Wednesday, May 28, 2014Printed in the USA

Vol. 36 Issue 22 50¢

LIFE’S LIGHTER SIDE

See JOKES, page 9

One early morning a mother went to hersleeping son and woke him up.

Mom: “Wake up, son. It’s time to go to school.”Son: “But why, mom? I don’t want to go to

school.”Mom: “Give me two reasons why you don’t

want to go to school.”Son: “One, all the children hate me. Two, all the

teachers hate me.”Mom: “Oh! that’s not a reason. Come on, you

have to get up and go to school.”Son: “Give me two good reasons WHY I should

go to school?”

Mom: “One, you are 52 years old and shouldunderstand your responsibilities. Two, you arethe principal of the school.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -A man talking to God:The man: “God, how long is a million years?”God: “To me, it’s about a minute.”The man: “God, how much is a million dollars?”God: “To me it’s a penny.”The man: “God, may I have a penny?”God: “Wait a minute.”

See POLO, page 18

Will Polo run again?Old slate won’t yet commit

Mayor Leo“Polo” Palacios

CommissionerAdan Farias

PHARR – Now that the local elections are finally over,except for the Precinct 2, Place 2 July 1 runoff between “Jerry”Muñoz and Eloy Treviño, political watchers in the Hub City areasking the question – will “Polo” Palacios run again for mayor?

The May 2015 Pharr municipal election includes four seatsup for grabs – the mayor and three commissioners.

In the 2010 race, Palacios success-fully ran a re-election campaign thatincluded his two slate mates from theelection in 2006, Arturo Cortez andAdan Farias, as well as a newcomer tocity politics, Aquiles “Jimmy” Garza,whose father-in-law is former StateRepresentative Aaron Peña Jr.

But things haven’t stayed the samesince 2010. Not if you factor in therace this past March for HidalgoCounty Commissioner, Precinct 2,which pitted Palacios’ brother, Hector“Tito” Palacios against the mayor’sformer ally on the Pharr City Com-mission, Eduardo “Eddie” Cantu.

To run in the county race, Cantu had to step down from hisseat as Pharr city commissioner. The rest of the commissionbacked Cantu. At the time, Palacios labeled it as a form ofbetrayal. He had stood by all of them in past elections, he said,helping them get elected, and because of that, they shouldstand by him and support his brother.

Cantu’s supporters countered:“Tito” Palacios has served longenough as county commissioner (16years). It’s time for some new blood.

For their part, at the time, the fivecity commissioners backing Cantu forcounty commissioner – Art Cortez,Adan Farias, Jimmy Garza, BobbyCarrillo and Oscar Elizondo – all saidcounty politics should have nothingto do with city politics. The twoshould remain separate.

Since the end of the DemocraticPrimary election in March, whichCantu won without a runoff in a

See BORDER, page 24

Kids without parents swamp the border DHS director declares border crisis in the RGV

Dr. Marsha Griffin, shown here with one of her small patients,won the American Academy of Pediatrics Local Heroes Awardin 2012.

The number of unaccompaniedminors crossing the U.S./Mexicoborder is rapidly increasing, sayfederal authorities.

Talk about some heavychildhood stress. You’renine years old and you’vehooked up with a band ofrag-tag refugees from yourhome country who aretrying to gain illegal en-trance into the land of milkand honey, AKA, the U.S.Now, you’ve made it acrossthe river, you’re wet andhungry, but suddenly, thereare all these men andwomen around you wear-ing green uniforms, carry-ing guns, with dogs strain-ing at their leash whilehelicopters buzz overhead.

“De donde es usted,”the Border Patrol agentswant to know.

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Area News

2 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, May 28, 2014

819 N. Veterans Blvd. • Pharr, Texas 78577Bus.: (956) 781-7771 • Fax: (956) 781-9318

1-888-556-2825

Bob Treviño and staff are ready to helpwith all your insurance needs.

Group Medical • Life • Disability

Valley nature

See NATURE, page 7

By Gregg Romero Wendorf

In the early ‘90s,I was up in Austinone day andhappened to pickup the Wall StreetJournal. It had theold-school layoutback then. Theonly one like it inAmerica at thetime. Every storyon the front pagewas laid out in onelong verticalcolumn with aone-columnheadline. Only exception was a two-column piece –What’s News? But my favorite part of the front pagewas what was called the middle column. That columnwas full of colorful stories, not your standard news fare,but more like a profile piece. A color profile. So one day,probably 1991, if I had to guess, I pick up the WSJ andmy eyes turn to the center column, and what do I seebut a profile piece on McAllen’s longtime mayor, the one,the only, Othal Brand.

The story was typical Othal, an eccentric in manyways. The Wall Street Journal reporter must have beendriving around McAllen to get enough info for her story,which centered on the mayor, of course, his brand ofleadership. But she starts off the front-page piece withthis anecdote – Othal is behind the wheel of his Caddiewhen he spots a dastardly great-tailed grackle. He’sdriving near his home on Main and Esperanza. Houses allaround. He hops the curb with his Caddie, slams thegear into park and jumps from the car, the Wall Street

Othal Brand usedto kill grackles?

The puffed-up great-tailedgrackle.

Graphic source:eldoradobirder.blogspot.com

Pharr City Commission

Re-appoints municipal court judgesPHARR – During a regu-

lar-called meeting of the PharrCity Commission on Tuesday,May 22, 5 p.m., the followingcity council members werepresent: Mayor Leo “Polo”Palacios, and city commission-ers Oscar Elizondo, Roberto“Bobby” Carrillo, ArturoCortez and EdmundMaldonado.

Absent: Mayor Pro TemAdan Farias and Commis-sioner Aquiles “Jimmy” Garza.

In regular business, the citycommission:

• approved Ordinance re-appointing municipal courtjudges -- Judge RodolfoMartinez and alternate judgesLuis Singleterry and RobertoGarza

• held presentation of proc-lamation proclaiming the weekof May 19-23, 2014 as Na-tional Public Works Week

• approved minutes forMay 6, 2014 - regular calledmeeting

• approved Change Order#7 in the deduct amount of$26,505.00 for the PharrAquatic Facility

• approved request bySergio R. Garcia, d/b/a AragonMusic Hall, for renewal of theConditional Use Permit to al-low the sale of alcoholic bev-erages for on-premise con-sumption in a General Busi-ness District (C). The prop-erty is legally described as Lots1, 2 & 4, Replat of Lot 1,Mexican Fiesta SubdivisionUnit No. 1 and Lot 1, MexicanFiesta Subdivision Unit No. 2Pharr, Hidalgo County, Texas.

The property’s physical ad-dress is 1300 W. Nolana

• approved request by AlbaDora Pedraza, d/b/a Sepi’s, forrenewal of the ConditionalUse Permit to allow the saleof alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption in aBusiness District (C-2). Theproperty is legally describedas Lot 22, Block 30, PharrOriginal Townsite Subdivision,Pharr, Hidalgo County, Texas.The property’s physical ad-dress is 212 W. State Street

• approved request byAurelio Cadena, d/b/a TejasRestaurant, for renewal of theConditional Use Permit to al-low the sale of alcoholic bev-erages for on-premise con-sumption in a General Busi-ness District (C). The prop-erty is legally described as Lot11, Maco Industrial Park Sub-division, Pharr, HidalgoCounty, Texas. Theproperty’s physical address is1308 Maco Drive.

• approved request by Na-tional Concessions Services,Ltd., c/o Maria E. Megret, forrenewal of the ConditionalUse Permit to allow the saleof alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption in aGeneral Business District (C).The property is legally de-scribed as Lot 1, Tip-O-TexSubdivision, Pharr, HidalgoCounty, Texas. Theproperty’s physical address is3000 N. Cage Blvd.

• approved request byLaura V. Terrazas and JuanTerrazas, d/b/a Para Tacos LaChilanga, have filed with the

Planning and Zoning Com-mission for a Conditional UsePermit to allow the sale ofalcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption in aGeneral Business District (C).The property is legally de-scribed as Lot 187, Valle DeLa Primavera Subdivision,Pharr, Hidalgo County, Texas.The property’s physical ad-dress is 6903 South JacksonRoad

• approved request by Sali-nas Engineering & Associates,representing RobertoGuajardo, for final plat ap-proval of the proposed BienesGuajardo Subdivision. Theproperty is legally describedas being the north 102 feet ofLot 1C, Pharr South Subdivi-sion Unit No. 1, Pharr, HidalgoCounty, Texas. Theproperty’s physical address is1522 S. Cage Blvd.

• held public hearing: So-licitation of comments on theuse grant funds for the pur-chase of mobile remoter fin-gerprint devises

• approved second readingof Ordinance amending Or-dinance No. O-2014-14 (SignOrdinance)

• approved second readingof Ordinance amending Or-dinance No. O-2013-12(Noise Ordinance).

• approved Ordinanceamending Ordinance No. O-2007-56 (sewer base ratesfor NAWSC customers)

• approved resolution des-ignating venue projects and

See PHARR, page 9

Area News

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL 3

ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL, (USPS 433-950) is published weekly for $18.00 per year in Hidalgo County;$25.00 per year outside-of-county and out-of-state by The Advance Publishing Co., 217 W. Park, Pharr,TX 78577. Second-Class Postage paid at San Juan and additional mailing office. POSTMASTER: Send addresschanges to Advance News Journal, 217 W. Park, Pharr, TX 78577. Gregg B. Wendorf, Editor/Publisher.

Solvadi, a costly but effective new hepatitis C treat-ment. --Photo by: Gilead Sciences

A new treatment for hepa-titis C is considered a break-through for people with theliver disease. But the high costof the drug — about $1,000 apill — has complicated effortsto get the medication to Tex-ans who receive government-subsidized health care.

The state’s prison systemand the taxpayer-funded Med-icaid program, which coverspoor children and people withdisabilities, are trying to de-termine who qualifies for thedrug, which is 80 to 90 per-cent effective but can cost$84,000 for a 12-week regi-men.

In Texas, where roughly300,000 people have chronichepatitis C and many moremay carry the virus, the treat-ment has raised ethical ques-tions about who gets thedrug.

Cost of Hepatitis drugraises questions about access

In April, the Texas Healthand Human Services Com-mission proposed that Med-icaid cover the treatment,called Sovaldi, for patients whowere already suffering fromliver damage. The Medicaiddrug review board did notapprove that criteria; instead,it directed the commission torevise its proposal so that itwas similar to what “otherreputable groups were rec-ommending,” said StephanieGoodman, a spokeswomanfor the Texas commission.Those recommendations in-clude covering the drug forcertain patients with less ad-vanced liver damage.

The commission is revisingits proposal and hopes to getboard approval ahead of itsAugust meeting so the treat-ment can be covered by thefall. If it is unable to do so,

Medicaid patients are unlikelyto be able to obtain the treat-ment through Medicaid untilJanuary, Goodman said.

In the fiscal year that endedin August, the state spent$12 million treating Medicaidpatients with hepatitis C. Thehealth commission was un-able to provide an estimate of

See COST, page 10

The City of Alamo recentlysponsored the 2nd AnnualAlamo Watermelon Festivalin downtown Central Park,which drew more than 2,000people, according to the com-mittee that helped put it to-gether.

The Festival featured the“New Variety Band” and“Sergio & Ropin The Wind”along with three other bands.Along with the music, severalwatermelon eating and spit-ting contests took place.

Watermelon seed-spitting contestwinners include:

Ages 5-8 — 1st place,Emma Pedraza; 2nd place, RaulTorres; and 3rd place, LyndaCorrea.

Ages 9-12 — 1st place,Jared Sandoval; 2nd place,Adam Islas; and 3rd place, LuisVasquez.

Ages 13-17: 1st place,

Alamo Watermelon Festivaldraws more than 2,000

Adrian Huerta; 2nd place, JoseCastillo; and 3rd place, ValerieVilla.

Ages 18 and over: 1st place,Mayra Torres; 2nd place,Laura Reyna; and 3rd place,Gene Diaz.

Alamo WatermelonEating contest winnersinclude:

Ages 5-8: 1st place, MeganGuerra; 2nd place, AnthonyJae Garza; and 3rd place, JakeM. Rodriguez.

Age 9-12: 1st place, JoseVasquez; 2nd place, MichelleGarcia; and 3rd place, JaredSandoval.

Ages 13-17: 1st place,Emilio Silguero; 2nd place, EricCavazos; and 3rd place, IsaacRangel.

Ages 18 and over: 1st place,Randi Molina; 2nd place, MaryHawkins; and 3rd place, DanielGonzalez.

Congratulations also go outto the Car Show winners. TheCommissioners’ choice wentto Juan Olivares and his 1968Chevrolet Impala, which ispart of the City Streets CarClub.

Winners of the Car Hopwere: 1st place, Rogelio Loerawith the Latin Fantazy CarClub; and 2nd place, DavidRodriguez with the VeteranosCar Club.

The City of Alamo, theAlamo Events & Beautifica-tion Committee and theAlamo Watermelon Commit-tee gave thanks to all whoparticipated and to theFestival’s sponsors who madeit all possible.

Advance NewsJournal

Call 783-0036

Area News

4 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, May 28, 2014

ALAMO–KaBOOM!, inpartnership with the HumanaFoundation, announced 212cities and towns across theUnited States as 2014 PlayfulCity USA honorees. Thesecommunities are leaders inplayability – the extent towhich a city makes it easy forkids to get balanced and ac-

tive play – and are making playpart of the solution that canmove the needle on count-less urban challenges.

The City of Alamo has beendesignated a four-time hon-oree for their efforts in play.

The KaBOOM! Playful CityUSA program, sponsored bythe Humana Foundation, hon-

ors cities, towns and commu-nities across America that aretaking bold steps to ensurethat all children, especially the16 million American kids liv-ing in poverty, have easy ac-cess to balanced and activeplay in their communities. Cit-ies being recognized todayspan every region of the

City of Alamo a four-time honoreeKaBOOM! and Humana Foundation

unveil 2014 Playful City USA communities

Let’s Keep Our Alleys & Streets Clean!

CITY OF PHARRBrush Pick Up Schedule

JUNE 20141ST WEEK — June 2 thru June 6 – Military Road to Juan Balli

2ND WEEK — June 9 thru June 13 – Juan Balli to Business 833RD WEEK — June 16 thru June 20 – Business 83 to Polk4TH WEEK — June 23 thru June 27 – Polk Road to Owassa Road

Note: Brush will be picked up once a month. Your area will be picked up during the dayshown on the above schedule. Each Section is started at its Southwest Corner and iscompleted at its Northeast Corner.

Nota: La rama sera levantada una ves por mes. Por favor examine el plan de ruta indicadoen la parte superior. Cada secion empesara en el lado suroeste y termina a lado noreste.

country, and include Washing-ton, D.C.; Chicago; Nashville;Austin; Providence; San Fran-cisco; New York City; Alamo;and 204 others.

“With the tremendoussupport of our friends atHumana Foundation, we arethrilled to recognize all ofthese communities that areworking to ensure all kids,particularly the 16 millionthat live in poverty, get theplay they need to thrive,” saysKaBOOM! CEO and FounderDarell Hammond.

Humana President andCEO Bruce Broussard added,“We’re excited about ourjourney with KaBOOM! andwe appreciate the shared val-ues that Humana, the HumanaFoundation, and theKaBOOM! organization canrally around. Making it easy forfamilies to play, be healthy andthrive together is a part ofHumana’s dream, and it’s acommitment that all of us atHumana enjoy sharing withKaBOOM!.”

The Playful City USA hon-orees range in size from eight-time honorees such as SanFrancisco and Shirley, Mass., to

first-time recipients Washing-ton, D.C. and Plantersville, Miss.(population: 1,174). ThesePlayful City USA communi-ties are making a commitmentto transform their communi-ties to become more playableby developing unique localaction plans to increase thequantity and quality of play intheir community.

To advance the national dia-logue on playability, KaBOOM!invites interest, expertise, andvoices from across the coun-try to get involved (and getplayful!) in thinking abouthow play can create morefamily-friendly cities. Join theTwitter conversation and en-courage action: Participate onTwitter (@kaboom) and pro-vide your point of view andforward-looking insights onplayability in cities using thehashtags #playability and#playmatters.

To see the full list of the212 communities named2014 Playful City USA hon-orees, or for more informa-tion on the Playful City USAprogram, visitwww.playfulcityusa.org.

Area News

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL 5

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PSJA parents graduatefrom innovative parent academy

PSJA ISD Superintendent Dr. Daniel P. King poses with graduates from theParent Academy for the Success of Schools (PASOS) program.

PHARR - The Parent Acad-emy for the Success of Schools(PASOS) program graduated 55PSJA ISD parents this past Sat-urday, May 24 at the PSJA South-west Early College High SchoolAuditorium.

The program teaches par-ents how to foster an educa-tional environment, both athome and at school. The cer-emony commemorated the par-ents’ efforts in becoming bet-ter informed and involved intheir child’s education. Coordi-nated by the Texas Valley Com-munities Foundation and thePSJA School District, each par-ent walked on stage in full capand gown attire to receive theirCertificate of Recognition aswell as a scholarship for attend-ing the six Saturday sessions.The keynote speaker for theevent was Alma OrtegaJohnson, Vice President ofWellsFargo for South Texas.

During the event, PSJA Su-perintendent Dr. Daniel P. Kingasked the parents to take it astep further and continue en-hancing their education by tak-ing advantage of the district’sParental Engagement Program,which offers continuing educa-tion classes to PSJA parents inpartnership with South TexasCollege and other communitygroups.

PASOS strives to get par-ents involved by implementing2-hour long training sessionsdesigned to support their chil-dren through their academiccareers. These sessions, held inEnglish and Spanish, provideparents with strategies and

tools that help increase aca-demic performance, behaviorand attendance. The PASOSAcademy has already been suc-

cessfully implemented in theMercedes Independent SchoolDistrict, graduating 80 parentslast December.

