Harlingen — Every 19 seconds someone in the world is diagnosed with this potentially deadly illness. In the U.S. alone, one in eight women will be diagnosed with it. But, breast cancer is an illness that can be stopped. Harlingen Medical Center is helping the women of the Rio Grande Valley do just that during the month of May – as we celebrate the women in our lives. The award-winning and nationally-recognized hospital, in conjunction with Mother’s Day, is offering its Digital Mammogram Screening for only $99.

“Having a mammogram has proven to help avoid a long bout with breast cancer because of early detection,” said Roy Castillo, Director of Radiology and Imaging at Harlingen Medical Center. “Our advanced technology is so precise we can help identify an issue, educate our patients, and treat them for any issue they may face.”

The digital mammogram screening at Harlingen Medical Center takes between 20 and 30 minutes. The screening is utilized to detect breast cancers, benign tumors, and cysts before they can be identified by touch, or develop into a serious medical issue. The screening is performed with the utilization of a computed radiography, which produces a digitized mammographic image. The mammogram is analyzed for masses, calcifications, or areas of abnormal density which may indicate the presence of cancer.

“There is no doubt that a mammogram can save your life,” Castillo added. “Breast cancer deaths have been on the decline since the early 1990’s, thanks in part to early detection, better screening – like the one we offer, here, at Harlingen Medical Center, and increased awareness and better treatment of the illness. The mammogram is a win-win for women.”

According to the American Cancer Society, women may experience symptoms of breast cancer at any age, but, certainly it is more possible in women older than 40 years of age. Some of these symptoms include:

* A change in size, shape, or contour of the breast;

* A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm that persist through the menstrual cycle;

* A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a pea;

* A blood-stained or clear fluid discharge from the nipple;

* A change in the feel or appearance of the skin on the breast or nipple;

* Redness of the skin on the breast or nipple;

* An area that is distinctly different from any other area on the either breast;

* And, a marble-like hardened area under the skin.

“Mammograms are usually performed on females 40 years of age or older,” Castillo said. “However, if you are younger than 40 years of age and experience [some of these] symptoms, it is important that you visit with your primary care physician to decide what is the next step for you – in your line of care.”

The American Cancer Society indicates there is no specific age in which women should begin having a mammogram, but states that females should begin having a mammogram at the age of 40 or 50, depending on your specific health and family history. It also agrees some women may need to start earlier than 40 due to a family history of breast cancer.

“The best thing for a woman to do is if she feels or sees anything abnormal [on her breasts], then she should seek medical attention from her primary care physician or her health care provider of choice,” said Castillo. “It is important that she seek medical attention immediately, as early detection is the key to surviving this potentially fatal illness.”

If you go

The digital mammogram screening at Harlingen Medical Center will be offered during the entire month of May for a nominal fee of $99. Those interested in the screening may call the Registration Department at (956) 365-1839, Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. When registering, you will be asked to provide the name of a primary health care physician, or a health care provider, so that your screening results may be sent to their attention. They physician of choice will then further discuss the results of the mammogram with the patient and decide what course of action needs to be taken, if any at all.

For more information on mammography and radiology and imaging services, please consult your physician and visit http://www.

EDINBURG — As it approaches its one-year anniversary, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley received what officials say is the most significant contribution yet: $15 million from Bert Ogden CEO Robert Vackar, officials announced Wednesday.

“This is the most significant philanthropic gift in the history of our institution and legacy institutions,” UTRGV President Guy Bailey said. “It will be transformative.”

Bailey announced the donation Wednesday afternoon at the university’s Performing Arts Center and was joined by UT-System Chancellor William McRaven, as well as Robert and his wife, Janet, owners of the Bert Ogden Auto Group.

The gift is greater than the combined total annual contributions received by UTRGV’s legacy institutions — UT-Pan American and UT-Brownsville — Bailey said.

The money will be used to create endowed scholarships for students in the College of Business Entrepreneurship, which will now be named the Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship in honor of the contribution.

