Continue reading »]]> By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
repo...@sbnewspaper.com

Richard Martinez

A San Benito man is accused of attempting, and nearly succeeding, to steal a city vehicle from the City of San Benito Service Center early Friday morning.

At approximately 2:44 a.m., an officer with the San Benito Police Department observed a white F-150 pickup truck exit the service center located on the 900 block of West Stenger Street at a very high rate of speed. The officer engaged in a brief pursuit of the vehicle but the truck was traveling too fast.

“An officer just happened to be driving up to the area,” said San Benito Assistant Police Chief of Operations Michael Galvan. “If you look at the video, the truck comes out of the city shop, crashes through the gate right in front of the officer and he’s got his lights off. The officer just hit the lights and siren and the chase was on. It was just being in the right place at the right time. Because of the high speed that this person was going, the officer felt it was too dangerous to risk his life and other peoples’ lives.”

The suspect vehicle proceeded to travel at a high rate of speed towards Brownsville before it was found abandoned by the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department near Roberta Road. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Richard Martinez, was also located walking away from the area.

“He’s actually a pretty small, thin guy. He managed to squeeze in through the fence and through a very small opening to gain access to where all the keys were at,” explained Galvan. “His size was basically on his side and got him in there.”

Martinez was arrested on one count of theft of a motor vehicle, evading arrest on a vehicle and burglary of a building. He remains in the San Benito jail pending an arraignment.

“I’m not sure if he was on anything. I don’t think he was. He was just desperate to steal everything that was inside the truck,” Galvan said. “You’re talking about all kinds of equipment and stuff that’s in (the truck). If he can get it from point A to point B and unload all that stuff he probably would have come out pretty good. If you steal a vehicle, even the battery alone could get you a pretty good nickel. You’d be surprised what they’ll do.”

Continue reading »]]> Date: Thru June 28
Event: San Benito Public Library Summer Reading Program
Where: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 361-3860

Date: June 15
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Event: Market Day
Where: Plaza de San Benito, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5321

Date: June 15
Event: Movies in the Park
Where: W.H. Heavin Amphitheater on the resaca in San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5590

Date: June 22
Time: 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Event: Kids Fishing Tournament
Where: W.H. Heavin Resaca Trail in San Benito; weigh-in station at Kennedy Park, 400 Freddy Fender Ln., San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5321

Date: June 22
Time: TBA
Event: 13th Annual Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum Induction Ceremony
Where: TBA
More Info: (956) 245-1666

Date: June 27
Time: 6 p.m.
Event: San Benito Historical Society Preservation and Pizza Party
Where: San Benito Community Building, 210 E. Heywood St., San Benito
More Info: toot...@yahoo.com or Rhia...@gmail.com

Date: July 3
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Narciso Martinez Writers Forum
Where: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 350-3905

Date: July 6
Time: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Event: ResacaFest 2013
Where: W.H. Heavin Resaca Trail in San Benito
More Info: (956) 361-3800

Date: July 20
Event: Movies in the Park
Where: W.H. Heavin Amphitheater on the resaca in San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5590

Date: August 5
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Narciso Martinez Writers Forum
Where: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 350-3905

Date: August 17
Event: Movies in the Park
Where: W.H. Heavin Amphitheater on the resaca in San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5590

Date: September 2
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Narciso Martinez Writers Forum
Where: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 350-3905

Date: September 21
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Event: Market Day
Where: Plaza de San Benito, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5321

Date: October 7
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Narciso Martinez Writers Forum
Where: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 350-3905

Date: October 19
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Event: Market Day in downtown San Benito
Where: Plaza de San Benito, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5321

Date: November 4
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Narciso Martinez Writers Forum
Where: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 350-3905

Date: Monday-Friday
Time: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Event: Starz School of Dance Registration
Where: 115 N. Williams Rd., San Benito
More Info: (956) 361-7827

Date: Monday – Friday
Time: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Event: Volunteers Sought
Where: Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley Inc.
More Info: (956) 682-8101

Date: Monday – Friday
Time: 8 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Event: Recycling
Where: Paper Recycling Center, City Service Center, 925 W. Stenger, San Benito

