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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 He added that in talks with other county residents, it was suggested that Villarreal’s study may be outdated.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
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, FEB. 19
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” at 5 p.m., “IBMXSearch for the Edge of the Solar System” at 6 p.m. and “Rock On Demand” at 7 p.m. Buy one ticket, get one free. General admission is $5, $4 for children and TAMIU students, faculty, staff and alumni. Premium shows are $1 more. For upcoming events, call (956) 326-DOME. Veterans Helping Veterans will meet in the Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Road, from noon to 2:30 p.m. today and March 5 and 26. Meetings are confidential and for military veterans only. For more information, contact George Mendez at 794-3057 or georgem@borderregion.org or Jessica Morales at 794-3091 or jessicam@borderregion.org.
SUNDAY, FEB. 20 Texas A&M International University hosts “The History and Music of Benjamin Franklin’s Colonial America” at 3 p.m. in the TAMIU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall. The program will feature Norman Rockwell’s “Poor Richard’s Almanac” Suite, historian and author John Micklos, Jr., glass harmonica instrument master William Zeitler, the Monte Vista String Quartet and pianist Christopher Guzman. For additional information, contact the University’s Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, e-mail prmis@tamiu.edu.
MONDAY, FEB 21 Today is the last day to submit entry forms for the Zapata County Fair Parade. This year’s theme is “Wild About Our County Fair.” For more information, call Mr. Roberto O. Montes, Parade Committee Spokesperson, at (956) 337-4504. Join the Uno-A-Uno Mentoring Program of SCAN, Inc. from Feb. 21-24. The Uno-A-Uno Mentoring Program is looking for adult volunteers, which matches adult aged 19 and older with young people between the ages of 418. Call (956) 724-3177, or send an email to natalie.hernandez@scan-inc.org to learn more.
THURSDAY, FEB. 24 From noon to 5:30 p.m., celebrate Winter Texan & Senior Citizen Appreciation Day at the Zapata Community Center. Bingo, door prizes, food and refreshments will be available, in addition to live music performed by Carlos Cañas. The Webb County Heritage Foundation invites the public to an opening reception for “La Doña,” an exhibit of vintage movie posters from the golden age of Mexican cinema featuring screen siren Maria Felix. The opening will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum, 810 Zaragoza St. For more information, call 956-727-0977, email heritage@webbheritage.org or visit the Webb County Heritage Foundation’s Facebook page.
FRIDAY, FEB. 25 The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “IBMX- Search for the Edge of the Solar System” at 6 p.m. and “New Horizons” at 7 p.m. Buy one ticket, get one free. General admisssion is $5, $4 for children and TAMIU students, faculty, staff and alumni. Premium shows are $1 more. For upcoming events, call (956) 326-DOME.
SATURDAY, FEB. 26 The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “Star Signs” at 5 p.m., “IBMX-Search for the Edge of the Solar System” at 6 p.m. and “Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon” at 7 p.m.. General admission is $5, $4 for children and TAMIU students, faculty, staff and alumni. Premium shows are $1 more. For upcoming events, call (956) 326-DOME. The Texican CattleWomen will have a Beef Brisket Cook-off at noon today at LIFE Downs. Cash prizes will be awarded. There will be a limit of 25 teams. For more information or applications, e-mail the Texican CattleWomen at texicancattlewomen@gmail.com or call Jessica at the Walker Plaza, 5810 San Bernardo Ave., Suite 490, at 723-7151. 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.
Photo by Cindeka Nealy/Odessa American | AP
In this April 19, 2007 photo, Ward County Deputy David Spinks, left, and Sheriff Mike Strickland escort John Paul Hernandez to the Ward County Courthouse in Monahans. Opening statements were Tuesday in Hernandez’ Lubbock trial.
Abuse charges denied By BESTEY BLANEY ASSOCIATED PRESS
LUBBOCK — The former principal of a prison school told a jury Friday that former inmates made up allegations of sexual abuse and may have conspired on a plan to accuse him. John Paul Hernandez, 45, has been charged with crimes including sexual assault. Prosecutors say Hernandez and Ray Brookins, the former assistant at the West Texas State School in Pyote, gave inmates special treatment, candy and promises of financial aid before sexually abusing. Hernandez denied the allegations during testimony Thursday. On Friday, prosecutor Lisa Tanner asked him why — if there was a plot — two of the young men initially denied they had been abused. “Not a good part of the plan, was it?” Tan-
Houston-area man arrested in wife attack HOUSTON — A Houston-area man has been arrested for allegedly brutally attacking his estranged wife, who survived a 17hour ordeal in which she was tortured and mutilated. Harris County sheriff ’s officials say Gregoria Longoria Jr. kidnapped his wife on Wednesday and held her against her will until the next morning. It was not immediately known if he has an attorney.
Houston announces new panels to review police HOUSTON — Houston Mayor Annise Parker is announcing the creation of two new independent panels to review policies and procedures with the city’s police department. Parker says the new oversight panels are part of an effort to restore the public’s trust in the Houston Police Department. The department has been crit-
ner asked. “Not the one you’re describing, no,” Hernandez answered. Hernandez said he wasn’t sure about testimony from one of his accusers and a former teacher who told jurors about the accuser walking up to Hernandez and straightening his tie at a graduation ceremony at the school. The former teacher testified it was inappropriate behavior for an inmate to have such close contact h Hernandez. “I can’t swear that it didn’t happen,” Hernandez testified about the tie. “It might have.” But he disputed a former teacher’s testimony that when told he shouldn’t be alone with inmates, he asked who would be believed — him or an inmate? “I’m telling you I did not say that,” Hernandez told Tanner.
icized by community groups and citizens since the release earlier this month of a surveillance video that appears to show four former city police officers kicking and stomping a black teenage burglary suspect last year. Since the video was made public by a community activist, several town hall meetings have been held in Houston in which residents have described other incidents of alleged mistreatment by police. Parker also says the city will hire an independent group to investigate the police department’s culture.
Sr. Cpl. Cat Lafitte is under investigation over the incident and whether she violated department policy on social networking. Lafitte also has posts disparaging homeless people. The newspaper is reporting she posted a picture of a small black boy surrounded by officers with the comment, “Quick .sprinkle some crack on him!” That post had apparently been removed Friday. No charges were filed over the incident at a hospital in suburban Plano. Lafitte didn’t immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press on Friday.
Dallas officer on leave after Facebook post
Houston man arrested on smuggling charge
DALLAS A Dallas police officer is on administrative leave after bragging on Facebook that she cut a hospital worker’s face by throwing a boot at him during a dispute, one of several inflammatory posts by the six-year veteran. Dallas police tell The Dallas Morning News that 32-year-old
HOUSTON — A Houston diamond dealer is among four businessmen arrested earlier this month in eastern Congo and suspected of gold smuggling. The Houston Chronicle reports that Edward Carlos St. Mary is being detained in Goma, a city near the border with Rwanda. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION Wash. inmate pleads guilty to 49th murder
CONTACT US
SEATTLE — One of the nation’s most prolific killers pleaded guilty Friday to killing a 49th person. Gary Ridgway already is serving 48 life terms at the Washington State Penitentiary. Ridgway, who has been dubbed the Green River Killer, already confessed to killing Rebecca "Becky" Marrero in 1982 as part of a 2003 plea deal that spared him the death penalty.
2 bodies found in plane that crashed into Atlantic NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — Two bodies have been recovered from a single-engine plane that crashed off Florida’s Atlantic Coast. Volusia County Sheriff ’s spokesman Gary Davidson says divers found the bodies 28-yearold William Bloch and 21-year-old
Today is Saturday, Feb. 19, the 50th day of 2011. There are 315 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Feb. 19, 1945, during World War II, some 30,000 U.S. Marines began landing on Iwo Jima, where they commenced a successful month-long battle to seize control of the island from Japanese forces. On this date: In 1473, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland. In 1803, Congress voted to accept Ohio’s borders and constitution. In 1846, the Texas state government was formally installed in Austin, with J. Pinckney Henderson taking the oath of office as governor. In 1881, Kansas prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the military to relocate and intern U.S. residents, including native-born Americans, of Japanese ancestry. Japanese warplanes raided the Australian city of Darwin; at least 243 people were killed. In 1959, an agreement was signed by Britain, Turkey and Greece granting Cyprus its independence. In 1983, 13 people were found shot to death at a gambling club in Seattle’s Chinatown in what became known as the “Wah Mee Massacre.” (Two Chinese immigrants were convicted of the killings and sentenced to life in prison.) In 1997, Deng Xiaoping, the last of China’s major Communist revolutionaries, died at age 92. In 2008, an ailing Fidel Castro resigned the Cuban presidency after nearly a half-century in power; his brother Raul was later named to succeed him. Ten years ago: President George W. Bush opened a museum dedicated to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Movie producer-director Stanley Kramer died in Woodland Hills, Calif., at age 87. Five years ago: A gas explosion in northern Mexico killed 65 miners. Israel halted the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax money to the Palestinians after Hamas took control of the Palestinian parliament. Jimmie Johnson won the Daytona 500. Today’s Birthdays: Singer Smokey Robinson is 71. Singer Bobby Rogers (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) is 71. Actress Carlin Glynn is 71. Sony Chairman, CEO and President Howard Stringer is 69. Singer Lou Christie is 68. Actor Michael Nader is 66. Rock musician Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell) is 63. Author Amy Tan is 59. Actor Jeff Daniels is 56. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is 52. Britain’s Prince Andrew is 51. Tennis Hall-of-Famer Hana Mandlikova is 49. musician Jon Fishman (Phish) is 46. Actress Justine Bateman is 45. Actor Benicio Del Toro is 44. Rock musician Daniel Adair is 36. Pop singer-actress Haylie Duff is 26. Thought for Today: “Look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first time or the last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory.” — Betty Smith, American author (18961972).
Publisher, William B. Green........................728-2501 Business Manager, Dora Martinez ...... (956) 324-1226 Chief Accountant, Thelma Aguero .............. 728-2553 General Manager, Adriana Devally ...............728-2510 Retail Adv. Manager, Raul Cruz................... 728-2511 Classified Manager, Jesse Vicharreli ........... 728-2525 Adv. Billing Inquiries ................................. 728-2531 Circulation Director ................................. 728-2559 MIS Director, Michael Castillo.................... 728-2505 Editor, Diana Fuentes ................................728-2581 City Editor, Mary Nell Sanchez .................. 728-2543 Sports Editor, Dennis Silva II......................728-2579 Business Journal Editor, Sean Bowlin.......... 728-2529 Entertainment Editor, Emilio Rábago III ....... 728-2564 Online Editor, Julie Daffern ....................... 728-2565 Photo by Mi8chael Clevenger/The Courier-Journal | AP
Karen Sypher walks into the Federal Courthouse in Louisville, Ky., for her sentencing on Friday. She was sentenced to 87 months in prison for extortion of basketball coach Rick Pitino, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. Gustav Granholm inside the plane’s cabin about 10:20 a.m. Friday. Bloch was a flight instructor with Phoenix East Aviation and Granholm was a student. The two were from Norway but had been living locally.
