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ELECTIONS
Major turnout for March primary By STEPHANIE M. IBARRA THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapatans turned out en force for the primary election Tuesday, making an unusually high showing at the polls to cast their votes. According to Doroteo Garza, Zapata County Democratic Party Chair, more than 56 percent of those registered to vote — nearly 3,900 residents — cast ballots. Garza speculated that the motivating factor was the “many candidates.” There
were more than two dozen in total. Results late Tuesday revealed several large-margin RATHMELL wins, including the county judge race, and two runoffs. One runoff is for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, between Anna Muñoz Guerra and “Amy” Olga Lopez Salinas, and another for Commissioner Precinct 2 with Gabriel Villarreal and Nico Gutierrez vying for the seat.
Two commissioners will continue to hold their seats.
Rathmell wins With more than 2,400 votes and no expected opponent in November, Joe Rathmell easily became the new county judge. “(I feel) a sense of relief and a sense of accomplishment,” he said. “I was overwhelmed by the amount of support I received. I’ve got my work cut out for myself, but I feel elated.”
Rathmell, too, was impressed with the turnout. “56 percent — that tells me they’re interested in what happens in city government,” he said. Rathmell said he will continue to support ongoing projects, all while remaining faithful to his campaign platform. “We need to improve infrastructure,” he said. “I want to spend tax dollars wisely and keep improving the quality of life for Zapata residents.” Current Commissioner
Precinct 2 Gabriel “Lel” Villarreal will face Nico Gutierrez in a runoff in midApril.
A clean race Upon notification of a runoff, Villarreal, glad to be on top, immediately thanked his opponents for a clean race. “It was a good feeling and a good percentage because there were four candidates, and it’s hard to get 50 percent,” he said. “But I do
congratulate my opponents for running a clean race.” As for the upcoming weeks, Villarreal plans to continue his current approach to campaigning. “We are a part of this great community,” he said. “It’s important to keep things at a professional level. I run a clean race and I’m satisfied with that. In a few weeks, I will once again ask for (their) vote and support.” Gutierrez was unable to
See ELECTION PAGE 10A
COMMISSIONERS
ZAPATA
EDUCATION
County mulls slot ban
BIG CELEBRATION, ZAPATA STYLE
Trustees eye reuse of campus By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata County Commissioners Court will be deliberating proposed tax abatements and financial incentives to enhance and promote business growth and job creation in Zapata at its regular monthly meeting Monday. The meeting is scheduled for the Zapata County Courthouse, beginning at 9 a.m. Also under consideration will be the approval of possible legal action to halt the construction or operation of any casino-type business including slot machines in the residential area of Falcon, about 40 miles south of Zapata. According to Commissioner Jose E. Vela, no gambling ordinances banning casino-style businesses exist in Zapata County, but the Falcon community has provided a legal document written by the original owner banning “immoral” businesses from residing on that property. There is already one casino-style operation in the area, and several residents have complained. Vela said legal action is being considered to prevent other such businesses from setting up. “As a representative of that precinct it is my obligation to look into the matter and do something about it,” Vela said. In addition, County Judge Rosalva Guerra has requested the approval of the installation of carpet in the new Zapata County Museum, and County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez has requested to designate office space in the County Courthouse for a Texas Ranger to be assigned to Zapata County. Other items on the consent agenda include: The installation of speed humps between Alamo and 1st Street, at 406 Zapata, 602 Zapata, 19th and Diaz Street on Roma Street, and 19th and 20th on Diaz Street. The installation of a security light at 1409 Medina and 141 Valle Verde Rd. in San Ygnacio. (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956) 728-2557.)
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
Winter Texans and local residents dance at the Zapata Winter Texan Appreciation Day at the Zapata County Community Center on Thursday afternoon.
Visitors, locals alike enjoy annual fete By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Z
apata County Winter Texans and local elders enjoyed a full day of events in their honor Thursday, with games, dancing, food and plenty of fun for all. The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce sponsored the annual Winter Texan and Senior Appreciation Day, which included the music of Carlos R. Canas.
“They are part of our community and help out our economy,” County Commissioner Jose Vela said. “It’s only right we pay them back.” Zapata attracts Winter Texans because of the warm weather, Falcon Lake and low crime rate, Vela said. Many of them have become residents and get homestead exemptions. Winter Texans are usually from the Northern states and Canada and keep coming back be-
See TEXANS PAGE 10A
The placement of the Technology Center at the old Zapata South Elementary School campus is on the agenda for the next Zapata County Independent School District board meeting. The regular school board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, at 6 p.m. in the Professional Development Center. ZCISD Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez said the board is trying to solidify the best way the old school building may be utilized. The old Zapata South Elementary School site would primarily be used as the technology center. The library would be converted into a training facility for teachers and a testing center for students. “We want to maximize the use of the site,” Salinas said. Also up for consideration is a term for the proposed unlimited tax refunding bonds. According to Salinas, the school board would like to refinance the existing bond issue. Considering the economic situation the goal is to compress the existing bond from five years to three years and lower the interest rate, which, in turn, could minimize taxes for property owners. The fund balance has been used to help pay for the new Zapata South Elementary School and Villarreal Elementary. The fund balance also paid for the San Ygnacio project, new stadium, tennis courts and new baseball field. The board would like to discontinue using the fund balance. “We are trying to work smart,” Salinas said. “The move is to try to get out of debt quicker.” Other items on the agenda include: Approval of the 2010- 2011 ZCISD school calendar. Approval of the Texas Education Agency Expedited Waiver Application for staff development and early release days. Approval of abatement change order for old Zapata South Elementary School. (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956) 728-2557.)
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, MARCH 6
ASSOCIATED PRESS
As just one of the many Zapata County Fair events, gates open for the Car Show Cook-Off and Pit Bull exhibition contenders today. All their supporters can go down to the fairgrounds starting at 1 p.m. For more information, call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 7654871, or visit www.zapatacountyfaironline.com VFW will host a Brisket Plate Sate from noon to 2 p.m. at the VFW Building off Texas 16 and 16th Street. Plates are $6. For more information, contact Kay Meyer at 7658546.
THURSDAY, MARCH 11 The Zapata County Fair officially begins today. Starting at 8 a.m., various animals will be on exhibit. Judging for arts and crafts will begin at 4 p.m., and the much-anticipated Battle of the Bands contestants are set to hit the stage from 6 p.m. to midnight. For more information, call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, or visit www.zapatacountyfaironline.com American Legion Auxiliary meets today at 1:30 p.m. at the American Legion Building on 2213 North U.S. 83. For more information, contact Kay Meyer at 765-8546.
FRIDAY, MARCH 12 The Zapata County Fair continues today. From 8:30 a.m. to noon, rabbits, lamb, goats and deer will be judged today. The winner of Thursday’s Battle of the Bands will perform at 6:30 p.m., followed by a line-up of musicians. For more information, call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 7654871, or visit www.zapatacountyfaironline.com American Legion meets at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Building, 2213 North U.S. 83. For more information, contact Kay Meyer at 7658546.
SATURDAY, MARCH 13 The Zapata County Fair ends today, but not without ensuring good times for all of Zapata County. Between the 10 a.m. Zapata County Fair Parade and the Jalapeño Contest closing the night at 11:30 p.m., there is plenty to do. For more information, call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, or visit www.zapatacountyfaironline.com.
MONDAY, MARCH 15 Zapata chapter No. 1106 Order of the Eastern Star will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Zapata Masonic Lodge, 14th Street and Texas 16.
TUESDAY, MARCH 16 Zapata Masonic Lodge No. 1402 will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Zapata Masonic Lodge, 14th Street and Highway 16. For more information, contact Kay Meyer at 765-8546.
THURSDAY, MARCH 18 AARP will be meeting today. Lunch will be served at noon; the meeting commences at 1 p.m. at the Masonic lodge. Today’s speaker will be from Therapy and Wellness. For more information, contact Kay Meyer at 765-8546.
Photo by Nick de la Torre/Houston Chronicle | AP
State District Judge Kevin Fine shows his sleeve of tattoos at his downtown office in Houston, on Nov. 14, 2008. Fine used his life experience of beating drug addiction for his campaign. Fine, who is a judge in the Texas county that sends more inmates to death row than any other in the U.S. is facing criticism after he declared the death penalty unconstitutional.
Death penalty gets axed By JUAN A. LOZANO ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — A Texas judge in the county that sends more inmates to death row than any other in the nation has declared the death penalty unconstitutional. State District Judge Kevin Fine made the ruling Thursday in a pre-trial motion in a capital murder case, saying he could assume that innocent people have been executed. He is now facing a torrent of criticism from a string of high-profile Texans including Gov. Rick Perry. Fine, a Democrat who is heavily tattooed and says he is a recovering alcoholic and former cocaine user, answered some of the criticism on Friday during a court hearing. He denied accusations that he was legislating from the bench and said there was no precedent to guide him in resolving the issues
Eighth-grader, 17-year-old charged in death
Ex prison guard charged in slayings caught
Judge says dispute led to his confinement
AUSTIN — Authorities have charged an eighth-grader and a 17-year-old with murder in the death of 75-year-old woman. Jennie McClusky was robbed Jan. 25 in front of an Austin fastfood restaurant, during which investigators say she was struck in the face, fell face down and died.
HOUSTON — A former Texas prison guard wanted in the slayings of his wife and mother-inlaw has been captured in North Carolina. A tip led authorities to Albert James Turner Jr. He was taken without incident at a Concord, N.C., shopping mall.
Man charged with murder after hit-and-run
Man sentenced for multimillion-dollar swindle
BROWNSVILLE — A Brownsville municipal court judge is suing a local Sam’s Club and its owner, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., alleging that a customer service dispute led to his confinement in mental health facilities. The suit filed last week by Judge Phil Bellamy accuses employees of making a false report accusing him of disorderly conduct and terroristic threats.
HOUSTON — A Houston man accused of shooting a 13-year-old girl after a hit-and-run has been charged with murder. The incident started when Richard Calderon’s car smashed into a vehicle and then sped away. The owner of the struck car chased Calderon’s car to write down the license plate number. But police say Calderon then pursued that car and opened fire.
LUBBOCK — A Lubbock businessman has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for a defrauding at least 250 investors of nearly $60 million. Benny Lee Judah was sentenced on Friday. He had pleaded guilty Nov. 12 to one count each of money laundering and sale and delivery after sale of unregistered securities. He is to pay almost $60 million in restitution.
SATURDAY, MARCH 20 The 60th annual Flower and Art Show, sponsored by the United Methodist Women of the First United Methodist Church, will display beautiful flowers and paintings in the Fellowship Hall from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Public is invited. Admission tickets will be sold at the door.
