.

The Alto theater was entered through a French window on the side of the building and the safe in the Alto office was removed. Only $21 in money was taken, but papers and a $100 Savings bond were filched, too. The safe was ruined.

The ruins of the safe were found by Ray Junker at 8 a. m. Monday on Solis road. Max Carnicom was working in his business in the Alto building until about 1:30 a. m. Monday, so apparently the safe was taken between that hour and day- break, as Carnicom reported hearing no strange noises.

A. Womble, owner of the theater, said he had removed all money from the safe, except petty cash, Sunday night.

County and precinct

officers and a Texas Ranger investigated.

Apparently the safe had been taken through the window, across the vacant lot and hauled away in a vehicle which some one reportedly saw parked on the dirt street at a late hour.

At press time, no report of a solution of the case was given.

It was the second brazen entrance into a downtown business in frequent months. Not long ago, burglars entered the front door of Paulson's Jewelry

and cleaned out its stock of merchandise.

Less than two years ago, the La Feria News office was entered through the front door, the lock of which was twisted off by the culprits, and the office safe taken, broken, and discarded on a sideroad in a similar manner to that in which the Alto safe was disposed of. No tangible clues were uncovered in that case.

C HURCH SERVICE D IRECTORY

1st united Methodist Church Pastor Federico Perez, 797-1393

331 S. Main St., La Feria, Sunday School 10am, Traditional Worship Service 9am, Contemporary Service 11am, UM Youth 5pm

International Worship Center Bishop Ronaldo Ortiz 956-797-1204

116 W. Seventh St., La Feria Services Sunday (English) 9:30am Domingo (Espanol) 11am, Miercoles 7pm

Interdenominational Worship Extreme Youth Sat. 6 pm

First Baptist Church of Santa rosa Pastor Harold Parker 956-636-1603

118 Jesus R. Cruz, Santa Rosa Sunday Services 9:30am Bible Study, 10:30am Morning Worship, 7pm Wednesday Evening Worship.

apostolic Faith Tabernacle

Pastor Ramon Zarate 357-6384

621 South Main, La Feria Sunday School 10am Sunday Worship 4pm, Wed. Evening 7:30pm.

All services are bilingual.

Iglesia Oracion en Su Presencia Missionary Church,Inc. Pastors Frank & Janie Gonzalez 797-0044 4th Street, La Feria,TX Sunday 10am & 6pm, Monday 7 pm Prayer Service, Wednesday 7 pm, Friday 7 pm.

Church of Christ Minister Gene Head 536-9832

912 N. Parker Rd., La Feria, Wednesday 6:30 pm Bible Study, Sunday 9:30am Bible Study, 10:30am Service, 5pm Evening Service Los Domingos: 12:00 Medio Dia Los Jueves: 7:00 pm Estudio De Biblia

Faith Church of Christian & Missionary alliance Church

Pastor Oscar Loredo 797-1739

125 W. First St., La Feria,Tx Bilingual Ministry Sunday 10am Sunday School, 11am Worship, Wednesday 7 pm Bible Study, Friday 7 pm Prayer.

Santa rosa united Methodist Church 408 Main Street (Hwy. 107/506) Santa Rosa, across from High School Sunday Coffee and Fellowship 9:30 AM Worship10 AM (Communion fi rst Sunday) Wednesday Prayer Service 9:00 AM Pastor: Carole Lahti (956) 279-3407

Casa de Esperanza apostolic Church 416 W. Spruce La Feria 965-639-4301 Bilingual Services Sunday at 1:00pm Daniel Martinez Pastor St. Mary’s Catholic Church FR. Edouard Atangana, 956-636-1211 101 San Antonio Ave., Santa Rosa Saturday Mass 5pm Bilingual, Sunday Mass 8am Spanish, 10am English.

