RIO HONDO — Rio Hondo continued its winnings ways on Tuesday evening.
The Lady Bobcats looked every bit of a sixth-ranked team as they defeated District 32-4A rival La Feria 10-0 in five innings.
The victory improved Rio Hondo’s record to 16-2 overall and 4-0 in district competition, while La Feria dropped to 8-4 overall and 2-3 in league play.
Ace pitcher Miranda Martinez garnered much of the praise on the evening as the junior pitched a no-hitter and almost had a perfect game.
“She needed this game because not only are they (La Feria) a tough opponent in our district, but at the same time she’s had times of struggling this year and we’re going to need all of our pitchers come playoffs,” said Rio Hondo head coach Brett Esparza.
“Not to take away anything from Jenni (Flores), who’s been pitching lights out, but for Miranda to come out and own again, I’m very proud of her and hopefully she’s back into her grove, and we have that one-two combination where she would be really tough to beat.”
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HARLINGEN — From cold bats to solid Brownsville Lopez defense, nothing went right for the Harlingen South Hawks in their latest District 32-6A contest.
After the Hawks recorded just two hits and committed five errors, the Lobos took advantage and cruised to a 12-2 win in six innings on Tuesday night at Harlingen Field.
Aside from a seven-run top of the fifth inning that cushioned the Lobos’ lead, it was the arm of pitcher Alex Olguin that gave the Hawks trouble. Olguin picked up the win after allowing just two hits while striking out eight and tossing five scoreless innings.
“He had South off-balance tonight,” Lopez head coach Victor Martinez said. “That’s a pretty good ballclub coach (Tony) Leal has over there. We kept them off balance, which is good on our side, and we had the bats going tonight.”
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HARLINGEN — A proposed parks master plan with a $43 million wish list would come about a year later than expected.
In a meeting today, city commissioners will consider adopting the Parks and Recreation Master Plan that includes recommendations for parks improvements.
Consultants Halff & Associates developed the proposed plan based in part on residents’ recommendations.
“It’s kind of a blueprint to use for the future for planning,” Javier Mendez, the city’s parks director, said yesterday. “It shows what our strengths and weaknesses are and what (residents) want to see us improve.”
The City Commission’s approval would allow officials to send the plan to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the agency’s approval, which would make the city eligible for grants, Mendez said.
“As long as we show a need, we have a better chance of obtaining a grant from them,” he said.
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MERCEDES — Paula Sanchez watched intently as the judge in front of her held one of her three California rabbits between his hands, rubbed its fur and felt for thickness around its shoulders and rump.
Then, he grabbed two of them and walked the white bunnies with black ears and a black nose down to a cage on the far end of the table.
Immediately, she knew what that meant — her rabbits were good. The 19-year-old Harlingen FFA member couldn’t stop smiling.
Minutes later, she was deemed the first-place winner of one of the many classes of California rabbits at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock show yesterday.
But, for Paula, it was bittersweet.
This is her final year participating in the show.
A former Cover Girl contestant, Paula said she will miss everything about being part of the annual event.
One thing is certain. She loves showing her rabbits.
“I am going to miss showing most of all,” she said.
After participating for years, Paula knows what to do to raise some good meat rabbits.
She knows about feeding and grooming, two of the main components of having quality rabbits.
“I notice the judges looking a lot at the body structure and they are also checking the fur,” she said.
But, the work isn’t easy. Paula goes to school and also has a job.
She’s also trying to set an example for her niece, who she expects to show next year.
“To see that I have a first-place and I made it big,” she said. “I did it and didn’t give up.”
All of it is with a goal for Paula to become a registered nurse. She plans to join the Navy to help her pay for college.
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MERCEDES — Zachary Gray spent much of his time yesterday with his rabbits.
The Vela Middle School 12-year-old was ready for all the judging in the north barn at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show.
After working with them for a month, Gray received a payoff, a first in his class. But although he moved on to the championship for the breed of pen market rabbits, the closest to victory he came was his bunnies were in the cage next to the two top winners.
However, he was pleased with his results and will be part of the rabbit competition again next year. One change, he will study more for the showmanship competition.
For Zachary, the hogs are his favorite and he is ready.
There’s a difference between working the pigs and working the rabbits.
Zachary said pigs require daily walking and proper feeding, something that can be difficult with a lot of homework. Rabbits require more grooming and handling to ensure they are docile and tame for the meat and showmanship judging.
However, although the rabbit judging is done, Gray’s show experience at the 77th annual Livestock Show is far from over. He is looking forward to the remainder of the annual event.
