Category Archives: Community

STC On Verge Of International Workforce Partnership

Education Featured News Comments
STC hosts delegates from CMIC Tamaulipas and CMIC Reynosa for a tour of the STC Institute for Advanced Manufacturing. (photo STC)

South Texas College recently hosted the Cámara Mexicana de la Industria de la Construcción delegation at its Institute for Advanced Manufacturing facility at the college’s Technology campus. CMIC delegates from Reynosa and the statewide chapter from Tamaulipas, Mexico gathered for a tour of the IAM campus. Here they got an inside look at what STC has to offer in terms of customized and hands-on training for their employees.  STC recently…

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SPI Chamber Wins Communication Awards

Community Featured News Comments
Dianna Harvill and Alita Bagley accept South Padre Chamber of Commerce's awards at the recent TCCE conference. (photo SPI Chamber)

The South Padre Chamber of Commerce is the recent recipient of two communications awards from the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives. The awards come in the Print and Electronic Publications, and Newsletter categories. Receiving the awards at the TCCE conference in Rockwall, Texas were chamber President/CEO Alita Bagley and Marketing Director Dianna Harvill. The chamber won first place for its 2022 Official Guide to South Padre Island in the Print…

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UTRGV Names Inaugural School of Podiatric Medicine Dean

Education Featured News Comments
Dr. Javier La Fontaine

Dr. Javier La Fontaine is the inaugural dean of the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine, effective July 1. La Fontaine has served as associate dean of Academic Affairs for the SOPM since January. He has played an integral role in the school being granted candidacy by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education. The Doctor of Podiatric Medicine program has also been approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools…

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Local Contest Encourages Youth Nature Photographers

Community e-Brief Features News Comments
Southern Exposures Youth Nature Photo Contest

Quinta Mazatlán and the Valley Land Fund are hosting the Southern Exposures Youth Nature Photo Contest through Aug. 1. The annual contest encourages children ages 5 to 18 to take notice and act to protect the beauty of nature in the Rio Grande Valley. Between now and Aug. 1, children from 5 to 18 can submit up to six nature photographs taken only in the Rio Grande Valley. Photos can…

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Garcia Awarded Nation’s Highest Civilian Honor

Community e-Brief Features Featured News Comments
Dr. Juliet Garcia

Brownsville native and longtime educator Dr. Juliet Garcia will receive the nation’s highest civilian honor today in Washington D.C.  President Joe Biden will award The Presidential Medal of Freedom to the former longtime president of the University of Texas at Brownsville at the White House. For Garcia, it is the culmination of both a life in education and as a local, regional and national leader in the field of higher…

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VIDA’s Support Leads To Success

Community e-Brief Features News Comments
Lupita Caballero

Edcouch resident Lupita Caballero felt fortunate to have a job as a health-care provider but earning $10 an hour placed her in a situation countless Rio Grande Valley residents know all too well. She knew she needed a degree in nursing to advance in the field of health care, but on her salary, she had no discretionary income to pay for college classes, textbooks and uniforms. Though the hurdles never…

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UTRGV Names Senior VP And Dean

Education Featured News Comments
Can Saygin

Can Saygin will be the new new senior vice president for Research and dean of the Graduate College at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley effective Aug. 1. “I am looking forward to playing an impactful role in developing and implementing the vision, programs, and infrastructure that will continue growing the Research Enterprise and expanding the Graduate College at UTRGV,” said Saygin. Saygin joins UTRGV from The University of Texas at…

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Sheriff’s Office: Being Prepared Saves Lives

Community Government News Comments
The primitive reaction to a crisis is to run, hide, fight. However, without a proactive plan in place, recent events have shown a complete failure to use these primitive instincts.

Seconds matter. Awareness and preparation matter.  The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with DHR Health, invited the public to a free, two-hour Active Shooter/Critical Incident Training on June 8 at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance. Senior deputy Rick Garcia stressed the importance of awareness and preparation in his presentations.  Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra said over 45,000 civilians across the state have been trained with sessions done at…

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Police Chief Makes Career Climb In SPI

Community News Comments
The South Padre Island Police Department gears up and adds supplementary staff during spring break and the Easter holiday. (Courtesy)

South Padre Island Police Chief Claudine O’Carroll didn’t know what to fully expect heading into March’s spring break 2022 and the following Easter holiday week in April. Both 2020 and 2021 were peculiar ones. Spring break traffic in 2020 was light to at times non-existent. A bit of a rebound occurred in 2021, with more families on the Island over the usual college-aged spring breakers who had their routines thrown…

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Rusteberg Dedicated Life & Work To Brownsville

Community Finance/Banking News Comments
A wall of honor at IBC-Brownsville lauds the legacy of Fred W. Rusteberg.

Fred W. Rusteberg was known as a gentleman, a soft-spoken and persistent advocate for his banking company and community. Rusteberg could also bring it, when need be, a steely resolve emerging when he saw an injustice or inequity that required a challenge. One of those times occurred about 20 years ago when the chancellor of the University of Texas System visited Brownsville. It was to be a festive occasion in…

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