Candidates for for mayor, Place 1 and Place 3

Voters to shape councils

Candidates file for local school boards

County Commissioner Handy resigns

Gicela Salinas announces La Joya candidacy

UVAL celebrates anniversary

Dr. David Heflin named General Practitioner of the Year

‘This is a reflection of our clinic with our staff’

By Edwina P. Garza

MISSION — Dr. David Heflin still remembers the first calf he helped bring to life.

It was Christmas morning in College Station where he was attending Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. With his professor out celebrating Christmas, Heflin assisted birth a calf on a dairy farm.

“I remember it was cold, but it was great,” he said in his office at Mission Veterinary Hospital aong Business 83.

Almost 30 years later, Heflin said he still gets the same rush helping deliver a calf or bring a dog that’s been hit by a car back to health.

Heflin was recently honored for his service by the Texas Veterinary Medical Association and was named the 2010 Texas Veterinary Medical Association’s General Practitioner of the Year.

“This is a reflection of our clinic with our staff,” he said. “I was surprised.”

Of the nearly 7,000 veterinarians in Texas, Heflin said approximately 3,000 are apart of the TVMA group. A veterinarian is nominated and a selection committee makes the final vote for the award.

Although the award was for himself as a general practitioner, Heflin said he and the other five staff veterinarians have specific interest in animal medicine.

Currently, Heflin said he’s interested in laparoscopic surgery and ultrasound diagnosis.

“The technology now is so cool,” he said, explaining he’s working on other digital medical options for animals.

Other veterinarians here like to focus on emergency care, internal medicine, and cattle. Their expertise helps them be more knowledgeable about helping clients and their animals, Heflin said.

“People demand this kind of stuff,” he said. “With animals, there’s so many different answers so expertise is expected.”

Before he left the Rio Grande Valley, Heflin was involved in FFA, working with cattle, which he said helped lead him to his future in medicine.

“I just loved the combination of working with animals and the science,” he said. “I love indoor and outdoor work.”

Today, Heflin is still involved in FFA, helping local teenagers get their animals ready for different livestock show events.

“It’s a real rewarding experience,” he said of his participation.

After buying the practice here in 1987, Heflin said he’s proud to have developed a larger staff of veterinarians and support staff, of which he has 17; a few of them have been here for almost 16 years.

“We’re proud we have a group that’s experienced,” he said. “I’m just so grateful (clients) let us work on their babies. That’s one thing I’m thankful for, I don’t get into my truck and say, ‘I want to do something else.’ I might say, ‘I want to go fishing,’ but not something else.”

RGV Livestock Show starts Friday

By Kathy Olivarez

The 71st annual Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show starts Friday, Mar. 12 and runs through Sunday, Mar. 21 at the Livestock Show Grounds in Mercedes. Admission is $10 for adults and parking is $3.

The stock show will be filled with all sorts of fun events, including judging of many different breeds of cattle, goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits. A variety of entertainment, from rodeos to strolling acts to antique farm equipment shows, will be provided over the course of the fair, which is now one of the biggest livestock shows in the country.

On Friday, the judging starts with the Junior Beefmaster at 8 a.m. followed by the Junior Maine Anjou cattle at 10 a.m. and Junior Charolais at 11 a.m. in the Event Center Arena. Judging of Junior Commercial Heifers and Junior Santa Gertrudis will take place in the afternoon.

Blake Shelton will headline in the rodeo arena at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 13 all sorts of activities will begin, including Fables of The West, a strolling act, Rusty’s Chuckwagon, Chris Camp’s Wild West Cavalcade, The Village Blacksmith, the Robinson Family Chainsaw Artists, Timberworks Lumberjack Show, Turbo the Robot, and the Kids Tractor Pull.

The Fearless Flores Thrill Show, the Mobile Dairy Classroom, the Eric Kand Comedy Hypnosis Show, the exotic pet zoo, greased pig scramble and the Little Miss Cowgirl Contest are all part of the day’s activities. The Antique Farm Equipment Show opens at the south end of the grounds.

A show new to the Rio Grande Valley Livestock show this year is the Village Blacksmith. It is a traveling stage show that features Christy Horne as a costumed storyteller who draws her tales from the rich lore and legends of blacksmithing. “The king of all crafts,” Michel Olson is a master blacksmith who forges four to 25 items per show. Although blacksmithing was a technology used by all human societies for over 3,000 years, today it is a dying art. Village Blacksmith revives this dying art.

All of these shows will be repeated many times during the 10 days of the RGV Livestock Show.

