HARLINGEN — City officials say it’s time for the eyesores to go.

You’ve probably seen them, those dying, lifeless and unlivable houses no one seems to want or love.

Once again, the city has partnered with the Texas National Guard in a joint effort to demolish dilapidated structures that serve as a haven for criminal activity and as an outright eyesore for neighbors and others.

During the past five years, the city has demolished 134 unsafe, crime-ridden structures and worked with dozens of private property owners to demolish more than 94 others and rehabilitate many more.

Known as Operation Crackdown, the Texas National Guard will deploy a demolition unit of service men and women to be stationed in Harlingen from Feb. 29 through March 11.

The city has identified 13 structures to be demolished during that time.

“Operation Crackdown is an excellent initiative that eliminates properties that are eyesores, drug havens and ultimately dangerous,” City Manager Dan Serna said.

“Not only will we have cleaner and safer neighborhoods, but we will also significantly improve the quality of life for Harlingen residents.”

The Guard utilizes funds from drug seizures for the demolition of unsafe structures at no cost to property owners and little to no cost to the city.

The purpose is to turn a negative into a positive by returning drug seizure monies to neighborhoods via the demolition of crime-ridden structures that pose a danger to residents.

Citywide cleanup and beautification efforts will continue to be a priority, according to officials.

“We are extremely grateful to the Texas National Guard for the Operation Crackdown partnership we’ve cultivated for several years now,” Serna said.

RAYMONDVILLE — Officials are investigating a crash that left two passengers dead over the weekend.

Jorge Aguilar-Garza, 21, of San Benito was pronounced dead at the scene while Guadalupe Castro, 62, of La Feria died at a hospital after the Saturday night crash, Sgt. Johnny Hernandez, spokeswoman with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said in a statement yesterday.

Hernandez said Aguilar-Garza and Castro were not wearing seatbelts.

Hernandez said the driver of the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban carrying five passengers lost control, veering off the road before rolling over off Interstate 69 north of FM 1762 about 9:45 p.m.

Justice of the Peace George Solis pronounced Aguilar-Garza dead at the scene about 11:30 p.m.

The driver and three passengers were taken to a hospital.

Officials declined to disclose further details.

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HARLINGEN — For the second straight year, PSJA North walked into Harlingen South’s gymnasium and walked out with another bi-district victory Monday night.

The Lady Raiders’ three-headed monster comprised of Isabel Palacios, Sarah Serrano and Arianna Medrano combined for 53 points on the evening as PSJA North defeated the Lady Hawks 66-37.

“I thought we did a great job of controlling the tempo and running the floor, and we got in the passing lanes and running lanes like we wanted to,” PSJA North head coach Randy Bocanegra said. “We worked on that for three or four days before the game and came prepared.

“We said we were going to shoot the ball and eventually we were going to make some, and we sure did.”

PSJA North’s big three spearheaded the charge as Palacios scored 24 points, Serrano had 15 and Merano contributed 14 points on the night.

Full story at RGVSports.com

HARLINGEN — The Harlingen Police Department has been busy doing what it does, hindering crime.

Over the past couple of days, aside from the usual incidents, arrests have been made in connection with a stabbing and a kidnapping.

In addition, police are seeking the public’s help in locating a man wanted for evading arrest.

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KIDNAPPING

Police have arrested a man who they say kidnapped a woman in November.

A suspect in the case, Rene Rubio, 27, of Santa Rosa, has been located and arraigned on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated kidnapping, with bond set at $350,000.

At approximately 9:40 p.m. on Nov. 12, officers responded to the 2000 block of Expressway 83 in reference to a subject with a gun.

Officers made contact with a Harlingen woman who told police she was in her car at the mall parking lot when a man entered her vehicle. He placed an object — possibly a gun — to her head, police said. The man then made the woman drive to an ATM to remove money.

During the incident, the man had the woman drive to several different locations in the area, before getting out somewhere, possible on Wilson Road.

The woman was not injured.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives said they identified Rubio as the kidnapper, and an arrest warrant was obtained.

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HARLINGEN — She came from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia two years ago, a quiet girl who hadn’t found her voice.

Two years later, Irene Tyler, 15, has become a powerful force in the world of debate, competing in heated competitions as part of the Speech, Drama and Debate Team at Harlingen High School.

