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YEAR IN REVIEW
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
TOP STORIES OF 2009 Work still ahead Land-use study pending for planning, zoning ordinance By JULIE DAFFERN THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Officials broke ground for the new 7.2-million-gallon water treatment plant in March 2009.
Photo by Ulysses Romero | The Zapata Times
Photo by Ricardo Segovia | The Zapata Times
Pictured here are antique wooden tables and chairs housed in Fort Treviño. The historical site is maintained by the River Pierce Foundation.
Isidro “Chilo” Alaniz, pictured here at an assembly at United Middle School, was elected as the Webb and Zapata county district attorney.
Zapata sees business, education development THE ZAPATA TIMES
Gas production may have decreased over the past year, but Zapata has continued to
progress despite the drop in the local economy. The community is seeing a lot of change, and, from the opening of a new school to
obtaining the ability to create ordinances, the community continues to thrive and several projects are still in the works.
The following are The Zapata Times’ top stories of the year, in no particular order.
See YEAR-END PAGE 8A
Leaders make their resolutions THE ZAPATA TIMES
Commissioner Jose Emilio Vela: “One of the things that I now am very concerned about is my health. A year ago in December I had heart surgery, and I stayed here over the holidays. So my resolution is just to keep myself healthy and take it easy as much as I can .. for myself and my kids, that’s the most important thing, my family.” Commissioner Gabriel Villarreal: “To lose weight, definitely, at least 10 pounds. I’ll be OK with that.” County Treasurer Romeo Salinas: “That the economy picks up so we can
have a better year, so that we can provide the best services to our community.” Chief JJ Meza: “I’m going to stick to my doubt, starting on the second. Then, my real goal is trying to improve the good quality we have, we have some good quality service for the community. We’re running right now advanced life support and I’m trying to go to MICU.” Sheriff Sigi Gonzalez: “To be able to continue our trajectory of trying to bring crime down, where any resident and any visitors would feel safe as they do now, to bring the drug traffickers to
a halt and try to live better, healthier lives, stress-free — for everybody.” Dr. Francisco Gutierrez: “Hoping that the county can do something to make more (funding) so we can do more things.” Cindy Lira: “To learn to comply with everybody’s needs. I need to learn to listen more instead of talk.” Randy Black, operations manager for Greater Gulf Coast Business UnitWest Area, ConocoPhillips: “To be more patient. Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez: Safe and college-ready students and more family time.”
While the Zapata County Commissioners Court has approved a planning and zoning ordinance, there’s still much to be done. For example, the ordinance, which went into effect Friday, spells out several different zones, but under the section designating permissible land uses, the ordinance states: “Reserved for future expansion.” County officials expect the soon-to-be-appointed planning and zoning commission to conduct a land-use study and fill in the holes. The zones include T1: Rural Preserve, T2: Rural Reserve, T3: Sub-Urban, T3a: Sub-Urban/ Agricultural, T4: General urban, T4a: San Ygnacio Lodging and Retail, T5: Urban Center, T6: The courthouse/Town Core, T7: The San Ygnacio Historic District, T8: The Industrial Park District and T9: The Technology Park District. The Rural Preserve is an open space legally protected from development, according to the ordinance. “It includes surface water bodies such as Falcon Reservoir; protected wetlands and habitats such as the San Ygnacio Bird Sanctuary; flowage easement lands between the elevations of 307 and 314 feet; public open space such as Arroyo Park; conservation easements and any other areas or sites that may meet the description set out above,” states the ordinance. In contrast, the Rural Reserve zone includes land protected from development through public acquisition or control. “This district includes, but is not limited to, flood plains, steep slopes susceptible to erosion, and critical aquifer recharge areas,” states the ordinance. “The arroyos and land areas in the county that fall within the 100-year flood plain are within this category.” According to the ordinance, the Sub-Urban area is a designation for residential areas on the fringe of Zapata, Siesta Shores and Pueblo de San Ygnacio. “These sub-urban areas include the rural communities of Ramireno, Falcon, Bustamante, Lopeno, and Chihuahua,” states the ordinance. The Sub-Urban/Agricultural zone allows for agricultural, sports-game and other uses “conducive to a rural atmosphere. “Not more than one residence per 20 acre tract shall be permitted in this district,” states the ordinance. “Some types of mobile homes are allowed to be used for single-family residential purposes in this district.” Developing neighborhoods are classified as General Urban and “based on a grid of streets and five minute walking distances to parks, schools, churches, or retail stores … Mobile homes are not permitted in this district.” The ordinance states that the San Ygnacio Lodging and Retail zone is intended to direct growth away from the San Ygnacio District. More than 100 historic structures are included in the San Ygnacio Historic District, which
See PLANNING PAGE 8A
BUSINESS
County continues reaping success in gas By JOE RUTLAND THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County remains sixth among the top 10 gas producing counties in Texas through October 2009, according to data released by the Texas Railroad Commission on Tuesday. In October, Zapata County produced 20,285,647 Mcf (thousand cubic feet) of gas. In September, Zapata also was in
sixth with 19,503,187 Mcf. “For us at ConocoPhillips in South Texas, that is our targeted county,” said Randy Black, operations manager for the Greater Gulf Coast Business UnitWest Area of ConocoPhillips. “For us and our program, where we’ve had the most success in the last few years is in Zapata County.” Railroad Commission
production statistics and allowables for January 2010 reveal that in the last 12 months, total Texas reported production was 347 million barrels of oil and 7.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Texas natural gas production represents approximately 29 percent of total United States natural gas demand. Black said without a sharp increase in gas pric-
es, “at best, we’re going to be looking at a flat-to-declining situation in 2010.” “The predominance of our rig activity will be in Zapata County,” he said. “We’re starting to do some horizontal drilling work. As we drill in Zapata, that’s what we’ll be targeting and that gives us more access to the natural gas.” Counties ranking above Zapata County in gas production throughout the
state in October were Tarrant (43,067,409), Johnson (41,593,223), Pecos (26,469,354), Panola (22,681,004) and Freestone (22,503,712). Rounding out the top 10 were Denton (18,859,612), Robertson (18,652,179), Wise (17,770,290) and Hidalgo (14,813,298). Texas natural gas storage reported for November 2009 was 477,065,385 Mcf compared to
348,221,621 Mcf in November 2008. The December 2009 gas storage estimate is 439,472,569 Mcf. As for a view toward 2010, Black said, “Like the rest of the industry, in 2009 going into 2010, with the softening of natural gas prices, our program will be the same as last year.” (Joe Rutland may be reached at 728-2529 or jrutland@lmtonline.com)
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2010
AROUND THE NATION
TODAY IN HISTORY
Saturday, Jan. 2
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hawks basketball team hosts La Feria Lady Hawks basketball team plays at La Feria
Tuesday, Jan. 5 Hawks basketball team plays at Raymondville Lady Hawks basketball team hosts Raymondville
Friday, Jan. 8 Hawks basketball team hosts Port Isabel Lady Hawks basketball team visits Port Isabel Bass Champs Tournament Trail, South Texas Division, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 20, at Falcon Lake. For more information call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, or online at www.basschamps.com.
Monday, Jan. 4 Zapata County I.S.D. resumes operation. No classes today. For more information call 765-6546. Winter Texan and Senior Appreciation Day will be held on Friday, Feb. 26. For more information call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871.
Tuesday, Jan. 5 Students return to classes in the Zapata County I.S.D. For more information call 765-6546.
Wednesday, Jan. 6 FLW Outdoors Stren Series T1 begins today. For more information contact the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, or customercare@zapatachamber.com
Thursday, Jan. 7 FLW Outdoors Stren Series T1 continues today. For more information contact the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, or customercare@zapatachamber.com
Photo by Cynthia Boll | AP
A passenger is checked inside a body scanner at Schiphol airport, Netherlands, on Monday. The scanners reveal the outline of a passenger’s body to detect any concealed objects under the clothing. Body scanners that peer under a passenger’s clothing might have spotted the device used in the Christmas Day attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner.
Officials mull scanners By JOELLE TESSLER ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The Christmas Day attack on a jetliner over Detroit, combined with technological improvements to protect people’s sense of modesty, could lead to dramatically wider use of full-body scanners that can see through travelers’ clothing. Dutch officials said Wednesday they will immediately begin using the machines at Amsterdam’s airport, where the Nigerian accused of trying to blow up the Northwest Airlines plane began his flight. And a key European lawmaker also called for greater use of the scanners, which are designed to spot explosives and other non-metallic objects. In the U.S., the Transportation Security Administration has not said whether it will accelerate its plans to roll out the machines.
TSA already operates 40 of them in U.S. airports, has bought an additional 150 and plans to buy 300 more. That covers only a small slice of the 2,100 security lanes at the United States’ 450 airports. At least one congressman who has pushed for restrictions on full-body scanners said he would moderate his stance if the technology could better respect privacy. According to companies that make full-body scanners, software could be capable of detecting suspicious objects on travelers’ bodies. “This is a solution everyone can live with,” said Republican U.S. Congressman Jason Chaffetz, who sponsored a measure that would prohibit the use of whole-body imaging for “primary” screening, in place of metal detectors. The House approved the measure 310-118, and it is pending in the Senate.
Friday, Jan. 8 LW Outdoors Stren Series T1 continues today. For more information contact the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, or customercare@zapatachamber.com
Saturday, Jan. 9 FLW Outdoors Stren Series T1 ends today. For more information contact the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, or customercare@zapatachamber.com
Tuesday, Jan. 26 FLW Eastern Series fishing tournament begins today and continues through Saturday, Jan 30, at Falcon Lake. Call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871.
Saturday, Feb. 20 Bass Champs Tournament Trail, South Texas Division, is scheduled for today at Falcon Lake. For more information call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, or online at www.basschamps.com.
Bologna, PBJ sandwiches turn jailhouse menu bland MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. — Taking a bite out of crime has never been so bland at a southeast Michigan jail. Failing freezers have forced Macomb County Jail inmates to forgo warm meals in favor of an endless stream of bologna and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Sheriff ’s officials said Wednesday that mold was spotted last month in the jail’s 50-year-old freezers. But with no money for replacements, the sandwich diets may continue through early next year. County officials warned commissioners as early as 2005 that the freezers needed to be replaced.
