Los Fresnos News, April 9, 2014

Week of April 9, 2014 through April 15, 2014

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Volume 10 Number 15 www.losfresnosnews.net

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Weapons in Valley Baptist Arsenal

-Janet

Resaca Receives $20,000 Check from Verizon Foundation

Folklorico Group Receives Top Score at Rio Grande Valley Dance Festival

The Los Fresnos High School Folklorico dance group received a Divison I rating at the Rio Grande Valley Dance Festival March 24 at Valley View. With the rating, the group now qualifies for regional competition April 4-5 in Edinburg. Qualifiers there advance to the state competition April 25-26 in Corpus Christi. Representing LFHS are students pictured (left to right) Karla Rangel, Andres Alamaraz, Sandra Atilano, Edgar

Valero, Elisa Peña, Noe Quintero, Mariela Gomez, and Yahir Salazar. The group’s sponsor is Aurora Gomez-Solis. LFCISD Photo

Talented Group Moves on to Regional Competition

The Verizon Foundation presented a check of $20,000 to Resaca Middle School last week

Los Fresnos Chamber of Commerce Executive Direc-tor Debra Badeaux welcomed guest speaker Mr. Mark Milum to their monthly meeting held on March 25th at the Los Fres-nos Inn & Suites.

City Manager. Mark Mi-lum discussed the current financials as compared to 2002. In 2002 the City of Los Fresnos was in the negative $350,000 and in 2013 had a positive income of $719,437 therefore as per Milum cur-rently the City is in a good financial situation. Milum also reported that currently the Retirement system for the City is $117% funded. Another positive for the City is the Tax rate, back in 2004 the tax rate was .690 and now in 2014 it is at .715, as per Milum this is due to the City living within the means therefore helping the tax rate to not increase. Milum also mentioned that currently the city is dependent on the property tax which is not a good thing. Milum ex-plained that currently existing businesses are not suffering with the opening of the new businesses.

Milum also explained that the city has extended more sewer lines out to Fm 511, Indian lake and Laureles. Some operation indicators that Milum mentioned were the

increase of water connections and daily sewer treatment not having many leaks which is good.

Currently there is more po-lice staff to help a 24/7 patrol. The officers are out doing security and safety checks at businesses at night checking the doors to make sure they are locked. Milum would like for the police department to have updated contact numbers of all the business so that incase a door was left open by accident the owners or persons in charge

could be contacted. As per Milum the CDC has

supported the City since 2009 and some infrastructure im-provements include improve-ments to parks, upgrades to Rodeo, stock show, 4th of July celebration, Halloween, Christ-mas in the Park, and Girls and Boys Club.

He discussed that the city is very serious about graffiti and crime rates. He also mentioned that speed limit has now been increased on the East side due to a traffic study that was con-

ducted and the average speed limit was 35 and not 30 there-fore resulting in the change. On the West side of the city there were no changes due to the study showing that people drive below the average posted speed limit in this area.

The city manager gave a list of new developments in the city which included Little Caesers, McDonald’s, Church’s, Storage units, apartment complex off of Whipple Road, and Wal-Mart.

Mark MilumLos Fresnos City Manager

Milum Gives Positive Financial Report to ChamberCity Manager Notes Huge Accomplishments in the Last Ten Years to put City back in the Black

► FULL STORY ON PAGE 6

► CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

2 • April 9, 2014 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS

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HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: 1 year subscription delivered by U.S. Postal service ... $24.95 or can be purchased at several convinent locations through out the cities of Los Fersnos and Brownsville for 50¢. The Los Fresnos News is mailed and delivered Tuesday, April 8, 2014 and published weekly by Wright Ventures, Inc., President Donald R. Wright, Secretary Mary Elizabeth Wright. Periodi-cal Postage Rates paid at Los Fresnos, TX. Post Office. Advertising deadline is noon Thursday at the office at 203 N. Arroyo, Los Fresnos, TX 78566. (POST-MASTER send address changes to Los Fresnos, P.O. Box 990, Los Fresnos, TX 78566.)

