LADY HAWKS REBOUND
SATURDAY JANUARY 15, 2011
FREE
OFF TO A 5-0 START IN DISTRICT AFTER MISSING PLAYOFFS A YEAR AGO, 1B
DELIVERED EVERY SATURDAY
TO 4,000 HOMES
A HEARST PUBLICATION
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
ZAPATA
FALLEN SOLDIER
REMEMBERING A ZAPATA SON
Commissioners eye projects for revenue Port-of-entry, 8-liner ordinances could help county’s budget By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
While Commissioners Court is willing to save money to alleviate the budget deficit, the commissioners are also willing to invest in larger development projects to bring in revenue. Commissioners Court is also keeping a close eye on ongoing projects and the departments responsible for them. One of the larger development projects considered by the court in the last regular Commissioners Court meeting Monday is a port of entry in Zapata. “Its only time we start looking into other avenues,” said Commissioner Jose E. Vela. Raba-Kistner Consultants, Inc. gave a presentation on the long process to begin construction on a port of entry in Zapata during the meeting. The port of entry would mean great possibilities for economic growth, said Senior Vice-President Steve Jones, Raba-Kistner Consultants, Inc. The county would need a
feasibility study and permits, and would have to notify appropriate agencies in both the United States and Mexico, Jones added. The mayor of Guerrero was present at the meeting and shared a few words with the court and the public. “This is the most important project for our region,” he said in Spanish. “A new bridge represents a grand opportunity to transcend in history.” Another future project is the construction of a hospital with emergency medical services. The project has been under consideration for many years but has been on hold due to lack of funding. After requesting updates on some ongoing projects, Commissioners Court was briefed on the progress of the Museum of History, the Advance Education Center, and the CACST Health Clinic. Repairs are needed on the roof and the floor of the museum, Vela said. Also, County Judge Joe Rathmell disapproved the front doors of the museum. “The doors were not suitable for our needs,” Rathmell said.
See COURT PAGE 12A
EIGHT-LINERS
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
ABOVE: Enrique and Norma Cantu mourn their son Private First Class Ira Benjamin Laningham IV at their home. BELOW: The Zapata County Courthouse flies flags at half-mast Tuesday afternoon in honor of PFC Ira Benjamin Laningham, who died on Jan. 7 in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Mom remembers ‘Ben’ Laningham’s life, service By DENISE BLAZ
$500 license fee could provide county revenue Commissioners also hope to deter more from opening in area
THE ZAPATA TIMES
By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ
B
efore he enlisted in the Army, Pfc. Ira Benjamin “Ben” Laningham IV, 22, would lend his musical services, playing taps during Veterans Day or Memorial Day in his tiny hometown of Zapata. On Jan. 7, Laningham died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device and a smallarms firefight ensued in Logar Province, Afghanistan.
See SOLDIER PAGE 12A
THE ZAPATA TIMES
One of the top items Commissioners Court discussed at the last regular meeting Monday was taxing eight-liner businesses in Zapata County $500 a year to bring in more revenue and to deter new businesses from opening. The commissioners passed an ordinance to regulate the machines and to collect the fee during the meeting. It goes into
effect Feb. 1. “I believe we need to regulate the amusement eight-liners and that’s what we’re doing with the ordinance,” said County Judge Joe Rathmell during discussion of the measure. “If you want to have this type of business these are the rules you have to abide by.” According to the court, the county needs to find additional revenue sources with the recent change in natural gas production and the decrease in mineral valuations. “That has brought us to look for other avenues to replace this very important income source,” Commissioner Jose E.
See 8-LINER PAGE 12A