The Zapata Times 2/21/2009

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Cuellar urges officials to request funds

By ZACH LINDSEY THE ZAPATA TIMES

The same week after President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar was touring his district urging local officials to apply for funds right away.

“Haste but not waste,” Cuellar said Wednesday at the Laredo Community College. “We’ve got to get those dollars out there as soon as possible.”

Some of those dollars will come to Zapata.

“I think it was great news for all of our school districts in the area, including Zapata,” said Zapata Independent School District Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez. “We’re getting the $2.4 million that will come in through Title I moneys and IDEA, which is special ed.”

ZISD plans to use the money to target pre-kindergarten and special ed programs.

The package could’ve included another $2 million to be used for renovation or construction, but the Senate lacked the votes to get that into the bill.

However, that money could become available in a state fund.

“We’re just waiting to see what’s going to happen in terms of what formulas are going to be used to

CUELLAR

distribute those moneys,” Rodriguez said.

It will be highly competitive.

“All school districts in the state are waiting to do some construction,”

Rodriguez said.

As far as the rest of the bill is concerned, if the economic stimulus bill works out the way it is intended to, it will create 269,000 jobs in Texas.

To ensure that number of jobs is created, Cuellar stressed the importance of hiring locally.

“I’ve done this privately, I will do it publicly,” Cuellar said. “I ask the city to work with local contractors. I want to see some of the profits stay in our area.”

According to Cuellar’s office, Texas will receive more than $11.97 billion from the bill; $2.25 billion will be marked for highway projects, and $3.1 billion will go to a “state stabilization fund.”

About $4.7 billion would be available for issues relating to education or child health, including the national school lunch assistance program and Title I education for the disadvantaged.

The state stabilization fund of

Docs get more money

By NICK GEORGIOU THE ZAPATA TIMES

Zapata County Medical Clinic personnel appeared before commissioners Tuesday requesting additional funds so they could increase doctors’ wages and combat growing operational costs.

The discussion with Dr. Larry Sands, operator of the clinic, happened during an executive session that lasted more than an hour and a half.

In the end, the court, which

has a contract with the medical clinic, agreed to increase the doctors’ wages from $100 an hour to $165 an hour, said Commissioner Joe Rathmell. However, the county will not increase the $140,000 in operational costs that it gives the clinic per month.

“They wanted more money from our general fund, but we just couldn’t pay any more,” said Commissioner Jose Emilio Vela. “They claim that the main reason they need more help is because patients aren’t paying the co-payment.

“It’s a problem all over the na-

tion. (The clinic) has a very poor collection rate when it comes to co-payment because most are unable to pay.”

Revenues generated by the clinic go into a special countycontrolled bank account. Funds are withdrawn from the account only for unforeseen circumstances, Rathmell said.

But apparently there was confusion over what the funds were to be used for. “(The clinic) thought the money is for them, but it’s not. It’s county funds,” Vela said.

If the clinic is in need of funds from the special account, the court has to approve.

“We’re not supplementing any more funds than we did in the past,” Vela said. “If they want anything else, they have to come to Commissioners Court.”

He said that given the increased amount of patients going to the 24-hour medical clinic, it should eventually be a self-sufficient operation that wouldn’t need the county’s help anymore.

See MONEY | PAGE 9A

GETTING READY FOR THE FUN

See CUELLAR | PAGE 9A

Photos by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times

Zapata County Parade Marshals Juanita and Osvaldo Ramirez react after being congratulated during the 2009 Zapata County Fair Kick-Off Parade at the Zapata County Courthourse. BELOW LEFT: 2009 Zapata County Fair Queen contestant Jessica Garcia slices a piece of cake during the kick-off party at the Zapata County Courthouse. BELOW RIGHT: 2008 Zapata County Fair Queen Velma Saenz and 208 Zapata County Junior Miss Gabriel Gonzalez pose during the kick-off party for the 2009 Zapata County Fair.

This year’s fair continues sesquicentennial celebration

By DIANA R. FUENTES THE ZAPATA TIMES

Courtesy photo | Special to the Times

1st Lt. Iajara “Heidi” Perez is surrounded by Iraqi children in Tal Afar, Iraq, where she is stationed.The kids have received soccer balls, school supplies and goodies as part of “Operation Cheerful Child,” an outreach program sponsored by IBC Bank-Zapata.

Zapatans helping Iraqi children

By JOE RUTLAND THE ZAPATA TIMES

One soldier’s dream has turned into an outpouring of love between two cities and two nations caught up in the twisting, turning sphere that is war.

First Lt. Iajara “Heidi” Perez is serving as a military pPolice officer in the U.S. Army in Tal Afar, Iraq, taking part in a transition phase to turn over control of Iraq to its police forces. Through her many missions into the field, Perez was led to seek support for Iraqi children in need through developing “Operation Cheerful Child.”

“To be honest with you, ‘Operation Cheerful Child’ was my sister’s doing,” Perez said via e-mail from Iraq. “I arrived in Iraq and after several missions, I saw firsthand the quality of life that these people live in, and it saddened me to see so many children with dirty clothes and no shoes (especially when it’s more than 100-degree weather).

Her sister is Norma Perez Hino-

josa, an IBC Bank-Zapata employee and key sparkplug behind creating “Operation Cheerful Child.”

“She (Perez) had stated how she was touched by seeing these underprivileged kids living in these circumstances,” Hinojosa said. “She said it was so sad to see them in poor conditions … so much so that a lot of the troops give them candy and bottled water. Even a simple pencil or pen brightens up their day.

“So I brought up with the IBC Bank-Zapata employee advisory board that we could do something for the kids. If you look at it, they are really victims, too,” Hinojosa said.

Meeting a need Seeing people — especially children — as she does while on duty, Perez felt a need to do something beyond her everyday role.

“During every patrol, you see Iraqi kids run up to our trucks

See HELPING | PAGE 9A

embers of the Zapata County Fair Association were in high spirits earlier this week as they gathered with a wide range of civic leaders to kick off the 36th Annual Zapata County Fair with a rousing tribute to the past.

“Zapata 150 Years … a million memories!” is this year’s theme as the county continues celebrating its sesquicentennial.

“We had a lot of our past presidents here, and past marshals and the first queen,” said Teresa Hein, third vice president of the association and the mistress of ceremonies for Wednesday’s event. “It brings back a lot of memories.”

Hein was a teacher at Zapata High School when the first fair was organized in the 1970s. She taught at Zapata County ISD for 15 years before she left. It would be 18 years before she returned.

M

See FAIR | PAGE 9A

Zin brief

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 21,2009

AROUND TEXAS| IN BRIEF

WHAT’S GOING ON SATURDAY,FEB.21

TUESDAY,FEB.24

The South Texas Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts is having its semi-annual meeting today at 9 a.m. at the International Boundary and Water Commission Recreation Hall located in Falcon Heights.

THURSDAY,FEB.26

SATURDAY FEB.28

The Zapata County Fair has the annual Trail Ride & Breakfast at 8 a.m. today, followed by the official Opening Ceremonies at the ZCF Pavilion at 1:30 p.m. and a kick-off dance featuring Sonny Sauceda and Stampede at 9 p.m.

SUNDAY,MARCH 1

The Zapata County Fair continues today with the Queen’s Contest at Zapata High School Auditorium Immediately Following Social at 2 p.m

THURSDAY MARCH 12

The Zapata County Fair kicks off today at county fair grounds today at 8 a.m.

Events include a livestock show, musical performances, a carnival and a street dance. Livestock judging will begin today starting at 9:30 a.m. with Rabbits and steers. The fair will run through Saturday.

Don’t miss out on this year’s fun. For more information call 765-9920

FRIDAY,MARCH 13

The Zapata County Fair continues livestock judging today starting at 8 a.m. followed later by a Street Dance with Grupo Nemesis playing from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Los Cinco de Zapata from 7 p.m.- 8:30 p.m., a Tight Jean Contest from 8:30- 9 p.m., Jaime de Anda y Los Chamacos will pay from 9 p.m.-10:30, and Los Palominos will close today’s festivities from 10:30 to midnight.

Today is the first day of Spring Break. No classes will be held at Zapata CISD through March 20.

The Zapata County Fair resumes today at 8 a.m. For more information, call 765-9920

SATURDAY,MARCH 14

Today is the last day of the Zapata County Fair.The annual parade begins at 10 a.m.There are a variety of entertainments throughout the day at the fairgrounds.The grito contest is at 7 p.m., and the street dance with numerous bands starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 765-9920 or visit www.zpatacountyfaironline.com The Laredo Under Seven Flags Rotary Club presents “AValentine’s Night To Remember,” a dinner and dance, today from 7 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. at Paseo Real Reception Hall, 2335 Endeavor Drive.The event costs $75 per person or $125 per couple. Live music will be provided by Showband International. For more information, call Diana Juarez at 319-3100 or Diana Garza at 645-0644.

Photo by David J. Phillip/file | AP

This Sept. 11, 2008, file photo shows the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. At a public hearing on Friday, doctors, medical students, residents and local and state officials implored the UT System Board of Regents to reject a report it commissioned that recommends all patient beds be moved to the mainland from the hospital in Galveston.

Regents asked to keep UTMB on Galveston Island

By JUAN A. LOZANO ASSOCIATED PRESS

GALVESTON — The message at a public hearing Friday on the future of Galveston’s hurricane-damaged public hospital and medical school was clear: Rebuild it and keep it in this island city.

Doctors, medical students, residents and local and state officials implored the UT System Board of Regents to reject a report it commissioned that recommends all patient beds be moved to the mainland from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

The public meeting before a four-member regents task force came after Atlantabased Kurt Salmon Associates recommended this month moving the beds as the best hope for securing the financial future of UTMB, which suffered more than $1 billion in damage when Hurricane Ike came ashore Sept. 13. Only about $100 million of that was covered by insurance.

“While you may feel you need to support the consultant’s report, we urge you

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The Zapata Times

to set aside the findings and proceed with the restoration of Galveston before more damage is done to the future of UTMB, Galveston and Galveston County,” said Sally Prill, a Galveston resident. “Hurricane Ike damaged UTMB. Only you can restore UTMB.” Prill was one of more than 120 people who signed up to speak. Less than 50 got the chance during the three-hour meeting. Some speakers did not object to moving a few services to the mainland.

The damage prompted UTMB — Galveston County’s largest employer — to lay off about 3,000 employees and reduced the number of beds at its public hospital from 550 to 200. The regents commissioned the report from the consulting firm as they and state lawmakers consider the future of UTMB, the state’s oldest medical school.

The firm’s report recommended splitting hospital beds between the island and mainland at its League City campus as the second best option. Repairing UTMB and keeping all beds on Galveston was deemed the least affordable option.

Health department takes over recall

Fundraiser receives 10 years probation

Two Stanford members live in Texas town

DALLAS — The Texas Department of State Health Services is taking over the recall of products shipped from a peanut processing plant that shut down amid nationwide salmonella fears.

The agency is stepping in because the Peanut Corp. of America plant in Plainview has been unresponsive.

Texas health officials have ordered an initial recall of all products ever shipped from the Panhandle plant after inspectors found dead rodents and other debris in a space above a production area.

CORPUS CHRISTI — A South Texas Democratic fundraiser convicted of impersonating a lawyer dodged prison time Friday when a jury sentenced him to 10 years of probation.

A day after convicting Mauricio Celis, 37, of 14 counts of falsely representing himself to be a lawyer, the jury deliberated for an hour before returning the sentence, which included the 10year suspended prison sentence and a $10,000 fine.

Celis’ family and friends applauded when the verdict was read.

MEXIA, Texas — Stanford Financial Group, which federal regulators say is involved in a massive investment fraud, has described members of its board of directors as seasoned financial minds.

In fact, two of those members who live in this dusty Central Texas town are octogenarians who live in quiet retirement. One of them is a stroke victim.

The other is James Stanford, the 81-year-old father of the central figure in the alleged fraud, R. Allen Stanford.

— Compiled from AP reports

Obama: No rights for Bagram prisoners

Drought to cut off fed water to farms

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, siding with the Bush White House, contended Friday that detainees in Afghanistan have no constitutional rights.

In a two-sentence court filing, the Justice Department said it agreed that detainees at Bagram Airfield cannot use U.S. courts to challenge their detention.

The Supreme Court last summer gave al-Qaida and Taliban suspects held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the right to challenge their detention.

With about 600 detainees at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and thousands more held in Iraq, courts are grappling with whether they, too, can sue to be released.

SACRAMENTO, Calif, — Federal water managers said Friday that they plan to cut off water, at least temporarily, to thousands of California farms as a result of the deepening drought gripping the state.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials said parched reservoirs and patchy rainfall this year were forcing them to completely stop surface water deliveries for at least a two-week period beginning March 1.

The situation could improve slightly if more rain falls over the next few weeks, and officials will know by mid-March if they can release more irrigation supplies to growers.

Ill.governor wants new senator to quit CHICAGO — U.S. Sen. Roland Burris kept out of sight Friday as longtime friend Gov. Pat Quinn joined the roster of fellow Democrats calling for his resignation following new disclosures about his controversial appointment, while the White House urged the senator to take the weekend to consider his future.

Burris began the week with passionate defenses, proclaiming he had nothing to hide even as revelations mounted about his attempts to raise money for his disgraced patron, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and his failures to disclose conversations with Blagojevich advisers.

Activist: GOP govs ‘posturing’on stimulus ATLANTA — The Rev. Jesse Jackson accused GOP governors who are considering turning down some money from the federal stimulus package of “political posturing.”

Though none have flatly rejected the money available for education, health care and infrastructure, the governors of Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alaska, South Carolina and Idaho have all questioned whether the $787 billion bill signed into law this week will help the economy.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said earlier this week he would accept the money available under the package.

— Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE WORLD| IN BRIEF Police chief resigns amid threats

Soldier guilty of murder in deaths

CIUDAD JUAREZ — Ciudad Juarez’s police chief stepped down Friday after criminal gangs made a chilling demand: Resign or we will kill more local officers.

Public Safety Secretary Roberto Orduña announced he was leaving his post only hours after gunmen killed a police officer and a jail guard and left signs on their bodies saying they had fulfilled a promise made Wednesday to slay at least one officer every 48 hours until Orduña quits.

The slayings were a sign that gangs are determined to control the police force of the biggest Mexican border city across from El Paso, Texas.

VILSECK, Germany — A U.S. Army medic was convicted of murder Friday for his involvement in the executionstyle slayings of four bound and blindfolded Iraqi detainees shot in the back of the head in the spring of 2007.

The court sentenced him to life in prison.

Sgt. Michael Leahy Jr. was found guilty on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder by the nine-person jury who had heard testimony about the killings at the court-martial since Wednesday.

After a sentencing hearing, Leahy received a life sentence, with the possibility of parole.

— Compiled from AP reports

HISTORICALVICTORY

TODAY IN HISTORY ASSOCIATED PRESS

CONTACT US

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AROUND THE NATION | IN BRIEF

The First Baptist Church, located at 1401 Glenn Street, will be hosting the ‘What’s in your bag’ Ladies Retreat today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Myra Green will serve as the guest speaker, and will also perform a musical drama entitled “Ruth, the Redeemer Bride.” Breakfast and registration is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and a lunch will also be provided.Don’t miss out on a chance for door prizes and fun. For more information please call 236-2145, 750-6342 or 7656145.

The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce celebrates Winter Texans and local elders with an event at the Community Center from 1:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.There will be dinner, music, activities and door prizes. Come prepared to cast your vote on the Dancing Contest, and watch the crowning of the 2009 Winter Texan King and Queen and the 2009 Zapata Senior Citizen King and Queen. For more information, call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce 765-4871.

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Today is Saturday, Feb. 21, the 52nd day of 2009. There are 313 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Feb. 21, 1965, black Muslim leader and civil rights activist Malcolm X, 39, was shot to death inside the Audubon Ballroom in New York by assassins identified as members of the Nation of Islam.

On this date: In 1885, the Washington Monument was dedicated.

In 1916, the World War I Battle of Verdun began in France as German forces attacked; the French prevailed after 10 months of fighting.

In 1925, The New Yorker magazine made its debut.

In 1947, Edwin H. Land publicly demonstrated his Polaroid Land camera, which could produce a black-and-white photograph in 60 seconds.

In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon began his historic visit to China as he and his wife, Pat, arrived in Beijing.

In 1973, Israeli fighter planes shot down Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 over the Sinai Desert,

killing all but five of the 113 people on board.

In 2000, consumer advocate Ralph Nader announced his entry into the presidential race, bidding for the nomination of the Green Party.

Ten years ago: Secretary of State Madeleine Albright reported little progress toward a Kosovo peace settlement during talks in Rambouillet, France.

Five years ago: The International Red Cross visited former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who was in U.S. custody.

One year ago: Serb rioters broke into the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade and set fire during protests against Western support for an independent Kosovo. President George W. Bush concluded his six-day African tour in Liberia, where he offered help to lift the country from years of ruinous fighting. A Venezuelan plane crashed in the Andes, killing all 46 on board. Author Robin Moore, who wrote “The French Connection” and “The Green Berets,” died in Hopkinsville, Ky., at age 82. Former Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham, who was removed in a 1988 impeachment trial, died in Phoenix at age 83.

Today’s Birthdays: Fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy is 82. Movie director Bob Rafelson is 76. Actress Rue McClanahan is 74. Actor Gary Lockwood is 72. Actor-director Richard Beymer is 70. Actor Peter McEnery is 69. Film/music company executive David Geffen is 66. Actor Alan Rickman is 63. Actress Tyne Daly is 63. Actor Anthony Daniels is 63. Tricia Nixon Cox is 63. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, is 62. Rock musician Jerry Harrison (The Heads) is 60. Actress Christine Ebersole is 56. Actor William Petersen is 56. Actor Kelsey Grammer is 54. Country singer Mary Chapin Carpenter is 51. Actor Jack Coleman is 51.

Actor Christopher Atkins is 48.

Rock singer Ranking Roger is 48. Actor William Baldwin is 46.

Rock musician Michael Ward is 42. Actress Aunjanue Ellis is 40. Blues musician Corey Harris is 40. Country singer Eric Heatherly is 39. Rock musician Eric Wilson is 39.

Thought for Today: “Just as a tree without roots is dead, a people without history or culture also becomes a dead people.” — Malcolm X (1925-1965).

Photo by Radek Petrasek/CTK | AP

U.S. skiier LindseyVan celebrates her victory in the women’s jumping competition at the Nordic Ski World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic, on Friday.Van became the first female ski jumping world champion in history.

Zlocal

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 21,2009

Winter Texans, seniors invited to day of recreation Thursday

BY ERIKA LAMBRETON THE ZAPATA TIMES

With spring around the corner, many Winter Texans will soon be heading back to their permanent residences up north.

But before they leave, the Zapata Chamber of Commerce wants to show them a good time at a special Winter Texan and Senior Citizen Appreciation Day on Thursday.

According to Celia Balderas with the Zapata Chamber of Commerce, this year’s festivities will mark the first year elders who live in Zapata year round will be included in the appreciation day.

The festivities are scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, said Myra Garcia of the Zapata Chamber of Commerce. Senior citizens will be provided with transportation.

