PSJA

• Featured

PHARR – "Director/Co-writer Pedro Garcia and Playwright Lucio G. Rivera bring Tales of the Hidalgo Pumphouse to life!" says local reviewer Jim McKone. After eight sold out houses in November, the play shows again Jan. 12-15 at the Pharr Literacy Project's "Black Box Theater", 203 W Quentin Newcombe, Ave., in Pharr. Showtimes are: Thur., Fri., & Sat. at 7:30 p.m. and Sun. at 3 p.m.

CORPUS CHRISTI – Hector Garza Martinez, 44, of Alamo, has been sentenced to 145 months in federal prison without parole for possession with intent to distribute more than 5000 kilograms of marijuana, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. The load was the largest single seizure of marijuana at the Falfurrias checkpoint in 2011 and the largest single marijuana seizure processed by the Corpus Christi Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 2011.

PHARR - The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD is the recipient of a Gold Leadership Circle Award from the Texas Comptroller's Office.

PHARR – For 20-year-old Roman Castillo, traveling to the Rio Grande Valley meant he would meet his father for the first time, so he left his hometown in Minnesota and started his journey south. His arrival was not as welcoming as he hoped, but the circumstances made him realize it was time to take control of his life again.

• Featured

SAN JUAN – The City of San Juan's annual Christmas festival, Noche de Paz, is on Saturday, Dec. 10, from noon to 9:00 p.m. at Mayfield Park, on the corner of Ridge Road and San Antonio Ave.

SAN JUAN – CEV Multimedia, a producer of Career and Technical Education (CTE) multimedia materials, today announced Micah Robles as the December recipient of CEV's national scholarship program, CTE Student of the Month Club. Robles received the large $500 check during a surprise ceremony held at his high school among his peers.

SAN JUAN – Walgreens has opened their newest location in North San Juan, 101 W. FM 495, at the corner of FM 495 and Raul Longoria.

PHARR – "Tales of the Hidalgo Pumphouse," this strange but basically true play, has had eight performances - and may have more in the future by popular demand.

PHARR – HUB City Conjunto & Tejano Museum Founder and President Roy Rodriguez, in collaboration with the City of Pharr and the Pharr Chamber of Commerce, invite everyone to a Free Concert to take place at the southside parking lot (Cage and Caffery) of Pharr City Hall, Thursday, Nov. 17, from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Featured

SAN JUAN – Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District will be having the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for Sgt. Leonel Treviño Elementary School in San Juan on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 9:30 am (901 E. El Dora Rd).

SAN JUAN – Eleven PSJA High School students and one alternate placed in the 2011-2012 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-Region Orchestra. Over 200 students from Region 15 participated in this event and only 58 were selected to this prestigious orchestra. PSJA High School had the highest number of students placing in the orchestra. The PSJA HS Bear Orchestra is under the direction of Albert Garcia and Adriana Olivan.

PHARR - Thirteen PSJA ISD schools are part of the 2011 National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) Higher Performing Schools listing. This list identifies schools that have consistently outperformed their peers that serve similar student populations - and recognizes their achievement in bringing more students to college and career readiness than expected.

• Spotlight

PHARR – HUB City Conjunto and Tejano Museum Founder and President Roy Rodriguez, in collaboration with the City of Pharr and the Pharr Chamber of Commerce, invite the community to a free concert to take place at the southside parking lot (Cage and Caffery) of Pharr City Hall on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Top Story

SAN JUAN – Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation, with nearly a quarter of the population lacking health coverage. In border regions, such as the impoverished Rio Grande Valley, the rate is even higher.

• Top Story

SAN JUAN – New Texas election laws are part of an "abrupt shift" away from decades of expanding voter participation nationwide, according to a new report. Fourteen states this year enacted 21 new measures that could make it "significantly harder" for more than five million eligible Americans to vote next year, according to the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice.

• Featured

PHARR – This year has seen its share of fires locally, in our state and throughout our nation. These fires can occur in residential areas and in the wilderness. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that between 2005 and 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 373,900 reported residential fires which caused an annual average of 2,650 civilian deaths, 12,890 civilian injuries and $7.1 billion in direct property damage per year. Just the same, there are more than 75,000 wildfires in the U.S. per year that together burn a total of more than 6 million acres of land.

PHARR – The Pharr Literacy Project and Cultural Arts Center in downtown Pharr is hosting the Festival Mexicano on Friday, Sept. 23, from 6 to 10 p.m.

PHARR – The Pharr Literacy Project and Cultural Arts Center in downtown Pharr has received a grant from Dollar General for $15,000.

PHARR – Prominent South Texas employment and civil rights lawyer Michael Pruneda has announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for State Representative in House District 40. Pruneda is a proud life-long resident of Pharr and maintains a successful law practice in his hometown.

SAN JUAN – The San Juan Economic Development Corporation has successfully negotiated its second luxury dealership coming to San Juan by the end of 2011.

PHARR – The Pharr Literacy Project and Cultural Arts Center will be offering a Retail Sales and Marketing Class at 205 W. Park Avenue in downtown Pharr.

SAN JUAN – Five local elementary schools, 4th and 5th grade students, competed for the chance to win the title of Grande Champion in the San Juan EDC's 4th annual Shop San Juan Sales Tax Drive. Students competed for a chance to win a Fun Day for their school by collecting receipts from local San Juan businesses and accumulating the most sales tax.

ALAMO - Come enjoy the first ever Summer Tram Tours!! See the natural wonders of Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge while riding the Nature Tram in the shade of the tree canopy... enjoy the wild side of nature. 

PHARR – The Pharr Literacy Project will be offering numerous summer courses for adults beginning on Monday, June 6, at the Literacy and Cultural Arts Center located at 203 W. Park Ave., Pharr.