Anna Martinez may not have imagined what coming home would mean for her and her 8-year-old daughter. Born and raised in Weslaco, Martinez and her family moved to Houston when she was in fourth grade. The years that followed were difficult. When Martinez became a teen parent, depression and anger sent her on a downward spiral. Then Martinez’s parents separated, adding to her pain. Three years ago, Martinez decided to…
More than 1,400 law enforcement officers have trained at South Texas College’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence since January. The numbers come from RCPSE interim Chief Administrator Sgt. Jose Moroles, who spoke recently at STC’s President’s Advisory Council Committee. STC is the first border community college in the nation to establish integrative training for local, state and federal professionals in law enforcement. This also includes those in public safety,…
Qualfon Data Services LLC is already producing more than $8 million annually into the local economy in wages and now, it is expanding its footprint in Harlingen. According to the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, the business providing contact center services, integrated marketing solutions, big data analytics, and back-office processing is receiving a $200,000 job creation grant from the EDC. This comes after Qualfon extended their lease on a 40,000-square-foot office…
South Texas College is starting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, according to officials at a special event Nov. 25. Among those in attendance were the inaugural cohort of student nurses clad in green scrubs. Dr. Christie Candelaria serves as program chair of both the Associate Degree Nursing Program and the new BSN program. “I would treat this just like having a family,” Candelaria said about the start…
The 2020 U.S. Census will go out to a nation that’s more technologically wired than ever. Census Bureau officials expect the nation’s official population count to be the first of its kind. A solid majority of respondents will do so online. “The fact we’ve moved beyond paper only makes us more relevant to the American people,” said Timothy Olson, the associate director of field operations for the U.S. Census Bureau. …
Who says it doesn’t snow in McAllen? Actually, thanks to Peerless Production Group and the City of McAllen, expect to hear, “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” now through Jan. 6. In fact, due to this sudden change in Valley precipitation, city leaders have dubbed McAllen “The Official South Pole of Texas.” It will be so cold in McAllen, they will be using the Spanish word, “FRIO!” …
Black Friday was coming and Shannon Farrell knew what it would be like on the day after Thanksgiving. “They won’t let their employees leave,” Farrell said of store managers at the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets in Mercedes. “The stores will be full, the workers will be busy, and we’ll be there to feed them.” Shannon’s Sweets is itself located at the outlets and has become a go-to place for…
The Rio Grande Valley is bursting with flavor. Everywhere you turn, you see a growth of local restaurants and cafés within the small business community. Follow this guide to make the most of the holidays and bless your taste buds with unexpected [seasonal] flavors that you will be grateful you tried. The Main Course – Salome on Main Salome on Main is the product of Jessica Delgado and Chef Larry…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year … Christmas! One of the first things that comes to mind when you think of Christmas is the decorations. And nothing is more iconic than the tree with just the right combination of garland, tinsel and, of course, the perfect ornaments. Ornaments can add just the right touch to your tree, and Barn White carries hundreds of unique and beautiful ornaments. Barn…
In 2012, two suicide survivors teamed up to create the first Out of the Darkness Community Walk in the Valley. Melissa Zamora lost her dad to suicide when she was a child. Missy Moreno lost her brother to suicide in 2011. “We found that many people around us had been affected by suicide,” Zamora said. “Yet no one was talking about it. No one was talking about it because, as…