The Zapata Times 1/10/2009

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Pot busts worth $200K Former BP

By NICK GEORGIOU LAREDO MORNING TIMES

Local law enforcement kicked off the new year with a significant drug bust Monday in Zapata and Webb counties, authorities said.

The drug seizure, coordinated by sheriff’s deputies in both counties, netted a total of about 290 pounds of marijuana worth almost $200,000.

Martin Cuellar, Webb County sheriff, said the seizure happened after Zapata authorities received a report saying there were suspicious men loading something into two vehicles.

Acting on the tip, Zapata sheriff’s deputies

went to the reported location in the 1200 block of Juarez Street and spotted one of the suspect vehicles.

According to the offense report, a deputy pulled over the driver for a traffic violation at about 3:40 p.m. Upon searching the driver and veCUELLAR hicle, the deputy found 102 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $30,000.

The driver, identified as Miguel Dominguez, of the 400 block of Jackson Street, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana between 50 pounds and 2,000

pounds, a second-degree felony.

Cuellar said Zapata sheriff’s deputies were then able to get information saying the other suspect vehicle, a white Dodge pickup, was heading toward Laredo on U.S. 83.

At about 4:30 p.m., Webb County sheriff’s deputies spotted the pickup about 3½ miles outside Laredo city limits.

Maru De La Paz, Webb County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman, said deputies tried to pull over the vehicle for a traffic violation, but the driver refused to stop and sped off.

She said that shortly thereafter, the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree.

See BUST | PAGE 10A

agent faces prison, fine

By JASON BUCH LAREDO MORNING TIMES

A former Border Patrol agent who was serving in Zapata pleaded guilty earlier this week to accepting bribes in exchange for escorting a load of cocaine through Zapata County.

Leonel Morales, 30, was assigned to the Zapata Station when FBI agents arrested him in December.

Morales pleaded guilty Tuesday before a U.S. magistrate judge to one count of bribery. He faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

FBI agents arrested Morales, who was stationed in Zapata, and his cousin Salomon Ruiz, 34, a Border Patrol agent in McAllen, on bribery and drug smuggling charges Dec. 3, after prosecutors in Houston unsealed an indictment against them.

Morales took $9,000 from a person who is a cooperating witness in exchange for providing counter surveillance for traf-

Morales took $9,000 from a person who is a cooperating witness in exchange for providing counter surveillance ... fickers moving a 20-kilogram load of cocaine while serving as a Border Patrol agent in August, according to testimony in Tuesday’s plea hearing.

Ruiz recruited Morales in June to escort the coke for a trafficker who was actually cooperating with federal agents, according to a plea agreement read in court Tuesday by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Wright.

See AGENT | PAGE 10A

Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times

Left to right Rio Bravo children Gustavo Quiroz, Eric Cantu and Alex Ramos enjoy a warm meal thanks to the hard work of South Texas Food Bank and programs like Kids Cafe at the Rio Bravo Community Center.

FOOD PROGRAMS HELP CHILDREN (Editor’s note: United Way is funding 25 agencies in Laredo and Zapata with its 2008-09 campaign. This is the last in a series about the agencies and the people they help.)

Texas Monthly names El Paraiso to a top-40 list

By CHRISTINA ROSALES LAREDO MORNING TIMES

hildren from all over El Cenizo walk to El Cenizo Community Center.

Some head to the indoor courts to play basketball — perhaps a future NBA star is among them.

A few children make their way to the computer lab. Maybe a future Michael Dell is sitting at one of the desks.

For now, Ricardo Molina, director of El Cenizo Community Center, is concerned with giving these children a safe and comfortable environment to eat, learn and play, catalysts for future academic and career success.

“We’re trying to provide something extra for the kids when they get out of school, a little snack so they can go home and be focused and happy,” said Molina, who runs the Ramon Galo and Zoe Benavides Kids Café at the community center.

The Kids Café is a product of the South Texas Food Bank and the Laredo Housing Authority.

The first six cafes were founded in 2000 in several Laredo community centers. The food bank added five more Kids Cafés, including the El Cenizo café in 2006, with the help of local benefactors.

Molina has worked with community organizations for 11 years and has been the center’s director for five years. He said he enjoys assisting families and

C

By JASON BUCH THE ZAPATA TIMES

Photo by Ricardo Segovia | Laredo Morning Times

Juan Garcia, left, watches as his friend Pedro Ramos calculates a shot at the Community Center at El Cenizo after they enjoyed a meal at the Ramon Galo and Zoe Benavides Kids Café. helping the community progress.

The director of the community center said the Kids Café would not be possible without a caring staff committed to fighting hunger.

“I have my staff that provides a lot of help,” Molina said.

“Then we have all of our sponsors like John Galo and his wife. They’re trying to help keep the kids off the street and trying to feed them, help them out with whatever. We don’t have starving kids. We do have kids that need a little bit of attention.”

Molina said he encourages children to study hard and do their best in school. Tutoring, reading and computers are all available at the Kids Café.

During the summer, children who are members of the El Cenizo Boys & Girls Club ate breakfast and lunch and had a snack at the Kids Café.

“They go and enjoy their food,” said Maria del Carmen Cisneros, director of the Boys & Girls Club of El Cenizo. “They like to have the Kids Café. They don’t have too many of these kinds of programs in El Cenizo so this Kids Café helps the community. The income is very low here, so it really helps the parents out.”

Most days, children receive hearty homemade meals, cooked by Molina’s secretary.

“My secretary usually cooks rice and envueltos and different stuff, homemade, and the kids love it,” he said.

While his secretary was on vacation, children still received filling meals. Some days it was hot pockets with lemonade and small bags of cookies, other days it was ham and cheese sandwiches with fruit and soda.

“With the money from the county, we’re able to do this,” Molina said. “The food bank gives us the food at a bargain price. Commissioner (Frank) Sciaraffa is the one that headed this program and then carried out these programs in other places. It’s a good benefit for the kids.”

For more information about the South Texas Food Bank or programs such as the Kids Café, call 726-3120 or visit http://southtexasfoodbank.org

Juan Mercado’s El Paraiso restaurant does bustling business almost every day during the lunch hour, so it’s hard to believe a top-40 listing in Texas Monthly magazine would make a huge impact.

But he says a couple drove in all the way from San Antonio to try the Paraiso Special featured in the Texas Monthly article.

A buzz It’s generated quite a buzz.

“Since the article, we’ve got a lot of new people,” he said of his restaurant, located on U.S. 83 on the west side of town.

The magazine named El Paraiso one of the 40 best smalltown cafes in its December issue.

The write-up featured a photo of the Paraiso Special and praise for the restaurant’s already famous, at least in South Texas, chicken fried steak.

“People come all the way from Laredo for chicken fried steak,” Mercado said. “When the Valley schools come to play in Laredo, rather than eat in Laredo (they stop at El Paraiso).”

As a testament to the restaurant’s food, there are often people waiting for tables at peak hours.

“People don’t mind waiting for good food,” Mercado said.

A family tradition Mercado’s mother, Hortencia Medina, opened the restaurant in 1974, he said. Twenty years later, they opened a larger location.

Mercado left Zapata to study elementary education, but came back to work at the restaurant, and eventually took over when his mom passed away in 2004.

Her picture hangs on the wall behind the café counter.

Good food and good service have always been the secret to El Paraiso’s success, Mercado said.

“Everyone who walks through here is a special customer,” he said. “We treat them the best way possible.”

The woman who reviewed his restaurant didn’t tell him she was doing so for Texas Monthly until a week after eating there, when she called him to interview him about the restaurant, Mercado said.

(To reach Jason Buch, e-mail jbuch@lmtonline.com)

Zin brief

SATURDAY,JANUARY 10,2009

AROUND TEXAS | IN BRIEF

WHAT’S GOING ON

Trial of judge for sex charges delayed

The Zapata County Independent School District Board of Trustees meets at 6 p.m. at the Professional Development Center, 17th Avenue and Carla Street.

Among the items on the agenda are evaluation of the superintendent and a resolution supporting Laredo Community College’s efforts to seek funding sources for the design and construction of South Texas Advanced Technology Center.

WEDNESDAY,JAN.14 This is the final day to enter the FLW Outdoors Forrest Wood Cup Tournament at the Zapata County Boat Ramp.

THURSDAY,JAN.15 First day of the FLW Outdoors Forrest Wood Cup Tournament on Falcon Lake.

Weigh-in is at the Zapata County Boat Ramp.

FLW Outdoors Forrest Wood Cup Tournament continues at Falcon Lake.

Deadline for entering “Flavor of South Texas” cook-off. For more information,call the Zapata Chamber of Commerce at 765-4871.

SATURDAY,JAN.17 Last day of the FLWOutdoors Forrest Wood Cup Tournament on Falcon Lake.

A local expo is scheduled at the Zapata County Community Center as part of the FLW Outdoors tournament. To have a booth at the expo, call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at 765-4871.There is no fee for the booth.

Today is the “Flavor of South Texas” barbecue cook-off, sanctioned by the International Barbeque Cookers Association, at the Zapata County Community Center.

Judging for beans is 10 a.m.; chicken, 11 a.m.; ribs,noon; brisket,2 p.m.For the nonIBCAcategories,judging is 1 p.m.for pan de campo and 2 p.m. for chef’s choice. For more information,call the Zapata Chamber of Commerce at 765-4871.

THURSDAY,JAN.22 The Washington’s Birthday Celebration will kick off today, and continues through Feb. 22. For more information about events and schedules,visit www.wbcalaredo.org

FRIDAY,JAN.23 Today is the deadline for entering the cook-off for fajitas, chicken, pork ribs, pan de campo and beans for the Second Annual Sporting ClayTournament,set for Jan.31.

Entry forms must be submitted by 5 p.m.

For more information, call Mark Alvarenga at 251-2178 or Ricardo Ramirez at 2510839.

SATURDAY,JAN.24 UETA Jamboozie is today, 4 p.m. – midnight.

SATURDAY,JAN.31 Second Annual Sporting Clay Tournament to benefit Boys and Girls Club of Zapata is today. Check and registration is from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.

Mandatory safety meeting is at 8:30 p.m. There are two flights at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. For more information, call Mark Alvarenga at 251-2178 or Ricardo Ramirez at 251-0839.

U.S.Air Force Band of the West performs at 7 p.m. at the Texas A&M International University Center for the Fine and Performing Arts. Sponsored by TAMIU and Laredo Morning Times. Admission is free, but tickets are required.

The 14th annual Crime Stoppers Menudo Bowl is set for today at Laredo International Fair & Exposition Downs, on U.S. 59, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.Admission is $3 for adults and free for children 12 or younger.

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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 Laredo Morning Times and those who buy LMT at newstands.The Zapata Times is inserted inside.

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The Zapata Times is published by Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, PO Box 2129, Laredo,Texas 78044. Phone (956)728-2500 The Zapata office is at 1309 N. US Highway 83 at 14th Avenue,Suite 2; Zapata,TX,78076.Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes@att.net

The Zapata Times

Photo by Winslow Townson | AP

Tom Lucet of Beverly, Mass. sits alone outside Steve & Barrys at the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers, Mass. The cutback in consumer spending has been a result of the deteriorating job market.

Stocks sharply down after rise in unemployment rate

By MADLEN READ and STEPHEN BERNARD ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — The first full week of 2009 didn’t bring Wall Street any huge shocks, but it didn’t bring much for investors be happy about, either.

A jump in unemployment sent stocks sharply lower Friday as investors feared that Americans won’t soon deviate from their tightened budgets. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 143 points to end the week down nearly 5 percent, its worst week since November.

The Labor Department’s much-anticipated report showed employers cut 524,000 jobs in December, a smaller decline than the loss of 550,000 jobs economists forecast. But the unemployment rate jumped to a 16-year high of 7.2 percent — more than the 7 percent economists predicted — from 6.8 percent in November.

Lost jobs were not a shock to Wall Street, but the news still stung.

“People say that they know how bad the economy is. But they don’t know how it feels to have the reality hit home,” said Stu Schweitzer, global markets strategist at J.P. Morgan’s Private Bank. “It’s not the facts — it’s how the facts feel. And it

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AROUND THE NATION | IN BRIEF

TUESDAY,JAN.13

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feels terrible to have so many Americans losing jobs, and so many more likely to follow in the coming months.”

Rising unemployment tends to erode consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity. For all of 2008, the economy lost 2.6 million jobs — the most since 1945. Retailers have been reporting dismal holiday sales figures, and Wall Street is concerned about how long the economy will be suffering a pullback in consumer spending.

President-elect Barack Obama on Friday called December’s jobs loss “a stark reminder of how urgently action is needed” to revive the nation’s staggering economy. Obama is planning on a stimulus package costing about $800 billion, consisting of tax cuts and other ways to try to help individuals and businesses.

But investors were nonetheless worried about the prospects for the economy.

Warnings from industry leaders during the week about business conditions underscored the economy’s troubles. WalMart Stores Inc., chip maker Intel Corp., aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. and media company Time Warner Inc. all told Wall Street their results suffered in the fourth quarter.

Former President Bush visits namesake carrier

Accident heightens pressure on agency

Senator’s assault case provokes outrage

NORFOLK, Va. — Former President George H.W. Bush made an unexpected visit Friday to his namesake aircraft carrier as thousands of crew members put the finishing touches on the 1,092-foot vessel the day before its commissioning.

Bush, 84, walked with a cane but moved briskly to greet the commanding officer, Capt. Kevin E. O’Flaherty, at the gangplank.

The $6.2 billion warship is the 10th and final in the Nimitz class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers first launched in 1972.

STEVENSON, Ala. — A retention pond at a Tennessee Valley Authority coal-burning power plant leaked waste into a northeast Alabama creek Friday, ramping up pressure on the utility that already is trying to clean up last month’s major coal ash spill at a plant in Tennessee.

TVA officials said the latest discharge — water laced with calcium sulfate, a component of a material known as gypsum — presented no danger to people or the environment. But environmentalists were quick to criticize.

ALBANY, N.Y. — Women’s groups are outraged a freshman New York state senator was sworn in this week while facing charges that he slashed his girlfriend’s face with a piece of broken glass.

Hiram Monserrate was charged with assault and weapon possession after the Dec. 19 incident at his New York City home. The gash over her eye required 25 stitches.

Marcia Pappas, head of the state chapter of NOW, called the swearing in “a slap in the face.”

—Compiled from AP reports

to the Anzalduas International Bridge project.

Chairman who quit had gambling debt

HOUSTON — The trial of a federal judge charged with fondling two female court employees and trying to force them into sexual acts is being delayed by a month.

Jury selection in the trial of U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent was moved Friday to Feb. 23. It originally had been set for Jan. 26.

The move came at the request of Kent’s attorneys after a grand jury added three new charges against the judge.

Kent is accused of making unwanted sexual advances toward his former court case manager and of trying to force a second female court employee into a sexual act and lying about it.

Kent has pleaded innocent to all the charges. He is free on his own recognizance and remains on the bench.

HOUSTON — The chairman of a board that overseas investments for the state teacher retirement fund resigned Friday, shortly before a newspaper reported he had a $110,000 judgment against him for an unpaid gambling debt at a Las Vegas casino.

Court records show Bellagio Inc. received a default judgment against Teacher Retirement System Board Chairman Jim Lee last June after he failed to respond to a lawsuit. The judgment was for $110,000 plus 18 percent interest per year, with interest starting on Oct. 8, 2005.

Lee said he only became aware of the lawsuit in December when the Bellagio hired a Dallas lawyer to collect the debt.

Workers busted with 600 pounds of pot

Mourners pay tribute to slain officer

McALLEN — Three construction workers for the company building part of the border fence and an international trade bridge to Mexico remained in a South Texas jail Friday after they were caught with nearly 600 pounds of marijuana.

Alberto Montiel, Ruben Vela and Rolando Flores, all of eastern Hidalgo County, were arrested Wednesday at a Burger King not far from the Rio Grande.

Police received a tip that a van and an SUV were transporting drugs. A patrol spotted the vehicles driving together and followed them into the parking lot. In total, the 12 bundles weighed 596 pounds.

The drivers were wearing reflective vests.

The men were arrested close

DALLAS — Music and prayers were part of the emotional funeral for a slain Dallas police officer.

Several thousand mourners, including hundreds of officers from around the country, turned out Friday for services for 43-year-old Sr. Cpl. Norman Smith.

Smith, who was a member of the department’s gang unit, was shot to death Tuesday night while attempting to serve a warrant. Charles Patrick Payne is jailed on a capital murder charge in the killing.

The lid on Smith’s U.S. flagdraped coffin was closed by his wife, Lt. Regina Smith, who wore her Dallas police uniform as she bid farewell to her husband of 18 years.

— Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE WORLD | IN BRIEF Officers arrested for illegal wiretaps

Pirates get $3 mil for Saudi tanker

LIMA, Peru — In another twist to Peru’s oil-kickback scandal, police have arrested five people for allegedly recording the telephone conversations that revealed the scheme.

Attorney General Gladys Echaiz on Thursday announced the arrest of two active and three retired naval officers who ran a private security company that allegedly ran a black market wiretapping service. A civilian woman who worked at the company, Business Track SAC, was also arrested.

MOGADISHU, Somalia — After reportedly receiving a $3 million ransom dropped by parachute, pirates said they released a captured Saudi supertanker Friday, ending a twomonth drama that helped galvanize international efforts to fight piracy off Africa’s coast.

U.S. Navy photos showed a parachute, carrying what they described as “an apparent payment,” floating toward the tanker, which had been held with its 25-member since Nov. 15.

— Compiled from AP reports

OLD BUTTON

TODAY IN HISTORY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Today is Saturday, Jan. 10, the 10th day of 2009. There are 355 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Jan. 10, 1776, Thomas Paine anonymously published his influential pamphlet, “Common Sense.”

On this date: In 1810, Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, divorced his wife, Josephine.

In 1861, Florida seceded from the Union.

In 1870, John D. Rockefeller incorporated Standard Oil. In 1920, the League of Nations was established as the Treaty of Versailles went into effect.

In 1946, the first General Assembly of the United Nations convened in London.

In 1957, Harold Macmillan became prime minister of Britain, following the resignation of Anthony Eden.

In 1978, the Soviet Union launched two cosmonauts aboard the Soyuz 27 capsule for a rendezvous with the Salyut 6 space laboratory.

In 1984, the United States and the Vatican established full diplo-

matic relations for the first time in more than a century.

In 1989, Cuba began withdrawing its troops from Angola, more than 13 years after its first contingents arrived.

Ten years ago: Republicans and Democrats disagreed over whether to call witnesses in President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial, with Republicans pressing to hear testimony from Monica Lewinsky and others, and Democrats saying such testimony could unnecessarily prolong the proceedings.

Five years ago: North Korea said it had shown its “nuclear deterrent” to an unofficial U.S. delegation that visited the disputed Yongbyon nuclear complex.

Michelle Kwan won her seventh straight title and eighth overall at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Atlanta; Johnny Weir skated to his first men’s title.

O n e y e a r a g o : The United States on Thursday lodged a formal diplomatic protest with Iran over an incident in which Iranian speedboats harassed U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf. President George W. Bush, visiting Israel and the Palestinian West Bank, said a Mideast peace pact would

require “painful political concessions by both sides.” John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, endorsed Barack Obama’s White House bid.

