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ZAPATA COUNTY ISD
TMC
Lawsuit settled
Board mum on dismissal
No word on settlement in local school district’s suit By PHILIP BALLI LAREDO MORNING TIMES
A lawsuit filed by Zapata County Independent School District against a construction firm, claiming the company did subpar work on four of the district’s elementary schools, ended in a settlement two weeks into the trial.
The trial began on Jan 13. in Zapata County and ended when a settlement was reached. ZCISD initially sought $16 million in damages. The terms of the settlement are not subject to disclosure, said attorney Juan Cruz, of Laredo-based J. Cruz and Associates, which represents ZCISD. “The district is pleased with
the outcome and looks forward to the remediation of the schools in questions,” Cruz said. The lawsuit was filed in 2012 against Satterfield & Pontikes; additional defendants included Bill Reiffert and Associates Inc., Robert E. Martinez and Jorge D. Perez, of Perez Consulting Engineers.
Defendants were accused of doing shoddy work on constructing two elementary schools with pavilions — Zapata South and Fidel & Andrea Villarreal — and the gyms at Zapata North and Arturo L. Benavides. (Philip Balli may be reached at 728-2528 or pballi@lmtonline.com)
OPERATION STONEGARDEN
HELPING EL CENIZO
Photo by César G. Rodriguez | Laredo Morning Times
El Cenizo Police Chief Erik Villarreal and Mayor Raul Reyes pose next to a 2014 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor. El Cenizo PD received the unit via a partnership with the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office through Operation Stonegarden.
Zapata sheriff aids Webb County town with car By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
EL CENIZO — El Cenizo Police Department received a 2014 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor via a partnership with the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office through Operation Stonegarden. The presentation was held
Wednesday in El Cenizo. For Erik Villarreal, Chief of Police in El Cenizo, the unit comes in the right time since the department had difficulties with the old fleet. It was a problem to just get it started, Villarreal said. The last brand new unit received in the department was in 2007, according to Villarreal.
“It’s going to help with public safety … We can respond better to an actual call,” Villarreal said. “With the other vehicle, we would probably worry that we’d get a flat.” El Cenizo police’s manpower is comprised of one full-time officer and five reserves. Other items received by the department include body armor and
flashlights. “(Zapata County) has assisted us in a lot of things,” Villarreal said. Sheriff ’s Office Chief Raymundo del Bosque said they have assisted EL Cenizo as part of the funding they receive through Operation Stonegar-
See VEHICLE
PAGE 11A
By ALDO AMATO LAREDO MORNING TIMES
The recent firing of Mary Capello as president and CEO of Teaching and Mentoring Communities came as a surprise to at least one current and former member of the nonprofit’s board of directors. Board member Vidal Cantu declined to comment Friday on Capello’s firing due to pending litigation, but he said he never saw a need for change in the CAPELLO past decade for the organization, which is headquartered in Laredo and is one of the nation’s largest providers of education migrant families. Former TMC board member Blas Castañeda said he saw no glaring irregularities between Capello and other board members during his nearly eight-year tenure. "There’s no question (Capello’s) leadership was fantastic when I was there," Castaneda said. "If you look at what she did from the time she started to the time she was fired, you’ll see how much the agency grew." Capello, a 57-year-old Zapata native, had served as president and CEO of TMC since 2007 before being fired in late January. Capello’s termination was allegedly spearheaded by board Chairman Daniel Liskai, of Ohio. Because TMC provides services to several states, the nonprofit’s board of directors has members from Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Nevada and Iowa. Its most well-known program, Migrant Season Head Start, provides a range of services to thousands of migrant children and their families in Texas, Ohio, Indiana, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Iowa and Nevada. It remained unclear Friday why Capello was fired. Liskai and his attorney have not returned repeated calls for comment since Wednesday. In a lawsuit filed against TMC and Liskai, Capello’s lawyer, Murray E. Malakoff, said that under Capello’s leadership, no "deficiencies or noncompliances" were found in audits of TMC’s programs. "During Capello’s tenure as president and CEO, no TMC program has been discontinued or has suffered a decrease in funding," the lawsuit states. TMC operates on an approximately $100 million budget. Its programs in-
See FIRING
PAGE 11A
TRAFFIC STOP
Pot found at traffic stop By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A routine traffic stop yielded nearly 500 pounds of marijuana Friday morning in southern Zapata County. A Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office report states that deputies patrolling an in the south attempted a traffic stop at 10:45 a.m. Friday on a white pickup by FM 2687. But deputies say the pickup “immediately bailed out” into the brush. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens and
U.S. Border Patrol agents assisted in the search of the driver in the brush area to no avail. An inspection of the vehicle in the cabin and toolbox revealed a total of 488 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $390,400. People with information on the case or who can identify the driver are asked to call the sheriff ’s office at 765-9960. Callers may remain anonymous. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Courtesy photo
Authorities found in the cabin and toolbox of a pick-up truck a total of 488 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $390,400 during a traffic stop Friday in southern Zapata County.
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
Saturday, Feb. 8 Wedding Anniversary Mass. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. San Augustine Cathedral. Mass celebrates 25th or 50th wedding anniversaries by Bishop James Tamayo. Contact Martha E. Miller at 727-2140 or mmiller@dioceseoflaredo.org. TAMIU Planetarium shows. “The Little Star that Could” 3 p.m.; “The Future is Wild” 4 p.m.; “Lamps of Atlantis” 5 p.m.; and “Pink Floyd’s The Wall” 6 p.m. General admission $4 children and $5 adults. Premium shows $1 more. Call 326-3663. Opening reception of Gloria Rodriguez’s art show, “I Love You Too.” 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Caffe Dolce, 1708 Victoria St. Free and open to public. Contact Rodriguez at 744-8239 or iloveartfromtheheart@gmail.com. Noche de Cabaret, hosted by LULAC Council No. 7. 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Higher education award honors former County Judge Mercurio Martinez. Proceeds benefit scholarships. Entertainment: Liberty Band from San Antonio and Grupo Premier de los Dos Laredos. Call 949-7685.
Thursday, Feb. 13 Meeting of Laredo Area Retired School Employees Association. 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall. Health fair to be held. Contact Marta Kinslow at 722-0214 or mbkinslow@aol.com. Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 7270589. Admission event for University of the Incarnate Word. 6:30 p.m. Alumni Center, St. Augustine High School. Representatives from admissions, financial assistance, campus life and faculty available to answer questions. To register, call 210-829-600 or 1-800-749WORD. Laredo Border Slam Poetry. 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. 513 San Bernardo Ave. Spoken word competition. Second and fourth Thursday of every month. Three minutes to perform an original work. Two rounds, five random judges from the audience. Cash and quirky prizes. Contact Julia Orduña at juliaorduna@gmail.com.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Eric Gay | AP
State District Attorney Shelley Dahlberg makes her closing arguments during the second phase of Texas’ school finance trial before State District Judge John Dietz, on Friday, in Austin.
Funding called ‘broken’ By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN— An extra $3.4-plus billion in funding is a mere Band-Aid that leaves classrooms still hurting and hasn’t fixed fundamental flaws in the balance for students in rich and poor parts of Texas, attorneys representing 600-plus school districts across the state argued Friday. Closing arguments before state District Judge John Dietz wrapped up a sweeping case that began in October 2012 and put school finance in Texas on trial. Dietz declared in February 2013 that $5.4 billion in cuts to public schools imposed by the Legislature two years earlier violated the Texas Constitution’s guarantees of a “general diffusion of knowledge” with an “efficient system of public free schools.” He also ruled that the “Robin Hood” system, where dis-
tricts in wealthy areas share local property taxes they collect with those in poorer areas, meant funding was unfairly distributed. However, last summer, lawmakers restored more than $3.4 billion in classroom funding and cut the number of standardized tests high students must pass from 15 to five — easing tough graduation standards that school districts argued they no longer had the resources to prepare students to meet. Dietz reopened the case last month to hear evidence on how the funding increase and testing shake-up would affect his initial ruling. He will rule after mid-March. Richard Gray, a lawyer for the Equity Center, which represents about 400 school districts, said “all the Legislature did was appropriate money into the system and, unfortunately, it did not even appropriate as much money as it stripped.”
Friday, Feb. 14 TAMIU Planetarium shows. “Star Signs” 6 p.m. and “New Horizons” 7 p.m. General admission $4 children and $5 adults. Premium shows $1 more. Call 326-3663.
Saturday, Feb. 15 LCC Fun Fest and Musicale. Noon to 5 p.m. Laredo Community College’s Fort McIntosh Campus, next to Maravillo Gym. Games, petting zoo, live music, food, pony rides, rock climbing, face painting, inflatable slides, bounce houses. Free admission. Contact 7215140 or mpro@laredo.edu.
Thursday, Feb. 20 Winter Texan & Senior Citizen Appreciation Day. 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 20 Orthopedic clinic. 8:30 a.m. Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center, 1220 N. Malinche Ave. Benefits children with cerebral palsy, club foot, scoliosis, spina bifida and more. First come, first served basis. $5 processing fee. Call 722-2431. Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 7270589.
Friday, Feb. 21 TAMIU Planetarium shows. “Secrets of the Sun” 6 p.m. and “Violent Universe” 7 p.m. General admission $4 children and $5 adults. Premium shows $1 more. Call 326-3663.
Saturday, Feb. 22 38th Annual Noche Mexicana: A Presentation of Señor y Señora Internacional. 6:30 p.m. Laredo Civic Center Ballroom. Sen. Wendy Davis is Señora Internacional representing the U.S., and Senadora Cristina Diaz Salazar is Señora Internacional representing Mexico. Dinner served at 8 p.m. Tickets $50 per person; tables for 10 $500. Call Mace Martinez at 645-2441. Submit calendar items at lmtonline.com/calendar/submit or by emailing editorial@lmtonline.com with the event’s name, date and time, location and purpose and contact information for a representative. Items will run as space is available.
Astronaut statue planned for Houston suburb
After drop in violence, Juarez promotes itself
Suspects targeted Fannie Mae customers
HOUSTON — A suburb near the NASA Johnson Space Center plans to erect a 130-foot-tall statue of an Apollo astronaut. The statue planned by the City of Webster will be 80 feet tall on top of a 50-foot pedestal that will house a space museum on Interstate 45 and NASA Parkway. Houston sculptor and painter David Adickes has been commissioned for the statue.
EL PASO — Once dubbed the most violent city in the hemisphere, Ciudad Juarez is making a push to bring tourism back and has opened a visitors’ center in El Paso, just across the border. Located at the Saddleblanket, a southwest decor and souvenir store off Interstate 10, the Ciudad Juarez visitors’ center will offer travelers information about restaurants, bars and attractions.
DALLAS — Federal prosecutors say seven people have been charged in a North Texas identity theft ring that gained access to the personal information of 1,100 Fannie Mae customers. Authorities announced Friday the seven face charges such as bank fraud and aggravated identification theft for their involvement from 2009 to last year.
Ex-Army doctor charged in $7.3M fraud
ERCOT cancels conservation alert
EL PASO — An ex-Army doctor in West Texas has been indicted in a $7.3 million health care scam. The 65-count federal indictment announced Thursday in El Paso names Dr. Richard Craig Rooney of Medina, Wash. Rooney worked at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso and Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood.
DALLAS — The operator of the electric grid that lights most of Texas has discontinued a prior alert asking customers to use less electricity. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas had issued the alert because of the extreme cold. ERCOT had also warned of an increased risk of rotating blackouts in the Rio Grande Valley amid high demand for power.
Deputy indicted in deaths of 2 police dogs SAN ANTONIO — A sheriff ’s deputy has been indicted in the 2012 deaths of two police dogs allegedly left in a patrol vehicle. A Bexar County grand jury on Thursday indicted Deputy Steve Benoy on isdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Online jail records Friday did not list Benoy, who’s been on administrative leave since the July 2012 incident, as being in custody. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION Man who told kids he was Santa had child porn WARREN, Ohio — A 65-yearold northeast Ohio man with a flowing white beard who often told neighborhood children he was Santa Claus has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for having child pornography on his computer. A judge sentenced William F. Brock Sr. after he pleaded guilty to 35 child porn charges.
CONTACT US Publisher, William B. Green.................. 728-2501 General Manager, Adriana Devally.......... 728-2510 Account Executive, Dora Martinez........... 765-5113 Adv. Billing Inquiries........................... 728-2531 Circulation Director ............................ 728-2559 MIS Director, Michael Castillo............... 728-2505 Copy Editor, Nick Georgiou .................. 728-2565 Sports Editor, Zach Davis .................... 728-2578 Spanish Editor, Melva Lavin-Castillo ....... 728-2569
School district announces new lunch policy SALT LAKE CITY — A school district that came under fire for taking away $2 school lunches from about 32 students is announcing new policies it says will prevent a similar situation. The Salt Lake City School District issued a statement Friday that says students will always be given a full meal, even if they owe money on food accounts.