Don’t forget Saturday’s 3 p.m. parade starting in downtown Mercedes and moving on to the show grounds.

Judging events include the Charolais Open Show at 8 a.m. and the open Santa Gertrudis Show at 10 a.m., and the open Beefmaster show at 1 p.m. in the events center. Judging of breeding goats will start in the steer barn at 1 p.m. and the open Boer Goat show follows at 5 p.m.

At 8 p.m. the Whataburger Ranch Rodeo will be held in the rodeo arena. It will feature mutton bustin’ competition.

On Sunday the Santa Gertrudis Futurity starts at 7:30 a.m. in the events center. At 9 a.m. the judging of Junior Breeding Gilts will take place. Showmanship finals for Junior Breeding Cattle starts at 10:30 a.m.

Judging of Junior Breeding Sheep starts at 10 a.m. in the steer barn while judging of 4-H and FFA projects takes place in the youth center.

A dance will take place at 8:30 p.m. in the H-E-B Action Spot.

Monday is the start of the Open and Youth Horse Show in the rodeo arena at 8 a.m. At 6 p.m. Youth Team Roping will take place in the rodeo arena. Many entertainment events will be repeated throughout the day.

Tuesday is the day for judging market rabbits in the steer barn arena beginning at 8 a.m. The Open and Youth Horse show starts at 8 a.m. in the rodeo arena.

On Thursday, judging of market lambs will be held in the steer barn arena at 8 a.m. followed by judging of the Zebu Open Show at 9 a.m. and the Junior Brahman-Zebu Show at 10 a.m.

At 10 a.m. a special senior citizens’ program will be sponsored by Magic Valley Electric with prizes given out. Senior Citizens 60 and over can get in the game for $5 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

At 5 p.m. the Red Brangus Bull Futurity starts in the event center arena. At 6 p.m. Jackpot Team Roping will be held at the rodeo arena.

Thursday is the day for judging of Market Hogs, starting at 8 a.m., in the events center arena. Judging of Open Pen Stock starts at 10 a.m. Judging of the Junior Simmental Cattle takes place at 4 p.m. in the event center arena. Junior Simbrah will be judged at 5:30 p.m.

At 8 p.m. PRCA Xtreme Bull Riding will be held in the rodeo arena featuring five-time World Champion Bull Rider Rob Smets as special guest. Admission is $8.

Friday starts off with the judging of Junior Red Brangus at 8 a.m. in the event center arena and judging of market steers in the steer barn. The Red Brangus Open Show starts at 10 a.m. The Brahman Open Show starts at 1 p.m. Junior breeding

howmanship finals take place at 6 p.m.

At 8 p.m. the “Are You Tough Enough to Wear Pink?” Rodeo will be held in the rodeo arena. Admission is $8.

On Saturday at 6 p.m. Good Housekeeping Awards, Herdsmen Awards and 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest Winners will be announced in the event center arena. A PRCA Rodeo will be held at the Rodeo Arena at 8 p.m. Admission is $8.

Sunday at 2 p.m. a PRCA Rodeo will be held in the rodeo arena. Admission is $8.

Candidates file for mayor, Place 1 and Place 3

MISSION — Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas, in seeking his fifth term, faces two challengers in the May 8 election.

Voters here will also cast their ballots on one other contested election for City Council Place 1. City Council Place 3 seat incumbent Norie Gonzalez Garza doesn’t have any challengers.

Salinas’ challengers are Armando O’Caña Sr., an administrator at La Joya Independent School District, and Baldemar Flores, the former police chief of the Alton Police Department and owner of a private security business.

O’Caña is a former City Council Place 3 member and fire chief. He currently serves as Dropout Prevention and School Safety Director under Student Services with the La Joya Independent School District

Flores resigned from his position in Alton a few weeks ago, city officials said. He was arrested and charged in September with public lewdness following an investigation into claims of sexual activity outside an AutoZone here.

Marie Elena Ramirez, currently finishing her husband Celestino Ramirez’s term following a special election last summer, is running again to fill the City Council Place 1 seat. The retired schoolteacher is running against Jessica Ortega-Ochoa, the manager of the La Joya Independent School District television station, and Edwardo Gutierrez, a fire fighter.

“My family has always instilled in me that it is so important to give back to our community. I have followed in the footsteps of the many inspirational leaders that fortunately raised me. Giving back is something I love. It comes naturally and if elected, I will carry out the duties and responsibilities of the office with the utmost competency, integrity and dignity,” she said. “It will be my honor to receive your vote as you exercise your right to vote on May 8, 2010.”