T o d a y ’ s B i r t h d a y s : Opera singer Sherrill Milnes is 74. Blues artist Eddy Clearwater is 74. Rock singer-musician Ronnie Hawkins is 74. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Willie McCovey is 71. Singer Scott McKenzie is 70. Movie director Walter Hill is 69. Singer Frank Sinatra Jr. is 65. Singer Rod Stewart is 64. Rock singermusician Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) is 61. Actor William Sanderson is 61. Boxer George Foreman is 60. Roots rock singer Alejandro Escovedo is 58. Rock musician Scott Thurston (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) is 57. Singer Pat Benatar is 56. Rock musician Michael Schenker is 54. Singer Shawn Colvin is 53. Rock musician Matt Roberts (3 Doors Down) is 31. Rock singer Brent Smith (Shinedown) is 31. Rapper Chris Smith (Kris Kross) is 30.

Thought for Today: “Sex is the Tabasco sauce which an adolescent national palate sprinkles on every course in the menu.” — Mary Day Winn, American writer (1888-1965).

Photo by Alann Schmidt/National Park Service | AP

This Dec. 2 photo provided by the National Park Service shows a button that was found next to the bones of a Union soldier from New York state that recently surfaced at the Antietam National Battlefield in Sharspburg, Md. Many of the remains of the soldiers killed after the pivotal 1862 Battle of Antietam had been buried in a nearby cemetery, but his were somehow overlooked.

Zlocal

SATURDAY,JANUARY 10,2009

Buggy, trailer is prize at clay shoot SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

A badboy buggie with with trailer is a featured prize at the Second Annual Sporting Clay Tournament and Cookoff on Saturday, Jan. 31.

Tickets are on sale for $50 each, or five for $200. Proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Zapata.

Entry fee for shooters are $100 per shooter on five-man teams.

The tournament is limited to the

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

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STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

first 40 teams to enter.

The Lewis Class Scoring System will be in place, and ATVs and golf carts are highly recommended.

The top shooter overall will receive a shotgun and a plaque, and the top shooters for each class will receive a plaque, as will high overall teams and runner-up teams.

The buggy and other door prizes will be awarded, also.

Entry deadline is Friday, Jan. 23.

Faithful planning annual Jalisco trip

BY DORA MARTINEZ

A charter bus full of people are making preparations to depart on the second day of February for the annual visit to Nuestra Señora del Plataner in the Mexican state of Jalisco.

Before the departure, however, the annual festivities surrounding the trip will take place at Señora del Refugio Catholic Church in San Ygnacio, starting with a rosary at 6 p.m. There will be a tamalada, including the savory treats and drinks, for the invited guests prior to starting their journey to Mexico.

Sponsors include philanthropist Adrian Martinez as well as Dora Olga and Henry Martinez.

A replica of Nuestra Señora del Plataner will travel with the faithful to Jalisco. The icon, known as “La Tejanita,” wears a western hat and a beautiful silk dress adorned with rhinestones, this year donated by Nora Ramirez, owner of Rex Tortilleria. Nuestra Señora will be dressed elegantly, thanks to dressmaker Lola Lozano. The icon has been baptized and her godparents are Efren and Mario Refugio Guzman.

Upon the group’s arrival in Jalisco, the replica will be placed on a float and the 50 faithful accompanying her follow in the procession. These families are treated like gold because they have been visiting 20 years. It’s like a second home to them.

Supporters of Nuestra Señora del Plataner claim that miracles have happened to them during these visits, such as Dora Olga, who had suffered from an ailment and had faith that she would be

COLUMN healed. The ailment disappeared because of the faith she has in her Señora.

Others say that while they were walking in the procession, they came across some miraculous waters that sprang from the Mezon by itself. While they were walking, they crossed a bridge and it started to rain. It rained for about 20 minutes, and everyone was all soaking wet and in a second they were bone-dry, as if a miracle had been performed. Later, they saw a woman in a wheelchair and, of course, all the followers out of generosity started handing her donations of all denominations. Soon after, a woman named Violeta Lerma spoke and said she came to pray to the Virgen for help and her wish came true, saying that now she had the money for her operation. “So my miracle happened,” she said.

Those are only a few of the miracles accomplished.

The annual tour lasts 9 days and during that time, the group visits other parts of Mexico, including Manzanio, San Luis and then San Juan to see the Virgen de San Popa. They see people coming from all parts of the United States Next year, with our Lord’s help, I will be one of those people going. I have heard and almost seen what it is to be there. It’s something not to be missed.

(Dora Martinez is a native of Zapata who was publisher of Hispanic News in San Antonio for 21 years. She can be reached at thezapatatimes@att.net)

Courtesy photo | Special to the Times

Zapata North Early Childhood Center recently recognized its kindergarten Students of the Week for Jan. 5-9. Shown above are Jorge Garcia Jr., Arturo Gonzalez, Jasmin Grimaldo, Giselle Ubalde, Noe Martinez, Rebekah Salinas, Justice Lofton, Luis Villafuerte, Liliana Castillo, Mayeli Landa, Jonathan Ayala, Xitlali Mejia and Marianna Robles.

Secretary of Agriculture to be in Laredo on Monday SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer will be in Laredo on Monday to host a fever tick stakeholder meeting.

The goal of the meeting is to inform the secretary about the importance of the fever tick issue and urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to commit more federal dollars to the fever

tick fight.

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association members are encouraged to attend.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. and take place at the FSIS Cold Storage Facility, 5601 Mann Circle, in Laredo.

For more information, call County Extension Agent George Gonzales at 721-2626.

Subscribe to Laredo Morning Times at (956) 728-2550

Zopinion

SATURDAY,JANUARY 10,2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

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OTHER VIEWS

EDITORIAL

Study of stars opens the mind NEW YORK TIMES

ntil recently, astronomers believed that from where we sit — some 28,000 lightyears out — we were spinning around the center of the Milky Way at about half a million miles per hour.

New observations suggest that we’re traveling much faster — about 600,000 mph — and that the Milky Way is actually broader and has 50 percent more mass than was previously thought. Astronomers also have recently found evidence of a second major arm of stars spiraling outward from the Milky Way’s central disk.

This is one of the wonderful things about astronomy. Our understanding of the galaxy around us undergoes a significant shift, and the only real change is the new terrain that opens up inside our heads. We don’t experience a physical lurch, because we’re traveling exactly as fast around the center of the Milky Way as we al-

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ways were. The lurch we experience is our minds catching up to our actual physical speed. We are so exquisitely attuned to our celestial motions that we seem, to ourselves, to be standing still, no matter how our understanding of the universe changes.

These new observations also remind us of a basic problem in understanding the galaxy that we live in. We cannot get a view from outside it. We are essentially blinded to the structure and motions of the Milky Way by the fact that we live within it. We can see how the neighbors live over in Andromeda — the galaxy with which we’ll one day collide — because we can see the whole galaxy in the distance, even with the naked eye on a dark, clear night.

There is no looking back at the Milky Way from some point beyond, certainly not in the foreseeable future. We can only guess at ourselves by observation, extrapolation and analogy.

COLUMN

EDITORIAL

Obama’s economic Details still few on health care reform plans not enough T “I NEW YORK TIMES

don’t believe it’s too late to change course, but it will be if we don’t take dramatic action as soon as possible. If nothing is done, this recession could linger for years.”

So declared President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday, explaining why America needs an extremely aggressive government response to the economic downturn.

He’s right. This is the most dangerous economic crisis since the Great Depression, and it could all too easily turn into a prolonged slump.

But Obama’s prescription doesn’t live up to his diagnosis.

The economic plan he’s offering isn’t as strong as his language about the economic threat. In fact, it falls well short of what’s needed.

Bear in mind just how big the U.S. economy is. Given sufficient demand for its output, America would produce more than $30 trillion worth of goods and services over the next two years. But with both consumer spending and business investment plunging, a huge gap is opening up between what the U.S. economy can produce and what it’s able to sell.

And the Obama plan is nowhere near big enough to fill this “output gap.”

Earlier this week, the Congressional Budget Office came out with its latest analysis of the budget and economic outlook.

The budget office says that in the absence of a stimulus plan, the unemployment rate would rise above 9 percent by early 2010, and stay high for years to come.

Grim as this projection is, by the way, it’s actually optimistic compared with some independent forecasts. Obama himself has been saying that without a stimulus plan, the unemployment rate could go into double digits.

Even the CBO says, however, that “economic output over the next two years will average 6.8 percent below its potential.” This translates into $2.1 trillion of lost production. “Our economy could fall $1 trillion short of its full capacity,” declared Obama on Thursday. Well, he was actually understating things.

To close a gap of more than $2 trillion — possibly a lot more, if the budget office projections turn out to be too optimistic — Obama offers a $775 billion plan. And that’s not enough.

Now, fiscal stimulus can sometimes have a “multiplier” effect: In addition to the direct effects of, say, investment in infrastructure on demand, there can be a further indirect effect as higher incomes lead to higher consumer spending.

Standard estimates suggest that a dollar of public spending raises GDP by around $1.50.

But only about 60 percent of the Obama plan consists of public spending. The rest consists of tax cuts — and many economists are skeptical about how much these tax cuts, especially the tax breaks

PAUL KRUGMAN for business, will actually do to boost spending. (A number of Senate Democrats apparently share these doubts.)

Howard Gleckman of the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center summed it up in the title of a recent blog posting: “lots of buck, not much bang.”

Only half the job The bottom line is that the Obama plan is unlikely to close more than half of the looming output gap, and could easily end up doing less than a third of the job.

Why isn’t Obama trying to do more?

Is the plan being limited by fear of debt? There are dangers associated with large-scale government borrowing — and this week’s CBO report projected a $1.2 trillion deficit for this year.

But it would be even more dangerous to fall short in rescuing the economy. The president-elect spoke eloquently and accurately on Thursday about the consequences of failing to act — there’s a real risk that we’ll slide into a prolonged, Japanese-style deflationary trap — but the consequences of failing to act adequately aren’t much better.

Is the plan being limited by a lack of spending opportunities?

There are only a limited number of “shovel-ready” public investment projects — that is, projects that can be started quickly enough to help the economy in the near term. But there are other forms of public spending, especially on health care, that could do good while aiding the economy in its hour of need.

Or is the plan being limited by political caution? Press reports in December indicated that Obama aides were anxious to keep the final price tag on the plan below the politically sensitive trillion-dollar mark. There also have been suggestions that the plan’s inclusion of large business tax cuts, which add to its cost but will do little for the economy, is an attempt to win Republican votes in Congress.

Whatever the explanation, the Obama plan just doesn’t look adequate to the economy’s need. To be sure, a third of a loaf is better than none.

But right now, we seem to be facing two major economic gaps: the gap between the economy’s potential and its likely performance, and the gap between Obama’s stern economic rhetoric and his somewhat disappointing economic plan.

deal with the very real and very big differences his team has with Republicans on this and other vital issues.

Instead, the senators avoided asking such tough questions, and Daschle bent over backward to reassure Republicans that he would not try to ram anything too unpalatable down their throats. He pledged to cooperate with Congress on an aggressive, open reform effort that would be guided by evidence, not ideology.

When Sen. Mike Enzi, the ranking Republican on the committee, asked if Daschle would share information with members of both parties and respond rapidly to their requests (something the Bush administration rarely did), Daschle answered unequivocally, “yes.”

More telling, when Enzi asked if Daschle would discourage the use of budget reconciliation, a process that prevents filibusters and would allow a simple majority to approve health reform leg-

he main thing we learned from Tom Daschle’s confirmation hearing in the Senate on Thursday was that President-elect Barack Obama sure picked the right man to stage-manage his health care reforms as secretary of health and human services and as health czar at the White House.

The hearing before a Senate health committee was mostly a love-fest as senators from both parties expressed admiration for their former Senate colleague and signaled a willingness to work collaboratively with him on the daunting task of improving the costly, dysfunctional health care system.

Unfortunately, the hearing did not tell us much at all about how the incoming Obama administration intends to pay for its emerging health care programs .

Or how, for all of his smoothness at the hearing, Daschle will

islation, Daschle again said, “yes.”

That seemed to indicate that the Democrats will be pushing for reforms that can command support from large bipartisan majorities in Congress. Yet the seeds of partisan conflict are already being planted.

Enzi issued a news release warning against expanding insurance coverage through government-run bureaucracies like Medicaid and asserting that any new coverage must come through private health insurance plans.

If he meant that literally, he would have to oppose major elements of the Obama health plans, which envisage expanding existing public programs and probably adding a new public program to compete with private plans.

Of course, if the Republicans become too obstinate in blocking major elements they don’t like, Democratic leaders in the Senate could choose to close off debate no matter what Daschle has

recommended.

There were few if any surprises in Daschle’s broad-brush statements on policy. He wants wider insurance coverage, lower costs, higher quality care, more preventive care, an emphasis on keeping people well, greater use of information technology, more money for community health centers, a stronger Food and Drug Administration and speedier approval of low-cost generic drugs, among other issues.

He gave no indication of how to pay for all this or how to rein in the escalating costs of entitlement programs, and he was not asked such probing questions by a committee that seems certain to recommend his confirmation.

Daschle may face tougher questions at a second confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid, but the real struggles will begin when a detailed plan is put forward by the Obama administration.

YOUR OPINION Zapata Chamber of Commerce offers warm welcome to visitors To the editor: On behalf of the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce, our business members and partners, I would like to welcome everyone here for the FLW Outdoor Stren-Series Tournament you to Zapata, home of Falcon Reservoir, a world class bass fishery!

Zapata is much more than an incredible bass fishery.

Anglers, outdoor enthusi-

asts and visitors can expect great people, a festive welcome, a choice of 11 lodging properties for a range of accommodations, and the best food on the border!

And while you are in Zapata, be sure to take advantage of all of the great things to do and experience in our area from world class hunting, bird watching, rock hunting, water recreation and hang gliding in one of the

most unique historical villages in existence.

I hope you have the time to enjoy our local business community offering a great variety of unique shops, services and shopping opportunities for all of your needs and recreational activities.

We are pleased that we have the opportunity to welcome you and wish you much success. I also hope that you

get the chance to enjoy all that Zapata County has to offer and learn firsthand why “Fishing on Falcon Lake offers some of the best bass action in the world.”

Signed, Jose F. “Paco” Mendoza Jr. Executive Director Zapata County Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitor’s Center

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Zapata Times does not publish anonymous letters. To be published, letters must include the writer’s first and last names as well as a phone number to verify identity. The phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary.

The identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication.

The Zapata Times no longer

publishes letters with just an initial and a last name. People who want to air their opinions publicly must do so openly.

We want to assure our readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the letter; The Zapata Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms.

Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-calling or gratuitous abuse is allowed.

This space allows for public debate of the issues of the day.

We do publish “thank you” letters, but due to limited space, we ask writers to list no more than 10 names in such letters. Letters with more than 10 names will not be published.

To send letters via e-mail, include a phone number to verify identity, and send to this address: editorial@lmtonline.com Or mail them to Letters to the

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

Editor; 111 Esperanza Drive; Laredo, TX 78041.

Letters also may be dropped off at The Zapata Times office, 1309 N. US Highway 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, in Zapata.

Letters that are provided in hard copy must be hand-signed.

Letters sent by e-mail don’t require a signature, but the first and last names of the letter writer must be included along with a contact phone number.

Zlife

SATURDAY,JANUARY 10,2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

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Photos by Kirsten Crow | Laredo Morning Times

The expanse of White Sands National Monument is stretched over 115 miles. It’s a lonely, beautiful landscape, a unique creation of nature, with sand dunes that are a sparkling white, a sometimes blinding white as the hot New Mexico sun beats down.

Barren beauty: White Sands’ gypsum dunes a wonder

By KIRSTEN CROW LAREDO MORNING TIMES

HITE SANDS, N.M. — The austere beauty of the desert, set against a sky alight with the dying rays of a setting sun, is a sight like none other.

Between sloping, snow-white dunes and the stark lines of the Soaptree yucca plants against a vast sky, there is a hardfound tranquility here that resides somewhere between the atmosphere and the soft curves of the horizon, juxtaposed against the mountain ranges’ jagged demarcation. It is possible to believe, however briefly, that even your very breathing is a cacophony of sound in this eerily still landscape. Nearly paradoxically, the sheer awe of this scene can twist even the most egotistical into feeling insignificant in contrast to such landscape.

An arid atmosphere lends itself to ethereal lighting, turning the edges of midday clouds to a silvery, surreal gold, while the brilliant evening sunsets make the sky virtually bleed magenta, burnt

W

Footprints in the dunes at White Sands create a hauntingly poetic image, albeit a temporary one.

Winds will soon blur and then erase the marks of those who passed this way.

umber, violet and liquid gold as the rays paint the landscape in vivid watercolors.

White Sands National Monument is a must-see attraction for any nature lover, photographer, artist or merely someone with an appreciation for aesthetics. It’s a perfect storm of silence, textures and contrast that can border on a mystical — or spiritual — experience.

About the park According to the Web site, www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm, the dunes encompass 275 square miles of gypsum sand and holds the title as the “world’s largest gypsum dune field.” Of those, 115 miles are considered White Sands National Monument.

The atypical sand type isn’t exclusive to the area, but its rare form requires some explanation.

“The pure gypsum (hydrous calcium sulfate) that forms these unusual dunes originates in the western portion of the monument from an ephemeral lake or playa with a very high mineral content,” states

White Sands National Monument is a must-see attraction for any nature lover, photographer, artist or merely someone with an appreciation for aesthetics. the Web site. “As the water evaporates … the minerals are left behind to form gypsum deposits that eventually are wind-transported to form these white sand dunes.”

Inhabited by lizards, mice, foxes, rabbits, birds, coyotes, deer, turtles, snakes and plenty of unique insects, the solitude and silence belies a desert thriving with life.

Admission is $3 for adults and free for children 15 and younger, making for a highly affordable day trip for the enterprising traveler of the Southwest.

Recreation White Sands is not all quiet, if beautiful, scenery.

There are numerous ways to tour the park, from guided tours

and biking to hiking and Friday night astronomy lectures.

Also, hailing back to a popular tradition of the 1960s, some visitors still sandboard in the area.

For those unfamiliar with sandboarding, it is an accurate handle — the semi-sport is akin to snowboarding, but in the sand. Using a board similar to a skateboard without wheels — it really took off as a fad in the midst of the West Coast surfing explosion — sandboarders slick down the bottoms of their boards with wax and attempt to glide effortlessly down the dunes.

Another popular activity that

doesn’t require nearly as much coordination is what the Web site refers to as “sledding,” or using a plastic snow saucer and waxing it down, then gliding down the dunes. They are also available in the park’s gift shop for the forgetful visitor.

Lodging Likely the most popular locale to stay is the small town of Las Cruces, located within Mesilla Valley and positioned at the foot of the Organ Mountains — named such because of their resemblance to the musical instrument.

Located about 52 miles out from White Sands, the drive features gorgeous scenery and makes for a pleasant drive. The town itself, while small, is a youthful area and home to New Mexico State University. Traditional New Mexican dining — especially the famous green chile dishes — abound.

Another option is Alamogordo, which is located about 13 miles from the national park; and for the more adventurous, there are a number of campsites in the area to set up shop for the night.

Las Cruces is about a 13-hour car drive from Laredo, depending on the driver’s ilk for speed.

The easiest route is to head north on I-35 to San Antonio, then hang a left, careening west on I-10.

Visiting hours range depending on the season, so checking ahead of time is a good idea. The Web site, www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm, is a great resource.

There are also lists of average temperatures on the site. Because the desert is one of the few regions that may boast staggeringly hot temperatures during the day with a bone-chilling drop in Fahrenheit in the evening, it’s usually best to dress in easily removable and replaceable layers.

It will make the trip far more comfortable and worthwhile.

6A | THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009

MISS MANNERS | BYJUDITH MARTIN

Calling-card time-consuming DEAR MISS MANNERS — I recall reading in one of your works about the system ladies used to use when paying social calls — that after a while, because it was boring, people would just leave their cards, and had a system of bending the MARTIN corners to signal various things.

