By CRAIG ALANIZ
Reporter/Photographer
pre...@portisabelsouthpadre.com 

A group of South Padre Island business owners have founded the South Padre Island Business Owners Association in their second meeting at Louie’s Backyard Monday.

The association was created to have an organized and cohesive voice representing the businesses of the island. This is the first ever business group on the island that will provide feedback to city council members.

The association approved their bylaws in the meeting. Article II or purpose of the groups to promote and maintain a favorable business environment for its businesses and professional members by defining, developing, and implementing programs and services that will expand business opportunities and add to the economic activity of South Padre Island.

The association will allow any owner, partner, corporate officer or designated representative of any recognized business, business activity, profession, or other legitimate business enterprise located in the town of South Padre Island to be a member. Their meetings will be quarterly throughout the year.

The Association introduced themselves to the city council at the regular city hall meeting this Wednesday.

Special to the PRESS

Early voting in the Point Isabel Independent School District School Trustee Election pitting incumbent Mickey Furcron against Raul Loera began Monday and will continue through May 3rd. Election Day is May 11, 2013.

Early voting will be held at the following locations:

Port Isabel High School/UTB Learning Center –

Monday – Friday by personal appearance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; May 4, Saturday by personal appearance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; May 6, Monday bypersonal appearance from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; May 7, Tuesday by personal appearance from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

City of South Padre Island City Hall –

Monday – Friday by personal appearance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; May 6, Monday by personal appearance from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; May 7, Tuesday by personal appearance from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

City of Laguna Vista City Hall –

Monday – Friday by personal appearance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; May 4, Saturday by personal appearance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; May 6, Monday by personal appearance from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; May 7, Tuesday by personal appearance from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

By CRAIG ALANIZ
Reporter/Photographer
pre...@portisabelsouthpadre.com 

Alexa Ocean Ray

Sabrina Chavez

Alexa Ocean Ray and Sabrina Chavez, Port Isabel High School seniors were selected for two prestigious awards last month.

Ray said she was notified she had received the Bill Gates scholarship two weeks ago after being selected as one of the 2,000 nationwide finalists.

“My parents were ecstatic and I was happy too,” Ray said.

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program selects 1,000 talented students each year to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice.

Ray said she will be studying at the University of Texas-Austin because of their renowned radio-television-film program. She said she has had an interest in digital media since she was in the seventh grade.

Austin, the center of Texas film and music festivals was a contributing factor in her selection of a university. Ray said she will miss the close knit feel of Port Isabel, but welcomes the new experience.

Alexa is ranked 13 in her class and will begin her first semester at UT at the end of August.

Sabrina Chavez, a senior at Port Isabel High School, was admitted to the inaugural A PRIME-TIME program at UTPA.

The A PRIME-TIME program is a partnership between three undergraduate institutions UT-Brownsville, UT-El Paso, and UT Pan American and two medical schools UT Medical School in Houston, and UT Medical Branch in Galveston.

The program is a B.S./M.D. program designed to decrease the time needed to earn a medical degree to as little as six years.

Chavez said admission to the program was extremely competitive. She said only 15 students were selected for the program that puts her on the fast track to one of the UT system medical schools.

“I am excited to start, but I still have not decided on what part of the medical field I would like to pursue,” Chavez said.

Chavez said she has had some volunteer experience by shadowing at the P.I. Clinic. She said being Valedictorian also helped strengthen her application.

Chavez said she will miss the community, but is close enough to visit her two siblings at any time. Her mother is Mary Chavez an assistant principal for the school district.

“I am really excited to participate in this program, God has really blessed me,” Chavez said.

Port Isabel Pirate Days is set for Saturday, May 4, from 11 am — 10 pm. at Port Isabel’s Historic Lighthouse Square. Scheduled events include: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.—Scavenger Hunt; 2-4 p.m.—Canon Throw; 11:30 a.m. -5 p.m.—Caricatures & Face Painting; 4 p.m.—Best Arrrgh! & Best Costume;11 a.m.-5 p.m.—Music Extravaganza; 8:30 p.m.—Lighthouse movie “Hook”. There will also be special pricing on pirate cruises aboard the Black Dragon. Lighthouse Square merchants will also have specials all day long. (Courtesy Photos)

By MARTHA McCLAIN
Special to the PRESS

Despite fluctuations over the months in sales, communities in the Laguna Madre area have still experienced overall increases in year-to-date sales tax collections last month.

