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Foiled at Falcon Man claims he was coerced into smuggling By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A man claimed he was threatened into guiding a group of illegal immigrants through the Falcon Lake area in Zapata County, according to court documents. Homeland Security Investigations special agents identified the suspect as Jesus Francisco
Villanueva-Saldaña, of Mina, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He remains in federal custody. On Oct. 11, U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to reports of illegal activity at about 1:15 a.m. near the shores of Falcon Lake. Reports state several people were seen walking toward the Siesta Shores neighborhood in
Zapata. “In the (agents’) experience, smuggling organizations often make landfall on the uninhabited shores of Falcon Lake, then walk their (human) and, or narcotics loads to the Siesta Shores neighborhood or U.S. 83 for transportation further into the United States,” states the criminal complaint filed Tuesday.
Agents who responded to the area detained 15 people in the brush area. Records allege all were in the country illegally. Agents transported the group to the Zapata station, where HSI special agents responded to investigate. Villanueva-Saldaña allegedly waived his rights and chose to speak
See FALCON PAGE 10A
EL PASO
335TH ANNIVERSARY
MARTINEZ
MONCIVAIS
Couple arrested for lewd act Officers found them in the bed of a truck with the tailgate open By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A man from Zapata was recently arrested in Laredo for performing a lewd act in public, according to authorities. Gerardo Martinez, 29, and a woman identified as Elisa Moncivais, 41, of Laredo, were arrested and charged with public lewdness, a Class A misdemeanor punishable with up to one year in jail or a $4,000 fine or both. LPD responded to a pub-
lic lewdness call at 1:26 a.m. Oct. 10. Officers were dispatched to reports of a man and a woman in the middle of lewd act in the area of Crescent Loop and Lancer Road. Officers arrived and found couple in the bed of the truck with the tailgate open, according to police. Both were taken to the Webb County Jail. Martinez and Moncivais are out on bond. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
BORDER PATROL
Photo by Mark Lambie/The El Paso Times | AP
This photo taken Oct. 7 shows Father Miguel Briseno, who will celebrate the Ysleta Mission’s 335th anniversary of the first Mass, in El Paso, Texas. The celebration culminates Sunday with a procession and service led by Bishop Mark Seitz.
Mission is oldest continually used church in US By LUIS CARLOS LOPEZ EL PASO TIMES
EL PASO — Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, which was founded in 1680, has survived the Pueblo Revolt, fire, Texas independence and even boundary lines switching it from Mexico into Texas. It remains in use to this day as churchgoers every Sunday celebrate Mass at the oldest church in the United States. For anyone who doubts the church’s antiquity, the Rev. Miguel Briseno and church volunteer Alfonso Baeza have the proof. Tucked inside church cabinets are old birth and death certificates. As Briseno browsed the books, he said, “Let’s see how far back we go.” The parish office has handwritten ledgers of birth and
Tucked inside church cabinets are old birth and death certificates. As Briseno browsed the books, he said, “Let’s see how far back we go.” death certificates going back to the 1800s. The names and dates printed on the books are moments frozen in time. The smell of the old ledgers are a history refresher, of people who lived and died during a time when the mission was already long established in the El Paso region. The ledgers, the original church walls and a relic of a life-size Jesus that might be as old as the mission itself remind parishioners of the mission’s importance. “I think it’s important to celebrate
and remember those important moments in our history,” Briseno told the El Paso Times. “Especially when a small group of people have come to celebrate Mass. The first Mass was celebrated here in Ysleta on Oct. 12, 1680.” The Ysleta Mission is the oldest continuously used church in the United States. The Ysleta and Socorro mis-
sions are historic sites included in the National Register of Historic Places and certified by the National Parks Service as part of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. Although the mission was established in 1682, church officials commemorate Oct. 12, 1680, as the date when Spanish and Tigua Indian families gathered in thanksgiving. Last Sunday, before Mass, a procession started at the Thula, a place
See CHURCH PAGE 10A
Man arrested for allegedly transporting immigrants By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A man was arrested in Zapata County for transporting nine people who had entered the country illegally, according to court documents released this week. Identified as the suspect, Alejandro Leal-Hernandez was charged with transporting illegal immigrants. He is in federal custody. A U.S. Border Patrol agent assigned to an area along Texas 16 near Zapata observed a black Dodge Ram at about 5:15 a.m. Oct. 10. Reports state the agent observed what appeared to be a sleeve of a jacket or some other garment flapping in the bed of the Dodge, states the criminal complaint filed Tuesday. Records add the agent noticed some inconsistencies with the oilfield pickup, such as an aftermarket lift kit, lack of company logos, among other factors. The agent activated the unit’s emergency lights to conduct an immigration inspection on the occupants of
Records add the agent noticed some inconsistencies with the oilfield pickup, such as an aftermarket lift kit, lack of company logos, among other factors. the Dodge. Reports state the Dodge swerved in and out of the road. Then, several people exited the Dodge and ran toward the brush, records state. Authorities caught up to the group, a total of 10 immigrants. Authorities identified one as the driver, Leal-Hernandez.
See ARRESTED PAGE 10A
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pumpkin Patch, First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Public invited; admission free. Chess tournament benefit for Daniela Montemayor who is fighting brain cancer. 8:30 a.m.–9 a.m. Onsite registration. First Round: 9:30 a.m. Donation: $10 minimum. All donations benefit Daniela. Location: Holding Institute, 1102 Santa Maria Ave. Please enter through back side, Davis St. TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium shows. 2 p.m.: Cosmic Adventures; 3 p.m.: The Little Star That Could; 4 p.m.: Back to the Moon; 5 p.m.: Violent Universe: Catastrophes of the Universe. General Admission is $4 for children and $5 for adults. Admission is $4 for TAMIU students, faculty and staff. Matinee Shows are $1 less. Call 956-326-DOME (3663). 21st Paso del Indio Trail Workday. Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center. LCC Ft. McIntosh campus, 1 West End Washington St. (Near the windmills). Laredo Noon Optimist Club’s district meeting at Ramada Plaza, 800 Garden St. Luncheon from 12–1:30 p.m. and formal dinner at 7 p.m. During the dinner there will be an auction for a painting by Paty Orduña benefiting the Border Region Behavioral Health Center. Author of international bestseller “A Long Way Home” visits to present his book and experience for “One City, One Book” participants and others the next day, at 10:30 a.m. at the Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd. The event is free and open to the public.
Today is Saturday, October 17, the 290th day of 2015. There are 75 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On October 17, 1915, playwright Arthur Miller, author of “Death of a Salesman” and “The Crucible,” was born in New York. On this date: In 1777, British forces under Gen. John Burgoyne surrendered to American troops in Saratoga, New York, in a turning point of the Revolutionary War. In 1814, the London Beer Flood inundated the St. Giles district of the British capital as vats of beer ruptured, sending more than 320,000 gallons of liquid into the streets; up to nine people were reported killed. In 1919, Radio Corp. of America was chartered. In 1931, mobster Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion. (Sentenced to 11 years in prison, Capone was released in 1939.) In 1933, Albert Einstein arrived in the United States as a refugee from Nazi Germany. In 1945, Col. Juan Peron, the future president of Argentina, was released from prison after protests by trade unionists. In 1965, the musical “On A Clear Day You Can See Forever,” with a score by Burton Lane and book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, opened on Broadway. The New York World’s Fair closed. In 1979, Mother Teresa of India was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1989, an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck northern California, killing 63 people and causing $6 billion worth of damage. In 1990, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com) was created. In 1995, President Bill Clinton told wealthy contributors at a Houston fund-raiser that “you think I raised your taxes too much. It might surprise you to know that I think I raised them too much, too” — a statement that drew criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. Ten years ago: A two-man Chinese space crew landed in China’s northern grasslands after five days in orbit. Five years ago: Pope Benedict XVI gave Australia its first saint, canonizing Mary MacKillop, a 19th century nun who was briefly excommunicated in part because her religious order had exposed a pedophile priest. One year ago: The World Health Organization acknowledged it had botched attempts to stop the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, blaming factors including incompetent staff, lack of information and budget cuts. Today’s Birthdays: Actress Marsha Hunt is 98. Newspaper columnist Jimmy Breslin is 85. Actor Michael McKean is 68. Astronaut Mae Jemison is 59. Country singer Alan Jackson is 57. Movie critic Richard Roeper is 56. Actorcomedian Norm Macdonald is 52. Reggae singer Ziggy Marley is 47. Singer Wyclef Jean is 46. Singer Chris Kirkpatrick (’N Sync) is 44. Rapper Eminem is 43. Actor Matthew Macfadyen is 41. Actress Felicity Jones (Film: “The Theory of Everything”) is 32. Actor Chris Lowell is 31. Thought for Today: “If you believe that life is worth living then your belief will create the fact.” — Arthur Miller (1915-2005).
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18 Pumpkin Patch is open in front of the First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland. 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Public is invited, and admission is free. Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein in Laredo. 5:30–7:30 p.m. public appearance at TAMIU Student Center. Laredo Noon Optimist Club’s district meeting at Ramada Plaza, 800 Garden St. This closing meeting will be from 9–11 a.m.
Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman | AP
In this photo taken on Thursday night, the Hidden Pines fire burns at Alum Creek Road and Park Road 1C near Bastrop, Texas. On Friday evening authorities said firefighters were making big strides in containing the rural wildfire. However, some residents remain unable to return to their homes on barricaded roads in Bastrop County.
Wildfire destroys homes By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — The worst of a rural Texas wildfire that has destroyed nearly 50 structures is likely over as firefighters make big strides containing more than 7 miles of scorched and bone-dry forestland, authorities said Friday. Some residents remain unable to return to their homes on barricaded roads in Bastrop County. But officials said the fire that began Tuesday and grew big enough to waft smoke into downtown Austin, some 40 miles away from the fire, now appears to be getting under control. “Barring some totally unforeseen circumstance, we’re on the downhill side of this fire,” Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape said. No deaths or serious injuries have been reported. Firefighters expect to have favorable
weather this weekend as the Hidden Pines Fire is now 40 percent contained, up from 15 percent a day earlier. About 200 firefighters from across Texas have battled the blaze during daylight, and on Friday, a DC-10 jet tanker flown in from Tennessee dropped nearly 12,000 gallons of retardant on the smoldering area. The fire has been fueled partly by hot, dry weather, but a cool front moved into Central Texas on Friday. The fire is chewing much of the same area that was devastated in 2011 by a far more massive wildfire that wiped out 1,600 homes and killed two people. But this time, winds have paled to the 50 mph gusts that overwhelmed firefighters four years ago. Pape said a preliminary investigation found that an accident during a “farming operation” may have caused the fire.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 Pumpkin Patch, First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Public invited; admission free. Chess Club meets at the LBV–Inner City Branch Library from 4–6 p.m. Free for all ages and skill levels. Basic instruction is offered. Call John at 795-2400, x2521.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20 Pumpkin Patch, First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Public invited; admission free. Take the challenge and climb the Rock Wall. Free. All participants must bring ID and sign release form. 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at LBV–Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Call 7952400, x2520. TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium shows. 6 p.m.: Cosmic Adventures; 7 p.m.: Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. General Admission is $4 for children and $5 for adults. Admission is $4 for TAMIU students, faculty and staff. For more information call 956326-DOME (3663). UISD and LISD will have their annual school bus parade in honor of National School Bus Safety Week. The parade will begin at West Martin (Veterans) Field and conclude at the UISD SAC where a formal program will be held inside the auditorium.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21 Pumpkin Patch, First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Public invited; admission free. Bringing Vitality to Main Street: How Immigrant Small Businesses Help Local Economies Grow, from 7–8:30 p.m. at TAMIU Student Center Ballroom, 5201 University Blvd. Featuring David D. Kallick, senior fellow and director of the Immigration Research Initiative at the Fiscal Policy Institute in New York. Free and open to the public.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22 Pumpkin Patch, First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Public invited; admission free. Spanish Book Club from 6–8 p.m. at the Laredo Public Library on Calton. For more information call Sylvia Reash at 763-1810
South Texas pipeline blast 1 arrest after shots fired leads to evacuations into educator’s parked car
STAAR tests to take less time in grades 3 to 8
ENCINAL — A fiery natural gas pipeline explosion in South Texas has forced dozens of people from their homes and canceled classes at a nearby school. Nobody was hurt in the accident before dawn Friday near Encinal. Authorities are seeking the cause of the blast. City Manager Velma Davila says 30 to 40 people who live near the pipeline evacuated to Encinal City Hall, as a precaution.
