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BORDER
GOVERNMENT
Chopper Census seeks workers accounts conflict Bureau needs local Zapatans to help ‘make it count’ in 2010 By STEPHANIE M. IBARRA THE ZAPATA TIMES
Mexican Marine officials deny U.S. reports of aircraft in Falcon Dam By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Confusion reigned over Zapata County this week following the alleged incursion of a Mexican Navy helicopter into United States territory, according to U.S. authorities. Officials said the aircraft, believed to be part of the Mexican Armed Marine fleet, flew over a neighborhood near Falcon Dam for a few minutes. While U.S. officials confirmed the presence of the chopper, their counterparts in Mexico deny it. An official with the Secretaría de Marina Armada de México, or Mexican Armed Marine, said on Fri-
day afternoon that the helicopter did not belong to them. “We assure that the aircraft was not part of the Marine,” said the official, who refused to give his name or comment further. Rick Pauza, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman, confirmed that a Mexican helicopter crossed into U.S. territory at about 5 p.m. Tuesday. He said CBP officers manning the Falcon International Bridge spotted the helicopter crossing into U.S. air space. “The helicopter was in U.S. territory, I believe, 15
With the 2010 Census to be mailed out in the upcoming week, the Laredo Census office, responsible for neighboring communities, including Zapata, is still accepting applicants. According the Efren Salinas, media specialist for the United States Cen-
sus Bureau-Dallas region, there are 38 census offices in Texas, with hundreds of positions still available locally. Salinas encourages Zapata residents to apply to work with the census, explaining that the difficulty in recruiting hasn’t been in finding individual applicants, but finding workers from specific areas. “We want to get people
from every neighborhood to help us with the census,” Salinas said. “That way, they know the area; they know where, for example, the stray dog is and which house belongs to the woman who is maybe hard of hearing.” Applicants have ranged from 18-year-old students and retirees to those looking to work extra hours on weekends or week nights While bilingual applicants are encouraged, all prospective applicants must be fluent in Eng-
lish, at least 18 years of age, and be able to pass a background check. The process, as explained by Salinas, is streamlined. Those interested should call (866) 861-2010 and punch in their ZIP code. Information for a to-be scheduled test will follow. “There is no pass or fail. You can’t fail. You can only get a higher score,” Salinas said. He acknowledged that applicants may be hesi-
See CENSUS PAGE 10A
FANS OF THE FAIR
See CHOPPER PAGE 10A
LEGAL
Vela questions ‘casinos’ Maquinitas fan debate about deed By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County Commissioner Jose E. Vela met with an attorney Tuesday to discuss a property deed in the Falcon area, where several slot-machine gambling businesses, known as maquinitas, are currently operating. According to Vela, the property deed written by the previous owner, the Serna family, specifically states that any “immoral” business, including liquor stores or establishments that encourage crime or violence, shall not operate on that property. Vela said he presented the property deed and showed the location of the property to the attorney. Now the attorney will be working closely with the district attorney to research the Falcon area and explore any possible action. Some Falcon residents
have said that they are not comfortable with the slot machine businesses in their community, and would like immediate action taken. More maquinitas are slated to open soon, they said. “We have contacted several people,” said Alma Canales, a concerned resident, to the Zapata County Commissioners Court. “Maybe you have a solution.” Some of the owners of the establishments may be coming from Starr County, because that county does not allow casino-type businesses, residents said. Since Zapata County does allow slot machines as long as cash payouts are not involved, they relocate from Starr County to Zapata County, said Maria Guerra, another resident. According to Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr., people
See SLOTS PAGE 10A
Photo by Ricardo Segovia | The Zapata Times
David Guerra gazes, wide-eyed, at a goat as he walks through the Zapata County Fair Grounds.
T
he Zapata County Fair, in all its wholesome family fun, comes to a close today — but not before thrilling its fans from near and far with its grand auction, contests and big music act per-
formances (see page 8 for details). Beginning at 10 a.m. with a parade, the fair continues all day with arts and crafts exhibitions, roping demonstrations and a street dance, which kicks off at 9 p.m. There’s also the famous
Jalapeño Contest, which sets the night on fire at 11:30 p.m. For a full schedule of events, visit www.zapatacountyfaironline.com. Admission is $5 for adults before 7 p.m., and $10 after. Children 10 and younger get in free.
LOCAL GOVERMENT
Commission member reinstated By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
In a move that created sharp division among Historical Commission members, Zapata County Commissioners reinstated five members of the committee on Monday, reversing a decision made last month to have the same members removed. Following a presentation by the re-
moved members, who disputed their ousting, the court rescinded item number 19 from February’s Commissioner’s Court meeting. The item was initially approved after commission members presented information in February to the court about several other members not attending Historical Commission meetings and showing a lack of interest. Following the allegations, the
court approved item number 19 to remove those members, appointing new members that had been suggested. Monday, the members who had been removed from their posts on the board came forward and provided explanations of the absences, contending that they had proper excuses.
See COURT PAGE 10A
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Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, MARCH 13
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Zapata County Fair ends today, but not without ensuring fun 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 go online at www.zapatacountyfaironline.com The beef, sausage and more plate sale at the Marine Corps League on the corner of 22nd and Hidalgo street begins at noon. Donations are $6 per plate. Proceeds benefit community projects.
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 Highway 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.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17 Laredo’s 2nd Annual Spring Break Kite Festival will be held today from 3 to 7 p.m. at the North Central Park, 10202 International Blvd. To be hosted by Councilman Gene Belmares, the event promises fun for all ages. Free snacks, hay rides, games, face paining and kites will be provided. For more information, contact Xochitl Mora Garcia at lmora@ci.laredo.tx.us.
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.
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 765-8546.
SATURDAY, MARCH 20 U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, along with community leaders and activists, will host a 2010 Census informational and awareness meeting today in Zapata at 3:30 p.m. in the Zapata County Courthouse. The meeting will focus on the importance of participating in the 2010 Census and the value of engaging local communities in the process, in particular those “hard to count” regions. The 60th annual Flower and Art Show, sponsored by the United Methodist Women of the First United Methodist Church, in the Fellowship Hall from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The 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.