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Ten students will compete for titles in three divisions in the 2014 Miss Los Fresnos Scholarship Pageant, scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at Los Fresnos High School. Admission fee is $15. All proceeds go to the Miss Los

Fresnos Pageant Scholarship Fund. The pageant is sponsored by the Los Fresnos Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Los Fresnos, the Community Development Program, and the Los Fresnos CISD. The pageant was created

in 1995 to help female students further their education after high school. Contestants are also informed about the Los Fresnos community through workshops on the city’s government, economy and educational importance. Contestants, who must be current students of the Los Fresnos CISD, are: - Little Miss, 6-8 years of age: Tatyana Damaris Castillo and Kandis Gisell Hudock. - Miss Pre-Teen, 9-11 years of age: Fatima Sarahi Gallegos, Alexis Daniella Castillo, Ishka Nagel Treviño, Rosely Solis. - Miss Los Fresnos, Grades 9-11: Rebecca Lynn Atkinson , Pela Gutierrez, Danielle Ariel De Leo, Kathleen Alexandra Clark. There is also a category for Miss Junior Teen

for students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Kourtney Shears will be crowned in that division, because she was the only entry. For more information, contact the Los Fresnos Area Chamber of Commerce at 233-4488.

2014 miss Los Fresnos scholarship pageant entries

Texas historical Commission To participate in Nationwide park day Activities

BROWNSVILLE, Tex-as—The Texas Historical Commission (THC), in conjunction with local co-host the Cameron County Historical Commission (CHC); Palo Alto Battle-field National Historical Park (NHP); the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Texas Refuge Complex; and with support from the Brownsville Historical As-sociation will host Park Day for Palmito Ranch Bat-tlefield National Historic Landmark (NHL), known as the last land battle of the American Civil War.

Starting at 9:00 a.m., Palo Alto Battlefield NHP will serve as the site host for the Cameron CHC’s Civil War Symposium on the topic of South Texas and the Cot-ton Trade in the Civil War. Following the morning’s

symposium attendees will relocate to Palmito Ranch Battlefield for Park Day.

WHO: THC, Cameron CHC, Palo Alto Battle-field NHP, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Brownsville Historical As-sociation. Free and open to the public. Free break-fast tacos and drinks at the morning symposium (while supplies last). For the Park Day session bring sun-screen, working cloths, and hat. Bottled water, dispos-able gloves, and trash bags will be provided.

WHAT:Civil War sympo-sium on the topic of South Texas and the Cotton Trade in the Civil War, followed by Park Day activities in-cluding a trash pick-up and an historic interpretation of Palmito Ranch Battlefield NHL, as well as the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service’s conservation efforts at the Santa Anna National Wild-life Refuge.

WHEN:Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The morning’s symposium will be held at Palo Alto Battle-field NHP’s Visitor Center. Park Day will then be held at Palmito Ranch Battlefield (maps to the core battlefield area will be distributed dur-ing the morning’s orienta-tion).

WHERE:Palo Alto Bat-tlefield NHP is located at the northeast corner of the intersection of FM 1847 and FM 511, approximately five miles north of Browns-ville. The Palmito Ranch Battlefield NHL core battle-field area [site of Park Day]

is located 16.3 mileseast of Brownsville on State High-way 4 (Boca Chica Hwy).

BACKGROUND: Park Day is an annual event sponsored by the Civil War Trust and the History Chan-nel, which seeks volun-teers to clean and repair the grounds of Civil War battle-fields. At each site, volun-teers receive a free T-shirt and patches (while supplies last), and have the opportu-nity to hear historians in-terpret the battle. Palmito Ranch Battlefield NHL lies in the Texas Tropical Trail Region, which showcases the heritage, natural beauty, and rich culture of South Texas for the benefit and enjoyment of Texans and travelers.

FREE MOVIE, POPCORN AT STROKE SUPPORT GROUP/DIABETES

MEETING IN HARLINGENHARLINGEN – A free movie showing, “Diabetesville,

USA” – along with free popcorn – will be available at a H.O.P.E. (Haven Offering Patient Encouragement) Stroke Support Group on Tuesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen (in the Woodward Conference Center on the first floor of the hospital, enter through the South Tower). The meeting is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided.