Date: Every Third Monday
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Event: Friends of the Library
Where: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St.
More Info: (956) 456-2960

Date: Every First Tuesday
Event: Writers Forum
Where: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 255 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 350-3905

Date: Every Second Tuesday
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Event: South Texas United Auto Workers Retiree Meetings
Where: 1509 Morgan Blvd., Harlingen

Date: Every Second Tuesday
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Event: Cancer Support Group
Where: 4501 S. Expressway 83, Harlingen
More Info: (956) 399-3860

Date: Every Second Saturday
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Event: The Valley Byliners
Where: Harlingen Public Library, 410 ’76 Dr., 1:30 p.m.
More Info: (956) 399-8505, rgvbyliners.org

Date: Every Third Tuesday
Event: Fuerza Workers Rights Meetings
Where: South Texas Adult Resource Training (START) Center, San Benito

Date: Every Third Wednesday
Event: Des Moines, Iowa East High School Meetings
Where: Junction Care, Corner of Cage (US 281) and Park Street, Pharr
More Info: (956) 781-6611

Date: Every Last Wednesday
Event: TIFA (Texas Inmate Families Association) Chapter Meetings
Where: South Texas Adult Resource Training (START) Center, San Benito

Date: Every Friday
Event: Story Time at the Library for Head Start students
Where: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St.
More Info: (956) 361-3860

Date: Monthly
Event: Tunes by the Trail
More Info: (956) 361-3800

Date: Monthly
Event: Chamber of Commerce Pride Beautification Committee meeting
More Info: (956) 399-5763

Date: Ongoing
Event: Volunteers Sought
Where: Amenity Hospice, Inc.
More Info: (956) 361-5100

Date: Ongoing
Event: Mentors Sought
Where: Valley International Community Development Corporation
More Info: (956) 399-3777

Date: Ongoing
Event: Migrant Head Start Recruitment
Where: Head Start, La Paloma
More Info: (956) 399-6046

Continue reading »]]> By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
repo...@sbnewspaper.com

Alexandria E. Gonzales

San Benito police reported Friday that a mobile number used to text a bomb threat at Rio Hondo High School has been linked to the highly-controversial teenage phone harassment case.

Assistant Operations Chief Michael Galvan of the San Benito Police Department said that the bomb threat, sent via text message on Wednesday, indicated that a bomb would be at the Rio Hondo High School gym on Thursday, June 13. Although Rio Hondo ISD officials have remained tight-lipped on the matter, summer school students attending RHHS reported Thursday that no explosive devices were found.

Galvan, meanwhile, said that the mobile number used to send the bomb threat was identified in the aforementioned phone harassment case, which lead to the June 6 arrest of Alexandria E. Gonzales, the 17-year-old Rio Hondo High School student accused of threatening to kill a fellow classmate and eat the victim’s organs. The family of the victim alleges that such threats came in the form of nearly 2,000 text messages sent in a three-week span.

According to Galvan, the number in question has also been linked to a 2012 RHHS bomb threat.

Want the whole story? Pick up a copy of the June 16 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.

Continue reading »]]> By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
repo...@sbnewspaper.com

A recent county-wide crackdown on eight-liners by the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office has reportedly resulted in the closure of most, if not all, arcades in the San Benito area.

Questions have arisen regarding the lack of reports in reference to the efforts made by the DA’s Office to shutdown all eight-liner establishments in Cameron County, specifically San Benito, known as Operation Bishop.

“I think the reason there hasn’t been (any eight-liner raids in San Benito) is because many of them have closed voluntarily after being witnessed to our raids,” said Public Information Officer Melissa Zamora of the DA’s Office. “Right now what we’re finding is that some of them are moving into private residences and even hotels. We’re just trying to keep an eye on that sort of activity and documenting everything.”

Operation Bishop is the culmination of an 18-month criminal investigation of illegal gambling in Cameron County. Raids of illegally operated eight-liner and sweepstakes businesses have been numerous since April, when Operation Bishop went into effect.

Want the whole story? Pick up a copy of the June 16 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.

Continue reading »]]> Special to the NEWS

(Courtesy photo)

The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center in San Benito will host Teatro Luna, a Chicago-based theater company, on June 19.