Photo by Jack Plunkett | AP
State Board of Education chair Gail Lowe asks a question during an SBOE meeting in Austin, on Friday. Earlier in the day, the board voted 10-5 to preliminarily adopt a new, more conservative, social studies curriculum.
Board OKs standards By APRIL CASTRO ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — The Texas State Board of Education agreed to new social studies standards on Friday after the far-right faction wielded its power to shape the lessons that will be taught to millions of students on American history, the U.S. free enterprise system, religion and other topics. In a vote of 10-5, the board preliminarily adopted the new curriculum after days of
Boy dies in fall from teen-driven car
SUNDAY, APRIL 11 The second annual Falcon Lake Tackle Event will be held today beginning at 7 a.m.
FRIDAY, JULY 16 The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce proudly presents the Fishing Tournament For Life Extravaganza March of Dimes on Falcon Lake. Registration begins today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Oso Blanco Lodge Boat Ramp. For more information, call 765-4339.
SATURDAY, JULY 17 The Fishing Tournament kicks off this morning at 7 a.m. from the Oso Blanco Lodge Boat Ramp. Weigh-in time is set for 3 p.m. For more information, call 765-4339. 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
cer Institute.
Official visits Big Bend to highlight park
No sign of missing baby in SA landfill
ARLINGTON — Arlington police say a 6-year-old boy has died after falling from a car when his unlicensed teenage sister was driving away after arguing with a family member. Police said Friday it was unclear if the 14-year-old girl knew her brother was trying to get into the vehicle. Police say the girl has been charged with injury to a child and failure to stop and render aid.
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK — A proposal first touted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to create an international park along the U.S.-Mexico border may be closer to reality than ever before. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said Friday his agency is working toward a viable plan to turn the sprawling Big Bend National Park along the Rio Grande in West Texas into a unified park across the border.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio police have called off their search of a landfill after finding no signs of a baby missing since December. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Friday that after searching through 4,600 tons of debris, police found no evidence related to the disappearance of baby Gabriel Johnson. Johnson’s mother is jailed in Arizona after disappearing with the 8-month-old in mid-December.
Ex-secretary of state named to cancer group
Groups weigh in on state records case
Authorities: Ignitable devices found in mail
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry has appointed former Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson to the committee that oversees the state’s $3 billion cancer research fund. Wilson was named Friday to the oversight committee of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. The fund was established by Texas voters in 2007 and is the nation’s second largest pot of cancer research funding behind the National Can-
AUSTIN — Three watchdog groups are asking the Texas Supreme Court to overturn a lower court’s ruling involving a public records request. Public Citizen, the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and Texans for Public Justice filed a “fried of the court” brief Friday in the case involving the pharmacy benefits group Caremark, a coalition of labor unions and the state.
DALLAS — Authorities say at least four incendiary devices have been found in the mail in east Texas in recent weeks. U.S. Postal Inspector Amanda McMurrey said Friday a device was found earlier this week at a mail processing facility in Owentown near Tyler. McMurrey said her agency was investigating the origin of the device found Tuesday night. -- Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION
SATURDAY, APRIL 10 Registration will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight for the second annual Falcon Lake Tackle Event. The entry fee is $125, which includes big bass. A meal will be served during registration. For more information, call 765-4866.
charged debate marked by race and politics. In dozens of smaller votes passed over the three days, the ultra-conservatives who dominate the board nixed all but a few efforts to recognize diversity of race and religion. Decisions by the board — long led by the social conservatives who have advocated ideas such as teaching more about the weaknesses of evolutionary theory — affects textbook content nationwide because Texas is one of publishers’ biggest clients.
Manie man acquitted in ’lobster wars’ trial ROCKLAND, Maine — A Maine lobsterman and his daughter were acquitted Friday of all counts stemming from the shooting of a lobsterman in a dispute over fishing territory off the coast of Maine. Vance Bunker, 68, was charged with elevated aggravated assault for shooting 44-yearold Christopher Young in the neck on a wharf on remote Matinicus Island in July. Young survived the shooting. Bunker’s daughter, Janan Miller, was charged with reckless conduct for her role in the shooting.
Police probe more hate crime shootings SAN FRANCISCO — Three men already accused of shooting a man with a BB gun because they thought he was gay could face additional charges for shooting at 11 others in San Francisco. Mohammad Habibzada, Shafiq Hashemi and Sayed Bassam face new charges based on a video recording that police recovered from their car showing the
Today is Saturday, March 13, the 72nd day of 2010. There are 293 days left in the year. A reminder: Daylight-Saving Time begins Sunday at 2 a.m. local time. Clocks go forward one hour. Today’s Highlight in History: On March 13, 1781, the seventh planet of the solar system, Uranus, was discovered by Sir William Herschel. On this date: In 1884, Congress officially adopted Eastern Standard Time for the District of Columbia. In 1901, the 23rd president of the United States, Benjamin Harrison, died in Indianapolis at age 67. In 1925, the Tennessee General Assembly approved a bill prohibiting the teaching of the theory of evolution. (Gov. Austin Peay signed the measure on March 21.) In 1928, hundreds of people died when the San Francisquito Valley in California was inundated with water after the St. Francis Dam burst just before midnight the evening of March 12. In 1933, banks began to reopen after a “holiday” declared by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1964, bar manager Catherine “Kitty” Genovese, 28, was stabbed to death near her Queens, N.Y. home; the case generated controversy over the supposed failure of Genovese’s neighbors to respond to her cries for help. In 1969, the Apollo 9 astronauts splashed down, ending a mission that included the successful testing of the Lunar Module. In 1980, Ford Motor Chairman Henry Ford II announced he was stepping down, the same day a jury in Winamac, Ind., found Ford Motor Co. innocent of reckless homicide in the fiery deaths of three young women in a Ford Pinto. In 1988, yielding to student protests, the board of trustees of Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., a liberal arts college for the hearing-impaired, chose I. King Jordan to become the school’s first deaf president. In 1996, a gunman burst into an elementary school in Dunblane, Scotland, and opened fire, killing 16 children and one teacher before killing himself. Five years ago: Pope John Paul II was released from the hospital and returned to his Vatican apartment overlooking St. Peter’s Square. Robert Iger was named to succeed Michael Eisner as chief executive of The Walt Disney Co. Today’s Birthdays: Jazz musician Roy Haynes is 85. Country singer Jan Howard is 80. Songwriter Mike Stoller is 77. Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka is 71. Actor William H. Macy is 60. Actress Deborah Raffin is 57. Comedian Robin Duke is 56. Actress Glenne Headly is 55. Actress Dana Delany is 54. Rock musician Adam Clayton (U2) is 50. Jazz musician Terence Blanchard is 48. Actor Christopher Collet is 42. Rock musician Matt McDonough (Mudvayne) is 41. Actress Annabeth Gish is 39. Actress Tracy Wells is 39. Thought for Today: “I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.” — Susan B. Anthony, American feminist (1820-1906).