The plane was flying from Sarasota to Daytona Beach when it crashed Wednesday about 200 yards off the coast. The Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform autopsies. — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (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
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
Zlocal SMILING AT THE BUCK’S GAME
Volunteers to provide free income tax aid SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
IRS-certified volunteers will be providing free tax services for low to moderate families and individuals in Zapata starting at 10 a.m. Friday, at the Zapata Public Library, 901 Kennedy Street. For more information or to set-up an appointment call 320-0016. Items needed: Proof of identification Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and all dependents Wage and earning statement(s), forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, and 1099MISC from all employers Interest and dividend
statements from banks, forms: 1099-INT and 1099DIV A copy of last year’s federal return (if available) Bank routing and account numbers for Direct Deposit Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider’s tax identification number (the provider’s Social Security Number or the provider’s business Employer ID Number) To file taxes electronically on a married-filingjointly tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.
Professor gets grant to film workers SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Marcela Morán, assistant professor of communications at Texas A&M International University, recently won a Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund grant from the Austin Film Society and is hard at work on a new documentary film titled “Jornaleros.” Morán’s project will take her to Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans and parts of South Texas, in search of jornaleros, or day laborers skilled in different trades looking for jobs on the streets, and of undocumented immigrants
already working. The film will explore human rights violations against day laborers and the criminalization of undocumented immigrants. “I feel very honored to have received this funding as I’m one of 24 out of 183 applicants chosen for the 2010 TFPF,” Morán said. “It is highly competitive, and the committee who chooses winners is made up of talented filmmakers and past recipients.” The Austin Film Society awards grants once a year to emerging film and video artists in Texas through its TFPF, the Society’s website says.
PAGE 3A
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Natalie Sanchez, left, Delissa Martinez, center and Natalie Solis were among the students from A.L. Benavides Elementary in San Ygnacio at Thursday’s hockey game between the Laredo Bucks and Odessa at the LEA. Other schools from Zapata were also on hand for the game.
THE BLOTTER BURGLARY A burglary of a habitation was reported at 10:29 a.m. Monday in the 100 block of Texas Street. Juan Jose Lozano, 40, was arrested and charged with burglary of a building around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday near the Zapata County Fire Department, 1207 Kennedy Street. Deputies say the man stole a vacuum worth $100. The man was taken to Zapata Regional Jail, where he was held in lieu of a $20,000 bond.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF A man told deputies at 1:44 p.m. that a person he knows scratched the paint of
his vehicle Wednesday in the 5200 block of Vicki Lane in the Siesta Shores subdivision.
Wednesday in the 600 block of Hidalgo Boulevard. The victim stated that someone else is using his Social Security number.
was held in lieu of a combined $6,000 bond.
POSSESSION
Deputies responded to a theft call at 9:48 a.m. Monday at San Juan Ranch, off U.S. 83 South. The complainant told police that someone stole six roles of wire mesh. Jorge Sanchez-Garza, 35, was arrested and charged with theft at about 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at Dollar General on Texas 16. The man was released, pending a court appearance.
HIT AND RUN Deputies responded to a hitand-run call at 3:38 p.m. Feb. 13 in the 100 block of Ramireño Avenue. An incident report states that a gray van crashed into a 1999 Chevrolet pickup. Deputies continue to investigate.
IDENTITY THEFT Deputies went out to an identity theft call at 11:43 a.m.
Fernando Villarreal III, 26, was arrested after a traffic stop around 3 p.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Seventh Street and Laredo Avenue. He was charged with possession of marijuana. Deputies also served him with a warrant on charges of theft. The man was taken to Zapata Regional Jail, where he
THEFT
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Zopinion
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Wimping out on nation’s budget deficit By JONATHAN GURWITZ SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
A
s a state senator in Illinois, Barack Obama had a signature legislative maneuver when controversial measures came up for a vote. Rather than register a “yea” or “nay” position that might come back to haunt him politically, he cast a meaningless “present” vote on 129 occasions during his 1997-2004 tenure.
No choice votes It wasn’t only on hotbutton issues like partial-birth abortion that Obama voted present. Even the faintest whiff of controversy impaired his ability to make a simple binary choice. Obama was the lone senator to vote “present” on a bill that raised child adoption standards by broadening the definition of unfit parents. On a bill to allow victims of sexual crimes to seal court records of their cases that otherwise passed with no opposition, Obama was solely and inexplicably “present.”
Debt ignored Last week, President Obama cast a “present” vote on the most important issue facing the nation — the clear and nottoo-distant danger posed by a mounting national debt. In doing so, he ignored the dire warnings issued two months ago by the bipartisan debt commission he created. Here is what the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform had to say in its December report: “America cannot be great if we go broke. Our businesses will not be able to grow and create jobs, and our workers will not be able to compete successfully for the jobs of the future without a plan to get this crushing debt burden off our backs.” The commission laid out a plan to reduce spending, reform the tax code and put Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid on long-term paths to stability. None of its members were happy with all the recommendations — Democrats would have preferred a greater emphasis on enhancing revenues, Republicans on cutting spending.
Doing something But a bipartisan majority, including politicians as ideologically distant as Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., endorsed
the plan because the economic consequences of doing nothing are so catastrophic. “We sign our names to this plan,” commission members wrote, “because we love our children, our grandchildren and our country too much not to act while we still have the chance to secure a better future for all our fellow citizens.” Given this urgency, given the bipartisan cover to take meaningful action to avert a debt crisis in his 2012 budget, what did the president do? In a feeble act of political calculation for his 2012 re-election, next to nothing.
A deeper hole After a record $1.6 trillion deficit this year, the Obama budget proposal for 2012 projects red ink as far as the eye can see. A five-year freeze — not a cut — in non-security discretionary spending along with some gimmickry produce a presumed $1.1 trillion cumulative reduction in deficits over the next decade. The commission calls for $4 trillion in deficit reduction over the same period. But even that $1.1 trillion figure is implausibly predicated on congressional actions in out years that aren’t governed by the 2012 budget and extend beyond Obama’s term in office. Under the most optimistic assumptions, the national debt would still increase by $7.2 trillion. On tax and entitlement reform, the Obama budget does nothing at all.
Need for reform Erskine Bowles, the debt commission’s Democratic chairman, told the Washington Post that the White House budget proposal is “nowhere near where they will have to go to resolve our fiscal nightmare.” Commission member Alice Rivlin, who served as President Bill Clinton’s budget director, said, “I would have preferred to see the administration get out front on addressing the entitlements and the tax reform that we need to reduce long-run deficits.” And that’s just the Democrats. As the one person elected by the entire nation, the chief executive has the singular authority and responsibility to address the nation’s most pressing issues. The looming debt crisis requires hard choices. Merely being present isn’t acceptable for a president. (E-mail: jgurwitz@express-news.net)
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 name-calling 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.
YOUR OPINION Former student expresses gratitude for Zapata County College Transportation Program To the editor: The Zapata County College Transportation Program was a huge success in my life, along with the support my family gave me while attending Laredo Beauty College. This program had a big impact on my life so I could continue with my studies, do well and gradu-
ate. I am proud to say that I successfully passed the Texas State board exam and will start working very soon. Furthermore, I would like to give special thanks to my sister, Blanca Martinez, for helping me with my family while I was away at college. Very importantly, special thanks
to Mrs. Laura Guerra, who inspired me with hope and confidence that I, too, could be a winner in life. To the bus drivers, thank you for being so good to me and all of us during our daily trips. Signed, Cristina Canales September 2010
Successful graduate thanks Zapata transportation director, bus drivers, instructors To the editor: The Zapata County Transportation Program was a blessing to me and many others who could not afford traveling to and from Laredo every day in order to graduate from college. My Texas state board exam was in January 2011 and I am proud to say that my two tests were passed successfully. I am very happy to announce that I now have a job in Karnes City
at Bonnie’s Color & Cuts. I would like to give very special thanks to God who inspired me to go to college and gave me the strength every morning to continue my daily route that I had chosen. I want to thank the Zapata County Commissioners Court for providing this very much-needed program to Zapata; without it, many of us could not have been able to pursue and achieve our dreams.
To the bus drivers of the program, God bless you both because your patience is infinite along with all your kindness. A special thanks to the Laredo Beauty College instructors, Ms. Sandra Sanchez and Ms. Judy Rodriguez, for all your help and support to me. And, last but not least, I would like to give a very special thanks to Mrs. Laura Guerra, director of the
Zapata County College Transportation Program, for the encouragement we all received from her continually, her advice and for being always present and ready to help us do better in life. May God bless you, Mrs. Guerra, and may Zapata County keep this program for many years to come. Signed, Lily Arambula December 2010 Graduate
EDITORIAL
Cuba stays cool, unlike Egypt By ACHY OBEJAS MCT NEWS SERVICE
T
he old regime in Egypt has gone up in flames, but unfortunately not in Cuba, my home country — the nation with the longest dictatorship in the world. It remains draped in a political Pyromex shield: Cuba will not burn. Oh, there was much hope and excitement at first. On the island and in the Diaspora, we looked at the hypnotizing images of Egypt in revolt and forgot our own situation. Facebook pages were launched to provoke uprisings in Syria, in Libya and, yes, in Cuba. For about a week, I too fell under the spell and lent my name to a page that sought to inspire Cubans to take to the streets. Then, slowly, the veil lifted. The smoke cleared in Tahrir Square and reality began to set in for us watching and yearning all
over the globe. I quietly took my name off the Facebook page, realizing it was a scheme concocted under Egyptian intoxication. The truth is, I knew better. I knew better all along. Cuba will not rise up. Cuba cannot rise up, at least not this time. The country that thrilled the 20th century with its youthful revolution is dead set on keeping the 21st century at bay. This is why: Nobody but nobody gets the power of media better than the old rebels in Havana, who took over less because of their military prowess than their sensationally efficient propaganda. Whether it was manipulating the New York Times or creating “battle” newsreels after their victory, they incorporated media a priori into their strategies from the very beginning. So while young Egyptians mastered the technology of social networks to evade censorship and misinformation, the Internet in
Cuba today is a vague horizon to most of its citizenry. Only 1.5 million out of 11 million can log in — just 14 percent of the population. There are no private accounts except for the most extraordinarily privileged. There is no public access without a state job or the equivalent of a month’s wages for three hours of networking at a hotel cybercafe. For Cubans on the island, there’s no leisurely surfing, just panicked paddling: Their Internet connection is a memory stick filled with whatever they can download in a handful of minutes. The Cuban government keeps much stricter access — and control — of the Internet and communication technology than Egypt, with its pretense of democracy, ever did. In fact, cell phones weren’t legalized for Cubans until 2008. In this way, the Cuban government takes pains to make sure there will be no strate-
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
gic exchanges with Tunisians or anyone else, and takes note of those who try to dialogue with reformers abroad. Keep in mind, too, that because every foreign business operating in Cuba is a 49-51 partner with the government, there is no Cuban-born Google executive to stir things up, no one in position to rock the boat. (I’d blame the U.S. economic blockade but the island is littered with European corporations that suspend all their righteous continental employment practices the minute they find island gold.) A couple of months ago, a training video for Cuba’s Internet counterintelligence agents started making the rounds online. “They have their bloggers and we have ours,” the lecturer said, “and we’ll see who’s stronger.” And then, in case the message needed more clarification, he added: “The Internet is a battlefield.”