6 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Area News

This week in music

The musical scoreThe great Mozart dead at 35

Portrait of Mozart,1770, age 21.

Graphic source: Wikipedia

By Gregg Romero Wendorf

This column’s cen-tered on music, but tiedto that, I have to men-tion one of the greatestmovies ever, in my opin-ion – Amadeus. It’s amovie drama about thegreat Austrian com-poser and maestro,Wolfgang AmadeusMozart.

Released in 1984, themovie ultimately won anOscar for Best Picturealong with seven otherAcademy Awards.

Interestingly enough,one of the main sup-porting actors in thefilm, F. Murray Abraham,is the same guy whoplayed one of the heav-ies in the movie Scarface – the 1983 Al Pacino film. In that film,Abraham’s unfortunate lot included getting shoved out of ahelicopter with a noose around his neck high above the narco’sestate. Apparently, Abraham’s character had become a snitch.

In the movie Amadeus, the same F. Murray Abraham playedthe composer Salieri. Like most movies are so apt to do,Amadeus deviated from reality, which was – Salieri actuallyloved and respected his good friend, Wolfgang AmadeusMozart. In the movie, he hated him and conspired to cause hisdownfall, which he ultimately did.

I loved the movie though. Mainly because the way in whichit portrayed Mozart – care free and loving life. His musical talentwas also on display, which more closely mirrored real life. Deadat 35, 1756 – 1791, his was about the average life expectancy inthose days. Today, scholars still aren’t sure what caused hisdemise. No matter, along the way, the great musical genius stillfound the time to compose more than 600 works.

Mozart started composing musical pieces at the age of fiveand quickly achieved virtuoso status on the violin and piano, allof which he performed for his mother, sister and father, whowas a minor composer and musical teacher. At 14, Mozartwrote his first opera, Mitridate re di Ponto (Mithridates, Kingof Pontus). At the age of 15, on a visit to Rome, he listened twiceto Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere performed inside the SistineChapel. He then wrote it out completely from memory, thusproducing the first unauthorized copy of the hence-to closelyguarded secret inside the Vatican. By the age of 17, Mozart wasalready playing before Austrian royalty.

Like most lives, his was one of highs and lows. Mozart gotmarried at the age of 26 and had six children. Only two survivedpast infancy – a son who lived to be 74 and another son who livedto be 53. Sadly, perhaps, given his musical genes, neither of thesons produced any offspring. Along the way, Wolfgang and hiswife lived in splendor, and then around the age of 30, theAustro-Turkish War kicked into high gear. The wealthy had lessmoney to support the arts, and the Mozarts’ income shrank.The great composer sunk into a state of depression.

Then, as fate would have it, yin and yang, some wealthypatrons stepped up to the plate and supplanted the greatcomposer’s income, provided he would again start churning outthe occasional composition. Life was good. The Magic Flute wasa big hit his final year and, of course, perhaps his most famouspiece, or at least his most controversial since it was unfinishedat the time of his death – the Requiem Mass in D Minor (wholater completed it, and how much of it was actually written byMozart, is still a matter of controversy).

Wolfgang Amadeus fell ill writing the Requiem and diedabout halfway through it just after midnight Dec. 5, 1791.Theories posited for his death include: rheumatic fever, strepinfection, trichinosis, influenza, mercury poisoning and a rarekidney ailment, according to an entry on Wikipedia.

While writing the Requiem Mass in D Minor, Woflgang toldhis wife Constanze that he thought he was writing it for his ownfuneral. But it never was played there. Instead, while his wifeheld on to the unfinished composition, trying hard to figure outhow she could get paid the balance of the commission paymentdue with an unfinished musical composition in hand, Mozart wasburied in a commoner’s grave. Dissimilar from a communalgrave or a pauper’s grave, a commoner’s grave at the time,according to the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musiciains,was reserved for the lower- to middle-class. Only differencebetween a commoner’s grave and one reserved for thearistocracy was this tidbit: the graves of the commoners weresubject to excavation after 10 years – goodbye, Wolfgang’sbones. Whereas, those for the aristocracy were left intact:Here lies dad (still).

PHARR–Art, music,drama, dance, creative writingand reading are all part of theprogram offered by The PharrCommunity Theater. The artsprogram will have classes ev-ery weekday starting June 16through July 25.

Classes will be held onehour every day (10-11 am) atthe ‘old Carnahan ElementarySchool’, 317 W. Gore in Pharr.Children (grades kindergartenthrough 5th) may choose tocome just one day a week orup to the entire five days.

The following classes areavailable:

1. Read a Book and Createa Story – (reading, art and

drama) where childrenwill meet on Mondays toread a book and use theirimagination to illustratethe story with art ordrama.

2. On Stage and More – (atwo-day class) wherechildren will rehearse onMondays and Tuesdays topresent the play, “Superhero Support Group” byD.M. Larson.

3. Piano Lessons – the classmeets throughout theweek but the class isfilled. However, a ‘waitinglist’ is available

4. Creative Imagination –meets on Wednesdays.The children hear a famil

Pharr Community Theateroffers summer classes program

iar story and use theirimaginations to create aplay.

5. Creative Color and Fun –this class meets on Thursdays where children use avariety of art media to create their own pictures.

6. Dance Craziness – classesmeet on Fridays to rehearse and learn a varietyof dance styles

7 .A Carnahan Musical –class will provide a secondoption for Fridays wherechildren will sing and userhythms to create a musical production for an end-of-class performance.

Costs are $30 for any six-week class that meets one dayevery week (different classesare available Monday-Friday) .A fee of $60 applies for thesix-week session of “On Stageand More.” Children register-ing for a class every day (fivedays a week) will receive a$50 discount (total of $100for the entire six weeks ofclasses).

Call Mayra 562-8776 (En-glish or Spanish) for more in-formation about the “OnStage and More” class or callIIiana to reserve a spot foryour child in any of theclasses (956) 905-9340 (En-glish or Spanish).

Students will create colorful and personal pictures inthe art class that will meet on Thursdays.

PHARR - The Kelly-PharrElementary Destination Imagi-nation Team placed fourth outof 58 teams this past week-end at the DI Globals Com-petition in Knoxville, TN.They were the top Texas teamat the national competition.

The team advanced toGlobals after competing at theTexas State DI Tournamentlast April and placing 4th over-all. Two other PSJA ISD teams,

Kelly-Pharr Elementary DI teamplaces fourth at globals competition

School has surprise welcome

from Carman Elementary andPSJA High School, joinedKelly-Pharr’s team at Globals.

The Kelly-Pharr DI Teamarrived May 26 and were sur-prised to see their teachersand peers outside holding ban-ners and balloons congratu-lating them on their achieve-ment.

The DI Program encour-ages teams of learners to havefun, take risks, focus and frame

challenges while incorporat-ing STEM (Science, Technol-ogy, Engineering and Math),the arts and service learningduring competitions.

The Kelly-Pharr Elemen-tary team is comprised of: Jada Coutino, Chastity Hill,Karla Nino, Samantha Villalba,Amanda Martinez, Christo-pher Nicanor and EmilioTirado. Team Manager: RubyGuerra.

The Kelly-Pharr Elementary team is comprised of: Jada Coutino, Chastity Hill,Karla Nino, Samantha Villalba, Amanda Martinez, Christopher Nicanor andEmilio Tirado. Team Manager: Ruby Guerra.

Area News

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL 7

Continued from page 2

NATURE...

Journal reporter hot on hisheels, as he reaches for hispellet gun. Othal then pep-pers the tree with severalpellet rounds that finallydrops the grackle at the feetof the reporter. Nasty birds,explains Othal to the WSJ re-porter, or words to that affect,trying to explain his huntingprowess.

The mayor then goes intoa long diatribe about howmuch damage the great-tailedgrackles do to Valley citruscrops – in ’87 alone, thegrackles did $2.2 million toValley grapefruit, according tothe USDA. Because of that,says Othal, to the WSJ re-porter, it’s been his Valley mis-sion to kill as many gracklesas possible. Have pellet gun,will travel.

Of course, I’m thinking ofthe neighbors near the heartof McAllen. Did they actuallysee Othal’s white Caddiejump the curb and himscrambling from the car witha pellet rifle in his hand? Whatdid that sight look like?

But the great-tailed grackle,like his cousin, the boat-tailedgrackle, which usually doesn’tcome this far down the Texascoast from his/her centralhome near the central Gulfcoast, is indeed a fiend whenit comes to citrus. What thebirds do is peck at the fruit,grapefruits, oranges, whichleaves either holes on the fruitor external blemishes. For acitrus grower trying to makea buck, they’re a hazard.

They’re also a sight to be-hold. Especially the males withtheir glistening black/purplefeathers and long scooped tail.The females are smaller andcome in shades of brown andblack. The male is the king.During breeding season hecarefully guards his haremand their young, reacting withfeathers flying when a per-ceived interloper arrives onthe scene.

Its fancy name is Quiscalusmexicanus, which is whythey’re sometimes called themexican grackle, since that’stheir country of origin. About18 inches long and a wingspanthat can stretch 22 inches, itsdiet consists mainly of bugs,beer, berries, seeds, the occa-sional unlucky fish and someValley grains. Okay, the gracklemay not drink cerveza, but he/she has been known toscrounge around empty beercans.

The bird’s point of originis Mexico. In recent decades,however, its expanded itsreach to include eastern Or-egon and Peru.

In Harlingen last winter,members of the ArroyoColorado Audubon Society

counted more than 13,000great-tailed grackles duringtheir annual Christmas BirdCount.

That’s a lot of bird drop-pings. And a lot of noise. If youlive in some of the old partsof town, any Valley town,where mature trees are plen-tiful, the sound the gracklesemit in the early eveninghours is something to behold.

My favorite sight of agrackle is when he lands nextto a female or a competitivemale. He puffs up his shinyblack wings and starts strut-ting around like he owns theplace. And as far as the otherbirds are concerned, he prob-ably does.

Advance News JournalPh: 783-0036 Fax: 787-8824E-mail: advancenews@aol.com

website: www.TheAdvanceNewsJournal.com

U.S. PresidentBarack ObamaThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NWWashington DC 20500(202) 456-1414www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

U.S. SenatorsJohn Cornyn222 East Van Buren, Suite 404Harlingen, TX 78550Main: (956) 423-0162Fax: (956) 423-0193www.cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm

Ted Cruz200 S. 10th St, Suite 1603McAllen, TX 78501(956) 686-7339www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=email_senator

U.S. RepresentativesDistrict 15Ruben Hinojosa2864 West Trenton RoadEdinburg, TX 78539(956) 682-5545https://hinojosa.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

Let them know what you thinkDistrict 27BlakeFarenthold101 N. Shoreline Blvd, Suite 300Corpus Christi, TX 78401Main: (361) 884-2222Fax: (361) 884-2223www.farenthold.house.gov/contact/email.htm

District 28Henry Cuellar117 E. Tom LandryMission, Texas 78572Main: (956) 424-3942Fax: (956) 424-3936http://cuellar.house.gov/contact/sendmeanemail.htm

Texas GovernorRick PerryOffice of the GovernorP.O. Box 12428Austin, TX 78711-2428(512) 463-2000www.governor.state.tx.us/contact/assistance.aspx

State SenatorsDistrict 20Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa612 Nolana, Suite 410BMcallen, Texas 78504Main: (956) 972-1841Fax: (956) 664-0602

www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist20/dist20.htm#form

District 27Eddie Lucio1210 W. Expressway 83, Suite 10Pharr, Texas 78577Main: (956) 787-5227Fax: (956) 787-5337www.lucio.senate.state.tx.us/#form

State RepresentativesDistrict 39Armando “Mando” Martinez800 W. Railroad St. Room H-11Weslaco, TX 78596Main: (956) 447-9473Fax: (956) 447-8683www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=39&session=83

District 41Bobby Guerra10213 North 10th St., Suite BMcAllen, Texas 78504Phone numbersMain: (956) 292-0407 line 1Fax: (956)292-0418www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=41&session=83

8 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Sports

The World of Sports

The billionaire and Stiviano.Graphic Source: CBSNews.com

By Gregg Romero Wendorf

The money-grubbing, gold-digging (pardon the redun-dancy) case against LA ClippersOwner Donald Sterling is al-most too much to bear. Espe-cially if you add hypocrisy intothe equation.

The sight of modern-dayAmerica having a feast as ittears into the bones of the 80-year-old billionaire isn’t pretty.

Last week, Sterling agreedto let his wife sell the Clippersafter his private life becamepublic last month, which re-sulted in a backlash against hisperceived racism.

Just the facts – Sterling’s aguy who was born DonaldTokowitz. He started his legalcareer working as a divorceand personal injury attorney inLA in the 1960s. From there, hemoved on to making smart realestate investments. He was aJew who bucked the LA WASPestablishment, which at the time,allowed few from the tribe intothe inner circle. At age 25, heand his wife legally changed theirname from Tokowitz to Ster-ling. His first real-estate ven-ture was the purchase of a 26-unit apartment building inBeverly Hills.

Along the way, he boughtthe old San Diego Clippers in1981 for $12.5 million. Today,according to Forbes, the team’sworth $575 million. Three yearslater, he moved the lacklusterloser to LA. But it wasn’t untilthe 1999/2000 season that Clip-pers really started winninggames. Along the way, the teambecame a laughingstock in theNBA for being perennial losers.But it’s had some success in

The NBA Clippers’ Donald SterlingDone in by a vengeful,

money-grubbing woman?recent years.

Along the way, Sterling’s hadhis flings with other women asreported in the media. But hislatest squeeze, a somewhatmysterious woman named V.Stiviano, who has apparentlygone by several different names,has proven his downfall. LikeSampson’s Delilah.

At 80, Sterling should knowbetter. He’s been married tothe same woman since 1955.She must be close to 80 herself,but is still relatively attractive.But Sterling, being a guy, doesn’talways think with his brain. He’sthinking with something else.So he got hooked up with V.Stiviano and has been spendingtime with her for the past fouryears. The LA Times reportedthat Sterling has, in that time,bought the gold-diggin’ Stivianoa $1.8 million duplex home andmade out the deed in her ownname; four luxury cars; and$240K in “living expenses.” Forall this, all she had to do was,well, you get the picture. Be a“lady friend” to the aging bil-lionaire.

Sterling’s life, of course, ba-sically fell apart last month whenTMZ (the online equivalent of ayellow-rag scandal sheet), re-leased audio tapes of Sterlingand Stiviano, who is herself, halfblack and half Mexican, talkingabout racial issues. Sterling wasquoted as saying: “”It bothersme a lot that you want to broad-cast that you’re associating withblack people”, and, “You cansleep with [black people]. Youcan bring them in, you can dowhatever you want”, but “thelittle I ask you is ... not to bringthem to my games.”

Why did TMZ suddenly gain

access to those secretly re-corded audio tapes of Sterling’srant? How and why did Stivianoturn them over to TMZ? Well,seems Sterling’s wife was takingStiviano to court, claiming someof those “gifts and money” werecommunity property and be-longed to her (the wife).

Some say that Sterling wasn’ta racist so much as a guy con-cerned about his reputation.His girlfriend was hanging aroundblack athletes, posting photosof her and Magic Johnson onInstagram. And that’s what hedidn’t like? Who knows. Hisaudio is weird enough – it’sokay for his girlfriend to sleepwith black guys? Just don’t bringthem to the games? Why? Sohis white and or Jewish friendswon’t know his girlfriend is hang-ing with black people? She’s halfblack herself. Makes no sense.It’s since been disclosed thatSterling is battling cancer, tak-ing lots of meds. How muchthat altered his judgment, whoknows.

No matter, those remarkshave cost him his team andbrought down shame upon hisentire family. The NBA finedhim $2.5 million and bannedhim from the league for lifeeven though his remarks weremade in private.

But the fall-out is so full ofhypocrisy, it’s enough to makeyou gag. Consider the moviedirector and pip squeak SpikeLee. In most of his movies, thebad guy is either a white guy ora Jew. Lee once said this aboutinterracial couples: “I give in-terracial couples a look. Dag-gers. They get uncomfortablewhen they see me on thestreet.”

During a visit to South Africain the early 90s, Spike Lee toldthe Guardian newspaper: “I se-riously wanted to pick up a gunand shoot whites. The only wayto resolve matters is by blood-shed.”

But Lee is in the front row atthe NBA press conference lastmonth, at which the NBA com-missioner announced theleague’s lifetime ban againstSterling, who’s now the longesttenured team owner after theLakers’ Jerry Buss died last year.But now, Sterling must sell histeam because he’s made racistremarks, in private, in this po-litically correct land of ourswhere words made in privateare punished?

Over in Miami, LeBron Jamescouldn’t help but open his hugecavern of a mouth by demand-ing not only that the Clippersbe sold. But that no member ofthe Sterling family, wife, kids,should be allowed to retainownership of the team even ifDonald sells his share.

Nothing like punishing the

children for the supposed sinsof the parent.

In an op/ed written for TimeMagazine, the former basket-ball great, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,excoriated Sterling for his per-ceived racism, but he ended hispiece with this great observa-tion:

“Shouldn’t we be equally an-gered by the fact that his pri-vate, intimate conversation wastaped and then leaked to themedia? Didn’t we just call totask the NSA for intruding intoAmerican citizen’s privacy in suchan un-American way? Althoughthe impact is similar to MittRomney’s comments that weresecretly taped (during the 2012presidential election), the dif-ference is that Romney wasgiving a public speech. The mak-ing and release of this tape is sosleazy that just listening to itmakes me feel like an accom-plice to the crime. We didn’tsteal the cake but we’re allgorging ourselves on it.”

Thank you, Kareem.

Area News

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL 9

Continued from page 1

JOKES...

Teacher: “This essay onyour dog is, word for word,the same as your brother’s.”

Student: “Yes, sir, it’s thesame dog.”- - - - - - - - -

Teacher: “If you had onedollar, and you asked yourfather for another, how manydollars would you have?”