CONTACT US Photo by Bob Hallinen/Anchorage Daily News | AP
Musher Newton Marshall, of St. Anne, Jamaica, feeds his dogs at the Takotna checkpoint near Anchorage, Alaska, on Thursday night during the 2010 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. cousins shooting at the victims.
Runaway Prius case presents questions SAN DIEGO — Investigators are confronted with a series of nagging questions as they try to unravel the case of a California real estate agent who said his Toyota Prius turned into a runaway death trap after the gas pedal became stuck. Why didn’t the driver simply
throw the transmission into neutral as officers urged him to do? Why didn’t a safety mechanism activate that was supposed to cut power to the engine in such situations? And could he have made the story up in pursuit of fame and money? Each question is getting scrutiny from the Internet-consuming public as they question the motives of the driver, a 61-yearold real estate agent named James Sikes. -- Compiled from AP reports
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SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
Zlocal HELPING THE COMMUNITY
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DA’s office to host charity skeet shoot By DENISE BLAZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Office of the District Attorney announced its second annual DA’s “Shoot for the Stars” Invitational Shoot during a news conference last week. The event will help raise funds for the MakeA-Wish Foundation of Central and South Texas,
Complex, will be held Saturday, March 27, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The daylong event will include a competition, lunch, an awards ceremony and a giveaway. The shoot will consist of five-person teams and is open to men, women and youth, although youths will have to be ac-
See SHOOT PAGE 10A
THE BLOTTER
Photo by Joe Rutland | The Zapata Times
ConocoPhillips handed out a $5,100 contribution to Helping Hands Food Pantry of Zapata. Among those pictured, from left to right, are Sergio Ramirez of ConocoPhillips, Randy Black of ConocoPhillips, Norma Mendoza, director of Helping Hands; Zapata County Commissioner Jose Vela; Allen Nuñez; Romeo Salinas and Marvin Winkler.
which covers Zapata County. “One of our mission statements is to protect children. This is a way to participate to help out children in other areas,” said Isidro “Chilo” Alaniz, district attorney for Webb and Zapata counties. The fundraiser, which will take place at the South Texas Shooting
ASSAULT
POSSESSION
Police responded to an assault call at about 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, at Texas Longhorn on Texas 16. Deputies say a 32-year-old man was assaulted by a known person.
Jorge Peña, 23, was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance at about 1:45 a.m. Monday, March 8, in the intersection of Seventh Street and Bravo Avenue. The man was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail, where he was held on a $10,000 bond.
BURGLARY A juvenile was detained on charges of theft at about 4:30 a.m. Friday, March 5, in the 1600 block of Medina Avenue. The juvenile was booked and turned over to the Zapata County Juvenile Probation Office and later released to his parents. A 55-year-old man reported around 8:25 a.m. Friday, March 5, in the 1600 block of Diaz Avenue that some unknown people stole some tool boxes and milk crates from his carport.
DWI Deputies arrested Jose Luis de los Santos Obregon, 41, and charged him with driving while intoxicated at about 5 p.m. Sunday, March 7, in the intersection of Seventh Street and Ramireño Avenue in the Medina Addition. The man was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail, where he was held on a $3,000 bond. Photo by Joe Rutland | The Zapata Times
Zapata Independent School District received a $6,000 contribution from ConocoPhillips recently. From left to right are Allen Nuñez of ConocoPhillips, Randy Black of ConocoPhillips, Zapata County Commissioner Jose Vela, Sergio Ramirez of ConocoPhillips, Zapata County Treasurer Romeo Salinas and Marvin Winkler of ConocoPhillips.
THEFT Juan Gabriel Benavides, 33, was arrested on charges of theft at about 5 a.m. Friday, March 5, at De Los Santos Meat Market at 1602 Zapata Blvd. in the Medina Addition. An incident report states that the alleged offender stole a barbecue pit from behind the store and drove without his lights on to where a deputy was stationed. Benavides was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail, where he was held on a $2,000 bond. The $450 barbecue pit was returned to the store. Deputies responded to a theft call at about 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 7, in the 1700 block of Juarez Avenue. The complainant reported that unknown people stole a welder and a pressure washer from his backyard. Deputies responded to a theft call at about 1 p.m. Sunday, March 7, in the 1500 block of Falcon Lane. The victim stated that unknown people entered his garage and stole some fishing rods and reels.