Voters to shape councils in Alton, Palmhurst, and La Joya

Residents across the Rio Grande Valley will head back to the polls in May, this time to elect members of their city’s councils.

In Alton, the position of mayor is up, with incumbent Salvador Vela seeking re-election. Vela has a single challenger named Jose C. Picasso. The only other seat up for election is Commissioner Place 1, currently held by Arturo R. Galvan Jr., who is seeking re-election. His challenger is Vidal Farias.

In Palmhurst, current Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Juana Cantu-Cabrera is looking to take Ramiro J. Rodriguez Jr.’s position as mayor. They are the only two on the ballot for the position of mayor. David Guzman Jr. and Robert A. Salinas are seeking the City Council Place 3 seat, while Israel Silva and Ofelia Peña Perez are running against one another for City Council Place 4.

La Joya is holding a special election to fill the vacancy for one Alderman seat. The election has three candidates, Victorio Salinas, Jr., Gicela Salinas, and Miguel Angel Salinas.

Candidates file for Mission, Sharyland school board elections

MISSION — School districts here will hold board trustee elections in May with nearly half a dozen in both Mission and Sharyland districts.

La Joya Independent School District is not holding school board elections this spring; their next election cycle is in November, district officials said this week.

Election day is May 8.

The Mission Consolidated Independent School District board has three seats up for election, with one of those uncontested.

Place 1 incumbent Raymond Longoria will face a single challenger named Hilda Ruby Flores. Whether current board President James Olivarez in Place 6 will face a challenger was unclear Wednesday. District officials said the filing of Dr. Augustin Pruneda was incomplete and may be rejected, however he could be included as a write-in candidate.

Place 7 incumbent Oscar Martinez has no challengers.

Sharyland Independent School District voters have to decide on more than just who will represent them on the board. Voters are also deciding on a bond issue of $9.985 million bond issue for a major renovation at Sharyland High School.

The bond issue would increase the tax rate by 0.284 cents, Superintendent Scott Owings said in a previous interview. A home valuation of $100,000 would have an annual increase of $24.14 or $2.01 a month.

Six people are vying for at-large positions on the school board, officials said. Incumbents Rolando Peña and Dr. Noel Garza, who currently serves as the board’s vice president, are seeking re-election. Other candidates include former board member Dr. Noel Oliveira, Ricky Mata Jr., CJ Cavazos and Chico Myers.

Early voting will start April 26 through May 4.

Gicela Salinas announces La Joya candidacy

Gicela Salinas, a longtime resident of the City of La Joya, has filed her intent to be a candidate for the alderman vacancy on the city commission of the City of La Joya.

The city will hold a special election to fill this vacancy on May 8.

According to her announcement, when she was nine years old, Salinas and her family began their life in the United States. Through hard work and perseverance, Salinas has achieved the American dream. She has lived in La Joya since 1994 where she graduated from La Joya High School in 1995. She began working, and in 1998, joined the U.S. Army, serving as a petroleum supply specialist at Fort Bliss in El Paso. This was followed by four years as an Army Reservist. Salinas returned to La Joya and completed her postsecondary education, graduating in 2006 from the University of Texas-Pan American with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a minor in bilingual education. She has proudly been employed as an elementary teacher and P.E. coach with the La Joya Independent School District for four years.

She is married to David Ozuna, and together they have four children: Samantha, Emily, Vanessa and Daniel. She is the daughter of the late Sylvia and Javier Salinas, whose memories she cherishes and celebrates in her life.

Having been privileged to provide services to country and service to the schoolchildren of her home school district, Salinas seeks the opportunity to give back to the city and the country that have helped her reach her dreams. For this reason, she seeks to serve as a city commissioner that will engage all citizens of La Joya in working toward the continued improvement of the quality of life through city services for all residents. This she feels can be accomplished through citizens’ input and their involvement regarding growing infrastructure needs, greater economic development and insuring the safety and security of those living within the boundaries of the city. She has pledged to work with all residents and city administrators to insure that the city’s leadership will live her selected slogan: “Involving Every Citizen in the Future of La Joya.” She states, “I look forward to inviting all citizens to join me in becoming actively engaged in our city’s continued progress and growth.”

As a professional educator, Salinas believes that education is truly the great equalizer that helps everyone accomplish personal goals. She fully supports the decision of the city that recently approved funding to build a new library for its residents. “Improving the literacy skills of our residents is a meaningful goal of our city,” she said. “I am excited about the possibility of being involved in this important undertaking and hope in this way to make further contributions to my city.”

