Trimming...

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star

Alfonso Ruiz with J.J. Castillo Palm and Tree Trimming climbs to the top of a palm to trim down the leaves in the Valle Vista Mall parking lot. Ruiz has been with Castillo's trimming for 2 years. A crew from Castillo's can trim between 30 - 40 palms a day. The reason the palms are trimmed is to keep them clean and free of pests. Along with that it opens up the spaces around businesses allowing more people to see the storefronts from the road.

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star

Alfonso Ruiz dons his tree climbing equipment in the Valle Vista Mall parking lot, before climbing to the top of a palm tree to trim back the leaves to help protect the trees from pest and help businesses draw more customers to their stores. Ruiz works with J.J. Castillo Palm and Tree Trimming he has been there for 2 years working across the valley.

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star

Taking away leaves and cuttings from around palm trees in the Valle Vista Mall parking lot, Alejandro Chavez with J.J. Castillo Palm and Tree Trimming piles the cuttings on a trailer. The Palms are trimmed to keep them clean and pest free. Marina Castillo co-owner of J.J, Castillo Palm and Tree trimming says they get a lot of business between February and October. The crews can trim and clear between 30 - 40 palms a day.

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star

Taking away leaves and cuttings from around palm trees in the Valle Vista Mall parking lot, Alejandro Chavez with J.J. Castillo Palm and Tree Trimming piles the cuttings on a trailer. The Palms are trimmed to keep them clean and pest free. Marina Castillo co-owner of J.J, Castillo Palm and Tree trimming says they get a lot of business between February and October. The crews can trim and clear between 30 - 40 palms a day.

2009 Rio Grande Valley All-Star Sports Awards...

4 years with the City...

A Portrait...

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star

Steve Wiest a minister with Know the Truth Prison Ministry out of First Baptist Church in Combes Tx, His group ministers to prison inmates across the valley including the ICE detention center in Los Fresnos.

Cleaning up the Meet...

UIL Track and Field Day 1...

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star
AUSTIN - UIL Officials take a short break during the UIL State Track and Field Meet Friday at Myers Stadium in Austin.
Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star
Alex De La Garza of Mercedes High School hits the finish line as officials bring water to other runners already passed the finish line Friday at Myer Stadium in Austin, during the UIL State Track and Field Competition.
Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star
AUSTIN - April Benavides from Ed Couch - Elsa High School clears the 11 feet mark during the Pole Vaulting event at the State Track and Field Competition at Myers Stadium in Austin on Friday.

Solar Tour...

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star
Hector Ramirez Leal was among the group of Mexican and US City officials to tour the Solar array at the San Benito water treatment plant on Tuesday.

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star
During a tour of the solar array at the San Benito Water treatment plant, Jose Luis Ibarra head of the of the Energy Savings and Electrical Department of the state of Chihuahua writes down numbers from a solar panel. Which he used to calculate the potential amount of energy that can be pulled from the panels.

Getting the Power back up...

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star
With a large thunderstorm hovering above American Electric Power linemen get to work keeping the power running in the loop 499, New Combes Highway area Monday afternoon.

San Benito Graduation 2009

Day in Photos...

Sad Ending to a Great Season...

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star
The Harlingen High School Lady Cardinals wave a tearful thank you to their fans Friday night from Corpus Christi after losing to Austin Bowie High School.

Lady Cardinals Head to the Sweet Sixteen...

Sorghum Field...

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star
Luis Carlos Ayala walks along an irrigation hose placing shovel loads of dirt on top of the hose as Julian Garcia drives a tractor laying the hose around a Sorghum field on Business 77. Sorghum is in the genus of different species of grasses, some of which are raised for grain while others are used as fodder plants. The plant is cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Sorghum is native to tropical and subtropical regions in addition to the South West Pacific.

Hawks v Golden Eagles...

EMS Honor Guard...

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star

Emergency Medical Services Honor Guard practice to perform ceremonial funeral services for a fellow EMS worker who lost a family member. The South Texas EMS Honor Guard has been in operation for over a year serving the South Texas Regions EMS workers.operation for over a year serving the South Texas Regions EMS workers.

Fight at the Hop

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star

Police and EMS help an individual who was involved in a fight at the Hop Shop bar off of Commerce Street Thursday.

Dustin Alejo

Dustin Alejo running for his last chance to get to State meet.

Silhouette...

Some History...

Civil Service Hearing...

Henry Lopez is fighting to get his job as San Benito Fire Marshal back after being fired because of suspected misconduct. Today he met with city commissioners in an open meeting to present his case.

Group Shot...

Portraits...

Bianca Torre could be one of this years MVPs in the Valley.

Ticket Sales...

...

Single...

Quiet Moments...

It does Rain down here...

On the Farm

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star

As part of a learning unit on Farm Animals, Diana Gonzalez a pre k teacher at Sam Houston Elementary School in La Feria, brought her class along with 4 other pre k classes to her farm just out side the city, to experience farm animals and life on the farm.                                

Clowning Around at the Rodeo...

Not for Eating...

After a good fight Santa Rosa could not beat Ponder...

to see the rest of the photos click here 

Santa Rosa Boys Basketball Heads to State...

Fiesta de La Feria

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star

Karla Lomas (right) and Felicia Gonzales (left) wait to perfrom Saturday during the Fiesta de La Feria. The girls are part of the La Feria High School Baile Folklorico. 

Josh Bachman/Valley Morning Star

Pancho Figueroa with the La Feria High School Baile Folklorico gets ready to perform Saturday during Fiesta de La Feria. With the weather out side being rainy many of the festival goers came in out of the weather to see the folklorico group, belly dancers and jazz band.

Fishing...

Enrique Garcia hooks shrimp to his line at W.H. Heavin Memorial Park in San Benito, where he and a friend were fishing for a fish fry. Garcia has been fishing in the area all his life.