SAN ANTONIO — Authorities say a woman faces gun and drug charges after shots were fired into a San Antonio educator’s parked car in an apparent dress code dispute. Grace Seward has been charged with deadly conduct, unlawfully carrying a weapon in a gun-free zone and possession of marijuana. Officers found marijuana on the 22-year-old Seward during booking.
AUSTIN — State-mandated exams are getting shorter for Texas students in grades 3 to 8. The Legislature approved a requirement that State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR tests, be less time-consuming for young students. Now 85 percent of students in grades 3 to 5 complete the tests in two hours, and that 85 percent of 6th, 7th and 8th graders finish their tests in three hours.
Disguised customer gets 75 years for robbery
More than 60 indicted in gang-related drug cases
White man sentenced for hate-crime attack
PLANO — A North Texas man must serve 75 years in prison for robbing a cellphone store where a clerk recognized him as a frequent customer. David Fife of Plano was convicted of aggravated robbery in the 2014 holdup of a Metro PCS store. Prosecutors on Friday announced his penalty. He had four prior aggravated robbery convictions.
SAN ANTONIO — Federal and state grand juries in South Texas have indicted more than 60 suspects in gang-related drug, conspiracy and racketeering cases. Investigators say the defendants are associated with gangs in the San Antonio, Austin and Uvalde areas. The crackdown involves gangs operating since 2005.
HOUSTON — A white Houston-area man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for committing a hate crime when he surprise punched an elderly black man. In federal court in Houston on Friday, Conrad Alvin Barrett was sentenced to prison followed by three years of probation. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION Exam for mom accused of throwing baby out window NEW YORK — A judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation Friday for a mother charged with murder after witnesses described a horrifying scene where the woman threw her naked baby girl from a sixth-floor window as they begged her not to. Tenisha Fearon appeared in a New York courtroom where she was arraigned and held without bail. Judge Kim Wilson also ordered medical attention for Fearon and protective custody. Fearon’s attorney asked that she be placed in protective custody only if necessary because he did not want her to be “isolated.”
United Airlines new CEO admitted to hospital United Airlines said Friday that its new CEO, Oscar Munoz, has been admitted to a hospital. The airline gave no explanation
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Police officers stand guard near an apartment building in the Bronx borough of New York, Thursday. A 6-month-old girl died Thursday after being tossed from the window of an apartment building, witnesses and police said. or details of his condition. The Wall Street Journal reported that Munoz suffered a heart attack, citing people familiar with the matter. United Continental Holdings Inc. said Friday that Munoz’s family informed the company
that he was admitted to a hospital on Thursday. The company, based in Chicago, said in a short statement that it was continuing to operate normally. A spokeswoman said the company would not provide additional information. — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
Local
4A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
Courtesy photo
The LPD community relations unit stopped by Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary and Zapata North Elementary schools on Oct. 8.
Laredo police visit Zapata elementary schools By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Laredo Police Department recently made a stop in Zapata County to share messages of anti-bullying, “Say no to Drugs” and provide Halloween safety tips. The LPD community relations unit stopped by Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary and Zapata North Elementary schools on Oct. 8. LPD Officer Abraham H. Diaz Jr. said the message to the kids is to stay away from drugs. For that, they used McGruff the Crime Dog. With an interactive and energetic show, officers presented a skit to the children on the damage the
Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
McGruff the Crime Dog helped spread the message to kids to stay away from drugs.
With an interactive and energetic show, officers presented a skit to the children on the damage the drugs do to the brain.
drugs do to the brain, Diaz said. “It’s fun and educational,” he said. Noemi Ramirez, counselor at Villarreal Elemen-
“We promote the antidrug and anti-bullying messages, so children can make better choices, so they can go to college and become successful citi-
tary, echoed the thought. “It was really fun for the kids,” she said. Anti-bullying Awareness and Red Ribbon Week fall in October.
zens,” Ramirez said. Regarding narcotics, Ramirez said children need to be aware of the dangers of drugs. “It’s critical that we
start educating kids at a very young age to say no because they may be exposed to them, and they need to make the right choice,” she said. LPD also offered Halloween safety tips to the youngsters. Diaz said children need to look both sides of the street before crossing. They are encouraged to use a flashlight at night, he said. Children should not approach a home if it’s not well lit, according to police. After knocking on the door, children should take a few steps back. Children should go trick-or-treating with an adult, Diaz said. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Lions to host casino night SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Zapata Lions Club is hosting a casino night fundraiser benefiting the 4th annual Christmas Turkey Giveaway. The fundraiser will take place Saturday, Nov. 14 from 7–10 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express. There will be blackjack, Texas Hold ‘em, roulette and craps, along with finger foods, drinks, gambling chips and a chance at drawings for a gas grill pit, 50-inch HD television and a weekend at Kickapoo. Tickets are $30 a person and additional entries are available for $5. Tickets are available at the Zapata Chamber of Commerce, Zapata County News, Steak House and State Farm office. All games are casinostyle and do not involve actual money.
Courtesy file photo
Children rode on this Western-themed float during the 2014 Christmas Parade and Lighting of the County Plaza activities. This year’s parade will take place Thursday, Dec. 3. The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce extends an invitation to all businesses, churches, clubs, organizations, schools and elected officials to participate.
Christmas parade preparations begin SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce is reminding locals to save the date for the annual Christmas Parade and Lighting of the County Plaza, which will take place Thursday, Dec. 3.
Man arrested for stealing TV By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A man has been arrested for stealing a flat screen television from a home, according to the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office. Identified as the suspect, Gabriel Santos Moreno, was charged with burglary of habitation. At 4 p.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to the Siesta Shores neighborhood for reports of a man riding on an electric wheelchair with a large TV on his lap. The man, who was later identified as Santos Moreno, threw the TV in a brush area when he noticed deputies approaching the area, reports state.
MORENO
Deputies said they recovered the TV from the brush area of Victoria and Weslaco lanes and returned the item to the owners. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 7282568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
The chamber also extends an invitation to all businesses, churches, clubs, organizations, schools and elected officials to participate in this year’s parade. Trophies will be awarded to the top three best decorated floats. The parade lineup starts
at 5 p.m. on Glenn Street and 17th Avenue behind Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. All entries must be in line no later than 5:30 p.m. The parade will start promptly at 6 p.m. and proceed on 17th Avenue, heading south on U.S. Highway
83 and then taking a left on 6th Avenue to end the parade. Immediately following the parade will be the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the County Plaza followed by gifts from Santa. Those wishing to partici-
pate in the parade must fill out an entry form and return it no later than Dec. 1 to either cbalderas@zapatachamber.com, by mail to Zapata County Chamber of Commerce, Attention: Celia Balderas, P.O. Box 1028, Zapata, TX 78076 or in person to 601 N. U.S. Hwy 83.
Man charged for drugs By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A recent search warrant in the Medina Addition yielded narcotics, a firearm and cash, according to the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office. Sheriff ’s officials identified the suspect as Gildardo Jesus Villarreal III. He was charged with possession of a controlled VILLARREAL substance, possession of marijuana and theft of firearm. On Oct. 8, authorities said they executed a search warrant in the 1700 block of Bravo Avenue in the Medina Addition neighborhood. Reports state the search rendered 10.06 ounces of
Courtesy photo
The Sheriff’s Office found marijuana, cocaine, cash and a stolen firearm in a recent search warrant. Gildardo Jesus Villarreal III was charged with possession of a controlled substance and theft of firearm. marijuana, 9.7 grams of cocaine, $1,180.36 and a stolen
Colt .38 special. (César G. Rodriguez may
be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
PÁGINA 6A
Zfrontera
Ribereña en Breve CABALGATA ANUAL 10ª Cabalgata Anual para Atención al Cáncer de Seno se llevará a cabo el 17 de octubre. El registro inicia a las 7 a.m. y la cabalgata arrancará a las 9 a.m. en Brewster Ranch sobre Carretera 59 en Laredo. Comida en Hurd Ranch y final en Life Downs. Donaciones: 20 dólares para cabalgantes, niños y adultos; donaciones para carretas es de 5 dólares, niños y adultos.
EMBRUJADAS CON ESPUELAS Pretty in Pink invita a “Wicked in Spurs” el sábado 17 de octubre en L.I.F.E. Downs Hwy. 59 de Laredo a partir de las 4 p.m. Informes con Lisa al (956) 744-6606 o con Joe al (956) 489-7736.
TEMPORADA DE CAZA La temporada de caza de la Paloma Ala Blanca en Tamaulipas concluirá el domingo 18 de octubre. A la par se tiene el periodo de caza de la Paloma de Collar y la temporada de caza de la Paloma Huilota. La temporada de caza de la Paloma Collar termina el 18 de octubre, mientras que la temporada de la Paloma Huilota, terminará el 8 de noviembre.
MUESTRA DE ARTE ‘DIGIART’
SÁBADO 17 DE OCTUBRE DE 2015
LEWIS ENERGY GROUP
Explosiones TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Un incendio en las instalaciones de las tuberías de Lewis Energy Group en Encinal, fue confirmado a las 7:48 a.m. mediante un comunicado de prensa por parte de la misma empresa. El incendio inició a las 4:15 a.m. del viernes y fue extinguido aproximadamente a las 10 a.m. No se reportaron personas lesionadas. La causa del incendio continúa siendo investigado, indicó Lewis Energy. “Primeros reportes indican que el incendio estuvo asociado con un conducto de gas natural de 24” que está ubicada dentro de lo que Lewis Energy Group conoce como West Yard Facility”, indica un comunicado de prensa por parte de Lewis Energy. Las llamaradas eran vistas desde millas a la redonda, y equipos del Departamento de Bomberos del Condado de Webb y del Departamento de Bomberos del Condado La Salle participaron en controlar el fuego. “Bomberos y policías locales se encuentran monitoreando la situación y se están tomando las precauciones necesarias para proteger la seguridad de los residentes de la comunidad de Encinal”, revelaba en un primero comunicado la empresa. La Carretera Estatal 44 en Encinal fue cerrada después del incendio pero una vez controlada la situación fue reabierta a la circula-
El Instituto Tamaulipeco para la Cultura y las Artes (ITCA), convoca a jóvenes creadores, artísticas urbanos y grafiteros, a concursar en la 3ra. Muestra de Arte Urbano DigiArt. El tema de la muestra es “El Día de Muertos”. Cada participante puede presentar hasta tres bocetos originales inéditos. Las inscripciones concluyen el 23 de octubre. Los resultados de esta convocatoria se darán a conocer el 5 de noviembre. La exhibición se llevará a cabo en la Explanada del Centro Cultural Tamaulipas, el viernes 13 de noviembre. Las bases completas se pueden consultar en www.itca.gob.mx/convocatorias.
ción. En un comunicado, el Departamento de Transportación de Texas expuso que el cierre fue “debido a una explosión en la planta de Lewis Energy cerca de Encinal”. Ricardo Rangel, Jefe del Departamento de Bomberos del Condado de Webb, dijo que su personal concluyó su labor a las 8:50 a.m. “Un grupo de trabajadores de la empresa estaban ahí tratando de cerrar líneas y aliviar el fuego”, dijo Rangel vía telefónica. En la cuenta de Facebook de la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado la Salle escribieron: “El peligro inmediato a residentes de áreas circunvecinas y conductores ha pasado”. Testigos dijeron que escucharon tres o cuatro explosiones. “Sacudió mi pequeña casa”, comentó un testigo. “Parecía como si el Sol estuviera saliendo por el Norte”. Lewis Energy Group sostuvo que están coordinando esfuerzos con diversas agencias para atender de manera apropiada cualquier daño y limpieza asociada con el incidente. El Cotulla Independent School District informó a través de su portal que las clases estaban canceladas el viernes en Encinal Elementary School debido al incendio. Agregó que estudiantes de secundaria y preparatoria de Encinal no tenían que presentarse a clases debido a que no habría servicio de autobús escolar hacia Encinal.
Foto de cortesía
Llamaradas fueron captadas por residentes cercanos a Lewis Energy Group, en Encinal, el viernes por la mañana. No se reportaron lesionados.