“I like to see things from different points of view, to get a perspective from both sides,” said Irene, a sophomore.

“I always had ideas about different policies. I always knew a lot, but I never spoke up,” she said.

Tasha Kneis, the Speech Drama and Debate Team sponsor, remembers a shy girl, new to the school, the culture, the Valley when she began the 2014 – 2015 school year as a freshman. Kneis invited Irene to join the Speech, Drama, and Debate team. She marvels now at the way Irene has come into her own.

“Irene has truly found her voice since joining debate,” Kneis said. “She is a very confident young lady who now has an outlet to express her ideas and opinions. She’s an avid reader and she has some wonderful ideas.”

Irene has always been a voracious reader and with a good retention level.

“I read a lot of newspapers,” she said. “I read a lot of young adult literature. I read a lot of philosophy books. Philosophy has always been interesting to me in the way people look at the world.”

Irene was recently practicing a debate with a fellow student who said it was too easy for the wrong people to own guns.

Irene had an immediate come back.

“Do you think this will deter good people from actually getting guns?” Irene said.

Debate differs from arguing in that the debater must understand both sides of an issue and be prepared to defend either side. This has given her the chance to follow one of her passions: understanding different points of view.

Her extensive reading is serving her in other ways. She’s number four in her class, which might surprise some of her teachers in Virginia.

The culture shock from moving to South Texas was more than the shift from pine-covered mountains to palm trees and beaches. She found teachers here who paid more attention to all the students. Some of the teachers in Virginia seemed to focus most of their attention on the students who were at the top of the class.

“When I came down here I got a lot of attention from teachers because I was new,” she said.

The world seems to have opened up for her. She writes extensively from young adult fiction to science fiction and fantasy, “anything that flows through my head.”

As a sophomore, she has time to decide what she wants to do after graduation, but she’s looking at teaching or psychology.

“I like people,” she said. “I like listening to people.”

RAYMONDVILLE — Early voting begins today for the March 1 primary election in which Willacy County District Attorney Bernard Ammerman and County Commissioner Fred Serrato seek re-election in hotly contested races.

Ammerman faces former longtime District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra and attorney Annette Hinojosa in the race for the county’s top prosecutor’s job.

Democratic Party Chairman Lefty Cavazos predicted the race for district attorney would draw strong numbers to the polls.

“There’s immense interest,” Cavazos said. “The candidates for district attorney have really been hitting the streets. They’re very well known.”

Ammerman, known for his tough prosecution, won election in November 2008, going on to win a second term in 2012.

Guerra lost his seat in a three-man primary in 2008 after serving 12 consecutive and controversial years as district attorney.

Serrato faces former Commissioner Emilio Vera Jr., Lyford Mayor Henry De La Paz and Juan Peña, a U.S. Department of Agriculture district conservationist, in the race for Precinct 3’s commission seat.

Serrato, who defeated Vera in 2008, had served on the commission from 1985 to 2004, when he chose not to seek re-election.

Vera, a retired auto shop owner, had served on the commission from 2004 to 2008.

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Early voting begins today.

Before you head out to the polls, don’t forget to bring a Photo ID.

Seven forms of photo ID are acceptable. Voters can elect to bring an election ID certificate, a driver’s license, a handgun license, a military ID with photo, a U.S. citizenship certificate with photo, or a U.S. passport, according to votetexas.gov.

Quite a few locations will be available through Feb. 26.

Most polling stations will operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. But dates and times vary at some locations.

“It won’t be for lack of opportunity if someone doesn’t vote,” said Remi Garza, Cameron County elections administrator.

Every location will use a paper ballot, but for those with trouble writing or seeing, a marking device will be made available.

In the event a voter shows up to the polls without a proper form of ID, they will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot. They will have six days to return and present the proper ID to the county elections office, Garza said.

This election cycle, voters will have to decide on a few races that would not normally be on the ballot.

Because of future developments, the Cameron County Courthouse will have room for two new courts: County Court-at-Law No. 4 and No. 5.

County Court-at-Law No. 4 will be contested by attorneys Carlos Monarrez, Daniel T. Robles, Rene Gomez, and Sheila Garcia Bence. No Republican candidates are running.

County Court-at-Law No. 5 will be contested by attorneys Estela Chavez Vasquez, Jesus T. Garcia, Jr., and Noe Robles. No Republican candidates are running.

