MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | The Monitor, www.themonitor.com 3A VALLEY & STATE

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Editor’s note: This comic strip by author and cartoonist José Alaniz, Ph.D. — a 1986 graduate of Edinburg High School now residing in Seattle, and who also graduated from the University of Texas and Berkeley — is part of an ongoing series entitled Bearing Witness. In the series, the Museum of South Texas History aims to document some of the Rio Grande Valley lives lost to COVID-19. This comic strip is about Alaniz’s uncle, Cruz Huijon, who died due to COVID-19 in August 2020. For more information visit MOSTHistory.org.

Mercedes man seeks bond reduction on murder charge

BY MARK REAGAN asked former Mercedes po- STAFF WRITER lice Chief Dagoberto “Dago” Chavez multiple times for A 34-year-old Mercedes comment on the arrests, but man is scheduled for a hear- he ignored the newspaper. ing Monday morning where However, the former chief his attorney will ask a judge did tell multiple television to lower his $1 million bond stations that Mercedes po- on a charge lice were investigating a of murder. stabbing. Fiden- The Monitor also sought cio Castillo copies of the probable cause Cosme has affi davits against the men been in jail from the Hidalgo County since his jail. Sept. 28 ar- The county requested an rest over the opinion from the Texas At- F. Cosme killing of a torney General on whether minor. it was obligated to release He is charged along with the information requested his brother, because the probable cause Juan Jose affi davit contained informa- Miguel Roberts | The Brownsville Herald Cosme, 37, in tion about the minor who Beard Posse “Order of the Brush” member Joe Lee Rubio hands the offi cial 84th annual Charro Days Fiesta poster Friday afternoon the case. was killed. during a curbside free poster giveaway in front of the Charro Days Fiesta Headquarters along Elizabeth Street. Court re- The AG sided with the cords refl ect county that the information that Juan has was protected from public not asked disclosure under the Texas for a bond J.J. Cosme Family Code. Online Charro Days reduction Neither man has been request. indicted and both have re- Details of the allegations mained jailed since Sept. 28 against the men other than on a $1 million bond. aimed at preserving spirit they are charged with mur- der are not public. mreagan@ At the time, The Monitor themonitor.com BY STEVE CLARK during the week through ers can call into the DJ to keep the spirit living on.” STAFF WRITER the Feb. 28 Closing Cer- request songs and are en- The public is being en- emonies Concert can be couraged to dance along couraged to dress in tradi- Charro Days has gone found on the Charro Days at home, LeVrier said. tional Charro Days attire virtual this year as a way Fiesta Facebook page and “We’re trying to make it for the week even if the to maintain the spirit Charro Days website, he as interactive as possible,” event itself is virtual this RGC man dies in of the event despite the said. he said. year and also decorate global pandemic, and The children’s costume A mariachi perfor- their homes and busi- maybe make it a little contest was accepting mance by Mariachi 7 nesses in the spirit of the single-vehicle crash easier on those who can’t photo submissions before Leguas is scheduled for festivities, similar to “Yar- imagine a year without the week of the festival. 7 p.m. Friday and can di Gras” instead of Mardi the fi esta. They’ll be judged and an- be viewed at the Charro Gras in New Orleans this Preceding the festivities nounced on Facebook Days Fiesta Facebook year, he said. in Escobares each year is the public un- Live during the Baile del page and on YouTube. A “We’re hoping to build STAFF REPORT DPS said in a release. “Pre- veiling of the offi cial Char- Sol. video of 2020’s Grand In- on this from year to year, liminary investigation re- ro Days poster, which took “We’re just trying to ternational Parade will for people to decorate, The Texas Department vealed a white 2016 Ford place virtually Wednesday mimic everything on Face- be shown on Brownsville so when you’re driving of Public Safety says a man F-150 was traveling east minus the public and book the way it usually is TV at 1 p.m. Saturday. around town Charro Days died Saturday morning af- on US 83 when it drove shown on the Charro Days in person,” LeVrier said. The Sombrero Festival En is going on,” LeVrier said. ter driving off of U.S. Ex- off the roadway striking a Fiesta Facebook page, “That’s just one example of Casa will feature a con- “I think it’s something pressway 83 in Starr Coun- gate and a utility pole. The YouTube and Brownsville how we’re doing it.” cert at the Sombrero Fes- great that we can keep on ty and hitting a gate and a vehicle then went into a TV, the city’s offi cial on- Last year’s Brownsville tival’s Facebook page at 7 doing, even when we’re utility pole. side skid, struck and cin- line video portal. ISD Festival Folklorica p.m. Saturday, while the back to normal. Let’s pro- The fatal crash hap- der block fence, and fi nally Charro Days Inc. Presi- and BISD Children’s Pa- Closing Ceremony Con- mote the spirit of Charro pened at about 8:57 a.m. rolled over.” dent Henry LeVrier said rade will be shown on the cert takes place at 7 p.m. Days. … We’ve got to keep inside the Exxon parking The driver, Carlo Edward the virtual festivities will BISD-KBSD ITV YouTube Sunday. It can be viewed on going. We can’t let the lot near the intersection of Marks, a 41-year-old Rio feature a combination of channel Monday and on Brownsville TV. spirit die.” Expressway and FM 648, Grande City resident, died live and recorded events. Thursday, respectively. “It should be exciting,” according to DPS. from his injuries, DPS says. A complete schedule of Fiesta Dance Night is at LeVrier said about the sclark@ “The crash occurred The crash remains un- the fi esta’s several events 7 p.m. Wednesday. View- event. “We’re trying to brownsvilleherald.com in the city of Escobares.” der investigation.