The group of female performers is bringing their groundbreaking work to the Rio Grande Valley for free. Luna has been called “theatre that matters” by The New York Times and is America’s only Pan-Latina theatre company producing a full season of work. The Chicago Tribune says that Luna “…wears its Latina cultural specificity with an ease that is both rich and fully American” and that they are “hugely entertaining” by New City. Luna is currently touring throughout Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California in preparation for their first appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.

Luna’s performance at the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito, on June 19 is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

Want the whole story? Pick up a copy of the June 16 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.

Continue reading »]]> By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
repo...@sbnewspaper.com

Mary Rivas of San Benito waited four years to grow her hair 17 inches long so she could donate it to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children ages 21 and under who suffer from long-term medical hair loss. Courtesy photos

What better way to commemorate the commencement of a chapter in one’s life than to cut off all your hair and donate it to charity?

That is exactly what 18-year-old Mary Rivas did.

It was actually her second time donating her hair to charity, and it probably won’t be her last.

“The very first time that she did it I was furious because I love long hair on my daughters,” said Rene Rivas, Mary’s father. “She did it when she was about 8 or 9 years old. I kind of got really upset with her, but then she told me the reason she did it for.”

“It’s because I think of the little girls who are sick with cancer, they’re crying and losing their hair. I figured since I have a standard for having long hair, I could use it for good use,” Mary said. “I decided to donate it to the Locks of Love, that way they could use it to make a wig for a little girl and she can be happy and not feel self-conscious about her image.”

Want the whole story? Pick up a copy of the June 16 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.

Continue reading »]]> By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
repo...@sbnewspaper.com

David Lee Garza

Johnny Canales

Juan Sifuentes

Mario Saenz

Ramon Medina

The Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum will host its 13th annual induction ceremony on Saturday, June 22, at the San Benito Community Building on 210 E. Heywood St.

This year, the Conjunto HOF will welcome five new members, each boasting prestigious statuses. Live music entertainment will also be provided.

The five inductees include Mario Saenz, Johnny Canales and David Lee Garza as well as Juan Sifuentes and Ramon Medina; Sifuentes and Medina are being inducted posthumously.

“Playing a few songs will be inductee Mario Saenz,” said Museum President Rey Avila. “Johnny Canales told me a month ago that since he is internationally known, he doesn’t know if he will be able to make it or not. We will find out probably four days before.”

Want the whole story? Pick up a copy of the June 16 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.

Continue reading »]]> By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
edi...@sbnewspaper.com

Michael Rodriguez

All I needed was an excuse, someone to emerge from the shadows and into the light of my flashlight to attack me. I fantasized about this – I even prayed for it – so that I could defend my family. And if I needed to use deadly force…So be it.

There I was one hot summer night, walking around my block, not to mention searching our utility easement and other nooks and crannies, along with my brother-in-law with a flashlight in hand and covered in sweat and mosquitoes. My wife, mother, sister and niece had all received death threats via text messages that evening – in some cases even warning not to step outside lest they be shot and killed – from a deranged 17-year-old Rio Hondo High School student, a girl who has taken the term “fatal attraction” to a whole new level. This teenager was arrested on two counts of phone harassment for threatening via text to kill and to eat the organs of my niece, also a 17-year-old RHHS student. Then, to make matters worse, the suspect gained access, admittedly through school records, to my family’s cell phone numbers. Obviously, it didn’t take long for the rest of us to be subjected to similar threats.

Some days we received bomb threats from the suspect, prompting RHHS authorities in at least one case to release students early, and other times we witnessed the suspect traveling in different vehicles outside our home, following us while on the road and even parked from afar in a not-so-subtle attempt at being inconspicuous. She’s almost always accompanied by her boyfriend, who has recently threatened to rape, kill and burn my niece. I guess I could have simply referred to him as a coward just now, especially since he has yet to threaten any of the men in my family.

So how did this all start? Well, it began as a simple high school dispute, or drama, if you will. You see, the suspect started bullying my niece during the summer of 2012 because she, my niece, was dating her would-be attacker’s ex-boyfriend. Case closed, right? Consider first that when my niece began receiving text messages from the suspect, some of which read that she’d cut my niece’s fingers off and “eat them like French fries,” she laughed and even mocked her tormentor. The only problem is that this was no ordinary high school drama but a legitimate cause for concern.

