HARLINGEN — Robert Dollard’s battalion commander from his 1972 class called him in Florida to remind him to report to the school’s alumni reunion.

More than 300 MarineMilitaryAcademy graduates returned to their former home and alma mater for MMA’s “50th Anniversary” Alumni Reunion, taking place this weekend.

“My father was a career Marine and I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” Dollard said.

He arrived at MMA in 1968 when he was 13 years old.

“When I left as a 17-year-old, I was ready to take on the responsibilities that became my life,” Dollard said. “I was prepared in a way that I didn’t even realize how prepared I was until I looked back.”

Dollard, like many cadets, continued on to college. He paid his way flipping cars on the West Coast and eventually became a lawyer in California and retired in Florida.

“Everything is possible if you work hard enough, treat people fairly and build teams — the core values that MMA teaches,” Dollard said.

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The American Red Cross is playing host to an evening of food and music in an effort to raise money for the programs it provides in the Rio Grande Valley.

The American Red Cross is playing host to an evening of food and music in an effort to raise money for the programs it provides in the Rio Grande Valley.

The Party in Red — A Taste of the Valley will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday, April 14, at the Jackson Square Event Center, 301 E. Jackson St., Harlingen.

Nearly one dozen restaurants from across the Valley will provide tapas-style food throughout the evening, and a cash bar will be available for drinks.

American Red Cross Executive Director Iris Martinez-Juergens says the funds will help the agency prepare residents for disasters by knowing what to do if they experience emergencies like a house fire, a hurricane or inclement weather in South Texas.

“We respond to disasters by providing shelters, a helping hand and hope to those affected by floods, hurricanes, fires. We also help people through their recovery,” Martinez-Juergens said.

Tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased by calling Anna Putegnat at (956) 267-3014 or emailing her at [email protected].

According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, almost half of all students who attend college drop out before ever getting a degree. Texas State Technical College is making sure its students do not become part of that grim statistic.

The TSTC Foundation has kicked off an innovative fundraising effort challenging supporters and alumni to Make a Texas-Sized Difference by donating to the Texan Success Scholarship.

“The goal is to grow TSTC, get our students in school and on track to complete a program and eventually enter the Texas workforce, explained Beth Wooten, vice president of Institutional Advancement. “This is bigger than just TSTC, this is about filling the skills gap in Texas and providing industry with the skilled workers desperately needed.”

All monies raised in the Make a Texas-Sized Difference Campaign will go to help students get a technical education. Those struggling through family or financial hardships might benefit most from this effort. For a student already on a tight budget, dreams of an education can easily be derailed by unexpected expenses brought on by a car accident, illness, a death in the family or other tragedy.

Last year, TSTC student Damian Salinas of Harlingen, Texas found himself homeless after his father lost his job and subsequently the family apartment. Thanks to a TSTC scholarship established by a generous donor, TSTC was able to help Salinas continue his studies.

“I was able to move into the dorms and stay in classes. Without the help given to me, I would literally have been on the streets,” explained Salinas. “I was about to drop out and instead because of a generous donor I was motivated to keep going. It changed the course of my life.”

Robinson, Texas native Casey Fitzgerald found himself in financial trouble when he had to cut his work hours by half in order to attend the required classes. Fitzgerald says the scholarship money he received from TSTC was a godsend.

“The money went to pay for tools needed for the program and everyday expenses like fuel to get to school,” said Fitzgerald. “I hope to get a good job when I graduate and be able to give back and help a future student who may be struggling like I was.”

TSTC is so committed to making sure students like Salinas and Fitzgerald have every opportunity to complete their studies, that administration leaders have announced every donation will be matched dollar per dollar. It’s an investment TSTC Chancellor and CEO Mike Reeser believes will pay off big for the state of Texas.

“A large number of well-paying jobs go unfilled in Texas because employers cannot find workers with the right blend of technical skills,” said Reeser. “At TSTC we teach those skills needed for these great jobs. We hope more students will be encouraged to consider the benefits of a technical education and the great jobs that result from them.”

To promote the statewide fundraising campaign, The TSTC Foundation has turned to industry leaders, long-time supporters, and alumni for support, especially in the ten communities that are home to TSTC campuses – Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood, Fort Bend, Harlingen, North Texas, Red Oak, Sweetwater, Waco and Williamson County.

“Community and business leaders are very involved in soliciting pledges in their prospective communities,” said Wooten. “And, industry, has been very supportive of our efforts. We are confident of getting major commitments and pledges from the very companies that hire many of our well trained graduates.”

To make a donation to the Make a Texas-Sized Difference Campaign, learn more about TSTC or giving opportunities to the college, go online at http://www.tstc.edu/tstcfoundation/annualscholarship/ or call 254-867-3900.

The Education and Humanities Division at Texas State Technical College received a $3,000 Latino Americans: 500 Years of History Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association, which will be used to promote Mexican-American culture during the first week of April (4-7) with a series of events that are open to students, faculty, staff and the public.

TSTC was one of 203 grant recipients from across the country and the only institution of higher learning in South Texas to get the award. TSTC will host a public film screening from the Latino American series, discussion groups, oral history initiatives, local history exhibitions and performances that promote Latino history and culture.

