MERCEDES — Dubbed a “massive” project, local leaders and Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show employees are expected to break ground on a comprehensive parking lot upgrade on the show grounds.

Scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the ticketing pavilion near the main gate, the groundbreaking will ceremoniously kick off comprehensive improvements aimed at accom-modating as many as 3,800 vehicles, according to Executive Director Hernan Gonzalez of the Development Corporation of Mercedes.

For the rest of this story and many other EXTRAS, go to our premium site, www.MyValleyStar.com.

Subscribe to it for only $6.99 per month or purchase a print subscription and receive the online version free, which includes an electronic version of the full newspaper and extra photo galleries, links and other information you can’t find anywhere else.

MERCEDES — D.J. Wernecke stepped into a new world when he arrived at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show with his farm animals as a fourth grader.

And for the past 25 years, the livestock show has been a part of his life.

Wernecke, 35, was ap-pointed general manager of the RGV Livestock Show by the board of directors one month ago.

“I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Wernecke said. “I’m here because of the livestock show, and it’s a great place to be a part of.”

Wernecke said he never wanted to do anything else but work at the livestock show.

He has become the or-ganization’s youngest general manager.

Throughout his educa-tional experience as a student in the Sharyland school district and college at Tarleton State Univer-sity in Stephenville, Texas, he attended the livestock show as an exhibitor and then as a college intern.

He continued to come back to the event as an agriculture instructor for 13 years. He taught at various school districts between Dallas and Los Fresnos.

For the rest of this story and many other EXTRAS, go to our premium site, www.MyValleyStar.com.

Subscribe to it for only $6.99 per month or pur-chase a print subscription and receive the online version free, which in-cludes an electronic ver-sion of the full newspaper and extra photo galleries, links and other informa-tion you can’t find any-where else.

RAYMONDVILLE — Raymondville attorney Annette Hinojosa, calling for “true justice” in one of Texas’ poorest counties, pulled heavy support from southern Willacy County to defeat two-term District Attorney Bernard Ammerman.

Hinojosa pulled support from backers of former longtime district attorney Juan Angel Guerra to win 1,386 votes to Ammerman’s 1,327.

Hinojosa will not face a Republican opponent in November’s general election.

“People were coming out wanting change,” Hinojosa said at about 9:30 p.m.

Hinojosa won the support from her home base in the Lyford, Sebastian and Santa Monica areas to overcome Ammerman’s 63-vote early vote edge.

“I see it as grass-roots support,” she said. “A large number of families came out to support me — friends and family who had confidence in me.”

For the rest of this story and many other EXTRAS, go to our premium site, www.MyValleyStar.com.

Subscribe to it for only $6.99 per month or purchase a print subscription and receive the online version free, which includes an electronic version of the full newspaper and extra photo galleries, links and other information you can’t find anywhere else.

The county judge race is finally over, and with its conclusion comes a new beginning for Cameron County.

Although it was close, Eddie Treviño Jr. has defeated Dan Sanchez in what election officials said was the biggest primary runoff race on the ballot. The final count was 9,163 to 8,184.

There is no Republican candidate for county judge.

“One of the reasons I didn’t run for re-election as mayor was because my game plan was to run for county judge, which I did initially back in 2010, and while we won the primary we fell short in the runoff. We didn’t want to take anything for granted this time out, and we kept pushing,” Treviño said.

Treviño says he is ready to get to work. His first action will be to look at the county budget.

After the budget is taken care of, he will reach out to all the county’s leaders — both elected officials and community leaders.

“Part of the problem we’ve seen and heard is the lack of communication between the commissioner’s court and the communities small and large. It’s critical to set up positive lines of communication with the community to help them and work out problems,” Treviño said.

Sanchez said he was grateful to everyone for the support and that regardless of the outcome, he had already won.

For the rest of this story and many other EXTRAS, go to our premium site, www.MyValleyStar.com.

Subscribe to it for only $6.99 per month or purchase a print subscription and receive the online version free, which includes an electronic version of the full newspaper and extra photo galleries, links and other information you can’t find any-where else.

May Budget Summary

LAGUNA VISTA — In Laguna Vista, officials say they make it a practice of keeping the council fully informed on the town’s finances.

The administration provides the council with a weekly report titled “Summary Budget Comparison” in which updates are presented on the revenues and expenditures at the end of each week, said City Manager Rolando Vela.

As of May 20, three weeks into the third quarter of the current fiscal year, the town had generated 92 percent or $1.42 million in revenues. The previous year, on the same date, the town had generated $1.19 million in revenues.

In expenditures, the town had 67 percent or $1.03 million. The previous year, on the same date, the town had $1.24 million in expenditures.

At the end of every quarter, Vela said his administration is given a quarterly performance report that provides them a “snapshot” of the revenue and expenditure activity that took place the prior three months.

“The town continuously strives to be transparent, to maximize its revenues while monitoring and controlling its expenditures,” said Vela.

Summer Reading Program

LAGUNA VISTA — The public library will host a summer reading program and all school age children are encouraged to participate.