First Baptist Church of La Feria 797-1214

Main St. & Magnolia, La Feria Wednesday 6:30pm Youth Bible Study & Mission Friends, 9:45am Sunday School, 11am Morning Worship Service St. albans

Episcopal Church Reverend Scott Brown 956-428-2305, 1417 E. Austin, Harlingen,TX Holy Communion 8am, Sunday School 9:15, Holy Eucharist 10:30am.

Hope in the Word Church Pastors Jose & Bertha Belmares 797-3621, 28354 S. Bixby Rd., La Feria Services Friday 6pm, Sunday 10am. All services are Bilingual, English & Spanish.

Primera Iglesia Bautista 956-797-1740 519 N. Main, La Feria Bilingual Services: Sunday 9:45am Sunday School, 10:45am Worship Service, 5:00pm WMU, 6:00 pm Evening Worship Service, Iglesia Generacion En Conquista Pastor Samuel y Magda Cervantes, Phone (956) 536-2215 2803 W. Exp. 83 Suite A. La Feria Sunday Service 10am Bible Study, 11am Worship Service, 7pm Wednesday Family Service

Living Water Church and Ministry Pastor Henry and Rosie 2805 Memorial Suite B. La Feria Sunday Service 11am, 6pm Spanish Worship Service, 7pm Wednesday Service St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Fr. Rodolfo Franco 797-2666, offi ce: 502 S. Canal church: 500 South Canal St., La Feria, Saturday Mass 5:30pm, Sunday Mass 8am Spanish, 10am English, 12pm Bilingual. Christ In Our Midst Missionary Church Pastor: Rev. Daniel Carrizalez 956-742-6311 1 mile N. of FM 506, La Feria Sunday School 9:45 a.m., Sunday Worship - 11:00 a.m., Wednesday Service - 7:00 p.m., Monday Prayer - 7:00 p.m. new Hope Presbyterian Church 208 West Central Ave, La Feria,TX, 956-277-0208 Services Sunday 4:30 pm Sunday School 3:15 pm Communion on the 1st Sunday of every month Cowboy Church

year long.

Chimney Sweep: While it’s clear outside, inspect the chimney vents on your roof to clear any blockages. This step also protects against unwanted rodents or birds taking claim in the warmth of the vents. Nervous about handling any gas-related home maintenance tasks? Make the investment and call a professional to do

a simple inspection or cleanup for a safe way to keep your fireplace running smoothly.

Regardless of the age of your home, prevention and maintenance can help it withstand harsh climate shifts, humidity and general weathering, so that it remains in excellent condition for years.

Looking Through Our History

The La Feria Newspaper is celebrating its 100th year anniversary and to commemorate the occasion we are digging deep into our archives each week to bring you images and stories from our paper's colorful past history.

This piece below is transcribed from our January 8, 1948 edition.

Fire Department Has Busy New Year

The La Feria Fire Department had a busy New Year. Blazing palm trees on South Parker Road New Year’s Eve was responsible for one call

and a burning truck on the highway New Year’s Day required aid from the department. Little damage resulted from either blaze.

First Baptist Church, La Feria

The 1997 film, “Liar, Liar,” portrayed an attorney who was a pathological liar. Because of a birthday wish by his son, for 24 hours the attorney could not lie about anything. His involuntary honesty created as many problems as his pathological dishonesty.

Rep.-elect George Santos, of New York has admitted to lying about parts of his resume. The lies involved his education and employment history. As the story evolves, it appears there are questions about almost every part of Santos’ story. Including his ancestry, religion, and even his mother’s death. Rep.-elect Santos contends that he has not broken any laws. Is Mr. Santos telling the truth about that?

There are occasions when lying is illegal, like under oath. However, there are places and situations when lying has come to be expected. Unfortunately, one of those places is in politics and public service.

But is lying immoral? Leviticus 19:11 says, “You shall not deceive or speak falsely to one another.” Still, there are places in the scriptures where people lie without recriminations. Sometimes, they are rewarded for their lies. The midwives in Egypt lied about new born Hebrew males to protect the infants from Pharaoh. In turn, they were rewarded for the lies with children of their own.