Pablo: “One dollar.”Teacher: “You don’t know

your arithmetic.”Pablo: “You don’t know my

father.”- - - - - - - - -

Teacher: “George Wash-ington not only choppeddown his father’s cherry tree,but also admitted it. Now,Juan, do you know why hisfather didn’t punish him?”

Juan: “Because George stillhad the axe in his hand.”

- - - - - - - - -Q: What part of a car

causes the most accidents?A: The nut behind the

wheel!!- - - - - - - - -

“How many cigars do yousmoke a day?”

“About 10.”“What do they cost you?”“Twenty cents a piece.”“My, that’s two dollars a

day. How long have you beensmoking?”

“Thirty years.”“Two dollars a day for 30

years is a lot of money.”“Yes, it is.”“Do you see that office

building on the corner?”“Yes.”“If you had never smoked

in your life you might ownthat fine building.”

“Do you smoke?”“No, never did.”“Do you own that build-

ing?”“No.”

designating the methods offinancing such venue projects,all pursuant to Chapter 334,Texas Local Governmentcode, as amended; and con-taining other matters relatedthereto

• approved resolution au-thorizing review of Texas GasService Company’s (“TGS”)Cost of Service Adjustment(“COSA”) Tariff

• approved resolution au-thorizing police chief to sub-mit application and acceptEdward Byrne Memorial Jus-tice Assistance Grant Pro-gram FY 2014 Award for$21,435 for the purchase ofMobile Remote FingerprintDevises

• approved resolutionadopting the One Year Ac-tion Plan FY2014-2015 forsubmittal to the U.S. Depart-ment of Housing and UrbanDevelopment (HUD)

• approved resolution des-ignating the mayor of the Cityof Pharr to give notice of in-tent to reimburse expendi-tures with proceeds of taxexempt obligations

• approved resolution ac-cepting the updated WaterConservation and DroughtContingency Plan

• approved acceptance ofthe Pharr Aquatic Center with

Texas Descon, L.P. and re-lease of final payment in theamount of $ 83,830.51

• approved agreement be-tween North Alamo WaterSupply Corporation and theCity of Pharr for billing ser-vices and rate increase

• approved authorizing citymanager to negotiate con-tract with Beatty, Bangle,Strama (BBS) for legal servicesfor Regional Water Priorities

• approved authorizing citymanager to negotiate con-tract with S&GE, LLC. for en-gineering services for theWater Treatment Plant.

• approved to rescind ac-tion on FEMA CommunitySafe Room design and loca-tions

• approved real estate con-tract for property legally de-scribed as 132.5 acres out ofLot 275, 274, 271 and 12.5acres out of Lot 270, Kelly-Pharr Tract, Pharr, HidalgoCounty Texas

• approved consulting con-tract with Ramon Tovias

• approved action on evic-tion and other legal mattersrelated to Pharr InternationalServices, LLC, Portable ColdSolutions, LLC, RigobertoEguia and all occupants includ-ing C-0599-14-21

• approved action on Cityof Pharr v City of Alamo; CL-09-3347-D

• approved action on Cityof Pharr v Kuroy Joint Ven-ture, et al; CL-09-0573-H.

Continued from page 2

PHARR...

MVP Partnership, L.T.D. of McAllen offers to donate$2+ million property to help land UT-RGV headquarters

Details of a proposal to do-nate up to five acres of primereal estate in southwestEdinburg – valued at morethan $2 million – to serve asthe site of the planned admin-istrative headquarters for theUniversity of Texas-RioGrande Valley have been madepublic by MVP Partnership,L.T.D. of McAllen.

The offer, submitted byprominent attorney José E.García on behalf of MVP Part-nership, L.T.D., would benefitthe UT System, UT-RioGrande Valley, and theMcAllen-Edinburg-Pharr-Mis-

sion Metropolitan StatisticalArea (MSA) by placing thekey headquarters, with itsprestigious economic, aca-demic, and political resources,in the heart of one of theValley’s most influential, saf-est, and attractive regions.

The site being offered byMVP Partnership, L.T.D. is lo-cated by the intersection ofTrenton Road and McCollRoad in Edinburg, immedi-ately north of the campusesof Doctors Hospital at Re-naissance and adjoining medi-cal offices and businesses. It iswithin easy access to all major

hospitals in Edinburg, includ-ing Edinburg Regional MedicalCenter and EdinburgChildren’s Hospital, the Uni-versity of Texas-Pan Ameri-can, the planned UT-RGVmedical school, and minutesaway from some of the mostdistinguished neighborhoodsand bustling business, medi-cal, and entertainment corri-dors in Edinburg andMcAllen.

MVP Partnership, L.T.D.was one of 14 applicants whosubmitted offers to the UTSystem by the 5 p.m. Thurs-day, May 15 deadline.

García, a UT-Austin alum-nus, former Hidalgo CountyDemocratic Party chairman,and Senior Partner of Garcíaand Villarreal, P.L.L.C., Attor-neys at Law, 4311 NorthMcColl Road in McAllen, saidit is a “once in a lifetime op-portunity to be part of some-thing so important and his-toric.” He wants to help theMcAllen-Edinburg-Pharr-Mis-sion MSA have the strongestchance to land the UT-RGVadministrative headquarters.

“The cities of Edinburg andMcAllen have each submittedtheir own plans, and our pro-posal gives the UT System

leadership another outstand-ing reason to build the UT-RGV administrative headquar-ters in our region,” he said.

“The offer by MVP Part-nership, L.T.D. is our way ofsupporting Edinburg,McAllen, Pharr, Mission andother Hidalgo County com-munities, and the UT System,who have given so much tous,” García added.

In addition to MVP Part-nership, L.T.D., the other ap-plicants who submitted pro-posals of land donation arethe cities of Brownsville,Edinburg, Harlingen, McAllen,Mercedes, San Benito, andWeslaco, along with theWeslaco Economic Develop-ment Corporation, as well asCielo Realty Partners, Ca-dence Commercial Real Es-tate, D&M Ventures LLC,Roberto S. Zamora, andS.E.R.R. Properties Ltd.

The gift of land by MVPPartnership, L.T.D., is a pri-vate donation. This would al-low Edinburg and McAllen tospend and invest their taxrevenues on other importantprojects.

“I know McAllen has a greatinterest in building a perma-nent campus, focusing on

Master’s and Ph.D programs,in their community, andEdinburg will continue to be avital partner in the develop-ment of the UT-RGV campusand UT-RGV medical schoolin their city,” García said. “Ourproposal allows both cities tosave their valuable resourcesfor those, and other, incred-ibly important goals.”

The unique strategic loca-tion of the property will be ofgreat benefit to McAllen,Edinburg, Pharr and Mission,he noted, but also empha-sized some of the many qual-ity-of-life advantages to thepeople who would work inthe headquarters.

“The commercial and resi-dential areas surrounding theproperty are safe, secure, well-maintained, and aestheticallypleasing, while still affordable,”García said. “The NortheastMcAllen/Southwest Edinburgcorridor is the most attrac-tive location in an area wherepeople want to live, work, eat,shop, recreate and learn.”

He added the site beingoffered by MVP Partnership,L.T.D. is situated “in the heartof the 78504 zip code, which

See LAND, page 16

Hidalgo County Commissioners Court (and Drainage District #1Board of Directors) met in session on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 andconsidered an agenda that included the following highlights:

TEXAS SENATE PRESENTS PROCLAMATIONIN HONOR OF DEPUTY HUGO RODRIGUEZAND SENIOR DEPUTY MANUEL MORALES

Back: Hidalgo County Commissioners (L-R) Joseph Palacios,Joe Flores, County Judge Ramon Garcia, Tito Palacios and A.C.Cuellar, Jr. Front: Hidalgo County Sheriff and deputies and (farright) Texas State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa

Texas State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa presentedProclamation’s No. 13 and 14 honoring the heroic acts of two HidalgoCounty Sheriff ’s Deputies during the Hidalgo County Commissioners’Court meeting today. The proclamations commend Deputy HugoCesar Rodriguez and Senior Deputy Manuel Morales for their serviceand dedication to Hidalgo County.

“Many times we take their (law enforcement officers) responsibil-ity and duty for granted,” said Sen. Hinojosa, adding that although thepublic may take it for granted, the deputies are doing their duty everyday, serving and protecting the public.

Along with the proclamation, Deputy Rodriguez was awarded aPurple Heart for suffering serious bodily injury in the line of duty andboth deputies were awarded the Medal of Valor by Hidalgo CountySheriff Eddie Guerra. The Medal of Valor was in recognition of theirheroism above and beyond the call of duty, and exhibiting exceptionalservice beyond the normal demands of police service, and for bringinghonor and services to themselves and Hidalgo County.

Deputy Rodriguez began his career with the Hidalgo CountySheriff ’s Office in 2007 as a detention office in the Adult DetentionCenter. He went on to serve in the position of a field training officer,attended the Sheriff ’s Office Police Academy, and became a reservedeputy sheriff while continuing his work at the Adult DetentionCenter. On February 11, 2011, Rodriguez was was hired as a full-timedeputy sheriff and was assigned to the Sheriff’s Patrol Division. He wasthen selected to serve in the Domestic Abuse Intervention Specialistprogram and later became a senior deputy in the Criminal Investiga-tion Division, where he assists with the Crime Stoppers Program.

Deputy Morales began his law enforcement career as a patrolmanwith the Santa Rosa Police Department. He later served as a patrol-man and a detective for the Progreso Police Department and workedas a bailiff for several years. Morales was hired as a deputy sheriff withthe Hidalgo County Sheriff ’s Office on May 6, 2002. He went on tobecome an investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division, wherehe continues to work today.

County Judge Ramon Garcia commended the deputies on behalf ofthe Commissioners’ Court, stating “We sincerely thank you for yourcommitment, dedication and bravery in serving and protecting theresidents of our county.”

COMMISSIONERS’ COURT INTRODUCESNEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

L to R: Public Affairs Director Julia Benitez Sullivan is intro-duced by Chief Adminis-trator Yolanda Chapa.

Hidalgo County ChiefAdministrator YolandaChapa, introduced JuliaBenitez Sullivan as the newDirector of Public Affairs.Mrs. Sullivan brings over 25years of public relationsexperience and is knownfor re-branding the image ofthe University of Texas-Pan

American. Commissioners’ Court welcomes Mrs. Sullivan to Countygovernment.

COMMISSIONERS’ COURT APPROVES TO RETIREHIDALGO SHERIFF’S OFFICE K-9 “BOMBIX”

Hidalgo County Commissioners’ Court approved a HidalgoCounty Sheriff ’s Office request toretire one their own K-9’s knownas, Bombix. Bombix is retiring duemedical reasons however, will beplaced in a forever home with noneother than his own K-9 handler,Sheriff ’s Deputy Eduardo JavierRivera. Hidalgo County Commis-sioners’ Court recognizes Bombixfor his exceptional services to thecitizens of Hidalgo County, andwishes him a long and productiveretirement.

COMMISSIONERS’ COURTMEETINGS ON HIDALGOCOUNTY’S YOUTUBECHANNEL

Hidalgo County Commissioners’ Court meetings no longer air onKMBH-TV. To view this meetings and past meetings, residents can visitHidalgo County’s Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/HidalgoCountyTx [https://www.youtube.com/user/HidalgoCountyTx] .Today’s meeting will be posted by the end of the week.

PHARR – A man remainsin critical condition after be-ing shot multiple times lastWednesday at approximately10 p.m. in the 500 block of W.Clark.

Police still haven’t releasedthe victim’s name, but say hedoesn’t reside in the neigh-borhood. The shooting ap-pears random.

According to a press re-lease issued last Thursday, themale victim said he was stand-ing next to the roadway whenunknown subjects drove byand yelled out a gang name.The vehicle then stopped anda subject stepped out and

Police on the lookoutfor gang shooter

shot multiple rounds at thevictim. First aid was adminis-tered by arriving officers be-fore the subject was trans-ported to a local hospitalwhere he underwent surgery.

The Pharr PD is looking fora late-model Chevy Tahoe witha front push guard, 22” blackand chrome rims, and twowhite stickers on the rearwindow.

Anyone with informationon the crime or the sus-pected suspect vehicle isasked to call the Pharr PoliceDepartment at (956)787-TIPS(8477)

how much that amount wouldgrow with the new treatment.

The University of TexasMedical Branch’s correctionalmanaged care department,which oversees inmates’medical services, has beencharged with recommendinghow and when the new drugis used in state prisons. In-mates are particularly proneto the disease; an estimated45,000 in Texas are infected.

If the treatment is ap-proved, Sovaldi could becomethe hepatitis drug of choicefor the state’s prison popula-tion, said Dr. Owen Murray,the vice president for thecorrectional managed careprogram. But he added thatbecause of the drug’s cost, itcould be prioritized amonginmates who have a particulardegree of liver damage — aneffort to be “clinically and fis-cally responsible.”

“The cost of that cure isobviously significant,” Murraysaid. “It’s going to be an inter-esting challenge for the statejust given the fact you havethe possibility of potentially,over time, almost eliminatingan infectious disease.”

Last year, treatment forhepatitis C among inmatescost the state about $2 mil-lion — a figure Murray saidwas low because many pa-tients chose to delay treat-ment knowing that new drugswere coming. Murray esti-mated that treating every in-mate who may carry the viruswith the new drug could costup to $3 billion.

Consumer advocates fearthe cost could keep somepatients, particularly thosewho depend on public health

coverage, from benefiting. Inan effort to pressure the drugmaker, Gilead Sciences, tolower the price, some medi-cal organizations have askedstate Medicaid programs notto provide Sovaldi yet.

Anne Dunkelberg, associ-ate director of the liberal Cen-ter for Public Policy Priori-ties, said the new hepatitis Ctreatment puts in “sharp fo-cus” the ethical questionsbehind administering effectivebut expensive drugs.

“The question is whetheras a society we have an obliga-tion to make lifesaving drugsand technology available toeveryone at a price they canactually access,” Dunkelbergsaid.

Disclosure: The Universityof Texas Medical Branch wasa corporate sponsor of TheTexas Tribune in 2012. Acomplete list of Texas Tri-bune donors and sponsorscan be viewed here.

This story was producedin partnership with Kaiser

Continued from page 3

COST... Health News, an editoriallyindependent program of theHenry J. Kaiser Family Foun-dation, a nonprofit, nonparti-san health policy research andcommunication organizationnot affiliated with KaiserPermanente.by Alexa Ura,The Texas TribuneThe Texas Tribunewww.TexasTribune.org- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -The Texas Tribune is a non-profit, nonpartisan publicmedia organization thatoperateswww.texastribune.org. Itsmission is to promote civicengagement and discourse onpublic policy, politics, govern-ment and other matters ofstatewide concern throughoriginal journalism and on-the-record, open-to-the-public events. The AdvanceNews Journal uses its contentfree of charge.

EDINBURG–DoctorsHospital at Renaissance an-nounces an upcoming “Knowthe Signs” Stroke AwarenessHealth Fair, which will takeplace on May 31, from 7 am –11 am at the Edinburg Con-ference Center at Renais-sance located at 118 Paseo delPrado, Edinburg, TX 78539.The focus of the health fair isto educate the communityabout the risk factors andsymptoms associated with a

stroke.The “Know the Signs”

Stroke Awareness Health Fairwill provide communitymembers with educationalmaterials about stroke signs,symptoms, and risk factors, aswell as the opportunity tospeak to one of their manyhealthcare providers. Visitorswill also receive a blood pres-sure screening, stroke riskfactor assessment, blood glu-cose screening, lipid panel, and

Doctors Hospital at Renaissance to host“Know the Signs” stroke awareness health fair

hga1C exam—all free ofcharge for the first 50 attend-ees. All visitors at the StrokeAwareness Health Fair will beentered to win one of numer-ous raffle prizes.

Stroke continues to be theleading cause of disability andthe fourth leading cause ofdeath in the United States. Atthe first sign of a stroke, im-mediately calling 911 andprompt transfer to a Primary

The Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Stroke Awareness Health Fair Committee.(From left to right) Mario Lizcano, Director of Corporate Affairs; Irene Ochoa-Lares, RN, Director of Clinical Certifications; Israel Rocha, Jr., Chief ExecutiveOfficer; Dr. Javier Cortinas, Emergency Department Medical Director; Dr. GloriaMireles, Primary Stroke Center Medical Director; Dr. Robert Martinez, ChiefMedical Officer, Executive Vice President; Nancy Garcia, Vice President of ClinicalOperations; Chico Meyer, Vice President of Special Projects; Norma Teran, RN,Chief Nursing Officer, Executive Vice President.

See STROKE, page 17

10 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Area News

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL 11

BUSINESS & REVIEWBUSINESS & REVIEWBUSINESS & REVIEWBUSINESS & REVIEWBUSINESS & REVIEW

S. KLEINGALLERIES“We frame diplomas”

Large assortmentof Picture Frames for

* Weddings* Quinceaneras and* Family Portraits

Open Mon.-Fri.: 9-6Sat.: 9-5

521 N. MAIN, McALLEN TX686-0632

Irene’sRestaurant

Comida sabrosacomo de casa!Daily Specials!

FantasticCaldo de Res!* Quality food

* Quality service816 N. I Rd. * San Juan

702-0155Orders to Go!

1-877-464-7741www.newlifehhs.com

2115 Lott Road, Donna, TX916 W. Nolana Loop, Pharr, TX

HomeHealth CareProvided 7

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Texas TheaterBallroom

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115 E. Park • Pharr, TX(956) 783-7656Oscar Barrera

Cell # (956) 457-2327

Nancy'sFlower Shop

787-5187 or 1-800-787-5187700 E. Sam Houston, Pharr

We have a large selection offlower arrangements, plants,

Delivery service available.All major credit cards

accepted.Wire service available.

munchiebaskets andcandie-filled

cups tochoose from.

