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SAN YGNACIO
FALCON LAKE
Oilfield waste
Officials say Mexican drowned
Firm wants dump near town’s water supply By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
SAN YGNACIO — As South Texas’s oilfield epicenter shifts from Zapata and Hidalgo counties to counties in the Eagle Ford Shale, officials here are asking why San Ygnacio and its residents have to bear the brunt of waste expelled from those areas. Last year, the county officially announced its opposition to Texas Energy Services’ plan to expand its operations in San Ygnacio and include a new oilfield waste facility less than a mile from residential areas and the community’s drinking water source. On Feb. 13, the San Ygnacio Civic Center will host a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. to discuss residents’ concerns. “We certainly support the oil and gas industry, but there is a limit to what we can do,” County Judge Joe Rathmell said. “This company is being unreasonable for wanting to build a site that is so close to the people of
San Ygnacio.” Rathmell said he thinks the counties that produce oilfield waste should be responsible for treating and disposing of it. The Commissioner’s Court officially opposed the oilfield service company’s permit application a year ago. Under the plan, Texas Energy Services would expand on its current saltwater injection facility east of San Ygnacio to include an oilfield waste site for drilling mud and other such waste to be disposed of. The application is being reviewed by the Railroad Commission of Texas, the agency that regulates the state oil and gas industry and can approve permit applications. The county commissioners are also in the process of drafting an ordinance against further waste sites near residential areas, county officials said. Rathmell said the county’s primary concern lies in protecting the health of its residents, especially
those who live in the Valle Verde subdivision, the closest neighborhood to the proposed facility. Because the oilfield service company is proposing to dump its chemicals onto the surface, whereas other waste is sometimes injected into cement wells, runoff and seepage are concerns of the county. But a spokesman for Texas Energy Services told the San Antonio Express-News last week those concerns are unfounded, with the engineering of the facility reducing the risk of contamination. A representative from the company could not be reached before press time. The proposed expansion would run afoul of Zapata County’s plan to boost eco-tourism in the area, said Hector Uribe, an attorney who offers legal counseling to the county. Uribe, of Austin, helped advise county officials in their plan to make
See OILFIELD PAGE 10A
TAKING TO THE SKIES ON HIS SKATEBOARD
By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Juana Maria Gutierrez said this week the man found floating on Falcon Lake waters a couple of weeks ago died of asphyxiation due to drowning. On Thursday afternoon, Gutierrez identified the man as Jose Alberto Vasquez Garcia, a 41-year-old man from Mexico. Ana Laura Benavides C., a Mexican consulate spokeswoman in Laredo, said consulate officials are yet to track down family members. According to Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr., officials found an identification card from Nuevo Laredo on the man. On Jan. 24, the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office received a call reporting a body floating in the lake. The location given was approximately four miles upriver from Beacon Lodge. At 4:50 p.m., Gutierrez
pronounced the person dead. An autopsy was requested from Webb County Medical Examiner Corinne Stern. After receiving reports from Stern, Gutierrez said the man’s cause of death was drowning. A day after Vasquez Garcia’s body was found, Gonzalez told Laredo Morning Times the body did not show any signs of foul play. Vasquez Garcia’s body was the second recovered from the lake since Dec. 29, when a pro angler posted on his Facebook page that he found human remains in the Mexican waters of Falcon Lake, north of San Ygnacio. At first, people believed that might have been David Hartley, a jet skier gunned down by drug trafficking organization members while sightseeing in Guerrero Viejo. Days later, Mexican authorities confirmed the remains were not Hartley’s. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
VEHICLE FATALITY
Laredoans among dead in fatal collision By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo by Danny Zaragoza | The Zapata Times
Skaters take advantage of the week’s nice South Texas weather at Blas Castañeda Park in Laredo on Tuesday afternoon.
A three-vehicle collision killed three people — two from Laredo — last week on U.S. 83 near the Starr and Zapata county lines, according to a Department of Public Safety spokesman. DPS officials identified the victims as Edith Ledezma Martinez, 27, and Sergio Arellano, 30. A McAllen man who also died at the scene was identified as Jose Alfredo Ruiz Cruz, 33. Cpl. Frank Hernandez, a DPS spokesman, said Ruiz Cruz was heading north on U.S. 83. At about 4:55 p.m., he lost control of his GMC Envoy and collided head-on with a Chevy pickup towing a trailer. An F150 rear-ended the Envoy. “The driver (of the F150) could not avoid the collision,” Hernandez said, not-
SERGIO ARRELLANO: Multi-vehicle crash claims life of Laredo man. EDITH LEDEZMA MARTINEZ: Laredoan died in multi-vehicle collision. ing the man sustained minor injuries. Arellano, Ledezma Martinez and Ruiz Cruz all died at the scene, according to DPS officials. According to their obituaries, both Ledezma Martinez and Arellano were born in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. However, they’ve been Laredo residents for most of their lives. Both people are survived by numerous friends and relatives. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, FEB. 4
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Area Health Education Center will sponsor a workshop on college entrance exams preparation with emphasis on the SAT from 7:45 a.m. to noon today at the UT Health Science Center Laredo campus, 1937 E. Bustamante St., for LISD high school students. For more information, call 7120037 or email mrgbaheccoord@stx.rr.com. League of United Latin American Citizens Council No. 7 will have its 17th annual Noche de Cabaret, a gala dance, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. today in the Laredo Civic Center Ballroom, 800 Garden St. At the dance, TAMIU fine and performing arts department chair Bede Leyendecker will receive the Higher Education Award. Tickets are $20 per person or $200 for a table of 10, with proceeds to benefit the council’s scholarship fund. Cocktail attire is required. For tickets or more information, call 949-7685 or 753-6656. The Laredo Theatre Guild International, in cooperation with Texas A&M International University, will present William Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” at TAMIU’s Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Theatre at 8 p.m. today. Tickets are available for advance purchase at Foster’s, 1202 Del Mar Blvd., Suite 101; Blue Top, 101 Hillside Road, No. 11; the TAMIU Bookstore; and the box office before each show. Tickets are $15 general admission and $10 for students with valid ID and for senior citizens. For more information, call 956-319-8610 or visit laredotheaterguild.com.
Today is Saturday, Feb. 4, the 35th day of 2012. There are 331 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Feb. 4, 1962, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was founded in Memphis, Tenn., by entertainer Danny Thomas. On this date: In 1783, Britain’s King George III proclaimed a formal cessation of hostilities in the American Revolutionary War. In 1789, electors chose George Washington to be the first president of the United States. In 1861, delegates from six southern states that had recently seceded from the Union met in Montgomery, Ala., to form the Confederate States of America. In 1932, New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt opened the Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid. In 1941, the United Service Organizations (USO) came into existence. In 1962, a rare conjunction of the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn occurred. In 1972, Mariner 9, orbiting Mars, transmitted images of the red planet. In 1974, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was kidnapped in Berkeley, Calif., by the Symbionese Liberation Army. In 1976, more than 23,000 people died when a severe earthquake struck Guatemala with a magnitude of 7.5, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan announced a plan to eliminate all medium-range nuclear missiles in Europe. In 1983, pop singer-musician Karen Carpenter died in Downey, Calif., at age 32. In 1987, pianist Liberace died at his Palm Springs, Calif., home at age 67. Ten years ago: President George W. Bush proposed a $2.13 trillion budget, including billions for fighting terrorism. The World Economic Forum concluded five days of meetings in New York. Activists in Porto Alegre, Brazil, concluded their World Social Forum, held as a counter to the gathering in New York. Former Enron chairman and chief executive Kenneth Lay resigned from the board, cutting his last tie to the company beyond stock ownership. Today’s Birthdays: Former Argentinian President Isabel Peron is 81. Movie director George A. Romero is 72. Rock musician John Steel (The Animals) is 71. Singer Florence LaRue (The Fifth Dimension) is 68. Rock singer Tim Booth is 52. Rock musician Henry Bogdan is 51. Country singer Clint Black is 50. Actor Rob Corddry is 41. Singer David (dah-VEED’) Garza is 41. Actor Michael Goorjian is 41. Boxer Oscar De La Hoya is 39. Rock musician Rick Burch (Jimmy Eat World) is 37. Singer Natalie Imbruglia (em-BROO’-lee-ah) is 37. Rapper Cam’ron is 36. Rock singer Gavin DeGraw is 35. Olympic gold medal gymnast-turned-singer Carly Patterson is 24. Thought for Today: “The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German theologian (1906-1945).
TUESDAY, FEB. 7 The Zapata Chamber of Commerce board of directors will meet at noon at a restaurant to be announced. Board meeting date subject to change. For more information, call 956-7654871.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8 The American Cancer Society and Doctors Hospital will offer I Can Cope, a series of educational classes for people with cancer. I Can Cope helps patients meet the challenges of cancer by clarifying cancer facts and myths. The classes are offered the second Wednesday of every month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Doctors Hospital in the Women’s Center Conference Room. Classes are free and open to the public. To RSVP or for more information, call Diana Juarez at 723-9682.
SATURDAY, FEB. 11 The Diocese of Laredo will recognize couples celebrating 25 or 50 years of Catholic marriage with a special Mass at 11 a.m. today at San Agustín Cathedral, 201 San Agustin Ave., officiated by Diocese of Laredo Bishop James A. Tamayo. To register, call your parish office or the Family Life Office of the Diocese of Laredo at 727-2140. The registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 3. The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will host Family Movie Day, featuring the film “Shrek.” Show times are noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. General admission is $3. For more show times, visit tamiu.edu/planetarium.
MONDAY, FEB. 13 The Zapata County Commissioners Court will meet in regular session at 9 a.m.
Photo by Mike Fuentes | AP
In this Jan. 6 photo, Jakadrien Turner, 15, center, walks with her grandmother Lorene Turner, left, and mother Johnisa Turner at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Turner was mistakenly deported to Colombia after Immigration and Customs Enforcement say she claimed to be a Colombian woman named Tika Lanay Cortez.
Teen maintained alias By ALICIA A. CALDWELL AND LINDA STEWART BALL ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS — A Dallas teenager who was deported to South America under a false name never expressed concern during jailhouse phone calls that she was being misidentified as an illegal immigrant from Colombia. The more than two dozen recorded telephone calls reviewed by The Associated Press show 15-year-old Jakadrien Turner expected to be deported to Colombia yet did not complain of having no ties to the country. Instead, during several conversations she had with two men she identified herself as Tika Lanay Cortez and discussed renewing her green card and having her passport and Colombian identification card sent to authorities. Yet, Turner claimed in a recent TV inter-
FBI seeks ‘tall, dark, handsome’ bank robber
$4M grant for Galveston for water service
FBI probing death in federal reserve on border
HOUSTON — A fugitive described by the FBI as being a “tall, dark and handsome bandit” has been accused of holding up two banks this week in Texas. Bank surveillance photos provided Friday show a suspect, believed to be the same man, with sunglasses atop his head during robberies in Houston and Beaumont. The robber is described as a white man, in his 30s, about 6 feet tall, with short brown hair.
GALVESTON — A Southeast Texas city slammed by Hurricane Ike has received a $4 million grant to help maintain water service in case of another disastrous storm. Galveston officials say the government block grant will go toward a new water line from Pelican Island to Galveston. City engineer Justin Bowling says the goal is to avoid total water failure like what happened when Ike swamped Galveston in September 2008.
HAVANA — The FBI is investigating the death of one man and wounding of another after Border Patrol agents found them in a federal wildlife refuge along the Rio Grande. Agents are investigating a reported altercation on the Mexican side. Tamaulipas state Interior Secretary Morelos Canseco Gomez said that there was a confrontation between law enforcement and suspects in the area with no one wounded or detained. He would not say whether anyone crossed the border.
Ex-soldier pleads guilty in Texas recruiting scam SAN ANTONIO — A former soldier in South Texas has pleaded guilty in a scheme to collect part of $244,000 in bonuses for referring recruits. The Justice Department says former Spc. Xavier Aves of San Antonio pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to aggravated identity theft.