GUERRERO, TAMAULIPAS
ELECCIONES
Clinton exhibe sentir latino POR JESSICA HAMILTON LA VOZ
ACTIVIDADES EN PUERTO ISABEL Celebración del Día de los Muertos se realizará del 10 al 31 de octubre, en horario de 4 p.m. a 11 p.m. en 317 E. Railroad Ave. Habrá música, baile, vendedores, exhibiciones, actividades, música y concursos de disfraces. Recepción para Artistas de la Galería se realizará el viernes 30 de octubre, de 5 p.m. a 8 p.m. en los Museos de Puerto Isabel y en la Biblioteca Pública de Puerto Isabel. El evento es abierto a la comunidad y se les invita asistir disfrazados. Se ofrecerán refrigerios por el Día de los Muertos y Halloween.
SEMANA DE LISTÓN ROJO En el marco del Mes de Prevención de Uso de Narcóticos a nivel Nacional, se celebrará el evento “Red Ribbon Week” del 23 al 31 de octubre. El evento representa un compromiso nacional para crear conciencia y evitar el uso de narcóticos, entre estudiantes. Durante la semana se realizarán diferentes actividades para concientizar a los estudiantes. Para realizar donaciones puede ponerse en contacto con Norma González llamando al (956) 765-8389. Lo recaudado será destinado a comprar obsequios para los estudiantes.
NOCHE DE CASINO El Club de Leones de Zapata invita al evento Casino Night Fundraiser que se realizará el sábado 14 de noviembre de 7 p.m. a 10 p.m. en el Holiday Inn Express de Zapata.
Foto de cortesía
Momento en que la Presidenta Municipal de Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, México, Nathyelli Elena Contreras Villarreal, encendió la Lámpara Votiva de las fiestas de la ciudad.
Celebran fiestas de ciudad TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Iniciaron las fiestas para celebrar el 62º Aniversario de la fundación de Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, México. La Presidenta Municipal Nathyelli Elena Contreras Villarreal dio el arranque oficial de las festividades con el encendido de la Lámpara Votiva, el jueves. Una carrera previa permitió a los residentes y visitantes al agente Fantaleón Díaz Torres, integrante de la Policía Estatal Acreditable, transportar la antorcha que encendería la lámpara votiva. En su mensaje, Contreras Villarreal rindió un reconocimiento público a quienes fueron responsables de construir la historia de la ciudad, “haciéndola cada día más grande y más fuerte”. La carrera fue organizada por el Director de Fomento Deportivo, Rubén Llanos Tenorio. El segundo evento del día fue un espectáculo de lucha libre gratuito. Contreras Villarreal reiteró que el sábado y domingo el Puente In-
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El agente Fantaleón Díaz Torres, integrante de la PEA, encabezó la carrera por el 62 Aniversario de Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, México, llevando la antorcha, el jueves. ternacional Falcón permanecerá abierto hasta la medianoche para recibir turistas de Texas. En tanto, para el viernes por la noche estaba prevista la Coronación de la Reina de las Fiestas, y la presentación del intérprete Santana Olvera, y del comediante Gary Show. Para el sábado a las 9 p.m. se ofrecerá un baile frente al Palacio
Municipal con la participación de Los Barón de Apodaca y Sonora Tropicana. Las fiestas concluyen el domingo pero por la mañana habrá una Cabalgata desde el Rancho El Jaujal y hasta el Centro Cívico y a las 8 p.m. la presentación de la obra teatral “Hija de su Madre” de Monterrey, Nuevo León.
MATAMOROS, MÉXICO
Anuncian captura de ‘Ciclón 7’ ASSOCIATED PRESS
MÉXICO — Soldados mexicanos detuvieron al presunto líder de una facción del Cartel del Golfo en Matamoros, informaron autoridades estatales. El gobierno de Tamaulipas señaló en un comunicado que Ángel Eduardo Prado Rodríguez, alias “Ciclón 7” y considerado el
jefe local del cartel del Golfo, fue capturado por los militares el viernes temprano en Matamoros, fronteriza con Brownsville, Texas. PRADO Prado Rodríguez es señalado como líder de los “Ciclones”, una de las facciones en que se ha dividido el
cartel del Golfo, y quien mantenía un enfrentamiento con el grupo rival de los “Metros”, de Reynosa. El cartel del Golfo se fraccionó en una docena de grupos en los últimos años, los cuales mantienen el control de varias actividades de tráfico de drogas y personas en varias zonas de Tamaulipas, en el noreste del país.
A juzgar por los carteles, la muchedumbre reunida el jueves en San Antonio, parecía estar totalmente a favor de “La Hillary”, pero la precandidata presidencial demócrata Hillary Clinton aún tenía varios ases en la manga por si no había quedado clara CLINTON cuál es su forma de sentir sobre la comunidad hispana, al menos durante sus actividades de campaña en Texas. Por ejemplo, tomemos una de las canciones populares. En lugar de seleccionar los temas “Born in America” o “Don’t Stop” de Fleetwood Mac, un tema que su esposo Bill utilizó en su campaña, ella escogió “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” de Selena. En cuanto a su selección de quien interpretaría el Himno Nacional, dio la oportunidad a la Sabastien de la Cruz, vestido de mariachi. De la Cruz es el niño contra el que se hicieron comentarios racistas después de que cantara el himno durante los finales de la NBA en 2013. Después de la actuación de Sabastien tocó el turno de ser presentada al estrado. Julián Castro, ex alcalde de San Antonio y actual secretario de Vivienda de los EU enardeció a la muchedumbre al decir: “En 2016, la comunidad latina desempeñará un papel muy importante para la elección de nuestro presidente”. Luego, habló en español a la multitud y el auditorio enloqueció. En el escenario, Clinton habló de los dreamers. “Defenderé las acciones ejecutivas del presidente (Barack) Obama. Me opondré a cualquier esfuerzo para deportar a los dreamers y si el Congreso se niega a actuar, iré mucho más lejos”, sostuvo Clinton. Igualmente dedicó un tiempo de su mensaje para relatar su experiencia en San Antonio.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A
Nation
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
Treasure trove Son beaten, tried to leave church of fossils found By CAROLYN THOMPSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
By BRADY MCCOMBS ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALT LAKE CITY — Paleontologists have discovered a cliff-side in Utah brimming with fossils that offers a rare glimpse of desert life in western North America early in the age of dinosaurs. Among the discoveries in what used to be a lake shoreline between giant sand dunes is a new pterosaur (TEH’-ruh-sawr) that would have been the largest flying reptile of the time. It wielded its ferocious teeth and powerful skull to gobble up small crocodile type creatures as it soared over a desert some 210 million years ago. “If you saw one of these things coming at you with its jaws open, it would freak you out of your mind,” said Brooks Britt, a Brigham Young University paleontologist who presented preliminary findings this week at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology conference in Dallas. He and fellow paleontologists plan to publish the findings in scientific journal next year. Eight different animals, most likely new, have been identified at a site discovered in 2009 near Dinosaur National Monument on the Utah-Colorado border. The discoveries include: A type of a strangelooking reptile with a head like a bird, arms like a mole and a claw on the tip of the tail called a drepanosaur. Several small crocodilelike creatures with armor on their backs called sphenosuchians. Two different types of meat-eating dinosaurs, one related to the coelophysis, a scrawny dinosaur featured in the recent movie, “Walking with Dinosaurs.” “It’s a fantastic site,” said Brian Andres, a University of South Florida paleontologist who heard the presentation this week. “It’s in a time and a place that we
really do not have a good record of.” The pterosaur discovery is significant because it fills a gap in the fossil record between earlier, smaller pterosaurs and the giant ones that came later, Andres said. It is related to another wicked-jawed pterosaur discovered in England: the Dimorphodon. Each side of its lower jaw had two fangs and 28 teeth. “This thing is built like an aerial predator,” Andres said. The skull and wing bone found are also noteworthy because they are intact, and not crushed, a rarity for pterosaurs. It is the first known Triassic pterosaur found in North America, other than one unearthed in Greenland, Britt said. “It is absurdly rare to find delicate, small skeletons from anywhere in time, anywhere in the world,” said Adam Pritchard.
NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. — A mother and father whipped their 19-year-old son in church with an electrical cord and what appeared to be a belt during a deadly, all-night spiritual counseling session triggered by his desire to leave the fold, according to witness testimony and police Friday. Church deacon Daniel Irwin testified he peered through a doorway window in the sanctuary during the more than 12-hour ordeal at the Word of Life Christian Church and saw Lucas Leonard bleeding and in apparent agony. “Lucas was rolling himself back and forth on the floor and making a sustained, monotone moaning,” Irwin said. Within hours, the young man would be dead, killed by blows inflicted by his parents, sister and fellow church members, author-
Photo by Tina Russell/Observer-Dispatch | AP
Deborah Leonard enters the courtroom for a hearing, Friday in New Hartford, N.Y. ities said. His mother told police the group took turns hitting him and holding him down, state police investigator Jason Nellis testified. The testimony came at a court hearing for the parents, Bruce and Deborah Leonard, on manslaughter charges. At the conclusion of the hearing, a judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to sustain the charges. The arrests in New Hartford, an upstate town of 22,000 people, have thrown a spotlight on
Word of Life, a highly regimented and insular church that operated out of a large, red-brick former school that also served as a communal home for several members. Police Chief Michael Inserra said outside court that members told authorities Lucas Leonard and his 17-year-old brother, Christopher Leonard, were beaten during what began as spiritual counseling Sunday night over Lucas’ desire to leave the church. A neighbor, James Con-
stantine, also said Lucas had talked about moving on and had mentioned he might join the Army. Christopher was hospitalized in serious condition, but his health was improving. Four other church members, including the victims’ 33-year-old sister, Sarah Ferguson, have been charged with assault. Their hearings will be held later. All six defendants have pleaded not guilty. Lucas Leonard’s mother and father sat silently throughout the proceeding with their heads bowed, his eyes mostly closed, her long, graying hair hanging in her face. Bruce Leonard’s attorney said prosecutors hadn’t proved the couple intended serious injuries to their son. Deborah Leonard’s lawyer said the mother felt helpless to stop an “intervention” she didn’t expect to become so harsh.
Politics
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
Biden breaks silence, hints at potential run By JOSH LEDERMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Joe Biden is sending out an unmistakable “forget-menot” plea for 2016, brushing past signs of a Hillary Rodham Clinton resurgence with fresh and direct suggestions he could be on the verge of entering the presidential race. The vice president’s political team broke its months-long silence on the subject with a letter circulated by one of Biden’s closest friends and top advisers. In the letter, though Biden is still officially undecided, former Sen. Ted Kaufman describes a “campaign from the heart” that Biden would wage and says a decision isn’t far off. “If he decides to run, we will need each and every one of you — yesterday,” Kaufman says temptingly, alluding to the breakneck speed at which Biden would have to ramp up a campaign. To its recipients — Biden’s former Senate, White House and campaign staffers — Thursday’s letter smacked of an unambiguous indication Biden was all but greenlighting a presidential campaign. Several indi-
viduals familiar with the letter say it was circulated with Biden’s blessing. The individuals weren’t authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity. For his part, Biden has been silent on the issue for weeks while allowing his own self-imposed deadlines to fly by. His indecision has led many Democratic leaders to publicly write off his prospects, particularly as Clinton revels in a strong debate performance and an impressive stretch of fundraising, solidifying her status as the Democratic front-runner. Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders both announced this week they’d raised more than $25 million in their last three-month stretch, a potent reminder that many of the Democratic establishment’s donors and top players have already committed to a declared candidate. To some Democrats, Biden runs the risk of being perceived as a spoiler at this point, drawing votes away from Clinton without any substantial prospect for electoral success. In public comments, the GOP is all but laying out a welcome mat. Even Biden friends and
Photo by Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press | TNS
Vice President Joe Biden attends a meeting with U.S. President Barack in the Oval Office Friday in Washington, D.C. aides remain at a loss to explain exactly what is holding up his decision. In more than a dozen interviews over the past week, individuals close to the vice president described a man still wrestling with whether he and his family would be well served by campaign pressures while they continue grieving the death of Biden’s son in May. Yet more than two months after Biden began seriously weighing that question, those individuals said it was unclear what could change that would push him from undecided to yes or no. Still, Biden and his team are approaching their just-in-case prepara-
tions for a potential campaign with a new level of seriousness. This week he has been placing calls to top Democratic strategists in early primary states such as Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina to solicit candid assessments of his chances, according to individuals familiar with the calls. Biden’s team has also had detailed conversations with campaign data and analytics experts to determine how quickly he could ramp up the digital side of his campaign, the individuals said. For Biden’s supporters, including those backing the Draft Biden super PAC, those signals serve as the reassurance they
were seeking that their enthusiasm hasn’t been misplaced. “The steps that we’re seeing toward a potential candidacy are definitely creating some excitement and anticipation and hope in people that this might be happening,” said Mike Cuzzi, a former Obama campaign official in New Hampshire who is supporting the pro-Biden super PAC. He added that Biden’s supporters were “eager for him to make a determination.” Clinton’s supporters feel the same, but for different reasons. After her widely lauded performance in Tuesday’s debate, her campaign chairman told reporters it was time for Biden to make up his mind. Republicans, meanwhile, have been pining for a Biden campaign, in hopes that a more combative Democratic primary would weaken Clinton. “Right now there’s no question Joe Biden would be the toughest candidate for Republicans to beat in the general election,” said Republican National Committee spokeswoman Allison Moore. The lack of certainty has also put President Barack Obama in a delicate
position, caught between loyalties to his vice president and his former secretary of state. “I’m not going to comment on what Joe’s doing or not doing,” Obama said Friday, describing Biden as his “very able vice president.” Most recent polls show a hypothetical Biden candidacy running third, behind both Clinton and Sanders, with support in the high teens. Biden appears to primarily draw voters who would otherwise lean toward supporting Clinton. Surveys have shown a recent uptick in positive opinions of Biden nationally, with 85 percent of Democrats viewing him positively in a Gallup Poll this month. In the letter, Kaufman offered the first clues to Biden’s rationale for a run, describing an “optimistic” campaign that would focus on expanding middle-class opportunity and protecting Obama’s legacy. He also drew an implicit contrast with Clinton, who has been criticized by some as appearing calculated or overly choreographed. “I think it’s fair to say, knowing him as we all do, that it won’t be a scripted affair,” Kaufman said. “After all, it’s Joe.”