COMPLEMENTSHAIR SALON

300 E. Exp. 83Suite AAPharr, TX

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1200 E. Kelly St., Pharr TX

781-1701

Juan M. MartinezIndependent Agent

912 W. Citrus & I Rd., San Juan(956) 787-4661 * 607-3453

D & M CLEANERS

PHARR129 W. Park * 787-1401

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EDINBURG701 S. Closner * 383-2472

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D & M CLEANERS

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EDINBURG701 S. Closner * 383-2472

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CLOSED SUNDAY "SEE YOU IN CHURCH"

S. Klein Galleries --“We frame diplomas”

521 N. MAIN • McALLEN, TX • (956) 686-0632

S. Klein Galleries has frames for all occasions -- whether its quinceaneras, weddings,graduations. Whatever style, whatever size, S. Klein Galleries is your place to shop.

Phone: 787-1861Fax: 787-2093

www.Martindrug.com

For 97 years, Martin Drug has been serving P.S.J.A and the surrounding communities,providing Fast, Reliable Pharmacy services.

Come by to see us ….. “You will be Treated like Family.”

Our Pharmacist and staff are alwaysAvailable to help you andanswer all of your questions.

Internet Ordering, Delivery, and Auto-fill available.

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12 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL 13

14 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Point of View

Truth MattersTruth MattersTruth MattersTruth MattersTruth Matters

See HAUGHEY, page 15

By Tom Haughey

President Obama has been sotentative in his imposition ofsanctions on Russia that oneRussian leader likened it to voidinghis pass to Disneyland. The Krem-lin sees Obama’s actions as littlemore than a joke. They clearlyrealize, however, that at some

point sanctions may be strengthened to the pointwhere they bite. America may at some point beginsupplying Europe with natural gas and cutting intoRussian gas profits. That would require, however,building the pipeline from Canada to the Gulf (whichthe president clearly is in no hurry to do).

While America threatens but does little, PresidentPutin is laying the groundwork for diversifying his owngas sales. The Russian gas producer Gazprom has justsigned an agreement with the state-owned ChinaNational Petroleum Corporation to supply China with38 billion cubic meters of gas per year for the next 30years. Russia will be supplying a full quarter of China’snatural gas.

The deal is worth roughly $400 billion and will openthe way for Russia to begin supplying other parts ofAsia as well. Putin sees this as the beginning of a newregional alignment with Russia, Iran and China control-ling the fate of the orient. He sees the United States asno longer having influence on the continent.

What this deal does is protect Russia from any andall U.S. sanctions while setting the stage for a new political arrangement that will have dire consequencesfor the west. Putin knows how to use energy toinfluence a country’s political decisions. When it getscold, he cuts off supplies and extorts concessions. Anycountry that buys Russian gas will find it difficult tooppose Russia’s will.

Sanctions down in gas flames

Motor-Talkin’ politicians

Old cars in peril?by Gregg Romero Wendorf

I have tobuy an oldcar beforethey gettoo expen-sive toown.

Preferably one made priorto the early 1980s, whichwas when the whacky autoengineers started loadingcars and trucks up withembedded chips and micro-computers. In other words,an old car that I can stillwork on without havingaccess to an expensivediagnostic computer.

What’s the pressing needto buy an old car now? It’sbecause some money-grub-bing politicians at the federallevel want to pass more oner-ous emission regulations thatwill effectively outlaw old carsunless the owner can affordan expensive upgrade.

There are some real dan-gers on the horizon for oldcars. And new cars too forthat matter. If those dangersbecome real, the freedom thatthe motor age blessed us withwill soon be a thing of thepast.

Eric Peters atEricPetersAutos.com had agood column lately about thiscoming loss of freedom. He’sa freelance journalist, colum-nist who’s written for mul-tiple publications including In-vestors Business Daily, theChicago Tribune, the Wash-ington Times, etc.

Peter’s main point – theold-car hobbyist generationis comprised, for the mostpart, of greybeards. And theyounger generation followingin its footsteps lack the re-sources to own a classic car.Unemployment for the early-to mid-20s crowd is still inthe double digits, and a higherpercentage than ever of the18-35-year-olds are still livingat home. Like Peters pointsout, if you’re a college gradworking at Starbucks with a$40K student loan hangingover your head, affording aclassic car is the least of yourworries.

This wouldn’t be a worry –not as many guys around wholove old cars, so what, big deal— except for one simple fact:there is strength in numberswhen it comes to battling po-litical greed.

For years, the federal poli-ticians, some of them anyway,

The '69 Goat, as the Pontiac GTOwas often referred

have been pushingfor new laws thatwill permanentlypark most classiccars. This, on top ofmaking drivingmore costly for theaverage car ownerby implementing anew federal taxbased on the num-ber of miles wedrive per year.

One of the mainthings standing inthe way of this federal pushfor more taxes and more regu-lations regulated to personaltransportation has been somepolitically active old-car hob-byist organizations as well asSEMA – the Specialty Equip-ment Manufacturers Associa-tion. SEMA is comprised ofbusinesses who sell old car/aftermarket car parts to hob-byists and other car enthusi-asts. Because the car hobby-ist crowd is growing old, how-ever, there’s less money be-ing pumped into SEMA, henceless strength in numbers whenbattling federal politicians whoserve as antagonists to the carindustry, AKA, the greedyvampire politician whose onlymission in life is to suck thelife out of, well, life. Having anyfun? We’ll tax that too.

Younger kids, too, aren’tdeveloping a feel for automechanics because their dadsdidn’t work on cars when theywere growing up. Numberone, the dads were often toobusy. Number two, the newcomputers added to mostrelatively new cars 1982 go-ing forward have eliminatedmost DIY auto jobs.

So, fewer people are devel-oping a love for automobiles.A feel for the real machine, ifyou will. Because when youget right down to it, today’scars are basically problem free.They’re more like an appli-ance. A washing machine(okay, some break, but mostrun problem-free). And likePeters points out in his re-cent column, unlike a car, whocan bond with a washing ma-chine? Not all, but most newcars today are built with nocharacter, no class, no style.No moxie.

A weaker grassroots automovement, however, aweaker grassroots lobbyingarm, is music to the ears ofsome politicians. They’ve runinto the NRA when it comesto guns, and they’re sick of

running into the same inde-pendent bunch when it comesto old cars.

All these average guys, av-erage women, screamingabout rights and liberty, whodo they think they are?

First thing some D.C. poli-ticians want to do, is make itillegal to drive a vehicle on theroad unless it meets currentemission standards. Good luckwith that on your ’69 PontiacGTO. How much is that newemissions upgrade going tocost you? Good luck withthat. Or consider the politi-cians and federal career bu-reaucrats who want to makeit mandatory that a car have acatalytic converter. Or a com-puter, which wasn’t added tomost cars until 1982. The onlyway, after all, to collect a per-mile tax is to track each ve-hicle with the onboard com-puter and GPS. Can’t trusttaxpayers to simply keep trackof the miles with a paper andpen.

The mandatory emissions-standards idea has alreadybeen floated in California, bythe way, the home of fruit-cakes and looney tunes (notcounting the Texas Legisla-ture). So even though someof these ideas sound crazy,what’s crazier still is that somepoliticians are actually advo-cating that they be writteninto law. All in the name of“Climate Change.” (AKA,“Global Warming” re-namedafter those embarrassingrecord cold temps surfacedin recent years around theglobe.)

Eric Peters’ future predic-tions may come to naught.Who knows. One thing isclear, though, as our federalgovernment grows larger, itwill tax whatever it can. Likesome ravenous maw whosehunger is never satiated. Andit has the auto industry, bothold cars and present drivers,you and me, in its sights.

See WILLIAMS, page 15

White privilege

By Walter E. Williams

What would you think if your 8-year-old came home and told you that"white privilege is something that whitepeople have, meaning they have anadvantage in a lot of things and they canget a job more easily"? You would haveheard that at the recent 15th annual

White Privilege Conference in Madison, Wisconsin,attended by 2,500 public-school teachers, administratorsand students from across the nation (http://tinyurl.com/lkoqj9b).

The average parent has no idea of the devious indoc-trination going on in classrooms in many public schools.What follows are some of the lessons of the conference.

In one of the workshops, "Examining White Privilegeand Building Foundations for Social Justice Thinking inthe Elementary Classroom," educators Rosemary Coltand Diana Reeves told how teachers can "insert socialjustice, anti-racist information" into their lessons that"even little kids" can understand.

Kim Radersma, a former high-school English teacher,hosted a session titled "Stories from the front lines ofeducation: Confessions of a white, high school Englishteacher." She said that teaching is a purely political actand that neutral people should "get the f—- out ofeducation." (http://tinyurl.com/q5adt2d). She also ex-plained: "Being a white person who does anti-racist workis like being an alcoholic. I will never be recovered by myalcoholism, to use the metaphor. I have to every day wakeup and acknowledge that I am so deeply embedded withracist thoughts and notions and actions in my body that Ihave to choose every day to do anti-racist work andthink in an anti-racist way" (http://tinyurl.com/q4z969q).

But the propaganda and lunacy go even deeper.Jacqueline Battalora, professor of sociology and criminaljustice at Saint Xavier University, informed conferenceparticipants that "white people did not exist before1681. Again, white people did not exist on planet earthuntil 1681" (http://tinyurl.com/lkoqj9b). That's trulyincredible. If Professor Battalora is correct, how are we

Questions asked about Alamo’s Planning and Zoning

See ALAMO, page 17

To the editor:

Last Wednesday, the Cityof Alamo’s Planning and Zon-ing Committee met to ap-prove or disapprove requestsfor variances. Among thosevariances was a request todeviate from subdivisionregulations, which at the mo-ment states that each indi-vidual lot is to be used forsingle-family homes.

The picture that was origi-

nally submitted to the cityconcerning this one variancewas one of a steel building. Atthe time of the meeting, thehomeowner asking for thevariance was represented byan attorney who presenteddifferent steel structures, cov-ered in stucco. There was noexact plan of what the struc-ture will even look like.

Currently, there is a partialfence made of stucco sur-rounding this lot in question.

There is also a driveway, asidewalk and rebar already onthe property.

The property owner hasbuilt a steel carport on hiscurrent property without apermit. The City of Alamo, bythe way, hasn’t addressed thebuilding of that steel carport.

According to the city, theyare unable to enforce exactly

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL 15

Point of View

Continued from page 14

HAUGHEY...

With this deal in place, theannexation of the Ukrainebecomes much more likelyunless NATO elects tothreaten the use of militaryforce. Economic sanctionswill clearly be of little value.

About the only good thatmay come of the deal is thatChina may replace a few of itscoal burning electrical plantswith gas. That would cleanthe atmosphere over China amight.

At the same time, the dealensures that the Chineseeconomy will continue itsrapid expansion. America isstagnant while China grows. America will no longer be theworld’s financial hub. Wemay well be entering the firststage of a struggle for eco-nomic survival against an en-emy that has expansionistgoals. That would be verydangerous and might wellusher in the next world war— a war which we might notbe in a position to win.

China is building carriers. Russia is sending its ships intothe Atlantic to project power. Japan. South Korea, and Tai-wan are becoming alarmed bythe lack of decisiveness shownby American leaders. SaudiArabia may start its ownnuclear program to counterIran’s march to the bomb. Israel is considering takingnecessary steps for self pres-ervation. Wouldn’t it be niceif we had a president who hada foreign policy?

America has become fix-ated on the numerous scan-dals produced by this admin-istration. We mustn’t forget,however, that the primarypurpose of government is to

defend and protect the coun-try from our enemies. Thoseenemies are growing in num-ber and in resolve. We can illafford to respond with tweetswhen force is called for. Wetweet while our enemies useour own Internet as a toolagainst us and steal our moneyand our secrets to build uptheir own technology.

----------------------------- Tom Haughey is SeniorAdvisor of the TexasRepublican CountyChairmen's Association.

Editor’s note: I couldn’tdisagree more with my owncolumnist’s column. Mr.Haughey wants us to get mili-tarily involved in another war?Even though we’re stone coldbroke to the tune of morethan $17 trillion? The onlyreason this Ukraine businesspopped up in the first place isbecause our CIA propped upa neo-fascist gang of thugs whothen overthrew a democrati-cally elected government justso NATO could move in tothe western part of Ukraine.We prod Russia repeatedly inthe chest and then act sur-prised when it doesn’t justcave in like so many otherpuppet governments aroundthe world.

If the primary purpose ofgovernment is to defend andprotect the country from ourenemies, as Mr. Haugheywrites in this week’s column,then, please, stay the hell outof Ukraine, which is now runby a bunch of pro-war neo-fascists who stole the govern-ment from the previous one,which was democraticallyelected. Ironic, really, the greatUSA, the defender of free-dom, and then we overthrowa democracy halfway aroundthe world?

Continued from page 14

WILLIAMS...

to identify WilliamShakespeare (1564), Sir IsaacNewton (1642), John Locke(1632), Leonardo da Vinci(1452) and especially dearPlato (428 B.C.)? Were thesemen people of color, or didthey not exist?

John A. Powell, a Universityof California, Berkeley law pro-fessor, told his audience, "Andright now, I'm going to suggestto you that race is driving al-most everything that's hap-pening in the country." He ex-plained the Hurricane Katrinadisaster in New Orleans bysaying, "They took moneyaway from protecting thelevees because the leveeswere protecting blackpeople."

Stephanie Baran's message

to conference participantswas that capitalism is thecause of racism in the worldtoday. This adjunct professorat Kankakee Community Col-lege, who calls herself a vulgarMarxist, added that racismwas invented in ColonialAmerica by white capitalistsas a tool to divide labor andkeep the working class intheir place.

Educator Paul Kivel ex-plained what he sees asChristian hegemony, saying,"Very simply, I define it as theeveryday pervasive, deep-seated and institutionalizeddominance of Christian val-ues, Christian institutions,leaders and Christians as agroup, primarily for the ben-efit of Christian ruling elites."

Speaker Leonard Zeskind,citing work done by theMacIver Institute, explainedthat "the longer you are in thetea party the more racist you

become." He added, "Parentsput their kids in privateschools because they're rac-ist."

University of Iowa Profes-sor Adrien Wing gave some ofher observations about whiteprivilege, asking, "Does havinga black president change that?Has it changed that? Unfor-tunately, it hasn't. ... (PresidentObama) ends up being thefront man for the system. ...He works for the master ofthe system of white privilege."

I can't imagine people be-ing stupid enough to believeall that was said at the WhitePrivilege Conference. There'ssomething else at work. I thinkit's white guilt. That's why, foralmost three decades, therehas appeared on my websitea certificate of amnesty andpardon that I've granted toAmericans of European an-cestry in the hope that theystop feeling guilty and stopacting like fools (http://tinyurl.com/opd8vgd).

- - - - - - - - - - - -Walter E. Williams is a pro-

fessor of economics atGeorge Mason University. Tofind out more about WalterE. Williams and read featuresby other Creators Syndicatewriters and cartoonists, visitthe Creators Syndicate Webpage at www.creators.com.

The war on America’s military veterans, wagedwith SWAT teams, surveillance and neglect

By John W. Whitehead

Just in timefor MemorialDay, we’reonce againbeing treatedto a generousserving ofpraise andgrandstandingby politicians

and corporations eager togo on record as beingsupportive of our veterans.Patriotic platitudes aside,however, America has donea deplorable job of caringfor her veterans. We erectmonuments for those whodie while serving in themilitary, yet for those whoreturn home, there’s littlehonor to be found.

The plight of veterans to-day is deplorable, with largenumbers of them impover-ished, unemployed, trauma-tized mentally and physically,struggling with depression,thoughts of suicide, and mari-tal stress, homeless (a third ofall homeless Americans areveterans), subjected to sub-par treatment at clinics andhospitals, and left to molderwhile their paperwork pilesup within Veterans Adminis-tration (VA) offices.

While President Obamahas now declared that he “willnot stand” for the mistreat-ment of veterans under hiswatch, the time for words islong past. As Slate political cor-respondent John Dickersonobserved, these inexcusabledelays represent “a failure ofone of the most basic trans-actions government is sup-posed to perform: keeping a

promise to those who wereasked to protect our veryform of government.”

Then again, as I detail in mybook A Government ofWolves: The Emerging Ameri-can Police State, the govern-ment has been breaking itspromises to the Americanpeople for a long time now,starting with its most sacredcovenant to uphold and de-fend the Constitution. Yet ifthe government won’t abideby its commitment to re-spect our constitutionalrights to be free from gov-ernment surveillance andcensorship, if it completelytramples on our right to dueprocess and fair hearings, androutinely denies us protec-tion from roadside stripsearches and militarized po-lice, why should anyone ex-pect the government to treatour nation’s veterans with re-spect and dignity?

Indeed, in recent years,military servicemen andwomen—many of whom aredecorated—have foundthemselves increasingly tar-geted for surveillance, censor-ship, threatened with incar-ceration or involuntary com-mitment, labeled as extrem-ists and/or mentally ill, andstripped of their SecondAmendment rights, all for dar-ing to voice their concernsabout the alarming state ofour union and the erosion ofour freedoms.

For example, a Departmentof Homeland Security (DHS)program dubbed OperationVigilant Eagle tracks militaryveterans returning from Iraqand Afghanistan, and charac-terizes them as extremistsand potential domestic ter-rorist threats because theymay be “disgruntled, disillu-sioned or suffering from thepsychological effects of war.”

Unfortunately, as we’veseen in recent years, theproblem with depicting vet-erans as potential enemy com-batants is that any encounterwith a military veteran canescalate very quickly into anexplosive and deadly situa-tion—at least, on the part oflaw enforcement.

For example, Jose Guerena,a Marine who served in twotours in Iraq, was killed in 2011after an Arizona SWAT teamkicked open the door of hishome during a mistaken drugraid and opened fire. Apartfrom his military background,Guerena had had no priorcriminal record, and the po-lice found nothing illegal in hishome.