Nebraska troopers finds gift-wrapped pot in SUV SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — A Nebraska trooper found an unex-
Friday, Feb. 26 Winter Texan and Senior Appreciation Day. For more information call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871.
Thursday, March 11 The Zapata County Fair begins today. For more information call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, or go online at www.zapatacountyfaironline.com
Friday, March 12 The Zapata County Fair continues today. For more information call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce.
Saturday, March 13 The Zapata County Fair ends today. For more information call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871. To submit an item for the daily calendar, send the name of the event, the date, time, location and a contact phone number to editorial@lmtonline.com
pected holiday present at the end of a police chase. The Nebraska State Patrol said the trooper found 7 pounds of gift-wrapped marijuana inside an SUV that ran off the road during a chase in Morrill County. The patrols said the trooper tried to stop the SUV for failure to signal on Tuesday. After a short pursuit, the SUV turned into a cornfield. The patrol said the driver fled on foot but was captured a short time later. A passenger, who was pregnant, remained in the SUV and was arrested.
Man kills mountain lion eating his llama ALTA, Wyo. — A Wyoming llama owner said he fatally shot a mountain lion that had killed at least one of his animals. Lou Centrella of Alta said he found his llama, named Grayson, dead on Sunday morning and that another llama, named Frito, was missing. Centrella and a Teton County
sheriff ’s deputy determined from tracks that a mountain lion had killed Grayson. He said a neighbor spotted a mountain lion feeding on the llama carcass in his yard Monday and that the sheriff ’s office advised him to shoot the big cat.
Shredder offers good riddance to 2009 NEW YORK — Want to forget 2009? Shred it. Scores of New Yorkers and tourists seeking a fresh start in 2010 came to Times Square on Monday to put their bad memories through the shredder at the third annual Good Riddance Day. Roxanne Rodriguez of Manhattan shredded a piece of paper with “Writer’s block” written on it. She intends to buckle down and write a musical. “This is going to be the year I’m going to be dedicated and focused, and I will get something down on the page every day,” she promised. -- Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION
Today is Saturday, Jan. 2, the 2nd day of 2010. There are 363 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Jan. 2, 1960, Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts launched his successful bid for the presidency as he announced his intention to enter the New Hampshire Democratic primary. On this date: In 1492, Muhammad XII, the sultan of Granada, the last Arab stronghold in Spain, surrendered to Spanish forces. In 1788, Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In 1900, Secretary of State John Hay announced the “Open Door Policy” to facilitate trade with China. In 1929, the United States and Canada reached agreement on joint action to preserve Niagara Falls. In 1935, Bruno Hauptmann went on trial in Flemington, N.J., on charges of kidnapping and murdering the 20-monthold son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. (Hauptmann was found guilty, and executed.) In 1942, the Philippine capital of Manila was captured by Japanese forces during World War II. In 1959, the Soviet Union launched its space probe Luna 1, the first manmade object to fly past the moon, its apparent intended target. In 1965, the New York Jets signed Alabama quarterback Joe Namath to a contract reportedly worth $427,000. In 1974, President Richard M. Nixon signed legislation requiring states to limit highway speeds to 55 miles an hour. (However, federal speed limits were abolished in 1995). In 2006, a methane gas explosion at the Sago Mine in West Virginia claimed the lives of 12 miners, but a 13th miner, Randal McCloy Jr., was eventually rescued. Ten years ago: Retired Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr., known early in his career for modernizing the Navy and later for ordering the spraying of Agent Orange in Vietnam, died in Durham, N.C., at age 79. Five years ago: NFL teams joined Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova and other sports figures around the world in assisting the relief mission for the tsunami-earthquake catastrophe in southern Asia. Today’s Birthdays: Country musician Harold Bradley is 84. Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert is 68. TV host Jack Hanna is 63. Actress Wendy Phillips is 58. Actress Gabrielle Carteris is 49. Movie director Todd Haynes is 49. Retired All-Star pitcher David Cone is 47. Actress Tia Carrere is 43. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is 42. Model Christy Turlington is 41. Actor Taye Diggs is 39. Rock musician Scott Underwood (Train) is 39. Rock singer Doug Robb (Hoobastank) is 35. Actor Dax Shepard is 35. Actress Paz Vega is 34. Country musician Chris Hartman is 32. Rock musician Jerry DePizzo Jr. (O.A.R.) is 31. R&B singer Kelton Kessee (IMX) is 29. Actress Kate Bosworth is 27. Thought for Today: “It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” — Ursula K. Le Guin, American author.
Hutchison said race is ‘dead even’
CONTACT US
AUSTIN — U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said she’s in a “dead even” Republican primary race against Gov. Rick Perry. Hutchison discounted widely leaked poll results from Perry pollster Mike Baselice.
US Airways jet blows tire, lands safely SAN ANTONIO — A U.S. Airways regional jet blew a tire during takeoff, then safely made an emergency landing. There were no injuries to any of the 87 people onboard.
State’s gas prices up heading into new year IRVING — Regular self-serve gasoline costs an average of 4 cents more per gallon across
Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | AP
Kirsten White, left, and her husband Stephen show their support for Texas Tech coach Mike Leach outside the Lubbock County Courthouse on Wednesday. Tech fired Leach minutes before a hearing on the coach’s suspension. Texas than last week. The weekly AAA Texas survey released Wednesday shows regular selling for an average of $2.47 per gallon across the state. Nationally, regular is averaging $2.62 per gallon, 3 cents more than last week.
Houston and Galveston have the cheapest gas in Texas at $2.43 per gallon, up 5 cents from last week. Prices dropped by 2 cents in El Paso, but it again had the costliest gas in the state at $2.55. -- Compiled from AP reports
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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, JANUARY 2, 2010
Zlocal
PAGE 3A
Chavez announces Congress run By DENISE BLAZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Courtesy photos
More than 700 pounds of pot, all wrapped in bright red paper, were seized at Border Patrol’s checkpoint on I-35 the day after Christmas. The driver, whose name was not released, was turned over to DEA agents.
Agents seize 700 pounds in ‘surprise gifts’ Holiday weekend brings in big busts for Hebbronville, Laredo Border Patrol SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Border Patrol agents assigned to the Hebbronville Station seized more than 444 pounds of marijuana and apprehended four illegal immigrants Monday, while agents on patrol the day after Christmas found a surprise gift waiting for them at the Interstate 35 checkpoint north of Laredo. In the Monday bust, agents patrolling a ranch near Hebbronville discovered several larges bundles lying in the brush. The large bundles contained 30 smaller packages. The packages contained marijuana with a total weight of 444.45 pounds and an estimated
Adoption meetings scheduled SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
During the month of January, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services will have several public meetings in the South Texas region for anyone who is interested in learning more about becoming a foster and/or adoptive family. As of end of November 2009, there are 321 children in the region and 5,797 children state wide available for adoption. The meetings consist of a presentation along with a question & answer session with the regional recruiter. The meetings are free and open to the general public. On Jan. 13, there will be a meeting at 6 p.m. at the Pharr Memorial Library, 121 East Cherokee, in Pharr. On Jan. 14, there will be a meeting, also at 6 p.m., at the Corpus Christi Public Library, 805 Comanche, in Corpus Christi. A prospective foster/ adoptive parent may be single or married and must meet a few basic qualifications. For more information, visit the agency’s Web site at www.adoptchildren.org. Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.
“Let your smile be a sign of happiness & good health” 1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160
street value of $355,560 dollars. During a search of the general area where the marijuana was found, agents apprehended the four people who were in the United States without proper documentation. The marijuana was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The illegal immigrants were processed for deportation. In the Dec. 26 case, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo North station seized a load of marijuana weighing more than 745 pounds at the I-35 checkpoint. Agents working at the checkpoint conducted an in-
This is one of the gaily wrapped bundles of pot found at a vehicle at Border Patrol’s checkpoint on I-35 on Saturday, Dec. 26. spection of the driver of a passenger van. During the inspection, a Border Patrol canine team detected the possible presence of hidden people or contraband. Agents searched the van and found several large bundles wrapped in bright red Christmas gift wrap. The bundles contained marijuana with a total weight of 745.6 pounds and an estimated street value of $596,480. The marijuana, van and driver were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Challenging U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s voting record, Daniel Chavez of Mission has filed for a place on the Republican ballot to run for Congressional District 28, the seat Cuellar now holds. Running on a platform of Christian beliefs and revitalizing the economy within the district, Chavez said he plans to do much more for the 28th District than the current officeholder. “We need to hear our people,” he said. “If elected, my office is always going to open. It’s not about which party you’re with. In the end, it will be the people’s decision. They’re my employer. You always have to be accountable.” Chavez said his candidacy was catalyzed by Cuellar’s votes for the passage of cap and trade and health care bills. “Our district relies on oil and gas,” Chavez said. “That bill is going to put a lot of people out of work and those people rely on that income. It’s what they need to survive.” Chavez said he’s a
strong supporter of border security, and if elected, he would solicit borDANIEL CHAVEZ der agents for their opinions and suggestions on how to make the border safer. Born and raised in San Antonio, Chavez has resided in Mission for the past three and a half years with his wife and three young children. Before relocating to San Antonio, his parents lived in Laredo. An entrepreneur, Chavez is a self-employed consultation who acquires rights of way for utility companies. “I have gotten a lot of support of people so far,” Chavez said. “I just want people to know that I will do whatever I say. I’m interested in helping out single mothers, the elderly and the children. We need to encourage children to learn.” For more information on Chavez, visit his Web site at www.danielchavezforcongress.com. (Denise Blaz may be reached at 728-2547 or dblaz@lmtonline.com)
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2010
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COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Enjoy beauty of icy world By VERLYN KLINKENBORG NEW YORK TIMES
T
he school buses have already left, and now the first teachers are heading for their cars and trucks, the day over, the afternoon thick with relief. The bitter cold of the weekend has lifted. Out on the ice, just past the school, there is a precise rectangle of banked snow, the outline of a skating rink that was carefully shoveled and swept clear when the snow was deep. But now, after a few warm days, the entire pond is clear of snow, all but the boundary of the rink, where a solitary man is lacing his hockey skates. He skates away from his shoes, stick in hand, puck before him on the ice. He isn’t thinking about speed or a slap shot. He skates just bent enough to clap the blade on the ice, urging the puck forward and yet boxing it in. The whole pond is his. He is holding himself in, making the ice last, measuring his possession of it by the slowness and grace of his movements. Behind him the snow peaks rise, for this is Livingston, Mont. He worries the puck a little — chivying it from side to side, like a fox toying with a vole. Or perhaps it’s a gentler motion than that, as though he were domesticating the puck, showing it the limits of its freedom. You must imagine the slow sweep of his legs, the clacking of the
stick, the deep-night blackness of the puck itself on the dull gray ice, which is soundless except for the gnashing of his blades. Now he skates down the pond, and now he rounds back, as if to revisit his shoes. I think of Wordsworth’s midnight ecstasy on the ice. But this is a spot in time every bit as moving. The light is tumbling out of the sky like a snowfall of dusk. The school buses are turning homeward again. Before long, the houses along this pond will spill an amber glow through their windows into the night. But for now there is more than enough light — reflected by the ice — to keep skating. There is nothing prepossessing about the man out there except the grace of his movement and the way he keeps house with his hockey stick. To be walking past a pond while a man skates across the afternoon is to feel suddenly stiffgaited and woefully destination-bound, even though this is just a leisurely walk. The best I can hope for out here, on the pavement, is a stone to kick ahead of me. But inside I am skating through the fading light too, feeling the depth of the ice under me, the poise of my blades. Like the man on skates, I know that now is the precious time. Out on the ice, he is guarding the moment, keeping it close with his stick.
