Decade 2000 to 2009

Development

2000 Harlingen population, according to the U.S. Census, is 57,876 as adjusted in April. Initially it is put at 57,564 but the city insists this is an undercount of 1,511 and should be put at 59,075. By July 2002 it has grown 2.6% to 59,384. The U.S. Census Bureau provides the following demographics for Harlingen at the beginning of the 21st Century: White 78.7% Black or African American 0.9% Hispanic or Latino (persons of any race who identify themselves as such) 72.8% High school graduate or higher 66.2% Bachelor's degree or higher 16.8% Speak a language other than English at home (5 years and older) 65.4% Median household income $30,296 Median value of single-family owner-occupied home $59,400

Heart of Harlingen program initiated to revitalize parts of Harlingen's original townsite, east of the downtown area. City works with the Harlingen Community Development Corp., a non-profit agency. By June 2002 one million dollars in state funds has allowed the renovation of eight homes, the construction of two new ones on vacant lots and the purchase of 23 decaying homes and two vacant lots. Harlingen municipal water use for the year is 10,759 acre-feet. By the year 2050 this is forecast to rise to 15,777. 7/1/00 By the end of mid-year sales tax revenues are $7,722,036 or up 6.38% over the same period last year. Airline boardings valued at $246,371 for the six months are down .81%. Commercial building permits at $19,692,400 are down 20.06% while new residences permits at $9,990,384 are down 33.78%. There were 206 home sales to date, up 15.08%. The average home sale price at $105,313 was up a considerable 40.42%. Free Trade Bridge revenues crept up slowly to $511,937 or 2.38%.

2002 The state deregulates electricity thereby bringing about generation companies which are wholesalers and retailers who sell and distribute electricity in a competitive market. In South Texas customers now have the choice of companies rather than only CPL and minor electric cooperatives. 10/18/02 After 15 months of construction, Su Clinica Familia opens its 61,000 sq. ft. $6 million facility at 1706 Treasure Hills Blvd. It has 54 examining rooms. Dr. Elena Marin is executive director of the facility which will have a drive-through window for an outside pharmacy. This non-profit organization provided service to more than 24,000, primarily low-income, patients in 2000 and generated about 119,468 medical visits and 10,314 dental visits through 15 physicians.

2/21/03 The Children's Center at the Valley Baptist Medical Center is dedicated. This unit is the first of its kind in the Valley. The 42,000 sq. ft. facility offers comprehensive pediatric service with its 62-bed unit designed specifically with children in mind. The facility cost $8 million with the community raising $1 million of this. It is located on the fourth floor of the East Tower. Its state-of-the-art facility is designed to accommodate children and parents. 3/18/03 City puts up $342,000 in economic development funds in order to obtain a Federal grant of $765,000. These will be used to improve the infrastructure at the industrial park at the Free Trade Bridge at Los Indios. San Benito and the County will repay Harlingen their portions. The park owner will put up $114,000. Funds will go for road construction, utilities, etc. 5/3/03 The Treasure Hills Country Club is gifted to the Valley Baptist Medical Center. In an exchange for an annuity Gene and Bettye Estillette donate 273 acres of land which includes 55.87 acres of undeveloped land, 22 developed lots, and the golf course. Part of the land will be used for the development of a wellness center and the construction of a conference and meeting center. The property was purchased at an auction for $1.85 million in July 1999 by Banco Nacional de Mexico and then from it by the Estillettes that same month. The VBMS will likely lease the golf course. 12/03 Employment in Harlingen has grown from 23,604 jobs in 1998 to 28,015 in 2003. In the same period new building permits have averaged $79 million annually. The top ten employers at the end of the year were: Employer No. of People Business Harlingen CISD 2,538 School District Valley Baptist Medical Center 1,810 Hospital EchoStar Communications 860 Call Center Texas State Technical College 540 Technical College City of Harlingen 525 City Government Advanced Call Center Technologies 403 Call Center Harlingen Medical Center 393 Hospital H-E-B 373 Retail Grocery -3 Rio Grande State Center 364 Mental Health West Corporation 350 Call Center

1/15/04 Valley Baptist Health System announces that it has acquired a 23-acre site at the Sharyland Plantation, south of Mission. It plans to develop another hospital there in Hidalgo County. In Harlingen it has purchased a building to provide additional services, including an out patient diagnostic center and a new pharmacy. The Valley Baptist Hospital currently is a 611-bed facility. It employs about 2,200 people and generates about $680 million in revenues annually.

2/29/04 The unoccupied Fruit of the Loom building with 678,000 sq. ft. on a 100 acre site is being prepared for sale as equipment comes out, an environmental study is made, and photographs are taken of it. Allex and Associates have been given the exclusive listing by its owners, Berkshire Hathaway. It should be put on the market by April 1. 5/18/04 It is announced that the Valley Baptist Health System will purchase the Brownsville Medical Center from the California-based Tenet Healthcare Corp. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, BMC has been serving Brownsville since 1923 and currently has a 243-bed facility and 900 employees. The sale is expected to be completed by June 30. 8/15/04 Global Entertainment and the City reveal that they are exploring the possibilities of an arena convention/conference center for Harlingen. Costs of a 5,800 seat facility which might be constructed would be backed by city bonds repaid from a two percentage point increase in the city's 7 % hotel-motel tax and a new 5% tax on car rentals. Global owns the Central Hockey League which might place a team in Harlingen as an anchor for the arena. 10/04 Harlingen's healthcare industry continues to expand as 60,000 square foot strip mall-type building is being erected on Victoria Lane to house medical offices. Alonzo Cantu, a McAllen architect, is building the facility. 11/18/04 Las Colinas, a mid- to high-end development is commenced. It will consist of 212 lots on 77 acres. Treasure Hills Blvd. will be extended 1 ½ mile to FM 509, according to Roger Kubala, president of Alliance Consolidated Corp., the developer. Lot costs will range from $45,000 to $85,000 for sizes ranging from 9,000 to 16,000 square feet. 12/31/04 Harlingen has issued $113.2 million in construction permits for 2004, up 49.3% from 2003's $75.8 million. New houses and apartments accounted for 48 permits valued at 40.8 million and commercial activities 38 permits valued at 33.6.

8/2/05 President George W. Bush signs the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). In doing so, the treaty when implemented may negatively impact the area's sugarcane growers and their cooperative, the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc. 12/05 For over a decade the residential buildings on E. Tyler and E. Harrison between Commerce and 77 Sunshine Streets have been inexorably transformed into business/commercial entities, moved off their lots, or demolished to make place for new structures. At the start of the 2000 decade on these same streets construction activity between 77 and Loop 499 accelerated greatly. For the most part the ubiquitous strip malls arose to parallel the streets, but some single-use buildings also were built. Quite a few offered the Spanish-Mexican Mediterranean style stucco exterior and designs. By mid- 2006 the following recent (or relatively so) projects were to be found: On Tyler (and working east) a new Cantu Construction and Development Co. strip mall with 24 parking slots; the Star Professional Plaza; The Work Station; Cantera (professional offices) at 1713; at 1902 Rosemont of Highland Gardens built in 2003 and managed by Southwest Housing Management Co. This large high-density enterprise consists of 70 one story rental units and 104 two-story townhouse rental units; at 1906 the Plaza Colonial Professional condos; Western Southern Life (insurance) building; new Express Rent to Own; Valley Physician Services at 2026 in a unique glass greenhouse- looking structure; 2025 has Rio Grande Valley Abstract Co.; the large Harlingen Pediatrics sits between the two street; Linda Burke, dentist, and Bryan F. Burke, CPA, at 2102; a Dollar General store; Alamo Bank of Texas; Drake Family Dentistry; Circle K Citgo convenience store; the new six unit Gaslight Center strip mall at 2422 with American Self-Storage to its rear. On E. Harrison working east the more recent entities are: Endodontic Dentists at 1610; Vela's Café L'gant at 1621; Rudy Garza Funeral Home; The Children's Dentist at 1717; Tussig Chiropractic Clinic at 1717; Epiphany Photo and Imaging at 1820; Sierra Title, 1902; Harrison Health Institute, 1916; Bryant and Stingley Inc., court reporters, at 2010 in a modernistic building built over ten years ago by Dr. Rashid and his wife as an art gallery; in a duplex at 2009 are lawyer Eddie Medrano and the Rio Grande Valley Real Estate Services; Valley Orthodontic and Oral Surgery Center at 2022; at 2323 is the sizeable Brisas Restaurant occupying the premise of the former Antonio's; and at 2405 the United Blood Services occupies all three units of the complex.

1/10/06 The Valley Baptist Health System announces two major developments. The first is the groundbreaking of the Valley Baptist Wellness Center on a 273 parcel owned at Treasure Hills. The facility will have an indoor exercise pool, workout areas, exercise studios, multi-purpose gym, baby sitting, etc. The second announcement is a $20 million strategy investment on 12/28/05 by the VBHS in the Harlingen Medical Center, which had an initial investment of $60 million. The owners of the latter, MedCath, indicated the loan would be used to pay down debt. 1/11/06 VBHS in partnership with Solara Healthcare, a Dallas-Ft. Worth long-term healthcare facility, breaks ground for a $9 million 41-bed hospital just north of the Harlingen Medical Center. It is said to employ 120 and have a $6.3 million annual impact on the community. 1/20/06 Mayor Rick Rodriguez in his state of the city address highlighted the following information: Harlingen's unemployment rate at 6.2 % was higher than the state average of 5.2 but lower than the Valley one of 9.5%; in 2005 the city issued 414 building permits for new home construction having a value of more than $41 million or an average of about $99,000 per unit; 64 permits for commercial structures for a total value of more than $20 million ( average about $312,500); the chambers of commerce and the Economic Development Corp. created 260 new jobs resulting in $8.61 million in capital investments; the Census Bureau estimated the city's 2005 population at 66,411, an increase of 8,847 or 15.4% over the 2000 census; the total cost for the city's railroad relocation project is about $35 million; the city will annex 181 acres on the east side of town including the former Fruit of the Loom complex, and within the next three years 3,146 acres or 4.91 square miles towards the west side of the city. 2/4/06 Dixieland Road will be extended southeast across the Arroyo Colorado to connect with Rangerville Road. Upon completion of an environmental study the $3.5 million project of which the state DOT has already earmarked $2 million will proceed. The new road should stimulate more economic development on the west side. 3/18/06 After the 2002 kickoff of a $500,000 grant to TSTC by the state's Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund, internet cable connections were made to the college, school district , public library, the city's communication center , and Su Clinica and two towers for wireless were erected. Now, $350,000 is needed to allow TSTC to obtain equipment to serve as the wireless service provider for the network. 9/15/06 Water and sewer lines are about to go into the Arroyo Heights Industrial Park, a light industry park being developed by retired physician Antonio L. Santos. Starting price for a 1 ½ acre lot is $38,000. An adjacent 42-acre tract has also been put on the market by others. The 106 acre site is to the east of the Harlingen Industrial Park, a three phase complex developed more than 20 years ago and now having 150 acres remaining to be developed. 9/16/06 A $60 million shopping center to feature about 35 retail stores is revealed to be opened in 2007. Mayor Rick Rodriguez announced that the 50-acre site between Business 83 and Lincoln Avenue is to be developed by St. Ives Developers of Dallas. The first increment of the 400,000 sq, ft. center will cost $35 million and is scheduled for start next spring when 25 stores will be built. Late in 2007 the second $25 million increment with 10-12 stores will be added. City tax incentives are still being negotiated. In 2002 St. Ives developed the Lincoln Corners shopping center. 11/06 With the city growing at half the rate of McAllen and Brownsville, City Commissioners approve the establishment of three Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment zones. In this system developers put up money up front and agree to be reimbursed from the tax increments as 80% of taxes that new businesses in the zones pay go into the TIF account. The three zones are No. 1, a 2,170 acre area on the north end of Loop 499 continuing east to the area south of the airport and expected to cost about $30 million to develop; No. 2 along FM 509 near Ed Carey and expected to cost $15 million; and No. 3 Spur 454 with 670 acres on the north and south areas of Express 77/83 interchange and expected to cost $18 million. 11/13 The Stoneleigh Harlingen Luxury Apartment Community on Loop 499 will open before January. It has 180 units, swimming pool, and 24-hour fitness center. The city at this juncture appears to have an overabundance of apartments. From 2003 through September 2006, 95 new apartments complexes with 533 dwelling units have been constructed. In addition 20 new apartment complexes are being considered.

1/1/07 Utilizing data from the Texas State Data Center, UT, San Antonio, the city Director of Planning and Development estimates Harlingen's current population to be 67,300. The mayor in his Annual Progress Report noted that the city had budgeted $1.6 million to repave streets in 2007, that 855 building permits having a total value of $91 million had been issued in 2006 and that this surpassed by $11 million those of 2005, property crimes were down 12.3 percent, that 34 new subdivisions had been started, and that property taxes would not be increased from the current 59 cents per $100 of valuation. The Chamber of Commerce reported that it had about 850 member businesses. 2/17/07 Final figures for Harlingen 2006 building permits revealed a total for the year of $91.1 million in contrast to $80.1 million for 2005. Permit revenues were $712,000 compared with $638,000 for 2005. Both figures likely surpassed all previous records. 11/28/07 One of the fastest growing areas in the city and immediately adjacent to it is the north side. Here ten new townhouses are being built on an 18 acre lot on Stone Creek Drive. Sixty-eight more units are planned. Nearby will be Adam's Landing, a garden home community. Still further north, this on Briggs Coleman Road, will be the Briggs Estates North.

1/8/08 In his progress report Mayor Boswell notes that the current total of taxable assessed value is just over $2.3 billion, a 100.2% increase over the last decade; that the city has an AAA credit rating; that 721 commercial and residential building permits were issued in 2007; that TSTC enrollment reached more than 5,000 full-time students; that the city had capital improvements including $6.7 million for drainage projects, 24 miles of street repaving, and extensive sidewalk construction; all while the city's crime rate dropped 3.8%. 4/28/08 The Texas Department of Agriculture designates Harlingen as a Certified Retirement Community, the 12th in the state and the first south of San Antonio. 6/8/08 Construction has begun on the 23,000 sq. ft. Rio Grande Valley Cancer Treatment Center on 2.57 acres at Benwood and Treasure Hills. Seven private investors are making possible the facility which will be serviced by four physicians and 50 medical technicians. 11/23/08 The Economic Development Corporation (Harlingen) "Fact File" wins a merit award. Salient facts in it are that the city's largest employer is the HCISD with 2,779 employees followed by the Valley Baptist Medical Center at 1,962. For 2007 the average household income was $48,120 with the population being 78% Hispanic. In 2007 the average apartment rental rate ranged from $434 to $629 per month .For 2006 the median house price was $98,800.

