MISSION — USA Today ran a story this month about Rev. Roy Snipes, the popular priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, and his dogs who attend Mass, confessions and other church functions. The national newspaper said the dogs help to put people more at ease and “open hearts wider to receive the good father’s message.”

In a telephone interview with the Progress Times this week, Snipes fondly recalled his first dog assistant, Magna, whom he adopted over 25 years ago.

“Magna adopted me in Starr County,” he said. “She was the foundress of all this.”

Read more: USA Today features Mission’s church dogs

MISSION — Construction crews began a road maintenance project on Conway Avenue in the downtown area this week. Texas Department of Transportation officials said the work should take about two weeks to complete.

Read more: TxDOT resurfacing Conway Ave.

LA JOYA — The cool air was filled with excited chatter as float committee members gathered around the 35-foot flatbed trailer that was going to be used for La Joya Independent School District’s first float to be displayed at the Texas Citrus Fiesta Parade of Oranges on Jan. 28.

For most of the committee members, this was the first time they had seen the trailer.

Irma Neti said it was very exciting to see what they have to work with.

“Our vision is coming together,” she said.

Read more: LJISD makes first float for Citrus Fiesta parade

EDINBURG —Members of the Hidalgo County Courthouse Master Plan Committee met on Wednesday to see layout and site ideas to bring to Hidalgo County commissioners in the next few months when the plan is complete.

During the group’s third brainstorm session, officials discussed the current progress of the project and announced that the ideas discussed will be presented to the general public at four “Precinct Community Forums” starting Feb. 15.

Before beginning the session, consultant Brian Godinez reminded committee members that a meeting held last month between county officials and the City of Edinburg where ERO Architects produced a preliminary draft of the courthouse designs was to update Edinburg officials, “our clients,” on the project.

Read more: Courthouse committee discusses layout

MISSION — During this week’s board meeting, Sharyland Indepdendent School District trustees hired a new principal for Sharyland High School. Diamantina Chapa retired in December.

Cynthia Sandoval-Wilson, current principal at B.L. Gray Junior High, was selected by board members Tuesday to be the new principal. B.L Gray Junior High recently received a Blue Ribbon Award. Wilson had been a principal at B.L. Gray for nearly seven years. She will start as the new principal on Feb. 1.

Wilson said she looks forward to building a team approach at the high school, but she would also miss B.L. Gray.

“I do see the staff as my family,” she said. “I am looking forward to going to the next level.”

Wilson said she wants to see every student become successful and prepared for post-graduation.

Read more: SISD hires new SHS principal

MISSION — As disturbing as the recent rash of school safety issues in the Rio Grande Valley have been, Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) officials, like many others, are using each incident as a tool to make possible improvements to MCISD school safety.

“While we try to make the best plans possible and take appropriate measures to deal with many different safety scenarios, there is always something else that can be tweaked to make those plans better,” said Dr. Cornelio Gonzalez, superintendent. “Each time there is an incident like those of recent days, we take a look at the specifics of the event and then look at ourselves, our plans, our procedures (and) our buildings. Often times, we find something to improve upon.”

Read more: MCISD takes lessons from RGV school incidents

MISSION — A flurry of federal agents worked inside the Hosanna Health Care offices on Conway Avenue for much of Jan. 19 as part of an investigation.

FBI agents, the Texas Attorney General’s Office and the Office of the Inspector General were all part of the operation, seen walking in and out of the office at 1001 N. Conway Ave. throughout the day.

Read more: Feds investigate Hosanna Health Care

MISSION — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar told community business leaders he would push for an amendment that would allow municipalities to collect its own money to improve infrastructure at ports of entry.

He made his comments on Wednesday as part of a brief Legislative update at the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce’s Buenas Tardes luncheon. Listening to Cuellar’s comments were members of the chamber as well as mayors for Mission, McAllen and La Joya.

Read more: Cuellar discusses bridge infrastructure amendment at Buenas Tardes luncheon