COLUMN
In happiness, timing counts By JOHN KELSO COX NEWSPAPERS
A
USTIN — Texas may have finished 15th among the states in a happiness index published in Science magazine because of timing. The researchers who did the study would have found Texas at No. 1 if the happiness question had been popped at certain moments. For example, ask a Longhorn fan how happy he was after UT superstar quarterback Colt McCoy didn’t win the Heisman, and the Texas happiness level is roasting in Dante’s seventh circle of hell. But ask the same question after Texas beats Alabama (assuming that would happen) for the national championship out in Pasadena, and Texas finishes No. 1 in two categories — football, and screaming yeehaw out the truck window. Another good way to skew the results of this study would be to ask Texans how happy they are right after they’ve finished off a really boss chickenfried steak. That would have put us here in Texas up to at least No. 3 in happiness, and maybe No. 2 if it came with exceptional cream gravy. Oklahoma finished pretty high, considering the circumstances, at No. 21. There’s a simple explanation for this. They’re lying.
The happy survey took into account such specifics as clean air, traffic congestion, how often the sun shines and housing costs. The housing question would explain why California finished 46th out of 51. (Washington, D.C., which finished 37th, was included in the study.) It’s pretty hard to be happy in a state where you have to pack the kids in the minivan and move to Texas just to find a house you can afford. Then there’s New York, which finished dead last. I’ll bet the reason New Yorkers finished last in happiness is that they simply enjoy complaining. Carping makes New Yorkers happy. So asking a New Yorker how happy he is is a loaded question. Here’s another one that’s no surprise to me: Louisiana finished Numero Uno — the happiest state of them all. No kidding? Have you ever seen a disgruntled Cajun? Me neither. I mean, as long as the col’beer doesn’t run out and that unofficial impromptu hunting season continues 365 days a year in the swamp, Louisiana will remain a shoo-in for happiest place in America. Almost forgot. Hawaii finished No. 2. Of course, Hawaii finished high. There is no ugly in Hawaii. If you want ugly in Hawaii you have to import it from, say, Oklahoma. (To reach John Kelso, of the Austin American-Statesman, send an e-mail to jkelso@statesman.com)
COLUMN
Obama’s turn to take blame A
s the new year commences, two facts emerge: George W. Bush is officially retired as the fault-guy for the nation’s ills, and Barack Obama owns the game. Whether he wants to or not. Every president deserves a year of grace to adapt to the job and adjust to its Himalayan learning curve. As Obama’s first year ends – almost with a bang, thanks to a lonely Nigerian who found love in jihad – his grace period is up. Indeed, depending on how he responds to the security breach that almost brought down a Detroitbound flight from Amsterdam, Obama’s presidency is at risk of being rendered prematurely impotent. If Bush could be blamed for the dot-connecting inadequacies that helped enable the terrorist attacks of 9/11 eight months into his administration, then Obama can fairly be held responsible for the incompetence that allowed a disaffected jihadist to get explosive powder onto a plane.
Nigerian punchline The banality of our most recent would-be attack is almost too on-the-nose to exploit, but really. The son of a Nigerian banker, already a punch line to all who’ve been spammed by e-mailers alleging to be Nigerian bankers promising riches, packs his underwear with explosive material? Was this fellow com-
“
KATHLEEN PARKER
puter-generated by a cartoon character? If it weren’t all so bloody horrifying, the incident would be ridiculous.
Hopes dashed Which, come to think of it, is a fair appraisal of the Obama administration’s initial performance when faced with a potentially catastrophic terrorist strike. The dots that needed connecting were all but performing the California Raisin dance. Were we ever justified in hoping for better? National security was never considered Obama’s strong suit. Back in September 2008, if I may be excused for quoting myself, I wrote: “I worry that Obama isn’t serious enough about terrorism and free markets. ... I worry about Obama’s over-intellectualizing — that he will get lost in a maze of deep thoughts and fail to be decisive when necessary.” Or lost on a golf course, as the case may be. Obama’s open-collared, vacation response from Hawaii was delivered on Katrina time – about two days too late – and fell a few links short of reassuring. Something about humans and systems failing. Yes, well, that would about cov-
er it. Deep breath. The cool detachment that was so attractive when political opponents were trying to rile Obama is suddenly becoming annoying. Preternaturally unflappable, his demeanor in these circumstances borders on inappropriate. What does it take to get a rise out of Barack Obama? Not that we need bombast and flared nostrils. Calm in the face of potential disaster is laudable, but it’s a fine line between executive tranquility and passive nonchalance. Like a tone-deaf disk jockey, Obama plays elevator music when the crowd wants John Philip Souza. But, action is being taken, we’re told. Investigations are under way and reports are being tabulated.
Action coming Soon decisions will be forthcoming as to whether we bomb al-Qaeda outposts in Yemen or insist that airline travelers liberate their inner Britneys and go panty-free through security checkpoints. Full cavity searches can’t be far from the minds of bureaucrats looking for ways to create a faux sense of security rather than figuring out how to draw simple inferences from red flags, recently in numbers sufficient to spell out “Allahu Akbar” on a halftime football field. The brightest among many was the perpetrator’s own father’s reports, both
in person (twice) and by phone to American officials, that his son had become radicalized and might be dangerous.
Balls dropped A CIA report describing those concerns apparently never made it through the Byzantine intelligence channels until after the foiled attack on Christmas Day. Why? It was for just such coordination that the Bush administration four years ago created the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which last April came under fire by its then-inspector general, Edward Maguire — just days before being replaced. Maguire’s report may provide the simplest answer to what went wrong. In addition to criticizing the amount of time intelligence chiefs spend briefing the White House and Congress instead of managing the intelligence apparatus, Maguire blasted the ODNI for bureaucratic fat and financial mismanagement. In fairness to Obama, Maguire’s findings were completed before the president assumed office, but not released publicly until April. Even so, Obama has had plenty of time to tweak the system he now blames for the underwear bomber. It’s his ball now; time to stop dribbling. (Reach Kathleen Parker at kathleenparker@washpost.com)
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2010
Zentertainment
PAGE 5A
BEST OF 2009 By KIRSTEN CROW THE ZAPATA TIMES
It was a milestone year for Laredo’s entertainment scene: Some of the biggest names in hip-hop made their long-anticipated arrival in the Gateway City, intellectual theater was revived and rock roared back at both the Laredo Entertainment Center and at Texas A&M International University’s AutMus Fest. Of course, no week may have been more publicized than one of the city’s most recent, when Laredo’s impending lack of a bookstore and its delayed concert date for Lil’ Wayne made national headlines from CNN to the Los Angeles Times. There’s virtually no way to completely cover absolutely everything worth noting that transpired in the world of films, theater, arts and music, but below are a few of the highlights.
Concerts There’s just no overlooking how 2009 kicked off — with T.I. headlining a show at the LEC, the first hiphop concert to land in the arena. The Atlanta-born Clifford “Tip” Harris Jr. hit ’em hard in one of his last performances before serving jail time for weapons possession charges. Performing before a packed house, the rapper, who was carrying more than a few No. 1 hits under his belt, brought “Whatever You Like,” “Swagga Like Us,” “Big (Expletive) Poppin’ (Do It),” “Bring Em Out,” “What You Know” and “Live Your Life” to the masses. The sheer turnout was the final and resounding
answer as to whether Laredo had a market for the genre. And while it wasn’t the first, it was easily the first in recent memory that rock made its return to the venue when the “Stimulate This!” concert brought the likes of Staind, Chevelle, Shinedown and Halestorm in a night packed with equal amounts rock staples and hot-as-Hades-at-the-moment stars. But arguably, the biggest concert of the year is the one that just passed us by, starring Weezy himself, Lil’ Wayne. Not only was it the most buzzed-about show of the year, but it drew fans of all stripes — not merely hiphop fans, but simply music fans, many of whom camped out in the freezing temperatures to be first in line for some primo tickets. The story, of course, became even more buzzedabout when the concert was delayed a day after Wayne, born Dwayne Carter Jr., and his entourage were detained in Falfurrias by Border Patrol — this, of course, following the canines catching a hit of marijuana on two of the buses. Although disappointed, the crowd returned — some with more fervor than before — the following evening for the show, which featured a charismatic Wayne, a four-piece band an a nearly never-ending lineup of Young Money protégés.
Hometown heroes Laredo was well-represented in the music scene in 2009, especially with the Grammy nomination of Grupo Fantasma, which was founded by four members of — where else? —
the Gateway City. Known for their unique brand of funkalicious rockLatin flair, the boys didn’t bring home the award. But merely being nominated was huge, according to them, as well as their diehard, very loyal fans. Another band making a name for itself on the national scene in 2009 was Hacienda, led by Laredo native Dante Schwebel. The group has not only been an up-and-coming force on the indie rock scene, but has also recorded and toured with blues-rock indie great Dan Auerbach, known for his work in the Black Keys. Hacienda finished off the year playing a sold-out show in Laredo in December.