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
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Zentertainment
Grammy winners After 10 years, Grupo Fantasma earns a musician’s ultimate prize THE ZAPATA TIMES
Growing up in Laredo, Beto Martinez and his friend Greg Gonzalez went to United Intermediate School and in 1990 made the crucial decision to form a band, stemming from their love for music. They were a pair of eighth graders playing at middle and high school parties — every gig they could. Sal’s Pizza on San Bernardo Avenue was an instrumental venue for Martinez and Gonzalez, who jammed out every weekend at the oncepopular establishment. “Thursday through Saturday, we honed our skills there,” Martinez, who now lives in Austin, said on Tuesday. Fast forward 10 years, when the buddies moved to Austin to “do this professionally.” The Blimps merged in 2000 with fellow Laredo native Adrian Quesada and his band, The Blue Noise Band, to form a large ensemble that fused everything Latino — salsa, merengue, cumbia, funk and everything in between. Most of their songs’ lyrics are written in Spanish, such as “Pueblo de Laredo,” one of the band’s first original tracks. After another 10 years of touring, making a name for themselves by playing festivals, small bars, big venues and even private parties, Grupo Fantasma has earned the musician’s ultimate prize — a Grammy Award. “It’s amazing. It really hasn’t really sunk in,” Martinez said. “We didn’t expect
114TH WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Jalapeño fest ends today THE ZAPATA TIMES
By EMILIO RÁBAGO III
Photo by Jae C. Hong | AP
Members of Grupo Fantasma, from left, Gilbert Elorreaga, Jose Galeano and Mark Gonzales, pose backstage with the award for “Best Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album” at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards last Sunday in Los Angeles. to win, we considered ourselves underdogs.
‘Lot of support’ Tour stops across North America and Europe may have helped Grupo Fantasma win the “Best Latin Rock, Alternative Or Urban Album” Grammy for “El Existential,” the band’s newest album, on the Nat Geo Music record label. Fantasma beat out Nortec Collection, another fusionbased band. This was Fantasma’s second nomination. “We had a lot of support this time, as opposed to 2008, when we were nominated,” said Martinez. In ’08, Fantasma lost to one of Mexico’s longest-lasting and uber-popular rock bands, Jaguares. “We’re really excited, it’s the ultimate recognition in music,” Martinez said with some excitement. The entire band went to Los Angeles after a “Grammy” tour across the Southwest. A “mess-up” for tickets to the award ceremony allowed only three members to stay. “The rest of us were on the way back,” Martinez said. “We found out on the bus.” Sunday’s 53rd Annual Grammy Awards had an in-
dependent spirit about it, awarding artists on the come-up like Fantasma and Esperanza Spalding, a fellow Austinite, who beat out pop phenom Justin Beiber For “Best New Artist.” Martinez, whose band energetically performs live, the oldfashioned way — with instruments — thinks some newer music is “overly produced.” As for advice to musicians in town: “Give it all you got, whether it’s for 10 people or 1,000 and whether they are paying you $5 or $5,000. Just rock out. Play music because you love (it) and try to be the best that you can be.” Martinez explained that Fantasma didn’t really become a must-see instantaneously. “We worked every job for years. It wasn’t until the last five or six years (that the band started receiving acclaim).” You might get a chance to check ’em out soon, as the band is working on a celebratory party or something in Laredo. Band members still have family here and visit the Gateway City a couple of times a year. “Thanks for all the support, Laredo. That’s where we grew up,” Martinez said.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
One of WBCA’s biggest events, the Jalapeño Festival, will continue to celebrate its 33rd anniversary tonight with the Norteño sounds of Pesado and Los Invasores de Nuevo Leon. The hot, two-day festival ends tonight at the El Metro Park and Ride on Hillside Road. The event, which attracts around 25,000 people in a two-day span, is sponsored by
Stripes. Additional sponsors include AnheuserBusch, La Costeña, Miller Lite, Sames and O’Reilly Auto Parts. “The Jalapeno Festival for 2011 will once again showcase exciting entertainment for all. We are thrilled to have Stripes as the title sponsor for this fun-filled event,” WBCA President Susan Foster said. Tonight, people of Los Dos Laredos will be treated to the music of pop-
ular Norteño bands, with Latin Grammy Awardwinning Pesado taking center stage. The legendary multi-platinum Mexican group Los Invasores de Nuevo Leon will be opening up for Pesado. Presale tickets are $10 for each day and are on sale at Stripes locations, at all O’Reilly’s Auto Parts stores and at the Mall del Norte WBCA kiosk, while supplies last. Door price will be $15.
Fireworks show is Sunday SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The 114th WBCA isn’t going quietly into the night. Sunday evening will shine with multi-colored brilliance as dazzling pyrotechnic displays dance across the horizon during the muchanticipated H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza at L.I.F.E. Downs. It’s scheduled to light up the night sky at 8 p.m. Before George blows out the final birthday
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | LMT
candle this year, H-E-B is making sure you won’t forget the event. Award
winning bands such as Michael Salgado, Raulito Navaira, Inalcansable, Deseo, La Juventud Gama De Sabor, Conquistadors and more are scheduled to entertain tailgaters who gather at LIFE downs Sunday. WBCA officials recommend early arrival. People can take their barbecue pits and enjoy a good old fashioned tailgate party under the stars. The event is open to the public and free of charge.
SÁBADO 19 DE FEBRERO DE 2011
Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 19 DE FEBRERO LAREDO — Hoy es el Mercado Agrícola Centro de Laredo de 9 a.m. a 12 p.m. en la Plaza Jarvis. LAREDO — WBCA presenta Desfile AnheuserBusch Washington’s Birthday a partir de las 9 a.m. por Avenida San Bernardo. LAREDO — WBCA presenta Jalapeño Festival de 3 p.m. a 1 a.m. en El Metro Park & Ride (Thomas y Hillside). Costo 15 dólares en la puerta y 10 dólares en preventa. La música hoy a cargo de Pesado e Invasores de Nuevo León. LAREDO — Pase la tarde en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU y explore “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” a las 5 p.m., “IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System” a las 6 p.m., y ”Rock on Demand” a las 7 p.m. Entrada general es de 5 dólares.
Zfrontera
PÁGINA 7A
DEPORTISTAS TAMAULIPECOS DESTACAN EN COMPETENCIAS
Tiene oro en esgrima TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Por segundo año consecutivo la esgrimista Ursula Sarahí González Gárate se alzó con la medalla de oro del Campeonato Panamericano Juvenil de Esgrima en la especialidad de sable que se desarrolla en Isla Margarita, provincia de Nueva Esparta, Venezuela. González retuvo el título del torneo continental al vencer en la final a la venezolana María Carreño, ausente por motivos de salud. Ella había conseguido el oro en el campeonato celebrado en Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, en 2010. Con el oro de la becaria de CIMA y primer lugar del ranking nacional, el seleccionado mexicano suma ya tres preseas doradas en el Panamericano Juvenil de Venezuela, luego de que la regiomontana Alejandra Terán lo consiguiera en la especialidad de espada y el
nayarita Jesús Beltrán en florete. Durante el evento, venció en cuartos de final a la ecuatoriana Valeria Gómez por 15-5 puntos y en la semifinal derrotó a la mexicana Alejandra Echeverría. Echeverría se llevó la medalla de bronce. Previo a este evento, González avanzó a la gráfica principal de la Copa del Mundo de Sable de Orleans, Francia, al ubicarse entre las mejores 64 del mundo. Ella había clasificado en la segunda posición del grupo seis tras derrotar a las representantes de Japón, Ucrania y Polonia y perder frente a las esgrimistas de Estados Unidos, China y Azerbaiyán. En Francia, González venció 15 puntos a 7 a la esgrimista islandesa Thorbjorg Agustsdottir, para clasificar a la siguiente
fase del torneo, donde enfrentó a Julia Gavrilova, de Rusia. La europea resultó victoriosa, aunque la tamaulipeca dio pelea al terminar el marcador 15-10 puntos.
Atletismo Este fin de semana esta en proceso la competencia regional para la clasificación a la Olimpiada Nacional 2011 en Ciudad Victoria. La competencia se efectúa en jornada matutina y vespertina el día de hoy y jornada matutina el domingo, participando equipos de Nuevo León, Coahuila, San Luis Potosí y Tamaulipas. Desde el miércoles unos 1,200 deportistas empezaron a llegar a Ciudad Victoria. La delegación tamaulipeca está conformada por
más de 250 deportistas originarios de Aldama, Mier, Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, Reynosa, Valle Hermoso, Tampico, Madero, Aldama, Mante, Jaumave y Victoria. En la edición 2010 de la Olimpiada Nacional, Tamaulipas cosechó en esta disciplina 12 medallas: 5 de oro, 5 de plata y 2 de bronce. En el caso de las categorías infantil menor (12-13 años) e infantil mayor (1415 años), clasifican a la etapa nacional el primer lugar de cada prueba, categoría y rama, así como los mejores tiempos o marcas del país. En cuanto a las categorías juvenil menor (16-17 años), juvenil mayor (18-19 años) y juvenil superior (20-22 años), clasificarán las mejores 15 marcas o tiempos del país sin importar el lugar que ocupen en los respectivos eventos re-
gionales. En las pruebas de relevos avanzarán solamente las 8 mejores marcas del país
Copa Jalisco Basquetbolistas tamaulipecas se coronaron campeonas de la Copa Jalisco 2011 en la categoría Juvenil Mayor. Ellas, acompañadas por su entrenador Pedro Ramos Licón presentaron la placa por su participación en la competencia en Guadalajara, Jalisco, al director general del Instituto Tamaulipeco del Deporte (ITD), Enrique de la Garza Ferrer. Los equipos tamaulipecos de baloncesto tendrán actividad en la etapa regional de la Olimpiada Nacional 2011, fase que será del 25 al 27 de febrero en la ciudad de San Luis Potosí.
DOMINGO 20 DE FEBRERO LAREDO — TAMIU presenta “The History and Music of Benjamin Franklin’s Colonial America” hoy a las 3 p.m. en el Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall. LAREDO — WBCA presenta H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza a las 8 p.m. en terrenos de L.I.F.E. Downs en la Carretera 59 Este. Entrada gratuita.
MARTES 22 DE FEBRERO LAREDO — El equipo de baloncesto de TAMIU recibe a University of Incarnate Word a las 12 p.m. y 3 p.m. Entrada general a 5 dólares. LAREDO — Hoy es la “Cata de Vino para el Centro de Autismo” auspiciado por el Autism Interventions Center de TAMIU a las 7 p.m. en Salsa’s of Laredo. Entrada general es de 50 dólares. Más información llamando al 326-2689. LAREDO — Juego de Hockey, los Laredo Bucks reciben a Texas Brahmas a las 7 p.m. en Laredo Energy Arena.
