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

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