WESLACO, Texas - In an effort to educate and inform the public, the county judges from Hidalgo, Starr, Willacy and Cameron counties held a joint press conference about the New World screwworm.

The press conference took place Monday, May 18 at the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council offices in Weslaco.

The county judges present were Richard Cortez of Hidalgo, Eddie Treviño, Jr., of Cameron, Eloy Vera of Starr, and Aurelio ‘Keter’ Guerra of Willacy.

Joining them were experts and representatives from state agencies and partner organizations that will be on the front lines of the response should a case arise in Texas. Participating agencies included the Texas Animal Health Commission, the Department of State Health Services, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Veterinary Medical Association, and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including livestock, pets, wildlife, and, in rare cases, humans. The parasite has recently spread north through Central America into Mexico and continues to move toward the southern United States.

The press conference provided information on how to recognize potential cases, the steps being taken to prepare for its possible arrival, and the coordinated response efforts that will be implemented if a case is detected.

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HARLINGEN, Texas - Doug Allison, a board member and regulatory counsel for US Desalination, has given an in-depth interview about plans for the largest water infrastructure project ever built in South Texas.

“We’re partnering with communities, agencies, and industry to ensure a reliable water future for generations to come,” Allison told Ron Whitlock Reports, following a news conference at the Hilton Garden Inn in Harlingen.

Allison said US Desalination has partnered with IDE Assets to form RGV Desal, LLC.

“RGV Desal, LLC. represents the largest water infrastructure project ever built in South Texas. Our advanced desalination plant uses state-of-the-art reverse osmosis and energy recovery systems to efficiently transform seawater into fresh drinking water,” Allison said.

Allison said there would be a regional impact, with a reliable supply for municipalities, industry, and agriculture. He said the plan, to be built on South Padre Island, would use cutting-edge reverse osmosis technology.

“By turning seawater into clean, reliable water, RGV Desal, LLC, will ensure water independence for families, farmers, and businesses across South Texas,” Allison said.

“RGV Desal, LLC, is a regional initiative (that aims to deliver) a drought-proof water supply for the Rio Grande Valley. Through advanced desalination, we convert seawater into clean, reliable water—supporting families, farms, and businesses across South Texas.”

Allison stressed there would be water independence, with a stable, drought-proof supply of water for decades ahead. He said the project would generate economic growth, thus supporting jobs and regional investment. And he said the project would be sustainable because it would harness renewable energy and advanced desalination technology.

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HARLINGEN, Texas - Rio Grande Valley banker and philanthropist Bobby Farris has recalled an incident earlier this year where he and his wife Robin were referred to by the City of Rio Hondo as “good samaritans.”

On Valentine’s Day, the couple rescued a six-year old girl and an elderly man from a house that was ablaze. Along with an off duty Sheriff deputy, they were first on the scene. Robin Farris called emergency services.

Bobby Farris, chairman of Texas Regional Bank’s wealth management division, told Ron Whitlock Reports the story:

It was Valentine’s Day. We were driving to a party with some other couples,” Farris said. “As we're going down 106, that's from Rio Hondo to the Island, Robin looked over while I was driving and saw this older house. Most of the houses are pretty old out there, on pier and beams. On would have been the northwest corner of the house, there was a small fire underneath. Robin yelled at me, turn around. She we turned around. She called the fire department. We knew it would be 25 or 30 minutes before it would get there from Rio Hondo. It's a volunteer fire system. So we got out of the car, and went running up to the house.

“The off duty sheriff guy was there. He had a garden hose trying to put this fire out. I thought he was the owner, so I said, is there another hose on the side of the house? And he goes, I don't know. Oh, okay. So I ran around in the other side of the house, and there wasn’t. I went back around to the front of the house, and there was a little girl, about six years old, standing at the front door holding a blanket, scared to death, because by this time, the flames were starting to move across the south side. The wind was howling that day.

“So, I'm telling her, come down, come down. You must get out. And she was petrified. I thought if I went up to get her, she would run back into the house, and then I might have a problem, because she could hide under a bed or something and couldn't find her. And these flames were coming. The next thing I knew, a person went running by me, ran up, grabbed her and ran down the stairs, and that was Robin. And Robin took her out. She was about six, six or seven. Her name was Charlotte. Robin took here out and sat her on the grass and said, everything is going to be okay.”

Bobby Farris told Whitlock he has always been punctual and never likes being late to events. That day, however, he was going to be late because he got stuck behind a huge tractor going 20 miles an hour on Highway 509.

“We lost 15 minutes and were going to be late for the function. For the first time in my life, I was not bothered. The day before I would have been trying to get around him. I would have been really upset. I was at complete peace. We got our stuff out of the house real quick and took off. That is when, going down 106, between 803 and 1847, that is when Robin saw the fire. It was barely going at that time, Had God not put that tractor in front of me, we would never have seen the fire.”

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