1/23/09 The city's population gained nearly 6,000 people this past year. The jump to 74,950 has been due in part to annexation that has been adding 1,600 to 1,800 a year. Additional planned annexations this year include the Juarez and Las Palmas colonias on the City's west side. In reporting on the City's health Mayor Boswell noted that for the fiscal year ending 9/30/08 retail sales tax growth was 4.28% compared to McAllen's 3.36.The fund balance was $11.1 million on that date despite expenses incurred from Hurricane Dolly. Several weeks ago a contract was awarded for construction of a 140,000 sq. ft. $40 million plus addition to the Regional Academic Health Center here for an Ambulatory Surgical Center. VA staffing will then rise to as many as 400. The Rio Grande State Center has broken ground for a $10 million expansion project. In the last year the City's 15 major employers added 835 new jobs. ITD Precision will build a $2.2 million facility and bring in 60 new jobs while Harmony Green aloe vera manufacturing plant is embarking on a $ 1 million expansion. The old Heritage Manor has been purchased and will be renovated into condominiums, offices, and a restaurant. Some new, prospective, and renovated restaurants include Cracker Barrel, Denny's, McAllister's Deli, and Chick-Fil-A. 2/4/09 Developers Jo Wagner and her sons Steve and Todd Aune propose to invest $4 million to refurbish Heritage Manor into a fine dining restaurant, 22 or 23 condominiums, a coffee shop, and 12,000 sq. ft. of office space. The City Commissioners agreed to improve existing parking areas near the project and purchase nearby lots for additional parking. This may run up to $400,000. 2/27/09 The City Commission approved four measures to spend more than $6 million to bring the United Healthcare Services, Inc. service center to Harlingen. The Development Corporation of Harlingen will purchase the former Albertson's supermarket building on 2222 S. 77 Sunshine Strip for $2.5 million and $258,849 for two future employee parking lots. Three City grants totaling $3.3 million will go to the company to reimburse it for space and equipment for TSTC to conduct its training programs. A planned opening with 100 to 150 employees is projected for September 1. Eventually employment is expected to reach 732 workers by the end of the fifth year. Ranked No. 25 on the Fortune 500 the company moved in on June 7 and 100 were soon employed. 5/7/09 City commences steps necessary to annex 1,074 acres. This parcel is bounded by Business 83 to the south, Wilson Road to the north, Brazil Road east and Palm Valley west. Individuals of the Country Club Estates and the Juarez and Los Palmas colonias within the proposed area were fighting any annexation. 5/12/09 The Port of Harlingen dedicates the 60,000 sq. ft. Sam Sparks Warehouse capable of storing 36,000 tons of raw sugar. This all-weather facility will expedite shipments of sugar by intra-coastal barges to the refinery south of New Orleans. 6/25/09 Governor Rick Perry signs bill authorizing the establishment of a medical school to be associated with RAHC, but no funds for it are allocated. 8/28/09 The Valley Race Park requests of the Texas Racing Commission that it be allowed to forego its December 2009 live greyhound racing schedule and schedule no racing until 2011. It faces serious competition from other gambling entities. The city could lose 80-100 seasonal jobs. Slot machine approval in 2011 for the facility could ease the situation. 12/31/09 As the country's economic recession continues Harlingen see a 8.6 percent drop in state sales tax revenue collected in December 2009 compared to that of December 2008.In the former month and year Harlingen received nearly $1.3 million compared to $1.5 million in 2008.

Agriculture/Ranching

9/01 A major fire at the Valley Compress Company on North Commerce at Fair Park Blvd. claims 10,000 bales of cotton worth an estimated $1.5 million. The fire's heat reached as high as 1000 degrees, officials claimed.

2002 River reservoir level drop to record lows since the dams were constructed as the year proves to be the driest ever noted.

8/25/04 A lawsuit against the government of Mexico is brought by 17 irrigation districts, 29 water rights owners, and the North Alamo Water Supply Corp. They claim $500 million in economic damages since 1992 when Mexico failed to live up to its part of the water treaty. In 1992 the two river reservoirs were 100% full, but a drought ensued and in the years 1994 through 2003 the levels ranged from 31.425 to 66% and averaged 42.17%. On October 9, 2004 the levels had risen to 81.26% of capacity but the law suit was going forth as Mexico still owed the U.S. 800,000 acre-feet. The year would prove to be the third wettest on record. Eventually the two dams reach over 94 % of capacity. 11/04 The four hurricanes which hit Florida this season reduce its crop by one half. As a result Valley citrus prices rise. Pittman & Davis, who send out up to 800,000 gift boxes in the holiday season, have sent out their sales flyers months earlier and therefore find themselves in a cost squeeze. 3/11/05 With its northern reservoirs overflowing, Mexico now agrees to pay back its water debts to the U.S. The 13 year wait is about over. On 9/27/05 Mexico completes the transfer of the remaining balance by 9/30. The U.S. totals behind the two reservoirs will now stand at 97.1% of capacity.

1/1/06 The area, after experiencing a moderately wet late winter that allowed good dryland cotton and grain sorghum yields, then entered a drought which continued to extend into the new year. Harlingen's total 2005 rainfall was 16.79" versus its historical average of 28.03". 3/31/06 Area dryland farmers were planting cotton and grain sorghum into parched soil knowing full well that germination failure would ensue. Crop insurance regulations dictated this action. The year 2005 was a drought one in the lower Valley and 2006 to- date has continued that trend. Pastures and hay are in short supply. Climatologists attribute the drought here to "La Nina", a phenomenon where the Pacific Ocean waters cool. 9/12/06 Final Valley cotton harvest figures revealed how devastating the spring drought was. Of 252,000 acres planted, only 125,000 were harvested yielding a total of 112,063 bales or an average of .9 bale/acre. This compares with the last four years of 2005 154,369, 2004 328,571, 2003 230,310, and 2002 90,764.

3/17/08 Ground was broken on a 5–acre site at Port Harlingen for the construction of a 30,000 ton, 60,000 sq. ft. sugar warehouse. The Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc., a co-op in Santa Rosa will pick up 7.7% of the $4 million project plus rent to the Port Authority. 7/23/08 Hurricane Dolly, the first major hurricane to hit South Texas in 41 years, comes ashore just north of the last north-most hotel on South Padre Island. Initially it is barely a Category 2 storm but quickly weakens to Category 1 and as it progresses inland to a tropical storm and later depression. Its winds do considerable damage to the citrus orchards in the lower Valley by knocking off much good-sized fruit. The slow-moving storm dumps rainfall totals from 10 to 20" over two days in some Valley areas. The about 90,000 acres of cotton are badly damaged since numerous field have been defoliated. 70% of the crop is estimated to have been lost. About 24-40% of grain sorghum field acreage delayed in harvest several weeks ago by rains are now lost for good. Sugarcane uprooting, breakage, and leaf-shredding is estimated to have occurred in about 20% of the 42,000 acres.

March 2009 A severe and persistent drought in the Lower RGV coupled with cotton prices below 50 cents per pound is forecast to drop cotton planted acreage to a very low 60,000. The previous acreage planted was 260,000 in 2006, 100,000 in 2007, and 92,000 in 2008. About $6 per hundredweight for grain sorghum make this crop a good alternative to cotton. 6/30/09 The Rodriguez Brothers, led by George Rodriguez, delivered the first bale of cotton to the Harlingen Police Department this date. The 450 lb. bale will be awarded $3,000. This is the third time that the Rodriguez family has won the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce's Harlingen Cotton Committee's annual contest.

Government/Politics—City, County, State, National

4/11/00 The state completes the construction of a new concrete beam bridge over the Arroyo Colorado near Port Harlingen. It has two lanes and is 46' wide and 320' long. It replaces the rickety one lane wooden low-water bridge which has served Cemetery Road for many years. A reliable, fast alternative route between Harlingen and Rio Hondo now exists. 7/14/00 Natalie Prim, city manager resigns with a $64,440 severance package. She made $91,200 a year and departs with all concerned unhappy. 8/00 After a nine month search Gregory Michael Blake is hired as police chief to commence the job 9/18/00. He gave up an $86,000 job as assistant police chief in Garland, TX to take the $73,200 one in Harlingen. Blake has an MS degree from Abilene Christian College. After a term of only 18 months he resigns 5/24/02 "to balance critical family obligations."

2001 The city raises its tax rate for 2002 four cents from 54¢ to 58¢/$100 valuation. New construction accounts for a $7 million increase in taxable property.

2001-02 The direct connection of Expressways 77 and 83 by an overhead interchange is under construction as is the widening of 83/77 through Harlingen. The Expressway 83/77 construction schedules and costs for the Harlingen area are: Lincoln Ave. south to FM 509, start 4/2001 and conclude 5/2005 at a cost of $61 million; FM 509 to FM 732, start 5/03 and conclude 11/2006 at a cost of $68 million.

2002 With sales tax revenues having dropped and city employee insurance gone up the city once again has to raise taxes. The history of increases is as follows: 1995 46.8¢, 1996 49.5¢, 1997 52.5¢, 1998 54.0¢, and 2002 57.9¢.

5/02 $1.2 million renovation of 50 year-old Harlingen Field, current home of the professional baseball team, the Rio Grande Valley White Wings, occurs. The baseball team offices and souvenir stands are replaced by attractive permanent structures. New locker rooms are built and the old ones under the stands remodeled to more concession areas and other uses. 6/28/02 The University of Texas Academic Regional Health Center opens at the 2000 block of Treasure Hills Blvd. It is a 94,000 sq. ft. building costing $25 million and sits on 18.5 acres donated by the Valley Baptist Medical Center. In its initial year it will be a teaching school/hospital for 24 third and fourth year residents. Dr. Leonel Vela of the Valley is the first dean of the facility. The project was initiated in the 75th legislative session by Sen. Eddie Lucio, who was helped by Valley legislators such as Jim Solis, Robert Gutierrez, Juan Hinojosa, Eddie de la Garza, and Renato Cuellar. The center is projected to provide 75 direct jobs and 136 indirect ones having salaries/stipends of $20 million per annum. The economic output will be $25.7 million per year benefiting the city and HCISD $184, 275 and $51,738 in taxes annually. 7/02 A Federal judgment is rendered against the city for $35 million. The city was held negligent for the deaths of two Border Patrol agents. In May 2003 a higher judge rules that the city cannot be held liable. 7/24/02 The taxable value of Harlingen property rises to $1.745 billion from the $1.625 billion of 2001. Part of this is due to new construction and part to reassessments. Since 1990 the taxable value of property in the city has jumped 7.3%. The average Harlingen home value rose from $43,340 in 2001 to $46,676 in 2002. 9/11/02 Danny Castillo, assistant police chief and who over the years has served as interim police chief, is elevated to permanent police chief and sworn in 9/13/02. He is to leave 2/15/11. 9/02 On the east side of Valley International Airport a 40,000 square foot facility is planned to attract two additional air cargo companies in addition to United Parcel Service, Federal Express, and Airborne Express currently operating out of the west side. On 2/28/03 ground breaking takes place at the Valley International Airport for the construction of the NAFTA CargoPort facility. Located next to Gulf Aviation on the east side of the airport, it will service Federal Express, United Parcel Service, and Airborne Express according to Aviation Director Michael Browning. Companies pay 68¢ for every 100,000 lbs. of cargo. Completion is projected in six months. VIA operates on a $5.1 million budget. In 2002 it handled 391,325 passengers compared to 278,697 for Miller International Airport, McAllen. This was a 10.7% decline from the 438,453 in 2001 and is attributed to the departure to McAllen of American Eagle in 10/01 plus a general decline following the terrorist act of 9/11/01. On 6/27/03 it is announced that BAX global, a subsidiary of the LYXNS Holdings of Austin, will become a tenant of the NAFTA CargoPort. It operates in 123 countries and has over 10,000 employees. The $1.8 billion company is headquartered in Irvine, CA. It specializes in moving heavyweight packages and cargo of all types. In July Metzger Construction of Houston will begin the $1.5 million facility for BAX. 10/17/02 City will pay Encanto Chips, Inc. of Monterey $330,000 over a five year period to build a facility in Harlingen. This manufacturer of potato and tortilla chips will construct a $1.7 million plant to be expanded to 100,000 sq. feet by five years. City approves appropriation of $45,000 for the Harlingen Community Development Corp. to continue the downtown neighborhood revitalization project known as the "Heart of Harlingen." An additional $465,000 funding will go toward the construction of 19 homes and 48 duplexes in other city areas. These will serve 67 low income families. 10/18/02 Private citizens donate $25,000 for an engineering study for possible construction of a series of weirs along the Arroyo Colorado. Small ponds and waterfalls would be created. The system would improve oxygenation and fish life and be aesthetically pleasing. 10/21/02 Last month the city commissioners raised the tax rate from 54.1¢ to 57.9¢/$100 valuation. The average home value here is $46,676. Added to the city tax are: HCISD $1.545, Cameron County $.340536, South Texas ISD $.0392, and Cameron County Drainage District No. 5 $.15. This brings the total to $2.65468. 10/23/02 City reveals plans for its birding center. To be constructed at the Hugh Ramsey Nature Park it will stand near a series of man-made ponds. As part of the city's $1.6 million project, the building will feature a V-shaped roofline to simulate birds in flight. Meg Jorn, architect, has a $145,000 contract for design, landscape and engineering work. In 2001 the city sold $1.1 million in certificates to match a $500,000 state grant. The1,400 sq.ft. building will be two-storied and will connect with a 40' observation tower. Eventually it was to link with the 40 acre Harlingen Thicket bird sanctuary by a new trail along the Arroyo Colorado from Ramsey to McKelvey Park. On 3/4/03 the state approves grant money to extend the Arroyo Hike and Bike Trail 1.5 miles east from McKelvey Park to High Ramsey Park. $677,000 of state funds would be supplemented by $170,000 of city funds. Adjacent landowners contend that some of the prospective area to be developed is private property. With lawsuits threatened the city puts the trail extension project on hold. 11/3/02 Free Trade Bridge revenues, at $1,536,757, reach a new high for the 01/02 year. Its private industrial park includes companies such as Delphi, Penske, Panasonic, and Universal Lighting. More than 300 jobs have been created. In 1999 the bridge turned its first profit with revenue totals generating $1.37 million. Harlingen and San Benito share $55,000 each and Cameron County $110,000. Despite its 719,858 customers, this bridge had the least traffic of any bridge in the Valley. 12/11/02 The $32 million 77/83 elevated interchange opens after more than three years of construction. Congressman Solomon Ortiz is at the dedication. At 71.5', it is the highest interchange in the Valley.