Garcia wanted to assure the Winter Texans that even though the celebration will have an early start, there will be an abundance of

The South Texas Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts will hold their semi-annual meeting Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the International Boundary and Water Commission Recreation Hall in Falcon Heights.

Twenty-two soil and water conservation districts in the southern part and Rio Grande Valley region of the state are members of the association.

Prior to the business session, conservation district directors will have the opportunity to tour the IBWC Falcon Dam and electricity generating plant, according to Nelda Garcia, president of

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A CHOCOLICIOUS SUCCESS

“It will not end early.

We’re going to have lots of stuff going on.”

MYRA GARCIA, ZAPATA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE activities that will keep the celebration running until about 10 p.m.

“It will not end early,” Garcia said. “We’re going to have lots of stuff going on.”

Activities include bingo, which will last from 1:30 to 3 p.m., followed by a dancing contest with music provided by DJ Ego. As an added bonus, a Winter Texan King and Queen will be crowned, along with a Senior Citizen King and Queen.

The recipients of the crowns will be chosen after a short questionnaire is distributed to those in attendance, Garcia said.

If the aforementioned activities still don’t persuade you to attend, there will also be door prizes

that include giveaways and gift certificates courtesy of local sponsors.

“We’d like to thank the sponsors for supporting us and making this event possible,” Garcia said.

The Zapata Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to the event and expects a large crowd since the local senior citizens have been included this year.

“We’re looking forward to having a great amount of people,” said Garcia. “We hope that everyone enjoys the festivities and has a great appreciation day.”

(Erika Lambreton can be reached at 728-2567 or e-mail erika@lmtonline.com)

the organization.

Program speakers during the business session will include Jose Dodier, member of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board; B.P. Bono, director of the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Rex Isom, executive director, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board; Assistant State Conservationist Tomas Dominguez, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, and John LloydReilly, manager of the Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center near Kingsville.

Omar Garza will present a report on activities of the TexasMexico CBO.

Courtesy photo/Villarreal Elementary | Special to the Times

The students from Villarreal Elementary recently concluded their PTO chocolate fundraiser. PTO President Janie Rodriguez, back left, and Villarreal Elementary Principal Gracie Zavala (back right), presented prizes to the top chocolate sellers. Selling more than 1,000 chocolates was Bethany Ruiz who received a $50 prize for being the top seller. Second place went to Eddie Winkler, who received $30.Third place went to Daniella Santos; she received $20.The funds that were raised will be used for student incentives.

THE BLOTTER

Soil, water meetings Tuesday SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

ASSAULT

BURGLARY OFA HABITATION

A man was arrested Monday for allegedly assaulting a female relative with his “personal weapons,” the offense report stated.

Juan Antonio Sanchez Jr. was booked and processed at the Zapata County Regional Jail.

The offense report stated deputies detained Sanchez after they responded to an assault report at about 10:30 a.m.in the 5200 block of Carrizo Lane.

Deputies responded to a fight Wednesday at Zapata High School.

The offense report stated that the fight involved two students, age 16 and 17, who were fighting during lunch hour.

The case is open and active,the report stated.

ATV and a DVD/VCR player was reported stolen Sunday from a residence in the 500 block of Mier Street.

The offense report stated that deputies identified the offender; however, no arrests had been made.

Subscribe to LMT at (956) 728-2550

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED A man was charged with DWI Tuesday night after he allegedly crashed into a parked vehicle in the 300 block of Benavidez Street.

George Christopher Rincon was booked and processed at the Zapata County Regional Jail.

The offense report stated the crash happened at about 8:30 p.m. after Rincon turned right onto Agua Avenue

from Trevino Street and struck the vehicle.

Deputies arrested a man for DWI after he was pulled over at about 9:15 p.m.

Sunday for traveling at a high speed on U.S. 83, about 1 mile north of Zapata, the offense report stated.

Jesus Padilla was booked and processed at the Zapata County Regional Jail.

THEFT Six vending machines were reported stolen Thursday from A&L Washeteria, 1005 Jackson Street.

The male complainant told deputies at about the theft at approximately 7 a.m.

The Stripes at the corner of U.S. 83 and West 1st Avenue reported a drive off at

about 3:15 a.m.Tuesday.

The offense report stated that a driver stole about $20 worth of gas.

Deputies said the case is open and active.

DRAG RACING A man and a juvenile were detained Thursday on the charge of racing on a highway, a Class-B misdemeanor.

The juvenile was referred to juvenile probation and the man, identified as Roosevelt Gonzalez was arrested and taken to Zapata County Regional Jail.

Deputies detained them at about 1 a.m. near the corner of U.S. 83 and Texas 16.

The case is open and active, the offense report stated.

Zopinion

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 21,2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

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EDITORIAL

Space junk poses serious problems NEW YORK TIMES

t’s hard to know whether to be more concerned about the debris spewed into orbit by the collision of two satellites last week or by the fact that no one was able to predict the collision before it happened. Neither bodes well for the long-term safety of space operations.

An American communications satellite owned by the Iridium network and a no-longer-functioning Russian communications satellite slammed into each other 490 miles above northern Siberia in what appears to be the first collision between two intact satellites.

Hundreds of fragments were strewn through space, where they will pose at least a small additional hazard to other satellites or spacecraft that move through the area. The international space station, orbiting 215 miles with three astronauts aboard, will face an elevated but still very small risk of being struck by space debris.

Those who thought that our nation’s space tracking systems could see such things coming will be surprised to learn that there are gaps in coverage and capabilities. The military does indeed track some 19,000 objects in space, including active and nonfunctioning satellites, hordes of debris fragments, and thousands of unknown objects that might threaten the safety of American satellites. It publishes their coordinates and velocity in a catalog on a Web site that anyone can view free of charge.

But the military doesn’t calculate all possible collisions. It lacks the computing power, trained personnel and sensor capabilities to pull off that feat. Instead, it focuses primarily on potential colli-

I

sions that might endanger the space station and shuttles, its own satellites and those of other federal agencies.

A private company fills part of the gap by assessing potential collision threats to other active satellites on a daily basis. It publishes a top 10 list of likely close encounters. As it turned out, the satellite that was demolished did not make the top 10 list that day, partly because other satellites looked even more likely to pass close to debris and partly because these calculations are inherently imprecise. Iridium, which is ultimately responsible for its own satellites, apparently had no clue that one of them was about to be smashed.

The new debris adds to the growing amount of junk accumulating in orbit. Thus far the annoying objects have not had a major impact on human or robotic missions into space, but there are serious concerns for the future.

At some cluttered altitudes, collisions are producing debris faster than gravity can eliminate it. If the trend is not reversed, one can imagine a time when it could be too risky or too expensive to fly spacecraft through the debris fields.

The United Nations has adopted voluntary guidelines to minimize the creation of new space debris. It recommends such steps as designing spacecraft so that no debris is released during normal operations, removing leftover propellants at the end of a mission and moving nonoperational satellites out of congested orbits. A U.N. meeting in Vienna, Austria, this month will assess how well that effort is going. The looming problem yet to be addressed is how to get rid of the debris and objects already up there and proliferating with every collision.

COLUMN

Mutual respect is vital these days he other day one of my boys asked me if it was OK to refer to a man he doesn’t care for by a derogatory name.

I told him that regardless of whether we agree with someone’s character, we have to show the person respect because we don’t know from where they have come or why they are the way they are.

You know, never criticize someone until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes.

I suppose it’s natural for a child to want to attach derogatory names to people they don’t like.

My nearly 6-year-old boys do it to one another from time to time, and with great flare.

But what bothers me is that adults are far too willing to do the same thing. You’d expect name calling from children, but when a grown man resorts to the same behavior, my heart sinks because I have to wonder what lessons a man has missed through all those years of0experience in the world.

These days, people are out of work for one reason or another and losing their homes because of the well-known mortgage debacle that is still being investigated at many levels.

Some people who have lost homes were complicit in taking on more than they could chew, buying homes they couldn’t afford in the first place, yet there are many more who have simply been caught up in a bad economy.

A man I know would have you believe that everyone of these folks who lost homes “deserve what they got” because they were greedy. He says he is an average middle class American who knows better, and the “fools” that are in foreclosure possess no right to government bailout money, if any should come their way.

Strong words coming from a man who apparently doesn’t know anyone personally who has lost a house or a job. Apparently he forgot the old adage about walking a mile in someone else’s shoes.

On our newspaper’s Web site, a story details how one fast food restaurant has 200 applications

T

COLUMN

Like it or not, we’re in this together ur moral and economic system is based on individual responsibility. It’s based on the idea that people have to live with the consequences of their decisions. This makes them more careful deciders. This means that society tends toward justice — people get what they deserve as much as possible Over the last few months, we’ve made a hash of all that.

The Bush and Obama administrations are compensating foolishness and irresponsibility. The financial bailouts reward bankers who took insane risks.

The auto bailouts subsidize companies and unions that made self-indulgent decisions a few decades ago that drove their industry into the ground.

The stimulus package handed tens of billions of dollars to states that spent profligately during the prosperity years. The Obama housing plan will force people who bought sensible homes to subsidize the mortgages of people who bought houses they could not afford. It will almost certainly force people who were honest on their loan forms to subsidize people who were dishonest on theirs.

O

It’s so unfair

ROBERT KELLY-GOSS and no jobs available, a microcosmic look at the problems facing Americans today.

As people are welcome to comment on these online stories, the thoughts regarding this situation vary, yet one reader is certain that the folks who submitted those 200 applications are all filling their unemployment quotas so they can receive government checks.

I’d be amazed if the commenter knew all 200 applicants at all, not to mention well enough to know that they are all out on government dole.

There are always going to be cynics among us. I’m one, I admit, yet I would like to think I use my cynicism in a more useful fashion, relying on facts to finalize my opinions.

Regardless, however, there is one thing I am sure of, and that is whether or not you are on the dole, or struggling to pull yourself up, I am going to offer you respect. My opinion of you is just that, but as a person you deserve at least some form of unconditional respect; I would hope the same from you.

That is the lesson I wanted to impart on my boy. We don’t know how far our neighbors have fallen to get where they are today. And if we judge them simply by their present circumstances, we do them and ourselves a grave disservice.

Things don’t look like they are getting better in the world today.

More people will need our mutual respect. And who knows, it might be me that needs it in return.

(To reach Robert Kelly-Goss, who writes for The Daily Advance in Elizabeth City, N.C., email: pkelly-goss@coxnc.com)

These injustices are stoking anger across the country, lustily expressed by Rick Santelli on CNBC Thursday morning. “The government is promoting bad behavior!” Santelli cried as Chicago traders cheered him on. “The president ... should put up a Web

DAVID BROOKS site ... to have people vote ... to see if they want to subsidize losers’ mortgages.”

Well, in some cases we probably do.

That’s because government isn’t fundamentally in the Last Judgment business, making sure everybody serves penance for their sins. In times like these, government is fundamentally in the business of stabilizing the economic system as a whole.

Common culture Let me put it this way: Psychologists have a saying that when a couple comes in for marriage therapy. There are three patients in the room — the husband, the wife and the marriage itself.

The marriage is the living history of all the things that have happened between husband and wife. Once the patterns are set, the marriage itself begins to shape their individual behavior.

Though it exists in the space between them, it has an influence all its own.

In the same way, an economy has an economic culture. Out of billions of individual decisions, a common economic landscape emerges, which frames and influ-

ences the decisions everybody makes.

Right now, the economic landscape looks like that movie of the swaying Tacoma Narrows Bridge you might have seen in a high school science class. It started swinging in small ways and then the oscillations built on one another until the whole thing was freakishly alive and the pavement looked like liquid.

Moral hazard A few years ago, the global economic culture began swaying.

The government enabled people to buy homes they couldn’t afford. The Fed provided easy money. The Chinese sloshed in oceans of capital. The giddy upward sway produced a crushing ride down.

These oscillations are the real moral hazard. Individual responsibility doesn’t mean much in an economy like this one. We all know people who have been laid off through no fault of their own.

The responsible have been punished along with the profligate.

It makes sense for the government to intervene to try to reduce the oscillation. It makes sense for government to try to restore some communal order.

And the sad reality is that in these circumstances government has to spend money on precisely those sectors that have been swinging most wildly — housing, finance, etc. It has to help stabilize people who have been idiots.

Actually executing this is a near-impossible task. Looking at the auto, housing and banking

bailouts, we’re getting a sense of how the propeller heads around Obama operate. They try to put together programs that are bold, but without the huge interventions in the market implied by, say, nationalization. They’re balancing so many cross-pressures, they often come up with technocratic Rube Goldberg schemes that alter incentives in lots of medium and small ways. Some economists argue that the plans are too ineffectual, others that they are too opaque (estimates for the mortgage plan range from $75 billion to $275 billion and up). Personally, I hate the idea of 10 guys sitting around in the White House trying to redesign huge swaths of the U.S. economy on legal pads.

But at least they seem to be driven by a spirit of moderation and restraint. They seem to be trying to keep as many market structures in place as possible so things can return to normal relatively smoothly.

Those greedy idiots And they seem to understand the big thing. The nation’s economy is not just the sum of its individuals. It is an interwoven context that we all share. To stabilize that communal landscape, sometimes you have to shower money upon those who have been foolish or self-indulgent.

The greedy idiots may be greedy idiots, but they are our countrymen. And at some level, we’re all in this together. If their lives don’t stabilize, then our lives don’t stabilize.

YOUR OPINION Friends mourn loss of former ZCISD Superintendent Molina; building should be named in his honor To the editor: My husband and I were deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of Mr. Antonio Molina, former superintendent of schools for the Zapata County Independent School District.

Both of us had great admiration and respect for Mr. Molina, for under his leadership Zapata schools met and surpassed all accreditation standards and enjoyed sound fiscal accountability.

It was Mr. Molina’s belief that the best teachers for the district were its graduates because they had the best understanding of the community, but most importantly, they had the

best interest at heart for the children of the community.

Mr. Molina’s style of leadership was that of the Good Shepherd, for “he knew his sheep, and his sheep knew him.”

He kept up with all graduates who were pursuing degrees in education, and if they were interested in working for the district, he tried his best to find them a position.

Since he knew who they were and what their potentials were, he placed all his trust in his employees, and having his trust and support yielded the greatest rewards, for there was no one who did not want to do the best job possible.

Having served as superin-

tendent for 28 years, Mr. Molina was like the “superintendent of superintendents.” Superintendents from all over South Texas and from across the state looked up to him as their role model and mentor.

Needless to say, Mr. Antonio Molina was Zapata ISD, and Zapata ISD was Mr. Antonio Molina.

I, therefore, wish to recommend to the Zapata School Board of Trustees to name the administration building the Antonio Molina Administration Complex, so that his memory can live on in this community for many years to come.

Interestingly, however, when asked what his greatest accom-

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

plishment was, he said that it was marrying a woman totally devoted to him and to his children.

This certainly holds true the popular adage that states that behind every successful man, there is a great woman. What a remarkable tribute to Mrs. Melida Molina!

Our condolences and prayers are with her and her family.

Signed, Ma. Alma Gonzalez Perez Professor of Bilingual Education Director - Starr County Upper-Level Center The University of Texas-Pan American

Zlife

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 21,2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

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From left to right, the creations of Diane von Furstenburg are modeled on the runway. One of the designer’s signature dresses will be up for auction at the Fashion Gala 2009 at Joe Brand.

JESSICA L. GARCIA

KRISTINA LYNETTE GARCIA

MICHELLE GARCIA Courtesy photos

A HAUTE CAUSE Joe Brand, CAC join forces for Fashion Gala

By STEFANIE CHARLES THE ZAPATA TIMES

ALEXIS ROCHELLE GARCIA

CLARISSA LINDA GUERRA

MELISSA LYNN MARTINEZ

Zapata County Fair Queen contest just around the corner SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Following the Zapata County Fair tradition, the Zapata County Fair Queen contest will be held Sunday, March 1, at 2 p.m. in the Zapata High School auditorium.

Starting Monday, tickets to attend the grand affair may be purchased at the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce for $5.

The contestants are: Jessica L. Garcia, daughter of Rene and Julissa Garcia. A junior at Zapata High School, Jessica

participates in softball and volleyball.

Among her accomplishments, Jessica is a member of the first alldistrict softball team and was named Zapata High School’s 10thgrade Duchess Sweetheart.

Kristina Lynette Garcia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leopoldo Garcia. A sophomore at Zapata High School, Kristina is a member of Mesquite Branch 4-H. Among her accomplishments, she is varsity cross-country regional qualifier in track, and a

CHRISTINA ELIZABETH MONTALVO member of the district and regional champion track team.

Michelle Garcia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerardo H. Garcia. A

See QUEEN | PAGE 6A

Just as the Fall/Winter 2009 Fashion Week tents are coming down in New York City’s Bryant Park, Laredo’s fashionistas are preparing for their own Fashion Gala 2009 at Joe Brand — and it’s all in the name of a good cause.

The Joe Brand family has combined efforts with the Children’s Advocacy Center to raise awareness for children who have suffered traumatic experiences.

The gala will take place Friday, March 6, at Joe Brand, located at Mall Del Norte, where an evening of whimsical fun, fashion and celebrities is expected.

The best designers from the Spring/Summer 2009 fashion shows were selected to show their collections at the gala, in a lineup that includes the collections of Diane von Furstenburg, Rene Ruiz, M Missoni, Hugo Boss and Ermengildo Zegna, with accessories

by Judith Ripka and Tom Ford.

The renowned Robert Mitchell will be at the helm of styling, straight off the heels

from producing shows at New York’s fashion week.

Brian Ripka will be on hand as a representative of Judith Ripka to meet and greet with Laredo’s finest, while Rene Ruiz will be at the gala styling his collection. As an added bonus, he will personally hold a dress fitting for the lucky winner who bids the highest on one of his signature gowns.

Aside from an evening of viewing fabulous collections, an auction will also take place to raise funds for the Children’s Advocacy Center.

The auctions items include a gorgeous pair of 18-carat gold and diamond earrings by Judith Ripka, the Rene Ruiz gown with private fitting, a signature Diane von Furstenburg dress, a chic M Missoni dress, an ensemble by Hugo Boss and a classic Ermengildo Zegna Italian suit.

Other auctions items include artworks by local artists such as Mary Quiros, Cristina Speer, Cristina Castillon, Linda LaMantia, Laura Resendez Salido, Jessica Diez Barroso and Petus Alarcon Martinez.

But the pièce de résistance of the auction are the weekend getaway packages. They are a California wine country trip for two at the Fairmont Sonoma Inn & Spa, including airfare from Thursday to Sunday, or a weekend getaway to Las Vegas with lodging at the Encore Hotel & Spa for two and airfare from Thursday to Sunday.

All proceeds raised will benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center.

“Nothing is more important than becoming personally involved in our community’s efforts to rescue young abuse victims from further victimization,” said Terri Deutsch of Joe Brand. “I cannot think of a better way of making such a difference than by supporting the Children’s Advocacy Center, a children’s place that, in the past 12 years, has responded to the outcries of over 5,000 children, providing them with a range of services that ultimately lead to healing and closure.”