The compelling movie, produced by Michael Seringer of San Antonio, provides a realistic summary of diabetes research that was conducted in Cameron County. According to the film, almost 30% of the Valley population has Type II Diabetes. Multiple generations of families are dealing with devastating complications of diabetes – including stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, blindness, and amputation.

Following the special movie screening, prizes will be awarded to those who participate in an interactive “review” game about the film.

Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease that affects the arteries leading to the brain and the arteries within the brain. Stroke is a medical emergency – call 911 immediately if you experience symptoms. It is critical to keep in mind that the sooner treatment begins, the better the patient’s chances of surviving without disabilities.

At Valley Baptist Medical Center, a clot-busting medica-tion called tPA is used when medically indicated to reverse strokes – but the medication must be given as soon as pos-sible. Valley Baptist is also the only hospital in the Valley with endovascular stroke procedures, with are performed by specially-trained neurologists in state-of-the-art “biplane” cath labs.For more information about the Stroke Support Group, please contact Debbie Diehl at [email protected],

call (888) 902-5433 (LIFE), or visit www.facebook.com/HopeStrokeSupport.

DIABETES MOVIE – A movie on diabetes in the Valley – which was filmed in Cameron and Hidalgo counties – will be shown for no charge in Harlingen on Tuesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. at Valley Baptist Medical Center (in the Woodward

Conference Center on the first floor of the hospital, enter through the South Tower). Above, the film’s maker, Michael Seringer of San Antonio, shows a

DVD version of the movie.

April 9, 2014 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 3

This my friend lamb chopHe is a handsome white neutered boy who is about three. All I need a loving home. He is an indoor cat only and get along well with other cats and some dogs. He am extremely shy since we were kittens. We need someone with love and patience, so we actually should be called “special patience” kitties. For information please call (956) 541-3833 or 831-7167

arlo is another new friendArlo was rescued from Brownsville Shelter. He’s about four but he acts much younger and his teeth are really white and in excellent condition. He’s neutered, heartworm negative, has all his shots, and is ready for a loving, forever home of his own. He’s super sweet, loves to be loved, and absolutely LOVES to play with other dogs. He likes cats, too, but quickly learned to avoid the resident cat after she gave him “the business”. He’s a quick learner and a smart boy!

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1-866-217-4733pUBliC NOTifiCATiON Of DesTrUCTiON Of sTUDeNT reCOrDsIn accordance with the United States statutes, the

Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District will destroy special education records on June 4, 2014. These individual student records contain confidential data including, but not limited to, the following: individual education plans, evaluations for eligibility for special education and ARD committee meeting records/forms. The information contained in this file may be needed for Social Security benefits or other purposes in the future. Therefore, this correspondence serves as notification to the parents and/or students that graduated or reached the age of 21 prior to 2008, to provide them with an opportunity to obtain their records.

The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a file of the records in writing or in person on or before May 23, 2014 at the following address:

Los Fresnos C.I.S.D.Special Services DepartmentP.O. Box 309Los Fresnos, TX 78566Telephone: (956) 254-5104 (956) 254-5100

This notice is in compliance with federal regulations 34CFR 300.573 as related to students with disabilities receiving special education services.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ETHEL L. WHIPPLE MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Library HoursMonday - Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

402 W. Ocean Blvd. • Los Fresnos, TX 78566 • (956) 233-5330

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pUBliC NOTiCe City of los fresnos

City of Los Fresnos Water Conservation is currently atStage-1 Normal Conditions

Goal: Achieve a voluntary reduction in water use in Los Fresnos.Guidelines for Initiation: Voluntary conservation is the first phase of the “Plan”. It is always in effect unless higher phase is required.Guidelines for Restrictions:1. Recommend that all landscape areas be irrigated

no more than three times per week and that such irrigation occur from 5am to 9am and 7pm to 11pm.

2. Recommend water customers to limit water use for non-essential purposes such as washing any sidewalks, walkways, parking lots, tennis courts or other hard surface areas by using a automatic water cut off nozzle.