“Latino Americans are the country’s largest minority group, with more than 50 million people, and still many people are unaware of their rich and varied history and culture,” said Sociology and Psychology professor Dr. Richard Kirk. “The awarding of this grant provides TSTC the opportunity to explore this topic in our community.”

For more information on the Latino American screening or accompanying events, call Monica Villarreal at 364-4967 or Richard Kirk at 364-4758.

Calendar of Events:

Monday:

Documentary Screening: The Chicano Collection La Colleccion Chicana by Melissa Richardson Banks 10:10 a.m. – 11:05 p.m. Learning Resource Center Orientation Room

Guest Speaker Lecture on Chicano Civil Rights Music 11:15 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Learning Resource Center Orientation Room

Tuesday:

Artist’s Forum – Chicano Themes in Writing/Art/Music 9:35 – 11 a.m. Learning Resource Center Orientation Room

Exclusive Screening of Latino Episode 5: Prejudice and Pride 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Representative Irma Rangel Science and Technology Building (W-135)

Wednesday: (Evening Movie is for TSTC students, staff & faculty only)

Manuel Medrano Presentation on Americo Paredes (Two Presentations) 9:05 – 10 a.m. &

10:10 – 11:05 a.m. Representative Irma Rangel Science and Technology Building (W-135A)

Insight Poetry Reading 12 – 1 p.m. Learning Resource Center Orientation Room

Evening Movie: Cesar Chavez 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Learning Resource Center Orientation Room

Thursday:

TSTC Talks – Students/Faculty presentations on Chicano Influences Learning Resource Center Orientation Room

8 – 9:25 a.m. Digital Stories on Religion and Culture

9:35 – 11 a.m. Chicano Leaders

11:10 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. Stencil Workshop

HARLINGEN — One in two sexually active young people in the United States will get an STD by the time they’re 25 — and most won’t know it.

Planned Parenthood will be providing free testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the clinics in Brownsville and Harlingen.

April is STD awareness month.

Planned Parenthood is encouraging young people especially to get tested through a campaign called GYT: Get Yourself Tested. “We’ve partnered with the CDC and MTV,” said Mara Posada, Director of Communication.

“We’re working to normalize testing, and remove the stigma associated with it,” she said.

“We’re hoping more and more people see getting tested for STDs is a basic part of staying healthy and taking care of your body — like brushing your teeth and exercising regularly.”

What are these STDs?

Chlamydia is an infection caused by a kind of bacteria that is passed during sexual contact.

It is the most common sexually-transmitted bacterial infection in the United States.

About 3 million American women and men become infected with chlamydia every year. It is especially common among women and men under 25.

Symptoms:

For women:

* abdominal pain

* abnormal vaginal discharge

* bleeding between menstrual periods

* low-grade fever

* painful intercourse

* pain or a burning feeling while urinating

* swelling inside the vagina or around the anus

* the urge to urinate more than usual

* vaginal bleeding after intercourse

* a yellowish discharge from the cervix that may have a strong smell

For men:

* pain or a burning feeling while urinating

* pus or watery or milky discharge from the penis

* swollen or tender testicles

* swelling around the anus

Gonorrhea is an infection caused by a kind of bacteria that is passed during sexual contact.

It can infect the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, or throat. Sometimes it is called “the clap” or “the drip.” Gonorrhea can be a serious health risk if it is not treated.

It affects more than 800,000 women and men in the United States every year.

Symptoms:

For women:

* abdominal pain

* bleeding between menstrual periods

* fever

* menstrual irregularities

* painful intercourse

* painful urination

* swelling or tenderness of the vulva

* the urge to urinate more than usual

* throwing up

* yellowish or yellow-green vaginal discharge

For men:

* pus-like discharge from the penis

* pain or burning feeling while urinating

* more frequent urination than usual

RIO GRANDE CITY — Authorities have yet to name a single suspect in the grizzly deaths of two school district employees more than a week after their bodies were found.

More pieces of forensic evidence still needed to be processed after no real revelations were made in a preliminary report released Wednesday showing the manner of death was gunshots to the head of the Rio Grande City CISD employees, Starr County District Attorney Omar Escobar said.

“We need more scientific evidence — we need more evidence. All (the examiner) prepared is the manner of death. It’s pretty standard practice,” Escobar said.

A full autopsy report is pending and the examiner has given priority to this case.

The bodies of Oneida Alanis Balderas Garza, 44, and Lourdes M. Elizondo, 33, were found inside a residence at about 9:30 a.m. last Wednesday in the 200 block of Ebony Court — their hands bound and the women had been shot execution style, according to Rangers with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Elizondo, who up until recently was using her married name of Lourdes Luna, was married and going through a divorce with an investigator at the Starr County Sheriff’s Office named Osdy G. Luna.

Luna has not been named a suspect in the double-homicide, and neither has anyone else, but Escobar said investigators with his office and Rangers have interviewed several people in connection with the deaths. The district attorney would not get into specifics about Elizondo’s soon-to-be former husband, Osdy Luna, because he said he didn’t want to perpetuate misinformation that may just be rumor and disrupt the current investigation.