SUNDAY, MARCH 21 The 60th annual Flower and Art Show, sponsored by the United Methodist Women of the First United Methodist Church, continues today from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The public is invited, and admission tickets will be sold at the door. To submit an item for the daily calendar, send the name of the event, the date, time, location and a contact phone number to editorial@lmtonline.com
Sun and mild temperatures in the forecast Sunny skies and mild, springlike temperatures were expected Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. In South Texas, partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies were predicted, with highs reaching 70 and lows in the low to mid-50s. -- Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION
FRIDAY, MARCH 19 Red Hats will meet at 11 a.m. at El Rincon de Los Angeles, 209 South U.S. Highway 83. For more information, contact Kay Meyer at 7658546.
raised by defense attorneys in a case involving a man accused of fatally shooting a Houston woman and wounding her sister in June 2008. The motion was one of many submitted by defense attorneys Bob Loper and Casey Keirnan arguing Texas’ death penalty is unconstitutional for their client, John Edward Green Jr. Fine said in his ruling that it is safe to assume innocent people have been executed. “Are you willing to have your brother, your father, your mother be the sacrificial lamb, to be the innocent person executed so that we can have a death penalty so that we can execute those who are deserving of the death penalty?” he said. “I don’t think society’s mindset is that way now.” The decision is almost certain to be overturned by appellate courts.
Teacher accused of sending nude photo to teen LONDONDERRY, N.H. — A New Hampshire high school English teacher who allegedly emailed nude photos of herself to a 15-year-old male student was arrested on a felony charge of indecent exposure and lewdness. Melinda Dennehy, 41, of Hampstead, turned herself in and was later released on $10,000 bond. She was placed on administrative leave from her job.
Pentagon shooter had a history of mental illness HOLLISTER, Calif. — The man who opened fire in front of the Pentagon had a history of mental illness and had become so erratic that his parents reached out to local authorities weeks ago with a warning that he was unstable and might have a gun. It’s still unclear why John Patrick Bedell opened fire Thursday, wounding two police officers. The two officers were hospitalized briefly with minor injuries.
Today is Saturday, March 6, the 65th day of 2010. There are 300 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On March 6, 1836, the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, fell to Mexican forces after a 13-day siege. On this date: In 1834, the city of York in Upper Canada was incorporated as Toronto. In 1853, Verdi’s opera “La Traviata” premiered in Venice, Italy. In 1857, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Dred Scott v. Sandford that Scott, a slave, was not an American citizen and could not sue for his freedom in federal court. In 1933, a nationwide bank holiday declared by President Franklin D. Roosevelt went into effect. In 1935, retired Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., died in Washington. In 1944, U.S. heavy bombers staged the first full-scale American raid on Berlin during World War II. In 1957, the former British African colonies of the Gold Coast and Togoland became the independent state of Ghana. In 1967, the daughter of Josef Stalin, Svetlana Alliluyeva (ahlee-loo-YAY’-vah), appeared at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and declared her intention to defect to the West. In 1970, a bomb being built inside a Greenwich Village townhouse by the radical Weathermen accidentally went off, destroying the house and killing three group members. In 1987, 193 people died when the British ferry Herald of Free Enterprise capsized off the Belgian port of Zeebrugge (zayBRUKH’-ah). Ten years ago: Three New York City officers were convicted of a cover-up in a brutal police station attack on Haitian immigrant Abner Louima. (The convictions of Thomas Wiese, Thomas Bruder and Charles Schwarz were later overturned, but Schwarz, whose conviction for participating in the attack was also overturned, was found guilty of perjury in a 2002 trial.) Eric Clapton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the third time; among the newest honorees were James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt and Earth, Wind and Fire. Today’s Birthdays: Orchestra conductor Julius Rudel is 89. Former FBI and CIA director William Webster is 86. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is 84. Author Gabriel Garcia Marquez is 83. Orchestra conductor Lorin Maazel is 80. Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova is 73. Country singer Doug Dillard is 73. Sen. Christopher Bond, RMo., is 71. Actress-writer Joanna Miles is 70. Actor Ben Murphy is 68. Opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is 66. Singer Mary Wilson (The Supremes) is 66. Rock musician Hugh Grundy (The Zombies) is 65. Rock singer-musician David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) is 64. Actor-director Rob Reiner is 63. Singer Kiki Dee is 63. Rock singer-musician Phil Alvin (The Blasters) is 57. Former child actress Suzanne Crough (kroh) is 47. Actor D.L. Hughley is 46. Country songwriter Skip Ewing is 46. Thought for Today: “Best be yourself, imperial, plain and true!” — Elizabeth Barrett Browning, English poet (18061861).
CONTACT US
Photo by Danny Johnston | AP
In this photo taken at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History in Little Rock, Ark., former Gov. Jim Guy Tucker talks about photos on display he tookas a U.S. Marine Corps war correspondent in 1965 and 1967 in Vietnam.
Ex-Detroit mayor loses appeal over restitution DETROIT — Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, desperate to stop a judge from forcing him to come up with $320,000 in special restitution payments, struck out Friday with a higher
court and now faces a hearing on whether he violated probation. The Michigan Court of Appeals said a Wayne County judge did not abuse his discretion when he ordered Kilpatrick to quickly come up with more money to reduce his $1 million restitution to Detroit, a debt that’s part of his 2008 criminal case. -- Compiled from AP reports
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SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
STARS OF ZAPATA SOUTH
Courtesy photo
Zapata South Elementary School recently recognized its Students of the Week for Feb. 22-26. Shown in front are Rogelio Valadez, Ramiro Saldivar, Lively Salinas and Alexis Guzman; in back are Crystal Mejia, Lizbeth Cantu, Angel Alaniz, Maricruz Quintanilla, Juan Arredondo Javier Jasso, Evelyn Lara, Irene Mandujano, Liliana Garcia, Ruben Guzman and Taylor Moffett.
Conservation league backs winning legislator SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Texas State Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City, who easily won the Democratic nomination for House District 31 once again earlier this week, was endorsed by the Texas League of Conservation Voters based on his strictly “yes” votes for a dozen legislative measures dealing with conservation. “It is a great honor to be considered one of the leading legislators when it comes to conservation,” Guillen said. “This is an area which I feel very strongly about.” In Zapata, the unopposed Guillen received 2,441 votes. In addition to Zapata, Guillen’s district includes Duval, Starr and a large part of Webb counties. The “scorecard” used to grade Guillen came from 12 recorded votes on legislation pertaining to matters
Democrats once again choose Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City. ranging from recycling to green-living to energy efficiency. Also taken into consideration by the league were the legislator’s leadership qualities when pressing these issues on the floor and his personal goals for conservation in the future. Although many of the bills in discussion were not, in fact, passed, TLCV is still greatly appreciative of the efforts given by their main supporters. “While the 81st Legislature was disappointing in terms of moving Texas forward on important conservation issues, there were enough up and down votes in both houses to distinguish between legislators who were committed to protecting and preserving Tex-
as and those who were not,” said David Weinberg, Executive Director of TLCV. Bills that were enacted include: green-efficiency of a percentage of state vehicle fleets; city government funding for property owners’ efforts to generate renewable energy sources; standardized, efficient plumbing fixtures statewide; and unrestricted Gulf Coast beach access. Guillen supported each of those matters. “Although we are not always going to be entirely successful, the measures that have been put into action thus far promise a very optimistic future for dealing with conservation efforts statewide,” Guillen said. “We will continue to push for a more conservation-conscious Texas.” Only 71 out of the 150 state representatives received an A on the TLCV’s conservation scorecard.
THE BLOTTER ACCIDENT Police responded to an accident around 4:44 p.m. Feb. 26 in the 150 block of U.S. 83. The complainant, also the vehicle owner, reported that she drove into a drainage ditch and as a result her front bumper was damaged.
ASSAULT Jose Manuel Barrientos was arrested around 10:04 p.m. Tuesday in the 5320 block of Peña Lane and charged with assault, a Class C misdemeanor. Police responded to an assault call around 10:28 p.m. Feb. 27 in the 2376 block of Lago Vista. The complainant reported to police that a known subject assaulted her with his hands.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF Police responded to a crimi-
nal mischief call around 12:05 a.m. Monday in the 285 block of Lozano Drive. The complaint reported to police that unknown subject(s) stole his vehicle’s emblems.
POSSESSION Rene Aguiles Lopez was arrested around 1:33 a.m. Thursday and charged with possession of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony, during a traffic stop. Police said they confiscated four small, foil-wrapped packets containing crack cocaine. The incident occurred between 10th-13th Streets and Roma Avenue.
PUBLIC INTOXICATION Jaime Garcia-Medrano was arrested around 3:53 a.m. Wednesday and charged with public intoxication. The incident occurred on U.S. 83 near a convenience store.
THEFT An employee from Stripes reported to police around 10:10 p.m. Sunday that a person walked out of the store with beer without paying for it. The incident occurred on 1st Avenue off US Highway 83. Police responded to a theft call around 7:41 p.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of Fresno. The complainant reported that her son stole a XBOX 360 from her residence. Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.
“Let your smile be a sign of happiness & good health” 1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Perry’s impressive showing By KEN HERMAN COX NEWSPAPERS
A
USTIN — How do you like him now? Remember when you dismissed Rick Perry as kind of a wiseguy ag commissioner who had peaked as farmer-inchief ? And how you were less than awed by his razor-thin, George W. Bush’s-coattails win over John Sharp to become lieutenant governor in 1998? And what a lucky guy you thought Perry was when he inherited the governor’s office when Bush resigned to become president? And how unimpressed you were when he beat Democrat Tony Sanchez’s money (anybody outside of Laredo remember Sanchez?) to win a full term in 2002? And remember how your skepticism about Perry was certified by his almost-silly win (while getting only 39 percent) in a four-way 2006 gubernatorial race?
Road kill You see what happened Tuesday? Let me make sure you get the magnitude of what Perry did Tuesday. By winning the GOP nomination for an unprecedented third four-year gubernatorial term, Perry erased Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, one of the state’s all-time greatest vote getters. Oh, everybody said as the race formed, this will be the end of Perry. No way he beats Hutchison, some said. No contest, GOP voters said in turning Kay Bailey into belly-up road kill. Perry won without a runoff by also holding off Debra Medina, a darling of the Tea Party crowd.
Clear message “I think the message is pretty clear,” Perry bellowed at his Salt Lick victory party. “Conservatism has never been stronger than it is today and we’re taking our country back. One vote at a time. One election at a time.” Tuesday’s message from Texas, according to Perry: “Quit spending all the money. Stop trying to take over our lives and our businesses.” Perry on Tuesday accomplished something nobody else has been able to do in a long time, dating back perhaps to the 1992 presidential election. Perry beat the Bushes. Remember when you thought nobody could beat the Bushes in Texas, especially in a GOP race? Perry did it Tuesday. The Bush name wasn’t on the ballot, and there’s not a Bush in the White House, but the Bushes put their full faith and credit behind Hutchison. The older of the two exPresident Bushes publicly endorsed and appeared with her. Barbara Bush campaigned with her. The younger ex-President Bush remained publicly neutral, but several of his top longtime advisers (Karl Rove, Karen Hughes) helped Hutchison. Hughes was among those introducing her in August at the Hutchison campaign kickoff event in La Marque, a disaster of
an event that foreshadowed the whole campaign. Dick Cheney, George W. Bush’s vice president, showed up at a Houston rally for Hutchison. Perry had Sarah Palin. That’s all he needed. And he probably didn’t need her.