John Edward Chesney, a62-year-old Vietnam veteran,was killed by a SWAT team al-legedly responding to a callthat the Army veteran wasstanding in his apartment win-dow waving what looked likea semi-automatic rifle. SWATofficers fired 12 rounds intoChesney’s apartment win-dow. It turned out that thegun Chesney reportedlypointed was a “realistic-look-ing mock assault rifle.”

Ramon Hooks, a 25-year-old Iraq war veteran, was us-

ing an air rifle gun for targetpractice outside when aHomeland Security Agent, al-legedly house shopping in thearea, reported him as an ac-tive shooter. Hooks was ar-rested, his air rifle pellets andtoy gun confiscated, andcharges filed against him for“criminal mischief.”

Although no toy guns wereinvolved in Brandon Raub’scase, his fact scenario is evenmore chilling, given that hewas targeted for exercisinghis First Amendment rights onFacebook. The 26-year-olddecorated Marine actuallyfound himself interrogated bygovernment agents about hisviews on government cor-ruption, arrested with nowarning, labeled mentally ill forsubscribing to so-called “con-spiratorial” views about thegovernment, detained againsthis will in a psych ward forstanding by his views, and iso-lated from his family, friendsand attorneys.

On August 16, 2012, aswarm of local police, SecretService and FBI agents hand-cuffed and transported Raubto police headquarters, thento a medical center, where hewas held against his will dueto alleged concerns that hisFacebook posts were “terror-ist in nature.” Meanwhile, in akangaroo court hearing thatturned a deaf ear to Raub’sexplanations about the factthat his Facebook posts werebeing read out of context,Raub was sentenced to up to30 days’ further confinementin a psychiatric ward. Thank-fully, The Rutherford Institutecame to Raub’s assistance andbrought about his release.Even so, within days of Raubbeing seized and forcibly heldin a VA psych ward, news re-ports started surfacing ofother veterans having similarexperiences.

A federal judge actually dis-missed Raub’s lawsuit chal-lenging the government’s“Operation Vigilant Eagle”campaign and its increasingview of veterans as potentialdomestic terrorists as “far-fetched.” Yet what may soundfar-fetched to the courts is agrim reality to Americans whoare daily being targeted fordaring to exercise their con-stitutional rights to speaktheir minds, criticize the gov-ernment, and defend them-selves and their familiesagainst over-reaching govern-ment surveillance and heavy-handed police tactics.

It’s ironic, isn’t it, that weraise our young people to be-lieve that it is their patrioticduty to defend freedomabroad by serving in the mili-tary, then when they returnhome, bruised and battle-scarred and suddenly seriousabout defending their free-doms at home, we treat themlike terrorists. Then again, per-haps it’s not so much ironicas it is tragic and pathetic—asad tribute, indeed, to thosewilling to put their lives on theline.

16 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Local Living

Considerations

Come to Yourself and Turn(Part II of II)

By Chris Voss

Luke 15:17, But when the youngman came to himself (his senses) hesaid, “How many hired servants ofmy father’s have bread enough andeven some to spare, and I perishhere with hunger.”

In one way or another, we are all likethe wayward son (discussed in part I).We focus our lives on the pleasures of

life and what we can get for ourselves. We pursue ourown selfish goals, searching restlessly, relentlessly untilwe completely weary ourselves. Only after we are at theend of the road (in the pigpen of life) and there are onlymemories and questions and no answers, are some of usopen to the idea of God, as our eternal Father, andheaven, as our eternal home.

Unfortunately, so very few use that moment ofbrokenness in life to sincerely connect to their heavenlyFather. For to connect to the holy Father, one must“come to himself” and turn their life in the oppositedirection, a direction that requires obedience to holylaws and values that are mocked and ridiculed by theworld, yes, even by our families and friends.

Matthew 18:1-3, On that day the disciples came toJesus, “Who then,” they said, “is the greatest in theKingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child andmade him stand in the middle of them, and said,“This is the truth I tell you – unless you turn andbecome as children, you will not enter into theKingdom of Heaven.”

Jesus said, “…unless you turn.” He was warning thedisciples that they were going in the wrong direction,away from the Kingdom of Heaven and not toward it. Inlife it is all a question of what a man or woman is aimingat; if they are aiming at personal exaltation of themselves,thinking only of themselves, they are aiming at preciselythe opposite direction of the Kingdom of Heaven.

For to be a citizen of the Kingdom means the com-plete forgetting of self, the obliteration of self, the spend-ing of self in a life which aims at service and not atpower. So long as each of us considers our own selvesas the most important person in the world, our backsare turned on the Kingdom. If we ever want to reachthe Kingdom of Heaven, we must “come to oursenses,” to ourselves, and “turn” around the directionof our lives and face them in the opposite direction.

Have you turned your back on Jesus and His kingdombecause you have not forgiven someone for what theydid or said to you today, yesterday, or years long passed?Have you turned your back on Jesus and His Kingdombecause you refuse to say, “I’m sorry,” for somethingyou did today, yesterday, or so many years ago? Haveyou turned your back on Jesus and His Kingdom be-cause you selfishly think only of yourself and seldom ofothers?

There are countless reasons why we may turn ourbacks on our Savior and Lord and His kingdom. But it isnever too late, no sin too great to “come to yourself”and realize you have a foolish and hard heart and “turn”your life toward the Holy Kingdom.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Chris Voss is a pastor at Central Christian Church,1320 Nolana, McAllen; and First Christian Church,317 S. Main, Donna.

Pets of the Week . . .

Editor’s note: We pub-lished a story recently thatmentioned that HidalgoCounty currentlyeuthanizes approximately35,000 dogs and cats peryear. Out of approximately38,000 sent to the countyshelter every 12 months,only about 3,000 dogs andcats get adopted.

Well hello out there. Myname is Bryan and I’m atwo-year-old, neutered,Terrier Blend. I walk so wellon a leash that all thevolunteers here believe Iwas trained. As soon as theleash is put around myneck and we start to walk, Iam right there by yourside. I do not run or pulland when you stop, I stop.You really just need tocome on over and take meout. I also love al kinds ofpeople, big or small andanimals too. You will beamazed by how much of aperfect little boy I am. Ithink you will be soamazed that you will befilling out an application toadopt me and take mehome with you.

Sweet Melody here. I’ma four-year-old, female,Terrier blend. I too walkvery well on a leash justlike my friend Bryan. I trulyenjoy being held or justsitting on your lap enjoyingevery moment we spendtogether. Just watch out, Ilove to give kisses, but whodoesn’t enjoy a kiss everyonce in a while. I am as softas memory foam and whenyou come for a visit, I willcry when you put me backin my kennel. I had a goodloving family once before,but unfortunately, one ofthe family membersbecame ill and wasn’t ableto care for me anymore. I

Bryan Melody Franklin

Foxy Pookie, Roxie and Taffy

am very glad they broughtme here because I get tohave a second chance atfinding another loving familywho can care for me.Hopefully it will be you.

Hi! My name is Franklin.I’m a two-month-old, male,Labrador Retriever Blend.My family is probably one ofthe most famous familiesthat had ever come throughPalm Valley. My mom is Kateand I had seven othersiblings. Good thing for mybrothers and sisters, theyhave all found wonderfulfamilies to go home with. It’snow just me and my momwho are here. When youstop by, check me and mymother out, you will be gladyou did. She is an amazinggirl who deserves a goodhome, just like I do. Maybewe can go home togetherwith you. How about it?

M-E-O-W!!!! My name isFoxy and I’m a one-year-old, female, DomesticShorthair Blend. I think myname says it all. I am abeautiful girl who is justyearning for a good home. Iam not much of a handful asI am old enough to takecare of myself. I love my furto be stroked while relaxing.I heard petting a cat is astress reliever in itself. Soyou need to ask yourself,wouldn’t it be great toadopt me and do away withsome of that unwantedstress? Well then, here I amjust waiting for you to comeand get me.

Hello? Hello? Hello? Isthere anybody out there? Ifso, my name is Fred and I’ma three-month-old, male,Domestic Shorthair Blend. Iam such a playful kitty that Ineed more than this littlecage to play in. When you

visit with me you will seeit is true. I try to bouncearound and chase yourfingers while you slidethem on the glass, but Ijust don’t have enoughroom. I was thinking, if youwere to adopt me today,we could have endlesshours of playing andchasing things around. Ifnot you, maybe you havesome children who wouldwant to play with me.What are you waiting for?Get in the car and comesee me today. You will beglad you did.

What’s up doc? Ournames are Pookie,Roxie, and Taffy. We areall young female Rabbits.Three of our siblingsalready have been adoptedout and now it’s our time.We are as soft as velvetand do not mind beingheld or petted. If youwanted to, you couldadopt us together so thatwe can grow up with oneanother, or at least one ofus and we are sure therest will be adopted soonafter. Drop by and ask tosee us. We are right in thefront office. We can’t waitto meet you. - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Adoption fees includefirst series of shots; spay/neuter operation, micro-chip, and a month of petinsurance. For moreinformation on adoptingBryan, Melody, Franklin,Foxy, Fred, Pookie, Roxy,Taffy or any of our otheradoptable pets, visit thePalm Valley Animal Centerat 2501 W. Trenton inEdinburg or call 956-686-1141 today. You can alsosee a list of all of ouradoptable animals 24hours a day atwww.pvaconline.com.

Fred

contains the highest per capitaincome level in the Rio GrandeValley.”

According to the UT Sys-tem, the administrative head-quarters for UT-RGV willneed to accommodate about100 employees, including staff,professional level and execu-tive level personnel. Consid-erations will include a pro-posed site’s access to ameni-

ties and major highways – ide-ally in or near an establishedcommercial district – and ac-cess to UT-RGV’s campuses.

The proposed site submit-ted by MVP Partnership, L.T.D.would provide the spaceneeded for the constructionof a 36,000-square-foot build-ing with 172 parking spaces,in compliance with City ofEdinburg ordinances, as re-quired by the UT System.By DAVID A. DÍAZLegislativemedia@aol.com

Continued from page 9

LAND...

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL 17

Local Living

A Pilot’s Logbook

After the war,the two embraced

Lefty’s daughter still missing

By Gregg Romero Wendorf

For years, the Confed-erate Air Force (CAF)“AIRSHO” at theHarlingen Airport inOctober was one of thebiggest draws in the state.Or the entire south, forthat matter, if you wantedto count attendance. Bythe time I started attend-ing the shows in the late

1970s, the Harlingen Airport was an amazing sight tobehold when the entire CAF fleet flew into town.Classic WWII warbirds all gathered on one ramp. Inthose days, Harlingen was the CAF’s base headquarters,but it had “wings” scattered around the state. But everyOctober, they all cametogether.

At those CAF AirShows, Tennessee ErnieFord, the old-school“Sixteen Tons” entertainerwith the baritone voicewas the emcee. Ford hadmade his bones as abombardier on a B-29Superfortress flying mis-sions over Japan duringWWII.

One year in the big“AIRSHO” tent where thevendors set up their tables,there was Greg “Pappy”Boyington, made famous byhis book andsubsequent TVshow of the samename, Baa-BaaBlack Sheep,which aired onNBC from 1976to ’78. Manningthe vendor tablethat year, 1979,right next toBoyington was theJapanese fighterpilot who shothim down overthe Pacific inJanuary 1944. At the time, “Pappy” had shot down 26enemy planes. A Japanese sub rescued him and he spenta year and a half as a POW.

But what a sight at that one CAF show – Boyingtonand the guy who shot him down. (Boyington died in ’88at the age of 75; the Japapese pilot, “Mike” Kawato, whoemigrated to California after a career spent as a pilotwith Japan Airlines, died in 2008 at the age of 83.)Kawato published a book in the late ‘70s as a sardoniccounter to Boyington’s book. He named his book —Bye-Bye, Black Sheep.

Kawato never granted many interviews. But he did sitdown with a Seattle Times reporter in 1991. Here’s anexcerpt from that profile piece recounting his firstmeeting with Boyington after the war:

“Their first meeting was unabashed melodrama. Theywere brought together at a Kiwanis luncheon at the LosAngeles airport in 1977. Boyington, a bit late, entered thehall and strode down the aisle to scattered applause.

“Ignoring everyone else, Boyington marched straightto Kawato, pulled him into a bear hug and the two

Lefty Gardner and his P-38.Graphic Source top photo:Don "Bucky" Dawson.

These days, time is survival.Thousands of business people

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In fact, chartering an airplane canturn a lot of two-day trips into one.

Call McCreery Aviation and findout about chartering an airplane.

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See PILOT, page 18

Stroke Center, such as Doc-tors Hospital at Renaissance,can reduce the likelihood ofdisability and death. Unfortu-nately, many stroke victimsdo not recognize their symp-toms. A recent national sur-vey showed that 28% ofAmericans do not know anyof the warning signs or symp-toms of a stroke. Most nota-bly, the survey showed that46% of survey respondentswere not confident that theyknow what to do if they, orsomeone they were with, ex-hibited symptoms of a stroke.

The primary stroke symp-toms include:

•Sudden numbness orweakness on one side of theface or facial drooping.

•Sudden numbness orweakness in an arm or leg,especially on one side of thebody.

•Sudden confusion, troublespeaking or understandingspeech.

•Sudden trouble seeing inone or both eyes.

•Sudden trouble walking,dizziness, loss of balance orcoordination.

•Sudden severe headachewith no known cause.

Each year, the month ofMay marks National StrokeAwareness Month. This is aunique time of the year thatprovides the opportunity toincrease awareness aboutstroke. Stroke can happen toanyone at any time, regardlessof race, sex or age. It is esti-mated that 795,000 strokeswill occur this year, translat-ing into one stroke every 40seconds.

Strokes occur when ablood vessel carrying oxygenand vital nutrients to thebrain is either blocked by aclot or ruptures. When thisoccurs, part of the brain isdeprived of blood and oxy-gen, destroying millions ofvaluable nerve cells withinminutes. “If you suspect astroke, remember the wordFAST – F-A-S-T,” said Dr. JavierCortinas, DHR EmergencyDepartment Medical Director.“F is for face - is your facedrooping? A is for arms – canyou lift both arms? S is forspeech – are you slurringyour words and T is for time,call 9- 1-1 immediately be-cause with stroke, secondsmatter.”

For more informationabout the Doctors Hospital atRenaissance “Know the Signs”Stroke Awareness Health Fair,please call 956-362-6296.

Continued from page 10

STROKE...

Continued from page 14

ALAMO...

what kind of structure is be-ing built. They state that it isup to the homeowners asso-ciation, which in this case, theneighborhood doesn’t haveone because it is a privatesubdivision.

City staff was recommend-ing a denial of variance butPlanning and Zoning Com-mittee overruled the city staffand approved the building ofthis structure, which is sup-

posed to be used for a garage,a game room, toy storage anda weight room. Planning andZoning is recommending thatthe structure be built on thelot although it will remain sepa-rate from the home. City staffalso stated that once the per-mit is issued, then the citycannot enforce the kind ofmaterial used to build thestructure. So who will en-force it?

The property owner’s at-torney is stating that it will bemade out of stucco. But oncethat permit is issued, then hecan always build the steel

structure, and the residentsof Vida Royal Subdivision willnot be able to do anythingabout it. Neither will the city.

Next week June 3rd, thisissue will go in front of the citycommission. A final questionto ponder is, why is the Plan-ning and Zoning Committeemade up of only one womanand the rest are men? Is thisequal representation?

Sincerely,

Angela SalinasAlamo, Texas

Cinderella Pet RescuePets of the Week

Missy recently joined the Cinderella catfamily when her owner could no longercare for her. She is gorgeous with short furof grays, peach, and white. Missy was bornAug. 7, 2011. She is calm and sweet. Missyeasily fit in and quickly was at ease with therest of the group. She would make awonderful companion!

Venus is a sweet and loving dog born inSept. of 2012. She weighs about 35 poundsand loves to play with her toys and chaseher ball. Venus enjoys cuddling, she is veryeasy to bathe and rides well in the car. Callto meet Venus soon. You will be happy youdid.

Missy

Please visit the Cinderella web site,Petfinder, and the Cinderella Pet RescueFacebook page to see more wonderfulcats and dogs. Then call for an appoint-ment to meet your new family member.

Cinderella can use volunteers andfoster families for both cats and dogs. Ifyou have time and love animals, please call.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Cinderella Pet Rescue is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization located in Penitas,offering both cats and dogs for you tomeet. You can find them on Facebook andPetfinder. Visit their website:www.cinderella-pet-rescue.org . For anappointment, please call (956) 283-7044or (956) 391-4399.

Venus

Summer arts classes are available for children gradeskindergarten through 5th and a new Theater Perfor-mance Class will begin for grades 6th through 10thduring the summer beginning June 16 through July 25.

The classes are part of an after-school and summerarts program offered to the community by the PharrCommunity Theater Company. Classes are held at theformer Carnahan Elementary School, 317 W. Gore inPharr. Costs vary between $30 and $60 for the entiresix-week session. Classes are held between 10 and 11am daily and a variety of arts topics and performancesare available.

To register or for more information call Mayra 562-8776 or Iliana 905-9340 (English or Spanish).

Pharr Community Theatersummer classes

18 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Local Living

Continued from page 17

PILOT...

embraced before a standing ovation.“Later, Boyington said, ‘We were

both part of an era that is gone nowand will never be replaced. Animos-ity never existed among pilots.’

“It was the era of the great fighterjocks, the single-combat warriors ofWorld War II, whose deadly airbattles have inspired countless mov-ies, television dramas and documen-taries.”

The legendary LeftyOver the years, I got to know one

of the CAF founders, the legendaryLefty Gardner. He died six years agoat the age of 87, a victim ofAlzheimer’s toward the end. Butwhat a life he lived.

Lefty and a group of good-oldboys founded the CAF in 1957. Fiveof them split the cost of an old P-51Mustang ($1,500). The next yearthey bought two Grumman Bearcats.Today, the CAF operates 150+ air-planes spread out over 70 wings, in27 states and five countries.