The Fashion Gala 2009 is a joint effort that is headed by gala

See GALA | PAGE 6A

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

GALA

MISS MANNERS | BYJUDITH MARTIN

Continued from Page 5A

The difference between people and scenery

chairs Mary Lamar Leyendecker and Mary Freeman; committee members include Adriana Barrera, Linda Howland, Nancy De Anda, Cordelia Valdez and Sylvia Bruni.

Tables and tickets for the gala may be purchased at Joe Brand, or call 722-0771.

For more information about the Children’s Advocacy Center, call Sylvia Bruni, executive director, at 7121840.

DEAR MISS MANNERS — A group with whom I was hiking in Peru passed close to a woman and a boy working the land on a picturesque hillside.

Each of my felMARTIN low tourists photographed them as they walked by. The people at work did

not visibly react.

In the towns, one sees local country people who come in their traditional clothing, with their animals, solely to make money posing for photographs, whi ch is p erhap s why the farmer photographs made me uncomfortable. It seemed to me that the people should have been offered payment for their participation, or at least asked permission.

QUEEN | Continued from Page 5A junior at Zapata High School, Michelle has been a member of North 4-H Club for nine years, and currently holds the office of second vice president. She is also a member of the Zapata High School Varsity Cross-Country Team, Zapata High School Varsity Track Team, Zapata High School Strutters and the National Honors Society.

Among her accomplishments, Michelle is a member of the 2006 and 2007 district champion crosscountry team, and was the first “Lady Hawk” to win first place at the Zapata Cross Country Invitational Meet. Additionally, she placed first at the Texas A&M International University meet and is the reigning 32-AAA Cross-Country District District Champion this year. Michelle has also been selected as a member of the AllRegion Team. She has also taken home titles in 4-H for grand champion goat and cabrito and reserved champion lamb.

Alexis Rochelle Garza, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Garza. A junior at Zapata High School, Alexis participates in volleyball, track,

cheerleading and theater productions. She is also a member of an out-of-school league, Victory Starzz.

Among her accomplishments, Alexis was names an All-American Cheerleader in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and a regional track qualifier in 2007 and 2008.

Clarissa Linda Guerra, daughter of Manuel Guerra and Cynthia L. Villarreal. A junior at Zapata High School, Clarissa a member of the Zapata County Coalition, Class Offices, the GT Club, Student Council and the South Texas Engineering Math and Science group. She also participates in softball.

Among her accomplishments, Clarissa was selected for the Llano Medical Camp, the Lorenzo de Zavala Hispanic Leadership Camp, the Texas A&M Polynology Science Camp and the River Pierce Foundational Archeological Camp.

Melissa Lynn Martinez, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carlos S. Martinez Jr. A junior at Zapata High School, Melissa participates in ballet, flamenco, jazz and tap at several private dance studios in

Laredo and Zapata. She is also a member of the following organizations at Zapata High School: Strutters, varsity basketball and the varsity cross-country team.

Among her accomplishments, Melissa has performed as a guest with the Russian Ballet for the production of “The Nutcracker.”

She has been named as one of Zapata High School’s “Top Ten” for 2007-2009, is a Zapata County Fair 4-H participant for 20062008, is a UIL Cross Country Regional team qualifier, and a member of the 2007-2008 bi-national basketball champs.

Christina Elizabeth Montalvo, daughter of Hector and Maria Montalvo. A junior at Zapata High School, Christina is a member of the Zapata High School Strutters and Student Council. She also participates in UIL One-Act Play and volleyball.

Among her accomplishments, Christina has maintained an all“A” average and has been recognized for outstanding performance on drill team and participating in varsity athletics.

I didn’t do anything, but the interaction seemed a bit insulting to the people at work, treating them as part of the scenery.

Should I have apologized to them or offered them some payment? I did not know the other people on the tour, although that would not have been obvious to an observer.

GENTLE READER — You are to be commended on your ability to distinguish human beings from

scenery.

Miss Manners means that sincerely. As you noticed, an amazing number of people are unable to make this leap.

Nor is the problem confined to photographing picturesque foreigners. Since cameras became almost standard equipment on telephones, strangers, friends and relatives all find themselves the unauthorized subjects of photographs, often posted on the Inter-

net for all the world to see.

The universal rule is that you must ask people’s permission b efore photographing them.

And anyone contemplating saying yes would be wise to ask what use will be made of the pictures.

So unless the Peruvians were shown as merely small figures in a landscape, your fellow tourists were at best callous.

Zentertainment

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 21,2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

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WBCA wraps this weekend SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

In its final weekend, the Washington’s Birthday Celebration will finish with a bang — literally. The festival will play host to a flurry of activities between today and Sunday, the last day, with the end event being nothing else but fireworks.

Here’s a quick rundown of the activities set for this weekend:

Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade Courtesy photo

Intocable, an immensely popular Tejano band,will headline the Saturday concert at the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Jalapeño Festival. The group is composed of Ricardo “Ricky” Muñoz on lead vocals and accordion, Rene Martinez on drums, Sergio Serna on percussion, Felix Salinas on bass guitar, Juan Hernandez on rhythm and Johnny Lee Rosas on bajo sexto.

Intocable remains ‘untouchable’

By KIRSTEN CROW LAREDO MORNING TIMES

It’s not as though the Grammy Award-winning Intocable has never played in Laredo before — far from it.

The Zapata natives, who grew up a mere 45 miles away from the Gateway City, have held innumerable concerts in Laredo. But that doesn’t make their performance today during the Jalapeño Festival any less anticipated.

Coming off a big year for the group — and a much-needed sixweek vacation — Rene Martinez, drummer, said it’s still a treat to return to the city, regardless of how many times Intocable has taken its brand of ever-popular Tejano to the stage.

“Our first dates were in Laredo,” he said. “People have always been good to us.”

Today marks Intocable’s last date in the U.S. before the group

Intocable hits the stage at the Jalapeño Fest at about 10 p.m. today. embarks on another Mexico tour, starting in Campeche and moving on through Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara and Zacatecas, among others, Martinez said. The tour is expected to continue through late May, when the band makes its return to the United States, where they’ll hit the studio to continue work on its latest project.

“Right now, we’re just brainstorming, picking and choosing sings, so hopefully we’ll be ready by this summer,” Martinez said.

“We just started on it —we’re barely working on the songs and what

the album is going to be about.”

Currently, though, the group — composed of Martinez; Ricardo “Ricky” Muñoz, on accordion and lead vocals; Sergio Serna, on percussion; Felix Salinas, on electric guitar; Juan Hernandez, on rhythm; and Johnny Lee Rosas on the bajo sexto — continues to make big strides in Tejano music. Its latest album, “2C,” has been well received, Martinez said.

“It’s been a very good album; sales have been good,” he said.

“We toured the U.S. with two singles … and the response from people has been good.”

Additionally, Intocable is up again for two Premios Lo Nuestro 2009 awards — one for Norteño band of the year, and the other for video of the year for “Tu Adios No Mata.”

Intocable hits the stage at the Jalapeño Fest, held at the El Metro Park and Ride, at about 10 p.m. today. Admission is $15 at the gate.

LIFE begins Sunday SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Once again, the Webb County Trailriders will ride out in style to kick off the 2009 Laredo International Fair and Exposition (LIFE), scheduled to begin Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Set for Sunday, the ride begins at 8 a.m. on East Del Mar Boulevard, in front of the old detention center, and finishes at LIFE Downs, off U.S. 59.

The trailride is free, and breakfast and lunch will be served to all riders and participants.

For more information about the trail ride, call Christy Lara at 337-1871 or George Jimenez at 744-2146.

Following the trail ride, the fair goes into full swing Wednesday, with plenty of events and contests, including competitions in various livestock divisions, sewing and canning, as well as baked goods.

Additionally, there will be a variety of presentations, a Rain Forest Wild Animal Show, chainsaw wood carving, a petting zoo, a greased pig contest, mutton bustin’ and plenty more.

Capping off this classi c, family-oriented event, there will be two concerts: a country Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.

“Let your smile be a sign of happiness & good health”

1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160

music concert, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27, from 8 p.m. to midnight, and a Tejano concert, scheduled for the fair’s finale, Saturday, Feb. 28, also from 8

p.m. to midnight.

For a complete schedule of events for the 2009 LIFE, visit www.laredofair.com and click on the “Fair Information” tab.

This one’s the biggie: Followers of this popular event often camp out during the wee hours of the morning to get a prime spot for this parade, which typically features more than 100 floats, marching bands and dance troupes, along with the figures that many associate with the celebration itself: the Society of Martha Washington debutantes, “George and Martha Washington,” and the Princess Pocahontas Council.

The parade begins at 9 a.m. today on south San Bernardo Avenue. General seating is free, and bleacher seating is $5 at the gate.

Matinee Mexicano: Mariachi For the first time in the history of the Washington’s Birthday Celebration, local mariachi bands will go head to head in the biggest mariachi stand-off this side of the border, courtesy of the League of United Latin American Citizens Council No. 12.

Determined to bring an added jubilant punch to this year’s fiesta, LULAC members combed the area to find top high school mariachi groups. Thanks to their efforts, audiences will now have an opportunity to experience the best these groups have to offer in a one-nightonly, sombrero-wearing, grito-packed competition of the charros.

“The (winner) will earn the biggest cash prize ever granted by LULAC Council No. 12,” said Mario A. Zaragoza, LULAC No. 12 president. “This will be a spectacular contest that no

Photo by Ulysses Romero | Laredo Morning Times

The annual fireworks display was the finale to the 2008 Washington’s Birthday Celebration. one will want to miss!”

The LULAC No. 12 Matinee: Festival del Mariachi event will take place today, Feb. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Laredo Civic Center Auditorium. Admission is $5 per person. Cocktail or business attire is required.

Participants were carefully selected by Judge Oscar Martinez, chairman for this event, with the help of experts and committee members.

Mariachi bands from eight different high schools have also been invited to attend.

“The original intent of this festival was to target our youth,” Martinez said. “I felt it was time we focused on them too.”

High school participants will also vie for cash awards and incentives.

Noche Mexicana: A Presentation of Señor & Señora Internacional A League of United Latin

American Citizens Council No. 12 tradition, Noche Mexicana will be held from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. today at the Laredo Civic Center Ballroom.

The annual event, whi ch honors the selected Señor and Señora Internacional, will feature comedians and music, as well as the honored guests.

This year, the honorees are Mexican journalist Pati Chapoy and University of Texas System Chancellor Dr. Francisco Cigarroa.

Admission is $30 per person, or $180 per table.

H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza Beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday, the H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza will light up the sky with a colorful farewell to the month of WBCA activities.

To be held at the Laredo International Fair and Exposit i o n g ro u n d s , a d m i s s i o n i s free.

ZFrontera

SÁBADO 21 DE FEBRERO DE 2009

EN INTERNET: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Frontera de Salud recibe apoyo

AGENDAEN BREVE Actividades

LAREDO — Debido a la ceremonia del Abrazo de la WBCA, el Puente 2 cerrará a las 6 a.m.y reanudará operaciones aproximadamente a las 9:30 a.m., el sábado 21 de febrero. La Ceremonia del Abrazo a mediación del Puente Internacional Juárez-Lincoln es a las 7:30 a.m.

Posteriormente, a las 9 a.m. se realizará el Desfile de Anheuser-Busch de la Washington’s Birthday Associacion Celebration al sur de la Avenida San Bernardo.

LAREDO — El sábado 21 de febrero concluye el Jalapeño Festival.

Las puertas abren a las 3 p.m.,y los terrenos están abiertos hasta la 1 a.m. Los boletos cuestan en la entrada 15 dólares.

Se recomienda estacionarse en El Metro’s Park & Ride en Thomas y Hillside y tomar los camiones a los terrenos.

ZAPATA — La Feria del Condado de Zapata se realizará a partir de hoy y continúa hasta el 14 de marzo.

ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Cultura

LAREDO — Inicie el Año Internacional de la Astronomía en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de Texas A&M International University, donde se develará la impresión de 9-pies cuadrados de la famosa galaxia espiral Messier Object 101, también conocida como Pinwheel Galaxy. La develación es el sábado 21 de febrero a las 5 p.m.

NUEVO LAREDO — La Casa de la Cultura invita el jueves 26 de febrero al teatro callejero “Ambulante”que se presenta sin costo alguno en el Teatro Lucio Blanco de la Casa de la Cultura en Lincoln y Chimalpopoca, en la Colonia Viveros, a partir de las 8 p.m.

LAREDO - La Laredo Philarmonic Orchestra presenta el domingo 1 de marzo “American Musical Heroes”a las 3 p.m. en el TAMIU Recital Hall.El concierto presentará al solista David Heller al órgano.

Los conciertos individuales por adulto tienen costo de 25 dólares; en tanto que senior (62+) pagan 17 dólares y los estudiantes con ID de la escuela entran gratis.

Entretenimiento

LAREDO — Pase la tarde en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de Texas A&M International Universityyexplore el sábado 21 de febrero,“The Secret Life of the Cardboard Rocket”a las 5 p.m.; “Wonders of the Universe” a las 6 p.m. y“Live Star Show and Stargazing”a las 7 p.m. La entrada general es de 5 dólares; en tanto que niños, estudiantes, personal y ex alumnos de TAMIU pagan 4 dólares.Más información llamando al 326-2444.

LAREDO — Los LULAC del Concilio 12 invitan el sábado 21 de febrero al Festival del Mariachi 2009 donde participan diferentes bandas de mariachi a partir de 6 p.m. a 10 p.m. en el Auditorio del Centro Cívico de Laredo. El costo de entrada es de 5 dólares por persona y más.

LAREDO — El H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza en el LIFE Downs sobre East U.S. 59 enmarca la conclusión de las fiestas de la Washington’s Birthday Celebration, el domingo 22 de febrero.

El espectáculo pirotécnico inicia las 8 p.m. La entrada es gratuita.

LAREDO — Pase la tarde en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de Texas A&M International University y explore el viernes 27 de febrero “New Horizons” a las 6 p.m.y“Entranced”a las 7 p.m.La entrada general es de 5 dólares; en tanto que niños, estudiantes, personal y ex alumnos de TAMIU pagan 4 dólares.Más información llamando al 326-2444.

Deportes

NUEVO LAREDO — La Plaza de Toros Lauro Luis Longoria presenta el domingo 22 de febrero Corrida de Toros a partir de las 4 p.m.con la presentación de Gastón Santos, Guillermo Albán, y, Leopoldo Casasola lidiando 6 toros de Rosas Viejas. La entrada es de 15 dólares en sombra general.

Educación

LAREDO — El martes 24 de febrero es el curso de “Overruled: The Admissibility of Evidence in Court” que se desarrollará hoy de forma gratuita y para el público en general en el Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center de TAMIU, aula 102, de 7 p.m. a 8:15 p.m.

LAREDO — La Career Expo de Texas A&M International University es el jueves 26 de febrero de 9 a.m. a 3 p.m. en el Student Center Ballroom. Se conmina a los asistentes a traer su curriculum y vestir de forma profesional.

LAREDO — El miércoles 25 de febrero continúa la Keynote Speaker Series 2008-2009 de International Bank of Commerce a las 7:30 p.m. en el WHTC, aula 111. Esta ocasión los conferencistas invitados son David Stone, Cónsul de EU en Nuevo Laredo; y,Eugenio Garza Jr.,Director de Puerto de Aduanas yProtección Fronteriza. Stone y Garza discutirán el tema “Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative”.El evento es gratuitoa.

Para informar acerca de eventos y actividades envíe el nombre, fecha, hora y dirección, y un número de contacto a tiempo@lmtonline.com

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Fotos por Miguel Timoshenkov | Tiempo de Zapata

ARRIBA: Hombres, mujeres y niños se instalaron antes de las casetas de cobro en el Puente Internacional Juárez-Lincoln, entre Nuevo Laredo-Laredo, el martes por la mañana, en protesta contra la presencia del Ejército Mexicano. ABAJO: Soldados sobre un tanque militar se mantuvieron a la expectativa durante la protesta del martes 17 de febrero.

Ciudad vive martes tenso ASSOCIATED PRESS

La policía y el ejército sostuvieron el martes 17 de febrero, en Reynosa, un duro enfrentamiento a tiros con presuntos sicarios que dejó cinco muertos, mientras centenares de personas bloquearon puentes fronterizos con Estados Unidos y carreteras en al menos cuatro estados para exigir el retiro de los soldados de las calles.

La Secretaría de Seguridad Pública dijo que el tiroteo se prolongó más de dos horas en calles de la ciudad de Reynosa. Cinco supuestos sicarios murieron y seis fueron detenidos, indicó en un comunicado.

De acuerdo al texto, el enfrentamiento ocurrió durante una operación de prevención, disuasión y vigilancia de policías federales, cuando fueron detectadas varias camionetas en las cuales viajaban personas armadas.

“Los sicarios bajaron de los vehículos y realizando disparos de armas de fuego ingresaron a un domicilio desde donde continuaron con el tiroteo, lanzaron granadas de fragmentación y de fusil”, añadió.

Según las cifras dadas a conocer por la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Federal, el miércoles, se habían asegurado: Armas largas; un mortero de 60 milímetros; cinco granadas para fusil; dos granadas de fragmentación; 53 cargadores de .308; 24 cargadores para AR-15; cinco cargadores magazine 2.23; 6 cargadores de 762 x 39 con capacidad para 40 cartuchos; 7 cargadores de 762 x 39 con capacidad para 30 cartuchos; dos cargadores de 762 x 39 con capacidad para 20 cartuchos; 17 cargadores de 38 Súper; un cargador de 5.7 x 28; tres cargadores

de m-16; dos cajas de cartuchos .9 mm; 147 cartuchos de 0.38 Súper; un casco balístico verde; una base de mortero para granada de fusil; dos radios; ocho chalecos tácticos; un chaleco balístico; seis pecheras para portacarga; una fornitura; siete porta magazines; una camioneta Escalade Cadilac color arena, matrícula WD71888; una camioneta Suburban, matrícula ECS83-39.

Bloqueos Sobre los bloqueos, las protestas, similares a las que iniciaron la semana pasada en Monterrey y que el gobierno ha dicho son patrocinadas por el narcotráfico, se registraron en diversos puntos de los estados de Chihuahua, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas y Veracruz, informaron autoridades locales.

En Monterrey, donde la semana pasada iniciaron ese tipo de bloqueos, se registraron el martes 17 de febrero dos nuevas protestas, en algunas de las cuales participaron incluso mujeres y niños.

A lo largo del día se reportaron nuevas manifestaciones en los otros estados, incluidas en los puestos fronterizos de Reynosa, Ciudad Juárez y Nuevo Laredo, en la mayor muestra de descontento contra el ejército, que desde 2006 ha sido desplegado en diversas zonas del país como parte de la estrategia del presidente Felipe Calderón para enfrentar el crimen organizado y los carteles de la droga.

Acción Para las autoridades, las manifestaciones que iniciaron en Monterrey no responden a una demanda legítima de la gente, sino de una acción concertada

del crimen organizado para intimidar e interferir en la lucha contra las drogas que el país emprendió con apoyo del ejército.