Once, lying paid off for me. I won an award when I went to a Lad and Dad camp with my sons. “Best Fish Tale,” which is a way of saying, “Best Liar.” Not a very flattering award for a pastor.

But we all lie occasionally. Even if it is to avoid being rude or unkind. Honesty is surely the best policy. However, there are times when telling the whole truth can also do a whole lot of harm.

The difference between the kind of lies may be regarding who benefits from the lie. There is a difference between saving an infant from death, and saving one’s political career. Santos says he is sorry. Can you believe him?

-Mark S. Ross DMin.

Job available

Position: Office Manager / Bookkeeper and Assistant Office Manager / Bookkeeper

· Pine to Palm is a shareholder-owned park that was established 53 years ago.

· The Office Manager / Bookkeeper reports to the Board of Directors of the Mantex Corporation. The majority of residents are Winter Texans with a few permanent residents.

· There is a staff of 2 in the office, the Manager being responsible for all the inside management and responsibilities.

· Responsible for a secure, financially sound, safe, clean, and attractive park, all the while maintaining the park to a high standard and staying within the budget.

Please present with the following accomplishments: -College degree in a related field and/or combo of secondary education and experience with property management an asset -Competency with computers, Microsoft office, financial accounting systems (Park uses the Sage system). -Bookkeeping experience an asset -Payroll administration and website management as asset Must be a vibrant person, with the ability to solve problems, multi-task, and have strong verbal and written skills all the while getting along with the residents. Salary negotiable with benefits.

Assistant Manager / Bookeeeper – secondary to the Manager Salary to be negotiated.

To apply by resume or to ask for a more complete job description: voddenjr@gmail.com Rocky Vodden denjan69@outlook.com Jan Hodgson Accepting applications until Friday, January 6th, 2023

Find Us On Twitter!

Looking Through Our History

The La Feria Newspaper is celebrating its 100th year anniversary and to commemorate the occasion we are digging deep into our archives each week to bring you images and stories from our paper's colorful past history.

This piece below is transcribed from our July 6, 1950 edition.

Don't Do It, Santa Rosa!

We've been hearing and reading quite a bit of stuff about the proposed consolidation of the schools of Santa Rosa, Primera, (Wilson-Tract) and Stuart Place with the Harlingen School system, with an alternative or so.

There's even an election coming up in about a week on the matter--a double election in which the communities are to decide.

We haven't said anything much about this matter, especially as long as the conversation stuck to the Stuart Place school which we think will decide to go along with Harlingen. Maybe the Wilson Tract people will too. But that is about where the line ought to be drawn.

There are several ways to look at this situation. If Stuart Place, Santa Rosa and Wilson Tract consolidated, the school probably wouldn't be more than say a "B" class school. If all or any of those districts go to the Harlingen consolidation, they wili be in an "A" class school all right, but Harlingen, now cramped and hard put for tax dollars, we reckon, would benefit from the virgin tax territories of Santa Rosa, Wilson Tract and Stuart Place.

We hope that all those districts know what they're getting into. We think it would be better for all of them to think about consolidating with the La Feria school. That might mean we would have to move our high school OUT of town, but that would be all right, and it might mean we would have to raise our valuations and lower our tax rate to make our district look more inviting. But that would be all right and would not jump anybody's taxes but a few cents, if any.

These schools are Western Cameron County. We think they should stick together.

We think that there is no more reason for them to go to Harlingen than it is to move the Alamo from San Antonio to the Valley.

We imagine that it may be too late to stop the consolidation of Wilson Tract and Stuart Place with Harlingen, but we are sincerely hoping that Santa Rosa will reject the whole thing. We believe that in time a middle point between Santa Rosa and La Feria on the Santa Rosa Highway would be a likely spot for a consolidated La Feria-Santa Rosa School system.