Well, I am not in a position to revive the custom, but I am a biomedical informatics student designing a software program that involves boxes used to give information and for which a corner-based way of signaling various things would be very useful. (This is part of my PhD dissertation work.)

I’ve found that information systems that humans develop over time and experience can be better than things that a single person just dreamed up, so I was wondering if you would be willing to describe the old system.

GENTLE READER — It is a relief to Miss Manners that you do not intend to revive the system of social calls. It was enormously time-consuming, for both the callers and the horses, and thank goodness someone finally invented the telephone.

That was a nuisance in its own way, and thank goodness someone finally invented email.

It really is necessary to keep in touch with one’s acquaintance, however, so we use available tools. Dealing with the daily e-mail from people who want to keep in touch by sharing rumors, jokes, wedding pi ctures, health scares, baby pictures, wish lists, political diatribes and party pictures is probably not much more time-con-

suming than ordering the carriage and driving around, scattering cards at people’s houses.

The original system consisted of actual calls paid in the late afternoon for not more than a quarter of an hour each.

In addition to next-day calls to one’s hostess of the night before, there were obligatory calls to congratulate, to console, to say goodbye when one was leaving town, to meet the new neighbors and so on.

As they all had to be returned, you can imagine how sick of one another people became.

So the custom was abbreviated, as you noted, to leaving cards — inquiring whether someone was home, being told she was not and escaping immediately, leaving behind a pasteboard card with one’s name for proof of intention.

The sentiment once conveyed directly was reduced to the symbol of the bent card edge: The upper left indicated that you were just paying a visit, the upper right that you offered congratulations, the lower right that you offered condolences and the lower left that you were taking leave.

How fortunate we are that we have a range of tools for different situations.

We can offer serious thanks and congratulations with handwritten letters and trivial ones by e-mail. Condolences still require a visit from intimates and a letter from other acquaintances, but moving away requires electronic notification so that new addresses may be entered into the computer. Unless, of course, you are moving away from a romance. That still requires a visit, or at least an attempted visit.

Miss Manners hopes this has contributed to your scholarship.

A pasta dish with a hint of wine ASSOCIATED PRESS

Don’t be turned off by the thought of grapes and sausage with your pasta. It’s a dish from Andrew Carmellini’s new cookbook, “Urban Italian,” and it makes complete sense.

“These are, in fact, all the flavors of the Italian grape harvest time: sage, meaty spicy sausage, and, of course, sweet young grape juice,” he writes in the book. “I’ve just put it all together. It’s totally delicious. Trust me.”

If you can’t find strozzapreti pasta, which resembles small, twisted strands of rope, any small, thin pasta will do.

Strozzapreti with sausage, grapes and red wine Start to finish: 30 minutes (plus overnight) Servings: 4 to 6 1 cup seedless red grapes (not Thompson), halved lengthwise 1 cup dry red wine 1/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 pound dried strozzapreti pasta (or other small, thin pasta) 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 pounds Italian sausage (about 4 links, 2 spicy and 2 sweet), casings removed and meat roughly chopped 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

Photo by Larry Crowe | AP

Strozzapreti with sausage, grapes and red wine is seen in this Sunday, Dec. 7, photo. The flavors from grape harvest time in Italy are combined in this dish.

10 fresh sage leaves, roughly chopped 2 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup grated pecorino cheese, plus extra for sprinkling 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley In an medium bow, combine the grapes,

wine, sugar and vinegar. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, then refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.

When ready to cook, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil.

While the water heats, transfer the grape mixture to a medium saucepan over high heat.

Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid has reduced by half, about 10 minutes.

When the water has boiled, add the pasta and cook until just al dente (about 1 minute less than the suggested cooking time on the pasta packaging).

While the pasta cooks, in a large saucepan over medium, heat the olive oil. Add the meat and saute until it just starts to brown, about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring and breaking up the meat as you go.

Add the onion and continue cooking, stirring well, until the sausage and onion have cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the sage and stir to combine.

Add the grape mixture and stir well.

When the pasta is cooked, drain it, but do not rinse it. Add the pasta to the pot with the grape and sausage mixture. Place over medium heat for about 1 1/2 minutes to allow the flavors to blend and the pasta to cook a bit more.

Remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheese, black pepper and parsley. Sprinkle with more cheese and serve immediately.

Saving energy can cost nothing

By MEGAN K. SCOTT ASSOCIATED PRESS

Here are some things you can do to slash your energy bill this winter; some take only a minute and don’t require any upfront investment:

Lower the water heater temperature You can change the temperature on both electric and gas water heaters, according to Bruce Harley’s “Cut Your Energy Bills Now: 150 Smart Ways to Save Money & Make Your Home More Comfortable & Green.” He suggests setting the temperature on the lowest setting comfortable — no lower than 120 degrees.

Upgrade your refrigerator Energy Star models require about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993. Consider a new fridge if you purchased yours before 1990, says Harley, an engineer and technical director of Conservation Services Group, a national, non-profit energy services firm based in Westborough, Mass.

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The firm provides energy saving strategies to consumers and businesses, among other things. He suggests looking for a model with a top freezer, which uses 10 percent to 15 percent less energy than one with side-by-side doors.

Avoid energy-wasting features like throughdoor ice and water dispensers.

Don’t use the fireplace Fireplaces are less efficient at heating homes than furnaces and produce a fair amount of pollution, according to Harley. Use it occasionally for the mood, he says. Then make sure it’s shut down when you are not using it. Make sure the damper is closed when the fireplace is not in use and that it’s a tight seal, says David Lupberger, home improvement expert for ServiceMagic.com, a free service to connect homeowners with prescreened contractors. You don’t want the heat in the house to escape through the chimney, he says.

Replace old equipment Check the manufacturing date of heating, water heating and air conditioning equipment,

says Harley. If it’s older than 15 years, consider replacing it. Better to do it now than wait until it breaks down, he says. Replace it with the most energy efficient unit you can find.

Change the light bulbs Get rid of standard incandescent bulbs and replace them with compact fluorescent light bulbs, said Lauri Ward, president of Use What You Have Interiors. Energy Star qualified CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer, according to Energy Star.

Get a home energy assessment An assessment will identify things like air leaks, missing insulation and leaky duct work, says Harley. He recommends looking for someone with a RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) or BPI (Building Performance Institute) certification. RESNET certifies home energy raters. BPI certifies building analysts. Consumers should also check with their local utility company to see if it offers significant technical support or help paying for the work, says Harley.

Zentertainment

SATURDAY,JANUARY 10,2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

7A

Cheech and Chong to light up the LEC SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

After reuniting for the first time in 25 long years, comedy duo Cheech and Chong are bringing their “Light Up America” tour to the Laredo Entertainment Center on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. for one explosive night of laugh-out-loud comedy.

Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin have enjoyed incredible success since their 1978 hit movie “Up in Smoke,” where both men played out-of-work and in-debt characters trying to make a buck and breaking a few laws along the way.

Since then, Cheech and Chong have starred in 10 films, and their popularity continues with their most recent album release in 2002, “Where There’s Smoke There’s Cheech and Chong.”

With nine albums released from 1972 through 1985, the duo has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album with their third album, “Los Cochinos,” released in 1973.

“Big Bambú,” their second album, was the biggest-selling comedy record of all time in 1972 and remained so for many years.

Tickets to see Cheech and Chong live at LEC are available for $25, $38.50, $48.50 and $58.50 at the LEC box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com and 712-1566.

Cheech Marin Best known as half of the hilariously irreverent, satirical, counter-culture, no-holds-barred duo Cheech and Chong, Marin is a paradox in the world of entertainment. Marin is an actor, director, writer, musician, art collector and humanitarian, a man

Tickets to see Cheech and Chong live at LEC are available for $25, $38.50, $48.50 and $58.50 at the LEC box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com and 712-1566. who has enough talent, humor and intelligence to do just about anything. He is truly a multigenerational star — or, as he jests, “People know me from the womb to the tomb.”

To this day, Cheech and Chong films remain the No. 1 weekend video rentals, and Marin is widely acknowledged as a cultural icon.

Cheech (real name Richard) Marin was born on July 13, 1946, in South Central Los Angeles and raised in Granada Hills, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley. He has always loved music.

“As a little kid, I was a singer and made records. I was always in bands — you name it, I sang it — R&B, jazz, funk, I did it all,” he said.

After attending California State University, Northridge to study English, he left — eight credits short of a degree — to “pursue pottery and avoid the draft.” However, in 2004, he received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the university.

Moving to Vancouver, British Columbia, as a political refugee, Marin soon met Chong, who owned a topless club. He worked there for nine months, combining music and improvisational comedy in a troupe called City Works.

“It was great — you could call it a hippie burlesque,” he said.

Eventually, Marin and Chong

teamed up and moved back to Los Angeles. They performed their stand-up/music act at clubs all over Los Angeles until they were discovered at the Troubadour by music industry magnate Lou Adler.

“The rest,” Marin said, “is history.”

Between 1972 and 1985, they released nine albums: “Cheech and Chong” in 1972, “Big Bambú” in 1972, “Los Cochinos” in 1973, “Cheech and Chong Wedding Album” in 1974, “Sleeping Beauty” in 1976, “Up In Smoke” in 1979, “Let’s Make a New Dope Deal” in 1980, “Cheech and Chong’s Greatest Hits” in 1981 and “Get Out of My Room” in 1985.

“Big Bambú” became the largestselling comedy recording of all time, retaining that distinction for many years.

The critically acclaimed duo made a fluid transition to films, starring in eight features together.

The first, “Up In Smoke,” was the highest-grossing comedy of 1978, topping $100 million at the box office. Others were “Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie” in 1980, “Nice Dreams” in 1981, “Things Are Tough All Over” in 1982, “Cheech and Chong: Still Smoking” in 1983 and “The Corsican Brothers” in 1984. They co-wrote all of the films, with Chong receiving sole directing credit for several, despite Marin’s uncredit-

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Courtesy photo

Richard “Cheech” Marin and Tommy Chong, better known as Cheech and Chong, are bringing their “Light Up America” tour to the Laredo Entertainment Center on Sunday. ed co-direction.

After splitting with Chong, Marin wrote, directed and starred in Universal’s hit comedy “Born in East L.A.,” which in 1987 won the Glauber Rocha International Critics Award and Grand Coral Prize for Best Picture, as well as Best Screenplay at the Havana Film Festival.

A third-generation Mexican American, Marin has been recognized for his work on behalf of Latinos by the Imagen Foundation with its 2000 Creative Achievement Award and by the National Council of La Raza and Kraft Foods with the 1999 ALMA Community Service Award.

Tommy Chong Grammy Award-winning comedian Chong is legendary for his invaluable contribution to American counterculture as part of the iconic comedy duo Cheech and Chong.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Chong began his entertainment career as a musician in a Canadian-based rhythm and

blues band. Eventually, he landed a gig with the Vancouvers and cowrote the band’s 1960s hit, “Does Your Mama Know About Me.” From there, Chong eventually turned toward the life as an actor.

The first step was forming City Works, an improvisational group where he consequently met his future comedic partner, Richard “Cheech” Marin. Throughout the 1970s, Marin and Chong earned a massive following until eventually, the duo had run its lengthy and prosperous course, and they both embarked on solo careers.

After the Marin and Chong split, Chong teamed up with his wife, Shelby, and toured comedy clubs for 12 years. Shelby Chong is known as Chong’s favorite co-star on the big screen and in live stage performances. Fans remember her as the sexy French Fifi in “Things Are Tough All Over,” the Princess in “The Corsican Brothers” and the blonde bodybuilder Marin got choked up over in “Nice Dreams.”

She went on to appear in several other feature films, television shows and theatrical productions

such as “Tripwire,” “The Spirit of ’76,” “Far Out Man!” and “General Hospital.” She has been seen on HBO, Comedy Central and “The Howard Stern Show.” She stepped onto the comedy stage in 1996 during Chong’s world tour as a show opener and has toured with him every year since.

Chong has also starred, most notably, as “Leo” on Fox’s “That ’70s Show,” and has guest starred on ABC’s “Dharma and Greg” and “The George Lopez Show.”

Chong recently released his new book, “Cheech and Chong: The Unauthorized Autobiography,” about the exploits of the infamous duo’s smoke-filled world.

This book serves as a follow-up to his New York Times bestseller, “The I Chong: Meditations from the Joint,” which chronicles Chong’s arrest for shipping bongs across the country, as well as his days in jail and the humorous encounters of his nine-month prison stint.

Earlier this year, the highly anticipated, award-winning documentary “A/K/A Tommy Chong,” which was released worldwide.

ZFrontera AGENDAEN BREVE SERVICIO SOCIAL LAREDO — El domingo 11 de enero se llevará a cabo una campaña de donación de sangre de 3:30 p.m. a 6:30 p.m. en la Lyndon B. Johnson High School, 5626 Cielito Lindo Blvd., Aula I104. Donadores deben presentar identificación.Se recomienda comer y beber líquidos antes y después de donar.

Conozca más acerca del donar sangre en www.southtexasblood.org. El lunes 12 de enero la campaña continuará ahí mismo de 9 a.m. a 4 p.m.

LAREDO — El lunes 12 de enero se llevará a cabo una campaña de donación de sangre de 3 p.m. a 6 p.m. en el 109 Shiloh Drive No. 200, en la sala de conferencias. Refrigerios y un mini examen físico se ofrecerá a cada persona donante. Otra campaña más será el jueves 15 de enero de 9 a.m. a 3:30 p.m. en St. Augustine Schools, 1300 Galveston St.,Aula 121.Donadores deben presentar identificación. Se recomienda comer y beber líquidos antes y después de donar. Conozca más acerca del donar sangre en www.southtexasblood.org. Una campaña más será el viernes 16 de enero de 8:30 a.m. a 3:30 p.m.en el Classroom H101 de la Dr. Dennis D.Cantu Health Science Magnet School, 2002 San Bernardo Ave.; y ese mismo viernes de 9 a.m. a 4 p.m. en la entrada principal del Departamento de Policía de Laredo, 4712 Maher Ave. LAREDO — El Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center realizará una clínica de Ortopedia Pediátrica el martes 20 de enero de 8 a.m. a 1 p.m. para pacientes necesitando consultar con un especialista.Si está interesado en consultar con Dr.J. Edeen, llame al (956) 722-2431.

LAREDO — La Novena Conferencia Annual sobre el Autismo será el jueves 15 y viernes 16 de enero en el Laredo Civic Center, 2400 San Bernardo Ave.,de 8:30 a.m a 3:30 p.m.Más información llamando al 763-6044.

LAREDO — El Departamento de Salud de la Ciudad de Laredo recuerda a dueños de mascotas que deben vacunarlas contra la rabia. Una clínica se realizará el miércoles 21 de enero de 6:30 p.m. a 7:30 p.m. en el Departamento de Salud de la Ciudad de Laredo (2600 Cedar) lado oeste del estacionamiento sobre Maryland Ave. El costo por vacuna es de 12.00 dólares/por mascota.

Favor de traer a su perro con correa, a sus gatos en una funda de almohada y se recomienda dejar a sus hijos en casa.

Más información llamando al programa de control animal en el (956) 7954902 ó (956) 795-2485.

SÁBADO 10 DE ENERO DE 2009

EN INTERNET: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

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Llama SEDENA a conscriptos de la Clase 1990 TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

MIGUEL ALEMÁN — Los jóvenes conscriptos de la clase 1990, anticipados y remisos, que en este 2009 deberán cumplir con su Servicio Militar Nacional, ya pueden pasar a tramitar su Cartilla en la Junta Municipal de Reclutamiento.

La Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA, por sus siglas) emitió un comunicado en el que se indican los días que la Junta Municipal de Reclutamiento mantendrá abierto su período de recepción de Cartillas.

Los días son: 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 y 31 de enero.

Por tal motivo, todos los jóvenes conscriptos de la clase 1990, anticipados y remisos, deberán acudir a tramitar este importante documento y cumplir con su Servicio Militar Nacional.

La Junta Municipal de Reclutamiento está instalada en las oficinas de la Secretaría del Ayuntamiento, ubicadas en la planta alta del edificio de la Presidencia Municipal de Miguel Alemán.

Nuevo Laredo La Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional, a través de la Comandancia de la Octava Zona Militar, invitó también a los jóvenes que

deberán cumplir con su servicio militar este año, a entregar las cartillas militares para su respectivo procesamiento.

La recepción de cartillas es el sábado 10 y el domingo 11 de enero; así como los fines de semana del 17 y 18 de enero, 24 y 25 de enero y 31 de enero.

Se trata de jóvenes conscriptos de la Clase 1990, anticipados y remisos. Las cartillas pueden entregarse en las instalaciones del Cuartel Militar “Macario Zamora”, al poniente de Nuevo Laredo Las fechas citadas también comprenden a los municipios de Guerrero, Mier, Camargo y Díaz Ordaz.

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Miguel Alemán

Los jóvenes conscriptos de la clase 1990, anticipados y remisos, pueden acudir este fin de semana a la entrega de recepción de cartillas militares.

Anuncian recorte de personal ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

MIGUEL ALEMÁN — A raíz de la situación económica generalizada en el país y en el afán de proteger y ampliar las partidas presupuestales destinadas a las obras públicas y al otorgamiento de becas educativas a alumnos de escasos recursos, el Gobierno Municipal hará un nuevo recorte de personal y reducirá aún más el gasto en cumplimiento al Punto de Acuerdo emitido por el Congreso del Estado y en apego a los mecanismos de ahorro implementados en Tamaulipas por el gobernador, Eugenio Hernández Flores.

El presidente municipal, S ervando Lóp ez Moreno, hizo público el anunció de un nuevo recorte de personal y la reducción rigurosa del gasto corriente.

A partir del último trimestre del 2008, el Gobierno Municipal endureció la administración de su hacienda LÓPEZ pública; sin embargo, el difícil panorama económico que se vislumbra para este 2009 ha obligado a que los recursos sean administrados con mayor responsabilidad, indica un comunicado de prensa.

“Con este nuevo recorte y reducción de gastos no vamos a descuidar la obra pública ni los programas sociales, como en el caso de las becas a alumnos de escasos recursos, las cuales aumentaremos este año para beneficiar a un mayor número de familias”, dijo López.

ENTRETENIMIENTO LAREDO — En el escenario del Laredo Entertainment Center se presentan el domingo 11 de enero “Cheech & Chong” a las 7:30 p.m.

LAREDO — El jueves 22 de enero inicia la Washington’s Birthday Celebration que continuará hasta el 22 de febrero.Más información sobre eventos y para conocer horarios visite www.wbcalaredo.org.

LAREDO — El viernes 23 de enero es la primera presentación del Freestyle Motocross en el Laredo Entertainment Center a las 7:30 p.m.Habrá otra función el sábado 24 de enero a la misma hora.

EDUCACIÓN LAREDO — Habrá una audiencia pública relacionada a incrementos propuestos para tutorías y cuotas en Texas A&M International University. La audiencia es el viernes 16 de enero al mediodía en la rotonda del Student Center. Las audiencias informarán a estudiantes de los cambios propuestos a tutorías y cuotas y las razones de tales cambios.Los incrementos se están proponiendo en varios aspectos. Si es aprobado por la Legislatura entraría en vigor el otoño del 2009. Más información llamando al 326.2180 LAREDO — El viernes 16 de enero es el último día para inscribirse en Texas A&M International University. El calendario de la primavera 2009 puede ser visto en schedule.tamiu.edu. Más información llamando a la oficina de inscripciones en el 326-2250.