En las protestas varias personas tapaban su cara, incluidas las realizadas en los puentes que llevan a Estados Unidos en al menos tres localidades fronterizas con Texas: Ciudad Juárez, Nuevo Laredo y Reynosa.

Alrededor de 30 personas, en su mayoría mujeres y niños, bloquearon el puente de Paso del Norte en Ciudad Juárez y que lleva hacia El Paso.

Mensajes En Nuevo Laredo, el jefe de gobierno Ramón Garza Barrios dijo que el bloqueo de puentes internacionales “fue una acción que lastima la economía de la Región Laredo, trastorna la vida diaria de los residentes de ambas ciudades y nos genera una imagen negativa ante propios y extraños”.

Los bloques de puentes el martes 17 de enero, iniciaron a las 10 a.m. y culminaron a las 3:55 p.m.

Garza Barrios refrendó su respaldo a las acciones institucionales que tengan como finalidad respetar y hacer respetar a la Ley, así como proteger los derechos e integridad física y patrimonial de los tamaulipecos.

“Lamentamos el trastorno que ocasionaron estos bloqueos, pero también aplaudimos la acti-

tud madura y paciente de las autoridades federales, que se abstuvieron de intervenir directamente para evitar precisamente acciones que derivaran en actos de violencia”, dijo Garza Barrios.

Por su parte, el Gobernador del Estado, Eugenio Hernández Flores reiteró su total apoyo al Ejército Mexicano y a las corporaciones federales de seguridad para mantener a salvo en Tamaulipas el clima de legalidad y tranquilidad social.

El gobierno confirma también que uno de sus compromisos fundamentales es ofrecer a la sociedad del Estado la protección que merece, por lo que todo el aparato de seguridad y justicia de este orden de gobierno vela y velará en todo momento por la paz social en coordinación con las instancias federales respectivas.

El Jefe del Ejecutivo estatal destacó que no descansará un momento para que Tamaulipas continúe avanzando en el clima de seguridad pública y tranquilidad social que registra, objetivo en el que reconoce también el respaldo sin excepciones y oportuno del gobierno del Presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa.

(Los reporteros de AP en Ciudad de México, Julie Watson y Eduardo Castillo; en Nuevo Laredo, Jorge Vargas; y en Ciudad Juárez, Marina Montemayor, contribuyeron con esta nota. El reportero Miguel Timoshenkov colaboró en este artículo).

GALVESTON — La Fundación William Randolph Hearst ha contribuido 150.000 dólares a Frontera de Salud, una organización manejada por estudiantes en University of Texas Medical Branch en Galveston que ofrece atención médica a comunicades desprivilegiadas en el sur y sureste de Texas.

La Fundación Hearst en 2005 donó 50.000 dólares para establecer la dotación Frontera de Salud. Al aumentar el tamaño de la dotación, la fundación garantiza que la organización pueda atender a más gente y continuar sirviendo como programa modelo de entrenamiento en el cual estudiantes de medicina, enfermería y ciencias de la salud puedan tener un impacto inmediato en comunidades económicamente en desventaja.

Miembros de Frontera de Salud trabajan conjuntamente para ofrecer atención básica a residentes en comunidades como Cameron Park de Brownsville, un enclave de 7,000 residentes, que estadísticamente es el área más paupérrima en los Estados Unidos.

Desde que recibió la primera contribución de la Fundación Hearst, la organización ha establecido agrupaciones en University of Texas Health Science Centers en San Antonio y Houston. Estudiantes en Galveston, San Antonio y Houston también atienden a pacientes en comunidades en y alrededor de Corpus Christi, Laredo, San Antonio y Condado de Galveston durante visitas particulares y en clínicas locales.

El Dr. Kirk L. Smith, cofundador y director de Frontera de Salud de UTMB, dijo que el apoyo de la Fundación Hearst le permitirá a la organización agregar más comunidades a su área de servicio y ofrecer otros servición de atención médica, tales como exámenes a mujeres y niños.

“Frontera de Salud acaba de celebrar su 10o. aniversario y esta donación de la Fundación William Randolph Hearst garantiza que todos tendremos los fondos destinados que no solamente proseguirán nuestros servicios sino que los ampliará”, dijo Smith.

Por éso, dijo el Dr. David L. Callender, presidente de UTMB, la contribución de la Fundación Hearst a Frontera de Salud es tan vital para los ciudadanos del estado.

“Estoy orgulloso de que la organización Frontera de Salud otorgue a nuestros estudiantes la oportunidad de demostrar compasión y servicio médico”, dijo Callender.

Paul Dinovitz, director ejecutivo de la Fundación Hearst, dijo que el consejo administrativo está complacido por ayudar a garantizar que Frontera de Salud florecerá.

Fundación William Randolph Hearst son filantropías privadas independientes separadas de The Hearst Corporation.

Cientos asisten a Moto Rally en Miguel Alemán ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

MIGUEL ALEMÁN — Un total de 210 motociclistas participaron en el evento realizado el domingo 15 de febrero por el Moto Club “Los Hijos de Villa”, quienes lograron captar la atención regional con las actividades que realizaron, como el rally por la ciudad y las emocionantes carreras en el libramiento de tráfico pesado.

Un grupo de rock de esta ciudad amenizó la fiesta que “Los Hijos de Villa” ofrecieron a sus compañeros motociclistas que vinieron de varias ciudades de Tamaulipas, Nuevo León y Texas.

El evento que se realizó en la explanada de la Presidencia Municipal desde temprana hora del domingo.

El alcalde Servando López Moreno, integrante del Moto Club “Los Hijos de Villa”, dio la bienvenida a todos los motociclistas y dijo que este tipo de eventos, además de fomentar la convivencia, impulsa el turismo regional.

Al evento asistió el alcalde de Reynosa, Oscar Luebbert Gutiérrez, quien encabezó el contingente de motociclistas que llegó desde ese municipio fronterizo.

El rally por la ciudad fue apreciado por miles de familias, quienes salieron a las calles a admirar las potentes máquinas que hicieron vibrar a Miguel Alemán.

Posteriormente, los motociclistas comieron en la explanada de la Presidencia Municipal, donde disfrutaron de la música en vivo.

Después del mediodía, todos se trasladaron hasta el libramiento de tráfico pesado, a la altura de la colonia Américo Villarreal, donde se desarrollaron las emocionantes carreras.

Decenas de motociclistas participaron en los arrancones, los cuales registraron un saldo blanco gracias a la participación de los agentes de Tránsito Local, Protección Civil y Policía Preventiva.

En la primera categoría, el primer lugar lo obtuvo Eliel Miranda; y en la segunda, el

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Miguel Alemán

Unos 210 motociclistas participan en el rally organizado por el Moto Club “Los Hijos de Villa”, el domingo 15 de febrero por las calles de Miguel Alemán. Participaron los presidentes municipales Servando López Moreno y Oscar Luebbert Gutiérrez, de Miguel Alemán y Reynosa, respectivamente. primer sitio lo ganó Jorge Torres, quienes recibieron un trofeo del Moto Club “Los Hijos de Villa”.

También hubo carreras lentas el cual se repetirá en este año durante las temporadas de primavera y verano.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

THE ZAPATA TIMES | 9A

MONEY | Continued from Page 1A The contract for the clinic’s operation expires Sept. 30.

“We’ll continue with their service or open it up to other proposals or other doctors interested in running the clinic at a lower price,” Vela said.

Also during Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Court meeting, an

agenda item requested office space for the District Attorney’s Office at the Zapata County Courthouse.

Commissioners approved the motion unanimously.

“This is something I’ve been pushing for since (District Attorney Isido “Chilo” Alaniz’s) cam-

paign started,” Vela said. “I feel it’s something that’s needed here.

“The people need to have access to the district attorney’s office.”

Saíd Figueroa, Zapata County attorney, said Alaniz requested the office space.

The commissioners also unani-

mously approved a motion to pay court-appointed attorneys in Zapata County at least $250 for taking on a case. The figure represents a $100 increase in indigent attorney fees.

“It’s still on the low end, but more enticing to bring attorneys into Zapata,” Figueroa said.

HELPING | Continued from Page 1A

Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times

Left, Jessica Garcia and Melissa Martinez, 2009 queen contestants, chat with 2008 Queen Velma Saenz during the kick-off party for the 2009 Zapata County Fair.

FAIR | Continued from Page 1A Today, she’s director of the district’s alternative school and happy to be back home.

“I need to give back to my community,” she said. “I feel like my legacy will be here.”

While the reception paid tribute to the past, it also honored this year’s special participants, including Juanita and Osvaldo Ramirez, the 2009 Parade Marshals.

“We were very surprised,” Juanita Ramirez said, recalling how she and her husband of 44 years were told of the honor. “They invited us to a meeting. They said they needed a p ortrait to put up in the building we donated, but that was just an excuse to get us to the meeting.

“It was super exciting,” she said. “We didn’t expect it.”

Cynthia Ramirez, the first Zapata County Fair queen, also was at Wednesday’s event, sponsored by the Zapata Chamber of Commerce, and shared her early memories of the fair.

She fondly remembers Hein directing that first pageant.

“We practiced one night with Ms. Hein,” Ramirez said.

The talent contest particularly stands out in her memory.

“She said we couldn’t twirl or dance — we had to stand there and, well, all that really left was to say a poem,” Ramirez recalled with a bright smile. “I decided to do ‘Little Boy Blue’ by Eugene Fields because it was my mother’s favorite poem. I can probably still say it!

“But Ms. Hein said it was too short. Too short! I didn’t know what to do. So I was praying, and then I saw the ‘Serenity’ prayer and I thought I would tack it on and make it all into a story,” Ramirez explained. “So that’s what I did.”

It worked; she was crowed queen. Now she helps with the

pageant, which has blossomed.

“They’re so professional now,” said Nilda Gutierrez, a retired teacher who planned the first pageant with Elma Martinez, also now retired.

“Kids have had many more opportunities to develop their talent,” Martinez added.

The attendees at the reception heard about the past presidents as well as past parade marshals. The first president was J.O. Dodier, who served from 1974-1975. The first marshal was Oscar Dodier.

“The Rathmulls, Mundo Gutierrez and others were volunteers,” said Xavier Villarreal, who was president of the association in 1982. “They had a vision. “(The fair) wasn’t as it is now.

There was no communication back then. We had to wait to get home to call a compadre to let him know what went on.”

Anna Holcomb, this year’s president, has been involved with the fair since she was a child. She even ran for queen in 1982. She’s been a director for 10 years.

“I was practically raised at the fair. It’s just so much fun!” she said. “We invite everyone to come and enjoy the events.”

Paco Mendoza, executive director of the Zapata Chamber of Commerce, credited Graphitiks Advertising Design of Laredo for increased excitement about the fair.

“We’re hoping to get 10,000 people,” he said. “The Web site they created has all the information you need.”

For more information on the fair and a complete schedule of events, visit www.ZapataCountyFairOnline.com (Dora Martinez contributed to this report. To reach Diana R. Fuentes, call 728-2581 or e-mail dfuentes@lmtonline.com)

CUELLAR | Continued from Page 1A $3.1 billion is what schools can reach into for construction funds.

The standard distribution will be 61 percent available for public and higher education, and 39 percent available for public safety and related services, but the governor can change that distribution.

“A lot of it will depend on what Gov. (Rick) Perry does,” Cuellar said. “The governor could say put the whole thing in public safety or higher ed.”

But Cuellar gave reason for LCC students to applaud. The stimulus package includes an increase in the amount of money available in Pell Grants by $500.

In an effort to make the spending as transparent as possible, the federal government has opened a Web site entitled recovery.gov. It is meant to allow taxpayers to view how and where money from the recovery act is being spent.

The Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget will dis-

tribute the money.

They will distribute the money in five main ways. The first is by formula, distributed to states and localities. Medicaid and highway infrastructure investments fall in this category.

Some funding will be distributed through competition. Agencies and programs will distribute requests for proposals.

More funding will come through agency plan, such as environmental cleanup of nuclear waste sites and National Park construction. Some of it will come as a one-time automatic disbursement, such as the $300 to $600 tax rebate to working citizens. Some of it will be provided directly to eligible people, such as unemployment insurance, the increased Pell Grant or small business loans.

(Zach Lindsey may be reached at 728-2538 or zach@ lmtonline.com)

asking for soccer balls, toys … you name it,” Perez said. “My sister asked if I needed anything and I mentioned to her that I had everything I needed but if she wanted to help she could send me some toys or school supplies to help out the kids.

“Well, I didn’t expect that she would go overboard and get IBC Bank involved. Before you know it, I’m receiving a bunch of soccer balls and school supplies. It’s all credit to my sister.”

Hinojosa said IBC Bank-Zapata President Renato Ramirez “was very impressed by it.

“We took on the project and it took off,” Hinojosa said. “Everybody put a lot of heart into it.”

She said in the Zapata market, IBC Bank did “Jean Friday” where everybody donated $5 and was allowed to wear jeans according to the bank’s dress code.

From that effort, they raised $800

and she said Ramirez matched it to make it $1,600 total.

“I got in touch with Heidi and asked her about it,” Hinojosa said. “We purchased 100 soccer balls, school supplies and goodies and shipped them over to Tal Afar.”

She said military personnel received the items around midDecember. Because of Iraq’s national elections, Hinojosa said there was a delay in holding the items “so they probably delivered them in mid-January, more or less.”

Fulfilling mission Perez said her mission was “to train, mentor and advise the Iraqi police.

“We are known as a police transition team,” she said. “We work hand-in-hand with the Iraqi police and as part of our

mission, we push them to be more active in their community, to give inspiration to the school children and bring peace of mind to communities they patrol.”

Perez said watching her soldiers working with Iraqi police forces has been impressive, adding they enjoy doing dismounted patrols and toy school drops.

“It gives them a sense of purpose,” she said. “My soldiers loved doing the ‘Operation Cheerful Child’ mission, going out to the school and passing out toys was so emotional and fulfilling. It gave us an opportunity to put a smile on a kid’s face.”

Personally, she feels grateful to have a supportive family in Zapata.

“My family has been great and they have been extremely supportive of me being in the military and this deployment,”

Perez said. “I feel grateful and blessed to have such a supportive and loving family. It helps me get through some days when I know that I have loved ones back at home that care for me.

“As for IBC Bank-Zapata, what they did to support this operation is amazing. Their donations went above and beyond and the children here in Tal Afar, Iraq appreciate their donations. I would like to thank them for their support and gratitude for making this operation so successful.”

For Hinojosa, doing it as a one-time event isn’t in the cards.

“We look forward to making this project more often, maybe once or twice a year,” she said.

Iraqi children will have more reasons to smile, too.

(Joe Rutland can be reached at 728-2529 or jrutland@lmtonline.com)

ZBusiness

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 21,2009

Stocks tumble but close well off lows

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Peso slides as Mexico tries to boost economy

By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO

By TIM PARADIS ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Despairing investors keep unloading stocks — and there are no signs that the selling will end anytime soon.

Wall Street tumbled again Friday, giving the market a painful end to another terrible week, one that left the major indexes down more than 6 percent. The reality of a protracted recession, and the likelihood that government intervention can do little to hasten its end, had investors again abandoning stocks, particularly those of struggling financial companies.

Friday’s drop, which shaved 100 points off the Dow Jones industrial average, was led by financial stocks and came a day after the market’s best-known indicator dropped to its lowest level since the depths of the last bear market, in 2002. And the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, the barometer most closely watched by market pros, came close to its lowest point in nearly 12 years.

Wall Street has been sinking lower and lower as investors come to terms with the fact that the optimism that fed a late-2008 rally was clearly unfounded.

Companies’ forecasts for this year, which accompanied a dismal series of fourth-quarter earnings reports, pounded home the fact that no one can figure out when the recession will end.

“It was a market that was built on that hope and what we’re seeing now is an unwinding of that,” said Todd Salamone, director of trading and vice president of research at Schaeffer’s Investment Research in Cincinnati, of the rally from late November to early January.

The disappointment seen this week grew out of the market’s growing recognition that the multibillion dollar stimulus package and bailout program put together by the Obama administration are not likely to turn the economy around for some time.

“There were a lot of people that were banking on Washington

to get us out of this. I don’t know if there is anything Washington can do,” Salamone said. He said the global economy is going through the tedious process of reducing borrowing and working through bad debt — something that government help can’t speed up.

With the week erasing whatever shreds of hope the market had, there is virtually no chance of a rally on Wall Street. What the market might see is a blip upward — but blips tend to quickly evaporate.

That happened Friday. Stocks erased some of their losses after White House press secretary Robert Gibbs doused fears that the government would nationalize crippled banks. Investors who worried about seeing their shares wiped out by a government takeover welcomed the news, but it didn’t erase broader concerns about the economy.

The Dow Jones industrials briefly went into positive territory, but quickly turned downward again.

Salamone said investors had been too hopeful in late 2008 and at the start of this year that the new administration would be able to quickly disentangle the economy from its troubles.

According to preliminary calculations, the Dow industrials fell 100.28, or 1.3 percent, to 7,365.67 after earlier falling more than 215.

On Thursday, the Dow broke through its Nov. 20 low of 7,552.29, and closed at its lowest level since Oct. 9, 2002.

The Dow’s 6.2 percent slide for the week was its worst performance since the week of Oct. 10, when it lost 18.2 percent.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index on Friday fell 8.89, or 1.14 percent, to 770.05. The benchmark most watched by traders came within less than 2 points of its Nov. 20 close of 752.44. It remains above its Nov. 21 trading low of 741.02.

The Nasdaq composite index fell 1.59, or 0.11 percent, to 1,441.23.

10A

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Henny Ray Abrams | AP

Louis Spina of Barclays Capital works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, in New York.

For the week, the S&P fell 6.9 percent, while the Nasdaq lost 6.1 percent.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers by about 3 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 2.12 billion shares.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 5.75, or 1.38 percent, to 410.96.

Other world indicators also fell sharply. Britain’s FTSE 100 declined 3.2 percent, Germany’s DAX index tumbled 4.8 percent, and France’s CAC-40 fell 4.3 percent.

Shares of financial bellwethers Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. plunged on worries the government will have to take control of them. Citigroup fell 22 percent, while Bank of America fell 3.6 percent. But the stocks were down as much as 36 percent during the session.

The fears about the banks are hurting shareholders of those companies and are also propelling the rest of the market

downward because the broader economy can’t function properly when banks aren’t able to lend at more normal levels.

“Financing is the blood which runs through our nation’s veins.

It’s what keeps us alive,” said Lawrence Creatura, a portfolio manager at Federated Clover Investment Advisors.

He said the talk of nationalizing banks only underscores the troubles with the economy.

“Things are clearly not normal. It’s not healthy. The patient was on life support and now what we’re talking about getting out the paddle with respect to nationalization,” Creatura said.

As investors dropped out of stocks, safer investments like Treasury debt and gold rose. The price of the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose sharply, sending its yield down to 2.79 percent from 2.86 percent. The yield on the three-month T-bill, considered one of the safest investments, fell to 0.26 percent from 0.30 percent late Thursday.

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point Friday to boost the country’s sagging economy, which has been pummeled by the U.S. recession.

