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Court to draft fees By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Newly empowered with the authority to enforce building regulations, the Zapata County Commissioners Court could approve a draft of building permit fees at Monday’s meeting. According to Commissioner Jose Emilio Vela, the county pushed to get the authority to make regulations, which now include requisite inspections of new buildings and requiring building permits. Previously, the county had no such regulations. Vela has also requested the approval to obtain a licensed architect to inspect the Zapata County Museum building and certify its completion, in accord-
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ance with approved plans and specifications. “My recommendation is to hire an independent architect to inspect the museum so we can take action and repair any discrepancies found by the historical committee,” Vela said. An approval to change order No. 2 for the Zapata County Waterworks Water Treatment Plan Project and the legal services contract with the law firm of Escamilla & Poneck, Inc. for legal services is also on the agenda. Also at Monday’s meeting: The installation of a security light at west end of Juarez Avenue in San Ygnacio and at the corner
See COURT PAGE 10A
EDUCATION
Students shadow experts By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
In support of the National Groundhog Day celebration, students across the nation took part in a Groundhog Job Shadowing event on Tuesday, as Zapata High School students shadowed professionals as they performed their dayto-day routines. Laredo Community College and South Texas Tech Prep organized Groundhog Job Shadow Day 2010 at the LCC South Campus, where LCC administrators, faculty and staff were paired with the students, who observed them and asked questions about their career choices. “I think this is a good recruitment tool for students to learn about their college options,” said Rosaura Medellin, program project coordinator. Several Zapata High School students were given a brief tour of the Regional Police Academy by Peter Medellin, department
chair of protective services, and then were introduced to Donald R. Hale, director of the Regional Police Academy. Hale spoke with students about the indoor shooting range and the criminal justice courses available at the Regional Police Academy. “We are here to motivate students and promote the criminal justice department,” Medellin said. “We informed students about our humble beginnings and struggles to reach our goals, and (that) we enjoy what we do.” Zapata High School senior Samantha Raquel Martinez chose to learn more about Child Development Education, and toured the Camilo Prada Child Development Center, where Assistant Director Cynthia Perez talked to her about the Child Development Education curriculum and atmosphere. “This is what I’ve al-
See SHADOW PAGE 10A
Photos by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times
Bloodless bullfighter Lupita Lopez faces down a bull at the Santa Maria Bullring in La Gloria, Texas, on Sunday afternoon.
Bloodless bullfight draws big crowds By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
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A GLORIA – Thunderous echoes of “olés” could be heard far from the limits of La Gloria when bullfighter Lupita Lopez entered the Santa Maria Bullring, located about 30 miles east of Rio Grande City, on FM 755. Despite the cold weather, about 200 people from the Rio Grande Valley gathered to see the woman bullfighter on Sunday. Lupita Lopez is one of only three in the world, according to Frank Renk, owner of the Santa Maria Bullring. A certified nutritionist, Lopez is a native of Merida, Yucatan, in Mexico. She started bullfighting at 11, and has been around the bulls for 20 years. “It’s something I have in my blood. Everybody in my family are bullfighters,” Lopez said. “It’s a passion. All people that have a passion for something, they’ll have dedication for it.” The show Sunday was her second appearance at Santa Maria. Those who caught a glimpse of Lopez last year appreciated her skills and praised her when she earned four symbolic ears and two tails.
Lopez concentrates as she eyes her large opponent — a bull. The bullring itself, which is celebrating its 10th year, is the only one in North America, with exception of another in a Portuguese community in northern California, Renk said. In honor of the occasion, organizers hosted a bloodless bullfight, in which matadores venture to take a Velcro-attached rose from a bull’s back. Lopez posed bravely in front of the bull, trying to grab the rose without using a sword to kill the beast. But the animal was not going down without a fight. Though the bull knocked her down out twice, she dusted off her attire and reached for the rose again. “When the bull knocked her
(down), it took the chill out of the crowd,” said Armando Molina of Brownsville, who fell in love with bullfighting in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, in Mexico in 1986. “It’s a thrill when you see people alone with the bull.” Karen Mason drove from Mission to catch the show. She does not enjoy watching “real bullfighting,” where the animal gets killed, she said. Rather, she prefers watchers the bullfighters remove the rose attached to the bull’s back. “This is just a lot of fun,” Mason said. Despite the entertainment aspect, Lopez acknowledges the
See BATTLE PAGE 10A