2/7/03 An agreement is proposed between Harlingen, San Benito, and Cameron County to help fund a multi-million dollar project to re-route the railroad tracks out of urban areas. Harlingen and the County would pay 40% each and San Benito 20%. A Federal grant would pay 80% of the $50 million project. 2/9/03 City to work towards re-instituting its own landfill to save $850,000 annually paid to Donna. By 1998 the city had spent $1.4 million to shut down the old city dump. A new site may cost $3-4 million to prepare. Official budget earmarks $25,000 to study the situation. Later Browning Ferris Industries agrees to drop its hauling costs from Harlingen to its dedicated Donna dump site, but a study will still go forward to determine the feasibility of opening a local dump site within seven years. 4/14/03 Hino Electric Power Company receives Texas Public Utility Commission license to sell electricity. This retail electricity provider with Alex Hinojosa as its president has about a half dozen competing companies. 5/1/03 Cameron County Health Department administrative offices move into 1122 Morgan Blvd. location from previous San Benito one. 6/18/03 It is revealed that the city's $3.6 million sludge project is a technological bust. A new system installed by Craig Sheffield and Austin, Inc. of Houston was supposed to heat sludge water to 705 degrees F. and turn it into a powder. Supposedly $2-500,000 more would be needed to make it workable. The sub-contractor was Hydroprocessing of Austin and blame was laid on it. Trucking disposal costs $120,000/yr. and the Water Works says the new system would cut costs $3-500,000 a year. In December the city gave attorneys the go-ahead to pursue obtaining the patent rights to the process in an effort to recoup losses. General Manager Ron Thomas said, "There's too much money invested in it to ignore." On this date the Border Environment Cooperation Commission approved various projects to use the monies granted 5/3/03 by the North American Development Bank for U.S. and Mexico water projects along the border. Among these was $3.56 million to the Harlingen Irrigation District to line canals, install flow-measurement devices, and install pipes. 6/19/03 The City Commission sets 9/12/03 as date for $43.9 bond issue election. 8/03 Boggus Stadium gets a new giant scoreboard, concession stands, and rest rooms. 9/03 Roughly ¼ or 15,081 of Cameron County homeowners are senior citizens getting a $12,000 home exemption on County taxes. Harlingen and Primera offer exemptions from $4 to 5,000 to property owners that are older than 65 or are disabled. Combes offers an exemption of $10,000. The city of Harlingen has 3,450 elderly homeowners who brought $1 million to the city coffers in 2002. 9/13/03 The city conducts a $42.7 million bond issue with six separate propositions. Prop.1, costing $21.8 million and concerning the relocation of the railroad through Harlingen and street work, passes. Prop.4 regarding drainage at the cost of $15.67 million also passes. Fire department additions in equipment and buildings worth $2.48 million get approval in Prop.5. Failing were Prop.2 with $7.26 million for parks; Prop.3 for a new Public Safety Building at the cost of $12.89 million; and Prop.6, a $735,000 item to repair current public buildings. 10/12/03 The Texas Legislature passes a new mid-decade congressional district map based upon the 2000 census but more in tune to the new Republican majority. As a result Harlingen is thrown into a gerrymandered district running from the river all the way to Bastrop just south of Austin. The traditional Democrat power base in the Valley is thereby diluted. 10/28/03 Above-average summer and fall rains cut city water sales and put it into the red to the tune of about $500,000. The financially strapped utility is already hurt by the loss of Fruit of the Loom sales of $900,000 annually with the closure of this company's factory here. The utility had been loaned $1 million by the Harlingen Development Corp. to build and later expand a reverse osmosis plant for use in Fruit of the Loom's fabric dye operation. This company owes the city $2.5 million and the $1 million may be tacked on. 12/16/03 $7.4 million is appropriated for use in the Texas portion of I-69, the interstate highway which will run from Canada to Mexico and serve the Valley too. This is just the beginning of appropriations which will be required over the passage of time for this project.

1/4/04 Loop 499 widening is to begin. A 4-lane boulevard with a median strip will be constructed by Ballenger Construction. The $6.3 million project will run from Expressway 77 to FM 507. 1/21/04 The extension of Sam Houston Street west of Business 77 to New Hampshire Street is opened. This new crossing of the railroad tracks will relieve some traffic congestion at the corner of Ed Carey and 77. Funds from the 2003 bond issue were used to complete it. 2/18/04 Cameron County International Bridge System Director Pete Sepulveda, Jr. is named head of the new county Department of Transportation. The new department will include the old International Bridge System as well as the Engineering, Public Works, Vehicle Maintenance, Geographic Information Systems, Construction Management, and Airport departments. Mr. Sepulveda's salary will rise from $88,000 to $100,000. 2/25/04 The Economic Development Corp. approves $110,000 in grant money for the Valley International Airport. It guarantees the employment of 56 people by the end of the three year contract. In addition the Airport secured a five year lease from Bax Global and a three year one from Menlow Forwarding. Some of the grant money will defray costs of the two for moving from Brownsville into the NAFTA Air CargoPort scheduled for opening on March 15, according to Michael Browning, director of aviation. Cameron County Commissioners approved a contract with a Corpus Christi architectural firm to design a new county annex building on the northwest corner of Hand and Wilson Roads on the outskirts of Harlingen. It will take two years to complete the structure. 3/22/04 Three days after City Manager Roy Rodriguez leaves after 3 ½ years on the job to take the position of utility manager for McAllen, a new city manager is hired. He is Tomas Gonzalez, a former interim and assistant city manager for Lubbock. He is to start 4/12 with a salary of $132,500 and a $600 a month car allowance. The previous manager was paid $112,000. The city has an annual budget of around $60 million at present. 4/04 After a seesaw three year period of faltering economy, the city sees sales tax revenues grow 8.38% over the 2003 figures. Harlingen has seen six months of positive growth according to Finance Director Ken Mitchell. The city depends on sales tax revenues for between 40 and 45% of its budget. 4/21 City adds to animal ordinance. Restrictions are placed on the number of animals possible in non-commercial setting; wild animals are prohibited; nuisance animals such as those making excess noise, causing a health or hazard danger, defecating /urinating on public or property other than owners'; humane treatment of animals is spelled out; and the commerce of live animals is restricted to certain entities. 5/15/04 In a seemingly stunning upset, incumbent Mayor Connie de la Garza is unseated by Rick Rodriguez, a lawyer and City Commissioner. The vote tally is 2,652 to 1,619. The major issues revolved around Harlingen's business climate. Voters by nearly the same margin approved a proposition to guarantee firefighters their retirement plan should it fall short. 5/22/04 The governor announces federal grants to upgrade homeland security. Harlingen is to receive $194,708. 6/04 The District Office of the Homeland Security Department, Citizenship and Immigration Service, moves from its Teege Street offices to a new spacious two-story facility at 1717 Zoy Street. 6/6/04 Appraised values, based on market values, have risen 8.10% from 2003 to 2004 for Harlingen. The 2003 figure was $1,907,331,080 and for 2004 it was $2,061,891,128. Harlingen's change was low compared to 8.77 for San Benito, 11.32 for La Feria, 16.45 for Brownsville and 26.58% for South Padre Island. The City tax rate remained at $.579944 for 2003 and 2004. In the former year the average appraisal was $46,676 and the average tax paid $270.69 while for 2004 it was $53,176 and $308.39. HCISD taxes rose from $1.545 in 2003 to $1.550 in 2004. Its average appraised value and average tax paid was $55,361 and $623.57 in 2003 and $58,909 and $680.59 in 2004. 6/18/04 The Utility Board approves $470,000 funding from cash reserves to overhaul Dixieland waterworks facility. 9/1/04 The Rio Grande State Center and South Texas Health Care System hospitals close to one another on Rangerville Road are merged by the state. Dr. David Moran, the center's clinical director, said the medical center offers general medical services for men and women on an outpatient basis, in-patient mental health care, and residential care for patients with mental retardation. A 12-county area is served with an annual budget of $18-20 million. Its 452 employees put it seventh in the top ten employers in Harlingen. By mid-November protests about the closure arise. 9/23/04 Groundbreaking occurs for the construction of a 15,000 square foot public skatepark. The location is part of the parking lot next to the Harlingen Boys and Girls Club at Fair Park. Later the remainder of the 77,000 square foot parking lot will be transformed into a sports complex. Recently the club received $300,000 in financial commitments from the Valley Baptist Health System and private donors according to Club Executive Director Gerald Gathright. The city committed $50,000 toward the project. Area skateboarders were thrilled by the development that will be the most complete in the Valley. On 1/3/05 $30,000 worth of materials arrived from American Ramp, a Joplin, MO company that specializes in that equipment. 11/11/04 On this Veterans Day the City dedicates a fountain and flagpole at Pendleton Park. Girl Scout Troop 201 and Cub Pack 23 participate with Mayor Rick Rodriguez. The red, white, and blue-lighted fountain has a nearby flag donated by the Harlingen Area Builders Association. The flag of the 980th Engineering Battalion flew in Iraq on Sept. 11, 2004. In time additional structures will be added to the memorial. 12/10/04 After almost 35 years serving as housing for the city's poor, residents receive notice from Heritage Manor manager Joe Hernandez that the facility may close. The culprit is the building's badly corroded cast iron plumbing system. It is unclear what action the Harlingen Housing Authority Board will take on the matter. HHA Executive Director Blas Cantu indicated that residents would be assisted in moving.

1/17/05 Thomas (Tom) Michael Wilson, 52, dies of a heart attack. This Fort Worth native first worked in the Valley for the city of Mission where he helped to restore the historical La Lomita Mission Chapel. In Harlingen he became Director of Public Services (Parks and Recreation), a task he truly relished. One of his major accomplishments here was the creation of the Arroyo Trail. Recently he had been assigned the additional job as head of the Rio Grande Valley Museum. He was moving quickly to revitalize this somewhat stagnant institution when he succumbed. This Catholic leaves his wife, Maria Guadalupe (MG) Moreno, and sons Thomas Marion Wilson, Timothy Michael Wilson, and Todd Matthew Wilson, all of Harlingen, in addition to his mother, brothers, and sisters. Family wishes were that memorial contributions be made to the museum in lieu of flowers. On May 4 the city commission voted to name the southwest playing fields at the Harlingen Sports Complex on Wilson Road the "Tom Wilson Youth Sports Complex." 3/05 The federal Community Block Grant Program administered in part by the city has been curtailed. Harlingen grant money for fiscal year 2005-2006 will total $1,089,929. Loaves and Fishes will receive $10,000 or half what it received the previous year. The Boys and Girls Club will have to operate with $50,000 less. It serves 3,500 children at its Lon C. Hill Park headquarters and satellite facilities at La Moyne Gardens, Los Vecinos (near the Lamar School on M Street), and at the Ben Milam Elementary School. 4/6/05 The City Commission votes to create a new improvement district --Harlingen's Downtown, the combination of the La Placita District and the Downtown Improvement District. The purpose of the move is to attract new businesses. A special annual assessment of up to 50 cents per $100 valuation for businesses participating was voted. 5/05 The Harlingen Thicket is a mostly undeveloped xerophytic vegetated area along the west bank of the Arroyo Colorado near and west of McKelvey Park and along Taft Street. It offers semi-arid fern and fauna for nature lovers and bird watchers. The establishment of this area was made possible in 1997 by The Valley Land Fund, the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, and other conservation partners which purchased the forty acres of native brush within Harlingen. Part of the area's use was possible through a Conservation Easement of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In May 2005 twenty one parking spaces for the Thicket were constructed along Taft Street. In the first quarter of 2006 a sheltered cover for two picnic tables was erected along with restroom facilities. Wheelchair accessible trails were laid. One is the 7/16 mile Arroyo Delta Trail; the second is the ¼ mile Comal Trail. The 5/6 mile Olmos Trail is unimproved. Former motorcross bike trails crisscross the whole area for the more adventurous. Several bird blinds were fabricated within the area. An attractive welcome sign reads "Harlingen Thicket Birding Center—World Birding Center." 9/05 The city appoints Tomas Arispe to be coordinator of the Rio Grande Valley Museum. His mother was originally from Port Isabel but moved to Los Angeles 37 years ago. After residing and being educated there, Arispe and his mother have returned to Port Isabel. On 11/2/05 he announces that the museum's name will shortly be changed to the Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum to better reflect the community's involvement with it. The new name dedication occurs on 2/17/06. 10/26/05 The improvements to 18 greens of the Tony Butler Municipal Golf Course are dedicated. Golf pro K.C. Lauber highlighted the change from 328 Bermuda grass to Champions grass which now makes the greens faster and smoother. 10/27/05 After a two year lapse due to the departure of Postmaster Mary Martinez, Tyler native Jeff T. Jenkins, a 20 year department veteran, fills the position. He plans to strengthen customer service, play an active role in the community, and make the main office more attractive. 12/27/05 A 13-member committee charges with revising the city's 1927 charter completes its work and submits the changes to the city commission for its approval. The proposal has 926 grammatical changes and nearly a dozen substantive changes. If approved by the commission it will be placed on a May 2006 ballot for voter approval.

2006 The name Centennial Park is selected for the acquired parcel running on the east side of West Street up to the railroad right-of-way between Jackson and Harrison Avenues. After a six month study, TIP Strategies, Inc. of Austin presents "Harlingen First! a blueprint for economic vitality." Hired by the Development Corporation of Harlingen, Inc. (EDC), TIP's booklet outlines the goals and strategies for Harlingen's plan to achieve economic vitality and become the economic center of the Rio Grande Valley. 3/2/06 By a 3-2 vote of the City Commission, Craig Lonon is selected for the job of city manager at a salary of $120,000 and $2,500 for moving expenses. He accepts two days later. With a Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas, Lonon has been involved in Texas city administrations since 1977. He started in Desoto, and has been city manager in Levelland, Corsicana, Conroe, and Cedar Park. 3/15/06 The US Department of Transportation awards the Valley International Airport a $3.24 million grant. It is to reconstruct 50 year old taxiways on the east side of the airport, that servicing two major cargo handlers. 4/06 The city commences to erect 19 large-letter lighted signs to designate street names at major intersections. For the fiscal year of the Harlingen Port Authority which began October 1, barge traffic is down 47% as Valero Energy Corp. switched its distribution to a pipeline this past October though it still stores fuel at the port. With income projected at $736,000 and expenses at $600,000 the port does not expect to institute any taxes which were last levied over 10 years ago. The port has about one dozen tenants. One of its largest customers is the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc which ships all of its raw sugar through the port to the American Sugar Refinery Co. in Chalmette, LA. This season barges will transport close to 170,000 tons sugar along the inter-coastal waterway. 5/31/06 Michelle Leftwich, City Planning Director for over a decade, leaves to accept a post in Mercedes as Assistant City Manager. 9/5/06 The City Commission reveals plans to borrow through sale of certificates of obligation about $12 million in order to build a new police station and soccer fields complex. This would be allowed as older debts are repaid and the city could borrow up to $17.2 million in 2007. The location for each project has yet to be determined. The following day Wilson Estes Police Architects of Mission, KS is selected for the first project. The proposed 50,000 sq. ft. police station, jail, and city court complex is estimated to cost between $7-7.5 million. The 13 field soccer complex is estimated at $4- 4.5 million. On 4/11/07 The Commissioners approved issuing $22 million in certificates of obligation for capital improvements, including $9 million for a new police station and $4.5 million for a soccer complex. Also to be funded are a $1.5 million fire station, $1.25 million for Pendleton Park, $500,000 for a comprehensive drainage study, $325,000 in street improvements, $150,000 for traffic control, and $150,000 for the municipal auditorium's stage curtains. 9/7/06 Cameron County authorizes the purchase of right-of-way to extend Dixieland Road to Rangerville Road. The 1.85 mile extension will end at Garrett Road on FM 1472. The $3.9 million cost will include a 345 foot, four lane bridge across the Arroyo Colorado. While the city will pay for design work and part of the construction cost, TxDOT will pay the remainder of the cost. Construction is set to begin the summer of 2007. 9/30/06 TxDot reports $9.1 million eight month project to widen the EXP 77 overpass over Harrison and Tyler Street from the present four lanes to six. 10/13/06 Plans for major changes at Pendleton Park are revealed. The city will match a state grant of $300,000 and will earmark $98,500 for the purchase of 9.8 acres of adjacent land to expand the park. Other construction and renovation projects include an $80,000 playground renovation, $120,00 for pavilion work, a $120,000 softball field overhaul, $16,000 for soccer/football fields, $4,500 for a picnic station, $35,000 for a multi-use court, $20,000 for a pier in the pond, and $18,000 for a half-mile nature trail. In addition the Harlingen Tennis Foundation intends to raise $750,000 towards the renovation of 18 tennis courts in the park. The city will, through sale of certificates of obligation, match up to $750,000 while H-E-B for a right to put its name on the complex pledged $200,000, Lighting will be improved throughout and the central championship court will feature stadium seating. 12/21/06 City Commissioners seek ways to reduce an unfounded $15 million deficit owed to the Texas Municipal Retirement System. Starting in 1999 the deficit grew from $7 million to its current level of 15.