City leaders envision the additional building of a new municipal building to house its administrative services and its police department. “The City of La Joya has enjoyed much economic and residential growth,” she stated in her announcement. “But with the growth comes the responsibility of providing services to those residing in our city. I believe I have the commitment, the experience and organizational skills to assist in the planning and development of our city’s expanding growth. As a veteran of our armed services, I offer the dedication instilled by my military experience to help lead the city forward.”

She further commits to work at keeping an emphasis on the positive expansion of services to the community, which will bring the public’s view on the pride that is felt by the residents of La Joya. “We need to insure the media’s attention is not only on the capture of criminal activity within our city’s limits, but also on the progressive actions of the City of La Joya,” she said.

Commissioner Handy reigns from Precinct 1

By Edwina P. Garza

EDINBURG — A special election will be held in November to decide who will run Hidalgo County Precinct 1 as Commissioner Sylvia Handy announced her resignation this week.

Handy resigned following her guilty plea before Judge Ricardo Hinojosa, a U.S. District Court judge for the Southern District this week. Previous media reports state Handy pled guilty to one count of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens. As part of her bond, Handy was to resign from the post she’d held since 1997. She was the first female to serve on Commissioners’ Court.

Handy held a press conference on Tuesday to announce her departure, thanking Precinct 1 staff for their work maintaining the office these last months, which she called challenging. She also thanked local community leaders in her district for their work.

Precinct 1 covers the eastern portion of Hidalgo County, including Weslaco, Donna, Mercedes, Progreso, La Villa, Edcouch and Elsa, among others.

Her resignation also includes her resignation as the Hidalgo-Willacy Housing Finance Corporation, president of the Hidalgo County Housing Finance Corporation, Hidalgo County Urban County Advisory Board, secretary of the Rio Grande Valley Development Council, and representative to the Texas Association of Regional Councils, she said.

In her announcement, Handy touted her work over the years, including paving roads in colonias.

“My life has been consumed with work,” she said. “…It has been an honor representing you and working for you. Experiences I will cherish all my life. I will make myself available to help in a smooth transition.”

The approval of Handy’s resignation to Judge Rene Ramirez isn’t on the agenda for today’s Commissioners’ Court. However, the court is meeting in the afternoon to discuss a management review of Precinct 1. The county will vote on publishing a request of qualifications or proposals for the work.

Following her resignation, Ramirez said he recognized Handy’s decision to depart county work was difficult.

“Her decision to resign puts the needs of her family first and allows the Commissioners’ Court to move forward toward building public trust,” Ramirez said in a statement. “Residents of Precinct 1 should rest assured that county services will continue without interruption. Furthermore, the process for selecting an interim appointment to fill the vacancy will begin. I intend to have many discussions with the members of the Hidalgo County Commissioners’ Court and others to ensure the next office holder carries with him or her the public’s trust and will move rapidly to restore the faith of our taxpayers.”

UVAL celebrates 75th anniversary

The Upper Valley Art League is celebrating their 75th anniversary with a “Denim & Diamonds” event that is free and open to the public, according to Maxilou Link, UVAL president. It will be held Saturday, March 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Kika De La Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th Street in Mission, next to Speer Memorial Library.

The evening begins with a Mission Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and the re-dedication of the Kika De La Garza building with a plaque marker in his honor. He is expected to attend.

There will be a free door prize drawing (UVAL members excluded) for an oil painting by Adalberto Leal. Leal does not sell his works, but he is donating a piece for the event in support of the League. He paints in the style of the old masters. Miguel Abiel, a one-man show, will perform a range of musical numbers.

For the event, the 2010 Quilted Fiber Arts Exhibit will still be on display from its March 13 showing. Restored antique cars and street rods will be exhibited in the parking lot behind the building. UVAL artists will showcase the various mediums used and taught in workshops and classes: watercolors, stone sculpting, oil painting, pen and ink, print making, and pastels. Refreshments will be served.

The UVAL began in 1935, based in McAllen, with eight women as the original organizers. It moved to Mission 10 years ago and has over 100 members. Membership is open to the general public, and members need not be experienced artists to join. The organization offers workshops and classes in all mediums to the general public, and hosts monthly events at their facility. Three events are scheduled this month: the 2010 Quilted Fiber Arts Exhibit on March 13, the Denim & Diamonds event, and a one-man art show on March 27.

The organization supports community events and other organizations through their cooperative efforts, such as face painting at the Bentsen State Park World Birding Center, collages at Palm Fest in McAllen, donating paintings for the pediatric ward at Mission Regional Medical Center, and setting up art exhibits in Speer library.

For further information about the event or to be come a UVAL member, call 581-7669 or 583-2787.

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