The city of boots has refreshed its look with paint and repairs that are making it shine anew. The City of Mercedes over the last 13 years has highlighted the city’s western heritage with 30 boots – each standing six feet tall – that are placed on street corners and major intersections. The boots bear the names of colleges and universities in Texas and the United States. The city’s big…
The Thanksgiving turkey and tamales are already a savory memory. Holiday lights sparkle throughout our communities. But nothing says “most wonderful time of the year” quite like music. In McAllen, a revered town band has spread the spirit of Christmas for over 50 years. The McAllen Wind Ensemble is actually the third name of the group, which was established in 1973. Businessman Bill Wilson brought the idea home to McAllen…
SpaceX with its Starbase on Boca Chica Beach is transforming the Brownsville economy and is bringing in a slew of outside investors and companies into the area. The buzz of Brownsville becoming a space city has made some local residents wonder when the opportunities others are seeking will come their way. “We’ve heard it plenty of times from the public,” said Nathan Burkhart, the vice president of entrepreneurship and innovations…
Alexis Wooderson takes a look up a 40-foot tower that Brownsville’s Camp RIO calls its Treehouse and begins to unpack what it can do. “It can seem like a puzzle,” said Wooderson, who manages the camp’s new ropes course that runs through the tower. “It looks like a daunting course, but once you’re up there, you can feel how secure it is.” With the help of a nearly $600,000 grant,…
The Ebony Hills Golf Course and the adjoining Echo Hotel were signature pieces for decades on Edinburg’s landscape as the city established itself during its earliest years. The golf course was opened in 1927 as a municipal property before being privately owned and today is again a public golf course. The Echo opened about three decades later as a showpiece two-story hotel. Community leaders developed the Echo as a city…
The City of McAllen Police Department is currently accepting applications for the position of police officer. Individuals who are ready to serve their community with courage, integrity and pride are encouraged to apply and take the next step toward a career in law enforcement. “This is an excellent opportunity for individuals who want to serve their community,” said McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez. “When our community calls, police officers answer…
This holiday season, American Advertising Federation–Rio Grande Valley is hoping to strike out hunger across the four-county region. The organization will host its fourth annual “Keep It Ugly” Charity Bowling Tournament on Dec. 3 at Flamingo Bowl in McAllen, with proceeds benefitting the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley and the Salvation Army Angel Tree program, which helps provide Christmas gifts for hundreds of thousands of children around the…
The South Pole Illuminated Festival, presented by H-E-B Helping Here, will bring the community together to celebrate the joy of Christmas with lights, festive entertainment, and new attractions for 2025. The festival’s signature Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 28 will once again mark the start of the holiday season in McAllen, officially transforming the city into the South Pole of Texas. During a press event on Nov. 11, McAllen Mayor…
The Edinburg Economic Development Corporation recently announced its support and approval of a major downtown renovation led by LEWIS Building LLC. The project will restore and repurpose a historic 1925 building located at 221–225 E. University Drive and 115–119 N. 13th Avenue. The renovation will be completed in phases. Phase 1 will deliver six “white-box” commercial rental spaces — move-in-ready units featuring finished walls, lighting and essential infrastructure. The spaces…
Sharon O’Leary was hired at South Texas College in 1999 to start the college’s music program. Now, 26 years later, the program is going strong, and she has been named Faculty of the Year for largely contributing to its growth. “I cried when saw I had been named Faculty of the Year,” said O’Leary. “Since 2008, my Department Chair Daniel Cather has been nominating me and this year, I told…