General Interest

Mission area duchesses were selected Oct. 2 to be presented to the 2013 Texas Citrus Fiesta Royal Court in January. This year’s TCF theme is “Kaleidoscope of World Cultures.” New duchesses include, left to right, Alyssa M. Aguilar, Duchess of Honeydew Mission, daughter of Mr. and Mrs, Daniel Aguilar; Anyssa L. Vela, Duchess of Ruby Red Grapefruit Mission, Mr. and Mrs. Jorge Vela; Itzel Flores, Duchess of Star Ruby Mission Grapefruit, Mr. and Mrs. Jose E. Flores, Palmview; Sierra N. Long, Duchess of Marshwhite Grapefruit Sharyland, Melisa Awbrey and Richard Long; and Melanie K. San Roman, Duchess of Pink Grapefruit Sharyland, Mr. and Mrs. Mario San Roman. Not pictured is Adela I. Parras, Duchess of Wildflowers Mission, Mr. and Mrs. Jose Parras-Canchola.

Early voting for the Nov. 6 general election begins today. Voters who are registered to vote in Hidalgo County may vote at any polling site in the county during the early voting period, which runs from Oct. 22 through Nov. 2.

Read more: Early Voting Begins Today

Early voting for the Nov. 6 general election starts Monday, Oct. 22. During early voting, voters can vote at any polling site in their county. Mobile locations will also be provided.

Besides the presidential election, voters will be casting their votes on the $184 million drainage bond; United States Senator and United State Representative District 28; Railroad Commissioner; Justice Supreme Court Place 2, 4, and 6; presiding judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7 and Place 8; member, State Board of Education, District 3; State Senator, District 20; State Representative, District 35; Chief Justice, 13^th Court of Appeals District 13, and Place 2, 4 and 5; District Judge, 92^nd, 93^rd, 139^th, 332^nd, 389^th, 398^th, 430^th, and 449^th Judicial Districts; and County Sheriff.

Read more: General Election early voting begins Monday

The 70th Annual Pigskin Jubilee Region XV University Interscholastic League (UIL) Marching Band Contest will be held Saturday, Oct. 20 at the McAllen Memorial Stadium beginning at 4 p.m.

Acting UIL Executive Secretary Oralia Gonzalez said high schools from Alamo to Roma will be participating in the event, a total of 22 marching bands.

The schedule for La Joya, Mission and Sharyland school districts is as follows:

Read more: Pigskin Jubilee marching band contest Saturday

October is butterfly season in the Rio Grande Valley and the Mission Chamber of Commerce will be drawing attention to the hundreds of butterfly species found in South Texas during the 17th annual Texas Butterfly Festival at the National Butterfly Center, located at 3333 Butterfly Park Drive in Mission on October 25-28.

Read more: 17th Texas Butterfly Festival starts Oct. 25

Members of the Mission Lions Club are selling tickets to a top sirloin barbecue to be held Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Hidalgo County Pavilion, located on South Inspiration Rd.

Tickets to the sumptuous barbecue are only $7 and are available from any member of the Mission Lions Club or at the Progress Times office, located at 1217 N. Conway.

Read more: Mission Lions host BBQ fundraiser

MISSION—Renee’s of Sharyland, located on 2600 E. Griffin Parkway, held its 9th Annual Power of Pink Breakfast. In observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, the event provided an inside look at cancer, its survivors and preventative measures women can practice.

Tomas Tijerina and Renee Martin, owners of Renee’s of Sharyland, welcomed the group of over 50 women dining at the event. Pink roses were left for each visitor at the breakfast tables along with bags full of pink instruction manuals for self examinations provided by local hospitals.

Read more: Power of Pink Breakfast focuses on breast cancer awareness

The votes are in. Mission’s outstanding citizens for 2012 have been selected, but their identities will remain a secret until the annual banquet of the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce next Tuesday evening at Mario’s Banquet and Conference Center.

Presentation of the citizens awards for Mr. Mission, First Lady of Mission, Man of the Year and Woman of the Year will be a major highlight of this year’s annual banquet. The Progress Times accepted nominations for the awards in September and selection committees comprised of each award’s past recipients were formed to choose this year’s honorees.

Read more: Mission to honor top citizens at chamber banquet