Category: Features

Citizen’s Academy takes part in “shoot, no shoot” training

By PETE BANDA      Staff Writer reporter@sbnewspaper.com In continuance with the second annual San Benito Citizen’s Academy, approximately 15 individuals participated in “shoot or no shoot” scenarios among many other things with the San Benito Police Department this past weekend. Individuals who enrolled in the three month event got the full experience of a …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2016/04/06/citizens-academy-takes-part-in-shoot-no-shoot-training/

World champion Ava Knight visits Valley with STFC champion Montalvo

By PETE BANDA     Staff Writer reporter@sbnewspaper.com Former San Benito High School graduate and current South Texas Fighting Championship (STFC) 145lb champion Josh “Manic Mayhem” Montalvo paid a visit to the Valley this past week in an effort to help give back to some local MMA gyms. Montalvo wasn’t alone though as his training …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2016/04/01/world-champion-ava-knight-visits-valley-with-stfc-champion-montalvo/

A WALK TO REMEMBER- Man honors Good Friday with 55 mile trek

By PETE BANDA    Staff Writer reporter@sbnewspaper.com Just a few years ago, Dave Rempe was best known as owner and operator of Dave’s Gym in Harlingen. The gym was wildly popular for its MMA classes and owning the only Octagon training center in the area. On Good Friday, however, Rempe became best known for something …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2016/03/25/a-walk-to-remember-man-honors-good-friday-with-55-mile-trek/

Freddy Fender Humanitarian award winners announced

Freddy Fender

By PETE BANDA Staff Writer reporter@sbnewspaper.com San Benito legend Freddy Fender may have died ten years ago, but that hasn’t stopped the people down at the START center from keeping his name alive. This past Thursday at a joint luncheon with the Rotary Club, Ron Rodgers, the president of the START center, formally announced the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2016/03/25/freddy-fender-humanitarian-award-winners-announced/

THE GIFT OF SIGHT- Teen victim saves lives with organ donation

By PETE BANDA   Staff Writer reporter@sbnewspaper.com In early June of last year, the local community was rocked by the tragic murder of 19-year-old Christopher Gallegos. It was a tragedy and one that the teen’s family has had to cope with over the last year. Almost ten months later, however, that tragedy has saved another …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2016/03/18/the-gift-of-sight-teen-victim-saves-lives-with-organ-donation/

Event slated to help families who have lost loved ones

By PETE BANDA   Staff Writer reporter@sbnewspaper.com A few years ago, after his son passed away, San Benito resident Tony Gonzalez knew he had to find some kind of outlet to deal with the grief he was feeling. After realizing that there was a large group of people who were dealing with the same agony …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2016/02/24/event-slated-to-help-families-who-have-lost-loved-ones/

#YourFightisOurFight- Community shows huge support for man battling cancer

By STEVEN RAY HERNANDEZ   Editor Editor@sbnewspaper.com Sometimes we underestimate the power of social media. We become lost amidst the jungle of drama-filled rants, memes, videos and comment -wars that pollute our news feed that we often forget about the positive things it can be used for. But every now and then, we get a …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2016/02/23/yourfightisourfight-community-shows-support-for-man-battling-cancer/

REMEMBERING DAD- Teen leaves for Navy on 10th anniversary of father’s death

By PETE BANDA     Staff Writer reporter@sbnewspaper.com As 19-year old Sturgis Zavala of San Benito stood by his dad’s grave on the 10th anniversary of his death Tuesday afternoon, the moment was nothing shy of bitter-sweet. Lupe Zavala, Sturgis’ father, was shot and killed by his brother David Zavala after a drunken fight outside …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2016/02/17/remembering-dad-teen-leaves-for-navy-on-10th-anniversary-of-fathers-death/

SBHS top student earns finalist spot in national scholarship search

By PETE BANDA     Staff Writer reporter@sbnewspaper.com After advancing from a pool of over 13,000 applicants, San Benito High School senior Aaron Adame could be awarded a full scholarship to Yale University… or Stanford, or Princeton, or pretty much take his choice from 36 of the top colleges in the entire Nation. In addition …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2016/02/10/sbhs-top-student-earns-finalist-spot-in-national-scholarship-search/

A STAR AMONG US- SBHS graduate hits it big with Grupo Control

By STEVEN RAY HERNANDEZ   Editor Editor@sbnewspaper.com Jennifer Degollado, 23, says she was just five years old when she “realized” her dad had hit the “big-times” as she watched him and his Norteño band “Grupo Control” perform in front of thousands at Walt Disney World in Florida. “That’s when I knew he had made it… …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2016/01/15/a-star-among-us-sbhs-graduate-hits-it-big-with-grupo-control/