RGC FFA Team Advances at University Competition

The Rio Grande City FFA Leadership Development Event Junior Skill team advanced to the Area 10 competition held at Texas A&M University Kingsville on November 21st, 2011. The team competed against teams that are from San Antonio to the Rio Grande Valley. The team placed 8th place overall in their event. Pictured from left to right Mrs. Randy Lee Martin - RGC FFA Advisor, Justin Cody Salinas, Beto Garza Jr, and Christian Olivarez.

Roma Students Design Ornament Displayed at State Capitol

AUSTIN — Last week, State Representative Ryan Guillen, D-Starr County, presented the House District 31 ornament designed by members of the Roma High School Art Club to be displayed on the Lone Star Celebration Christmas Tree in the House Chamber at the Texas State Capitol.

Back in November, art teacher Monica Gillette and Roma High School Art Club members Hector Ochoa, Jessica Moreno, Michelle Garcia, Alexia Barrera, Vivian Cortez, were asked to decorate the District 31 ornament in a way that showcases the unique character of the district.

"Mrs. Gillette and her students truly went above and beyond in designing this year's ornament," said Rep. Guillen. "It's a very impressive display of art that effectively captures the spirit of our region's growing birding industry."

GRSE Students Spread Holiday Cheer to Needy Families

Safety Patrols at General Ricardo Sanchez Elementary had a toy, clothes and food drive in order to spread some holiday cheer to less-fortunate families. Every item collected was donated to the Starr County Community Closet which serves families in need.  We greatly appreciate parents, students and staff’s donations.

Local Rep. Urges Moves that Could Make Insurance Companies "Provide Rebates"

AUSTIN —  State Representative Ryan Guillen (D-Starr County), joined by 30 other Texas House Democrats, urged Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman to withdraw an effort that would cost Texas policy holders an estimated $260 million.

TDI recently submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USHSS) to delay implementation of the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) rule. The MLR rule is a provision of the Affordable Healthcare Act that would require insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of policy premium dollars on actual medical expenses, rather than in-house overhead, marketing, advertising, or bonuses. Under the MLR, if insurers fail to comply with these standards, they must provide rebates to policyholders. In Texas, rebates would amount to approximately $350 for each policy holder.

Vaccination Required for Most New College Students

Students who will be new to South Texas College in the spring 2012 semester can get a jump on preparations for the semester by doing one simple thing – ensuring they have gotten a Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination.

A new Texas law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2012 that requires all incoming college freshmen to have an initial Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination or booster dose. It is important to note there are several exceptions including students who were enrolled in the college in the fall semester and are returning for the spring, students 30 years of age or older at the start of the spring semester, students enrolled in only online courses or continuing education courses, or students enrolled in dual enrollment courses held off the college’s campuses.

“All incoming freshmen, transfer students and returning students who did not attend STC in the fall 2011 semester will be required to show proof of immunization against bacterial meningitis,” explained Kim McKay, interim dean of enrollment services.”

South Texas Lyric Opera annual performance of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” Dec. 11

South Texas Lyric Opera, the Rio Grande Valley’s premier opera company and sponsored in part by South Texas College, celebrates the holiday season with its sixth annual performance of “Amahl and the Night Visitors.”

Fully staged with a live orchestra, the story centers on Amahl, who is a poor, crippled shepherd boy living with his widowed mother. They encounter the three kings destined to visit the newborn Christ and through the course of the tale, the young boy is cured of his lameness because of his selflessness.

At one hour in length and performed in English, the performance takes place on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 at 3 p.m. at the Rio Grande City High School Paco Zarate Fine Arts Auditorium located at 144 FM 3167 in Rio Grande City.

“This is a story appealing to children of all ages, with magical themes and glorious music,” said Dr. Mazias de Oliviera, founder and artistic director of STLO. “It was written specifically for young imaginations that can easily relate to a child with a head full of dreams. This is a great event for the entire family with uplifting themes of hope, which is particularly important in this day and age.”

UTPA to Host Christmas Concert Dec. 18

The University of Texas-Pan American invites the public to ring in the holiday season with the pageantry and beauty of the Mariachi tradition.

The University's Department of Music presents the award-winning UTPA Mariachi Aztlán in Mariachi Christmas Concerts, Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. in the UTPA Fine Arts Auditorium. The concerts will also feature performances by the Luz de Luna Folkloric Dance Ensemble and McAllen High School's Mariachi Oro.

FEMA Visits Local College

“Disaster” is a word not lightly used and certainly not a situation anyone hopes to face. However, Valley residents can rest assured that graduates from South Texas College’s Emergency Medical Technology Program will be well prepared to face a major disaster head on should one occur in the region.

Recently STC hosted FEMA at its Starr County Campus in Rio Grande City, where students learned from top-level federal trainers about health care management of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive events. The course was offered to the college and its students free of charge as part of an effort to ensure national disaster preparedness on behalf of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center and the Texas A&M University System.

“This is awareness training and meant to make responders as prepared as possible,” said Ernie Witener, FEMA training specialist. “With these agents we are discussing, time is essential and makes the difference between life and death. It all boils down to better protecting the public and that’s why we are here working with these students.”