HARLINGEN — Nearly 24 years after it opened, local leaders are counting on a cold storage facility to boost revenues at the Free Trade Bridge at Los Indios.

Today, city commissioners will consider a proposal to work with Cameron County and San Benito to build a $414,000 cold storage unit to help draw more truck traffic to the bridge.

The city, San Benito and Cameron County own the bridge, built at a cost of $40 million in 1992.

As part of an agreement, the city would fund $112,500 of the cost to build the 75-foot by 30-foot “walk-in cooler” on federal land on the bridge’s west side, City Manager Dan Serna said yesterday.

Serna said the project would allow trucks to use the cooler to store produce during customs inspections.

Inspections of trucks using the cooler would take two to four hours, County Administrator David Garcia said.

“It will really help us attract trucks that want to cross produce,” Mayor Chris Boswell said.

Serna said the proposal would build the bridge’s first cold storage facility.

“You have to provide the facilities that folks need to encourage folks to use the bridge,” Serna said.

The city continues to negotiate with Cameron County and San Benito to determine the cooler’s operation and maintenance.

For years, local leaders have tried to work to increase truck traffic at the bridge.

But the bridge continues to generate lower toll revenues than other Cameron County bridges, Garcia said.

Other international bridges in the Rio Grande Valley lead to Mexican cities such as Matamoros and Reynosa.

Once called “the bridge to nowhere,” the Free Trade Bridge leads to the small town of Lucio Blanco.

Revenues continued to fall last year.

In 2015, Garcia said, the bridge generated $1.6 million, down $128,784 from the year before.

Last year, 389,910 vehicles crossed the bridge, down 20,569.

SAN BENITO — The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center is kicking off 2016 with a birthday celebration and fundraiser Saturday.

The center, founded in 1991, is entering its 25th year of programming. Casa De Proyecto Libertad, founded in 1981, celebrates 35 years of legal services, community organizing and advocacy for immigrant families in the Rio Grande Valley.

During the event, there also will be a special preview of internationally-acclaimed and Austin-based photojournalist Allan Pogue’s photo exhibit, “Texas Farmworkers Valley March 1975 and Muleshoe to Austin 1979.”

For 40 years, Pogue has been documenting the everyday life of marginalized communities. His first body of work resulted from living and marching with Texas migrant farmworkers as they struggled for better working conditions in an often dangerous environment.

On display will be 20 framed 12 by 16 black and white photos from the two marches, 1975 from the Valley and 1979 from Muleshoe.

The photos express the toil and determination felt by an overlooked segment of Texas society.

Food and music will be provided at the event.

If you go

WHO: The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center

WHAT: Birthday Celebration/Fundraiser and Photo Exhibit

WHEN: Saturday at 5 p.m.

WHERE: 225 E. Stenger Street, San Benito

COST: $20 per person

If you cannot attend but still want to donate, send checks to:

* Casa De Proyecto Libertad

113 N. 1st Street Harlingen, TX, 78550

OR

* Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center

P.O. Box 471

San Benito, TX, 78586

SAN BENITO — While on the job Donovan Martinez, 34, became a hero.

Last month, the Texas Gas Service employee helped save the life of a San Benito mother and her young daughter.

He was working in the area near their house when he and a neighbor saw smoke coming from a window.

Martinez, who has been with Texas Gas Service for a little more than a year, grabbed the fire extinguisher from his truck while the neighbor ran to the house to see if anyone was home.

It was occupied.

When he knocked on the door, a young girl answered.

“When the door opened, we saw the smoke inside,” Martinez said. “I glanced in and saw a fire.”

A pan on the stove was on fire as well as the electric stove.

Despite the thought of possible danger, Martinez acted quickly.

He put out the fire and sprayed the pan, dousing the flames. The stove was too hot to touch so Martinez ran outside and flipped off the breakers to prevent further danger.

While the stove was cooling off, Martinez went back to work to complete his original order, his reason for being in the right place at the right time.

After he finished his work, he came back to check on the woman and her daughter.

When asked what he thought, Martinez reflects, “I don’t know. It’s something that when it happens, you hope someone would do it for your family as well,” he said.

“I saw it happen, knew what I needed to do and got it done. It’s also a good lesson to make sure you have working smoke detectors throughout your house.”

Martinez’s bosses couldn’t be happier with the way he demonstrated his safety and professional skills that day.

“We are proud of our employees’ dedication, effort and concern about the communities where we work and live. Donovan went above and beyond when he helped put out a stove fire, saving a mom and her young daughter,” gas service officials said.

Then he went back to work to take care of customers.

HARLINGEN — At about midnight on New Year’s Eve, two bullets crashed through the Faith Pleases God Church ceiling as a church service was ongoing.

No one was injured.

Parishioners were celebrating the New Year, praising and worshiping Jesus.

One parishioner heard a sharp hiss fly past her as she walked through the sanctuary during the televised service. Young children were close by. She looked to the floor and she found one bullet on the floor. The other bullet was found more than 10 feet away.

Two Harlingen women are among the newest competitors taking part in H-E-B’s sixth annual 2016 Slim Down Showdown.

The showdown is a 12-week contest designed to provide contestants with the education and tools they need to live a healthier lifestyle, and the chance to win cash prizes.

In the community contest, Michelle Giles and Chelsea Childress, both of Harlingen, are among 15 contestants chosen to compete for the $10,000 grand prize and a Healthy Hero prize of $5,000.

“The Slim Down Showdown contest changes lives, but our far-reaching goal at H-E-B is to impact millions of Texans, not just those selected for the official contest,” said Kate Rogers, Vice President of Corporate Communication & Health Promotion.