Just hours after talking about his rabbits, Zachary was preparing for the pig scramble, where baby pigs are greased and contestants try to catch them and put them in a pen located in the center of the barn.
He’s also looking forward to having some time to himself to have fun away from the animals. Zachary wants to have some fun at the carnival before he heads back to work in the barns.
The market show is coming up along with the sale of champions, in which Zachary will participate. Then, there’s the talent auctions in which some of his top entries will be sold.
Zachary isn’t just a talented livestock contestant, he also received the top prize for one of his photographs and will sell his shop projects at the auction.
With the rabbit competition in the books, Zachary still has plenty on his mind and now it’s time to focus elsewhere.
HARLINGEN — The robots will rise again.
The Parks and Recreation Department advisory board agreed yesterday to a new contract to jointly sponsor a second robotics camp at Gutierrez Middle School.
“Last year we contracted with the same people, although they did not have a nonprofit status,” said Parks Director Javier Mendez at the board’s meeting yesterday. Since then, he said, Rio Grande Valley Robotics has formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The FIRST Robotics Camp was a popular offering for a week last summer with a program in which students used LEGO blocks to create robots.
The program aimed to introduce elementary and middle school students to basic engineering and programming concepts.
Last year the camp was a single session. This year there will be two sessions: June 6-10, and June 20-24.
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SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — Crowded hotels, bustling restaurants and packed attractions all add up to one thing for South Padre Island: Spring Break has returned in full force.
With its arrival comes a dramatic rise in temporary employment and tax revenue, said Keith Arnold, director of the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“Effectively, the economy is all travel and tourism here, so this type of major promotion fills hotels, restaurants, attractions, water sport vendors, and increases horseback riding on the beach,” Arnold said.
The influx of people is what leads to more jobs, adding to income for people who live not only on the Island, but in all of Cameron County, Arnold said.
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BY MICHAEL SWARTZ
HARLINGEN — Shoulder pain. In some cases it can be so excruciating that the patient can hardly move or sleep. But, the good news is — treatment is available to help you regain your everyday physical activity, without pain. This is the topic of conversation, tonight, when Dr. Cynthia Garcia, Physiatrist and Partner-In-Care to HarlingenMedicalCenter, presents the next Doc Talk Lecture.
Dr. Garcia, who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, will speak and answer questions on “Shoulder Pain Problems” tonight at 6 p.m. at the Harlingen Medical Center Medical Office Building (MOB) Conference Room, located at 5505 S. Expressway 77 (the building closest to the expressway, outside the hospital, on the first floor, in the conference room behind the elevators).
“Shoulder pain can be so severe that the patient can’t even wash their hair or shave their under-arms,” Dr. Garcia said.
The Harlingen Medical Center Doc Talk Lecture, this evening, is free and open to the community, and will feature health information provided. To RSVP, please call the Business Development and Marketing Department at 956-365-1848.
For more information on shoulder pain, Dr. Garcia’s office can be reached at 956-412-2200, or at [email protected].
SAN BENITO — City commissioners have approved repositioning Police Chief Martin Morales to the new title of lieutenant.
The request was made by Morales a couple of weeks ago when he announced he would be stepping down from his leadership position.
In order to accommodate his request, commissioners had to write an ordinance allowing the changes in the number of budgeted and authorized positions at the rank of police lieutenant.
This change would ultimately create a new position for Morales, which is what he desires.
City leaders assured the public last night that it would not cost the city any money.
City commissioners breezed through the second and final reading of the ordinance last night.
No one has replaced Morales, yet. He will continue in his chief’s position until he officially steps down.
Morales announced two weeks ago that he would be stepping down from his position as head of the department with hopes to take on a new role within the department.
Morales said he looks forward to his role as an officer with the department.
“I love the city and want to continue being productive as a police officer, but it is time for me to slow down a bit. I am happy that the city will allow me to continue serving as a police officer, however, I wish to continue pursuing my educational goals and look forward to completing my degree in December,” he said.
The changes come as Morales completes 28 years of service in the city’s police department and five years as chief.
“This comes at Mr. Morales’ request,” City Manager Manuel De La Rosa said in a recent press release.
“We met to discuss the proposal and he said he wished to step down, but continue to serve the department and city in other capacities.”
“The City Commission is expected to consider adoption of a resolution that creates a lieutenant position for Morales. Until that time, he will continue serving as police chief of operations,” De La Rosa said.
The San Benito Police Department currently employs 43 sworn officers, along with eight civilian staff members.
City officials have yet to discuss Morales’s replacement.
