Teachers’ Rights Bill passes, moves to House
Texas senators passed a $1.6 billion education bill that would provide pay raises for teachers and support for better working conditions. Senate Bill 9 includes explicit recommendations from the Teacher Vacancy Task Force that Gov. Greg Abbott put together to address teacher retention and recruitment. And although the bill is divisive among educators, it has…
Read More‘It’s good to be back’ Mission hires new fire chief
It’s been 25 years since Fire Chief Adrian Garcia lived in Mission, but he said he is glad to be back. The 49-year-old was born in McAllen but raised in Mission. He started his career in the fire service industry at the Mission Fire Department in 1991, but life’s path pulled him away from the…
Read MoreNew health director hired in Mission
Steven Kotsatos joins the City of Mission staff with more than two decades of government experience and 11 years of environmental health service experience under his belt. The Ohio native became the health director March 20, and so far, he is enjoying his time in the new role. “I like it. Everyone here is very…
Read MoreNew bills impacting taxpayers, South Texas ISD funding
School districts across Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties banded together in an attempt to change legislation that affects taxes and South Texas ISD funding. State Rep. Sergio Muñoz (D-Palmview) recently introduced two bills that could set those changes into motion. In January, Mission CISD and Sharyland ISD joined about 20 RGV districts in passing a…
Read MoreGetting to know Shimotsu’s interim principal
This article originally ran in the March 10 issue of the Progress Times. Elizabeth Gongora has been the Shimotsu Elementary interim principal for about a month, and her focus has been ensuring the students and employees have everything they need. “Each day has given me opportunities to connect with others: students, teachers, parents, campus and…
Read MoreSISD responds to concern over principal reassignment
This article originally ran in the March 10 issue of the Progress Times. After weeks of parents speaking out against Sharyland ISD reassigning Shimotsu’s long-time principal to another campus, the district responded to allegations made against them. Sharyland ISD removed Adrian Limon from his role as principal of Shimotsu Elementary on Feb. 2 and transferred…
Read MoreRoad work ahead — Inspiration-Military Parkway Loop
This article originally ran in the March 10 issue of the Progress Times. One of Mission’s ongoing roadway expansion projects is at Inspiration Road and Military Parkway Loop. Although the city has had the project in the pipeline for several years, the site is nowhere near the construction phase. But the Mission planning department has been…
Read MoreSharyland hopefuls enter trustee election
Sharyland voters have two items to look out for in the upcoming school board race. Place 1 and Place 2 are up for election, and two candidates have entered the bid for each position, some of which are familiar faces in the community. Place 1 Longtime Sharyland ISD board member Ricky Longoria did not throw…
Read MoreLongtime library employee retires at 41
The day after Mayra Rocha retired from her job at the Speer Memorial Library, she was back in the office. With her 10-month-old daughter by her side, Rocha multitasked — packing up her belongings, calming the occasionally fussy baby and answering questions about her 24-year tenure with the library. Rocha started working at Speer Memorial…
Read MoreCity attorney sets the record straight on animal shelter allegations
Local animal rescuer Jesus Meave made false accusations against the City of Mission and the RGV Humane Society at the Feb. 13 Mission Council meeting. Mission’s new City Attorney Victor Flores clarified the matter at the Feb. 27 meeting, in keeping with Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza’s promise of more transparency from city leadership. Meave, the…
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