HARLINGEN — Not many people can say they earned on-the-job experience while still in high school.

But Jaime Luna isn’t your ordinary senior.

Luna, 18, attends South Texas Academy for Medical Professions. When he isn’t going to class, he’s a volunteer in the clinical unit at Harlingen Medical Center.

“On a normal day, what I would do is, we’d sign in and we’d go to where we were assigned at the hospital,” Luna said. “A job such as hospitality.

“We’d deliver flowers or a newspaper as a courtesy gift and that would brighten the day of the patient, no matter what,” he said.

“It just shows a sign of respect that we’re honored to have them.”

Luna fits in one of two categories of volunteers at HMC, adults and students.

“Some of the nurses there, they trust us with patients, so we were able to do a lot more than at other times,” Luna said.

For Luna, that was important.

“It goes toward our medical assistant class. We also gain hours for our graduation and we’re awarded a ribbon for volunteer service over 75 hours,” he said.

Luna said not least is the experience he’s gained working with patients, especially since he plans on entering the nursing field.

“It’s a great experience to go interact with patients after learning all we learned in high school,” Luna said.

Luna said he hopes to move on eventually to the University of Texas San Antonio “or somewhere like that to change it up and learn more.”

One thing he won’t be changing is his commitment to nursing.

“I plan on sticking with nursing,” he said. “It’s really been fun to do and it’s been an experience.

“I feel it’s my calling.”

FALFURRIAS — Border Patrol agents responded to a 9-1-1 call from a smuggler stating he was abandoning a 13-year-old girl who had not had water in five days, according to a release.

The smuggler told officials he was leaving the girl by a fence near a ranch in Brooks County. The agents who responded to the call located the 13-year-old girl and her 15-year-old sister who stayed behind with her, officials said.

Officials requested an ambulance and air and marine office helicopter to assist the young girl.

The elder girl provided officials with doctored identification cards but stated both girls were Mexican nationals. Agents contacted the Mexican consulate to verify the girls’ nationalities and ages. They have been unable to reach their parents.

The 13-year-old girl was flown to Christus Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi then transferred to Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi and remains in grave health, according to the news release.

HARLINGEN – Would you know what to do if you or a loved one suddenly developed symptoms of a stroke (“brain attack)?

The importance of recognizing signs of a stroke – and to not delay in calling 911 – will be discussed by Ginger Cunningham, RN, Trauma and Stroke Programs Coordinator at Harlingen Medical Center, during a free Doc Talk Lecture presentation for the community.

The event will be held on Wednesday, May 4, at 6 p.m. in Harlingen Medical Center’s Medical Office Building (MOB) Conference Room, located at 5505 S. Expressway 77 in Harlingen (in the building closest to the Expressway, outside the hospital, on the first floor, behind the elevators).

“Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the United States,” Cunningham said. “The number of people who have a stroke is rising each year. Every four minutes, someone dies from a stroke. In addition, strokes are increasing in younger age groups … so everyone should become informed, and know how to react if you experience symptoms.”

Cunningham said symptoms of stroke may include the following:

* Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg — especially on one side of the body.

* Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding

* Sudden trouble seeing

* Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination

* Sudden severe headache, with no known cause

Cunningham stressed that “time is of the essence” and that it’s critical to seek immediate treatment for symptoms of “brain attacks.”

“It is so important that people waste no time when they suffer a stroke,” she added. “It’s important to call 9-1-1 immediately. Receiving medical attention immediately is crucial to saving the patient’s life — and crucial to preventing a disability for those who survive.”

Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel is either blocked (clot) or ruptured. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so brain cells die.

Risk factors which may make a person more susceptible to a stroke include high blood pressure, diabetes, being overweight or obese, and high levels of “bad” cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association.

“There are so many people living with these risk factors today and they do not even know it,” Cunningham said. “It’s important for people to take care of themselves and become engaged with their health and well-being. These are also the same conditions that may cause someone to develop heart disease.”

In addition to knowing the risk factors and what to do in case of stroke, Cunningham will also discuss the following topics during her presentation:

* The different types of strokes

* “Mini-strokes” (called “Transient Ischemic Attacks” or TIA)

* Atrial fibrillation and stroke

* High blood pressure and stroke

* Treatment for stroke

Cunningham’s presentation is being held as part of “National Stroke Awareness Month” activities at Harlingen Medical Center.

For more information on Cunningham’s Doc Talk Lecture presentation on May 4, or to RSVP, please call the Business Development and Marketing Department at (956) 365-1848.

A recent Boswell campaign ad declared that he listened to citizens and has kept property taxes low. Comparing Harlingen’s tax rate to much smaller cities like Combes, Santa Rosa, Rio Hondo and dozens of other tiny towns in the Cameron County area is disingenuous and misleading to voters.

The general fund is primarily funded through property and sales taxes. An honest comparison would have been against similar cities in size, property values and retail sales.

Harlingen, Brownsville and McAllen all annually have over a billion dollars in retail sales, yet Harlingen has the highest property tax rate.

When Boswell first took office as a commissioner, the city’s tax rate was around 49 cents per hundred, now it’s much higher at 59 cents. Also, the city’s debt was only a few million dollars, now it’s 10s of millions of dollars and the interest payment alone for taxpayers is hundreds thousands of dollars a year.

Over the last decade or so under Boswell, water rates, property tax rates and public debt have grown faster than at any other time.

Since the building boom of the school district, and its heavy-handed taxation, we have heard little about building activities in Harlingen. The fact is, besides forced annexation increasing the property tax base, Harlingen building activities are at the bottom of the list when compared to other similar sized cities in the Valley.