THURSDAY, FEB. 16 Today is Winter Texan and Senior Appreciation Day. For more information, call 956-765-4871.
TUESDAY, MARCH 8 Spring Break begins for Zapata ISD students. The Zapata County Fair begins today. For more information, call 956765-4871,
THURSDAY, MARCH 10 Today is the last day of the Zapata County Fair.
FRIDAY, MARCH 16 This is the last day of Spring Break for Zapata ISD students.
FRIDAY, APRIL 6 Easter holiday for Zapata ISD students. To submit an item for the calendar, send the name of the event, the date, time, location and contact phone number to editorial@lmtonline.com.
view that she repeatedly tried to convince authorities she had lied when she initially identified herself to Houston police as Cortez, a 21-year-old Colombian national, after being arrested for shoplifting. “At a certain point, I just gave up because I said it multiple times: ‘I’m Jakadrien Turner, I’m 15 years old, and why am I here?’“ Turner, who was returned to Texas last month, told Dallas television station WFAA, in an interview that aired Wednesday night. The Associated Press reviewed recordings of 25 telephone calls Turner made while in custody in Houston in April and May. A law enforcement official who has listened to most of the calls and has been briefed on the case confirmed the caller is Turner. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official is not authorized to publicly discuss details of the case.
Democrat Gibson drops out of US senate race AUSTIN — Houston trial lawyer Jason Gibson has dropped out of the Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate. In a statement Thursday, Gibson endorsed former state Rep. Paul Sadler for the Democratic nomination. The AFL-CIO endorsed Sadler on Wednesday.
2 convicted in North Texas embezzlement scheme DALLAS — A federal jury has convicted two people of taking part in a conspiracy to embezzle money from the city of Garland. Kenneth Wayne Brown and Leah Michele Brown were found guilty Thursday in Dallas. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION Hiring surges in January; jobless rate at 8.3 pct.
CONTACT US
WASHINGTON — In a longawaited surge of hiring, companies added 243,000 jobs in January — across the economy, up and down the pay scale and far more than just about anyone expected. Unemployment fell to 8.3 percent, the lowest in three years.
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Prosecutors close Armstrong inquiry LOS ANGELES — Federal prosecutors closed their investigation of Lance Armstrong without charging him over allegations he used performance-enhancing drugs Friday, ending a nearly two-year effort aimed at examining whether a doping program was created to keep the seven-time Tour de France winner and his teammates running at the head of the pack. Armstrong has steadfastly de-
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY Photo by Alex Brandon | AP
Japanese competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi looks up as he eats chicken wings during SportsRadio WIP’s Wing Bowl 2012 eating contest on Friday in Philadelphia. Kobayashi won by eating 337 wings. nied he doped during his unparalleled career.
Obama pushes for veterans jobs programs WASHINGTON — In an effort
to cut the unemployment rate among veterans, President Barack Obama is calling for a new conservation program that would put veterans to work rebuilding trails, roads and levees on public lands. — Compiled from AP reports
(956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
Local
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
Workshop to Program may aid landowners aid agencies SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The United Way of Laredo, Inc. will be having a proposal preparation workshop for eligible nonprofit agencies seeking funding for 2013. In order to apply for funding from United Way, agencies must attend the mandatory workshop Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the United Way of Laredo office, 1815 E. Hillside Road. Agencies wishing to ap-
ply must be registered with the IRS as 501 (c) (3) organizations, be audited annually, have voluntary boards of directors, have community-oriented goals and objectives and be in operation for at least one year. The deadline to submit completed applications is Thursday, Feb. 23 at noon. For more information call the United Way of Laredo, Inc. office at 956-7239113.
Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse has announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct a four-week Conservation Reserve Program general signup, beginning March 12 and ending April 6. “It is USDA’s goal to ensure that we use CRP to address our most critical resource issues,” said Scuse. “CRP is an important program for protecting our most environmen-
tally sensitive lands from erosion and sedimentation, and for ensuring the sustainability of our groundwater, lakes, rivers, ponds and streams.” CRP is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and develop wildlife habitat. In return, USDA provides participants with rental
payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years. About 30 million acres are enrolled in CRP; and contracts on an estimated 6.5 million acres will expire on Sept. 30. Offers for CRP contracts are ranked according to the Environmental Benefits Index. USDA’s Farm Service Agency collects data for each of the EBI factors based on the relative environmental benefits for the land offered. Each eligible offer is ranked in comparison
to all other offers and selections made from that ranking. In 2011, USDA enrolled a record number of acres of private working lands in conservation programs, working with more than 500,000 farmers and ranchers to implement conservation practices that clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and prevent soil erosion. For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit a local FSA service center or www.fsa.usda.gov.
Wrestling giants top today’s card By MIKE HERRERA IV THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Laredo Wrestling Alliance once again brings its unique brand of in-ring action to town tonight with Beatdown in Z Town. The card, a mix of highflying lucha libre and knock-down-drag-out brawling, includes a first for the year-old company: a title versus career match. LWA champion Burhan puts the company’s top prize on the line against Prince Fontenot. If Fontenot does not win the title, he must retire from professional wrestling. “I’m trying to call on all the fans for their support,” said Fontenot (Fon-te-no) about the all-or-nothing situation he finds himself in. “Come out and give me your yelling. Give me your energy. If you see me having a hard time, give it to me. I thrive on the energy of the crowd.” The rivalry between these two goes back to Laredo’s Menudo Bowl last month. Perched on the top rope and ready to splash Abel Cruz and win a title shot, Fontenot felt something knock his calf. He fell
straddled on the turnbuckle and lost to Cruz. When he looked at who had interfered, he saw the bearded face of the Burhan. “My assumption is he must’ve wanted to face Abel and not me because why else would he help him win?” Fontenot said. After losing, he grabbed the microphone and challenged Burhan, who said he’d defend his title if Fontenot agreed to retire if he lost. Caught in the middle of this and with a title shot in his back pocket, Cruz stepped aside and let Fontenot get the title shot first. “Don’t let anyone say wrestlers are dumb,” said Fontenot. “Cruz knows what he’s doing. If I lose, he has one less guy to worry about. If I win, he still has a title shot, and can come after me.” This will be Fontenot’s first match in Zapata but by no means his first goround. The 12-year career he risks ending tonight includes stints in Austin’s Battleground Zero, Corpus Christi’s Gulf Coast Wrestling, and American Championship Wrestling in San Antonio. He held major championships in all three.
Fontenot also hold the distinction of being the only professional body builder wrestling in the LWA. “I actually took four or five years away from wrestling to focus on my bodybuilding,” he said. “It’s hard to train for both. It’s hard to take a top-rope suplex and then go the next day and do some squats.” His experience in both sports earned him a reputation, attracting the attention of some of wrestling’s biggest names. Most sports media lit up this week at the news that World Wrestling Entertainment will induct Mike Tyson into its hall of fame. Tyson gets this distinction because he refereed the main event of WrestleMania 14. But few know about Fontenot’s involvement. “I provided conditioning training for Shawn Michaels and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin when they were getting ready for that match,” he said, adding that Michaels credited him for this on camera. Fontenot later wrote a cardiovascular conditioning program for Michael’s San Antonio wrestling school.
“I’ve done a lot in this business,” he said. If he loses tonight, it could all end. If he wins the belt, he could make history. Fontenot would be the LWA’s first African-American champion. “It’s black history month,” he said. “What better time to put a fine piece of tin on a fine man?” Heading into Beatdown in Z Town, Burhan also has a lot to lose. Currently, Burhan holds two championships at once, a rarity for the sport. Win or lose against Fontenot, he later has to defend his LWA Hardcore Championship. This title is contested only in “hardcore” wrestling matches, where anything goes. A chair to the head is as legal as a wristlock. As if wrestling twice in one night and having one of those matches in a hardcore environment wasn’t enough, Burhan faces two opponents at once: Necromonger and The Freak. The Freak is a Zapata native. So is the hardcore championship. “This title debuted in Zapata,” said LWA founder Rey Chavarria. “So we’re glad to see it contested in
Photo by Danny Zaragoza | The Zapata Times
Wrestler “Genocide” kicks his opponent “Southside” as they perform at the 2011 Autmusfest. the place it was born.” For Chavarria, Zapata holds a special place in the LWA’s short but exciting history. The company has developed a devoted following here, and Chavarria said he always tries to give Zapatans a better show each time. This is why he’s bringing not just LWA, but two other Texas wrestling promotions. “We’re being joined by talent from Wrestling Revolution in Rio Grande,” he said, “as well as Syndicate Wrestling from Borne.” As they usually do when they perform in Zapata, the LWA promises to donate a portion of the proceeds to a scholarship fund for local students. To date, Chavarria estimates they’ve raised more than $3,000 for this
cause. “We always try to give back to the community, whether it’s in Zapata, Laredo,” he said. “Wherever we go, we try to make sure it’s about more than us.” Beatdown in Z Town also features the United States championship on the line as Pretty Boy Ocho defends against The Joker. Havoc and The Regulators battle Airborne Inferno and Southside. Taking hardcore to a new level, LWA also presents a barbed wire Texas tornado and ladder match. The bell rings at 7 p.m. at the Osvaldo H. and Juanita Ramirez Exhibit Hall. The action goes on until 10. Tickets are $5 and available at the door. Card is subject to change.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
State workers don’t seem to smoke By KEN HERMAN COX NEWSPAPERS
AUSTIN — Lord knows we all love Texas state employees. And woe be unto any local politician who dares doubt that each and every state employee is among the best, hardestworking, finest-looking people ever created. So it is with a heavy heart that I must report evidence indicating lots of state employees and retirees might be lying pigdogs. What could cause these hard-working, finelooking people to lie? Thirty bucks a month seems to be the price. Last year, Texas lawmakers had a good idea (hey, one out of a bazillion isn’t bad). The idea, converted into law, is a ”tobacco cessation” program for state workers and retirees, including higher health insurance premiums for tobacco users and coverage for tobacco cessation drugs. It went into effect Jan. 1. State employees and retirees had from Nov. 7 to Dec. 9 to report if they or any family members covered by the plan are tobacco users (defined as using tobacco products more than five times in the previous three months). The additional monthly premium for tobacco users is $30 per person, with a maximum of $90 per family. (Best footnote on the Employees Retirement System Q-and-A about the program: ”The charge for a child is the same regardless of how many children in the household use tobacco.” Sure, junior, go ahead and light up. We’re already paying for your sister.) So what we have is a self-reporting system. That always goes well, doesn’t it? Please raise your hand if you want to pay more. Last year, the Legislative Budget Board — working with a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 18 percent of adult Texans use tobacco products — guesstimated there are 74,150 tobacco users covered by the state health plan. ERS board members were told at an August meeting the agency ”will depend on members to certify that they use tobacco. A special campaign will be conducted this fall to communicate the tobacco information.” The special campaign was held, and the sign-ups began. But somehow, as of mid-January, only 20,460 state employees or retirees or their covered dependents were signed up. That’s 53,690 short of the projection. (My editor is amazed so many people signed up. He’s such a cynical man.) This leads to two possi-
ble conclusions: State employees and their dependents use tobacco at far lower rates than other Texans, or many state employees are lying pig-dogs (possibly smoking lying pig-dogs, one of the worst kind). So, Andy Homer of the Texas Public Employees Association, which is it? ”We certainly don’t want to call state employees liars,” he said, noting that state employees tend to be highly educated and that highly educated folks tend to be tobacco users at lower rates. And, Homer noted, close to half of association members work for the prison system, where tobacco use is banned. Could be, though I still think there is a lying pigdog factor at work here. What about it, ERS spokeswoman Mary Jane Wardlow? ”I won’t draw any conclusions,” she said, encouraging folks to fess up and sign up, and adding, ”There may be consequences.” Smoking seems to be its own consequence. But the state has other consequences in mind. The ERS Q-and-A notes tobacco users who do not ”certify” could face ”a penalty, a fraud investigation or termination from health insurance coverage.” I like the A to Q12, which asks, ”What if my doctor says I can’t quit?” Lucky you. You can keep enjoying tobacco without paying the additional premium if you can find a doc to declare you have ”an uncontrolled health factor, such as nicotine addiction.” In such cases, the physician signs a form saying, ”In my professional medical opinion, a health factor makes it unreasonably difficult or medically inadvisable for the individual named above to stop using tobacco products or otherwise satisfy the health plan’s requirements in order to avoid paying the tobacco premium surcharge.” So far, 256 affidavits have been submitted. Ask your doctor if an affidavit is right for you. And review Q14 before seeing your lawyer: Q: ”Is this kind of additional premium illegal?” A: ”No, many employers have enacted similar, or even more strict, rules. These rules have survived numerous legal challenges.” So please, dear state employees, fess up if you use tobacco. Don’t make us have to come around and take photos outside the front door during smoke breaks. Ken Herman is a columnist for the Austin American-Statesman. Email: kherman@statesman.com.