JUEVES 24 DE FEBRERO LAREDO — El analista político David Gergen se presenta hoy en TAMIU a las 8 a.m. para una conferencia especial. Costo del boleto es de 35 dólares. Los fondos se destinarán al programa de liderazgo estudiantil de TAMIU. Más información llamando al 326.GIVE. LAREDO — TAMIU invita a disfrutar a la USAF Band of the West, hoy de 7 p.m. a 9 p.m. en el Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall. El evento es gratuito y abierto al público en general, pero se requiere que solicite su boleto en las oficinas de Laredo Morning Times.
VIERNES 25 DE FEBRERO LAREDO — Juego de Hockey, los Laredo Bucks reciben a Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees a las 7:30 p.m. en Laredo Energy Arena. LAREDO — Hoy a las 8 p.m. es el evento “Turn it Up for Autism” en Old Number 2 Bar & Grill. Las donaciones se destinarán al Centro de Intervenciones de Autismo de TAMIU. LAREDO — El equipo de béisbol de TAMIU recibe a Newman University a las 12 p.m. y 3 p.m. Entrada general es de 5 dólares. LAREDO — Pase la tarde en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU y explore “IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System” a las 6 p.m. y “New Horizons” a las 7 p.m. Entrada general es de 5 dólares. Tiempo de Zapata
TAMAULIPAS
SEDESOL
CIUDAD MIER
Cultura tendrá más apoyo
Foto de cortesía | Sedesol
La Secretaria de Desarrollo Social del Estado, Dinorah Blanca Guerra Garza recibió en Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, al Presidente Municipal de Ciudad Mier, Alberto González Peña, aprobando el inicio de un programa de empleo temporal.
POR IMELDA CÁZARES ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CIUDAD VICTORIA — Considerando que la cultura y las artes son básicas para el desarrollo humano, el Gobierno de Tamaulipas anunció que buscarán la población en general conozca, viva y disfrute las tradiciones y patrimonio histórico. El mensaje fue realizado por el Gobernador del Estado Egidio Torre Cantú al presidir la Primera Reunión Estatal con Titulares de Instituciones Municipales de Cultura. “La cultura y las artes reafirman la realidad social y contribuyen en la formación y constitución de una mejor sociedad más humana, solidaria y más justa”, dijo ante promotores y artistas congregados en el Centro Cultural de esta capital. El compromiso sería aplicado en los 43 municipios a fin de que se promuevan las manifestaciones artísticas y se garanticen más oportunidades de acceso a todas las diversas expresiones del arte. Dentro de las ideas se considera integrar a las organizaciones de la sociedad civil, ciudadanos, intelectuales y artistas. “El objetivo es que todos participen y disfruten de los valores artísticos y culturales”, dijo Torre. Titulares de las instituciones municipales de cultural fueron exhortados a aprovechar la oportunidad de trabajo en beneficio de sus comunidades y a seguir cultivando sus talentos y habilidades. De la misma forma, Torre hizo entrega de las becas del Programa de Estímulos a la Creación y el Desarrollo Artístico 2011a jóvenes creadores de distintas expresiones de las artes. La directora general del Instituto Tamaulipeco para la Cultura y las Artes (ITCA), Libertad García Cabriales dijo que la cultura constituye un factor esencial de las políticas públicas de Tamaulipas.
Activan plan de empleo en Mier Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Ciudad Mier
La Casa de la Cultura fue el escenario donde artistas de la región participaron en un festival con motivo del Día del Amor y la Amistad organizado por la Dirección de Cultura y Turismo local.
FAMILIAS CELEBRAN UNIDAS Vuelven brigadas y recreación POR YADIRA ONOFRE ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
C
IUDAD MIER — Desde la celebración del día de San Valentín hasta la reactivación de las brigadas médico-asistenciales del Sistema para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia fueron acciones desarrolladas esta semana. El 14 de febrero la Casa de la Cultura fue el sitio donde se realizó un programa musical a cargo de la Dirección de Turismo y Cultura. En el programa participó Sofía Neftalí Martínez Rosales interpretando melodías románticas y el grupo “Ensamble Musical” bajo la dirección de Víctor Olvera Bustos de Ciudad Miguel Alemán. El Presidente Municipal Alberto González Peña, la Directora de Turismo y Cultura Carmen Alicia Guerra Ríos y la Presidenta del Sistema DIF San Juanita García de González también inauguraron una exposición fotográfica de matrimonios locales.
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Ciudad Mier
Residentes de Ciudad Mier ya tienen acceso a las brigadas gratuitas médico asistenciales. La Presidenta del Sistema DIF, San Juanita García de González, al fondo, dijo que el apoyo será permanente. La celebración continuó el 15 de febrero en el Casino Arguüelles donde se organizó una fiesta para los adultos mayores. Ellos disfrutaron una merienda y jugaron lotería. Finalmente, regresaron las brigadas médico-asistenciales que ofrecen consultas dentales, exámenes de la vista y consultas es-
pecializadas para la mujer. La unidad médica se localizó en la Explanada de la Plaza Principal. García dijo que la ciudadanía puede tener acceso a servicios especializados de manera gratuita. (Yadira Onofre es Directora de Comunicación Social del Gobierno de Ciudad Mier)
POR MARCOS RODRÍGUEZ LEIJA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CIUDAD VICTORIA — Los programas emergentes de reactivación económica en Ciudad Mier continuarán con el actual gobierno estatal. La Secretaria de Desarrollo Social del Estado, Dinorah Blanca Guerra Garza, se reunió con el Presidente Municipal de Mier, Alberto González Peña, para dar continuidad a los programas en coordinación con otras secretarías, el gobierno del estado y la federación. Guerra Garza anunció que a partir de esta semana, tras acuerdo con González, se establecieron apoyos de empleo temporal basados en un estudio socio-económico para seleccionar a las personas que más lo necesitan. Algunas actividades de empleo temporal incluyen limpieza con camiones recolectores, barrido de calles, pintado de guarniciones y mantenimiento de parques y jardines públicos. “Este proyecto se destina a gente que está sin empleo y que requiere de un ingreso económico para el sustento de la familia y del hogar”, dijo González Peña. “Es por eso que presentamos este proyecto ante Sedesol estatal y se nos aprobó”. El programa empezó a aplicarse el 16 de febrero y con ello se da continuidad al apoyo emergente que requiere esa zona, dijo Guerra Garza. Agregó que el objetivo sigue siendo impulsar el desarrollo y bienestar de los tamaulipecos. El programa de rescate de toda la frontera chica inició en enero.
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
Census: Texas GOP bastions more diverse By JAY ROOT ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Explosive minority growth in Texas has turned a handful of once solidly Republican congressional districts into bastions of ethnic diversity, putting added pressure on GOP leaders to shore up the numbers of white voters who traditionally favor the party. Look no further than the seat held by the once mighty U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Republican of Sugar Land. As currently drawn, his District 22 — now in the hands of U.S. Rep. Pete Olson and anchored in fastgrowing Fort Bend County near Houston — was 61 percent white in 2000, according to figures provided by the Texas Legislative Council. Today, with the new 2010 Census numbers, it’s 45.5 percent white. The numbers of blacks, Hispanics and Asians all rose sharply. There’s a similar story in the district held by the top Texas Republican fundraiser and organizer in Congress — U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions of Dallas, who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee. In 2000, the district was 50.1 percent white. Now it’s a majority minority district, with more than 42 percent of them Hispanic and 9 percent black. Hispanics have a generally younger population and are less likely to be eligible to vote, but the sheer numbers and future voting strength have not gone unnoticed. “The Republicans do have to react,” said Cal Jillson, political scientist at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. “I think they will first look at that Pete Sessions district and move him a little bit north, and take some Anglos out of ... the adjoining districts to make him safe.” The new figures that will be used in the congressional redistricting process were released by the U.S. Census Bureau this week. Operatives on both sides of the political aisle are just now beginning to look at the implications of the data, which showed a dramatic increase in the Hispanic population in Texas. The Latino growth accounted for two-thirds of the state’s population gains between 2000 and 2010, and Latinos now make up 38 percent of the population. Non-Hispanic whites dropped to 45.3 percent and blacks make up 11.5 percent of the population. Hispanics make up 48.3 percent of the under-18 population. Texas grew more than any other state, and it’s also adding more congressional seats than any other. Where the four new seats will go won’t be clear for months, as lawmakers propose maps and certain court action follows. Rep. Burt Solomons, chairman of the Texas House Redistricting Committee, says it’s premature to talk about specific maps and who gets what. But he said trying to keep incumbents in their seats is a legally legitimate goal of redistricting. “Every incumbent wants to be protected,” Solomons said. “It’s just part of what goes on in redistricting.” The racial breakdown suggests that a Hispanicdominated seat in north Texas could help shore up districts held by Republican incumbents such as Sessions because the minorities could be taken out of the Republican’s district and put into a new one. U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant, also from the Dallas sub-
The Latino growth accounted for two-thirds of the state’s population gains between 2000 and 2010, and Latinos now make up 38 percent of the population. urbs, had a district that was 64 percent white but has now dropped to 47 percent white, figures show. North Texas Reps. Joe Barton and Michael Burgess also saw significant declines in white voters and large increases in Hispanic clout. Sen. Kel Seliger, chairman of the Senate redistricting panel, told The Associated Press that it “looks like there’s going to be a new congressional seat in North Texas. Because civil rights laws generally mandate the protection of minority voting interests, Seliger said it’s possible that the seat would be a “minority or Hispanic influence district.” The Texas Republican Party doesn’t like that idea that minority growth automatically makes trouble for the GOP. For example, the party picked up — narrowly — two heavily Hispanic congressional seats from Democrats in South Texas. How those seats get reconfigured will be especially touchy for Republican leaders, but in the meantime party officials present the victories as proof Republicans can win in areas dominated by minorities. “It’s not like Republicans are having a hard time representing minority areas or winning elections that are very diverse,” said Texas Republican Party spokesman Chris Elam. “Our legislators represent all their constituents. These people didn’t arrive yesterday afternoon.” Jillson, the political scientist, said the “saving grace” for Republicans is that Hispanics turn out in far fewer numbers than their white counterparts. While whites made up about 45 percent of the population in 2010, they accounted for about 68 percent of the turnout; Hispanics, with 38 percent of the population, accounted for about 20 percent of the vote, Jillson said.
