HISTORIC VICTORY
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LAW ENFORCEMENT
EDUCATION
No arrests Board likes performance in two pot seizures Superintendent rates high marks in finance, construction By NICK GEORGIOU
LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Marijuana valued at $1.5 million By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. CBP Border Patrol seized more than 3,200 pounds of marijuana in two cases. Due to an anonymous call reporting two abandoned vehicles, the Zapata County Sheriff deputies discovered more than 3,000 pounds of marijuana Thursday afternoon in one of the cases. Deputies were dispatched at 5:30 p.m. Thursday to a ranch about 12 miles north of Zapata concerning abandoned vehicles. According to Sgt. Mario Elizondo, deputies arrived and noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicles. “Deputies checked the vehicles and found several bundles of marijuana,” Elizondo said. Deputies seized 268 bundles of marijuana weighing 3,029 pounds, with a street value of $1,335,789. No arrests were made. No suspects were named. The Zapata County Sheriff’s office is investigating
the case. Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr. said it is common to make big busts along the border. Zapata is no exception. In 2009, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Zapata station seized 3 tons of marijuana near Falcon Shore Drive. “It’s common all along the border. There’s so much of it coming across,” Gonzalez said. With increased patrols, he hopes to work with local, state and federal agencies to stop as much contraband as possible. But the sheriff realizes law enforcement needs assistance from the community. Gonzalez noted how vital it is for residents of Zapata and law enforcement to work together. “It’s very important to know that the community is on board with law enforcement to put a stop to drug trafficking in the communities,” he said. Thursday morning, U.S. CBP Border Patrol agents
None of the ZCISD trustees made a motion Wednesday to extend Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez’s contract through 2011, which would mark his 10th year leading the district. Trustees will review his contract again in January 2011. In a surprising move early last year, Rodriguez asked Zapata County Inde-
pendent School District trustees to not extend his contract unless he moved ZCISD to a Recognized status by the state. He didn’t achieve that feat in 2009 as the district was rated Academically Acceptable based on students’ scores on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). But even though he requested the non-extension of his contract, Board President Jose “Pepe” Ramirez III said trustees
RODRIGUEZ
based their decision Wednesday on his performance, which they measured using an evaluation
instrument. “We thought his performance was average based on the overall performance of the district, which mostly has to do with student performance,” he said. Ramirez and the six others trustees spent more than an hour and a half in closed session late Wednesday conducting their an-
nual evaluation of the superintendent’s performance. They also considered modifications to his contract, whether it was an extension or salary increase. After reconvening in open session, trustees, at the recommendation of their attorney Juan Cruz, approved Rodriguez’s evaluation as discussed in closed session. Cruz then asked the board if there would be a motion to make any modifications to the superintendent’s contract. No motion was made.
See ZCISD
PAGE 8A
ZAPATA SOUTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SURPRISE VISIT FROM A LAREDO BUCK STAR
See SEIZURES PAGE 9A
BUSINESS
Partnership’s advisor ready to help area By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Small Business Development Center-TAMIU is now providing a full-time business advisor for businesses in Zapata County and the area. SBDC Director Richard P. Perez, the new full-time business advisor Conrado M. Hein Jr. and Peggy Umphres Moffet, president of the Zapata Economic Development Center, said the partnership will help improve the business and economic development of the region. “I’m happy to be a part of this project,” Hein said at a news conference earlier this week. “It gives me an opportunity to come back to my hometown.” Local business owners have mixed feelings about the SBDC and ZEDC services. Mi Tierra Restaurant, owned by Manuel Garcia III, has been open for about four months. “I would consider their advice to see if I’m going on the right track,” Garcia said. “I had a previous business I had to close because it turned out to be a bad investment.”
El Paraiso Restaurant, on the other end of the spectrum, is well established and has more than 40 years of service in Zapata. It has been recognized by Texas Monthly magazine as one of the Top 40 Best Small Town Restaurants. Its owner, Juan A. Mercado, took over five years ago after his mother, the former owner, passed away. “I have nothing against their services but it is better for newer businesses,” Mercado said, referring to SBDC and ZDEC. According to Moffett, the ZDEC is a private, non-profit corporation founded in 2006. It exists to assist and support businesses and to expand and enhance the region’s economic base by developing and/or supporting projects that create jobs. ZEDC’s mission is to enhance Zapata County’s economic growth and development by facilitating the most pro-business friendly county in the region and by advocating aggressive programs, business retention and expansion, new development and revitalization, business attraction, workforce development, educa-
See SBDC
PAGE 8A
Courtesy photo
Zapata South Elementary School students are all grins Thursday after they received a surprise visit from Laredo Bucks hockey star Jeff Bes, back, center. In front are students Perla Alva, Madison Guerra, Clarissa Castillo, James To, Eddie Garcia, Alberto Gonzalez, C.J. Uribe, Clarissa Garcia and Ronnie Sanchez. In back are Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez; students Antonio Perez, Mirely Muñoz, Alynna Arambula and Franco Arce; Bes; students Bryana Saldana, Jasmyn Hernandez and Gisselle Chapa; and Beto Oliveros. As loud music played on the intercom, students stood outside their classrooms and cheered loudly. Many students know about Bes because they travel to Laredo to watch him play hockey. He autographed pictures, jerseys and shirts.
ZAPATA COUNTY
Wardens seize fishing boats 6 fisherman snared by the law at Falcon Lake THE ZAPATA TIMES
January was a busy month for Texas game wardens assigned to Zapata County. Game wardens working Falcon Lake seized eight Mexican fishing vessels, arrested six Mexican fishermen and seized 43,230 feet of gill net. The two most recent incidents were recorded on Jan. 18. Game wardens heard reports of Mexican vessels setting out gill nets on the upper end of Falcon Lake. According to reports from the Texas Parks & Wildlife, officers could hear several Mexican boats working close to the brush line on the main lake near their location. Just after sunset, the officers observed a Mexican fishing vessel entering Texas waters from Mexico
According to reports, game wardens seized two boats, two motors, and approximately 9,240 feet of gill net. and begin to set out a gill net on the brush line across from their location. The officers could hear a second vessel close by and decided to let the Mexican fishermen work their way out to open water, away from the brush, while the second Mexican vessel worked its way to their location. A few minutes later, the game wardens spotted the second Mexican fishing vessel heading to the back of the cove where they were sitting. According to reports, the game
wardens tried to make contact with the Mexican vessel heading their way, but the occupants of the vessel refused to stop. After a short pursuit, the officers were able to slow the fleeing vessel down enough, so they could jump on board and take control of the vessel and the two fishermen. Their names were not released. Game wardens seized two boats, two motors, and about 9,240 feet of gill net, according to reports. The Mexican fishermen were transported to the Zapata County Jail and charged with fishing without a valid commercial fishing license and possessing illegal equipment in prohibited waters. On that same afternoon, game wardens patrolling the south end of Falcon Lake observed a Mexican fishing vessel enter Texas waters from Mexico. The game wardens sought to stop the vessel, but the occupants refused to stop. After a short pur-
See WARDENS PAGE 8A