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

REVISED after print

Even while the Mission school board is grappling with a projected $8 million budget shortfall, the TEA (Texas Education Agency) hit the school district with more financial troubles last week, demanding the district refund $362,153 in migrant funds.

Read more: TEA demands MCISD refund $362,153 in migrant funds

The City of Mission will host a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony Wednesday, April 13 at 10:30 a.m. for the new Police Substation and Fire Station No. 5 located at the corner of Glasscock and Military Rd.

Read more: Grand opening planned for new fire, police substation

Road Construction Advisory

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has released the following advisory regarding highway construction and maintenance work in the Mission area.

Read more: TxDOT Road Construction Advisories

MISSION — Mission police arrested a 28-year-old Mission woman on Monday in connection with her husband’s death in a 2010 home invasion.

Vanessa Garcia was charged Wednesday with capital murder. Her husband, Reyes Garcia, died from four gunshot wounds during a home invasion and robbery on June 23, 2010, police said.

Three other suspects were charged in June and one has a warrant for his arrest.

Read more: Mission woman charged in husband’s home invasion death

MCISD wrestles budget cut increases

MISSION — As the Mission Consolidated Independent School District continues to make painstaking cuts to its budget, administrators struck board trustees with another blow over the weekend: They’ll have to make bigger cuts.

Initially, over the past few months, administrators estimated the loss of funding to the district would be about $5 million, but after paying closer attention to talks in the House and Senate, that shortfall is now closer to $8 million.

Read more: NO HAPPY OPTIONS