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Falcons’ Soccer Team Soars in OT Victory

Los Fresnos Bests San Benito in 2-0 Win for Bi-District TitleIt was a hard fought win for the Los Fresnos Boys Soccer team in their March 27, vic-

tory over San Benito. The Greyhounds and Falcons fought to a scoreless regulation game but the Falcons were able to secure the win in overtime with a pair of scores coming off the leg of Jonathan Valdez.

The senior scored the goals after regulation had run out and the second half of overtime had begun.

The Los Fresnos win secures the Bi-District Championship and allows the Falcons to advance further in the playoffs.

Houston – Statewide survey results released to-day by the America’s WET-LAND Foundation (AWF) show a majority of Texans worried about the future of the Texas coast as an eco-nomic engine driven by a healthy ecosystem.

In a presentation at the 2014 Texas A&M Harte Research Institute’s Gulf of Mexico Summit, Valsin Marmillion, AWF manag-ing director, said, “Texas is poised to recognize its role as a leading coastal state among the world’s great eco-systems.”

Dr. Larry McKinney, who directs the Harte Institute, elaborated on the findings, noting they establish a valu-able baseline with implica-tions for the state’ s future. “The new findings are a powerful instrument for charting a course forward for dealing with coastal issues in Texas,” McKinney said. “It was a bit disturbing to see confirmation that Texans see themselves as a state with a coast, rather than a coastal state. That may seem subtle but to those of us for whom this issue is paramount, the poll draws a line in the beach sand. It will be the measur-ing stick of our effectiveness in convincing our fellow citi-zens that the future of Texas rests with assuring a coast that is economically and en-vironmentally healthy and productive,” he said.

In the survey of registered voters, 62 percent of respon-dents said Texas was a state with a coast; 38 percent called it a coastal state.

“We found the same when we first polled coastal issues in Louisiana a decade ago,” Marmillion said.

“Like in Houston, people in New Orleans didn’t view themselves as a coastal community. Today in post-Katrina Louisiana, that has all changed. Seventy-four percent of Louisiana voters statewide now say coastal restoration is the issue of their lifetime,” he said. Loui-siana currently experiences the greatest rate of coastal land loss on the planet.

In the survey,Texans cite the availability of fresh water as most worrisome, When asked about the

amount of fresh water reach-ing the coast, 75 percent of Texas voters say they are concerned, with 38 percent of that number expressing extreme concern. The same percentage (75%) of Texans are concerned with the loss of coastal habitat, not sur-prising in a state that values coastal hunting, fishing and recreational resources, which are jeopardized by deteriora-tion of the state’s coastline.

Fresh water tops other coastal issues on the minds of Texans, with 62 percent of respondents saying fresh water shortages would mo-tivate them to take action, compared to 49 percent for a disruption to the energy sec-tor that causes price spikes.

Carole Baker, executive director of the Texas Water Foundation, said, “The re-sults of this poll are encour-aging when it comes to the public’s opinion about fu-ture water supply. Five years ago, Texas polling showed water supply as very low on the priority list. With severe drought conditions in the state since 2011, it seems the public is beginning to be aware of the challenges we face. The state needs to make sure this awareness continues. Diverse water re-sources and their connection to our other natural resources impact our economy, public health, environment and our way of life.”

When it comes to energy and the economy, other nota-ble survey findings include:

68% believe Americans must learn to consume less of everything as the only way to become energy indepen-dent and protect the quality of our environment, In con-trast, only 24% say that there is plenty of oil off our shore, and oil companies should be free to drill and find it.

88% of voters agree the federal government should provide a higher percentage of oil and gas revenues to the energy producing states.

95% of voters feel that perceived conflicts between energy production and en-vironmental protection have become to politically divi-sive and that greater coop-eration is needed, with 86% saying that a strong Texas economy is dependent on a healthy coastal environment.

85% of Texans say it is reasonable to expect that we can drill for oil in the Gulf and still protect the environ-ment. Voters were spilt on their views concerning the BP oil spill: 59% say han-dling of the spill hurt the en-ergy sector’s reputation and BP’s credibility, and 44% said that BP has been effec-tive in showing that the com-pany has good intentions.