Hillary targets Latinos at rally Veterans Affairs By JOSH BAUGH SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton stopped in San Antonio Thursday to energize supporters and launch a campaign targeting Latinos, the country’s fastest-growing minority voting bloc. Clinton received rousing applause as she pledged to reform immigration laws, tackle income inequality and provide more access to health care for working families. Stumping in San Antonio for the first time since 2008, Clinton reminded her supporters that her ties to the area reach back to 1972, when she visited Texas for the first time to help the George McGovern campaign register voters. “I owe the people of South Texas a lot. You taught me so much, you opened your homes, you believed in me, you worked hard for me,” she said. “I’m running for president to work hard for you.” On Thursday, she added an endorsement from a member of President Barack Obama’s Cabinet. Julián Castro, the U.S. housing secretary and former San Antonio mayor, officially threw his support behind Clinton. Castro has been widely discussed as a potential Clinton running mate, should she win the Democratic nomination. Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson said Castro is on a lengthy list of potential running mates, but there’s still ample time for that decision to be made. Right now, Clin-
Photo by Eric Gay | AP
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, is shown during a campaign event, Thursday, in San Antonio. ton is traveling around the country, racking up endorsements that serve as “one more defense” against a late entry to the race from Vice President Joe Biden, who has yet to decide on whether to run. “I think that it’s very early in the campaign,” Jillson said. “She’s very focused on winning the nomination.” And she’ll depend heavily on Latinos and African Americans, the political scientist said. Castro, who introduced Clinton at the event, noted the importance of the Latino vote in the 2016 election. “She appeals to Americans of all backgrounds and colors, different perspectives and walks of life,” Castro said. “In 2016, the Latino community is going to play a critical role in electing the next president, so you couldn’t have chosen a better city to kick off ‘Latinos for Hillary’ than right here.” The event at the historic Sunset Station train depot drew a couple thousand Clinton supporters. Event organizers are hop-
ing that Thursday’s turnout will help woo Clinton back to the Alamo City on March 1, when primary election results from Texas and several other states will be tallied. Earlier in the week, Clinton appeared with rivals Jim Webb of Virginia, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Martin O’Malley of Maryland and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island in the party’s first nationally televised presidential debate. On Thursday, banners with an artistic image of Clinton hung in the San Antonio venue, emblazoned with the Spanish/English name “La Hillary” across the bottom. It was her first public appearance since the debate. As Castro and Clinton made their way to the stage in the center of the outdoor pavilion, they worked the crowd, shaking hands as supporters shot photos of the two. They chanted “Hillary! Hillary! Hillary!” as she walked on stage. The crowd belted out a deafening cheer as Clinton and Castro embraced just before the candidate began
her 25-minute speech. In addition to policy ideas, Clinton told the thousands who’d gathered that there was no doubt in her mind that Texas, a staunch conservative state, would turn Democratic if they worked to make that happen. Clinton thanked her supporters for everything they did during her failed campaign for the 2008 presidential election. It didn’t take much for Clinton to energize the crowd. She chided GOP candidates for divisive rhetoric on immigrants, saying that Latinos “are our neighbors, our friends our families.” Applause and cheers erupted from the crowd on the candidate’s first mention of Obama and what she said he’s done for the country since being elected in 2008. “For the past several months … I’ve been traveling around our country, listening to as many people as I can, and it’s clear that yes, our country has come a long way these past six and a half years, thanks to the hard work and the sacrifice of people like you and to the leadership of President Obama,” she said to cheers. “Folks, I don’t think President Obama gets the credit he deserves for preventing us from falling into a great depression.” She talked about fixing the problems that plague middle-class Americans: reducing student debt, making child care more affordable, ensuring equal pay for women, and ensuring that firstgeneration college students stay in college and graduate, among other things.
official resigns By KEVIN FREKING ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The person responsible for ensuring that more than 12 million veterans get their benefits has resigned as undersecretary of the Veterans Benefits Administration. Allison Hickey has served as an undersecretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs since June 2011. She was in charge as a backlog in disability claims pending for more than 125 days ballooned to about 611,000 in March 2013 and then fell by nearly 90 percent. VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald says he regretfully accepted the resignation and credited Hickey for modernizing the disability claims process, moving it from a reliance on paper records to one in which records are stored
on computer. McDonald said he appreciates all that Hickey has done to help transform the VA. But Hickey was also coming under fire from veterans groups and lawmakers after a critical inspector general’s report found that two other executives within the Veterans Benefits Administration received a total of about $400,000 in relocation expenses and retained their annual salaries despite a significant decrease in job responsibilities. A House committee was scheduled to hold a hearing on that report next week. And 13 senators from both parties wrote McDonald last week demanding that he “hold accountable those who orchestrated, participated in, or benefited from the unethical practices outlined in this report...”
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
4 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in unrest By MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH AND KARIN LAUB ASSOCIATED PRESS
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Stone-throwing protests erupted across the West Bank and Gaza on Friday, and assailants firebombed a site revered by Jews as the tomb of biblical Joseph on a “day of rage” against Israel. Four Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, including a laborer disguised as a journalist who stabbed an Israeli soldier. The U.N. Security Council convened an emergency meeting to discuss the escalation, which has been marked by a spate of Palestinian stabbing attacks and an Israeli security crackdown. Troops manned roadblocks in Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem, a center of unrest, and ordered some Palestinian men to lift their shirts to show they were not armed. The violence comes at a time when a possible partition of the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean into two states — Palestine alongside Israel — is fading. This has left many Palestinians frustrated because all paths to independence appear blocked. The tensions have also been stoked
by Palestinian fears that Israel is trying to expand its presence at a major Muslimrun shrine in Jerusalem, a claim Israel has denied. Taye-Brook Zerihoun, a senior U.N. official, told the Security Council that Israel’s long rule over the Palestinians and diminishing prospects for achieving a Palestinian state have transformed “long-simmering Palestinian anger into outright rage.” The current crisis cannot be resolved by security measures alone, Zerihoun warned. Israel’s new U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of “dangerous incitement” against Israel with what he called “hate-filled speech,” including claims that Israel is trying to change the status quo at the hilltop Jerusalem compound. The shrine is revered by Muslims as the spot where Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven and by Jews as the home of their biblical Temples. Over the past month, eight Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks, most of them stabbings. During the same period, 36 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire — 15 labeled by Israel as attackers, and the others in clashes between
Photo by Majdi Mohammed | AP
Palestinians burn tires during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank, Friday. stone-throwers and Israeli troops. Most of the attacks on Israelis were carried out by Palestinians with no known ties to militant groups. Palestinian factions, including Abbas’ Fatah and its rival, the Islamic militant Hamas, have mainly been involved in organizing stone-throwing protests in the West Bank and on the Israel-Gaza border. On Friday, hundreds joined protests after Muslim noon prayers, after Palestinian factions called for a “day of rage.” Israeli troops opened fire in several locations, killing three Palestinians, including two in Gaza and a 19-
year-old in the town of Beit Furik in the West Bank. Munadil Hanani, a protest organizer in Beit Furik, said hundreds of Palestinians walked to an Israeli military post on the outskirts of the town and threw stones at troops who responded with live rounds and rubber-coated steel pellets. “They were very angry and wanted to attack the soldiers,” he said of the stone-throwers, most of them teens. He said tensions rose in recent days after Israel announced plans to demolish the family homes of several suspects in a shooting ambush earlier this month that killed an Israeli couple who
lived in a nearby Jewish settlement. “This intifada (uprising) will continue in various forms,” Hanani said. “People are fed up.” Nearby, in the West Bank city of Nablus, dozens of Palestinians firebombed a site known as Joseph’s Tomb that is revered by some Jews as the burial place of the son of the biblical patriarch Jacob. The pre-dawn attack blackened exterior walls of the stone structure located near the Balata refugee camp and a scene of Israeli-Palestinian clashes in the past. Abbas condemned the arson as “irresponsible,” ordered an investigation and promised quick repairs. U.N. Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon condemned the arson attack and welcomed Abbas’ condemnation, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said. “This reprehensible act is yet another example of the escalating violence in the region, threatening to further inflame sensitivities owing to the religious significance of Joseph’s Tomb,” Haq said. “The secretary-general calls on all sides to respect the sanctity of all holy sites, refrain from any inflammatory actions or statements and reject the extremist ele-
ments that are pursuing a political agenda seeking to transform the current situation into a religious conflict.” The Palestinian leader has tried to lower the temperature, telling his security commanders that armed attacks on Israelis hurt Palestinian interests. However, he has also told his forces not to stop Palestinian stonethrowers heading to confrontations with Israeli troops. Dore Gold, a senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official, said Joseph’s Tomb was targeted “just because it is a place in which Jews pray.” Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli army spokesman, said the attack violates freedom of worship and that the military will “bring the perpetrators of this despicable act to justice.” For centuries, the site has been identified with the biblical Joseph but some Palestinians say it was a sheikh’s grave or used as a mosque. The tomb has become a popular prayer site in recent years among some sects of religious Jews. The site is located in an area under Palestinian selfrule and visits by Jews are coordinated between Palestinian security forces and Israeli troops.
Hungary closes border with Croatia ARRESTED By PABLO GORONDI ASSOCIATED PRESS
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary shut down its border with Croatia to the free flow of migrants on Saturday, a move experts say could leave thousands of people on their way to western Europe stranded in the small Balkan nation. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced the decision after a meeting of the national security Cabinet and the border, reinforced with a razor-wire fence, was closed from midnight (2200 GMT Friday). Several hundred migrants who reached the border minutes before the deadline would still be al-
lowed to enter Hungary for humanitarian reasons, government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told reporters in the border village of Zakany. “The Hungarian government has taken the steps ... to protect the internal European freedoms and the security of the citizens of Hungary and Europe,” Kovacs said minutes after the shutdown. Hungary decided to order the border clampdown after EU leaders who met Thursday in Brussels failed to agree on a plan backed by Hungary to send EU forces to block migrants from reaching Greece. “We know that this is not the best, but only the second-best solution,” Szijjarto said.