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Zopinion
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
YOUR OPINION
OTHER VIEWS
Food bank expresses its appreciation for the generous donation of a company To the editor: ConocoPhillips’ record of giving continued through its philanthropic team at a recent presentation at the company’s field office in Aguilares. The ConocoPhillips group handed out donations totaling $290,000plus to 29 South Texas non-profit organizations, including the South Texas Food Bank (in Laredo at 1907 Freight at Riverside) and two of its agencies — Jim Hogg County food pantry in Hebbronville and Helping Hands pantry in Zapata. As noted during the check presentation by a South Texas Food Bank spokesman, “ConocoPhillips is a blessing to South Texas. The South Texas Food Bank serves
21,000 families per month, 6,500 elderly and more than 6,000 children.” Check this out. The ConocoPhillips gifts ranged from $5,100 to $94,064 given to United Way of Laredo. ConocoPhillips deserves “ un fuerte abrazo y muchas gracias (a big hug and many thanks)” for being one of the top corporate citizens in South Texas. Special thanks to CP operations manager Randy Black of Laredo and Gail Harrison of Houston. You came through again. Keep up the outstanding work. Signed, Salo Otero Director of Development South Texas Food Bank
COLUMN
COLUMN
People show Figuring out the real Obama compassion W “ By DAVID BROOKS
NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE
By JONATHAN GURWITZ
SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
B
altic the dog is alive and well, you will be relieved to know. The Polish mutt was rescued at sea in late January after a harrowing adventure. He had been spotted floating down the Vistula River on an ice sheet. Firefighters in the town of Grudziadz tried to rescue him, Britain’s Daily Mail reported, but had to abandon their efforts due to dangerous conditions. Another rescue attempt at Kwidzyn, 22 miles downstream, also failed. Sightings of the dog ceased. All hope was lost. The pooch was presumed dead ..... until the crew of a Polish research vessel spotted him on an ice floe 15 miles out in the Baltic Sea, successfully retrieved him and gave him a new name. Concerned individuals from around the world intently followed Baltic’s ordeal. The dog generated so much publicity that he fetched a spokeswoman. “Calls and emails have come in from as far as Australia and Canada,” she told the Associated Press. Baltic even got his own Facebook page. Forlorn dog owners tried to claim Baltic. One family drove from the Czech Republic in a case of mistaken canine identity. In the end, the crew that rescued Baltic adopted him. Baltic’s notoriety demonstrated a paradox of humanity identified by Paul Slovic, a professor of psychology at the University of Oregon. In a study he and two colleagues conducted, individuals were given the opportunity to donate money in three scenarios: to help two identifiable hungry children, provide relief to the unidentifiable victims of a famine or help an identifiable victim who was part of a larger catastrophe. Their research found that people were twice as likely to try to help “identifiable lives” — the two children — as “statistical lives” —the famine victims. The insight that a known individual was part of a larger statistical pattern of suffering — the third scenario — significantly decreased the amount participants were willing to donate.
Surprisingly, the human capacity for compassion is, to a significant extent, inversely proportional to the number of people affected. Humanitarian catastrophes, human rights atrocities and genocide “represent dry statistics, ‘human beings with the tears dried off,’ that fail to spark emotion or feeling and thus fail to motivate action,” Slovic wrote in the journal of the Society for Judgment and Decision Making. People need an identifiable face to be moved. Even more surprising is that the identifiable face need not be human. A dog will do just fine, sparking a stronger humanitarian impulse than, say, mass starvation. I mention Slovic’s research in relation to Baltic because as compassionate patrons offered to take the dog in, one million people remained homeless in the rubble of Haiti. As supporters from around the globe called and e-mailed about the dog’s well-being, the government of Sudan was gearing up for its latest attacks in the seven-yearold genocide in Darfur, where 300,000 people have died and 2.6 million driven into squalid refugee camps. As Facebook members “friended” Baltic, there were more dry statistic in Congo and Somalia. Don’t get me wrong. I “rescued” plenty of dogs in my youth and today share my home with a stray and a former animal shelter resident. But I’ve also written extensively about the plight of the people of Darfur and elsewhere, the nameless and faceless victims of rape, manmade starvation and slaughter. I remember the photo of a small boy, face down in the dirt of his village, his head bashed in by the government-armed Janjaweed. And I wonder sometimes whether they’d all be better off if they could just find a dog to represent them. “We do live in a bizarre world,” Slovic wrote to me two years ago. “Obviously there are no simple solutions, but we must never give up trying to help.” At last report, Baltic had returned to sea, a companion to those aboard the ship that saved him. (E-mail: jgurwitz@express-news.net)
ho is Barack Obama? If you ask a conservative Republican, you are likely to hear that Obama is a skilled politician who campaigned as a centrist but is governing as a big-government liberal. He plays by ruthless, Chicago politics rules. He is arrogant toward foes, condescending toward allies and runs a partisan political machine. If you ask a liberal Democrat, you are likely to hear that Obama is an inspiring but overly intellectual leader who has trouble making up his mind and fighting for his positions. He has not defined a clear mission. He has allowed the Republicans to dominate debate. He is too quick to compromise and too cerebral to push things through. You’ll notice first that these two viewpoints are diametrically opposed. You’ll, observe, second, that they are entirely predictable. Political partisans always imagine the other side is ruthlessly effective and that the public would be with them if only their side had better messaging. And finally, you’ll notice that both views distort reality. They tell you more about the information cocoons that partisans live in these days than about Obama himself. The fact is, Obama is as he always has been, a center-left pragmatic reformer. Every time he
DAVID BROOKS
tries to articulate a grand philosophy — from his book “The Audacity of Hope” to his joint-session health care speech last September — he always describes a moderately activist government restrained by a sense of trade-offs. He always uses the same on-the-onehand-on-the-other sentence structure. Government should address problems without interfering with the dynamism of the market.
