HARLINGEN — Tejano band Grupo Siggno member Jacob Turner, 21, was critically injured when his car crashed into a guardrail early yesterday morning.

Grupo Siggno released a statement yesterday afternoon.

“We would like to inform everyone that Jacob is stable and resting at this time. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

“At this time we would like to ask everyone to respect the privacy of the family & accept that we are not accepting visitors at this time,” the band stated.

At approximately 12:25 a.m. yesterday, officers were dispatched to the 3500 block of West Expressway 83 near Charlie Clark Nissan to respond to a major accident.

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RIO HONDO — For four years, cadet Lt. Col. Michael E. Mares has geared up for his first flight.

And he’s going to at the control panel.

In ninth grade, Mares joined Rio Hondo High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC program, planning to hone his leadership skills.

“My friend was in it and said it helped him build leadership skills and work with other people,” said Mares, 17, a senior who’s the son of Florinda Mares of San Benito.

“The fact we’re learning about the Air Force is pretty cool, too,” he said.

In the classroom, Mares holds a 3.19 grade-point average, ranking in the top 20 percent of his graduating class.

In the school’s Junior ROTC program, he serves as his unit’s deputy group commander.

During his four years, the program has helped forge his character.

“It’s helped me build my leadership skills,” Mares said.

“If I was with a group of people and they needed guidance, I’d be able to guide them.”

In May, Mares will learn to fly a Cessna as part of the program’s flight training school.

“That will be my first time in a plane,” he said. “I feel excited but kind of nervous at the same time.”

Now, Mares is learning how to operate the airplane’s control panel.

“We’re learning about the transponder — when flying, it starts transmitting your location to radar,” Mares said.

“We’re learning how to operate the radio, conveying position and attempting to contact the airport we plan to land at.”

After he graduates, he plans to attend Texas State Technical College, where he wants to train in auto body refinishing.

LYFORD — The fire department’s security cameras will help protect gear to likely include newly-purchased air packs.

Last month, the Lyford Volunteer Fire Department spent $3,609 to buy eight security cameras.

But it did not take theft to buy the surveillance camera system, Fire Chief Ben Sanchez said yesterday.

“We have a lot of equipment in here, so we want to make sure nothing’s missing,” Sanchez said.

He said the cameras were installed around the fire department.

Now, he said, officials plan to dip into the department’s $20,000 budget to buy air packs to replace old gear.

New air packs cost about $6,000, Sanchez said.

But officials are considering contracting with the Texas Forestry Service to buy six used but recertified air packs.

The department’s 11 firefighters use air packs to respond to all fires, Sanchez said.

“It’s a good rule of thumb to use them on every call,” he said. “You never know when you’ll need them.”

SAN BENITO — Tonight, the community will learn if the school district has met the Texas Education Agency’s standards in performance.

The district will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the results of the Texas Academic Performance Report.

The report, formerly known as the Academic Excellence Indicator System report published annually by the TEA, contains information on student performance at the campus and district level.

The report also contains campus performance objectives, student demographics, finances, staffing and program expenditures.

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SAN BENITO — Do you want to learn more about the inner workings of your city government?

The city is now taking applications for its Citizens’ Academy.

It is a program spearheaded by Mayor Celeste Sanchez to give residents an in-depth look into the operation, values and philosophy of their municipal government.

Participants will learn how city departments operate and at the end will better understand the challenges the community faces as it prepares for growth and development, officials said.

“There are many perceptions about how and why city projects are created, funded and put into action,” officials said.

“In many cases, there are state and federal laws that impact what we can and cannot do. The Citizens’ Academy sessions will address these topics and include discussions and in-person visits to various city facilities, including the police and fire departments, water and wastewater treatment plants and City Hall.”

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HARLINGEN — Sam Coats, the attorney who rose from a hardscrabble Valley farm to executive positions at major corporations, has been elected chairman of the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport board.

Coats has an extensive background in aviation, having served as president of Muse Airlines prior to its acquisition by Southwest Airlines. He also served on the board of Valley International Airport in Harlingen from 2007 to 2010.

Coats also held management positions with Continental Airlines and Braniff Airways.

“This is the best unpaid job I’ve ever had,” the Fort Worth Star-Telegram quoted Coats saying as he took over the board chair last week.

DFW Airport ranks as the third-busiest airport in the world by aircraft movement, and is ninth-busiest worldwide in passenger traffic. Coats has served on the 12-person board of DFW Airport since 2012. He replaces Lillie Biggins, whose two-year term as chair expired. She continues to serve as a board member.

