HARLINGEN — Today is your last chance to cast an early vote for city and school board elections.

Election day is Saturday. Early voting ends today.

Voters will elect the mayor and a city commissioner for District 2.

Two candidates are running for Harlingen school board trustee Place 7.

Early voting is taking place at Harlingen City Hall, 118 E. Tyler Ave., in the second floor City Commission chamber.

Today, early voting runs for 12 hours, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In the race for Harlingen mayor, incumbent Chris Boswell, an attorney, faces former city commissioner Jerry Prepejchal, businessman Kenneth Benton and retired police officer and private investigator Joe Rubio.

Two candidates are running to fill the seat vacated by long-time school board member Verna Young.

Rosalinda Mercado-Garza, 39, and Eladio Jaimez, 39, are campaigning for Place 7 in the school board election.

Incumbent Greg Powers, Place 3, is running unopposed.

HARLINGEN — Harlingen Area Crime Stoppers is asking the public’s assistance to find the man responsible for two thefts at the local Target store in March.

On March 21 at about 3:52 p.m., an unknown man entered the Target store and went to the fragrance department. There he selected three colognes valued at approximately $178.

The man then left without paying for the items.

In that incident he was described as a Hispanic wearing a black baseball cap, white T-shirt, black pants and gray tennis shoes. Police said the man left the store in a black pickup pulling a small trailer.

On March 23 at approximately 9:24 p.m. the same man entered the Target store and again went to the fragrance department. He selected three colognes valued at approximately $143 and then left without paying.

This time, police described the man as Hispanic wearing a green sweatshirt, gray pants and black and white tennis shoes.

Anyone with information on the man or of any other crime can call Harlingen Area Crime Stoppers at 425 TIPS (8477).

If that information leads to the arrest of the man, the caller will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

All calls are confidential and there is no requirement to testify in court.

Video can be observed by calling Investigator Reynaldo Delua at 956-216-5504 or 955-202-1769.

MERCEDES — It’s quite fitting that Mercedes is known as the Queen City.

As of this past month, one of its own is now a beauty queen.

On April 16, Tessie Ledesma, a 2014 Mercedes High School graduate who is now a sophomore at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, was named Miss TAMUK at the school’s annual scholarship pageant.

Ledesma, who is majoring in communications and has future plans of becoming a sports broadcaster, received a $2,000 scholarship along with the honor of being crowned queen for a year.

She now joins past Miss TAMUK winners such as Hollywood beauty Eva Longoria and Valley newscaster Marcy Martinez.

“It’s quite an honor,” said Ledesma, who had once been in the running for the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show and Rodeo Cover Girl.

“To be honest, at first I was only half serious about entering the contest and it was something that I kind of joked about with my mom,” she continued. “However, I was friends with the 2015 winner and she convinced me to give it a try, and I figured it would be a good experience. However, I never dreamed that I was going to win so when I did, I was very surprised.”

Ledesma said that nine candidates were up for the crown and the first portion of the contest was a behind-the-scenes interview with university officials.

“That part of the contest counted for 50 percent of the competition,” she said. “During the interview, they asked my about my future plans and from the original nine contestants they eventually whittled it down to three finalists. At that point I would have been happy because I didn’t even think I would make it into the top three. However, when they called my name as the winner, I was very happy.”

As Miss TAMUK, Ledesma is required to be at all university events and ceremonies throughout the year as well as various community events in Kingsville such as the annual Relay for Life fundraiser that is sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

“I love it because I enjoy acting as an ambassador of my university. I love getting out there and talking with people,” she said.

“I am humbled and honored to have been crowned as Miss TAMUK. In my role, I hope to be not only a Javelina ambassador but a student leader that can inspire and encourage students to take pride and passion in this university. In doing so, I will strive to increase student involvement at TAMUK, which in turn I hope increases our retention and graduation rate.”

HARLINGEN — The Harlingen couple who police say released their dog on officers have been arraigned on several charges.

Francisco Javier Gomez, 47, was arraigned on felony charges for aggravated assault on a public servant, resisting arrest and interfering with public duties. His bond was set at $206,000.

His wife, Sandra Gonzalez Gomez, 41, was arraigned on a charge of aggravated assault family violence, with bond set at $45,000.

Officers were called to the 3200 block of Lazy Palm about 2:20 a.m. Saturday to check on a call about a family disturbance between a man and a woman. Police said Sandra Gomez attacked her husband with a metal pole.

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During her arrest they say her husband “intentionally released an aggressive pit bull at the officers, shouting orders at the dog to attack.”

Officers say they were forced to shoot and kill the pit bull but not before it bit both officers. They were taken to Valley Baptist Medical Center for treatment. They both returned to work today.

“The most merciful thing that the large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.” The words of Democratic Party heroine and Planned Parenthood founder, Margaret Sanger.

To me it sounds evil and demonic, yet being pro-abortion is one of the Demoncratic, sorry, Democratic Party’s strong suits.

’m sorry but my mind cannot comprehend how anyone, especially the individuals who know the Bible or attend church on a regular basis can vote for any Democratic Party politician.

I understand, no one is perfect, but to endorse the use of taxpayer money to fund what in my way of thinking amounts to the murder of the unborn, is at a minimum, ignorant.