Theater Theater for grown-ups is back. For adults who dig stagecraft but are seeking works geared toward more mature audiences, 2009 was essentially the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Laredo Musical Theatre International and the Laredo Theatre Guild joined forces to bring “Man of La Mancha” to the new TAMIU Center for Fine and Performing Arts theater, while the Laredo Institute of Theatrical Education took on more risqué fare than the status quo summer musical with its Kit Kat Klub in “Cabaret.” Another notable was the formation and subsequent production by the first student-led theater group, the Texas A&M International University Theater Troupe, which staged the dark comedy, “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.” Judging from the re-
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Despite a daylong delay, the crowd at the Laredo Entertainment Center welcomed Lil’ Wayne to the stage on Saturday, Dec. 19. The concert was billed as the biggest of the year. sponses of the collective audiences, and the quality of the shows, 2010 has a lot of promise.
Art The arts scene all over town was bustling throughout the year as galleries showcased the works of intown talents, as well as a few imports. The biggest shows, though, were likely at Laredo Center for the Arts. In April, the nonprofit hosted the works of former Laredoan Jerry Cabrera, who has been featured in the Neiman Marcus Collection and the AT&T Center in San Antonio. At the end of the year, the same spot was responsible for its homage to the King of Pop in the Michael Jackson Invitational, which drew artists of all colors and media in a touching endnote and farewell to one of the biggest icons in music the world has ever known. Sadly, the city lost one of its independent galleries housed in a warehouse — what was once known at Sound Art Space, and later as Kitsch Art and Music —
Photo by Ricardo Segovia | The Zapata Times
Raul Staggs, left, and Joe Arciniega, right, pose at the TAMIU Center For Fine and Performing Arts theater. The duo were recreating their roles as Don Quixote and Sancho Panza 30 years after their original portrayal in the Laredo Little Theatre. that was a haven for more guerilla works and their makers.
Perhaps a new one will move in to fill the void in 2010.
6A LAREDO MORNING TIMES
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2010
20 million collect unemployment checks in ‘09 By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — A record 20 million-plus Americans collected unemployment benefits at some point in 2009, a year that ended with the jobless rate at 10 percent. As the pace of layoffs slows, the number of new applicants visiting unemployment offices has been on the decline in recent months. But limited hiring means the ranks of the longterm unemployed continues to grow, with more than 5.8 million people out of work for more than six months. The number of new claims for jobless benefits dropped last week to 432,000, the Labor Department said Thursday, down sharply from its late March peak of 674,000. The decline signals that the economy could begin adding a small number of jobs in January, several economists said. Still, hiring is unlikely to be strong enough to quickly bring down the unemployment rate, which fell from 10.2 percent in October to 10 percent in November. December’s rate will be announced Jan. 8. Companies will remain cautious about adding staff until they are confident the
economic recovery is sustainable — something they remain unsure about as consumers and businesses keep a lid on spending, and as the government begins to wind down various stimulus programs. The Federal Reserve and private economists expect joblessness to stay above 9 percent through the end of 2010. The slow pace of hiring will force Congress and the Obama administration in 2010 to spend as much as $70 billion to extend jobless aid for the long-term unemployed, or else let benefits — which were extended several times in 2009 — expire for millions of people. “Fewer people are getting fired, but nobody is finding a job,” said Dan Greenhaus, chief economic strategist at Miller Tabak. Thursday’s report illustrates the two different trends: first-time jobless claims are falling as layoffs ease, but the total number of people collecting unemployment checks is still rising. More than 10.1 million people collected jobless benefits in the week of Dec. 12, the latest data available. That’s up by about 200,000 compared with the previous week. That figure includes 5.3
million people receiving the 26 weeks of aid customarily provided by the states, and 4.8 million people that have shifted to the extended benefit programs enacted by Congress over the past two years and paid for by the federal government. Unemployment insurance averages about $300 per week. But the extensions are set to expire in February. That could mean as many as 1 million people would run out of unemployment aid in March, according to the National Employment Law Project, a nonprofit group. The total number of people who at one point collected benefits in 2009 — roughly 20.7 million — is also a record. A larger proportion of the unemployed received jobless benefits in the last steep recession in 1981-82, but the work force has grown by about one-third since then. Fifteen million Americans are out of work, an increase of 3.8 million since the start of 2009. There are six unemployed people, on average, for each available job. And the so-called underemployment rate, counting part-time workers who want full-time jobs and laid-off workers who have given up their job hunt, stands at 17.2 percent.
Americans fall short on government health goals By MIKE STOBBE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA — About 10 years ago the U.S. government set some lofty health goals for the country to reach by 2010. By many measures, Americans didn’t do so well. There are more obese Americans than a decade ago, not fewer. They eat more salt and fat, not less. More of them have high blood pressure. More U.S. children have untreated tooth decay. But the country has made at least some progress on many other goals. Vaccination rates improved. Most workplace injuries are down. And deaths rates from stroke, cancer and heart disease are all dropping. As a new decade approaches, the government is analyzing how well the U.S. met its 2010 goals and drawing up a new set of goals for 2020 expected to be more numerous and — perhaps — less ambitious. “We need to strike a balance of setting targets that are achievable and also ask the country to reach,” said Dr. Howard Koh, the federal health official who oversees the Healthy People project. “That’s a balance that’s sometimes a challenge to strike.” The Healthy People objectives were first created in the late 1970s to set an agen-
da for getting Americans to live longer, healthier lives. It was also an attempt to involve the public and emphasize that many health problems are preventable. Every 10 years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reassesses the goals, and reports on progress made in the previous decade. Many call the effort a success. The report has been imitated by states and other nations. But after more than 30 years, the goals aren’t well known to the public and only a modest number have been met. About 41 percent of the 1990 measurable goals were achieved. For the 2000 goals, it was just 24 percent. As for the 2010 goals, data is still being collected, and a final report is not due out until 2011. But it looks like the results will be in the neighborhood of 20 percent, according to a preliminary analysis by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. The CDC analysis done this fall found that just 18 percent of those goals have been met so far. Worse, the nation actually retreated from about 23 percent of the goals. One example: Healthy People 2010 called for the percentage of adults who are obese to drop to 15 percent. That goal was set at a time when nearly a quarter of all adults were obese.
FLUMENCIO MUÑOZ San Ygnacio, TX— Flumencio Muñoz, 24, passed away on December 24, 2009, at his residence in San Ygnacio, TX. Flumencio is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Fernando Villarreal; and uncle, Flumencio Muñoz, Jr. Flumencio is survived by his daughter, Yareli Muñoz; parents, Javier Eduardo (Leticia) Muñoz; brother, Jesus Alberto Muñoz; paternal grandparents, Flumencio (Amada L.) Muñoz; and maternal grandmother, Evangelina Villarreal; and by numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends. Visitation hours were held on Sunday, December 27, 2009, from 6 to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession departed on Monday, December 28, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. for a 9 a.m. funeral mass at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in San Ygnacio, TX. Commit-
tal services followed at the Panteon del Pueblo in San Ygnacio, TX. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 US HWY 83, Zapata, TX.
Now, about 34 percent of adults are obese, according to federal statistics. Right now, health officials are developing goals for 2020. The details are far from settled, but an advisory panel of experts has recommended that the new goals be more realistic. They also hope to make it more inviting to the public. In the past, Healthy People reports have been released as a book the size of a James Michener epic. “They have a lot of good information. They can also give you a backache,” said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health who heads a committee for thegoals. He and others are pushing for Healthy People 2020 to be an online document.
Photo by Damian Dovarganes | AP
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, Nick Ayrom, from Glendale, Calif., a former high school teacher, looks for technology-related jobs on a computer terminal at the Verdugo Job Center. The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits dropped unexpectedly last week, a sign the job market is healing as the economy slowly recovers. Budget-strapped state governments will struggle with higher spending on unemployment insurance in 2010. States are required to set aside money in a trust fund to pay jobless benefits, but 25 have already run through their funds and have borrowed $26 billion from the federal government.
they try to reduce the size of budget shortfalls that are expected to reach $180 billion in the coming fiscal year. The drain on federal and state finances could force Congress to consider raising the federal unemployment insurance tax, which is currently 0.8 percent on the first $7,000 of wages, or making other changes.
New restrictions to add to air-travel headaches By DAVID KOENIG ASSOCIATED PRESS
New security restrictions swiftly implemented following a botched attempt to blow up an airliner on Christmas Day will make air travel more burdensome and could discourage some business fliers, key customers for the airlines. Passengers will likely face longer lines at checkpoints and less freedom to move around the airplane during flight. Leisure travelers, such as the families that packed airports to return home on Sunday after the holiday, are likely to put up with the new inconveniences, as they have before. But business travelers may think twice before flying if stepped-up security
IRMA L. ROSALES San Ygnacio, TX—Irma L. Rosales, 85, passed away on December 25, 2009, at Laredo Specialty Hospital in Laredo, TX. Mrs. Rosales is preceded in death by her parents, Eutiquio (Maria Del Refugio) Lerma; husband, Antonio L. Rosales; daughter, Gloria Rosales; son, Armando (Melida) Rosales; brother, Jose (Amada) Lerma; sisters, Antonia Lerma, Maria (Roman) Garcia, Adelfa (Alfonso) Silva, and Eliza (Domingo) Treviño. Mrs. Rosales is survived by her sons, Antonio L. (Mariasidelia) Rosales, Jr., Adrian (Maria R.) Rosales; daughters, Guadalupe Rosales, and Rosario R. (Juan M.) Alvarado; grandchildren, Norma (Jaime) Vasquez, Armando (Becky) Rosales, Jr., Rebecca Rosales, Juan M. Alvarado, III, Antonio L. Alvarado; greatgrandchildren, Adriana Vasquez, Jaime E. Vasquez, Angelina Rosales, Angel Rosales, Adrian Rosales, Ana Rosales; and by numerous nephews, nieces, and many friends. Visitation hours were held on Monday, December 28, 2009, from 6 to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession departed on Tuesday, December 29, 2009, at 9:30
The Labor Department has projected that 40 states may need to borrow as much as $90 billion by 2012. Thirty-five states have already increased the unemployment insurance taxes they levy on employers for 2010, according to the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. Some are also cutting benefits as
a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in San Ygnacio, TX. Committal services will follow at the Uribe Cemetery in San Ygnacio, TX. The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Milton Haber, Zapata County E.M.S., Pro Care Ambulance Service, and staff members of the third and fourth floor of Doctors Hospital. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 US HWY 83, Zapata, TX.
means spending hours at the airport. That’s troubling to the airlines, because business travelers tend to fly frequently and pay higher fares. Alarmed by the prospect of losing their best customers, airlines are already asking federal officials to make any new procedures palatable to passengers. Tougher security measures were imposed after a man flying from Nigeria to Amsterdam then to the U.S. on a Northwest Air-
lines flight Friday tried to ignite an explosive as the plane prepared to land in Detroit. On Sunday, police met another Amsterdamto-Detroit flight after the crew reported a “verbally disruptive passenger.” A law enforcement official said the man posed no security risk to the plane. Government officials didn’t detail the restrictions, saying they don’t want terrorists to know about potential security measures.
