General Interest

Mission CISD is offering 2012 Mission Eagles’ and VMHS Patriots’ football season tickets for sale to the general public from Monday, Aug. 20 through Friday, Aug. 24. Anybody interested in purchasing season tickets can go by the Athletic Office, which is located at 1201 Bryce Drive, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On Friday, Aug. 24, season tickets will only be available for purchase from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. There will be no season tickets sold after Friday, Aug. 24.

Read more: Last chance to purchase season football tickets

South Texas College’s Centers for Learning Excellence (CLE), commonly known by students on campus as tutoring centers, recently earned reaccreditation from the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), an international organization for tutoring and learning center development, to certify tutors up to a Level III-Master Tutor status, the highest level of certification that can be earned.

Read more: STC tutoring earns reaccreditation

AUSTIN — CHRISTUS Health, Texas’ largest non-profit health care system, presented Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa with its Eagle Award during an August 9 ceremony. The CHRISTUS Health award is presented each year to a lawmaker who demonstrates outstanding legislative leadership and strong commitment to health care issues.

Read more: Sen. Hinojosa wins health award

Marching band fans will get a chance to preview marching performances by the Mission High School Eagle Band and the Veterans Memorial High School Patriot Band at a special event called Mission Marching Madness. The event will be held Thursday, August 23 at 7 p.m. at Tom Landry Stadium. The event is free.

Read more: Mission marching madness coming August 23

Sen. Eddie Lucio, Rep. Henry Cuellar, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Congressman Ruben Hinojosa join local and health care leaders and veterans Wednesday in the groundbreaking of the new VA Outpatient Clinic in McAllen Wednesday. Progress Times photo by Carina A. BrunsonMcALLEN – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Rep. Henry Cuellar, Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, Senator Eddie Lucio and State Rep. Sergio Muñoz Jr. joined City of McAllen officials this week for the groundbreaking of the new McAllen VA Outpatient Clinic. The new clinic will be located on the northeast corner of Hackberry Ave. and North McColl Road.

Expected to open next summer, the 58,700 square foot facility will double the size of the current 27,700 square foot facility in McAllen. The $20 million clinic will provide extended primary care services and outpatient specialty care. Laboratory, radiology, mental health, nutrition, podiatry, social work, women’s health, and pharmacy services will be provided at the clinic.

“Residents of the Valley will not have to drive to San Antonio,” said Hutchison. “This has started the process to the final goal, getting a hospital in this area,” continued Hutchison.

Read more: Groundbreaking held for new VA clinic

August is the time of year where families get ready for the school year and life gets just a bit faster. To prepare for the upcoming back to school rush, Texas shoppers get a break from state and local taxes all weekend, starting today.

As in previous years, the law exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced under $100 from sales and use taxes. Lay-away plans can be used again this year to take advantage of the sales tax holiday. According to Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, the break can save shoppers roughly $8 on every $100 they spend.

State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa said the sales tax holiday will create an economic boost.

Read more: Gear up for school by taking advantage of the sales tax holiday

The life of Mission native Luis Contreras II is coming full circle as he takes over the director position at the Mission Historical Museum. He comes on board next Monday, Aug. 13, and officially takes the helm on Aug. 20.

Contreras is taking the place of Cassandra Karl, who has been with the museum since January of 2011. Karl heads to Nashville, Ind. where her husband has accepted a new job. She plans on pursuing her master’s degree as she restarts her museum consulting business, Museum Solutions.

Read more: Luis Contreras announced as new MHM director

MISSION — Sharyland Independent School District residents will likely see an 8.5 cent tax increase next year. The tax hike is needed to pay for the proposed Sharyland Pioneer Memorial High School, which will cost $55 million, according to district officials.

In addition, SISD employees may see a small pay raise, according to preliminary estimates discussed at Monday’s board of trustees workshop on the proposed $101 million budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

Read more: Sharyland eyes 8.5 cent tax increase: Higher taxes needed to pay for new high school