Today is Saturday, Feb. 8, the 39th day of 2014. There are 326 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Feb. 8, 1974, the last three-man crew of the Skylab space station, consisting of Jerry Carr, Bill Pogue and Edward Gibson, returned to Earth after spending 84 days in space. (Skylab remained in orbit another five years before plunging to its destruction in 1979.) On this date: In 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in England after she was implicated in a plot to murder her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. In 1862, the Civil War Battle of Roanoke Island, N.C, ended in victory for Union forces led by Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside. In 1904, the Russo-Japanese War, a conflict over control of Manchuria and Korea, began as Japanese forces attacked Port Arthur. In 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated. In 1922, President Warren G. Harding had a radio installed in the White House. In 1924, the first execution by gas in the United States took place at the Nevada State Prison in Carson City as Gee Jon, a Chinese immigrant convicted of murder, was put to death. In 1942, during World War II, Japanese forces began invading Singapore, which fell a week later. In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed her accession to the British throne following the death of her father, King George VI. In 1968, three college students were killed in a confrontation with highway patrolmen in Orangeburg, S.C., during a protest against a whites-only bowling alley. In 1984, the Winter Olympics opened in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. In 1989, 144 people were killed when an Americanchartered Boeing 707 filled with Italian tourists slammed into a fog-covered mountain in the Azores. Today’s Birthdays: Actor Jack Larson (TV: “Adventures of Superman”) is 86. Composer-conductor John Williams is 82. Newscaster Ted Koppel is 74. Actor Nick Nolte is 73. Comedian Robert Klein is 72. Actor-rock musician Creed Bratton is 71. Singer Ron Tyson is 66. Actress Brooke Adams is 65. Actress Mary Steenburgen is 61. Author John Grisham is 59. Actor Henry Czerny is 55. The president of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III, is 54. Rock singer Vince Neil (Motley Crue) is 53. Rock singer-musician Sammy Llanas (The BoDeans) is 53. Former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa P. Jackson is 52. Actress Mary McCormack is 45. Rock musician Keith Nelson (Buckcherry) is 45. Retired NBA player Alonzo Mourning is 44. Dance musician Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (Daft Punk) is 40. Actor Seth Green is 40. Actor Josh Morrow is 40. Rock musician Phoenix (Linkin Park) is 37. Rock musician Jeremy Davis (Paramore) is 29. Rock musician Max Grahn (Carolina Liar) is 26. Actor Ryan Pinkston is 26. Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton is 24. Thought for Today: “Health is the thing that makes you feel that now is the best time of the year.” — Franklin P. Adams, American journalist (1881-1960).
Photo by Gordon King/Yakima Herald-Republic | AP
Pearce Christian uses a gas-powered leaf blower to clear snow from the sidewalk in front of St. Joseph’s Parish in Yakima, Wash., on Friday after several inches of snow fell overnight in the area.
Democratic US senators want grid security review SAN JOSE, Calif. — Four U.S. senators concerned about the sabotage of Silicon Valley’s pow-
er grid and phone lines last April are asking if mandatory security standards are needed. The letter came just days after former an official said the attack on the grid was an act of terrorism. — 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, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
BLOTTER Assault Francisco Omata Jr. was arrested and served with a capias for aggravated assault with deadly weapon Friday at the Zapata County Regional Jail lobby.
Burglary A burglary of a building was reported at 5:10 p.m. Thursday at the storage units, off U.S. 83, in the town of Zapata.
DWI Jose Silvano Castillo Jr. was arrested and served
with a capias for driving while intoxicated charge, second offense, Wednesday in the 1100 block of Falcon Lane.
Possession Ricardo Flores was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance Tuesday in the intersection of Texas 16 and First Street.
Theft A theft was reported at 8:55 a.m. Friday at the Steak House, off U.S. 83, in the town of Zapata.
Man charged in fed case By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A man detained with a couple of illegal immigrants in Zapata County last month was formally charged in federal court in Laredo. At 9 p.m. Jan. 16, a Webb County Sheriff ’s Office deputy performed a vehicle stop on U.S. 83, one mile south of Rio Bravo, and had issued Amado Ricardo Martinez a warning citation for speeding. A U.S. Border Patrol agent arrived at the scene to assist and interviewed Martinez and two other people who were in custody. Martinez, a U.S. citizen, was transporting a couple of Honduran nationals who were illegally in the United States, according to court records. In a post-arrest interview, Martinez said that the immigrants asked him at a gas station in Zapata to give them a ride to Laredo.
“(Martinez) stated that he was afraid and felt intimidated by the way they MARTINEZ asked,” the complaint reads. “Martinez claims that he did not know that subjects were illegally in the United States and he denies any monetary gain from transporting them to Laredo.” Both suspected illegal immigrants claimed that Martinez told them to get in the car, the complaint reads. Martinez was charged with conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants within the United States, and transport and attempt to transport undocumented immigrants for financial gain. He faces up to 10 years in prison per count. He has arraignment Feb. 13. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Man in US illegally is in court By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A who had been previously deported from the states has been indicted for being in the country illegally, according to court documents released this week.
On Tuesday, a grand jury indicted Juan Amando Cavazos for illegal entry after deportation. He could face up to 20 years if he’s convicted, the indictment reads. U.S. Border Patrol agents detained Cavazos on Jan. 8 in Zapata Coun-
ty. After a brief interview, it was determined that he was an illegal immigrant from Mexico. An investigation revealed he had been previously removed from the country at Laredo. No record exists indicating that Cavazos had applied to re-
ceive permission to re-enter the United States after deportation. Cavazos has arraignment set for Feb. 13 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
A bit of everything in museum By RONALD W. ERDRICH ABILENE REPORTER-NEWS
STAMFORD — Guessing the function is easy enough with most of the stuff in the Cowboy Country Museum. But every once in a while, you run into a stumper. Sandra Rhea, the curator, pointed to a rusty contraption on the carpet about the size of fat cat. It was even sort of shaped like a fat cat, if you used your imagination. Big gears at the back end, smaller ones in the front, both connected with a gear chain. A large wooden handle stuck up from back; the front end featured pincers set perpendicular to the floor. Sandra told the Abilene ReporterNews she’d found it in her daddy’s barn and was told it came from her grandfather. She still didn’t know what it was, so she included a photograph of it in the column she writes for a local newspaper. “I came back at lunch and there were three men laying here on the floor,” she recalled, pointing down at it. “They said, ‘We’ve figured it out.”’ She took a rusty horse’s shoe from another display and showed how it fit into the pincers. “It is a horseshoe-sizer,” she said, laying a hand on the lever. “You would mash it down and it would compress them.” Other items, like a small statuette provided by former District 17 U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm, are a little more intuitive. On the base, a small plaque reads “To: Charlie”, the line below, “From: Tip.” That would be former House Speaker Tip O’Neill. What does the figure depict in faux shiny gold? The rear half of a horse. Or maybe it’s a donkey. Being Democrats, you can’t be entirely
Photo by Ronald W. Erdrich/The Abilene Reporter-News | AP
Cowboy Country Museum Curator Sandra Rhea holds a quiver donated to the museum made from a pecan limb and rawhide. The museum is located in Stamford. sure, but safe to say, the message probably the same. “I think he’s calling him a horse’s butt,” confirmed Rhea with a laugh. It’s only a fraction of the collection honoring Stenholm’s service. Stenholm served 13 terms, from 1979 to 2005, but lost his seat after redistricting put him up against Lubbock’s Randy Neugebauer. Among other things, Stenholm, whose roots are in Jones County, now teaches at Tarleton State University in Stephenville. Some of the mementos are pictures of Stenholm rubbing elbows with presidents and other famous people. “I point that out when I do a tour,” Rhea said. “That he was a local farmer and he decided to run for congress.” She laughed again. “I say to them, ‘See what you can
do if you leave Stamford?”’ she joked. The Stenholm exhibit only takes up the end of the latest addition to the museum, a large room that nearly doubles the amount of display space on hand. Glass cabinets line the walls. One features Stamford Bulldog memorabilia while on the opposing wall another case shows off weaponry, including an ancient arrow quiver made from a hollowedout pecan limb and hardened raw hide. “I had another curator come in and she thought it was at least 200 years old,” Rhea said, holding it up. Alongside it in the case were arrows, bows and a heavy spear just under three feet long. The items were donated by a man who said he’d bought it all one day at a storage auction in Dallas.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
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COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Beatles create musical mayhem By ROBERT SELTZER SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
Ten years after Elvis strolled into Sun Records in Memphis, the music he helped create — rock ‘n’ roll — looked like a bloated corpse, its raw energy replaced by vapid dullness. Elvis had gone Hollywood, and Buddy Holly had died, and it was hard to determine which career move was worse. The musical landscape was bleak, peopled by the likes of Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell and Pat Boone. Thank God for the great soul artists, who enlivened popular music with their transcendent blend of gospel and blues. When it came to guitar-driven rock ‘n’ roll, however, the music was on life-support, ready for burial in a pile of heartthrob rubbish. Then, on the night of Feb. 9, 1964, a quartet from Liverpool appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” “Ladies and gentlemen, the Beatles!” With those five words, Ed Sullivan launched the rebirth of the music that had ignited the nation 10 years earlier. And nothing symbolized the revolution more dramatically than the contrast between the host and his guests. There was Sullivan, stiff and awkward, as stern as an undertaker. And there were the Beatles, vibrant and subversive, their music as daring as their haircuts. Ah, their music. Sullivan introduced the group, and the world would never be the same. The Beatles performed two sets, beginning with “All My Loving,” a joyous celebration of teen-age love — a love reciprocated by the studio audience, which was mostly adolescent, mostly female and mostly screaming. The girls were not alone. Picture a giant living room, encompassing every state in the union. More than 73 million Americans tuned into the show — a staggering 38.4 percent of the U.S. population in 1964. With millions viewing at home, the Beatles created a delicious tension with the count-in to their first song — “One, two, three, four!” And when they reached “four,” it started, the mayhem with a melody that captivated the nation — and the world. Holding our hands, the Beatles escorted us into the future, a grand reason to mark the 50th anniversary of their appearance on the Ed Sullivan’s program. “They provided a variety of songs like no other group at the time — story songs, love songs, lessons in existentialist thought (‘Eleanor Rigby’), psychedelic rock, etc.,” Mike Kearl, a sociology professor at Trinity University in San Antonio, said. “Theirs were songs one could generally sing along with — from beginning to end. And like Dylan, they had lyrics worth listening to.” Between the two sets by the Beatles, the program was saturated with bland, almost inane acts, including British comedian Tessie O’Shea. It was stultifying. The gap between the Beatles and the other “stars” was as wide as the ocean the group had crossed to reach America. The Beatles revisited the program the following week, this time from Miami (Sullivan pronounced it “Miama”). They sang some of the same songs they had performed the previous week, including “She Loves You,” “All My Loving” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” No one seemed to mind, least of all the teen-aged girls screaming in the audience. And, while they eventually stopped screaming, they kept treasuring the band, as did the rest of the world. “Their music was like this perfect distillation of attempts at high art and innovation into a three-minute pop song,” Steve Alejandro, the comanager of Hogwild Records & Tapes in San Antonio, said. “The band certainly became a measuring stick. Since the Beatles demise, nearly every band has been judged against or compared to the Beatles. Any time a band releases an LP that is a little off their usual musical path, it’s compared to ‘The White Album.’ Think of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Tusk’ or The Clash’s ‘Sandinista!’ or Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer.’.” The appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” came almost four months after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and it did more than help the nation heal, Kearl said. “With their appearance, the period of mourning was to come to an informal close,” he said. The performance may have been
in 1964, but the country seemed to defy the calendar. America appeared stuck in the ’50s, both musically and socially. It was the kind of world depicted in the popular AMC series “Mad Men,” rigid, boring, buttondown — a world of crew cuts, skinny ties and instant coffee. A year earlier, “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “My Favorite Martian” drew top ratings on TV, while “The Nutty Professor” and “Fun in Acapulco” — the latest dreadful Elvis movie (were there any other kind of Elvis movies?) — attracted huge audiences to theaters. The wasteland seemed even starker on the radio, with hits that included “Blue Velvet,” “Hey, Paula” and “Puff the Magic Dragon.” It was a dreary, enervating landscape, and it begged for a change, a revolution. John, Paul, George and Ringo were part of the upheaval — musically, culturally, socially. But did they trigger it? Or were they caught in the same social current that was sweeping everyone else along, a current as irresistible as the music, leading us to a generation that seemed hooked on pot, protests and psychedelia? “The Beatles were certainly part of a cultural zeitgeist, in part shaped by and in part shaping the phenomenon,” Kearl said. “The ’60s was a time when the Baby Boom cohort became a generation, a self-conscious agent of social change.” The Beatles were so influential that they inspired people in the Soviet Union. “We knew their songs by heart,” Pavel Palazchenko, the Soviet interpreter for Mikhail Gorbachev, once told a writer. “They helped us create a world of our own, a world different from the dull and senseless ideological liturgy that increasingly reminded one of Stalinism. ... The Beatles were our quiet way of rejecting ‘the system’ while conforming to most of its demands.” Six years after the “Ed Sullivan” appearance, “Let It Be,” their last released album, was intended as a retrenchment, a return to their musical roots. It was anything but. “Let It Be,” like all their albums, was breathtakingly diverse, encompassing soul, folk, rock and, according to one critic, “cosmic” ballads. It represented an exquisite journey into the future of rock ‘n’ roll. Despite a tinge of sadness and regret, the album spoke of possibilities, and yet it was over. The Beatles, as a group, had nothing more to offer. What they did give us, however, will last as long as vinyl, CDs and dreams last. From “With the Beatles” on, each new album built on the freshness and innovation of the previous recording. They lit the way to the future, while the Avalons, Rydells and Boones became part of the roadside debris, their lack of talent exposed by the Beatles and other artists, including Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. And it all started, at least for Americans, on that night 50 years ago. “The Beatles swept away Pat Boone, the Kingston Trio, doo-woop, and all the other twaddle in about 36 hours,” author Joe Queenan writes in “The Beatles Are Here,” a newly published collection of essays on the Beatles. “Or, let’s say, they marginalized it.” Allen Ginsberg, the great American poet, went a step further, saying that the Beatles had turned their hometown of Liverpool into a universal “center of consciousness” — and it all began with their music. “I think a good way to assay a band’s importance is to listen to their first LP and then their last LP,” Alejandro said. “Do they sound like the same band? Certainly there are bands who have not changed much from first to last, and they remain important and great bands, but there is something to be said of a band that changes and adapts the way the Beatles did.” It is that growth that makes the Beatles vital to a new generation. “From a fan’s perspective it’s phenomenal,” he said. “It’s as if you are growing with them. I certainly believe that in 50 years, people will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Beatles first LP and their first appearance on American television.” Perhaps Christina Decker, 24, a server and bartender for a restaurant in Northwest San Antonio, said it best. “Their music makes me feel good.” Rseltzer@express-news.net
COLUMN
GOP knocks leadership
“
KEN HERMAN
AUSTIN — A generation of GOP leadership has left Texas in kind of a mess. Schools aren’t what they should be. Crippling water shortages loom. Our transportation system hasn’t kept up with our growth. The state hasn’t done enough on border security. I know this because three Republicans told me about it. And these are Repubs who’ve been in state government for a collective 47 years. They have to say this stuff because they have to convince GOP primary voters to oust three-term Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. “Folks, when it’s time to trade in the car, it’s time to trade in the car,” said Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, one of the three Repubs challenging Dewhurst in the March 4 primary. “He’s a fine guy,” Houston state Sen. Dan Patrick, another lite guv candidate, said of Dewhurst. “And, again, I appreciate his public service. But there’s only so much leadership anyone has in their tank and I think this last session we saw that tank of leadership was going dry.” Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who also wants Dewhurst’s post, might have taken this to its most troubling level for Republicans when he said a Democrat is his model for how to do the job. What we have here are Texas Republicans trying to bring down an incumbent of their own. Turns out it’s just like running against a Democratic incumbent — something no statewide GOP candidate has had to do in a long, long time.