The City of Port Isabel saw a gain of 5.27 percent for the month, bringing in $197,472, up from $87,574 last April. For the year-to-date, the city is up 5.27 percent with $771,147 for the first four months of 2013, compared to $726,916 last year at this time.

The Town of Laguna Vista saw a decrease of 9.12 percent decrease in sales tax revenue, at $13,612, compared to the $14,978 collected last April. Year-to-date, the town is up 2.57 percent with total payments of $62,884, compared to $61,304 for the same period in 2012.

The City of South Padre Island took a 5.52 percent dip in April, receiving $289,849, compared to $274,677 last April. Year-to-date, however, the Town is up 5.93 percent, with sales of $830,555, compared to $784,022 for the same period in 2011.

The payments represent sales actually occurring in February and reported to the State Comptroller’s office in March.

Elsewhere in Cameron County, Combes dropped 19.59 percent for the month, with sales tax collections of $7,537, down 18.32 percent on the year, collecting $37,656 year-to-date.

Los Fresnos saw a 0.57 percent decrease in April, bringing in a payment of $58,816. They are down 2.65 on the year with a total of $233,633.

Rio Hondo was down 2.62 percent in April with their collection of $15,217. They are down 1.53 percent for the year, with sales tax collections of $72,768.

Rancho Viejo jumped 4.92 percent with a sales tax total of $6,451 for the month, making them 47.25 percent higher this year to date with $33,726.

The City of Brownsville is up 1.82 percent in April, with sales tax totals of $3,305,404. They are up 1.17 percent for the year, with a total of $14,525,977.

Harlingen saw a 2.99 percent increase, resulting in a total of $2,010,096 in the first four months of the year. Year-to-date, the city is up 1.94 percent, raising $9,076,302 in sales tax revenue.

Overall in Cameron county sales tax is up 1.95 percent with collections of $6,409,143. Year-to-date the county is up 1.95 percent with sales tax collections of $27,918,068.

By CRAIG ALANIZ
Reporter/Photographer
pre...@portisabelsouthpadre.com 

County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre, Jr. reported that his office will be working with the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department in executing court ordered property seizures.

Yzaguirre said his office has been working with the delinquent tax collection attorney on accounts owing business personal property taxes.

“This round of our collection program is focused on $422,048 owed by Brownsville area businesses. Our office in cooperation with the sheriff’s department will be visiting businesses with delinquent accounts throughout the week,” Yzaguirre said.

Yzaguirre said that the second round of tax warrants would concentrate on accounts in northern and eastern Cameron County.

All taxpayers who owe delinquent taxes should contact his office or the Linebarger law firm to make payment arrangements, Yzaguirre said.

“We will work with any taxpayer who is serious about setting up a payment plan to resolve their tax bill,” Yzaguirre said.

By CRAIG ALANIZ
Reporter/Photographer
pre...@portisabelsouthpadre.com 

The South Padre Island Business Owners Association held a regular meeting Tuesday.

The Association’s promotions committee reported they have activated social media outlets as well as gone live with a functional website that will continue to improve.

The association reported they have been attending meetings to voice their opinions. They have attended Chamber of Commerce meetings, transition board meetings and City Council meetings.

Guest speaker at the meeting, Mayor Bob Pinkerton said he is happy to see a group of business owners on the Island for the first time ever. He entertained questions from members of the Association.

The Association told Mayor Pinkerton they would like someone at the helm of the Convention and Visitors Board that could come from another coastal community with similar amenities.

By CHRISTINA R. GARZA
Special to the PRESS

Jim Chapman of the Frontera Audubon Society speaks at the SpaceX public hearing in Brownsville on Tuesday. (Photo by Christina R. Garza)

The University of Texas at Brownsville ITEC Center hosted a SpaceX Public Hearing on Tuesday to discuss the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a possible Texas launch site in Brownsville.

