DHR Health in Edinburg is seen June 24, 2020. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])
DHR Health will be hosting its sixth annual Brush County Medicine and Survival Conference this weekend, presenting various topics ranging from gunshot wounds to mock scenarios.
The event will be held Saturday from 7:20 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance, located at 118 Paseo Del Prado in Edinburg.
The conference is free and open to the public. Those wishing to participate will be charged a fee.
“The event is open to physicians, advanced practice providers, emergency service personnel, and first responders for a nominal registration fee, and continuing medical education (CME) credit will be awarded,” stated a news release.
Throughout the conference DHR Health physicians and other field experts will discuss how to handle medical emergencies such as gunshot wounds, head trauma, animal bites and ATV accidents.
The event will also feature sessions on self defense, drone use in rescues as well as a mock scenario for practical application.
For Dr. Noel E. Oliveira, chairman of the DHR Health CME Committee and medical director of the DHR Health Wound Care Center, the goal of the conference is to emphasize safety during outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing.
“If you have ever ventured outdoors, this conference is for you, your family, and friends,” Oliveira said in the release. “The goal of the event is to provide information and training on managing medical emergencies in the brush country.”
For more information about the conference, or to register contact the DHR Health Continuing Medical Education Department at (956) 362-3240 or (956) 362-3241.
The man who was detained last year by Border Patrol agents in Rio Grande City after they learned he had a warrant for his arrest for fatally shooting a Rio Hondo man in 1997 pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Monday.
Benito Barrera Martinez, who was 59 years old at the time of his arrest, was accused of killing 29-year-old Martin Villarreal on June 30, 1997.
Martinez pleaded guilty on Monday to the lesser charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to two years with credit for 710 days, court records show.
Villarreal’s body was discovered in a rural area on Nelson Road, south of FM 1561.
He was detained in May 2023 after he attempted to enter the country illegally, according to a press release from the Cameron County’s Sheriff’s Office.
The release stated that investigators believed the death was drug related.
Martinez was initially indicted in 2006 and jailed but was later released when the case was dismissed.
Then, in 2014, investigators obtained new evidence and charged him again, but Martinez fled to Mexico, according to the release.
Sharyland Pioneer's Scarlet Verjel winds up for a hit against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial's Kiana Lanton during a game at Pioneer High school gymnasium Monday Aug.12, 2024 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])
Sharyland Pioneer looked like they were in midseason form Monday after sweeping both Laredo United South and Corpus Christi Veterans at Pioneer High School.
In reality, however, if was Opening Day for the Diamondbacks
Sharyland Pioneer’s Izabella Cano goes up for a block during the Diamondbacks’ match against Corpus Christi Veterans on Monday, Aug., 12, 2024 at Sharyland Pioneer (Delcia Lopez / [email protected])
It shouldn’t be much of a surprise when playing against a Laura Cavazos coached team. But Monday’s match seemed a little different. Pressure serving kept Vets on their heels and unable to get the ball to their 6-foot-1 middle Nya White, who delivered some blistering kills, but not nearly as many as the Eagles wanted- and certainly needed.
“We want to be aggressive on the serving line and keep teams off balance,” Cavazos said. “When you play against powerful hitters like that you have to ,have to be aggressive and know where she’s at slowly. We want the blockers to be able to slow the ball down. We’re not asking for big block every time.”
Instead they got a big play all day as they swept by Vets and Laredo United South.
The Pioneer defense tallied four players with 9 or more digs led by Danica Gonzalez with 12, Izabella Cano had 11 digs and saved one missile were the attack seemed to remove her head – but her quickness got her hands in front of her face and she popped the ball up and turned it into a Pioneer kill. New setter Hailey Botello had 11 digs and 18 assists and standout libero Florencia Curiel registered nine digs.
“Flo looked like a senior out there commanding the back court and I thought we were ready to play.” Cavazos said. “I think we were still working on things throughout the game that we had talked about post scrimmage, they just did a great job of executing.
The most impressive thing about the defense was that it almost always seemed to be in the right place, rarely having to make point-saving fully stretched out dives, even though they executed a perfect. This kept the offensive transition in rhythm for Gonzalez’s 12 kills and Scarlet Verjal’s 10 kills.
The Diamondbacks finished the three sets with 11 aces as well, four from Cano and three from Gonzalez They are both sophomores. The team that looked like they’ve been playing together for four or more years, has just tree seniors.
During the first eight Pioneer points, seven different Diamondbacks made the crucial dig, pass or kill.