It is not known if Luna has taken a leave from work due to the death of his wife. A call left for officials at the sheriff’s office was not returned as of late Thursday afternoon.

Last Friday, Escobar’s office put up a $10,000 reward for any information related to the shootings that lead to an arrest and successful prosecution of anyone involved in the homicides, but no one has claimed to have information regarding the case.

Escobar said he plans on raising the reward amount to $20,000 by the end of week if no one comes forward with new information.

Despite the lack of community information into the cause of the shootings, Escobar said he’s optimistic about the case and the progress made by the Rangers and investigators with his office.

“The Rangers have been working diligently. I know I can speak for their agency, and they’re really pushing,” Escobar said.

HARLINGEN — As the city moves closer to building a $14 million convention center, officials are focusing on filling jobs that have been vacant for more than a year at the Harlingen Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Officials are in the midst of finalizing an agreement with developer BC Lynd, which would build an upscale 150-room hotel while the city funds construction of the 43,000-square-foot convention center.

While BC Lynd would operate and maintain the convention center, the city’s CVB department would be charged with promoting and marketing the city to draw tourism.

For about two years, the position of CVB executive director remained vacant while officials interviewed three candidates for the job.

“We couldn’t find the right fit,” Serna said.

During that time, Assistant City Manager Gabriel Gonzalez, who oversees the department, has performed certain job duties.

But since February, Melissa Landin, who was hired as the city’s public information officer in January, has taken on the duties of CVB executive director.

Landin, who was hired as PIO at a salary of $47,500, boosted her salary to $61,500 when she took the CVB executive director’s job.

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RIO HONDO — What was supposed to be a routine computer checkup and optimization for Raymond Earl Smith, 54, turned into a warrant for his arrest.

“We have a warrant for him for possession of child pornography,” said William Bilokury, public safety director for Rio Hondo. “But he doesn’t want to be caught.”

During an attempt to serve the warrant, it was discovered apparently Smith had left the Rio Grande Valley.

Smith is charged with a second degree felony for possession of child pornography.

A Rio Hondo Police press release stated Smith delivered his computer for repairs and during the process it was found to contain child pornography images.

Bilokury said the computer repairman came across the illegal files while backing up the computer to save everything.

The press release stated the computer was turned into the Rio Hondo Police and an investigation was opened in December 2015.

“We did a search warrant on the computer,” Bilokury said. “Next we sent the computer off to the HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) to take a look at it.”

A forensic investigation of Smith’s computer by HSI confirmed the machine had several more illegal images stored on the hard drive.

Bilokury said the HSI verified Smith had illegal files and sent back an image of all the illegal information on the computer.

“He might have taken off to be a storm chaser in the western part of the U.S.,” Bilokury said, according Smith’s family members.

Anyone with knowledge of Smith’s location is asked to call Rio Hondo Police at (956) 748-3611 or local law enforcement agency.

LOS FRESNOS — Brownsville taxpayers living near Los Fresnos on Farm Road 803 and Hwy 100 will no longer have to wait so long for city services.

The City of Los Fresnos will be taking care of their needs. The two cities recently swapped property acreage for acreage.

“It’s a win-win for both our cities,” said Mark Milum, Los Fresnos city manager. “Residents who once paid taxes to Brownsville will pay Los Fresnos who will be providing services to them.”

The deal will benefit public safety for people who live in the area who may have waited for hour response times from Brownsville in the past.

“We worked out the deal with Brownsville to swap the property,” said Javier Mendez, Los Fresnos city commissioner. “We gave them some property along Old Alice and they gave us property along Highway 100.”

Police and EMS can respond quicker to emergencies for the residents on 803 who in the past had to wait for the Brownsville services.

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HARLINGEN — As a precautionary measure, the Harlingen Police Department is warning parents, children and adults about the dangers of cyberbullying.

I’m sure you’ve seen the cases in other states and in Texas of kids and adults who have been bullied to the point when they commit suicide or hurt someone else.

That is something, the police department is trying to prevent.

Despite the growing issue in the United States, cyberbullying is barley a blip on the radar in Harlingen.

“We do get them but not as bad as other areas,” Officer Larry Moore said. “There has been no spike in activity.”

With the advent of the internet and social media, the ability to bully anyone from anywhere has become easier.

Bullies now have the ability to stalk and harass their victims after school hours, on weekends and breaks.

Bullies have long been using social isolation, public humiliation and malicious gossip to torment others.

Now with high speed computers, tablets, and smart phones, bullies can message instantly to millions, dramatically increasing their powers of manipulation.

Officer Larry Moore said there are detectives within the department who handle these cases specifically.

“We want people to be on the look out for this type of thing,” he said.

Cyberbullying can be as simple as continually sending emails to someone who has indicated that they want no further contact, but also include threats, sexual remarks, hate speech or other forms of humiliation.

Kids who cyber bully others are often motivated by anger, revenge or frustration.

Cases like these are tagged as harassment with law enforcement, Moore said.

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