The Texas SpaceX launch site, currently undeveloped near the eastern end of Texas State Highway 4 in Brownsville, would be the first commercial launch site in the world.

Attendees of the public hearing were asked to sign in and were given an informational packet on the EIS.

The Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) had prepared the EIS packet to walk the public through the environmental impact analysis.

According to the informational packet, the proposed action would enable the Federal Aviation Administration to issue launch licenses and/or experimental permits to SpaceX to conduct launches of the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and a variety of reusable suborbital launch vehicles from the proposed site. The launch trajectory would be east over the Gulf of Mexico.

The public hearing consisted of a poster information session with the FFA followed by a public statement period where members of the audience could voice their questions and concerns.

The EIS draft states that approximately 6.19 acres of wetland would be impacted by the launch site. SpaceX would be required to obtain an individual permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which would require compensatory mitigation to offset wetland impacts. If mitigation measures are implemented the impact to the wetlands would be less significant.

The majority of speakers were in favor of the site while Jim Chapman proceeded with caution. Chapman, a member of the Frontera Audubon Society, a group dedicated to preserving the native habitat of the Rio Grande Valley, spoke at the public hearing urging the FAA to further evaluate the effects of SpaceX launch site’s lights on local wildlife as well as solvents and chemicals possibly contaminating ground water. “We want them (SpaceX) to come not as a destroyer of our environment but as an advocate of our precious natural resources,” Chapman said.

A group of teens wore blue Brownsville Economic Development Council t-shirts in favor of the proposed launch site. Brownsville Early College High School student Blanca Estrada, 16, is ecstatic about the possibility of a commercial launch site in the lower Rio Grande Valley. “We are on our school robotics team and are interested in the engineering field, so we think it would be great for learning opportunities,” Estrada said.

The FAA information packet further stated that in order to license the first commercial launch site a permitting review must be conducted. This review would consist of a policy, payload, financial responsibility, environmental and safety review.

Hard copies of the EIS draft are available at the Brownsville Public Library, 2600 Central Blvd., Southmost Branch Library, 4320 Southmost Blvd., and at the University of Texas at Brownsville Oliveira Library, 80 Fort Brown.

Brownsville resident Armando Castañeda eagerly welcomes the proposed SpaceX launch site. “How cool is that – Brownsville as a central hub for space travel, we are beyond the days of government space flight.”

Members of the public are encouraged to submit their questions and concerns via email to faas...@cardnotec.com or by fax to (410) 990-0455 or written comments can be mailed to:

Ms. Stacey M. Zee, Environmental Specialist

Federal Aviation Administration

SpaceX EIS

c/o Cardno TEC Inc. -275 West Street-Suite 110

Annapolis, MD 21401

PRESS Staff Report

The Point Isabel Independent School District will be holding elections for three seats on the school board.

Merced Cantu and Olga Vega-Carter are on the ballot but are running unopposed. Mickey Furcron is also up for re-election and his opponent is Raul “Cowboy” Lorea.

Polling places open this Saturday at 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.; they are at Garriga Elementary for Port Isabel residents or precincts 1, 14 and 82, South Padre Island City Hall for precinct 52 or South Padre Island residents, Port Isabel High School for precinct 59 or residents of Laguna Heights and Laguna Vista City Hall for residents of Laguna Vista or precinct 67.

PRESS Staff Report

Jesse Garza, the Lady Tarpon Varsity Softball Coach could hardly contain his excitement Friday night, and who could blame him?

After an impressive 7-2 smashing of the Robstown Lady Cotton Pickers in Raymondville, Coach Garza and his squad of young Lady Tarpons accomplished what they had set out to do – not only win but put plenty of runs on the board.

A few weeks prior, at the conclusion of district play in which Port Isabel walked away with the 32-3A title for the first time in the program’s history, Garza told the Press that his young squad, which boasts no senior players, needed to work on putting the ball in play, and they did that in a big way against Robstown last week.