Originally, guys like Lefty Gardnerand Lloyd Nolen started collectingthe old birds because they were hor-rified that the same aircraft that hadplayed such a big part in winningWWII were being rapidly turnedinto scrap metal. No one at the fed-eral level was trying to preserve themas a piece of history for future gen-erations.

I used to visit Lefty at his old crop-dusting field in Mercedes, the oldRebel Field, first home to the CAF’sfleet and museum before it movedto Harlingen in 1968. Lefty’s hangarwas the sort of place where pilotswanted to hang out. He had an oldP-38 he called White Lightnin’, whichhe raced most years at the NationalChampionship Air Races in Reno.Lefty also had a P-51, which wasunique because it was a two-holer(had two seats as opposed to thetypical one on most Mustangs).

Lefty started flying when he joinedthe then-Army Air Corps at 21. Heflew 34 missions in the EuropeanTheater during WW II in B-24s andB-17s, earning the Distinguished Fly-ing Cross and the Air Medal withthree oak leaf clusters. After that tourhe joined an elite group of pilots fly-ing into Sweden, at night, carrying sup-plies for the underground andPOWs. After 12 of those missionshe came home and finished his edu-cation at Texas A&M, receiving a BSdegree in agriculture. Subsequent tothat, he made a living as a crop dusterfor 35 years, mostly flying a big oldStearman.

Speaking of Lefty Gardner, one ofmy biggest regrets in life includes oneof his planes. One day, I’m visiting himat the old Rebel Field in Mercedes.He says, let’s go have a cup of coffee.His house was right across the high-way from the field. So we walk acrossthe highway. I’m inside his housedrinking a cup of coffee, and he says,“Just let me know when, and I’ll giveyou a ride in the P-51.”

The idiocy of youth. I was about28 at the time. I said, sure, wow,thanks, Lefty, but never followed upon his offer. I should have said, “Canwe go up tomorrow?” For a flight ina P-51 with Lefty at the controls?Aloft, doing loops and rolls. What anadventure for any pilot. But instead,time passed. There’d always be to-morrow.

Then Lefty’s step-daughter, KimSue Leggett, 21, disappeared in Oc-tober of 1984 from a cotton ginwhere she worked north of

Mercedes, and the Gardner family’swhole life turned upside down. Aride in the P-51 was the last thinganyone was thinking about after that.The Texas DPS still has the case listedon its online cold-case file.

The family received a ransom notedays after Leggett’s disappearance,apparently written in her own hand-writing, demanding $250,000. Twomen had apparently driven to the gin,which was owned by her in-laws,stuffed her into their car and drivenoff. Her car and purse were left be-hind. Sadly, she was never heard fromagain.

In 2010, the Gardner family triedto re-open the case, posting a$100,000 reward for any informa-tion about her disappearance. Localnews outlets posted the story. Callthe FBI. Call the Texas DPS. Call thecounty sheriff ’s department withany information you might have. Thefamily wanted some sense of closure,and who can blame them? She leftbehind a one-year-old child. In fact,when I was visiting Lefty that day in1984, about six months before herdisappearance, I saw the youngwoman, and I saw her baby. Little didI know what was coming.

Years later, I spoke with Lefty byphone in 1991. By then, he and hisfamily had moved up to Lakeway out-side Austin and built a home adja-cent to the runway. I was writing afreelance article for a flying magazineabout the CAF’s move to Midland,and I was curious what guys likeLefty, the same guys who started theCAF, thought about the CAF’s moveto Midland that year.

Lefty’s response: the CAF hasbeen hijacked by some rich westTexas oil man, and the Midland moveis going to prove to be a colossal fail-ure because Midland is so far re-moved from civilization. How manypeople are going to drive or fly thereto visit the museum or attend theannual AIRSHOW? Instead, Lefty said,the CAF should have either stayedin Harlingen or been moved to apopulation hub like San Antonio.

The old pilot’s predictions haveproven true. Today, the CAF is look-ing for a new home. Attendance atits Midland museum and annual airshow are down.

Today, the Confederate Air Forcehas been re-named the Commemo-rative Air Force. Political correctnessrained down on the head of the oldCAF during the 1990s, claiming theword “Confederate” is offensive tosome people. Hence, airshowsaround the country quit inviting theCAF to attend, which stymied itsability to raise the funds necessaryto keep the old birds in flying condi-tion. So, it changed its name to thepolitically correct CommemorativeAir Force, even though its membersstill wear the confederate grey andcall themselves “colonels.”

Last but not least, Lefty’s prizedP-38, White Lightnin’, crashed in2001, with his son, Ladd, at the con-trols. The crash was the result of anin-flight engine fire. Thankfully, LaddGardner was okay, but the plane hadsome damage. Unable to find thefunds to fix it, the family sold it toRed Bull (the drink people and air-plane supporters), which restored itto service.

The last time I visited Lefty at hishome in ’84, prior to his step-daughter’s disappearance, Ladd wasthere, riding around in some sort ofcycle that had wings on it. It was apedal affair. Basically a tricycle belong-ing to a kid who had a dad capable ofsomehow fashioning wings to its side.There was little doubt the kid wouldgrow up to be a pilot.

Continued from page 1

POLO...

three-candidate field, the mayor hastoned down his remarks and hasseemed to accept his brother’s elec-tion loss with a sense of resignation –what happened, happened, might aswell accept it. And, too, the politi-cians from the opposite camp,Cantu’s camp, have stepped up tohelp mend the political fences, so tospeak. Some even participated in afundraiser last month to help retirethe commissioner’s campaign debt.

Asked if he thinks his former po-litical slate mates from 2010 – Cortez,Farias and Garza – will join him forthe 2015 campaign, Palacios said byphone two weeks ago:

“I think that we have a good thinggoing. And I don’t have any prob-lems. I haven’t talked to the rest ofthe guys. And they haven’t talked tome, so I don’t know. But I feel that wehave a good team and the city’s goinggreat. The race between Tito andEddie, that was something that tookplace because that’s the way politicsare. People have a choice. I think westill have a good relationship and agood thing going.”

Palacios points toward recent citygrowth as a reason for continuedunity.

“The city’s growing, and we’rebringing in new businesses, and we’redoing what we need to do. We don’tneed to go into more expenses bytrying to have another race with usgoing apart and having to spend moremoney one way or the other, be-cause things are very expensive to-day. But I don’t know how they feel.As far as I’m concerned, I don’t seeany problems between us. We’vedone what we have to do. We all gettogether fine.”

Palacios says he would like to servefor another four years.

“I don’t know how they feel, but Idon’t think it’s going to hurt anybodyif I stay there for another term andthen retire. I’m in good health andcan still do what I need to do.”

At 81 (born in January 1933),Polo Palacios is still a relative marvelas far as energy and mobility areconcerned. This, despite having bothhips and both knees replaced. Actu-ally, he had three hips replaced if youwant to count the one that cameapart on him. But that’s another story.

Now, Palacios says he’s in bettershape, feeling better, than he’s felt ina long time.

“I don’t see that age is a problem.I’m still working. I still have my ownbusiness. I’m doing what I need todo. I don’t think age has anything todo with it. I think what needs to belooked at is, what have you done forthe community? What are you doingfor the community? What can youdo for the community? Most of mypeople have asked me to stay inoffice. My family is still supportingme. That’s what matters. I startedcollege (UT-Pan Am) when I was 42and graduated at 47. The first twoyears, I went to school five nights aweek. So, no, I’ve never given age a lotof thought when it comes to aperson’s ability to get the job done.”

Palacios’ first stint on the city com-mission began in 1984. He’s beenmayor since 2002.

Adan Farias for mayor?Asked recently whether or not

he’ll support Palacios for a fourth

term as mayor and share a politicalslate with him, as he did in 2010,Pharr Mayor Pro Tem Adan Fariassays he’s not sure.

“We really haven’t had any con-versations at this point in time. Iknow there are a lot of rumors goingaround, a lot of conversation, andthis thing about me wanting to run.But it’s not really me. It’s peopleinquiring and asking. But I reallyhaven’t made any decision. I reallydon’t mind running for mayor if that’swhat the people want. I don’t have anissue with that. It’s a public servicething. I have the time. I hope I’vemade some strides in what the cityhas done and been a part of thatprocess. I’ve been there for eightyears. But it’s not one person. Ittakes a whole bunch of people.”

After this past March county elec-tion, though, does Farias think thefences can be mended on the citycommission as it carries over to citypolitics?

“I really don’t know. I’m not goingto sit here and comment on that.There was a little separation there inthat election. But we all remainedgracious in a lot of respects. Wenever went around saying stuff aboutthe mayor or anyone else. We havethat sort of ambience on the com-mission. Time will tell. As far as merunning (for mayor), I’m willing torun. But again, I don’t want to createany sort of dissension. Everything isrunning so well. You know, themayor’s been around for a long, longtime, and he’s established. But weneed to have conversations. It’s stillearly though.”

Farias has always seemed like amild-mannered guy, despite a 35-year career spent in the sometimeschaotic world of public education.From first-year teacher in 1971, af-ter getting a bachelor’s degree fromTexas A & M Kingsville, he subse-quently rose to administrative postsat both PSJA ISD and South TexasISD.

At 65, now retired, Farias spendshis time serving as the city’s mayorpro tem. When he’s not doing that,you can often find him in his wood-working shop at home. Recently,though, a medical emergency rearedits ugly head. Thankfully, unlike somany men are apt to do, when Fariasfirst felt that pressure in his chest,that tightening, he didn’t simply brushit off as no big deal. Instead, he says hetook a couple of aspirin and asked hiswife to drive him to the hospital ER.

Turns out, “I had a 99-percentblockage in my right ventricle. If Ihadn’t addressed it at the point I did,I guess I could have died overnight.”

Doctors ended up putting twostents in the right ventricle. Fariassays he never felt dizzy, just a littlepressure on the chest. He admitsmen are often their own worst en-emy when it comes to seeking medi-cal help.

“I’m very much like that also.When I have a pain in my foot, myankle, I usually let it go. But when it’saround the core of what runs yoursystem, you better go and get itchecked out. I went there at the righttime.”

His sense of humor, however,remains intact.

“If you don’t have a heart attack,they’ll give it to you there at thehospital. Actually, it was the first timeI got to use my Medicare card. Howabout that?”--By Gregg Romero Wendorf

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL 19

Public Notices/Classifieds

LEGAL NOTICE

CITY OF McALLENNOTICE TO BIDDERS

Sealed bids addressed to Mr. Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E., Interim CityManager, City of McAllen, will be received on June 12, 2014 until 4:00p.m., at which time they will be taken to the Conference Room on thesecond floor of McAllen City Hall, and publicly opened and read aloud. Bidsmust be in the City of McAllen’s possession on or before the aforemen-tioned date and time (no late bids will be accepted).

Old McAllen Police Department BuildingHail Damaged Re-Roof

Description of Work: The work consists of a one story structure re-roof.To include tear off and remove all existing roofing system materials andflashings down to the existing deck substrate. Provide and install newventing base sheet as specified. Provide and install new thermal insulationas specified. Provide and install new cover board as specified. Provide andinstall new fully adhered 67 mil fleece-back thermoplastic roofing mem-brane as specified. Provide and install all associated membrane flashings,terminations, etc. for a complete weathertight and warrantable installationas specified. Provide and install all sheet metal flashings, edge metal, trims,etc. as specified. Raise and reset existing rooftop equipment as necessaryas specified. Provide and install new additional drainage as specified.Provide manufacturer’s 20 yr NDL warranty as specified. Located at1501Pecan Blvd. McAllen, Texas.

A Bidder’s Bond from a reliable surety company licensed to operate in theState of Texas or certified Cashier’s Check, payable without recourse tothe City of McAllen, for the amount of not less than five (5) percent (%)of the total bid shall accompany the bid as a guaranty that, if awarded thecontract, the bidder will enter into a contract with the City of McAllen.Payment and Performance Bonds shall be executed except in the eventthat the total amount bid is $50,000 or less, the successful contractor hasthe option to enter into a single payment contract with the City of McAllenin lieu of a Performance Bond. In the event that the total amount bid is$25,000 or less, the successful contractor has the option to enter into asingle payment contract with the City of McAllen in lieu of a Payment andPerformance Bond.

Plans and Specifications may be obtained from the office of Sandra Zamora,CPM, Director of Purchasing and Contracting, 1300 Houston Avenue,McAllen, Texas 78501, for the amount of $75.00. General and/or PrimeContractors submitting bids and/or proposals to the City of McAllen shallbe refunded their deposits upon return of plans and specifications in goodcondition. All other recipients of plans and specifications shall be reim-bursed their deposit only if they return plans and specifications in goodcondition to the Purchasing and Contracting Department no later than thefifth (5th) working day after bid opening. Additionally, Plans and Specifica-tions may be ordered electronically via our bidding portal atwww.ebidexchange.com/mcallen. We are asking that vendors/contrac-tors register online and order plans & specs electronically. Once on theportal, after you have logged in you can click on the button “Ordercomplete set of Prints” to order your documents, just indicate in thenumber of set(s), your Carrier Account # (for billing purposes), under thespecial instructions you may enter the Carrier Name associated with youraccount number. Plans and specifications may be reviewed at Valleybranches of the AGC, McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge.

Potential bidders are asked to post their questions of a contractual natureand/or questions of a technical nature on our bidding portal under the tablabeled “Questions” under the relative project number.

Bids are to be submitted electronically, as well as, in hard copy format.....(Written Formal Sealed Bid Submittal shall govern, in case of discrepan-cies). The City of McAllen reserves the right to refuse and reject any or allBids and to waive any or all formalities or technicalities, or to accept the Bidconsidered the best and most advantageous to the City and to hold thebids for a period of sixty (60) days without taking action thereon.

Hand-deliver Bids: 1300 Houston Avenue,Purchasing & ContractingDepartment (3rd Floor)

If using Land Courier (i.e., FedEx, UPS): 1300 Houston Avenue,Purchasing & ContractingDepartment (3rd Floor),McAllen, Texas 78501

Mail Bids: P.O. Box 220, McAllen, TX78505-0220

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held June 5, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in theConference Room, 2nd Floor of the Municipal Building, City of McAllen.All prospective bidders are encouraged to be in attendance.

Bid proposals must be clearly marked on the envelope:BID: Project No. 06-14-C30-123 Old PD Re-Roof

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 28 & June 4, 2014.)

Advance News Journal ClassifiedsGet Results! Call 783-0036 Today!

LEGAL NOTICE

CITY OF McALLENNOTICE TO BIDDERS

Sealed bids addressed to Mr. Roel (Roy) Rodriguez, Interim City Manager,City of McAllen will be received on June 12, 2014 until 2:00 p.m., at whichtime they will be taken to the Conference Room (2nd floor) of McAllenCity Hall and publicly opened and read aloud. Bids (both electronic & papercopy) must be in the City of McAllen’s possession on or before theaforementioned date and time (no late bids will be accepted).

SERVICE CONTRACT FOR TOWING SERVICES(Automobile/Light, Medium, & Heavy Duty Trucks/Equipment)

Bidders receiving a “NOTICE TO BIDDERS” and/or “REQUESTFOR BIDS” notice via e-mail, fax or reading same in the newspaper areadvised that they shall be required to go online to our NEW Bidding Portal:www.ebidexchange.com/mcallen for project details. Bids are to be submit-ted electronically, as well as, in paper copy format..... If this is your firsttime on our portal, Click on the Login button in the upper right-handcorner; use your e-mail address under the “Forgot Password” area and atemporary Password will be e-mailed to you. Once in the system, you willbe prompted for a “New” password. To enter your bid prices just Clickon the “Solicitation” tab, Select the appropriate Project and enter your bid.Your electronic submittals shall be reflective of your hard copy submittal.

Potential Bidders are asked to post their questions on our biddingportal under the tab labeled “Questions” under the relative projectnumber. Questions of a contractual nature shall be directed to SandraZamora, CPM, Director of Purchasing and Contracting by calling (956)681-1130.

Hand-deliver Bids: 1300 Houston Avenue,Purchasing & ContractingDepartment (3rd Floor)

If using Land Courier (i.e., FedEx, UPS): 1300 Houston Avenue,Purchasing & ContractingDepartment (3rd Floor),McAllen, Texas 78501

Mail Bids: P.O. Box 220, McAllen, TX78505-0220

The City of McAllen reserves the right to refuse and reject any or all Bidsand to waive any or all formalities or technicalities, or to accept the Bidconsidered the best and most advantageous to the City and hold the bidsfor a period of sixty (60) days without taking action. Be advised that if yourcompany is contemplating on responding to this project you must registeron our portal so that any changes and/or additions via Addendum form canbe forwarded to your company.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held June 3, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in theConference Room (2nd Floor) of McAllen of City Hall. All prospectivebidders are encouraged to be in attendance.

Envelopes must be clearly marked: Project No. 06-14-S64-24 TOWING SERVICES

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 28 & June 4, 2014.)

20 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Public Notices/Classifieds

Advance News Journal783-0036

LEGAL NOTICE

CITY OF McALLENNOTICE TO BIDDERS

Sealed bids addressed to Mr. Roel Rodriguez, P.E., Interim City Manager,City of McAllen, will be received on June 11, 2014 until 3:00 p.m., atwhich time they will be taken to Conference Room on the second floor ofMcAllen City Hall, and publicly opened and read aloud. Bids must be in theCity of McAllen’s possession on or before the aforementioned date andtime (no late bids will be accepted).

McAllen Fire Sub Station No. 3 Rebuild

Description of Work:Phase I work consists of a one story structure, of brick with metal stud,metal trusses, two bay garage, all new building and parking with landscape. Phase II Consists of the Demo of the existing building when thephase I is finished.