Odd campaign It was kind of a strange campaign, somewhat disappointing to those of us who bought into the Clash of the GOP Titans story line. It never evolved. It was created fully formed and never evolved. (Insert your own State Board of Education creation/evolution joke here.) Perry came out railing against Washington. Then, for a while, he railed against Washington. In the closing weeks, he railed against Washington. It worked in the beginning, the middle and the end. Late last week, Hutchison lamented how well it was working. Yes, Hutchison ran one of the all-time bad Texas campaigns, but, as it turned out, her defeat might have been sealed when she won a 1993 special election to pick a permanent replacement for Democratic U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen when he became treasury secretary. For a politician intent on becoming governor, serving in Washington turned out to be a political dead end.
YOUR OPINION Nation’s leaders must stick with the Constitution; socialism just doesn’t work To the editor: “Freedom is not something to be secured in any one moment of time. We must struggle to preserve it every day. Our freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” Ronald Reagan delivered those words during a crisis time in his administration. They will be appropriate throughout the life of this great nation. We are under going a siege of crisis at this time. We have individuals in powerful positions who are trying to subvert the basic philosophy our founding fathers, who, in their collective geniusness, conconcted a Declaration of Independence and a constitution for our Demo-
cratic-Republican form of government. These words do not pertain to political parties. If one reads the history as I have always tried to do, it is obvious these men were guided by JudeoChristian ethics, obvious in nearly all of their writings. There instruments must be preserved at all costs. They are still vividly applicable to our crisis today, as they were in 1776. By their wisdom, this basis for government can be amended for updating or correctional reasons. I’m pleased to see in the news that men and women representing us in Congress, from all political parties, are now respond-
ing to the ferocious attack on this philosophy of governance, and are beginning to listen to those who elect them when they say “No, you must not subvert our constitution.” Too obviously, the ideologies in power are bent on turning us into a European-style socialist nation. I can think of no reason that we are in need of this style — any reason! Stop and think, all of us. Who has been supporting a goodly portion of the world for 60 years? Not the socialists! They’re broke; the history of all such governments. In the course of one year, we have began a perilous slide into that bottomless pit.
As Mrs. Nancy Reagan once said, “Just say no!”. The majority of this nation are not socialistic in thought. We are mostly a conservative people who believe in the capitalist theory. Why? It works! It pays the bills! Tell your legislators — keep it this way! Or else look for another line of work; Now! Let’s ask God to conintue to bless this country, and lead our leaders in the correct path. Someone once said, “The best route to freedom and good times is to keep and bear to the right!” Amen to that and God bless America. Signed, Frank Staggs
More to come
EDITORIAL
So how does Perry mold his November race against Democratic nominee Bill White, a former Houston mayor? Seems like it could be somewhat of a challenge, especially in light of how far Perry moved to the right to beat Hutchison. White did some time as an assistant energy secretary in Washington, but Perry’s going to need more than anti-Washington rhetoric to beat him. Here’s another potential chink in the Perry armor in the race against White. When Perry wasn’t hating on Washington during the primary campaign, he was loving on Texas — as in, “Is this state doing great or what?” Yes, Texas is doing better than the lesser states. And Perry probably will continue to trumpet it. But what happens now that he is running against the recent mayor of Texas’ most populous city? Will he try to show that White screwed up Houston? And will that effort necessarily include a litany of how bad things are in Houston? And can Perry soil Houston’s reputation without getting some dirt on his own? History tells us he’ll find a way. His aides told me last night they’re working on it. Look for the oddsmakers to install Perry as a heavy favorite for re-election. And you should stop underestimating him. How do you like him now? And how do you think you might like him four years from now, when, after 14 years in office, he would be among the longest-serving governors in U.S. history? (Reach Ken Herman, who writes for the Austin American-Statesman, at kherman@statesman.com)
Reform depends on Democrats NEW YORK TIMES
R
epublicans’ lock-step opposition to comprehensive health care reform seems to be as much a matter of politics as principle. But either way, they have made clear that there is no dialogue or any possible compromise that will persuade them to change their minds. That means it’s up to congressional Democrats to move legislation forward — or throw away a once-in-ageneration opportunity to fix this country’s broken health care system. President Obama has called on Congress to quickly take an up-or-down vote. He and Democratic leaders are going to have to work overtime to corral skittish members of their caucus. And Obama is going to have to keep making the case to the American people that reform is essential for all Americans’ security and for the nation’s future fiscal health. The most straightforward way to enact reform would be for the House —
which only needs a majority — to approve the bill passed by the Senate and send it straight to the president for his signature. Unfortunately, House Democrats appear unwilling to do that. Liberal members of the caucus think the Senate bill should spend more money to cover more people and provide more generous subsidies. Fiscal hawks are nervous about the projected costs of either bill. And legislators who strongly oppose abortion think the restrictions on coverage for abortion in the Senate’s bill are too weak. The multiple sniping has forced the Democrats to consider amending the Senate bill by “reconciliation,” a procedure that can sidestep a Republican filibuster. Don’t be misled by Republican charges that the president is planning to “ram through” reform with a rarely used maneuver. The Senate already has approved its bill with a 60-vote majority. Both parties have used reconciliation in the past. The Republicans hap-
pily used it to approve the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. Senate Democrats should be able to muster the 51 votes needed. So what will it take to win over the House? Liberal Democrats are right that the Senate bill is too stingy. More money should be added to make subsidized insurance affordable and to help states pay for expanding their Medicaid rolls. That would drive up the cost somewhat and make fiscal conservatives even more nervous. Yet there is much in the Senate bill for them. The two most important points they — and all Americans — need to remember is that the Senate and House bills are fully paid for by tax revenues and budget savings, and both would reduce future deficits. Neither liberals nor fiscal hawks will be able to get everything they want. Obama and congressional leaders will have to persuade both camps that failure is the worst option of all.
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
Do House liberals really want to deny 30 million uninsured Americans the chance at coverage? Do House deficit hawks want the deficit to rise even more? Because without reform, there are no plans to rein in the relentless rise of medical costs and the Medicare obligation. The issue of abortion coverage can’t be addressed in a reconciliation bill that must deal only with budgetary matters. The Senate bill already has onerous provisions that would likely discourage insurers on new exchanges from offering policies that cover abortions. The House bill is even more restrictive. Both are outrageous intrusions on a woman’s right to make health care decisions. House Democrats who say they cannot accept the Senate’s abortion provisions must ask themselves: Are they willing to scuttle their party’s signature domestic issue and a reform that this country desperately needs rather than accept the almost-as-tough language of the Senate bill?
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Paul Wall, Play-N-Skillz reunite for Spring Break show By KIRSTEN CROW LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Paul Wall has a message for Laredo hip-hop aficionados: He fully plans to get it poppin’ tonight. Put that to a hypnotic beat and some Houston and Dallas-drenched lyrics, and you’ve got the Spring Break kickoff concert of the season: Featuring H-Town classic Wall, Grammy Award-winners Play-NSkillz and hip-hop neophyte
Inertia, the show begins at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Club A.M., 1406 Jacaman Road. For Wall, known best for hits like “Bizzy Body,” “Girl,” and “Sittin’ Sidewayz,” the concert with his longtime collaborators, Play-N-Skillz, is a welcome circumstance. “It’s a nice reunion show for us to be back,” he said. “It’s been a minute, though. I have a lot of catching up to do.” With a rapidly approach-
ing tour with colleague Chamillionaire in the works, Wall is also promoting the anticipated release of his newest album, “Heart of a Champion.” The first single — “I’m On Patron” — is already in rotation. “I’ll be singing that when I come to Laredo,” Wall said. “I’m excited to (be there) and get it poppin’.” As for the Dallas-brotherduo Juan “Play” Salinas and Oscar “Skillz” Salinas,
Photo by Disney | AP
In this film publicity image released by Disney, Helena Bonham Carter is shown in a scene from the film “Alice in Wonderland.”
‘Alice’ through a drearier looking glass By JAKE COYLE ASSOCIATED PRESS
In Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland,” Alice has grown — not by “drink me” potion or “eat me” cake — into a 19-year-old girl. Working from Linda Woolverton’s very Hollywood screenplay adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, Burton shifts the story from a child Alice to a near-adult Alice, viewing her journey through a drearier, more dangerous looking-glass. We glimpse the prim, Victorian child of Carroll’s tale in the film’s opening as she’s awakens from what sounds like her trip to Wonderland. Her father tells her that her deranged dreams do indeed mean she’s bonkers, but he assures, “All the best people are.” It’s a neat line and it’s at the heart of Burton’s 3-D version of Carroll’s beloved book, which also draws heavily from its sequel, “Through the Looking-Glass.” It was shot in 2-D, but transferred to 3-D afterward, and its effects are more distracting than spectacular. The film quickly fast
REVIEW forwards 13 years and Alice (played by the startlingly promising Mia Wasikowska, who previously impressed watchers of HBO’s “In Treatment”), is lured back to Wonderland by the familiar, punctually paranoid rabbit (voiced by Michael Sheen). She flees a white and pastel-colored reality (where she is being arranged with great orchestration to marry a man she disdains) and falls down the hole, which sits at the base of a tree that could very well be the same one from Burton’s “Sleepy Hollow.” Alice doesn’t remember her last trip to Wonderland. This time, the plot is
similar, but slightly different. It’s Underland, not Wonderland. The tea party is more faded and ramshackle. Alice is beset by questions that she’s “the wrong Alice.” This Alice is far from Carroll’s. Where the Alice of the 1865 book is confused and essentially on a journey of self-discovery, Burton’s Alice is more sure of herself. Burton’s film is not lacking whimsy. Much of its design is wonderfully imaginative — surely the biggest draw of the movie. “Alice in Wonderland” is rated PG for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar. It is playing at Cinemark Mall Del Norte and Hollywood Theatres.
who scored their first big hit with the single “Freaks,” they’re prepared to bring a dynamic live show. “The days of two turntables and a mic have kinda faded away,” said Play. “We include a band in our live show now. We like to call ourselves artists, not emcees or DJs or producers.” The brothers have worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, and the concert offers a
platform for them to introduce their first find on their label — an up-andcomer named Inertia. “One of the reasons we signed him is because his stage show is amazing,” Play said. “We’re excited about that whole situation.” Tickets are available for $20 at City Trendz in Mall Del Norte and C.R. Custom Homes on McPherson until noon. Admission at the door will be $25.
PAUL WALL
SÁBADO 6 DE MARZO DE 2010
Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 6 DE MARZO CIUDAD MIER — En el marco del 257 Aniversario de la ciudad, las actividades de hoy son: 10 a.m. Misa y después de encendido de la Lámpara Votiva. LAREDO — Visite TAMIU y disfrute la actuación annual de Encanto Español hoy a las 7 p.m. en el teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts. La entrada es de 15 dólares por persona. Las ganancias se destinarán a becas de danza. Habrá una recepción con vino y tapas de 7 p.m. a 8 p.m. seguida de presentaciones de estudiantes de flamenco, el Guitar Ensemble y Poesía en Español. NUEVO LAREDO — Hoy es la pelea boxística “Orgullos Neolaredenses” a las 7 p.m. en el Palenque de Expomex. Participarán los los pugilistas Arturo “El Rey” Santos, Naciff “Chatito” Castillo y Andrés “El Mañas” Lara. Adquiera su boleto en el Sistema DIF Municipal (Aquiles Serdán y Héroe de Nacataz). ZAPATA — En la Feria del Condado de Zapata, las puertas se abren para el Espectáculo de Carros y Concurso de Cocina el día de hoy en los terrenos de la feria a partir de la 1 p.m. Más información llamando al (956) 765-4871, ó visitando www.zapatacountyfaironline.com
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PÁGINA 7A
Advierten sobre hechos violentos TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
El Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Texas (Texas Department of Public Safety, DPS por sus siglas en inglés) está solicitando a los padres de familia que no dejen a sus hijos vacacionar en las ciudades fronterizas de México. En tanto, el HERNÁNDEZ Gobernador de Tamaulipas Eugenio Hernández Flores aceptó en comunicado de prensa que hay una pelea entre organizaciones del crimen organizado. “Hay una pugna entre dos o más organizaciones de criminales, sobre todo en la frontera norte y eso nos ha obligado a estar en sesión permanente con el Grupo de Coordinación Interinstitucional”, dijo Hernández. DPS, en su mensaje también sostiene que hay un “incremento en violencia relacionada con carteles de narcotráfico mexicanos”.