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. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication. 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 namecalling or gratuitous abuse is allowed. Via e-mail, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.
EDITORIAL
Keep politics out of cancer MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
For 30 years, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been helping women find, fight and, when possible, beat breast cancer. Toward those ends, it has contributed $1.5 billion to support education, screening and treatment programs and advanced medical research. Until very recently, the Komen organization has used the bounty of its prodigious fund-raising acumen to focus on improving the health of women and protecting them from needless suffering from breast cancer. On Tuesday, however, Komen confirmed that its local chapters no longer may fund breast cancer screening and education programs offered in their communities by local affiliates of Planned Parenthood. The move eliminates about $700,000 worth of services provided each year in 19 Planned Parenthood regions. Wednesday afternoon some affiliates were announcing that they had been granted exemptions
from the new policy. This profound mistake undermines the group’s credibility and contradicts its mission. Its board should review and reverse the decision before women in these areas suffer needlessly from breast cancer that screening and education programs could have caught early. A Komen spokeswoman told the Associated Press on Tuesday that a new policy “barring grants to organizations that are under investigation by local, state or federal authorities” required cutting off support for Planned Parenthood programs. That might ring true if Planned Parenthood were under investigation by local, state or federal law enforcement or regulatory agencies. But the Komen spokeswoman referred, instead, to a U.S. House committee inquiry being led by Republican Cliff Stearns of Florida, which might more aptly be described as a political and ideological crusade driven by anti-abortion passions.
Planned Parenthood operations long have been a target of anti-abortion groups and like-minded public officials because about 3 percent of the services it provides annually to some 11 million people involve pregnancy counseling and legal abortions. More than 95 percent of its services are related to cancer screenings, contraception, prevention counseling and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and other reproductive health issues. Of course, private special-interest groups are free to advocate their causes as passionately as they choose within the law. But that should have no bearing on Komen’s pursuit of advancing the cause of women’s health, a mission closely aligned with the screening, prevention, education and treatment work of Planned Parenthood. Until recently, the Komen organization has acknowledged as much, while carefully avoiding the ideological battleground of abortion. In a 2010 state-
ment explaining Komen’s relationship with Planned Parenthood, Komen’s chief scientific adviser, Dr. Eric Winer, explained that local affiliates regularly audit Planned Parenthood chapters to ensure that Komen grants are spent solely on breast cancer screening and education programs, as the terms of the grants require. Komen’s sudden shift puts it on a slippery slope. After nearly 10 years of supporting it financially, will Komen now denounce research into the possible roles of adult and embryonic stem cells in breast cancer progression and treatment? Will Komen withdraw its research-based policy statement, posted on its website as of Wednesday afternoon, that abortions do not increase the risk of breast cancer? Breast cancer cells do not care about the income streams, social standing, political beliefs, ideological credos or geographic locations of the people whose tissues they attack or the people who care for them. Neither should Komen.
WORST WEEK IN WASHINGTON
Tea party’s balloon has burst By AARON BLAKE THE WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON — Hey, remember the tea party? Yes, the tea party, the movement that upended the 2010 congressional elections and was supposed to transform American politics.
Who cares? In recent days, some voices that have defined the movement over the past two years — former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, erstwhile 2012 candidate Her-
man Cain, Nevada Republican Sharron Angle and real estate mogul/self-promoter Donald Trump — offered their endorsements in the GOP presidential race. And the political world yawned in unison.
Endorsements Cain officially endorsed former House speaker Newt Gingrich before Tuesday’s Florida primary, while Palin said she would vote for Gingrich if she were a Floridian. The payoff: Newt lost the state
by double digits. Then, on Thursday, Trump endorsed Mitt Romney in the run-up to Saturday’s Nevada caucuses. ”Mitt is tough, he’s sharp, he’s smart,” Trump declared. Just one problem: Polling shows that the Donald’s support probably hurts Romney more than it helps him, and the endorsement was more sideshow than show-stopper.
tea party’s 2010 efforts by winning a crowded GOP primary and facing off against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). On Thursday, she endorsed Rick Santorum with all the force of a church mouse, as the nominal leader of a Nevada tea party that has fallen apart.
Weak endorsement
The tea party, for trying to brew some strong influence over the GOP race but winding up with chamomile, you had the worst week in Washington.
Perhaps most revealing of all was Angle, who just two years ago defined the
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
Ineffective brew
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012
Man pleads guilty to possessing marijuana THE ZAPATA TIMES
A Mexican national arrested in Zapata pled guilty Friday in federal court in Laredo to possessing nearly 600 pounds of marijuana. Joel Hugo Robles Perez, 24, was scheduled for trial Feb. 14 and was in court Friday for a related hearing. He suddenly waived that hearing and opted to plead guilty in the case. Robles Perez was accused of having nearly 600 pounds of marijuana intended for distribution, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced Friday. On Dec. 9, Immigration and Customs Enforce-
JOEL HUGO ROBLES PEREZ: Pleads guilty to possession of pot. ment-Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Border Patrol assisted by Zapata County sheriff ’s deputies acted on information that a large amount of marijuana was being held at a residence in Zapata. Upon their arrival at the suspected residence, Robles Perez, a Mexican national legally in the United States at the time, answered the door and gave permission to search the property. He subsequently informed the agents they would find ap-
proximately 600 pounds of marijuana hidden in a truck parked behind the home. Agents then discovered approximately 270 kilograms of marijuana hidden in various places within the vehicle. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia-Marmolejo, who accepted the guilty plea today, has set sentencing for May 24. Robles Perez faces a minimum of five and up to 40 years in prison and/ or a $5 million fine to be followed by a term of supervised release of at least four years. Assistant United States Attorney Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case.
THE BLOTTER ACCIDENT A man called deputies at 8:56 p.m. Jan. 27 from FM 2687 to report he struck a wild hog with his vehicle.
ASSAULT Lee Roy Salinas was arrested and charged with assault family violence at about 11:45 p.m. Jan. 27 in the 1500 block of Falcon Avenue. A report states he assaulted his wife. The man is out on bail from the Zapata Regional Jail. A man reported at 10:42 p.m. Wednesday in the 400 block of Fresno Street that four strangers assaulted him at his house. An incident report states the man was taken to Laredo Medical Center.
CRIMINAL TRESPASS Deputies conducted a traffic stop Jan. 26 at 11:09 p.m. at 23rd Avenue and U.S. 83. There, authorities served Roberto Holguin with a criminal trespass warrant. He was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT Carlos Javier Sanchez Jr. was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after a fight in pro-
gress was reported at 12:22 a.m. Jan. 26 at Seventh and Miraflores streets. The man was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail. Simon Alberto Martinez was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct at about 5:45 a.m. Jan. 26 in the 1400 block of Ramireño Avenue. The man was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail.
HIT AND RUN A woman reported at 5:22 p.m. Tuesday at Lowe’s at 10th Street and U.S. 83 that another vehicle struck hers in the store’s parking lot.
MINOR IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL Rogelio de Jesus Huerta was arrested and charged with minor in possession of alcohol at about 12:45 a.m. Jan. 29 at 23rd Avenue and Glenn Street. The man was taken to Zapata Regional Jail.
POSSESSION Deputies arrested Jose Armando Lara Jr. and Estela Sanchez after a search warrant executed late Jan. 26 in the 100 block of Kens Way in Rhoda Maria Estates. An incident report states the peo-
ple were found in possession of cocaine. They were charged with possession of a controlled substance and taken to the county jail. Mario Alberto Martinez and Hector Abel Solis were arrested after a traffic stop at Seventh Street and Villa Avenue in the Medina Addition at about 12:30 a.m. Jan. 29. Both are facing charges of possession of marijuana. They were taken to the Zapata Regional Jail. Deputies arrested Roel Ramirez for possession of a controlled substance at about 2:15 a.m. Tuesday at 16th Street and Villa Avenue. He was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail.
PUBLIC INTOXICATION Servando Rafael Garcia was arrested and charged with public intoxication at about 3:30 a.m. Jan 27 at 10th Street and Roma Avenue in the Medina Addition. He was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail. Jose Angel Ceja was arrested and charged with public intoxication at about 3:45 a.m. Jan. 29 near the Aqua Bar off of South U.S. 83. An incident report states Ceja was found intoxicated outside the establishment after it was closed. He was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail.
Courtesy photo
The fifth annual Sporting Clay Tournament & Cook-off on Jan. 28 raised more than $100,000 for the Zapata Boys & Girls Club. The tournament attracted shooters from as far as Tennessee.
Tourney raises $100K for Boys & Girls Club SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The fifth annual Sporting Clay Tournament & Cook-off on Jan. 28 in support of the Zapata Boys & Girls Club raised more than $100,000, the largest single-event amount raised in the event’s history. Four hundred residents, along with businesses and community volunteers, participated. This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Boys & Girls Club of Zapata, and accounts for more than half of the year’s budget. The main sponsor of the event was IBC Bank-Zapata. The event took place at bank president Ricardo Ramirez’s ranch.
Ramirez and Mark Alvarenga, vice-president of sales, serve as president and vice president of the Zapata Boys & Girls Club; together they created the concept for the event in 2007. Bank employees serve as volunteers, running the stations on the sporting clay course and helping with event registration. Other sponsors who volunteered and contributed to the event’s success included Texas Energy, CC Forbes, US Liquids of Louisiana, Wolverine Construction and R&P Ramirez. “It’s amazing to see how the event continues to grow in both the amount of money raised and the great sup-
port from the community,” Ramirez said. “The more than $100,000 raised at this year’s event will go to defray the cost of running the club that provides services to more than 400 registered children of all ages from Zapata County.” The clay tournament attracts shooters from as far as Tennessee, who shoot a 12-station sporting clay course of 100 clay targets with 12-gauge or smaller shotguns. This year, 31 five-member teams competed for a $1,500 first prize. Seven cook-off teams competed to prepare the best fajitas, whole chicken, pork ribs, “pan de campo” and beans.
Zfrontera
SÁBADO 4 DE FEBRERO DE 2012
Agenda en Breve NUEVO LAREDO 02/04 — Colectivo La Aurora y Gorguz Teatro presentan “El Prólogo” a las 7 p.m. en el Acervo de Estación Palabra. Para adolescentes y adultos. Texto y dirección de Eduardo Guardado; actuaciones de Benjamín Cruz-Grande y Eduardo Guardado. 02/04 — Expresión/Express presenta la obra “Lilith Vs Eva” y “Asmodeo Vs Adán” de Lorena Illoldi y Miguel Cedano, respectivamente, a partir de las 7 p.m. en el Teatro Lucio Blanco de la Casa de la Cultura. Entrada gratuita. 02/05 — Expresión presenta la obra “Mi viuda ya no me llora” de Román Sarmentero, a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro Lucio Blanco de la Casa de la Cultura. Entrada gratuita. 02/09 — Epidauro Teatro presenta “Homenaje a Tomás Urtuástegui” (obras cortas) a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro Lucio Blanco de la Casa de la Cultura. Entrada gratuita. 02/10 — Escritorios Poéticos presenta “Actividad de Paralibro” en Paseo Reforma a las 4 p.m. Entrada gratuita. 02/10 — Museo Reyes Meza invita a la inauguración de “Campo Unificado: La Frontera” de Beatriz Ezban, a las 6 p.m. 02/10 — Teatropólis, UAT presentan “El Vigía” de Román Sarmentero a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro Lucio Blanco de la Casa de la Cultura. Entrada gratuita.
