Area News

Sharyland High School’s Matthew Worthington accepted admission to the United States Military Academy at West Point in March — an accomplishment that has been years in the making. The SHS senior had been working on his West Point application since he was a sophomore, but conversations about the school had been present throughout his childhood.…

At the start of his freshman year, Xavier Piña was a shy and introverted kid unsure what he would do with his high school career. Now accepting the opportunity to attend Harvard, he shares how people who pushed him helped him seize the possibility of success. After joining Palmview’s Mariachi Los Lobos, he was encouraged…

When coming into high school as a freshman, Anaili Garcia believed she wouldn’t fit in. After finding her place in leadership for multiple school organizations and a calling for art that won her the Gold Seal at state twice in a row, Garcia led a journey that made her four years at Palmview High School…

Valedictorian Amanda Salinas and Salutatorian Elizabeth Abila, both students from The Academy of Health Science Professions and STEM, will be graduating with their home school, Juarez Lincoln. Salinas has been chosen as 1 of 8 in the state of Texas to receive early admission into the physician assistant program. She will be graduating with her…

Despite undergoing a rollercoaster of a school year, Luis Sarabia accepted and overcame the challenge COVID placed in front of him with his acceptance to Stanford with a Gates Millennium Scholarship. “Coming into high school, I was shy, I was timid, I was quiet,” said Sarabia, saying his younger self never would’ve expected to be…

Johnny Joe Gutierrez almost didn’t go to the state championship finals and may not have won the title of 2021 State Accordion Champion if it wasn’t for the encouragement of his parents. Gutierrez wasn’t interested in playing music when he was younger, but after his father took him to the ranch with his friends and…

Valedictorian Aaliyah Alvarez and Salutatorian Briana Chapa are both La Joya High School graduates pursuing degrees in the fine arts. Some say to keep the arts out of schools, but these two young women defy the odds with their artistic ambitions. Alvarez will be attending the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Arizona. She…

The city of Mission fired a police officer Saturday after he was charged with felony assault. Former police Officer Arturo Casanova Jr., 36, of Mission is accused of choking his wife during an argument. Casanova surrendered to investigators Saturday, when they obtained a warrant for his arrest. “I’m extremely disappointed in the actions of our…

Rose Benavidez, Chair of South Texas College  Board of Trustees: I am pleased to inform you that the Board of Trustees has named Dr. Ricardo Solis as the sole finalist for the position of President of South Texas College pending final negotiations. He is expected to assume the office in the month of July 2021.…