Disaster preparedness is-

sues are also on the minds of voters. When asked who needs to do more to prepare communities for disaster, 70 percent say that the State of Texas should do more, and 51 percent said the Federal government.

When asked about prop-erty insurance, 67 percent of Texas voters feel that federal elected officials should not have allowed large federal subsidies, but 68 percent say it would be wrong to pull the plug on federally backed in-surance immediately.

Eighty-seven percent of those surveyed connect a healthy coastal system to the insurance issue; with 36 per-cent strongly agreeing that the State needs to sustain its coastal assets to avoid rises in insurance rates. Tex-ans are also worried about evacuation, emergency re-sponse and vulnerable hous-ing areas, by margins of 62 percent, 56 percent and 49 percent, respectively.

Thomas Colbert, associate professor at the University of Houston, said, “We of-ten think the average person doesn’t know about the chal-lenges facing our coastal cit-ies and ecosystems. Now we know that isn’t the case. Most people in Texas are indeed aware of needs like disaster preparedness, hurricane pro-tection, drought, wetlands, habitat protection and resil-ience planning. This survey gives our political leaders the ammunition they need to respond to these critical national security challenges and shows the people of Tex-as think we should be better prepared to meet them.”

By margins of 70 percent and 68 percent, respectively, voters statewide in coastal counties both said climate change is a problem, with only 28 percent saying that the issue was not problem-atic.

“The poll shows that vot-ers across the state, not just along the Texas coast, see the link between a strong en-vironment and the economy that depends upon it,” Sidney Coffee, senior advisor for AWF, said. “This indicates great potential for future sup-port by Texans of sound poli-cies and funding for restor-ing coastal areas. The people are saying the Texas coast is important to everyone in the state and are looking for strong leadership on these is-sues,” Coffee said.

The poll included a sepa-rate carve-out of voters in coastal regions and only in a few instances were the find-ings dramatically different from the majority of Texans. Exceptions included aware-ness overall about disaster preparedness, hurricane pro-tection, and coastal erosion.

The Kitchens Group of Orlando, FL conducted the survey of Texas voters in the first quarter of 2014. It included a survey sample of 489 voters conducted state-wide in Texas, with over-sample of 200 conducted in the coastal areas.

The margin of error for this survey is ± 4.4%, with a 95% confidence level. De-mographic representation included: Republican (39%), Democrat (36%), Indepen-dent (25%), White (59%), Hispanic/Latino (19%), AA (15%), Other (7%).

For more information, visit www.americaswetland.com or www.futureoftheg-ulfcoast.org.


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Superintendent Gonzalo Salazar called a day of cel-ebration, and Resaca Middle School did the celebrating. Dancing the beat of the Verizon song “Blue Eyes” by Ladyhawke, six girls and the cheerleaders celebrated after the school received a $20,000 check from the Verizon Foun-dation Wednesday.

The check was a reward for the six students – Cas-sandra Baquero, Grecia Cano, Caitlyn Gonzales, Jacquelyne Garcia Torres, Kayleen Gon-zalez and Janessa Leija – and their teacher-sponsor Mag-gie Bolado who developed the concept for an app that received a Best in Nation award in the Verizon App Challenge.

Resaca was one of eight winners chosen – four middle schools and four high schools. Representatives from Verizon

in Dallas will be at the cel-ebration.

The team’s app, Hello Navi, integrates a variety of digital tools such as a compass, scan-ner, VoiceOver, optical braille readers and Google indoor navigation technology to guide blind or visually-challenged students around their school.

Andres Salas, a visually-impaired student at Resaca, was the inspiration behind the app.

About the Verizon App Challenge

Each Best in Nation win-ning team has earned its school a $15,000 Verizon Foundation grant, in addition to a $5,000 grant for achiev-ing Best in Region. Resaca Middle School will use the grants to help build the team’s app and advance Science, Technology, Engineering

and Mathematics (STEM) education.

Nearly 1,300 Teams en-tered the national competition aimed at boosting students’ in-terest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Members of the eight win-ning teams will be invited to present their apps in person – on tablets they will be re-ceiving – at the 2014 National TSA Conference in Washing-ton, D.C. June 27-July 1.