What we have here are Texas Republicans trying to bring down an incumbent of their own. Turns out it’s just like running against a Democratic incumbent. You have to persuade voters that things are bad, very bad, or at least could be a lot better. So the intramural crosshairs were on Dewhurst Thursday at a Texas Association of Business appearance with his three increasingly aggressive primary foes. “We’re doing great,” Dewhurst assured the crowd. “We really are.” Yes, he acknowledged, there are challenges ahead. But, thanks to his leadership, we’re doing great. Nuh uhh, said the other three, taking turns highlighting what they see as failures. “We have a 40 to 50 percent dropout rate in some of our inner city schools,” said Senate Education Committee Chairman Patrick. “There’s no future in Texas, folks, for those students or for their families.” “When it comes to water planning and finding solutions this last decade,” Staples said, “where’s the leadership been? When it comes to education and focusing on outcomes, where’s the leadership been?” Said Patterson: “We also need to recognize that we don’t really have a water plan. We have a water wish list.” At one point, Staples lobbed this: “The economy is moving forward, but it’s moving forward not because of the incumbent lieutenant governor but in spite of him.” Ouch.
“With all due respect,” Dewhurst said, defending against the three-way attack, “there’s a big difference between talk and having had the job and getting things done.” He spoke of progress on big problems and a record of tax cuts. Patrick parried with this question to the audience: “Do you feel like your taxes have been cut?” Democrats must love watching Republicans carve each other up the way Democrats used to do when their primaries mattered. Patterson on Thursday expressed something of a hankering for Democratic leadership. “I have a model for leadership and he’s a crusty old Democrat, a former lieutenant governor named Bob Bullock. And I know about all the stories about Bullock before when he used to shoot up beer joints and do all these crazy things,” Patterson said. “But when I knew Bob Bullock in the six years I served with him (in the Texas Senate), he cared only about one thing, and that was doing what is right for Texas.” Novel thought, isn’t it, as we watch these four candidates battle over what is further to the right for Texas. Ken Herman is a columnist for the Austin American-Statesman. E-mail: kherman@statesman.com.
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DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
International
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
Religious war continues in African capital city BANGUI, Central African Republic — Thousands of Muslims climbed aboard trucks protected by heavily armed Chadian soldiers in a mass exodus Friday from the capital of Central African Republic. Their flight follows months of escalating attacks on anyone perceived as supporting a now-defunct Muslim rebel government blamed for scores of atrocities during its rule of this predominantly Christian country. In The Hague, Netherlands, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced a preliminary investigation into potential war crimes or crimes against humanity in Central African Republic, saying the crisis has “gone from bad to worse” since September. Along the streets of Bangui, crowds of Christians gathered to cheer the convoy’s departure for the neighboring country of Chad, which is mostly Muslim. It was an acrid farewell to their Muslim neighbors who had in some cases lived alongside Christians for generations here and have few ties to Chad. The dangers for those who stayed behind were clear: One man who tumbled from the precariously overloaded trucks was brutally slain, witnesses said. “He didn’t even have the time to fall — he landed into the hands of the angry mob who then lynched him at the scene,” said Armando Yanguendji, a resident of the Gobongo district who witnessed the horror. Another truck in the same neighborhood escaped attack from Christian militiamen only when Burundian peacekeepers fired into the air to disperse the crowd trying to assault the convoy, he said. Some trucks broke down even before they could leave Bangui on Friday and had to be abandoned. The passengers jumped aboard other trucks, facing constant jeering, threats and stone-throwing from the spectators. “The Christians say the Muslims must go back where they came from — that’s why we are going home,” said Osmani Benui as she fled Bangui. “We couldn’t stay here because we had no protection.”
Photo by Jerome Delay | AP
Thousands of Muslim residents from Bangui and Mbaiki flee the Central African Republic capital Bangui in a mass exodus using cars, pickups, trucks, lorries and motorcycles, escorted by Chadian troops, on Friday. They did have protection as they departed. Chadian special forces went along as well as Seleka rebels in cars, armed with pistols and AK-47s. The convoy of some 500 cars, trucks and motorcycles strained under the weight of people’s belongings. The aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders, said Friday that tens of thousands of Muslims have now fled to Chad and Cameroon. The U.N. refugee agency said that almost 9,000 people have fled to Cameroon in the last 10 days, bringing the number of refugees in Cameroon to 22,000 since current began. “It really is a horrific situation. All over Bangui, entire Muslim neighborhoods are being destroyed and emptied,” said Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director for Human Rights Watch, who has gotten trapped Muslims to safety under the guard of peacekeepers. “Their buildings are being destroyed and being taken apart, brick by brick, roof by roof, to wipe out any sign of their once existence in this country,” he added. Hundreds sought refuge at a
mosque in Bangui’s predominantly Muslim PK5 neighborhood. But the dangers are not limited to the capital. Entire communities remain trapped in parts of northwest Central African Republic, according to the Medecins Sans Frontieres statement. A Muslim community of more than 8,000 people in Bouar “remains effectively imprisoned, unable to flee the violence.” “We are concerned about the fate of these communities trapped in their villages, surrounded by anti-Balaka groups, and also about the fact that many Muslim families are being forced into exile to survive,” said Martine Flokstra, MSF emergency coordinator. U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said that nearly 840,000 people remain displaced inside the country, and “with no immediate prospect to return home as the rainy season begins, the refugee agency fears a worsening crisis.” The U.N. refugee agency warned of a high risk of cholera and other public health problems, particularly in Bangui, where more than 413,000 people still live in makeshift sites. In announcing the Internation-
al Criminal Court’s preliminary investigation, prosecutor Fatou Bensouda cited reports of “hundreds of killings, acts of rape and sexual slavery, destruction of property, pillaging, torture, forced displacement and recruitment and use of children in hostilities.” She added that “in many incidents, victims appear to have been deliberately targeted on religious grounds.” The ICC is the world’s permanent war crimes tribunal, established in 2002 to investigate and punish atrocities when member states are unwilling or unable to do so themselves. Central African Republic is a member. Although most of Central African Republic’s roughly 4.6 million citizens are Christian, there is a sizeable Muslim population in its north near the borders with Sudan and Chad. Fighting in the country has worsened since last March, when an alliance of Muslim rebel groups from the north united to overthrow the president of a decade. Although their grievances were political and economic — not religious — fighting has taken on an increasingly sectarian
tone since then. The rebels, known as Seleka, were aided by Chadian and Sudanese mercenaries. They quickly became despised by Christians in the capital after the fighters went on looting sprees, raping and killing civilians at random. An armed Christian movement known as the anti-Balaka, aided by loyalists of ousted President Francois Bozize, began retaliating several months later. Christian fighters attempted to overthrow the Muslim rebel government in early December, sparking unprecedented bloodshed that left more than 1,000 people dead in a matter of days. An untold number have died in the weeks that followed, with most of the attacks in Bangui targeting Muslims. The Muslim rebel leader who took power last March has stepped aside, and the country is currently being led by former Bangui Mayor Catherine SambaPanza as interim president. In recent weeks, angry mobs have set fire to mosques and have brutally killed and mutilated Muslims. On Wednesday, one Muslim suspected of having aided last year’s rebellion was attacked for 15 minutes with knives, bricks and feet by army soldiers shortly after Samba-Panza had left the scene. Men in uniform then paraded his body through the streets before it was dismembered and set ablaze. No one was detained in connection with the slaying, which took place in the presence of African regional peacekeepers. “It is very unfortunate that that happened, that we were not able to quickly intervene and then save him, but things happened so quickly that we couldn’t,” said Eloi Yao, spokesman for the African mission known as MISCA. Babacar Gaye, the U.N. special representative to Central African Republic, called for an investigation and said those responsible “should be made an example of.” Wednesday’s attack came minutes after the interim president told the hundreds of soldiers standing in formation that she was proud of them. She called on their support to bring order to their anarchic country.
National
6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
Mother: Waterboarding called ‘hair washing’ By RANDALL CHASE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GEORGETOWN, Del. — A Delaware woman whose longtime companion is accused of waterboarding her daughter by holding the child’s head under a faucet says the couple used the term jokingly for hair washing. “I think sometimes we would joke about it and call it waterboarding,” Pauline Morse said in a police interview shown to jurors Friday in the trial of Melvin Morse. In the 2012 interview, Pauline Morse also said the “hair washing” by Melvin Morse, a former pediatrician, was usually over quickly. “She’s making noises the whole time and it’s usually a matter of less than a minute,” she told the detective. “I didn’t see whether (water) was on her face or not,” she added. Pauline Morse reiterated Friday that she saw only one such incident, when she walked into the kitchen and surprised Melvin Morse while he had the girl’s head under the faucet. She testified on Thursday that Morse
M. MORSE
P. MORSE
jumped and quickly released the girl, who was coughing and shaking. Melvin Morse, 60, is accused of endangerment and assault and could get more than 20 years in prison if convicted. The girl claims the waterboarding left her struggling for breath and was only one of several forms of physical punishment to which Morse subjected her. In testimony earlier in the week, however, she also acknowledged that she had lied several times about her treatment at home and about whether she told anyone about the alleged abuse. Melvin Morse, whose medical license was suspended after his arrest, has authored several books and articles on paranormal science and near-death experiences involving children. He has appeared on shows such as
“Larry King Live” and the “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to discuss his research, which also has been featured on an episode of “Unsolved Mysteries” and in an article in “Rolling Stone” magazine. Morse has denied police claims that he may have been using waterboarding to experiment on the girl, now 12. Pauline Morse, 41, reached a deal with prosecutors last year to plead guilty to misdemeanor endangerment charges in exchange for her testimony against Melvin Morse. She received probation. But as she did under cross-examination Thursday, Pauline Morse on Friday acknowledged several contradictions in her testimony and in statements she has given to authorities. Asked by defense attorney Joseph Hurley how long the girl had not liked having her hair washed, Pauline Morse said she didn’t remember the girl not liking it, at least when her mother did it. Jurors then watched a police interview video in which Pauline said the girl “never liked having her hair washed.” Presented with the video, Pauline then testified that the girl had not liked having her hair
washed for “as far as I can remember.” At the end of his cross-examination, Hurley asked Pauline Morse whether she could assure jurors “with absolute certainty” that she had not lied under oath since Melvin Morse was arrested. She answered “Yes.” Less than a minute later, Pauline Morse was forced to admit that she had lied under oath in a Family Court proceeding in July 2012, shortly after Melvin Morse was arrested. Under questioning by prosecutor Melanie Withers, Pauline Morse said she would wash the girl’s hair maybe once a week, in the bathtub, even though the girl was capable of washing her own hair. But she said Melvin Morse would use hair washing as a form of punishment, and that he started referring to it as waterboarding shortly before his arrest. Friday’s final witness was the alleged victim’s 7-year-old sister, the only child Melvin and Pauline Morse had together. The girl testified that the alleged victim, Pauline Morse’s daughter from a previous relationship, got into trouble much more often than
she did and was not spoiled like she was. Jurors also were shown a 2012 video of the younger girl being interviewed at a child advocacy center. In that interview, she said both she and her sister were subjected to timeouts and spankings, but that the older girl also was sometimes confined to her room and had to do more chores. Repeatedly pressed about any other forms of punishment, the girl does not mention any, until the interviewer brings up the word “water.” The girl then said Melvin Morse sometimes dumped water on her sister. “Dad cleaned her hair by waterboarding,” the 7-year-old said, adding that her older sister didn’t like it “because water got in her face, in her eyes and stuff.” “I don’t know if it got in her face or not,” the girl added. In his brief cross-examination, Hurley had Melvin Morse stand and asked the girl if she recognized him. “No, I don’t think so,” she said. Morse slumped down at the defense table and buried his head in his arms.
Moved back into work camp American back doing hard labor in N. Korea By GENE JOHNSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Matt Rourke | AP
A linesman works to restore electrical power Friday in Downingtown, Pa. Crews are working to reconnect customers.