1/5/07 The City Commission awards a contract to Halff Associates, McAllen, to design a $5 million soccer complex on 80 acres near a trash transfer site on East Harrison. This site is large enough to hold 12-14 official-sized soccer fields. 3/7/07 The City Commission adopts a resolution to publish notices of its intent to issue up to $30 million in certificates of obligation. This is to take advantage of current low interest rates that are just above 4%. Capital improvements from the funds might pay for such projects as a $9 million police facility, $4.5 million soccer complex, $2.4 million in drainage improvements, a $1.5 million fire station, $1.25 million for Pendleton Park, a $500,000 comprehensive drainage study, $325,000 in street improvements, $150,000 for traffic control, and $125,000 for a fly (sound) station. By 4/18/07 the cost of a 14-field soccer complex had risen to $7.5 million. 2/07 Sigfredo Cantu, fire chief since 12/2/91, retired at which time Michael J. Rinaldi was appointed interim fire chief. On May 16, 2007 he was named fire chief. 3/17/07 This week City Commissioners approve a contract for nearly $800,000 to purchase about 20 acres of land located on Palm Court Drive near its intersection with W. Lincoln Avenue. This could be the site of the $9 million police station. 5/16/07 Lawyer and former City Commissioner Chris Boswell is sworn in as Mayor of the city. 5/07 Patricia Morales is named Coordinator of the Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum. She received her bachelor of arts degree in art history from the University of North Texas in Denton. 8/20/07 Although City Commissioners voted to keep the same $.59 per $100 of property value for property tax the next year, home owners will see an increase in their taxes. This is because, on average, appraised values for a home in Harlingen rose from an average of $78,944 to $82,106. The average increase in taxes from $466 to $484 will increase city revenues 2.48% or $340,173. New homes will add an additional $459,907 to the city coffers. Last year's total tax revenue was $13,721,600. For 2007-2008 the estimate is $14,522,220. 9/12/07 The groundbreaking ceremony is held for the $7.5 million 14 field soccer complex at 4515 E. Harrison. Initially the complex will cost $4.5 million for ten fields and night lighting. The Marshall Company is expected to complete the work within 180 days. 9/17/07 The City Commission approves the largest budget in the city's history, with $56,107,569 proposed revenues and $56,307,922 in expenditures for the fiscal year beginning October 1. It does not include funding for five other city governmental entities such as the airport and WaterWorks. This is up about $700,000 from 2006-2007. New employees will go into a different retirement plan than old. 9/19/07 The new $2.4 million Cameron County annex building opens at 3304 Wilson Road, and the old one on Harrison Avenue closes. The Harlingen WaterWorks budget calls for projected revenues of $18,571,420 and projected expenditures of $17,241,079. Water rates for consumers are to rise to continue the system's operations and replace and improve old, deteriorating equipment. 10/07 City Commissioners approve a public transportation system to commence February 2008. The capital startup will be $274,000 of which Federal funds will cover 80%. This will cover three buses capable of carry 19 passengers each and a wheelchair individual, 10 bus shelters, and 20 bus signs. Operating expenses will be about $200,000 annually, but revenues will offset some city costs. Fairs will be $3 per adult, $1.50 per senior citizen for the system on two routes, six days per week. 10/10 Sidewalk construction of 18,454 sq. ft. begins by Knish Corp. on contract awarded for $1.77 million. Streets affected are Ed Carey, Commerce, Business 77, Dixieland Road and Lincoln Avenue. 10/14 WaterWorks announces plans to shut down its frequently odoriferous Wastewater Plant I by the end of the year. Located on Taft near Commerce Street, the plant's three to four million gallons per day operation will be shifted to the Wastewater Plant II at 4736 E. Harrison with its 12 million gallon/day capacity presently only half of which is used. 10/17 The City Commissioners resolve to commence by October 31 a collective bargaining plan for Harlingen police and firefighters. They also approved the funding of $488,836 from the hotel/motel taxes to the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce to help promote the city and operate the Convention and Visitors Bureau. 11/19 The South Texas Veterans Health Care System center opens along Treasure Hills Blvd. The 34,000 sq. ft. facility offers numerous specialty services to veterans, has 132 examination rooms, and a staff of 65 full or part-time professionals to handle an expected 500 patients per day. It is in the same $25 million building that is dedicated 11/229/07. This is the 80,000 sq. ft. Regional Academic Health Center's Academic and Research Building. It contains exam rooms, a laboratory, and offices for clinical researchers and statisticians. On this date the Commissioners adopt a resolution endorsing the Harlingen 100 Plan Objectives and Strategies. It also establishes an Implementation Team and appoints seven Task Force chairs. This sets into motion a broad-based community-driven strategic plan.

1/08 Wastewater Plant 1 on East Taft Street is shut down. Operations in this smelly plant were commenced in the 1940s. It only treated 2-3 million gallons per day of its five million/day capacity. Now the sole treatment operation, Wastewater Plant 2 on E. Harrison, is averaging 6 million of its permitted 9 million/day capacity. 1/2/08 The City Commission in an effort to combat graffiti, vandalism, and juvenile crime approves a curfew for youths under 17. They must be off the streets between 10:30 pm and 6 am Sundays thru Thursdays and midnight to 6 am Friday and Saturday. The VMS editorializes that this is anti-right of assembly as provided by the first amendment to the Constitution. 1/10/08 Construction of the new police station and municipal building on a 20-acre parcel near Lincoln and Palm Court Drive will begin in about a month as soon as the $8,411,812 contract with Terry Ray Construction is signed. Reduced in size from the original concept in order to fit the budget, the structure will be 47,794 sq. ft. compared to 20,000 for the current facility. This will include a 2,000 sq. ft. evidence room, eight jail cells, and the municipal court. The landscaping allowance is $60,000. 2/12/08 The city is to spend about $2.5 million to build two fire stations this year. In 2003 voters approved more than $1 million to replace Fire Station No. 4 at 1656 Sam Houston Drive. Additionally $1.5 million will come from the 2007 certificates of obligation. This small, outdated facility will be replaced by one on a three-acre site purchased for $240,000 on Glasscock Avenue off Ed Carey. Completion is expected in seven months for this state-of-the art, $700,000 to $1 million building. Fire Station No. 7 at 1102 Dixieland Road will either be moved or an additional station constructed somewhere in west Harlingen. There is no Fire Station No. 2. No. 6 is at 912 Rangerville Road. 2/29/08 City Commissioners decide to build the new $8.5 million police station on a 10- acre site at the city-owned lot, corner of Wichita and Fair Park Blvd. The Parks & Recreation offices on the site in an old cotton oil weigh station building will rent space temporarily into the WaterWorks Building on Van Buren. The 20-acre parcel at Palm Court Drive and Lincoln Avenue purchased last year for $775,000 will be sold. 3/10/08 The City commences Rio Metro Harlingen with a medical route and a retail route having transfer between the two available. The air-conditioned buses carry up to 19 and two wheel chair passengers. Startup costs for three buses, 20 bus stop signs and 10 bus stop shelters include $274,000 of federal funds and $54,800 of City funds. The buses will run Monday thru Friday 6:30 am to 6:20 pm with fares of $3 one way and $1.50 for seniors, veterans, students, and the disabled. 3/27/08 In conjunction with the Harlingen 100 Plan the city will expedite enforcement of city codes dealing with signs, trash, and weeds. 3/28/08 During the year Pendleton Park will receive a $1 million renovation. This involves tennis court improvements, the construction of a new ½ mile gravel nature trail, a 15 x10 ft. wildlife observation platform, a multi-purpose court, a multi-purpose field, four horseshoe pits, and three picnic stations. Also finalized was the $400,000 purchase from the Sharbineau family of 9.85 acres to become the park's southwest corner. With the Harlingen Tennis Foundation seeking more courts at the park, the city also agreed to match funds raised by the foundation up to the $750,000 level. 5/1/08 Museum Coordinator Patricia Morales resigns to take another position. Ramiro "Rod" Rodriguez is named new coordinator. A Harlingen native, he is an honors graduate of UT Pan American in 2005. 5/21/08 An ordinance passes empowering police to tow vehicles of uninsured drivers. When conducted the owner will also have to pay towing charges and storage if applicable. 7/2/08 Mayor Boswell appoints a Juvenile Crime, Graffiti and Gang Violence Task Force as Harlingen incidents increase. The following day Police Chief Daniel Castillo announces the formation of a Gang Detail to enhance efforts to address street-level gang activities. 9/08 The landscaped median strip on Loop 499 is completed from TSTC to Harrison Avenue. 9/26/08 City Commissioners approve the 2008-09 budget. Revenues are forecast at $61,455,221 while expenditures will be $62,063,006. Both figures are up from the $56,000,000+ figures for the last fiscal year. Big ticket items include $12,074,500 for capital improvements at the airport; about $4,000,00 to offset expense overrun and capitalized interest at the WaterWorks System; $3,000,000 offset for the Economic Development Board; $1,000,000 offset for the Harlingen Improvement Development Board, and a $35.2 million general budget that targets $1.9 million for street repairs and $1,898,982 for municipal golf course renovation. While the property tax will remain the same at 59 cents/$100 valuation debt service will go up 5 cents. 10/22/08 City sales tax income rose 4.28 % for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. Revenues were over $19 million. 11/4/08 City voters overwhelmingly approve a proposition to create five single member districts in the city with the mayor to be elected at-large. A Commissioner must live in a particular district and will be elected only by that district's voters.

3/09 Sixty-acre Arroyo Park commences a $330,000 facelift. It begins with 275' of fencing and eight light posts being installed around a third field. The girl's PONY League has been using two unlit fields over the last five seasons. Overt his period the league has grown to over 300 girls. A new parking lot to accommodate 100 vehicles is being constructed along with additional sidewalks. 6/09 Reconstruction continues on the Rio Grande State Center/South Texas Health Care System Outpatient Clinic on Rangerville Road. The existing facility is being totally rehabilitated and should be completed by November 2009. 7/9/09 The new $10 million police station becomes operational. Another $1.4 million in drug seizure money has been spent on 27 squad cars to install in them computer and digital recording systems as well as giving them new logos. The official opening is August 13. 8/09 Construction started on the $40 million Ambulatory and Specialty Outpatient Center for the Veterans Administration. More than 400 health care professionals will be employed in the 120,000 sq. ft. facility. 10/09 City Fire Station No. 4 is being constructed at 4410 Glasscock Street. It will have its Grand Opening on February 4, 2010. 10/7/09 Stefani Camarillo commences work as new coordinator of the Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum. 11/21/09 The newly renovated Harlingen Municipal Auditorium holds its ribbon cutting and open house ceremony. With a new roof, new seating with wider seats and legroom (at the expense of seating capacity), new fire screen, color scheme, stage flooring, and more, the 1927 auditorium is resurrected once more. 12/2/09 City Manager Craig Lonon is fired upon a 3 to 2 vote of City Commissioners. No clear-cut reasons are ever offered His severance package will cost the city $85,000. Later interim city manager Gabriel Gonzales, who was assistant city manager, has his salary raised from $100,103 to $120,000. 12/19/09 It is revealed that Harlingen Public Works Director Jeffrey Lyssy was demoted last month and assigned to the position of Parks Superintendent/Contract Compliance Manager at a salary of $50,772. his previous position paid $62,107. The change meant that current Parks Superintendent Donald Perez was laid off.

Business/Commercial/Industrial

4/00 Travis and Linda Bodenhamer open Champions Skate Center, a nearly $1 million roller skating facility, at 1220 North 28th Street. On 12/13/02 they set up a seasonal ice skating rink next to the roller skating one. 5/00 Advanced Call Center Technologies (ACT), a telemarketing company, opens a center in Harlingen employing 100. It will locate in Redelco's renovated building which once held two ABC Cinemas at 800 Morgan Blvd.

2001 The William Carter Company, a children's clothes manufacturer here, near Expressway 77 and Loop 499 closes. It leaves vacant an 88,000 sq. ft. factory. After about 46 years in business the Palmetto Inn on far West Jackson closes. Two other Mexican restaurants try to make a go at the site but soon fail. Chapita's, which opens in July 2001, does very well at its North 77 Sunshine Strip location. 2/25/01 The city experiences a small building boom. On Ed Carey Drive a second Wendy's opens. A Jack in the Box and an IHOP are being constructed. The Regional Academic Health Center on S. 77 near the San Benito line will be built. The $3.5 million Boggus Ford dealership along the Arroyo Colorado bridge at 83/77 is coming up as is a $1.7 million medical office on Camelot Drive. Fox Valley Molding and Industrial Fab Inc. is well underway in the industrial park on Grimes. 12/01 Harlingen lodging revenues are $12.4million compared to $12.3 in 2000. Over a five year period there has been a $2.49 million increase in lodging revenues.

1/02 Harlingen's retail trade growth for the year 2001 at 5.25 is above the state-wide average of 2.3% but below McAllen's 47.8, Brownsville's 12.7, and Edinburg's 10.5. 6/02 SMI Valley Steel opens a Harlingen branch after acquiring the steel division of Varmicon Industries, Inc. SMI, for Structural Metals Inc., is based in Seguin and is a division of Commercial Metals Co. of Dallas. The Harlingen plant processes an average of 400 tons steel a month and plans to increase that by a third in 2003. The parent company has scrap yards, steel mills, and 25 re-bar fabrication plants generating more than $2 billion in sales in more than 10 states. Fifteen are employed in Harlingen. Varmicon, its name now an abbreviation of the former firm, started in business as Valley Ready Mix Company. 6/12/02 The Hispanic Broadcasting Co., with parts of its origin in Harlingen, merges with Univision Communications, Inc. in a $3.5 billion stock deal making it the nation's largest Spanish language television, radio, and music conglomerate. 8/4/02 The Harlingen Area C of C lists 22 major private and public employers in the Harlingen area. The largest are the Valley Baptist Medical Center, HCISD, Fruit of the Loom, the City, Walmart Store, H-E-B Supermarkets, and Su Clinica Familia. After the list was published three telemarketing companies employing over 1,600 came into town. These are RMH employing 1,142 on Grimes in the building previously occupied by Aloe Vera, ACT employing 400 at 800 Morgan, and West employing 370 at the Treasure Hills Plaza. 9/9/02 The Treasure Hills Country Club clubhouse-restaurant burns down when an air conditioning unit short circuits in the early a.m. The 6,000 sq. ft. building was appraised at $720,137. An October 2000 projection set its revenue generation at more than $10.5 in net revenues over a 10-year period. Gene and Bettye Estillette, who employed 64 people, believe the property was underinsured. 10/02 The Harlingen Medical Center at 5501 S. Expressway 77 opens. It is a full-service hospital developed by community physicians in partnership with the Med-Cath Corp. of North Carolina. The general acute hospital is a $64 million state-of-the-art facility with 112 private patient rooms and additionally six labor and delivery suites, 16 day patient rooms, and a nine bed emergency center. It starts with 100 employees and will eventually have a staff of 500. Its payroll is expected to be about $17 million in FY 2003. Mid-Valley Truss and Door Co., with Frank Klinger its president, opens a new facility at 5820 Millenium Drive, Harlingen Industrial Park. It has been enticed here from Los Fresnos where it has been for twenty years. A year and a half later it will be employing 110 people in its 63,000 sq. ft. building. 10/2/02 The Valley Morning Star has a paid circulation of 27,183. 10/10/02 Marble Slab Creamery holds ribbon cutting at 1334 Ed Carey Vbhuit and Arun Bhata are co-owners. 11/12/02 The First National Bank of San Benito with branches in San Benito, Los Fresnos, and Harlingen changes its name to First Community Bank. 12/02 Lockheed Martin added 36 employees to its Harlingen payroll during the year. The current total stands at 225. The plant at the Valley International Airport puts together components for the Atlas launch program, F-16 jetfighters, and Theater High Altitude Aerial Defense (THAAD). The latter is an interceptor missile. The labor situation in Harlingen is little changed year to year. In December 2001 the labor force stood at 27,448 with 25,673 employed and 1,775 looking for jobs. In December 2002 the figures are a labor force of 27,941 with 27,884 employed and 2,057 looking for work. 2002 Country Inn and Suites by Carlson-Harlingen, 3825 S. Expressway 83; Ramada Limited, 4401 S. Expressway 83; and Motel 6, 205 N. Expressway 83 are new to the Harlingen lodging industry. The city has more than $83.2 million in construction activity for the year. The Lincoln Corners Strip Mall on the street of that name and near Dixieland Road gets underway. Before the end of the year five businesses have opened there. They are Cato, Dollar Tree (one of 2,300 in the chain), Ross Dress for Less, Hobby Lobby and Spanky's, an ice cream parlor. By 6/03 the mall developed by Jim Gessler of St. Ives Partnership announces a second phase which will add 50,000 more sq. ft. The Valle Vista Mall meanwhile adds three more retailers including Charlotte Russe and Villa Pizza.