Dynamic mix He has tried to find this balance in a town without an organized center — in a town in which liberals chair the main committees and smallgovernment conservatives lead the opposition. He has tried to do it in a context maximally inhospitable to his aims. But he has done it with tremendous tenacity. Readers of this column know that I’ve been critical on health care and other matters. Obama is four clicks to my left on most issues. He is inadequate on the greatest moral challenge of our day: The $9.7 trillion in new debt being created this decade. He has misread the country, imagining a hunger for federal activism that doesn’t exist. But he is still the
most realistic and reasonable major player in Washington. Liberals are wrong to call him weak and indecisive. He’s just not always pursuing their aims. Conservatives are wrong to call him a big-government liberal. That’s just not a fair reading of his agenda. Take health care. He has pushed a program that expands coverage, creates exchanges and moderately tinkers with the status quo — too moderately to restrain costs. To call this an orthodox liberal plan is an absurdity. It more closely resembles the center-left deals cut by Tom Daschle and Bob Dole, or Ted Kennedy and Mitt Romney. Obama has pushed this program with a tenacity unmatched in modern political history; with more tenacity than Bill Clinton pushed his health care plan or George W. Bush pushed Social Security reform. Take education. Obama has taken on a Democratic constituency, the teachers’ unions, with a courage not seen since George W. Bush took on the antiimmigration forces in his own party. In a remarkable speech on March 1, he went straight at the guardians of the status quo by calling for the removal of failing teachers in failing schools. Obama has been the most determined education reformer in the modern presidency. Take foreign policy. To the consternation of many on the left, Obama
has continued about 80 percent of the policies of the second Bush term. Obama conducted a long review of the Afghan policy and was genuinely moved by the evidence. He has emerged as a liberal hawk, pursuing victory in Iraq and adopting an Afghan surge that has already utterly transformed the momentum in that war. The Taliban is now in retreat and its leaders are being assassinated or captured at a steady rate. Take finance. Obama and Tim Geithner are vilified on the left as craven to Wall Street and on the right as clueless bureaucrats who know nothing about how markets function. But they have tried with halting success to find a center-left set of restraints to provide some stability to market operations. In a sensible country, people would see Obama as a president trying to define a modern brand of moderate progressivism. In a sensible country, Obama would be able to clearly define this project without fear of offending the people he needs to get legislation passed. But we don’t live in that country. We live in a country in which many people live in information cocoons in which they only talk to members of their own party and read blogs of their own sect. They come away with perceptions fundamentally at odds with reality, fundamentally misunderstanding the man in the Oval Office.
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phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication. We want to assure our
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DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
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SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
PAGE 6A
Zlifestyle
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
60 YEARS IN BLOOM Courtesy photo
Richard Resendez, left, and Lexie De Anda star in Laredo Theatre Guild International’s “Taming of the Shrew.”
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
Hortense Offerle smiles as she picks the best oranges for the FUMC Flower and Art Show on Wednesday afternoon.
FUMC celebrates diamond anniversary of fundraiser By DENNIS KRIEWALD SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
With springtime here and the flowers abloom, the United Methodist Women of the First United Methodist Church will hold its 60th annual Flower and Art Show Saturday, March 20, and Sunday, March 21, in the FUMC Fellowship Hall. This salute to spring and art has been staged every year for the past 59 years, beginning in 1950. The theme for the 2010 show is “Celebrating with Flowers.” The guest artist is Penelope Warren, a skilled painter and photographer. The times both days are from 1 to 6 p.m., according to Rachel Bohmfalk, UMW President, who is inviting the public to join the women in this floral and artistic celebration. Admission tickets are $3 each, and will be sold at the door both days. “The proceeds from our annual fundraiser are distributed to various church outreach projects,” she said. Chairing this traditional salute to springtime is Hortense Offerle. Offerle, a long-time member of FUMC and director of the chancel choir, said she is grateful to all the Laredoans who donated flowers from their own yards and gardens, to the guest artist, to all those who help her with the show and to those companies who donated door prizes, as well as to everyone who comes to enjoy
the beauties of springtime in Laredo. She added that the women will serve light refreshments and that at the close of the show on Sunday evening, there will be a door-prize drawing. “So as you purchase your admission ticket, be sure to write your name on the back and deposit the signed ticket in the box at the entrance to the Fellowship Hall,” she explained.
Tables and tables of flowers In addition to brilliant and colorful displays of flowers, the center of the Fellowship Hall will display “special tables,” adorned to celebrate the show’s theme. An important component to making the tables attractive is the actual arrangement of the beautiful flowers. Among the talented ladies who arrange the myriad of floral offerings early Saturday morning are Linda Mott, Asta Vega, Jan Little, Delia Gutierrez and Rolinda Lawrence. Flower gatherers include Rachel Bohmfalk and Delia Whitfield.
The guest artist Penelope Warren, a longtime, active member of the Laredo Art League, is the current president of
MISS MANNERS
Obituary etiquette for the pre-deceased DEAR MISS MANNERS — How do you feel about the use in an obituary of a photo of the deceased when he/she was much younger than at the age at which he/she had died? I have the typical face of a woman my age, 78 — wrinkled, sagging skin and thin, graying hair. A photo of me at 26 shows a very attractive, vibrant young woman, and this is how I would like my friends to remember me. How do you feel about disclosing the cause of death in an obituary? I see this in very few write-ups, yet, when you hear that someone has died, the first thing everyone wants to know is what caused their death. I think that the disclosure could be a wake-up call for a lot of people, for instance, to learn that the heavy smoker died of lung cancer. GENTLE READER — Newspapers and magazines have their own policies about photographs and mentioning causes of death, with which you cannot argue. For a funeral program or Web site posting, you can decide what you like — Miss Manners is not inclined to condemn last wishes — and even use more than one picture. The friends who mourn you will be interested in how you looked when young, but if you are dear to them, it will be as they knew you.
“
JUDITH MARTIN
As for the cause of death, yes, we all find that interesting, and many notices do include that. But your examples also show an edge, a satisfaction that the death seems to be the dead person’s fault.
the LAL. She also served as the 2009 vice president. A sampling of her work appears in the LAL publication, “Art Beyond Crayons” and is also available for viewing on her Web site, www.pwarrenphotographer.com. Warren won Best of Show in the September 2009 in the LAL’s Fotosiembre exhibit with her “Pink Magnolia,” a selenium-toned black-andwhite image with applied color. Her work has appeared in several of Photographer’s Forum’s “Best of Year” collections, an international juried publication which receives about 25,000 entries for each volume. Her photographs record the natural beauties and historical legacies of her South Texas home. Working mostly from black-andwhite negatives, Warren produces silver prints, as well as digitally manipulated images. And for the last several years, she has explored traditional methods of color in a black-and-white print using toning, solarization, and applied oils and pencils. In her flower photographs, she often uses both toning and applied color and works with Prismacolors on sepia- and seleniumtoned prints. Warren has also recently begun to use watercolor and to explore the possibilities of working in three dimensions using fabric, paper, photographs and other materials.