Friend: Giffords speaks more By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is able to laugh at jokes, recognize visitors and even offer a poignant response when asked recently by her husband how she was doing. “Better,” Giffords said, in one of the first words she uttered since being shot in the head Jan. 8. Family friend Tilman Fertitta described the encounters to The Associated Press after spending time with her family and friends and recently visiting Giffords at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston, where she is undergoing intensive rehabilitation. Giffords has been showing strong signs of progress each day as she recovers from her wounds and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, spends time at her bedside. Kelly has been splitting his days between the hospital and training for his space shuttle launch in April. She is in therapy from morning until night, Fertitta said, and sees Kelly every day. “There’s lots of excitement as she continues to
Photo by Gregory Bull | AP
Judy Clarke, the lawyer representing shooting suspect Jared Lee Loughner, walks toward a federal court building Friday, in San Diego. A judge overseeing the criminal case against the suspect will consider whether to release a new mug shot of the suspect and unseal records of a police search of his house. Federal prosecutors and lawyers for 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner oppose requests by news organizations to hand over the photo and make an immediate release of search warrant records. speak more and improve,” he added. “She’s in a great mood and working hard.” “She recognizes everybody,” Fertitta added. Kelly has said he expects Giffords to be well enough to attend the shuttle launch, but doctors said it was still too early to say whether she would be in good enough shape to travel to Cape Canaveral, Fla.,
to watch her husband head the mission. “The doctors are encouraged because she’s improved much faster than expected,” Fertitta said. Fertitta is chairman, president and CEO of Landry’s Inc., the company that owns a casino and several restaurant chains. He met Giffords through Kelly, and has known the astronaut
for about eight years. Fertitta attended their wedding in Tucson and when they found themselves in crisis, provided them with the jet that carried Giffords from Tucson to the rehabilitation center in Houston. Now, the 51-year-old Houston native is helping the family during their extended stay in his hometown.
Discovery’s last launch is Thurs. By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI ASSOCIATED PRESS
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA will try next week to launch space shuttle Discovery on its final voyage following a four-month delay for fuel tank repairs. Liftoff is set for late Thursday afternoon. Senior managers voted unanimously Friday on the new launch date after discussing the fixes made since the shuttle’s grounding in early November. Cracks in the external fuel tank were discovered after a launch attempt was foiled by leaking hydrogen gas. It’s taken this long to understand and repair the cracking, which could have harmed the shuttle during liftoff.
The shuttle will carry six astronauts and a humanoid robot, along with a full load of supplies, to the International Space Station. One of the human crew is a substitute, replacing an astronaut who was injured last month in a bicycle crash. Astronaut Timothy Kopra helped train his fill-in after he stepped down and was instrumental in keeping the flight on track, officials said. He was supposed to be the lead spacewalker. NASA opted for a Thursday liftoff at 4:50 p.m., even though a European cargo vessel will be docking at the space station that morning. Officials normally prefer more time between arriving spacecraft, but they
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Photo by John Raoux/file | AP
In this May 14, 2010 photo, space shuttle Atlantis lifts-off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Its final liftoff is set for Thursday. want to get Discovery flying as soon as possible given its lengthy delay.
The shuttle launch will be put off if anything goes wrong with the docking of the European freighter. As for the cracks in Discovery’s external fuel tank, engineers traced the problem to inferior material combined with assembly issues. The cracking was confined to some of the aluminum alloy struts in the center of the tank, which holds instruments but no fuel. The damaged struts were patched, and the others reinforced as a precaution. NASA worried that the underlying cracks could have caused foam insulation to break off the tank and slam into Discovery, as it did during Columbia’s doomed mission in 2003.
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
House chops another $61B By DAVID ESPO ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled House voted to shield greenhouse-gas polluters and privately owned colleges from federal regulators on Friday, strengthening the pro-business emphasis of legislation that also would chop $61 billion from government spending. But as a final vote neared on the sweeping measure, newly elected conservatives suffered a rare setback when a split among rank-and-file Republicans sank a move to cut an additional $22 billion. “The American people have spoken. They demand that Washington stop its out-of-control spending now, not some time in the future,” declared Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., one of the 87 newly elected Republicans who have moved aggressively to attack federal deficits and reduce government’s reach. But for other Republicans, the extra $22 billion was a step too far. “Rather than make careful decisions on specific programs, the amendment hits everything indiscriminately in a heavy-handed way,” said Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., and principal author of the broader measure. “We were elected to make choices, not run on automatic pilot.” At the end of a week of sessions stretching well past midnight, the House moved toward a final vote on the $1.2 trillion bill that is needed to keep the government in operation when existing funding authority expires on March 4. The measure, packed with cuts to hundreds of federal programs and terminations of others, faces a veto threat from President Barack Obama and implacable opposition from majority Democrats in the Senate. As a result, it is unclear how much of it will
Congresswoman tells of abortion By KEVIN FREKING ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by J. Scott Applewhite | AP
WASHINGTON — After stunning colleagues by recalling that she once had an abortion, Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier of California made clear Friday that the procedure was not something she welcomed and was done because the baby was not going to survive. Speier, first elected in 2008, took to the House floor on Thursday evening during a debate over stripping funding to Planned Parenthood. A previous speaker, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., read a graphic description of a dilation and evacuation
abortion. Speier, 60, then discussed her own experience that took place in the early 1990s. Her spokesman said it was something she had done once before when she served in the California Legislature. “That procedure that you just talked about was a procedure that I endured," Speier said. "I lost the baby. But for you to stand on this floor and to suggest as you have that somehow this is a procedure that is either welcomed or done cavalierly or done without any thought is preposterous.” Speier’s spokesman said she didn’t have any regrets about the speech.
The Senate Budget Committee’s top Republican, Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, right, and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., give the GOP response to President Obama’s budget submission for Fiscal Year 2012, on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Monday. ever become law. At the same time, it has spawned an intensifying political struggle over spending, with current funding for federal agencies due to expire in two weeks. Republicans and Democrats have already accused each other of favoring a government shutdown when funding expires, and the two sides are maneuvering for political advantage in anticipation of talks on a short-term extension that will be needed. The flurry of decisions during the day, combined with votes cast earlier in the week, underscored the impact on the House of the 87 freshmen who were elected to their first terms with tea party support. On a vote of 240-185, the House approved a provision to block Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal money. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., who proposed the move, said, “It is morally wrong to take the taxpayer dollars of millions of pro-life Americans and
use them to fund organizations that provide and promote abortion.” Debate over the issue grew intense Thursday night, when Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., read a description of a graphic second-trimester abortion procedure on the House floor. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., responded with an emotional speech disclosing having undergone an abortion as her 17-week pregnancy was failing. “For you to stand on this floor and to suggest as you have that somehow this is a procedure that is either welcomed or done cavalierly or done without any thought is preposterous,” she said. Under current law, federal funds may not be used for abortions except in the cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in danger. Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., said the GOP proposal would “make it harder to access pap tests, breast exams, routine gynecological
examinations, flu vaccinations, smoking cessation services, cholesterol screening and all of the other services that Planned Parenthood provides.” On another front, Republicans voted three times in slightly different ways to ban the use of federal funds to implement the year-old health care law. The House has voted previously to repeal the new law. The move to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse-gas polluters came from Rep. Ted Poe, RTexas, who said his congressional district is home to more oil refineries than any other. “We’re in a massive economic downturn and the last thing we need to do is shoot ourselves in the foot with unnecessary, expensive new regulations that are on business and industry," he said. But Rep. Jim Moran, DVa., said the proposal was the worst of a series of regulation-negating provisions backed by Republicans.
Postage up but not for most letters By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — First the bad news, postage rates went up Thursday. Now the good news, the basic 44-cent rate for firstclass mail stays the same. The Postal Service said Friday that mail price changes it announced last month have been approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission. The 44-cent price of a first-class stamp won’t change, but heavier letters will cost more. That basic rate covers the first ounce, and the price for each extra ounce will rise from 17 cents to 20 cents. The increase comes under a formula that allows the agency to raise prices within the rate of inflation. That would permit an increase of 1.7 percent averaged over all mail.
The Postal Service lost $8.5 billion last year despite cuts of more than 100,000 jobs and other reductions in recent years. The agency has lost considerable business to the Internet and the recession also cut sharply into its business. Last summer the post office sought an increase that would have exceeded inflation, citing the unusual business conditions of the recession. That was rejected by the independent Postal Regulatory Commission. The post office has appealed and, in the meantime, sought the increase approved Friday. Its filing with the Postal Regulatory Commission also said the agency expects to raise rates annually in mid-April. The last rate increase was in May 2009.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
THE ZAPATA TIMES 11A
WIONA L. HACKLER ZAPATA — Wiona L. Hackler, 87, born in Georgetown, Illinois, on Jan. 14, 1924, passed away Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo. Ms. Hackler is preceded in death by her husband, George F. Hackler; brothers: Leo Reagan and Chig Reagan; and a sister Rose Vanhuss. Ms. Hackler is survived by her son, Dennis (Shirley Cox) Hackler; daughter, Judith Sassene; and by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a sister, Biula Drew. Ms. Hackler and her husband owned Hackler &
Son RV & MH Parts & Services for 34 years in Zapata, Texas. Visitation hours will be held Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, at 5 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home following a chapel service at 6 p.m. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 Highway 83, Zapata.
Houston man arrested in wife’s brutal attack By JUAN A. LOZANO ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — A Houston-area man has been arrested on charges that he brutally attacked his estranged common law wife, who survived a 17-hour ordeal in which she was tortured and mutilated while tied down to a bed, Harris County sheriff ’s officials said Friday. Gregory Longoria Jr. is accused of kidnapping his wife on Wednesday and holding her against her will until the next morning. He has been charged with aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault of a family member and was being held in the Harris County Jail. Court records did not list a lawyer for him. He was set to appear in court on Monday. Investigators said that during the ordeal Longoria tied her to a bed, hit her, burned her breasts and then pulled off one of her nipples. The 39-year-old man then used a cigarette lighter to turn a can of hairspray into a torch that burned her between her legs, authorities said. According to a probable cause affidavit, when the 33-year-old woman began to scream, her attacker stuffed a rag in her mouth and then covered her face with a pillow until she lost consciousness. She was also choked with a belt tightened around her neck. “It is a horrendous, horribly masochistic type of act that many of these deputies have never seen,” Sheriff Adrian Garcia said. Garcia, who was emotional during a news conference, compared Longoria to a “rabid dog” that had “to be put down.”
Lt. Ruben Diaz said when authorities arrested Longoria on Thursday “he had a smirk on his face. He really didn’t care.” A doctor who treated the woman said she will require reconstructive surgery but will still be permanently disfigured, according to the affidavit. Authorities said the woman was still hospitalized. The woman told authorities Longoria went to her parents’ home and threatened to kill the elderly and disabled couple if she did not go with him to his northeast Houston apartment Wednesday. He also took their year-old daughter with them. According to the affidavit, Longoria took naked pictures of his wife before he tied her to his bed using extension cords. “This victim was tortured. She was mutilated. She was kept against her will. There was nothing she could actually do to help herself because of the longtime fear that this man had put into her heart. She felt like doing anything to help herself was going to put her family and herself and possibly her children in peril,” said Diaz. The couple’s 1-year-old daughter was in a nearby room during the attack, Diaz said. “She was in and out of consciousness (during the attack),” Diaz said. “He kept slapping her to keep her awake, telling her, “You have to be awake for this.’” After Longoria attacked and mutilated his wife, she was able to convince him to let her go by pretending that she needed to go to a job interview, investigators said. After being let go, she went to a hospital. Officials there contacted authorities.