Registration runs from June 1 to June 3 for kids ages 4 to 12. There are only 24 spaces available. No walk-ins will be allowed.

The summer program will start June 6 and run through the end of the month. Classes will be Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon, with a small lunch break.

2016 May Sales Tax Receipts

LAGUNA VISTA — The figures below are the May sales tax receipts that are based on local sales activity that occurred in March.

* Net Payment This Period: $16,490

* Comparable Payment Prior Year: $16,076

* Percent Change: 2.5 percent

* 2016 Payments to Date: $67,529

* 2015 Payments to Date: $66,405

* Percent Change: 1.6 percent

City Manager Rolando Vela said the town experiences a slight increase this month when compared to the same time last year.

“We’ve collected $1,124 more when you compare the receipts from this month to the same one a year before,” he said.

HARLINGEN — Enrique Cepeda carves rich detail into striking bronze sculptures depicting life in rural Mexico.

Cepeda, a sculptor from Saltillo, Mexico, is known for his work in the process of lost wax casting, a method by which duplicate metal sculptures are cast from their originals.

As part of a program with the Mexican Consulate in Brownsville, Cepeda’s work is on display through June 5 at the HarlingenArts & HeritageMuseum.

Since the exhibit opened May 12, visitors have commented on Cepeda’s detailed works depicting religious themes and pastoral life.

For the rest of this story and many other EXTRAS, go to our premium site, www.MyValleyStar.com.

Subscribe to it for only $6.99 per month or purchase a print subscription and receive the online version free, which includes an electronic version of the full newspaper and extra photo galleries, links and other information you can’t find anywhere else.

CAMERCON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Final election results. All numbers are unofficial until canvassed.

CAMERON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

County Judge – FINAL

Eddie Treviño Jr. – 9163

Dan Sanchez – 8184

County Court at Law No. 4 – FINAL

Sheila Garcia Bence – 9387

Daniel T. Robles – 7109

County Court-at-Law No. 5 – FINAL

Estela Chavez Vasquez – 8722

Jesus T. “Chuy” Garcia Jr. – 7972

Commissioner Pct. 1 – FINAL

Sofia Benavides – 2111

Beatrice Rosenbaum – 1806

Constable Pct. 2 – FINAL

Abelardo “Abel” Gomez Jr. – 4948

Pete Avila Jr. – 3738

CAMERON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY

Sheriff – FINAL

Victor Cortez – 1040

Robert Rodriguez – 957

Constable Pct. 1 – FINAL

Armando Mora – 225

Pedro “Pete” Delgadillo – 262

WILLACY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

District Attorney – FINAL

Bernard Ammerman – 1327

Annette Hinojosa – 1386

County Commissioner Pct. 3 – FINAL

Fred Serrato – 322

Henry De La Paz – 354

Constable Pct. 2 – FINAL

Hector Tijerina – 300

Jose Salazar – 477

HARLINGEN — The commissioner for the Texas Education Agency is touring the Valley today.

Mike Morath, education commissioner, will be in a tri-agency meeting today with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission.

Debbie Ratcliffe, director of media relations for TEA, said Morath will meet with the other two entities to ensure that education is in line with the needs of the Rio Grande Valley’s work force.

That meeting is taking place at South Texas College Technology Campus in McAllen.

His first stop, however, is the South Texas Academy for Medical Professions in Olmito at about 8 a.m. The school is part of the South Texas Independent School District.

“During his visit to Medical Academy, he will hear from students, administrators and staff members about the college preparatory curriculum and medical program at the campus,” said Amanda Odom, spokesperson.

Morath will also discuss the importance of partnerships between STISD schools, universities and local businesses, plus opportunities for hands-on experience and certifications.

“We will take the group on a brief tour en route to our simulation lab, where students will discuss the technology and resources available to them in their studies,” Odom said. “We will wrap up with a look at recent developments and things to come.”

Morath will then travel to the Harlingen School of Health Professions where he’ll tour specialty rooms and the simulation labs. Afterward he’ll visit the Santa Maria High School before heading to McAllen for the tri-agency meeting.

Ingredients

Lemonade

½ cup granulated sugar

3 ½ cups boiled water

½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 or 4 lemons)

Strawberry Puree

1 cup strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped

1 tablespoon water

Instructions

1. Before juicing the lemons, rub the skin aggressively with ½ cup of granulated sugar. This will release the natural oils in the lemon skin and perfume the sugar for the simple syrup.

2. In a small bowl, combine ½ cup of recently boiled water with perfumed granulated sugar to create a simple syrup. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Set aside.

3. Combine the remaining 3 cups of water, lemon juice and simple syrup in a pitcher. Stir. Place in the refrigerator and keep chilled until ready to serve.

4. While lemonade is chilling, purée strawberries and water in a food processor until liquefied. Strain, reserving the juice and discarding the strawberry pulp.

5. Add puree to lemonade and chill mixture longer if necessary. Pour over ice and serve with complementary herbs if desired—we recommend a sprig of oregano in each glass.