Western Cameron county doesn't have the

population of the other portions of the county. and for that reason we believe we should stick together-we communities of Western Cameron County. There is strength. in unity. We don't know what our local school board would like to do about this situation.

But we do feel that the La Feria district would cooperate the fullest, maybe even make very generous concessions- if it were approached by the other districts. Perhaps long ago, when Harlingen made its move, we, too; should have made our move.

We just have a hunch that Harlingen will be frantic and at wit's end if they don't get some new sources of school tax money-such as the nice territories of Wilson Tract, Stuart Place, and Santa Rosa.

We've heard about some "funny" things regarding the tacking up of the consolidation election notices, too. And about the simultaneous elections in the two districts.

Let's all be wary of the thing that would make our Western Cameron County tax dollar build stronger the octopus that would like to swallow us.

Warriors Stay Hot

Santa Rosa improves to 6-0 in District

By Ruben Rodriguez La Feria News

The Santa Rosa Warriors captured their 6th straight district win in 32-3A after defeating IDEA Frontier 74-63. So how has this season fared so far for the Warriors?

Santa Rosa currently is 15-7 on the season overall. Throughout non-district, Santa Rosa picked up wins over Corpus Christi King, Corpus Christi Moody and Brownsville

Veterans.

Heading into 32-3A Play, Santa Rosa has been red hot out of the gate.

The Warriors opened up district with a win over IDEA Weslaco Pike, then defeated Rio Hondo, Lyford, Progreso, IDEA Sports Park and more recently IDEA Frontier. Now we look ahead to 323A down the road.

Santa Rosa will take on IDEA Riverview then Monte Alto to wrap up the first half of District 32-3A. Round two will

begin on January 17 against IDEA Weslaco Pike, following will be Rio Hondo on January 20, Lyford on January 24, Progreso on January 27. IDEA Sports Park will be on January 31, IDEA Frontier on February 3, IDEA Riverview is February 6 and lastly Monte Alto on February 10.

Santa Rosa is on pace to capture District 32-3A for a second consecutive year after going 10-0 in 32-3A.

Former Student Visits La Feria ISD

By Emilio Flores La Feria News

elementary school. La Feria ISD Posted on December 21, 2022: "Thank you to Darius Hernandez our former student who plays football with Clarke University

for coming to talk to our 4th grade boys about how discipline, dedication, and attitude help make better athletes!

Looking Through Our History

The La Feria Newspaper is celebrating its 100th year anniversary and to commemorate the occasion we are digging deep into our archives each week to bring you images and stories from our paper's colorful past history.

This piece below is transcribed from our July 6, 1950 edition.

Former Student and Tailback for the La Feria Lions Football team in 2018 visited Sam Houston

Darius Hernandez talking to the students. Photo from La Feria ISD Facebook Page.

Transportation Committee Interim Report 2022

imports and exports in 2018. Texas boasts 10 of the top 100 U.S. ports in total tonnage and five are in the top 20, and three ports are among the top five in fastest growing US Ports: Port of Corpus Christi (1), Port of Houston (2), and Port of Beaumont (4).

Locally, in 2021, the Port of Harlingen brought in more than 3 million tons of goods through its facilities. Over the last five years, tonnage has increased 211 percent, a 520 percent increase in barge traffic and a 166 percent increase in waterborne tonnage with more than 2.3 million last fiscal year.

By Amy Lynch | Dec 28, 2022 | News Releases

HARLINGEN, TX –

The Port of Harlingen is optimistic for the possibility of state funding appropriated for Texas ports in the 88th Legislature after The House Committee on Transportation released their interim report.

The report provides two recommendations:

The Legislature should appropriate $750 million to the Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fund for the deepening and widening of the authorized ship channels.

The Legislature should appropriate $1 billion for the purpose of investing in projects in the Port Capital Improvement Report.