2003 By this year a host of newer banks have become established here in addition to the old line ones. These include: Coastal Banc SSB in the old post office at 221 E. Van Buren; Frost Bank, 1514 W. Tyler; Alamo Bank of Texas, 601 S. Stuart Place Road and 2318 E. Harrison; and the First Community Bank, 806 S. 77 Sunshine Strip. 3/18/03 Dayhoff LLC, a division of Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, announces plans to open a warehouse facility in Harlingen to distribute its line of candy and snack products in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It has purchased a 50,000 sq. ft. building on Strauss Lane and is forecast to create 30 jobs. Dayhoff brands include Juicee Gummies, Cream Swirls, Fruity Bears, and Frogees. 3-5/03 The city sees its culinary landscape change. A national chain—Buffalo Wings Grill and Bar opens its 1500 W. Harrison restaurant in the old Holsum Bakery Building. A short distance west and across the street King Buffet, a Chinese restaurant, commences its second restaurant in the Valley according to Joseph Jen, its business manager. In recent years the city has seen an explosion of Chinese restaurants established, and most lately converted to buffets. At his time the total is seven. El Pollo Loco, a McAllen based company and north Mexico franchise, is in the midst of constructing its $150,000 outlet at 1521 Ed Carey. It is owned by Efrain Villareal, a 30- year veteran of the food business. It languishes and by September 2004 closes its doors. The site will later house a Starbucks Coffee house. A chain deli sandwich shop called Quiznos is also scheduled to open just south and across the street from El Pollo Loco. Meanwhile Cici's Pizza will relocate from its 77 Sunshine Strip site to the new Lincoln Center Mall. 5/19/03 Pharr-based Lone Star National Bank opens a branch at the Harlingen Medical Center. It is the bank's 8th location and the 9th is planned for Weslaco. Started in 1983 with 10 employees the bank currently employs 200 people and has assets of approximately $608 million. 6/1/03 The steel framework is up for a three-story structure adjacent to the Harlingen Medical Center . The new building developed by McAllen architect Alonzo Cantu is the first of its class. Called Medical Office Building or MOB it will additionally house condominiums in its 66,000 sq. ft. The offices and condos will range in size from 1,500 to 6,000 sq. ft. Medical doctors have already purchased 60-70% of the units. Completion was set for August 2003 but goes to November for the $1.5 million building. 6/03 Echo Star Communications Corp. begins employee recruitment at its 53,000 sq. ft. 2809 E. Grimes facility. This company owns DISH Network, a digital satellite television service that has more than 8.5 million subscribers in the U. S. It will start training 6/30 and go live 7/31 for its Harlingen sales and customer service center Plans call for it to start with 200 employees and increase to 650 by the end of 2003. It received an economic incentive package that is based on performance. It could receive a one-time payment of more than $1.6 million if it lists 650 employees on its payroll each year after 2004. An additional $750,000 could go to this Fortune 500 Company if it creates another 300 full-time jobs and as much as $620,000 for adding as many as 500 part-time positions. The facility was vacated this year by RHM Teleservices, Inc., a Pennsylvania based marketing company. On 7/22/03 SBC Communications, the nation's second largest local phone company, announces a partnership with Echo Star to offer a co-branded SBC DISH Network. This represents an effort to compete with cable companies that now provide phone service to 3 million U.S. households. SBC and Echo Star will integrate operations. SBC now serves 56 million access lines while Echo Star has about 8.5 million satellite customers. SBC stock was down $1.12 to $23.06 on the NYSE and Echo Star up 10¢ to $35.43 on the NASDAQ. By December 2003 Echo Star had exceeded its goal and was about to reach 1,000 employees on its payroll here. 7/03 Sauza's Restaurant and Bar, 302 Ed Carey Drive, opens under general manager Juan Ramirez. This same day two other facilities also open. Smith Family Clinic opens a new facility at 707 W. Sesame Drive. Its staff includes Dr. Ray Smith and Dr. Ricardo Alaniz. The Canterbury Court Assisted Living, 900 Camelot Drive, opens Hibiscus Gardens, a dementia and Alzheimer's community. The Fruit of the Loom Company announces it will shutter its Harlingen plant on or before December 31. This will be a major financial blow to the city. 8/03 Several new firms opened this month. Discovery Playground in the El Mercado Shopping Center, 712 N. 77 Sunshine Strip, is owned by Velma DeLeon. It is a children's entertainment facility with murals by Rudy Vallee Hyde, Jr. Nextel, at 2201 W. Lincoln, specializes in cell phones and networking. Store manger is Eloisa Castellanos. Unishippers at 3302 Heritage Way is associated with Airborne Express Stations. Manager is Hugo Moya. Harlingen Dance and Cheer, owned by partners Jaime Villareal and Eddie Pena, opened at 320 Eye Street. Temp-Net Digital Imaging and Printing relocated to 312 E. Harrison according to owners Shein and Andy Joines. Harlingen's unemployment rate is 7.6% versus Brownsville's 12.3, McAllen's 9.7, Texas' 6.6 and the nation's 6.1. 10/03 Encanto Snack Products, a company owned by the Aguirre family of Monterey, Mexico, opens a processing plant at North FM 509 that manufactures snack foods, including potato and corn chip. It employs about 40 people. John R. Phillips is its first executive vice president. The $9 million plant of 43,000 square feet processes snacks for both the U. S. and northern Mexico, which does not have a year-round supply of potatoes. 11/03 Since 2001 there has been a 15% drop in winter visitors to the Valley. A typical winter resident is a mid-westerner with annual income of $46,500, who spends $4,100 during his stay here on an average of 3 ½ months. In the last two winters this dropped to $3,500 for this duration. Some RV parks were only half full in 2001 and 2002. 11/12/03 The 70 room $4 million Hampton Inn at 1202 Ed Carey Drive opens. The studio suites are equipped with 32" television sets and internet connections. It has a two story lobby, 550 gallon aquarium, a business and fitness center, outdoor pool and a meeting room with a capacity of 50 people. Andy Bhakta is owner/general manager. 2003 The total of Harlingen hotel and motel industry rooms is about 1,300. Two chambers of commerce continue to serve the city. John Crutchfield is CEO and president of the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce and Nat Lopez CEO and president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. A comparison of the two is: HACC HHCC President and CEO $83,295 $57,502 Director of International Trade 59,137 -- Director of Economic Development 55,000 -- Mgr. New Industry Recruitment 45,000 -- Mgr. Local Area (business) Development 45,000 36,000 Business Development Coordinator -- 20,000 Community Affairs Specialist -- 24,000 Budget $2.4 million $390,000 Employees 20 5 Employee Salaries/fringes 2002-03 $890,000 $189,000 From ½% Sales Tax Economic Development Corp.Allocation $945,600 $390,000

12/3/03 Central Baseball League officials threaten to drop Harlingen's RGV White Wings baseball team due to its poor attendance unless local people purchase the team from the league. The team's debt is put at $140,000. The league is committed to pay the city $26,000 /yr. for five years. Debuting in 1994 the Wings won the 2000 Texas- Louisiana League championship. The 2001 entry of the Edinburg Roadrunners in its $6.5 million stadium may have drawn fans from Harlingen. 12/18/03 Terry's Que Pasta Restaurant, 501 S. 77 Sunshine Strip, closes its doors. Located in an old transformed house it has been one of Harlingen's few upscale intimate restaurants. Tom Kane, Jr's restaurant building is soon demolished by the new owners in order to make way for construction of a fancy bar. 12/30/03 Valley International Airport (Harlingen) controls 53% of the domestic boardings of the three Valley airports. The Texas Dept. of Transportation attributes $52.9 million as VIA's direct contribution to the local economy. The 245,000 annual visitors it handles are estimated to contribute $97.2 million directly to the economic output. The VIA's total economic activities stand at $259.5 million. Besides Continental and Southwest Airlines (and Sun seasonally), other major tenants are Lockheed Martin, FedEx, UPS, Airborne Express, Gulf Aviation, Gulf Avionics, and Amigos Aviation. Roy Rodriguez is chairman of the aviation board, and Ernie D. Arredondo, director of marketing. 12/31/03 Valley Race Park, Harlingen with its greyhound track on FM 801 contributes $183,000 in pari-mutual betting taxes to the state for the year and $110,000 in other taxes. Its on-track handle is $20 million, down 10.2% from 2002. Its attendance at 122,000 is down 6.9%. 2003 Acacia Construction LTD becomes a member of the Harlingen Area Builders' Association. By 2004 the firm will have built approximately 60% of the multifamily buildings in the City of Harlingen. To accommodate its growing business the company builds a new office complex at 314 E. Tyler and opens it March 2006. It also manages apartment complexes and by the end of 2006 will have completed the Ailani's Court garden-homes complex in the Dixieland area.

1/1/04 1,532 new jobs were created in 2003 in Harlingen, but 791 old jobs were lost. 1,200 of the new jobs were for EchoStar, followed by Encanto, and Dayhoff. Fruit of the Loom, which employed 1,700 at its peak, shut its doors at the end of 2003 with 791 employees. 2/22/04 By this point in history, bank consolidations and mergers had left Harlingen with not one bank owned by city interests, although a few banks doing business here were still Valley-owned. The situation was as follows for banks serving the Harlingen area:

Name Headquarters Assets Location Employees Alamo Bank of Texas Alamo $200 million 9 120 Bank of America Charlotte, NC $737 billion 4,200 100,000 Coastal Banc Houston $2.5 billion 44 600 First National Bank Edinburg $2.1 billion 34 525 First Community Bank San Benito $100 million 5 50 Lone Star National Bank Pharr $600 million 6 200 Texas State Bank McAllen $4.2 billion 35 1,250 Wells Fargo Bank San Francisco $391 billion 3,035 139,000 IBC Laredo $6.7 billion 100 N/A Frost Bank San Antonio $10 billion 80 N/A

3/14/04 The NAFTA CargoPort has opened in the 60,000 square foot facility built by LYXNS Holdings. In addition to Bax Global and Menlow Worldwide, Swissport, a company which works closely with air cargo carriers, will be a tenant. The setup will facilitate the movement of parts into northern Mexico for manufacturing operations there. 4/14/04 FedEx ,which handles air freight to the Valley using Harlingen as a terminal, replaces its standard cargo airplane with a larger and more fuel efficient aircraft. This is the French-manufactured Airbus A310 which may carry up to 40 tons of cargo. Increased business to the Valley and northern Mexico necessitated the change. The twin-engine plane has 25% greater holding capacity than presently use craft. 5/2/04 El Nuevo Heraldo, the Rio Grande Valley's only Spanish language daily newspaper is to expand from its Brownsville base into the Harlingen-San Benito area as well as increasing its content and coverage. 5/11/04 Freedom Communications Inc., parent company of the Valley Morning Star, moved the corporation partly out of sole Hoiles family hands thereby resolving a twenty year feud. In a two billion dollar deal 58% of the stock was sold to the Blackwell Group of New York and Rhode Island-based Providence Equity Partners. Family members who wanted out sold the outstanding shares, however the buyout group can only own a maximum of 49.9% of the voting stock, so the family will remain in control. Tim Hoiles, grandson of the founder, Raymond C. Hoiles, sold his shares, estimated at more than $100 million. 5/12/04 As its aerospace business slows, the local plant of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. lays off 19 employees. The Denver–based company will retain 211 people in Harlingen. 5/16/04 The Harlingen Medical Center unveils its chronic wound treatment center in which $300,000 has been invested. Four employees have been hired to run it. Four days later the VBHS announces an agreement with the Driscoll Children's Hospital of Corpus Christi. The latter will bring specialize children's treatments here. 5/18/04 Along with five others throughout the Valley, Advance Auto Parts is to open a store here on West Tyler. The 7,000 square foot store will employ about 10 people. The company has about 2,500 outlets in 39 states and employs 35,000. 5/22/04 While SBC ( the giant communications company which was the outgrowth of Southwestern Bell telephone) employees are on strike, it is noted that 40 Harlingen employees at its 401 E. Van Buren business office will be displaced come 12/4 after the facility is declared surplus. A similar number will face a similar circumstance in McAllen. Their job guarantee applies to the state but not necessarily the area. 6/29/04 The Valley Baptist Health System becomes owner of the Brownsville Medical Center. While the acquisition price was not announced, Cameron County shows it with a market value for land and buildings of $15,825,679. The Center has 243 beds and was founded in 1923 by the Sisters of Mercy and is Brownsville's largest hospital. 7/04 Hibernia Bank, a national entity, acquires the Coastal Banc system in the Valley. This includes 10 offices from Mission to Brownsville in addition to the Harlingen ones at 221 East Van Buren, 1410 Ed Carey Drive, and 502 South Dixieland Road. 7/11/04 In the early morning hours a major fire is to engulf the Santos Lozano Building, also called the Pioneer's Building. This structure at 112-119 East Jackson Street and designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1980 is totally destroyed and beyond salvage. The two-story brick building constructed in 1915 carries in it a tremendous amount of Harlingen history. Lost in it and adjacent buildings are seven businesses including the owner for eight years, Kattan Western Wear Store, which carries no insurance. Arson is suspected. 7/29/04 The national and international coffee shop chain, Starbucks, opens its first outlet in the Valley. This is in Harlingen's Valley International Airport terminal. It is run by HMS Hosts, a company that has exclusive rights to run Starbucks shops inside many of the nation's airports. 9/15/04 Shane Spees is named CEO of Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen. He comes from Memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston. He served there as Assistant VP of Operations and has had 10 years experience in healthcare administration as well as legal background. This Mississippi native earned his under-graduate and law degrees at the University of Mississippi and his Masters in Healthcare Administration at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. James Eastham moves to the position of Executive Vice President and CEO of Valley Baptist Health System under its President and CEO James G. Springfield. On October 4 Randy McLelland is to become chief financial officer. He previously served as chief operating officer for Lone Star National Bank, following many years of executive leadership at JP Morgan/Chase and its predecessor bank, Texas Commerce Bank. Meanwhile Greg Harb, formerly of Houston, takes the position of CEO for Valley Baptist Health Center-Brownsville, previously the Harlingen Medical Center while Jim Salyer is senior vice president for corporate services. 11/4/04 The city enters into an industrial agreement with Penn Aluminum expected to create 40 jobs eventually. Located in the industrial park it will pay no city taxes as the area has yet to be annexed but will purchase city services. The company guarantees 20 employees the first year, 32 in its second year and 40 in the 3rd thru 7th years. 2004 By year end new businesses in town include Edna Posada's Spa La Posada; Valley Physician Services owned by Anne Flory (it does medical billing and employs 42 at its new facilities on Harrison Street west of Loop 499); and Delights Bakery and Main Street Grill on Jackson Street. Rose Snell's Fast Signs franchise moved into a new larger location on 77 Sunshine Strip. Time Warner Cable expanded its customer service call center with a new $1.3 million building. 11/15/04 VBMC opens the Harlingen Heritage Program which offers senior citizens help with mental and emotional problems. The facility is at 2121 Pease Street. 11/30/04 For the 11 month period permits in residential and commercial projects were up significantly for Harlingen. The total was $104,313,117 compared to $61,635,025 for the same period in 2003. 12/4/04 West Corp., a Nebraska based telemarketer, plans to beef up its Harlingen workforce by adding 175 positions to its already 350. The 1514 S. 77 Sunshine Strip center opened here June 2001.