Counting Washingtons By JESSE WASHINGTON ASSOCIATED PRESS
George Washington’s name is inseparable from America, and not only from the nation’s history. It identifies countless streets, buildings, mountains, bridges, monuments, cities — and people. In a puzzling twist, most of these people are black. The 2000 U.S. Census counted 163,036 people with the surname Washington. Ninety percent of them were African-American, a far higher black percentage than for any other common name. The story of how Washington became the “blackest name” begins with slavery and takes a sharp turn after the Civil War, when all blacks were allowed the dignity of a surname. Even before Emancipation, many enslaved black people chose their own surnames to establish their identities. Afterward, some historians theorize, large numbers of blacks chose the name Washington in the process of asserting their freedom. Today there are black Washingtons, like this writer, who are often identified as AfricanAmerican by people they have never met. There are white Washingtons who are sometimes misidentified and have felt discrimination. There are Washingtons of both races who view the name as a special — if complicated — gift. And there remains the presence of George, born 278 years ago on Feb. 22, whose complex relationship with slavery echoes in the blackness of his name today.
Kept his slaves George Washington inherited land and 10 human beings from his father, and gained more of both as he grew older. But over the decades, as he recognized slavery’s contradiction with the freedoms of the new nation, Washington grew opposed to human bondage. Still, “slaves were the basis of his fortune,” and he would not part with them, says Ron Chernow, author of the new biography “Washington: A Life.” By the standards of the time, Washington was not a harsh slaveowner. He recognized marriages and refused to sell off individual family members. But he also worked his slaves quite hard. As president, he shuttled them between his Philadelphia residence and Virginia estate
Photo by Toby Talbot | AP
Ida and Larry Washington sit in their living room in Weybridge, Vt. Larry Washington, who traces his family tree back to England in the 1700s, says he is not related to George, who had no children. The 2000 U.S. Census counted 163,036 people with the surname Washington. Ninety percent of them were African-American, a far higher black percentage than for any other common name.
Photo by Library of Congress | AP
This 1894 photo shows Booker T. Washington. The famous exslave was a boy when emancipation came to his Virginia plantation. He had been called only “Booker” until enrolling in school. “When the teacher asked me what my full name was, I calmly told him, ‘Booker Washington,’” he wrote in his autobiography, “Up from Slavery.” to evade a law that freed any slave residing in Pennsylvania for six months. While in Philadelphia, Oney Judge, Martha Washington’s maid, learned Martha was planning one day to give her to an ill-tempered granddaughter. Judge disappeared. According to Chernow’s book, Washington abused his presidential powers and asked the Treasury Department to kidnap Judge from her new life in New Hampshire. The plot was unsuccessful. “Washington was leading this schizoid life,” Chernow says. “In theory and on paper he was opposed to slavery, but he was still zealously tracking and seeking to recover his slaves who escaped.” In his final years on his Mount Vernon plantation, Washington said that “nothing but the rooting out of slavery can perpetuate the existence of our union.” This led to extraordin-
ary instructions in his will that all 124 of his slaves should be freed after the death of his wife. Washington also ordered that the younger black people be educated or taught a trade, and he set aside money to care for the sick or aged. Twelve American presidents were slaveowners. Washington is the only one who set all of his black people free.
Mark of identity It’s a myth that most enslaved blacks bore the last name of their owner. Only a handful of George Washington’s hundreds of slaves did, for example, and he recorded most as having just a first name, says Mary Thompson, the historian at Mount Vernon. Still, many enslaved blacks had surnames that went unrecorded, says historian Henry Wiencek, author of “An Imperfect God: George Washington,
His Slaves, and the Creation of America.” Some chose names as a mark of community identity, which could be the plantation of a current or recent owner, Wiencek says, and those names could have provided some advantages or protection after the Civil War. Sometimes blacks used the surname of the owner of their oldest known ancestor, as a way to maintain their identity. Last names also could have been plucked out of thin air. The famous ex-slave Booker T. Washington was a boy when Emancipation came to his Virginia plantation. He had been called only “Booker” until enrolling in school. “When the teacher asked me what my full name was, I calmly told him, ‘Booker Washington,’” he wrote in his autobiography, “Up from Slavery.” He gives no indication why the name Washington popped into his head. But George Washington, dead for only 60-odd years, had immense fame and respect at the time. His will had been widely published in pamphlet form, and it was well known that he had freed his slaves. Did enslaved people feel inspired by Washington and take his name in tribute? Were they seeking some benefits from the association? Did newly freed people take the name as a mark of devotion to their country? “We just don’t know,” Weincek says. But the connection is too strong for some to ignore. But for black people who chose the name Washington, it’s uncertain precisely why.
12A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
FOOD Continued from Page 1A
Courtesy photo
The Zapata High School Mariachi Band won first place in the recent Texas High School Mariachi Championship in San Antonio on Jan. 22.
MARIACHI Continued from Page 1A which in turn must earn a Division 1 rating within the region. This year, between six and 10 schools competed at regionals, with Zapata earning the Division 1 rating. Twelve high schools across the state advanced to state finals. The students, Padilla said, worked very hard towards this goal, practicing daily during class hours and once a week for two hours. “It took 30 takes (to record) the first song, and it was done over maybe about a three-week span, for three songs,” said Padilla The mariachi program begins at the sixth grade level in the district, and Padilla has directed most of the varsity mariachi performers since they were in
eighth grade, which is when he began at Zapata High School. As president of the Texas Association of Mariachi Educators, he continues working towards further promoting mariachi music in education. “The next thing that we’re going to be working toward is doing an all-state TMEA mariachi,” said Padilla. Lisa Garza, former assistant mariachi director, hopes this becomes a UIL event as well. On Sunday, Feb. 13, the group was rewarded for its success as state finalists by performing at the San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo “Dia de Vaquero.” The event took place at the Expo Hall and Horse Arena, with an audience of about 1,500 people, where they
performed Intocable’s “Popurri.” “The crowd was really, really happy with what they did,” Garza said. “The kids got tremendous crowd response,” added Padilla. Afterward, the group was escorted to the San Antonio Univision 41 television station, where Ramon Ayala was being interviewed and the students performed for live broadcast performing. Come next year, changes in the Texas High School Mariachi Championship will include eliminating the submission of compact discs for regionals. Instead, an area competition will be implemented, and from there, those bands which earn the Division 1 rating will advance to state finals.
COUNTY Continued from Page 1A dents to give input through future public hearings. In other business, the county is moving forward with the purchase of the property occupied by the Gateway Clinic. The land is owned by the county, but the building was construct-
ed by the Community Action Council. The county’s bid for $650,000 was accepted by the First National Bank of Hebbronville, but bank officials need clearance from the Internal Revenue Service to release the property.
The process had been delayed while an appraiser of the property was out sick, but the appraisal was recently submitted to the IRS. (Julie Daffern may be reached at 728-2565 or jdaffern@lmtonline.com)
Conoco Philips. The two grants will allow Adopt-aFamily to sponsor 43 more families. Each of the grants was for $5,100. “With that money, it will help me to buy the monthly food that we provide to the needy,” said Salinas. Adopt-a-Family is an organization that works in conjunction with the South Texas Food Bank to provide food for families in need. For $120 a month, individuals can sponsor a family, either of their choice or selected at random. The family will then receive one bag of groceries per month providing kitchen basics, such as rice, oil and ground beef. “It comes out to $10 a month. That’s one lunch or a dinner for us, and that
can help,” said Cindy Liendo, chief development officer for the South Texas Food Bank. On this particular delivery date, Ranchers for the Hungry and Adopt-a-Family joined forces to give back to the community. Ranchers for the Hungry donated venison, processed locally at Lalo’s Processing, in lieu of the usual ground beef, cooking burgers for those in attendance to show ways in which they could cook their own meat. Members of the organization donate one steer a month to feed the hungry. “Most ranchers will say, ‘It’s a drop in the bucket for us,’” said Pancho Farias, project director and cook for the day. Some of those present at
the event were students from Hawk Pride, an alternative education institution. Blanca V. Gonzalez, a counselor with the Credit Recovery Program, recommended 15 students to be sponsored by the organization. Many of them are single mothers or young families struggling to make ends meet, having to choose between paying bills or buying groceries. “In the Credit Recovery Center, we have students who could benefit from the free meal,” Gonzalez said. The South Texas Food Bank serves eight counties, including Jim Hogg, Zapata, and Webb counties, said Farias. Adopt-a-Family usually distributes food to Zapata County the second Thursday of the month.
CENSUS Continued from Page 1A He added, however, that the increase was good for the county. “Anytime you have more people, I think you have a better opportunity for federal funding and state funding and so forth,” Martinez said. The participation rate in Zapata County, at just 24 percent, was well below the state average of 69 percent and Webb County’s 62 percent rates. Census forms did not ask about respondents’ citizenship. Commissioner Jose Emilio Vela said a lot of people who live on ranches or in rural areas were not counted. He added that there is also a large number of recent immigrants. Vela said he’d look into appealing the figure, and added he expected more than 15,000. “Based on school enrollment this year alone, we went up a higher number,” Vela said. “That’s a sign that we’re growing more than 15 percent.” Hispanic people accounted for two-thirds of the
Hispanic people accounted for two-thirds of the state’s growth and now make up 38 percent of the population in Texas. state’s growth and now make up 38 percent of the population in Texas. In Zapata, the number of Hispanics grew as well. In 2000, 84.8 percent of the Zapata community was reportedly Hispanic, while the most recent Census shows that 93.3 percent is Hispanic. Nearby Webb County grew by 29 percent to more than 250,000 people in 2010. Laredo’s population grew by more than 33 percent over the past decade to more than 236,000 people. The city vaults from the 13th-largest in the state to the 10th-largest. Among the 10 biggest cities in Texas, only Fort Worth grew faster. Like Zapata leaders, Laredo City Manager Carlos Villarreal had expected a
higher increase. “That’s still a substantial growth in our area, but I was expecting at least to be able to close to within 275,000 to 280,000,” he said. In a news release Friday, Sen. Judith Zaffirini noted that 10 counties within her district saw a gain, while seven lost people. “As the ranking member of the Senate Redistricting Committee, my priority will be to ensure that our South Texas communities of interest are kept together and that every person has an effective voice in government,” Zaffirini stated. (Staff reporter Andrew Kreighbaum contributed to this report. Julie Daffern may be reached at 728-2565 or jdaffern@lmtonline.com)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors COLLEGE SPORTS
FISHING
UT TV DRAWS IRE OF RIVALS
Courtesy photo
Ky Martin shows off his big catch.
