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CENSUS 2010
Bridge could bring county some revenue
We’ve grown
Talk is of diversifying local economy By JULIE DAFFERN THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County may be able to save some money in a quest for an international bridge. After hearing from local resident Carlos Villarreal at a meeting Monday, Commissioners Court tabled an item on its agenda that would have authorized Rabba-Kistner Consultants to begin a preliminary, $23,000 study of a proposed international port of entry. Villarreal told the court he was commissioned by the county in 2004 to do his own study. The court asked Villarreal to come back in March to present his information. “We’re going to look at it and see what we might come up with,” said Commissioner Jose Emilio Vela. He added that in talks with other county residents, it was suggested that Villarreal’s study may be outdated.
Commissioner Emilio Martinez said the court would look at how far Villarreal got in his study and added that the county may be able to build on it and save some money. Both Vela and Martinez stressed the importance of diversifying Zapata’s economy. “We’re the only county in the South Texas area that does not have a port of entry, and it would boost our economy,” Vela said. “Our county needs to do something about boosting the economy.” Martinez said a bridge was important for the future economic viability of Zapata. “With the (gas and oil) valuations going down and economic development not growing at the pace that other border communities are growing at, I think it’s very important,” Martinez said. “Having said that, I think it’s important for the community to get involved and tell us what they think.” He added that there would be opportunities for area resi-
Population up 15 percent over 2000 By JULIE DAFFERN THE ZAPATA TIMES
INSIDE
Zapata County grew by 15 percent, to 14,018 people in 2010, according to U.S. Census data released Thursday. The 2000 population was reported at 12,182. State leaders will use the data to redraw state legislative and
congressional districts in what could be one of the most contentious political fights this year. The population counts also help determine how much federal funding an area receives.
See related story, page 9A
County leaders speculated Friday that the community was undercounted. “They never found a lot of people,” Commissioner Eddie Martinez said. “A lot of people told me the Census people never came by.”
See CENSUS PAGE 12A
SOUTH TEXAS FOOD BANK
FILLING THE PANTRY
See COUNTY PAGE 12A
QUEENS KICK OFF THE FAIR Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
ABOVE: The South Texas Food Bank Adopt-a-Family program was awarded $5,340 from Conoco Phillips on Wednesday to assist Zapata County residents. Pictured with the donation are, from left, Cindy Liendo Espinoza, Commissioner Jose E. Vela, County Judge Joe Rathmell, Diana Gonzalez, Salo Otero, Norma Mendoza, Laura Guerra, Leroy Ramirez, Romeo Salinas and Graciela Villarreal. BELOW: Alexandra Romero, 4, of Zapata, bites into a hot dog Wednesday at the Helping Hands Food Pantry, where staff from the South Texas Food Bank provided hot dogs and venison burgers as part of the South Texas Food Bank’s Ranchers for the Hungry and Adopt-a-Family programs.
Deer meat part of monthly food aid By ERICA MATOS THE ZAPATA TIMES
T
he elderly and the young alike showed up at the Helping Hands Food Pantry Wednesday for venison burgers and hot dogs as part of Adopt-a-Family’s monthly distribution of food. Grants from Conoco Philips and the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Foundation were announced during the event. For the past three years, Zapata County Treasurer Romeo Salinas had been applying for a grant with
See FOOD PAGE 12A
ZAPATA HIGH SCHOOL
Mariachi band nets first place By ERICA MATOS THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo by Danny Zaragoza | The Zapata Times
Zapata County Fair Queen Adrianna Ramirez is congratulated by the first fair queen from 1975, Cynthia Laura Villarreal, on Wednesday night at the Zapata County Courthouse at the kickoff event for this year’s fair.
The Zapata High School mariachi band won first place in the AAA category at the second annual Texas High School Mariachi Championship on Jan. 22.
The mariachi group of 20 members competed under the direction of Adrian Padilla at the Edgewood Fine Arts Theatre in San Antonio. Zapata High School also placed first last year among three high schools in its division.
The competition is sponsored by the Mexican-American Board Members Association (MASBA). For schools to advance to state finals, the group must submit a compact disc of performances,
See MARIACHI PAGE 12A