The cut to 7.5 percent was 25 basis points less than expected, but nonetheless sent the peso tumbling to a new low of 14.98 to the U.S. dollar.

The bank auctioned $400 million in foreign reserves and sold dollars directly to banks to stem the slide, bringing the peso to 14.76 by late afternoon.

Analysts had been expecting the bank to cut its lending rate to 7.25 percent, but said policy makers held back to protect the weakening peso, which threatens to drive continued inflation even as the country slips toward its own recession.

The peso has lost more than 30 percent of its value against the dollar since August, boosting import costs and fueling consumer price gains, which reached 6.3 percent in January.

Central Bank Governor Guillermo Ortiz blamed the peso’s slide on global risk perceptions, which he told a local radio station have weakened currencies across emerging markets.

Friday’s cut was the bank’s second since 2006, after slashing its lending rate by 50 basis points to 7.75 percent on Jan. 16 in an effort to revive slowing growth. The economy contracted 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter, Mexico’s national statistics institute said Friday, even more than the 1 percent that the Treasury Department had initially reported.

Mexico, which sends 80 percent of its exports to the United States, has been hit hard by the U.S. downturn. The bank predicted a contraction for the first quarter, suggesting that Mexico would officially enter a recession, defined as two straight quarters of negative growth.

State-run oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, meanwhile said output at its main Cantarell oil field, once one of the world’s biggest, had fallen so much that it was no longer the country’s top producer, a title it had held since 1979.

Production at Cantarell fell to 772,000 barrels a day in January, slashing the monopoly’s overall output by 9.2 percent to 2.69 million barrels a day from 2.96 million in January 2008. Exports fell 4.2 percent to 1.37 million barrels a day in the same period, Pemex said Friday in statement.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

THE ZAPATA TIMES | 11A

LOCAL

Hector Lopez Jr. key in starting Health survey to have open county’s recycling program house today in exam trailer

By DORA MARTINEZ n 1992, right after Hector Lopez Jr. returned from California, he implemented a recycling program from the ground up working as a volunteer with the help of Boyd Carter from the Zapata National Bank and Peggy Umphres.

I

COLUMN Lopez was spending his own money and using his own truck to do well for the benefit of his town. The judge told him to go the Health Department to speak to Fernando Muñoz Jr. At the time, there was this place at La Perrera at the entrance of Zapata where animal control is located. It was a place that was being used as storage for the industrial foundation.

Lopez cleaned it up, of course, and still using his own truck, he gathered material for recycling.

Later, he was hired by the county. He started applying for grants in 1993 at the South Texas Development Council for the four counties, and got his first vertical baler with the help of

The county diverts about 300 tons a year from the landfill due to recycling.

Lack of the space in the landfill is a major issue now; that’s why they’re working on getting another landfill.

Adrian Ramirez, former director for the waterworks, who got him the compressor.

He started collecting cardboard and old newspapers. He also was able to get four employees and now a secretary to help him with the task. The funds they made for selling the bales was sent back to the general fund and not to his department. Later, he applied for another grant for the trailers, and a new truck.

The county diverts about 300 tons a year from the landfill due to recycling. Lack of the space in the landfill is a major issue now; that’s why they’re working on getting another landfill.

Lopez continues to work on his grants. This time, he got a $60,000 horizontal baler to col-

lect plastics, milk containers, soda bottles, aluminum cans and tin cans.

Lopez and County Judge Rosalva Guerra went before the Zapata County Independent School District board and were well received in conjunction with the effort. There are six cafeterias in Zapata where they can obtain plenty of recyclable.

Right now, there are about 20 bins and 55 to 60 establishments all over our town. Guerra and Commissioner Jose Emilio Vela have been supportive of the recycling effort.

(Dora Martinez is a native of Zapata who was publisher of Hispanic News in San Antonio for 21 years. She can be reached at thezapatatimes@att.net)

Fishing series winners from all over SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The FLW Stren Series bass fishing tournament that took place Jan. 15-17 brought in top fishermen from around Texas and neighboring states to see who would reign supreme in the battle of the bass.

A cook-off was to accompany the tournament, but it cancelled due to a lack of volunteers, said Celia Balderas with the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce. No plans have yet been made to rescheudle the cook-off.

Last year, however, the tournament put Zapata on the proverbial fishing map by providing several FLW recordweight-breaking catches.

Winners are as follows:

2009 FLW Outdoors Stren Series Professional Anglers Winning Results Joe Don Setina, Pittsburg, Texas Richard Cathey, San Antonio Charles Haralson, Laredo Jerry Green Cullman, Alabama Dan Schoonveld, Louisiana Ray Hanselman, Del Rio James Stricklin Jr., Jasper Dicky Newberry, Houston Larry Peacher Bentley, Louisiana Jesse West Strandquist, Minnesota 2009 FLW Outdoors Stren Series Co-Anglers Winning Results Dean Kreuzer, Arizona Keith Honeycut, Temple Timothy Achee, Hemphill

Kenneth Pellerin, Pasadena Chris Pennington, California Kevin Slate, Oklahoma Robert Royal, Vidor Ray Peace, Arlington Jeff Lobaugh, Emory Billy Rusher, Oklahoma

By ERIKA LAMBRETON THE ZAPATA TIMES

Officials conducting the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey will have an open house today from 9 a.m. to noon for the public with a tour of the mobile examination center which is temporarily located behind the Zapata Community Center.

According to a news release, the organization conducts a study every year to observe the health and nutritional status of Americans to help procure more viable health policies and programs.

The national health center’s survey started in 1960, said NHANES Study Manager Larry Dobbins, but it didn’t become a continual program until 1999. “(NHANES) recognized that there was a need to have this ongoing because of the changing health of Americans,” said Dobbins.

The survey first selects about 7,000 residents in 15 counties, at random, to participate in the study, and Zapata was among those selected. Those who participate are eligible to receive up to $150. All information gathered from the study is strictly confidential.

All participants will receive an examination by a physician, as well as a dietary interview and body measurements that include height and weight. Some will be eligible for a hearing test, a scan to evaluate skeletal health, a breathing test as well as a blood pressure test.

The various tests and procedures depend upon the age of the

“NHANES is very much like a ‘health center on wheels,’ that goes out into actual communities to get data on real Americans.”

CDC DIRECTOR JULIE L. GERBERDING

participant, said the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in a news release.

Dobbins said the study was basically the “nation’s report card on health.”

In order to produce the most accurate information and data, survey researchers enlist the help of their mobile examination center. The mobile center contains state-of-the-art equipment, which provides statistics that will be

used in doctor’s offices across the nation.

“NHANES is very much like a ‘health center on wheels,’ that goes out into actual communities to get data on real Americans,” said CDC Director Julie L. Gerberding in a news release.

“It truly is a unique resource for health information in this country, and without it we wouldn’t have data on a number of important health conditions.”

For the latest local biz news, read Monday’s LMT Business Journal

12A | THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

The Zapata Times SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 21,2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors BORDER OLYMPICS GOLF

Cagers eying bi-district

By NINO CARDENAS THE ZAPATA TIMES

The Zapata Hawks basketball team has already surpassed expectations, but don’t expect it to relax just yet.

The Hawks (11-3) finished in second place in District 32-3A, behind district champion Hidalgo, and now travels to Falfurrias on Monday to take on Sinton in bi-district.

The game is set for a 6 p.m. tipoff.

While the team did set aside lofty goals to begin the season, the truth of the matter was that there was more reason to doubt their success.

“Not too many people expected that from us, especially with me being in my first year as coach,” head coach Juan Villar-

real said. “At the beginning I didn’t think it was going to be attainable. We just wanted to put up a dog fight in every single game and take one game at a time and hopefully buy a spot to go into the playoffs.”

A trip to the playoffs wasn’t supposed to come this quickly, and challenging for a title as district play drew to a close was even more of surprise.

Yet, from the beginning, the mix of seniors and sophomores didn’t take the oil and water route. Instead, they steadily began to believe in one another.

“These kids have come a long way from the first day of practice to now,” Villarreal said. “They bought into the program and we’re excited, the town is excited.

They started to listen to each oth-

er playing together. At the beginning they couldn’t find their identities and most had not played together. Out of the five seniors, only one had made it through the whole year last year.”

By the time district play rolled around the Hawks were slowly smoothing out the road toward success. The players responsible for the Hawks’ success are seniors Rene Garcia, Meliton Trejo, Arlo De Los Santos, Rene Benavides and Raul Serna and sophomores Andrew Magee, Joey Barrera, Louie Gonzalez, Ricky Martinez and Francisco Trejo.

They opened with four straight district wins before falling to Hidalgo.

Despite that loss, the previous victories served as the confidence springboard that lifted the Hawks

back into the postseason.

“They stepped up and met the challenges,” Villarreal said. “I liked the way they didn’t back down from anybody or any of my challenges.”

Villarreal had his expectations tempered as he took over the program. His plan was to bring the glory of yesterday back into the present, but the hard part now for the Zapata coaches and players is to focus on the task at hand.

While they’re satisfied at getting back to the playoffs, they walk the fine line of being content of just being there.

“We are trying to keep them relaxed, to not think that it’s too big of a step,” Villarreal said.

“Hopefully they act like they’ve been there before.”

See CAGERS | PAGE 2B

GETTING READY FOR THE DIAMOND Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times

Zapata’s Denise Benavides tees off on Hole No. 6 Friday morning as she participates in the Border Olympics High School Golf Tournament at the Casa Blanca Golf Course.

Seven positives in steriod tests

By JIM VERTUNO ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — The second round of steroid testing for Texas high school athletes found only seven positive results in nearly 19,000 tests, about the same outcome as the program’s debut last year.

The latest results, released by the University Interscholastic League on Friday, came from random tests on male and female athletes from September through December.

The initial round of testing in the nation’s largest high school screening program found only four cases of steroid use in 10,000 athletes.

With such tiny numbers, some state lawmakers have questioned the value of the $6 million program. Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, has suggested it may need to be scaled down.

A spokesman for Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, a Republican who pushed the plan through the Legislature in 2007, said the few numbers of positive tests show the program “is clearly working as a deterrent.”

“The lieutenant governor believes the program is working as intended to keep young people from destroying their bodies and their lives by using steroids,” spokesman Rich Parsons said.

Texas, New Jersey and Illinois are the only states testing high

school athletes for steroids and the Texas program is by far the biggest, aiming to test up to 50,000 by the end of the school year.

Florida recently decided to scrap its smaller program with one steroid user caught in 600 tests. State officials said they couldn’t justify the $100,000 cost in a tough economy.

Texas state Sen. Dan Patrick, a Houston Republican, had previously criticized Texas program as a “colossal waste of taxpayer money.” His office declined comment on the results released Friday.

The Texas program is supported by prominent testing advocate Don Hooton, whose 17year-old son Taylor committed suicide while battling depression doctors believe was brought on by steroid use.

Hooton, who has testified before Congress on the dangers of steroid use, said testing is designed to prevent drug use, not to measure how many kids are doing it.

The small number of athletes caught should not discourage more testing, he said. It could be geared more toward sports that are known to draw users such as football, baseball and softball.

“They don’t stop testing Olympic athletes just because most of them don’t test positive,” Hooton said.

See SEVEN | PAGE 2B

Courtesy photo

The Zapata Lady Hawk softball captains this season are, from left, Lynda Leyva, Tessa Moss and Mayra Alaniz.

Lady Hawks prepare for tough opponents in new district

By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

he Zapata Lady Hawks have dusted off their bats and are ready to hit the diamond full force to open the softball season. Coach Jaime Garcia starts his sophomore year at the helm for Zapata after spending six years as the assistant softball coach for the Lady Hawks.

Zapata will feel the effects of last year’s realignment as it faces some tough competition in its new district, 32-3A. The Lady Hawks will face powerhouses Raymondville, Lyford and La Feria, which have a strong hold on the district and have gone deep in the playoffs.

Raymondville, the defending 31-3A champion, has owned the district, claiming the last four district titles and making a trip to

T

the regional quarterfinals last year.

Lyford returns fireball pitcher and last season’s All-Valley Newcomer of the Year Katrina Zamorano.

The La Feria Lionettes, defending 32-3A champions, will put up a fight and hope to improve on their 18-8 mark from last year.

Garcia also returns a wealth of experience on the diamond as he welcomes back nine lettermen.

He hopes the experience will lead to wins for the Lady Hawks and help them improve on last season’s 6-15 record.

“We are a year older and the experience we are returning from last year group will help us,” Garcia said. “If we can just put the pieces of the puzzle together we should do well this year.”

Last season during district play the Lady Hawks battled in every game and were with-

in striking distance of a win when they seemed to lose their composure at the end.

They lost six district games by three runs or fewer, as small mistakes would have a snowball effect on the team.

“Every game we were in it but we just made some costly mistakes down the stretch to cost us,” Garcia said.

Garcia welcomes back four-year lettermen Lynda Leyva, Tessa Moss and Myra Alaniz, who have made a steady impact on the softball program since their freshman year.

“All three of them are great leaders, and I expect big things from them,” Garcia said.

Leyva returns to the mound for pitching duties and will utilize her three years of experience to help the Lady Hawks to a playoff spot

See LADY HAKWS | PAGE 2B

Woods ready for links comeback

By DOUG FERGUSON ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods has been on the golf course every day, either practicing or playing, hitting his full array of shots without fear of pain shooting down his left leg or bones sliding out of place.

The next step is taking that inside the ropes. And not even Woods is sure what to expect.

“I’m as curious as you,” Woods said Friday during a conference call. “The feeling of adrenaline, the rush of competing and playing again, all that I haven’t done in a while.”

Woods will have gone more than eight months — 253 days to be exact — without hitting a shot that counts when he returns from reconstruc-

tive knee surgery next week at the Accenture Match Play Championship just north of Tucson, Ariz.

His goal is to win. That hasn’t changed. The surgery in June was to repair his knee, not his heart or his mind. But as confident as Woods feels about his game, his main concern is how sharp he will be in his first tournament since the U.S. Open last June.

“It’s one thing to do it in a practice environment at home against my buddies for a little bit of cash,” Woods said. “It’s a totally different deal to do it at a PGA Tour event against the best players in the world. I’m excited to get out there and experience that.”

But at least he’ll be doing it on a healthy knee, saying “it’s been years” since he was without pain.

“One of the great things coming back is my bones aren’t moving anymore,” Woods said. “It’s a very comforting feeling hitting a golf ball without your bones sliding all over the place. That’s been very exciting to play that way, and I’m looking forward to the season.”

Swing coach Hank Haney said the only change in his swing will be the finish, noting that Woods finally has a strong left knee that will not give way and “flop all over the place.”

The only noticeable change might be his golf bag.

Woods ended his nine-year endorsement deal with Buick because of the automaker’s financial problems. He said he will have AT&T on his bag as an extended partnership with the telecommunications giant.

AT&T is the title sponsor of his PGA Tour event in Washington and a major sponsor of his foundation.

He also has an endorsement with Accenture, although Woods said that wasn’t behind his decision to return.

The knee has felt strong enough that he could have played earlier.

All he waited on was the birth of his son, Charlie Axel, making sure his wife and baby were healthy before he went back to work.

“It was making sure the family was all good with the birth of Charlie and making sure Elin was OK, Charlie was OK, everything was safe and sound on the home front,” he said. “Then the focus was on playing again.”

Woods offered some insight on the name of his son.

Photo by Charlie Riedel | AP

In this June 15, 2008, file photo Tiger Woods holds on to his left knee after teeing off on the second hole during the fourth round of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego.Woods will end his eight-month absence from competition Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Accenture Match Play Championship outside Tucson,Ariz. He has not played since capturing the U.S. Open last year.

Zscores CHL NORTHERN CONFERENCE Northeast Division W L OTL Pts GF GA Mississippi 32 14 3 67 179 121 Bossier-Shreveport31 14 3 65 151 126 Oklahoma City 29 13 6 64 155 119 Tulsa 13 27 8 34 130 205 Northwest Division W L OTL Pts GF GA x-Colorado 36 11 2 74 212 150 Rocky Mountain 26 21 4 56 167 168 Rapid City 16 25 8 40 133 175 Wichita 16 30 3 35 126 172 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE Southeast Division W L OTL Pts GF GA Texas 33 12 4 70 171 134 Laredo 28 16 4 60 166 138 Rio Grande Valley25 20 4 54 169 158 Corpus Christi 21 25 4 46 148 168 Southwest Division W L OTL Pts GF GA Odessa 30 13 6 66 194 148 Arizona 22 25 3 47 178 203 New Mexico 19 28 2 40 168 195 Amarillo 14 30 3 31 139 206 x-clinched playoff spot NOTE: Two points are awarded for a win, one point for loss in overtime or shootout. Overtime or shootout losses are only denoted in the OTL column, not the loss column.

Thursday’s Games No games schedule Friday’s Games Oklahoma City at Corpus Christi Wichita at Mississippi Amarillo at Odessa Laredo at Texas New Mexico at Rio Grande Valley Rapid City at Tulsa Bossier-Shreveport at Arizona Rocky Mountain at Colorado Saturday’s Games Laredo at Amarillo New Mexico at Corpus Christi Wichita at Mississippi Texas at Odessa Oklahoma City at Rio Grande Valley Rapid City at Tulsa Bossier-Shreveport at Arizona Rocky Mountain at Colorado Sunday’s Games Oklahoma City at Texas Laredo at Amarillo New Mexico at Odessa

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic W L Pct GB Boston 44 12 .786 — Philadelphia 27 26 .509 15½ New Jersey 24 31 .436 19½ New York 22 31 .415 20½ Toronto 21 35 .375 23 Southeast W L Pct GB Orlando 39 14 .736 — Atlanta 32 22 .593 7½ Miami 28 25 .528 11 Charlotte 22 32 .407 17½ Washington 12 42 .222 27½ Central W L Pct GB Cleveland 41 11 .788 — Detroit 27 26 .509 14½ Milwaukee 27 30 .474 16½ Chicago 24 30 .444 18 Indiana 22 34 .393 21 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest W L Pct GB San Antonio 36 17 .679 — New Orleans 32 20 .615 3½ Houston 33 21 .611 3½ Dallas 32 21 .604 4 Memphis 15 39 .278 21½ Northwest W L Pct GB Denver 37 17 .685 — Portland 33 20 .623 3½ Utah 32 23 .582 5½ Minnesota 18 35 .340 18½ Oklahoma City 13 41 .241 24 Pacific W L Pct GB L.A. Lakers 44 10 .815 — Phoenix 30 23 .566 13½ Golden State 19 36 .345 25½ L.A. Clippers 13 42 .236 31½ Sacramento 11 44 .200 33½ Thursday’s Games San Antonio 83, Detroit 79 Utah 90, Boston 85 Friday’s Games Orlando at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Toronto at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Dallas at Houston, 8 p.m.

Sacramento at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Washington at New Jersey, 8 p.m.

Indiana at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Denver at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Cleveland at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Atlanta at Portland, 10 p.m.

New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

Saturday’s Games Philadelphia at Miami, 3:30 p.m.

San Antonio at Washington, 8 p.m.

