EDINBURG — Police made an arrest Thursday in connection with the Jaguars Gold Club shooting last week that left one person dead and six injured.

Genaro Maldonado, 29, of McAllen appeared before Municipal Court Judge Rogelio Solis on Friday afternoon. Maldonado was charged with first-degree felony murder and issued a $1 million bond.

Maldonado was wanted in connection with the April 17 shooting death of 29-year-old Jaxmany Jazan Montes outside the strip club, in the 5000 block of Highway 107.

Investigators executed a search warrant Thursday night in the 400 block of Cripple Creek Circle in Alamo where they arrested Maldonado and seized several firearms that were still being tested by forensics Friday afternoon, according to Police Chief David White.

White said they also issued an arrest warrant Friday for Noe Cruz Lopez, 29, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, in connection with Montes’ death.

Police initially said the shooting outside the strip club may have been caused by an altercation between rival gang members, but White would not comment on either suspect’s gang affiliation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Edinburg Crime Stoppers at (956) 383-8477.

HARLINGEN — Once a week, Felipe Dominguez will sit with a real live U.S. Border Patrol agent and work on assignments.

The agent, complete with a strapping green uniform and shiny badge, also will give the Travis Elementary fifth grader some direction as he navigates through new challenges presented by his studies.

Operation Patriot Pride kicked off this week at Travis Elementary. Felipe and 17 other fifth graders met with the U.S. Border Patrol agents who will mentor him and his classmates.

“I enjoyed them a lot,” said Felipe, 11. “I thought they were really great. We got to ask them questions so we could know what we are going to be doing.”

They all seemed to have had a great time, crowding around the uniformed agents and peppering them with all sorts of questions.

“How do you get to be a Border Patrol agent?” they asked. “What did you have to do to get there? Why do you wear a badge?”

The children’s enthusiasm and inquisitiveness impressed teachers and administrators.

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SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — City officials, staff and community members had wide smiles on at the ribbon cutting for the reopening of the South Padre Island Convention Center.

For one, it looks great, and the city saved $1.8 million on the renovation.

The project had a budget of $4.8 million, but ended up costing $2.9 million.

“Our convention center is smaller than most, but it’s impressive,” Mayor Barry Patel said. “We want them to have an experience that they will never forget and that’s what it’s all about.”

The ribbon cutting was held Wednesday to celebrate the grand reopening of the Island convention centre following its multimillion-dollar renovation.

“It was an outstanding ribbon cutting. We’ve had great progress of making the entire building stronger,” Patel said. “It had taken 20 years of beating.”

The renovations include a complete restructuring of the convention center foundation, solar lighting across the parking lot and outdoor landscape.

Indoor and outdoor digital signage and dynamic and vivid painting updates both interior and exterior walls and an installation of new carpeting to complement the new interior color schemes were fitted in the building.

Also a fiber optic network to strengthen WiFi signal and reliability was installed to provide visitors a reliable network.

“The new convention center renovations have strengthened the building and made it more secure and more aesthetically appealing,” Patel said. “The interior renovations provide a fresh look for our convention and meeting attendees to experience.”

Patel said the city staff did a tremendous job in completing the work on time and under budget.

“This is a project I have personally been passionate about for the last two years, and am happy to see it come to fruition in a cost-effective and efficient manner, and best of all, without incurring any new debt,” Patel said. “South Padre Island and our convention center and its staff are ready and able to handle any and all of your needs to guarantee successful meetings, conventions and events.”

MERCEDES — Every time Lee Reed unholstered the fake gun off his prototype harness designed with sensors the body camera began recording.

The camera also triggered with increased heart rate and loud sounds.

“I enjoyed presenting our idea and deciding how we were going to solve the problem,” Reed said. “At the end of the day everything worked.”

He and his project partners Ashley Perez and Ramlah Khan embarked on creating a solution for police wearing body cameras in wake of the deaths from recent police shootings.

And they electronically engineered a sensor strap that will activate a body camera during loud or dangerous situations automatically.

“If police forget or if they are in an intense situation their cameras turn on and prevents the officer from having to manually turn on their camera or forget to record a situation,” Reed said.

Their group was just one of 63 student groups presenting answers to problems and showing off their engineering prototypes for their end of the year capstone senior project at the Science Academy of South Texas third annual Engineering Design & Development (EDD) Conference yesterday.

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BY Amanda Sotelo

Texas State Technical College recently held the SkillsUSA State Conference in Waco and the students from TSTC in Harlingen brought home the wins making the south Texas campus a leader in the most medals won.

A total of 32 medals were earned, 20 of those were gold. All gold medal winners will be competing in the National SkillsUSA Leadership Conference in Kentucky June 20-24.

“This year was very successful. We had more programs with gold medal winners and top three finalists than previous years,” said Isaac Gonzalez, TSTC SkillsUSA coordinator. “We’re hoping for the best from our students at nationals and hoping for a few gold medals, but most importantly, our students are competing for one goal and that’s to be the best at what they do.”