LTGI prepares for ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Laredo Theater Guild International (LTGI), will present “The Taming of the Shrew,” a comedy by William Shakespeare March 25 through 28 at Texas A&M International University’s recently completed 500-seat Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Theatre. LTGI’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” to be directed by John Maxstadt and produced by Joe Arciniega, will be performed Thursday, March 25, through Saturday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, March 28, at 3 p.m. It is being presented in cooperation with TAMIU’s College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Language and Literature, with plans for corresponding lectures and classroom presentations at TAMIU during the weeks leading to the play’s opening. Tickets for “The Taming of the Shrew” will be $15 general admission and $10 discounted admission for seniors and students with valid I.D. They are available for advance purchase at Foster’s, 1605 E. Del Mar Blvd., and at the TAMIU Bookstore beginning March 12. Tickets will be available on site at the box office before show times. For more information, call 319-8610 or visit www.laredotheaterguild.com
Director John Maxstadt said the initiative represents a long-cherished personal goal. “I have wanted to direct the play complete and uncut, including the Induction, for many years, and I lobbied LTGI very aggressively to allow me to include it, even though it meant more actors, which means more costumes, props, rehearsal, etc.,” he said. This production unites two of Laredo’s most exciting young leading ladies in the same play, TAMIU students Lexie De Anda and Casandra Canales. De Anda, who plays the “shrew” of this story, Katherina Minola, was recently featured as Aldonza/Dulcinea in LTGI’s “Man of La Mancha” last October, enchanting audiences to standing ovations at every performance. Canales, playing the lovely Bianca Minola, most recently directed TAMIU Theatre Troupe’s “Dog Sees God,” but it was her summer 2009 star turn as Sally Bowles in LITE Productions’ “Cabaret” that thrilled Laredo audiences. Playing their suitors and eventual husbands, Petruchio and Lucentio, are Richard Resendez and Oliver Saenz, respectively. The rest of the cast is rounded out with a mix of Laredo acting veterans and students.
SÁBADO 13 DE MARZO DE 2010
Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 13 DE MARZO LAREDO — El Consulado de México en Laredo informa que hoy es la Jornada Sabatina de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. Más información en www.sre.gob.mx/laredo. LAREDO — El equipo de Softból de TAMIU recibe a Newman University a las 11 a.m. en canchas de la Universidad. La entrada general es de 5 dólares y 3 dólares para estudiantes. Si tiene identificación de TAMIU entra gratis. Más información llamando al 326-2891. LAREDO — El Departamento de Parques y Entretenimiento de la Ciudad de Laredo anuncia que a partir de hoy los Parques para Chapotear estarán abiertos hasta el 20 de marzo en horario del mediodía a las 7 p.m. LAREDO — Pase la tarde en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU y explore “Black Holes” a las 5 p.m. “Violent Universe” a las 6 p.m., y Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” a las 7 p.m. La entrada general es de 5 dólares y de 4 dólares para niños así como estudiantes, maestros, personal y ex alumnos de TAMIU. Las presentaciones premium cuestan 1 dólar más. Más información llamando al 326-DOME. ZAPATA — La Feria del Condado de Zapata concluye hoy. A las 10 a.m. será el Desfile de la Feria del Condado de Zapata y el Concurso de Jalapeño. Las bandas tocando el día de hoy son: Siggno, Grupo Solido y Los Huracanes del Norte. La Feria concluye a las 11:30 p.m. Más información visitando www.zapatacountyfaironline.com.
DOMINGO 14 DE MARZO LAREDO — Hoy es la presentación de Alberto Mayagoita con el monólogo “Mi Cristo Roto” en inglés a las 6:30 p.m. y en español a las 8:30 p.m. en el Laredo Civic Center del 2400 San Bernardo. Es una presentación de St. John Youth Group. La entrada tiene costo de 15 dólares. Más información llamando al 242-6223.
LUNES 15 DE MARZO LAREDO — Pase la tarde en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU y explore “The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather” a las 3 p.m., y “New Horizons” a las 4 p.m. La entrada general es de 5 dólares y de 4 dólares para niños así como estudiantes, maestros, personal y ex alumnos de TAMIU. Los visitantes de hoy compran un boleto y obtienen uno gratis. El boleto gratis debe ser del mismo valor ó menor. Las presentaciones premium cuestan 1 dólar más. Más información llamando al 326-DOME.
MARTES 16 DE MARZO LAREDO — Pase la tarde en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU y explore “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” a las 3 p.m., y “Seven Wonders” a las 4 p.m. Sólo por hoy todos pagan 4 dólares. Las presentaciones premium cuestan 1 dólar más. Más información llamando al 326-DOME.
MIÉRCOLES 17 DE MARZO LAREDO — Hoy es el Festival del Papalote de 3 p.m. a 7 p.m. en North Central Park. Los participantes y espectadores pueden encontrar estacionamiento en el 10202 International Boulevard. LAREDO — Pase la tarde del Día de San Patricio en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU y explore “Kaluoka’hina, The Enchanted Reef” a la 1 p.m., y “The Future is Wild” a las 2 p.m. Sólo por hoy, si viste de verde obtenga 2 dólares de descuento. Más información llamando al 326-DOME.
SÁBADO 20 DE MARZO LAREDO — Dr. Sandra Leyendecker y PETCO en el 5410 San Bernardo Ave. proveerán vacunas a bajo costo el día de hoy de 9 a.m. a 11 a.m. Tres vacunas por 25 dólares. Más información llamando al coordinador del evento en PETCO 206-0572. ZAPATA — El Congresista de EU Henry Cuellar, líderes comunitarios y activistas serán anfitriones de la reunión informativo y de atención al Censo 2010 a las 3:30 p.m. de hoy en la Zapata County Courthouse. La reunión se enfocará sobre la importancia de participar en el Censo 2010 y el valor de involucrar a las comunidades locales.