He said normal border checkpoints between the two countries would remain open, though inspections will be tightened. “We will introduce stricter controls to be able to block border crossings done illegally,” Szijjarto said. Although Croatia is also a member of the European Union, unlike Hungary it is not part of the Schengen zone of passport-free travel. Migrants could still apply for asylum in Hungary at two border transit zones, Szijjarto said. Over 383,000 migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia have entered Hungary this year, nearly all passing through on their way to Germany and other desti-
nations further west in the EU. The country clamped down on its border with Serbia with a similar fence on Sept. 15 and since then migrants have been taking a detour through Croatia to reach Hungary. “We have every hope that the introduction of the border closure (with Croatia) will have the same positive effects as what we experienced on the border with Serbia,” said Gyorgy Bakondi, senior adviser to Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Croatia will now start sending migrants to its border with Slovenia, another EU country in the Schengen zone, which also shares borders with Hungary and Austria.
Homeland Security Investigations special agents responded to interview LealHernandez, who allegedly agreed to talk to authorities. “Leal-Hernandez states that he was driving the (undocumented immigrants)
Continued from Page 1A
from a stash house to a drop-off location before the Hebbronville (Border Patrol) Checkpoint,” states the complaint. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
FALCON Continued from Page 1A to authorities regarding the smuggling attempt. “Villanueva-Saldaña stated that he was recruited on the Mexican side to be the foot guide for the group,” records state. “Villanueva-Saldaña stated that he was not getting paid, but that they threatened his family if he didn’t cross the group.”
Immigrants held as material witnesses identified Villanueva-Saldaña as the foot guide of the group, records state. Villanueva-Saldaña allegedly told immigrants to hide when a helicopter was hovering in the area. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
the west of its previous site using the vigas (ceiling beams) from the original church, Young said. “Even with the destruction of the mission with the changing of the river, the faith still continued from the people in this area,” Briseno said. “They continue to rebuild and rebuild.” The mission suffered another devastating setback in 1907 when a fire destroyed it. A May 15, 1907, article from the El Paso Morning Times retells the tragedy, saying that “the old Catholic Mission built at Ysleta in the early part of the sixteenth century by pioneer priests who constructed a chain of churches from the Gulf Coast of Texas to
Santa Barbara, Cal., was destroyed last night by fire which started from candles that had been kept burning before its altar for nearly four hundred years.” The fire destroyed everything but the life-size statue of Jesus that is still part of the mission. The statue is used annually for Holy Week and Good Friday when Catholics commemorate the death and resurrection of Christ. Reflecting on the history of Ysleta, Briseno said perseverance and faith have long been part of the church and the region. “Even with physical damage to the mission, the faith of the people continued to live on,” Briseno said.
CHURCH Continued from Page 1A where Tiguas gather to worship, and ended at the Ysleta Mission, where Mass was celebrated. The procession included members from the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and the different organizations of the mission, Baeza said. “Many times we forget that we have this kind of building in our backyard,” Briseno said. The mission kicked off the celebration of its history the previous Friday with a gathering of alumni, parents and teachers of Incarnate Word, a school that later became Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The oldest graduate of Incarnate Word is 98-year-old Conchita Fernandez, who graduated in 1931. The Ysleta and Socorro
missions were established in 1682, as a result of the Pueblo Revolt in New Mexico. They were the first permanent missions in Texas. After the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 forced the Tigua Indians and Spaniards to leave New Mexico, Gov. Don Antonio de Otermin led 2,000 Spanish survivors and 317 Indians to El Paso del Norte, where they established several missions. In a 2013 column, Janine Young, author of “Centennial History of the Diocese of El Paso,” noted that El Paso’s missions are 50 years older than other missions in the state and a century older than those in California. The first mission that was established in the El Paso-
Juarez region was the Mision de Nuestra Senora Guadalupe, located on the other side of the Rio Grande. “I think the significance of it obviously is that it’s the oldest community in Texas,” Young said about Ysleta’s anniversary. “It marks the beginning of what would be the Catholic Church in the United States. That’s something that a lot of people don’t know. It’s an honor for the Diocese of El Paso to have under its stewardship and care such a significant church and historical site as the Ysleta Mission.” The mission was founded by Franciscan monks who originally named it Corpus Christi de la Ysleta del Sur. The mission
was later named the San Antonio de Ysleta Mission. It was named after the patron saint of the Tiguas. In 1881, Jesuits changed the name once more to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In its early years the mission’s community included the church, a monastery, a dining hall, kitchen and granary, Young wrote in her column. In 1829, floodwaters changed the course of the Rio Grande. The changing of the river put Socorro, San Elizario and Ysleta on the U.S. side of the border, Young wrote. It also destroyed the Socorro and San Elizario churches. The Socorro Mission was rebuilt in 1843 approximately a half mile to
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 11A
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PAGE 12A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
YOUR OPINION
OTHER VIEWS
Alonso Lopez announces re-election bid for Zapata County sheriff To the editor: I, Alonso M. Lopez, sheriff of Zapata County announce my re-election bid for sheriff. As your sheriff I’m responsible for law enforcement for the county, responsible for providing safety and security to all citizens, supervising all issues dealing with state laws and assuring compliance with state and federal agencies. During my first term in office, I’ve been determined to continuously be a full time county sheriff, and I have diligently tasked myself with the duty of working closely with my staff to perform at the highest level of productivity. Being your sheriff is my only job and I have solemnly dedicated all of my time and effort to perform all the duties and responsibilities of a sheriff with dedication, hard work, honesty and integrity. As your sheriff, I will continue to be highly committed to the citizens of Zapata County, and will work tirelessly to meet all the law enforcement needs of our communities. In my effort to
keep Zapata County a great and safe place to live, I will continue to work hard and diligently to improve the lines of communication between the Sheriff ’s Office and other elected officials, as well as other law enforcement agencies working in Zapata County. I will continue to maintain my strictly enforced “Open Door Policy,” welcoming all citizens into my office as I have done to this day. I will continue to hold all personnel accountable to the highest standards and expectations set forth by the State of Texas, Zapata County and the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office. I have worked in law enforcement for 33 years and I’m prepared to continue serving the citizens of Zapata County as your sheriff. It is with great respect and humbleness that I take this opportunity to ask for your continued support and vote as I initiate my re-election campaign. Sincerely, Alonso M. Lopez Sheriff of Zapata County
COLUMN
Immigrant food workers need a break By LYDIA ZEPEDA TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
If there is one common language across the food system in America, from the fields to the dishwashing rooms, it is not English. It is Spanish. Immigrants from Mexico and Central America are an integral part of U.S. agriculture. They work in food processing and slaughterhouses; they are milkers and cheesemakers; they prepare and serve food. About 50 percent of all agricultural workers are undocumented, while 19 percent are immigrants authorized to work. Nearly three-quarters of all agricultural workers are from Mexico or Central America: 68 percent of all agricultural workers were born in Mexico and 6 percent in Central America. Mexicans and Central Americans were also 95 percent of the people rounded up and deported by the U.S. government in 2014. Over and over again, I have heard farmers, business owners and restaurant owners say they cannot find American workers willing to work as hard as immigrants (or for as little pay, they always forget to add). Why, then, do they not advocate for immigration reform? The answer can be found by comparing the minimum wage for an agricultural worker on an H2A visa to the wages of undocumented workers who often do the same jobs. Often the workers who are here illegally are paid substantially less than those here legally on an agricultural visa. The median wage for crop farmworkers was $8.99 per hour in 2011, the most recent data. The H2A visa sets the minimum hourly wage for agricultural workers between $10 to $13.59 per hour depending on the state plus free housing and transportation to the worksite at no charge. Furthermore, undocu-
mented workers cannot organize, are unlikely to complain, and can be fired if they get injured on the job. So besides being cheaper to hire undocumented workers, employees can treat them however they like. While many employers do treat their workers well, the point is that they do not have to. In theory, it is a violation of federal law to hire undocumented workers, punishable by civil fines and criminal penalties if done as a pattern or practice. Yet despite rhetoric that the Obama administration has increased audits of employers, a report by the Office of the Inspector General of Homeland Security criticizes Immigration and Customs Enforcement for frequently issuing warnings rather than fines to employers. And when fines are imposed, they are reduced by an average of 40 percent through "negotiations." Hiring undocumented workers is in fact a systemic pattern and practice of agriculture and the food industry. When I tell people in the local food movement that I have spoken to undocumented workers who work at one of their favorite local food restaurants, they respond that "obviously" the owner or chef did not know they were undocumented. But I have also seen the workers’ pay stubs from local restaurants. Some are handwritten notes that contain neither the name nor address of the business or employee, no hours or Social Security number, just the total pay and an amount deducted for unspecified "taxes." It seems pretty clear these employers know exactly what they are doing. Fundamentally, our food system depends on these immigrant workers. Our food system literally could not function without them. We need immigration reform that acknowledges and gives basic rights to the people who feed us.
COLUMN
Approach to education focuses on modern life skills Friends of mine have been raving about the documentary “Most Likely to Succeed,” and it’s easy to see what the excitement is about. The film is a bold indictment of the entire K-12 educational system. Greg Whiteley’s documentary argues that the American school system is ultimately built on a Prussian model designed over 100 years ago. Its main activity is downloading content into students’ minds, with success or failure measured by standardized tests. This lecture and textbook method leaves many children bored and listless. Worse, it is unsuited for the modern workplace. Information is now ubiquitous. You can look up any fact on your phone. A computer can destroy Ken Jennings, the world’s best “Jeopardy!” contestant, at a game of information retrieval. Computers can write routine news stories and do routine legal work. Our testdriven schools are training kids for exactly the rote tasks that can be done much more effectively by computers. The better approach, the film argues, is to take content off center stage and to emphasize the relational skills future workers will actually need: being able to motivate, collaborate, persevere and navigate through a complex buffet of freelance gigs. Whiteley highlights one
“
DAVID BROOKS
school he believes is training students well. This is High Tech High, a celebrated school in San Diego that was started by San Diego business and tech leaders. This school takes an old idea, project-based learning, and updates it in tech clothing. There are no textbooks, no bells marking the end of one period or start of the next. Students are given group projects built around a driving question. One group studied why civilizations rise and fall and then built a giant wooden model, with moving gears and gizmos, to illustrate the students’ theory. Another group studied diseases transmitted through blood, and made a film. “Most Likely to Succeed” doesn’t let us see what students think causes civilizational decline, but it devotes a lot of time to how skilled they are at working in teams, demonstrating grit and developing self-confidence. There are some great emotional moments. A shy girl blossoms as a theater director. A smart but struggling boy eventually solves the problem that has stumped him all year. The documentary is about relationships, not sub-
ject matter. In the school, too, teachers cover about half as much content as in a regular school. Long stretches of history and other subject curriculums are effectively skipped. Students do not develop conventional study habits. The big question is whether such a shift from content to life skills is the proper response to a hightech economy. I’d say it’s at best a partial response. Ultimately, what matters is not only how well you can collaborate in groups, but the quality of the mind you bring to the group. In rightly playing up soft skills the movie underemphasizes intellectual virtues. For example, it ignores the distinction between information processing, which computers are good at, and knowledge, which they are not. If we want to produce wise people, what are the stages that produce it? First, there is basic factual acquisition. You have to know what a neutron or a gene is, that the Civil War came before the Progressive Era. Research shows that students with a concrete level of core knowledge are better at remembering advanced facts and concepts as they go along. Second, there is pattern formation, linking facts together in meaningful ways. This can be done by a good lecturer, through class discussion, through unconscious processing or by go-
ing over and over a challenging text until it clicks in your head. Third, there is mental reformation. At some point while studying a field, the student realizes she has learned a new language and way of seeing — how to think like a mathematician or a poet or a physicist. At this point information has become knowledge. It is alive. It can be manipulated and rearranged. At this point a student has the mental content and architecture to innovate, to come up with new theses, challenge others’ theses and be challenged in turn. Finally after living with this sort of knowledge for years, exposing it to the rigors of reality, wisdom dawns. Wisdom is a hardearned intuitive awareness of how things will flow. Wisdom is playful. The wise person loves to share, and cajole and guide and wonder at what she doesn’t know. The cathedrals of knowledge and wisdom are based on the foundations of factual acquisition and cultural literacy. You can’t overleap that, which is what High Tech High is in danger of doing. “Most Likely to Succeed” is inspiring because it reminds us that the new technology demands new schools. But somehow relational skills have to be taught alongside factual literacy.
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phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication. We want to assure our
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CLASSIC DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 13A
Wal-Mart speeds up deliveries By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Eduardo Verdugo | AP
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson attends a press conference in Mexico City, Thursday.