Big fish hunter Martin shows fish who’s the bass SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
ATHENS — Falcon International Reservoir submitted its 12th entry ever into the Toyota ShareLunker program Jan. 31, a 13.22-pound fish caught by Ky Martin of Grandview, Texas. The fish was 25 inches long and 20.5 inches in girth. Martin caught the fish at about 2 p.m. and took it to the official ShareLunk-
er weigh and holding station in Zapata, Robert’s Bait and Tackle, to await pickup. Martin was pre-fishing for a Bass Champs tournament when he caught the fish and is not releasing details on the catch at this time. The fish became the fifth entry submitted in January, tying the current season for second in num-
See FISHING PAGE 2B
NFL
Cowboys’ Ryan vows defensive renaissance New coordinator promises change By JAIME ARON ASSOCIATED PRESS
IRVING — Rob Ryan gave brief, bland answers to the first couple questions he was asked at his initial gathering with reporters since becoming defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. It was so out of character that he wondered aloud, “Am I boring enough yet?” The charade didn’t last long. Just three minutes in, Ryan used an expletive to emphasize just how great of a job he plans to do. He then smiled and said, “Sorry. Only one so far. I was guarded early, but, hell, that’s on me.” Finally warmed up, Ryan began offering the kind of bold predictions football fans expect from the Ryan
family, ones that Cowboys fans are hoping he can back up. Ryan insisted his unit can be among the best in the NFL this season despite being among the worst in franchise history last season. He vowed they would be tough and aggressive. He also declared himself the right guy to be running the defense for this club, even if he is the son of former Dallas tormentor Buddy Ryan. Rob’s credentials: two Super Bowl titles as linebackers coach with New England and a defensive coordinator since 2004, spending five seasons with Oakland and the last two with Cleveland. “We’re going to be a great defense,” Ryan said. “If I never said that, if I didn’t believe that, then you’ve got the wrong guy. But the right guy is standing here in front of you. ... It’s going to be great. The
See COWBOYS PAGE 2B
Photo by Tom Reel | San Antonio Express-News
Texas A&M leads the chorus of opposition By CHRIS DUNCAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Last month, officials with the University of Texas and ESPN Inc. trumpeted their 20year, $300 million deal to create a 24-hour television network that will broadcast Longhorns sports. "We’re going to cover (Texas) football like it’s never been covered before," said Burke Magnus, senior vice president of college sports programming for ESPN. George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN Inc. and ABC Sports, called the network "a testament to the school’s remarkable, traditionrich success and widespread, devoted fan base." The schools who compete with Texas see it a little different. The prospect of Texas athletics potentially reaching the homes of young athletes across the country has competing schools scrambling for ways to keep pace. One rival suggested the network offers an unfair advantage that merits NCAA scrutiny. The Texas deal also may include coverage of some high school events, and Texas A&M athletics director Bill Byrne says that should raise questions about the possibility of illegal recruiting practices. "I can’t speak for the NCAA, but I would imagine the governing body will look into the use of a col-
“
It will be great for our university, but it’s also great for every sport, and it’s something that we’re starting to realize now.” TEXAS FOOTBALL COACH
MACK BROWN legiate television network airing games of prospective student-athletes," Byrne said in a statement. "I understand networks such as FSN and ESPN airing high school sports, but whether or not employees under contract with a university that may have additional contact would seem to be an issue." The NCAA referred questions about the TV deal to the university and ESPN. The agreement calls for exclusive broadcasts of at least 200 Longhorns’ games per year, including all the school’s non-revenue sports. The still-unnamed network is scheduled to debut in September and school officials say it also will air academic and cultural programming. Texas will control the content, so the network virtually amounts to a 24-hour advertisement that offers another enormous recruiting advantage for a school already among the richest and most powerful in
the country. High school athletics directors said the network will have a major impact on impressionable youngsters mulling college choices, especially those in other states. "I think it is the wave of the future," said Ben Pardo, the athletics director at Pearland High School, which won the Texas 5A football championship in December. "We’re in a visual society, and any kid who sees that and is exposed to that anywhere, that will certainly have an impact on how a kid perceives a university. That certainly is a great way for a university to expose what it has to offer to a younger and more widespread group." Ray Seals, the football coach and athletics coordinator at Houston’s Madison High School, where former Texas quarterback Vince Young played, said the network also gives Texas a valuable selling point
See UT TV PAGE 2B
LADY HAWKS GOLF TEAM TRAVELS TO LAREDO FOR BORDER OLYMPICS
Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Zapata High School golf team coach David Saenz and his daughter and team member Leanna Saenz follow the action on hole No. 3 Friday morning at the Casa Blanca Golf Course during the Border Olympics Girls High School Golf Tournament.
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
Purke feeling perky to be a Horned Frog Star pitcher seeks his second CWS By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT WORTH — Matt Purke was happy at TCU, even before he went 16-0 as a freshman and made it to the College World Series. “I told coach (Jim Schlossnagle) before we started conference and regionals that I was completely content with my decision being at this place,” said Purke, a slender bespectacled left-hander who was a first-round draft pick two summers ago. “Even if we hadn’t had that success last year, I still would be feeling the same way I do right now. But it certainly helps.” The Texas Rangers, then still more than a year from becoming AL champions while going through bankruptcy proceedings and a sale, couldn’t complete a deal before Purke enrolled at TCU. “After everything happened, I’d say probably that night or the next day .... from that point on I was all about TCU,” Purke said. “Everyone thought that thing would linger with me. But, in all honesty, I was done with it and as soon as I got to campus. I had no ideas or thoughts about anything else other than playing TCU baseball.” Purke led the nation in victories and capped his season winning both his starts in the College World Series, the Frogs’ first trip to Omaha. The lefty with a deceptive three-quarters delivery now gets one more season with the Frogs before he is eligible to be drafted again. Purke was selected 14th the last time. This time, he certainly could go higher and likely will turn pro. Before that, there could be one more special season for
Photo by Nati Harnik | AP
TCU starting pitcher Matt Purke winds up for a delivery against Florida State during the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., on June 19. Purke and the Frogs. Two other top starters are back — right-handers Steven Maxwell (11-2, 2.70) and Kyle Winkler (12-3, 3.39) — and the Frogs were ranked No. 1 in the preseason Collegiate Baseball poll. Purke is to start the season opener Friday night at home against Kansas. “He really handled the unrealistic expectations that were placed on him, of being a first-rounder that came to school,” Schlossna-
gle said. “I want him to be a prima donna between the lines, but off the field, he’s never been anything but a team guy. There’s zero ego in there. A lot of confidence, but zero ego.” Purke’s 3.02 ERA was second best among NCAA starters, and he had 142 strikeouts and 34 walks in 116 1-3 innings. Opponents hit .212 against him in a season that exceeded even his own expectations. “Oh, yeah, I didn’t put
FISHING Continued from Page 1B ber of entries for the month with January of the 1991-92 season. The 1994-95 season saw the highest number of January entries ever, seven. And now for the rest of the story: The 1994-95 season holds the record for the most entries, 36, and the 1991-92 season had 33, tying for second-highest number of entries with the season just past, 20092010. Time will tell what this means, if anything, about the total number of entries the program will receive this season. Anyone legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass from Texas waters, public or private, between Oct. 1 and April 30 may submit the fish to the Toyota ShareLunker program by calling program manager David Campbell at (903) 6810550 or paging him at (888)
784-0600 and leaving a phone number including area code. Fish will be picked up by TPWD personnel within 12 hours. For complete information and rules of the ShareLunker program, tips on caring for big bass and a recap of last year’s season, see www.tpwd.state.tx.us/sharelunker. The site also includes a searchable database of all fish entered into the program along with pictures where available. The Toyota ShareLunker Program is made possible by a grant to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation from Gulf States Toyota. Toyota is a longtime supporter of the Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, providing major funding for a wide variety of education, fish, parks and wildlife projects.
that one together,” Purke said. “Certainly when I got into it, I was just going to go with it.” Purke signed a national letter of intent with TCU in the fall of 2008, before his senior season at Klein High School near Houston. He was already one of the nation’s top prospects and was Baseball America’s high school pitcher of the year as a junior. Even though he is only a sophomore, Purke is already
eligible for the draft again because his 21st birthday (July 17) is within 45 days of the draft that begins June 6. “Certainly the goal is to have him have another great season, for him to stay healthy and for us to have a great year,” Schlossnagle said. “If all those things happen and he stays healthy, then he’s certainly going to be one of the top picks in the draft. ... Stay healthy and stay true to who he is, he’ll be a major
league player for a long time.” Purke’s unusual delivery lends to a fastball that reaches the mid-90s with a sinking movement and good breaking pitches. “He’s atypical. The hitters don’t see other pitchers that are similar,” Baylor coach Steve Smith said. “His delivery’s unique. It’s not anything that would make anybody feel comfortable. ... He’s got so many moving parts that (batters) just don’t feel comfortable.” Purke feels like he was “certainly ready as an 18year-old” to go pro, but being at TCU has helped him grow as a pitcher and a person. “This is stuff that you can’t learn until you’re out there,” Purke said. “That’s a lot of experience that I got in one compact season.” Purke got the chance to live on his own, making that adjustment in college rather than while riding buses between small towns playing in the minor leagues. On the field, he learned how to manage runners and pickoff plays, the peripheral things outside of just throwing the ball past hitters. “I thought he was mature beyond his years last year, and he’s certainly bypassed that,” Schlossnagle said. “It’s not just throwing the ball as hard as you can toward home plate and having a great breaking ball,” the coach said. “That’s a great way to start it, but it’s so much more than that. Now he’s been though that for a year and certainly had success at the absolute highest level you can have, in Omaha and a Super Regional in a hostile environment.” This season, Purke wants to cut down on walks (he had only 1.7 per game), lower his ERA and get quicker outs to go deeper into games. He had only one complete game.
COWBOYS Continued from Page 1B proof is in the pudding. Anybody can talk the talk, but I can walk it.” Outspoken like his twin brother, Jets coach Rex Ryan, Rob has long, stringy gray hair and a belly so big he asked cameramen whether they had wide enough lenses. Everything about him seems contrary to his new boss, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, a trim Ivy Leaguer with close-cropped red hair who prides himself on never saying anything flamboyant. But they also have a lot in common — from being sons of longtime NFL guys with siblings who are also in the business to being proponents of physical play. Garrett added hitting to practices after he replaced Wade Phillips midway through last season and talks often about wanting his team to hit often. Ryan said he would work on tackling every day. “We are going to have a defense the way he wants,” Ryan said. “He hired me to run the defense and not give out public speaking deals. I will be ready to go. I will be a strength, not a liability.” Phillips knew his Xs and Os but is hardly a dynamic personality. Ditto for his immediate replacement as de-
fensive coordinator last season, Paul Pasqualoni. So having Ryan in charge should bring a lively new vibe to the defensive meeting rooms. “I don’t know if I got swag or not,” Ryan said, only to quickly add, “I’m sure I do. “I’m just going to be me,” he continued. “That’s usually been good enough.” Ryan will keep the 3-4 scheme implemented years ago by Bill Parcells, but will deploy it differently. He likes to confuse quarterbacks by moving guys around and disguising who is coming from where. While Cleveland wasn’t very good last season, Ryan made it clear his defense wasn’t to blame. “We were in the top five or seven in about every smart category there was: points allowed, turnovers, hardest to score on in the first and third quarter, where coaching means something,” he said. “We were the only team in the league that hadn’t given up 30 points until that last one. ... I think we were one of three teams that were in the top 10 in the league in red zone, turnovers and points, in all those categories, which is pretty good.”
