Commissioners proclaim May for ALS, nurses, community action and stroke; Head Start teachers honored

Hidalgo County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a series of proclamations on public health and community service at its May session, declaring May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month, National Nurses Month, Community Action Month and Stroke Awareness Month.

County Judge Richard Cortez opened the section on proclamations and the court heard staff summaries of each observance. The ALS proclamation noted national case and survival statistics; the court approved the measure without objection. "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ... is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease," the staff summary stated, and the court called on the community to support affected residents. The court also approved a declaration honoring nurses; Connie Sanchez, clinical care services administrator for Hidalgo County Health and Human Services, told the court the department has "19 RNs, 24 LVNs and there's a total of 43 of us" and thanked commissioners for supporting four new clinics scheduled to open in 2026.

On stroke prevention, staff cited CDC statistics about frequency and prevention and Tom Casaneda of South Texas Health System urged hypertension control and community participation in the system's "Steps for Stroke" challenge, saying, "Movement is medicine when it comes to preventing strokes." The court also proclaimed Community Action Month and heard from the Hidalgo County Community Service Agency on 2025 service numbers and volunteer hours. Finally, Grama Pena, executive director of Hidalgo County Head Start, introduced the program's Teachers of the Year — Roxanna Rios and Nubia Ruiz — noting each received an award and national conference attendance; the court approved the recognition.

The court approved each proclamation by voice vote and recorded the recognitions for the public record.