“This recognition is such an honor,” Vackar said in a news release. “Growing up in Edinburg and living in the Rio Grande Valley has been such a great experience for our family … But after the many years of support our family and our businesses have received from this community, the real honor is being able to give back.”

Endowed funds are used to create permanent scholarships for students by investing the funds and using its earned income for the awards. These endowments can be grown over time by donors and most stipulate that the original amount of the donation, called the corpus, may not be tapped, which allows the endowment to exist in perpetuity.

Wednesday’s record-setting donation marks the third time the Vackar family has contributed to UTRGV.

The first donation of $10,000 came in April 2015 before the university opened its doors and it was also intended for endowed scholarships for business and education students in honor of Robert Vackar’s late sister, Susan Lewis Vackar Clark, who graduated from UTPA in 1963.

The family followed that gift with a $2 million contribution in January 2016 for endowed scholarships for the liberal arts department and the college of business entrepreneurship. It was the greatest contribution received by the UTRGV at the time.

“I really can’t say enough for Bob Vackar,” Bailey said. “He has a great vision for higher education, and he and Janet are transforming higher education in the valley.”

Receiving such donations from within the community is a big step in the right direction, Bailey said, especially at newer universities where there hasn’t really been a culture of philanthropy established.

While outside donations are always welcomed and sought, local donations begin establishing this culture and encouraging others who might be thinking of supporting the institutions and its students, he said.

“We are the Valley’s institution, so we need the Valley’s support,” Bailey said.

Check back for details

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SAN BENITO — The father of a two-month-old infant who died after being removed from life support has surrendered to police.

Gavino Acuna, 43, turned himself in to San Benito Police Friday morning after a detective obtained a warrant from San Benito Municipal Court for first degree injury to a child.

Police said the baby was found unresponsive on April 23 and taken to Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen. He was taken off life support on April 27 and died.

Nurses at the hospital stated the infant was poorly cared for and had been sick for a few days. Police say the baby was hospitalized a month prior and had not gained any weight.

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Investigators say the baby showed signs of being neglected and had not received any medical attention.

The baby’s mother, Cynthia Montoya, was arrested on the same charge on May 5. Her bond was set at $250,000.

Acuna was arraigned by Justice of the Peace David Garza who set Acuna’s bond at $100,000. He was transferred to Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito.

RAYMONDVILLE — After years of planning Raymondville officials unveiled Veterans Park this morning.

The $1 million sports complex was built near one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods.

Organizers are using the unveiling to a local anti-drug campaign to skateboarders and other teens in the areas about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

The park is at the corner of First Street and Durango Avenue.

This Sunday, the New York Times published an article critical of Donald Trump’s sexist treatment of women in the workplace over the past three decades. Although the women’s comments waffled between him being supportive to downright rude,overall it was not complimentary.

While I’m not a fan of this man, I think it’s important to put the article in perspective.

Back in the 70s and 80s I was working full time, sometimes as a receptionist, a file clerk, a sales secretary and eventually as a commissioned sales person all in a male dominated environment.

I’ve had men stare at my breasts, call me stacked, ask how I injured my back (wink, wink) and on some days would make football passes of sanitary pads at anyone having a bad day. People thought that was funny.

I had an engineer employee phone me making obscene calls which only stopped when I complained to one of the owners (a woman). He was fired … no questions asked of me.

That was surprising. There was no such thing as a Human Resources department back then. One either put up with it or left.

Today, women have a bigger voice in the workplace if they are disrespected, but Donald hasn’t stepped into the 21st century. I don’t think he’s aware he is offensive.

He’s 69 years old and set in that time warp.

One also has to ask when was the last time you saw Hillary Clinton in a dress? I think it was at Bill’s inauguration when she wore a ball gown or at a state dinner as First Lady.

When have you ever seen Angela Merkel in anything other than a pantsuit?

They know things haven’t changed all that much. Neither has Donald.

Susan M. Berberian Harlingen

I drive a school bus for Harlingen C.I.S.D.