Bolado will receive training to build the app. She will then coach the students to build the app before June 1 for submis-sion to the national conference. In early April, students will focus on developing their app concept into an actual app. To build their app, they will learn to code and how to use MIT App Inventor, with hands-on support and training from Verizon employees and mem-

bers of the MIT App Inventor Training Corps. Verizon will then help the teams share and distribute their finished apps via the iTunes and Google Play stores.

The story has attracted attention from the national news media, including cable television network programs a national magazine’s print and digital publications.

National News Media Attention

The Resaca story has picked up attention nationwide.

People.com the online ver-sion of People Magazine, post-ed a story on its website and a link on its Facebook page. A story in the printed magazine is also possible.

Other national news media stories are in the works and will be announced as they are posted.

Resaca Receives $20,000 from Verizon Foundation► CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Ask Our Dentists

Q: What is baby bottle tooth decay? ANSWERED by DR. ERIC VALLE:

Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by the frequent and long-term exposure of a child’s teeth to liquids containing sugars. Among these liquids are milk, for-mula, fruit juice, sodas and other sweetened drinks. Ev-ery time a child consumes a sugary liquid, acid attacks

the teeth and gums. After numerous attacks, tooth decay can begin. The condition also is associated with breast-fed infants who have prolonged feeding habits or with children whose pacifiers are frequently dipped in honey, sugar or syrup. Fortunately, baby bottle tooth decay can be prevented by never allowing children to fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, formula or other sweet-ened liquids. Giving an infant a sugary drink at nap or night time is harmful because during sleep, the flow of saliva decreases, allowing the sugary liquids to linger on the child’s teeth for an extended period of time. If left untreated, pain and infection can result. Also, clean the baby’s gums to help establish healthy teeth and to aid in teething. Wrap a moistened washcloth around the finger and gently massage the gums and gingival tissues. This should be done once a day. Tooth brushing should begin upon eruption of the first baby tooth. When brushing a child’s teeth, use a soft toothbrush and a pea-shaped amount of fluoride toothpaste. Parents should first bring their child to the dentist between six and 12 months old. Keep in mind that healthy baby teeth will usually re-sult in healthy permanent teeth and ‘happier’ trips to the dental office. Call us if you have any questions or concerns about baby bottle tooth decay; we love seeing kids of all ages in our practice and do our best to make it a fun visit.

Dr. Adam LalondeDr. Grayson Sellers

Dr. Eric Valle

956-233-4400www.losfresnosdental.com

Pushing Payday Loan Protections StatewideReforms Adopted in 16 Texas Cities and Counting

Final Notice and Public Explanation of a

Proposed Activity in a 100-Year Floodplain

To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals on 4/9/2014: This is to give notice that the City of Los Fres-nos has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988 and/or 11990, in accordance with HUD regula-tions at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making De-terminations on Floodplain Management, to determine the potential affect that its activity in the floodplain and wetland will have on the human environment for Community Devel-opment Block Grant Program under contract 713301. The City of Los Fresnos proposes a Street, Drainage & Sewer Improvements project to reconstruct approximately 2,220 LF of street with 6” subgrade, 6” base, 2” HMAC pavement & appurtances at Ebony from Old Port Rd to end, Pecan from Old Port Rd to end; Magnolia from Old Port Rd to end, East 6th from Coma to Pita; install 640 LF 18” storm sewer pipe, 4 manholes & appurtenances in the drainage ease-ment from end of Magnolia to end of Huisache; install 2 submersible pumps, electrical, controls, & appurtenances at the lift station on FM 1847, south of 10th; Los Fresnos, Cameron County. The project shall include activities within approximately 1 acre of the 100-year floodplain. The City of Los Fresnos has considered a reduction in scope, alternate locations, and no action to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial values. This project shall comply with state and local floodplain protec-tion procedures. The City of Los Fresnos has reevaluated the alternatives to building in the floodplain and has deter-mined that it has no practicable alternative. Environmental files are available for public inspection, review and copying upon request during regular business hours at the City Hall. This activity will have no significant impact on the environ-ment for the following reasons: The project involves reha-bilitating existing infrastructure, there shall be no significant increase to impervious surface, and best management prac-tices shall be employed during construction. The primary purposes for this notice include (1) People who may be af-fected by activities in floodplains and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and pro-vide information about these areas; (2) An adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool to disseminate information about floodplains and facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas; and (3) As a matter of fairness, when the Federal govern-ment determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplains, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk. Written comments must be received on or before 4/16/2014 by the City of Los Fresnos at 200 N. Brazil, Los Fresnos, TX 78566-3640, (956) 233-5768. Atten-tion: Polo Narvaez, Mayor, during regular business hours. Comments may also be submitted via email to [email protected].