Defense was a big reason the Cowboys started 1-7, costing Phillips his dual jobs as coach and defensive coordinator. They wound up allowing the most yards and giving up the most points in franchise history, a befuddling drop for a unit that the previous year was among the league’s best — especially at season’s end — and had virtually the same players. “This league is hard and the ball doesn’t always bounce your way,” Ryan said. “That doesn’t mean we can’t come back from it and have one of the best units this year. That’s what we’re going to have.” He has some solid building blocks in outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who led the NFL in sacks, and nose tackle Jay Ratliff. Ryan squelched any notion of Ratliff moving from the middle of the line to the outside. He also praised veteran inside linebackers Bradie James and Keith Brooking, said he’s excited about young inside linebacker Sean Lee, and said outside linebacker Anthony Spencer “is going to be tremendous in our system, I can tell you that for sure.”
UT TV Continued from Page 1B to prospective athletes’ parents. "The sports like field hockey and things like that, you never see it on TV," Seals said. "Now, knowing that you can get that kind of exposure, that’d be hard to turn down for a youngster nowadays. "And now, if my parents can’t come down to see me play, they can see me on TV," Seals said. "Parents won’t have to take those long trips anymore, they can just turn on the TV and see their kids. Somebody did a good job of setting that up." Grasping the possibilities, Oklahoma plans to launch a similar network within the next year. Like Texas, the Sooners’ football and basketball programs already garner
plenty of national exposure. Oklahoma baseball coach Sunny Golloway said such a network will help the lower-tier sports stay on equal footing with their rivals across the Red River. "I think it’s got a chance to be huge and I’m concerned that I don’t want Texas to jump out in front of us on that," he said. "I don’t want to be on the road recruiting here in a couple months and some kid says, ’Hey, they’ve got the Texas Network.’ I’m going to come right back, ’We’ve got the Oklahoma Network,’ and I need the program right away to sell." Other Big 12 schools without the same resources or reach are hoping for ways to stay competitive on the recruiting
trail. Missouri athletics director Mike Alden thinks the answer is developing methods of transmitting easy-to-access information to mobile devices. "I think what it means for us, it means we have to continue to find ways to deliver our product," Alden said. "Those are things I think all of us are working on and it’s something Texas is able to do and it’s good for them. I don’t know if it hurts us, but it will definitely help them with what they are trying to do." All the schools in the conference are eager to see how the TV deal affects the future of the league. Texas turned down offers to join the Big Ten and the Pac-10 last summer in part so it could
launch the network, but school officials say they’re committed to the league and do not intend to break off and become an independent. Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe said the Longhorns’ deal can work in harmony with the league’s current TV contracts. The Big 12 has a $480 million deal with ABC-ESPN that runs through 2015-16, and a $78 million contract with Fox Sports Net through 2011-12. "All of our members have acknowledged that no institutional distribution system will be allowed to diminish the value of the conference’s media agreements," Beebe said in a statement. "And all indications are that the Big 12 is in a great position to enhance its future
collective media arrangements, while allowing institutions to distribute content that is not used by our television partners." The Aggies’ Byrne is more skeptical. Texas A&M also flirted with the idea of leaving the Big 12 — and the Longhorns’ formidable shadow — and joining the Southeastern Conference. He said the Texas deal remains a hot topic among school officials. "There are many questions regarding this new contract that will be discussed at length here at Texas A&M and within the Big 12 Conference, as well as with our television partners," Byrne said. "As we have stated on many occasions, it is our desire to work with our member institutions in the Big 12
Conference to do what is best for our league, and, of course, do what is best for Texas A&M." Meanwhile, Texas football coach Mack Brown said school officials in Austin will brainstorm ways to make the most of their new network. "There’s nothing like it in sports, which is just unbelievable," Brown said. "It will be great for our university, but it’s also great for every sport, and it’s something that we’re starting to realize now. "It will, obviously, be great for recruiting," Brown said. "But we think it’s also something to let people have more behindthe-scenes looks at what we do without giving up everything. So we’ve got to look at what that means and where we go with it."
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
HINTS BY | HELOISE Dear Readers: Is your DOG OVERWEIGHT? It can lead to joint pain, diabetes and other health issues, just as in humans. Some breeds of dogs are more apt to have weight issues, such as beagles and dachshunds, for example. And as dogs get older and become less active, they, too, may put on weight, just like their owners! So, here are a couple of hints to help you and help your pet: Don’t give too many snacks, and make the ones you do give healthy ones. Smaller meals spread out through the day may be better. Always feed using the pet’s bowl -- no plates! More exercise will help to burn calories and will allow for more restful sleep. Work with your veterinarian to keep the dog fit. Its diet should include fiber and the specific type of fat to keep the skin and coat healthy. -- Heloise P.S.: Remember, dogs can’t open the refrigerator door or cookie jar! HAVE DOG, WILL TRAVEL Dear Readers: Since many pets are considered a part of the family, when traveling by air, the pets may come along for the trip. Your pet’s vaccination records must BE CURRENT, and you also will need a health certificate from your vet proving that
“
HELOISE
your pet is in good health. This certificate should be completed so that it has been written 10 days before your planned travel. Check with the airline to see if it has any other special guidelines, and if you are visiting a foreign country, it will have requirements as well. -Heloise PET PLAN Dear Heloise: I got an aquarium for Christmas, and although I really enjoy it, it’s a lot of work, especially the cleaning. Here’s what I want to pass on: Before buying an aquarium, do some research so that you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. -- Charlie in Pennsylvania Charlie, this is a very good point, one that pertains to bringing any pet into your home. You should buy a book or do extensive research on which pet you want to get, or at least check online. Any pet is going to cause a change in the household, and you will have the responsibility of its care. Also, you must get a pet veterinarian care, which, at times, can be a large expense. So, be sure that you are ready for the commitment as well as the potential expense. -- Heloise
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4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
Fresh start in Texas for Rowland-Smith ASSOCIATED PRESS
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011
Torrealba catches on Rangers’ new catcher once spurned by Mets ASSOCIATED PRESS
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — After a 2010 debacle for himself and his team, pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith needed a new start. He is getting one with the Houston Astros. Some adjustment will be required, and RowlandSmith welcomes it. “I have to give myself at least a week to settle in,” he said Friday. “You’ve got a whole new front office, coaches, players. It’s all brand-new. It feels like I’m starting rookie ball again, you know?” Rowland-Smith, who signed a one-year, $725,000 contract on Dec. 10, is a serious candidate to make the Astros’ starting rotation after a season in which he want 1-10 with a 6.75 ERA. “The Mariners made an offer and I ultimately turned it down. It was more brand-new to me to be a free agent,” he said. “I did my research the best I could, and from what I heard from certain people, this is a positive environment to be in.” Which is a long way from Seattle, where he started the 2010 season in a rotation with Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez. A popular choice to win the AL West, the Mariners went 61-101. RowlandSmith’s 20 starts were major components of the downfall. “There were a few outside factors, but the only person I’m going to point fingers at is myself,” he said. “I had a couple rough ones early in the year and I really let it get to me. I started really questioning (myself). I was trying to search for the answers and I started doubting what got me to the big leagues.” Before last season, he had a 3.82 lifetime ERA
Photo by Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle | AP
Houston Astros pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith throws during a spring training workout in Kissimmee, Fla., on Thursday. and had given up 8.5 hits per nine innings. Last year he gave up 11.6 hits per nine innings. Whether the difference was mechanical, mental or some combination is something the Astros have yet to determine. Pitching coach Brad Arnsberg said he will simply watch Rowland-Smith on the mound for at least a couple of weeks before getting analytical. He acknowledged that a pitcher’s frame of mind is critical. “They can go out and make 78 good pitches out of 85, and sometimes all they remember is they gave up a double and a two-run homer,” Arnsberg said. “But what about the other 78 you’ve got to give yourself credit for?”
Fortunately for Rowland-Smith, he had a pretty good record before 2010, and that’s why he is here. “We’ll put him in the mix because of the success he has had at the major league level,” manager Brad Mills said. “We know that he has capability and it’s important that a guy can look back at that success.” Even if he has to look back more than a year. “(The season) started off bad and I just never recovered,” Rowland-Smith said. “Essentially I got away from what got me to the big leagues and that was competing. I’m not going to throw 100 mph, but to me it’s always been about competing, and I lost that.”
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Yorvit Torrealba was signed by the Texas Rangers this winter to be their starting catcher. That was the same plan the New York Mets had for him before failing to finalize a $14.4 million agreement 31/2 years ago. With Torrealba in camp with the AL champion Rangers, arbitrator Shyam Das ruled Thursday that the Mets had the right not to complete their threeyear agreement with Torrealba in November 2007. “I’m not ready to make a comment on that,” Torrealba said Friday. “(My agent) told me what’s going on. I know I lost the case, but I’m not 100 percent ready to say what happened and what’s going on. When I find out more of what happened I’ll have no problem talking about it.” The agreement signed by the Mets and Torrealba’s representative said the deal was subject to a physical that was satisfactory to the Mets. The team concluded it had concerns about his throwing shoulder, which caused him to miss three months of the 2006 season. Torrealba then re-signed with the Colorado Rockies, getting a $7.25 million, twoyear deal. The players’ association filed a grievance against the Mets the following April. After the Rockies, Torrealba played in San Diego for $1.25 million last season before signing a $6.25 million, two-year deal with the Rangers to be their starting catcher. Texas manager Ron Washington has already made it clear that the plan is for Torrealba to be the starter. Matt Treanor, who shared catching duties with Bengie Molina the second half of the season, was re-signed this offsea-
Photo by Charlie Riedel | AP
Texas Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba runs a drill during spring training on Thursday in Surprise, Ariz. son and the Rangers also acquired catcher-first baseman Mike Napoli. Torrealba has been primarily a backup catcher in 669 major league games for San Francisco (2001-05), Seattle (2005), Colorado (2006-09) and the Padres. “That was really hard for me the last few years. It’s hard because you’ve got to try to know your pitchers but I only could give my advice on the bench,” Torrealba said. “If you’re behind the plate you have a different feel for what’s working. ... This year, being the guy, I can focus from the get-go.” Torrealba hit .271 with seven homers and 37 RBI in 95 games with San Diego last season. He started 89 games, and the Padres were 53-36 in those games with a 3.14 ERA, the lowest
to a catcher in the majors since the Los Angeles Dodgers had a 2.73 ERA with Paul Lo Duca behind the plate in 2003. The only time he has appeared in more games than last season was 113 in 2007, when he helped the Rockies reach the World Series. He then became a free agent and reached his deal with the Mets before instead re-signing with Colorado. At Rangers camp, Torrealba is catching two or three pitchers a day and plans to work with the entire staff. He talks to pitchers after workouts to see what their preferences are, and has studied most of the staff on film. “Knowing you’re going to be the guy gives me more time to get to know them,” he said.