CULTURA LAREDO — La Serie de Recitales Steinway de Texas A&M International University continúan el viernes 16 de enero con la actuación de Mieun Lee, una pianista de TAMIU ganadora de premios,a las 7 p.m.en el Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall.La actuación incluirá obras de Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven,y Robert Schumann. El evento es gratuito y abierto al público. Más información llamando a Friedrich Gechter en el 3262639 ó escribiendo a fgechter@tamiu.edu Para informar acerca de eventos y actividades envíe el nombre, fecha, hora y dirección, y un número de contacto a tiempo@lmtonline.com

Foto por Miguel Timoshenkov | The Zapata Times

Varias horas debieron de esperar para realizar cambios en su credencial los ciudadanos que estarían cumpliendo con los términos del IFE para votar el 5 de julio, el miércoles, en Nuevo Laredo.

Tramitan credencial de elector para poder votar en julio Por MIGUEL TIMOSHENKOV TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

NUEVO LAREDO — Cientos de ciudadanos están tomando tiempo para renovar su credencial de elector y poder ejercer su voto en las elecciones federales del 5 de julio.

La fecha límite para cualquier actualización es el 15 de enero.

Margarita Ramos empezó a hacer fila a las 12:30 p.m. del miércoles.

“Si quiero votar en la próxima elección debo cambiar mi credencial. La reposición la estoy haciendo porque me cambié de domicilio”, dijo Ramos. “Desde hace 15 años que vivo en Nuevo Laredo, (y) siempre salgo a votar”.

Manuel Moncada Fuentes, Vocal Ejecutivo del Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE, por sus siglas) dijo que están procesando a 500 personas diariamente.

“El 67 por ciento de las reposiciones de credencial obedecen a

cambios de domicilio”, dijo Moncada. “Otros están buscando por primera vez registrarse”.

La credencial de elector es el documento oficial con el que la persona puede identificarse.

Un incremento en la demanda ciudadana por el documento se apreció desde el lunes.

Moncada dijo que estarán trabajando los fines de semana en horario normal para ampliar la cantidad de votantes registrados en la próxima elección.

Es importante que si los ciudadanos acuden a realizar algún trámite al IFE, presenten su acta de nacimiento, comprobante de domicilio e identificación con foto.

Como identificación con foto se admite el pasaporte, credencial de empleo, licencia de conducir, hasta una identificación escolar.

“Sin estos documentos no se podrá desarrollar el trámite”, dijo Moncada.

El padrón electoral de Nuevo

Laredo es de 285 mil registrados.

Con los nuevos ingresos podría llegar hasta 300 mil.

El primer Distrito Electoral de Tamaulipas tiene como cabecera a Nuevo Laredo, e incluye Ciudad Guerrero, Ciudad Mier, Miguel Alemán y Camargo. Actualmente se mantiene un padrón de 330 mil electores, que podría alcanzar a 340 mil ó más al cierre del registro y reposición de credenciales.

“La razón de actualizar la credencial es para que puedan votar en julio en la casilla que les correspondería donde actualmente viven”, dijo Moncada. “De lo contrario deberán votar en la casilla donde está actualmente su credencial, con su domicilio anterior”.

Las credenciales serán entregadas como fecha final hasta el 15 de marzo.

(Puede localizar a Miguel Timoshenkov llamando al (956) 7282583 o escribiendo a timo1@lmtonline.com)

Gobierno pide cuidar el dinero TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

CIUDAD VICTORIA, México — El Gobernador del Estado, Eugenio Hernández Flores se reunió en Casa de Gobierno con los alcaldes de los 43 ayuntamientos, donde los secretarios de su Gabinete expusieron la dinámica de trabajo, avances y proyecciones de los programas de interés colectivo para el 2009.

“Todos y cada uno de los funcionarios estatales tienen la in-

strucción precisa de atenderlos, ayudarlos y trabajar conjuntamente con ustedes”, explicó, sobre todo en esta época de retos económicos.

En el marco del Acuerdo Nacional a favor de la Economía Familiar y el Empleo que signó con el Presidente Felipe Calderón, mandatarios estatales y sectores de la sociedad, el Gobernador extendió la invitación a los alcaldes para firmar en este tenor el Acuerdo Estatal para la

Protección del Empleo y la Planta Productiva, acto que se llevará a cabo en próximo lunes 12 de enero en Reynosa.

Señaló que hay mucho trabajo y retos a vencer, pero “con poco tiempo y dinero limitado”.

Hernándes Flores convocó a cuidar las finanzas, eficientar el gasto y trabajar duro, porque es una gran oportunidad para consolidar esta alianza y que le vaya bien a Tamaulipas y a sus municipios.

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Nuevo Laredo

El jefe de gobierno de Nuevo Laredo, Ramón Garza Barrios, a la izquierda, entrega su pago de impuesto predial a Cecilia Hernández, cajera en las oficinas, el miércoles. Observa Martín de la Garza Chapa, director del Predial por parte del Municipio, a la derecha, y el Síndico César Valdez, al centro.

Conminan a pagar predial en enero ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

NUEVO LAREDO — Al pagar su predial correspondiente al presente año, el alcalde Ramón Garza Barrios convocó a los contribuyentes de Nuevo Laredo cumplir con el pago de este impuesto “porque a mayor recaudación por este concepto, mayores recursos federales para aplicarse en obras que necesita la ciudad”.

El alcalde hizo su pago en la caja 5 ubicada en el anexo del Centro Cívico Carlos Enrique Cantú Rosas, el miércoles. Atendido por Cecilia Hernández y tras una espera de cinco minutos, de acuerdo a la numeración que le tocó, cubrió el impuesto predial del 2009.

“Les agradezco a todos ustedes que estén aquí cumpliendo con Nuevo Laredo, porque su pago es para traer mayores beneficios”, les dijo Garza Barrios a quienes estaban esperando turno para pagar el predial.

Por su parte Martín de la Garza Chapa, director del Predial por parte del Municipio, dijo que hasta el miércoles ya sumaban seis mil 208 cuentas liquidadas hasta las 11 a.m.

El cobro del predial se hace en las cajas recaudadoras instaladas en el Centro Cívico, en las ventanillas de cobro ubicadas en las oficinas de Comapa, en el edificio de Seguridad Vial y en

las oficinas de Reservas Territoriales.

De la Garza Chapa atribuyó esta respuesta a que la gente está viendo reflejados sus impuestos en obras que elevan su calidad de vida y al descuento de 15 por ciento por pago anticipado del predial 2009.

En el padrón de contribuyentes están inscritas 169 mil cuentas, de las cuales en el año pasado se cubrieron 52.5 por ciento, equivalente a 86 mil.

“Para este año, si la ciudadanía nos ayuda, tenemos una meta de llegar a las 100 mil o si es posible, al cien por ciento del padrón”, dijo De la Garza Chapa.

El cobro de este impuesto se ve proyectado en obras de pavimentación, escuelas y en seguridad pública, pero sobre todo en las participaciones federales que llegan a la ciudad, indica un comunicado de prensa.

Las familias, al acudir al remodelado Centro Cívico Carlos Enrique Cantú Rosas, tienen más comodidad y no sufren las inclemencias del clima.

El comunicado de prensa indica que la atención que ofrecen las ocho cajas registradoras es rápida y tan sólo dos minutos requieren para pagar.

Los pagos se reciben en efectivo, en cheques o por tarjeta de débito o crédito.

Zbusiness

Latin American stocks dip on U.S. jobs, Mexico ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAO PAULO, Brazil — Latin American stocks slipped Friday as unemployment reached a 16-year high in the U.S., one of the region’s top trading partners, and Mexico inched closer toward recession.

Brazil’s benchmark Ibovespa index dipped 1 percent to 41,583, reversing morning gains that saw stocks rise 1 percent on hopes that a $1.8 billion deal between two of Brazil’s top banks could ease lending. Stateowned Banco do Brasil SA said it would buy a 50 percent share in Banco Votorantim SA, a major provider of car loans and credit to businesses.

Gains were pared as the U.S. Labor Department announced 7.2 percent unemployment for December, suggesting that demand for exports from Latin America would continue to slide. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.6 percent to 8,599 in New York.

Mexico’s IPC index meanwhile dropped 1 percent to 21,741. Treasury Secretary Agustin Carstens said the nation’s economy may be headed for a recession in 2009, amid slowing foreign investment and decreased demand for exports in its biggest market, the U.S. Central Bank president Guillermo Ortiz predicted that inflation, which hit a seven-year high in December, would slow this month in Mexico as the government slashes energy costs — giving the central bank room to cut its lending rate.

The peso weakened slightly to trade at 13.7 to the U.S. dollar on the news, suggesting that investors would be less likely to buy Mexican bonds should the interest rate spread with U.S. Treasuries narrow on a rate cut.

In Argentina, the Merval index fell 1.1 percent to 1,180, while Peru’s IGBVL slid 0.3 percent to 7,185.

Colombia’s IGBC gained 0.6 percent to 7,766 and Chile’s IPSA advanced 0.6 percent to 2,500.

SATURDAY,JANUARY 10,2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

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Monday is decision on Madoff bail

By TOM HAYS and LARRY NEUMEISTER ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — A judge delayed a decision until Monday on whether Bernard Madoff should be sent to jail for sending more than $1 million worth of jewelry to family and friends over the holidays.

The postponement came as prosecutors received a 30-day extension to bring an indictment against Madoff, according to a person familiar with the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been announced.

Prosecutors originally had a Monday deadline to bring an indictment.

Prosecutors want Madoff’s bail revoked because they claim he has been trying to protect his assets from investors burned by a $50 billion fraud. In addition to the jewelry, they say he was ready to send 100 signed checks worth $173 million to family and friends right before his arrest.

The defense says the sending of the gifts was an innocent mistake, and believe he should be free on bail. They don’t believe he poses a threat to the community or is a risk to flee — the two main considerations in bail decisions.

The fact that he has been able to spend his days in his luxury apartment — and not jail — has stirred up outrage among investors who lost billions in his alleged fraud.

Live a healthy life - read Salud only in The Zapata Times

10A | THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009

FUTURE ADMINISTRATORS

Firefighter dies as truck hits building

By RUSSELL CONTRERAS ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOSTON — A Boston Fire Department ladder truck coming down a hill plowed through an intersection Friday and crashed into a high-rise apartment building, killing one firefighter and seriously injuring a second.

Dozens firefighters bowed their heads and held their helmets over their hearts as they created a pathway for the body of one firefighter — covered in a black body bag on a stretcher — to be carried from the wreckage and put into an ambulance.

The truck was returning from a medical call when it barreled down the steep Parker Hill Av-

enue, went through the intersection at Huntington Avenue and slammed into the building, said Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald.

Lt. Kevin Kelley, 52, of Quincy, a 30-year veteran supervisor riding in the truck’s front seat, died at the scene, MacDonald said.

Another firefighter aboard had a broken leg and two others had minor injuries. He said another firefighter helping at the scene suffered a broken ankle.

Kelley was one of the firefighters featured on the Discovery Channel’s 2005 “Firehouse USA-Boston” shows, following Ladder 26.

The truck hit a section of the building where children were working in a computer learning center. MacDonald said four

children were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.

Three firefighters taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center were in good condition, said spokeswoman Zineb Marchoudi.

Mehigan said five people not involved in the crash were taken to hospitals to be checked because of anxiety-related symptoms.

MacDonald declined to comment on the cause of the crash.

He said the truck’s maintenance records will be part of the investigation.

The accident closed part of Huntington Avenue — a major thoroughfare near Northeastern University and several of the city’s major medical centers.

The truck struck two parked

cars and a brick wall before becoming lodged in the building.

Danyelle Jones, 24, said she was throwing away trash on the eighth floor when she was nearly knocked over by the collision.

“I heard a loud boom and my back got all twisted up,” she said.

The tall red brick structure is owned by the nonprofit Roxbury Tenants of Harvard, a housing and human service organization that was founded by residents of the neighborhood in 1969.

WHDH-TV and The Boston Globe reported the same ladder truck involved in Friday’s accident was involved in a minor accident on Dec. 10, when the truck rear-ended a car at the intersection of Huntington and Longwood Avenues, causing minor damage and no injuries. The

THE BLOTTER BURGLARY OFA HABIATATION

Courtesy photo/Villarreal Elementary | Special to the Times

Four Villarreal Elementary teachers received master’s degrees in educational administration from Texas A&M International University in a ceremony Dec. 12. Shown, left to right, are Vicky Martinez, Lydia Garza,Teresa Collett (Villarreal) and Elizabeth Cruz. Martinez, Garza and Collett Villarreal are graduates of Zapata High School.

A residence on 7th Street, near Highway 16,was reported burglarized Jan. 1.

The male complainant, Eduardo Amador Sanchez, who was arrested on drug charges earlier that day at about 2 a.m., told deputies several firearms were stolen from the residence.

In the offense report, deputies name four suspects wanted for the theft, which was reported at about 5:30 p.m.

POSSESSION OFA CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

AGENT Similar charges are pending against Ruiz.

Federal agents recorded Morales and Ruiz meeting with the cooperating witness during June, July and August last year, Wright said. In early meetings, Morales and Ruiz discussed payment: $4,000 up front, and $5,000 after the drugs made it safely through Zapata, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

In later meetings, Morales discussed the route the cocaine trafficker would take, Border Patrol sensors in the area and how Morales would ensure law enforcement was not in the area the trafficker would be passing through, Wright said.

Morales, who had been with the Border Patrol less than two years at the time of his arrest,

BUST Continued from Page 1A The driver and passenger abandoned the vehicle, fled on foot and escaped into the brush, she said.

As deputies searched the pickup, they found 17 bundles containing a total of about 186 pounds of marijuana worth approximately $60,000.

Cuellar, who has known Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez for many years, praised the cooperation between the two law enforcement organizations, saying the drug seizure was a “big victory and a great way to get the new year started.”

“This is only the beginning of a new era at the Webb County Sheriff’s Office,” Cuellar stated in a news release. “We will continue working cooperatively with other law enforcement agencies to take drugs off the street.”

(Nick Georgiou may be reached at 728-2582 or nickg@lmtonline.com)

| Continued from Page 1A said in court Tuesday that his wife was pregnant and was not employed when he agreed to help the trafficker.

“I needed the money for my family,” he said.

Morales remains in federal custody, held without bond pending his sentencing. That sentencing is scheduled for March 18 before U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez.

His employment with Border Patrol was terminated following his arrest, authorities said.

(Jason Buch may be reached at 728-2547 or jbuch@lmtonline.com)

Two men were charged with possession of cocaine and assault at about 2 a.m. Jan. 1 after police responded to a domestic disturbance at the El Tigre Food Store near the intersection of 7th and Miraflores streets.

Juan Manuel Esquivel Jr. and Amador Eduardo Sanchez, both of the 600 block of Miraflores,were booked and later taken to Zapata County jail.

According to the offense report,deputies recovered 29 pieces of aluminum foil containing crack cocaine.

Deputies arrested a man at about 11:30 p.m. Dec. 31 on the charge of possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana, a Class-B misdemeanor.

Juan Domingo Gutierrez IV, of the 5200 block of Peña Lane, was booked and later taken to Zapata County jail.

According to the offense report, deputies found the marijuana in Gutierrez’s possession after pulling him over near the intersection of Zapata Avenue and 7th Street.

A man was charged with possession of cocaine after being pulled over at about 2 a.m. Monday on U.S. 83.

Tomas Villarreal Jr.,of the 5400 block of Pascual Lane,

was booked and taken to Zapata County jail.

According to the offense report,a deputy searched Villarreal and the vehicle following the traffic stop and found two foils containing a substance believed to be crack cocaine.

Two students were arrested at Zapata Middle School at about 10:30 p.m. Monday.

The two girls were charged with possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana in a drug-free zone, a Class-A misdemeanor.

According to the offense report, the girls were arrested after a school employee called the sheriff’s office.

Also, deputies recovered a cigarette allegedly containing marijuana.

EVADING ARREST WITH A MOTOR VEHICLE Two men were arrested at about 11 p.m. Dec. 30 after allegedly leading deputies on a brief pursuit on U.S.83.

Leobardo Garza Jr.,of the 1500 block of Lincoln Street, and Daniel Enrique Presas, of the 400 block of Kennedy Street, were charged with evading arrest with a motor vehicle, a state jail felony.

Both were later taken to Zapata County jail.

According to the offense report, the pursuit happened after a deputy tried to pull them over for traveling 73 mph in a 45 mph zone on South U.S. 83.

However, the two men, riding motorcycles, refused to stop, the report states.

They later pulled over without incident, deputies said.

ASSAULT VAn assault report was taken at about 11 p.m. Dec. 30

at the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the offense report, the complainant, of the 100 block of Trinity Lane,told police that her boyfriend assaulted her, but that she did not wish to file charges because she feared him.

Sheriff’s deputies later issued a warrant for the boyfriend’s arrest, charging him with assault causing bodily injury (family violence), a Class-A misdemeanor.

Deputies arrested a man at about 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1 after he was allegedly verbally aggressive toward family members and attempting to start a fight with his brother.

David Garcia was detained at his residence in 500 block of Ramireno Street and charged with assault (family violence), a Class-A misdemeanor.

He was later taken to Zapata County jail.

Deputies arrested a man Sunday at Salinas Ranch off U.S.83 after he allegedly broke into a residence and began pushing and shoving his wife.

Dominique Mendiola III,of the 200 block of Murcia Drive, was charged with Class-C misdemeanor assault and taken to Zapata County jail.

According to the offense report, deputies responded to the ranch following a domestic disturbance report at about 2:30 a.m.

AUTO THEFT A vehicle was reported stolen Jan. 1 from the 5200 block of Cuellar Lane.

The male complainant told police about the theft at approximately 11 p.m.

A vehicle was reported stolen Sunday from the 2400 block of Elm Street.

The female complainant told police about the theft at approximately 2 a.m.

STATE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009

THE ZAPATA TIMES | 11A

DHS ready if Mexico violence spills over

By ALICIA A. CALDWELL and EILEEN SULLIVAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

EL PASO — If Mexican drug violence spills across the U.S. border, Homeland Security officials say they have a contingency plan to help border areas fight it.

“It’s a common sense extension of our continued work with our state, local, and tribal partners in securing the southwest border,” DHS spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said Friday.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who described the contingency plan in an interview with The New York Times this week, said he ordered specific plans to be drawn up this summer as violence in Mexico continued to mount.

The plan includes federal homeland security agents helping local authorities and maybe even military assistance from the Department of Defense, possibly including aircraft, armored vehicles and special teams to go to areas overwhelmed with violence, authorities said.

Kudwa would not give specifics on the so-called “surge” plan because it is marked “for official use only.” But she said the plan does not create any new authorities.

In the last year, more than 5,000 people have been killed and police and military officials have become common targets for violent drug cartels who are fighting with each other and the government for control of lucrative drug and human smuggling routes across Mexico.

More than one-fifth of the deaths have occurred in Ciudad Juarez, the hardscrabble border city just across the Rio Grande from El Paso.

Officials in Mexico reported about 1,600 homicides in Juarez in 2007 and at least 20 people have been killed in the first nine days of this year.

To date, there has been no significant violent spillover from the drug war in Mexico, but U.S. authorities have spent a tense year watching and waiting.

In October, Hidalgo County officials issued fully automatic

Legislature mulls college tuition cap

By JAY ROOT ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — Hit with middleclass concerns about the rising costs of a college education, Texas lawmakers soon will consider legislation that would temporarily freeze tuition at state universities.

But higher education leaders are warning the move could blow a hole in their budgets and lower the value of a Texas diploma.