But I guess to liberals it’s like Hillary Clinton recently stated, “The unborn have no constitutional rights.” That is until a pregnant woman’s unborn baby is harmed against her will, and then it can be murder.

I agree any woman has a right to do whatever she wants with and to her body, but not having an abortion at a taxpayer funded facility for any and all reasons.

et the liberal billionaires and individuals like them that endorse abortion on demand fund it.

Yes there are exceptions to everything. In cases of a female becoming pregnant due to incest or rape, or her health and/or life being in jeopardy because of the pregnancy, etc, absolutely, any medical services she requires should be made available.

But abortion on demand because a baby would be an inconvenience?

Adolph Hitler and the Nazis are considered the epitome of evil for the slaughter of an estimated six million Jews during WWll.

How can any sane person justify the slaughter of an estimated 56 million unborn babies at facilities like Planned Parenthood?

n my opinion, along with the Democratic politicians and the media, the “silent pulpits” all across the nation are responsible for this continuing tragedy.

or fear of losing their tax exemptions or losing or offending any of their church members, the majority of pastors, ministers, priests, etc stay silent on extremely important political and social issues.

N. Rodriguez Harlingen

My name is Julian Villarreal. I am a senior from Harlingen and would like to share my opinion on the “North Carolina bathroom law.”

As you may have heard in recent news, the state of North Carolina has passed a law concerning how transgender people can use bathrooms. Basically the mechanics behind it are that whatever gender you have on your birth certificate, is the allowed bathroom you may use.

This law has upset much of the transgender community.

My opinion on this is that it is politically correct to have such a law in place for multiple reasons. One of them being sexual abuse. If a man who portraits himself as a woman for the purpose of perverted gains, he endangers the lives of all the women in America.

We are trying to lower the rape statistic, not raise it. It’s just pure logic.

Another reason I oppose this, is for the sake of hygiene. This could cause a problem to women’s latrines more than anything because men tend to be slightly messier than women.

This can make the normal public frustrated.

Despite not liking any of the current presidential candidates at the moment, I would have to agree with Ted Cruz on this issue because he doesn’t think this is sane either.

As you can tell I am not in favor for making any bad statistic worse than it is.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely Yours, Julian Villarreal Harlingen

HARLINGEN — The Harlingen Area Crime Stoppers is asking for help looking for a man who stole more than $300 worth of cologne at Target.

On March 21 at 3:52 p.m. the man entered the Target on Dixieland Road and went to the fragrance department where he reportedly selected three different colognes worth $178.

Police say he left the store without paying for the items.

He is described as a Hispanic man wearing a black baseball cap, white t-shirt, black pants, and gray tennis shoes. He left in a black pickup pulling a small trailer.

Crime Stoppers says two days later the man returned right before the store closed at 9:24 p.m.

Police say this time he picked up three more colognes worth $143 and again left without paying. He was wearing a green sweat shirt, gray pants, and black and white tennis shoes.

In total the stolen colognes are worth $321.

If anyone has any information on the actor or of any other crime, call the Harlingen Area Crime Stoppers at 425 TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $1,000 may be given for his arrest and conviction.

South Padre Island’s Metro Transit System received the Texas Transit Association’s 2016 Outstanding Rural Transit System Award.

The award recognizes South Padre Island as the top rural transit system in Texas.

The award recognizes the Island’s public transportation systems its programs and demonstrated innovative concepts and effective problem solving techniques they have applied successfully in the public transportation industry.

HARLINGEN — The Harlingen Police Department has arrested a man they say hit a man delivering fuel, robbed him and then fled.

Chad Marlowe Sewall, 33, was charged Saturday with aggravated robbery after he was found and arrested near New Combes Road and “A” street.

On Friday at 4:32 a.m. officers responded to a robbery on the 1100 block of Morgan Boulevard in the H-E-B parking lot.

When officers arrived they found an injured man who told them he was delivering fuel to the store when a white pickup drove into the parking lot and intentionally hit him.

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Police say Sewall got out of his truck and robbed the victim of his wallet and other personal items.

They say Sewall then fled the scene in an older white pickup prompting a area wide manhunt. Pictures of Sewall and the truck were captured on store surveillance cameras. Police warned that Sewall was armed and dangerous.

The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

HARLINGEN — Jayden Cardenas is already using a tablet with remarkable versatility.

When he begins pre-kindergarten next year in the Harlingen school district, the 4-year-old may find even more technological opportunities — and challenges — awaiting him.

Those opportunities, which may include new iPads and modernized furniture, are being funded by a $585,000 grant from the Texas Education Agency. The school district learned just a couple of weeks ago it had been awarded the 2015–2017 High-Quality Prekindergarten Grant.

“I was ecstatic,” said Mary Alvarez, an early childhood specialist with the district’s curriculum and instruction department.

The money will be disbursed over a two-year period and will create many new learning opportunities.

“We can do lots of wonderful things, activities for children,” she said.

The grants are being made in response to House Bill 4, which was passed by the Texas Legislature last year. The bill established additional state support for high-quality pre-kindergarten programs. This support, says the TEA website, includes authorization for a grant program.

Alvarez says the TEA will send the district a budget for the specifics on how the money would be spent. However, she does know in general terms it will be used for professional development for teachers. The grant money will also fund additional parental involvement activities, enrichment of pre-kindergarten classrooms and the purchase of more technology, including iPads.

Technology? In the pre-K classroom?

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