What was the coach’s secret? Well it took some prying, but the coach ultimately came clean, explaining that knowing his girls would likely face a left handed pitcher for the first time this season, he moved the pitching machine a tad to the left as if the players were facing a lefty during batting practice. That and the extra rotations in the batting cage helped make a difference last week and he hopes the offensive charge will continue this week as Port Isabel faces the Kingsville Lady Brahmas at Edinburg Economedes for a best of three series which commenced Friday, May 10th at 7 p.m. Game two is set for 2 p.m. Saturday and game three, if necessary, will get underway immediately following game two all at the same location.

Last week, Port Isabel (18-6), never looked back after at scoring five runs in the second inning to walk off the field with the Area crown. Robstown, meanwhile entered play finishing third in District 30-3A with a 15-14 record.

Kingsville, meanwhile, knocked off La Feria last week to advance. The Kingsville Lady Brahmas swept the La Feria Lady Lions in the Bi-district round of the State 3A playoffs over the weekend, finishing the series off in La Feria Saturday, 5-1. Kristi Rangel picked up the win in both games, striking out 11 in Game 1 and another six in Game 2.

Daniela Salinas once again went the distance for the Lady Tarpons on Friday and recorded five strikeouts with one walk and surrendered four hits.

Port Isabel High School Wind Ensemble Band

Special to the PRESS

The Point Isabel Independent School District continues to provide a premier music opportunity for students in today’s Texas Public School System. Establishing a strong music curriculum from the elementary campuses through high school has yielded a consistent outcome in students’ musical achievements.

On April 11 and 12, the Port Isabel Junior High Band competed at the University Interscholastic League Concert and Sight Reading Contest at Lopez High School in Brownsville. The Concert Band (sub non-varsity), under the direction Diana Peña, received a Division 1 Superior Rating on stage and an Excellent Rating in sight reading. The Symphonic Band (non-varsity), under the direction of Cassandra Tackett, received a Division 1 Superior Rating on stage and in sight reading, capturing the UIL Sweepstakes Award. The Honors Band (varsity), under the direction of Savas Ramirez, received a Division 1 Superior Rating on stage and an Excellent Rating in sight reading. The Honors Band was recently named as the Association of Texas Small School Bands State Champion for their performance for the Outstanding Performance Series Contest, while also placing fourth in the state finals for the marching category. The Symphonic Band placed seventh in the state finals at the same contest. The band over the years has now accumulated five state titles, along with numerous students placing in the Texas Music Educators Association and Association of Texas Small School Bands All-Valley Bands. The total enrollment in the junior high band program is 275 students.

On April 17, the Port Isabel High School Band competed at the University Interscholastic League Concert and Sight Reading Contest at the University of Texas at Brownsville Performing Arts Center. The Symphonic Band (non-varsity), under the direction of Lee Cotham, received a Division 1 Superior Rating on stage and in sight reading, capturing the UIL Sweepstakes Award. The Wind Ensemble (varsity), under the direction of Scott Hartsfield, received a Division 1 Superior Rating on stage and in sight reading, also capturing the UIL Sweepstakes award. The Wind Ensemble was recently named third runner-up at the state finals for the Texas Music Educators Association “State Honor Band” Contest. The band has been a TMEA State Finalist now seven times, while accumulating four state titles for the ATSSB “Outstanding Performance Series” Competition along the way. PIHS continues to hold the state record for the most musicians to place in the Texas All-State Bands. This is the third consecutive year that students have advanced to the UIL State Solo and Ensemble Contest. The enrollment in the high school music program is over 150 students.

On April 13, the Port Isabel High School Mariachi Plata competed at the San Diego Mariachi Festival, placing third overall in their classification. The Mariachi band continues to place students in the TMEA All-Valley Mariachi, competing against 4A and 5A schools. Being a relatively young program, the Mariachi Plata aleady has one State appearance.

The Port Isabel High School “Silver Tarpon” Marching Band has consistently received Division 1 Superior Ratings at the UIL Pigskin Marching Contest and advanced to the Area Marching Contest. This year marks the seventh consecutive time for the band to advance to the UIL State Marching Contest.

