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TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO
SAN YGNACIO, TEXAS
‘DO NOT TRAVEL’
Courtesy photo / Zapata County Constable Pct. 2 Daniel "Danny" Arriaga
Shown is one of the two vehicles involved in a crash Feb. 18 north of San Ygnacio. First responders said one person was taken to Laredo Medical Center via ambulance while the other was airlifted to San Antonio.
2 injured in head-on collision By César G. Rodriguez THE ZAPATA TIME S
Courtesy photo
Tamaulipas state government dispatched a new police special forces unit to Reynosa, Mexico, in November.
U.S. State Department escalates risk level to highest ranking By Oliver P. Tallet H OUSTON CHRONICLE
Texas border business leaders are concerned that the U.S. Department of State’s recently escalated risk level for the Mexican state of Tamaulipas to “do not travel” status could discourage investment, scare off tourists and shackle the region’s economic growth. The department recently changed its classification system of travel advisories to four levels of risk, and Tamaulipas was assigned the highest — the same rating assigned to countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. “That creates a problem for us because what (the department) is basically saying is that we are also a war zone, but we are not in a war zone,” said Keith Pat-ridge, president and CEO of the McAllen Economic Devel-
opment Corporation, a public group dedicated to promoting business in the McAllen area and neighboring Reynosa across the border in Tamaulipas. Companies operating on the border have long made adjustments to contend with the protracted drug war raging across the border, and so far the $92 million in annual exports of Texas goods to Mexico have not been interrupted. In McAllen, where the local economy suffered a decline in 2017 as violent crimes increased across the border, business leaders are now concerned that the State Department’s “misleading classification” is going to create a reputation problem for the border region, Patridge said. “It would be rippling throughout the economy … because it impacts the ability of companies to attract suppliers, to
ZAPATA HIGH SCHOOL
recruit employees to the area and so on,” he said. Pablo Pinto, who directs the University of Houston’s Center for Public Policy, agrees the heightened risk assessment could damage a manufacturing sector that has blossomed as U.S. industries have located assembly plants south of the Rio Grande. “Tamaulipas is home to maquiladoras (plants) and other industries that are strongly integrated into the North American economy,” Pinto said. “Here (in Texas) the short-run impact could be less important, but it may affect future investment and business decisions by American and even Mexican firms.” The Reynosa factor The State Department recently creatRisk continues on A8
A two-vehicle collision reported recently north of San Ygnacio landed two people in the hospital, authorities said. One patient was taken to Laredo Medical Center via ambulance while the other was taken to San Antonio via Air Evac Flight 93, according to Zapata County Constable Pct. 2 Daniel "Danny" Arriaga. Arriaga posted on his Facebook that the crash occurred at about 2 p.m. Feb. 18 by La Perla Ranch. Zapata County Fire Department crews found two patients pinned, one in each vehicle. They required extrication with the use of several rescue tools, including the Jaws of Life, according to first responders. The fire department, Zapata County Sheriff's Office, Precinct 2 Constable’s office, Zapata Border Patrol Station and the Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the crash. “Prayers are being said for those involved. We would like to thank all the agencies involved for your assistance. A huge thank you to the public who helped as well. We are extremely appreciative with the team work that was accomplished which helped out the patients reach an appropriate medical facility in time,” the fire department said in a statement.
ZAPATA COUNTY
Sheriff’s office presents $1,000 check Person of interest detained in campus threat By César G. Rodriguez THE ZAPATA TIME S
By César G. Rodriguez TH E ZAPATA T IME S
A person of interest has been identified after Zapata High School received “a possible threat to the campus,” according to district officials. Details on the threat were not available. The incident occurred this week. Zapata County Independent School District officials said
they took appropriate security measures after receiving an “anonymous alert.” No students were in danger, officials posted on Facebook but later took down the post. “Serious threats against our schools or students will be administered to the fullest extent of the law,” the post read. District officials said Threat continues on A8
Zapata’s Lady Giants are getting new uniforms. On Thursday, Zapata County Sheriff’s Office Chief Raymundo Del Bosque Jr. presented the team a $1,000 check during a brief ceremony at the Softball Park. “Throughout the years, I’ve learned that we don’t raise our children alone. We need our family members, friends and neighbors, teachers, coaches counselors, sport teams, civic groups and schools,” the chief said. He added such organizations help shape children’s lives. Del Bosque recalled that
Check continues on A8
Courtesy photo / Zapata County Sheriff’s Office
Zapata County Sheriff’s Office Chief Raymundo Del Bosque Jr. presented the Lady Giants with a $1,000 check to buy uniforms.