“I’ve known this since the start that we are a complete team. We’ve got hitters in the front row and Hailey can get it to them. We’ve got good defense and everybody stepped it up and in the front row they were ready to swing.
“Overall, we were consistent and getting into that groove. But we’ll work on being a little more consistent too.”
BY: SARAHI HERRERA-GONZALEZ DHR HEALTH GASTROENTEROLOGIST
FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL: (956) 362-ENDO (3636)
Fatty liver, also known as Steatotic Liver Disease, refers to the deposit of fat particles within the liver that in some patients may cause chronic inflammation and if not corrected even lead to liver cirrhosis. It is present in roughly one out of every three individuals and now represents the most common indication for liver transplantation in women and patients over the age of 65, however, often remains undiagnosed. Risk factors for the development of fatty liver are metabolic diseases such as pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension.
WHAT ARE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF FATTY LIVER?
Most patients with fatty liver are asymptomatic, however some patients report fatigue, generalized feeling of discomfort or vague pain located in the upper right area of the abdomen. Asymptomatic patients usually are identified when routine blood work shows elevated liver enzymes or there is fatty infiltration incidentally seen on abdominal imaging.
WHO SHOULD BE EVALUATED FOR FATTY LIVER?
Patients with high risk factors for fatty liver as mentioned above or in which fatty liver has been incidentally identified on imaging studies such as a liver ultrasound, should be evaluated with laboratory-based tools (i.e FIB-4 index) in which a risk score can be obtained. If the results are normal, the FIB-4 index screening test should be repeated every 1-2 years in patients with pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or 2 or more metabolic risk factors.
If the initial screening test results are abnormal, you can undergo one of many non-invasive tests to assess for the degree of fat deposits in the liver, as well as to evaluate if there already is presence of scarring, also known as fibrosis, that may be corrected to prevent the development of cirrhosis. Available non-invasive testing can be done via imaging studies (Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography) or blood tests.
If advanced fibrosis (scarring) is identified, you may need a referral for evaluation by a liver specialist or gastroenterologist.
IF I AM DIAGNOSED WITH FATTY LIVER, HOW CAN I TREAT IT AND PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CIRRHOSIS?
The management of fatty liver is based on lifestyle changes that include regular exercise and a healthy diet that is low in fat and carbohydrates and high in fiber and unsaturated fats (Mediterranean diet). The goal is to achieve a 10% weight loss that will in turn remove those fatty deposits from the liver that are the cause of inflammation and can even reverse fibrosis.
Up until recently, there were no approved medications for the treatment of fatty liver, however that changed in March of this year with the approval of a thyroid hormone receptor agonist that helps improve advanced scarring (fibrosis) in patients without cirrhosis. There are as well medications commonly used for the management of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity that have a potential benefit in fatty liver and may be considered when managing patients with said diseases.
Weight loss surgery can also be considered in patients with obesity and fatty liver that meet criteria for metabolic weight loss surgery (BMI>40 or BMI >35 with diabetes).
It is important to note that patients with fatty liver should completely abstain from the use of alcohol, as it may worsen liver disease and its progression to cirrhosis.
ABOUT DR. HERRERA-GONZALEZ
Dr. Herrera-Gonzalez is a gastroenterologist and is the only female at the DHR Health Gastroenterology Institute. She is currently accepting new patients and will see them at the DHR Health main campus in Edinburg and at DHR Health Multispecialty Clinic in Rio Grande City. She is fluent in English and Spanish and looks forward to working with adult patients of various ages and gastroenterological needs. To make an appointment with Dr. Herrera-Gonzalez call today at (956) 362-3636.
Weslaco High’s Mia Rodriguez (34) celebrates her double play against La Joya High in a Regional Quarter Finals one game at the La Joya Baseball Complex on Thursday, May 9, 2024, in La Joya. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])
MVP – Mia Rodriguez, Weslaco High
The Panthers had a team full of leaders and high IQ players that led them to a 6A state title, Mia Rodriguez was one of the most impressive.
Rodriguez was terrific offensively and defensively. Rodriguez finished the season with a .467 batting average, .589 on-base percentage, 49 hits, 10 home runs, 53 RBIs and drew 33 walks.
Rodriguez finished the season with a .954 fielding percentage and helped turn 9 double plays.
Rodriguez is off to Midland College after being one of the most impactful players for the Panthers during their state championship run.
Weslaco High’s Alexis Soliz (4) hits against La Joya High in a Regional Quarter Finals series game 2 at Weslaco High School on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Weslaco. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])
Co-Offensive Players of the Year – Alexis Soliz/Romy Nuñez, Weslaco High
Weslaco High seniors Alexis Soliz and Romy Nuñez were two of the Panthers most well rounded hitters on the way to a state title.