New Orleans at Utah, 9 p.m.

Sacramento at Dallas, 9 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday’s Games Chicago at Indiana, Noon New York at Toronto, Noon Boston at Phoenix, 2:30 p.m.

Denver at Milwaukee, 5 p.m.

Charlotte at Houston, 5 p.m.

Miami at Orlando, 5:30 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Portland, 6 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Cleveland, 8 p.m.

NHL All Times EST EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L OT Pts GF New Jersey 38 18 3 79 182 Philadelphia 31 16 9 71 185 N.Y. Rangers 31 22 6 68 147 Pittsburgh 28 25 6 62 178 N.Y. Islanders 17 35 6 40 140 Northeast Division W L OT Pts GF Boston 40 10 8 88 197 Montreal 30 22 7 67 179 Buffalo 30 23 6 66 175 Ottawa 22 26 9 53 141 Toronto 21 26 11 53 175 Southeast Division W L OT Pts GF Washington 37 16 5 79 195 Florida 29 21 8 66 164 Carolina 29 25 5 63 153 Tampa Bay 19 27 12 50 147 Atlanta 21 32 6 48 175 WESTERN CONFERENCE

GA 147 164 163 182 198 GA 131 181 166 163 214 GA 166 159 173 184 208

Central Division W L OT Pts GF GA 38 12 8 84 221 170 33 15 8 74 190 140 30 23 6 66 163 164 27 28 4 58 141 168 25 26 7 57 165 177 Northwest Division W L OT Pts GF GA Calgary 34 18 6 74 184 171 Vancouver 29 21 8 66 178 168 Edmonton 29 25 4 62 163 179 Minnesota 28 24 4 60 144 132 Colorado 27 30 1 55 159 180 Pacific Division W L OT Pts GF GA San Jose 39 8 9 87 196 139 Dallas 29 21 7 65 173 176 Anaheim 28 26 5 61 166 170 Los Angeles 25 23 9 59 152 164 Phoenix 26 28 5 57 150 181 Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss or shootout loss.

Thursday’s Games Philadelphia 6, Buffalo 3 Pittsburgh 5, Montreal 4 Carolina 6, N.Y. Islanders 2 Vancouver 5, Ottawa 2 Chicago 4, Florida 0 New Jersey 3, Tampa Bay 2, SO Columbus 4, Toronto 3, SO Calgary 3, Minnesota 2, OT St. Louis 2, Nashville 1, OT Dallas 4, Edmonton 2 Phoenix 4, Atlanta 3, SO San Jose 4, Los Angeles 2 Friday’s Games Tampa Bay at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Colorado at Washington, 7 p.m.

Anaheim at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s Games Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Chicago at Dallas, 2 p.m.

Ottawa at Montreal, 3 p.m.

Atlanta at San Jose, 4 p.m.

Phoenix at Los Angeles, 4 p.m.

N.Y. Rangers at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Boston at Florida, 7 p.m.

Anaheim at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Vancouver at Toronto, 7 p.m.

New Jersey at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Nashville at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.

Calgary at Edmonton, 10 p.m.

Sunday’s Games Pittsburgh at Washington, 12:30 p.m.

Colorado at Carolina, 3 p.m.

Boston at Tampa Bay, 5 p.m.

Minnesota at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Toronto at N.Y. Rangers, 8 p.m.

Detroit Chicago Columbus Nashville St. Louis

MLB Free Agent Signings NEW YORK — The 117 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained

by The Associated Press from player and management sources. For players with minor league contracts, letter agreements for major league contracts are in parentheses: AMERICAN LEAGUE BALTIMORE (6) — Signed Cesar Izturis, ss, Baltimore, to a $5 million, two-year contract; signed Chad Moeller, c, New York Yankees, to a minor league contract ($800,000); signed Mark Hendrickson, lhp, Florida, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; signed Chris Gomez, 3b, Pittsburgh, to a minor league contract ($900,000); signed Gregg Zaun, c, Toronto, to a $2 million, one-year contract; signed John Parrish, lhp, Toronto, to a minor league contract ($850,000).

BOSTON (6) — Signed Rocco Baldelli, of, Tampa Bay, to a $500,000, one-year contract; signed Brad Penny, rhp, Los Angeles Dodgers, to a $5 million, oneyear contract; signed John Smoltz, rhp, Atlanta, to a $5.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Mark Kotsay, of, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Jason Varitek, c, to a $5 million, one-year contract; signed Brad Wilkerson, of, Toronto to a minor league contract ($400,000).

CHICAGO (1) — Signed Bartolo Colon, rhp, Boston, to a $1 million, one-year contract.

CLEVELAND (3) — Signed Kerry Wood, rhp, Chicago Cubs, to a $20.5 million, two-year contract; signed Carl Pavano, rhp, New York Yankees, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; signed Matt Herges, rhp, Colorado, to a minor league contract ($800,000).

DETROIT (3) — Signed Adam Everett, ss, Minnesota, to a $1 million, one-year contract; signed Juan Rincon, rhp, Cleveland, to a minor league contract ($750,000); signed Brandon Lyon, rhp, Arizona, to a $4.25 million, one-year contract.

KANSAS CITY (5) — Signed Horacio Ramirez, lhp, Chicago White Sox, to a $1.8 million, one-year contract; signed Kyle Farnsworth, rhp, Detroit, to a $9.25 million, two-year contract; signed Vance Wilson, c, Detroit, to a minor league contract ($600,000); signed Willie Bloomquist, of, Seattle, to a $3.1 million, two-year contract; signed Jamey Wright, rhp, Texas, to a minor league contract ($800,000).

LOS ANGELES (4) — Re-signed Darren Oliver, lhp, to a $3,665,000, one-year contract; re-signed Juan Rivera, of, to a $12.75 million, three-year contract; signed Brian Fuentes, lhp, Colorado, to a $17.5 million, two-year contract; signed Bobby Abreu, of, New York Yankees, to a $5 million, one-year contract.

MINNESOTA (1) — Re-signed Nick Punto, ss, to an $8.5 million, two-year contact.

NEW YORK (5) — Signed CC Sabathia, lhp, Milwaukee, to a $161 million, seven-year contract; signed A.J. Burnett, rhp, Toronto, to an $82.5 million, five-year contract; signed Mark Teixeira, 1b, Los Angeles Angels, to a $180 million, eight-year contract; signed Jason Johnson, rhp, Los Angeles Dodgers, to a minor league contract ($850,000); re-signed Andy Pettitte, lhp, to a $5.5 million, one-year contract.

OAKLAND (2) — Signed Jason Giambi, 1b, New York Yankees, to a $5.25 million, one-year contract; signed Russ Springer, rhp, St. Louis, to a $3.3 million, one-year contract.

SEATTLE (1) — Signed Russell Branyan, 3b, Milwaukee, to a $1.4 million, one-year contract.

TAMPA BAY (3) — Signed Pat Burrell, of, Philadelphia, to a $16 million, two-year contract; signed Gabe Kapler, of, Milwaukee, to a $1 million, one-year contract; signed Brian Shouse, lhp, Milwaukee, to a $1.55 million, one-year contract.

TEXAS (5) — Signed Omar Vizquel, ss, San Francisco, to a minor league contract ($1 million); signed Adam Melhuse, c, Colorado. to a minor league contract ($700,000); signed Eddie Guardado, lhp, Minnesota, to a minor league contract ($1 million); resigned Jason Jennings, rhp, to a minor league contract ($800,000); signed Brendan Donnelly, rhp, Cleveland, to a minor league contract ($950,000).

TORONTO (1) — Signed Kevin Millar, 1b, Baltimore, to a minor league contract ($850,000).

NATIONAL LEAGUE ATLANTA (3) — Signed David Ross, c, Boston, to a $3 million, two-year contract; re-signed Greg Norton, of, to an $800,000, one-year contract; signed Derek Lowe, rhp, Los Angeles Dodgers, to a $60 million, four-year contract.

CHICAGO (3) — Re-signed Ryan Dempster, rhp, to a $52 million, four-year contract; signed Milton Bradley, of, Texas, to a $30 million, three-year contract; signed Paul Bako, c, Cincinnati, to a $725,000, one-year contract.

CINCINNATI (5) — Re-signed Mike Lincoln, rhp,

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 21,2009 to a $4 million, two-year contract; announced David Weathers, rhp, had accepted salary arbitration; signed Arthur Rhodes, lhp, Florida, to a $4 million, two-year contract; re-signed Jerry Hairston Jr., of, to a $2 million, one-year contract; signed Daryle Ward, 1b, Chicago Cubs, to a minor league contract ($600,000).

COLORADO (5) — Signed Alan Embree, rhp, Oakland, to a $2.25 million, one-year contact; resigned Scott Podsednik, of, to a minor league contract ($800,000); re-signed Glendon Rusch, lhp, to a minor league contract ($750,000); signed Josh Fogg, rhp, Cincinnati, to a minor league contract; signed Sal Fasano, c, Cleveland, to a minor league contract ($600,000).

HOUSTON (5) — Re-signed Doug Brocail, rhp, to a $2.75 million, one-year contract; signed Mike Hampton, lhp, Atlanta, to a $2 million, one-year contract; signed Jason Michaels, of, Pittsburgh, to a $750,000, one-year contract; signed Aaron Boone, inf, Houston, to a $750,000, one-year contract; signed Toby Hall, c, Chicago White Sox, to a minor league contract.

LOS ANGELES (7) — Re-signed Casey Blake, to a $17.5 million, three-year contract; signed Mark Loretta, 2b, Houston, to a $1.25 million, one-year contract; re-signed Rafael Furcal, ss, to a $30 million, three-year contract; signed Guillermo Mota, rhp, Milwaukee, to a $2.35 million, one-year contract; signed Brad Ausmus, c, Houston, to a $1 million, oneyear contract; signed Juan Castro, ss, Baltimore, to a minor league contract ($700,000); signed Randy Wolf, lhp, Houston, to a $5 million, one-year contract.

MILWAUKEE (7) — Signed Jorge Julio, rhp, Atlanta, to a $950,000, one-year contract; re-signed Mike Lamb, 3b, to a $400,000, one-year contract; signed Trot Nixon, of, New York Mets, to a minor league contract ($800,000); signed Trevor Hoffman, rhp, San Diego, to a $6 million, one-year contract; re-signed Craig Counsell, 3b, to a $1 million, one-year contract; signed Braden Looper, rhp, St. Louis, to a $5.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Eric Gagne, rhp, to a minor league contracxt ($1.5 million).

NEW YORK (9) — Signed Francisco Rodriguez, rhp, Los Angeles Angels, to a $37 million, three-year contract; signed Casey Fossum, lhp, Detroit, to a minor league contract ($600,000); signed Alex Cora, inf, Boston, to a $ million, one-year contract; signed Freddy Garcia, rhp, Detroit, to a minor league contract ($1.5 million); re-signed Tony Armas Jr., rhp, to a minor league contract ($800,000); re-signed Oliver Perez, lhp, to a $36 million, three-year contract; signed Elmer Dessens, rhp, Atlanta, to a minor league contract ($600,000); re-signed Ramon Martinez, 2b, to a minor league contract ($750,000); signed Livan Hernandez, rhp, Colorado, to a minor league contract ($1 million).

PHILADELPHIA (4) — Re-signed Jamie Moyer, lhp, to a $13 million, two-year contract; signed Raul Ibanez, of, Seattle, to a $31.5 million, three-year contract; signed Chan Ho Park, rhp, Los Angeles Dodgers, to a $2.5 million, one-year contract; signed Miguel Cairo, inf, Seattle, to a minor league contract ($500,000).

PITTSBURGH (2) — Signed Ramon Vazquez, 3b, Texas, to a $4 million, two-year contract; signed Eric Hinske, of, Tampa Bay, to a $1.5 million, oneyear contract.

ST. LOUIS (1) — Signed Trever Miller, lhp, Tampa Bay, to a $500,000, one-year contract.

SAN DIEGO (5) — Re-signed Mark Prior, rhp, to a minor league contract ($1 million); signed David Eckstein, ss, Arizona, to an $850,000, one-year contract; signed Henry Blanco, c, Chicago Cubs, to a $750,000, one-year contract; signed Cliff Floyd, of, Tampa Bay, to a $750,000, one-year contract; signed Emil Brown, of, Oakland, to a minor league contract ($650,000).

SAN FRANCISCO (6) — Signed Jeremy Affeldt, lhp, Cincinnati, to an $8 million, two-year contract; signed Bobby Howry, rhp, Chicago Cubs, to a $2.75 million, one-year contract; signed Edgar Renteria, ss, Detroit, to an $18.5 million, two-year contract; signed Randy Johnson, lhp, Arizona, to an $8 million, one-year contract; signed Juan Uribe, 3b, Chicago White Sox, to a minor league contract; re-signed Rich Aurilia, 1b, to a minor league contract ($1 million).

WASHINGTON (5) — Signed Corey Patterson, of, Cincinnati, to a minor league contract ($800,000); signed Javier Valentin, c, Cincinnati, to a minor league contract ($850,000); signed Alex Cintron, ss, Baltimore, to a minor league contract ($650,000); resigned Odalis Perez, lhp, to a minor league contract ($850,000); signed Adam Dunn, of, Arizona, to a $20 million, two-year contract.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Schedule All Times EST Saturday, Feb. 21 EAST Notre Dame at Providence, Noon Iona at Boston U., 1 p.m.

Rhode Island at Fordham, 1 p.m.

Army at Navy, 1 p.m.

Buffalo at Vermont, 1 p.m.

Holy Cross at American U., 2 p.m.

Delaware at Bucknell, 2 p.m.

St. Francis, NY at Cent. Connecticut St., 2 p.m.

South Florida vs. Connecticut at the XL Center, Hartford, Conn., 2 p.m.

Marquette at Georgetown, 2 p.m.

N. Iowa at Siena, 3 p.m.

Quinnipiac at Long Island U., 4 p.m.

UMBC at Rider, 4 p.m.

Monmouth, N.J. at Sacred Heart, 4 p.m.

Morgan St. at Towson, 4 p.m.

Loyola, Md. at Drexel, 5 p.m.

Harvard at Penn, 6 p.m.

Dartmouth at Princeton, 6 p.m.

Cornell at Brown, 7 p.m.

Hofstra at Fairfield, 7 p.m.

St. Francis, Pa. at Mount St. Mary’s, Md., 7 p.m.

DePaul at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Robert Morris at Wagner, 7 p.m.

Columbia at Yale, 7 p.m.

Hartford at Marist, 7:30 p.m.

SOUTH Elon at UNC Wilmington, TBA Liberty at Old Dominion, 11 a.m.

Butler at Davidson, Noon Boston College at Miami, Noon Tennessee at Kentucky, 1 p.m.

Virginia at N.C. State, 1 p.m.

Colgate at Longwood, 2 p.m.

Southern Miss. at UAB, 2 p.m.

Manhattan at William & Mary, 2 p.m.

Appalachian St. at Winthrop, 2 p.m.

S.C.-Upstate at Campbell, 2:15 p.m.

Mississippi St. at Alabama, 3 p.m.

Vanderbilt at Florida, 3 p.m.

Louisiana Tech at Murray St., 3 p.m.

W. Carolina at UNC Greensboro, 3 p.m.

North Carolina at Maryland, 3:30 p.m.

Delaware St. at Bethune-Cookman, 4 p.m.

Wofford at Furman, 4 p.m.

Winston-Salem at N. Carolina A&T, 4 p.m.

Radford at VMI, 4 p.m.

Florida Gulf Coast at Jacksonville, 4:15 p.m.

Stetson at North Florida, 4:15 p.m.

Marshall at Tulane, 4:30 p.m.

Coastal Carolina at UNC Asheville, 4:30 p.m.

Georgia at Mississippi, 5 p.m.

Alabama St. at Southern U., 5 p.m.

Coppin St. at Hampton, 6 p.m.

S. Carolina St. at Norfolk St., 6 p.m.

Fla. International at W. Kentucky, 6 p.m.

Grambling St. at Jackson St., 6:30 p.m.

Zclassified

Samford at Chattanooga, 7 p.m.

Ohio at E. Kentucky, 7 p.m.

Md.-Eastern Shore at Florida A&M, 7 p.m.

Middle Tennessee at Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m.

Gardner-Webb at James Madison, 7 p.m.

Charlotte at Richmond, 7 p.m.

Arkansas at South Carolina, 7 p.m.

Missouri St. at Tenn.-Martin, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Tennessee St., 7 p.m.

Presbyterian at Charleston Southern, 7:30 p.m.

Jacksonville St. at Georgia Southern, 7:30 p.m.

Auburn at LSU, 8 p.m.

Florida St. at Virginia Tech, 8 p.m.

Louisiana-Monroe at South Alabama, 8:05 p.m.

Alabama A&M at Alcorn St., 8:30 p.m.

MIDWEST Tennessee Tech at Ball St., TBA Northeastern at Wright St., 11 a.m.

Canisius at Bowling Green, 2 p.m.

Fairleigh Dickinson at Cent. Michigan, 2 p.m.

Louisville at Cincinnati, 2 p.m.

Toledo at Indiana St., 2 p.m.

Indiana at Purdue, 2 p.m.

E. Illinois at W. Michigan, 2 p.m.

Cleveland St. at Wichita St., 3:05 p.m.

Miami (Ohio) at Evansville, 3:30 p.m.

Olivet Nazarene at Chicago St., 4 p.m.

Georgia St. at E. Michigan, 4 p.m.

Nebraska at Kansas, 4 p.m.

Bradley at Loyola of Chicago, 4 p.m.

St. Peter’s at Youngstown St., 4:35 p.m.

Kansas St. at Iowa St., 6 p.m.

Oakland, Mich. at IUPUI, 7 p.m.

Morehead St. at Kent St., 7 p.m.

S. Illinois at Ill.-Chicago, 8 p.m.

Dayton at Saint Louis, 8 p.m.

IPFW at W. Illinois, 8 p.m.

N. Dakota St. at Wis.-Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

Austin Peay at Drake, 8:05 p.m.

Oral Roberts at UMKC, 8:05 p.m.

Akron at Valparaiso, 8:05 p.m.

N. Illinois at SE Missouri, 8:45 p.m.

George Mason at Creighton, 9:30 p.m.

SOUTHWEST Baylor at Oklahoma St., 1:45 p.m.

McNeese St. at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 2 p.m.

Memphis at UTEP, 4 p.m.

Cent. Arkansas at Texas-Arlington, 5 p.m.

Nicholls St. at Texas St., 5:05 p.m.

Texas A&M at Texas Tech, 6 p.m.

SE Louisiana at Stephen F.Austin, 7 p.m.

UCF at Houston, 8 p.m.

Ark.-Little Rock at North Texas, 8 p.m.

Rice at SMU, 8 p.m.

Texas-San Antonio at Sam Houston St., 8 p.m.

N.C. Central at Texas-Pan American, 8 p.m.

Denver at Arkansas St., 8:05 p.m.

N.J. Tech at Houston Baptist, 8:05 p.m.

Northwestern St. at Lamar, 8:05 p.m.

East Carolina at Tulsa, 8:05 p.m.

