Slice Of Life

Soldier Tribute: Mario Ybarra Jr.

A Weslaco school named for Ybarra Sr. opens in January

By MATT LYNCH/Mid-Valley Town Crier

Just like his father before him, Mario Ybarra Jr. has been driven by duty for the last eight months.U.S. Army Pfc. Mario Ybarra Sr.’s sense of duty led him to the jungles of Vietnam in 1966, where he was killed in combat. It was his... Full story

Center Stage: Cesar Jesus Garcia

Garcia pursues an acting career with a bachelor’s degree in theater

By GABRIEL SALDAÑA/Valley Morning Star

Cesar Jesus Garcia knew he wanted to act for the rest of his life when he was in the second grade, where in a school production he played his first leading role as George Washington.“In second grade we were given a sheet of paper to write down... Full story

Diving in: Albert Perez

Perez recently swam from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco

By STEVE CLARK/The Brownsville Herald

Albert Perez was scheduled to swim from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco in a few days, and it wasn’t looking good.For starters, he could barely move. Perez, who owns Brisky & Perez Insurance Agency in Brownsville with his wife, Linda, had... Full story

What a catch: Paul Hopper

By COREY RYAN/Valley Morning Star

Swells brutally bash against the side of the boat as the fishermen ride caffeine highs. Combating half-ton fish 18 hours for 12 consecutive days can best be described as hard labor.After the shift ends, the men shower off the fish guts, get... Full story

Staying Busy: Robert McGinnis

Police chief says work is hard, but also fun

By MAGGIE DENNEY/Island Breeze

Laguna Vista Police Chief Robert McGinnis never knew when he started out as a reserve officer 20 years ago that he would one day be heading up the department.“I was only here as a reserve officer for a few months,” he said. “After... Full story

Helping Hero: Debbie Dickey

Dickey honored for dedication to patients

By ALLEN ESSEX/Valley Morning Star

Enthusiasm for her job and dedication to her patients are Debbie Dickey’s stock in trade.A certified nurse’s assistant at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen for 15 years, she has just been named the hospital’s Helping Hero of... Full story

Cultural heritage: Rosario Vega

Vega enjoys sharing, learning about San Benito history

By FERNANDO DEL VALLE/Valley Morning Star

As a little girl, her parents’ memories gave her some of her first history lessons, Rosario Vega said.For three years, she’s helped keep the city’s history alive at two museums that showcase San Benito’s rich cultural... Full story

Love of music: Pedro “Pete” G. Peña

Peña played drums for Freddy Fender in the late 1960s and 1970s

By GABRIEL SALDAÑA/Valley Morning Star

Pedro “Pete” G. Peña says he has shaken hands and played drums with some of the most influential musicians of rock and popular music of the 1960s and 1970s.Peña, 62, said he played drums with Freddy Fender for five years in... Full story

School Programs: Schawn Wreden

Wreden has been a program director for three years in Harlingen

By COREY RYAN/Valley Morning Star

Schawn Wreden noticed something during her time as a student in Harlingen schools and as a teacher for 14 years.Students could benefit from an after-school program.In 2004, Harlingen received a grant that funded after-school programs on six... Full story

Donate Life: Henrietta Peynado

Peynado is recognized for raising awareness of organ donation

By COREY RYAN/Valley Morning Star

Henrietta Peynado has been a tireless promoter of organ and tissue donation since 2005.That’s when her sister, Veronica Salinas-Contreras, died while awaiting a double-lung transplant. The organs never arrived.Four years later, Peynado was... Full story

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