These accomplishments are attributed to dedicated students and from a strong support foundation combining the community, parents, Band Boosters, campus administrations, central office administration, and the PIISD Board of Trustees.

PIISD Director of Bands is Scott Hartsfield. Junior High Band Director is Savas Ramirez. Associate Directors are Cassandra Tackett, Lee Cotham, Diana Peña, and Obed Salas. Colorguard Consultant is Julian Howard. Mariachi Consultant is Maria Isabel Salazar. Instrument Repair Technician is Andrew Minkler. PIJH Principal is Nancy Gonzalez. High School Principal is Dr. William Roach. Superintendent of Schools is Dr. Lisa Garcia.

Port Isabel High School Color Guard High School

Port Isabel Junior High Concert Band

Port Isabel Junior High Honor Band

Port Isabel High School Mariachi Plata

Port Isabel High School Symphonic Band

Port Isabel Junior High Symphonic Band

Special to the PRESS

AUSTIN—Potential legislation that paves the way for additional dollars for South Padre Island beach cleaning and nourishment cleared the Texas House of Representatives, State Representative Rene O. Oliveira announced.

House Bills 3042 and 3043 are components of a South Padre Island legislative package authored by Oliveira. H.B. 3042 allows South Padre Island to receive an additional one percent of the state’s portion of the hotel motel tax, increasing the percentage of state funding the Island receives from one percent to two percent.

H.B. 3043 increases the amount of the local motel tax charged, increasing it from 8.5 percent to a total of nine percent. The bills now move to the Senate for consideration.

As rapid erosion continues north of the town limits, H.B. 3042 will allow the Island to maintain beach in areas that will be annexed into its jurisdiction, said South Padre Island Mayor Robert Pinkerton. He furthered that H.B. 3043 demonstrates a strong commitment from local hoteliers.

“It shows we are willing to contribute our own tax to keep our beaches healthy,” said Pinkerton. “We have the best beaches in Texas and we want to keep them that way. I think the entire state will see benefits with the passage of these bills.”

By CHRISTINA R. GARZA
Staff Writer
pre...@portisabelsouthpadre.com 

The City of Port Isabel is one of 22 cities to be awarded Smart Growth America’s 2013 free technical assistance.

According to its website, Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide.

Margie Jacobs, assistant to the Economic Development Corporation administrator and grant writer for the City of Port Isabel, submitted a grant for the award.

Jacobs submitted a letter of intent to apply for the grant with the EPA for Smart Growth Implementation Assistance. It was declined. The grant was resent in the fall of 2012 and in December Smart Growth announced that Port Isabel had been awarded.

The Smart Growth 101 workshop provides local leaders and communities with the best options to create housing, transportation choices near jobs, aiming to familiarize the community with 10 principles of smart growth. Those principles consist of mixed land uses, taking advantage of compact building design, creating a range of housing opportunities and choices, preserving open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental areas.

“We are trying to tie the north side of Queen Isabella highway with the south side where we are now building a visitors and events center,” Jacobs said.

The Economic Developments Corporation is focusing on the areas bordered by Garcia Street and South Shore Drive and all of the residents in between.

Due to Port Isabel’s limited available land, Jacobs says upward growth is necessary since it can’t expand. This would include adding housing above shops and restaurants.

“This award is to help us learn to improve what we already have,” Jacobs said.

Elizabeth Schilling of Smart Growth will facilitate the sessions with a presentation that is open to the public on Tuesday, May 21, and workshop on Wednesday, May 22, by for local leaders and business and land owners.

By CHRISTINA R. GARZA
Staff Writer
pre...@portisabelsouthpadre.com 

Port Isabel Junior High School counselor Rita Garcia is seen at the campus. (Staff photo by Christian R. Garza)

Rita “Nina” Garcia is passionate about education. The Port Isabel Junior High School counselor will celebrate her 40th year working for the Point Isabel Independent School District. Garcia and her husband Rudy, currently director of Project Puente, an after-school program, were born and raised in Port Isabel. The two were neighbors growing up and became childhood sweethearts, eventually marrying.