US, Mexico start trade program By PETER ORSI ASSOCIATED PRESS
The United States and Mexico on Thursday launched a pilot cargo preinspection program in Laredo that aims to facilitate trade between the two nations. Under the program, cargo will be inspected just once in the exporting country by customs officials from both nations. Officials say it has the potential to ease shipping congestion by reducing wait times up to 80 percent and lower storage costs and other expenses. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said at a news conference in Mexico City that the program “represents a remarkable evolution” of the bilateral relationship. “The pre-inspection pilot program which this memorandum will enshrine opens the door for a 21st century approach to trade facilitation between our two countries,” Johnson said. Mexican Treasury Secretary Luis Videgaray said the program began Thursday at the airport in Laredo, Texas, with the first in-
spections carried out by officials from both sides of the border, including armed Mexican agents. In the coming days and weeks the program will be expanded to two facilities in Mexico: Mesa de Otay in Baja California, near San Diego, and San Jeronimo, which is in Chihuahua state near the border cities of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. “In essence it means that instead of having two bureaucratic hurdles ... now, thanks to joint cooperation and trust, we are going to have just one inspection,” Videgaray said. “What are we aiming for?” he added. “To generalize this way of working, based on efficiency and trust to achieve security and competitiveness.” Johnson said more than $1.45 billion in trade moves between Mexico and the U.S. each day, totaling over $530 billion a year. In the last two decades, he said, Mexican imports of U.S. goods have risen from $41.6 billion to $240 billion. Over the same period, U.S. imports of Mexican goods went from $40 billion to $295 billion.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Christmas won’t come early this year, but the gifts might. Just in time for the winter holiday shopping season, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Macy’s and other retailers are working behind the scenes to make sure they can deliver online orders to shoppers faster. Retailers are building bigger warehouses —some the size of 20 football fields — to handle shipments. They’re also sending orders to shoppers directly from their stores and using sophisticated software that tells them the quickest, cheapest way to get orders shipped. And Amazon is cutting the time it takes to process an order from hours to minutes by using robots to pull items for shipment in its warehouses. It’s a race for time by retailers as more people shop online. U.S. online sales are expected to increase 12 percent to $371 billion this year, accounting for 10 percent of overall retail sales, says Forrester Research. But as online shopping grows, so does the impatience of shoppers who want their orders fast. Traditional brick-andmortar stores are trying to catch up to Amazon.com, which set the standard for speed with its two-day delivery for members of its Prime loyalty program who pay $99 a year. But even Amazon feels pressure to please customers who have little tolerance for lengthy delivery waits. “I would like to plan ahead, but I’ve been able to wait until the last minute to get things done,” said Keri Early, a Clyde, Illinois, resi-
Photo by Mel Evans | AP
In this July 22 photo, Wal-Mart president and CEO Greg Foran wears a Wal-Mart vest as he talks with employees in Bethlehem, Pa. dent who orders from Amazon frequently. For many retailers, the goal to meet the demands of shoppers like Early for speedy service is to make two-day delivery standard. That’s half the average for standard delivery for the top 40 online retailers, according to data company StellaService. But most are stopping short of guaranteeing customers faster deliveries. Wal-Mart says it aims to get packages to shoppers who get standard shipping within two days for a majority of the U.S. this holiday season. The retailer now uses 83 of its more than 4,500 U.S. stores to ship to customers. The world’s largest retailer also is spending $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion in online investments this year and $1.1 billion next year. That’s up from last year’s $1 billion. The investments are squeezing profit: Wal-Mart stock tumbled Wednesday after it warned earnings would be down as much as 12 percent next year in part because of its heavy spending on e-commerce. Still, Wal-Mart is spending to stay competitive with online rivals. Since last year, the world’s largest retailer has opened five warehouses across the country in Beth-
lehem, Pennsylvania; Fort Worth, Texas; Plainfield, Indiana; and Atlanta to handle online orders. Next year, Wal-Mart plans to open another center in southern California, one in Dallas and two more in Florida. The new warehouses each will ship hundreds of thousands of orders daily, four to five times its dozens of existing smaller warehouses. Each new warehouse has several million items, five times the network of older warehouses. That will enable Wal-Mart to offer more consolidated orders arriving in fewer boxes. “This is going to allow us to be more efficient, to do it faster, to do it cheaper and be more accurate with the orders, which is important with the customers,” said Greg Foran, CEO of WalMart’s U.S. business. One of Wal-Mart’s two Bethlehem warehouses opened in July and is considered the retailer’s crown jewel. It has two towers with four stories of the fastest moving items of the season that can be retrieved through a computerized chute. For example, for the holidays, that would include iPads and swimsuits for the summer “By mid-November, this
place will be humming,” said Justen Traweek, WalMart’s vice president of ecommerce operations and fulfillment. Other retailers also have built new warehouses to meet demand: Home Depot opened its third and largest warehouse in Troy, Ohio, in September to handle online orders. Together, these warehouses will allow Home Depot to ship to 90 percent of shoppers within two days. Macy’s new facility, which recently opened in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will enable the retailer to send 90 percent of packages in central western states within two days. By year’s end, Macy’s says the chain will be able to deliver packages within two days overall, faster than its standard of three to six days. Target opened two new warehouses this year. It also is now shipping products from 462 of its 1,800 stores, up from 150 a year ago. Target said online shoppers are likely to get deliveries within two days if the product is delivered from the store, compared with four days from the warehouse. Target also launched a program that enables it to let shoppers know a precise delivery date. That’s instead of offering a wide delivery window of four to six days. Nordstrom opened a third warehouse in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, to handle online orders. That will eventually allow the chain to deliver orders to half of its customers in two days. “You know our friends in Seattle continue to set the standard,” Mike Koppel, Nordstrom’s chief financial officer, told investors in September, referring to Amazon.
Cautious consumers hold back Unemployment By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — U.S. manufacturing production fell for the second straight month in September as factories cranked out fewer appliances, computers, and electronics. Factory output declined 0.1 percent, the Federal Reserve said Friday, following a drop of 0.4 percent in August. Manufacturers also cut back on production of steel and other metals. The decline suggests that a strong dollar, weak overseas economies, and cautious U.S. consumers are holding back factory output. Many companies are also focused on reducing stockpiles that were built up in the spring by cutting back on orders for
new goods. Overall industrial production, which includes mining and utilities, fell 0.2 percent, also its second straight decline. Mining output plunged 2 percent as energy companies sharply reduced oil and gas drilling. Utility output rose 1.3 percent. Factories have had a tough year and there is little sign of improvement any time soon. A strong U.S. dollar and weak overseas growth have hammered U.S. exports. The dollar has risen about 13 percent in value against other currencies in the past 12 months. That makes U.S. products more expensive, and therefore less attractive, in other countries. U.S. consumers have also slowed their spending
in the past two months. That’s left many businesses with warehouses full of unsold goods. With such large inventories they see little need to order new products. Big overseas economies are grappling with slower or nonexistent growth, including China, Canada, Europe, and Brazil. Canada, the United States’ largest trading partner, is in recession. China and Brazil had been critical sources of demand for American-made industrial machinery, such as mining trucks, construction equipment, and agricultural machines. Their economic slowdowns have hit sales and profits for companies such as Caterpillar and United Technologies. Falling oil prices have
also dragged down factory output. Crude oil prices, which were around $60 per barrel in the spring, have fallen to about $49. The decline has forced energy firms to curtail drilling, eliminating much of the need for new pipelines and equipment that had boosted factory orders in previous years. A private survey earlier this month found that U.S. manufacturing activity expanded last month at the slowest pace in two years. Measures of new orders and production also dropped sharply, suggesting weakness in manufacturing is likely to continue. Overall, the economy is expected to expand at just a 1 percent to 1.5 percent annual rate in the JulySeptember quarter.
up in Texas ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — The Texas unemployment rate rose slightly in September to 4.2 percent, the Texas Workforce Commission reported Friday. Statewide unemployment was 4.1 percent during August. The nationwide jobless rate last month was 5.1 percent, according to a commission statement. Amarillo had the lowest September unemployment rate across Texas, at 3.1 percent. The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area had the state’s highest jobless figure last month at 7.4 percent, TWC officials said. Texas employers added 224,800 jobs in the past year, the commission said. The
trade, transportation, and utilities industry expanded by 11,400 positions last month, leading job growth among all industries. “Texas employers added jobs in eight of 11 industries in September, offering opportunities to a diverse pool of job-seekers,” said Commissioner Ronny Congleton. The education and health services industry added 10,900 jobs last month. “Private-sector employment was strong in September, with our Texas employers outpacing the overall job growth, adding 31,200 jobs,” said Commissioner Ruth Hughs. The Texas economy continues to generate a steady growth of jobs, said Chairman Andres Alcantar.
14A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision | AP file
In this May 16 file photo, Gwen Stefani arrives at An Evening with Women in Los Angeles. Stefani coaches young talent on the singing competition series, "The Voice," on NBC.
Stefani not done yet By LEANNE ITALIE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Gwen Stefani is leaving “The Voice” this winter, when Christina Aguilera returns, but she’s not done with the NBC show yet. She said in an interview Friday she’d love to return. Now about halfway through Season 9, Stefani already misses her show family. “They’re all so smart, they’re all lovely. They all got my back. I love them,” she said. As for the rest of her life, she’s trying to live in the here and now and enjoy a few “priceless surprises,” a hashtag she’s taken on for a private concert Saturday night for MasterCard cardholders. The California native and mom of three oozed joy backstage ahead of the exclusive appearance, so what’s got Stefani so happy? “Everything. It’s exciting. I’m in New York. Just that alone. ... I mean, I never went anywhere when I was a little girl,” she smiled. And there’s also the birth of her third child, Apollo, about 19 months ago, and the rest of this season on “The Voice.” “I can’t wait to get back
on set and do the lives. It’s so fun. It’s the funnest thing I think I’ve ever done, and so inspiring,” Stefani said. She’s going through a phase, of sorts. “I don’t have any plans for the future. In fact, my whole thing right now is not thinking about the past or the future and, like, being right here, right this second, because it’s so great right now. It’s such a great, amazing time,” Stefani explained. So if she were a contestant rather than a judge on “The Voice,” who would she pick as a mentor? “Impossible to answer, and I will not,” she laughed. “But I would say, I know that I’ve worked with Pharrell before and I know what that feels like. I’ve worked with Adam and I know what that feels like. I’ve never worked with Blake so I don’t know what that would be like, but I do know that me and Blake have a lot of similar tastes in people, in voices, which is a shock.” Stefani’s band, No Doubt, last put out an album in 2012, but she’s recorded solo, made music with Pharrell and joined Eminem on a rap-rock turn, “Kings Never Die,” for the soundtrack of the film “Southpaw.” She also has put in some writing
and studio time on a new solo album but hasn’t announced its timing. “Kingston (her 9-year-old son) said, ’Mom you better get a hit,’ so I’m gonna try to do that for him,” she said. Meantime, she’ll continue to juggle family and music and TV, acknowledging that the latter as far as “The Voice” is concerned has become less about finding the next superstar and more about helping out young talent. “How many Michael Jacksons are there in a lifetime, or in generations? They come along when they come along,” Stefani said. “It’s just a platform. There’s so many talented people but there has to be magic and things, destiny and fate, and God, and all these things have to happen for a superstar to emerge.” Would she survive the grueling competition? “I can’t imagine doing what they do. I couldn’t do it,” she said. “I mean, the pressure, and then to be having us trying to tell them, ’OK and then you can do this and you can do that,’ taking in all that information and trying to make it happen on a live TV show. It’s a lot. They do really good.”
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Regrouping in 2016
Photo by Tony Gutierrez | AP
Photo by Orlin Wagner | AP
Texas manager Jeff Banister and general manager Jon Daniels, right, discussed the Rangers’ success in 2015 on Friday.
After a run to the American League postseason following three consecutive 100-loss seasons from 2011-14, the Astros are trying to build upon their success in 2016.