SkillsUSA is a professional organization teaching technical, academic and employability skills that help high school and college students pursue successful technical careers. Members build these skills through student-led team meetings, contests, leadership conferences and other activities.

Students in SkillsUSA participate in hands-on competitions in various fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, carpentry and urban search and rescue.

Ricardo Santos, one of the team members who earned gold in the Robotic Urban Search and Rescue category of the competition, said he is proud of his and his team member Cecilia Zebrowski’s gold medal win. Both Santos and Zebrowski are Precision Machining Technology majors pursuing associate degrees at TSTC.

“We were both so excited when we learned we had won,” said Santos. “But also very nervous, because now it meant we are going to compete against the best robotics teams from each state.”

Like other SkillsUSA participants and teams, Santos and Zebrowski prepared for competition in the evenings, sometimes being on campus as late at 9 p.m. This time was used to perfect their design on their robot Stang, in homage to TSTC’s now retired mascot the mustang.

Both Santos and Zebrowski got support from large businesses such as the Harlingen Manufacturing Association and United Launch Alliance which each donated $500 s for a robot kit for the competition.

“We at ULA have a high regard for TSTC’s technical curriculum as it aligns with our overall support for STEM-related programs,” said Tim Piller, ULA site lead. “Providing support to the urban search and rescue team enables the inspired team members the opportunity to compete and display their talents.”

Zebrowski said she is looking forward to the national conference and preparations for the competition are underway. She said the donations they received have helped tremendously.

“These donations have been such a huge help. When we started we had nothing but a pencil and some software to design our robot,” said Zebrowski. “We are both overwhelmed and honored that these major local companies were willing to invest in us. We hope we can prove ourselves worthy with our robotics skills at nationals.”

For more information on SkillsUSA or Precision Machining Technology, call 956-364-4815.

Registration for Summer and Fall 2016 is in progress. Apply or register anytime online at tstc.edu.

South Padre Island officials unveiled the multi-million dollar renovations of the convention center this week.

City officials and the South Padre Island Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, April 20, to celebrate the grand re-opening of the South Padre Island Convention Center.

“South Padre Island and our Convention Center and its staff are ready and able to handle any and all of your needs to guarantee successful meetings, conventions and events. We are open for business,” said Island Mayor Barry Patel.

For more on the center renovations read Saturday’s Valley Morning Star.

For breaking news alerts, download The Brownsville Herald free mobile app for iPhone or Android

BY Amanda Sotelo

Graduation has been a long time coming for Texas State Technical College student and employee Monica Zuniga, but the journey was not always easy.

The wife and mother of two daughters will be graduating April 29 with her associate degree in Education and Training, a career she said has always been interested in because of her love for children.

“I didn’t think I would ever see the day I would graduate,” said Zuniga. “There have been so many obstacles that have discouraged me, but now I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I’m so excited.”

The 32-year-old is a 2002 graduate of Harlingen High School, but because her parents were migrant workers, Zuniga would fall behind in school. Adding to the challenge, Zuniga was already living on her own, making work a necessity.

“I was in high school and working a part-time job,” said Zuniga. “College was never encouraged when I was growing up, so I felt my only option after high school was to find a full-time job to support myself.”

Zuniga’s aunts were custodians at TSTC at the time of her high school graduation so they helped her apply, marking the beginning of her TSTC career in 2002. Because this was Zuniga’s first job, she did not have a car to get to work, and she did not always have a ride. Many of her days were spent walking to and from work. It would be 11 years, before Zuniga would realize she could do more with her life.

“Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing bad about being a custodian, but I wanted to be more for myself and for my daughters,” said Zuniga. “It wasn’t always easy though.”

So in 2013, Zuniga applied for the cashier position she currently holds and it opened an entirely new chapter in her life. She enrolled at TSTC as a student, but she describes her college experience as a rollercoaster.

“I had ups and downs and there was always a twist or turn,” said Zuniga. “One of my daughters got very sick and ended up needing three surgeries. I was in and out of class and work; she was my priority. I had to take care of her. It definitely pushed me back though and there were days I felt like just giving up.”

Zuniga credits two of her colleagues for giving her the encouragement to keep going. She said Adela Alaniz, student accounting assistant and Lynda Lopez, executive director of Communications, were always my support.

“They both never let me give up,” said Zuniga. “Sometimes they were brutally honest with me, but that’s what got me through. I didn’t have that support anywhere else, and knowing they believed in me and what I could do meant a lot.”

With the support of Alaniz, Lopez, her husband, daughters and instructors, Zuniga has been able to realize the goal she set for herself, which is becoming a college graduate. She is currently completing her practicum in a third grade classroom at Ben Milam Elementary School in Harlingen to earn the last of the credits she needs before graduation.

“I’ve learned so much during my time at TSTC. The hands-on training I’ve received has prepared me for my career and future,” said Zuniga. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with a great teacher during my practicum. I’ve gotten great exposure to a classroom environment and have learned so many new techniques.”