Both came up huge in the bottom of the seventh against Waco Midway, driving in runs.
Weslaco High’s Romy Nuñez celebrates a home run against Lake Travis in the Region IV-6A semifinals in Beeville. (Andrew Cordero/Special to RGVSports)
Soliz batted .400 with 44 hits, 6 homers, 38 RBIs and .496 on-base percentage. Nuñez finished with .406 average, 43 hits, 6 home runs and 38 RBIs as well.
Nuñez signed with Schreiner University while Soliz is going to Texas A&M Kingsville.
Weslaco High’s Elizabeth Craig celebrates a home run against Lake Travis. (Andrew Cordero/Special to RGVSports)
Defensive Player of the Year – Elizabeth Craig, Weslaco High
Angelina College is going to pick up a stud at first base for the spring college softball season. Craig was one of the Valley’s lengthiest first baseman, cutting down that throw to her by a few inches, making throws easier for the infielders.
Craig finished the season with a .982 fielding percentage and was also one of the best hitters for the state champions. Craig had a crucial hit during the comeback against Waco Midway.
Weslaco High’s Clarissa Mejia celebrates at home plate after hitting her first of two 3-run home runs in the first inning against Mission High Saturday in a bi-district meeting in Weslaco. (Andrew Cordero)
Utility Player of the Year – Clarissa Mejia, Weslaco High
Weslaco High’s Clarissa Mejia moved between catcher and designated hitter her sophomore year, thriving in both roles.
Mejia batted .453 with 53 hits, 12 homers and 57 RBIs.
Mejia’s power helped lift the Panthers over the edge, it was something they needed the year before and Mejia complimented the other power hitters in the lineup well.
Weslaco High’s Madelynn Cantu (27) pitches against La Joya High in a Regional Quarter Finals series game 2 at Weslaco High School on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Weslaco. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])
Pitcher of the Year – Madelynn Cantu, Weslaco High
Weslaco High pitcher Madelynn Cantu emerged as the THSWA 6A MVP after a fabulous season that saw her win 30 games with 196 strikeouts and 2.075 ERA.
Cantu threw all but 30 innings for the state champs and will have two more years like Mejia. The Valley is loaded with talented pitchers, especially the next two years and Cantu is up there at the top of the list.
Co-Newcomers of the Year – Aubrey Garza and Arianna Lugo, PSJA High
PSJA High made it past the first round only to lose a close one-game playoff to San Antonio O’Connor. The Bears should have everyone back including Aubrey Garza and Arianna Lugo, two freshman last year.
Garza batted .523 with 7 home runs, 38 RBIs and 45 hits with a perfect fielding percentage while Lugo batted .483, 43 hits, 32 RBIs and a .966 fielding percentage.
Weslaco High head coach Mario Rodriguez talks to his team between innings against Lake Travis. (Andrew Cordero/Special to RGVSports)
Coach of the Year – Mario Rodriguez, Weslaco High
Weslaco High head coach Mario Rodriguez should have been inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame this summer, but there is next summer right?
Rodriguez helped guide the Weslaco Panthers to the Class 6A state title after already making to the state final four earlier in his tenure. Rodriguez is one of the best to do it in RGV softball history.
Rodriguez’s team was extremely plate disciplined, clutch – obviously – and filled with leaders with high softball IQ influenced by the coaching staff led by Rodriguez.