SECRETARÍA DE SALUD DESCARTA MUERTE POR A-H1N1
Todo está bajo control TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CD. VICTORIA, México — En Tamaulipas se han presentado 16 casos de influenza estacional esta temporada, y la Secretaría de Salud de Tamaulipas (SST) negó la muerte de una persona debido a la Influenza A-H1N1. Esta semana, se confirmó la positividad de tres nuevos casos de influenza estacional en las jurisdicciones sanitarias de Reynosa, Padilla y Tampico. El Secretario de Salud,
“
La influenza estacional está bajo control epidemiológico, con una transmisión restringida, focalizada y desacelerada”. NORBERTO TREVIÑO GARCÍA-MANZO, SECRETARIO DE SALUD
Norberto Treviño GarcíaManzo, explicó que la distribución de casos por jurisdicción sanitaria es el siguiente: Reynosa, 6 casos con una defunción;
Nuevo Laredo, 3 casos; Valle Hermoso, 2 casos (localizados en el municipio de Rio Bravo); Victoria, 2 casos; Tampico, 2 casos; y Padilla, 1 caso confirma-
do. Treviño aclaró que la persona de sexo masculino de 34 años de edad que falleció en el Hospital General de Reynosa el 31 de en-
ero, fue debido a neumonía y no por el virus del A-H1N1. “Tanto las muestras positivas como la negativa, fueron analizadas y confirmadas por el Laboratorio Estatal de Salud Pública”, sostuvo. Concluyó diciendo que la influenza estacional está bajo control epidemiológico, con una transmisión restringida, focalizada y desacelerada, “sin generar brotes epidémicos, ni alerta, ni emergencia sanitaria”.
DEPORTES
ZAPATA
CIFRA RÉCORD
Revelan nombre persona ahogada POR CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
LAREDO 02/04 — El Festival de Música y Danza para la Juventud de la WBCA es de 2 p.m. a 5 p.m. en el Auditorio del Centro Cívico de Laredo. Entrada gratuita. 02/04 — Hoy es el primer Festival Fronterizo de la Cerveza (Border Beer Fest) en la Laredo International Fair & Exposition Pavillion, sobre US Hwy. 59, de 6 p.m. a 11 p.m. Costo: 25 dólares en preventa y 35 dólares en la puerta; conductores designados pagan 10 dólares. 02/04 — La 17ma. Gala de Danza Anual “Noche de Cabaret” del Concilio Lulac No. 7 es hoy de 7 p.m. a 1 a.m. en el Laredo Civic Center Ballroom. Costo: 20 dólares por persona. 02/04 — Gala para la Cata de Vino del Boys & Girls Club de Laredo a las 7 p.m. en Laredo Country Club. Mesas para 10 personas entre 2.500 a 5.000 dólares. 02/04 — Hockey: Laredo Bucks recibe a Wichita Thunder a las 7:30 p.m. en Laredo Energy Arena. 02/04 — LTGI y TAMIU presentan “Macbeth” en el teatro del CFPA de TAMIU a las 8 p.m. Costo: 15 dólares general y 10 dólares para estudiantes. Otra función el 5 de febrero a las 3 p.m.; y el 9 y 10 de febrero a las 8 p.m. 02/07 — “Taste of Laredo” (evento de la WBCA) en Laredo Energy Arena a partir de las 7 p.m. Costo: adultos 22 dólares; niños de 12 años y menores por 12 dólares. 02/07 — American Historical Theatre presenta George Washington, en una presentación a cargo de Union Paciifc Railroad a las 7 p.m. en el Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Entrada gratuita. 02/09 — Inicia el Carnaval de la WBCA en el estacionamiento de Laredo Energy Arena. Puertas abren a las 5 p.m. entre semana; fines de semana puertas abren a las 12 p.m. Costo: 2 dólares. Boletos de preventa a 7 dólares en las escuelas y en el kiosko del Mall del Norte.
PÁGINA 7A
Foto de cortesía | KGBTexas.communications
Participantes que compitieron por el primer lugar del Torneo de Tiro de Zapata son, de izquierda a derecha: Chad Cooley, primer lugar; Andrew Clabough, cuarto lugar; Hank Shaper, segundo lugar; Danny Webb, tercer lugar.
Torneo de tiro recauda fondos para Boys & Girls Club de Zapata ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Z
APATA, Texas – El quinto torneo anual de tiro deportivo y cocina celebrado el 28 de enero en apoyo del Zapata Boys & Girls Club recaudó más de 100.000 dólares, que se traduce en la mayor cantidad total recaudada en la historia del evento. El torneo constó de un curso de 12 estaciones de tiro, de 100 objetivos con rifles calibre-12 (o más pequeños). Este año, 31 equipos de cinco integrantes compitieron por un premio de 1.500 dólares al primer lugar. Siete equipos compitieron para preparar la mejor fajita, pollo entero, costillas de puerco, “pan de campo” y frijoles. Alrededor de 400 residentes locales, junto con
empresarios y voluntarios, se unieron para apoyar a la organización. Este es el evento para recaudar fondos más grande del año para el Boys & Girls Club of Zapata, y le sostiene más de la mitad del presupuesto del año. El principal patrocinador del evento fue el Banco IBC-Zapata y se llevó a cabo en el rancho del Presidente del banco, Ricardo Ramírez. “Es maravilloso ver cómo el evento sigue creciendo tanto en cantidad recaudada de dinero como en el gran apoyo de la comunidad”, dijo Ramírez. Otros patrocinadores fueron: Texas Energy, CC Forbes, US Liquids of Louisiana, Wolverine Construction, y R&P Ramirez. El Zapata Boys & Girls Club otorga servicio a más de 400 niños registrados.
FRONTERA
Sedena captura a 42 personas TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
En la última semana de enero, militares de la Zona Octava, que incluye desde Nuevo Laredo a Matamoros, México, arrestaron a 42 hombres que aseguran son miembros de la delincuencia organizada. Además confiscaron 7.3 toneladas de marihuana y 9,681 kilos de cocaína. También fueron aseguradas
189 armas de asalto (incluidas unas del tipo AK-47), pistolas de 49mm; 13,205 cartuchos y 459 cargadores. Los 42 sospechosos fueron puestos a disposición de la Subprocuraduría de Investigación Especializada en Delincuencia Organizada (SIEDO), para continuar con investigaciones a cargo de la Procuraduría General de la Republica (PGR).
La Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena) además agrega que adicionalmente aseguraron más de 60,000 dosis de marihuana y cocaína. El reporte no indica el peso total de la droga dividida en dosis. “Los delincuentes cuentan con armas poderosas y granadas de fragmentación, así como camiones cisterna donde transportan gasolina”, indica el comunicado de Sedena.
El hombre que fue encontrado flotando en el Lago Falcon hace un par de semanas murió ahogado, confirmó la Juez de Paz del Precinto 2 del Condado de Zapata, Juana María Gutiérrez. El jueves por la tarde, Gutiérrez identificó al hombre como José Alberto Vásquez García, de 41 años de edad, de México. La vocera del Consulado de México en Laredo, Ana Laura Benavides, dijo que oficiales del consulado siguen tratando de dar con familiares de la víctima. De acuerdo al Alguacil del Condado de Zapata, Sigifredo González Jr., oficiales encontraron una tarjeta de identificación de Nuevo Laredo, México, en el hombre.
El caso El 24 de enero, la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado de Zapara recibió una llamada reportando un cuerpo flotando a unas 4 millas río arriba de Beacon Lodge. Guardabosques asistieron a oficiales hacia la orilla del lago a las 4:45 p.m. A las 4:50 p.m., Gutiérrez pronunció muerto al hombre. La autopsia se realizó a través de la Médico Forense del Condado de Webb, Dr. Corinne Stern. Tras recibir reportes de Stern, Gutiérrez dijo que el hombre se había ahogado. Un día después que el cuerpo de Vásquez García fuera encontrado, González dijo a The Zapata Times que el cuerpo no mostraba señales de ser un acto criminal. El cuerpo de Vásquez García es el segundo en ser recuperado del lago desde diciembre 29, cuando un pescador profesional escribió en su página de Facebook que había encontrado restos humanos en aguas mexicanas del Lago Falcón, al norte de San Ygnacio. Al principio, las personas creían que podían ser los restos de David Hartley, un esquiador baleado por miembros del cartel, mientras visitaba Guerrero Viejo hace más de un año. Días después, autoridades mexicanas aclararon que los restos no eran los de Hartley. (Localice a César G. Rodriguez en el 728-2568 o en cesar@lmtonline.com)
SEGURIDAD
Procuraduría lanza alerta ante extorsiones TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
La Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado (PGJE) fortaleció su programa para alertar a los ciudadanos acerca de extorsiones telefónicas y secuestros. Una característica es que las extorsiones telefónicas generalmente se realizan desde ciudades fuera de Tamaulipas. El procedimiento, dijo la PGJE, por lo regular es el siguiente: Los delincuentes llaman al teléfono de la víctima (especialmente celulares) y dicen que la tienen vigilada, al igual que a sus famil-
iares; luego la obliga a viajar a otros lugares y hospedarse en determinado hotel, donde estarán bajo vigilancia. Los victimarios también advierten que por ninguna circunstancia deberán comunicarse con sus familiares, ya que también ellos están vigilados y pueden atentar contra sus vidas. Los delincuentes se comunican con los familiares de las víctimas y les exigen el pago de determinada cantidad de dinero, que deberá ser depositada en cuentas bancarias, previamente seleccionadas. Entonces obligan a la víctima,
ya en calidad de secuestrada en un hotel, a mantenerse incomunicadas. A los familiares les urgen a realizar el depósito bancario para dejarlas en libertad.
Recomendaciones Debido a que ésta es la manera de operar, la PGJE está recomendado lo siguiente: Cuelgue de inmediato cuando reciba una llamada intimidatoria o amenazadora. Llame inmediatamente al 066. No responda una nueva lla-
mada ni mucho menos proporcione información, hasta que entre en contacto con la autoridad correspondiente. Comunicarse con familiares para alértalos, por si recibieran alguna llamada pidiendo rescate. Evite proporcionar números a desconocidos. La PGJE sostuvo que aunque en este tipo de casos la personal que recibe la llamada telefónica no tiene contacto con el delincuente, ni sufre daño físico alguno, el sentimiento por lo regular es psicológico, por lo que la víctima debe evitar caer en pánico.
State
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012
Former executive: bank’s profits faked By JUAN A. LOZANO ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Texas financier R. Allen Stanford helped fake profits for his Caribbean bank and funnel millions of depositors’ dollars to a secret Swiss bank account used for personal expenses, bribes to regulators and employee bonuses, the man who was in charge of the tycoon’s books told jurors Friday. James M. Davis, the former chief financial officer for Stanford’s companies, testified the financier’s bank never reported an unprofitable year because he and Stanford fabricated figures for annual reports and other documents. Prosecutors claim Stanford bilked investors out of more than $7 billion in a massive Ponzi scheme centered on the sales of certificates of deposit, or CDs, from the bank on the island nation of Antigua. Davis, 63, said the false numbers were meant to hide the fraud and show CDs purchased by investors were doing well and the bank itself was on solid financial footing. “Was Stanford uncomfortable with reporting too high a (profit) number?” prosecutor William Stellmach asked Davis, the prosecution’s star witness. “No,” Davis said before a packed courtroom that included Stanford’s mother, one of his daughters and two of the financier’s exemployees — Gilberto Lopez and Mark Kuhrt — who have also been indicted and are free on bond as they await trial in September. Authorities allege Stanford used depositors’ money to operate his businesses and pay for his lavish lifestyle and bribes to regulators and auditors. They also say he lied to depositors by telling them their money was being safely invested. Stanford’s attorneys contend the financier was a savvy businessman whose financial empire, headquartered in Houston, was legitimate. They have suggested Davis, who worked 21 years for Stanford, is behind the fraud. Stanford is on trial for
Photo by Eric Gay | AP
Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, is sworn in at the 82nd Texas Legislature in Austin, on Jan. 11. Peña, who changed parties, opted against re-election due to ever-shifting political boundaries.