Six years ago, facing a $10 billion budget shortfall, the Legislature gave universities broad latitude in setting tuition rates. That helped spark a steady climb in college costs — including a 53 percent rise for tuition and fees at state universities, state figures show.

“We’re really pricing out a lot of students from college education,” said Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, who has filed a bill that would put a two-year moratorium on tuition hikes at public universities. “There is a lot more pressure building ... to try to find a way to rein in the high costs of a college education.”

Hinojosa’s Senate Bill 105 has drawn eight co-sponsors in the 31-member Senate, including four senators who voted in favor of the 2003 legislation that triggered the increases. Besides the two-year tuition moratorium, the bill would peg future increases to the cost of living and require that most fee hikes be approved by a majority of students. While the idea of college affordability has broad appeal among lawmakers, some warn it could spark potentially devastating cuts at universities and reduce the value of a degree from Texas public colleges.

Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria, sponsored the 2003 legislation that allowed universities to set their own tuition rates. She said it would be a mistake to force tuition lower over time without offsetting the losses in revenue.

“It’s very easy to say we want to lower what the tuition is,” said Morrison, who has served as the chair of the House higher education committee in recent years.

weapons to deputies patrolling the river in the Rio Grande Valley. Sheriff Lupe Treviño also authorized his deputies to return fire across the border if smugglers or other criminals took aim at them.

In El Paso, the country’s largest border community and one of the safest metropolitan areas in the nation, Sheriff Richard Wiles said that while he doesn’t anticipate the city or county being overwhelmed by border violence he applauded the DHS plan to quickly respond if the worst should happen.

“I think it’s appropriate for the federal government to have a contingency plan all the way up to the worst case scenario,” Wiles said.

The contingency plan was news to most border states.

“At this point, DHS has not contacted the California National Guard to bring any forces ... to support first responders, i.e. (U.S.) Border Patrol, at the border in California,” California National Guard spokesman Jonathan Guibord said Friday.

He said National Guard officials in California know only “what’s been publicized” about the plan, but added that state military officials routinely train and prepare to respond to any order from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger or the president.

Katherine Cesinger, a spokeswoman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, said Texas officials were briefed on the plan but were not consulted beforehand about a plan to fight Mexican drug cartels on the 2,000-mile U.S. border, more than half of which is in Texas.

Cesinger said the state has its own specific security plans for each area of the Texas border should violence from Mexico become an issue. She declined to give specifics of those plans.

Officials with New Mexico’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said they are in constant contact with federal Homeland Security officials but weren’t aware of any specific security plan that could include Department of Defense assets.

Photo by Rachel Denny Clow/Corpus Christie Caller-Times | AP

In this Feb. 22, 2007, photo a replica of Columbus’s ship the Nina arrives in Little Bay in Rockport. Spain’s consulate is floating a proposal to restore the replica. The wooden vessel, originally part of the replica fleet with the Pinta and Santa Maria, docked in Corpus Christi in 1993. The other two were badly damaged in a barge crash the following year.

Spain wants to restore Nina ASSOCIATED PRESS

CORPUS CHRISTI — Spain’s consulate is floating a proposal to restore a replica of Christopher Columbus’ ship the Nina.

The wooden vessel, originally part of the replica fleet along with the Pinta and Santa Maria, docked in Corpus Christi in 1993.

The other two were badly damaged in a barge crash the following year.

In return for sharing the costs of the restoration with Corpus Christi, financiers would tow the Nina to Kemah on Galveston Bay to display during a sailing race in May, the Corpus Christi CallerTimes reported in Friday’s editions.

The city would pay the cost of the wood and iron, while the unnamed financiers would cover the cost of the repairs, according to the proposal, which also calls for $10,000 from local museum supporters. It was unclear what the cost of restoration would be.

The proposal is under consideration by City Manager Angel Escobar.

12A | THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009

COLORFUL STROKES

Photo by Ronda Churchill | AP

Paul Ledak, of Austin, plays the newly-launched Gibson Dark Fire guitar at an interactive display at the Gibson booth during the International Consumer Electronics Show on Friday, in Las Vegas.

Fatal fire shows no safety checks

By DANNY ROBBINS ASSOCIATED PRESS

DALLAS — Investigators probing a fatal fire at an East Texas homeless shelter have been unable to find evidence it was inspected for fire safety in recent years, according to local officials.

While still early in the investigation into Monday’s fire that ripped through the aging building, killing five, records indicate it was last inspected in 2004, fire chief Ronnie Grooms told The Associated Press.

Homeless shelters in Texas aren’t licensed by the state, so regular fire inspections are not required. Grooms said his small department, which has only two inspectors, focuses mostly on state-licensed facilities where inspections are mandated.

“Sometimes things fall through the cracks,” he said.

“That’s no excuse, really. That’s just the way it is.”

The victims, who have yet to be identified, were among 28 men sleeping in cubicles in the warehouse-like building, which has long served as both a homeless shelter and a collection point for donated clothes and other items.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. However, investigators have determined the shelter had no sprinkler system, fire alarms or smoke detectors, Grooms said.

The facility is owned and operated by a local nonprofit group, Seed Sowers Christians in Action.

The group’s founder, Don Walker, declined comment on issues relating to building codes or inspections.

“All I know is I tried to take care of people,” he said.

The Paris fire is the latest of at least a dozen at homeless

shelters across the U.S. in the last two years, according to news accounts.

Conditions at homeless shelters have improved dramatically over the last 20 years, but some remain inadequate for housing people overnight, said Michael Stoops, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. Because city ordinances are the only form of oversight for most shelters, it’s critical that they be inspected regularly, he said.

“That (shelter), if they were having people sleep there at night, it needed to be inspected and kept up to code,” he said.

Fire officials in Dallas and Denton have closed homeless shelters in the past year because of code violations. In both instances, the fire marshals said they felt conflicted about the decisions, but the violations were too serious to ignore.

The Zapata Times SATURDAY,JANUARY 10,2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors Is Philadelphia this year’s Giants?

By DAVE GOLDBERG ASSOCIATED PRESS

Justin Tuck chuckled when he was asked if the Philadelphia Eagles are this year’s version of the New York Giants, a low-seeded wild-card team that can go all the way.

“The Giants from last year are in that locker room over there,” New York’s Pro Bowl defensive end said, nodding toward the large space 100 yards or so down the hall from the room at Giants Stadium where he was talking.

“The team in Philadelphia,” Tuck said, “is the Eagles of this year.”

The scene sets a compelling second-round

NFL playoff matchup, the third meeting of the season between the defending champions and their NFC East rivals from 90 miles down the New Jersey Turnpike.

As Philadelphia is trying to do this year, New York had to win three road games before upsetting unbeaten New England 17-14 in Arizona in the Super Bowl.

The Eagles and Giants, who will play at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday, split their two games this season with Philadelphia handing New York its only home loss, 20-14 on Dec. 7. It was a game that some of the Eagles think was their best this season, and the Giants consider one of their worst. It came the week after Plaxico Burress, the Giants’ main receiving

Coach says boys ready for district

threat, shot himself accidentally in the leg and was suspended by the team for the rest of the season.

What also makes it compelling is the nature of the NFC East, probably the consistently best division in the NFL for the last 25 years.

It has had eight teams in the playoffs the last three seasons and, from 1990-1992, had three teams win Super Bowls: the Giants, Washington and Dallas.

Philadelphia is the only division team without a Super Bowl victory — Dallas has five and New York and Washington three each. But for most of this decade, with Donovan McNabb at quarterback, the Eagles have been consistently good — losing to New England by three

CONTINUING THE TRADITION Lady Hawks juniors hoping to hang up another banner

By NINO CARDENAS

By CLARA SANDOVAL

LAREDO MORNING TIMES

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The Zapata Hawks are 2-0 in District 32-3A play, 9-10 overall, not including Friday’s late game at Port Isabel.

The Hawks will play Progreso on Tuesday and Hidalgo on Friday, so coach Juan Villarreal’s club knows the importance of taking care of its home contests to start district play.

Overall, four of their next seven games are on the road.

“There was a point at the beginning of the season where we wanted to make sure we won our home games,” Villarreal said prior to Friday’s contest. “In the last two district games, we’ve put up a good fight. The difference in the last game was the free throws (made 15-21).”

Sophomore Andrew Magee led Zapata in its 54-49 win over Raymondville on Friday night.

He made eight free throws in the fourth quarter to help the Hawks pull away with the win.

“He came through in the clutch,” Villarreal said. “He’s showing a lot of poise and didn’t seem rattled at all.”

Even with Rene Garcia having an off game, the Hawks were still able to pull away due to Meliton Trejo’s 14 points.

“We don’t key on one player,” Villarreal said. “We need someone to step up every single game.

Rene was off, but Meliton stepped

“We need someone to step up every single game.

Rene was off, but Meliton stepped it up nicely.”

COACH JUAN VILLARREAL

it up nicely.”

Villarreal refers to Trejo as his “little general.”

“He does well in getting the guys focused and making sure they pay attention to detail,” he said.

With huge games looming against Hidalgo and Rio Hondo, the district champ the last three years, next week, in the coming weeks, Villarreal has managed to keep the mood light.

He allows the players to listen to music while practicing, but emphasizes the need to remember the goal at hand.

“The goal right now is trying to keep everything fun but to be focused,” Villarreal said. “We want to keep working hard and being humble.

“I tell them we’re not going to blow anybody out. We have to fight hard every game in order to come away with a win.”

See PHILY | PAGE 2B

Photo by Bill Kostroun | AP

A worker spreads rock salt Friday at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. in anticipation of a snow storm before the New York Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, in an NFL divisional playoff football game.

he Lady Hawks (2-3 District 32-3A, 10-13), who are coming off their 5632 win over Port Isabel on Friday, are looking to their juniors, who have found success early on in their basketball careers, to add another banner to the rafters at the Zapata gymnasium.

Last year, they were part of history as the team that broke all barriers when they won the first playoff game in the program’s history.

They then beat a heavily favored Port Isabel team, 53-51, to claim the school’s first bi-district championship.

In the area championship game, they ran into a powerful West Oso team, which was ranked No. 1 in the state last year.

Maritza Garcia, Clary Solis, Adriana Peña, Mela Martinez and Ashley Martinez were sophomores then.

They had a taste of success and hope to continue a new Lady Hawk tradition – being part of the postseason.

“Last year, winning bi-district was a

T

“It is something that we are very proud of because we broke that barrier.”

CLARY SOLIS

big accomplishment for us,” Solis said.

“We were sophomores and everyone got to play in the game. It is something that we are very proud of because we broke that barrier.”

Garcia is a multi-sport athlete who draws from her success on the cross-country course to help the basketball team.

This past year, the girls cross-country team captured the regional championship and made a trip to the state meet with Garcia leading the pack.

She is one of Zapata’s main offensive threats from 3-point range.

Solis is a speedy guard who loves play-

ing defense and pushing the ball up the court on a fast break.

She is also a track star, and the defending 100- and 200-meter champion.

“Clary is a very humble athlete that has really improved her ballhandling skills,” Zapata coach Clyde Guerra, Jr. said. “Her speed helps us in our transitional offense.”

Peña compliments Solis in the transitional offense.

The majority of the time she is the recipient of Solis’ pass on the fast break, as she can dance her way through traffic and finish a layup on the break.

“As a sophomore, she was instrumental in our team’s success. She is a great athlete,” Guerra said.

Mela Martinez is the Lady Hawks’ defensive stopper underneath the basket that loves to dive for any loose balls on the basketball court.

“Mela gives us quality minutes when she is on the court. She is slowly starting to come along for us,” Guerra said.

See LADY | PAGE 2B

Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times

The Zapata Lady Hawks’ juniors are hoping start a new tradition of playoff success for the girls’ basketball program. From left to right are Clarissa Solis, Adriana Peña, Ashley Martinez, Maritza Garcia and Melissa Martinez.

WINNING COACH

Stren Series to host event at Falcon Lake SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Photo by Mark Humphrey | AP

Florida head coach Urban Meyer lifts the the BCS Coaches’Trophy following Florida’s victory in the BCS Championship NCAA college football game in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday. Florida defeated Oklahoma 24-14.

The $6.5 million Stren Series is headed to Zapata’s Falcon Lake on Jan. 15-17 for a $275,225 bass tournament.

As many as 400 pros and co-anglers from 21 states will be competing in the first Texas Division tournament of the season for top awards of $65,000 and $35,000, respectively.

“I am really looking forward to fishing Falcon Lake again,” said pro Jeremy Guidry of Opelousas, La., who won the 2008 Stren Series Texas Division event on Falcon Lake.

“I look for the weights to be similar to last year. With the high water and the fish moving up to spawn the fish will likely be spread out. Some anglers will really be on the fish and other anglers will struggle.

“The fish won’t be grouped up like they were at the FLW Series tournament in No-

“I am really looking forward to fishing Falcon Lake again.”

PRO JEREMY GUIDRY vember, which will make it a little more difficult.”

Guidry caught his bass in the 2008 event throwing a ChatterBait and flipping a creature bait and plans to start off using the same baits.

“It would be nice to get on a good flipping bite this time around,” he said. “It is so hard to get the big fish out of the bushes and trees.

I would rather be catching them on a heavy

line and a flipping bait.”

Guidry is not sure that the two locations he fished last year will be the same with the high water.

“I fished two locations during the 2008 tournament,” he said. “My primary spot was in a small creek on the Mexico side of the lake, approximately four miles south of the Beacon Lodge and my secondary area was in a larger creek on the Mexico side, west of the marina.”

“No matter what happens, it is always a real treat to fish Falcon Lake. There aren’t many lakes in the country where you can catch so many 7 to 10 pound fish.”

Guidry set a FLW Outdoors record of 20 bass weighing 110-02 in the 2008 Stren Series Texas Division Falcon Lake event.

See SERIES | PAGE 2B

Zscores CHL Northern Conference Northeast Division W L OTL Pts GF Oklahoma City 19 9 5 43 99 Bossier-Shreveport20 11 2 42 104 Mississippi 20 12 0 40 112 Tulsa 9 18 4 22 86 Northwest Division W L OTL Pts GF Colorado 25 6 1 51 138 Rocky Mountain 16 14 3 35 101 Rapid City 11 14 7 29 94 Wichita 11 19 2 24 86 Southern Conference Southeast Division W L OTL Pts GF Texas 22 9 3 47 117 Laredo 19 10 3 41 110 Rio Grande Valley14 15 3 31 112 Corpus Christi 13 15 4 30 100 Southwest Division W L OTL Pts GF Odessa 22 9 3 47 137 Arizona 17 17 1 35 128 New Mexico 12 19 2 26 113 Amarillo 10 20 0 20 89 Saturday’s Games New Mexico at Amarillo Tulsa at Mississippi Bossier-Shreveport at Laredo Corpus Christi at Rio Grande Valley Odessa at Arizona Rocky Mountain at Colorado Wichita at Rapid City Sunday’s Games Mississippi at Oklahoma City New Mexico at Amarillo

GA 77 87 86 135 GA 96 114 116 106 GA 94 89 117 109 GA 99 133 139 129

NFL Playoff Glance All Times EST Wild-card Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 3 Arizona 30, Atlanta 24 San Diego 23, Indianapolis 17, OT Sunday, Jan. 4 Baltimore 27, Miami 9 Philadelphia 26, Minnesota 14 Divisional Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 10 Baltimore at Tennessee, 4:30 p.m. (CBS) Arizona at Carolina, 8:15 p.m. (FOX) Sunday, Jan. 11 Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m. (FOX) San Diego at Pittsburgh, 4:45 p.m. (CBS) Conference Championships Sunday, Jan. 18 NFC Arizona-Carolina winner vs. Philadelphia-N.Y. Giants winner (FOX), 3 p.m.

AFC Baltimore-Tennessee winner vs. San Diego-Pittsburgh winner (CBS), 6:30 p.m.

Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1 Tampa, Fla. AFC vs. NFC, 6 p.m. (NBC) Pro Bowl Sunday, Feb. 8 At Honolulu AFC vs. NFC, 4:30 p.m. (NBC) Injury Report NEW YORK — The updated National Football League injury report, as provided by the league: SATURDAY BALTIMORE RAVENS at TENNESSEE TITANS — RAVENS: OUT: LB Antwan Barnes (chest). QUESTIONABLE: DT Justin Bannan (foot), TE Todd Heap (back), LB Jarret Johnson (calf), WR Derrick Mason (shoulder), S Ed Reed (knee, illness), CB Samari Rolle (thigh), K Matt Stover (right ankle), CB Fabian Washington (neck). TITANS: OUT: DE Dave Ball (back), C Kevin Mawae (elbow). QUESTIONABLE: S Tuff Harris (calf). PROBABLE: CB Nicholas Harper (groin), DT Albert Haynesworth (knee), TE Bo Scaife (illness), LB David Thornton (hip), DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (groin).

ARIZONA CARDINALS at CAROLINA PANTHERS — CARDINALS: QUESTIONABLE: WR Anquan Boldin (hamstring), DE Travis LaBoy (ankle), TE Ben Patrick (knee).

PROBABLE: TE Leonard Pope (knee). PANTHERS: QUESTIONABLE: C Geoff Hangartner (ankle). PROBABLE: DT Ma’ake Kemoeatu (ankle), DT Damione Lewis (shoulder), T Jeff Otah (toe).

SUNDAY PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at NEW YORK GIANTS — EAGLES: OUT: G Shawn Andrews (back). DOUBTFUL: RB Dan Klecko (shoulder). QUESTIONABLE: T Jon Runyan (knee).

PROBABLE: DE Victor Abiamiri (foot), LB Stewart Bradley (rib), S Brian Dawkins (back), S Quintin Demps (quadricep), G Todd Herremans (shoulder), CB Asante Samuel (hip), TE L.J. Smith (shoulder), RB Brian Westbrook (knee). NEW YORK: PROBABLE: LB Zak DeOssie (back), DE Justin Tuck (lower leg, knee).

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS at PITTSBURGH STEELERS — CHARGERS: DOUBTFUL: RB LaDainian Tomlinson (groin).

QUESTIONABLE: TE Antonio Gates (ankle, achilles). PROBABLE: K Nate Kaeding (right groin), LB Brandon Siler (foot).

STEELERS: PROBABLE: QB Ben Roethlisberger (concussion).

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic

L Pct GB 8 .784 — 18 .500 10½ 20 .429 13 21 .417 13½ 21 .382 14½ Southeast W L Pct GB Orlando 28 8 .778 — Atlanta 22 12 .647 5 Miami 18 16 .529 9 Charlotte 13 23 .361 15 Washington 7 27 .206 20 Central W L Pct GB Cleveland 28 6 .824 — Detroit 21 12 .636 6½ Milwaukee 17 20 .459 12½ Chicago 15 20 .429 13½ Indiana 13 22 .371 15½ WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest W L Pct GB San Antonio 24 11 .686 — New Orleans 21 11 .656 1½ Dallas 22 13 .629 2 Houston 22 15 .595 3 Memphis 11 25 .306 13½ Northwest W L Pct GB Denver 25 12 .676 — Portland 21 14 .600 3 Utah 21 15 .583 3½ Minnesota 10 25 .286 14 Oklahoma City 5 31 .139 19½ Pacific W L Pct GB L.A. Lakers 28 6 .824 — Phoenix 19 13 .594 8 Golden State 10 27 .270 19½ L.A. Clippers 8 27 .229 20½ Sacramento 8 28 .222 21 Wednesday’s Games Orlando 106, Atlanta 102 Toronto 99, Washington 93 Cleveland 111, Charlotte 81 New Jersey 100, Memphis 89 Houston 89, Boston 85 Philadelphia 110, Milwaukee 105 Minnesota 129, Oklahoma City 87 Denver 108, Miami 97 Indiana 113, Phoenix 110 Utah 116, New Orleans 90 Portland 84, Detroit 83 L.A. Lakers 114, Golden State 106 Thursday’s Games Dallas 99, New York 94 San Antonio 106, L.A. Clippers 84 Friday’s Games Atlanta at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Memphis at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Charlotte at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Boston at Cleveland, 8 p.m.

