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

MISSION — Board members for the Mission Consolidated Independent School District on Tuesday voted to grandfather its current 12-month service employees to keep their paid vacation time and holiday pay.

Anyone hired after June 7, however, will not be eligible for paid vacations or holidays. Additionally, the district is changing their amount of service to the district from 260 days to 244 days. Current employees will remain in the 260-day calendar and also receive 16 days of paid vacation and holidays. MCISD officials said the change was made in an effort to save money.

Read more: MCISD keeps vacation pay for staff

McALLEN — Texas State Rep. Aaron Peña (R-Edinburg) was presented with the Teddy Roosevelt Award by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon on June 2. Peña was honored by the chamber for his leadership in what many have called the toughest legislative session in recent memory.

"I know Rep. Peña is a student of history and counts Teddy Roosevelt as a personal hero," said Steve Ahlenius, president of the McAllen Chamber. "That is why it is so fitting to present him with this award. Rep. Peña has exhibited those iconic Teddy Roosevelt values of grit, bold leadership and dogged determination not only during this tough legislative session but throughout his career."

Read more: Rep. Peña Receives Teddy Roosevelt Leadership Award

McALLEN — Outdoor activities, where families can relish in nature, are slowly fizzling out with most people staying indoors and choosing electronic devices over the natural world.

To combat their departure from that disposition, Shane Wilson, president and creator of Fishing’s Future is working to re-connect children to nature with their parents through fishing. The program uses fishing camps to focus on strengthening bonds between families so children have a positive guided life and a chance at a successful future.

“Parents and their kids are either too busy or distracted with TV, video games or cell phones. We are losing the human touch and the connections,” said Wilson. “I started Fishing’s Future to bring back the parents and put them in their children’s lives in an outside environment.”

Read more: HOOKING FAMILIES WITH REEL FUN

MISSION — In their ongoing quest to attract more business, the Mission Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) last week approved a new list of guidelines to entice future commerce with incentive programs.

Last week, city leaders said the programs would help enhance or create new jobs in Mission. The eight programs include programs like job training and tax abatement.

The incentive guidelines will also include state programs like the Texas Enterprise Zone Program, which is designed to create jobs in areas of distress. Because Mission is an area with high unemployment rates compared to the rest of the state, as well as many low-wage earners, the city qualifies for the program.

Read more: MEDC adopts incentive programs for economic development

MISSION — Sharyland Independent School recognized several retiring employees during a recent board meeting. Most of the employees had been in education for over 10 years.

A high school custodian, Teofilo Fuentes, had been with the school for 27 years. Counselor Adeliza Barrera, had been with the school for 21 years and a total of 30 years in education. Two other counselors, Ollie Salinas and Elvia Ramirez, had been in education for 33 and 31 years respectively. Salinas has been with SISD for 12 years, while Ramirez had been with the school district for a total of 15 years.

Read more: SISD recognizes retiring employees