“Sam Coats is a long-time friend of Valley International Airport, and we wish him all the best in his position as chairman of the board for DFW,” Marv Esterly, director of aviation at VIA, said yesterday. “With his leadership and experience, we know DFW is in good hands.”

Coats has practiced law with the Jenkens and Gilchrist law firm in Dallas. He served a single term in the Texas Legislature. In 2007, he was one of 11 candidates who ran for mayor of Dallas, finishing sixth.

His extensive private sector experience includes president and CEO of restaurant chain Schlotzsky’s, Inc. He also served as president or CEO of several other companies, including Sammons Travel Group/Adventure Tours, PROS Revenue Management Inc., and Trinity Texas Corp.

Since 2006, Coats has focused on private aviation consulting, corporate board service and civic and nonprofit board service. He has served on the boards of the North Texas Crime Commission, North Texas Public Broadcasting, The Plan Fund and Central Dallas Community Development Corp.

In 2011, Coats recalled memories of his Valley childhood.

“Being one of six children born in a farmhouse on a dirt road outside La Feria, I never thought I’d get north of Raymondville,” he told business students at then-University of Texas at Brownsville. “Frankly, education was my ticket to ride.”

Later in that talk to the students, Coats explained his affinity for the RGV:

“I am a Valley boy, always will be a Valley boy, and I love to come back. The Valley is in my blood.”

HARLINGEN — MMA Troop 22 Life Scout Jack Newbury recently received recognition for completion of his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project in support of the Blue Sunday Child Abuse Prevention Initiative office in Harlingen.

Volunteer staff members of Blue Sunday and those of Team Newbury were present.

Newbury and his team designed and built an impressive three-piece indoor furniture set, consisting of a computer desk and two end tables. They also refinished the main office desk in matching colors. An on-site physical viewing finds the work is really quite stunning. More than 100 boy hours went into the project.

Life Scout Newbury presented Blue Sunday Director Janet Magee a money order for $215. This was left over from his fundraising efforts. Magee awarded Newbury a special gift in honor of his efforts. She summed up the results in one word, “fabulous.”

A follow-up reward directly afterward included two extra large Domino’s pizzas and a load of cheesy bread.

Troop 22 actively seeks donations or other assistance to maintain a quality program. Please contact the Scoutmaster, Sgt. Major Jim Poe, at 956-423-6006 ext. 270 if you have questions about the Boy Scout program or seek to lend your support.

I’d like to sincerely thank all of the participants and attendees at our 27th annual Celebrity Roast, held on Jan. 28, to honor Dr. Nolan Perez. On behalf of our board members, staff, volunteer tutors and students, we are all deeply grateful to the community for its support.

This year’s event raised approximately $17,000 and was our most successful fundraiser ever. Last year’s event raised approximately $13,000.

The Literacy Center of Harlingen is celebrating its 30th year in the community. Our volunteer tutors have assisted literally thousands of students, providing instruction in basic language, reading and writing skills, as well as GED and citizenship preparation.

Our continued presence and success would not be possible without the support of our community. So, again, I’d like to express my sincere thanks to all who participated.

Thank you for helping us make Harlingen a better place to live and learn.

Visit our website at www.literacycenterofharlingen.org to find out more about us.

Sincerely,

Linda Klowetter

Director Literacy Center of Harlingen

HARLINGEN — A young man is in the hospital this morning listed in critical condition after crashing his vehicle into a guardrail.

At approximately 12:25 a.m. this morning officers responded to the 3500 block of West Expressway 83 near Charlie Clark Nissan in regards to a major accident.

According to witnesses, the white Dodge Challenger, was traveling east on the frontage road at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control at the curve and struck the guardrail.

The collision caused the vehicle to catch fire.

The driver, a 21-year-old Harlingen man, was taken to Valley Baptist Medical Center and is listed in critical condition. There were no other victims.

The Harlingen Police Department says it will continue to investigate the crash.

HARLINGEN — The city of Harlingen is asking the community to remain vigilant when it comes to mosquito prevention.

In addition to being pests that disrupt outdoor activities, mosquitoes transmit the agents of serious diseases, including encephalitis, dengue, Zika virus and heartworms in pets.

“We want the public to take precautions in protecting themselves,” City Manager Dan Serna said.

Despite the Zika virus being an up and coming disease in the last year, officials don’t want to cause worry among the community.

“Such a small insect can cause serious health issues. There are many things that can be done to address a mosquito problem. The No. 1 action taken should be source reduction — eliminating possible breeding areas,” Serna said.

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