Zfrontera
PÁGINA 7A
Gobernador recorre Ribereña ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
MIGUEL ALEMÁN — En gira por la llamada Fronera Chica, el Gobernador Eugenio Hernández Flores aseguró que “ni los actos delictivos, ni los rumores, ni las falsedades pueden detener la actividad educativa, social y política de Tamaulipas”. La Frontera Chica, que ubica la región ribereña, incluye los municipios de Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, Mier, Miguel Alemán, Camargo y Díaz Ordaz. En esas ciudades presidió reuniones de trabajo y anunció acciones orientadas a reactivar la economía y el desarrollo de esta región fronteriza. Entre las acciones, instaló a policías estatales preventivos pa-
EUGENIO HERNÁNDEZ: Con visita buscó fortalecer la confianza de frontera chica. ra que hagan funciones de policías municipales. “Tener autoridad policiaca en cuanto al fuero común se refiere”, dijo. Hernández reiteró su llamado a conservar la calma, a seguir trabajando unidos y no hacer casos de rumores infundados. “No negamos que existen enfrentamientos y ese tipo de acciones, pero de cada 10 rumores o informaciones que nos llegan, nueve son falsas, por lo que es importante estar verificando en el Sistema Estatal de Información Oportuna qué eventos son
realidad y cuales son falsos”, dijo él. Subrayó es importante que la población esté muy al pendiente de las autoridades y tengan confianza que lo que se está informando es verídico, ya que lo que más interesa a su gobierno es no poner en riesgo a la ciudadanía. Precisó que su visita a cada una de las comunidades que integran la región ribereña, fue para establecer acciones y medidas emergentes ante la situación de inseguridad que se vive. “Sobre todo, mitigar a través de acciones del Gobierno del Estado y estos municipios, los efectos que esas reacciones están generando en la población”, dijo Hernández. En los cinco municipios que
visitó, anunció acciones en materia de educación, salud, desarrollo social, seguridad pública y procuración de justicia para impulsar el desarrollo, economía y bienestar de sus familias. Todo con el fin de salir más rápido de la situación económica que ha generado la inseguridad, indica un comunicado de prensa. Por otra parte, Hernández confirmó que como resultado del contacto que se tiene con el gobierno federal, a través de sus diferentes corporaciones, en Tamaulipas se incrementará la presencia de la policía federal y se incrementará el número de efectivos del Ejército, para darle más tranquilidad a la ciudadanía de la Frontera Chica.
UNA NUEVA IMAGEN EN MIER Hacen mejoras ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CIUDAD MIER — Al estar dentro de la categoría de “Pueblo Mágico” esta ciudad fronteriza está empezando a tomar acciones para realizar su proyecto de nueva imagen. Dentro de las acciones tomadas se encuentran la clausura del basurero municipal ó relleno sanitario y la reconstrucción de los edificios arquitectónicos que comprenden el centro histórico, el uno de marzo, dando el banderazo el Jefe de Gobierno José Iván Mancias Hinojosa. “Es un proyecto que traerá buenos beneficios al municipio”, dijo Mancias. Trabajan en el mismo Obras Públicas y la Coordinación de la Agencia Ambiental. A fin de poder cerrar el que ya se consideraba un foco de infección, personal de Obras Públicas llevaron a cabo la limpieza de los terrenos, taparon la laguna de basura con tierra para enterrar los deshechos depositados ahí y clausuraron la entrada al lugar. “El beneficio va directamente par alas personas que habitan en la Colonia Riberas del Álamo”, dijo el Director de Obras Públicas Ulises De León Alejo. “Estas familias eran afectadas con los residuos que a diario recolectaba el Municipio”. Mancias dijo que a fin de vigilar que las personas respeten el no tirar basura en esa área, personal municipal se mantendrá vigilante. En lo que se concluye la obra del nuevo relleno sanitario, las familias de Mier pueden deportar los residuos en los contenedores que están ubicados a las
Fotos de cortesía | Gobierno de Ciudad Mier
SUPERIOR: El relleno sanitario ó basurero municipal de Ciudad Mier fue cerrado por instrucciones del Jefe de Gobierno José Iván Mancías Hinojosa. El nuevo relleno estará concluido en breve. INFERIOR: Mancias, con el banderín, dio arranque al programa de remodelación de fachadas en el Centro Histórico. afueras de la ciudad, los que a su vez son llevados al Relleno Sanitario de Camargo.
Centro Histórico Al referirse a las obras de reconstrucción de edificios arquitectónicos, Mancias explicó que los recursos de esta obra provienen directamente del programa Pueblos Mágicos, en colaboración con Obras Públicas. La inversión es de aproximadamente 6 millones 250 mil pesos a aplicarse en un periodo de cuatro meses. La reconstrucción consiste en zarpeo desde abajo, fachada y pintura. “Esta es la tercera etapa en el mejoramiento de la imagen urbana del centro histórico”, dijo
Mancias. Finalmente agradeció a las familias que aceptaron colaborar permitiendo que se remodelara la fachada de sus negocios ó vi-
Mejoran centro de salud ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CIUDAD MIER — Iniciaron los trabajos para elevar al Centro de Salud a Centro Asistencial en esta ciudad. El Jefe de Gobierno José Iván Mancías Hinojosa dijo, durante el banderazo de inicio de la ampliación, que la inversión es de 1 millón 500 mil pesos con el apoyo de Petróleos Mexicanos. El Centro Asistencial contará con un quirófano, un área de recuperación, cuatro camas de hospitalización, servicio sanitario y vestidores. El proyecto deberá quedar concluido antes de diciembre, ya que es cuando termina la Administración Municipal actual. Mancias dio a conocer que también se encuentran dialogando con la Secretaría de Salud para que envíe
El Centro Asistencial contará con un quirófano, un área de recuperación, cuatro camas de hospitalización, servicio sanitario y vestidores.