“
Hay una pugna entre dos o más organizaciones de criminales, sobre todo en la frontera norte”. GOBERNADOR DE TAMAULIPAS EUGENIO HERNÁNDEZ FLORES
“Los padres de familia no le deben permitir a sus hijos visitar estas ciudades mexicanas (en el Spring Break — Vacaciones de Primavera) por que su seguridad no es garantizada”, dijo el Director del Departamento de Seguridad Pública Steven C. McCraw. El Spring Break será del 15 al 19 de marzo en Texas y los estudiantes suelen visitar México y sus playas. En Tamaulipas, el Grupo de Coordinación Interinstitucional fue creado tras los incidentes de hace dos semanas en Reynosa, Ciudad Mier y Nuevo Laredo. El mismo considera mayor presencia de las fuerzas policiacas y se mantiene en alerta monitoreando
todo lo que ocurre a lo largo y ancho de Tamaulipas. En este grupo participan el Ejército, la Marina, el CISEN, la Procuraduría General de la República, la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Federal, así como la Procuraduría y la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Estatal. Hernández Flores dijo que el pasado fin de semana “fue relativamente mucho más tranquilo”. “En los días anteriores sí hubo movimientos por parte de la delincuencia organizada detectados por ciudadanos y reportados”. El 1 de marzo el Gobierno de Tamaulipas dijo que no habían ocurrido enfrentamientos en el Estado y que los rumores habían disminuido también.
En cuanto a clases esta semana solamente algunas escuelas en la región ribereña suspendieron sus clases. No se dio a conocer la cantidad de escuelas. Hernández dijo que a través del Grupo de Coordinación se solicitó una mayor presencia de fuerzas federales, habiendo una inmediata respuesta favorable por parte de la Federación al enviar 300 agentes federales más. “El Ejército ha hecho un gran papel y tenemos plena confianza en él y en las fuerzas armadas de nuestro país”, dijo Hernández. “Hay resultados muy positivos en cuanto al avance en la lucha contra el crimen organizado en Tamaulipas, donde se han decomisado miles de armas y
CELEBRAN CABALGATA DE LAS HUASTECAS
Mejoran accesos en las ciudades Obras en Miguel Alemán
DOMINGO 7 DE MARZO LAREDO — La Orquesta Filarmónica de Laredo presenta “Rita Meets Her Match” hoy a las 3 p.m. en el Guadalupe and Lilia Martínez Fine Arts Center del Laredo Community College. El concierto incluye actuaciones de los vocalistas Suzanne Ramo, Eric Schmidt, Joseph Crabtree, y David DeLambre al violín. LAREDO — El Wind Ensemble y Jazz Big Band de TAMIU invitan a “Un Concierto ‘Increíble’” hoy a las 7 p.m. en el Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall de TAMIU. La entrada es gratuita y abierta al público en general. El programa incluye música de películas famosas, estándares y un arreglo por el estudiante Gabriel Vázquez. Más información llamando al 3262654.
MARTES 9 DE MARZO NUEVO LAREDO — La Asociación Protectora de Animales (APA) de Nuevo Laredo y Galopaterapia presentan el evento “Los Animales también sienten” de 10 a.m. a 1 p.m. en el Centro Cultural Nuevo Laredo. El objetivo es concientizar a los niños y jóvenes sobre lo que significa tener una mascota en casa o bien por qué no se puede tener animales silvestres.
JUEVES 11 DE MARZO ZAPATA — La Feria del Condado de Zapata oficialmente empieza hoy. A partir de las 8 a.m. varios animales estarán para exhibición. Habrá jueces para manualidades a partir de las 4 p.m. y el concurso de Batalla de las Bandas dará inicio a las 6 p.m. y hasta la medianoche.
VIERNES 12 DE MARZO LAREDO — El Banco de Alimentos del Sur de Texas y Pink-To-Do se beneficiará de un partido de béisbol de exhibición entre los Broncos de Laredo y los Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo el día de hoy a las 7:30 p.m. en Veterans Field. ZAPATA — La Feria del Condado de Zapata continúa hoy. De 8:30 a.m. al mediodía, conejos, corderos, cabras y venados serán juzgados hoy.
se han detenido a cientos de personas dedicadas a actividades ilícitas”. Por su parte, DPS ha dicho que durante esta temporada tendrá a más oficiales patrullando las carreteras de Texas para buscar conductores ebrios, violadores de la ordenanza de cinturón de seguridad, y violadores de la velocidad límite. “Queremos que Spring Break sea inolvidable, pero de buena manera”, dijo el Director Asistente de la Patrulla de Carretera de Texas David Baker. DPS sostiene en el comunicado que el sitio de Internet del Departamento de Estado de los EU apunta varias advertencias en relación a la violencia en México. “Los viajeros deben visitar ese sitio recibir actualizaciones de información relacionada con asuntos de seguridad en México”, sostienen. Visite: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/ cis/cis_970.html para más detalles.
ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
Los Gobernadores, de izquierda a derecha, de Veracruz, Fidel Herrera Beltrán; de Tamaulipas Eugenio Hernández Flores; y, de San Luis Potosí Fernando Toranzo Fernández, participaron del 26 al 28 de febrero en la Quinta Cabalgata de las Huastecas. En ese marco iniciaron las obras de construcción de un nuevo puente sobre el río Santa Clara y obras de introducción de agua potable en la zona temporalera.
PEMEX invierte en frontera chica ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Petróleos Mexicanos se encuentra realizando inversiones en ciudades de la frontera chica a fin de contribuir a su desarrollo. En Nueva Ciudad Guerrero construyen un museo y parque temático; en tanto que en Miguel Alemán remodelaron y equiparon dos telesecundarias.
Museo Un avance de 70% aproximadamente registran los trabajos de construcción de un museo y parque temático en Nueva Ciudad Guerrero que lleva a cabo Petróleos Mexicanos. Los trabajos se realizan a través del Activo Integral Burgos de la Subdirección Región Norte de Pemex Exploración y Producción, como parte de su estrategia de desa-
rrollo comunitario sustentable. Según comunicado de prensa de Petróleos Mexicanos, la obra incluye la edificación de un área que permita a los jóvenes, estudiantes, profesionistas y público en general, conocer los hechos históricos que marcaron el progreso de Nueva Ciudad Guerrero. Esta obra, que se lleva a cabo con el apoyo de la compañía Schulemberg, contempla además un área de cafetería, una explanada donde se pueden realizar diversos eventos, banquetas y un espejo de agua. Adicionalmente, se construye un espacio en donde se exhibirán diversas herramientas de trabajo utilizadas por personal de PEMEX.
Telesecundarias A fin de contribuir a la formación de mejores profesionistas y como parte de su responsabilidad social,
el Activo Integral Burgos de Pemex Exploración y Producción llevó a cabo la remodelación y equipamiento de las telesecundarias “Miguel Díaz de la Cruz” y “Profesor Mardonio Alemán Infante”, ubicadas en Miguel Alemán, con una inversión de aproximadamente un millón de pesos. Los trabajos de remodelación consistieron en la instalación de iluminación, ventilación, construcción de foro para actos cívicos, reparación de malla ciclónica, reparación general de aulas, pintura, impermeabilización, reparación de banquetas, construcción de techado, canchas deportivas y área para comedor, así como remodelación de baños para hombres y mujeres. Asimismo, se apoyó en el suministro de mobiliario, como pizarrones, libreros y escritorios para computadoras, alumbrado exterior e interior y equipamiento de canchas deportivas multiusos.
Inicia estado registro de fierros ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CIUDAD VICTORIA — Con la firma del convenio de colaboración entre el Gobierno de Eugenio Hernández Flores y la Unión Ganadera Regional de Tamaulipas se puso en marcha el programa estatal de registro y validación de fierros que aplicará al quinquenio 2010-2014 para su actualización en ganado mayor, menor y sector apícola. El acuerdo que abre ventanillas el 16 de marzo esperando renovar y expe-
Esperan renovar poco más de 40 mil fierros y marcas. dir más de 40 mil registros de fierros con un incremento del 15% que garantizarán propiedad al ganado para los próximos cinco años y al productor su acceso a los programas Estatales y de la Federación. Este banco de datos permite conocer como se está comportando la ganadería en el Estado, el registro de
ganaderos, la superficie que se destina a esta actividad y el inventario por municipio en cuanto al número de cabezas de ganado, así como el desarrollo y la calidad de los hatos para reclasificar la unidad productiva en cada región de Tamaulipas. Las ventanillas de atención ó ventanilla concentradora estarán abiertas
en las Asociaciones Ganaderas Locales afiliadas a la UGRT y en la Secretaría de Desarrollo Rural, respectivamente donde el productor deberá presentar credencial de elector, la CURP y la carátula de la PGN. La ley Ganadera de Tamaulipas obliga a propietarios de más de 20 cabezas de ganado mayor ó 30 de ganado menor registrarse con su fierro y marca dentro de los primeros noventa días naturales de los años terminados en “0” y “5”.
CIUDAD VICTORIA — A fin de mejorar la comunicación y contar con accesos más amplios que auxilien al tránsito vehicular, el Gobierno del Estado y los Ayuntamientos ejecutan obras de infraestructura vial. Algunas de las ciudades beneficiadas son Reynosa, Camargo y Miguel Alemán. En Reynosa se lleva a cabo la modernización de la Avenida Oriente, con inversión superior a los 60 millones de pesos. Los trabajos, a cargo de la Secretaría de Obras Públicas y Desarrollo Urbano, consisten en la ampliación de cuatro a seis carriles de circulación en 4.2 kilómetros, además de la instalación de alumbrado público y la construcción de guarniciones y banquetas. “Esta vialidad conecta con la carretera a ReynosaSan Fernando, con el libramiento Monterrey-Matamoros, con el bulevar Luis Donaldo Colosio, con las vialidades de acceso al nuevo Parque Cultural de Reynosa, así como el puente internacional de esa ciudad fronteriza”, dijo el Gobernador del Estado Eugenio Hernández Flores. Se estima que la Avenida Oriente quede concluida a finales del presente mes. En Camargo continúa la ampliación del acceso oriente a la ciudad con inversión superior a los 9 millones 663 mil pesos. La obra consiste en ampliar de dos a cuatro carriles de circulación, en una longitud de 1.1 kilómetros. En Miguel Alemán con inversión de casi 12 millones de pesos se modernizan los 1.7 kilómetros del acceso sur de la ciudad para agilizar el flujo vehicular a la zona urbana. Además se trabaja en la ampliación del crucero de la calle Zapata, entre las Calles 9 y 10. “Estas obras mejorarán la circulación vial hacia el puente Internacional y la cabecera municipal”, dijo Hernández. Parte de los recursos utilizados en estas obras de infraestructura vial provienen del Convenio de Recaudación Fiscal de Caminos y Puentes Federales (CAPUFE).