Photo by Mayra Beltran | AP
Attorney David Finn and James Davis, former chief financial officer of Stanford International Bank Ltd., leave court Thursday in Houston. Prosecutors allege financier R. Allen Stanford masterminded a fraud in which he bilked investors out of more than $7 billion. 14 counts, including mail and wire fraud, and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Davis said while the bank never reported an unprofitable year, it did have to report at least one unprofitable quarter to keep up the charade: the third quarter of 2001 when the 9/ 11 terrorist attacks happened. “It would have been unreasonable to report a profit when world markets collapsed,” he said. Davis also testified Stanford transferred CD deposits to a secret Swiss bank account the financier had with Societe Generale. He said Stanford used the money for “real estate purchases, paying for personal expenses, beginning another company.” Davis also said Stanford had him transfer some money from the Swiss account to accounts the financier had in Houston and back to Antigua, where bribes of at least $10,000 to $15,000 were paid every three months to the top regulator on the island nation who oversaw the financier’s bank. Some of the money from the secret account was used to pay employee bonuses, he said. The Antigua regulator, Leroy King, helped tip the financier off in 2005 when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission began investigating the CD pro-
gram, Davis said. Stanford help write the response King sent back to the SEC in 2006 saying his agency had found nothing wrong at the bank, he said. King has also been indicted in the case and is awaiting extradition to the U.S. Davis testified funds from the Swiss account were also used to regularly bribe Stanford’s outside auditor, C.A.S. Hewlett, who was based in Antigua, with amounts as high as $180,000. Davis said Stanford considered Hewlett “greedy” but “indispensable” to hiding the fraud. Stanford worried about Hewlett’s health and even brought him to Houston for a physical exam, he said. When Hewlett died in January 2009, Stanford said “he was the lucky one,” Davis told jurors. Authorities took over Stanford’s companies the following month. Davis pleaded guilty to three fraud and conspiracy charges in 2009 as part of a deal he made with prosecutors in exchange for a possible reduced sentence. His testimony, which started Thursday, is scheduled to continue Monday. Stanford was once considered one of the United States’ wealthiest people, with an estimated net worth of more than $2 billion. He’s been jailed without bond since being indicted in 2009.
32,000 ed jobs lost in cuts By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — An estimated 32,000 Texas school employees, 12,000 of them teachers, already have lost their jobs due to $5.4 billion in education cuts the state Legislature imposed, a school advocacy group said last week, and said more layoffs are likely on the way. The Texas State Teachers Association wants Gov. Rick Perry to call a special legislative session to tap the state’s $7.3 billion rainy-day fund and fill education funding gaps, something the GOP-dominated Legislature refused to do last summer. Perry, his eye then on an ultimately unsuccessful run for the Republican presidential nomination, also opposed using the fund. “It’s time to stop the bleeding and stop the cuts now,” association president Rita Haecker said at Wednesday’s news conference. She said lawmakers could draw $2.5 billion from the fund just for education next year. Her group is distributing petitions statewide urging a special session. The Legislature isn’t scheduled to reconvene until 2013, and Perry spokeswoman Allison Castle said Wednesday that, “there are no plans to call a special session on this or any other issue.” Haecker quoted job-loss estimates from Moak, Casey & Associates, a school finance consulting
firm. The firm also estimates that more than 8,200 elementary school classes in Texas are now larger than the 22-student maximum state law allows. Elementary schools can seek waivers to exceed the classsize limit, and many have done so. The exact number of education jobs that have been lost won’t be clear until March, when the Texas Education Agency releases its employment data. The Legislature cut $4 billion over the next two years in funding for school districts — the first decrease in per-student spending in Texas since World War II. Lawmakers
also cut $1.4 billion in grants for education programs. This school year, districts saw about a 6 percent cut across the board. Next year, there will be a $2 billion reduction that affects some schools more than others. Haecker said districts will soon begin devising next year’s budget, promising more job cuts. More than 500 school districts encompassing about 3.3 million students have filed lawsuits against the state, charging that the Legislature violated Texas constitutional guarantees on education funding — but those cases will likely mean years of litigation.
Elections in limbo over redistricting case By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN ANTONIO — The once-a-decade fight over political boundaries in Texas has been so frenetic that a Democrat who bolted for the GOP saw his state House district redrawn solidly blue, opted against re-election, then got new hope from the U.S. Supreme Court that it might go red again. And amid all the confusion, a deadline of Monday looms for some kind of redistricting compromise. Aaron Peña’s situation epitomizes a legal clash driven by new census numbers that show a burgeoning Hispanic population in Texas. The stakes are unusually high because the nation’s second-largest state is adding four congressional seats — and the way they’re divvyed up could be pivotal in determining which party controls the U.S. House. The GOP-dominated Legislature got the first crack at drawing new maps for Congress and the Statehouse. But now the matter is being hashed out in federal courtrooms in San Antonio and Washington, D.C., because Texas is one of the states required to prove to the U.S. government that its election changes don’t discriminate against minorities. The U.S. Supreme Court has already weighed in. The state and a coalition of minority groups have until Monday to compromise on temporary maps, or see the April 3 Texas primaries pushed possibly into May or even later. That would likely strip away any influence Texas might have had in selecting the Republican nominee for president. “Something needs to happen,” said Peña, who represented his House district along the U.S.-Mexico border for a decade as a Democrat before switching parties last year. “We need certainty.” Peña’s district became a Democratic stronghold under a court ruling, but then the U.S. Supreme Court signaled not enough deference was shown to the maps drawn by Republicans in the Legislature. If the district is changed again, that could cause Peña to seek re-election after all. But even if there’s a temporary deal by Monday, it’s no quick-fix. Millions of voter registrations need to be mailed, candidates still have campaigns to launch, and political action committees must quickly decide where to spend. It’s the fourth straight decade that Texas’ redistricting plans have been hotly contested in court. In 2003, dozens of Texas Democrats famously fled the state and camped out at a Holiday Inn in Oklahoma to prevent passage of a Republicandrawn map. Furious GOP leaders wanted the FBI to track them down. While there have been no similar theatrics, plenty is on the line. Texas’ gain in congressional seats is twice as large as any other state’s, and those gains were largely driven by nearly 3 million new Hispanic residents. Minority groups accused the GOP-controlled Legislature of ignoring those gains and illegally dilut-
ing their voting power. Another wrinkle is getting the minority coalition suing the state — some nine separate plaintiffs — to agree on the same map. On Friday, several Texas congressional members sent Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott a letter warning the state that all the parties need to agree on any deal or risk another court challenge. While a San Antonio federal court tries to settle on a primary date, another federal court in Washington announced this week that a separate issue over whether the maps violate the Voting Rights Act won’t be decided for at least a month. That further dampened the likelihood of an April 3 primary and set off a fresh round of groans around the state. The influential Texas Farm Bureau, which spent more than $650,000 on races in 2010, may endorse far fewer candidates than normal this year because of the little time to screen candidates, said Jim Sartwelle, the organization’s director of public policy. “We’re in complete chaos right now,” Sartwelle said. “We’re at a total standstill.” So are election workers. Minority groups have paraded elections administrators from the state’s largest counties into federal court to testify about the daunting task of organizing a primary on only weeks’ notice. Millions of voter registration cards tailored to the new map would have to be mailed, and workers would need to go street-by-street to check precinct numbers and program thousands of ballots. Elections workers statewide want 12 weeks’ notice before a primary but are more likely to only get six or seven, said Jackie Callanen, the Bexar County elections administrator in San Antonio. More than a quarter of the 875,000 registered voters there will be moved into new subgroups or precincts, she said. Those preparations will be made even tougher — and more costly — if Texas settles on a split primary: one for the presidential nomination and the other for the rest of the ballot. The Texas Democratic Party submitted in a filing this week that it wouldn’t oppose a split primary if the state picked up the tab. Larger counties around Dallas and San Antonio say those costs would exceed $1 million. Officials from smaller, cash-strapped rural counties have testified they might have to lay off employees to cover the costs of holding split elections. “The workload on this just feels monumental,” Callanen said. “We’ve never had such a tight turnaround.” With the entire state stuck in political purgatory, even frustrated Democrats are borrowing tactics from Republican Gov. Rick Perry — a former presidential contender — in hopes of a final fix. Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis urged Texans this week to do what Perry proclaimed when the state was gripped by drought last year. He asked them to pray.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
2nd teacher arrested By ROBERT JABLON ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Jeremy Papasso/The Daily Camera | AP
University of Colorado freshman Tucker Brumley grinds a rail Friday, at New Vista High School in Boulder, Colo. A powerful winter storm swept across Colorado on Friday as it headed east.
Heavy snow hits Colo. By STEVEN K. PAULSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER — The most powerful storm of the winter season pounded Colorado and parts of neighboring states on Friday, creating whiteout conditions on the eastern plains, cancelling more than 600 flights in Denver and closing hundreds of miles of highway between major Colorado cities and the Kansas border. Snow piled up to 6 feet on Rocky Mountain foothills — and it was a welcome boost to several ski resorts that have suffered below-average snowfall this season. But while Echo Mountain and other resorts close to Denver celebrated up to 40 inches of powder, the storm only dusted larger resorts, like Vail, with a few inches in Colorado’s Rockies. “It’s been fantastic,” said Scott Gales, a spokesman for Echo Mountain, about 25 miles west of Denver. “We only had about 26 or 27 inches this morning. Now we’re over
40 and it’s still snowing at the rate of an inch or two an hour.” The Colorado Avalanche Information Center issued warnings for slopes east of the Continental Divide until noon Saturday, saying 2 feet or more of new snow could easily overrun the weak, existing snow pack. Blizzard conditions hit Colorado’s eastern plains, with 5-foot drifts in parts of Elbert County. Severe weather struck parts of southeast Wyoming, western Kansas and Nebraska, where a band of heavy snow stalled, dumping nearly 13 inches in some spots. Icy snow made driving difficult as far south as New Mexico. A winter storm warning remained in effect for a broad swath of the western and central plains from northeastern Colorado, across most of Nebraska and into southeastern Iowa. A blizzard warning was lifted in Colorado but remained for four counties in western Nebraska.
Snow was still falling Friday night, with another 2 to 4 inches expected in Denver and northeastern Colorado. It was expected to taper off by Saturday as the storm moved east. Earlier Friday, near-zero visibility forced officials to close all 160 miles of westbound Interstate 70 between the Kansas state line and Denver. A 70-mile stretch of eastbound I-70 from Denver to the plains town of Limon also was closed. Highway officials said the freeway would likely remain closed overnight Friday. Parts of I-70 were down to one lane west of Denver, and chain laws were in effect throughout the mountains. Major state highways stretching eastward from Denver, Colorado Springs and other front-range cities also were closed because of blizzard conditions in the plains counties of Kit Carson, Elbert, Lincoln, Cheyenne and El Paso. The closures were expected to remain until Saturday.