SÁBADO 2 DE ENERO DE 2010
Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 2 DE ENERO LAREDO - Una venta de libros se llevará a cabo hoy en la Widener Room de la First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave., de 8:30 a.m. a 1 p.m. Se invita al público en general. La entrada es gratuita. Igualmente se aceptan libros y revistas para donación. LAREDO - El equipo de baloncesto femenil de Texas A&M International University recibe hoy a Arkansas – Fort Smith University a las 2 p.m. en la cancha universitaria. Los boletos tienen costo de 5 dólares para el público en general, 3 dólares para estudiantes y gratis para cualquiera con identificación de TAMIU. Más información llamando al 326-2891. LAREDO - El equipo de baloncesto varonil de Texas A&M International University recibe hoy a Arkansas – Fort Smith University a las 4:30 p.m. en la cancha universitaria. Los boletos tienen costo de 5 dólares para el público en general, 3 dólares para estudiantes y gratis para cualquiera con identificación de TAMIU. Más información llamando al 326-2891.
Zfrontera
Esperan repunte de la A-H1N1 ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CD. VICTORIA, México – La Secretaría de Salud espera un incremento en los casos de la Influenza A-H1N1 en enero. Debido a esto, el Secretario de Salud Federal José Ángel Córdova Montoya encabezó una videoconferencia con las diferentes entidades para dar a conocer planes y estrategias que permitan evitar daños a la salud. El Secretario de Salud en Tamaulipas Juan Guillermo Mansur Arzola dijo que principalmente se trabaja en la ampliación de la cobertura de la vacunación a otros grupos de población entre los que destacan a las mujeres embarazadas desde el primer trimestre de gestación, a los me-
“
En Tamaulipas se ha cubierto el 100 por ciento de las 12 mil 800 dosis que fueron asignadas en la primera etapa. SECRETARÍA DE SALUD
nores de 6 a 24 meses de edad y a los cuidadores de menores y guarderías. Mansur dijo que la vacuna es segura y útil, por lo que no existe ningún riesgo en su aplicación. En Tamaulipas se ha cubierto el 100 por ciento de las 12 mil 800 dosis que fueron asignadas en la primera etapa. Esta semana lle-
garon 1,085 frascos que cubrirán una población de más de 10 mil personas. Mansur explicó que entre las estrategias para asegurar la vacunación se debe incluir la aplicación en los hospitales maternos infantiles y de gineco-obstetricia, llevar brigadas de vacunación a lugares con cualquier tipo de vul-
ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE LAREDO
LAREDO - Las oficinas de Texas A&M International University reabren hoy a las 8 a.m. para todos los servicios. LAREDO - El equipo de baloncesto varonil de Texas A&M International University recibe hoy a Dallas Baptist University a las 5 p.m. en la cancha universitaria. Los boletos tienen costo de 5 dólares para el público en general, 3 dólares para estudiantes y gratis para cualquiera con identificación de TAMIU. Más información llamando al 3262891.
MIÉRCOLES 6 DE ENERO
JUEVES 7 DE ENERO ZAPATA - La Serie de FLW Outdoors Stren T1 continúa hoy. Más información contactando a la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata al (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, ó escribiendo a customercare@zapatachamber.com
VIERNES 8 DE ENERO ZAPATA - La Serie de FLW Outdoors Stren T1 continúa hoy. Más información contactando a la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata al (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, ó escribiendo a customercare@zapatachamber.com
SÁBADO 9 DE ENERO LAREDO - El equipo de Softból Lady Longhorn de United High School realizará un campamento de softból el día hoy. El campamento es para alumnas del 4to al 8vo grado en el nuevo campo de UHS de 10 a.m. a 1 p.m. El costo es de 25 dólares. El campamento se enfocará en bateo, campo y lanzamiento. Más información llamando a Javier Morin al 645-0931 ó Raymond Rodriguez al 3339713. ZAPATA - FLW National Guard College Fishing, Texas Division, takes place today. For more information contact the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, (800) 292LAKE, or customercare@zapatachamber.com
nerabilidad como en la Cruz Roja, casas hogar, entre otros. En lo referente a los medicamentos, se mencionó que además de que existe una reserva estratégica para la atención de los pacientes, se utilizará también el medicamento Peramivir, el cual ha recibido autorización de emergencia en EU y México con requisitos para su uso, debido a que se aplica solamente en pacientes graves y es mediante vía intravenosa. Las campañas de vacunación tienen como finalidad sensibilizar a los grupos de riesgo sobre el acudir a vacunarse, ya que es un método seguro y gratuito en el que solamente se debe acudir a los centros de salud para su aplicación.
Tamaulipas implementará ‘Alerta Amber’
LUNES 4 DE ENERO
ZAPATA - La Serie de FLW Outdoors Stren T1 inicia hoy. Más información contactando a la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata al (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, ó escribiendo a customercare@zapatachamber.com
PÁGINA 7A
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
El Servicio Nacional del Empleo en Tamaulipas y el Gobierno del Estado aseguran que su programa de otorgamiento de empleo y capacitación ha permitido que personas salgan adelante.
Estado motiva autoempleo ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CD. VICTORIA, México El Servicio Nacional de Empleo Tamaulipas destinó en el 2009 una inversión de 18 millones 52 mil pesos en apoyos de capacitación y autoempleo. Con estos recursos, 3 mil 480 personas fueron beneficiadas con capacitación y 792 emprendedores familiares recibieron herramientas y equipo que les aseguran el desarrollo de un oficio o actividad económica por cuenta propia en beneficio de sus familias. “El objetivo es apoyar a emprendedores responsables y comprometidos brindándoles orientación ocupacional, asistencia técnica e información y, en su caso, capacitación o apoyos económicos y en especie, en función de sus características y las del mercado laboral”, indica un comunicado
de prensa. El Programa de Fomento al Autoempleo en Tamaulipas permite generar empleos, mediante la consolidación de proyectos productivos rentables, enmarcados en micro regiones con posibilidades de crecimiento integral; buscando, en el mediano y largo plazos, encadenamientos productivos integrales en las zonas de influencia; apoyados con recursos económicos, asesoramiento técnico-administrativo y de gestión. “Los beneficiarios incrementan sus posibilidades de colocación y los trabajadores activos podrán tener acceso a una remuneración más alta por su participación mejor calificada en el desarrollo de los procesos productivos de sus centros de trabajo”, agrega el comunicado.
CD. VICTORIA, México – La Procuraduría General de Justicia en Tamaulipas implementará el programa “Amber Alert” (Alerta Ámber), a invitación del Departamento de Justicia de EU. “La implementación se logró a través de acuerdos operacionales entre los colaboradores y participantes lo que representa una pieza principal de la estrategia a corto, mediano y largo plazo del sistema Alerta Ámber, los cuales definen los papeles, responsabilidades y autoridad de cada entidad que en el intervienen”, indica un comunicado de prensa. “Alerta Ámber” es una estrategia para crear un red estatal que se una a las que ya existen a nivel nacional e internacional, consistente en implementar acciones inmediatas en casos relacionados con incidentes de niños desaparecidos, sustraídos o que se encuentren en peligro grave y que permitan garantizar su seguridad. Actualmente el programa opera en Canadá,
gran parte de EU y en diversos países de Europa. En México se encuentra establecido como Programa de Gobierno en la Procuraduría General de Justicia en Baja California, en colaboración con autoridades de California. El programa funciona a través de una capacitación otorgada por el Departamento de Justicia de los EU a todos y cada uno de los que participan y colaboran para la obtención de resultados positivos de los menores. Se establecen una serie de acciones de prevención, reacción y cooperación en casos de sustracción, secuestro o peligro grave de menores. Participan la PGJ, las áreas de Seguridad Pública de los tres órdenes de gobierno, los Sistemas del Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (locales y estatal), medios de comunicación (radio, televisión, prensa), personal de emergencias como la Cruz Roja y otras dependencias como son sindicatos, taxis, camiones urbanos y foráneos y organizaciones que abogan por la protección de los menores.
A PUNTO DE CERRAR
Programa Mejor Empleo A través del programa “Mejor empleo” se ha capacitado a quienes requieren aprender un oficio o adquirir competencias laborales, para acceder a un puesto de trabajo. Los beneficios reciben equipo y herramientas para emprender un negocio familiar o trabajar por cuenta propia. En 2009, Estado y Federación han invertido en conjunto más de 62 millones de pesos en beneficio de 16 mil tamaulipecos. La Secretaria de Desarrollo Económico y del Empleo a través del Servicio del Empleo en Tamaulipas ha respaldado con incentivos económicos a más de 77 mil buscadores de empleo, con una inversión total de más de 234 millones de pesos.
Foto por Ricardo Santos | Associated Press
La Librería B. Dalton dentro del Mall del Norte en Laredo, está por cerrar sus puertas. Laredo, con una población de cerca de cuarto de millón de personas, pudiera ser pronto una de las ciudades más grandes de EU sin una librería. El cierre de B. Dalton está programado para el 16 de enero. Tras esto, la librería más cercana estará a 150 millas de distancia.