3/05 Cheryl LaBerge, after seven years as head of the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, becomes manager of Harlingen's Downtown. This is a business district of 40 blocks bound approximately by Monroe Street on the north, Harrison the south, 4th Street to the east, and F Street to the west. Guided by 12 directors, it is committed to showcasing downtown businesses and the district's architectural history. 4/1/05 The Treasure Hills Imaging Center opens at 1717 Treasure Hills Blvd. It is a joint venture between the VBMC and Valley Radiological Associates. Under Executive Director Ethel Morton, the facility will have 15 staff members including nine technicians and a radiologist. 4/8/05 The VBMC through its Valley Baptist Health System acquires the Athletix Gym, a six year old business owned by Wendy Brons. A new center to open in the spring next year will have about 30,000 square feet. 4/21/05 Laredo National Bank-Brownsville opens a branch to be known as LNB- Harlingen at 2005 West Lincoln Street. 5/2/05 Marie McDermott assumes position as president/CEO of the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce. She has a BA in business from UT (Austin) and also was graduated from the Economic Development Institute, Norman, OK. She has been president of the Brownsville Economic Development Council and worked with the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership as vice president. 8/27/05 KGBT-TV, the Valley's CBS affiliate, to have new parent company. Its current owner, Liberty Corp. headquartered in Greenville, SC, will merge with the Alabama- based Raycon Media Inc. Liberty's 15 television stations and cable sales operations will go into an employee-owned company that operates 37 television stations and employs more than 2,500 people. The sales agreement calls for a cash purchase of $47.35 per share of the company valued at about $987 million. In early October Raycom Media announces its intention to sell 12 network affiliated stations, including the Harlingen CBS affiliate. It desires to focus on its core TV stations in the Southeast and Midwest. 9/05 La Michoacana Meat Markets, a Houston-based food chain serving primarily the Latin marketplace, opens its large newly constructed facility at the northwest corner of H and Harrison Streets. This is south half of the city block formerly occupied by Boggus Lincoln Mercury whose structures on the site have been demolished. The company now has 70 stores in Texas and one in Oklahoma. It has its own meat market, bakery, taqueria, and highlights foods from Latin America as well as the U. S. On the north half of the block, 918 W. Harrison Ave., Lone Star National Bank is constructing a large drive in bank operation to open 12/15/05. This Pharr-based bank that was started in 1983 will soon have nine branches across the Valley and will have in this motor bank outlet an ATM machine, the first of its type in the Valley, capable of handling bills and checks. This block and the block to the west which formerly contained Boggus Ford facilities were cleared of existing structures in February 2005. 10/10/05 After being at 220 E. Harrison since 1945, MacPherson's Pharmacy and Medical Equipment opens in its newly –constructed 5,700 square foot building at 124 E. Harrison. It has a drive-in widow. Its owner-operator, Michael Murphy, also has a branch at 1733 S 77 Sunshine Strip near the medical complexes, but it moves to 2300 S 77 in January 2006. Architect Meg Join has designed the attractive new structure's exterior and roof facade to resemble that of the 1920s St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway (later Missouri Pacific) train depot which once stood not far away and also that of the nearby Missouri Pacific freight depot of 1927. 11/05 Capital One merges with the Hibernia Bank of New Orleans. The latter has branches in Harlingen and throughout the Valley. These will take on the name Capital One in April 2006.

1/26/06 The city's business community is cheered when Loew's, a home improvement center, reveals it will construct a 171,000 square–foot store along the east side of Exp77/83 near Ed Carey Drive. Target will add 8,000 square–feet to its existing store, making it total 122,610. The addition will also house a new Starbucks coffee shop. A new hotel called Value Place is planned for South New Hampshire Road and the Expressway. Along Loop 499 a 180-unit apartment complex is being started while First Community Bank is constructing another branch on Stuart Place Road. 3/4/06 PetSmart, a national chain based in Arizona, has a grand opening in its Lincoln Corners store thereby making it the third pet shop in Harlingen. While it does not sell pets, it does do grooming and has a wide range of pet products. 5/06 Union Pacific crews have been working in the Combes–Harlingen sector replacing railroad ties and improving crossings as part of a $11.5 million project in the RGV to replace 100,000 ties and 160 crossings in the 50-mile Raymondville to Brownsville stretch. The Omaha-based company has a huge task force of its employees and those of sub-contractors in the area. 5/10/06 Valley International Airport becomes "international" again when FedEx commences a five times a week flight schedule to transport freight between Harlingen and Monterrey, Mexico. 6/9/06 The Freedom Communication Inc. acquires the free-distribution weekly The Coastal Current. The latter, conceived 14 years ago and owned by Jim and Melissa Goller, concentrates on entertainment and South Padre Island. It will be consolidated with Island Breeze, a Freedom publication. 6/10/06 Car dealers Jeff Kellogg, a Houstonian now living in San Benito, and Butch Cooley a Lyford native, announce the merger of Kellogg Chevrolet Inc. and Knapp Chevrolet into Kellogg-Knapp Chevrolet as of June 1. A total of 180 employees is current combined manning. 6/14/06 Spain's second largest bank, Banco Bilboa Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) to buy Texas State Bank's parent company for $2.16 billion in order to bolster the Madrid bank's U.S. Hispanic market. There are five Texas State branches in Harlingen. Last year BBVA acquired Laredo National Bank's holding company. Texas State Bank was opened in 1982. In 1983 it was part of newly formed Texas Regional Bancshares, a holding company which also included Harlingen State Bank that was soon to change its name to Texas State Bank. On 6/27/06 another major banking development was revealed. The thirteen Alamo Bank of Texas branches in the Valley, including two in Harlingen, changed to Frost Bank in an $87 million deal commenced in February. Frost is part of Cullen/Frost Bankers, a financial holding company. 8/15/06 Paul Binz, 51, veteran newspaperman, becomes managing editor of the Valley Morning Star. He has been managing editor at The Monitor in McAllen since 1993 and worked there and at the Brownsville Herald since 1989. He replaces George Cox who is now general manager for the Coastal Current and Island Breeze, recently acquired by Freedom Communications. Binz is a Little Rock native who was raised in Houston. 9/1/06 Loew's, a major national home improvement firm based in North Carolina, opens its doors for business. In doing so, it will provide 140 full and part-time jobs in Harlingen according to general manager Ryan Richardson. 9/22/06 The Harlingen Medical Office Building II on Victoria Lane opens for business. The 80,000 sq.ft. complex with 22 units was built by Alonso Cantu, owner of Cantu Construction Company. One unit is the new Harlingen Medical Imaging Center with a MRI room and a 64-slice CT scanner. 9/30/06 Privately–owned Cardone Industries, Inc., a Philadelphia-based automotive parts re-manufacturer with a Matamoros plant, announces it has purchased the former 680,000 sq. ft. Fruit of the Loom plant. Initially employing 100 it may eventually employ 500. 10/17/06 Solara Hospital, a long-term acute care facility with 41 beds and owned by Solara Healthcare of Dallas, opens on Victoria Lane near the Harlingen Medical Center. It has 40 employees but this is expected to rise to 120. 12/9/06 Lockheed Martin partners with the Boeing Co. to form joint venture—United Launch Alliance. The Harlingen facility of the former will now take on this new name. With 160 current employees the move should solidify the future of the company here.

1/6/07 Billionaire Billy Joe "Red" McCombs of San Antonio enters into a partnership with Cardenas Autoplex. This 40-year old company, with branches in Brownsville and San Benito, opened its Harlingen business in 1992. McCombs is expanding in the Valley because of its business potential. The dealership handles Toyota, Cadillac, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. 5/27/07 The Valley Morning Star complements its online internet paper with V247. This is an entertainment and database website with interactive features. 6/30/07 The Valley Baptist Health & Fitness Center in Treasure Hills has its Grand Opening. The state-of-the-art 38,000 sq.ft. health club has numerous amenities. 9/1/07 Tyler Patton, 42, becomes the publisher of the VMS. This Midland native earned a degree in financial management from Hardin-Simmons University and in 1990 began employment with the Abilene Reporter News. He joined Freedom Communications, the parent of the VMS, when, in 1994, he took employment with the Odessa American. In 2004 he became general manager of the Valley Morning Star. On 10/1/07 the circulation of the paper reaches on average 23,919 copies for the last 12 months. 12/13/07 VTX Broadband, high-speed internet provider, opens headquarters at 401 E. Jackson. It installs a 190' tower at 413 E. Jackson near the Matz Building and SES Communications.

1/9/08 At the site of the former Seville Motel and its many reincarnations at the west end of town between Harrison and Tyler Avenues is arising the Woodmont Shopping Center. It will feature a 15,000 sq, ft. Walgeens, a separate Starbucks structure, and two additional building, one with four suites and one of 6,000 sq. ft. with three suites. West near the Business 83 frontage where Pletcher's Nursery on 50 acres used to be located, the Kohl's Department Store with about 68,000 sq. ft. is nearing completion as the anchor for this new shopping center. Coming up on the site, nearby and directly on the frontage, is a Logan's Roadhouse of 7,200 sq. ft. that will feature a casual dining steakhouse and generate about 120 jobs. Over time this St. Ives Properties site called Harlingen Corners will welcome a new 30,000 sq. ft. Marshall's. A second phase of 150,00 sq. ft. is expected to have as tenants Bed, Bath, and Beyond; Famous Footwear; Lane Bryant; and Maurice's, a clothing store. A third phase with similar footage is planned. 1/10/08 Harlingen loses a business landmark when Broadway Hardware, in business here for nine years, closes its doors at 302 W, Jackson.. This site has been continuously occupied by a hardware business since 1915. 1/28/08 Edelstein's Better Furniture, in the Valley since 1906 and Harlingen around 1915, is sold to Famsa, Inc., the US subsidiary of the Monterrey-based Grupo Famsa. Twelve of the Edelstein family Valley stores are part of the transaction. Besides stores in Mexico Famsa operates 47 stores in the US. 2/20/08 The City agrees to help the Simon Property Group financially in improving its Valley Vista Mall. The City will reimburse up to 15% of any sales tax revenue generated by new tenants above the currently generated mall revenues up to a maximum of $1.275 million from the 2% sales tax that is returned from the state. Improvements will include a new tile floor, overlaying a majority of the parking lot, renovating two mall entrances, replacing skylights, adding a family restroom, and removing unnecessary columns. These capital improvements are expected to total about $5.5 million with new tenants expected to spend another $3 million. 6/27/08 The national chain of Circuit City featuring electronic technology opens its 20,000 sq. ft. store in the Valley Vista Mall. It expects to employ 30-60 people. In mid- January 2009 the 567-store chain files for bankruptcy and will close here in a few months. 8/18/08 The national chain Texas Roadhouse, employing 165 people here, opens its restaurant on frontage 77/83 adjacent to Loews. 8/22/08 Banco Bilboa Vizcaya Argenta(BBVA), a Spanish banking giant has taken over more than 62 branches of the Texas State Bank and Laredo National Bank in the Valley and other banks in East Texas. The former with assets last year totaling $8.4 billion will lay off local employees due to the consolidation. The local banks will be known as BBVA Compass or simply Compass. 9/24/08 The VMS average paid circulation for the last twelve months is 21,857. 10/14/08 This is the last day for Jim Springfield as CEO of the Valley Baptist Health System. He is succeeded by James Eastham, formerly COO and executive vp of the VBHS. 11/08 Mervyn's commences its final sales prior to closing its Harlingen store together with its other Valley sites. 12/08 National chain electronic store REX in the Valley Vista Mall shutters its doors here.

1/09 Aloe Laboratories announces plans to expand its operations here. The firm is to add 20,000 sq. ft. and bring in new equipment. Plans are to add 35 employees over the next five years. 1/3/09 The VMS prints its last newspaper on its Harlingen facility press. Future editions will be printed at the McAllen Monitor's plant. Quality will be improved and savings accrue to the Freedom Press by not having to replace the existing 35 year-old presses. 1/20/09 Bed Bath and Beyond opens its 21,000 sq. ft. store in the Harlingen Corners shopping center. Other retailers soon to establish in this center are Old Navy, Maurices, a subsidiary of Dress Barn, Lane Bryant, Rue 21, and the cosmetic store Ulta. Marshalls will also open here soon after leaving the Valley Vista Mall. By 2/10/09 the downturn in the economy revealed that Old Navy, Ulta, Famous Footwear, and Lane Bryant had dropped plans to open here, however a Shoe Carnival store would. 2/10/09 Pocket Communications has ribbon cutting ceremony for its 6902 W Expressway 83 facility. The call care center dedicated to customer services is now employing 120 people but may eventually expand to 250. 2/16/09 Valley Baptist Medical Center's CEO Dan McLean resigns after a one-year tenure. The hospital system is struggling after $25 million in damages from Hurricane Dolly and another $11 million in lost business. 7/17/09 The Valley Morning Star offers its readers expanded coverage via electronic online access. Seven-day subscribers receive the service free of additional charges. 8/09 CVS, a national pharmacy chain, commences site preparation for two outlets. Between Harrison and Tyler and 1st and 2nd Streets, it demolishes the sizeable former Knapp Chevrolet complex last occupied by CAHS, Inc. (Central Air). Despite pleas from many community members CVS goes ahead and destroys the historic "Glass House" , the art deco modern building put up in the 1930s and that once housed Feldman's Liquor Store. Later to be replaced at the site is the relatively new MacPherson's Pharmacy building. The second outlet will be on the SE corner of the intersection of Ed Carey and S. 77 Sunshine Strip. Traffic access to this particular location is very problematical. 9/30/09 The West Corp. announces that it will close its Harlingen call center by November 30. A work staff of 341 individuals will be out of work. At the beginning of 2009 the workforce employed was 520. 10/12/09 After being in operation for 55 years the Valley Diagnostic Clinic announces that it will dissolve. The individual doctors involved will go into private practices.