Sharyland Pioneer's Ava Saenz and Scarlet Vergel block against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial's Nya White during a game at Pioneer High school gymnasium Monday Aug.12, 2024 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])
Sharyland Pioneer’s Scarlet Vergel makes gets a hit against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial’s Nya White during a game at Pioneer High school gymnasium Monday Aug.12, 2024 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial’s Kiana Lanton, left, gets a hit past Sharyland Pioneer’s Natalia Gonzalez and Scarlet Vergel during a game at Pioneer High school gymnasium Monday Aug.12, 2024 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])Sharyland Pioneer’s Danica Gonzalez follows a hit against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial’s Kayla Chavez during a game at Pioneer High school gymnasium Monday Aug.12, 2024 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])Sharyland Pioneer’s Scarlet Vergel in action against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial’s Nya White during a game at Pioneer High school gymnasium Monday Aug.12, 2024 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])Sharyland Pioneer’s Ava Saenz and Scarlet Vergel block against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial’s Nya White during a game at Pioneer High school gymnasium Monday Aug.12, 2024 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])Sharyland Pioneer’s Danica Gonzalez hits against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial’s Kaylee Worthington during a game at Pioneer High school gymnasium Monday Aug.12, 2024 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])Sharyland Pioneer’s Izabella Cano, right, blocks a hit by Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial’s Emma Yeager, left, during a game at Pioneer High school gymnasium Monday Aug.12, 2024 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])Sharyland Pioneer’s Scarlet Vergel winds up for a hit against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial’s Kiana Lanton during a game at Pioneer High school gymnasium Monday Aug.12, 2024 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])Sharyland Pioneer’s Danica Gonzalez makes a block on Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial’s Kayla Chavez during a game at Pioneer High school gymnasium Monday Aug.12, 2024 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])Sharyland Pioneer’s Scarlet Vergel gets a hit past Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial’s Kiana Lanton during a game at Pioneer High school gymnasium Monday Aug.12, 2024 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])
Brownsville Independent School District Superintendent Jesus H. Chavez welcomes students back to school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, at Oliveira Middle School during the first day of class. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)
The Brownsville Independent School District returned to classes on Monday with a resolve to work as a team to do what’s best for its more than 36,000 students.
“For me, remember it’s the first time opening up school here in Brownsville ISD,” Superintendent Jesus H. Chavez said mid-morning during an interview in the library at Oliveira Middle School. “Our theme for this year is One Team, One Dream.”
Chavez became BISD superintendent in March after serving as superintendent of the Harlingen, Corpus Christi and Round Rock school districts. He started his educational career as a teacher and assistant principal in Brownsville ISD.
Brownsville Independent School District Superintendent Jesus H. Chavez welcomes students back to school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, at Oliveira Middle School during the first day of class. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)
On Monday, he spent the morning visiting classes at Burns and Hudson elementary schools, followed by Oliveira Middle School, and Perez elementary in the afternoon.
On Tuesday he was to visit Lucio Middle School, Ben Brite, Aiken and Palm Grove elementaries, as well as Lopez Early College High School.
He said the One Team, One Dream theme for the year boils down to everyone in the district doing their part and working together to make things better for BISD students.
The idea is “to promote teamwork in our district. It’s one of the pillars of my philosophy, all across, from myself being part of a team of eight with the board (of trustees.) We also have the administrative team, my executive team … so a lot of support for our schools, our teachers and having that one team philosophy across our entire district that yes, we’re going to do everything that is possible to do what is best for kids, so that kids are successful, which gets me to the second part, which is one dream,” Chavez said.
“I’ve been talking to teachers, to our leadership team, to our community about this concept that for every student I want them to do extremely well with us. I want them to succeed in the grades that they get, for them to progress from one grade level to the next, for them to perform well,” he said.
“Remember, for me performance is broad from the standpoint of I want them to perform well academically, but I also want our district to be very strong in the fine arts — dance, music, band, choir, the actual physical art, the instruction of ceramics and 3D art — all of that’s involved in the arts phase, but then the third phase that I want them to perform well in is not only PE and health but also the athletics piece,” he said.
Brownsville Independent School District Superintendent Jesus H. Chavez welcomes students back to school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, at Oliveira Middle School during the first day of class. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)
“So yes, I want all of our students to perform very well, first of all with us, but then the second part of the dream is that they have an education beyond high school. That’s what we want,” Chavez said.
“So, I’ve talked with our counselors with the idea that we would have a plan for every student after high school, whether you think about attending a university, attending a college, attending a certification program.
“The dream part is for them to do really well with us, graduate from high school and get education beyond high school. That’s the one dream that I have, so I’m emphasizing that to everybody. I think that focuses everybody, teachers, central office, principals. It focuses the other support areas as it relates to maintenance, housekeeping. I mean they do what they do so that we have a good environment for students,” Chavez said.
“It’s a new year, so we brought this theme forward and I think it’s very appropriate and it fits very well with what I want to do here in the district, which is make things better for our students,” he said.
Chavez discussed getting good grades and post-secondary education with the students in Ismael Barron’s sixth-grade science class at Oliveira, a group made up of students making the transition from elementary to middle school.
The students said they were coming from Breeden, Egly, Hudson and Perez elementary schools. They said they were excited, nervous and tired.
Barron explained that middle school starts earlier in the morning than elementary.
“We’re just trying to make sure we get them started on the right foot,” he said.
Chavez said science is a subject they will be studying all the way through to high school and, along with English, history and many other courses, in college.