Preocupan casos de diabetes en Tamaulipas ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CD.VICTORIA - La diabetes y las enfermedades cardiovasculares, constituyen las principales causas de muerte, además que son motivo común y cada vez más frecuente de discapacidad, muerte prematura y consumo elevado de los recursos para la salud. Luis Fernando Garza
Frausto de la Secretaría de Salud dijo que la diabetes está causando estragos en la salud pública, repercutiendo desde luego en la economía de los países y se ha mencionado que son casi 300 millones de personas en todo el mundo que la padecen. México tiene aproximadamente 6.8 millones de afectados, ocupando el décimo lugar mundial con diabéti-
cos. Tamaulipas ocupa el segundo lugar en la tasa nacional con una estimación de 220 mil personas con diabetes. “Estos datos estadísticos son para que hagamos una reflexión sobre lo que puede significar en lo individual y lo familiar este padecimiento”, dijo Garza. “Tendremos que asegurarnos que nuestras actividades sirvan para
generar conciencia sobre este padecimiento y prestar el apoyo necesario para ayudar a cumplir con los objetivos de este día”. En Tamaulipas se han hecho esfuerzos para proteger principalmente a menores que padecen la Diabetes Tipo 1. Garza explicó que en años anteriores se integraban 2 o 3 niños por año al
grupo de los ya existentes en tratamiento que se atienden con todos los cuidados en el Hospital Infantil de Tamaulipas. Actualmente son casi 20 niños los que ingresan cada año. A la fecha se tiene un registro de más de 60 menores que reciben el tratamiento con insulina, y 15 de ellos que requirieron microinfusoras de insulina.
8A LAREDO MORNING TIMES
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2010
Suicide bomber was invited to CIA base By ADAM GOLDMAN AND PAMELA HESS ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The suicide bomber who killed seven CIA employees at a remote outpost in southeastern Afghanistan had been invited onto the base and had not been searched, two former U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Thursday A former senior intelligence official says the man was being courted as an informant and that it was the first time he had been brought inside the camp. An experienced CIA debriefer came from Kabul for the meeting, suggesting that the purpose was to gain intelligence, the official said. The former intelligence official and another former official with knowledge of the attack spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The CIA would not confirm the details, and said it was still gathering evidence on the incident. “It’s far too early to draw conclusions about something that happened just yesterday,” said spokesman George Little. A separate U.S. official suggested the bomber may have set off the explosives
before he was searched. The bombing on Wednesday dealt a blow to the tightknit spy agency. Among those killed was the chief of the CIA post, whom former officials identified as a mother of three. Six more agency personnel were wounded in what was considered the most lethal attack for the CIA since the war in Afghanistan began in 2001 and possibly even since the 1983 embassy bombing in Beirut. It also was the single deadliest attack for Americans in Afghanistan since eight soldiers were killed in an insurgent attack on a base in the east on Oct. 3. President Barack Obama and CIA Director Leon Panetta were joined by several leading lawmakers on Thursday in praising agency employees for their work. “Those who fell yesterday were far from home and close to the enemy, doing the hard work that must be done to protect our country from terrorism,” Panetta said in a statement confirming the deaths. “We owe them our deepest gratitude, and we pledge to them and their families that we will never cease fighting for the cause to which they dedicated their lives — a safer America.” In a letter to CIA employ-
ees, Obama said their fallen colleagues came from a “long line of patriots” who had helped to keep the nation safe despite grave risks. Obama acknowledged that the spy agency has been tested “as never before” since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, DTexas, who chairs the House committee that oversees intelligence, said he had met with members of the CIA team in a recent visit to Afghanistan. Reyes said the nation owes them “a great debt.” “They will forever be in my mind,” he said. The CIA did not release information about the victims, citing the sensitivity of their mission and other ongoing operations. According to one former agency employee, the death toll represents a significant portion of the CIA’s clandestine force in the region, but is unlikely to cripple the agency because so many of its employees have experience in Afghanistan. “The bench is deeper in Afghanistan than it is anywhere in the world,” the former employee said. The bigger question for CIA operations will probably be whether the agency moves to tighten safety rules.
PLANNING Continued from Page 1A is governed by the Pueblo de San Ygnacio Historic District Commission. “New building and repairs on historical homes will be performed in conformity with strict guidelines to be adopted by the Pueblo de San Ygnacio Historic District Commission,” states the ordinance. The main street of Zapata is considered in the Urban Center zone, which includes frontage along U.S. 83. “The offices, retail buildings and lodgings located along this corridor are included,” states the ordinance. “This district is also
designed to encourage higher density housing and mixed uses consistent with higher population density.” The Courthouse/Town Core includes the area of Zapata containing the courthouse, government offices and medical services. The northeast quadrant of Zapata has been designated as the Industrial Park District, and the Technology Park District is also in the northeast quadrant, adjacent to the airport. According to the ordinance, anyone who violates the provisions is subject to
a civil penalty or $200$1,000 for each day the violation exists. The ordinance states that residents violating the land-use requirements may continue, but the use cannot be changed unless it’s being changed to conform to the ordinance. County officials have said they will not yet begin enforcing the ordinance as the planning and zoning commission still has work to do and a zoning administrator has not been designated. (Julie Daffern may be reached at 728-2565 or jdaffern@lmtonline.com)
YEAR-END Continued from Page 1A
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
Jose M. Ramirez III, center, cuts the ribbon to A.L. Benavides Elementary School with staff, ZCISD board members and community leaders at his side. WATER TREATMENT PLANT: Zapata County officials broke ground on a 7.2-million-gallon water treatment plant in March. The plant, which costs an estimated $21.2 million, is expected to be complete in 2010. ZAPATA MEDICAL CLINIC: The Commissioners Court ended a contract with Zapata Medical Group, headed by Dr. Larry Sands, in September and changed management to Dr. Edmundo Garza, a Zapata native who also practices medicine is San Antonio. A.L BENAVIDES ELEMENTARY: In August, Zapata County Independent School District opened a 25,000-square-foot elementary school in San Ygnacio. The school was built in the style of old Mexico.
HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER: Construction began for the Higher Education Center across from the courthouse and is estimated to cost $3.1 million. It is expected to be complete in 2010. PLANNING ORDINANCE: As the only county in the state with the ability to enact ordinances, Zapata County approved a planning and zoning ordinance in November. ZAPATA MUSEUM: The exterior of the $2 million Zapata Museum is wrapping up and officials expect all exhibits to be installed by April 2010. FORT TREVIÑO: San Ygnacio’s Fort Treviño received increased attention as the River Pierce Foundation works to preserve the structure, which was built in the 1930s.
SAN YGNACIO DRAINAGE: After getting approval from the Texas Historical Commission, Zapata County moved forward with its drainage project in San Ygnacio in April. NEW DA: With Jan. 1, 2009, came a new district attorney for Zapata in Isidro “Chilo” Alaniz. Alaniz won the election after Joe Rubio, who served in the office for more than 20 years, decided not to run for reelection. SUPERINTENDENT CONTRACT: In January, ZCISD Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez surprised the board by submitting a letter requesting that his contract not be extended if the district fails to obtain a “Recognized” status. His contract expires in June 2011.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2010
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors DALLAS COWBOYS FOOTBALL
A REGULAR SEASON FINALE WITH PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS
Plenty still at stake in Week 17 By BARRY WILNER ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Matt Slocum | AP
In this Nov. 8 file photo, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin, right, pulls in a 49-yard touchdown pass as Philadelphia Eagles safety Sean Jones defends during the Cowboys’ 20-16 victory in Philadelphia. The Cowboys and Eagles meet again today with a chance for a home playoff game on the line.
’Boys host Eagles with home game on the line By JAIME ARON ASSOCIATED PRESS
A
RLINGTON — Jerry Jones flew home from last year’s finale in Philadelphia vow-
ing to change the Dallas Cowboys. Although he considered that club as talented as any of his Super Bowl championship teams, they sure didn’t play like it. Torn apart by petty jealousies and personal glory,
they not only blew a chance to cruise into the playoffs, they wound up missing out entirely after getting stomped 44-6 by the Eagles. So Jones dumped Terrell Owens, Adam “Pacman” Jones, Tank Johnson and
Greg Ellis. He fired the defensive coordinator and the special teams coach. He made head coach Wade Phillips take over the defense and plugged holes on the roster
See COWBOYS PAGE 2B
Baltimore (8-7) at Oakland (5-10)
Texans look for winning season, chance to play on By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — A win over the New England Patriots on Sunday would mean everything to the Houston Texans. The opposite couldn’t be said for the AFC East champion Patriots, who have already wrapped up their playoff spot and whose starters could see limited action. Houston remains in playoff contention entering the last
Like the Jets, the Ravens began the year 3-0, then fell to 3-3. Unlike the Jets, they’ve remained in the playoff conversation throughout the schedule. They could have secured a wild-card berth by beating Pittsburgh last Sunday, and now face a potential spoiler. Of Oakland’s five victories, four came against winning teams: Philadelphia, Denver, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
regular-season game for the first time in franchise history, competing primarily with Denver, Baltimore and the New York Jets for one of two AFC wild-card spots. To get in the Texans need a victory and two of those teams to lose Sunday. Those three teams all play after Houston’s game this weekend. “We have to have some
See TEXANS PAGE 2B
How boring is the NFC, with all six playoff participants already decided? Well, the conference is pretty spicy, actually, with the East crown about to be decided in Dallas, the Vikings capable of being seeded second, third or fourth, and the top-ranked Saints suddenly struggling. The AFC already has all four division winners and has concentrated its frenzy on the wild-card race, which has seven teams still in the scramble. The Ravens and Jets are in control, but if either slips, the Broncos, Steelers, Jaguars, Texans and Dolphins remain possibilities. Denver has 10 scenarios by which it can get a wild card, half of those not even requiring the Broncos to win Sunday against Kansas City. Most intriguing are the Eagles (11-4) at the Cowboys (10-5) and the Bengals (10-5) at the Jets (8-7). Dallas won 20-16 at Philadelphia on Nov. 8, seemingly taking charge of the division. But the Cowboys went 4-3 after that, while Philly went 6-1 to take the NFC East lead. Sunday’s winner gets the title and perhaps a bye in the first round of the postseason. Most people, including Jets coach Rex Ryan, thought the Jets would have the postseason off after a loss to Atlanta two weeks ago. Then everything New York required to remain viable for the playoffs happened last weekend — including the Colts waving an unbeaten season goodbye by sitting nearly every starter in the third quarter of a close game. The Jets rallied to hand Indianapolis its first loss, and with a victory Sunday night over the AFC North champion Bengals, who also might rest their regulars, New York gets in.
Pittsburgh (8-7) at Miami (7-8) Photo by Brett Coomer | Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans kicker Kris Brown (3) reacts to making a 49-yard field goal during the Texans’ 27-20 over the Miami Dolphins last Sunday.