MVSU at Prairie View, 8:30 p.m.

Ark.-Pine Bluff at Texas Southern, 8:30 p.m.

Oklahoma at Texas, 9 p.m.

FAR WEST Missouri at Colorado, 1:30 p.m.

San Diego St. at New Mexico, 3 p.m.

Washington St. at UCLA, 3 p.m.

TCU at Wyoming, 3:30 p.m.

California at Oregon St., 5 p.m.

Utah St. at Saint Mary’s, Calif., 5 p.m.

Wis.-Green Bay at Long Beach St., 5:30 p.m.

Colorado St. at Air Force, 6 p.m.

Idaho St. at Montana, 6:30 p.m.

Sacramento St. at N. Arizona, 6:35 p.m.

Washington at Southern Cal, 7 p.m.

Boise St. at Portland St., 7:30 p.m.

Stanford at Oregon, 8 p.m.

Cal St.-Fullerton at New Mexico St., 9 p.m.

Centenary at S. Utah, 9 p.m.

Pacific at San Diego, 9 p.m.

S. Dakota St. at Cal Poly, 10 p.m.

Loyola Marymount at Portland, 10 p.m.

Santa Clara at San Francisco, 10 p.m.

UC Riverside at San Jose St., 10 p.m.

Fresno St. at UC Davis, 10 p.m.

Montana St. at UC Santa Barbara, 10 p.m.

N. Colorado at E. Washington, 10:05 p.m.

CS Northridge at Idaho, 10:05 p.m.

BYU at UNLV, 11 p.m.

Pepperdine at Gonzaga, 11:30 p.m.

UC Irvine at Hawaii, 12:05 a.m.

Sunday, Feb. 22 EAST Lafayette at Lehigh, Noon Villanova at Syracuse, 1 p.m.

Maine at Albany, N.Y., 2 p.m.

New Hampshire at Binghamton, 2 p.m.

Duquesne at La Salle, 2 p.m.

Massachusetts vs. Saint Joseph’s at the Palestra, 2 p.m.

St. Bonaventure at Temple, 2 p.m.

West Virginia at Rutgers, 3 p.m.

Seton Hall at St. John’s, 5 p.m.

SOUTH Clemson at Georgia Tech, 1 p.m.

Belmont at Mercer, 2 p.m.

Lipscomb at Kennesaw St., 3 p.m.

Wake Forest at Duke, 7:45 p.m.

New Orleans at Louisiana-Lafayette, 8:15 p.m.

MIDWEST Illinois at Ohio St., 1 p.m.

George Washington at Xavier, 1 p.m.

Wisconsin at Michigan St., 3 p.m.

Michigan at Iowa, 5:05 p.m.

Northwestern at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

FAR WEST Arizona at Arizona St., 10 p.m.

Fight Schedule National TV in parentheses Feb. 21 At Madison Square Garden, New York (PPV), Miguel Cotto, Puerto Rico, vs. Michael Jennings, England, 12, for the vacant WBO welterweight title.

At Youngstown, Ohio (PPV), Kelly Pavlik, Youngstown, Ohio, vs. Marco Antonio Rubio, Mexico, 12, for Pavlik’s WBC-WBO middleweight titles.

At Guadalajara, Mexico, Saul Alvaraz, Nexico, vs. Euri Gonzalez, Dominican Republic, 12, for Gonzalez’s WBO Latino welterweight title; Eduardo Escobedo, Mexico, vs. Daniel Lomeli, Mexico, 10, featherweights.

Feb. 27 At Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Fla. (ESPN2), Glen Johnson, Miami, vs. Daniel Judah, Brooklyn, N.Y., 10, light heavyweights.

At the Prudential Center, Newark, N.J. (SHO), Tomasz Adamek, Jersey City, N.J., Johnathon Banks, Detroit, 12, for Adamek’s IBF cruiserweight title; Dionisio Miranda, Miami, vs. Giovanni Lorenzo, New York, 12, IBF middleweight eliminator.

Feb. 28 At the Toyota Center, Houston (HBO), Juan Manuel Marquez, Anaheim, Calif., vs. Juan Diaz, Houston, 12, for Diaz’s IBO lightweight title; Chris John, Indonesia, vs. Rocky Juarez, Houston, 12, for John’s WBA featherweight title.

At Oaxaca, Mexico, Roman Gonzalez, Nicaragua, vs. Francisco Rosas, Mexico, 12, for Gonzalez’s WBA minimumweight title.

At Toluca, Mexico, Cesar Canchilla, Colombia, vs. Giovanni Segura, Bell Gardens, Calif., 12, for the interim WBA light flyweight title.

March 6 At Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Conn.

(ESPN2), Delvin Rodriguez, Danbury, Conn., vs.

Shamone Alvarez, Atlantic City, N.J., IBF welterweight title eliminator.

March 7

At HP Pavilion, San Jose, calif. (HBO), Victor Ortiz, Oxnard, Calif., vs. Mike Arnaoutis, Atlantic City, N.J., 12, for Ortiz’s WBO-NABO-USBA light welterweight titles; James Kirkland, Austin, Texas, vs.

Joel Julio, Miami, 10, light middleweights; Robert Guerrero, Gilroy, Calif., vs. Daud Cino Yordan, Indonesia, 10, super featherweights.

March 12 At Tokyo, Oscar Larios, Mexico, vs. Takahiro Aoh, Japan, 12, for Larios’ WBC featherweight title.

At Hyogo, Japan, Hozumi Hasegawa, Japan, vs.

Vusi Malinga, South Africa, 12, for Hasegawa’s WBC bantamweight title.

March 13 At Bell Centre, Montreal (SHO), Lucian Bute, Canada, vs. Fulgencio Zuniga, Colombia, 12, for Bute’s IBF super middleweight title.

March 14 At Kiel, Germany, Arthur Abraham, Germany, vs. Lajuan Simon, Philadelphia, 12, for Abraham’s IBF middleweight title.

At Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico, Cristian Mijares, Mexico, vs. Nehomar Cermeno, Panama, 12, for the interim WBA bantamweight title; Jorge Linares, Japan, vs. Josafet Perez, Mexico, 12, for Linares’ WBA super featherweight title.

March 20 At TBA, Panama, Celestino Caballero, Panama, vs. Jeffrey Mathebula, South Africa, 12, for Caballero’s WBA-IBF super bantamweight titles.

March 21 Kempton Park, South Africa, Zolani Marali, South Africa, vs. Fahsai Sakkreenin, Thailand, 12, for the vacant IBO super featherweight title; Jake Els, South Africa, vs. Thamsanqa, Zimbabwe, 12, for the vacant WBA Pan African heavyweight title; Hekkie Budier, South Africa, vs. Charitt Mukondeleli, South Africa, 12, for the vacant African Boxing Union light flyweight title.

At Stuttgart, Germany (ESPN), Vitali Klitschko, Los Angeles, vs. Juan Carlos Gomez, Germany, 12, for Klitschko’s WBC heavyweight title.

At Dublin, Ireland, Ricardo Cordoba, Panama, vs. Bernard Dunne, Ireland, 12, for Cordoba’s WBA super bantamweight title.

March 22 At Manila, Philippines, Nonito Donaire, San Leandro, Calif., vs. Raul Martinez, San Antonio, 12, for Donaire’s IBF-IBO flyweight titles; Ulises Solis, Mexico, vs. Brian Viloria, Waipau, Hawaii, 12, for Solis’ IBF light flyweight title.

March 27 At Milan, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, Poland, vs. Giacobbe Fragomeni, Italy, 12, for Wlodarczyk’s WBC cruiserweight title.

March 28 At Tamaulipas, Mexico, Edgar Sosa, Mexico, vs.

Kompayak Porpramook, Thailand, 12, for Sosa’s WBC light flyweight title.

April 4 At Bell Centre, Montreal (SHO), Timothy Bradley, Palm Springs, Calif., vs. Kendall Holt, Paterson, N.J., 12, for Bradley’s WBC light welterweight title and Holt’s WBO light welterweight title; Librado Andrade, La Habra, Calif., vs. Vitali Tsypko, Ukraine, 12, super middleweights.

April 10 At Morongo Casino Rresort & Spa, Cabazon, Calif.

(ESPN2), Julio Diaz, Coachella, Calif., vs. Michael Katsidis, Australia, 10, cruiserweights.

April 11 At Osaka, Japan, Nobuo Nashiro, Japan, vs. Konosuke Tomiyama, Japan, 12, for Nashiro’s WBA super flyweight title.

At Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas (HBO), Paul Williams, Augusta, Ga., vs. Winky Wright, St. Petersburg, Fla., 12, for the interim WBO light middleweight title.

April 18 At Johannesburg, South Africa, Yonnhy Perez, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., vs. Silence Mabuza, South Africa, 10, IBF bantamweight eliminator.

April 25 At TBA, Puerto Rico (HBO), Juan Manuel Lopez, Puerto Rico, vs. Gerry Penalosa, Philippines, 12, for Lopez’s WBO super Bantamweight title.

At Krefeld, Germany, Felix Sturm, Germany, vs. Koji Sato, Japan, 12, for Sturm’s WBA middleweight title.

May 2 At the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Ricky Hatton, Britain, vs. Manny Pacquiao, Philippines, 12, for Hatton’s IBO junior welterweight title.

June 20 At London, Wladimir Klitschko, Ukraine, vs.

David Haya, Britain, 12, for Klitschko’s IBF-WBOIBO heavyweight titles.

Transactions BASEBALL American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES—Agreed to terms with 2B Brian Roberts on a four-year extension through 2013.

National League ATLANTA BRAVES—Agreed to terms with LHP Tom Glavine on a one-year contract.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS—Agreed to terms with 3B Ryan Zimmerman on a one-year contract.

American Association EL PASO DIABLOS—Signed INF Hector Bernal and LHP Chris Nyman.

FORT WORTH CATS—Signed RHP Lee Gwaltney.

Atlantic League YORK REVOLUTION—Signed RHP Corey Thurman, RHP Steve Andrade, OF Tommy Collaro and OF Jason Aspito.

FOOTBALL National Football League MIAMI DOLPHINS—Signed OT Vernon Carey to a multiyear contract extension.

Canadian Football League WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS—Signed DB Shawn Gallant and DL Don Oramasionwu. arenafootball2 STOCKTON LIGHTNING—Announced WR-DB Alan Flemming, OL-DL Braeden Gates, FB-LB Jason Hunt and DB Diamond Francies have been assigned to the team by the league.

HOCKEY American Hockey League MANITOBA MOOSE—Announced F Alexandre Bolduc has been recalled by Vancouver (NHL) PROVIDENCE BRUINS—Assigned G Kevin Nastiuk to Alaska (ECHL).

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS—Returned D Reid Cashman to Wheeling (ECHL).

ECHL PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS—Announced F Ashton Rome has been reassigned to the team from Worcester (AHL).

COLLEGE ARIZONA—Suspended freshman G Garland Judkins and freshman F D.J. Shumpert for one game apiece for failing to meet team obligations.

LYON—Named Brett Parker men’s soccer coach.

PURCHASE—Named Forrest Irwin assistant baseball coach.

VIRGINIA—Named Ron Prince special teams coordinator.

BY PHONE: (956) 728-2527

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

2B

CAGERS | Continued from Page 1B The Hawks have had success in the postseason before.

They went to state in 1967 with a team Villarreal’s father and uncle were part of.

In 1981, the Hawks went to the regional finals, one away from state and in 1994 they took another trip to regional, this time with Villarreal as a player.

“I don’t brag about it, but I do let them know that it’s a challenge. Every single game gets tougher,” Villarreal said.

“You’re seeing the best of the best now.”

They know Sinton (9-5) brings three legit scoring threats. The leading scorer is a guard averaging 22 points per game, while the other two are post players averaging 11 points each. One of the big men is 6-foot-7, so the Hawks expect to get tested in the front court.

The game plan is nothing new for Zapata – run on them.

Especially with the two bigs in mind, the Hawks hope to tire their opponent out by fast breaking.

Running and gunning has been Zapata’s offensive philosophy for most of the season, but they could always try to surprise the Pirates by changing things up a bit.

“We like to push the ball and hopefully we can do some more of that,” Villarreal said. “In the last few weeks we had problems doing it since teams in district already know what we run. They knew that we try and fast break, so they had guys already in the back.”

Just like the Hawks, the Pirates are returning to the playoffs after a short absence.

The Hawks added some depth by bringing up four junior varsity players in junior O.J. Quintanilla and sophomores David Dominguez, Arturo De Los Santos and Andrew Botell.

While they might not see a second on the floor, they’ll get to experience what postseason basketball is all about, something the coach is hoping they’ll keep in mind because they’re the ones that have the task of keeping the Hawks success alive and well.

“Hopefully we can bring it back to where it was back in the ’80s and early ‘90s,” Villarreal said. “This group of seniors, I told them that they made this little step for everybody else to keep building on, like a stepping stone to have the younger kids look up to and try and go even further.”

The Hawks are hoping to make Falfurrias a home away from home. They won six of their seven games at their home court, another big reason why they are where they are.

LADY HAWKS | Continued from Page 1B Moss gets the nod behind the plate and has been Leyva’s catcher for the past three years.

She has a bazooka arm that can gun down opposing runner from any angle behind the plate.

Alaniz is a defensive wizard at the shortstop position and can hit the long ball at the plate.

The Lady Hawks opened the district season against Lyford on March 10 in Zapata.

LADY HAWK NOTES Head coach: Jaime Garcia, second year.

Coaching staff: Hector Garcia and Veronica Arce.

Last year’s record: 6-15 overall (1-7 district).

Returning lettermen: 9/ Teresa Moss, Lynda Leyva, Angela Ramirez, Lisa Alaniz, Jessica Garcia, Ashley Martinez, Myra Alaniz, Amanda Sanchez and Selina Mata District opener: March 10 vs. Lyford.

Coach Garcia’s top three picks: “Lyford, Raymondville, and third place is up for grabs”

SEVEN | Continued from Page 1B Testing is conducted by the National Center for Drug Free Sport, which also tests athletes for the NCAA. Athletes from all sports are eligible, but testing last fall was tilted heavily toward football.

Along with the seven confirmed cases of steroid use in the most recent round, 10 more students require more testing because their tests showed elevated testosterone levels, the report said.

Another 48 were deemed “protocol violations” because the students either refused to provide a urine sample or had unexcused absences the day they were selected for testing.

Of the 18,817 tests, 4,535 were football players. Females were tested most often in volleyball (1,089). A positive test brings a 30-day suspension from play for the first offense.

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B

HINTS BY HELOISE Dear Heloise: We had something scary happen yesterday. The dogs were outside, and I heard 1year-old Daisy yelping. Her bottom jaw was caught UNDER THE COLLAR of Ginger. The collar was twisted, and both dogs were stuck.

My husband managed to get the collar off after about a minute or two.

HELOISE She had a little bleeding of her lip but is otherwise OK. So is Ginger. If we had not been here, I do not want to think what would have happened. They were both helpless. This happened because Ginger’s collar was too loose. Please make sure everyone is reminded to check their dog’s collars. I know you have said it before, but please repeat your dog-collar warnings. — Dee, Jacksonville, Fla. Daisy and Ginger are very lucky!

Friends, take a minute and check your pet’s collar — it might even be too tight! The proper fit is that you can slip at least two fingers between your pet’s neck and collar. As pets get older or gain or lose weight, check that the collar fits. — Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Cora Marskamp of Hebron, Ind., shared a photo of her white dog, Mollie, rolled over in all her glory on the couch. She looks like she is smiling and saying, “Look at pretty me!”

To see Molly, visit www.Heloise.com. — Heloise

DILBERT

FAMILY CIRCUS

HOROSCOPES | BY FRANCIS DRAKE ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Research can reveal some answers for you today. Look in unlikely places for solutions you weren’t expecting. This is a perfect day to work behind the scenes.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) This is a good day to talk to members of a group where you feel there’s been a misunderstanding or if you want to clarify things. You’ll be clear about what you want, and hopefully, others will hear you.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Because you’re in the limelight right now, important people notice you. Today you might be able to show them a side they’ve never seen before. Show them you’re strong in other areas as well.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You might make improvements to future travel plans or get permission to change something related to education, medicine and the law. You also have ideas about how to improve politics or religion.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) You might see new uses for the resources of others today. Or you might come to a better understanding about how to deal with shared property and inheritances.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) A frank discussion with a close friend or partner could improve things, especially if you have been having problems lately.

Don’t be pushy; just be open to new possibilities.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Quite likely, you can introduce improvements or better ways of doing things at work today.

Your timing is good, because people will probably listen to you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Parents might discover a new approach to dealing with children today.

People involved in sports might see a better way of doing something as well.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) Trust your home-improvement ideas today. In particular, tackle areas related to bathrooms, plumbing and garbage.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) It’s almost as if you have X-ray vision today. You know what people are thinking, and you know what they have on their agenda.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) New sources of income might occur to you today. You might see how to earn a little money on the side or, perhaps, how to find a new job.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) Do a reality check and take a serious look in the mirror.

What can you do to improve the first impression you create on others? Or what about your health?

YOU BORN TODAY You’re an emotionally deep person. Because of this, you’re slow to trust others. You don’t want to get hurt.

You care strongly about your work, and the challenges you encounter only make you try harder. You’re very open and honest.

In the year ahead, you will learn or study something that is valuable to you.

Birthdate of: Anais Nin, author; Ellen Page, actress; William Petersen, actor.

4B | THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

8 | LAREDO MORNING TIMES/THE ZAPATA TIMES

FEBRUARY 20-21, 2009

2 | LAREDO MORNING TIMES/THE ZAPATA TIMES

FEBRUARY 20-21, 2009

FEBRUARY 20-21, 2009

LAREDO MORNING TIMES/THE ZAPATA TIMES | 7

Sizzlin’ Jalapeño Fest kicks off today SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

With flash-fire flair, Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association will present its Jalapeño Festival, now in its 31 st year, Friday and Saturday at El Metro Park and Ride, located at the corner of Thomas and Hillside roads, with the Tejano/norteño multiplatinum Grammy Award-winning group Intocable headlining Saturday’s entertainment.

Adrian Perez Y Origen, Intocable’s opening act, will warm up the crowd with puro sabor Tejano.

Challenge your friends to a fierce game of Tug of War on Friday, visit a varied selection of food and novelty booths, or enjoy a dynamic musical lineup featuring three popular bands that are as diverse as they are entertaining.

Mick Cruz & Diamond Back will perform an ever-popular mix of mainstream and “Texas” country music, while Aloha Dave and the Tourists will feature high energy rock, surf and reggae to please the most eclectic of music tastes. Mainstream alternative rock band Nothing More will offer a unique fusion of pop and progressive rock. Aspiring drummers and alternative rock enthusiasts won’t want to miss the band’s nail-biting stunts and expert drumming that will keep you wanting more.

The festival gets even hotter

Saturday at this festival with something for everyone. The busiest day of the Jalapeño Festival offers games, Mexican antojitos, a jalapeño-eating contest, a beauty pageant and, of course, the best live music this side of the border.

