EDINBURG — At this week’s Hidalgo County budget workshop, county leaders said they didn’t want budget cuts to affect county staff.

“I don’t think we ought to be impacting our employees with furloughs or (salary) cuts,” Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia said Wednesday. “If we’re going to be cutting, it should be something in the operating budget.”

Last week, officials decided on a three percent departmental budget cut that excluded law enforcement. Budget Officer Sergio Cruz said those cuts in some departments may mean someone loses their job. On Tuesday, officials said they didn’t want to see that happen.

Read more: County budget cuts won’t affect salaries

MCISD kicks off Parental Portal program

MISSION — Ida Gonzales is looking forward to taking an active role in her daughter’s education this year, discussing grades and homework assignments with Alyssa who just started high school at Veterans Memorial. But instead of waiting for a printed progress report or report card, Gonzales will look to the Internet for updates. Starting this week, Gonzales and hundreds of other parents will be able to log into a computer program to view their child’s grades via Mission Consolidated Independent School District’s new Parent Portal.

The Parent Portal aims to get parents access to their child’s assignments, attendance, class schedules and grades from their own computer at anytime.

Read more: THE 24/7 PROGRESS REPORT

Honoring fallen soldiers

The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 have robbed the Mission area of six of its sons, brothers and fathers. The military support in Operation Iraqi Freedom from this area suffered from hostile after being struck by roadside bombs or improvised explosive devises (IEDs) or insurgent attacks.

Their deaths changed the course of life for their families and the community who welcomed them home before being laid to rest.

Immediately following their deaths, mourning parents said their sons served their country with honor and without reservation.

As the country remembers the lives lost in the terrorist attacks of a decade ago, the Progress Times would like to celebrate Mission’s soldiers and their families for their ultimate sacrifice.

Read more: We Remebmer

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Pharr District will continue to overlay US 83 in the Peñitas area.

Where: US 83 (continue westbound between FM 492 to BUS 83 West in Penitas)

Read more: TxDOT Highway Construction Advisory for US Hwy 83 in Peñitas

SISD bond election set

MISSION — Sharyland could soon be the largest high school in the Rio Grande Valley and one of the largest in the state, in terms of student enrollment.

“That is not a goal we want to obtain,” said Sharyland Independent School District Superintendent Scott Owings.

Sharyland has built a reputation as being one of the best, if not the best, school districts in the Valley. This district does not want to lose that level of excellence we have established in the past, said Owings. All studies show that when schools get too large, education quality goes down.

With this in mind, SISD trustees voted this week to move forward with plans to build a second high school and called for a $55 million bond election to fund the project. The bond election will be held Nov. 8.

Read more: BUSTING AT THE SEAMS

Business owners taught to be mindful of illegal activity

EDINBURG — Local police and the Rio Grande Valley sector of the U.S. Border Patrol are using a Texas law to educate business owners about turning a blind eye to criminal activity.

Last week, authorities unveiled their “Taking Care of Business” initiative that they say will help keep crime out of local communities.

“It’s impacting all of us, especially in our neighborhoods,” said Border Patrol’s Chief Patrol Agent Rosendo Hinojosa. “We’re going to educate, work with the community, real property owners to inform them of the Texas Nuisance Abatement law that’s on the books that we will be enforced upon them if we don’t get the resolution that we’re seeking.”

Read more: Authorities target criminal assembly at businesses

Jim Brunson, publisher of the Progress Times, has announced that nominations are now open and will be accepted until 5 p.m., Sept. 21 for the annual citizen awards for Mr. Mission, First Lady of Mission, Man of the Year and Woman of the Year.

The annual awards will be presented at the Mission Chamber of Commerce banquet on Oct. 11 at Mario’s Banquet & Conference Center in Mission. This is the seventh year the citizen awards presentations are to be made at the chamber banquet. Previously, the Progress Times coordinated the annual Mission Awards Showcase banquet where the awards were presented annually.

"We are pleased to partner with the chamber on this event to honor Mission’s finest citizens who have done much to serve our community. The citizen awards give the community an opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of our leading citizens who have helped make Mission a stronger, more vibrant community," said Brunson.

Read more: Citizen awards nominations now open

MISSION — With increasing enrollment, a committee for the Sharyland Independent School District has recommended that a bond election be held to construct a second high school.

The 25-person committee researched enrollment growth, past bond construction, current facilities and possible financing methods before coming to their decision.

Eddie Montalvo, the chairperson for the committee, presented the findings of the committee at a recent board meeting, explaining their decision to petition the board for a bond election was unanimous.

Read more: SISD committee recommends second high school