Utility crews restore power Almost 300K power customers waiting for return of electricity By MARK SCOLFORO AND RON TODT ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA — A small army of electricity restoration crews labored Friday to reconnect nearly 300,000 customers in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and utility companies warned some will have to wait several more days. The lion’s share of the outages remained in the Philadelphia suburbs, where many schools were closed for a third day, and a PECO spokesman said work was continuing around the clock. PECO accounted for about 250,000 outages late Friday afternoon. “That number is coming down throughout the course of the day,” said PECO spokesman Fred Maher. “We are preparing people for the fact that some folks will be without power over the weekend.” Severe cold weather that gripped the mid-Atlantic on Friday was expected to remain in place for days, and forecasters said light snow was possible over the weekend. Utility companies reported about 280,000 customers without power in Pennsylvania — most of them in the five-county Philadelphia area. In Maryland, service has been restored to all but about 16,000 homes and businesses. There has been progress — more than a million total outages had been attributed to the storm. Systems engineer John Bowman said he has been buying $6 packages of firewood at a neighborhood hardware store, planning to burn them in the coming days to keep the temperature in his Downingtown home high enough to prevent damage to water pipes. He said he was told it may be Sunday before his power is restored. “With the way the sun’s been warming up the house, I don’t want to use those rations yet,” Bow-
man said. Rachel Ezekiel Fishbein of Elkins Park lost power before dawn Wednesday, a day after she spent about $300 on groceries in anticipation of the storm. Although she tried to save some perishables by packing them outside in a cooler in the snow, she wasn’t optimistic on Friday morning. “I’m thinking that most of that food has probably gone bad by now,” Fishbein said from her sisterin-law’s house. Authorities urged people to be careful when using space heaters and other methods to heat their homes. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency said four confirmed cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, and a fifth suspected case, were reported at a hospital in the Philadelphia suburbs on Wednesday night. The Bucks County Courier Times also reported that one person was taken to a hospital by helicopter and several others were sickened in a carbon monoxide incident Thursday night in the suburban town of Horsham. The paper also reported a fire emergency call Thursday from someone who took his barbecue grill inside for warmth. Amtrak restored full service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg on Friday morning after tracks were cleared of fallen trees and debris. The storm that generated headaches for motorists and homeowners also created a boom in business for Amspacher Tree Service in York, where the ice coated snowy trees and forced down branches. The company was concentrating on getting trees off of homes and cars, and telling customers their crews will return later to clean it all up. “We’re going pretty crazy,” said Louanna Amspacher. “We went from a dozen calls a day, at most, to a hundred calls.”
SEATTLE — A U.S. citizen detained in North Korea for 15 months has been returned to a labor camp, prompting worries about his health, his sister said Friday. Kenneth Bae, who led tour groups in North Korea, was arrested in late 2012 and sentenced to 15 years hard labor for unspecified hostile acts. Calls for his release on humanitarian grounds have gone unanswered. After he lost 50 pounds, he was moved last summer to a hospital from a prison work camp where he had been farming vegetables. His sister, Terri Chung of Edmonds, Wash., said her family learned from the U.S. State Department on Friday that Bae was taken back to the labor camp on Jan. 20 — the same day Bae appeared before news reporters in Pyongyang, wearing a prison uniform stamped with the number 103. “He’s back to eighthours-a-day, six-days-a-week hard labor,” she said. “We can’t help but be concerned about that.” The news coincided with the release of a story in a pro-Pyongyang newspaper based in Japan, Choson Sinbo, reporting that a U.S. envoy was expected to visit Bae. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki did not comment directly on the report, and she gave no indication that an invitation had been extended by North Korea. Psaki reiterated that the U.S. has made a longstanding offer to send its envoy on North Korean human-rights issues, Robert King. In its report, Choson Sin-
Photo by Kim Kwang Hyon/file | AP
American missionary Kenneth Bae, detained in North Korea for 15 months, has been returned to a labor camp, prompting worries about his health, his sister said Friday. bo said a reporter had interviewed Bae at the prison, and Bae said he had been notified that King could visit as soon as Monday and no later than the end of the month. Such diplomatic outreach to North Korea is unpredictable, particularly as Washington and Pyongyang do not have formal ties. The North invited King to visit in late August to seek a pardon for Bae, but withdrew the invite at the last minute, to protest U.S. military exercises. More military drills between the U.S. and South Korea are planned this month. Analysts say North Korea has previously used detained Americans as leverage in its standoff with the U.S. over its nuclear and missile programs, although Pyongyang said last May it would not use Bae as a bargaining chip. Bae, a 45-year-old father of three, was born in South Korea and immigrated to the U.S. with his parents and sister in 1985. He had been living in China as a Christian missionary for about seven years before his arrest. Within the last few years, he began leading
small tour groups, mostly of American and Canadian citizens, into a “special economic zone” designed to encourage commerce in northeastern North Korea. The State Department and Vice President Joe Biden have requested his release, and on Thursday, President Barack Obama echoed those calls at the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. “We pray for Kenneth Bae, a Christian missionary who has been held in North Korea for 15 months,” Obama said. “His family wants him home, and the United States will continue to do everything in our power to secure his release because Kenneth Bae deserves to be free.” At his news conference Jan. 20, Bae urged the U.S.
to work for his release: “I believe that my problem can be solved by close cooperation and agreement between the American government and the government of this country.” He also apologized to North Korea and said he had committed anti-government acts. Bae’s news conference came weeks after North Korea freed an elderly American veteran of the Korean War, Merrill Newman, who had been held for weeks for alleged crimes during the 1950-53 conflict. Bae’s family has said he suffers from diabetes, an enlarged heart, liver problems and back pain. When his mother was allowed to visit him last October, he could only stand for 30 to 45 minutes at a time, his sister said.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A
PÁGINA 8A
Zfrontera
Agenda en Breve LAREDO 02/08— Caminata/Carrera de 5 Km en memoria de Krizia Lauren Keiser, a partir de las 8 a.m. en Lago Casa Blanca. Inscripción: 25 dólares, a partir de las 7 a.m. 02/08— Consulado General de México en Laredo invita al programa “Jornadas Sabatinas 2014” de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. El objetivo es brindar atención a la demanda de servicios consulares. 02/08— Se realizará un torneo de tenis de 10 a.m. a 12 p.m. en el Centro Recreativo Haynes ubicado en 2102 de Clarks Crossing, para niños de entre 5 y 12 años. 02/08— La Diócesis de Laredo invita a la Misa Anual por Aniversario de Bodas, para parejas que celebran 25 y 50 años de matrimonio, a las 11 a.m. en la Iglesia de San Agustín. 02/08— BÉISBOL: El equipo Dustdevil de TAMIU recibe a Angelo State University a las 12 p.m. en Jorge Haynes Field. 02/08— Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU presenta: “The Little Star that Could” a las 3 p.m.; “The Future is Wild” a las 4 p.m.; “Lamps of Atlantis” a las 5 p.m.; y, “Pink Floyd’s The Wall” a las 6 p.m. Costo general: 4 dólares para niños y 5 dólares para adultos. 02/08— WBCA: Noche de Cabaret a cargo de LULAC Concilio 7, se llevará a cabo en Laredo Civic Center Ballroom, de 7 p.m. a 1 a.m. Costo es de 25 dólares por persona. Música a cargo de Bobby Esquivel & The Liberty Band, de San Antonio. 02/08— WBCA: Boys and Girls Club de Laredo invita a la Gala para Cata de Vino, de 7 p.m. a 2 a.m. en Laredo Country Club. Costo de mesa para 10, varía de 2.500 dólares a 5.000 dólares. Música a cargo de Jon Secada. 02/08— LTGI presenta “Daddy’s Dyin’ Who’s Got the Will?”, de Del Shores, a las 8 p.m. en el teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Entrada general es de 15 dólares; estudiantes y adultos mayores a 10 dólares. 02/09— LTGI presenta “Daddy’s Dyin’ Who’s Got the Will?”, de Del Shores, a las 3 p.m. en el teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Entrada general es de 15 dólares; estudiantes y adultos mayores a 10 dólares. 02/09— Alan Jackson se presenta en concierto a partir de las 8 p.m. en Laredo Energy Arena. Jaime Lynn Spears estará como invitada especial. Boletos a 45, 65, 85 y 125 dólares. Adquiera su boleto en Ticketmaster y en la taquilla del LEA. 02/12— WBCA: American Historical Theatre, representación de George Washington, a partir de las 7 p.m. en el Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Entrada gratuita.
NUEVO LAREDO, MÉXICO 02/08— Estación Palabra invita a “Bazar de Arte” a las 9 a.m.; “¿Cómo atrapar una historia?” El País de los Cuentos Perdidos a las 11 a.m.; y, Festival Infantil: “Cuentos de amor y amistad” a las 2 p.m. 02/09— El grupo de Teatro Laberintus estará presentando la obra infantil “La Nave”, de José Luis Pineda Servín, a las 12 p.m. dentro del teatro del IMSS, entre Reynosa y Belden. 02/11— El grupo de Teatro Laberintus estará presentando la obra para adolescentes y adultos “Sueño de una noche de verano” de William Shakespeare, a las 7 p.m. dentro del teatro del IMSS, en Reynosa y Belden.
SABADO 8 DE FEBRERO DE 2014
ZAPATA COUNTY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Llegan a acuerdo POR PHILIP BALLI
TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Una demanda presentada por el Zapata County Independent School District en contra de una empresa constructora, alegando que la compañía realizó un trabajo insatisfactorio en cuatro de las escuelas primarias del distrito, terminó en un acuerdo después de dos semanas en juicio. El juicio comenzó el 13 de enero en el Condado de Zapata y terminó al alcanzó un acuerdo. Inicialmente ZCISD buscó obtener 16 millones de dólares en daños y perjuicios.
Después de dos semanas en juicio compañía acusada de realizar un mal trabajo en escuelas de Zapata llegó a un acuerdo con el Zapata County Independent School District. El juicio comenzó el 13 de enero y concluyó al tomar el acuerdo. Los términos del acuerdo no están sujetos a ser revelados, dijo el abogado Juan Cruz, de la sede de
Cruz and Associates en Laredo, que representa a ZCISD. “El distrito está satisfecho con el
resultado y espera observar la rehabilitación de las escuelas en cuestión”, dijo Cruz. La demanda fue presentada en 2012 contra Satterfield & Pontikes; además entre los demandados se incluyen Bill Reiffert and Associates Inc., Robert E. Martínez y Jorge D. Perez, de Perez Consulting Engineers. Los demandados fueron acusados ??de realizar un trabajo de mala calidad en la construcción de dos escuelas primarias con pabellones — Zapata Sur y Fidel y Andrea Villarreal — y los gimnasios en Zapata North y Arturo L. Benavides.
TAMAULIPAS
GOBIERNO
TURISMO
Invertirán en mejorar operación aduanera TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
La Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico y Turismo buscará exponer las riquezas del estado de Tamaulipas con la finalidad de atraer un mayor número de visitantes.
Estado busca aumentar visitantes TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Con la finalidad de incrementar la cantidad de visitantes que llegan a Tamaulipas, la Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico y Turismo buscará exponer las riquezas del estado a los turistas que se encuentren en el área. Entre los temas expuestos están las playas turísticas, los Pueblos Mágicos, la caza y pesca deportiva, servicios médicos especializados y la diversidad de sus atractivos para esta Semana Santa. Salvador Treviño Salinas, subsecretario de Turismo de la Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico y Turismo, dio a conocer que durante
el mes de febrero personal de esta dependencia estará presente en por lo menos tres eventos nacionales e internacionales para promocionar las bondades, riquezas naturales y atractivos del Estado de Tamaulipas para los visitantes. “En este año se espera superar la cifra de visitantes a Tamaulipas, que tan sólo el año pasado llegaron más de 4.200.000 visitantes para disfrutar de todas las maravillas, mientras que con la intensa promoción que se está haciendo las metas para el 2014 pueden ser halagadoras”, indicó el funcionario. De acuerdo con la programación de actividades del año, Treviño Salinas destacó que se han seleccionado
los foros de mayor impacto para Tamaulipas, en donde se pretende acaparar más la atención de los visitantes potenciales para los diferentes nichos de mercado. Añadió que el Gobierno del Estado ha trabajado en coordinación con la Asociación Mexicana de Agencias de Viajes (AMAV), en la organización de viajes a las diferentes regiones de Tamaulipas. También está previsto asistir al Interkampp-Safari Club Internacional que se celebrará este mes de febrero en Monterrey, Nuevo León, en donde se promociona el turismo de aventura, siendo la caza, pesca y campismo las principales fortalezas de varias regiones.