LOS ANGELES — A second teacher at an inner-city elementary school where a teacher is accused of committing lewd acts on 23 children was arrested Friday on suspicion of fondling two girls in his classroom. Los Angeles County sheriff ’s Capt. Mike Parker said Martin B. Springer, 49, of Alhambra was arrested four days after allegations surfaced against the first teacher, but there was no known connection between the two cases. Springer was being held on $2 million bail. The expanding case has shocked the nation and thrown a chill into its second-largest school district, with 650,000 students across hundreds of campuses. Parker said the victims in the second case were about 7 and 8 years old and were fondled once each in a classroom at Miramonte Elementary School during the past three years. Detectives interviewed Springer and the alleged victims on Thursday and had him under surveillance. He was arrested Friday as he exited a school district building in South Los Angeles, Parker said. Detectives anticipate that more victims might come forward, he said. A phone message left at Springer’s home was not immediately returned. Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy said the district plans to fire Springer next week. “We are prepared to fire him next week and we’ll do that at the next board meeting for inappropriate conduct and inappropriately touching students,” the superintendent told KTTV. In a related development,
Photos by Damian Dovarganes | AP
Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. John Babbit speaks to the media outside the Miramonte Elementary School in Los Angeles on Friday. A second teacher pulled from a classroom at Miramonte Elementary School this week was arrested Friday. a lawyer filed a claim against the district stating that he intended to file a lawsuit alleging an unidentified girl ate a sugar cookie laced with the semen of the first teacher arrested, Mark Berndt. Earlier this week, Berndt, who worked at the school for 32 years, was charged with committing lewd acts on 23 children, ages 6 to 10, between 2005 and 2010. He remains jailed on $23 million bail and could face life in prison if convicted. Lawyer Raymond Boucher, whose Beverly Hills firm specializes in sexual abuse lawsuits against school districts, religious institutions and hospitals, said the legal claim of behalf of “Jane Doe 1” alleges the district did not take adequate steps to prevent Berndt from repeatedly abusing children after officials received complaints about him. After news broke early Friday about Springer being removed from the classroom, several parents took their children out of the school. Ida Santana said her sister called her and told her to pick up her nephew. “It’s hard to leave our
kids here,” Santana said. “We can’t trust the teachers no more. Now there’s another teacher.” The development involving the second teacher was made public a day after authorities acknowledged that 18 years ago, a 10-yearold girl claimed Berndt tried to fondle her. Prosecutors declined to file charges against Berndt in the 1993 report, saying they didn’t have enough evidence. Berndt, who denied the allegation at the time, was never arrested. The details of that case and other claims by two former students about strange behavior by Berndt surfaced just three days after his arrest. The allegations raised further questions about why he wasn’t disciplined by school officials, who have been lambasted by some parents for waiting a year to reveal that Berndt was suspected of blindfolding children and feeding them his own semen in his classroom in what children were allegedly told was a tasting game. School officials and investigators said proper procedures were followed to investigate and build a case against the teacher.
NM drug trafficking ring linked to Sinaloa cartel By RUSSELL CONTRERAS ASSOCIATED PRESS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Members of a major drug trafficking and money laundering Albuquerque organization recently named in an indictment had connections to the deadly Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico, federal officials said Friday. Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Keith Brown said that the 15 men named in a 29count federal indictment unsealed last week worked as a large-scale marijuana and cocaine distributor for the violent cartel. “This was a huge organization that had a lot of im-
pact on drug sales in Albuquerque,” said Brown. “These organizations are what feed the cartels.” The indictment stems from a multi-agency, ninemonth investigation into the major criminal empire that federal officials said also operated in parts of Texas and Florida. According to the indictment, the 15 men were part of a group that distributed cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana between May 2011 and January. But Brown said authorities believe it had been operating for several years. Last week, a team of federal and local authorities arrested most of the men named in the indictment
and executed 10 search warrants at Albuquerque residences and a ranch in Edgewood. Authorities said they seized 26 kilograms of cocaine, 500 pounds of marijuana and $165,000 in cash. “The charges in this indictment are some of the most significant drug and money laundering charges ever filed in the District of New Mexico,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth Gonzales. Brown said authorities believe the group was responsible for bringing in hundreds of kilos of cocaine and thousands of pounds of marijuana and the bust “hurts the cartels where it counts.” Federal authorities said some of the men bought
eight race horses and may have used them to hide their business dealings. Of the 15 named in the indictment, federal officials said two remained at large. Among those arrested were Steve Chavez, 32, a firefighter with the Albuquerque Fire Department, and Homero Varela, 29, who authorities say was the leader of the group. Authorities said Chavez tried to hide more than $100,000 from various drug sales by depositing and withdrawing cash in Bank of America and Wells Fargo banks in New Mexico and Tampa, Fla. A federal judge denied bond this week to Chavez, who authorities also said
told investigators that he spied on federal drug agents. Chavez’ attorney, Jason Bowles, called the spying accusations false and said authorities didn’t seize any large amounts of money on Chavez or any amount of drugs. Varela turned himself into authorities shortly after last week’s announcement. Brown said authorities were able to link the Albuquerque group to a member of the Sinaloa cartel through surveillance of cellphone conversations. The Sinaloa cartel headed by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, is considered Mexico’s most powerful trafficking organization.
Guzman is Mexico’s most wanted man and had been called by U.S. authorities the “world’s most powerful drug trafficker.” Guzman, 54, keeps authorities running with the support of many locals in his home in northwestern Sinaloa state, where he reportedly uses his wealth to help the poor and his drugtrafficking business to keep many employed. He is thought to be hiding out in the mountains of the “Golden Triangle” straddling Sinaloa and Durango states — territory so remote and lawless that housewives grow opium poppies for decoration and it can take police hours to reach the scene of shootings.
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012
Snow traps Serbians By DUSAN STOJANOVIC AND MONIKA SCISLOWSKA ASSOCIATED PRESS
BELGRADE, Serbia — At least 11,000 villagers have been trapped by heavy snow and blizzards in Serbia’s mountains, authorities said Thursday, as the death toll from Eastern Europe’s weeklong deep freeze rose to 122, many of them homeless people. The harshest winter in decades has seen temperatures in some regions dropping to minus minus 22 F and below, and has caused power outages, traffic chaos and the widespread closure of schools, nurseries and airports. The stranded in Serbia are stuck in some 6,500 homes in remote areas that cannot be reached due to icy, snow-clogged roads with banks reaching up to 16 feet. Emergency crews were pressing hard to try to clear the snow to deliver badly needed supplies. On Bosnia’s Mt. Romanija, near Sarajevo, a chopper thumped down in the small hamlet of Ozerkovici, where a single nun lives in a Serb Christian Orthodox monastery surrounded by just a few village residents. Wrapped tight in a black jacket and a scarf, Sister Justina greeted aid work-
ers at her monastery: “I live alone here,” she said. “God will help me.” In Serbia, relief efforts are concentrated on evacuating the sick, on food delivery and gasoline distribution. “We are trying everything to unblock the roads since more snow and blizzards are expected in the coming days,” Serbian emergency police official Predrag Maric told The Associated Press. He said “the most dramatic” situation is near Serbia’s southwestern town of Sijenica, where it has been freezing cold or snowing for 26 days, and diesel fuel supplies used by snowplows are running low. Most people in the villages will have enough food supplies stored up for the winter, Maric said, but he warned those who are stranded not to try to go anywhere on their own and to call emergency services if they need help. Newly reported deaths on Thursday because of the cold included 20 in Ukraine, nine in Poland, eight in Romania, and one more each in Serbia and the Czech Republic. In Western Europe, one person was reported dead in Germany. Polish government spokeswoman Malgorzata
Wozniak said her country’s victims were mostly homeless people under the influence of alcohol who had sought shelter in unheated buildings. Officials appealed to the public to quickly help anyone they saw in need and homeless shelters were full. In Warsaw, where the temperature Wednesday night was minus 8 F, the corridors of the Monar homeless shelter were filled with drying washing, and the residents crammed into a small dining room with bowls of soup. Martyna, pregnant and unemployed, said she was grateful to find a place there after her family rejected her and her partner. “This is the only safe place for me, where I can live and hide — from this sudden cold, too,” the 22year-old said. Brothers Robert, 32, and Wieslaw, 27, arrived last week from Inowroclaw, in central Poland, saying they were promised full-time jobs that never materialized. They would have been left in the cold, but someone told them to go to the center, which currently houses 278 people. “We don’t have to worry anymore where we will spend the night,” said Wieslaw.
OILFIELD Continued from Page 1A birding, hunting, fishing and hiking central to the area’s economy, which has relied in the past on the oil and gas industry. Zapata County has long been a destination for socalled winter Texans and other eco-tourists looking for the outdoors experience Zapata offers, especially in regards to fishing. So as drilling production diminishes in the Zapata area, the county has planned a transition from an economy that relies on
oil and gas production to one whose focal point is the outdoors and the people it attracts to the area, Uribe said. “The county is recognizing it has a role to play in creating a good environment for its residents and its guests,” he said. “With all of those elements in play, the Commissioner’s Court, when faced with the possibility that there would be expansion of a dump, notified me. They consulted with me, and together we
decided that it would be in the best interest to Zapata, its residents, its visitors and to the long-term future to oppose the expansion and permit.” For now the county and the residents of the historic San Ygnacio community await the Railroad Commission’s decision. If the decision doesn’t go their way, the county would likely appeal it, officials said. (JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2567 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Playoff bound Lady Hawks clinch postseason berth By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Lady Hawks sewed up a postseason berth with one game to spare. Zapata heads to the playoffs as the No. 2 seed behind District 32-3A champion La Feria, who clinched last Tuesday with a win over Rio Hondo. Zapata’s loss a week ago to Rio Hondo knocked the Lady Hawks out of contention for the district title. The Lady Hawks had a bye this past Tuesday, which might cost them. The competitive juices can be lost when taking a day off from the game. Coach Hector Garcia Jr. has been keeping his Lady Hawks busy, making sure they watch film and finish the regular season strong. “We (watch) the video on the game that we just played and the team we are about to play next,” Garcia said. “We break down video to see what is working and what we need to correct. We implemented it in practice
to see if the game plan works.” No one plays bigger than senior Shelby Bigler, who’s put up monstrous numbers. Bigler averages 18 points per district game, along with 14 rebounds . “Shelby has been playing well for us and is scoring and rebounding in double digits,” Garcia said. “She just works very hard in the game and has been a real asset to the team.”
Hawks On the boys side, the Hawks are 3-5 in district play and 6-20 overall. Against Rio Hondo, Zapata matched up well, giving the Bobcats a good game. “We played Rio Hondo this past Friday (Jan. 27) and played very well,” Zapata boys’ coach Juan Villarreal said. “We played them very close but got in foul trouble and lost 66-51.” Zapata played with an in-
See BASKETBALL PAGE 2B
Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Zapata Hawk Andy Gonzalez led the inexperienced Hawks through district, looking forward to next season.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
SWEET STROKE
Super Sunday is upon us T
he Super Bowl, the Mecca of the NFL, is tomorrow night and it cannot get here soon enough. I love the Super Bowl, and that is one thing that I look forward to on that holy Sunday to conclude the football season. Not even the glorified Pro Bowl gets me excited. I love everything about it: from the pre-game show, to the hanging out with my good friends, to the food that will be served. One thing I don’t do is pick a team … well, maybe I have a soft spot for the underdog, and this year I am leaning toward the New York Giants. Ironic, I am rooting for a team that is called the Giants, yet they are the underdogs, at least in my eyes. They are calling this Super Bowl the rematch after meeting a few years ago. When New York beat the previously unbeaten New England Patriots a few years ago, I was dancing on my couch for joy. The Patriots strolled in with their 18-0 record and were on the brink of making history, to become the second team in the NFL to go unbeaten and win a Super Bowl. The 1972 Miami Dolphins hold that distinction, and New England was poised to become the second team to accomplish it.