Houston at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Washington at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

New Jersey at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.

Detroit at Denver, 9 p.m.

Miami at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

Dallas at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m.

Indiana at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

Saturday’s Games Charlotte at Washington, 7 p.m.

Milwaukee at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

New York at Houston, 8:30 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Detroit at Utah, 9 p.m.

Golden State at Portland, 10 p.m.

Sunday’s Games Boston at Toronto, 12:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Atlanta, 2 p.m.

Phoenix at L.A. Clippers, 3:30 p.m.

Orlando at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

Dallas at Sacramento, 9 p.m.

Indiana at Golden State, 9 p.m.

Miami at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.

Boston New Jersey Philadelphia Toronto New York

W 29 18 15 15 13

NHL All Times EST EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L OT Pts GF GA Philadelphia 22 10 9 53 136 123 N.Y. Rangers 24 15 3 51 115 115 New Jersey 23 14 3 49 119 105 Pittsburgh 20 18 4 44 127 130 N.Y. Islanders 12 26 4 28 109 154 Northeast Division W L OT Pts GF GA Boston 30 7 4 64 149 93 Montreal 24 10 6 54 127 105 Buffalo 20 15 5 45 117 113 Toronto 16 19 6 38 123 148 Ottawa 13 20 6 32 93 117 Southeast Division W L OT Pts GF GA 27 11 3 57 135 117 Washington Carolina 21 16 5 47 110 122 Florida 19 16 6 44 112 115 Atlanta 14 23 5 33 120 149 Tampa Bay 11 19 10 32 97 124 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division W L OT Pts GF GA

SATURDAY,JANUARY 10,2009 Detroit Chicago Columbus Nashville St. Louis

28 7 5 61 150 112 22 9 7 51 139 98 18 18 4 40 104 112 18 19 3 39 99 117 15 21 3 33 112 132 Northwest Division W L OT Pts GF GA Calgary 25 12 4 54 130 121 Vancouver 22 15 5 49 121 110 Colorado 21 19 1 43 108 117 Minnesota 20 17 3 43 98 90 Edmonton 19 17 3 41 110 118 Pacific Division W L OT Pts GF GA San Jose 29 5 5 63 135 95 Anaheim 21 16 5 47 119 117 Phoenix 20 17 5 45 105 120 Los Angeles 17 17 6 40 102 109 Dallas 17 17 5 39 112 135 Friday’s Games Columbus at Washington, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Rangers at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

San Jose at Edmonton, 9 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

St. Louis at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

Saturday’s Games Carolina at Boston, 1 p.m.

Atlanta at Florida, 1 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Colorado, 3 p.m.

Buffalo at Detroit, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Rangers at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Washington at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Chicago at Nashville, 8:30 p.m.

Dallas at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

San Jose at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

New Jersey at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday’s Games Nashville at Chicago, 7 p.m.

New Jersey at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

St. Louis at Edmonton, 8 p.m.

NCAA Football Bowl Glance All Times EST (Subject to change) Saturday, Dec. 20 EagleBank Bowl At Washington Payout: $750,000 Wake Forest 29, Navy 19 New Mexico Bowl At Albuquerque Payout: $750,000 Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35 St. Petersburg (Fla.) Bowl Payout: $1 million South Florida 41, Memphis 14 Las Vegas Bowl Payout: $1 million Arizona 31, BYU 21 Sunday, Dec. 21 New Orleans Bowl Payout: $325,000 Southern Mississippi 30, Troy 27, OT Tuesday, Dec. 23 Poinsettia Bowl At San Diego Payout: $750,000 TCU 17, Boise State 16 Wednesday, Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl At Honolulu Payout: $750,000 Notre Dame 49, Hawaii 21 Friday, Dec. 26 Motor City Bowl At Detroit Payout: $750,000 Florida Atlantic 24, Central Michigan 21 Saturday, Dec. 27 Meineke Bowl At Charlotte, N.C. Payout: $1 million West Virginia 31, North Carolina 30 Champs Sports Bowl At Orlando, Fla. Payout: $2.125 million Florida State 42, Wisconsin 13 Emerald Bowl At San Francisco Payout: ACC: $750,000 Pac-10: $850,000 California 24, Miami 17 Sunday, Dec. 28 Independence Bowl At Shreveport, La. Payout: $1.1 million Louisiana Tech 17, Northern Illinois 10 Monday, Dec. 29 PapaJohns.com Bowl At Birmingham, Ala. Payout: $300,000 Rutgers 29, North Carolina State 23 Alamo Bowl At San Antonio Payout: $2.25 million Missouri 30, Northwestern 23, OT Tuesday, Dec. 30 Humanitarian Bowl At Boise, Idaho Payout: $750,000 Maryland 42, Nevada 35

Holiday Bowl At San Diego Payout: $2.3 million Oregon 42, Oklahoma St. 31 Texas Bowl At Houston Payout: $750,000 Rice 38, Western Michigan 14 Wednesday, Dec. 31 Armed Forces Bowl At Fort Worth, Texas Payout: $750,000 Houston 34, Air Force 28 Sun Bowl At El Paso, Texas Payout: $1.9 million Oregon State 3, Pittsburgh 0 Music City Bowl At Nashville, Tenn.

Payout: $1.7 million Vanderbilt 16, Boston College 14 Insight Bowl At Tempe, Ariz.

Payout: $1.2 million Kansas 42, Minnesota 21 Chick-fil-A Bowl At Atlanta Payout: $3 million LSU 38, Georgia Tech 3 Thursday, Jan. 1 Outback Bowl At Tampa, Fla. Payout: $3.2 million Iowa 31, South Carolina 10 Capital One Bowl At Orlando, Fla. Payout: $4.25 million Georgia 24, Michigan State 12 Gator Bowl At Jacksonville, Fla. Payout: $2.5 million Nebraska 26, Clemson 21 Rose Bowl At Pasadena, Calif.

Payout: $17 million Southern Cal 38, Penn State 24 Orange Bowl At Miami Payout: $17 million Virginia Tech 20, Cincinnati 7 Friday, Jan. 2 Cotton Bowl At Dallas Payout: $3 million Mississippi 47, Texas Tech 34 Liberty Bowl At Memphis, Tenn.

Payout: $1.8 million Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19 Sugar Bowl At New Orleans Payout: $17 million Utah 31, Alabama 17 Saturday, Jan. 3 International Bowl At Toronto Payout: $750,000 Connecticut 38, Buffalo 20 Monday, Jan. 5 Fiesta Bowl At Glendale, Ariz.

Payout: $17 million Texas 24, Ohio State 21 Tuesday, Jan. 6 GMAC Bowl Mobile, Ala. Payout: $750,000 Tulsa 45, Ball State 13 Thursday, Jan. 8 BCS National Championship At Miami Payout: $17 million Florida 24, Oklahoma 14 Saturday, Jan. 17 East-West Shrine Classic At Houston West vs. East, 4 p.m. (ESPN2) Saturday, Jan. 24 Senior Bowl At Mobile, Ala. South vs. North, 7 p.m. (NFLN) Saturday, Jan. 31 Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge At El Paso, Texas Texas vs. Nation, 1 p.m.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Schedule All Times EST Saturday, Jan. 10 EAST Louisville at Villanova, Noon Providence at Georgetown, 1 p.m.

Lehigh at American U., 2 p.m.

Richmond at George Washington, 2 p.m.

St. Francis, Pa. at Quinnipiac, 2 p.m.

Rhode Island vs. Saint Joseph’s at the Palestra, 2 p.m.

Hartford at Yale, 2 p.m.

Towson at Northeastern, 3 p.m.

Lafayette at Holy Cross, 3:30 p.m.

Colgate at Army, 4 p.m.

Bryant at Brown, 4 p.m.

Dayton vs. Massachusetts at MassMutual Center, Spring-

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

field, Mass., 4 p.m.

Robert Morris at Sacred Heart, 4 p.m.

Duquesne at St. Bonaventure, 4 p.m.

Mount St. Mary’s, Md. at St. Francis, NY, 4:30 p.m.

Bucknell at Navy, 5 p.m.

Miami at Boston College, 7 p.m.

Harvard at Dartmouth, 7 p.m.

Cent. Connecticut St. at Fairleigh Dickinson, 7 p.m.

Long Island U. at Wagner, 7 p.m.

Maine at UMBC, 7:05 p.m.

Syracuse at Rutgers, 7:30 p.m.

SOUTH N.C. State at Clemson, Noon Tennessee at Georgia, Noon Georgia Tech at Maryland, Noon Hofstra at Va. Commonwealth, Noon Coastal Carolina at VMI, 1 p.m.

S.C.-Upstate at Florida Gulf Coast, 2 p.m.

Duke at Florida St., 2 p.m.

Old Dominion at George Mason, 2 p.m.

Vanderbilt at Kentucky, 2 p.m.

ETSU at Stetson, 2 p.m.

Nevada at Louisiana Tech, 3 p.m.

East Carolina at Marshall, 3 p.m.

Austin Peay at Murray St., 3 p.m.

Wofford at Samford, 3 p.m.

Rice at Tulane, 3 p.m.

UNC Greensboro at App. St., 3:30 p.m.

IPFW at Centenary, 3:30 p.m.

Hampton at Bethune-Cookman, 4 p.m.

Ga. Southern at Coll. of Charleston, 4 p.m.

Norfolk St. at Coppin St., 4 p.m.

S. Carolina St. at Delaware St., 4 p.m.

Howard at Florida A&M, 4 p.m.

Drexel at Georgia St., 4 p.m.

Winston-Salem at Md.-Eastern Shore, 4 p.m.

N. Carolina A&T at Morgan St., 4 p.m.

Virginia at Virginia Tech, 4 p.m.

Jacksonville St. at Morehead St., 4:15 p.m.

Nicholls St. at Northwestern St., 5 p.m.

Memphis at UCF, 5 p.m.

Mississippi at Florida, 6 p.m.

Alcorn St. at Jackson St., 6:30 p.m.

Tulsa at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Furman at Chattanooga, 7 p.m.

Tennessee Tech at E. Kentucky, 7 p.m.

W. Kentucky at Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m.

Gardner-Webb at High Point, 7 p.m.

Charleston Southern at Liberty, 7 p.m.

Winthrop at Presbyterian, 7 p.m.

UNC Asheville at Radford, 7 p.m.

Auburn at South Carolina, 7 p.m.

Tennessee St. at Tenn.-Martin, 7 p.m.

Delaware at UNC Wilmington, 7 p.m.

Elon at W. Carolina, 7 p.m.

2B

California at Washington, 6 p.m.

Portland at Gonzaga, 8 p.m.

Sacramento St. at Montana, 9 p.m.

Binghamton at Utah Valley St., 9 p.m.

Hawaii at Boise St., 9:05 p.m.

N. Arizona at Montana St., 9:05 p.m.

Utah St. at New Mexico St., 9:05 p.m.

Air Force at New Mexico, 9:30 p.m.

UC Irvine at Cal Poly, 10 p.m.

San Jose St. at Fresno St., 10 p.m.

UC Riverside at Pacific, 10 p.m.

Long Beach St. at UC Davis, 10 p.m.

Cal St.-Fullerton at UC Santa Barbara, 10 p.m.

Stanford at Washington St., 10 p.m.

Idaho St. at Portland St., 10:05 p.m.

Loyola Marymount at Pepperdine, 11 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 11 EAST St. John’s at Pittsburgh, Noon New Hampshire at Boston U., 1 p.m.

Xavier at Fordham, 1 p.m.

Temple at La Salle, 2 p.m.

Iona at Rider, 2 p.m.

Loyola, Md. at St. Peter’s, 2 p.m.

Canisius at Fairfield, 3:30 p.m.

Siena at Manhattan, 4 p.m.

Niagara at Marist, 4 p.m.

Albany, N.Y. at Vermont, 4 p.m.

SOUTH LSU at Alabama, 1:30 p.m.

Mercer at North Florida, 2 p.m.

Kennesaw St. at Jacksonville, 3 p.m.

North Carolina at Wake Forest, 8 p.m.

MIDWEST Iowa at Michigan, 11:30 a.m.

Wisconsin at Purdue, 1:30 p.m.

Kent St. at Ohio, 2 p.m.

Penn St. at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.

W. Michigan at Cent. Michigan, 6 p.m.

Wichita St. at Drake, 7 p.m.

FAR WEST Louisiana-Monroe at Denver, 3 p.m.

Weber St. at E. Washington, 4:05 p.m.

San Diego at Santa Clara, 5 p.m.

Saint Mary’s, Calif. at San Francisco, 10 p.m.

UCLA at Southern Cal, 10:30 p.m.

Transactions BASEBALL American League BOSTON RED SOX—Agreed to terms with RHP Brad Penny on a one-year contract. Assigned RHP Charlie Zink outright to Pawtucket (IL).

KANSAS CITY ROYALS—Agreed to terms with INF-OF Willie Bloomquist to a two-year contract and RHP Kyle Davies to a one-year contract.

TAMPA BAY RAYS—Claimed RHP Dewon Day off waivers from Boston.

National League SAN DIEGO PADRES—Claimed RHP Virgil Vasquez off waivers from Boston.

American Association ST. PAUL SAINTS—Signed INF Ron Fenwick.

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CAPTAINS—Signed RHP Luke Massetti, OF Dwayne White, LHP Aaron Cunningham, LHP Logan Williamson and RHP Tony Pierce.

SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS—Signed 1B Walter Young.

Northern League GARY SOUTHSHORE RAILCATS—Agreed to terms with C Jordan Comadena.

BASKETBALL Women’s National Basketball Association INDIANA FEVER—Waived F Kristen Mann.

HOCKEY National Hockey League NHL—Suspended Toronto F Mikhail Grabovski for three games, without pay, for shoving an official during a game on Jan. 8.

OTTAWA SENATORS—Recalled G Brian Elliott from Binghamton (AHL). Assigned D Matt Carkner to Binghamton.

SOCCER Major League Soccer SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC—Named David Tenney fitness coach.

COLLEGE ARMY—Named Ian Shields offensive coordinator; Payam Saadat and Chris Smeland co-defensive coordinators; John Mumford, Tucker Waugh, Tony Coaxum, Robert Lyles, Capt.

Clarence Holmes, Gene McKeehan, Bill Tripp and Andy Guyader assistant football coaches.

CAL POLY—Named Tim Walsh football coach.

ILLINOIS STATE—Named Taylor Stubblefield wide receivers coach.

LSU—Named Brick Haley defensive line coach.

MASSACHUSETTS—Announced the resignation of football coach Don Brown to become the defensive coordinator at Maryland.

MINNESOTA—Named Kevin Cosgrove and Ronnie Lee codefensive coordinators.

MISSOURI—Announced WR Jeremy Maclin will enter the NFL draft.

MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN—Named Bill Huebsch women’s volleyball coach.

NORTHWESTERN STATE—Named Shawn Quinn co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, Brendan Farrell tight ends and special teams coach and Darren Drago linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator.

OHIO DOMINICAN—Named Brian Foos football offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator.

James Madison at William & Mary, 7 p.m.

Davidson at The Citadel, 7:05 p.m.

Chicago St. at N.C. Central, 7:30 p.m.

Fla. International at Middle Tenn., 8 p.m.

Ark.-Little Rock at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Campbell at Belmont, 8:15 p.m.

Southern U. at Grambling St., 8:30 p.m.

Alabama A&M at MVSU, 8:30 p.m.

Louisiana-Lafayette at Troy, 8:30 p.m.

MIDWEST West Virginia at Marquette, Noon Kansas at Michigan St., 1 p.m.

Oklahoma at Kansas St., 1:30 p.m.

Buffalo at Bowling Green, 2 p.m.

Detroit at Butler, 2 p.m.

South Florida at DePaul, 2 p.m.

Missouri at Nebraska, 2 p.m.

Seton Hall at Notre Dame, 2 p.m.

Indiana at Illinois, 3 p.m.

Toledo at N. Illinois, 3 p.m.

Ball St. at E. Michigan, 4 p.m.

Akron at Miami (Ohio), 4 p.m.

Connecticut at Cincinnati, 4:30 p.m.

Illinois St. at Indiana St., 7 p.m.

Loyola of Chicago at Youngstown St., 7:05 p.m.

Ill.-Chicago at Cleveland St., 7:30 p.m.

W. Illinois at N. Dakota St., 8 p.m.

Creighton at Bradley, 8:05 p.m.

Missouri St. at N. Iowa, 8:05 p.m.

Evansville at S. Illinois, 8:05 p.m.

S. Utah at UMKC, 8:05 p.m.

Wright St. at Valparaiso, 8:05 p.m.

IUPUI at S. Dakota St., 8:30 p.m.

E. Illinois at SE Missouri, 8:45 p.m.

SOUTHWEST Texas Tech at Baylor, 1:45 p.m.

Sam Houston St. at Stephen F.Austin, 3 p.m.

Iowa St. at Texas, 4 p.m.

Texas-Arlington at Texas St., 5 p.m.

UNLV at TCU, 5:30 p.m.

Alabama St. at Ark.-Pine Bluff, 8 p.m.

UAB at Houston, 8 p.m.

Arkansas St. at North Texas, 8 p.m.

UTEP at SMU, 8 p.m.

Cent. Arkansas at Texas A&M-CC, 8 p.m.

McNeese St. at Texas-San Antonio, 8 p.m.

Mississippi St. at Arkansas, 8:05 p.m.

SE Louisiana at Lamar, 8:05 p.m.

Oakland, Mich. at Oral Roberts, 8:05 p.m.

Texas Southern at Prairie View, 8:30 p.m.

Texas A&M at Oklahoma St., 9 p.m.

FAR WEST Oregon at Arizona St., 2 p.m.

BYU at Colorado St., 3 p.m.

Oregon St. at Arizona, 4 p.m.

Utah at San Diego St., 4 p.m.

LADY | Continued from Page 1B Ashley Martinez has not been able to get on the court this season since she broke her collarbone.

She is expected to return sometime this week.

With their juniors as a force, the Lady Hawks will rely on their athleticism and

speed to win in one of the most competitive 3A districts in South Texas.

“We all have speed and have to use it to our advantage,” Peña said. “It really benefits our transitional offense.”

The Lady Hawks will continue to utilize their transitional offense and a 1-3-1-

halfcourt defense.

“Using the 1-3-1 sets us up well for our offense,” Guerra said.

In four district games, the Lady Hawks are averaging 47 points per game while holding opponents to 46.5.

The Lady Hawks are currently 1-3 in

district, but that does not deter Guerra’s expectations.

“They are always looking to improve,” he said. “If you were at practice, you could not tell we were 1-3 in district.

“With 10 games left, anything can happen.”

The Lady Hawks have dropped district games to three powerful programs: Rio Hondo (37-32), La Feria (58-49) and Raymondville (72-53).

Zapata (9-13, 1-3 32-3A) demolished Lyford (54-19) to claim its only district win.

each division will also qualify for the 2010 Walmart FLW Tour and Walmart FLW Series, bass fishing’s top professional circuits.

The highest-finishing pro and co-angler from each division at the Stren Series Championship will also qualify for the $2.5 million 2010 Forrest Wood Cup, where anglers will compete for the $1 million grand prize – the most lucrative award in bass fishing.