No doubt a result of over a decade of steady increases in fees and taxes affecting the Harlingen economy.

Then we read about the Baxter building, and the money-losing lopsided property trade our city leaders dealt taxpayers. Using job-creating economic development corporation money on horse trading a $700,000 plus commercial property for a $100,000 dilapidated zombie money pit. And now, it is uncovered, that instead of the money helping to bring in jobs to help reduce the community’s need for subsidized housing, they are wasting jobs money on subsidized housing.

With Tudor as commissioner, interestingly, there is a new produce freezer paid for by Harlingen taxpayers in Los Indios where he owns warehouses, but no playground equipment at the Bonham park, or speed bumps for Bonham school to protect school children from speeders, which is in his own district.

If you like a garage sale economy from illogical and wasteful government spending and backroom insider dealings, then continue to vote for the status quo, but if you don’t, it’s time for changes.

Robert Leftwich Harlingen

MERCEDES – The city received a grant of more than one million dollars to help pay for the construction of the new safe room/recreation center.

In 2012 Mercedes received FEMA grants to fund 75% of the construction costs of the dome shelter. The city was expected to pay the difference, but costs of the shelter exceeded the budget.

The grant money came primarily from the Texas Safe Shelter Initiative from the Texas Department of Emergency Management.

Do you have old medications at home you need to get rid of but don’t just want to throw in the trash?

The Harlingen Police department will be taking part in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day going on this weekend.

Officers will have a drop-off location near the food court at Valle Vista Mall on Saturday, April 30. They’ll be there until 2 p.m.

Harlingen police and the DEA encourage everyone to dispose of medications so they won’t get in the hands of children or those who might abuse them.

HARLINGEN — Jacob Sanchez seemed captivated by some magical spell, swaying rhythmically as his thick hands slapped the tall, barrel-shaped congas.

The deep primal rhythms of the congas and the rest of the salsa band at Harlingen High School South resurrected the raw passion lying dormant within the human soul.

That passion, eager for liberation, awaits restlessly for release through such portals as the congas played by Jacob, 17, the bass guitar played by Cristopher Rodriguez, 18, and saxophone player Rene Luna, 18.

“Este Rico Cha Cha Cha Pa’ Gozar,” sang Carol Escorza and another vocalist in the band formed this year by Director Raul Liendo. The Laredo native tapped the timbales, creating a high-pitched, almost tiny sound.

Carol, 17, has never sung before. She wanted to join the salsa band but she plays clarinet. Liendo told here there are no clarinets in a salsa band but he needed a female vocalist. She gave an impromptu audition and she was in.

She knew very little about the music, but she was quickly taken by its enchanting rhythms.

“I love it,” said Carol, a junior. “It’s great. You get that feeling like you want to dance. You don’t know what to do.”

Each instrument, including the maracas played by Guiro Sean Minton, the bongos played by Micaela Garza Keyes and the piano played by Stevie Rosignol, revealed a different part of music’s raw personality.

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BY AMANDA SOTELO

HARLINGEN — The Medical Assistant program at Texas State Technical College honored its Spring 2016 graduates with a pinning ceremony that signifies their official initiation into the brotherhood and sisterhood of medical assistants.

The ceremony is held annually to recognize and honor students who have completed all required coursework and have met the criteria needed to graduate from the program.

“This is a celebration of the hard work and dedication it takes students to enter the profession,” said Alicia Lugo, medical assistant department chair.

Ten students received their medical assistant pins with family and friends present as witnesses, and one honorary pin was presented posthumously to the parents of Jaqueline Sevilla, who began the program in 2015 and passed away in a car accident soon after.

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SAN BENITO — Small Business Administration District Director Angela Burton will be joining the San Benito Chamber for coffee and treats this morning.

In the latest “Coffee With” session, Burton will discuss her role in the SBA.

The meeting will start today at 9:30 a.m. at the Chamber office, 223 S. Sam Houston Blvd.

It’s all about connecting public officials with the community, said Chamber President Lionel Betancourt.

“The Chamber’s role in this town is to create transparency among all of us,” Betancourt said. “This is something we can build on.”

So far, the public has been able to experience in-depth discussions with mayors, commissioners, school leaders, law enforcement and business officials.

Last week, guests received an inside look into the town of Los Indios when Mayor Rick Cavazos stopped by for pastries and coffee.

During the morning coffee session, he provided guests a short rundown of his town, town focus area and future projects.

He also took questions and concerns from the guests.

Burton is expected to do the same thing.

“Serious topics to be presented will (hopefully) deal with other issues involving progress in our town and ways to overcome some of the concerns and applaud the good things that happen here,” Betancourt said.

Burton earned an associate’s degree in international trade and transportation from Texas Southmost College and a bachelor’s of applied arts and science degree in business technology from the University of Texas at Brownsville in 1997.

Burton also is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organizational Management at the University of Notre Dame as well as the Texas Certified Public Managers Course at UTB/TSC’s Institute for Public Service.

HARLINGEN — 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 May 7. Incumbent Greg Powers, Place 3, is running unopposed.

Jaimez has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas-Pan American. He spent 12 years as a reporter for the Valley Morning Star and then worked as a communications specialist for Texas State Technical College. He’s currently a communications consultant at AEP Texas.

Mercado-Garza, holds a doctorate of philosophy in curriculum and instruction. She was in the Houston area for several years and has served as a teacher, a principal, assistant principal and a superintendent.

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She’s now chief executive officer of E-Colors in Education, Inc.

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