Garcia began working as a paraprofessional in 1973 through a co-op program under then superintendent Ruben Torres. Garcia worked full time at Garriga Elementary and took summer courses to earn her bachelor’s degree in Education. The co-op program paid for her education and gave her invaluable on-the-job training.

Garcia taught students at Garriga and Derry for 15 years. Her husband Rudy had returned to UTB to enroll as a graduate student and earn his masters degree in counseling. Rudy encouraged his wife to follow suit. The task seemed daunting to the then full time working mother of four daughters. However with the overwhelming support of her husband, Rita was on her way to pursuing her Master’s degree in counseling. After earning her degree, Rita went on to work as a counselor at Derry Elementary for 10 years.

After 30 years with the school district, Rita retired. Rita’s retirement was short-lived. After a summer of retirement, Rita returned to work with the district and joined the staff at Port Isabel High School as a GEAR UP Facilitator. GEAR UP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. GEAR UP is a six-year federal initiative designed to increase early college awareness and readiness in traditionally underrepresented groups.

Garcia worked with 11th graders, following them and assisting them through graduation. After working with elementary school students throughout her career, Garcia was initially intimidated by the older students, some of whom were taller than her. Garcia quickly found her footing by following the golden rule. “If you respect the kids, they will respect you, it is so important in any relationship.”

This year was Garcia’s first at Port Isabel Junior High School. As a counselor, Garcia addresses academics and even emotional well-being with students. When students struggle academically Garcia encourages them to practice TARPON, an acronym Garcia coined herself. TARPON stands for: Tutoring; Ask Questions; Review; Practice; Observe; and Never give up. That enthusiasm and ability to adapt has helped Garcia in the field of education.

A career that spans four decades is bound to face changes, and when asked what the biggest difference between working with students in 1973 versus 2013, Garcia responded, “There is definitely more awareness about children’s abilities and disabilities. People are more proactive and there are more advocacies for our children.”

Garcia credits her mother, Eulogia Villarreal Alaniz, as her inspiration to succeed. Garcia lost her mother at the age of 10. Garcia also gives thanks to her strong Catholic faith and her soul mate, her husband Rudy for supporting her.

Garcia is an active member of her community and serves as Regent of Our Lady Start of the Sea Court 2569. The Catholic group held a style show and silent auction to raise money to award five graduating seniors of Port Isabel High School with $500 scholarships each.

Garcia has served on the Laguna Vista Water District as council member since 2000. Garcia believes in Matahama Ghandi’s philosophy that one must be the change they wish to see in the world.

“Everybody has a responsibility to be a public servant,” Garcia said.

By CHRISTINA R. GARZA
Staff Writer
pre...@portisabelsouthpadre.com 

The Point Isabel Independent School District held its 2013 School Board Election on Saturday, May 11. The incoming trustees will serve a three year term.

Incumbent Mickey Furcron defeated Raul “Cowboy” Loera, Jr. for Trustee Place 3 by 138 votes with 294 votes for Furcron and 156 for Loera. Furcron has served on the board for 18 years.

The Point Isabel Independent School District is facing major changes. In February, the school board unanimously voted to re-align Port Isabel’s Garriga and Derry Elementary schools as pre-kindergarten to fifth grade campuses. Garriga currently teaches grades pre-kinder through second grade while Derry teaches third grade through fifth. The new alignment would take place over the next two years in an effort to transform Point Isabel’s elementary schools into “community” elementary schools.

The school board also faces economic challenges. “Point Isabel Independent School District sends 58 cents of every dollar back to Austin,” Furcron said.

Saturday’s election proved a success for Olga Vega-Carter who ran unopposed for Trustee Place 4 with a total of 237 votes.

Merced “Boy” Cantu, III ran unopposed for Trustee Place 5 with a total of 267 votes.

The Town of Bayview held a general election Saturday as well. Tom Rodino was elected mayor by a majority vote of 51 votes. Garry Lowder was appointed Board of Aldermen Place 1; William Hooton was elected Board of Aldermen Place 2. A runoff election for Board of Aldermen Places 4 and 5 will be held in June.