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010
Photo by Joe Rutland | The Zapata Times
Photo by Ross D. Franklin | AP
Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers walk around bodies, covered in blue tarps, after a bus crashed in a multi-car accident on Friday, in Sacaton, Ariz. Police are saying six people were killed in the crash on Interstate 10, about 25 miles south of Phoenix.
6 killed in bus crash south of Phoenix ASSOCIATED PRESS
SACATON, Arizona — Six people were ejected from a bus and killed Friday when a bus traveling from Mexico to Los Angeles hit a pickup and rolled over an interstate in Arizona, state police said. The six were thrown about 10 yards in the accident about 6:30 a.m. Zapata time on the Gila River Indian Reservation about 25 miles south of downtown Phoenix, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Investigators who had suspected another person might have been trapped under the bus learned later in the day that there was no one under the vehicle. DPS spokesman Bart Graves said two men and four women, all aboard the
bus, were killed. The bus was carrying 22 passengers, and the surviving 16 passengers were all injured — at least nine critically — and taken to area hospitals. Police said the rollover triggered a second accident when another pickup slowed and was hit by a sedan. One person from the sedan was taken to a hospital. The cause of the crash was under investigation. The bus originated in the central Mexican state of Zacatecascentral, officials said. It entered the United States at El Paso, Texas, and was traveling westbound on I-10. The bus is owned by Tierra Santa Inc. A phone message left by The Associated Press was not immediately returned.
ConocoPhlllips recently presented checks to numerous non-profits in Zapata County, including the Helping Hands Food Pantry. Left to right are: a member of the ConocoPhillips philanthropic team; Randy Black, the company’s operations manager for South Texas; Norma Mendoza, Pantry director; County Commissioner Jose Emilio Vela; another member of the ConocoPhillips team; County Treasurer Romeo Salinas; and Marvin Winkler, also of the ConocoPhillips team.
ConocoPhillips donates $27,000 Zapata nonprofits benefit from employees’ generosity By JOE RUTLAND THE ZAPATA TIMES
Five Zapata County educational and civic organizations received philanthropic contributions from ConocoPhillips during the company’s yearly distribution ceremony at its Aguilares location Thursday. The Zapata County Fair received $6,500, while the Zapata County Independent School District was awarded $6,000. Also receiving donations were the Boys and Girls Club of Zapata County, $5,100; Zapata County Fire Department/EMS, $5,100; and Helping Hands Food Pantry of Zapata, $5,100.
Helping kids Zapata County treasurer Romeo Salinas said he’s been doing the applications toward receiving support from ConocoPhillips’ philanthropic wing for the past seven years since he took office.
“I was approached by the local ConocoPhillips employees there from Zapata; we always meet together and they tell me what they are going to use those funds for in our community,” Salinas said. “The funds for the county fair association will go toward helping all those kids who didn’t win in their different projects. They want to offer them add-ons, but I’ll need to just review the paperwork to make sure.” Salinas said he has developed a friendship with ConocoPhillips’ Randy Black, whom he met when Black was a board member of the South Texas Food Bank in Laredo. “Funds that we get for the Helping Hands Food Pantry go to help the elderly and we try to adopt families and utilize the funds in a different way,” he said. Black, who is the ConocoPhillips operations manager of its South Texas and Gulf Coast Business Unit-West, said one
of his company’s core values is philanthropic service. “We have SPIRIT values and one is community involvement,” Black said, referring to an anagram that spells out the words safety, people, integrity, responsibility, innovation and teamwork.
Core values “It’s core to us to be and contribute back to the community where our employees live and work. It’s absolutely critical to us, through our philanthropic efforts, to sponsor educational and environmental services, educational and social services. We’re just incredibly thrilled to do what we do in that regard.” More than 29 South Texas organizations received donations totaling more than $290,000. The United Way of Laredo, which also serves Zapata and other neighboring counties, received the largest distribution: $94,064. Mary Treviño, United Way of Laredo 2009 campaign president, said,
“This is very important for United Way to be able to provide funds to the 26 agencies that are part of our family. ConocoPhillips plays a very large role in the campaign. “They provided over $250,000 for the $1.85 million campaign, so they are a very big partner,” Treviño said. “They just do a wonderful job in raising funds for us.” Texas A&M International University and Laredo Community College received $10,000 each for their educational efforts. Laredo, United, Webb County and Zapata County Independent School Districts also received donations. Additional philanthropic support was distributed to groups including those in Freer, Jim Hogg County and Hebbronville. Other organizations receiving support included South Texas Food Bank Adopt A Family, Megan’s Lighthouse, Texas Migrant Council, Quad City Volunteer Fire Department and Friends of Aransas Pass National Wildlife Refuge. (Joe Rutland may be reached at 728-2529 or jrutland@lmtonline.com)
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
OBITUARIES GUMARO MARTINEZ Gumaro Martinez 84, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, at his residence in Zapata, Texas. Mr. Martinez is preceded in death by his wife, Maria C. Martinez; brother, Adalberto (Angelica) Lopez; sister, Otila (Alfonso) Lopez; brothers-in-law, Diego Gonzalez and Emeterio Hernandez. Mr. Martinez is survived by his son, Jose Mario (Sharon) Martinez; daughter, Delia (Jose) Valadez; grandchildren, Jose Mario Jr. (Vicky) Martinez, Roberto Martinez, Michelle (Ramiro III) Garcilazo, Veronica (Raul) Gonzalez and Roxana (Emilio) Sanchez; great-grandchildren, Janessa Martinez, Jacob Martinez, Raul Gonzalez Jr., Roy Gonzalez, Melanie Gonzalez, Emilio Sanchez III, Emma Sanchez and Ramiro Garcilazo IV; brothers, Alfredo (Maria) Martinez; sisters, Zoila M. Gonzalez and Genoveva M. Hernandez; and by numerous nephews, nieces and many friends. Pallbearers were, Jose Mario Martinez, Jr., Rafael Martinez, David Gonzalez, Diego Gonzalez, Adalberto Martinez and Eden Hernandez. Visitation hours were held on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.
Stats: more jobs By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — An index that measures the breadth of hiring among private industries is nearing a turning point that could signal consistent job gains. The index is part of the government’s monthly employment report. Its rise is evidence that the job market is headed in the right direction — though at a painfully slow pace. The Labor Department’s report Friday said the jobless rate was unchanged at 9.7 percent, as employers cut 36,000 jobs. By calculating an index, the department also estimated how widespread hiring is across 269 separate private industries. A reading of 50 in the index would mean an equal number of industries are hiring and firing.
The funeral procession departed on Monday, March 1, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at San Pedro Mission in Lopeño, Texas. Committal services followed at Lopeño Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 U.S. 83 Zapata, Texas.
MARIA ESTELA LEAL DE DILLEY Maria Estela Leal de Dilley died peacefully surrounded by her loving family, Feb. 28, 2010, at Laredo Medical Center. She was born March 18, 1920, in Guerrero, Tamaulipas, to Professor Leoncio Leal and Concepcion Guzman de Leal. She married Emilio J. Dilley in Guerrero and lived in Zapata most of her life. She was a lady who relished life with a genuine appreciation of the fine arts, history, literature, and traveling. An avid reader, historian and researcher of her family genealogy, she visited many states in Mexico and enjoyed traveling in her beloved Texas, in California and Hawaii. Her exuberance for life and historical quests took her to Spain, England, France, Italy, Switzerland and Portugal; and in some cases, returning twice to many of the European countries she loved to research and explore. These travels brought into her life friends from all over the world, many of whom remained close to her for
many years. Her travel adventures were often brought back to the students of the Zapata schools when she was invited to speak to many classes about her travels. Her enthusiasm about the places she had visited became the spark of excitement in every student, an endearing quality she possessed with enlivening the minds and hearts of all she knew. A gentle lady of wisdom, she was known as a friend to all with a smile and kindness for everyone, always enjoying meeting with friends of the Lions Club members’ wives where they chatted and played bingo once a month, being with her beloved friends of El Sagrado Corazon and meeting with her loving members of the Birthday Club. In addition to genealogy, she enjoyed scrapbooking, an interest that involved her with mementos and postcards of all her travels in Mexico and in Europe. She is survived by her daughter, Minerva (+Del-
fino, III) Dilley Lozano; her grandchildren, Sergio (Belinda) Lozano, Rene (Stephanie) Lozano, Delfino (Debbie) Lozano IV, Monica Lozano, Javier (Corina) Dilley and Dawn (Gerardo) Martinez; her sister, Herminia (+Juan) Marrero; her brother, Enrique (Maria) Leal; fourteen great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Emilio J. Dilley; her son, Emilio J. Dilley; her daughter-in-law, Olivia Dilley; her son-in-law, Delfino Lozano, III; her brothers, Roberto Leal and Leoncio Leal; and her sister, Ana Maria Leal Be-
navides. The family wishes to thank with great appreciation the Falcon Lake Nursing Home and Staff of Zapata and Dr. Joaquin Cigarroa. Visitation hours were held on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession departed on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, at 9:45 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 U.S. 83 Zapata, Texas.
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010
ELECTION Continued from Page 1A
Zapata County Voting Totals DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY U.S. REPRESENTATIVE 100% reporting Henry Cuellar
2,805
100%
Alma Aguado
184
5.76%
Felix Alvarado
304
9.51%
Bill Dear
21
0.65%
Clement Glenn
84
2.62%
Star Locke
10
0.31%
GOVERNOR 100% reporting
Farouk Shami Bill White
789 24.70% 1,802 56.41%
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR 100% reporting Linda Chavez-Thompson
2,016 75.87%
Ronnie Earle
419 15.76%
Marc Katz
222
8.35%
2,113
100%
ATTORNEY GENERAL 100% reporting Barbara Ann Radnofsky
LAND COMMISSIONER
be reached for comment. In the race for Commissioner Precinct 3, Eddie Martinez beat out his opponents, Alan M. Montes and Karran Marlyne Westerman, with 64 percent of the votes. “You never know what’s going to happen and (the results) were better than expected,” Martinez said. “I just want to thank everyone — it was a really big turnout, so it says a lot about Zapata voters.” During his administration, Martinez plans to tackle issues addressed in his campaign, including the paving of streets, improving medical facilities and ultimately converting the clinic into a hospital.
100% reporting Bill Burton
387 13.77%
Hector Uribe
2,422 86.22%
Garza holds seat
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE 100% reporting Kinky Friedman
1,591 62.63%
Hank Gilbert
949 37.36%
RAILROAD COMMISSIONER 100% reporting Jeff Weems
2,091
100%
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, PCT. 3 100% reporting Jim Sharp
2,073
100%
STATE REPRESENTATIVE 100% reporting Ryan Guillen
2,441
100%
COUNTY JUDGE 100% reporting Joe Rathmell
2,443 64.10%
Teresa Hein
414 10.86%
Jose Luis “Pepe” Guevara Jr.