A Bidder’s Bond from a reliable surety company licensed to operate in theState of Texas or certified Cashier’s Check, payable without recourse tothe City of McAllen, for the amount of not less than five (5) percent (%)of the total bid shall accompany the bid as a guaranty that, if awarded thecontract, the bidder will enter into a contract with the City of McAllen.Payment and Performance Bonds shall be executed except in the eventthat the total amount bid is $50,000 or less, the successful contractor hasthe option to enter into a single payment contract with the City of McAllenin lieu of a Performance Bond. In the event that the total amount bid is$25,000 or less, the successful contractor has the option to enter into asingle payment contract with the City of McAllen in lieu of a Payment andPerformance Bond.

Plans and Specifications may be obtained from the office of Sandra Zamora,CPM, Director of Purchasing and Contracting, 1300 Houston Avenue,McAllen, Texas 78501, for the amount of $200.00. General and/or PrimeContractors submitting bids and/or proposals to the City of McAllen shallbe refunded their deposits upon return of plans and specifications in goodcondition. All other recipients of plans and specifications shall be reim-bursed their deposit only if they return plans and specifications in goodcondition to the Purchasing and Contracting Department no later than thefifth (5th) working day after bid opening. Additionally Plans and Specifica-tions may be ordered electronically via our new bidding portal atwww.ebidexchange.com/mcallen. We are asking that vendors/contrac-tors register online and order plans & specs electronically. Once on theportal, after you have logged in you can click on the button “Ordercomplete set of Prints” to order your documents, just indicate in thenumber of set(s), your Carrier Account # (for billing purposes), under thespecial instructions you may enter the Carrier Name associated with youraccount number.

Bids are to be submitted electronically, as well as, in hard copy format.....(Written Formal Sealed Bid Submittal shall govern, in case of discrepan-cies).

The City of McAllen reserves the right to refuse and reject any or all Bidsand to waive any or all formalities or technicalities, or to accept the Bidconsidered the best and most advantageous to the City and to hold thebids for a period of sixty (60) days without taking action thereon.

Plans and specifications may be reviewed at Valley branches of the AGC,McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge, and at the office of MILNET ARCHI-TECTURAL SERVICES, 608 S. 12 Street, McAllen, Texas 78501,by calling (956) 688-5656, Fax: (956) 687-9289.

Potential bidders are asked to post their questions of a contrac-tual nature and/or questions of a technical nature on our biddingportal under the tab labeled “Questions” under the relativeproject number.

Hand-deliver Bids: 1300 Houston Avenue,Purchasing & ContractingDepartment (3rd Floor)

If using Land Courier (i.e., FedEx, UPS): 1300 Houston Avenue,Purchasing & ContractingDepartment (3rd Floor),McAllen, Texas 78501

Mail Bids: P.O. Box 220, McAllen, TX78505-0220

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held June 4, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in theConference Room, 2nd Floor of the Municipal Building, City of McAllen.All prospective bidders are encouraged to be in attendance.

Bid proposals must be clearly marked on the envelope:BIDS: Project No. 06-14-C29-373FIRE SUB STATION NO. 3

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 21 & May 28, 2014.)

LEGAL NOTICE

CITY OF McALLENNOTICE TO BIDDERS

Sealed bids addressed to Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E., Interim City Manager,City of McAllen, will be received on June 05, 2014 until 3:00 p.m. at whichtime they will be taken to the Conference Room (2nd floor) of McAllenCity Hall and publicly opened and read aloud. Bids must be in the City ofMcAllen’s possession on or before the aforementioned date and time (nolate bids will be accepted).

PURCHASE OF FENCING MATERIAL

It shall be mandatory that a Bidder’s Bond from a reliable surety companylicensed to operate in the State of Texas or certified cashier’s check,payable without recourse to the City of McAllen, for the amount of not lessthan five (5) percent (%) of the total bid, shall accompany the bid as aguaranty that the bidder will comply with all specifications and deliverydate.

Bidders receiving a “NOTICE TO BIDDERS” and/or “REQUESTFOR BIDS” notice via e-mail, fax or reading same in the newspaper areadvised that they shall be required to go online to our NEW Bidding Portal:www.ebidexchange.com/mcallen for project details. Bids are to be submit-ted electronically, as well as, in hard copy format..... If this is your firsttime in our portal, Click on the Login button in the upper right-handcorner; use your e-mail address under the “Forgot Password” area and atemporary Password will be e-mailed to you. Once in the system, you willbe prompted for a “New” password. To enter your bid prices just Clickon the “Solicitation” tab, Select the appropriate Project and enter your bid.Your electronic submittals shall be reflective of your hard copy submittal.The City of McAllen reserves the right to refuse and reject any or all Bidsand to waive any or all formalities or technicalities, or to accept the bid tobe considered the best and most advantageous to the City and hold thebids for a period of sixty (60) days without taking action. Be advised thatif your company is contemplating on responding to this project you mustregister on our portal so that any changes and/or additions via Addendumform can be forwarded to your company.

Potential bidders are asked to post their questions on our bidding portalunder the tab labeled “Questions” under the relative project number.Questions of a contractual nature shall be directed to Sandra Zamora,CPM, Director of Purchasing and Contracting by calling (956) 681-1130.

Hand-deliver Bids: 1300 Houston Avenue,Purchasing & ContractingDepartment (3rd Floor)

If using Land Courier (i.e., FedEx, UPS): 1300 Houston Avenue,Purchasing & ContractingDepartment (3rd Floor),McAllen, Texas 78501

Mail Bids: P.O. Box 220, McAllen, TX78505-0220

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held May 29, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in theConference Room (2nd Floor) of McAllen of City Hall. All prospectivebidders are encouraged to be in attendance.

Envelopes must be clearly marked:PROJECT NO. 06-14-P43-107PURCHASE OF FENCING MATERIALS

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 21 & May 28, 2014.)

CITY OF SAN JUANPUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Planning and Zoning Commission ofthe City of San Juan will hold a public hearing on Thursday, June 5, 2014at 6:00 p.m. and the City Commission will hold a public hearing onTuesday, June 24, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at the San Juan Memorial Library,located at 1010 S. Standard Avenue, San Juan, Texas, on the followingapplications:

1. Conditional Use Permit to operate a portable food concessionstand at property located at 100 W. Business 83, legally describedas the East 190 feet of the East 605 feet of Park Lots Subdivision,as Requested by Rafael Aguilar and Fabiola Ramirez.

2. Special Use Permit for the Sale and On-Premise Consumption ofAlcoholic Beverages at “Palm Event Center” located at 2811 N.Veteran’s Boulevard, legally described as Lot 1, Kay Subdivision, asRequested by Roberto Garza.

WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL, this 27th day of May, 2014.

Xavier Cervantes, AICPDirector of Planning

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 28, 2014.)

LEGAL NOTICE

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL 21

Public Notices/Classifieds

LEGAL NOTICE

CITY OF McALLENNOTICE TO RESPONDENTS

Sealed proposals addressed to Mr. Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E., Interim CityManager, City of McAllen, will be received until June 12, 2014 at 3:00 p.m.at which time they will be taken to Conference Room (2nd Floor) ofMcAllen City Hall and publicly opened and the names ofcompany(ies) responding shall be announced. All proposals mustbe in the City of McAllen’s possession on or before the aforementioneddate and time (no late proposals shall be accepted).

CAFÉ & CATERING SERVICESCONCESSIONAIRE AT McALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY

It shall be mandatory that a Proposal Bond from a reliable surety companylicensed to operate in the State of Texas or a certified cashier’s check,payable without recourse to the City of McAllen, must accompany theProposal in the amount of $5,000.00.

Respondents receiving a “Notice to Respondents” via e-mail, fax, orreading same in the newspaper are advised that they shall be required togo online to our Bidding Portal www.ebidexchange.com/mcallen to obtainsolicitation documents. Responses are to be submitted electronically,as well as, in paper copy format. If this is your first time on our portal Clickon the “Login” button, in the upper right-hand corner; kindly use your e-mail address under the “Forgot Password” area and a temporary Passwordshall be e-mailed to you. Once back in the portal, click on the Solicitationtab, then click on the View button for the appropriate project and kindlyanswer the question(s) on the Description tab. You may then proceedto the Document tab to download the complete solicitation document.Once you have read the Request for Proposal document and are ready tosubmit your response, click on the “Bid” tab and upload your Proposal.Your electronic submittals shall be reflective of your paper copy submittal.(Written Formal Sealed Proposal submittal shall govern, in case of discrep-ancies). The City of McAllen reserves the right to refuse and reject any orall responses and to waive any or all formalities or technicalities and toaccept the Proposal to be the best and most advantageous to the City, andhold the responses for a period of ninety (90) days without taking action.Be advised that if your company is contemplating on responding to thisproject, you must register in our portal so that any changes/additions viaAddendum form can be forwarded to your company.

Potential respondents are asked to post project related questions on ourbidding portal under the tab labeled “Questions” under the relative projectnumber indicated below.

Hand-deliver Proposals: 1300 Houston Avenue,Purchasing & ContractingDepartment (3rd Floor)

If using Land Courier (i.e., FedEx, UPS): 1300 Houston Avenue,Purchasing & ContractingDepartment (3rd Floor),McAllen, Texas 78501

Mail Proposals: P.O. Box 220, McAllen, TX78505-0220

A Pre-Proposal Conference shall be held May 29, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. inMeeting Room A located at the McAllen Public Library, 4001 N. 23rdStreet, McAllen, TX. All prospective Respondents are encouraged to be inattendance.

A walk-through will be conducted by City representatives whom will beavailable to answer questions and conduct tours of the concession site(s)immediately after the pre-proposal meeting.

Envelopes must be clearly marked: 06-14-S62-66 RFP –CAFÉ AND CATERING SERVICESCONCESSIONAIRE AT MCALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 21 & May 28, 2014.)

LEGAL NOTICE

CITY OF McALLENNOTICE TO RESPONDENTS

Sealed proposals addressed to Mr. Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E., Interim CityManager, City of McAllen, will be received until June 17, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.at which time they will be taken to Conference Room (2nd Floor) ofMcAllen City Hall and publicly opened and the names ofcompany(ies) responding shall be announced. All proposals mustbe in the City of McAllen’s possession on or before the aforementioneddate and time (no late proposals shall be accepted).

RFP – TUTORING CENTER ATTHE McALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY

It shall be mandatory that a Proposal Bond from a reliable surety companylicensed to operate in the State of Texas or a certified cashier’s check,payable without recourse to the City of McAllen, must accompany theProposal in the amount of $3,000.00.

Respondents receiving a “Notice to Respondents” via e-mail, fax, orreading same in the newspaper are advised that they shall be required togo online to our Bidding Portal www.ebidexchange.com/mcallen to obtainsolicitation documents. Responses are to be submitted electronically,as well as, in paper copy format. If this is your first time on our portal Clickon the “Login” button, in the upper right-hand corner; kindly use your e-mail address under the “Forgot Password” area and a temporary Passwordshall be e-mailed to you. Once back in the portal, click on the Solicitationtab, then click on the View button for the appropriate project and kindlyanswer the question(s) on the Description tab. You may then proceedto the Document tab to download the complete solicitation document.Once you have read the Request for Proposal document and are ready tosubmit your response, click on the “Bid” tab and upload your Proposal.Your electronic submittals shall be reflective of your paper copy submittal.(Written Formal Sealed Proposal submittal shall govern, in case of discrep-ancies). The City of McAllen reserves the right to refuse and reject any orall responses and to waive any or all formalities or technicalities and toaccept the Proposal to be the best and most advantageous to the City, andhold the responses for a period of ninety (90) days without taking action.Be advised that if your company is contemplating on responding to thisproject, you must register in our portal so that any changes/additions viaAddendum form can be forwarded to your company.

Potential respondents are asked to post project related questions on ourbidding portal under the tab labeled “Questions” under the relative projectnumber indicated below.

Hand-deliver Proposals: 1300 Houston Avenue,Purchasing & ContractingDepartment (3rd Floor)

If using Land Courier (i.e., FedEx, UPS): 1300 Houston Avenue,Purchasing & ContractingDepartment (3rd Floor),McAllen, Texas 78501

Mail Proposals: P.O. Box 220, McAllen, TX78505-0220

A Pre-Proposal Conference shall be held June 03, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. inMeeting Room A located at the McAllen Public Library, 4001 N. 23rdStreet, McAllen, TX. All prospective Respondents are encouraged to be inattendance. A walk-through will be conducted by City representativeswhom will be available to answer questions and conduct tours of theconcession site(s) immediately after the pre-proposal meeting.

Envelopes must be clearly marked: Project No. 06-14-S61-13RFP – TUTORING CENTER AT McALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 21 & May 28, 2014.)

NOTICE OF ENTRANCE EXAMINATION FORENTRY-LEVEL POLICE OFFICER

LEGAL NOTICE

An examination will be administered for Entry-Level Police Officer forthe City of McAllen on Friday, July 25, 2014. The exam will be adminis-tered at 9:00 a.m. at the McAllen Convention Center located at 701Convention Center Blvd, Ballroom B, McAllen, Texas.

Applicants must:**Meet all minimum requirements and submit a completed applicationwith all required documentation of the application.

To receive a copy of the minimum requirements, application and benefits;www.mcallen.net or come by the Office of the Civil Service Departmentat 1501 Pecan Avenue, McAllen, Texas / P O BOX 220 McAllen, Texas. Youmay contact our office at (956) 681-1407. Applications will not beprocessed unless all documents are submitted. The deadline to submitcompleted applications is Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at 5:00 p.m.All positions require a drug screen prior to employment.

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 14, May 21, May 28 & June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25, 2014.)

Hosanna Hospice is in need of caringvolunteers. Patient visitor volunteers

interact directly with patients and families,but other opportunities to make a

difference also exist, including working inour bereavement program, or helping out inthe office. If you are interested in an upliftingvolunteer experience that will brighten theworld for others and for you, please contact

Elma Lozano at 956-781-9900 oremail elma@vdphealthcare.com

Hospice Volunteers needed...

LEGAL NOTICECITY OF PHARR

LEGAL NOTICE

You are hereby notified that the Pharr Board of Commissioners of the Cityof Pharr, Texas, Hidalgo County, at a regular-special meeting held on May22, 2014 read, approved and passed the following ordinance (s):

ORDINANCE NO. O-2014-18

AN ORDINANCE APPOINTING/RE-APPOINTING A MUNICIPALJUDGE AND TWO ALTERNATE MUNICIPAL JUDGES FOR THE CITYOF PHARR; COMPENSATION; HOURS; CUMULATIVE CLAUSE; SEV-ERABILITY CLAUSE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; EFFECTIVE DATE.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL OFOFFICE THIS 22nd DAY OF MAY, 2014.

______________________CITY OF PHARRHILDA PEDRAZA, TRMCCITY CLERK

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 28, 2014.)

LEGAL NOTICECITY OF PHARR

LEGAL NOTICE

You are hereby notified that the Pharr Board of Commissioners of the Cityof Pharr, Texas, Hidalgo County, at a regular-special meeting held on May 22,2014 read, approved and passed the following ordinance (s):

ORDINANCE NO. O-2014-19

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. O-2007-56 O-2005-43, O-2004-57, O-99- 45, PROVIDING THEREIN FOR THE REVI-SION OF RATES CHARGED FOR SEWER SYSTEM SERVICES; PROVID-ING THAT THE PROCEDURE FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE SPECIALRATES PROVIDED THEREIN SHALL BE OUT IN SECTION 3 OF THEORIGINAL UNNUMBERED ORDINANCE, AND FAILURE TO MAKETIMELY PAYMENT OF THE SPECIAL RATES PROVIDED THEREINSHALL SUBJECT THE SUBSCRIBER TO THE PENALTY OF A FINE NOTEXCEEDING 10% OF THE AMOUNT PAST DUE AND UNPAID AND/OR THE REFUSAL OF THE CITY TO SERVICE SUCH PROVISIONSRELATED THERETO; PROVIDING SEVERABILITIY AND REPEALINGCLAUSES; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND PROVIDING FOR ANEFFECTIVE DATE.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF CITY COMMISSIONERSOF THE CITY OF PHARR, TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Change of Rates

SCHEDULE 2

Single-Family, Multi-Family, Institutional applies to residential detached units,single-metered duplexes, churches, housing authority and public buildings.

A. For each regular meter connection $15 per month base charge will beassessed;

B. For North Alamo Water Supply Corporation residential customersfor each regular meter connection a $16.50 per month base chargewill be assessed; plus

C. $0.98 per 1000 gallons of water purchased will be charged providedthat City meter is the only service for water used by the user.

SCHEDULE 3

COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL: Applies to business establishments, hotels,motels, cafes, service stations, mobile homes/recreational vehicle parks orsubdivisions, laundries, ice plants, bottling works, milk plants, packing sheds,canning plants, carwash, brick plants. Etc.

A. For each connection a $22.97 per month base charge will beassessed; plus

B. For North Alamo Water Supply Corporation commercial/industrialcustomers for each connection a $24.47 per month base charge willbe assessed; plus

C. $1.30 per 1,000 gallons of water purchased will be charged provided thatthe City meter is the only service for water used by the user.

SECTION 2: That except as herein amended said Ordinance shall becumulative of other ordinances and remain in full force and effect, unim-paired hereby.

SECTION 3: If any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, or word of thisOrdinance is held to be unconstitutional, the remaining portions of thesame, nevertheless shall be valid; and the Board of Commissioners declarethat the Ordinance would have enacted without such unconstitutionalportion.

SECTION 4: In compliance with Article III, Section 8, of the City Charterrequiring Ordinance imposing penalties to be published in the OfficialNewspaper, it is hereby ordered that this Ordinance be so published, andit shall take effect ten (10) days after such publication. It is further ordered,as permitted by Article III, Section 9 of the City Charter, that the publicationbe of a descriptive caption or title, stating in summary the purpose of theOrdinance and the penalty for violation thereof.