New England had Tom Brady, Mr. Handsome, and New York has Eli Manning, who looks more like Opie from “The Andy Griffith Show.” My goodness. Does Tom Brady have to be that handsome, with his chiseled chin and smoking eyes? It has gotten to the point where I despise him. To top it all off, he is even married to a supermodel, so you can add another X against Mr. Gorgeous. As you can tell, the Giants will be my team — and no, I will not wear any Giants gear, although I might wear a blue Abercromie shirt, but first I have to find it in the thing they call my closet. To top things off, for this Super Bowl, one of my favorite singers, Madonna, will be the halftime entertainment, something I am sure she is familiar with in other capacities. Madonna tops the list of musicians I would like to watch in a concert but have never had the opportunity to. I do enjoy just the atmosphere of the Super Bowl, but it’s the commercials that people can’t wait to see and talk about.
See SANDOVAL PAGE 2B
UIL DISTRICT REALIGNMENT
Hawks fly into realigned District 31-3A By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Zapata’s Trey Alvarez is the only returner with district-tournament experience on the youthful Hawks team.
Hawks set to hold court with youthful teams By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata tennis teams are young this year, returning only one player from last year that competed at the district tournament. Sophomore Trey Alvarez — the lone varsity returnee — will utilize his experience to bring along a young team. As a freshman, Alvarez reached the finals in the boys’ singles, before losing
to eventual district champion, La Feria’s Juan Rodriguez. Youth might scare some coaches, but not Zapata’s. The Hawk’s up-and-coming players — hailing from Zapata Middle — were the first players to start the tennis program at the middle school level. Currently, Zapata boasts 19 boys and 20 girls for the upcoming season, with mostly freshmen and sophomores making up the
teams. “Ordinarily if (I) have only one returning letterman in both the boys and girls teams, I would be looking at a long season, but, fortunately for me, this team is very talented,” Zapata coach Robert Alvarez said. “We have 19 boys and 20 girls on our roster. Our roster is made up mostly of freshmen and sophomores, but these kids have been playing since seventh grade when we first established
our middle school program.” Robert Alvarez brought along players at a slower pace, playing them at the junior varsity level and the ninth grade division to gain experience. The Hawks came away with the district title in the ninth grade division and junior varsity. The girls’ team was runner up in both categories.
See TENNIS PAGE 2B
D-Day — the day everyone across the state of Texas waited for — came and went Thursday when the University Interscholastic League announced its new bi-annual district realignments. Everyone held their breath when the new alignment lists were released at 9 a.m. in all classifications. Zapata has a new district to call home the next two years, as the Hawks move to District 31-3A, away from District 32-3A. “We knew that there was an outside chance that we would be going to the Coastal Bend,” Zapata head football coach and Athletic Director Mario Arce said. “This was just a surprise to us and La Grulla.” Zapata joins Kingsville, Rio Grande City La Grulla and welcomes back Lyford and Raymondville to form a fiveteam district. “This was a curve (ball) thrown at us,” Zapata volleyball coach Rosie Villarreal said. “We were not expecting that and we were hoping that
MARIO ARCE: Zapata football coach and Athletic Director they did not throw us in with the Corpus Christi district.” La Grulla, Lyford, Kingsville and Raymondville made the playoffs last year in football. The teams will test the Hawks. “This is going to be a tough district with Raymondville and Lyford added to the mix,” Arce said. “They have been the top teams in the (Rio Grande) Valley for the past six or seven years. And Kingsville has the majority of their kids coming back next year.” Despite the new district, Arce still has the same expectations for the entire boys’ and girls’ programs. “I like our chances in every sport,” he said. “Our goals are the same and they will not change — to go out there and win.” “We played some of these teams three years ago and we will hold our own again.” Zapata leaves their old
See DISTRICT PAGE 2B
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012
In the swing of things
Lady Hawks take to diamond
By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
With each passing week, the Zapata golf team puts its best swing forward when they hit the golf course. Last Saturday, the Hawks took to the UISD Invitational while the girls took a week off from competition. The Hawks were led by Tony Gutierrez, finishing in fourth place among some of the best players in District 29-5A. “He’s always up for tough challenges. This past weekend was no different,” Zapata coach Clyde Guerra Jr said. “A couple of mistakes on Saturday cost him a few strokes, but that makes him work harder for our next tourney.” The tournament boasted regional qualifiers — United senior Archie Ramos and Alexander junior Luke Begwin — but Gutierrez went toe-totoe with them, staying in the top four. Teammate Ricky Prado came in 23rd-place with a score of 95-97 for a two-day total of 192, and Ramiro Torres shot a 100-116-216 The team totaled 365 for the tournament. “We did ok. It was a tough two days of golf,” Guerra said. “The wind never let up.” Guerra likes the direction the team is taking with two tournaments under itsbelt and is excited about the future of Zapata golf. “We are headed in the right direction,” he said. “Our boys are playing in tough tournaments. This will only make them better as the season progresses.” The girls are currently playing at the UISD Tournament in Laredo, wrapping up today. The boys have the week off from competition. Individual results 1.Archie Ramos.............................United.............................74-74—148 2.Cline Jones ...............................United ...............................82-75—157 3.Luke Begwin ..........................Alexander ..........................83-74—157 4.Tony Gutierrez............................Zapata............................78-81—159 5.Jaime Hernandez .........................United .........................81-81—162 6.Pedro Arguindegui.................St. Augustine.................82-81—163 7.Brian Gates...............................United...............................81-83—164 8.Ben Lira ..................................United ..................................82-85—167 9.Connor Wilkinson .....................Alexander .....................90-82—172 10.Bob Contreras ...........................United ...........................87-86—173 11.Guillermo Aviles......................Alexander......................92-82—174 12.Erik Velasquez...........................United...........................86-91—177 13.Eddie Villareal............................Nixon............................93-89—182
By CLARA SANDOVAL
Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Zapata’s Ricky Prado sets up to tee off at the UISD Invitational at the Casa Blanca Golf Course in Laredo, where he finished 23rd. 14.Lupito Saenz .............................Nixon .............................92-91—183 15.Mario Tamez ............................United ............................89-95—184 15.Zachary Belcher .....................Alexander.....................97-87—184 17.Esteban Palacios.....................Alexander.....................87-98—185 18.Rene Rangel Jr. ......................Alexander ......................91-96—187 18.Gustavo Zavala .............................LBJ .............................88-99—187 20.Rocky Ortiz..............................United..............................89-99—188 21.Daniel Zavala ...............................LBJ ...............................93-96—189 22.Carlo Morales ....................St. Augustine ....................97-94—191 23.Ricky Prado .............................Zapata .............................95-97—192 23.Lucio Garcia..............................Nixon..............................93-99—192 25.Danny Preciado ..........................Nixon ..........................96-99—195 26.Marco Chaires...........................United...........................98-98—196 27.Memo Villareal..........................Nixon..........................91-107—198 28.Chris Mejia ......................St. Augustine ......................101-98—199 29.Oscar Rios.......................United South.......................104-96—200 30.Robert Guel .............................Nixon .............................98-106—204 31.Ivan Lopez ..............................Nixon ..............................98-108—206 32.Victor Padilla .............................LBJ .............................106-102—208 33.Victor Martinez.......................Cigarroa.......................116-94—210
34.Armando Velasquez ......................LBJ ......................103-108—211 35.Oscar Gonzalez..........................Nixon..........................98-114—212 36.Matt Stark.........................Alexander.........................107-106—213 37.Joey Lopez.........................Alexander.........................109-106—215 38.Ramiro Torres.........................Zapata.........................100-116—216 39.Matthew Cadena ..................Alexander ..................110-108—218 40.Christian Recio ......................Cigarroa ......................116-103—219 41.Mike Benavidez .....................Cigarroa .....................117-108—225 42.Isaac Castillo........................Cigarroa........................115-117—232 43.Juan Capetillo.........................Martin.........................116-121—237 44.Ruben Garza.......................Alexander.......................117-122—239 45.Angel Moran....................United South....................125-119—244 46.Joseph Salazar..............................................................126-121—247 47.Arturo Flores ................................ ................................123-126—249 48.Joey Blanquez.........................Martin.........................126-126—252 49.Ricky Olivares.........................Martin.........................131-127—258 50.Martin Davila..........................Martin..........................134-130—264 51.Damien Flores.........................Martin.........................130-135—265 51.James Odaffer ..............................................................132-133—265
Hamilton explains relapse JOSH HAMILTON: Rangers’ outfielder and recovering addict had an relapse earlier this week.
By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARLINGTON — Texas Rangers outfielder and recovering drug addict Josh Hamilton said Friday that he had a relapse that started with “three or four” drinks at a Dallas-area bar this week, apologizing for a “weak moment” and insisting he will try to make sure it doesn’t happen again. The 30-year-old Hamilton said his actions “are mine that hurt a lot of people very close to me.” Hamilton was suspended for more than three years for drug and alcohol use while in the Tampa Bay organization. The former No. 1 overall draft pick missed the entire 2004 and 2005 seasons, but has become one of the best players in baseball on a team that has won the last two American League pennants. He was the AL MVP in 2010. But Hamilton this week had his second known alcohol-related relapse in three years. Both came during the offseason. In January 2009, he drank to excess in a bar in Tempe, Ariz. Before that, Hamilton said he had been sober since Oct. 6, 2005. Without being specific, Hamilton said his weak moment Monday night came for “personal reasons” with a family member. He said he walked to a restaurant to have dinner and ended up ordering “three or four drinks.” Hamilton said he has not taken any drugs, and had no thoughts of doing so. He said he has been test-
ed for drugs twice this week, part of his normal routine. He said he expects to meet soon with Major League Baseball doctors and counselors in New York for an evaluation in his continued recovery. Hamilton spoke for about 12 minutes without using any prepared notes or taking any questions. Though there were no tears, he struggled with his emotions at times. He closed his eyes at one point, forced a smile at another time. “My life in general is based on making the right choices, everything as far as my recovery, as far as my baseball goes, it’s all based around my relationship with the Lord,” Hamilton said. “And I look at it like that, you all know how hard I play on the field and I give it everything I absolutely have. When I don’t do that off the field, I leave myself open for a weak moment.” After having a few drinks with dinner, Hamilton called Ian Kinsler to come hang out with him. Hamilton said Kinsler didn’t know he had been drinking, and that he never had a drink in front of his teammate, even when they left before the restaurant closed and went to another place nearby for 25-30 minutes. Then Kinsler drove him back to where he was staying not far away.
Though Hamilton told Kinsler he was not going anywhere else, Hamilton said he later returned to the place they had left had had more drinks. “Things happened that me, personally, I’m not proud of after I drank, and they are personal and are being handled as that,” he said. “Knowing this was going to get out in social media, Twitter, people get excited. There was no pictures taken of me having a beer with somebody or anything like that, but I did take pictures with people.” Months after the 2009 incident, a dozen or so pictures were posted online showing Hamilton taking shots off the bar, and dancing and hugging several young women. He publicly apologized then. In Twitter posts Friday, Hamilton’s wife, Katie, wrote: “Truly appreciate all the encouraging & supportive tweets we’ve been getting. God is Faithful and forgives- so thankful that you all are ... Showing us such love and encouragement during this time.” When the Rangers acquired him from the Cincinnati Reds in December 2007, they were aware of Hamilton’s off-the-field problems. He is tested for drug use three times a week and has had an accountability partner to support him in his recovery — though that job is now vacant. Assistant hitting coach Johnny Narron’s primary role was to support the former No. 1 overall draft pick, but Narron left the Rangers in November for Milwaukee.
BASKETBALL Continued from Page 1B experienced group that returns next year to try their luck in their new district, which was revealed during Thursday’s realignment announcement. Zapata finishes the season Tuesday
against Rio Grande City La Grulla.
Zapata Middle School The future looks bright for Zapata
with the recent success of Zapata Middle School. The eighth grade girls’ basketball A-team placed second in district play, while the B-team was crowned District 32-3A eighth grade champion.