Scott Stachowiak, Roger McCord and Edward Morris are candidates in the Aldermen Place 4 election. Leon Deason, Ruben Treviño, and Richard Meyn are candidates in the Alderman Place 5 election.

Port Isabel High School track and field standout Daniella Lynn Murchison secured the 3A shot put state title last weekend. (Staff photo by Ray Quiroga)

By RAY QUIROGA
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
r...@portisabelsouthpadre.com

Despite spending a good amount of time with state champ Daniella Lynn Murchison for this story, it was still hard to determine if the gravity of what she has accomplished last weekend had sunk in yet or if the young Ms. Murchison was just that laidback and cool all of the time.

At one point or another in their career, every athlete at every level imagines what it would be like to be known as the best in his or her game. Most, however, won’t get to that level, while others will sacrifice well into adulthood simply for a shot at the crown. At the age of 16, and only a sophomore, Port Isabel High School track and field standout Daniella Murchison can honestly say she’s simply the best there is when it comes to Class 3A female shot putters.

A week ago Saturday, Daniella recorded a throw of 41-5 in her first attempt, and that held as the best of the day among all her competitors. She also competed is discus but was edged out of third place to finish fourth.

Murchison, who said sports runs in her family’s blood, began participating in track and field in the seventh grade, and it was so evident that she had a talent for the sport that by the time she was in the eighth grade she began practicing with the high school athletes.

“When I was in fifth grade, we had a field day and my coach wanted me to throw the shot put; I didn’t want to, but I did it, and I ended up throwing further than all the boys and all the girls, and that’s when I started to like it,” Murchison recalled.

Along with the Port Isabel program, the state champ also credits summer programs for honing her skills. Interestingly, Murchison’s shot put coach, Johvonne Hernandez-Howard was also a state champ for the Lady Tarpons back in 2001.

Despite having reached the apex of her sport at her level, Murchison said it won’t be hard to remain motivated as she acknowledged the fact that among her goals is to earn a scholarship at either UCLA or Florida, two schools known for their sports programs.

For her more immediate future, Murchison will be attending the junior world trials this summer where, if she places in the top three, she’ll move on to compete in the Ukraine. Also this summer, she will be participating in the AAU Junior Olympics and the UTSA Junior Olympics as well as the State of America Games in Hersey, Pennsylvania.

Daniella and her family are also helping organize a clinic for area youths led by Olympic shot putter Michelle Carter. The throw camp is scheduled for June 8. The Press will publish the details at a later date.

This is the second time this year that Port Isabel High School can boast of having the best athlete in a given sport. Earlier this spring, Tarpon power lifter Jerry Lopez was also crowned a state champion.

Special to the Parade

The turtles have begun their 2013 nesting season on South Padre Island, and Sea Turtle Inc. organizers are hoping for another record breaking year.

To mark the start of the nesting season, the public is asked to join in this year’s Turtle Days “Shellabration.” The Annual Lighting of the Tiki Torches will take place on Friday, May 17, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The King and Queen of Sargassum will be joined by their royal floatilla (any non-motorized vessel such as kayaks or sailboats), as they make their way along the banks of the Laguna Madre.

Individuals interested in joining the royal floatilla are being asked to meet at the Parrot Eyes’ dock at 5:30 p.m.

The floatilla will depart between 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and arrive at Palm St. Pier, 204 W. Palm, at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Family entertainment at Palm St. Pier includes the Island Drummers, a beautiful performance by the Aloha Hula Dancers of McAllen, The Happy Band and a fire twirling exhibition at dusk.

For more information, call (956) 371-9120. Don’t miss this fun-filled “Shellabration” for the whole family.

Special to the PRESS

City of Port Isabel officials and local residents will meet with representatives from Smart Growth America on May 21 and 22, 2013 as part of a free, grant-funded technical assistance program. The workshop will aim to give Port Isabel the tools it needs to leverage community assets and create a sustainable growth plan for the city.

“Port Isabel’s history and character set us apart, and the City works hard to maintain those assets,” said Mayor Joe E. Vega. “We want to make sure Port Isabel stays a great place to live and visit for generations to come and we want to do that in the best way possible. That’s what next week’s workshop is about.