After the last legislative session, Dade Phelan, Texas Speaker of the

House of Representatives, charged all committees to study recommendations to many challenges facing Texas, which included the growing concern of ensuring a resilient supply chain through Texas ports.

During two separate committee hearings in September and October, the House Transportation Committee heard testimony from Texas Ports, including The Port of Harlingen, and supporting organizations like Texas Department of Transportation and Texas Ports Association and other key stakeholders about the need for investment and funding for resources.

“Historically, the state of Texas has not supported the seaports monetarily and it’s unfortunate.

Especially when seaports are responsible for 25 percent of the state’s GDP, Port Director Walker Smith

said. “As important and impactful on our economy as ports are, funding from the State of Texas continues to be virtually nonexistent. But, what the Transportation Committee is doing gives us hope. We appreciate the efforts of the committee and Chairman Canales. We appreciate everything the committee has been saying and what they have been researching and looking for answers to – to try and figure out what’s best. We absolutely are in support of the committee report.”

According to the Port Authority Advisory Committee (PAAC), formed under the Texas Transportation Committee in 2001, Texas ranked second nationwide for total waterborne tonnage handled and first nationwide for total foreign waterborne tonnage of

“We have continued to grow exponentially every year and we do not foresee that slowing down,” Smith said. This is a great thing for the community and the state of Texas but keeping up with maintenance and the ability to handle such growth without funding leaves so much on the table and our port and every other port, looking to where they will find the dollars to fill the gaps for these needs.”

Sans budget riders granted by the Texas Department of Transportation, which has invested $140 million in 47 access improvement projects since 2015, Texas ports are fully self-funded and rely on revenue and local taxing districts for funding. Vastly different from competitive states including Louisiana, Georgia, California,

Alabama and Florida, which fund port improvement projects at the state level. In 2001, the Texas Legislature enacted Chapter 55 of the Transportation Code, which would provide means for investment in maritime port infrastructure through the port access account fund. In 2017, the 85th legislature enacted Chapter 56 of the Transportation Code, creating the Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fund (SCIRF) to be used as a low-interest revolving loan program to expedite authorized deepening and widening ship channel projects. Neither have ever been appropriated funds.

The Port of Harlingen currently has about $60 million in projects for immediate infrastructure needs and expansion, including widening the turning basin expansion and constructing bulk heads, main dock rehabilitation, rail expansion, and building moorings and fleeting areas. Port administration, like all Texas ports, have sought federal funding for assistance, including a recent Port Infrastructure Development Program Grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation for $3.9 million, which will cover 75% of the total project cost for main dock rehabilitation and a lengthy ramp up process before construction. As well as, utilizing the U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers Corps’ Continuing Authorities Program Section 107 of the River and Harbor Act of 1960 that provides for navigation improvement, to expand its turning basin. This project is currently initiating the feasibility study phase of the project.

“Texas Ports have had to solely rely on federal grants to fund projects, ad valorum tax revenue or other creative methods, such as private investment, for funding sources” Smith said. “However, applying for federal funding is very competitive and local tax dollars can only be used to maintain already existing infrastructure. Although these sources help, state funding would be critical in filling in the gaps and facilitate much needed and anticipated Port growth.”

The 88th Texas Legislature convenes at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 10th. To view the entire House of Transportation Committee Interim Charge go to: https://house.texas.gov/_ media/pdf/committees/ reports/87interim/ Transportation-CommitteeInterim-Report-2022.pdf

Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen Re-verified

as Cameron County’s Only Level II Trauma Center

HARLINGEN —

Continuing its commitment to providing high-quality, emergency care to communities throughout the Rio Grande Valley for nearly 100 years, Valley Baptist Medical CenterHarlingen is proud to announce that it has been re-verified as Cameron County’s only Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons.