SANDOVAL Continued from Page 1B The Super Bowl commercials have become an event unto themselves, as people will rate the best ones and the ones that just could not grab their attention. From what I understand, companies pay
district play with Port Isabel on March 13.
THE ZAPATA TIMES
millions for these commercials, and to have people vote against them … some people will lose their jobs over that. Imagine working all year long on a concept and commercial for a Super Bowl ad that
doesn’t get your message across. Like Donald Trump said, “You’re fired.” People in Zapata will gather at a good friend’s house or host a Super Bowl party of their own to have a good time with some
great carne asada and hang out with family and friends. The Super Bowl brings family and friends together for a great night of fun. (Clara Sandoval can be reached at sandoval.clara@gmail.com)
The Zapata softball team had its first opportunity to see what the season brings, when they scrimmaged Martin and United South on Jan. 31. Zapata managed only two hits — both from senior catcher Michelle Arce — but witnessed the emergence of pitcher Gaby Chapa, who took the mound in the absence of starting pitcher Estella Molina, who is still with the basketball team. Zapata coach Jaime Garcia lauded the play of Chapa and Liana Flores, who made early impressions. The Lady Hawks also released their schedule. Zapata opens the season with Cigarroa at home, Feb. 13, before pushing off to the one of the toughest tournaments in the Rio Grande Valley, the Mission Tournament, Feb. 1618. Zapata welcomes San Diego Feb. 21 before heading down Highway 83 to the La Joya Tournament, Feb. 23-25. The Lady Hawks play Rio Grande City — a district foe — in a non-district contest on Feb. 28 before hosting the annual Lady Hawks Tournament March 2-3. Zapata defends its district title when it opens
Zapata Softball Schedule Jan. 31 *Zapata at Martin, United South; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. Feb.3 *Zapata at Cigarroa; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. Feb. 6 *Rio Grande at Zapata; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. Feb.11 *Zapata at Roma, LBJ; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. Feb.13 Cigarroa at Zapata; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. Feb. 16-18 Mission Tournament; Varsity; TBA Feb. 21 San Diego at Zapata; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. Feb. 23-25 La Joya Tournament; Varsity; TBA Feb. 28 Grulla at Zapata; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. March 2-3 Zapata Tournament; Varsity; TBA March 13 Zapata at Port Isabel; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. March 15 PSJA-Southwest at Zapata; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. March 20 Zapata at Rio Hondo; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. March 23 Zapata at La Feria; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. March 27 Rio Grande City Grulla at Zapata; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. March 30 Port Isabel at Zapata; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. April 3 Zapata at PSJA-Southwest; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. April 5 Rio Hondo at Zapata; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. April 10 La Feria at Zapata; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. April 13 Zapata at Rio Grande City Grulla; Junior Varsity, Varsity; 5 p.m., 7 p.m. *Scrimmage District games
TENNIS Continued from Page 1B Zapata’s nemesis is state ranked La Feria, which runs its program like a 5A school playing tennis in the fall. Most 3A schools only have spring tennis. La Feria has months of competition, strengthening it, and hits the spring season in full stride — despite not being able to compete for a district title in the fall. “They cannot compete for district, but they play many of the Valley’s toughest 4A and 5A programs, and even schools like Laredo United in team tennis matches,” Robert Alvarez said. With the top five players on the boys team as the only sophomores, the future looks bright for Zapata. “I feel this team is already more talented than any other I have had. Theses boys work very hard the always come to practice, they work hard in the summer,” Robert Alvarez said. “They compete in USTA and open tournaments when the have the opportunity.” Trey Alvarez heads into the season as the No. 1 seed for the boys team. He’s followed by sophomores Alex Reyes (No. 2), Manuel Benavides (No. 3), senior Tony Mendoza (No. 4), senior Jaime Zepeda (No. 5), sophomore Carlos Poblano (No. 6), sophomore Chris Davila (No. 7) and Collin Moffet (No. 8). Playing doubles for the Hawks are Reyes and Benavidez, and Mendoza and Zepeda. “They (Reyes and Benavides) did very well in the UISD Winter Classic, reaching the quarterfinals,” Rob-
ert Alvarez said. Trey Alvarez and Moffet are on tap to play in the singles’ division with Poblano and Davila teaming up with the girls team for mixed doubles. The Lady Hawks’ tennis team is coming along with sophomore Gabriella Alvarez taking the No. 1 seed on the team. Gabriella Alvarez is followed by seniors Marlen Hurtado (No. 2), Daniela Lopez (No. 3), Jeanina Cabugos (No. 4), Paola Jasso (No. 5), Erica Gonzalez (No. 6), Virgie Solis (No. 7) and Andie Medina (No. 8). Gabriella Alvarez and Hurtado will play singles while Lopez, Cabugos, Medina and Gonzalez will team up and play doubles. Solis is slated to play in the mixed-doubles’ division. “I expect our team to work hard to get better every day, every week,” Robert Alvarez said. “I have focused more on conditioning, agility and quickness than I ever have.” Robery Alvarez, who started working with the players since starting the tennis program at the middle school level, will now focus on the strategy side of the game. “The fact that most of my players have played since 7th grade allows me to focus less on basic groundstroke, serving techniques and volleys because they already have a good grasp of these fundamentals and more on the finer points of the game,” he said. “I fully expect qualify some players to regional and compete for the district title.”
DISTRICT Continued from Page 1B district of Port Isabel, La Feria, Rio Hondo and PSJA Southwest. In volleyball, the Lady Hawks battle teams like Lyford and Raymondville. “Two years ago they were very competitive when we played them in district, and next year I expect the same thing,” Villarreal said.
Kingsville and Lyford are known for their softball programs. Year after year, they go deep in the playoffs. Raymondville has solid overall boys’ and girls’ programs. (Clara Sandoval can be reached at sandoval.clara@gmail.com)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
HINTS | BY HELOISE Dear Readers: A reader recently shared her concerns regarding PET SITTERS. The reader found that none of the pet sitters in her area was bonded, and most of them keep house keys with address information on them. Here are other reader responses: Mark and Mary, via email, say: “We’re pet sitters and could not agree more with the reader. A pet sitter should not only be bonded, but licensed (BUSINESS license — Heloise) and insured as well. A few other suggestions: Anyone doing pet sit“ ting should give the potential client a free in-home consultation, so that the client can ask questions and discuss special services the pets need. Will the person do“ ing the interview be the person taking care of the pets, or will it be someone else? Is the person caring “ for your four-legged babies certified in pet CPR and first aid?” A reader in Washington says: “Our daughter was a professional ’critter sitter.’ She had the usual ring of keys for her clients. Her method was essentially foolproof in identification. All of her keys had ONLY the name of the critter. Very simple yet very secure.” — Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Marcy of Maurepas, La., sent a photo of her dog, Josie Henley, on her way to a hunting camp. Look at her reflection in the mirror! To see Josie, visit www.Heloise.com and click on “Pets.” — Heloise COLLEGE HINT Dear Heloise: When shopping for items for a dorm room, a wastebasket is one of the must-have items. Thinking of the limited space, you opt for a smaller, room-size garbage can.
“
HELOISE
Once I got to school, I quickly realized that I should have gotten a normal-size garbage can to hold all the fast-food remains. It would keep me from having to make daily trips to the main trash bin. When I go back to school next time, I definitely will be getting a larger-size garbage can! — Adriana U., West Palm Beach, Fla. Good point, but let’s hope this year there is not so much fast-food trash! How about fresh-food trash? — Heloise HAND-WASHING METHOD Dear Heloise: We know how important hand washing is, yet I see people in public bathrooms washing their hands, then contaminating them as soon as they turn off the water or open the bathroom door. In the health-care field, we are taught to let the water run, then use the paper towel we dried our hands with to turn off the water. Also, use the towel to open the bathroom door, using your shoulder to keep it open to exit. Most stores now have sanitizing wipes inside their entrances, but you can carry some with you. Be sure to use them to clean the handle of your shopping cart. Using these hints can help keep you from getting sick. — Sharon K., Churubusco, Ind. Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise(at)Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
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Sports
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012
Photo by Eric Gay | AP
New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin smiles, as the Giants face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5.
Coughlin cracks a new attitude By TOM CANAVAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — Tom Coughlin’s pinched face, ever present on the New York Giants’ sideline during his eight seasons, gives way to a smile more often now. He’ll even crack a one-liner or two. Funny how a second trip to the Super Bowl in four years can mellow a guy. In reality, though, the 65year-old Coughlin is still basically the same coach on the field and definitely the same man off the field. Discipline, preparedness and execution are his trademarks at the office; family, church and charity work have his attention at home. “He is who is he is,” Keli Coughlin, the coach’s daughter, said in a telephone interview Friday, two days before the Giants faced the New England Patriots for the NFL title. “I don’t know if that has ever changed. You know exactly what to expect from him and what he expects from
you in return. Everybody can appreciate that or being comfortable because you know where you stand.” “Have I changed?” Coughlin asked rhetorically. “Probably, but I think it’s important as the process of learning. You learn, develop, and change every year. You have to bring a fresh approach each year to your team, especially when you’ve been doing it a few years in the same place. If I’ve changed, it’s been an attempt to motivate and put us in the best possible chance that we can be.” A history buff, especially military history, Coughlin acknowledges he’s more patient now than earlier in his career. When a player did something wrong, the coach would be all over him immediately. Now, he picks his spots. The one thing that hasn’t changed is his opendoor policy. Have a problem? He wants to know about it and talk about it.
Photo by Andrew Mills | AP
David Tyree (85) made the miracle catch the last time the New York Giants played the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. The Rematch will be Sunday.
Are you ready for The Rematch By BARRY WILNER ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — MVP quarterbacks on marquee franchises. A rematch of a nail-biter from four years ago, featuring many of the same key characters. Madonna and plenty of Manning — Eli, and Peyton, too. This Super Bowl certainly has all the makings of another thriller, the perfect finish to a season that began in turmoil and wound up the most successful in league history. The NFL couldn’t have planned it any better. “It’s actually been a very fun week here,” said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, seeking his fourth Super Bowl ring in 11 seasons, and doing it in the city where archrival Peyton Manning has worked for 13 years — if not for much longer, giv-
en his health issues and disagreements with Colts management. “It’s a bit surreal to be playing in Indy’s home stadium and to be practicing at their facility.” It’s been even weirder for Eli Manning to have led the Giants here, only to find his superb season and chase for a second championship overshadowed by big brother. The most popular storyline this week has been Peyton’s pain in his neck. Or, rather, his status following three neck surgeries in 19 months; whether the Colts will keep him around, at the cost of a $28 million roster bonus due in March; and whether he’s truly feuding with owner Jim Irsay’s rebuilding organization. Eli, who will surpass his brother for NFL titles with a victory Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium — yes, Peyton’s Place — claims
his sibling’s issues are irrelevant to this game, in which New York (12-7) is a 3-point underdog. “I’m proud of Peyton. I’ve talked to him this week. None of that comes up,” Eli said. “When I talk to Peyton, he does a great job of trying to keep me relaxed. (We) talk a little football and talk about New England some. He’s supported me this week. I know he’s just working hard trying to get healthy and I’m going to support him on that.” While Eli would own two championships with a victory, to one for Peyton, Brady could tie his childhood quarterbacking hero, Joe Montana, and Terry Bradshaw with four. Coach Bill Belichick would equal Chuck Noll with the same number. To get it, the Patriots (15-3) must protect their
crown jewel. Four years ago, Brady was banged around so much by New York that it turned the Super Bowl in the Giants’ favor. Yes, they needed David Tyree’s miracle pin-theball-against-the-helmet catch, then Plaxico Burress’ touchdown reception to shatter New England’s perfect season. But that victory was built on the relentless pressure applied to Brady. The formula hasn’t changed. “We feel that we certainly have a very strong group of men in the front,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “It’s just the way we play and prefer to play. It’s a pressure group, and we have played better in the back end as well, probably as a result of the ball having to come out faster than it has at certain times during the year.”