Claudia Bejarano and Robert Guerra, both of Brownsville, and Francisco Ortega, of Rio Grande City, are among the 15 H-E-B employees taking part in the Slim Down Showdown Partner competition.

H-E-B says contestants applied online and were chosed based on their willingness and desire to embrace the program.

Nutrition: Each sprout contains 10 calories; that adds up to 38 calories per cup. Brussels sprouts contain three times the vitamin C of oranges; 1 cup of sprouts offers 124 percent of the adult recommended daily allowance. Sprouts also are a good source for vitamins A and D, potassium, dietary fiber, folic acid and several antioxidants. Brussels sprouts have about 4 grams of protein per cup, the same as cup of milk.

Selection: Look for the brightest green color, uniform shape and similar size. (Like size will help them cook evenly.) Sprouts should feel firm and heavy for their size. Avoid sprouts that look puffy or have black spots or yellow leaves.

Sprouts also may be purchased “on the stalk,” but the same guidelines apply. Look at the 20 to 40 sprouts attached to that 2- to 3-foot stem and choose a stalk with bright green, firm sprouts. Once home, “pluck” the sprouts as needed.

Storage: Keep unwashed sprouts in a paper or plastic bag, stored in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator, for up to one week. Store “on the stalk” sprouts still attached to their stem and remove just before preparation.

Preparation: Rinse sprouts with cold water. Trim stem ends without cutting the base of leaves or the little head will come apart during cooking. Cut a shallow “X” in the base of each sprout; that helps the stems to cook faster. Large sprouts may be cut lengthwise in halves or quarters.

Brussels sprouts may be steamed, microwaved, sauteed, boiled, roasted or grilled. Cook until just tender. Test by inserting the tip of a sharp knife into the stem end.

Steaming is the easiest cooking method and retains this vegetable’s many nutrients. Place sprouts (either whole or halved) in a single layer in a steamer basket over 1 inch of boiling water; cover. Steam for 10 to 20 minutes, testing with a sharp knife for tenderness.

Belgian connection: In the late 1500s, this cabbage cousin was cultivated near Brussels. This vegetable remained a Belgian delicacy until after World War I, when its popularity spread throughout Western Europe. Very popular in Great Britain, Brussels sprouts have been referred to as England’s “national vegetable.”

HARLINGEN — Soon after Rev. Lawrence Klein began his ministry here he had a vision.

His dream was to expand the facilities of the Catholic ministries and school at St. Anthony’s.

There were too many parishioners for the small space.

“Our community is growing and we have needed a larger facility to meet all of our various needs,” Klein said. “We have just under 1,000 kids in our religious program that is separate from our school.”

Yesterday marked a milestone as students got to learn their lessons in their new classrooms. The rooms are part of the St. Anthony Catholic School expansion, the church’s biggest development of the school since it opened in 1946.

The 13,000-square-foot expansion consists of six new classrooms, a community room, gymnasium, kitchen, administrative offices and classroom technology.

For the rest of this story and many other EXTRAS, go to our premium site, www.MyValleyStar.com.

Subscribe to it for only $6.99 per month or purchase a print subscription and receive the online version free, which includes an electronic version of the full newspaper and extra photo galleries, links and other information you can’t find anywhere else.

HARLINGEN — Federal officials are bracing for a new surge of undocumented immigrant children from Central America.

At least one local shelter will see an impact from this.

A Harlingen shelter will expand while hundreds of beds will be added to shelters across the Southwest.

Since Oct. 1, U.S. Border Patrol agents have apprehended more than 10,588 children along the Southwest border, more than 6,465 in the Rio Grande Valley area alone.

The numbers doubled from October 2014 to September 2015.

Meanwhile, federal agents have cracked down on Central American families with final orders for deportation.

Immigration agents over the weekend conducted the first raids targeting the deportation of families who flocked across the United States’ southern border over the past two years, a senior government official said Monday.

Jeh Johnson, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement that the 121 people rounded up during raids in Texas, Georgia and North Carolina were primarily members of Central American families that have crossed into the U.S. via Mexico since May 2014. Most were placed in family detention centers in Texas to await deportation.

For the rest of this story and many other EXTRAS, go to our premium site, www.MyValleyStar.com.

Subscribe to it for only $6.99 per month or purchase a print subscription and receive the online version free, which includes an electronic version of the full newspaper and extra photo galleries, links and other information you can’t find anywhere else.

PRIMERA — A Mexican national has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a child on New Year’s Day.

Ivan Trevino, 29, was arraigned Saturday on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child, with bond set at $15,000.

If found guilty, Trevino could face a minimum of 25 years in prison, said Police Chief Manuel Trevino, who is not related to the suspect.

Police were called Friday at 8:30 p.m. to a home on Alonzo Road where a New Year’s Day party was taking place.

Witnesses said they noticed the 5-year-old child was missing at some point during the party

When they went looking for the child, they found Trevino, a local handyman and friend of the family, with the child in a dark area toward the back of the property, police said.

Witnesses told police Trevino was questioned by family members on why he had lured the child away from the party and he became extremely nervous. That’s when the child made an outcry of sexual assault by Trevino, police said.

One of the family members became upset and assaulted Trevino, police said. That person has not been arrested because no charges have been filed.

For the rest of this story and many other EXTRAS, go to our premium site, www.MyValleyStar.com.

Subscribe to it for only $6.99 per month or purchase a print subscription and receive the online version free, which includes an electronic version of the full newspaper and extra photo galleries, links and other information you can’t find anywhere else.