“We’re preparing you for college. If you get As and Bs in school, then you’re going to get As and Bs in college. Work hard and learn as much as you can,” he told the students.
SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship lifts off in a heavy haze for a test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)
The Federal Aviation Administration has postponed in-person public meetings scheduled for this week in Port Isabel and South Padre Island to discuss the FAA’s Draft Environmental Assessment of SpaceX’s proposal to increase the number of rocket launches from Boca Chica to up to 25 per year.
The meetings were scheduled for Tuesday in South Padre Island and Thursday in Port Isabel. The FAA also postponed a virtual public meeting that had been scheduled for Aug. 20, though members of the public can still submit comments electronically at www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-2006.
Comments can also be mailed to Amy Hanson, FAA Environmental Specialist, SpaceX EA, c/o ICF 1902 Reston Metro Plaza Reston, VA 20190. The FAA said the public comment period for the Draft EA, originally due to close Aug. 29, will be extended.
In addition to up to 25 launches annually, SpaceX wants to conduct up to 25 landings each of the Starship and Super Heavy booster per year. The company’s aim is to develop Starship and Super Heavy as rapidly reusable vehicles in order to significantly lower the cost of space flight. Landing them in the water, as was the case with the company’s fourth Starship orbital test flight on June 6, does not allow for them to be retrieved.
With the fifth orbital test flight, which Musk has indicated could take place in late August or early September, SpaceX will attempt to land the booster on the launch pad at Boca Chica and steady it as it lands with mechanized arms mounted on the site’s launch tower.
The FAA said it will provide new meeting dates and a new deadline for submitting comments.
“The FAA apologizes for any inconvenience,” the agency said in a statement. “Public meetings will be rescheduled; however, the docket remains open to receive public comments.”
Students are seen in this undated photo at South Texas College’s Pecan Campus. (Courtesy: South Texas College/STC)
South Texas College is one of four community colleges in the country to partner with Harvard University for a research project that highlights the valuable role community colleges play in their regional workforce and economic ecosystems.
It is coined “The Project on Workforce” and will be led by a STC alumnus and Havard Master’s graduate Ramiro Hernandez.
The goal of the project is to improve how community colleges leverage labor market information and emerging technologies to advance student economic mobility.
The research approach will build a better understanding of the best practices when it comes to improving pathways to economic mobility, connecting research and practice alongside workforce partners.
The project runs through December with research priorities including producing new data, tools for public impact that STC will build on, and smoothing transitions between education and work.
Hernandez obtained an associates degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from STC as a dual credit student before graduating from high school.
“STC is doing great work for the region, and for someone like me from the Valley, I know that its education is transformative,” Hernandez said in a press release. “So, when I got hired and I learned I had been assigned to Texas, I knew immediately we needed to bring this research, this project, to STC. I’m a life-long advocate and I’m excited that we’ve been able to make this partnership a reality.”
All research will be shared nationally, to give other colleges and universities a look into initiatives that can be implemented.
South Texas College Pecan campus on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])
“This partnership and the research that we obtain from it, is going to help take our workforce initiatives to another level,” STC President Ricardo Solis said. “It’s an honor working with Harvard, with (Hernandez) and being able to shed light on not only what we’re doing right, but what we need to improve on or need to implement to better serve our students and community. This will be a pivotal project for STC and it’s a privilege being a part of it and knowing that top universities like Harvard University are recognizing the value that community colleges provide.”
Upon completion of the project in 2025, Hernandez will create a report that includes research findings and recommendations.
STC will be awarded a $33,000 stipend to implement proposed initiatives.
The Edinburg man accused of shooting and killing his cousin following an argument over missing chicken has been indicted, court records show.
Alberto Quintana, 18, was charged with murder after he allegedly shot his cousin, 43-year-old Alvi Aristegui Puyg, on May 19.
The shooting happened at The Enclave Apartments at 602 S. Pin Oak Road at around 6 p.m. that Sunday.
According to the affidavit, Quintana stated that Puyg was upset over some missing chicken.
Quintana’s father told Puyg that it’s not worth fighting over two packs of missing chicken and that he paid for everything anyway, the document said.
He also told investigators that his son warned Puyg to stop being so aggressive.
Then, the father heard a loud bang next to his ear and realized that Quintana had shot Puyg, who he believed died instantly, according to the affidavit.
According to investigators, Quintana implicated himself in the murder.
Quintana is scheduled to appear before state District Judge Noe Gonzalez for his arraignment hearing next week.
He remains in custody at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on a $250,000 bond, according to jail records.