City of Port Isabel residents are invited to join the workshop’s first day for an introductory presentation that will feature a broad overview of strategies for implementing smart growth strategies. The event will be held Tuesday, May 21, 2013 from 6:30–8:00 PM at the Port Isabel City Hall, 305 East Maxan Street, Port Isabel 78578.

“Smart Growth America is committed to providing training to help community leaders keep cities and towns livable, sustainable and vital places,” said Roger Millar, Director of Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute. “Port Isabel has the potential to create and implement great sustainable plans for the future of their city. This workshop will give city officials the tools needed to start a conversation about smart growth strategies and the value it can bring to their community.”

In November 2012, the City of Port Isabel was one of 22 communities selected by Smart Growth America to participate in the free technical assistance program. Stretching from Maine to Washington State, these communities represent major cities, suburban centers, and rural towns alike.

The program, made possible through a five-year Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities, seeks to develop local planning solutions that help communities grow in ways that benefit families and businesses, while protecting the environment and preserving a sense of place. Three other nonprofit organizations—Forterra, Global Green USA and Project for Public Spaces—also received competitively awarded grants under this program to help communities get the kinds of development they want.

As a national leader in the field, Smart Growth America has accumulated extensive experience working with communities to help them use land strategically, make the most of existing resources and invest strategically to catalyze private development.

Special to the PRESS

Billy Joe Jeffers

Port Isabel resident Billy Joe Jeffers pleaded guilty Thursday to possession with intent to promote child pornography.

Judge Rolando Olvera of the 445th state District Court sentenced Jeffers to eight years in prison.

Jeffers, 53, was arrested in November after FBI special agents found several images and videos of child pornography on desktop and laptop computers at his residence.

“These children are repeatedly victimized when individuals distribute child pornography,” District Attorney Luis V.

Saenz said. “His flagrant use of the Internet to distribute images to strangers should be a red flag for parents to monitor their children’s use. The Internet is a playground for pedophiles.”

An individual who had chatted with Jeffers contacted authorities after Jeffers sent a video of a child performing sexual acts.

Upon his arrest, Jeffers admitted to receiving and distributing child pornography via a private chat room on the Internet.

The amount of child pornography found did not meet the U.S. Attorney’s Office threshold for prosecution in federal court.

The case was transferred to the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant District Attorney Korina Barraza prosecuted the case.

By CHRISTINA R. GARZA
Staff Writer
pre...@portisabelsouthpadre.com 

Luis Garcia Marin

Authorities here have arrested a man whom they believe was at the center of an apparent bomb threat that caused panic in the community and temporarily shut-down a popular shopping center in Port Isabel in late April.

On Friday, May 10, authorities arrested Luis Garcia Marin, partly based on evidence gathered from a video surveillance camera, Port Isabel police said. Marin, police records show, was the person who initially reported the suspicious package.

On Wednesday, April 24 of this year, a suspicious package was reported to Port Isabel Fire Marshal Rodrigo Garcia by Garcia Marin. The package was placed on a newspaper rack near the Dollar Tree store located off of Hwy 100 in Port Isabel. The Brownsville Police Department Bomb Squad was also called in to investigate and detonate the bomb if needed. The package, however, was empty.

The Port Isabel Police Department Investigation Unit launched an investigation to determine who had placed the suspicious package at the location. After viewing a recording from the Boys and Girls Pediatric Clinic, investigators turned their attention to Marin, the man who had initially reported the suspicious package. In the video, Marin is allegedly seen walking by the front entrance of the clinic while carrying a box underneath his right arm, before walking out of view. Minutes later, Marin is seen walking with the Fire Marshall Garcia to the site of the box.

After failing a polygraph test, Marin was arrested on Friday, May 10, and charged with making terroristic threats, a third degree felony.

His bond was set at $5,000 and Marin was transported the Cameron County Detention Center. A hold for deportation has been placed on Marin by the federal investigators who assisted in the investigation. The reason behind this alleged threat remains unclear at this time.