People

2000 Lillian Lamon, an officer of the Texas State Bank dies, of an automobile accident at age 50. This banker was also a volunteer and a community leader. In 2001 her family coordinating with the Cameron/Willacy Division American Heart Association commences awarding the annual Lillian Lamon Crystal Heart Award to a deserving community volunteer. She was the former Lillian McInnis, a HHS and Texas A&I graduate, former teacher, and in 1981 in charge of marketing for the Plaza National Bank.

2001 James (Jim) Springfield, 37, joins the Valley Baptist Hospital System as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Prior to coming to the Valley he held a variety of positions with the Houston-based Memorial Hermann Healthcare System from 1988 to 2000. He is named president and chief operating officer in 2003. In early 2004 it is revealed that Springfield has been named the nation's "Young Healthcare Executive of the Year" by the American College of Healthcare Executives. This former financial analyst is board certified in health care management. He and his wife Teri have four children.

11/12/02 Aubrey Dale Grayson born in Harlingen 8/20/32 to Luther and Liddie Grayson will die here at age 70. For 28 years he was the owner/operator of Stacy Mitchell cleaners. Harriet Adams, whom he married in 1952, survived him as did his sons, Steven, Douglas, Burt and 11 grandchildren.

5/4/04 Ford automobile dealer, Frank Boggus receives the Salvation Army's most prestigious award. This is the William Booth Award named for the Salvation Army founder. The 75 year old Boggus has helped the Army for nearly 40 years, 30 of which he served as a director in Harlingen along side Lloyd Pratt. In an overwhelmingly Democratic Party county, Boggus has been a strong Republican. He was in 1988 a delegate to the Republican National Convention. He served as chairman of the Texas State Bank in which he is a major investor. 7/25/04 Gary Souffrant, M.D., a native of Haiti, becomes director of Su Clinica Familiar. This board certified physician is an internist and specialist in pulmonary diseases. He arrives in Harlingen with his wife and two sons.

2/23/06 Edwin Martin Winkler, 91 and a lifelong resident of Harlingen passes. He was one of the founders of St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Owner of Harlingen Bottling Works, he also worked for and retired from the US Postal Service. He was a WWII veteran, member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and an Elk. Preceded in death by his wife Mary, he left no direct descendants. 9/7/06 Last week construction began on the 121 room Value Place Hotel to open in mid- February 2007 at the corner of New Hampshire Street and EXP 77/83. It will be an extended stay lodge with a kitchenette.

1/25/07 Regular Army Specialist Private First Class Darrell Wayne Shipp, 25, becomes the first Harlingenite to give his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the War Against Terrorism. He was killed in Iraq by an "improvised explosive device. " Born 10/30/1981, he was a graduate of Harlingen High School. His parents, four sisters and their spouses together with two grandparents and numerous relatives survive him. Upon the casket's arrival in Harlingen Mayor Rodriguez reflected, "It was a quiet moment. It puts everything in perspective because he paid the ultimate price. I just stood in awe and thought, "This is a true hero.'" A Memorial Funeral Service was held at the MMA Auditorium on 2/3. On 7/25/07 a memorial plaque to Shipp is dedicated at the Harlingen Library. 5/07 After 23 years of covering Valley sports, VMS Buddy Green retires. A native of Mount Vernon, NY he came to Texas in the early 1980s to attend Texas A&I University. He joined the VMS in 1984 and in 1999 was named its sports editor. His coverage was well received over the years. 6/30/07 Dr. Marion R. Lawler, Jr., surgeon and cardiovascular specialist, retires after 36 years practicing medicine in the Valley. 9/12/07 At age 96, Harlingen pioneer Dorothy Burchard Washmon dies. In 1933 in San Antonio she married Charles Adolph Washmon, mayor of Harlingen 1952-1956 and who preceded her in death in 1979. Mrs. Washmon, a Presbyterian, was very active in civic, cultural, and social affairs. She was involved in history organizations, the library, music, P.E.O., DAR, and Algadon. She is survived by her two sons, Charles Hoyte and John Richard Washmon, nine grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.

2/3/09 E. Clinton (Bud) Breedlove dies at age 86. Having served in WWII in the Army Air Corps he went on to become president and chairman of the board of the First National Bank of Harlingen, board member of VBMC, and a founder of the MMA. In 1970 he was chairman of the board of the Chamber of Commerce. This First Baptist Church member leaves behind a wife and numerous descendents.

Education

5/12/00 Cesar Morales, a Zapata native, retires after being Lamar Elementary School principal for 30 years. He attended Texas A & I College and began his teaching career in 1962 at Gay Junior High School. 5/20/00 Verna Young retires after 46 years of service in the HCISD. She began teaching math in 1953 at Gay, served as principal at Bonham Elementary 1975-1984 when she became Harlingen High School principal until this date. She was later elected to the school board. 7/00 The University of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences under Mr. James Wiggin joins the Chamber of Commerce. It is located in the Sun Valley Mall at 913 N 13th Street.

2/25/01 Jefferson Elementary School and Memorial Middle School are having extensive work done. The jobs are worth $1.8 million and $4.5 million respectively. 4/18/01 Travis Elementary School soon will undergo a $1.8 million upgrade for its 535 students. Treasure Hill Elementary School will get $3.25 million for renovations for its 658 students. Other expenditures are $11.5million for Harlingen High School South and $9.95 million for Harlingen High School. 5/25/01 After a 40 year career in education Velma Nunez retires. This San Benito native has been principal at the Bowie Elementary School for 36 years. Another Bowie School teacher, Elaine Regelski, also retires this date. This Warren, Ohio native has taught for 34 years, 25 which have been at Bowie.

9/02 TSTC enrollment continues to climb year to year. On 9/00 it was 3,228, 3,841 in 9/01 and 4,217 this date. 2002 (summer) Memorial Middle School is extensively updated. 10/3/02 As the Texas State Technical College-Harlingen celebrates Pres. J. Gilbert Leal's 24 years in office, it has grown on its current 124.5 acre campus to 69 buildings, more than 500 employees, and more than 4,000 credit students. Since 1978 projects added have included 14 instructional buildings, the Student Center, the Fieldhouse, a child-care center, a service support center, and a work force center. These have been valued at more than $30 million. The property inventory has grown to almost $35 million and the annual budget exceeds $38 million. Earlier this year TSTC Chancellor, Dr. Bill Segura, named Leal Vice-Chancellor for Border Opportunity Development. The fall 2001 enrollment was 3,842 and in 2002 was 4,618.

5/03 The Valley Baptist Academy closes permanently at the end of the school year. It is then utilized as the Valley Baptist Mission Education Center. 5/25/03 Construction begins at TSTC for a new Learning Resource Center. Scheduled for completion in October, the two story facility with 35,000 sq. ft. will house the library media center, a library instructional classroom, a spacious lobby, circulation area, study rooms, as well as reference and general collection areas. It is dedicated on 1/22/04. 7/12/03 St. Anthony's Catholic Church opens a middle school for 7th and 8th graders after having closed one in the 1960s when the HAFB ceased operating. The physical plant is at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on C Street.

2004 A partnership involving the auto industry and others contributes to the school sports infrastructure. Knapp Chevrolet and Valley Baptist Medical Center donate $250,000 each for the project while Hino Gas and Electric adds $200,000. High tech scoreboards are constructed at the Boggus Stadium and also some middle school fields. At Boggus new restrooms, concession stands, and additional bleachers among other items cost the district $625,000. 1/24/04 TSTC's Learning Resource Center building is dedicated. 5/12/04 Diana Walker, a third grade teacher at Calvary Christian School for eleven years, is selected as teacher of the year '04 from 18 school districts. The honor comes from Freedom Communication Newspapers in Education. 4/05/04 Clearing begins at the site of the new elementary school on FM 2994 (Wilson Road) on its north side about ¾ mile west of its intersection with Stuart Place Road. It had been a sugarcane field farmed by Frank Burns. Construction of the school designed by FRO International, architectural engineers, and erected by the Sam Corp, general contractor, and both of McAllen is two-thirds along by early August. The school will have 85,324 sq. ft. When completed the construction costs were $7 million. The Rodriguez Elementary School, named after the Harlingen doctor, will not be ready for a September school year opening, so the 500 students who will occupy the school are diverted to temporary quarters behind the Wilson Elementary School according to school principal, Traci Gonzalez. The greatly growing school population has put the district under a strain. Construction projects under way include: Austin and Bowie Elementary Schools, classroom renovations by 1/05; Stuart Place and Wilson Elementary schools, classroom renovations by 5/05; a new middle school, total construction by 7/05; and Harlingen High School, campus renovations and extra-curricular facilities by 11/05. 8/04 The HCISD has a teaching staff of 1,250. 9/7/04 While construction continues on some parts of the school, 27 rooms of the Rodriguez Elementary School welcome new students. 11/04 Edwin and Corinne Swaney publish their 364-page book, "Marching in Cadence: The History of MMA." Sale proceeds will go to the Marine Military Academy. Mr. Swaney volunteers at the MMA Iwo Jima Museum which he helped establish. 12/15/04 After the 15-member nomination committee recommends it, the school board votes for the name Moises V. Vela Middle School, in honor of the city judge and former county commissioner. The school, costing $13.5 million, is located off Palm Blvd., .3 mile south of Business 83. When opened in August 2005 it will serve about 684 students. TSTC see a 19.3 % enrollment increase from its spring 2004 numbers. 4,461 are currently enrolled with 845 as new students. The percentage over 35 years in age is increasing steadily. Currently 50% are in the 18 to 24 age group; 20% between 25 to 35; and 30% 36 years or older.

1/28/05 TSTC enrollment is 4,461 compared to spring 2004 of 3,739. 3/11/05 The Dr. Hesiquio Rodriguez Elementary School is officially dedicated. This gentleman graduated as valedictorian of the Harlingen High School class of 1935, when he was 15.By the time he was 22 he was a practicing doctor, having received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Center in 1942. While serving in the U.S. Army 1942-45 he interned in St. Louis where he met and married psychiatric nurse Annabel Alberts. He served on the Rio Hondo School Board 1948-51 before moving back to Harlingen in 1954. He died in 1977 at age 58. Among 60 Rodriguez relatives present at the ribbon cutting ceremony were the doctor's widow Ann Rodriguez Guerrero, daughter Suzanne Rodriguez Jones, and his son Charles Rodriguez. 4/8/05 The school district is considering the expenditure of $1.068 million to renovate and upgrade a deteriorating Boggus Stadium. 5/1/05 Calvary Baptist School announces that it will commence high school classes for grades 9 and 10 for the school year 2005-06. Two portable buildings have been set up to accommodate the new classes. The next phase in the school's plans is the construction of a library, expansion of the early childhood center, and making all handicapped accessible. Later a permanent high school structure will be erected and 11th and 12th grade classes added. A fundraising goal is $778,000, of which $260,000 is earmarked for the high school. 6/11/05 Nora "Coach Z" Zamarripa is inducted into the RGV Sports Hall of Fame. At this time the high school girl's basketball coach has a record of 528 wins and 223 losses in a career at Edinburg and Harlingen High Schools. This Lyford native has come a long way since hoeing cotton field on her parent's farm. She played basketball herself at Lyford going on to play at Texas A & I University in Kingsville where she changed her major from business to physical education. She then started her ongoing 25 year coaching career characterized by "an intensity that can be fierce."

2006 The Moises Vela Middle School is constructed on Palm Blvd, just south of Business 83. It required $13 million. HICSD opens the Early College High School on the campus of TSTC. 2/2/06 A survey reveals that the HCISD salaries are in line with the state average. Serving 17,660 students Harlingen teachers start at $34,000 with the average salary for all teachers being $41,790. The latter is $76 less than the state average of $41,866. The district also pays additional supplemental stipends for attendance, and programs such as band, sports, theater. 2/4/06 TSTC Regents OK transfer of up to 48 hours credit from the school's curricular to a student moving on to a four-year university. The board also approved a $1.275 million purchase of a 42 acre tract south of Rio Hondo Road and between Loop 499 and 25th Street. This will allow for future expansion. 12/8/06 It is announced that over the next seven months the last of the $80 million 1999 school bond issue money will go toward renovations of school district-owned Boggus Stadium. The 9,000-seat facility will get enclosures under the bleachers, more restrooms, and slimmed-down light towers for an estimated $2 million.

8/07 As the school year begins the HCISD estimates a student population of 18,000 compared to a 2006-2007 one of 17,700. In 2002 there were 16,049 students. A new elementary school is currently being constructed to relieve overcrowding at the Long and Bonham Elementary Schools. 11/28/07 Sitting on a 15.65 acre site on Loop 499 near 13th Street are the foundations for a new 800 pupil elementary school. To cost about $10 million, it is expected to be completed by the start of the 2008-2009 school year. In early January 2008 the School Board selects Lee H. Means as the school's name. Mrs. Means is the longtime Harlingen school educator. 12/30/07 Due for completion in the spring of 2008 is the TSTC Cultural Art Center at the corner of Raintree and Loop 499. This $2.1 million structure with 15,563 sq. ft. will be able to seat 600. Having moveable partitions and a separate conference room capable of holding 20-30 people plus a kitchen for catering, it will offer multiple uses to students and community alike. Ample parking will also be provided.

1/22/08 Linda Wade, Superintendent of Schools since 2001, announces her retirement come June. She has completed 35 years in the field of education starting with 14 years as a teacher in Missouri. Next came 21 years in various capacities in the HCISD including the last seven as superintendent. She leaves with an ending salary of $160,000 a year. 3/29/08 At age 59, Cheryl Card Gray, daughter of former Mayor Bill Card and Garrison Card dies after a long battle with cancer. Thirty-five years of her life were with the HCISD. She was the first director of the HOSTS Program and for 18 years principal of the Stuart Place Elementary School. Her last year here was 2004. She leaves behind her husband Harold Gray, her parents, and siblings. Her successor as principal is Vivian Bauer. 7/1/08 Steve Flores, 43, commences job as HCISD school superintendent. This San Angelo native has been involved with education for 25 years including high school and junior high school principal in that city, assistant superintendent Pflugerville ISD and Round Rock ISD, Area VI superintendent for Dallas, and acting general superintendent for the Round Rock ISD. He holds a masters of education degree in school administration from San Angelo State University and a doctorate degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001. His starting salary will be $189,500 plus $200/ month phone and $700/month car allowances. The previous superintendent ended her career at a $170,000 salary. 8/13/08 The Learning Resource Center (library) of TSTC is rename the Dr. J. Gilbert Leal Learning Resource Center. 8/31/08 J. Gilbert Leal, president of Texas State Technical College, retires after 39 years with this institution. His first nine years were spent as teacher, migrant counseling supervisor, director of admissions, dean of students, and general manager before becoming president. When he started the institute had 67 students and 30 employees. Today TSTC boasts an enrollment of 6,000 and more than 500 employees. 11/20/08 Harlingen High School South Hawks football coach Alan Cherry is reassigned after team ends season with a 2-8 record. In 2007 under his tutelage the team went 10-0 and advanced three rounds into the finals. 10/10/08 Dr. Cesar Maldonaldo is named new president of TSTC Harlingen. He is an engineer and busunessman, also a HICSD trustee who has a M.S. Degree in chemical engineering and a PhD. in systems and engineering management

1/5/09 About 240 pupils from Long Elementary and 200 from Bonham are relocated to the newly completed $10 million Lee Means Elementary School on Loop 499. Principal Elizabeth Maldonaldo leads the staff of 43 teachers and professionals. The school adopts the name Wolverines as a symbol and hunter green as its color. 1/30/09 Texas State Technical College exceeded the 5,000 enrollment mark for the first time last year and this fall registered more than 6,000 students. 2/19/09 TSTC to receive certification to open its May program of Vocational Nursing. 5/4/09 After a student at Long Elementary School is preliminarily diagnosed as probably having a case of swine influenza, the schools of the HCISD are announced closed until May 11. In its closure, the district joins numerous other Valley school systems facing a possible pandemic from the disease originating about two weeks ago in Mexico. 8/24/09 more than 18,000 students begin the school year under the direction of Superintendent Dr. Steve Flores. 8/28/09 The school board approves a $147 million budget for 2009-2010. It is projected to cover costs for 18,350 students at two high schools, one alternative high school, five middle schools, 17 elementary schools, and nine Head Start Centers. This is a 5.5% increase over the previous budget of $139,822,228.A $1,500 raise for teachers is foreseen. As a full-day kindergarten program is instituted 31 additional teachers will be employed. Because of a 1.7% increase in taxable properties the district is able to keep the same tax rate of $1.12 ½ for each $100 assessed property valuation. 9/8/09 TSTC installs 861-sq. ft. array of photovoltaic panels to help power the Autobody Collision Technology Building. 10/25/09 Associate of Science degrees in seven categories gets approval for TSTC.

