MISSION – In a meeting with concerned Mission residents last Thursday, July 21, Godfrey Garza, director of Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 (HCDD), outlined a plan by local officials to widen the Mission Lateral drainage ditch. The action is expected to reduce the threat of flooding of homes throughout a large area of Mission.

Under the proposed plan, drainage district workers would perform the work of widening the major drainage structure, which is located between FM 495 and Two Mile Rd., running parallel to FM 495. The City of Mission has committed to haul away the tons of dirt to be excavated at no cost to the district, a measure that will create major savings in the cost of the project. About one-third of the city will benefit from the Mission Lateral drainage improvements, Cerda said. Areas as far south as Business 83 and west to Los Ebanos Rd. drain into the lateral drainage system.

Read more: City, drainage district collaborate on major drainage project

EDINBURG —Hidalgo County and transportation leaders here say they hope a proposed collaborative effort will get the $81 million La Joya bypass project funded and finally constructed after a decade of planning.

On Tuesday, officials with the Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) met with Hidalgo County leaders to discuss the partnership.

TxDOT Area Engineer Mario Jorge calls the La Joya relief route, a bypass through Peñitas to Sullivan City, a much-coveted project.

Read more: La Joya bypass using partnerships for funding

MISSION — Mission police this week combed the area along West 2 Mile Line Road near the home of retired U.S. Border Patrol Agent Willis Spears Kimmons who was found dead last week. The suspects have told officials they got rid of the weapon used in the area.

Police spokesman Sgt. Jody Tittle said the department is trying to find anything that would help the case, even though the suspects have confessed to the crime.

Authorities were unsuccessful in their search using a canine unit and divers in the canal next to the house.

Read more: MPD searching for evidence, stolen items in Kimmons death

MISSION — The Mission Economic Development Corporation’s consultant Alex Meade of P3 Economics became its newest executive director this week.

The action was taken at Tuesday’s meeting following executive session.

Meade, who is fluent in Spanish, earned a bachelor of Business Administration in Economics at St. Edward’s University in 1999 and a master’s of Business Administration from the University of Texas-Brownsville in 2006.

Read more: MEDC hires Meade as exec. director

MISSION — With two major highway projects well underway, Mission is on track to gain approval for yet another major project – the extension of Inspiration Road under Expressway 83 and rebuilding the overpass at that intersection.

The proposed $23.2 million project would connect the north and south portions of Inspiration Road, which are presently interrupted by the expressway. Plans call for construction of a new overpass crossing over Business 83 and Inspiration Road as well as expansion of the expressway from four to six lanes. The project also includes a complete reconstruction of the intersection and frontage roads.

Read more: TxDOT plans overpass reconstruction at Inspiration Rd.

MISSION — A proposal that would ban parked recreational vehicles in front yard driveways was sent back to the Planning and Zoning Commission at Monday’s Mission City Council meeting.

The ordinance stated RVs could only be parked alongside public or private streets for temporary loading or unloading and must be completed within 48 hours.

The ordinance is currently limited to R-1, or large lot, residential areas.

Read more: Mission considers banning RVs in driveways

MISSION — Mission police have arrested and charged two suspects in connection with the death of Willis Kimmons.

David Tarbutton Jr., 19 and Leroy Arista, 23, were charged with capital murder. Their bonds were set at $5 million each.

Peggy Arista, Leroy’s mother, was also arrested and charged with tampering with evidence.

Read more: Police ID suspects in retired agent’s death

MISSION — In December 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Healthy, Hunger-Free Act, legislation that provides school children with healthier food options for breakfast and lunch. The act is also supposed to help combat childhood obesity.

Since 2004, Texas has been helping schools provide students with healthier foods. Many Rio Grande Valley school districts, such as Mission, have been preparing for the healthier menu changes that will be mandated by the 2012-2013 school year.

Laura Villarreal, coordinator for the child nutrition program at Region One, said having many Valley schools gradually implement the proposed mandates has been positive for the region.

“We want to make sure the kids and schools get a taste of it now, because soon there won’t be an option,” she said. “In order to continue receiving federal funding we have to follow it 100 percent.”

Read more: 'Free Lunch' program gets new requirements