Saturday night’s entertainment will get hot, hot, hot with multiplatinum Grammy Awardwinning band Intocable; which is rivaled only by the granddaddy event of them all – the La Costeña Jalapeño Eating Contest.

The celebrated contest’s fame has spread throughout the country, thanks, in part, to a program aired by the Food Network, which featured the competition.

The current record for the most jalapeños eaten during the contests holds at a very hot (and painful) 266 jalapeños in 15 minutes. It just doesn’t get any hotter than this!

Following the jalapeño-eating contest is the 2009 Miss Jalapeño Competition. Young women ages 17 to 25 can sign up and show off their talent as they vie for the most coveted title in Los Dos Laredos. Visit the WBCA Web site, www.wbcalaredo.org, for details on how to enter.

Then, several games throughout the day will keep the young and young at heart busy long into the evening hours.

Saturday’s games include the Land Raft Race, Tricycle Race,

Abraham “El Protector” Diaz, seated at right, looks on as Anselmo Castro Jr., left, president-elect for WBCA, and Evelyn Sames Cain,WBCA board member and chairwoman of the Jalapeño Festival, count the stems in Wednesday's 2009 Media/Celebrity Jalapeño Eating Challenge at the WBCA offices. Diaz won the event after eating 37 peppers. Also pictured are, other contestants, Gustavo Guevara, wearing a gray suit, and LMT reporter Jason Buch.

Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times

PROTECTOR | Continued from Page 6 “I had no strategy, I just wanted those five minutes to go quickly,” said Diaz, who painstakingly devoured a whopping 37 La Costeña jalapeños — one jalapeño more than his closest competitor, Pro 8 News Anchor Tim Gutierrez.

Diaz admitted the competition was fierce, with Gutierrez following closely behind.

“It was a little too close for comfort,” Diaz said, calling the secondplace winner “formidable.”

“I saw him take down a pint of milk before the competition and I knew he meant business,” Diaz said. “He’s a pro.”

Vega took the third-place spot

Courtesy photo

The Grammy Award-winning Intocable headlines the Saturday concert at the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Jalapeño Festival. The group is composed of Ricardo “Ricky” Muñoz on lead vocals and accordion, Rene Martinez on drums, Sergio Serna on percussion, Felix Salinas on bass guitar, Juan Hernandez on rhythm and Johnny Lee Rosas on bajo sexto.

File photo

See JALAPENO FEST | PAGE 5

Erica Ornelas participated in the Jaw-lapeño race at the 2007 WBCA Jalapeño Festival.

GAMES | Continued from Page 6 Tricycle Race Team members chug a beverage and race each other by maneuvering through an obstacle course with tricycles. The first team to arrive at the finish line wins the competition!

La Costeña Jalapeño Eating Contest & Miss Jalapeño 2009 As the night falls on Saturday, the event gets hot, hot and hotter with the Miss Jalapeño Pageant, followed by the La Costeña Jalapeño Eating Contest at 7 p.m. on the Inter National Bank Event Stage. First prize for the brave participant in the Jalapeño Eating Contest is $1,000; second prize is $500; and third prize is $250.

The winning Miss Jalapeño

Pageant contestant reigns over the Jalapeño Festival and is offered a chance to appear in next year’s Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade. WBCA is still accepting applications.

For more information (and for event applications) log on to www.wbcalaredo.org or call the WBCA Office at 722-0589.

The Jalapeño Festival was formed in 1978 and will be celebrating its 31st Anniversary during the 112th Washington’s Birthday Celebration.

What began as a small gathering highlighting local talent has now become an international sensation featuring mainstream artists like Trisha Yearwood, the late Tejano queen Selena Quintanilla-Perez, Sammy Kershaw, Solido, Los Palominos, the Kumbia Kings and now Intocable.

after firing it up with an impressive 21 jalapeños. Everyone who attended received free gifts for participating; first-, second- and thirdplace winners received medals, free tickets and other gifts.

Other participants included Juan Rodriguez, Univision; Communications Specialist Paul Martinez, Webb County; Laredo Morning Times reporter Jason Buch; DJ David “Kash Kasanova” Vasquez, Hot 106.1; Raulito Perez, La Ley; Erick “Ranas” Soto, 107.3; radio personality Sammy “The House” Ramirez, Hot 106.1; Jalapeño Festival representative, Fred Santos; and DJ Chuy Cortez,

94.1.

Wednesday’s competition was a prelude to Saturday’s much-anticipated La Costeña Jalapeño Eating Contest, where participants vie for cash awards. The La Costeña Jalapeño Eating Contest will be held this year at the Inter National Bank Event Stage on Saturday.

First prize is $1,000; second prize is $500; and third-place winner takes home $250.

For more information and for event applications log on to www.wbcalaredo.org or call the WBCA office at 956-722-0589. The WBCA office is located at 1819 E. Hillside Road.

6 | LAREDO MORNING TIMES/THE ZAPATA TIMES

FEBRUARY 20-21, 2009

‘El Protector’ beats the heat SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The Laredo Police Department’s Abraham “El Protector” Diaz was named the 2009 Jalapeño Eating Champion in the first-ever WBCA-sponsored Media/Celebrity Jalapeño Eating Challenge held Wednesday.

Members of the media went head to head against Diaz, City

Secretary Gustavo Guevara, Laredo Fire Department Spokesman Eloy Vega, Mick Cruz and Diamond Back’s lead singer, Mick Cruz; Adrian Perez Y Origen’s guitarist, David Trujillo, and others in a teary-eyed fiveminute competition held at 3 p.m. at the WBCA headquarters.

FEBRUARY 20-21, 2009

LAREDO MORNING TIMES/THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3

JALAPEÑO FEST MUSICAL LINEUP FRIDAY Mick Cruz and Diamond Back, 7 p.m.

See PROTECTOR | PAGE 7

Nothing More, 8:15 p.m.

Photo by Ricardo Segovia | Laredo Morning Times

During the 2008 Jalapeño Fest, organizers brought in professional “gurgitators” to up the ante during the popular La Costeña Jalapeño Eating Contest. Left to right, Erik “The Red” Denmark, Sonia “The Black Widow”Thomas and Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti attack the peppers with a passion.

Jalapeño games run the gamut SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Let the games begin!

Whether it is the Tough Man’s Tug of War Challenge, the Jawlapeño Race, Tricycle Race, Land Raft Race, Egg Toss Challenge or the International Waiter’s Race, there is something for everyone at this year’s WBCA Jalapeño Festival Sponsored

by CPL Retail Energy.

All the favorites are back this year for two nights of fun and sizzling entertainment. Aside from the $2 beer special all day Friday, visitors are also welcome to try their hand at a friendly game of Tug Of War. Men and women of all ages participate yearly in 10-member teams, painstakingly pulling on a large rope in “The Tough Man’s Tug Of War Challenge.” The team that crosses the opposing team’s mark wins! The last two remaining teams go into the finals and may the best man (or woman) capture the title.

The Tug Of War Challenge begins at 7 p.m.

There is plenty more to do during the day on Saturday with the Some Like it Hot Recipe Contest, Jawlapeño Race, Egg Toss, Tricycle Race, International Waiters Race, Land Raft Race, the La Costeña Jalapeño Eating Contest and the Miss Jalapeño Pageant, where ladies ages 17 to 25 dress in green and vie for the audience’s support in a spicy pageant that is sure to turn up the heat! The

contests begin at 4:30 p.m., and anyone can register for these contests at the WBCA Office or at the event grounds the day of the festival. No added charges apply.

Here’s a breakdown of these unique contests:

Some Like it Hot Recipe Contest In the Some Like It Hot Recipe Contest, each contestant whips up one entrée that incorporates the special ingredient that brings us all together for this sizzling two-day affair — jalapeño peppers! A panel of judges sample the spicy cuisine and select a winner based on taste and originality. Winners receive cash awards.

Jaw-lapeño Race In this four-member team challenge, participants chug a beverage, put on their shark fins, goggles and flippers and, holding a shovel filled with jalapeño peppers, race to a nearby drop-off point. Each team member is required to dump his or her jalapeños into a small beach pail — careful not to drop any jalapeños along the way. Participants then race toward the finish line, pass their costume over to the next participant, and watch in anticipation as their teammates repeat the process. The team who finishes first wins!

Jalapeño Egg Toss Team members hurl raw eggs in this sticky challenge that requires two team members to participate.

The rules are simple: Teams that drop (and break) their eggs are eliminated. Last team standing wins!

International Waiter’s Race Bartenders and waiters up for the challenge vie for the top spot in the International Waiter’s Race. This competition goes out to all local bartenders, restaurant chains and anyone else willing to take on the International Waiter’s Race challenge. Participants are judged based on speed and accuracy. Each waiter is required to pour champagne and other beverages into several glasses and rush to the finish line without tipping them over. Cash prices are rewarded!

Aloha Dave and The tourists, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY Adrian Perez and Grupo Origen, 8 p.m.

Land-Raft Race This challenge tests your balance and speed. Three-member teams climb into the inner tubes of a land raft one by one, chug a beverage, then hold on tight as teammates take turns rolling each other to the finish line. Trust us: It’s not as easy as it looks. The first team to reach the finish line wins!

See GAMES | PAGE 7

Intocable, 10 p.m.

4 | LAREDO MORNING TIMES/THE ZAPATA TIMES

FEBRUARY 20-21, 2009

A jalapeño history

By ZACH LINDSEY LAREDO MORNING TIMES

With $500 and a desire to spice up the Washington’s Birthday Celebration, the New Generation Committee started the Jalapeño Festival more than 30 years ago.

“You have the reputation of the Washington’s Birthday being an older crowd, higher-income, then the younger crowd, which liked the parade,” said Wayo Leyendecker, the artist who designed the festival’s logo. “We wanted something in the middle for everyone else to enjoy — not so old, not so young and not so stodgy.”

The festival was born in 1978 as the Jalapeño Street Festival and held at San Agustin Plaza.

“We had no parameters,” Leyendecker said of the first festival. “We had never done anything like that before. What would it look like? Who would it appeal to? What could we get away with?”

The beginnings It all started when Velia Uribe encouraged some fresh-out-of-college locals to start the committee.

“To this day, no one really knows if it was great vision on her behalf, or just a way to keep eager, young board members out of her hair,” said Nando Zuñiga, former committee member.

The New Generation Committee gave way to a president and board of directors, but the original members of that committee — Laredo notables such as Zuñiga, David Killam, Tim Herring, Richard Powell and Hank Sames — continued to assist the festival in a variety of ways.

The basic structure of the festival itself remained intact. And although some of the events changed, the mainstays, such as the adult tricycle races, were repeated year after year, Zuñiga said.

“It was basically centered toward families, and a ‘fun for anybody and anywho’ kind of party,” said Nancy Blair, former president.

“It wasn’t like a membership-type organization like the Pocahontas or the Marthas. It gave anybody who wanted to volunteer the opportunity to come into a WBCA organization and get involved.”

A merging proposition — and publicity But over the years, the festival grew deeply connected to the WBCA. “A lot of members who have

come in through the Jalapeño Festival … continued working with the WBCA for many years,” Blair said.

After it grew too large to be contained at San Agustin Plaza, the festival was moved to Jarvis Plaza, eventually spreading across the international bridge.

“We even had an event in Nuevo Laredo — a rude awakening breakfast at the Cadillac Bar,” Blair said.

“We had a tricycle contest in the bar that morning.”

Blair remembers the event attracting enormous publicity. A reporter from the Wall Street Journal wrote an article about the festival, and it also garnered the interest of British Broadcasting Corp. documentary filmmakers.

In fact, one of them, a soap opera star from England, entered the Jalapeño Eating Contest. He placed third.

In a moment of pride, the enthusiastic participant declared: “You know what, the jalapeño peppers here aren’t even as hot as the ones I got at the local deli in Britain.”

It ended up on a documentary the BBC assembled about strange foods.

“Our city got coverage all over the world,” Blair recalled.

The ’90s saw a shift in the festival’s leadership. It moved away from the WBCA umbrella, and stood on its own feet under the management of the Jalapeño Festival Association.

“For many years after that, it ran under different presidents and vice presidents,” Blair said.

The festival prospered, and before long, big-name performers were appearing at the Laredo International Fair and Exposition grounds, where the festival was held at the time. Performers included Selena Quintanilla and Tricia Yearwood.

The near-loss and the ‘resurrection’ But the festival that started out with $500 began to struggle financially, and its future was questioned.

Thanks to help from Patti Guajardo, the festival was resurrected, and brought back under the umbrella of the WBCA in 2006.

“She called us all back,” Blair said. “Many of the past presidents are the ones that helped her bring it back.”

On its third year “after the resurrection,” the festival has settled in at its new home at the El Metro Park and Ride.

LAREDO MORNING TIMES/THE ZAPATA TIMES | 5

JALAPEÑO FEST | Continued from Page 2 Jaw-lapeño Race, International Waiter’s Race and the Jalapeño Egg Toss. So c’mon, put your skills to good use and challenge your friends to some good, clean fun.

The Jalapeño Festival will be held from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday. Admission is $10 at the gate. Saturday, the festival is open from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m., with a $15 admission fee.

The Jalapeño Festival, sponsored by CPL Retail Energy, attracts approximately 25,000 visitors during the two-day period.

Additional sponsors include Sames Mazda, La Costeña,

Anheuser-Busch, Miller Lite, Inter National Bank, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Laredo Heat and O’Reilly Auto Parts.

The Washington’s Birthday Celebration, founded in 1898, is the largest celebration of its kind in the nation. The monthlong festivities attract nearly 500,000 attendees each year, contributing an estimated $14 million to the local economy.

For more information, contact the WBCA office at 722-0589 or wbca@wbcalaredo.org. WBCA office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

<DATE>

LAREDO MORNING TIMES | 1B

ZAPATA CLASSIFIED

HOMES FOR SALE

61

Lake front lodge, 240 Retama 14’x70’, fully furnished, mobile home. 3bd/2ba, front porch 12’x40’, 16’ awning, 2 lake front lots, 35’ barn w/ RV size doors, 2 boats, fruit trees, & palm trees, $100,000 956-765-5624; 806-965-2387 or 806-727-4141

OFFICE SPACES FOR RENT 118 All sizes available lowest rentals in Laredo move in today first month free mucho parking 4100 San Bernardo 237-5946

HELP WANTED

CONDOS FOR SALE 64 1 Condo $60,000 OBO Must Sell, Moving Out, negotiable, 2bd/1.5ba, 2803 Bayard.

Brand new, south Laredo. For sale by owner.

Call Dr. Rendon 011-52-867-714-1502 or 956-333-0122

LOTS FOR SALE

70

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HELP WANTED Go-Kart, great for seater, blue, Call:(956)645-3499

122 kids, 2 $700.

PETS & SUPPLIES

ACREAGE FOR SALE 76 5 acre tract, frontage on Casa Verde Rd. $200,000 per acre. Contact (956)725-6641

RENTALS

PETS & SUPPLIES

128

Great Dane Puppies, Huge European & champion blood line, www.greatedane-grandanes. com $1,500 call 251-8385 Jack Russell pure breed puppies 6 wks, 1st shots, de wormed, tail docked, $250 call 727-9889 Jack Russell, 1 1/2 mo., $250.00 dlls. Tel. (956)763-0661 Registered Thorough breed mare that is pregnant by a registered paint horse stallion for sale . Mare should deliver in next 2 months. $1500 Call Robert or Joe 722-8187 or 645-1655

HELP WANTED

122

HELP WANTED

122

Time Warner contractor looking for reps and installers for aggressive door to door sales campaign and box swap.

All leads provided, $800-$1,500 weekly.

Call Lane for interview #214-284-1854

Need Gauger for Webb & Zapata Co. exp. with gauging & computer knowledge. Please e-mail resume to: hpgldo1@stx.rr.com or call (956)286-3985.

LEGALS

250

LEGALS

250

LIVESTOCK & SUPPLIES 130

Basket racks, metal w/wheels, $75 ea. Call:(956)235-5328

Public Notice Effective January 12, 2009, Zapata County implemented an ordiance requiring sexually oriented businesses to apply for a permit from the county.

The purpose is to provide regulations for the establishment of such businesses.

For a copy of the full ordiance please visit the Zapata County Courthouse, 200 East 7th Avenue, Zapata County Clerk's Office, First Floor, Suite 138

ARTICLES FOR SALE 136 Crib, wooden w/ mattress $50 Call 740-3352

Beautiful, Gentle Registered Paint horse stallion for sale.

8 mths old w/perfect conformation. $1,000 Call 722-8187 or 645-1655 Registered paint horse mare for sale She is pregnant by a registered paint horse stallion should delivered within next 2 months. Champion blood lines.

Price is $1900 Call Robert or Joe 722-8187 or 645-1655 Registered Paint Horse Stallion for sale. 1.5yrs old,sorrel overo w/ blue eyes. Very gentle and halter broken. Champion blood lines, $2000 Call 722-8187 or 645-1655 Registered quarter horse filly 1 yr old. She is jet black in color with a white star in forehead.

This beautiful filly is for sale $1600 Call Robert or Joe 722-8187 or 645-1655

For sale 10 Costumes (Botargas) $500. 740-3352 Gas stove & RCA T.V. $100 ea.OBO. Good condition.

Call (956) 725-4985 or 635-5629 Panels for holding metal insert hooks to hold retail merchandise. Several sizes. $25 ea.

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Call:(956)712-1286 X BOX 360 Premium, HDMI port, 206GB hard drive, wireless controller, like new $220 obo. (956)251-2781

TRANSPORTATION

TRUCKS FOR SALE 198 2003 Chevorlet Tahoe, 99K miles, fully loaded, $10,500, Call 956-728-7243 call after 5PMor 145*4*51649 ‘07 F-150 Triton super crew, short bed, 18 k mi., $12,500 Call:(956)725-7719 Camioneta Durango 2005 asientos de piel, a/c 55k millas, titulo azul $7,000 Tel: 740-0014 Chevy Silverado ‘03, clean title, auto, a/c, 6cyl.,68k mi., 22 in rims, $8,500.

Call:(956)635-0336

$5,500 obo.

Call:(956)635-8248

190

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HEAVY EQUIPMENT 192

Burglar bars (Rejas para casa) for home different sizes. $50 each. Call (956) 791-1810

Toyota/Lexus chrome alloy rims w/ Yokohama tires P225/55R16, great condition, $550 645-3499

Chevy Tahoe ‘99,

BOATS

ARTICLES FOR SALE 136

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MISCELLANEOUS

Rosalva Guerra Zapata County Judge L-53

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS 194

Dodge Caravan ‘96 (mini van), 4 cyl., $1,500 or willing to trade for small car.

Call:(956)740-3352 Jeep Grand Cherokee ‘00,good condition, very clean, $4,800 obo. Call:(956)236-6748.

CARS FOR SALE

200

Yale 4,000 lbs. forklift, GP-040-RBJ-UAS-080 $3,000 Call:(956)337-4284

Ford Excort ZX2 ‘99, low mi., economic, clean, maroon, a/c, $1,700 obo. (956)206-3122

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS 194

Ford Taurus ‘02, v6, a/c, sunroof, leather seats, $2,900 obo. Call:(956)645-3280

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