SECTION 5SECTION 5SECTION 5SECTION 5SECTION 5: The importance of the subject matter hereof creates anemergency and an imperative public necessity requiring suspension of therule that Ordinance be read on three separate days, and such role is herebysuspended and said requirement is dispensed with by a vote of not less thana majority of all the members of the Board of Commissioners.

PASSED AND ADOPTED ON THE FIRST READING BY THEBOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF PHARR, TEXAS on thisthe 22nd day of MAY, 2014.

CITY OF PHARR

_____________________________LEOPOLDO “POLO” PALACIOS, JR.MAYOR

ATTEST:

______________________________HILDA PEDRAZA, CITY CLERK

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL OFOFFICE THIS 22nd DAY OF MAY, 2014.

_____________________________CITY OF PHARRHILDA PEDRAZA, TRMCCITY CLERK

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 28, 2014.)

22 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Public Notices/Classifieds

The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Regular Public Meetingon Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at the City Commissionconference room at 420 N. Tower Road to consider the following:

RE-ZONE

IPO Enterprices. Inc. Mr. Saul Ortega, President is requesting a Re-Zoneat a 15.00 acre tract of land being the South 15.00 acres of Lot 4, Block 28,Alamo Land and Sugar Company Subdivision. Physical Location: 1142 S.Alamo Rd.

Oakcrest Management Inc. is requesting a Re-zone at a 9.504 acre tract ofland out of Lot 3, Block 32, Alamo Land and Sugar Company’s Subdivision.Physical Location: Southwest corner of Alamo Blvd. and Crockett Ave.

The public is hereby invited to attend and express their support oropposition of said requests. For additional information or questionsconcerning the above, please call the Community Planning & DevelopmentDepartment at (956) 787-0006 ext. 128.

Si desea informacion en espanol, por favor llame al departamento deplanificacion de la cuidad de Alamo (956) 787-0006 ex. 128.

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 28, 2014.)

LEGAL NOTICE

CITY OF ALAMONOTICE OF PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING

Call 783-0036 today. Or e-mail to: advancenews@aol.comWebsite: www.TheAdvanceNewsJournal.com

Advance News Journal Classifieds

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL 23

Public Notices/Classifieds

Extra Bonus:Free Classified Ad

with each new subscriptionor subscription renewal --

up to 20 words.

Name ___________________________________________

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Mail this form with your check or money order to: 217 W. Park Ave., Pharr, TX 78577

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The Pharr–San Juan-Alamo Independent School District invites you tosubmit bid / proposal for:

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP'S) FOR DAYCARESERVICES DISTRICT-WIDE FOR

SCHOOL YEAR 2014-2015 # 13-14-028(MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 @ 2:30 P.M.)

TONER AND INK CARTRIDGES FOR PRINTERS,EQUIPMENT, SERVICES AND SUPPLIES

CATALOG BID # 13-14-075(MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 @ 2:30 P.M.)

TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT - AUTOMOTIVEEQUIPMENT, PARTS, SERVICES AND SUPPLIES,

CATALOG BID # 13-14-076(MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 @ 3:00 P.M.)

TROPHIES, PLAQUES AND MEDALS, EQUIPMENT,SERVICES AND SUPPLIES CATALOG BID # 13-14-077

(MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 @ 3:30 P.M.)

TWO-WAY RADIOS, EQUIPMENT, SERVICES ANDSUPPLIES CATALOG BID # 13-14-078(MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 @ 4:00 P.M.)

UNIFORMS AND ACCESSORIES FOR BAND, CHOIR, ANDORCHESTRA, EQUIPMENT, SERVICES AND SUPPLIES

CATALOG BID # 13-14-079(MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 @ 4:30 P.M.)

UNIFORMS AND ACCESSORIES FOR CHEERLEADERS,COLOR GUARDS, FOLKLORIC DANCE, DRILL TEAM AND

FLAG CORPS, EQUIPMENT, SERVICES AND SUPPLIESCATALOG BID # 13-14-080

(MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 @ 5:00 P.M.)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP’S) FOR EMPLOYEEGROUP HEALTH INSURANCE # 13-14-097

(MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2014 @ 2:30 P.M.)

TOILET TISSUE AND DISPENSER FOR CENTRAL SUPPLYWAREHOUSE BID # 13-14-099

(MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2014 @ 3:30 P.M.)

The bid / proposal is available online at the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo I.S.D.website (www.psjaisd.us). Please select the grey link below the Districtlogo that reads “BUSINESS SERVICES” and select “PBOS (BidOrder System)” to access the District’s Purchasing Website in order todownload bids and proposals.

Sealed bid / proposal will be received until, DATES AND TIMEPROVIDED ABOVE,,,,, at which time they will be publicly opened.

Specifications are on file at the P.SJ.A Business Office / Purchasing Depart-ment, 601 East Kelly, Room # 249, Pharr, TX 78577. Bid / Proposalspecifications may be obtained by calling (956) 354-2000 extension 1124.

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 28, 2014.)

NOTICE TO BID

LEGAL NOTICE FOR SALE

1983 Classic ElCamino, new tires,plates, overhauled,original 305, paradeready. $5,500.

Ask for Jorge atSaenz Motors

686-0207 4/2

LEGAL NOTICE

CITY OF McALLENLEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the following have filed a request for renewalof a Conditional Use Permit, for one year. The permit, if granted, will besubject to conditions as stated in the City of McAllen Zoning Ordinance,and may be revoked at any time for violation of those conditions. Thispermit would automatically expire one year from date of approval and maybe renewed after due notice.

1. Willie T. Cantu, for a Home Occupation (beauty salon) atLot 11, Block 4, Colonia Fina Subdivision, Hidalgo County,Texas; 1109 North 22nd Street. (CUP2014-0077)

2. Aide L. Espinosa, for a portable food concession stand(snow cone stand) at Lot 4, Nolana-Wal-Mart Subdivision,Hidalgo County, Texas; 2317 Nolana Avenue. (CUP2014-0078)

3. Angelita Rincon, for a home occupation (office/cleaningservice) at Lot 6, Block 20, Balboa Acres Subdivision,Hidalgo County, Texas; 3109 Covina Avenue. (CUP2014-0081)

All persons may comment or object to the granting or denying of theserequests, in writing, original of which must be received at City Hall (1300Houston Avenue) within 10 days from the date of publication of this no-tice. Address mail to City of McAllen, Planning Department, P.O. Box 220,McAllen, TX 78505-0220. Inquiries may be made to (956) 681-1250.

WITNESS MY HAND this 28th day of May, 2014.

PLANNING DEPARTMENTHallah Saleh Planner I

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 28, 2014.)

LEGAL NOTICE

CITY OF McALLENLEGAL NOTICE

You are hereby notified that two (2) public hearings will be held to considerthe following:

Rezone from C-3L (light commercial) District to C-3 (general business)District: Lot 3, Del Pedregal Estates Phase II, Hidalgo County, Texas;5509 North “G” Street. (REZ2014-0016)

Rezone from A-O (agricultural-open space) District to C-3 (generalbusiness) District: 30.80 acres out of Lot 3, Block 3, A. J. McCollSubdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas; 1200 East Dove Avenue.(REZ2014-0017)

Rezone from C-3 (general business) District to C-3L (light commercial)District: Lot 1, Block 1, Royal Palms Addition Subdivision, HidalgoCounty, Texas; 2801 North 10th Street. (REZ2014-0018)

The first public hearing will be held before the Planning and ZoningCommission of the City of McAllen on June 17, 2014, at 4:00 pm, atMcAllen Municipal Building Commission Chambers, 1300 Houston Av-enue, McAllen Texas. The second public hearing will be held before theBoard of Commissioners of the City of McAllen on July 14, 2014,,,,, at 5:00pm, at McAllen Municipal Building Commission Chambers, 1300 HoustonAvenue, McAllen, Texas.

All interested citizens are invited to appear and be heard. If any accommo-dations for a disability are required or if there are any questions regardingthis notice, please notify the Planning Department at (956) 681-1250 priorto the date of the meetings.

WITNESS MY HAND this 28th day of May, 2014.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT CITY SECRETARY’S OFFICERodrigo Sanchez, Planner II Annette Villarreal, TRMC/CMC, CPM

City Secretary

(Published in the Advance News Journal on May 28, 2014.)

ClassifiedsGet Results!

Call 783-0036

24 THE ADVANCE NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Local Living

The Pharr CommunityTheater is expanding itssummer arts program toinclude a theater programfor youth. This performingarts class, called “Perfor-mance Magic,” will meetfor six weeks from 10 to11 am on Wednesdays andThursdays at the ‘old’Carnahan ElementarySchool, 317 W. Gore inPharr beginning June 18 -19. Class members canbe either seasoned actorsor beginners.

Although “PerformanceMagic” is designed forsummer seasons only,many other community-based activities will be

Pharr Community Theateroffers theater program for youth

available for performancesthroughout the yearincluding: PCT main stageplays, plays with a purpose,experimental theater, Pharrdinner theater, encantadotheatre as well as experi-ences in theater intern-ships for youth.

The closing perfor-mance will be presentedon the Carnahan stage onJuly 24 at 10 am, admissionis free. Call Roberto 537-7029 for more informationor call Iliana 905-9340(English or Spanish) toreserve your place in thisnew class. Cost for theentire six-week session is$60 per student.

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX– The following students fromyour area graduated fromTexas A&M University-Cor-pus Christi during the 2014Spring Commencement onSaturday, May 17:

Alamo: Bachelor of Sci-ence, Oscar Peña

Pharr: Bachelor of Arts:Almadelia Flores; Bachelor ofScience: Clarivel AdrianaChavez

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christigraduation list

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi awardsbachelor’s, master’s and doc-toral degrees from the Col-leges of Business, Education,Liberal Arts, Nursing andHealth Sciences, and Scienceand Engineering. A&M-Cor-pus Christi, the only univer-sity in the United States lo-cated on its own island, is amember of the Texas A&MUniversity System. AUSTIN — The Texas

Parks and Wildlife Commis-sion on Thursday approved$5.25 million in federal grantsfor 38 recreational trailprojects across the state.Eighty-two project proposalswere submitted requestingmore than $13 million in fund-ing assistance.

The National RecreationalTrails Fund (NRTF) comesfrom a portion of the federalgas tax generated by gasolinepurchases for off-road mo-torcycles and four-wheelers. The purpose of the NRTF isto create new, or improveexisting, recreational trails.

A requirement of theNRTF is that 30 percent ofthe total funds must be spenton motorized recreationaltrails, 30 percent on non-mo-torized trail projects with theremaining 40 percent beingdiscretionary.

Motorized trails project

Recreational trail grants fund projects statewideMcAllen awarded $240,000 for motorcross park

sponsors that were awardedfunding include the cities ofBridgeport, Childress, Gra-ham, McAllen, and TrophyClub, as well as Sam HoustonNational Forest and theTexas Motorized Trail Coali-tion.

McAllen in Hidalgo Countywas awarded $240,000 forimprovements to theMcAllen Motocross Park, in-cluding a new 2.5-mile motor-ized riding area, a restroom,fences, and signs.

The non-motorized trailprojects awarded funding arelisted in alphabetical order bycounty below:

Lasara Independent SchoolDistrict in Willacy Countywas awarded $96,803 for theLasara community nature trail.The grant will fund new one-mile trail, benches, a bridge,signs, and observation deckand tools.

Port Isabel in CameronCounty was granted$200,000 for the Galvan-Bejarano McFarland trail. Thefunds will go towards a new1.4-mile trail in the Texas De-partment of TransportationRight of Way.

Raymondville in WillacyCounty was awarded$48,500 for the Trinity Strandtrail. The project will fund anew .33-mile trail, signs, a wa-ter fountain and benches.

San Benito in CameronCounty was granted$200,000 for the Heavin trailexpansion project, including anew 2.75-mile trail.

For more informationabout the grant awards or therecreation grant programs,see TPWD’s grants Web page,phone the Recreation GrantsBranch at (512) 389-8224 oremail: Rec.Grants@tpwd.texas.gov.

Efrain Nuñez Martinez ofMartinez Safety Academy willbe conducting a free, “HowOSHA conducts an inspec-tion” safety session on June13 from 12 to 3 pm.

Martinez states that if youare in the medical, retail, con-struction or oil-field industry,you should attend this “spe-cialized training” to perhapsavoid paying a $7,000 citation.

The session will provideinformation on whetherOSHA has to be allowed intothe workplace; emergencyexit plans; 2014 new MSDSrequirements; the five work-place emergency numbers;and employee/employer’srights.

Attendees will be able tolearn the about lock-out/tag-outs, blood borne pathogensrules, the job-site analysis andhow to work jointly with an

Free OSHA safety session June 13OSHA inspector.

A certificate of completionwill be awarded upon suc-cessful completion. The na-tionally recognized safety ses-sion is a basic training for allindustries and for safety of-ficer credentials.

Registration is by e-mail atmartinezemarti@aol.comwith name, address, phonenumber, employer’s name andtype of work. Registrar Dr.Jesus Duran will confirm yourregistration. No walk-ins. In-quire about a pro-bono inter-nal business inspection, emailyour request atmartinezemarti@aol.com .- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Efrain Nuñez Martinez

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Continued from page 1

BORDER ...

El Salvador, Guatemala,Honduras, Mexico?

Say hello to life along theU.S./Mexico border for agrowing number of minors,estimated to be in the tens ofthousands, per year, caughttrying to cross into this coun-try illegally.

Two weeks ago, accordingto a New York Times storypublished May 16, the secre-tary of Homeland Security,Jeh Johnson, declared a bor-der crisis in the Rio GrandeValley after taking a MothersDay tour of a Border PatrolStation in McAllen. ApparentlyJohnson’s wife had asked himto spend the day there withher. Inside, he encounteredmany young children with noparent or caregiver in sight.One was as young as three.Another, a girl age 12, toldJohnson that she didn’t havea mother, but she did have adad. She just wasn’t surewhere in the U.S. he was liv-ing.

According to the Timesstory, it was after that McAllenvisit that the DHS secretarydeclared a level-four condi-tion of readiness along theriver-border area that runsthrough the RGV. That condi-tion, the highest afforded theDHS, is a basic call to action.It allows it to access re-sources from other federalagencies and basically says, wehave a serious problem here.

An excerpt from the May16 NY Times story, written byJulia Preston:

“The alert was an official

recognition that federal agen-cies overseeing borders, im-migration enforcement andchild welfare had been out-stripped by a sudden increasein unaccompanied minors inrecent weeks.”

To get a sense of the grow-ing problem, call it a full-blownemergency, there were 4,059unaccompanied youths ap-prehended by U.S. borderagents in 2011 along the en-tire southwest border. In2013, according to the NYTimes story, there were21,000 youths apprehended.This year, the Border Patrolestimated it would apprehend60,000 unaccompanied mi-nors. But already, based onprojections, that number willbe surpassed. And the Valleyis its epicenter.

In the wake of Johnson’sdeclaration of level-four, a tem-porary children’s shelter atLackland Air Force Base in SanAntonio has been openedunder the direction of theDepartment of Health andHuman Services. The Penta-gon told DHS that it will keepthe 1,000-bed facility availablefor up to four months whilethe overflow of children areprocessed.

What happens after that?Well, some kids get lucky andothers don’t. Health and Hu-man Services gets busy try-ing to find a parent or rela-tive in the U.S. who can carefor the child. If that plan ofaction proves unsuccessful,some are returned to theirhome country where they’returned over to a federalagency.

The average age of the chil-dren, according to theWomen’s Refugee Commis-

sion, is 14.Johnson told the NY

Times that after his visit to theValley, the recent spike in un-accompanied minors zoomedto the top of his agenda.Meanwhile, he also said he’sworking with Mexican andCentral American embassyofficials to try and draft someplan that might help stem thetide of unaccompanied youthtraveling north. Not only iscoming here alone stressfulon the kids, but it’s also dan-gerous these days crossingthe Mexican terrain wherecartel kidnappings of immi-grants remains a problem.

Trying to helpIn Brownsville, Pediatrician

Marsha Griffin, MD, is work-ing to get the word out –these kids need some serioushelp. She and a colleague,Minnette Son, MD, wrote andpublished an article last yearin Pediatrics, the official jour-nal of the American Academyof Pediatrics, in which theylaid out their case – prolongedfear can have deleterious ef-

fects on the trajectory of achild’s health and can be con-sidered “toxic stress.”

Griffin is currently in prac-tice at the Brownsville Com-munity Health Center and is apediatric clinical faculty mem-ber with the University ofHealth Science Center SanAntonio’s Regional AcademicHealth Center. She is also thedirector of Community forChildren, which helps to ad-dress and treat childhood ill-nesses along the border asso-ciated with poverty.

“When I first came to theValley almost eight years ago”she said, “I would see maybe 400to 700 unaccompanied childrenper year go through the deten-tion center (border patrol).Now, of course, it’s in the thou-sands. The stress some of thesekids are seeing along the bor-der is a cauldron of chaos andsuffering. “

Recently, she said she’sreached out to two of the larg-est school districts in the Valley,PSJA and Brownsville, to seehow they might help enactchange and reach out to some

of these kids.The problem not only lies

with the unaccompanied youthstrying to cross the border intothe U.S., she said, but it alsoapplies to some children whoare already here:

“Although there have beenmany advances in child healthsince the founding of theAmerican Academy of Pediat-rics, pediatricians continue tostruggle with the effects of ill-health and poverty. Childrenoften suffer the greatest fromthe social injustices often in-herent in poverty. Thingssuch as, inadequate housing,environmental risks, malnutri-tion and lack of access tohealthcare. These interna-tional imbalances of re-sources often fuel interna-tional economic upheaval andpolitical turmoil, which lead totransnational migration. If asphysicians, educators, com-munity activists, caring people,if we can do something toimprove the border condi-tions, I think it’s incumbentupon us to at least try.”By G. Romero Wendorf