Although Zuniga will continue working at TSTC after graduation, she plans on attending one of the universities available to her through TSTC’s University Center to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

“I want current and prospective TSTC students to know that nothing is impossible,” said Zuniga. “TSTC is full of people who are ready to help you succeed if you’re willing to try hard and never give up. If I can do it, so can they.”

Zuniga is one of 392 graduates who will earn certificates and associate degrees at TSTC’s Commencement Ceremony on April 29 at Marine Military Academy’s Yeckel Memorial Auditorium. Ceremonies are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

For more information on Education and Training call 956-364-4747.

Registration is in progress for Summer and Fall 2016. Apply or register anytime at tstc.edu.

What makes brunch “brunch?”

“Besides the alcohol?“ responded Bodega owner and chef, Adam Cavazos, when asked about the meal. “Breakfast foods.“

“Brunch, for me, is synonymous with shaking off the night before,“ he said, emphasizing the heavier, hearty foods.

Earlier this year, Cavazos credited the Valley’s increased appetite for fine dining to their out-of-town cultural exposure. The popularity of brunch is no different.

“People are experiencing these things in bigger cities and they’re ready for them,“ he said. “The funny thing is we’ve all been going to breakfast on Sunday mornings forever.“

Cavazos remembers Sunday breakfasts with his family at Ponchos.

“But that’s not what I think people think of when they think of brunch,“ Cavazos said. “They think of a trendy restaurant serving up some breakfast-style foods that are a little bit different. The alcohol is flowing.“

Sometimes, it’s a continuation of the previous night, often times you’re with the same people, he said.

“Sure you’ve got your families out there, but a lot of times it’s a social thing — see or be seen, if that makes sense,“ Cavazos said.

Joe Keller, a server at Roosevelt’s at 7 for almost 5 years, calls their monthly brunch an event because it’s not something that happens all the time.

“It is a special occasion because we only do it the last Sunday of every month,“ Keller said. “We also try to do one on special occasions like Easter … Mother’s and Father’s Day.“

Their most popular items are the ones served monthly, Keller said, which include prime rib, crab legs, a shrimp dish, eggs Benedict, and omelet and Belgian waffle stations. But Keller is always eager to learn the month’s specialty.

Keller sees brunch as leisurely meal and a good excuse to day-drink, he said. People love traditional brunch drinks, like bloody marys, mimosas, bellinis, micheladas and sangrias, he said.

“There’s nothing better than relaxing on Sunday … treat(ing) yourself before heading back to the daily grind of the workweek,“ Keller said. “Monday is looming around the corner. It’s like the last hurrah before you have to be back in the office on Monday.“

Cavazos is a self-described seafood fan, and enjoys a good “raw bar.“

“Oysters, peel-and-eat shrimp, shrimp cocktail, ceviche — (that’s) usually what I go for,” Cavazos said. “Those are good to have with a cold beer.“

But if he’s going for breakfast, he’s going with the eggs Benedict.

“There are tons of ways to do it with chefs putting their variants and versions,” he said. “I just think that’s one of the best foods out there.“

With the 47th annual observance of Earth Day today, this is a great time to explore more effective ways of slowing climate change and conserving Earth’s natural resources for future generations.

A 2010 UN report charged animal agriculture with 19 percent of man-made greenhouse gases — more than all transport — and recommended a global shift to a vegan diet. A subsequent World Watch study placed that contribution closer to 50 percent. Meat and dairy production also dumps more water pollutants than all other human activities combined. It is the driving force in global deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.

Last fall, England’s prestigious Chatham House declared that reducing meat consumption is critical to achieving global climate goals.

A report from Oxford University found that global adoption of a vegan diet would reduce greenhouse emissions by two thirds. The 2015 U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has recommended reduced meat consumption and an environmentally sustainable diet.

Just as we replace fossil fuels by wind, solar, and other sustainable energy sources, we must replace animal foods with the more sustainable vegetables, fruits, and grains. Being mindful of this can help us make better choices at the supermarket.

Sincerely, Hugh Reeser Harlingen

NEAR ALTON — A 1-year-old boy died Friday morning after he fell into a septic tank, according to Hidalgo County Sheriff’s investigators.

Emergency responders were called out at about 8:55 a.m. to a home in the 9100 block of Texan Road where they found the infant had fallen into a 1- foot hole leading to a septic tank, according to department spokesman J.P. Rodriguez.

“The mother called because she couldn’t find her child and suspected he had fallen into the opening on the ground,” Rodriguez said. “Investigators said the homeowner was doing repairs or servicing the septic tank.”

The boy was submerged in about 4 feet of liquid when Alton firefighters extracted him through the small opening shortly after they arrived. The unresponsive boy was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead about 10 a.m., Rodriguez said.

The boy’s mother told investigators she was outside with her 20-month-old son and had left him unattended for a short amount of time

“We are asking parents who have young children who are barely starting to walk to keep a close eye on them because they can very quickly wonder off and get into trouble,” Rodriguez said. “There are all kinds of hazards that for us might not be a threat but to a small child can be deadly.”

Texas Child Protective Services were notified of the incident and will conduct their own investigation into the boy’s equivocal death.