By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com The South Padre Island community is mourning the loss of longtime City Council Member John Kenneth “Ken” Medders Jr., whose decades of public service left a lasting impact on the Island and throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Medders died June 11 following a brief illness. He was 77. At the time …

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By JACQI LEYVA-HILL Special to the PRESS For more than 30 years, members of the Rio Grande Valley Quilt Guild have been expressing their gratitude to military veterans one stitch at a time. The organization, founded in 1981, brings together quilting enthusiasts from communities across the Rio Grande Valley for education, fellowship and community service. …

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Moments in Time is a collection of recovered newspaper briefs and other publications, compiled by local historian, Steve Hathcock, offering a look back at the history of the Rio Grande Valley. Steve Hathcock is a local historian and a regular columnist for the Port Isabel South Padre Press. He has spent many years collecting and …

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By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR. Special to the PRESS The Port Isabel boys’ basketball team is in the midst of competing in Brownsville’s Valley Hoops summer program. On June 9th, the team was matched up against a familiar opponent, district rival Jubilee Brownsville. As the game got underway, PI’s Shiloh Galvan hit a jumper to give …

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By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Cameron County Commissioners on Tuesday approved economic development agreements designed to encourage Saronic Technologies to establish a next-generation shipbuilding facility in Cameron County. County officials say the project, if ultimately located in Cameron County, could bring up to 10,000 jobs and represent the largest private-sector job commitment in the county’s history. …

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By JACQI LEYVA-HILL Special to the PRESS Newly elected Place 1 Councilman Frank Galvan has filed a formal citizen complaint with the Town of Laguna Vista, alleging what he believes to be inconsistent enforcement of municipal codes. The complaint, received by the town on June 11, requests a review of whether code enforcement policies are …

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By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Multiple fire departments responded to a large fire early Sunday morning that destroyed four boats and a building near a Port Isabel marina. According to Port Isabel City Manager Jared Hockema, the Port Isabel Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the fire at approximately 1:57 a.m. on June 7 in the …

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By JACQI LEYVA-HILL Special to the PRESS Economic development, infrastructure improvements, financial accountability and future community projects were among the major topics discussed during the June 9 Laguna Vista Town Council meeting. Council members heard a regional workforce presentation, approved several construction and park improvement contracts, authorized a new municipal software system, and debated a …

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By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com   Point Isabel Independent School District is once again helping families keep children fed and healthy during the summer months through its free Summer Meals Program. The district’s Food Service Department is providing nutritious meals at no cost to all children 18 years of age and younger, as well as enrolled …

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By JACQI LEYVA-HILL Special to the PRESS The Port Isabel-San Benito Navigation District Board of Commissioners discussed future growth opportunities, property boundaries and grant funding during its June 4 regular meeting. Commissioners approved moving forward with a request for qualifications (RFQ) process to explore expanding the district’s administrative building and board meeting room. The board …

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