MISSION—Veterans Memorial High School students returned from the recent state Texas Math and Science Coaches Association (TMSCA) meet with plenty of awards, including some state champions. The team placed second in the 4A division.

The Calculator Applications team members placed first at this state competition. The Number Sense team placed second. The Math team placed third, while the Science team placed seventh.

Read more: VMHS students bring home top awards at state Math/Science competition

The Alton Spring baseball season started on March 27 through the Alton Sports Authority organization. Carlos Garza with Alton Sports Authority hosted the ceremony.

In attendance were Public Works Director Rudy Garza, Commissioner Place 4 Emilio Cantu Jr. and Alton Chamber of Commerce Board President Felipe Gomez. Garza explained the mission statement for the organization was to serve young athletes, the families and the border community. He added its major effort was to provide opportunity for young athletes to achieve their maximum potential athletically.

Read more: Alton throws first pitch of baseball season

ALTON—City of Alton officials gathered at the empty lot just south of Alton City Hall on March 29 to break ground on the new Alton Fire Station. Mayor Salvador Vela gathered with councilmen and city staff on the property, while signage was mounted representing the beginning of construction.

Alton Fire Chief Javier Garcia said he was excited about the new building, and added the morale would definitely boost within the city’s fire fighter staff.

Read more: Alton breaks ground on new Fire Station

MISSION – Four recent fires—all in a three-block area between Oblate and Keralum Avenues, off 9th Street—have spurred a bit of concern for the Mission Fire Department. While only two of the fires related, there is something to be learned from all four of them.

Two fires have occurred in unoccupied, abandoned buildings. Both buildings have been torn down since the fires.

Read more: Rash of building fires causes concern in old Mission

MISSION — The Upper Valley Art League celebrated the opening of its new building, Art Link, last week with artists, friends, as well as chamber and community members.

Many of those in attendance were artists, UVAL members, teachers or regular visitors.

The name Art Link has a dual purpose said Gloria and Keith Dietrich as several league members had a different name in mind.

Read more: UVAL opens new building

LA JOYA – At this week’s La Joya Independent School District board meeting, board members voted to give employees a choice of whether they want to be paid bi-weekly or monthly.

The district had conducted a survey where 1,356 employees casted their votes. Of those votes, 625 (46 percent) employees preferred to be paid on a monthly basis and 731 (54 percent) employees preferred to be paid on a bi-weekly basis. Professional and para-professional employees were surveyed.

Read more: LJISD employees given choice on paycheck option

ALTON—The Alton City Commission approved a budget and program amendment for Urban County Funding during their March 26 meeting. Assistant City Manager Steve Peña explained they hoped to utilize remaining surplus funds from previous years.

The total remaining funds from Street Improvements projects in 2009 -2011 and Section 108 line item, repayment from a loan component under Housing and Urban Development Funding, is $195,331.

Read more: Alton Commission reallocates $195,000 in Urban County funds

MISSION—Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas argued that a property developer should have some assistance from the city on the project in constructing a lift station for its commercial development, which includes an apartment complex.

“It’s too much money that has nothing to do with construction,” he said at Monday’s Mission City Council meeting.

Read more: Mission mayor objects to high cost for developer