In Stren Series competition, pros supply the boats, fish from the front deck against other pros and control boat movement.

Co-anglers fish from the back deck and compete against other co-anglers.

Every angler who receives weight

credit in a tournament earns points that determine angler standings.

Two hundred points are awarded to the winner, 199 points for second, 198 points for third, and so on.

The full field competes on days one, two and three, with the top 10 pros and 10 co-anglers advancing to day four based on their three-day accumulated weight.

Winners are determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.

Total awards are based on a full field of 200 boats in every tournament.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world.

SERIES | Continued from Page 1B His catch shattered the previous record of 105 pounds, 8 ounces set by David Mauldin of Tomball, Texas, during the 2006 Stren Series tournament on Lake Amistad.

Anglers will take off from the Zapata County Boat Ramp located at 1 County Road in Zapata at 7:30 each morning.

Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m.

Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Zapata County Community Center, located at 601 N. US Hwy 83 in Zapata, beginning at 4 p.m.

Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

The Falcon Lake Stren Series tournament is hosted by the Zapata County

Chamber of Commerce.

Pros will fish for a top award of $25,000 plus a 198VX Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and equipped with a Minn Kota trolling motor and Lowrance electronics if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.

If the winner is not a Ranger Cup participant, Ranger will award $7,500 to the highest-finishing Ranger Cup participant in the contingency program.

Co-anglers will cast for a top award of a 177TR Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and trailer.

If the co-angler meets the Ranger Cup guidelines, they will earn an additional $5,000.

If the winner is not a Ranger Cup par-

ticipant, Ranger will award $2,500 to the highest-finishing Ranger Cup participant in the contingency program.

Competitors will also be vying for valuable points that could earn them a trip to the Stren Series Championship on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala., on Nov. 5-7 for a shot at $150,000 in the Pro Division and $60,000 in the Co-angler Division.

After four qualifying events are complete in each Stren Series division – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western – the top 40 pros and 40 co-anglers based on the points standings from each division will advance to the championship.

The top 10 pros and 10 co-anglers from

PHILY | Continued from Page 2B points in the 2004 title game, reaching four conference championship games and missing the postseason just twice.

The Eagles (10-6-1) enter having won five of six, including last week’s 26-14 first-round victory in Minnesota. New York, by contrast, finished 1-3 after an 11-1 start, although its only December victory — over second-seeded Carolina — clinched home-field advantage for the playoffs.

In any case, the familiarity makes this a chess match between Reid and Giants coach Tom Coughlin as well as the tacticians: offensive coordinators Kevin Gilbride of the Giants and Marty Mornhinweg of the Eagles and defensive coordinators Jim Johnson of Philadelphia and Steve Spagnuolo of New York, who honed his skills as the Eagles’ linebackers coach for eight years.

But expect something new.

“The guys all know each other and everybody knows each other’s jersey number and all that bit,” says Reid, whose team lost 36-31 to New York in Philadelphia on Nov. 9. “But every game is different and if you come in saying you know the New York Giants, I think you make a huge mistake. ...

Every game there is a little differ-

ent and Spags will have something different for us and we will have a little something for him and Gilbride and Jim, the whole deal.”

“There is always that little extra change you put in.”

The other games are rematches, too: Baltimore at Tennessee to start the weekend late Saturday afternoon followed at night by Arizona at Carolina. After the Eagles and Giants square off Sunday, San Diego will be at Pittsburgh.

Baltimore (12-5) at Tennessee (13-3) Look for a low-scoring game between teams who emphasize defense and running.

The Titans beat the Ravens 1310 on Oct. 5 with Kerry Collins engineering a late 80-yard drive for Tennessee’s only touchdown that was sustained by a dubious blowto- the-head penalty on Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs.

That was the third straight loss for the Ravens, who were 5-11 last season. But Baltimore has won 10 of 12 since as rookie QB Joe Flacco has matured, 260-pound Le’Ron McClain has emerged as a power running back and the defense, led by Ed Reed, has become an offensive force.

Defense? Baltimore had five takeaways last week against a Miami team that tied for the league lead with just 13 giveaways. One of the TDs came on a 64-yard interception return by Reed, who has four scores on defense this season.

“It’s just natural at this point,” Reed said. “You want to score. We talk about it on defense, we do it in practice.”

Collins has been careful with the ball, too, and it’s one of the reasons he’s starting ahead of Vince Young, the NFL’s Rookie of the Year in 2006. He threw just seven interceptions, only three more than he had against the Ravens in the 2001 Super Bowl when he was with the Giants.

It helps that the Titans have run so well. They’re sixth in the league in yards rushing behind the tandem of Chris Johnson, the only rookie to make the Pro Bowl, and LenDale White.

“They’re both really good,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Each has a unique strength.

Everybody wants to talk about how one guy runs outside and one guy runs inside, but when you watch the tape and you find they’re both capable of really carrying the full load of their offense

in kind of a similar way.”

San Diego (9-8) at Pittsburgh (12-4) Despite the eight losses, the Chargers are legitimate.

They were 4-8 and all but out of it when they started playing like the team that went to the AFC title game last season and was one of the preseason favorites in the conference.

Four straight wins combined with three straight losses by Denver at the end of the season gave them the AFC West title. And then they beat Indianapolis 23-17 in overtime, their fourth victory in their last five meetings with the Colts.

But they’ve always had trouble on the East Coast, including an 1110 defeat in Pittsburgh in November, the only game with that score in the NFL’s 89 seasons.

“It’s a late game,” coach Norv Turner said, a reference to the struggles of West Coast teams in 1 p.m. East Coast starts. “When I went back and looked at the first Pittsburgh game, we were on the East Coast and there were a lot of good things that we did in that game.”

San Diego may not have LaDainian Tomlinson, who has a torn tendon in his groin, but it

will have Darren Sproles, who had 328 all-purpose yards against the Colts.

The Steelers, on the other hand, will have Ben Roethlisberger, who was carried off with a concussion in the final regularseason game but has been practicing all week. The key may be how well he’s protected by an offensive line that has been Pittsburgh’s weak link all season.

It hasn’t been a good season for Roethlisberger. A year after throwing 32 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions, he has had just 17 TDs and 15 INTs. In that wacky win over San Diego, he threw for 308 yards, yet the offense got only three field goals.

“The big thing is we can drive up and down the field, but we have to be able to put the ball in when we get down there,” he said.

Arizona (10-7) at Carolina (12-4) The Cardinals are the only team that wasn’t supposed to be here, 4-7 outside the weak NFC West and 0-5 in the Eastern time zone.

But they upset Atlanta last week because Kurt Warner made fewer mistakes and more big plays than Offensive Rookie

of the Year Matt Ryan, and their defense was unusually stout.

The turning point was Darnell Dockett’s disruption of a handoff early in the second half that popped the ball into the hands of Antrel Rolle, who returned it for a touchdown in a 30-24 win.

“Instead of having guys trying to individually make plays, we had a bunch of guys that were focused on playing team defense,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

“That’s what we’ve talked about.”

The Cardinals’ offense will have to be at full throttle if Arizona hopes to beat Carolina.

Warner, who threw for 381 yards in a 23-17 loss in Charlotte, has the best receiving trio in the NFL: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston. Boldin, however, is nursing a hamstring he pulled on a 71-yard touchdown catch last week and will possibly have to play on a slippery field.

There’s a 40 percent chance of showers in Charlotte on Saturday.

Carolina took advantage of its bye week to heal up. Starting defensive tackles Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis should be back and so should rookie Jeff Otah, the starting right tackle on offense.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009

THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B

HINTS BY HELOISE Dear Readers: Here are a few hints on keeping your CAT SAFE: Be sure your cat always wears an ID outdoors and indoors (in case your cat scoots out the door).

Store all household poisons and cleaning products safely so a curious cat or child won’t get in HELOISE trouble!

Many human medications are lethal to cats, so don’t administer without a veterinarian’s directions.

Please follow the directions for flea products carefully, and call your vet or the manufacturer if you have any questions.

Recognize the signs of poisoning: bumping into things due to blindness, not eating, seizures, vomiting, dizzy and uncoordinated, constipation or diarrhea. Get your cat to the vet or emergency clinic ASAP.

Car fluids such as gas and oil are harmful, and antifreeze can be lethal!

— Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Florence McInerney of Hazlet, N.J., sent a photo of her grandson’s boxer, Sydney, carrying her green-andwhite purse and ready to tag along and shop. If you would like to see Sydney, just visit www.Heloise.com. — Heloise FRIENDLY FISH Dear Heloise: Our daughter wanted an aquarium, so we selected different varieties of fish, then went home and set up the new tank.

In the morning, only a few fish were swimming in the aquarium!

We learned we had mixed aggressive and nonaggressive fish!

Before buying replacements, we asked the experts at the pet store and learned a lot. Now everyone is the same temperament and happy. — S.K.G., via e-mail Do your homework before bringing any animal - four-

legged, two-legged or one-tailed — into your home. — Heloise DOG VERSUS FLOUR Dear Heloise: My dog got into a bag of flour! I decided to keep the bag of flour just in case my dog got sick. I would know how much she ingested (it was only a little bit). This would work for any item your dog decides to snack on. — M.C., via e-mail BIG SNAKES Dear Heloise: For your readers who may be thinking about getting a snake as a pet, snakes can be long-lived! Many will continue to grow throughout their lives. Certain species of pythons and boa constrictors can grow to over 20 feet and live more than 30 years. Zoos and reptile houses don’t always have the room or means to take in any more snakes that have outgrown their owners.

Be sure you are prepared to take on the responsibility of these special exotic pets for the long haul before committing to one. — A.B. in New Jersey

HOROSCOPES | BY FRANCIS DRAKE ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You feel pulled between the demands of home and family and the demands of your job or your external world. Don’t try to solve everything. (This is due to today’s Full Moon.)

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) This particular Full Moon is an accidentprone day for you because it sets up tension within you and makes you distracted. Therefore, slow down and do things carefully.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Today’s Full Moon makes you feel pulled between protecting or earning your own money versus dealing with the funds of others. You can’t ignore your responsibility to others.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) This is the only Full Moon in your sign all year. That’s why you feel increased tension when dealing with partners and close friends. Stay frosty.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) Be patient with co-workers today, because people are extra tense due to today’s Full Moon. Don’t say the first thing that comes to mind. Think before you speak.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Today’s Full Moon might make you quick to criticize or oppose friends and groups. You’re not sure which side of the fence to be on.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) This is a poor day to deal with boss es, parents, teachers, VIPs and the police. You won’t be able to keep everyone happy. B e cool.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Be careful. This is an accident-prone day because of the Full Moon. If you slow down and are aware of what you say and do, nothing has to happen.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) Tension about finances or cash flow could arise because of today’s Full Moon. If you can postpone a decision about money and possessions, do so.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 1 9 ) Today is the only Full Moon opposite your sign all year. In fact, you’re part of the formula!

This means you have to be extra patient at work, with loved ones and partners.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) Because you’re restless and impatient today, your dealings with coworkers or medical people could go awry or be misunderstood. Relax; just cool your jets and keep smiling.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) Tension with groups or casual acquaintances and friends might arise because of today’s Full Moon. Ask yourself: Am I part of the problem or part of the solution?

Y O U B O R N T O D A Y You’re amazingly tough and resilient.

When others have long given up, you continue to persevere and succeed in attaining your goals.

You’re a practical realist. You don’t kid yourself. You do your homework. You easily assume leadership or you can work in partnership with others. You often hide your true feelings behind a mask. This year you work hard to build or construct something important.

B i r t h d a t e o f : Rod Stewart, singer; George Foreman, boxer; Jim Croce, singer/songwriter.

Zclassified REAL ESTATE

HOMES FOR SALE

61

HOMES FOR SALE

61

1316 O’Kane 2Bd/1Ba, $54,000 including trailer in backyard. 251-0071 727-7843

BY PHONE: (956) 728-2527

HOMES FOR SALE

61

4bd/2ba Large Lot, blocked fenced w/gate, 1500 sqft, 6326 sft lot $147,000 Call 286-5015

For sale or lease,

HOMES FOR SALE

61

***Water Front 4/2 Fixer Upper San Ygnacio 30 min Screen Sundeck, Boat Ramp used, $73K Cash 956-763-1320 Very Relaxing

Has your family outgrown your home? Good news!

Your dream home is just a trade away!

Call me, Eddie Rendon (956) 763-8207

1311 Hibiscus, 3bd/2ba, pool, $165,000.

Owner financing available.Call:(956)237-3792.

4 bedroom 2 bath approx.

1,500 sq.ft. home on a 10,000 sq.ft. lot for only $117,990 I will also help you with your closing costs let me worry about your credit.

Call Luis Calderon @956-725-1965 or @ my cell 956-645-8977

For sale or rent, 3/2.5/1cp, 1,600 sqft., 2 story stucco, new paint, huge backyard, wool insulation, Concord Hills. $147,000. Call:(210)559-9457.

Shiloh Area - 1409 Longhorn Dr. 2700sqft LA, 10,000sqft Lot 4bd/4ba Spacious yard, sprinkler system. Reduced $155,000 OBO Call 763-9740

CONDOS FOR SALE 64 Norte, Central y Sur de Laredo Casas Disponibles de 3 a 5 recamaras para mudarse el dia de HOY. Facil de Calificar. Financiamiento Disponible.

Llame HOY, al 956-237-2041 O a 956-717-0958 Con Adriana Moya Tijeriana

Let me help you by putting you in your new home like if you are paying rent. You can choose a home from 3, 4 & 5 bedrooms.

You can even choose the area where you want your family to grow up.

Call Javier Garcia today @ 956-235-4641

HELP WANTED Great Location-New Spacious Homes 3 Bedroom 2 bath 2 car garage approx. 1400 sq.ft. paying closing cost. Monthly payment $1100.00 Call Jesus @ cell 956-740-2542 office 956-724-9756

122

PORQUE RENTAR cuando puede tener casa propia y al mismo tiempo calificar para un prestamo de hast $7,500.00 dlls, casas al norte y sur de laredo hableme para mas informacion, De Hoyos 956-635-6702

1 Condo $60,000.

Must Sell, Moving Out, negotiable, 2bd/1.5ba, 2803 Bayard.

Brand new, south Laredo. For sale by owner.

Call Dr. Rendon 011-52-867-714-1502 or 011-52-867-715-011 North Laredo 2 story, 3/3, den, gated area, 1402 sqft, corner condo, pool, $123,500. Seller will pay $2000 of Closing Cost Call:(956)763-7097

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE 67

OUT OF TOWN PROPERTY 88

ZAPATA

* Waterfront,1/4 acre, in San Ygnacio,(land locked)/use of boat ramp.$12,000. 763-1320

Centro, 1 1/2 blk. off hwy. 83, 3 blks. from lake. 900 sqft. remodeled 2bdrm./2 ba. M.H., 900 sqft. garage, fenced. $39,000.00 OWNER CARRY w/ 15% down. $402.20mo.

82x120, $5.50sqft.

Call 401-5178

COMMERCIAL RENTALS 120

North Laredo. 1.3 Acres on Loop 20 near TAMIU, next to Khaledi Heights on Blue Quail St. $12.50 Per SqFt Neg. Call Dr. Rendon 011-52-867-714-1502 or 011-52-867-715-0118

Beauty salon, furnished, $950mo., 27’x80’, remodeled, 4100 San Bernardo 237-5946

1.8ac App $345p/m $0 down, Owner Finance 35mi. So. Laredo Call 849-5471

5 acre tract, frontage on Casa Verde Rd. $200,000 per acre. Contact (956)725-6641 42 acres mile 60 HWY35 6 blks from HWY. $2700 p/ac We Finance. Call 722-4447

40acs. for Sale. 10mil. from Freer, TX. $70,000 Call 956-220-0232

36 Apts for sale $1.3 million OBO. Call 722-4447, 220-3450. We Finance!

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY 82 Transferring Established Bakery fully equipped ready to work with. Located at Mines Rd & Bristol Rd. $30,000 Call 771-5488

HELP WANTED Beautiful House on exclusive JSJ Estates Subd.

6/3.5/2 REDUCED to $370,000 (Appraisal value $420,000) Owner Finance w/ 10% down Call 645-6724

Now you can make the news come to you.

Start your subscription now by calling 728-2555

PETS & SUPPLIES

ACREAGE FOR SALE 76

COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT 79

2 NEW SUBDIVISION IN NORTH LAREDO FROM THE $150’S & UP. RESERVE YOUR HOMESITE TODAY WITH ONLY $500.00 IN HOUSE FINANCING AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFO. CALL ANTHONY CARABALLO @ 333-3844

Beautiful, Gentle Registered Paint horse stallion for sale.

8 mths old w/perfect conformation. $1,000 Call 722-8187 or 645-1655

70

lots in Los Presidentes & Century City, 55x110 &

122

LIVESTOCK & SUPPLIES 130

RENTALS

Call:(956)763-1110 LOTS FOR SALE

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Registered Paint Horse Stallion for sale. 1.5yrs old,sorrel overo w/ blue eyes. Very gentle and halter broken. Champion blood lines, $2000 Call 722-8187 or 645-1655

FARM & RANCH SUPPLIES 132 Hay For Sale,large net wrapped,Round Bales,located in Alice, $40 and up.Delivery available.(361)219-4545

MISCELLANEOUS PETS & SUPPLIES

128

* Parakeets, Cockatoos, love birds, finches, canaries, loros/red & yellow heads, quakers, palomas. Inc: Cage & Food. $12 & up Call 857-2408

* Pure Breed Adult Boxers 1M/1F (pregnat), 1 & 2yrs old $225, All shots. Schnauzers, Serious Inq. Only Call 857-2408; 231-9983 *Snakes, Ball python, iguanas, corn snake, large, small, $100 & up. 231-9983; 857-2408

*T-cup, tiny Chihuahua Puppies M/F $395 Call 857-2408

Beagle AKC Champion Bloodline, Male, 6mths old, $300 Call 791-8582 or 337-8981

Belgain Malinois 4 wks w/shots $300 Call 237-1333 Pitbull blue nose, registered, 1 1/2 months, $300.00 214 Century Blvd.Ph. 727-1953.

Pitbulls for sale, 4m, 2f, $120 & up.Call:(956)726-5329.

Red nose Pit Bulls for sale, 2.5 mo.,3m/3f, parents on site. $110 obo. Call:(956)568-0996

American Dispatch Inc. of Laredo Solicita el Siguiente personal • Receptionista Interesados aplicar en 302 Quivira Dr. Tel: 956-791-8300

GARAGE SALES

134

Huge Garage Sale Sat & Sun,8am-?, 2107 Santa Clara, Clothes, TV’s, TwinBeds, dressers, shoes & toys

Saturday & Sunday, 9am-2pm. 8709 Puerto Isabel. NO EARLY BIRDS!

ARTICLES FOR SALE 136 * Dell Laptop, Windows XP, wireless internet ready $275 Call: 220-9654 * Mesquite Firewood leña, Full pick up load (apx cord)San Ygnacio $125 Call 763-1320

*Dell Desktop, Windows XP Pro PC, internet ready $160 Call: 220-9654

ARTICLES FOR SALE 136 G.E. Electric stove, $60.00 Call:(956)722-7711 King size waterbed frame, wooden w/ storage drawers. $150 Call:(956)763-2594 Leather office chair, Like new! $60 cash. Call 723-2209 Panosonic stereo 100W, 5 CD changer, 2 tape decks and remote $100Call:(956)251-1755 Sony Playstation 2, two remotes and over 50 games $70 Call:(956)251-1755 Venta de Dulce de leche mexicano GLORIAS DE LECHE CON NUEZ caja c/150 pzs. $48 (956) 299-7495 Nextel 135*131352*9 Venta de Dulce de Leche Mexicano MINI BOLICAJETA caja c/420 pzs. $97. (956)299-7495, Nextel 135*131352*9 Venta de Dulce de Leche Mexicano MINI OBLEA DE CAJETA caja c/400 pzs. $40.