954 25.03%
Norberto Garza will continue to serve as County Commissioner Precinct 4, winning 68 percent of the votes to opponent Baldomero Rivera Jr.’s 32 percent. “To be honest, I was glad,” Garza said. “I knew I was going to win, but not by that kind of margin.” Garza thanked his family, supporters and county for having confidence in his abilities and plans. From curving routers to starting new water lines, Garza anticipates repaving the old town site in the upcoming months.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PCT. 2 100% reporting
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. 1 100% reporting
Gabriel “Lel” Villarreal
412 46.09%
Sylvia R Mendoza
153 17.11%
Anna Mun ˜oz Guerra
Manuel A. Uribe
147 16.44%
Jacinto “Jachi” Reyes
69 6.42%
Nico Gutierrez
182 20.36%
Manuel J. Dominguez Jr.
123 11.45%
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PCT. 3 100% reporting Eddie Martinez
541 64.56%
Alan M. Montes
214 25.54%
Karran Marlyne Westerman
83
9.9%
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PCT. 4 100% reporting Norberto Garza
685
68.3%
Baldomero Rivera Jr.
318
31.7%
COUNTY TREASURER
San Juanita Sanchez
142 13.22%
“Amy” Olga Lopez Salinas
225 20.95%
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. 3 100% reporting Fernando Mun ˜oz Jr.
467 56.47%
Juan Antonio Guevara
360 43.53%
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. 4 100% reporting Jose Clemente Gutierrez
100% reporting
515 47.95%
Romeo Salinas
2,270
60.68
Ricardo “Riche” Perez
Rosalva Guerra
1,471
39.32
Rosa Elena Martinez
545 53.54% 74 7.27% 399 39.18%
Romeo beats judge Romeo Salinas kept his seat as county treasurer, beating out the current county judge, Rosalva Guerra, who opted not to run for reelection but instead chose to make a bid for treasurer. Salinas took the win with 60 percent of the ballots. “I’m so happy that I’m going to continue as treasurer,” Salinas said. “I love my job.” Salinas’ current projects include continuing to serve on the board of the South Texas Food Bank and pursuing student transportation services in the form of shuttle buses for those attending Texas A&M International University and Laredo Community College who do not have the means to travel. “I want to express my gratitude for my constituents’ sincerest support,” he said. “I will do the best that I can for the community. I have so many projects ongoing; now I can look forward to continuing them.”
JP roundup The second runoff will be between current JP Judge Anna Muñoz Guerra and local teacher “Amy” Olga Lopez Salinas for Justice of the Peace Precinct 1. Guerra garnered 48 percent of the votes, and Salinas claimed 21 percent. Fernando Muñoz Jr. will be keeping his JP Precinct 3 seat, with 56 percent of the votes. His opponent, Juan Antonio Guevara, came close, but was a little more than 100 votes short. Another judge staying in office will be Jose Clemente Gutierrez for Precinct 4. He picked up 53 percent of the vote. Officially, there were 3,894 ballots cast, representing 56.13 percent of all those registered to vote in Zapata County. (Stephanie M. Ibarra may be reached at 728-2567 or sibarra@lmtonline.com)
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
Winter Texans Arlene and Loyal Altman dance during the Zapata Winter Texan Appreciation Day at the Zapata County Community Center on Thursday afternoon.
TEXANS Continued from Page 1A cause of the many services that are provided for them. Zapata County is installing a new $14 million water plant to provide enough water pressure for the subdivisions and is doing work on parks and the boat ramp. LaVerne and Doris Davis said they have been coming down from Beaver County in Oklahoma for more than 38 years. They enjoy fishing, but have been a bit disappointed over the drought the past few years. “We keep coming back because of the beautiful weather and our wonderful friends,” Doris Davis said. According to many of the Winter Texans, they come to enjoy the sunshine, making new friends and keeping in touch with old friends. Zapata County has been very hospitable, they say, and it’s a place where they feel welcome to come and retire. “We don’t want to go back until the snow is gone,” said Helen Purdy, another Winter Texan.
“
“We keep coming back because of the beautiful weather and our wonderful friends,” DORIS DAVIS
The Winter Texans become a community within a community in Zapata; they’re neighbors who play cards and help each other out during their stays here. As winter slowly disappears and spring makes its appearance, many of the Winter Texans will soon start heading home. Winter Texans usually arrive in September and October and leave in March and April. Winter Texans Lewis and Louis Harrison of Tyrone, Okla., said they plan to leave next week, and are anxious to see their children, grandchildren and a new-great grandchild. At one table at Thursday’ event, there were five widows, who said they
come to Zapata to keep a tradition going. They all have been coming to Zapata for many years, first arriving with their husbands and going fishing. Now that their spouses are no longer with them, they continue coming to stay in touch with their Winter Texan friends. Ruth Reichert from Nebraska has been coming to Zapata for more than 40 years, and celebrated her birthday at the Winter Texan event among her longtime friends. One Winter Texan added she appreciates the event. “It’s very nice that they do this for us,” Purdy said. (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at 7282557.)
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors ZAPATA LADY HAWKS SOFTBALL
ZAPATA TOURNAMENT HELD THIS WEEKEND
NFL’s free agency off to a slow start By BARRY WILNER ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — With the salary cap gone the way of the drop kick, NFL teams began the free agency period Friday with lots of moves. The only thing missing was the megadeal, although the Chicago Bears appeared to be closing in on one with defensive end Julius Peppers. Otherwise, it was business as usual on a busy day generally lacking in drama, but involving several key players. Linebacker Gary Brackett, the leader of the Indianapolis defense, re-signed with the Colts. All-Pro full-
back Leonard Weaver resigned with Philadelphia for three years. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, a former AllPro who struggled in coverage last season, was traded to the New York Jets by San Diego. Detroit, coming off two wins in the last two seasons, upgraded its defense by trading with Cleveland for tackle Corey Williams and agreeing to a four-year deal with end Kyle Vanden Bosch. Carolina waived longtime starting quarterback Jake Delhomme — in teary fashion. A year after the Pan-
See NFL PAGE 2B
Photo by Rob Carr | AP
In this Feb. 24 file photo, Houston Astros manager Brad Mills talks with his players during spring training baseball practice, in Kissimmee, Fla.
Photo by Clara Sandoval | Special to the Times
Zapata Lady Hawks sophomore pitcher Estella Molina winds up during a softball practice in Zapata last week.
Lady Hawks host tourney, getting ready By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The ninth annual Lady Hawks fast pitch classic tournament got under way on Friday at the campus of Zapata High School and the Zapata City Park. Eleven teams will descent on the Lady Hawks softball fields in a two-day tournament an attempt to capture the championship title. The tournament field includes Zapata and 10 out-of-town schools, including Rio Grande City, San Diego, Laredo Martin, Laredo Cigarroa, Roma, Laredo Lyndon B. Johnson, Laredo Nixon, La Joya Juarez Lincoln, Crystal City and McAllen Rowe.
In Bracket 1 are Zapata, San Diego, Cigarroa, Juarez-Lincoln, Nixon and Rowe. Bracket 2 consists of Rio Grande City, Martin, Roma, LBJ and Crystal City The third-place game will be played today at 3 p.m., followed by the championship game at 7 p.m. at the Zapata High School softball field. The Lady Hawks are flying high with their 5-2 overall record after going 2-2 at the La Joya Tournament last weekend. Zapata picked up wins against La Joya Palmview and Mission Veterans but dropped games to La Joya and Los Fresnos. “We have been doing well early
in the season,” Zapata coach Jaime Garcia said. “We are going to play a lot of quality teams before we start district.” The arm of sophomore pitcher Estella Molina, who has taken the mound for Zapata every single game this year, has led the Lady Hawks. Jessica Garcia has paced Zapata at the plate and is leading the offense.
Friday’s games 8:30 a.m.: LBJ vs. Roma (High School field), Zapata vs. Cigarroa
See SOFTBALL PAGE 2B
Mills coaching his own way Manager making an impression By CHRIS DUNCAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Brad Mills bounces around the practice fields at the Houston Astros’ spring training complex, always in the middle of the action. The 53-year-old rookie manager smacks grounders to his infielders on one field, throws batting practice on another, offers advice to pitchers fielding bunts on another. Even when he’s not working with his players,
Mills is often taking practice swings at the air with a black fungo bat, like he’s ready to step into the batter’s box again himself. “Here we go, guys, let’s go!” Mills barked from the infield grass as his players started running bases during a recent workout.
Late selection Mills, Boston’s bench coach over the previous six seasons, emerged from
See MILLS PAGE 2B
Twins capture shutout win against Red Sox ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Nati Harnik | AP
Boston Red Sox outfielder Mike Cameron, right, is caught stealing second by Minnesota Twins second baseman Orlando Hudson during a spring training game in Fort Myers, Fla., on Friday.
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Justin Morneau and Tim Wakefield each made encouraging returns to the field after a long offseason dealing with back injuries. Morneau marked his return to Minnesota with a two-run double and Wakefield tossed two scoreless innings for Boston in his first post-surgery appearance in a 5-0 victory by the Twins over the Red Sox on Friday. Morneau, who was shut down in mid-September because of a broken vertebrae in his lower back, went 1 for 2 with the double to right field off Red Sox starter Jon Lester in the first inning.
SPRING TRAINING ROUNDUP Morneau, the 2006 American League MVP, drove home Denard Span and new second baseman Orlando Hudson. Royals 4, Rangers 2 SURPRISE, Ariz. — Zack Greinke is off to a stellar start. The Cy Young Award winner pitched three scoreless innings Friday and the Kansas City Royals beat the Texas Rangers 4-2. Greinke, who had a 9.21 ERA in eight spring training games last year, threw just 27 pitches, 19 for strikes. He struck out
three and walked none. David Murphy’s two-out single in the first was the only hit Greinke allowed. Scott Feldman, a 17game winner last season with the Rangers, allowed a run on three hits in two innings. Billy Butler’s double in the first scored David DeJesus for the only run off Feldman. Rick Ankiel tripled in the fourth and scored on Alberto Callaspo’s sacrifice fly for the second Kansas City run. Rays 12, Yankees 7 TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees right-hander Joba Chamberlain has struggled in his first spring training start, allowing five runs,
See MLB PAGE 2B
PAGE 2B
Zscores
TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL National League COLORADO ROCKIES: Agreed to terms with RHP Alberto Alburquerque, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, RHP Samuel Deduno, RHP Matt Daley, RHP Edgmer Escalona, RHP Shane Lindsay, RHP Juan Nicasio, RHP Greg Reynolds, RHP Chaz Roe, RHP Esmil Rogers, LHP Franklin Morales, LHP Greg Smith, C Mike McKenry,
INF Hector Gomez, INF Chris Nelson, INF Ian Stewart, INF Eric Young Jr., OF Dexter Fowler, OF Carlos Gonzalez and OF Seth Smith to one-year contracts. American Association FORT WORTH CATS: Signed RHP Joseph Muro, OF Marcus Porchia and C Brandon Fowler. BASKETBALL NBA CHICAGO BULLS: Named Lindsey Hunter player development assistant. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: Signed G Anto-
nio Anderson to a second 10-day contract. NBA Development League RIO GRANDE VALLEY VIPERS: Re-acquired F-C Julian Sensley. FOOTBALL NFL ATLANTA FALCONS: Agreed to terms with QB Chris Redman on a contract extension. CAROLINA PANTHERS: Released QB Jake Delhomme, DT Damione Lewis, DT Maake Kemoeatu, LB Na’il Diggs and LB Landon Johnson.