LADY HAWKS COMPETE AT BORDER OLYMPICS
By BETSY BLANEY
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
See WEEK 17 PAGE 2B
Tech investigation ends with scandal-prone coach’s firing ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ashley Martinez (15) of the Zapata Lady Hawks goes for a basket as Priscilla Ruiz (13) of the United South Lady Panthers defends during Monday’s Border Olympics Holiday Classic at United High School in Laredo. The Lady Hawks lost that game, 63-44, then fell to the United Lady Longhorns, 67-27. They defeated the Martin Lady Tigers 46-32 on Tuesday for their lone win at the tournament.
How badly will the defending Super Bowl champions be kicking themselves if they win this week, finish 9-7 and get left out of the
LUBBOCK — Texas Tech fired Mike Leach on Wednesday after the coach took the school to court to try to overturn his suspension for alleged mistreatment of an injured player. “I’m very sad to say there’s only one person to blame for this and it’s Mike Leach,” Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance told the AP. Jerry Turner, vice chairman of the university system’s board of regents, said “other things” came to light during an
MIKE LEACH: Texas Tech head football coach fired on Wednesday. investigation of Leach’s treatment of receiver Adam James. The sophomore alleged the coach twice confined him to a small, dark place after the player was diagnosed with a concussion. Turner declined to elaborate about the other issues.
Suspension start Leach was suspended Mon-
day after he refused to agree to guidelines for dealing with players set forth by his bosses in a Dec. 23 letter. When Leach decided to fight the university in court “in defiance” of his suspension, that’s why “we are where we are,” Turner said. Leach was in San Antonio with his team, which is preparing for the Alamo Bowl against Michigan State on Saturday. He left the team’s hotel while his interim replacement, defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill, was holding a news
See LEACH PAGE 2B
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2010
WEEK 17 Continued from Page 1B postseason parade? A fivegame slide, including losses to Kansas City and Oakland, will become the identity marker for 2009 — at least for those who have short memories and overlook what happened back in early February.
Kansas City (3-12) at Denver (8-7) If Pittsburgh is lamenting what might have been, what about Denver, which once was 6-0? The Broncos have stumbled so badly that San Diego surged into control of the AFC West by early December. That stingy Denver defense has crumbled down the stretch.
New England (10-5) at Houston (8-7) Another team that might rest key players is New Eng-
land; does Bill Belichick care all that much about being a No. 3 or No. 4 seed? The Patriots must play in the wild-card round regardless, and they aren’t likely to fear any potential opponent. Houston has never been to the playoffs and hasn’t had a winning season since entering the NFL in 2002. With the right results, the Texans could sneak in and face the Patriots again next weekend.
Indianapolis (14-1) at Buffalo (5-10) Peyton Manning always starts, never missing one since he joined the Colts 11 years ago. Whether he is on the tundra in Orchard Park for more than one series is pure speculation. If Indy was willing to sacrifice the shot at a perfect record last week, why would any key
players provide more than a cameo in this one?
New Orleans (13-2) at Carolina (7-8) Ordinarily, the Saints could be expected to rest everybody and get ready for what they hope is the march to their first Super Bowl. After all, they own home-field advantage throughout the NFC. New Orleans has dropped two in a row and hasn’t played lights-out on offense or defense since November.
NY Giants (8-7) at Minnesota (11-4) On Oct. 11, these teams were a combined 11-0. The Giants plummeted so far that they already have been eliminated from contention, their defense a shell of the unit that helped win a Su-
per Bowl less than two years ago. The Vikings waited until December to go into their dive, losing three of four.
Jacksonville (7-8) at Cleveland (4-11) Three straight losses dropped the Jaguars from control of the AFC wild-card dash to needing lots of help. They needed to close the way Cleveland has with three wins in a row.
Washington (4-11) at San Diego (12-3) Jim Zorn’s final game as Redskins coach. Norv Turner once coached in Washington, and he’s headed into the playoffs with the NFL’s hottest team. San Diego has won 10 in a row, but figures to sit its regulars for much of this game.
Green Bay (10-5) at Arizona (10-5) These teams could meet in the wild-card round next weekend, too. But the Cardinals have a shot at a bye, needing a victory and losses by Minnesota and Philadelphia. Arizona showed last winter how dangerous it can be in the playoffs.
Chicago (6-9) at Detroit (2-13) Detroit can’t look at this year as successful, but at least it’s not 0-16. The Bears looked like a contender in their Monday night overtime victory against the Vikings.
San Francisco (7-8) at St. Louis (1-14) Six straight losing sea-
sons for the Niners could end if they handle the dreadful and banged-up Rams. St. Louis earns the No. 1 overall draft pick if it completes its 1-15 season.
Atlanta (8-7) at Tampa Bay (3-12) When the Falcons joined the league in 1966, who would have imagined they’d go 43 seasons without consecutive winning records? They can end that ignominious string by beating Tampa Bay, which comes off a stunning upset of the Saints.
Tennessee (7-8) at Seattle (5-10) The Titans want to finish their turnaround from 0-6 at.500 record and a nice boost for next year. Seattle merely wants to end another injury-ravaged flop.
TEXANS Continued from Page 1B amazing things happen for us to get lucky and get in, but stranger things have happened,” Houston coach Gary Kubiak said. “But we need to be sitting there at 3:30 on Sunday having played a good football game and we’ll go from there. We’ve got to take care of our business.”
Winning mark Regardless of what the other teams do this weekend, a victory over the Patriots would give Houston a winning record for the first time in its underachieving eight-year history. “It means a lot; we’ve never been in this situation before,” Andre Johnson said. “We know what’s at stake and we’re going to have to find a way to go
out and win it.” Kubiak took over in 2006 after Houston posted a franchise-worst 2-14 record the year before. The Texans have been 8-8 in each of the last two seasons. “We started at the bottom,” Kubiak said. “We took over a team that had the first pick and was at the bottom of the barrel and we went to work with young guys and have been fighting the good fight, and we’ve made a lot of progress. The last couple years around here there have been no losing seasons, but we want to be a playoff team ... so the expectations have changed here and that’s OK.”
Patriots’ plans New England coach Bill Belichick hasn’t divulged
how much Tom Brady, Randy Moss and his other stars will play Sunday. He would say only that he’d “expect they’d be there” when asked if they’ll start. Kubiak said the possibility the starters will rest has no effect his preparation this week. “We are preparing to play their team, what they do offensively, defensively and on special teams,” Kubiak said. “It’s a very, very deep football team and we have to prepare for what they do and in those phases of the game. We have our work cut out for us. We’re not going to get involved in that stuff. We just have to get ourselves ready to play.” These teams have met just twice, the last a 40-7 Patriots win in 2006. That game came in David Carr’s last season in Hous-
ton and he had a tough day, throwing four interceptions and getting sacked four times.
Facing Schaub The Patriots have faced Matt Schaub before, seeing the NFL’s current leading passer in one of his two starts for the Falcons before he was traded to Houston. He threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns for Atlanta, but New England escaped with a 31-28 win in 2005. Belichick remembers that game clearly. “He had a big day,” Belichick said. “He threw the ball all over the place. We couldn’t stop him, got out of the pocket a couple of times, scrambled. He was poised, accurate and made good decisions. He had an
excellent day against us.” Schaub is having the best season of his career. When he starts Sunday it will be the first time in his three years in Houston he’s played in every game. He missed five games in each of his first two seasons with the Texans because of injuries. He has a franchise-record 4,467 yards passing and Johnson leads the league in receiving with 1,504 yards. The combination has helped the Texans build the second-most potent passing attack in the league.
Offensive outbursts Johnson believes having Schaub on the field all year has helped improve the entire offense. “Me and Matt, when
we’re out there playing, we’re on the same page,” Johnson said. “We both see the same things when we’re out there playing. I think that’s why we’ve been able to accomplish what we’ve been able to accomplish. Hopefully it’s something that’s going to get better and better.” Houston beat Miami 2720 last week for its third straight win. The Patriots are coming off a 35-7 win over the Jaguars. “We’re happy with the win, but it doesn’t really mean anything,” Belichick said. “We’ve got a new challenge this week against a whole different matchup. Houston’s a team we’re really not that familiar with. We haven’t played them in a while and they’re a lot different than when we played them in ’06 anyway.”
COWBOYS Continued from Page 1B with relatively unheralded, team-oriented guys. Now look at them. The Cowboys close the season Sunday in another high-stakes finale against the Eagles. Although both teams have clinched a playoff berth, the winner will be crowned champions of the NFC East and earn the reward of a home playoff game. If Philadelphia wins, it will earn the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye. Dallas could get that, too, but it would require losses by Minnesota and Arizona. If the Cowboys win, these teams could meet again next week.
Quick turnarounds Two weeks ago, Dallas was coming off consecutive losses and could have easily folded
again, especially going to New Orleans to play the undefeated Saints. But instead of guys pointing fingers, they came together and knocked off the Saints, then went to Washington and shut out the Redskins. The surge has set themselves up for this potentially big finish and probably saved Phillips’ job. “I feel like we’re more of a team this year,” cornerback Mike Jenkins said. “Last year, we had an incident where our team fell apart a little bit. As you can tell right now, all of us are staying together and we’re playing as a team.” So are the Eagles. Philadelphia was 5-4 in midNovember and coming off consecutive defeats, starting with a home loss to Dallas that put the Cowboys in first place. The Eagles haven’t lost since, winning six straight to put themselves in position to become the betting-
line favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. “The attitude is different, the approach is different, the enthusiasm is a lot different and the confidence is different,” quarterback Donovan McNabb said. “We have to continue that.” McNabb’s offense is averaging 31.2 points during the winning streak, pushing Philadelphia to the most points in franchise history with a game left.
Last meeting However, the Eagles scored only 16 points the last time they played the Cowboys, their second-lowest total of the season. And Dallas is on a three-game roll of limiting teams to their lowest point totals of the season; that includes San Diego and New Orleans, the only clubs that average more points per game
than Philadelphia. The Cowboys slowed the Eagles in November by keeping DeSean Jackson without any of his trademark big plays. It remains to be seen whether they can do it again. “We’ll do a little better job there,” Philadelphia coach Andy Reid said. Another challenge for the Eagles is replacing center Jamaal Jackson, who tore a knee ligament this past Sunday. Nick Cole is taking his place.