Rangers reflect on winning AL West, looking ahead to future
Surprising Astros hope to build on playoff run next season
By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARLINGTON — Jeff Banister is a baseball lifer, but never was a major league manager before the Texas Rangers hired him a year ago Friday. Exactly 52 weeks after his formal introduction in the same room, Banister again was sitting next
to general manager Jon Daniels, this time discussing his first season that included the AL West title after an 88-74 record and the Rangers going to a deciding fifth game in the AL Division Series. “Very proud of this organization the last 365 days,” Daniels said. “We all wish we were in Kansas City (for the AL
Championship Series) right now, expected to be there, believe in this club still ... but it doesn’t take away at all the pride I think we all feel.” After an AL-worst 95 losses last year, and an 816 start a month into this season, the Rangers played more than 162 games for the fifth time
See RANGERS PAGE 3B
MLB: CHICAGO CUBS
By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — The Houston Astros weren’t even thought by most to be a postseason contender this year. That’s little consolation in the wake of their elimination by the Kansas City Royals in Game 5 of the American League division series.
“It’s going to leave a sour taste for a very long time,” ace Dallas Keuchel said. “Next year can’t come soon enough.” The Astros were six outs from a trip to the AL Championship Series on Sunday with a three-run lead entering the eighth inning before the Royals used a shaky bullpen and a costly error to score five runs and rally for the 9-6
victory. Houston was ahead by two runs early on Wednesday night before Johnny Cueto shut down the Astros in the Royals’ series-ending 7-2 win. “Our guys last night had the right balance of pride and disappointment,” first-year manager A.J. Hinch said. “Very
See ASTROS PAGE 2B
NCAA FOOTBALL: NO. 2 BAYLOR BEARS
Baylor hosts West Virginia By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS
WACO — Baylor coach Art Briles quickly tried to dispel any idea that the second-ranked Bears have revenge on their mind. At least concerning West Virginia, the only team to beat them in the regular season a year ago. “If there’s any revenge, it needs to be on us,” Briles said. “Are we going to blame them for beating us? The way we look at it is that it’s our fault, my fault. We didn’t take care of business.”
See BAYLOR PAGE 3B
Photo by Charlie Riedel | AP
Baylor wide receiver Corey Coleman and the No. 2 ranked Bears face off against West Virginia Saturday.
NCAA FOOTBALL: NO. 3 TCU HORNED FROGS Photo by Anne Ryan | AP
Sam Sianis, left, and his son, Tom, arrive with a goat outside Wrigley Field before in Game 6 of the NLCS in Chicago.
TCU hopes to avoid upset By LUKE MEREDITH
Cubs fans try to shed curse By DON BABWIN ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Billy Siegel doesn’t want to hear any talk about a billy goat curse or a Steve Bartman hex afflicting his beloved Chicago Cubs. He dismisses as rubbish any suggestion that a little black cat had anything to do with the team’s heartbreaking collapse down the stretch
in 1969, too. But when Kyle Schwarber hit a home run the other night at Wrigley Field that helped vanquish the hated St. Louis Cardinals, Siegel found it impossible not to see divine providence at work. After all, the ball landed on a videoboard advertising a beer synonymous with St.
See CUBS PAGE 2B
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Orlin Wagner | AP
TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin and the Horned Frogs escaped Kansas State 52-45 last week and face off with Iowa State Saturday.
AMES, Iowa — TCU has been defined by its resilience. With another road win at Iowa State on Saturday, the third-ranked Horned Frogs will head into their bye week having survived a very tough stretch unscathed. TCU (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) will play a Power Five opponent away from Fort Worth for the fourth time when they face the Cyclones (2-3, 1-1). The Horned Frogs’ first two road games in league
See TCU PAGE 3B
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
Unbeaten A&M to be tested vs. Alabama By KRISTIE RIEKEN
ing and 10 touchdowns and Drake has 244 yards rushing with a score. Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin and his staff are focused on trying to slow the pair down on Saturday. “One is a bigger bruiser, the other is more a shakeand-bake guy. Certainly complement each other
well,” Sumlin said. “Bring different styles. See times where they’re putting both on the field and able to utilize them ... we have to play good, sound, fundamental football. Gap responsibility. Got to gang tackle. Got to get a lot of people to the ball.” PILING UP SACKS Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett is tied for third in the country with 7 1/2 sacks. He has piled up 19 sacks in his career after breaking Jadeveon Clowney’s SEC freshman record by taking down the quarterback 11 1/2 times last season. But he’s not the only Aggie getting to the quarterback often as teammate Daeshon Hall has five sacks this year. “I think their defense is playing a lot better,” Saban said. “They’ve got a really good scheme. They’ve got two really tough pass rushers to single block on the edges, which always can cause issues in the passing game.” RIDLEY’S RECEIVING Though Alabama relies more on its running game, Calvin Ridley has proven to be a threat in the passing game. He had nine catches for 140 yards — both careerhighs — against Arkansas and leads the team with 385 yards receiving and three scores. RACING TO 1,000 Texas A&M freshman WR/KR/PR Christian Kirk needs 42 yards to reach 1,000 all-purpose yards. Kirk leads the team with 519 yards receiving with four touchdowns and he’s returned a punt for another score.
gesture some fans have suggested would be appropriate for someone vilified after he deflected a foul ball just before the Cubs collapsed in the 2003 playoffs. It is pretty much the same story with the goat. Seventy years after the owner of the Billy Goat Tavern put a curse on the Cubs when they wouldn’t let his pet goat attend the World Series, the tavern owners have asked the Cubs to let a goat back into Wrigley for a postseason game. On its blog, the Billy Goat reminds the team that the last time it refused to sell a ticket to a goat was in 2003 and everyone knows what happened then. “We don’t allow animals in the ballpark and we don’t believe in curses,”
the team said in a statement. Still, the Cubs have chosen to ensconce Schwarber’s home run ball in a plastic box atop the videoboard for all to see. It presumably will be there next Tuesday for Game 3 of the NLCS against the Mets. Kelly said he suspects that Santo and the late Ernie Banks are “up there making sure nothing crazy happens” to their team. And he also suspects if the Cubs win the World Series the celebration will extend to the great beyond. “The cemeteries will be overloaded with Cubs fans telling their loved ones they did it,” he said. “I will be the first one out there, taking a (World Series) sweat shirt to my dad’s grave.”
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COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen remembers exactly how he felt after year’s 59-0 drubbing by Alabama. “It was a feeling of embarrassment to be on a national TV stage and be beaten like that,” he said. “It felt like we were a high school team playing a college team, honestly, and it’s not a feeling we ever want to feel again.” No. 9 Texas A&M gets a chance to avenge that blowout Saturday when it hosts No. 10 Alabama. The Aggies will be trying to open a season 6-0 for the first time since 1994 and keep pace with LSU in the SEC West. A loss by Alabama would badly damage its Southeastern Conference title and playoff hopes since they lost to Mississippi on Sept. 19. While the Aggies (5-0, 2-0 SEC) are thinking about last year’s game to help insure that something like that doesn’t happen again, the Crimson Tide (5-1, 2-1) is trying to ignore all the talk about it as the team gets ready for another meeting with Texas A&M. “It’s just like last week’s game against Georgia, we have to block that out to focus for Arkansas,” running back Kenyan Drake said. “Every game is a season within itself. Obviously we’re not going to focus on last year. That was a whole different year, a whole different team for both sides, so we’re just going to focus on this year.” A 19-year-old sophomore,
Photo by Tony Gutierrez | AP
Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen and the unbeaten No. 9 Aggies face off with No. 10 Alabama in their first meeting since losing 59-0 last year. Allen already has a lot of experience and is 8-2 in 10 career starts. He’s been extremely accurate this season and has thrown 79 straight passes without an interception. “They’ve really worked hard to try to create balance on their offense this year, in terms of being able
to run the ball a little bit better,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “But they’re still one of the most prolific passing teams in the country. Kyle Allen has done a really good job at quarterback for them. His passing efficiency rating is one of the tops in the country.”
Some things to know about the top-10 matchup between Alabama and Texas A&M: TWO-PRONGED RUSHING ATTACK Alabama’s offense features two solid running backs in Derrick Henry and Drake. Henry leads the team with 665 yards rush-
CUBS Continued from Page 1B Louis — and it didn’t come down. “Look at that ball that hit the Budweiser sign,” said the 67-year-old Siegel, a season ticket holder since 1970. “Oh my god, that was a sign.” Cubs fans can insist all they want that they are done with talk of curses and just plain bad luck, from goats to cats to Bartman. But this is not an easy habit to break for the devoted faithful of a team that has not won a World Series since 1908. Heartbreak and superstition are as much a part of Cubs lore as Wrigley Field itself. As the Cubs take on the New York Mets in the hopes of getting to the World Series for the first time since 1945, fans swear that this team is
different from all the teams that have tried and failed before. This team will win — and they will, fans will tell you — because of the way they play and not because a curse was lifted or just ran out of steam. “I am so sick of billy goats, sick of Bartman, it’s all a bunch of baloney,” said Jim Kelly, a 62-yearold substitute teacher. For some, it’s just different rooting for a team that is so young the players have no connection to past failures. These fans seem willing to thumb their noses at those who worry about, say, jinxing the team by celebrating before a victory is secure. “I was in Pittsburgh (for the wild card victory against the Pirates) and I got criticized because I
was on Twitter saying there are 6 outs to go, 5 outs to go,” said Al Yellon, who runs a Cubs fan site, bleedcubbieblue.com. “But I was saying, no, we’re not going to be slaves to history.” Still, to be safe ... “I have a Jake Arrieta game-worn jersey that seems to be lucky,” Yellon said. “I wear that jersey every time he pitches.” Years of watching a team snatch defeat from the jaws of victory have made it impossible for some other fans to shake the idea that if something bad can happen to the Cubs it will. “There’s no real curse,” said Steve Rhodes, a longtime fan who runs beachwoodreporter.com. “At the same time, (stuff) happens to this team that doesn’t
happen to anyone else.” While Rhodes wonders if Schwarber’s next home run might be blown back into play by “a gust of wind,” these Cubs have already exorcised the demons that are the Cardinals, at least for one year. Fans wonder if they can now exact revenge on the Mets, the team that overtook the Cubs in 1969 not long after a black cat strolled by Cubs third baseman Ron Santo at Shea Stadium. “I think it would be fitting to go through the Mets after what happened in ’69,” said Jeff Santo, a son of the late Cubs great. For their part, the Cubs are staying far away from all this talk. They have not, for example, invited Bartman back to Wrigley as a guest of honor — a
ASTROS Continued from Page 1B proud of what we did, what we accomplished, how we came together as a team ... but yet hungry enough to be devastated that the season came to an end.” Houston made the playoffs for the first time since a trip to the World Series in 2005. The Astros’ rise to contender status this season came just two years after they lost a franchiseworst 111 games as part of three consecutive 100-loss seasons. “We made baseball a topic of conversation in October in the state of Texas and that’s not easy to do,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said. They made the turnaround thanks to the development of a crop of young talent highlighted by shortstop Carlos Correa, the top overall pick in 2012 who they expect to the be cornerstone of the franchise for years to come. “We’ve got a lot of confidence,” Correa said. “Nobody expected us to be here. And we accomplished a lot this year ... the future is bright and we’re looking forward to next season.” Polished beyond his years Correa, who turned 21 on Sept. 22, was called up in June and set a fran-
Photo by John Sleezer | MCT
Acquired at the trade deadline, Houston center fielder Carlos Gomez is under contract through 2016 with the Astros. chise record for home runs by a rookie with 22, the most by an AL rookie and the most by a shortstop in the majors. He had 68 RBIs, 45 extra-base hits and 22 doubles. “The story of Carlos Correa is still early,” Luhnow said. “This is the second chapter of a long book, so it’s going to be fun for our fans to watch him and oth-
er young players develop.” All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve reached 200 hits for the second straight season and led the AL. He topped the Astros with .313 average, was first in the AL with 38 stolen bases and had 40 doubles and 66 RBIs. The Astros also got a solid season by outfielder George Springer, who hit .276 with 16 homers, 41
RBIs and 16 stolen bases in his second season despite missing two months with a broken wrist. “We kind of raised the bar for Astros’ baseball for sure and earned the respect of a lot of people, who didn’t believe in us before,” Springer said. “This team has been through some ups and down and has been able to accomplish a lot
more than a lot of people thought they would. We’ve shown we can go out and play with anybody and beat anybody.” The Astros went 15-7 in April and led the AL West for most of the season before Texas overtook Houston in mid-September. The Rangers won the division and Houston gained the second AL wild card and
beat the New York Yankees 3-0 in the wild-card game to advance. Keuchel won that game and also pitched Houston to a victory in Game 3 of the ALDS to cap a stellar year where he led the AL with a career-best 20-8 record and was second in the AL with a career-low 2.48 ERA. The Astros added pitchers Scott Kazmir and Mike Fiers and outfielder Carlos Gomez to boost their team before the trade deadline. Kazmir started out well before struggling late and was 2-6 with a 4.17 ERA in 13 starts. Fiers provided one of Houston’s biggest moments of the regular season when he pitched a no-hitter in August against the Dodgers. Gomez provided a spark to the team in the regular season but was slowed by a ribcage muscle strain throughout the postseason. Luhnow, the architect of Houston’s rebuilding project, wasn’t ready to discuss offseason needs or plans for personnel changes. “If I could bring back the whole team, I would,” Luhnow said. “This is a fun team and I think they have a chance to do next year what they did this year and maybe more.”
