News
PHARR - The City of Pharr is proud to announce that Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has appointed Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Oversight Committee. Hernandez is now one of nine Texans who serve on the oversight committee, comprised of appointees by the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The Texas Department of Transportation is advising motorists of possible traffic interruptions and delays along IH-2 from McColl Rd. through Ware Rd, next week, beginning on Monday, February 16 through Friday, February 21, 2020.
The TXDOT contractor will be removing a temporary concrete barrier which will result in a reduction of lanes. The following roadways will be affected:
• IH-2 westbound main lane from McColl Rd. through Ware Rd.
Ed. note: Published below is a copy of the full text of the letter drafted in 1960 by the Reverend Joseph Pawlicki who then sent it to Rev. Lawrence Seidel concerning the ongoing criminal investigation of John Feit’s role in the murder of Irene Garza.
Sports
The high school girls basketball playoffs have started with a bang and District 31-5A has flexed its muscles in the first round, winning all three games as Mission Veterans downed Valley View in an intense opening-round thriller, Sharyland Pioneer snuck past Edcouch-Elsa after being down at the half, and Rio Grande City downed Mercedes, pulling away in the fourth quarter.
By Jr Morales
Amberly Melendez will be participating at the June 2020 Olympic Race Walk Trials in Eugene, Oregon where she will be vying to qualify for the Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo, Japan.
When Sharyland Pioneer's Audrey Hornaday went down with a season-ending injury before the season even began, the loss of the star athlete put a big question to the rest of the Lady Diamondbacks.
Who was gonna step up?
The answer became apparent, especially in District 31-5A. They all stepped up.
Riding a 13-game winning streak going into their final district contest, against a suprising 10-2 Rio Grande City squad, Pioneer has found answers all over its squad.
By Jr Morales
Opinion
This last week there was once again consternation in Democrat ranks because the President spoke his mind on a legal matter. Even Attorney General Barr was miffed and claimed those comments made it impossible for him to do his job. The White House responded that Trump had every right to make the remarks.
By Tom Haughey
Listening to the howls from Democrats and the applause from Republicans, one would think President Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2021 budget is a radical assault on the welfare state. The truth is the budget contains some minor spending cuts, most of which are not even real cuts. Instead they are reductions in the “projected rate of growth.” This is equivalent of saying you are sticking to your diet because you ate five chocolate chip cookies when you wanted to eat ten.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) took a historic step and voted in favor of H.J.Res.79 to remove the arbitrary deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and put the country closer to ratification. The ERA will enshrine women’s equality in the Constitution by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex and ensuring women and men are equal under the eyes of the law.
By Congressman Vicente Gonzales
Lifestyle
WESLACO - February 8: Dr. George Diaz will present on “Los Tequileros: Prohibition Era Smuggling in the South Texas Borderlands”. Between 1920 and 1933, tequileros, mounted ethnic Mexican liquor smugglers, supplied Mexican liquor to thirsty American markets. While Anglos and ethnic Mexicans both violated U.S. laws, American law enforcement took a much higher toll on tequileros than their Anglo counterparts.
EDINBURG – The Edinburg Rotary Club recently recognized the top students from the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District’s UIL Academics Program.
“We are extremely proud of all our students that participate in our UIL Academics Program,” said ECISD UIL Academics Director Nelinda Villarreal. “We would like to thank the Edinburg Rotary for recognizing and acknowledging the hard work of these students.”
Second Saturdays from February 8 to May 9 offer distinct opportunities for Scouts to gain hands-on learning experience and earn badges at Quinta Mazatlán! This Saturday, February 8 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Cub Scouts will have a chance to earn their Fur, Feathers and Ferns badge as they observe wildlife and plants, find out about endangered species, and do some gardening.
Obituaries
DONNA – Alicia G. Webber, 86, went home to our Lord on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at her residence in Donna, TX. Alicia was born in Weslaco, TX, raised in Mission, TX and lived in Donna most of her life.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Marcelino P. Webber, grandson, George Anthony Novelo, parents, Jose & Guadalupe Garza, sisters, Dora Escobedo, Estela Anzaldua & Manuela Gonzalez.
PHARR – Maria M. “Amada” Castillo, 76, went home to our Lord Thursday, January 23, 2020, at Amara Hospice in Edinburg.
Born in San Juan, Amada had lived in Pharr over 60 years and was a parishioner of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Ovidio Castillo; a son, Roel Castillo; a daughter, CynDee Castillo; her parents, Manuel and Dolores Garcia; and a brother, Mayo Garcia.
ALAMO – Mario Joseph Benedetti, 78, passed away Sunday, January 19, 2020, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.
Born in Tarshin, Malta, Mr. Benedetti was a former resident of Belleville, Michigan and was currently residing in Alamo. He was a parishioner at Resurrection Catholic Church and was a proud sailor of the United States Navy who served aboard the battleship USS Springfield.
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