MISSION — Members of the Mission Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) met Tuesday where they voted to join the city’s lawsuit against the Mission Economic Development Authority (MEDA).

MEDA leaders said the group would join the suit as a plaintiff. They hired R. Gaines Griffin of Davidson and Troilo of San Antonio as counsel for the action.

City attorney David Guerra said the MEDC has claims against MEDA just as the city does. No further elaboration on what the complaints were was given.

At their meeting this week, MEDC members also discussed next year’s budget and funding projects under the 2011-12 fiscal budget.

Read more: MEDC to join city on suit against MEDA

LA JOYA — The La Joya Independent School District’s Jimmy Carter College Transition Academy received a provisional approval by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to be an Early College High School (ECHS).

Last year, the district had 105 freshmen begin their dual enrollment classes at Jimmy Carter. This coming school year, Jimmy Carter ECHS will enroll 120 ninth-graders; administrators said over 200 students applied.

The program is similar to dual enrollment, where a student can earn high school and college credit at the same time, but it will be a four-year program instead of two. Upon graduation, those attending the ECHS will have earned their high school diploma and an associate’s degree or up to two years of credit toward a bachelor’s degree.

Read more: LJISD gets approval for early college HS

Wilma Langhamer exhibit at Brownsville Museum

McALLEN — By just looking at Wilma Langhamer’s paintings, one might not know the emotions or stories that go with the artwork. What you see is the bright colors, doves, castles, trees, hearts, keys and much more. But in a guided tour with the artist, you get to experience her art in a whole new light, as she opens your eyes to the world that surrounds her art – peace, love, joy, freedom, growth, and her vision for humanity.

Langhamer’s life experiences have been put onto canvas. As her life changes, so does her art.

At 15, while living in south Germany, she bought her first set of oil colors. She expressed her love of art with her mother, who, after living through two wars and an economic depression, did not want her daughter to be a “starving artist.”

Not wanting to upset her mother, Langhamer pursued a degree in nursing and worked in that capacity for about two years. It was 1974 when she decided to make painting her career.

Read more: ‘The Bond Between Us’

MISSION — It was standing room only Monday as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made a second attempt to get city council’s permission to build a church on the southwest corner of Bryan and Mile 2 Road. A petition for a conditional use permit (CUP) to build a church at that location failed to pass a city council vote last December when Councilwomen Norie Garza and Maria Elena Ramirez were the only two council members voting against the church’s request.

Since nine of the 12 neighbors living within 200 feet of the proposed site signed a petition opposing the church building, a four-fifths vote was required for the council to approve the CUP, instead of the usual three-fifths majority.

Read more: City denies CUP for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Officers use hundreds of rounds to fight drug runners

When drug runners hauling a small load of marijuana near Chimney Park & RV Resort shot at law enforcement officers patrolling the river, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said officers responded with heavy fire to show drug cartel workers that Texas doesn’t stand for any attack on law enforcement.

Read more: Zero Tolerance - Sneak Preview of Friday’s Paper

Officers use hundreds of rounds to fight drug runners

Watch the video below

MISSION — When drug runners hauling a small load of marijuana near Chimney Park & RV Resort shot at law enforcement patrolling the river, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said officers responded with heavy fire to show drug cartel workers that Texas doesn’t stand for any attack on law enforcement.

The video shown here is Texas Department of Public Safety aerial footage of the scene following the firefight in Mission on June 9. The recording shows the area after drug runners fled on foot, leaving their drug load behind.

Read more: Zero Tolerance

HIDALGO COUNTY
Westgate Drive
The intersection of Westgate Drive (east side of intersection) with Sugar Cane Road in  Weslaco is closed from June 2nd to June 16th to widen the intersection. North/South  Westgate Drive travel lanes are open.

FM 2061 (McColl Road)
TxDOT continues with an asphalt overlay project on FM 2061 (McColl Road) through July 1st at two locations: from Business 83 to FM 3461 (Nolana Loop) in McAllen and from north of Trenton Road to SH 107 (University Drive) in Edinburg. Motorists should expect lane reductions during this operation.

Read more: Construction & Maintenance Work - WEATHER PERMITTING

LA JOYA — On Monday, the La Joya Independent School District board of trustees thanked one board member for his services and welcomed another.

Trustee Jose A. “Fito” Salinas recently resigned from the LJISD school board after he was elected mayor of La Joya, leaving the position vacant. This week, the remaining board members moved to approve Sullivan City native Isaac V. Sulemana to fill the vacant post.

Read more: LJISD school board appoints new trustee