Valley Baptist-Harlingen was originally designated a Level II Trauma Center in February 2018, and was the first hospital in the Valley to receive the designation and was the first hospital in the area to advance to the highest level of trauma care. Ever since, Valley Baptist-Harlingen’s Trauma Center has been saving the lives of patients with traumatic injuries by providing rapid, life-saving trauma care close to home, said Dr. Daniel Bolton, a trauma surgeon and medical director of Valley Baptist-Harlingen’s trauma program.

“Having a dedicated trauma center is vitally important to any community, small or large.

Because we are part of a growing region, it is critically important that our hospital continue to advance trauma care in the area so that we can stabilize, treat, and care for our community right here at home,” he said. “The location and proximity of a trauma center can be the difference between life and death for a patient, and the fact that we have one of the highest levels of trauma care here in Harlingen is extremely beneficial to our community. The goal with trauma care is to get people seen and assessed as rapidly as possible. There is something that we call the golden hour, which is especially important in critical care. That can be the defining point to whether someone is going to survive or not survive.”

According to the American College of Surgeons, a facility with a Level II trauma designation can initiate ultimate care for all injured patients, offer 24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons, provide coverage in the specialties of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery,

anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, and critical care, in addition to providing trauma prevention and continuing education programs for staff, as well as incorporating a comprehensive quality assessment program.

“This achievement recognizes the trauma center's dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients,” according to a press release from the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons.

While there are Level I trauma centers operating in Hidalgo County, Bolton said that such level designations can be confusing for a public trying to understand what such designations mean when it comes to the trauma care they need.

“The difference between a Level I and Level II trauma center, according to the American College of Surgeons, is not in the level of trauma care that is provided clinically, but is related to the level of clinical research and the level of general surgery residents on the hospital’s

campus. What this means to the community is that a Level I Trauma Center and a Level II Trauma Center are both capable of handling the same type of trauma care clinically and are both accountable for providing the same level of quality care,” he said. “At Valley Baptist, we are fully-staffed to deal with whatever trauma care needs our community may have. We have everything from full-time, 24-7 critical care trauma surgeons who are in-house at all times attending to all trauma patients from entry to the Emergency Department all the way through to discharge. We also have a variety of surgical specialists on call around the clock, including orthopedic trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, oral maxillofacial surgeons, plastic surgeons, and more."

Bolton said that partnerships with other entities throughout the region are vital to providing high-quality trauma care to the community.

“Valley Baptist–Harlingen is proud of our partnership with The

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Medicine, who provides the full-time physician coverage of Valley Baptist’s trauma surgeons,” he said. “Over the past six months, UTRGV has onboarded three additional board certified critical care trauma surgeons, who each have incredible clinical backgrounds, to enhance the growth of our trauma program. The level of care these additional surgeons are providing within the hospital’s Level II Trauma Center is extraordinary and we are proud to have them serving our community in this capacity.”

Educating local residents on how to prevent emergencies in the first place is also a critical component to operating a Level II trauma facility. Those educational efforts also include supporting other hospitals throughout the region in a wide variety of initiatives from fall and injury prevention to gun safety, to how to stop blood loss during severe accidents, Bolton said.

“I think the part that we are really trying to do

at Valley Baptist is help provide safety mechanisms for organizations who are trying to teach our community how to avoid trauma in the first place,” he said. “This is a vital part of our role, and we’re working hand-in-hand with the local government and educators to identify and assist at risk groups, trying to avoid these injuries before they happen.”

Like many other areas of healthcare, providing exceptional trauma care is a team-oriented approach. The team at Valley BaptistHarlingen, Bolton said, is well prepared to handle all our community’s needs and is proud to serve at this high level of trauma care and capabilities.

“The strength of Valley Baptist is our people. The nursing staff, the support staff, the physicians and surgeons – everyone from the cleaning staff to the security staff, we are all engaged and involved,” he said. “We bring excellence to this program because we want to do what’s right for this community.”

House of Transportation Committee Interim Charge pdf