MISSION—The Mission Boys & Girls Club has started to move forward with its adaptive baseball program for children with special needs. Boys & Girls Club board member Norma Cruz said they currently have a total of 20 children signed up to participate in the adaptive baseball league.

The participants who have signed up will be divided into two teams to practice and compete against each other. Children will have a buddy to help guide them through batting and running the bases.

Read more: Parent meeting planned for special needs baseball team

MISSION— Sharyland Independent School District Board of Trustees discussed building a $3.2 million natatorium during a special meeting this week. The discussion comes after the district could not come to an agreement with the City of Mission on a contract for the use of the newly constructed Bannworth natatorium, located just north of the Sharyland High School campus.

Wednesday, the Sharyland board discussed financing plan options and construction design for the proposed natatorium. One financing option involved swapping dollars from the $55 million bond issue for construction of the new Pioneer High School and using a portion of those monies to pay for the natatorium. Some board members expressed concern that this was not what was presented to voters when the bond was approved. However, they were assured it could be done legally.

Read more: SISD Board considers $3.2 million natatorium

MISSION—Mission Police Department held a ceremony Monday to commemorate National Peace Officers Memorial Week, honoring officers and firefighters who passed away in the line of duty and after retirement.

City officials, Mission Fire Department personnel, and officers with the Mission Police Department and county, state and federal agencies were present at the ceremony.

“It’s really a celebration of heroes that have gone before us,” said Polo Sandoval, master of ceremonies. “To know that their lives have not been in vain.”

“It is a sad day when we get together to remember those that we’ve known that gave their lives to protect us,” said Mission Mayor Norberto Salinas. “It makes us work a little harder to make this town a better place to live.”

Read more: Mission honors fallen officers, fire fighters

MISSION—The Mission Consolidated Independent School District board heard presentations on May 8 from high school principals, discussing the possibility of creating magnet schools at each campus.

Superintendent Dr. Cornelio Gonzalez stated high schools in the district are planning to have magnet programs and work under the Texas-Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (T-STEM) program. He added that a magnet program is a school within a school, offering students choices in career related fields.

Read more: MCISD discusses magnet school implementation

MISSION—Bentsen Palm Village RV Resort, which won national recognition last year for its customer service, activities and operational excellence, has earned three more awards from the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO).

The awards, presented April 28, include “Park of the Year” in recognition of Bentsen Palm Village’s operational excellence, customer service, guest reviews, directory ratings, employee training techniques, community service, and association involvement.

“We have these awards every year and Bentsen Palm Village RV Resort was selected as the best in the large park category, which involves parks that have more than 151 campsites,” said Brian Schaeffer, TACO’s executive director and CEO.

Read more: Bentsen Palm Village sweeps Texas awards

MISSION – A 17-year-old was arraigned this week for burglarizing two stores. Another male juvenile was also charged.

Israel Alejandro Tovar, 17, was at the Mission Municipal Court this week after being arrested over the weekend for burglary. Police found Tovar and a juvenile walking at about 5:30 a.m. Saturday, May 4, after reports of a burglary at Beep Beep, a convenience store on the 800 block of North Schuebach Road in Mission.

According to Cpl. Manuel Casas, the two men broke into Beep Beep at around 3 a.m. Saturday morning. The glass doors were kicked in and beer, cigarettes and other items were stolen from the convenience store. Not too long after, Cool Express, a little shop that sells snow cones, Cheetos® and other snacks, was also broken into where a money jar was stolen.

Read more: Teens arrested on burglary charges

ALTON—With a new fire station on the way and a new franchise, the City of Alton is living up to its slogan, by becoming a “City on the Grow.” Assistant City Manager Steve Peña said construction plans have come in for the construction of a McDonald’s fast food restaurant.

“Construction plans have come in; they have passed the City of Alton Planning Department processing stage,” Peña said, although they have not yet secured a building permit.

Peña explained they are currently waiting for the franchise to tie up loose ends on their portion of the planning process. He added the location would be on Alton Blvd.

Read more: New businesses, housing spur growth in Alton

PALMVIEW – Last Thursday, law enforcement and first responders reacted to a simulation of two men shooting at a school at a La Joya Independent School District elementary. The two men went into the school carrying semi-automatic training rifles and handguns and acted out firing at students. A campus officer was taken down in the simulated gunfire as the two men went through the campus, sparing no one in their path.

Read more: LJISD, emergency responders conduct drill