Nuevas obras de infraestructura aduanera y proyectos para facilitar los procesos de exportación, permitirán que sean invertidos recursos de por alrededor de 300 millones de pesos en la frontera de Tamaulipas. La Aduana de Nuevo Laredo, México, y el Puerto-Aduana de Altamira, son considerados básicos en el intercambio comercial de México con el exterior. Lo anterior sobresalió durante una junta de trabajo encabezada por el Administrador General de Aduanas del SAT, Alejandro Chacón Domínguez. “Tamaulipas es sin lugar a dudas uno de los estados más importantes del país”, dijo Chacón. “Existe disposición para que podamos contar con una mejor operación aduanera, facilitar la actividad comercial sin descuidar los temas de seguridad y control”. Siendo que las aduanas son el paso de entrada o de salida de un país, Chacón dijo que las revisiones que se hagan por el SAT impactan sin duda alguna en la agilidad del flujo comercial y por lo tanto en la competitividad de las empresas tamaulipecas. Entre las obras que se pretenden realizar con la citada inversión destacan: un área de exportación en Camargo, así como una mejora en
la parte de exportación para el 2015 en el Puente Internacional Lucio Blanco-Los Indios, el desarrollo de un proyecto para un carril específico para las empresas NEEC en Nuevo Laredo. El Nuevo Esquema de Empresas Certificadas, por sus siglas NEEC, es un programa que busca fortalecer la seguridad de la cadena logística del comercio exterior mediante la aplicación de estándares mínimos en materia de seguridad internacionalmente reconocidos que otorga beneficios a las empresas participantes, indica un comunicado de prensa. “Con estas medidas, las empresas certificadas podrán tener el acceso directo hasta el módulo desde unos kilómetros antes sin necesidad de hacer fila”, explicó Chacón. “Así, estamos buscando que todas las empresas que cumplen con los requisitos de seguridad y de eficiencia que establece el programa NEEC, se sumen al mismo, brindándoles la confianza para determinados beneficiados como es el de un carril específicamente para ellos”. La inversión a ejercerse en el presente año implica una mejoría en cuestión tecnológica con equipos no intrusivos de rayos X y Rayos Gamma, con lo que se busca una mejor eficiencia y rapidez en la revisión del transporte de carga, sin descuidar los temas de control y seguridad, concluyó.
COLUMNA
Resalta importancia portuaria de Matamoros POR RAUL SINENCIO ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Tanta importancia portuaria tuvo Matamoros en fechas remotas, que causó el asombro de propios y extraños. Razones sobraban, pues hacia el último tercio del siglo XIX esta plaza fronteriza de Tamaulipas sería estremecida por repentina bonanza. Y en qué forma: su tráfico marítimo superó al de Veracruz y Tampico, que era mucho decir.
Gobierno Al principio fue una ranchería, transformándose luego en la congregación
de El Refugio. Con rango de villa, en 1826 se le rebautizó como Matamoros, para honrar al mártir insurgente Mariano Matamoros. Apenas nueve años después recibiría el título de ciudad. En 1851 y 1852 mereció las declaraciones legislativas de leal, invicta y heroica. Erigida sobre el costado meridional del río Bravo, la futura urbe quedaría incorporada al comercio trasatlántico cuando declinaba el horizonte del virreinato novohispano. Un arancel ratificó dicha medida el 15 de diciembre de 1821. Lo anterior, aun ubicándose a 40 kilómetros de la bocana. Ya durante el primer tramo de la independencia na-
cional, ahí los ingresos aduanales sostuvieron ritmos ascendentes. En 1835 superaron el millón de pesos, mientras que la estadística demográfica reportaba 15.000 vecinos.
Carretas Tras la guerra de Reforma, México luchaba contra el imperio de Maximiliano de Habsburgo, sostenido por las bayonetas de Napoleón III y los conservadores domésticos. Con el presidente Benito Juárez al frente, los patriotas republicanos ni pedían ni daban cuartel. Debido a ello, grandes esfuerzos costó al bando enemigo imponerse en
Tamaulipas. Entretanto Matamoros experimentaba a contrapelo súbita bonanza. Las recaudaciones anuales de la aduana en 1864 sumaron 2.400.000 pesos. Dejó a la par muy atrás los promedios de Veracruz, el puerto de mayor importancia.
Fisco La fibra procedía en buena medida de las plantaciones texanas, que a gran escala explotaban mano de obra esclava. Y “tiene que recorrer –complementa el citado informe—más de 20 leguas en el interior de Texas, a través de malos caminos, antes de llegar a
Brownsville, frente a Matamoros”, pasándolo enseguida “a la orilla mexicana”, en busca de mercantes europeos. La guerra de Secesión en suelo angloamericano produjo que entre 1861 y 1865 la Armada yanqui bloqueara los puertos sureños que EUA poseía. Para los confederados esclavistas, el referido municipio de Tamaulipas ofrecía la única salida posible al extranjero, librándolos de ruinoso boicot. El atractivo aumentaba con la fácil evasión del fisco en las exportaciones. (Contenido cortesía de Raul Sinencio, según fue publicado en ‘La Razón’ de Tampico, México)
Entertainment
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
Ed Sullivan Beatle’s item headed to auction By ULA ILNYTZKY ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — A large piece of stage backdrop autographed by the Beatles during their first live U.S. concert 50 years ago is headed to auction, where it could draw $800,000 to $1 million. Face caricatures accompany the signatures that the Fab Four penned between sets of their historic Ed Sullivan appearance on Feb. 9, 1964, which they opened with “All My Loving” in front of 700 screeching fans in the audience and 73 million television viewers. The current owner of the 4-footby-2-foot plastic wall section is Andy Geller, a longtime Beatles collector and television and film voice-over artist. It is being sold in New York City on April 26 through the Dallas-based auction house Heritage Auctions. A stagehand is responsible for getting the band members to sign the back of the wall section known as a hardwall traveler, which is rolled back and forth to reveal the next act. It’s believed to be the largest Beatles autograph. “It was a spur of the moment thing,” 81-year-old Jerry Gort said in a telephone interview from his Calabasas, Calif., home. “They came down from stage right from their dressing rooms, I gave them a marker and asked them to sign the wall.” The band signed vertically from the bottom up: John Lennon first, then Paul McCartney, who scribbled “Uncle Paul McCart-
File photo | AP
Ed Sullivan, center, stands with The Beatles, from left, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney, during a rehearsal for the British group’s first American appearance, on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” in New York, on Feb. 9, 1964. ney,” followed by George Harrison. Ringo Starr, shorter than the rest, couldn’t reach the top so “I put my arms around him and lifted him,” said Gort, simultaneously putting his foot on the wall to keep it from opening until Starr finished signing the piece. Gort said Starr then “made a mad dash to get to his drums” and the band launched into “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” The wall also contains the signature of other acts that followed later in the television season, no-
tably from the Searchers, another British band, which signed “The Searchers Were Here with Kilroy 4/5/64.” At the end of the season, the wall was destined for the trash heap — but was saved by another carpenter for a young disabled Beatles fan. Geller said he purchased the wall privately for more than $100,000 in 2002 without knowing its history. According to Gort, his grandson called him excitedly in 2006 to say he had read an article in Roll-
ing Stone magazine that mentioned a guy in Los Angeles who owned the Beatles-autographed wall that Gort so often talked about. The grandson located a telephone number for Geller’s agent and before long, Gort and Geller met. It turned out they lived only miles apart. The wall’s whereabouts between when the boy owned it and Geller purchased it remains a mystery. It’s rumored to have hung in a Baton Rouge bar once and was owned by another Beatles collector. But Geller said he
dealt with a middleman and does not know who had it before him. The 53-year-old Geller said the artifact was prominently displayed in his home in a framed picture box and was his most significant piece of Beatles memorabilia. He said he was selling it because “I’m not sure I’ll be here for the 75th” anniversary of the Beatles’ U.S. invasion. More practically, the father of three said he’s always used the excuse that he bought it as an investment. “Now I kind of get to prove that it is an investment,” said Geller, who has voiced trailers for such movies as “Armaggedon” and “Finding Nemo.” The wall is being sold with a signed letter from Gort and a letter of authenticity from noted Beatles autograph expert Frank Caiazzo. It will be on display in the window of Heritage Auctions’ Park Avenue gallery in time for Beatlefest, an autograph and memorabilia event at the Grand Hyatt New York that runs Friday through Sunday. The priciest Beatles collectible is John Lennon’s hand-painted Rolls Royce Phantom V, which sold at a 1985 auction for $2.23 million. The most expensive Beatles hand-written lyric is for “All You Need is Love,” auctioned for $1.25 million in 2005. Heritage’s music memorabilia consignment director Garry Schrum called the wall “an amazing wild card,” which could go for “$800,000 to $1 million, maybe more.”
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
Calif. leaders push for smartphone kill switch By TERRY COLLINS ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN FRANCISCO — Legislation unveiled Friday in California would require smartphones and other mobile devices to have a “kill switch” to render them inoperable if lost or stolen — a move that could be the first of its kind in the country. State Sen. Mark Leno, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, and other elected and law enforcement officials said the bill, if passed, would require mobile devices sold in or shipped to California to have the anti-theft devices starting next year. Leno and Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, both Democrats, co-authored the bill to be introduced this spring. They joined Gascon, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and other authorities who have been demanding that manufacturers create kill switches to combat surging smartphone theft across the country. Leno called on the wireless industry to step up as smartphone robberies have surged to an all-time high in California. “They have a choice. They can either be a part of the problem or part of the solution, especially when there is one readily available,” Leno said. Leno and Gascon said they believe the bill would be the first of its kind in the U.S. Gascon and Schneiderman have given manufacturers a June 2014 deadline to come up with solutions to curb the theft of smartphones. CTIA-The Wireless Association, a trade group for wireless providers, says a permanent kill switch has serious risks, including potential vulnerability to hackers who could disable mobile devices and lock out not only individuals’ phones but also phones used by entities such as the Department of Defense, Homeland Security and law enforcement. The association has been working on a national stolen phone database that launched in
Photo by Ben Margot/file | AP
People use cellphones in downtown San Francisco. Legislation unveiled Friday in California would require smartphones and other mobile devices to have a “kill switch” to render them inoperable if lost or stolen.
Apple Inc., the maker of the popular iPhone, said the “Activation Lock” feature of its iOS 7 software released in the fall is designed to prevent thieves from turning off the Find My iPhone application, which allows owners to track their phone on a map, delete its data, and remotely lock the device. November to remove any market for stolen smartphones. “These 3G and 4G/LTE databases, which blacklist stolen phones and prevent them from being reactivated, are part of the solution,” Michael Altschul, CTIA’s senior vice president and general counsel, said in a statement. “Yet we need more international carriers and countries
to participate to help remove the aftermarket abroad for these trafficked devices.” Almost one in three U.S. robberies involve phone theft, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Lost and stolen mobile devices — mostly smartphones — cost consumers more than $30 billion in 2012, the agency said in a study.