Religious

2002 The Harlingen Center for Howard Payne University takes over the campus and facilities of the former RGV Baptist Academy on East Harrison. It operates to serve mostly non-traditional students involved in church and missionary work as well as house traveling missionaries. Frank Dudley, who served 11 years as a missionary in Togo, is the center's director.

7/12/03 St. Anthony Catholic Church's new sanctuary opens. In an evening service, Bishop Raymundo Pena was presented with the blueprints and keys to the edifice with seating for nearly 1,100 people. The former sanctuary, which seated 450, will be used as a parish hall. The new one of 20,380 sq. ft. includes a balcony, children's area, and two confessionals. The over $2 million structure was designed by architect and parishioner Michael Allex.

6/18/04 1,700 members of the Unified Pentecostal Local Churches International, Inc. meet for three days in Harlingen. The initial conference was organized in Weslaco when 21 churches came together in Weslaco in 1935. 11/04 The Harlingen Art Forum leases a new location for itself at 115 E. Jackson. Years before this site housed The Diana Shop. Called the D'arte Center, the attractive and spacious gallery will feature works of member artists and also serve for instructional classes.

12/06 As the year ended Harlingen seemed to have a church located at every other block. Perhaps not totally definitive, the city lists one Apostolic church; fifteen Baptist including one for the deaf, one primarily with black parishioners, and five Spanish language worship; five Catholic; three Christian with one having Spanish worship; five Church of Christ, two Church of God; one Episcopal; three independent Baptist including one for the deaf; three Lutheran, one being ELCA, one Missouri Synod, and one Spanish worship; three Methodist including one Spanish worship; one Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints; one Nazarene; two Pentecostal; four Presbyterian, one of which was Spanish worship; one Seventh Day Adventist; twenty-four non-denominational, about half of which provided Spanish worship; others including the Church of Scientology; a Jewish temple, the Baha'i faith; and Jehovah's Witnesses.

1/3/07 Former St. Alban's Episcopal Church rector from 1989 to 1994, The Rev. Robert G. Certain, plays a major role in the funeral services of President Gerald R. Ford. Certain, presently rector of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church of Palm Desert, CA, where the Fords were parishioners, conducted services in this town, Washington D. C., and Grand Rapids, MI where Ford was buried.

Organizations--Social, Civic, Service

5/31/01 Having drawn up and adopted its purpose and by-laws on this date the Harlingen Historical Preservation Society holds its first annual public meeting at the Harlingen Public Library on 9/29/01. Fourteen individuals led by Mary Lou Rumbo have organized this society.

2004 With WW II collection donations now exceeding its ability to display all of them, the Iwo Jima Museum, under director Susan Reininger, embarks on a drive to collect $3 million for the erection of a new facility. This ambitious plan is soon put on hold. 10/04 As the Chamber of Commerce's fiscal year closed it reported a total of 1,331 members worked 20,559 volunteer hours on various projects. In the year it gained 110 new members bringing the total to 900. 11/1/04 The first ever Day of the Dead ceremonies are held at the Harlingen Cemetery. Sponsors are the Harlingen Historical Preservation Society, the RGV Museum, Harlingen Proud, and the Parks and Recreation Dept.

6/05 Mike Mares becomes District Executive of the Rio Grande Council of the Boy Scouts of America. This Brownsville resident has been involved with scouting for five years. In his first year in the position he will help raise a record $110,000 for the council. 9/10/05 The charity organization Loaves and Fishes will move its feeding operation from 507 N. First Street to the 300 block Harrison site of the homeless shelter opened in 1992 by Rev. Ralph Morales as the End of the Road Ministries. This cost-cutting move will make both operations more efficient. It will be a $500,000 project. The Harlingen Rotary Club earmarks $100,000 for renovation of the 60-bed men's dormitory. In 1998 the project used a $100,000 grant from the United Parcel Service to renovate the 48-bed women's dorm. By January 2006 the Loaves and Fishes organization will have been ready for a $680,000 façade renovation project for the four contiguous buildings on five lots. This will allow its feeding center, job training shop and administrative offices to be at one site. 12/05 The Harlingen Jaycees host their 59th Annual Christmas Parade.

4/27/06 Having moved from Brownsville, Harlingen has a U.S. Olympic Committee program for boxing and judo. Going under the name Harlingen Foundation for Valley Sports, it has relocated from its Valley International Airport venue to one which was the old Discount Furniture Building at 516 W. Van Buren. Frank Perkins is chairman of the foundation and Martha Garza, spokesperson. 10/10/06 The Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce in its Harlingen Area Business Journal presents its important 2005-2006 Year in Review with four pages of impressive accomplishments in the community.

9/07 Loaves and Fishes moves to its new, greatly expanded facility on E Street between Polk and Taylor. An estimated 23 services will be offered in the renovated building. 5/23/08 The shaky financial condition of Rio Fest is revealed. It lost $29,000 in its three- day April event and had lost money the previous two years. Attendance has declined from 30,095 in 2003 to 17,995 this year even with a budget of $189,000, $50,000 of which was spent on entertainment. 11/8/09 The Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum hosts a book signing reception. The occasion is the publication of Eileen Mattei's At The Crossroads Harlingen's First 100 Years. Spearheaded by the Rio Grande Valley Museum Association, Inc., the handsome 152 page book covers the city's history in depth with narrative and photos. Profiles on 46 sponsors complement the publication.

Miscellaneous

5/01 The first Blues on the Hill program takes place. It will continue over the years primarily at McKelvey Park but also at other venues. It is co-sponsored by the Harlingen Parks and Recreation Department, Harlingen Volunteer Involvement Council, and the Valley Morning Star.

12/02 Harlingen Proud commences the first "Annual Holly Jolly Harlingen" residential holiday decorating contest. The city is divided into four quadrants for judging. In 2003 the Valley Morning Star, KGBT-TV, Advantage Rent-a-Car, Bence Nursery, Fast Signs, Glory B's, Sierra Title, and the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce become co- sponsors and contribute the modest prizes.

3/15-16/03 The Rio Grande Valley Museum hosts the first Annual Craft Bazaar, where various Valley crafters sell their handmade wares. 11/03 Because of its structuring and due to increased interest the Rotary here has three clubs—the Harlingen Rotary, North Harlingen Rotary, and Harlingen Sunburst Rotary. 2003 Texas Historical Commission markers in the Harlingen area recognize: James Henry Dishman at the Dishman Elementary School, Combes; the Harlingen City Hall at Commerce and Tyler; the Harlingen Cemetery on F Street; the Planters State Bank, Jackson at Commerce; the original Sam Houston School, now the Matz Building at 6th and Van Buren; the old Harlingen Hospital and the Lon C. Hill House, both in the Rio Grande Valley Museum complex on Boxwood at Raintree; the L.E. Snavely house .7 mile north of Expressway 77 on Wilson Road. In 11/03 the Commission gave approval for a marker commemorating the Harlingen Army Air Field and Harlingen Air Force Base. This marker will be erected in front of the RGV Museum. Issued in 2000, it is only in 1/04 that a state marker goes up at 718 E. Taylor to recognize the former Howard and Mary Butt residence. 10/6/03 KMBH-TV 60, the Valley's PBS affiliate, converts to digital, high definition output as mandated by the federal government. This costs several million dollars. The TV station currently reaches 1,200,000 viewers and its radio 350,000 listeners. Its plans are to move into four channels having specific goals. One will continue the PBS programing, a second will be for providing health information, the third for instructional purposes, and the last for community values and spiritual matters.

2/04 Rio Fest, Inc. is now co-sponsored by the City of Harlingen, the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce, the Junior League of Harlingen, and the Valley Baptist Health System. Its partners are the Texas Commission on the Arts and through it, the National Endowment of the Arts. In 2002 it had been awarded "Best Volunteer Program" by the Texas Festival and Events Association. This month water resources for the lower Valley reach their best levels since 1995. The combined capacity behind the two dams stands at 66.2 % by 4/24/04. Amistad Reservoir has a U.S. share of 1,565,000 acre-ft. and Falcon 637,000 acre-ft. Rains over the Valley itself have also curtailed spring usage and allowed all water districts to fill their reservoirs with free river water. 3/04 The cost of living index for Harlingen compares favorably with those of other cities. With an average of 100, this is how the city rates: Composite Index Grocery Items Transportation Health Care Misc. Goods/Services 88.6 86.8 97.8 98.8 93.4 4/30/04 Harlingen crime statistics for 2003 are released. Many categories show a rise from 2002 numbers: Year 2002 2003 Violent Crimes Murder 5 2 Rape 27 13 Aggravated Assault 203 256 Robbery 54 53 Property Crimes Burglary 795 911 Larceny/Theft 2,730 3,171 Motor Vehicle Theft 227 178 Total 4,041 4,584

2004 This year it is the Chamber of Commerce that sponsors a series of concerts at McKelvey Park under the name "Blues on the Hill." 11/1/04 The Harlingen Cemetery sees its first annual Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead Celebration. 12/25/04 Harlingen and the Valley woke up to a “White Christmas.” Several inches of snow had blanketed the area the night before. This unusual event had last occurred over 100 years before. Children and adults alike delighted in the circumstance.

1/05 From an idea conceived by City Commissioner Frank Puente the city holds its first annual Winter Texan Appreciation Festival. More than 2,700 attend the event at the Valley Race Park. The following year attendance jumps to more than 4,000. 3/05 The Harlingen Public Library computerizes all available names and additional information on individuals buried in the Harlingen Cemetery. 7/27/05 John Bryant, a former U.S. Representative from Dallas and his partner Bryon Pierce, of the United Sports Equities of Dallas sign a contract for $26,000 with the city to lease Harlingen Stadium for one year for a minor league professional baseball team. Harlingen is the first of eight cities signed to participate in the new independent league which will have teams from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri. In 2002 the city unveiled a $1.5 million renovation of the field, a debt to be paid off by August 2015. Unfortunately the Central Baseball League pulled its team from Harlingen in 2003. On 9/15/05 the United League Baseball strengthened its position in the Valley by leasing the Edinburg Baseball Stadium from that city thereby allowing it to place a franchise team there to displace the Central Baseball League and its Roadrunners. The rejuvenated Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings later opened its 2006 Harlingen season on May 16, 2006. With the exception of the 2008 season when it is called the Harlingen WhiteWings, the team is the RGV WhiteWings. 8/9/05 A panoramic mural featuring Southwest Airlines and the Valley is unveiled and dedicated. It is on the rear wall of the former Goodyear Building along Commerce Street. 11/05 The Valley Morning Star publishes "Images of Harlingen & San Benito Area— The Early Years Through 1939", a hard cover book having over 250 photographs.

9/14/06 Jackson Street hosts the first Art Walk in which local artists displayed their works in front of various businesses. The street has five art galleries at present. 9/15/06 In its first ever ceremony the city celebrates Mexico Independence Day on its 196th anniversary. A standing-room audience fills the Harlingen Performing Arts Theater. Singled out for special honors was Gloria G. Canales, who came to Harlingen from Nuevo Leon at age 16. This long-time Mexico folklorico dance instructor received the Ohtli award "for individuals who have shown dedication in their communities."

3/17/07 The city has its first Black candidate for mayor when Harlingen native Kenneth Benton announces he will run in the May 12 election. Benton is a consultant at Border Econometrics Consulting Group, LLC in Donna. 6/9/07 The Harlingen High School South Hawks baseball team playing for the Division 5 state championship in the Dell Diamond Stadium in Round Rock lose by a score of 6-1 to Houston Cypress Fairbanks. The Hawk's season record was 38-6. 12/07 The construction work for a new loading-unloading zone on the east side of 13th Street is completed. It extends in front of Memorial and Vernon Middle Schools as well as Boggus Stadium with its new facelift.

1/08 This month saw the demolishment of an historic World War II Army Air Field building. This was Hanger 38 with its distinguishable orange and white stripes. Its longtime lessee, EMAIR, ceased operations in 2002. Also to see the dust this month were the Field's four railroad-accessible warehouses just across the road from the museum. The tracks, which once connected to the Southern Pacific Brownsville route, paralleled Loop 499 and were torn out many years ago. 8/23/08 Hurricane Dolly with initial winds of up to 85 mph (Category 2) strikes directly across the area just north of Harlingen. By this time its force has diminished to a maximum of 75 mph gusts. With its slow movement west it brings with it torrential rains and inundation of low-lying areas and streets. Structural damage is light to moderate to serious depending on the freakish nature of the winds. Power is knocked out in some city areas for up to six days. It is the trees that sustain the brunt of the storm's ferociousness. Upturned large trees, huge broken limbs, and massive amounts of branches make the streets look like a war zone. The Municipal Auditorium roof collapses causing major damages. Two 1920s building on Jackson Street collapse interiorly from the weight of storm water on their roofs. Cleanup by the city's workforce and contractors is very slow as the amount of debris is monumental. Fortunately there are no deaths as a result of the storm. Seven months later City of Harlingen public damages were set at $1.68 million. FEMA would grant the city just under $293,000 with about $93,000 still pending while insurance-approved coverage was just over $1.37 million. City costs ranged up to $241,236.

3/19/09 The North Harlingen Rotary Club and the Rio Grande State Center host a glowing tribute to 92 year old Betty N. Murray who has served the community well for many years. Proceeds go to the State Center to aid patients. 3/27/09 The VMS reports that United League Baseball is scheduled to return to Harlingen on June 11 due to proceeding of a Dallas bankruptcy court. The City will recover $100,000 it was owed by the previous departed franchise. In 2008 the independent class team played under the name Harlingen WhiteWings.

4/09 The Harlingen Community Band organizes. Professional musicians, school band directors and instructors, and simply those interested unite to form a non-profit organization. 4/2/09 Butch & Gretchen Cooley host the monthly Downtown Harlingen meeting in the fabulous new Cooley's Classic Cars showroom that is, in effect an automobile museum. Its location is the marvelously renovated former Broadway Hardware Store corner Commerce and Jackson. 6/1/09 The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings professional baseball team returns this date to Harlingen Field. It has new owners and is participating in a new league. Eddie Dennis, who managed teams here in 1998-2000 and 2006, returns to take the helm of the team.