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Driller: Future unsure City receives By ZACH LINDSEY THE ZAPATA TIMES
It appears few industries are immune to the nation’s economic crisis, as ConocoPhillips announced earlier this month the company would lay off 4 percent of its workforce, which will amount to about 1,300 jobs around the world. “It’s a very unusual year,” said Randy Black, South Texas spokesman for ConocoPhillips, based in Zapata. The future of the company in South Texas is still unknown. “I don’t have any numbers locally, on what that (the layoffs) will affect,” Black said. “Nothing’s
“I don’t have any numbers locally, on what that (the layoffs) will affect. Nothing’s been finalized. Nothing’s been determined yet.” SOUTH TEXAS CONOCOPHILLIPS SPOKESMAN RANDY BLACK
been finalized. Nothing’s been determined yet.” However, Black was sure to say this does not necessarily mean layoffs in the South Texas area. “We continue to operate here in South Texas, and it’s a very important basin for us,” Black said. The corporation has not yet
finished the year’s business plan, which is unusual for ConocoPhillips, according to Black. Over the past two years, ConocoPhillips spent more than $15 billion buying back its own stocks when those stocks were at their highest level. The Texas oil industry is not
suffering as much as some other regions. According to statistics released by the Texas Railroad Commission, November 2008 production levels were higher than November 2007. In ’08, daily crude oil production averaged at about 925,000 barrels. In ’07, the daily average was about 853,000. Zapata is third in natural gas production across the state, with approximately 22,300,000 Mcfs (thousand cubic feet) worth of gas produced in November ‘08. Blas Castañeda of Laredo Community College remains optimistic about the future of the industry.
See CONOCOPHILLIPS | PAGE 9A
design aid BY ERIKA LAMBRETON THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata was selected by the National Endowment for the Arts as its top choice for Your Town: The Citizens Institute on Rural Design Leadership Program. The announcement was made Wednesday Jan. 21. ‘Your Town’ was created in order to express the important role design plays in the planning and shaping of a town in order to maximize its hidden
potential and create an attractive environment that would stimulate the overall quality of life. According to its Web site, “The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education.” “(Your Town is a) program that is designed to assist rural
See PROGRAM | PAGE 9A
SHOOTING SKEET FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS (CLUB) By JASON BUCH THE ZAPATA TIMES
he Boys and Girls Club of Zapata is expecting hundreds to come out today to Rancho Ramirez for the organization’s clay shoot fundraiser. The sporting clay tournament will have 13 stations, and competitors will fire 100 rounds at each station, said Ricky Ramirez, club president. Ramirez on Friday demonstrated how the machines that will fling clay
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targets are placed around the ranch, and even placed on towers to imitate birds like ducks, doves and quail. “They try to emulate whatever flight the birds have,” Ramirez said. “The tower emulates dove flying across a field.” The event will be the club’s primary fundraiser for the year, Ramirez said. More than 40 five-man teams have signed up, he said. Last year’s event raised $35,000. “We have about double the teams from last year, which is good for us be-
cause we’re hoping to raise more money,” said Mark Alvarenga, the club’s vice president. Money raised at the tournament will cover the club’s day to day operations, Ramirez said.
Club activities The Boys and Girls Club has about 300 children registered in Zapata, and provides academic and sporting events and facilities for them, he said. “We’re just trying to give the kids a safe place to come in and get off the street,” Ramirez said. Hunters who come to South Texas from as far away as Tennessee are expected to take part in the tournament, he said.
Cooking competition There will be a cooking competition as well, Ramirez said. About 13 teams have signed up for the cooking competition so far, and they will provide food for everyone who comes out, he said. The cooking will be judged by County Judge Rosalva Guerra and George Garza, host of “Gar Outdoor Adventures,” Ramirez said. District Attorney Isidro “Chilo” Alaniz is expected to participate in the tournament, Ramirez said. There will be raffles as well for items including shotguns, but the main raffle is for an electric all terrain vehicle and trailer, valued at about $10,000, Alvarenga said. The club has almost sold
See TOURNAMENT | PAGE 9A Photos by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Today is the sporting clay tournament fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Zapata. ABOVE: Ricky Ramirez, an organizer, shows one of the clay throwers Friday afternoon at the Ramirez ranch in Zapata. LEFT: Mark Alvarenga, left, and Ramirez, both tournament organizers, look as a shooting station is prepared at the ranch.
Probe begins into peanut recall By SHARON THEIMER and RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Ric Feld | AP
Fred Large talks about the closing of the Peanut Corporation of America processing plant while at his Smitty’s Grill off the square in Blakely, Ga.The Peanut Corporation of America is located about a mile from the square. PCA is voluntarily recalling all peanuts and peanut products processed in its Blakely, Ga., facility since Jan. 1, 2007.
WASHINGTON — Federal health officials opened a criminal investigation Friday into the Georgia peanut-processing plant at the center of the national salmonella outbreak. President Barack Obama pledged stricter oversight of food safety to prevent breakdowns in inspections. The investigation into Peanut Corp. of America follows reports of shoddy sanitation practices and inspections that found the com-
“Our top priority has been — and will continue to be — to ensure the public safety.” PEANUT CORP. OF AMERICA STATEMENT
pany sold contaminated peanut products to food makers. At least 529 people have been sickened as a result of the outbreak, and at least eight may have died because of it. More than 430 products have been recalled. In a statement late Friday, Peanut Corp. expressed its “deep-
est and most sincere empathy for those sickened” and said it was reviewing the facts to determine exactly what happened. “Our top priority has been — and will continue to be — to ensure the public safety,” it said. “For Peanut Corporation to engage in any discussion of the facts at this
point is premature.” Until recently, federal food safety inspectors had not been to the Georgia plant since 2001. The Associated Press found that FDA interest in the facility was renewed, at least temporarily, after a shipment of peanuts from the plant was seized at the Canadian border. The shipment, taken April 11, originated at the Peanut Corp. plant and was turned back at the border. The FDA seized the product after it was found to contain metal fragments.
See PEANUT | PAGE 9A