In San Francisco alone, about 60 percent of all robberies involve the theft of a mobile device, Police Chief Greg Suhr said. In nearby Oakland, such thefts amount to about 75 percent of robberies, Mayor Jean Quan added. “We’re in California, the technological hub of the world,” Suhr said. “I can’t imagine
someone would vote against” the proposed kill switch law. Gascon said the industry makes an estimated $7.8 billion selling theft and loss insurance on mobile devices but must take action to end the victimization of its customers. “This is one of the areas in the criminal justice system where a technological solution can make a tremendous difference, so there’s absolutely no argument other than profit,” Gascon said. In 2013, about 136 million smartphones were sold in the U.S., according to International Data Corp., a Massachusettsbased researcher. More than 1 billion smartphones were sold worldwide last year, accounting for $330 billion in sales, IDC said. That’s up from 725 million in 2012. Last year, Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer, proposed installing a kill switch in its devices. But the company told Gascon’s office the biggest U.S. carriers rejected the idea. A Samsung statement issued Friday said the company doesn’t think legislation is necessary and it would keep working with Gascon, other officials and its wireless carrier partners to stop smartphone theft. Apple Inc., the maker of the popular iPhone, said the “Activation Lock” feature of its iOS 7 software released in the fall is designed to prevent thieves from turning off the Find My iPhone application, which allows owners to track their phone on a map, delete its data, and remotely lock the device so it cannot be reactivated. “This can help you keep your device secure, even if it is in the wrong hands, and can improve your chances of recovering it,” Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said Friday without commenting specifically about the proposed legislation. Gascon has praised Apple for its effort but reiterated Friday that it is still too early to tell how effective its solution will be.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 11A
THE WEEK IN REVIEW WEEKLY STOCK EXCHANGE HIGHLIGHTS
u
NYSE 10,055.38 +87.73
GAINERS ($2 OR MORE) Name HomexDev AmrRlty TrnsRty DirGMnBull MonstrWw ClayEng BiP GCrb EnzoBio RealD MKors
Last Chg 2.16 +.62 7.69 +1.79 13.93 +2.91 27.17 +5.57 7.43 +1.31 82.89 +13.87 8.65 +1.40 3.34 +.53 10.56 +1.61 94.22 +14.29
%Chg +40.3 +30.2 +26.4 +25.8 +21.4 +20.1 +19.3 +18.9 +18.0 +17.9
LOSERS ($2 OR MORE) Name DirGMBear SpiritAero BBarrett Valhi PUVixST rs KindrM wt RoadrnTrn Genpact Roundys Twitter n
Last Chg 28.40 -8.60 27.06 -6.85 22.41 -5.60 11.63 -2.52 72.20 -15.33 2.44 -.51 21.75 -4.50 14.28 -2.69 7.15 -1.33 54.35 -10.15
%Chg -23.2 -20.2 -20.0 -17.8 -17.5 -17.3 -17.1 -15.9 -15.7 -15.7
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Volume
1,751 1,436 130 185 3,257 70 19,855,815,526
17,000
Name Last Chg %Chg FuriexPh 109.67 +63.31 +136.6 Sevcon 11.45 +3.95 +52.7 SmartTc g 3.05 +.83 +37.4 PernixTher 3.09 +.80 +34.9 GreenMtC 107.75 +26.75 +33.0 OhrPhm rs 13.33 +3.08 +30.0 InfoSonic h 3.00 +.67 +28.8 CarverBcp 14.06 +3.12 +28.5 NatIntst 28.98 +6.41 +28.4 GluMobile 4.99 +1.04 +26.3
MON
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STOCK MARKET INDEXES -5.01
52-Week High Low
188.30 165.55
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16,588.25 7,591.43 537.86 11,334.65 4,246.55 1,850.84 1,359.99 19,776.59 1,182.04 5,698.58
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Name Oramed n FairwayG n MontageT n NetElem KingtoneW AmbassGp Actuate Affymetrix AlliFibOp s ChinaInfo
Last 14.25 8.12 15.72 3.28 7.34 3.66 5.83 7.21 12.13 4.14
Chg -7.84 -3.63 -6.26 -1.29 -2.72 -1.31 -1.77 -2.18 -3.62 -1.22
%Chg -35.5 -30.9 -28.5 -28.2 -27.0 -26.4 -23.3 -23.2 -23.0 -22.8
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SiriusXM 3498023 3.49 -.10 Facebook 2698841 64.32 +1.75 Cisco 2559578 22.67 +.76 Zynga 2528265 4.53 +.13 Microsoft 2405020 36.56 -1.28 PwShs QQQ2098512 87.30 +1.03 MicronT 1939782 24.51 +1.47 Intel 1937892 24.21 -.11 CSVelIVST 1518628 30.33 +1.72 AriadP 1098542 7.99 +.60
DIARY Advanced Declined New Highs New Lows Total issues Unchanged
Volume
1,052 1,649 140 150 2,765 64 10,848,136,508
clude Workforce Solutions Golden Crescent, Workforce Solutions Child Care Services and Safe Haven. “TMC is such an important agency not only in South Texas, but for migrant families across the entire nation,” Castaneda said. “(Capello) is a dear
VEHICLE den. Money is allotted to El Cenizo for them to get resources, del Bosque said. On Sept. 26, Zapata had been placed in a reimbursement hold for “failing to comply with a corrective action plan that was the result of routine audit findings issued in May,” a Department of Public Safety said. But del Bosque said the issues were ironed out. “Any delays, so-called ‘issues,’ have been worked out. We’re moving along pretty good,” del Bosque said. Del Bosque said the biggest asset here is the network among law enforcement agencies. “The network is going to
Dow Jones Industrials 15,794.08 Dow Jones Transportation 7,242.33 Dow Jones Utilities 503.85 NYSE Composite 10,055.38 Nasdaq Composite 4,125.86 S&P 500 1,797.02 S&P MidCap 1,308.39 Wilshire 5000 19,203.91 Russell 2000 1,116.55 Lipper Growth Index 5,578.94
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NY NY NY NY NY Nasd NY NY NY NY NY NY Nasd NY NY NY NY NY NY Nasd Nasd
1.84 32.30 -1.02 2.00 48.03 -.28 .04 16.82 +.07 ... 45.46 -4.05 2.40 94.87 +.96 .68 22.67 +.76 1.19 102.93 -3.31 ... 40.02 -1.39 2.76 64.97 +.02 .24 89.07 +1.77 ... 7.76 +.06 2.52 90.58 -.95 ... 64.32 +1.75 .50 14.97 +.01 .88 25.19 +.06 .58 29.07 +.07 1.56 76.45 -.40 .86 38.73 +.54 1.41 110.75 -1.41 .90 24.21 -.11 .46 21.84 -1.57
-3.1 -0.6 +0.4 -8.2 +1.0 +3.5 -3.1 -3.4 ... +2.0 +0.8 -1.0 +2.8 +0.1 +0.2 +0.2 -0.5 +1.4 -1.3 -0.4 -6.7
-8.1 +2.8 +8.0 +6.8 +4.5 +1.8 -15.5 +1.9 -8.0 -8.4 -8.2 -10.5 +17.7 -3.0 -10.1 +3.9 -7.2 -7.3 -4.0 -6.7 -17.1
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NY NY NY NY NY Nasd NY NY NY NY NY Nasd Nasd NY NY NY NY NY NY NY Nasd
3.80 177.25 +1.52 .72 46.07 -.22 ... 6.07 -.46 1.10 49.11 +.34 3.18 27.45 -.12 1.12 36.56 -1.28 ... 13.57 +.47 ... 5.51 -.41 ... 2.42 +.02 3.35 179.68 +1.50 1.60 89.50 +1.93 ... 35.50 -.87 ... 3.49 -.10 .25 16.82 +1.07 .32 21.29 +.23 3.64 176.90 +2.66 .20 25.59 -.52 .20 78.64 -3.38 1.88 73.75 -.93 1.20 45.37 +.33 ... 4.53 +.13
+0.9 -0.5 -7.0 +0.7 -0.4 -3.4 +3.6 -6.9 +0.8 +0.8 +2.2 -2.4 -2.7 +6.8 +1.1 +1.5 -2.0 -4.1 -1.2 +0.7 +3.0
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Oct. 18, 1959 – Feb. 5, 2014
FIRING
Last
MONEY RATES
15,000
ELVIRA C. GONZALEZ Elvira C. Gonzalez, 54, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at her residence in Chihuahua, Texas. Mrs. Gonzalez is preceded in death by her brother Martin Costilla; nephew Gabriel Costilla and her inlaws Manuel B. Gonzalez and Oralia G. Gonzalez. Mrs. Gonzalez is survived by her husband Eusebio Gonzalez; son Eusebio Gonzalez Jr.; daughters Sabrina (Leobardo) Martinez, Liza (Gabriel) Gonzalez and Jessica (Eduardo) Salinas; grandchildren Isabelle Marie, Gabriel Jr., Erika Lizette, Ricardo Javier, James Leo and Eduardo Jr.; parents Jose Gregorio and Janie Costilla; sister Elvia (David) Rodriguez; brothers Jose Juan (Monica) Costilla, Manuel Benito (Ester) Costilla, Jesus Jaime (Elia) Costilla and Joaquin Gregorio (Adriana) Costilla; and by numerous nephews, nieces and friends. Visitation hours will be held Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.
13,784.01 5,789.20 462.66 8,700.73 3,105.37 1,485.01 1,078.65 15,674.94 894.24 4,257.85
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Water boss under pressure By ASHER PRICE AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
The funeral procession will depart Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services will follow at Zapata County Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 N. U.S. Hwy. 83, Zapata.
Continued from Page 1A friend of mine and I’m still shocked that she was fired. “But we’ll have to wait and see what happens. It still won’t take away from all the good work the organization has done.” (Aldo Amato may be reached at 728-2538 or aamato@lmtonline.com)
Continued from Page 1A be stronger. We all work together for one goal and that’s to keep our counties safe,” del Bosque said. El Cenizo Mayor Raul L. Reyes said having the new unit creates an enhancement in security. “Throughout the years, the department has really grown. This new addition will only enhance the primary mission of El Cenizo Police Department, which is to protect and serve our community,” Reyes said. “We’re fortunate to partner up with the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office through Operation Stonegarden to acquire the new vehicle.” (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
AUSTIN — To get a sense of the pressure Carlos Rubinstein faces five months into his job as chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, consider this: Not only has he had meetings with dozens of underwriters hoping for a hand in the billions of dollars under his control and fielded questions from civic groups, he also has found himself getting grilled by a 9-year-old girl: “I have heard you have the power to help Texas better conserve the water supply,” wrote Delia, a girl from Austin’s Tarrytown area, in large block letters. “Please set aside money to help us figure out how to better conserve and use our water. Water is important because it keeps us alive.” The letter sits in a tray on Rubinstein’s desk, the Austin AmericanStatesman reported. Behind the desk is a window with a wide view of the Capitol, whose seasonal occupants last spring proposed the $2 billion kitty over which Rubinstein now presides for new water infrastructure. As the state pushes forward with the water work, it will be chiefly up to Rubinstein, a man passionate — even geeky — about water, to satisfy the state’s myriad interests, including cities, industry, farmers and little girls like Delia. For decades the Water Development Board had been an obscure, sleepy state agency, its salad days long gone. The Legislature created the agency — a bank, really — in 1957, as the state crept out of the worst drought on the books and readied itself for a massive reservoir and infrastructure building effort. With no new large water reservoirs built in Texas since the 1990s, the board had the feel of an overstuffed binder collecting dust on a forgotten shelf. (The board continues to loan money to local governments for modest water supply projects, especially in impoverished communities, and to pay for water-related research.) In 2013, lawmakers essentially dusted that binder off. The current long drought is driving legislators to contemplate the kind of reservoir and pipeline binge not seen for a half-century. Anxious to have greater control over agency purse strings after a scandal involving the management of cancer research money controlled by another small state agency, lawmakers in 2013 fired the water agency’s volunteer board and executive director and put before voters a constitutional amendment — overwhelmingly passed in November — to transfer $2 billion from the state’s rainy day fund into a revolving loan fund to front the money for local entities to pay for the new water projects. To lead the refreshed agency, Gov. Rick Perry turned to the burly, easyto-grin Rubinstein, 55, a veteran of water squabbles once known by the nickname “Bulldog” for his relentlessness. Rubinstein was born in Mexico City and moved to Brownsville with his family, who were in the importexport business, at the age of 10. After college, he went to work for the city of Brownsville, eventually advancing his way to city manager. In 2000, he joined the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. While managing the doling out of water along the Rio Grande, he
Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman | AP
Carlos Rubinstein, second right, chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, visits with Santos Castillo, right, of the East Rio Hondo Water Supply Corporation, during the Texas Rural Water Association’s Water Board Directors Governance Conference in Austin. gained fame in water circles as the state’s point man on negotiations with Mexico on water issues, succeeding in getting that nation to repay its water debt. Then, after serving as deputy executive director at the TCEQ, he was appointed one of its commissioners in 2009. The role of water czar comes to him naturally. As a seasoned bureaucrat, he has developed a taste for the nitty-gritty of legislative language. He talks about statutes the way some people talk about the weather. “He’s not a huge power broker kind of guy,” says his friend Carole Baker, who runs the Texas Water Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at educating the public about water issues. “He’s someone who has worked in the trenches, and he’s extremely capable. He works more on behalf of the state than himself. I don’t look at him as a political person. He’s just been sent in to do a job.” In an episode that suggests his mettle, in 2011, Rubinstein was the sole member of the three-commissioner TCEQ to vote against a controversial Houston-area industrial injection well whose investors included donors to Perry’s campaign. The other commissioners approved the well despite the objections of local officials, the Texas Railroad Commission and an administrative law judge who recommended denying the permit because it might pollute groundwater. The investors included Texas A&M University System Regent Phil Adams and former Dallas Cowboys football coach Barry Switzer. Adams donated nearly $300,000 to Perry’s state campaign fund, and Switzer had raised more than $57,000 for Perry’s 2010 campaign. “We trust that the decision was made based on the best available science and in accordance with current procedural rules and statutes,” Perry spokeswoman Lucy Nashed said in 2011. Rubinstein’s thirst to make people understand the water loan process appears unquenchable. In a keynote address to the Texas Rural Water Association on Thursday, he laid out the problem: Texas is expected to have 46 million people in 2060, nearly doubling the number of people here in 2010, with a water shortfall in the trillions of gallons — if nothing is done, if no conservation endeavors are undertaken, if no new pipelines are installed. “We’re not out of the drought yet, and nobody can tell me when it will
end,” he told his audience of bobbing heads at a North Austin hotel. It was the closest a state official talking about water financing might get to sounding like a preacher. “We’re not going to forget about rural water,” he said, to more vigorous bobbing. He alluded to his days steering the Rio Grande Valley through drought: “When you’re running out of water and dealing with farmers in danger of losing their crops, you don’t forget it.” Wrapping up, inexhaustible and eager to explain, he took no fewer than three “final questions.” In a state filled with appointees that popped up out of the governor’s circle, Rubinstein stands out for the way he has diligently climbed the rungs of government. And however capable the other members of the Water Development Board leadership might be, the sense is that this is Rubinstein’s show, wading as he has for so long in water issues. The chairmanship is a posting that could easily tumble into cynicism, to the knowing feeling that despite legislative assurances that portions of the water money will be used for the sort of conservation project that Delia, the 9-year-old girl, favors, most of it will benefit the engineering, real estate and lobbying firms that have the most to gain from massive water projects. Still, Rubinstein is full of earnest purpose. Since he took the job that will earn him $150,000 as chairman, he has reorganized the agency to make it more responsive to Texans in the hinterlands; he has appointed a rural ombudsman to reassure farmers and ranchers; and he has driven his subordinates to put together rules on how the money will be doled out by December, several months before they are actually due. It’s a relentless pace, with little chance for a let-up through next year’s legislative session. Already one of his two fellow commissioners has resigned — 41/2 months into a 6year term — citing the amount of time required by the venture. Rubinstein’s assistant, Curtis Seaton, figures Rubinstein has met with more people since September than he did in a couple of years as a TCEQ commissioner. “He is tireless,” says Ramiro Garcia, his former colleague at the TCEQ. Considering the size of the job ahead, Rubinstein, and the rest of his agency, will need that stamina.
12A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors SOCHI 2014 WINTER OLYMPICS
Kicking things off
ble of being a dynasty? This is a young team that’s no one-year wonder. General manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll built a contender for the long haul. Russell Wilson
See QUESTIONS PAGE 2B
See ZAPATA PAGE 2B
Photo by Patrick Semansky | AP
Russia kicks off Sochi Games with hope and hubris ASSOCIATED PRESS
SOCHI, Russia — A Russia in search of global vindication kicked off the Sochi Olympics looking more like a Russia that likes to party, with a pulse-raising opening ceremony about fun and sports instead of terrorism, coddling despots and gay rights.
