MISSION — Hidalgo County officials this week reminded residents that Anzalduas Park remains closed to the public and will not be available for use over the Easter holiday.

Read more: Anzalduas Park remains closed for Easter

MISSION — The Mission City Council approved hiring 10 additional police officers last Friday at an annual cost of approximately $550,000. The council adopted a budget amendment to approve $248,503 for the remaining 12 pay periods of this fiscal year. The city will pay this expenditure out of the city’s general fund, said City Manager Julio Cerda.

This action comes on the heels of the opening of a new $2.2 million police substation and Fire Station No. 5 on Military and Glasscock roads.

Read more: Mission hires more police officers

MISSION — Sharyland district officials this week questioned disciplinarian action programs for students, asking if there were better ways to help punish students without giving them a criminal record.

According to the student handbook, placement in the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) is mandatory or discretionary depending on the conduct of the student. Some actions also require the action of the local police.

Read more: SISD discusses disciplinary education procedures

ALTON — The Alton City Council will proceed in condemning a parcel of land where the city needs an easement for the Shary Woods drainage project.

Assistant City Manager Steve Peña said the city was in negotiations with the former owner of the property when the property was seized by the U.S. Marshals Service. The 21.9-acre tract, located on Glasscock Road, is now owned by a bank and is being held for resale. The city cannot wait for resale of the land, Peña said.

Read more: Alton to condemn land for drainage project

The latest Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association poll, released April 14, shows Sharyland High School baseball is again ranked number 3 in the state for 5A schools, for the second week in a row.

Read more: Sharyland still ranked No. 3 in state

McALLEN — Recalling memories of the Vietnam War, several soldiers talk about their struggles in the jungle and their return to civilian life, which, when dressed in military garb, was either met with disdain or complete disregard.

Last weekend with LZ: RGV, the community finally welcomed home and thanked Rio Grande Valley Vietnam veterans for their service with proclamations, presentations and the Healing Wall, a replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., as an effort to remember those who died in combat.

“We failed to do that as a country,” said retired United States Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez at a dedication ceremony.

Read more: Photographer recounts war with Vietnam veterans

MISSION — It’s a 19-year-old dream coming to reality for Gen Long, former Mission councilwoman. Her overdue “dream” was to see former U.S. Rep. Eligio de la Garza II immortalized in bronze for his 44 years of service to South Texas and as a Mission’s “favorite son.” He is lovingly known as “Kika” by his family, friends and the constituency he served.

“Kika has been a Godsend for agriculture in this area and also throughout the United States and many countries of the world. People do not realize what all he has done, but I have seen a lot of the successes from what he has done,” said Long.

Read more: Kika de la Garza immortalized in scuplture

MISSION — At Wednesday’s grand opening for the new Mission Police Department Substation and Fire Station No. 5 in south Mission, officials stressed the word “commitment.”

“We made a commitment to serve and to be the mayor and city council, and my commitment was to be able to do things that were going to be able to help our community,” Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas said. “Our commitment to our community is a very big commitment and we’re not going to stop there. We need to continue doing what we have made that commitment to be.”

Read more: Public safety comes to south Mission