John MichaelsonAUSTIN – As the tax dead-

line approaches, those who have to pay in but don’t have the money may think a pay-day loan is a good option, but for many it can lead to a deep cycle of debt. According to the payday industry, it fills a need for those who have cash emer-

gencies, but Dallas City Coun-cil member Jerry Allen said with exorbitant interest rates and fees, such loans become predatory and the lenders prey on the most vulnerable.

“These are folks who have jobs. They’re hard working, but unfortunately it’s very difficult for them to get out

of the cycle of debt, paying a tremendous amount of fees on top of fees on top of fees.”

Allen led the charge for pay-day lending reform in Dallas with passage of an ordinance in 2011. As of today, 16 cities have adopted the regulations, providing the protections to around 7 million people. The list of cities includes Austin, El Paso, San Antonio and Houston, where Steve Wells is pastor at South Main Baptist Church.

“These are not fine, up-standing business people who are providing a needed service in our community,” Wells said. “These are predators actively seeking to deceive people and leave them worse than they found them. So why a faith community response? Because it’s clear to me that, one, the scripture says you shouldn’t charge usury to poor people. And two, that kind of

victimizing of people is very far from what God wants in the world.”

Wells added that while pay-day loans mainly prey on poor people, senior adults are also targeted, and that’s done in two ways.

“One is the same sort of de-ceptive appeals that they make to people who are desper-ate because of their financial straits. The other is to get them to cosign loans for their grand-children. So not only are they trying to take the nothing that poor people have, they’re try-ing to take the nest age from our senior adults,” Wells said.

Wells, Allen and consumer groups such as AARP Texas are all pushing for statewide regulations on payday lend-ing, with legislation to be in-troduced in the 2015 session.

The payday ordinance passed in Houston is online at www.houstontx.gov.


Hey Kids! Color this picture and bring it in to the Los Fresnos News office for a chance to win an Easter Basket FULL OF GOODIES!!! One Winner from each age group: 4–5 years old l 6–7 years old l 8–9 years old

Make sure to submit yours by Monday, April 7, 2014. Winners will be announced in the April 16th issue

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Los Fresnos Chamber of Commerce members listen as City Manager Mark Milum breaks down the financial situation with the city LFN Photos

Lastly Milum discussed the improvements that are com-ing to the city. Those would include Whipple Road side-walks, Evergreen Street from Ocean Blvd to Whipple Road, Henderson Road, and general street rehab.

Badeaux introduced the new owners of Los Fresnos Inn & Suites Mr. and Mrs. Atish Chhagan & Avnee Bhakta. She also thanked them for provid-ing the venue for the general meeting.

Guests that attended were Commissioner David Garza and Mr. Raul Gomez, City Councilman Javier Mendez, Pastor Dale House, Mr. Tom Moses, DJ Moody, and City Manager Mark Milum.

Badeaux thanked Las Cam-panas Restaurant for catering lunch.

Upcoming events and an-

nouncements included: • Miss Los Fresnos Scholar-

ship Pageant April 5th, 2014• Leo Aguilar Foundation

raised enough money to give 8 scholarships this year at the Leo Aguilar Memorial Golf Tournament

• Pre-Easter Fun Run with Overdrive Fitness April 12th, 2014

• Dragon Capsule Release thru Spacex.com March 30th at 9:40 p.m.