Pulling my niece’s emergency contacts to increase the scope of the suspect’s threats, sending in just three weeks’ time over 2,000 text messages, stalking us and even taking responsibility for breaking into our home were enough incidents to lend credence to an investigation, an arrest warrant and eventually the apprehension of the suspect responsible for these crimes.

What infuriates me is why the San Benito Police Department, the arresting agency in this case, was the first to take any action. Understand that this case was initially reported to Rio Hondo ISD officials, including school district police and high school faculty, in January 2013 yet little has been done since. Meanwhile, SBPD needed just two weeks to make an arrest.

What gives, Rio Hondo? All I’ve heard in response to our concerns have been excuses as to why RHISD authorities can take no action: 1.) You lack resources; 2.) The suspect couldn’t possibly be responsible because she’s in the high school band and therefore a “good kid;” 3.) There’s no proof.

I don’t know, perhaps I’m being too hard on these folks and should accept the fact that RHISD police officers are not equipped to conduct actual police work; that students who are in the high school band receive immunity from investigation and that phone records and a taped admission of guilt don’t necessarily qualify as proof.

Then again, maybe laziness is the real culprit. As I understand it, one of the phone numbers used by the suspect to send us threatening texts is also associated with past bomb threats, more notably dating back to a 2012 incident. That alone suffices the need for an internal investigation into Rio Hondo ISD police, high school staff and administrators regarding these matters and more. Their gross inaction has helped place my family in danger and God knows who else before us, not to mention leaving our personal information exposed to your students. I’m looking for answers, Rio Hondo. It’s in your best interest that you provide them sans resistance.

Continue reading »]]> Special to the NEWS

San Benito Elks Lodge No. 1661 will host a public Flag Day Ceremony this Friday at 7 p.m. at the Veterans War Memorial site at the intersection of Sam Houston Blvd. and Rowson Street.

The public is invited to attend to demonstrate their patriotism through their presence, and by flying the U.S. flag on Friday at their home and/or businesses. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Elks Lodge at 251 N. Reagan St.

The Flag Day ceremony also offers citizens the opportunity to properly dispose of their flags. Containers will be placed onsite where flags may be retired in a dignified manner and without disrespect to the flag of the United States of America. The U.S. Flag Code reads, “The Flag, when it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” After the ceremony in San Benito, the returned flags will be restored until they can be burned, according to Earl Groh, Elks exalted leader.

After a U.S. flag has been burned, the ashes should be buried. Persons unable to burn and bury the flag are invited to deliver their flags to the Veterans War Memorial and stay for a tribute to the flag.

Supporting the Elks in the Ceremony will be the San Benito Veterans Advisory Board, according to Chairman Victor Garza. “This is the first year we as a group have joined in the ceremony. We view this day as a time to encourage our citizens to visibly demonstrate their pride in their country, which is truly represented in our beloved flag which stands for the rights and freedoms we experience as citizens of the United States,” he said. “It offers us the opportunity to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,” he added.

The ceremony will include a presentation by Elks officers on the “History of the 11 Flags that Have Flown over the USA.” “It is an interesting presentation that tells of what was going on in our history at the time each flag was flying,” Groh said.

To commemorate the adoption of the U.S. flag, the Congress, by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as “Flag Day” and requested that the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings.

“When proud patriots took up the fight for independence, they came together under a standard that showed their common cause,” said President Barack Obama in the official proclamation issued for Flag Day 2013. “When the wounds of civil war were still fresh and our country walked the long road to reconstruction, our people found hope in a banner that testified to the strength of our Union. Wherever our American journey has taken us, whether on that unending path to the mountaintop or high above into the reaches of space, Old Glory has followed, reminding us of the rights and responsibilities we share as citizens,” he said.