And that’s just the way Vladimir Putin wants these Winter Games to be. The world’s premier athletes on ice and snow have more to worry about than geopolitics as they plunge into the biggest challenges of their lives on the mountain slopes of the Caucasus and in the wetpaint-fresh arenas on the shores of the Black Sea. But watch out for those Russians on
their home turf. A raucous group of Russian athletes had a message for their nearly 3,000 rivals in Sochi, marching through Fisht Stadium singing that they’re “not gonna get us!” Superlatives abounded and the mood soared as Tchaikovsky met pseudo-lesbian pop duo Tatu. Russian TV presenter Yana
See OLYMPICS PAGE 2B
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Top 12 questions facing NFL in 2014 By ROB MAADDI ASSOCIATED PRESS
Less than a week removed from Seattle’s lopsided win over Denver in the Super Bowl, the focus has already shifted to next season.
The NFL combine opens on Feb. 19. Free agency begins March 11. Schedules are released in April, and the draft has been pushed back to May 810 this year. Then, it’s several weeks of minicamps and organized team
activities before training camp rolls around. All 32 teams are 0-0 until September. So, let’s take a look at our version of the 12 top questions headed into the 2014 NFL season: 1. Are the Seahawks capa-
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: SUPER BOWL
Zapata now in two 4A districts The annual two-step that is done across Texas every two years finally arrived Monday as the UIL released the results of its bi-annual realignment. This year a new 6A division was added, pushing everyone up a class higher than the previous year. Schools like Zapata that played in the 3A classification are now 4A for next year while 4A becomes the new 5A. Everyone was waiting to see where the Hawks would fall in the deck of cards and Zapata is now in District 16-4A for football and District 32-4A for the rest of the sports. "We were not surprised at all of who was going to be in our district because UIL released the cutoff numbers back in November,” Zapata head football coach and athletic director Mario Arce said. “So we could basically determine who was going to be in the district. The only thing that surprised us was Robstown not being in our district (because) they went into the San Antonio area district." District 16-4A Division I for football includes Hidalgo Early College, Kingsville, La Feria, Rio Grande City-La Grulla and Zapata while the UIL added some fresh faces for the rest of the team sports. "All these teams are familiar with us," Arce said. "If you look at the district, Kingsville, RGC-La Grulla, Hidalgo and La Feria were all playoff teams last year. It is going to be a tough district. This is basically our old district, so we are familiar with all the teams." Zapata will play the likes of Hidalgo Early College, La Feria, Port Isabel, Progreso, Raymondville, Rio Grande City-La Grulla and Rio Hondo in basketball, volleyball, softball, baseball and the rest of the sports. On the football side, Zapata will have to contend with strong pro-
The United States Olympic team arrives during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia on Friday.
By ANGELA CHARLTON AND NATALIYA VASILYEVA
“
CLARA SANDOVAL VAL
NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: BAYLOR
Sims headlines in senior year By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Chris O’Meara | AP
Denver quarterback Peyton Manning walks off the field after the Broncos lost to the Seahawks 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII on Feb. 2 in East Rutherford, N.J.
Passing of the torch of QB styles? By ARNIE STAPLETON ASSOCIATED PRESS
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Confetti cannons boomed around Peyton Manning following Seattle’s 43-8 dismantling of Denver and the five-time MVP sought out Russell Wilson to congratulate the Seahawks’ second-year scrambler on his stun-
ningly lopsided Super Bowl triumph. At 37, Manning had failed to cap off the greatest season by a quarterback in NFL history. Wilson had just become the first champion from the new guard of athletic, mobile QBs that includes Colin Kaepernick, Cam
See PASSING PAGE 2B
WACO — Odyssey Sims became Baylor’s starting point guard as a freshman and almost made it to the NCAA Final Four. The Lady Bears had an undefeated national championship title when she was a sophomore. There was another tournament run to a regional final last season, which ended with a onepoint loss and Sims agonizingly sprawled on the court with her face buried in her hands. Now a senior, Sims is finally the headliner for the No. 7 Lady Bears — and they are still on top of the Big 12 even though the All-American is surrounded by mostly underclassmen instead of two-time AP Player of the Year Brittney Griner and four other seniors who departed. "It’s obviously Odyssey Sims’ team," Kansas State coach Deb Patterson said. "And she can be very, very dominant with the ball now." Already Baylor’s career assists leader, the feisty 5-foot-8 guard is now second nationally averaging 30 points a game. Sims has four 40-point games and even when she was held to a sea-
Photo by Tony Gutierrez | AP
Baylor guard Odyssey Sims leads No. 7 Bears in her senior campaign. son-low 17 points last month at Oklahoma State, she had the game-winning three-point play in overtime. "My scoring role is different, but everything else is still the same," Sims said. "I’m still the same player, I just have the ball more." Baylor swept the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles in each of Sims’ first three years.
Despite Sims being the Bears’ only returning starter, they are leading contenders to do it again in her only season without Griner on the court with her. "People who think that Odyssey Sims is in Brittney Griner’s shadow don’t understand the value of Odyssey Sims, "Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said. "Pound
See SIMS PAGE 2B
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
QUESTIONS Continued from Page 1B can only get better as he enters just his third year in the league. He has a solid supporting cast led by Marshawn Lynch. The defense is downright dominant and it’s the main reason why Seattle will be a serious threat to repeat. 2. Will the Broncos rebound from their Super Bowl debacle? You can’t bet against Peyton Manning after the phenomenal record-setting season he had just two years removed from all those neck surgeries. But the bitter sting of an awful performance on the big stage will linger for a long time, and perhaps serve as motivation. With Manning, the Broncos clearly are a playoff contender. The goal is to win a Super Bowl, however. They’ve got some catching up to do. 3. Has the window closed on the Patriots? Guiding New England to another division title and the AFC championship game may have been Bill Belichick’s best coaching job. Brady helped them overachieve with a group of rookies and unproven castoffs playing key roles, but they couldn’t get past Manning and the Broncos. The Patriots were the NFL’s last dynasty, winning three Super Bowls in four years. They haven’t won one
Photo by Tim Sharp | AP
Dallas head coach Jason Garrett’s status after next season is one of the many questions facing the 2014 NFL season. since 2004 and time is running run out for Belichick and Brady. 4. Can Jason Garrett last another season in Dallas? Garrett has led the Cowboys to three straight season-ending losses that left Dallas 8-8 and out of the playoffs. America’s Team has one playoff victory since winning its fifth Super Bowl in 1995. Jerry Jones has shown plenty of
patience with Garrett since he replaced Wade Phillips in the middle of the 2010 season, but Tony Romo and Co. have to produce to keep Garrett’s job. 5. Who will be the next Chip Kelly? Kelly brought his innovative ideas and up-tempo offense to the pros and led the Philadelphia Eagles to the NFC East title, a remarkable turnaround after a 4-12 season in 2012.
PASSING Continued from Page 1B Newton, Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck. A passing of the torch from the classic pocket passer to the fleet-footed quarterback? No way, insisted Broncos boss John Elway. "Well, Joe Flacco’s a pocket guy and he won it last year, right? And Colin Kaepernick was the guy that ran around last year. So, last year, the pocket guy won it. This year, the runaround guy won it. So, to me, that’s your answer," Elway said. "The bottom line was the way Seattle played." Joe Theismann couldn’t agree more. "We certainly have some young, athletic quarterbacks in this league, but if you look at the guys who have won it — Eli Manning, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning — they’re not movearound guys. Even Aaron Rodgers, who has tremendous athletic skills when it comes to moving around, throws out of the pocket," said Theismann, who quarterbacked the Redskins to the 1983 NFL title. "To have any longevity as a professional quarterback, you must develop your skills to be able to throw out of the pocket. Otherwise, you take too many hits. Now, if you have athleticism like Russell Wilson, that’s a bonus." Wilson doesn’t tuck the ball looking to run but to find passing lanes because at 5-foot-11, he can’t always see over his hulking linemen. "To me, this game boiled down to two facts: turnovers and Denver’s five guys up front could not block Seattle’s four guys up front," Theismann said. "You have to give Seattle defensively all the credit in the world to be able to rush
four and move Peyton and drop seven and cover their routes. "Other than that, I think to make a general statement of the quarterback position being a non-dropback position or a passing of the torch, I just don’t see it. You have to be able to throw the ball effectively from the pocket to be able to capitalize on all the rules that exist." What the Seahawks provided the league more than a changing of the guard was a blueprint on how defenses can finally turn the tide on the pass happiness that has engulfed the NFL for so long. Denver scored a record 606 points in 2013 and Manning set a slew of records, including 55 touchdown throws. Yet, the most prolific scoring machine in NFL history sputtered against Seattle’s stifling defense. It wasn’t like Wilson beat them. Sure, he made some third-down conversions, but his two TD throws came when the game was already a runaway. Seattle also scored on a safety, two field goals, a pick-6 and, a kickoff return and a run by Marshawn Lynch. That’s the point: the Seahawks never intended for Russell to be the fulcrum of their team. They’re built around their defense and ground game. His Super Bowl line was perfect: 18 of 25 for 206 yards, two TDs, no interceptions. "Russell is not a stats guy," Seahawks GM John Schneider said. "It’s all about winning games. Russell is a guy that tilts the field. So it was pretty evident the way the field was tilted and he’s just a guy who is in command all the time."
San Diego’s Mike McCoy was another first-year coach who led his team to the playoffs. Of the seven new coaches, four are rookies: Washington’s Jay Gruden, Minnesota’s Mike Zimmer, Cleveland’s Mike Pettine and Houston’s Bill O’Brien. Gruden may have the best shot to go worst-to-first if Robert Griffin III regains his rookie form. 6. Which big names
at Louisiana Tech and a gold medal with the 1984 U.S. Olympic team. San Jose State coach Jamie Craighead, after Sims had 29 points and 13 assists against her team earlier this season, rhetorically asked if anybody really defends Sims. "She’s got to be the best point guard in the country, and probably the best player in the country," Craighead said. "You kind of catch yourself watching her." A left-handed shooter, Sims is also a stellar on-
dy Reid’s first season as coach, but wasted a 28point second-half lead in a playoff loss to Indianapolis. The Panthers went 12-4 before losing to San Francisco in the playoffs. Neither may have an 8-10 win drop, but one of them might be on the outside looking in next postseason. 9. When will playoffs expand? It’s unlikely for 2014, but it’s a strong possibility two teams will be added by 2015. Commissioner Roger Goodell supports the idea, so it seems only a matter of time before it happens. 10. Will instant replay get tweaked? Talk of centralizing some aspects of replay has begun, and it could be a way of improving the process, eliminating mistakes and speeding it up. 11. Which QB gets a new deal first? Carolina’s Cam Newton, San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick and Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton are three years into their rookie contracts. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger has two years left on his deal. Newton or Kaepernick are top bets to get paid first. 12. Who goes to the Super Bowl in Arizona? Way too early, but let’s go with Packers-Colts.
OLYMPICS Continued from Page 1B Churikova shouted: “Welcome to the center of the universe!” Yet no amount of cheering could drown out the real world. Fears of terrorism, which have dogged these games since Putin won them amid controversy seven years ago, were stoked during the ceremony itself. A passenger aboard a flight bound for Istanbul said there was a bomb on board and tried to divert the plane to Sochi. Authorities said the plane landed safely in Turkey. The show opened with an embarrassing hiccup, as one of five snowflakes failed to unfurl as planned into the Olympic rings, forcing organizers to jettison a fireworks display and disrupting one of the most symbolic moments in an opening ceremony. Also missing from the show: Putin’s repression of dissent, and inconsistent security measures at the Olympics, which will take place just a few hundred miles (kilometers) away from the sites of a long-running insurgency and routine militant violence. And the poorly paid migrant workers who helped build up the Sochi site from scratch, the disregard for local residents, the environmental abuse during construction, the pressure on activists, and the huge amounts of Sochi construction money that disappeared to corruption. Some world leaders purposely stayed away, but U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and dozens of others were in Sochi for the ceremony. He didn’t mention the very real anger over a Russian law banning gay “propaganda” aimed at minors that is being used to discriminate against gay people. But IOC President Thomas Bach won cheers for addressing it Friday, telling the crowd it’s possible to hold Olympics “with tolerance and without any form of discrimination for whatever reason.” For all the criticism, there was no shortage of pride at the ceremony in what Russia has achieved with these games. The head of the Sochi organizing committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, captured the mood of many Russians present when he said, “We’re now at the heart of that
dream that became reality.” “The games in Sochi are our chance to show the whole world the best of what Russia is proud of,” he said. “Our hospitality, our achievements, our Russia!” The ceremony presented Putin’s version of today’s Russia: a country with a rich and complex history emerging confidently from a rocky two decades and now capable of putting on a major international sports event. Putin himself was front and center, declaring the games open from his box high above the stadium floor. Earlier, he looked down as the real stars of the games — those athletes, dressed in winter wear of so many national colors to ward off the evening chill and a light dusting of man-made snow — walked onto a satellite image of the earth projected on the floor, the map shifting so the athletes appeared to emerge from their own country. As always, Greece — the birthplace of Olympic competition — came first in the parade of nations. Five new teams, all from warm weather climates, joined the Winter Olympics for the first time. Togo’s flagbearer looked dumbstruck with wonder, but those veterans from the Cayman Islands had the style to arrive in shorts! The smallest teams often earned the biggest cheers from the crowd of 40,000, with an enthusiastic threeperson Venezuelan team winning roars of approval as flag bearer and alpine skier Antonio Pardo danced and jumped along to the electronic music. Only neighboring Ukraine, scene of a tense and ongoing standoff between a pro-Russian president and Western-leaning protesters, could compete with those cheers. That is, until the Russians arrived. Walking in last to a thundering bass line that struggled to overcome the ovations from the hometown crowd, the Russians reveled in all the attention. Their feeling could perhaps best be summed up by Russian singers Tatu, whose hit “Not Gonna Get Us” accompanied them to their seats.
