Agents guide media through terrain

Starting at the Rio Grande, less than a mile away from Chimney Park RV Resort in Mission, they weave through a maze of brush and prickly trees. Jumping a wire fence at the levee, they’re picked up and driven near the Falfurrias checkpoint in Brooks County, where they’re dropped off to begin their journey. Then they start to walk under the unforgiving Texas sun.

It’s a common trail for illegal immigrants, but unfamiliar to many residents in the Rio Grande Valley. While the typical exposure to border crossings are accounts from local news media, the experience of walking through waist-high brush is rarely discussed.

Read more: BORDER TRAILS

MISSION — The Mission City Council voted to create a new non-profit corporation, which city leaders said would concentrate on the business development within the city.

In an interview with the Progress Times, City Manager Julio Cerda was asked if the Mission Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) would run the non-profit corporation, he said MEDC was more involved with Mission’s quality of life. When asked what the city could do with the new corporation that could not be done with MEDC, Cerda explained the non-profit corporation would be more concerned with commercial and industrial development within the city.

Read more: Mission creates new non-profit corporation

MISSION — U.S. Army Pfc. Diego Montoya will be recognized at the 8th annual Memorial Day Ceremony held at the Veterans Memorial at Placita Park on Monday.

Montoya died Sept. 2, 2010 in Laghman Province, Afghanistan of wounds he suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire.

He grew up here before relocating to San Antonio as a teenager.

At Monday’s ceremony organized by the Mission ACE Club, Montoya’s family will be recognized as his photo is placed at the memorial, said organizer Ofelia Peña-Perez.

Read more: Mission hosting annual Memorial Day ceremony

Salinas defeats Leo

LA JOYA — After 14 years with Billy Leo as mayor, La Joya citizens elected for a new council, with Jose A. “Fito” Salinas as mayor and the Citizens Working Together team chosen to serve on the city’s ruling body.

“I’m so happy that the people of La Joya, especially the young people, have supported a change,” Salinas said after greeting his supporters following the release of election night returns. “I think it’s the beginning of a new La Joya.”

Salinas credited the team’s young supporters as one of the main driving forces of the group’s success.

Read more: A NEW LA JOYA

Community mourns loss of LJ chief

LA JOYA — On Monday, residents here said their final goodbye to La Joya Police Chief Jose Del Angel who was found dead on May 12.

As news of Del Angel’s death spread, community members, city leaders, family and friends all joined to mourn the community’s top lawman and tried to determine if they missed any signs for help.

“If I would have known that he was going through some personal matters, then I would have taken away his gun and do my best to try to help him out,” said City Manager Mike Alaniz.

Read more: 'He did his job as a leader'

MISSION — The Mission City Council approved a measure for a road expansion project on the city’s west side into Palmview.

On Monday, leaders approved the cost of engineering services for the Mile 2 West project to create a four-lane road, with a fifth lane at intersections, between Conway Avenue in Mission and La Homa Road in Palmview in the amount of $1,257,229. L&G Engineering will do the work.

Engineer Jacinto Garza said the total cost of the project is $4,032,000, which will come from federal and state funds. The money for the project will be administered through the Metropolitan Planning Organization, as the project involves more than one city. The project will be funded in the 2012 fiscal year’s budget, which means work will start the latter part of 2012.

Read more: Mile 2 West improvements set for 2012

In a special called meeting this morning (Monday), the Mission City Council voted unanimously to file an injunction against Mission Economic Development Authority, Inc. (MEDA). The purpose of the injunction would be to restrain the non-profit corporation from disposing of any of its assets. The council’s authorization also seeks an order for MEDA to convey all its assets to the City of Mission.

Read more: City plans to file injunction against MEDA

MISSION — The Mission Economic Development Authority (MEDA) will not be able to deliver on the Mission City Council’s order to turn over all its assets to the city by May 15, according to former MEDA President/CEO Pat Townsend Jr.

MEDA’s inventory of assets, as of March 31, shows the corporation has net assets of $5,022,035, including $3,098,978 in cash and $1,870,531 in land consisting of lots in the organization’s industrial park.

Read more: MEDA will not deliver assets to city by deadline