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010 DENVER BRONCOS: Agreed to terms with OL Russ Hochstein and WR Brandon Lloyd. DETROIT LIONS: Agreed to terms with DE Kyle Vanden Bosch on a four-year contract. Acquired DT Corey Williams from Cleveland for a 2010 fifth- and seventh-round draft pick. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Re-signed LB Gary Brackett. Signed WR Dudley Guice, WR John Matthews, WR Taj Smith, OL Gerald Cadogan, OL Jaimie Thomas, DL John Chick, DL Mitch King, DB Terrail Lambert, RB Devin Moore, LB Brandon Renkart and QB Drew Willy.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Re-signed LB Tully Banta-Cain to a three-year contract. NEW YORK JETS: Released RB Thomas Jones and DB Donald Strickland. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Agreed to terms with FB Leonard Weaver on a three-year contract. HOCKEY AHL MANITOBA MOOSE: Signed F Andy Brandt. PROVIDENCE BRUINS: Announced G Dany Sabourin and F Brad Marchand have been re-
called by Boston (NHL). Announced G Matt Dalton has been assigned to the team by Boston. TORONTO MARLIES: Recalled F Greg Scott, F Alex Berry and D Joey Ryan from Reading (ECHL). COLLEGE AUGUSTA STATE: Named Melissa Mullins senior woman administrator and assistant athletic director for student-athlete services. EAST CAROLINA: Suspended INF Bryan Bass and P Tyler Joyner indefinitely for violation of team policy.
NFL Continued from Page 1B thers gave Delhomme a lucrative contract extension, the only quarterback to lead them to the Super Bowl was released to make way for new starter Matt Moore. A career-high 18 interceptions in 2009 and 23 in his final 12 games did in Delhomme. “Six of my seven years playing here have been outstanding. It’s been a great run,” Delhomme said in between sniffles. “I’m leaving with no animosity whatsoever.” Nor do the Panthers have any bitterness. “It’s really hard to describe how hard this was,” a red-faced general manager Marty Hurney said. “It’s hard not to get emotional when you talk about it because he epitomizes everything we want. He’s been an excellent player for us.” Coach John Fox twice welled up with tears in explaining the decision, which came despite the fact Carolina still owes Delhomme more than $12.5 million in guaranteed money. “He’s done some great things for this team. Two (NFC) championship games, a Super Bowl,
all those comeback victories,” Fox said. “I’m not sure I’ve had any more respect for an NFL football player than Jake Delhomme.” Brackett wasn’t going anywhere, nor did he want to. The defensive captain signed a fiveyear deal hours after he officially became an unrestricted free agent. Brackett’s new deal is likely to keep the 29-year-old in a Colts uniform the rest of his career. “Obviously, this is a great place to play and when you get a chance to stay a Colt for life, you usually jump at it,” Brackett said. “That’s why I wanted to do everything within my power to make this my home.” Weaver certainly found a home in Philadelphia after playing four years for Seattle. Weaver had a career-high 323 yards rushing, 140 yards receiving and four touchdowns in his first season with the Eagles. Vanden Bosch was made to feel right at home by Lions coach Jim Schwartz, who previously worked with the defensive end in Tennessee as the Titans’ coordi-
Photo by Ross D. Franklin | AP
In this Nov. 1, 2009, file photo, Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers smiles on the bench after scoring against the Arizona Cardinals during a game in Glendale, Ariz. Peppers has reportedly signed with the Chicago Bears. nator. Schwartz waited outside Vanden Bosch’s Nashville home when free agency began at midnight, and in a few hours they had struck a deal. A nine-year veteran, Vanden Bosch spent the past five seasons with the Titans, getting all of his 431/2 career sacks. Cromartie should become a starter opposite All-Pro Darelle
Revis in the Jets’ secondary. New York gave up a conditional draft pick for a former All-Pro who has had off-field issues. But Jets coach Rex Ryan is known for getting production from such players. Also Friday: —Atlanta said it will keep backup quarterback Chris Redman with a contract extension.
Redman joined the Falcons in 2007 and went 0-2 as a starter last year filling in for 2008 Offensive Rookie of the Year Matt Ryan. Redman is 4-8 in his career. —Denver agreed to terms with two veterans, offensive lineman Russ Hochstein and wide receiver Brandon Lloyd. Hochstein played in 15 games, starting 10, in his first season with the Broncos after being acquired from New England in a trade last August. Lloyd played in two games for Denver in 2009, including a start in the regular season finale. —Washington, a team expected to make a big splash in the uncapped free agency waters, did little. The Redskins re-signed defensive lineman Phillip Daniels, versatile backup DL Lorenzo Alexander, who could be moved to linebacker, and offensive lineman Mike Williams. —Carolina, in addition to releasing Delhomme, also released defensive tackles Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu and linebackers Na’il Diggs and Landon Johnson in the start of a youth movement.
MLB Continued from Page 1B three hits and three walks in New York’s 12-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Chamberlain, slowed by flulike symptoms this week, pitched 1 1-3 innings Friday in relief of Phil Hughes, his main rival for the Yankees’ fifth starter spot. Chamberlain replaced Hughes to the start the third and gave up three runs two hits and two walks during the inning. He left with runners on second and third and one out in the fourth. Hughes allowed one run and one hit, a solo shot in the first by Rodriguez, in two innings. Tampa Bay left-hander David Price allowed two hits over 1 2-3 scoreless in-
nings. He struck out two and walked one. Blue Jays 14, Phillies 9 DUNEDIN, Fla. — Lyle Overbay hit a three-run double and Jose Bautista a two-run double during an eight-run fourth inning, and the Toronto Blues Jays coasted to a 14-9 victory Friday over the Philadelphia Phillies. Bautista hit the second pitch from Phillies starter Cole Hamels for a home run to center field, then added a pair of doubles in his big afternoon. The Phillies tagged Toronto reliever David Purcey for two runs in the sixth, the first on Tyson Gillies’ home run, and Jesse Carlson for three more runs in the seventh.
Right-hander Brandon Morrow, acquired by the Blue Jays in a trade with Seattle, pitched two hitless innings in his first bid to become part of their starting rotation. Phillies reliever J.C. Ramirez gave up four runs on five hits in 1 1-3 innings. Tigers 17, Astros 7 LAKELAND, Fla. — Joel Zumaya has allowed three earned runs in two innings, but the Detroit Tigers took advantage of 11 walks to beat the Houston Astros 17-7 Friday. Tigers manager Jim Leyland says Zumaya, who has had repeated shoulder injuries since pitching in 62 games in 2006, was having a hard
team keeping the ball up. Leyland says Zumaya needs to keep the ball up in the strike zone rather than down, to be successful. Leyland says he expects Zumaya to be a key to the bullpen, backing up new closer Jose Valverde. Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez allowed three earned runs in two innings. Houston reliever Polin Trinidad walked all four batters he faced to lead off the eighth inning before being lifted. The Tigers scored seven in that eight inning to pull away. Marlins 4, Mets (ss) 3, 10 innings PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Marlins’ Chris Volstad and Mets’ Jon Niese
each looked sharp in their spring mound debuts and Florida beat New York 4-3 in 10 innings. Marlins outfield prospect Mike Stanton hit a two-run homer off Mets relief pitcher Bobby Parnell in the 10th on Friday to give the Marlins the lead. Niese gave up a run in 2 2-3 innings and struck out five. He walked two and gave up three singles. Marlins center fielder Cameron Maybin walked, stole second and reached third on a first-inning grounder, but Niese stranded him by striking out Jorge Cantu. Volstad struck out two in two scoreless innings. He gave up two singles and did not walk a batter.
Mets (ss) 7, Cardinals 3 JUPITER, Fla. — Brad Penny’s debut in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform was rocky, yet he was pleased with his first outing of the spring. Penny pitched two innings, allowing three runs and six hits in the Cardinals’ 7-3 loss to a New York Mets’ split squad Friday. Three of those hits were soft flyballs that landed just beyond the infield. The Mets snapped a 3-all tie in the seventh and scored three in the ninth. Designated hitter Shawn Riggans drove in the go ahead run with a single and Frank Catalanotto’s pinch-hit triple in the ninth scored two runs.
with his players. “It opens the door for them to give themselves a chance to be the best player that they can be,” Mills said, “that they don’t have to keep worrying about what’s going on behind closed doors or behind their back, or whatever. Hopefully, they feel a freedom to become the player they’re capable of (becoming).”
kind of a leader. “He’s pretty intense, and I’ve never not liked an intense coach,” Bourn said. “You need somebody like that sometimes to get you going. You might be mad at the time, but you have to look at it from the other side, he’s getting on you like he’s mad at the world, he’s mad at you because he thinks you can do better. I don’t have a problem with that.”
MILLS Continued from Page 1B a group of more recognizable names to succeed Cecil Cooper as Houston’s manager last October. The Astros initially offered the job to Manny Acta, but he turned them down to become Cleveland’s manager. Mills won over the Astros’ brass with his energy and enthusiasm, traits the team seemed to lose in the last months of Cooper’s two-plus seasons. The often-sullen Cooper was fired with 13 games to go in 2009, and Houston limped to a 74-88 record. A week into spring training, Mills seemed to have already transformed the mood in the clubhouse, infusing a positive outlook and establishing personal connections with his players.
Upbeat attitude “You have be an idiot not to recognize the fact that guys are a little more upbeat,” infielder Geoff Blum said. “As far as personality of the leadership, it’s definitely changed. Things were a little more somber last year, and then you have Brad Mills come in, who’s energetic, intense and well-organized.
“He definitely gives off a little bit of a different vibe, and I think the guys are looking forward to having that kind of a structure around here.” Mills has dedicated his life to baseball, though he played only four seasons in the majors (1980-83) before a right knee injury ended his playing career. He hit .256 with one home run and 12 RBIs in 106 games with Montreal. His biggest claim to fame as a player may be that he was Nolan Ryan’s 3,509th strikeout victim, the one that made Ryan baseball’s all-time leader.
Prior experience Mills managed 10 seasons in the minor leagues before becoming Terry Francona’s first base coach in Philadelphia in 1997. The two played together in college and again with the Expos. Current Astros’ general manager Ed Wade became the Phillies’ GM when Francona and Mills were there, and he fired Francona in 2000. The Red Sox hired Francona as their manager in 2004 and Mills joined the staff as the bench coach.