• Big Squeeze Accordi-on Contest 2014 March 29, 2014

• Highlight of High School Programs at Olmito Elemen-tary

The drawing was held for the disaster fund gifts. Gifts were provided by, Leo Aguilar Foundation, Ms. Carlota Nar-vaez, Dr. Julian Alvarez and Kona Ice.

Milum Gives positive Financial report to Chamber► CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Located next to Los Fresnos Pharmacy

feature story by Bill Keltner8 • April 9, 2014 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS

Latest Weapons in the Valley Baptist Arsenal

The Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen enjoys the reputation of being on the cutting-edge of revolution-ary advances in the world of medical science.

Not surprising that the an-nouncement of their new “bi-plane” Cardiac Catheteriza-tion Laboratory places them as the only hospital in the Val-ley with two bi-plane cath labs to diagnose and treat stroke heart and stroke patients. The VBMC doctors can now better prescribe treatment through “3-D road mapping” of the brain--not possible with just one camera.

Their latest addition of the second bi-plane suite gives the cardiologists the ability to treat two heart or two stroke patients at the same time. This dual-camera technology will allow doctors to give more precise treatment, as the tech-nology allows the attending physicians to see inside the blood vessels in a great level of detail. The two cameras provide a state -of-the-art, three-dimensional imaging. They can see the tiny blood vessels from two-angles or “planes.’’ This benefits the patients because it means doc-tors have more options to treat blockages and other problems in the blood vessels. It also means less radiation and less “contrast dye” for the patient during the procedures.

This Cath Lab advancement places VBMC as the only hospital in the Valley with this two-camera capability. When the hospital introduced the General Electric bi-plane lab in 2012, they were the first and only hospital in the coun-

try to have the equipment and know-how at that time--others followed.

That tradition of excellence ranks right along with the hospital’s other achievements: The hospital is designated as the “Lead Level III Trauma Center for Cameron County“. The hospital is also the first primary stroke center in the Valley. In 2011, VBMC be-came the first hospital in the country to be certified with a Gold Seal of Approval specifically for knee and hip replacement surgery.

Dr. Frank Mazzola and Dr. Luis Eguia, Cardiac Electro-physiologists, spoke about the new specialized duo-cath labs. They stressed what a great new ability they have available. Dr Mazzola said, “The new cath lab expands our capability to provide the most advanced specialized treatment to more of our patients.”

Using this new equipment, Dr. Farley Neasman, Cardi-ologist, recently inserted the Valley’s first miniature heart monitoring device--about the size of a “triple-A battery“--into a heart patient, in Valley Baptist’s cath lab with excel-lent outcome.

This 2nd Dual-Camera Cath Lab is the latest weapon in the Valley Baptist arsenal to help patients win the war against the ravages of heart attacks and stroke.

Parker MacDonald, Direc-tor of the Cardiac Catheter-ization Lab, said this shows Valley Baptist’s commitment “to serving our community by keeping our services on the cutting edge of technology.”

Equipment used in a new “bi-plane” cardiac catheterization laboratory at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen includes two camera arms instead of one, which allows physicians to see inside tiny blood vessels from two angles. A second bi-plane

cath lab at Valley Baptist will give the Valley increased capacity to treat heart and stroke patients, including those needing “electrophysiology studies” for problems with their heartbeat.

Advanced Gear Offers Aid for Heart and Stroke Victims

Cutting the ribbon for the new specialized lab are, from the left, Dr. Wondwossen Tekle, Endovascular Neurologist at Valley Baptist; Dr. Victoria Parada, Board-Certified Vascular Neurologist and Clinical Director of Neurosciences and the Stroke Program at Valley Baptist-Harlingen; Todd Mann, CEO of Valley Baptist-Harlingen; Dr. Farley Neasman, Interventional Cardiologist; Dr. Ameer Hassan, Endovascular Neurologist; Parker MacDonald, RN, BSN, CCRN, Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at Valley Baptist; Dr. Frank Mazzola, Cardiac Electrophysiologist; and Dorraine Lebeouf Araiza and Danny Payton, members of the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.

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Los Fresnos News, April 9, 2014

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