Continue reading »]]> Date: Thru June 28
Event: San Benito Public Library Summer Reading Program
Where: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 361-3860

Date: June 15
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Event: Market Day
Where: Plaza de San Benito, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5321

Date: June 15
Event: Movies in the Park
Where: W.H. Heavin Amphitheater on the resaca in San Benito
More Info: (956) 361-3800

Date: June 22
Time: 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Event: Kids Fishing Tournament
Where: W.H. Heavin Resaca Trail in San Benito; weigh-in station at Kennedy Park, 400 Freddy Fender Ln., San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5321

Date: June 22
Time: TBA
Event: 13th Annual Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum Induction Ceremony
Where: TBA
More Info: (956) 245-1666

Date: June 27
Time: 6 p.m.
Event: San Benito Historical Society Preservation and Pizza Party
Where: San Benito Community Building, 210 E. Heywood St., San Benito
More Info: toot...@yahoo.com or Rhia...@gmail.com

Date: July 3
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Narciso Martinez Writers Forum
Where: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 350-3905

Date: July 6
Time: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Event: ResacaFest 2013
Where: W.H. Heavin Resaca Trail in San Benito
More Info: (956) 361-3800

Date: July 20
Event: Movies in the Park
Where: W.H. Heavin Amphitheater on the resaca in San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5590

Date: August 5
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Narciso Martinez Writers Forum
Where: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 350-3905

Date: August 17
Event: Movies in the Park
Where: W.H. Heavin Amphitheater on the resaca in San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5590

Date: September 2
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Narciso Martinez Writers Forum
Where: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 350-3905

Date: September 21
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Event: Market Day
Where: Plaza de San Benito, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5321

Date: October 7
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Narciso Martinez Writers Forum
Where: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 350-3905

Date: October 19
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Event: Market Day in downtown San Benito
Where: Plaza de San Benito, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 399-5321

Date: November 4
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: Narciso Martinez Writers Forum
Where: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 350-3905

Date: Monday-Friday
Time: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Event: Starz School of Dance Registration
Where: 115 N. Williams Rd., San Benito
More Info: (956) 361-7827

Date: Monday – Friday
Time: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Event: Volunteers Sought
Where: Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley Inc.
More Info: (956) 682-8101

Date: Monday – Friday
Time: 8 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Event: Recycling
Where: Paper Recycling Center, City Service Center, 925 W. Stenger, San Benito

Date: Every Third Monday
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Event: Friends of the Library
Where: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St.
More Info: (956) 456-2960

Date: Every First Tuesday
Event: Writers Forum
Where: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 255 E. Stenger St., San Benito
More Info: (956) 350-3905

Date: Every Second Tuesday
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Event: South Texas United Auto Workers Retiree Meetings
Where: 1509 Morgan Blvd., Harlingen

Date: Every Second Tuesday
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Event: Cancer Support Group
Where: 4501 S. Expressway 83, Harlingen
More Info: (956) 399-3860

Date: Every Second Saturday
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Event: The Valley Byliners
Where: Harlingen Public Library, 410 ’76 Dr., 1:30 p.m.
More Info: (956) 399-8505, rgvbyliners.org

Date: Every Third Tuesday
Event: Fuerza Workers Rights Meetings
Where: South Texas Adult Resource Training (START) Center, San Benito

Date: Every Third Wednesday
Event: Des Moines, Iowa East High School Meetings
Where: Junction Care, Corner of Cage (US 281) and Park Street, Pharr
More Info: (956) 781-6611

Date: Every Last Wednesday
Event: TIFA (Texas Inmate Families Association) Chapter Meetings
Where: South Texas Adult Resource Training (START) Center, San Benito

Date: Every Friday
Event: Story Time at the Library for Head Start students
Where: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St.
More Info: (956) 361-3860

Date: Monthly
Event: Tunes by the Trail
More Info: (956) 361-3800

Date: Monthly
Event: Chamber of Commerce Pride Beautification Committee meeting
More Info: (956) 399-5763

Date: Ongoing
Event: Volunteers Sought
Where: Amenity Hospice, Inc.
More Info: (956) 361-5100

Date: Ongoing
Event: Mentors Sought
Where: Valley International Community Development Corporation
More Info: (956) 399-3777

Date: Ongoing
Event: Migrant Head Start Recruitment
Where: Head Start, La Paloma
More Info: (956) 399-6046