Record campaign Philadelphia’s defense will be trying to slow a Dallas offense closing in on its most prolific season. Tony Romo is 40 yards from breaking the club’s singleseason passing record and the offense is 53 yards from its best total.
Should the Cowboys win again, they would have their first winning record after Thanksgiving since 1996, which also happens to be the last time they won a playoff game. Of course, carrying a three-game winning streak into the playoffs and having a home playoff game would help their chances of ending that drought, too. Considering they could lure close to 100,000 for that extra home game, a victory Sunday could be worth untold millions for owner Jerry Jones, giving him even more reasons to pick up Phillips’ option for next season. “When I look at all of this,” Jones said, “I wouldn’t trade the alternative, which is to have felt better sooner. I wouldn’t have traded that alternative to be where we are right now with the good things that I see this team becoming.”
LEACH Continued from Page 1B conference. Approached by a reporter, Leach said no comment before being asked a question. Asked how he felt Texas Tech treated him throughout the last two weeks, Leach responded, “I think that’s apparent.” Texas Tech’s official statement said Leach’s recent actions made it impossible for him to remain coach of the Red Raiders. “In a defiant act of insubordination, Coach Leach continually refused to cooperate in a meaningful way to help resolve the complaint. He also refused to obey a suspension order and instead sued Texas Tech University,” the statement said. The school on Wednesday gave a termination letter to Leach’s attorney, Ted Liggett, minutes before the two sides were to appear in court for a hearing on the coach’s request to be allowed to lead his team in the Alamo Bowl.
Decision supported
Defied guidelines
Wide receiver Tramain Swindall said he supported the decision to fire Leach. “I do agree and I’m supporting Adam and what he’s doing because it’s the right thing to do,” Swindall told the AP in a telephone interview. Swindall said he believes Leach was at times out of line in how he treated players. “And so do most of the players,” he said. “It wasn’t just about Adam. It was always a negative vibe.” James is the son of former NFL player and ESPN analyst Craig James. “We appreciate that the university conducted a fair and thorough investigation,” the James family said in a statement. “From the family’s point of view this has always been about the safety and well being of our son and of all the players on the team.”
Texas Tech officials provided Leach a letter setting out guidelines for dealing with student-athletes. Leach refused to sign it. The letter was included in court papers filed in response to his motion for a restraining order. Among the guidelines: — “Decisions regarding whether an injury warrants suspension from practice and/or play will be determined by a physician without pressure from you or your staff.” —“There will be no retaliation against any student who as suffered an injury.” Tech’s termination letter said Leach was fired with cause, meaning the university believes it does not owe Leach any of the remaining money left on a five-year, $12.7 million contract he agreed to in February. According to terms of the deal, Leach was due a $800,000 bonus on Dec. 31 if
he were still the head coach at Texas Tech. Liggett said he planned to file a lawsuit on Leach’s behalf against the school. McNeill said he was shocked when he learned of the firing — and he lobbied to be Leach’s permanent replacement. “I’m very interested in the job,” he said. “I think that’s a double yes, with some exclamation marks.”
Big 12 troubles Tech is the second Big 12 school to launch an internal investigation into a coach’s treatment of his players. On Nov. 16, Kansas investigated Mark Mangino, who was rewarded with a big raise after he was national coach of the year and went 12-1 in 2007. Some players said he was insensitive, though others defended him. Mangino resigned Dec. 3
after reaching a settlement with the school that was later disclosed as a $3 million buyout. In an affidavit included in Tuesday’s court filing, Leach said he “would never intentionally harm or endanger a player” and that he has been “forced into this situation without being afforded any process.” He also said “absolutely” no evidence had been given to him that showed he had violated any university rules or standards. Several former and current Texas Tech players and coaches defended Leach and harshly criticized Adam James’ work ethic in e-mails obtained by CBSSports.com. Among those were former Texas Tech wide receiver Eric Morris, who wrote that James was “never known as a hard worker” and “seemed to have a negative attitude toward the football program the majority of the time.”
Tech turmoil Despite James being at the center of the turmoil, McNeill said he hasn’t treated him any differently. “There’s been nothing personally said to Adam from me but, ‘Hey, hang in there,” McNeill said. Leach’s dismissal comes a year after he was Big 12 coach of the year and led Tech to the best season in the history of the program. The Red Raiders went 11-2 last season. A quirky, nonconformist with a pass-happy offense and penchant for pirates, Leach arrived in West Texas in 2000. Since then, he has become the winningest coach in school history. He stopped acknowledging players’ injuries to the media in 2003. Not unlike Bob Knight when he came to coach the Red Raiders basketball team for 61/2 years, Leach has raised the profile of the city and the school.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2009
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B
HINTS BE HELOISE Dear Readers: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Twenty-Ten; Two O, One O; Two Thousand and Ten; Twenty One O -- however you say it, it’s here. I hope you and your family, friends and pets are safe, sound and looking forward to the coming year. Many people make resolutions for the new year -- I don’t, because it seems that they fall by the wayside in a short time. Instead, I write a list of 10 goals or things I would like to work toward, have happen, or just plain reach for the stars. They go back 20 years. One of the “reach for the stars” items came true! Exactly this time last year, I was getting ready to jump out of a perfectly good airplane on purpose the next day! Yep, my dream of doing a tandem jump with a member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team
“
HELOISE
came through. We took off from Stinson Airport in San Antonio at about 2 p.m. (we had an almost six-hour weather delay), and then from 13,700 feet, I sped toward the earth for about a 45-second free fall, attached to Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott. He then opened the chute (with quite a jerk and jolt!), and maneuvered us to the spot on the field marked with Golden Knight flags. It was really spectacular to see beautiful San Antonio from this viewpoint, ending with a stand-up landing! The most important thing I learned from the experience is that teamwork means TEAMWORK!
NFL
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2010
Lechler’s quest to set a new record falling short ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shane Lechler has some serious ground to make up if he wants to break Sammy Baugh’s single-season record for punt average. After averaging only 44.2 yards per kick last
NOTEBOOK Photo by A.J. Mast | AP
In this Nov. 15 file photo, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne (87) makes a touchdown reception during the fourth quarter of a 35-34 win over the New England Patriots in Indianapolis. The Colts’ comeback victory was the most talked about game of the 2009 NFL season so far.
The best of the best A look at what the first 16 weeks of the regular season have had to offer ASSOCIATED PRESS
The wild-card scrambles are delicious, and so is the coaching intrigue. And just after the regular season concludes Sunday, ballots will be cast for The Associated Press NFL awards by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. Such honors as most valuable player, offensive and defensive players and rookies of the year, coach of the year and comeback player will be decided. Here’s a look at some unofficial awards for which no trophies will be handed out:
Most memorable game If you like offense, can’t beat Steelers 37, Packers 36, won on the final play. If it’s defense you prefer, how about the Colts’ bruising 1715 win over the Ravens? But the most-talked-about
game has to be Colts 35, Patriots 34 on Nov. 15. New England led nearly all night, sputtered at the end, then fell after Bill Belichick’s much-discussed decision to go for a fourth-and-2 at the Patriots 28 in the final minutes. Tom Brady threw, Kevin Faulk caught and bobbled, Melvin Bullitt tackled. New England came up short, and Peyton Manning guided the Colts to a touchdown and the win. Sure makes for something to look forward to if the Pats and Colts meet up in January.
Biggest turnaround No matter how it turned out, the Titans’ rise from 0-6 to playoff contention was remarkable. Most teams that begin with six losses are lucky to finish 4-12. Jeff Fisher, with more than a little prodding from owner Bud Adams, then turned to
Vince Young to replace struggling Kerry Collins at quarterback. A well-timed bye week made the transition easier, the defense got healthier, and suddenly the Titans looked like the club that went 13-3 a year ago. At least until Christmas night.
Best free agent signing Brett Favre, anyone? Not a bad selection, although not the best selection. That would be either Brian Dawkins or Darren Sharper. Dawkins has spearheaded the defensive turnaround in Denver as one of those game-changing safeties who have become almost commonplace in the league. He’s been a difference maker, though not as much as Sharper has. The Saints have learned to make big plays on defense, even if their stats aren’t tremendously different from 2008. Their record (13-2) is, of course, and Sharper with his nine interceptions and three TD returns is a major reason.
week in Cleveland, Lechler slipped behind Baugh’s mark of 51.4 set in 1940. Lechler’s second punt of the day went for only 42 yards and he started pressing after that. He average dropped from 51.5 to 51.1 in that game. Lechler heads into the season finale against Baltimore needing a big game. If he gets his average six punts, Lechler would need 56.5 yards a kick to pass Baugh. Lechler is in good position to break his personal net punting average of 41.2 set last season. He is averaging 44.0 yards this year.
Back in prime time The AFC North champion Bengals finally made it to prime time in the final week of the regular season. They know what they’ve accomplished had very little to do with it. Their game against the New York Jets was flexed to Sunday night, the first time in more than two years Cincinnati has played a Sunday night or Monday night game. “As a football player, you always want to play on Monday night football and Sunday night football and Thursday night football,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “I don’t think there’s a guy in our locker room that doesn’t want to do that. It’s just one of the negatives of playing here.”
Photo by Charlie Riedel | AP
In this Sept. 20 file photo, Oakland Raiders punter Shane Lechler (9) kicks against the Kansas City Chiefs during their game in Kansas City, Mo. Lechler will need a big outing on Sunday to beat a 69-year-old punting record of 51.4 yards per game.
Top tackling man
Not playing to win
Patrick Willis might get down on one knee and pump his buff biceps muscle when he makes a big play. Still, San Francisco’s Pro Bowl linebacker isn’t too concerned about whether he leads the NFL in tackles for the second time in three seasons. Willis headed into Sunday’s season finale at St. Louis with an NFL-best 147 tackles, 13 higher heading into Week 17 than linebackers Jon Beason of Carolina and Washington’s London Fletcher. Willis, who turns 25 on Jan. 25, also has four sacks, three forced fumbles and three interceptions.
A day after the NFL announced its Pro Bowl selections, many players preparing for the playoffs expressed their desire not to play in this year’s game, which falls one week before the Super Bowl. But in Indianapolis, the question of not playing took on new meaning given this week’s events. The Colts have been criticized nationally and by fans locally for pulling their starters in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Jets, throwing away a chance at a perfect season to rest players for what they hope will be a Super Bowl run.