SIMS Continued from Page 1B for pound, she is considered by many to be the best to ever play the game. "When you’re 6-8 like Brittney is, when you walk on the court you don’t notice Odyssey Sims at 5-8," Mulkey said. "But when the ball is being tossed up, then you go, ’Holy cow, this girl is the real deal.’ She’s never been in the shadow of anyone." And that assessment is coming from Mulkey, who herself was a tough-nosed guard while winning two national championships
will change teams in free agency? Michael Vick is probably the top player that’s almost certainly going to a new team in 2014. Nick Foles is the No. 1 guy in Philadelphia, so Vick has to look elsewhere for a starting job. Perhaps the New York Jets. Vick had his best season in 2010 when Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg held that job with the Eagles. Carolina defensive end Greg Hardy, Buffalo safety Jarius Byrd, Denver wide receiver Eric Decker and Washington linebacker Brian Orakpo also will be free agents. New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham is the best of the bunch, but the Saints can’t let him go. 7. Who will be the first pick of the NFL draft? The Texans need a quarterback so it could be Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles or Johnny Manziel. If they take the best player available, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney or linebacker Khalil Mack might be the guy. 8. Which team will be this year’s Texans or Falcons? Houston went from 12-4 in 2012 to 2-14 and Atlanta fell from 13-3 to 4-12. Two candidates for big drop-offs from each conference are Kansas City and Carolina. The Chiefs went 11-5 in An-
ball defender that frustrates opposing ball-handlers with her aggressive style. Sims became the only two-time women’s basketball gold medalist for the United States in the World University Games when the Americans won again in Russia last summer. "I’ll go on record saying she’s the best player in the country. I thought she was the best player in the country last year, and she’s the best player in the country this year, too," said first-year Ole Miss
Russians place huge significance in the Olympics, carefully watching the medal count — their dismal performance in Vancouver four years ago is on the minds of many. These games are particularly important, as many Russians are still insecure about their place in the world after the end of the Cold War and the years since that have seen dominance of the United States and China. International politics were never far beneath the surface. One member of the VIP crowd carrying the Olympic flag was Anastasia Popova, a young televison reporter with the state-owned Rossiya TV channel, best known for her reporting in Syria. Putin and Russian state media have stood strongly behind Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Popova’s coverage laid the blame for the Syrian civil war squarely on Syrian rebels. But back to that Russian pride. As Churikova rallied the crowd to scream “louder than ever,” she told the fans in their cool blue seats their keepsakes from the night would last 1,000 years. When explaining the show would be hosted in English, French and Russian, she joked that it didn’t matter, because in Sochi, everyone “speaks every language in the world.” The moment of high pride came at the end, when Russian hockey great Vladislav Tretiak and three-time gold medalist Irina Rodnina joined hands to light the Olympic cauldron. He’s often called the greatest goaltender of all time by those who saw him play, she won 10 world pairs figure skating titles in a row. That was how it ended. At the top, the show — and the games — easily avoided talking about prickly issues even when the women in Tatu took the stage. The duo, who put on a lesbian act that is largely seen as an attention-getting gimmick, merely held hands during their performance on this night, stopping short of the groping and kissing of their past performances. This time? Their lead-in act was the Red Army Choir MVD singing Daft Punk’s Grammy-winning “Get Lucky.”
ZAPATA Continued from Page 1B coach Matt Insell, who was previously at Kentucky. "If I were coaching in the WNBA and I had the first pick, I’d take her because she’s a winner." The Lady Bears have lost only one home game since Sims and fellow senior guard Makenzie Robertson joined the team. That was a 66-55 loss last month to No. 1 Connecticut that ended the Lady Bears’ national-best 69game home winning streak in what is still the Huskies’ closest game this season.
grams like Kingsville, La Feria and RGC-La Grulla. The top four teams still make the postseason, so only one team from the district will be left at home. The rest of the team sports will have to survive a lengthy schedule that includes 14 district games as they battle for the right to earn one of the top three spots. "The realignment is basically what we were in before," Zapata head volleyball coach Rosie Villarreal said. "It will be more competitive and a better picture as to
who makes the playoffs. "Now I need to make sure that my girls work hard to stay on top." In the new district, the Zapata volleyball team will not have problems filling its non-district schedule while the football team already has a tentative schedule in place. In football, the Hawks face Laredo Cigarrroa, Valley View, Crystal City, Falfurrias and Hebbronville before moving into the district season. E-mail: Sandoval.Clara@Gmail.com
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
HINTS | BY HELOISE Dear Heloise: BUMPER STICKERS can be personal expressions of philosophy, comedy and sometimes fun. Unfortunately, an elderly, single friend removed her bumper sticker after an incident in which she was being closely followed by a car for several blocks. The driver and his passengers evidently were upset about the written message, which was positive to her in meaning. She took a selfdefense course, and the instructor recommended that she not have identifying symbolism or information as a precaution, particularly due to her vulnerability. For her safety and peace of mind, she reluctantly removed the bumper sticker, and she makes sure she is aware of her surroundings. I wanted to share this occurrence with your readers. –– Marge in Texas Marge, how frightening for your friend! Also, how sad that in today’s world, a bumper sticker should have to be a safety concern. Readers, what thoughts do you have on this? I’d love to hear your viewpoint. Take
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HELOISE
a look to see what is on YOUR bumper, and think about the message it sends! Are you safe from someone being offended? –– Heloise CLEAN CDS Dear Heloise: What is the best way to clean CDs and DVDs? Some of them look grimy, but I don’t want to mess them up. –– Eugene in Wisconsin I do know how to clean them! You need to be careful, because doing it the wrong way can cause more harm than good. Here is what you do: Hold the disc by the edges. Take a soft microfiber or lint-free cloth and wipe the surface, starting at the center and moving outward in a straight line. Do not wipe in a circular motion; following the grooves can cause scratches on the surface.–– Heloise
DENNIS THE MENACE
FAMILY CIRCUS
PEANUTS
GARFIELD
DAILY CRYPTOQUOTES — Here’s how to work it:
DILBERT
Sports
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014
USA Cycling unveils series
Photo by Gene J. Puskar | AP
Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang will be out for six-plus weeks after having a stroke last week.
Penguins D Letang suffers stroke ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will be out for at least six weeks because of a stroke. Penguins general manager Ray Shero announced Friday that Letang had a stroke last week. “Kris had one brief episode of dizziness and nausea last week,” Shero said. “We held him out of the Los Angeles game Thursday night, and when he continued to feel ill, tests conducted in Phoenix on Saturday gave us the first indication of his condition. “Further testing then was conducted when he returned to Pittsburgh,
and he continued to undergo a battery of tests here this week.” Letang will be treated with blood thinners and the stroke is not expected to threaten his career. “I hope that by making my condition public at this time, I can help other people by encouraging them to seek medical help if they experience some of the symptoms associated with a stroke — regardless of their age or general health,” the 26-year-old Letang said. “It obviously was a shock to get the news, but I’m optimistic that I can overcome this and get back on the ice.” Letang’s most recent game was Jan. 27 against Buffalo. After being a Norris
Trophy finalist last season, he has 10 goals — matching a career high — and 18 assists in 34 games this season for the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins. Letang has 54 goals and 227 points in 419 games since making his NHL debut with the Penguins during the 2006-07 season. The Montreal native signed a $58 million, eight-year contract extension last summer. “The most important thing right now, of course, is Kris’ health,” Shero said. “We’re not thinking about hockey right now. We want to make sure he gets the best possible care and gets better. After six weeks of treatment, doctors will re-evaluate Kris.”
Photo by Lynne Sladky | AP
Dr. Antonio Marttos, a trauma surgeon at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, and Team Brazil doctor, left, and Dr. Barth Green, a neurosurgeon at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, right, talk about the status of Brazilian Olympic freestyle skier Lais Souza during a news conference on Feb. 7 in Miami. Souza, who hoped to compete in her first Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, suffered severe trauma to her spine while skiing in Utah Jan. 28.
Fla. center treating paralyzed skier By SUZETTE LABOY ASSOCIATED PRESS
MIAMI — A Brazilian Olympic freestyle skier who was on her way to competing at the Sochi Winter Games when she was paralyzed while training in Utah remained in critical condition at a Florida hospital that specializes in spinal injuries, her doctors said Friday. “Right now she’s fighting for her life,” said Dr. Antonio Marttos, a trauma surgeon at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital. Lais Souza, 25, was injured while preparing to compete as a skier at the Sochi Winter Games. Dr. Marttos had been involved in her care since the accident on Jan. 27 and was sent by the Brazilian Olympic committee to Salt Lake City to assist in her car. “Mentally she’s strong,” he said of Souza, who was also described as always
smiling and “cheering up” the staff at the hospital. Souza remained in an intensive care unit at the Miami hospital and is eating and breathing with the help of machines, but her doctors said she was “starting to breathe by herself without the machine.” They were optimistic that her condition will be downgraded to serious over the coming days and that she will be able to breathe without a machine. “This is the first big step for her,” Dr. Marttos said. “So if she can have this happen, be able to live without the machine to breathe, it can be something huge for her life and her quality of life in the future.” The ex-Olympic gymnast injured her spine while preparing to compete as a skier at Sochi. Souza was at the University of Utah hospital since hitting a tree while skiing recreationally. Her spinal cord was not severed, but her doctors said
the accident left her unable to move her legs and arms. Souza participated in the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics as a gymnast before switching to the winter sport. Another Brazilian skier is scheduled to take Souza’s place at the Olympics. Her level of fitness and health will contribute to her recovery, doctors said. “Someone with the same injury... has a 90 percent chance of being dead or dying within the first couple weeks,” said Dr. Barth Green, a neurosurgeon who co-founded The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami which is one of the largest research centers in the country to help treat her type of injury. “So the fact that she’s young and lean and mean and strong is a wonderful prognosis sign because she exceeds what the norm is and she’ll show us the same stuff in rehab I’m sure.”
Photo by Matt Rourke | AP
USA Cycling is hoping to begin a new domestic series that will offer the richest cross-country purse in the world and should attract most of the top riders.
By DAVE SKRETTA ASSOCIATED PRESS
The sport of mountain biking was born and raised in the United States, which makes it all the more frustrating to American riders that they’ve been lapped by their European counterparts. USA Cycling is hoping to change that with a new domestic series that will offer the richest crosscountry purse in the world and should attract most of the top riders. The U.S. Cup Pro Series presented by Sho-Air Cycling Group came together late last year, but the details were announced this week. The four-race series begins next month and includes an $81,000 purse that will be split evenly between the men’s and women’s fields. By next year, all of the events will carry the highest UCI rating outside of World Cup events. That means more worldclass racing and better competition, something that’s been lacking in domestic mountain biking since the boom days of the 1980s and early ’90s. “More competition makes the racing tighter and more exciting and pushes all riders to get faster,” Olympic bronze medalist Georgia Gould told The Associated Press. “Racing in competitive and professionally run domestic races is the best preparation for success at the World Cup.” The opening round is March 1-2 in Dripping Springs, Texas. The following two races will be held in California later in March, and the finale is June 28-29 in Colorado Springs. All of them will be streamed live online through the We Media Project and USA Cycling. Along with prizes for winning each round, riders will accrue points toward the series championship, ensuring competitive fields for each race. “Racing against the best racers in the world will also help Olympic hopefuls elevate their skills, fitness and strategy ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro,” said Scott Tedro, owner of the Sho-Air
Photo by Christophe Ena | AP
USA Cycling is hoping to begin a new domestic series that will offer the richest cross-country purse in the world and should attract most of the top riders. Cycling Group, which is organizing the series. “It will bring the Olympic cross-country mountain bike movement back into focus in the U.S.” Things weren’t always so difficult for Americans on the world stage. While most European riders focused on the road, folks such as Ned Overend and Juli Furtado were choosing the beaten path. They experimented with fatter tires, took meandering rides in the thin air of high peaks and then hurtled themselves down ski runs at breakneck speed. This was when mountain biking was still done in the mountains. Overend and Furtado gave the U.S. a sweep of the podium at the first world championships in 1990, and helped usher the discipline into the Olympics. It debuted at the Atlanta Games, but in a dramatically altered version: It had been taken out of the high mountains and relegated to man-made courses in parkland settings that were more spectatorfriendly. As European riders began embracing the sport, they began to dominate American riders, who were slow to adapt to what became known as cross-country mountain biking. Gould’s bronze at the London Games was just the second Olympic medal won by a rider wearing the stars-and-stripes. Susan DeMattei also won bronze in 1996. “I think it will help push the U.S. back to the
top of the mountain bike world by bringing the racing back to us,” said former U.S. champion Sam Shultz, who is recovering from an injury but plans to compete in the U.S. Cup Pro Series. “We have always had a tough time traveling to enough races to get the UCI points necessary to achieve good call-ups as well as the maximum number of Olympic start spots,” he said. “This will go a long ways toward giving us the home-turf advantage. Being able to compete against the best and forcing our competitors to take the marathon overseas flights instead of us is great.” Todd Wells, who also competed at the London Games, hopes the new domestic series will close the considerable financial gap between mountain biking and road racing. Many elite riders give up mountain biking because it’s easier to land sponsors and make a living on the road. “We have amazing young roader racers,” Wells said, “and most started out mountain biking.” Wells also thinks the high-profile nature of the races will help the U.S. qualify more riders for World Cup races and lead to increased business support for mountain biking. “I don’t see any downsides to this series,” said Wells, who is planning to race in each of the events. “The U.S. Cup should help to build mountain bike racing back up in the U.S.”