Mills managed 10 seasons in the minor leagues before becoming Terry Francona’s first base coach in Philadelphia in 1997. Boston won the World Series in 2004 and ‘07, with Mills gladly doing much of the behind-thescenes work in support of his manager. He organized spring training, compiled scouting reports and displayed a knack for communicating with players. “He knows how he feels about players,” Francona said. “He’s organized, he’ll be a good guy for whatever circumstances they’re in. Millsie will communicate with those young guys, he’ll treat the veterans with respect. He got an opportunity probably way too late, for whatever reasons. But, he’ll do a great job.”
Other options The Astros interviewed 10 candidates in their search for Cooper’s successor, several with previous big league managing
experience. Francona gave Mills a glowing recommendation that made big impressions with Wade and team owner Drayton McLane. “In some respects, it’s easy to say he’s a ‘Terry clone,’ but I think he’s his own man,” Wade said. “I think he brings certain plusses and attributes that Terry brings to the job, but he brings it with his own personality. “There’s not a more engaging manager in baseball than Terry, and a guy that wears his emotion and love for his players on his sleeve more than Terry does. I think Mills brings a lot of that, but with his own approach.” One of Mills’ top priorities during the offseason was to call every player on the roster to introduce himself and lay the groundwork for what he sees as a key to this season: maintaining an open line of communication
Taking charge But that doesn’t mean Mills is here to coddle them. He gave a rousing speech before the team’s first full-squad workout, one that McLane called the best he’s heard from a manager in 18 years as Astros owner. “He’s a take-charge kind of guy,” McLane said. “He really said that he’s going to provide the leadership that’s necessary.” Center fielder Michael Bourn, who led the NL with 61 steals in 2009, gets the sense that Mills will become more demanding once he establishes himself in the clubhouse. Bourn says the Astros, who are not expected to contend in the NL Central this season, need that
Having fun At spring training, though, Mills is relaxed and quick with a smile for every autograph seeker who approaches him. This is the job he’s always wanted, so he’s trying to savor it as much as he can. “It’s always fun to me,” he said. “I knew I wanted to be involved in this game for a long time, I’ve enjoyed it for a long time. “Each day, whether I’m the manager, whether I’m one of the coaches, I want it to be a good day and I want to be able to show that to the people I’m around. And now, this year, since I am the manager, show it to the players.”
SOFTBALL Continued from Page 1B (City Park). 10:30 a.m.: RGC vs. Martin (HS), Nixon vs. Juarez Lincoln (CP). 12:30 p.m.: Zapata vs. Rowe (HS), Crystal City vs. Roma (CP) 2:30 p.m.: San Diego vs. Cigarroa (HS), RGC vs. LBJ (CP). 4:30 p.m.: Nixon vs. Rowe (HS), Crystal City vs. Martin (CP).
6:30 p.m.: Roma vs. RGC (HS), Juarez Lincoln (CP). 8:30 p.m.: Rowe vs. Cigarroa (HS), Martin vs. LBJ (CP).
Today’s games 9 a.m.: Zapata vs. Juarez Lincoln (HS),
San Diego vs. Nixon (CP) 11 a.m.: Crystal City vs. RGC (HS), Martin vs. Roma (CP) 1 p.m.: Zapata vs. Nixon (HS), Cigarroa vs. Juarez Lincoln (CP). 3 p.m.: Crystal City vs. LBJ (HS), San Diego vs. Rowe (CP) 5 p.m.: Third-Place Game (HS). 7 p.m.: Championship Game (HS).
Note: The Zapata junior varsity softball team is fresh off capturing second place at the Rio Grande City Softball Tournament last weekend. The Lady Hawks were edge by Rio Grande City 10-9 in the tournament’s championship game. “They are doing well and hopefully they can help us out in the future,” Garcia said.
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B
HELOISE Dear Heloise: I would like to applaud your advice to dog owners to apply the WINDOW LOCK when traveling with their dogs to ensure that the window doesn’t close on their pet. I would like to take the suggestion a bit further. When driving, dogs should not be allowed to stick any part of their head out of the window. The danger to the animal is significant, both from flying objects as well as quick stops or accidents. There also are cases where dogs have jumped from moving vehicles to pursue squirrels or other critters. The best approach is to keep the animal fully in the vehicle in a protective crate or other appropriate travel restraint. -Curtis, via e-mail “Woof, woof !” Cabbie, our miniature schnauzer, agrees, too. Although dogs like to stick their heads out, it’s up to us to keep them safe. -- Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: We received
“
HELOISE
a photo from Mary Cooper of Augusta, Maine. The photo showcases her backyard and the three ducks (a drake, with a green head, and two hens) that enjoy feeding underneath her bird feeders. She named the ducks “Nana’s.” They visit her every day, and she says she enjoys having them around! To see Nana’s ducks, visit www.Heloise.com. -- Heloise REMOVING PITCH Dear Heloise: To painlessly remove tar or pine pitch from a pet’s paws (my cat climbed a tree and got pine pitch on her coat), use salad oil. Just soak a spot on a folded paper towel, rub the area, then wipe dry with another paper towel or cloth. Voilá -- all the pitch was gone, and kitty and family both were happy! -Patty, via e-mail
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Sports
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010
Delhomme stunned by cut By MIKE CRANSTON ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jake Delhomme walked into the interview room with red eyes and sunglasses in his hand, joking that his allergies were bad. He started crying before he could get a word out. Acknowledging he was “blindsided” by his release, Delhomme on Friday vowed his career wasn’t over in an emotional day that marked the end of an era and left his former bosses in tears, too. “Six of my seven years playing here have been outstanding. It’s been a great run,” Delhomme said in between sniffles. “I’m leaving with no animosity whatsoever.” A few hours earlier, general manager Marty Hurney choked up while calling it the toughest decision he’s ever made. Coach John Fox welled up with tears while pleading with fans to remember the good moments. It was something hardly anyone could’ve anticipated a year earlier, when the Panthers gave the only quarterback to lead the franchise to the Super Bowl a lucrative contract extension. But after one miserable season, the 35-year-old Delhomme was sent packing despite still being owed more than $12.5 million in guaranteed money. The reason to go with upstart Matt Moore as the starter came down to this: a career-high 18 interceptions in 2009, and 23 in Delhomme’s final 12 games. “I was blindsided, I will say that,” Delhomme said. “I think the main reason was I think everybody knows the contract and monetarily those things that went along with it. “When I got a call yesterday that I needed to call Foxy I thought it was more so that, ’We’re going with Matt and you’re going to be the backup.’ ... But they wanted to go in another direction. It’s probably for the
Brackett signs contract to stay with the Colts By MICHAEL MAROT ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Nell Redmond | AP
An emotional Jake Delhomme covers his face while he discusses being cut by the Carolina Panthers during a press conference in Charlotte, N.C., on Friday. best.” And just like that the Louisiana native who toiled as a backup in NFL Europe before bursting onto the scene in Carolina was out of work. After a 58-40 record as a starter over seven seasons, a stunning one-year decline ended his time in Charlotte. But Delhomme said he’s “not ready to go home and play with the horses just yet,” and said his agent had already started talking to teams. “He’s done some great things for this team. Two (NFC) championship games, a Super Bowl, all those comeback victories,” Fox said. “I’m not sure I’ve had any more respect for an NFL football player than Jake Delhomme.” The Panthers also released defensive tackles Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu, and linebackers Na’il Diggs and Landon Johnson in the start of a youth movement. None of those moves, however, resonated like releasing Delhomme. “I wear my heart on my sleeve and this is me,” Delhomme said, tears flowing. “And the reason it’s emo-
tional and you walk in here and all the faces and the relationships you have with guys through the good and the bad. That’s what you’re going to miss. ... We did some good things here.” Delhomme led Carolina to the 2003 Super Bowl, the 2005 NFC championship, made the Pro Bowl, recovered from reconstructive elbow surgery in 2007 and holds nearly every franchise passing record. But Delhomme began a quick demise in the 2008 playoffs. After helping Carolina to a 12-4 record and the NFC South title, Delhomme threw five interceptions and lost a fumble in an ugly 38-13 home loss to Arizona in the NFC divisional playoffs. Undeterred, the Panthers gave Delhomme a contract extension last spring and brought in no legitimate competition in training camp. Then Delhomme threw four more interceptions and lost a fumble in Carolina’s Week 1 loss to Philadelphia. It was then that his confidence waned. “When I play I try to sling it around. I wasn’t do-
ing that last year,” he said. “I was trying not to make the mistake. I don’t play that way.” It only got worse, and Carolina was 4-7 when Delhomme broke a finger on his throwing hand. Moore relieved him and threw eight touchdown passes and two interceptions as the Panthers won four of their last five games to finish 8-8. The Panthers on Wednesday gave the 25-year-old Moore the highest restricted free-agent tender of $3.043 million for one season. The next day, Delhomme was let go instead of having him return as a backup. “I was taught a long time ago that you have to make the right decision at that time for your football team,” Hurney said. “And we just came to the decision that it was time. I think when you come to that decision, that’s when you make it.” Fox wouldn’t say if they’ll pursue another veteran quarterback to add depth. The Panthers will also likely have an entirely new defensive line after releasing Lewis and Kemoeatu, who was recovering from a torn Achilles’ tendon.
INDIANAPOLIS — Linebacker Gary Brackett wanted to finish his NFL career where it all started — Indianapolis. He’s getting his wish. The defensive captain signed a five-year deal hours after he became an unrestricted agent. Brackett’s new deal is likely to keep the 29-year-old in a Colts uniform the rest of his career. “Obviously, this is a great place to play and when you get a chance to stay a Colt for life, you usually jump at it,” Brackett said during a news conference at the team’s complex. “That’s why I wanted to do everything within my power to make this my home.” Brackett will reportedly get $33 million, including a $12 million signing bonus, which would easily make him the Colts’ highest-paid linebacker in a decade. The defending AFC champions have rarely rewarded linebackers with big contracts. Since the end of the 2002 season, the Colts have allowed Mike Peterson, Marcus Washington, Cato June and David Thornton — all starters — to leave as unrestricted free agents. Another starter, Tyjuan Hagler, could be moving on soon, too. The fouryear veteran who finished last season on the injured reserve list with a ruptured biceps was not offered a contract tender. He becomes an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team and the Colts will not receive compensation. Hagler’s agent, Mitch Frankel, confirmed the decision
GARY BRACKETT: Colts linebacker inked five-year deal on Friday. Friday, just before the Colts announced Brackett’s signing. But Brackett was the lucky one. “Throughout the whole process it was very clear to us in our conversations with Gary and his representatives that Gary’s real intent and his true hope was to stay as a Colt,” general manager Chris Polian said. “Both parties were able to work toward that end and get that done, and we’re very thankful to Gary and his desire to be a Colt.” The two sides worked earnestly over the past week to reach a deal. Indy decided not to use its franchise or transition on tags on Brackett, the defensive signal-caller, because those numbers were too expensive. Brackett’s agent, Brian Mackler, and the Colts continued to discuss terms over the next week and negotiations continued as the midnight deadline loomed Thursday. With 21/2 hours to go, Mackler wrote that the Colts were still working on a contract. Shortly after midnight, Mackler wrote again there was nothing new to report. A few hours later, the deal was done. “I actually was up, took a couple of calls,” Brackett said. “I knew deep down where I wanted to be and I knew we were close to getting something done; it took a little bit after that (midnight) to secure a deal, but we got something done and we’re both happy.”