I drove the students from one of the local elementary schools to Lon Hill Park on May 12.

The students were playing on the equipment having a good time. They then had a sack lunch picnic.

The tables and benches were totally covered in bird droppings.

This is completely unsanitary and a health risk, not only to these students but to anyone else using these tables.

The tables should be washed off two or three times each week with a high pressure hose.

It shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes each time to clean the tables and benches making them more useable and sanitary.

Richard Walters Harlingen

Someone was very lucky.

A black Chevy Impala flipped over after hitting parked pickup Tuesday evening on East Harrison Avenue.

The driver of the Impala walked away from the accident. In the background you can see a black four-door pickup that was hit.

The busy street was closed to traffic so the vehicles could be removed.

HARLINGEN – Last night’s recount failed to untie the knot that had been created when residents gave two school board candidates an equal number of votes earlier this month.

The school district last night performed a formal recount of the votes cast in the May 7 election.

Rosalinda Mercado-Garza and Eladio Jaimez both received 1,422 votes. The nearly 5-hour recount yesterday at Harlingen City Hall confirmed that tally.

Those numbers will be unofficial until tonight when the school board canvasses the votes.

The next step is another election.

Mercado-Garza and Jaimez both turned down the offer to flip a coin to determine the winner, which is allowed by the Texas Election Code in the event of a tie.

They both felt they had a responsibility to their supporters and the voters to continue with the election process.

Julio Cavazos, chief financial officer for the district, said the new election would take place now less than 20 days from today and no more than 30 days.

Mercado-Garza said she was pleased the process had worked.

The fact the recount had yielded the same result showed those in charge of the election had handled the votes properly.

She looked forward to continuing her campaign.

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For the past two years, no other name has become more synonymous with the Harlingen High girls basketball program than Sami Quilantan’s.

In her two seasons as a starter for the Lady Cardinals, she led the team with 399 steals on her way to winning back-to-back District 32-6A Defensive Player of the Year awards. She also helped the team amass an impressive overall record of 64-7 and two District 32-6A titles.

Her talent on the court can only be surpassed by her generosity and her willingness to give back to the community as she volunteers often at the Boys & Girls Club in Harlingen – the place that helped her become the player she is today.

This year Quilantan is a finalist for the Girls Basketball Player of the Year award, which will be presented at the 2016 All-Valley Sports Award banquet on June 14 in McAllen.

The other finalists up for the award are Jordan Rudd of Brownsville Veterans and Jazlyn Muniz of Weslaco High.

Recently Quilantan shared some of her time with the VMS to talk about her nomination.

Q: How does it feel being nominated for the Girl’s Basketball Player of the Year award?

A: It’s an amazing honor and it was also a surprise for me. To know all my hard word paid off is the greatest feeling ever. I can only thank God, my family and my teammates for always being there to push me even when I wanted to quit.

Q: What would winning the award mean to you?

A: If I won this award I would be speechless. Of course, all the glory would go to God and I’d thank anyone that helped me in all my years that have led me to this point.

Full story at RGVSports.com

SANTA MARIA — Santa Maria senior Isaac Ortiz has always felt that, when it comes to playing sports, he has the ability to compete with the best.

After signing his national letter of intent Monday to play football at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, it’s now something he’s sure about.

“It means a lot to sign on with Texas Lutheran because it means my hard work is paying off,” Isaac said. “It shows that I can compete with anyone because I know I can. However, I don’t put myself on a pedestal. I grind and work every day to get what I deserve.”

For Isaac, choosing to play for TLU was based on many things like the program and coaches, however, one thing stood out the most: Family.

His older brother, David, signed on to play with the Bulldogs last season to play football and run track, and since then, Isaac has learned to love the school as much as his sibling.

“I didn’t know too much about TLU until my brother was recruited there,” Isaac said. “I would come around because he was there and I fell in love with their facilities and program.”

“The coaches and players get along like one big family and everybody there wants to be successful.”

Full story at RGVSports.com