(956) 299-7495, Nextel 135*131352*9 Warehouse Sale Brand New Power Equipment Maker: Titan Indust.Products 6500 Diesel Generator 8500 RC Gas Generator 2200 PSI Pressure Water 1965 Red Mustang W/rebuilt 289 Engine 1928 Ford Model a with original engine, Jetski, Go-Cart, Restaurant & Bar Equipment Items can be seen at 5103 Maher Ste 100, Laredo, TX Monday-Friday 10am-5pm Weider Platinum 250LB Home Gym, Resistance Trainer with Bench. $200 OBO 740-8934 Whirlpool, gas stove, white, 3 mo. old, $225.

Call:(956)763-2594

MUSICAL MENTS

INSTRU138

27” Magnavox T.V. w/remote, excellent condition, $60.

Call:(956)251-1755

TRANSPORTATION

CAMPERS & RV’S

191

‘99 Travel trailer, 8x32, a/c, queen bed, frig., microwave, great condition, current plates, blue title. $6,200 obo.285-5654

HEAVY EQUIPMENT 192

Commercial Conventional Oven, Fits 6 oven shelves at a time. Good Condition, $1700.

Call 771-5488

International, 2001, 160,000 miles, 24ft. box, $13,000.

Call:(972)489-9021

Electric stove, Frigidaire, black & beige, $250. Call:324-7592 Elegant Italian chrys., chandeliers, glass & Cantera dining table & 8 chairs, grandfather clock, china cabinet, Henrydon 5 pc massive bedroom set, 72 gal. aquarium. $350 & up.

Call:(956)791-5878 Genuine beads,pearls, brass, some silver. etc.

Lots of variety. Must sacrifice $400. Call:(956)645-0720

Jeep Liberty ‘04, V6, Cd, PW 80K Miles, $6,500 (956) 771-7047

Chevy Full size Blazer 1993, 4x4, Auto, A/C, CD, New Tires V8 Engine. $3,200. Ask for Joe 237-4362 Classic Jeep CJ7 1977, v8, Rebuilt ! All new parts! New rims & tires, auto, 4x4, blue, $12,000 obo. 744-2705 Dodge Caravan ‘06, $9,500 obo. Call:(956)727-0633.

Ford F-100 XL ‘82, long bed, 8cyl., runs, needs work. $500 obo. Call:(956)334-5777 Ford F-150 ‘98, ext. cab, 8cyl., 33k mi., excellent conditions, $7,000. Call:722-4209 Ford pick up F-150 ‘99, 8cyl 1.5 cab, color blue, a/c-heat $4,000 Call:(956)231-9217 Ford Windstar ‘01, $3,500.

Call:(956)333-6001

Jeep Cherokee Sport ‘99, 6cyl., a/c, auto, 44k mi., $3,700.

Call: (956)236-6650.

Nissan Xterra ‘00, good conditions, white, auto., $5,000 includes TTL. 568-4673

Canon Pixma MP830 photo printer, retails for $300, asking $150. Call:(956)251-1755

Display cases w/light semi-circle, mostradores/ vitrinas $65ea-c/u OBO 324-1738

04 Nissan Titan, 5.4 Liter, Auto, New Tires, Custom Sound System, 52K Miles, Great Condition, $16,000 OBO. Call 744-2705 2000 GMC Sierra, sing. cab, 84,900 mi., excel. cond., $5,000. Call:(956)791-5878 2005 350 XLT Ford 4-wheel Drive, Diesel, 58K miles, Excellent Condition, $21,500 Call 236-1486 ‘04 Suburban LT, Sunroof, Leather Int, DVD System, Excel. Cond. $14,000 206-5018 ‘99 Ford F150 wht pu, A/C Single cab, std trans, 6cyl. Good Cond $4500 206-5018

Piano for sale in very good condition, Henry F. Miller, $700 neg. Call:(956)286-3513

2003 Kawasaki STX 1100 Jet ski, $4800, 33 hrs of use, Call 236-6909 27” Magnavox T.V. w/remote, excellent condition, $60.

Call:(956)251-1755

TRUCKS FOR SALE 198

MOTORCYCLES

196

2005 Harley Davidson Heritage 3600 miles, like new, $14,500 OBO 286-3730, Many Extras!

2005 Kawasaki, One owner, good condition, $1500 OBO Call 791-4297 Between 9-5

TRUCKS FOR SALE 198 ‘00 Dodge Ram 1500, 6cyl, single cab, $6500 Blue Title, new tires, Call 763-8394 02 Voyager, 4cyl, 62K miles, Perfect Condition. $4,500. Call 285-3335

CARS FOR SALE

200

‘04 Hyundai Tiburon all power, moon roof, Low Mileage $7900 OBO Call 220-2380 ‘51 Chevy 12,800mil., Perfect body & engine. $14,500 Call 728-1565 ‘87 Firebird Formula, V8 305, auto, rebuilt eng/trans, A/C $3800 OBO 956-286-2399 Honda Accord ‘05, hybrid, grey, lthr. int., navigation system, Honda care pkg., $19,500 obo.

Call:(956)740-1271.

Honda Civic LX ‘95, $1,200 obo. Call:(956)326-0733.

Lexus ES 350 ‘07, red, 23,000 miles, beautiful car, $30,000 Call:(956)237-3090 Toyota Camry ‘93, 4 door, 6 cyl., 95,000 miles, one owner.

Call:(956)237-3090 Volkswagon Jetta GLS ‘03 Leather seats, sunroof, $4,850 Call 324-5192; 145*3*9059

4B | THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009

<DATE>

LAREDO MORNING TIMES | 1B

The Zapata Times

REAL ESTATE

HOMES FOR SALE

61

HOMES FOR SALE

61

1316 O’Kane 2Bd/1Ba, $54,000 including trailer in backyard. 251-0071 727-7843

HOMES FOR SALE

61

4bd/2ba Large Lot, blocked fenced w/gate, 1500 sqft, 6326 sft lot $147,000 Call 286-5015

For sale or lease,

HOMES FOR SALE

61

***Water Front 4/2 Fixer Upper San Ygnacio 30 min Screen Sundeck, Boat Ramp used, $73K Cash 956-763-1320 Very Relaxing

Has your family outgrown your home? Good news!

Your dream home is just a trade away!

Call me, Eddie Rendon (956) 763-8207

1311 Hibiscus, 3bd/2ba, pool, $165,000.

Owner financing available.Call:(956)237-3792.

4 bedroom 2 bath approx.

1,500 sq.ft. home on a 10,000 sq.ft. lot for only $117,990 I will also help you with your closing costs let me worry about your credit.

Call Luis Calderon @956-725-1965 or @ my cell 956-645-8977

For sale or rent, 3/2.5/1cp, 1,600 sqft., 2 story stucco, new paint, huge backyard, wool insulation, Concord Hills. $147,000. Call:(210)559-9457.

Shiloh Area - 1409 Longhorn Dr. 2700sqft LA, 10,000sqft Lot 4bd/4ba Spacious yard, sprinkler system. Reduced $155,000 OBO Call 763-9740

CONDOS FOR SALE 64 Norte, Central y Sur de Laredo Casas Disponibles de 3 a 5 recamaras para mudarse el dia de HOY. Facil de Calificar. Financiamiento Disponible.

Llame HOY, al 956-237-2041 O a 956-717-0958 Con Adriana Moya Tijeriana

Let me help you by putting you in your new home like if you are paying rent. You can choose a home from 3, 4 & 5 bedrooms.

You can even choose the area where you want your family to grow up.

Call Javier Garcia today @ 956-235-4641

HELP WANTED Great Location-New Spacious Homes 3 Bedroom 2 bath 2 car garage approx. 1400 sq.ft. paying closing cost. Monthly payment $1100.00 Call Jesus @ cell 956-740-2542 office 956-724-9756

122

PORQUE RENTAR cuando puede tener casa propia y al mismo tiempo calificar para un prestamo de hast $7,500.00 dlls, casas al norte y sur de laredo hableme para mas informacion, De Hoyos 956-635-6702

1 Condo $60,000.

Must Sell, Moving Out, negotiable, 2bd/1.5ba, 2803 Bayard.

Brand new, south Laredo. For sale by owner.

Call Dr. Rendon 011-52-867-714-1502 or 011-52-867-715-011 North Laredo 2 story, 3/3, den, gated area, 1402 sqft, corner condo, pool, $123,500. Seller will pay $2000 of Closing Cost Call:(956)763-7097

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE 67

OUT OF TOWN PROPERTY 88

ZAPATA

* Waterfront,1/4 acre, in San Ygnacio,(land locked)/use of boat ramp.$12,000. 763-1320

Centro, 1 1/2 blk. off hwy. 83, 3 blks. from lake. 900 sqft. remodeled 2bdrm./2 ba. M.H., 900 sqft. garage, fenced. $39,000.00 OWNER CARRY w/ 15% down. $402.20mo.

lots in Los Presidentes & Century City, 55x110 &

82x120, $5.50sqft.

Call 401-5178

COMMERCIAL RENTALS 120

North Laredo. 1.3 Acres on Loop 20 near TAMIU, next to Khaledi Heights on Blue Quail St. $12.50 Per SqFt Neg. Call Dr. Rendon 011-52-867-714-1502 or 011-52-867-715-0118

Beauty salon, furnished, $950mo., 27’x80’, remodeled, 4100 San Bernardo 237-5946

Now you can make the news come to you.

Start your subscription now by calling 728-2555

PETS & SUPPLIES

ACREAGE FOR SALE 76 1.8ac App $345p/m $0 down, Owner Finance 35mi. So. Laredo Call 849-5471

5 acre tract, frontage on Casa Verde Rd. $200,000 per acre. Contact (956)725-6641 42 acres mile 60 HWY35 6 blks from HWY. $2700 p/ac We Finance. Call 722-4447

40acs. for Sale. 10mil. from Freer, TX. $70,000 Call 956-220-0232

36 Apts for sale $1.3 million OBO. Call 722-4447, 220-3450. We Finance!

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY 82 Transferring Established Bakery fully equipped ready to work with. Located at Mines Rd & Bristol Rd. $30,000 Call 771-5488

HELP WANTED Beautiful House on exclusive JSJ Estates Subd.

6/3.5/2 REDUCED to $370,000 (Appraisal value $420,000) Owner Finance w/ 10% down Call 645-6724

Beautiful, Gentle Registered Paint horse stallion for sale.

8 mths old w/perfect conformation. $1,000 Call 722-8187 or 645-1655

70

COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT 79

2 NEW SUBDIVISION IN NORTH LAREDO FROM THE $150’S & UP. RESERVE YOUR HOMESITE TODAY WITH ONLY $500.00 IN HOUSE FINANCING AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFO. CALL ANTHONY CARABALLO @ 333-3844

RENTALS

Call:(956)763-1110 LOTS FOR SALE

122

LIVESTOCK & SUPPLIES 130

Registered Paint Horse Stallion for sale. 1.5yrs old,sorrel overo w/ blue eyes. Very gentle and halter broken. Champion blood lines, $2000 Call 722-8187 or 645-1655

FARM & RANCH SUPPLIES 132 Hay For Sale,large net wrapped,Round Bales,located in Alice, $40 and up.Delivery available.(361)219-4545

MISCELLANEOUS PETS & SUPPLIES

128

* Parakeets, Cockatoos, love birds, finches, canaries, loros/red & yellow heads, quakers, palomas. Inc: Cage & Food. $12 & up Call 857-2408

* Pure Breed Adult Boxers 1M/1F (pregnat), 1 & 2yrs old $225, All shots. Schnauzers, Serious Inq. Only Call 857-2408; 231-9983 *Snakes, Ball python, iguanas, corn snake, large, small, $100 & up. 231-9983; 857-2408

*T-cup, tiny Chihuahua Puppies M/F $395 Call 857-2408

Beagle AKC Champion Bloodline, Male, 6mths old, $300 Call 791-8582 or 337-8981

Belgain Malinois 4 wks w/shots $300 Call 237-1333 Pitbull blue nose, registered, 1 1/2 months, $300.00 214 Century Blvd.Ph. 727-1953.

Pitbulls for sale, 4m, 2f, $120 & up.Call:(956)726-5329.

Red nose Pit Bulls for sale, 2.5 mo.,3m/3f, parents on site. $110 obo. Call:(956)568-0996

American Dispatch Inc. of Laredo Solicita el Siguiente personal • Receptionista Interesados aplicar en 302 Quivira Dr. Tel: 956-791-8300

GARAGE SALES

134

Huge Garage Sale Sat & Sun,8am-?, 2107 Santa Clara, Clothes, TV’s, TwinBeds, dressers, shoes & toys

Saturday & Sunday, 9am-2pm. 8709 Puerto Isabel. NO EARLY BIRDS!

ARTICLES FOR SALE 136 * Dell Laptop, Windows XP, wireless internet ready $275 Call: 220-9654 * Mesquite Firewood leña, Full pick up load (apx cord)San Ygnacio $125 Call 763-1320

*Dell Desktop, Windows XP Pro PC, internet ready $160 Call: 220-9654

ARTICLES FOR SALE 136 G.E. Electric stove, $60.00 Call:(956)722-7711 King size waterbed frame, wooden w/ storage drawers. $150 Call:(956)763-2594 Leather office chair, Like new! $60 cash. Call 723-2209 Panosonic stereo 100W, 5 CD changer, 2 tape decks and remote $100Call:(956)251-1755 Sony Playstation 2, two remotes and over 50 games $70 Call:(956)251-1755 Venta de Dulce de leche mexicano GLORIAS DE LECHE CON NUEZ caja c/150 pzs. $48 (956) 299-7495 Nextel 135*131352*9 Venta de Dulce de Leche Mexicano MINI BOLICAJETA caja c/420 pzs. $97. (956)299-7495, Nextel 135*131352*9 Venta de Dulce de Leche Mexicano MINI OBLEA DE CAJETA caja c/400 pzs. $40.

(956) 299-7495, Nextel 135*131352*9 Warehouse Sale Brand New Power Equipment Maker: Titan Indust.Products 6500 Diesel Generator 8500 RC Gas Generator 2200 PSI Pressure Water 1965 Red Mustang W/rebuilt 289 Engine 1928 Ford Model a with original engine, Jetski, Go-Cart, Restaurant & Bar Equipment Items can be seen at 5103 Maher Ste 100, Laredo, TX Monday-Friday 10am-5pm Weider Platinum 250LB Home Gym, Resistance Trainer with Bench. $200 OBO 740-8934 Whirlpool, gas stove, white, 3 mo. old, $225.

Call:(956)763-2594

MUSICAL MENTS

INSTRU138

27” Magnavox T.V. w/remote, excellent condition, $60.

Call:(956)251-1755

TRANSPORTATION

CAMPERS & RV’S

191

‘99 Travel trailer, 8x32, a/c, queen bed, frig., microwave, great condition, current plates, blue title. $6,200 obo.285-5654

HEAVY EQUIPMENT 192

Commercial Conventional Oven, Fits 6 oven shelves at a time. Good Condition, $1700.

Call 771-5488

International, 2001, 160,000 miles, 24ft. box, $13,000.

Call:(972)489-9021

Electric stove, Frigidaire, black & beige, $250. Call:324-7592 Elegant Italian chrys., chandeliers, glass & Cantera dining table & 8 chairs, grandfather clock, china cabinet, Henrydon 5 pc massive bedroom set, 72 gal. aquarium. $350 & up.

Call:(956)791-5878 Genuine beads,pearls, brass, some silver. etc.

Lots of variety. Must sacrifice $400. Call:(956)645-0720

Jeep Liberty ‘04, V6, Cd, PW, 80K Miles, $6,500 (956) 771-7047

Chevy Full size Blazer 1993, 4x4, Auto, A/C, CD, New Tires V8 Engine. $3,200. Ask for Joe 237-4362 Classic Jeep CJ7 1977, v8, Rebuilt ! All new parts! New rims & tires, auto, 4x4, blue, $12,000 obo. 744-2705 Dodge Caravan ‘06, $9,500 obo. Call:(956)727-0633.

Ford F-100 XL ‘82, long bed, 8cyl., runs, needs work. $500 obo. Call:(956)334-5777 Ford F-150 ‘98, ext. cab, 8cyl., 33k mi., excellent conditions, $7,000. Call:722-4209 Ford pick up F-150 ‘99, 8cyl., 1.5 cab, color blue, a/c-heat, $4,000 Call:(956)231-9217 Ford Windstar ‘01, $3,500.

Call:(956)333-6001

Jeep Cherokee Sport ‘99, 6cyl., a/c, auto, 44k mi., $3,700.

Call: (956)236-6650.

Nissan Xterra ‘00, good conditions, white, auto., $5,000 includes TTL. 568-4673

Canon Pixma MP830 photo printer, retails for $300, asking $150. Call:(956)251-1755

Display cases w/light semi-circle, mostradores/ vitrinas $65ea-c/u OBO 324-1738

04 Nissan Titan, 5.4 Liter, Auto, New Tires, Custom Sound System, 52K Miles, Great Condition, $16,000 OBO. Call 744-2705 2000 GMC Sierra, sing. cab, 84,900 mi., excel. cond., $5,000. Call:(956)791-5878 2005 350 XLT Ford 4-wheel Drive, Diesel, 58K miles, Excellent Condition, $21,500 Call 236-1486 ‘04 Suburban LT, Sunroof, Leather Int, DVD System, Excel. Cond. $14,000 206-5018 ‘99 Ford F150 wht pu, A/C Single cab, std trans, 6cyl. Good Cond $4500 206-5018

Piano for sale in very good condition, Henry F. Miller, $700 neg. Call:(956)286-3513

2003 Kawasaki STX 1100 Jet ski, $4800, 33 hrs of use, Call 236-6909 27” Magnavox T.V. w/remote, excellent condition, $60.

Call:(956)251-1755

TRUCKS FOR SALE 198

MOTORCYCLES

196

2005 Harley Davidson Heritage 3600 miles, like new, $14,500 OBO 286-3730, Many Extras!

2005 Kawasaki, One owner, good condition, $1500 OBO Call 791-4297 Between 9-5

TRUCKS FOR SALE 198 ‘00 Dodge Ram 1500, 6cyl, single cab, $6500 Blue Title, new tires, Call 763-8394 02 Voyager, 4cyl, 62K miles, Perfect Condition. $4,500. Call 285-3335

CARS FOR SALE

200

‘04 Hyundai Tiburon all power, moon roof, Low Mileage $7900 OBO Call 220-2380 ‘51 Chevy 12,800mil., Perfect body & engine. $14,500 Call 728-1565 ‘87 Firebird Formula, V8 305, auto, rebuilt eng/trans, A/C $3800 OBO 956-286-2399 Honda Accord ‘05, hybrid, grey, lthr. int., navigation system, Honda care pkg., $19,500 obo.

Call:(956)740-1271.

Honda Civic LX ‘95, $1,200 obo. Call:(956)326-0733.

Lexus ES 350 ‘07, red, 23,000 miles, beautiful car, $30,000 Call:(956)237-3090 Toyota Camry ‘93, 4 door, 6 cyl., 95,000 miles, one owner.

Call:(956)237-3090 Volkswagon Jetta GLS ‘03 Leather seats, sunroof, $4,850 Call 324-5192; 145*3*9059