Sports
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
Texas Tech offense rolls into Lawrence By DAVE SKRETTA
conference play, they were slapped around by Baylor, 63-35 in defeat. But they handled the Cyclones easily a week ago, their defense playing much better and their offense just as good in a 66-31 victory. Texas Tech had a school-record 776 yards of total offense in the game. “They’re playing with confidence and playing faster,” Red Raiders offensive coordinator Eric Morris said. “I thought that was the biggest thing is we got some of the young kids that are playing with a lot of confidence.” As they prepare to visit Kansas, here are a
few things to remember: LOPSIDED SERIES Texas Tech is 15-1 against the Jayhawks, and has won eight straight in the series. The average margin of victory during that streak is more than 18 points. DON’T BLINK Of the Red Raiders’ 44 scoring drives this year, 19 have taken less than 2 minutes. Ten of them were under a minute. As a result, they ranked 121st out of 127 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision in time of possession, but No. 2 in scoring. MAHOMES THE MAN Patrick Mahomes II has thrown for 3,692 yards and 33 TDs in his first 10 starts, putting the sophomore on pace to finish ahead of Kingsbury, his coach, and Graham Harrell — the top two passers in school history. “He’s pretty special,” Morris said. SPEAKING OF QBS Ryan Willis will get his second start for Kansas on Saturday. Willis had some positive moments against Baylor, including a nice TD toss to fellow freshman Steven Sims Jr., but also made some noteworthy mistakes. “I like his demeanor. I like how he handled the moment. I like how he made a mistake, and he didn’t let it rattle him,” Beaty said. “He came right back and was able to continue to look forward and didn’t let one bad play turn into two or three.” HURTING JAYHAWKS Wide receiver Bobby Hartzog and defensive lineman Damani Mosby are expected to be out again with injuries, but Beaty is hopeful wide receiver Tre’ Parmelee, running back Ke’aun Kinner and cornerback Brandon Stewart are available. “We’ll have to see how the week progresses,” he said, “because it’s not a slam dunk for those guys.”
Other potential free agents are starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo and Mike Napoli, who returned to Texas as another late-season addition. There will be at least two changes on Banister’s coaching staff for his second season. Hitting coach Dave Magadan and bullpen coach Andy Hawkins are not returning next season. The Rangers said it was a mutual decision with Magadan, who would like to seek opportunities closer to his home in Florida after three seasons in Tex-
as. Hawkins informed the team that he is resigning to pursue opportunities with other teams. He was the longest-tenured coach on the major league staff, having been with Texas since Aug. 1, 2008. The six other members of the staff have been invited to return in 2016. They are third base coach Tony Beasley, bench coach Steve Buechele, assistant hitting coach Bobby Jones, pitching coach Mike Maddux, first base coach Hector Ortiz, and field coordinator Jayce Tingler.
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LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas allowed seven touchdowns and a field goal by halftime last week against Baylor. The Jayhawks aren’t getting much of a reprieve. Texas Tech and its similarly potent offense rolls into town on Saturday, intending to become the latest team to run roughshod over the Jayhawks. The Red Raiders have scored at least 35 points in every game this season, and have twice topped 60 — including last week against Iowa State. Then again, maybe the Jayhawks learned something from their licking. “They’re very different in terms of how they attack people,” said Kansas coach David Beaty, who’s in his first season trying to resurrect the downtrodden program. “Don’t be fooled by those formations. Those plays are very, very different,” he said of the comparison between Baylor and Texas Tech. “In terms of the spacing and understanding disguises and things like that, I think it will be — just watching practice or walk-through, I could already see a lot more retention that will be helpful this week, I think, as we move forward.” The Jayhawks (0-5, 0-2 Big 12) are grasping for whatever positives they can this season. Beaty inherited a depleted roster, fan apathy and little else when he took over for the fired Charlie Weis. He’s been forced to play a slew of freshmen and the results have been predictable: a whole lot of lumps against just about everybody. Baylor has been the worst yet, a 66-7 thumping in which the starters sat
Photo by Allison Terry | AP
Texas Tech heads on the road Saturday as they face off against winless Kansas. The Red Raiders are 4-2 with their only losses to No. 2 Baylor and No. 3 TCU. the second half. But Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury has known Beaty for years, partly because their careers keep intersecting. And he knows better than to overlook his buddy, even if Kansas is struggling. “I think he’s a tremendous football coach,” Kingsbury said. “I know he’s trying to build something special out there. ... They had a tough run, but they’re getting better.” The Red Raiders (4-2, 1-2) seem to be getting better, too. After their heartbreaking loss to TCU to open
Photo by Mark Rogers | AP
Jakeem Grant and Texas Tech’s offense has scored at least 35 points in every game this season.
RANGERS Continued from Page 1B in six seasons. Ace left-hander Cole Hamels and every other player who started Game 5 of the AL Division Series in Toronto on Wednesday, which included that strange nearly hour-long seventh inning, is under contract for next season. “I feel just as excited today as I did a year ago. The mission for me has not changed one bit,” Banister said. “The way things ended for us, the feeling, I’ll let that fuel me every day this winter to find a way to make us better, so that we can start
spring training with the mindset of where we want to finish.” Before getting to Texas, Banister spent 29 years in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as a player, coach and instructor on all levels. He was Clint Hurdle’s bench coach the last four years. Hamels is signed through 2018 with a club option for 2019, in a rotation that also returns lefthanders Derek Holland and Martin Perez, with Yu Darvish expected back in mid-May after Tommy John surgery last spring
training. Sam Dyson and Jake Diekman, key relievers who like Hamels were midseason additions, are also under contract. The offseason also provides time for players to heal, including third baseman Adrian Beltre, who came out early in ALDS Game 1 and missed the next two games — and clearly was still hurting when he returned for the last two games of the series. Beltre also had a jammed finger on his left hand the final month, and Daniels revealed Friday
BAYLOR Continued from Page 1B And they wound up the first team left out of the initial College Football Playoff because of it. Just like last October, Baylor (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) is undefeated going into its game against the Mountaineers. The Bears, now with their highest AP ranking ever, were coming off their epic 61-58 comeback victory over TCU last season when they went to West Virginia and lost 4127. WVU (3-2, 0-2), which lost in overtime at home last week to 15th-ranked Oklahoma State, doesn’t believe Baylor has forgotten that four-hour game in Morgantown last season. “Definitely. Anytime you lose to a team, you’re looking forward to beating them the following year,” junior cornerback Daryl Worley said. “We look at it as though every team that we play against is trying to beat us. ... They’re all out to get blood.” West Virginia has an FBS-best 13 interceptions and has been one of the Big 12’s best defenses, allowing a league-low 20 points a game and 342 yards a game. Baylor counters with the nation’s most productive offense, at 64 points and 725 yards a game.
Seth Russell leads the nation with 22 touchdown passes, and Corey Coleman is the national leader with 13 TD catches. “It’s important for us to defend our home turf. When anyone steps foot in Waco, it’s our job to run them out of here. They outdid us last year, so we have a little bit of an edge going into this game,” Coleman said. “We’re ready to get that bad taste out of our mouth.” A few other things to know when the Bears look to stretch their FBS-best 18-game home winning streak, including all eight games since moving into their new campus stadium last year: LEADING RUSHERS Baylor junior Shock Linwood and West Virginia junior Wendell Smallwood rank 1-2 in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game. Linwood is running for 143.8 yards per game, including four consecutive 100-yard games. Smallwood has surpassed 100 yards his last three games and is averaging 114.8 yards per game. BIG-TIME SCORING The highest-scoring game in Big 12 history came in 2012 when West Virginia, in its first con-
ference game after moving into the league, beat Baylor 70-63 at home. When the Mountaineers went to the Waco for the first time two years ago, Baylor scored on nine of its first 10 possessions and won 73-42. WINNING PENALIZED West Virginia pulled off the upset last season even while committing 14 penalties for 138 yards and having three turnovers — while the Bears didn’t turn over the ball. “I don’t know how to explain that one,” Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen said. Maybe some of it had to do with Baylor’s 18 penalties for 215 yards. NEVER THIS HIGH BEFORE Asked about the No. 2 national ranking, Briles said the Bears are proud that people have noticed what they are doing and respect them as a quality team. But he doesn’t feel any different. “I probably don’t look the same, but mentally I feel the same as I did in 2012 when we were unranked,” he said. X-FACTOR Bears junior cornerback Xavien Howard, a former high school quarterback, had his third interception of the season and returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown last week against Kansas.
that the 36-year-old third baseman played most of second half of the season with a torn ligament in his left thumb. But Beltre wasn’t among the three players who Friday had what Daniels referred to as “cleanups.” Colby Lewis, a 17-game winner who is a potential free agent, had torn meniscus repaired in his right knee, catcher Chris Gimenez had the AC joint in his right shoulder cleaned out, and catcher Carlos Corporan had surgery on his left thumb.
TCU Continued from Page 1B play have been way too close for coach Gary Patterson’s comfort. They beat Texas Tech 55-52 on a last-second TD pass and rallied from 18 down to stun Kansas State 52-45 last week. “You’ve got to find ways to win. That’s what good programs do. They just find ways to win. Some days it’s not pretty. Some days it is,” Patterson said. The Cyclones might not present such a tough challenge though. Iowa State took a major step back last week in a 66-31 loss to Texas Tech. The Cyclones allowed the Red Raiders to gain a school record 776 yards, and senior quarterback Sam Richardson threw three interceptions. Still, Iowa State has been waiting for its shot at TCU ever since the Horned Frogs embarrassed them 55-3 in last season’s finale. Here are some of the key things to consider as the playoff-hungry Horned Frogs look to avoid a cataclysmic upset in Ames. BAD, BAD BOYKIN Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads didn’t sugarcoat the challenge TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin presents to his suddenly
beleaguered defense. Rhoads opened his weekly press conference by throwing bouquets Boykin’s way, saying that the senior “could be people’s tailback. He could be a starting wide receiver, and certainly is a Heisman Trophy-worthy quarterback.” Boykin’s 11,059 yards of career total offense are by far the most of any active quarterback in the country. OH MIKE The highlight of Iowa State’s season has been the emergence of freshman running back Mike Warren. He ran for 245 yards against the Red Raiders, the most any freshman in the country has run for so far. But Warren also showed his youth to reporters Monday with a nonchalant response about what he thought of TCU. “I heard that their run defense is a little shaky, and I think that’s a big plus for me because I think I can probably have like another great performance,” Warren said. The Horned Frogs are sixth in the Big 12 in rushing defense, though their 16 touchdowns rushing allowed is second-worst in the league. ONE FINE DOC
Boykin’s tremendous season has somewhat overshadowed the fantastic year that fellow senior Josh Doctson is having. Doctson has 50 receptions, third-best nationally, and he’s second with 877 yards and 10 touchdowns. MATCHUP ISSUE? If there’s one area where Iowa State might have an advantage, it’s with the height of its wide receivers. Starters D’Vario Montgomery and Allen Lazard are 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-5, respectively, while TCU cornerbacks Corry O’Meally and Nick Orr are just 6-foot and 5foot-10. The Cyclones also have five other wideouts on their depth chart who are taller than any of the Horned Frogs’ backs. Iowa State spreads the ball around, too, with five guys already with at 13 catches. The Cyclones “have a couple mismatches for us. So you’ve got to play the run better,” Patterson said. WHAT A NUMBER According to the Big 12, FBS teams were 241-0 when holding a lead of at least 18 points in the second half. They were 241-1 after Boykin found Doctson for a 55-yard TD pass with 1:10 left last week at K-State.
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015