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HARLINGEN — Richard Uribe has filed seeking election for Harlingen City Commissioner, District 1.

He is seeking the position currently held by Danny Castillo. As of yesterday, nobody else had filed for the position, including Castillo.

Uribe is a familiar face to many as he has been the general manger of Los Asados restaurant in Harlingen for the past 13 years.

He also serves as general manager of the new Los Asados in McAllen.

Uribe graduated from Harlingen High School in 1992 and then went on to study criminal justice at the University of Texas — Pan American in Edinburg.

He currently is on the Harlingen WaterWorks System board of directors. He served as Chairman of that Board in 2015. He was Chairman of the St. Paul Lutheran School Board in 2010.

“I feel I have the background and experience to make good business decisions for not only the citizens who live in District One but the Harlingen community as a whole,” Uribe said. “I want to be involved in making good decisions for the future growth of this great community.”

He and his wife, Veronica, have four children, Richard II, Kaitlyn Nicole, Lauren Grace and Jose Luis.

For several months, San Benito students had been preparing for the district’s annual Spelling Bee. They studied and practiced spelling words such as tarmac (noun – a road or runway made of asphalt), schnitzel (noun – a seasoned and garnished veal cutlet), and ostensibly (adjective – to all outward appearances).

Sponsored by the San Benito CISD Department of Academic Services, the traditional Spelling Bee provides elementary and middle school students with an opportunity to learn new words, sharpen their spelling and vocabulary skills, and vie for the title of the school district’s top speller.

This year’s competition concluded after eight rounds of competition when Israel Valdez of Judge Oscar de la Fuente Elementary spelled the word Dracula (noun – one who maintains a relationship like that of a vampire toward another by sapping his or her physical or emotional strength), earning him the first place honor.

Second place was awarded to Lindsey Rubi Montemayor of Dr. C.M. Cash Elementary, and Nadia Vasquez of Angela G. Leal Elementary received third place.

Connie Cruz, this year’s Spelling Bee Coordinator and the school district’s Director of Elementary Curriculum, attributes the success of the event to the contestants, their coaches and their parents as well as school administrators and the support staff involved in the planning and implementation of the districtwide competition.

“A successful event requires teamwork, and we have a great team,” Cruz said proudly. “We greatly appreciate absolutely everyone’s hard work, dedication, time, and effort,” she added.

According to Cruz, Valdez will now represent San Benito CISD at the 28th Annual Rio Grande Valley Regional Spelling Bee to be held on Saturday, March 5, at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen.

RAYMONDVILLE — Early voting begins Tuesday for the March 1 primary election in which Willacy County District Attorney Bernard Ammerman and County Commissioner Fred Serrato seek re-election in hotly contested races.

Ammerman faces former longtime District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra and attorney Annette Hinojosa in the race for the county’s top prosecutor’s job.

Democratic Party Chairman Lefty Cavazos predicted the race for district attorney would draw strong numbers to the polls.

“There’s immense interest,” Cavazos said. “The candidates for district attorney have really been hitting the streets. They’re very well known.”

Ammerman, known for his tough prosecution, won election in November 2008, going on to win a second term in 2012.

Guerra lost his seat in a three-man primary in 2008 after serving 12 consecutive and controversial years as district attorney.

Serrato faces former Commissioner Emilio Vera Jr., Lyford Mayor Henry De La Paz and Juan Peña, a U.S. Department of Agriculture district conservationalist, in the race Precinct 3’s commission seat.

Serrato, who defeated Vera in 2008, had served on the commission from 1985 to 2004, when he chose not to seek re-election.

Vera, a retired auto shop owner, had served on the commission from 2004 to 2008.

Three incumbents are vying for their seats in contested constable races.

In the race for Precinct 1’s badge, Constable Alberto Oviedo Jr. faces Carlos Ybarra, a criminal justice teacher.

Incumbent Hector Tijerina faces Michael Mesa, a mounted patrol inspector, and Jose Salazar, a peace officer, for Precinct 2’s constable’s seat.

In the race for Precinct 3’s constable’s post, incumbent Ben Vera faces Miguel Sanchez, a police officer.

Early voting runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Feb. 26 at the Reber Memorial Library annex, 193 N. Fourth St., Raymondville.