Tendrá Tamaulipas 56 Tamuls ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
a un médico cirujano, entre otros especialistas. “Nuestro objetivo es que las personas que no cuentan con los recursos suficientes para pagar una clínica particular cuenten con una clínica del municipio”, dijo Mancias. “Nos interesa que la clínica cuente con un buen equipo de colaboradores médicos además de estar al alcance de su economía”.
Seguridad Escolar
Con la ayuda de los padres de familia, y coordinados por la Presidencia Municipal, se empezará a coordinar el programa de Seguridad Escolar en las horas de entrada y salida de las escuelas. A fin de que los padres auxiliando sean identificados, se elaboraron gorras, chalecos indicadores de vialidad y banderines de color anaranjados. El objetivo del programa es mejorar la circulación de los vehículos y limitar la velocidad de los mismos.
FAMILIA COBAT EN NUEVO LAREDO El Jefe de Gobierno Ramón Garza Barrios, a la izquierda, y el director general de COBAT’s en Tamaulipas Isaac Mata Vizcaíno informaron que del 17 al 21 de marzo Nuevo Laredo será sede de la Cuarta Semana Estatal de la Familia COBAT. Participarán 4mil 500 estudiantes y maestros pertenecientes a los 70 COBATs.
viendas. “Le pido a la ciudadanía un poco de paciencia respecto a molestias viales”, concluyó diciendo De León.
Foto de cortesía | Comunicación Social
CIUDAD VICTORIA — El Gobierno de Tamaulipas anunció que serán en total 56 los Centros Tamul en la entidad. De estos, 28 ya están en construcción y los restantes 28 comenzarán a construirse este año en 21 municipios con una inversión de 90 millones de pesos. De los 28 centros Tamul que se han de construir este año, 18 se realizarán con recursos 100% estatales y 10 con participaciones Estado-Municipio, con un monto de más de 22 millones de pesos por parte del Estado y 10 millones de pesos de aportación municipal. Los nuevos centros serán construidos en colonias populares de los municipios de Altamira, Madero, Tampico, Mante, Matamoros, Reynosa, Nuevo Laredo, Río Bravo, San Fernando, Valle Hermoso, Victoria, González, Miguel Alemán, Burgos, Aldama, Díaz Ordaz, Hidalgo, Jiménez, Soto la Marina, Tula y Xicoténcatl. Reynosa ya cuenta con un Centro Tamul el cual es visitado por más de 500 personas al día. Los Centros Tamul tienen canchas multiusos, áreas verdes, aparatos especializados para el ejercicio de personas con capacidades diferentes y una Torre del Conocimiento, además de biblioteca, equipos de cómputo, servicios de Internet, salón de usos múltiples y puesto de vigilancia. Los Tamul hacen ejemplo de su nombre ya que la palabra significa “Lugar de Encuentro”.
PAGE 8A
Zentertainment
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
Photo by Scott Garfield/Fox Searchlight Films | AP
In this publicity image released by Fox Searchlight Films, America Ferrera, left, and Lance Gross are shown in a scene from “Our Family Wedding.”
‘Our Family Wedding’ surpasses stereotype A storm in the forecast REVIEW
Courtesy photo
Los Huracanes are set to close out the fair with their norteño beats at midnight.
By JAKE COYLE
ASSOCIATED PRESS
O
ne enters a movie like “Our Family Wedding” bracing for cheesiness. As a genre, wedding films are typically about as cloying as two-hours worth of kitten videos on YouTube. Add in the equally checkered history of stridently ethnic movies, and you might want to start asking moviegoers to remove their belts before entering the theater. But as Rick Famuyiwa’s “Our Family Wedding” — which combines both elements — moves along, the fingers in front of one’s eyes slowly part. The realization dawns that Famuyiwa has made a mostly charming movie despite its cliché milieu. The performances help. And the center is America Ferrera (as Lucia) and Lance Gross (as Marcus), a young couple in college
SxSW musicians heading to Laredo THE ZAPATA TIMES
Working off the success of the sold-out December 2009 Hacienda show, Michael Barron and Fernando Montemayor, co-founders of B-Live Promotions, are bringing two South-bySouthwest headlining bands even further south on Saturday, March 20. The show, set once again at Old No. 2 Bar and Grill, will boast two of the famous music festival’s finds: the Louisiana-based indiebeach-poppers Generationals and Tennessee garagecountry twang fusion of Those Darlins. Composed of Kelley Darlin, bassist, Jessi Darlin, guitarist, and Nikki Darlin, on baritone ukulele, the female trio hails from Murfreesboro, Tenn. As for the Generationals, founded by a duo — Ted Joyner and Grant Wilmer — the band’s latest CD, “Con Law,” features retrobeach pop-rock, and boasts the singles, “When They Fight, They Fight,” and “Angry Charlie.” Presale tickets for $10 are available at Old No. 2, 313 W. Village Blvd. Although tickets will also be available the night of the show, it is expected to sell out. Presale purchases are strongly recommended. Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.
“Let your smile be a sign of happiness & good health” 1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160
in New York who return home to their families in Los Angeles to break the news that they’re engaged. Neither family — one Latino, the other black — much likes the decision. Marcus’ father, Brad Boyd (Forest Whitaker), and Lucia’s dad, Miguel Ramirez (Carlos Mencia), quickly become rivals. To be sure, there are plenty of predictable jokes reliant on stereotypes. But “Our Family Wedding” often smacks of real people. As the families feud, they use racial stereotypes less as a crutch for identity than a means for sarcasm, self-deprecation and — if at all possible — ammo against their potential new in-laws. Whitaker’s Brad is a radio D-J and an aging playboy. Mencia’s Miguel is — as all fathers of the bride
are in movies — overprotective. Though both are somewhat outlandish, neither sinks to cartoon level — always a threat for the comic Mencia. A number of characters hover on the outside: Regina King as a longtime family friend; Lupe Ontiveros as an over-the-top, conservative grandmother; Anjelah Johnson as Lucia’s droll sister; Diana Maria Riva as Lucia’s mother. Unfortunately, “Our Family Wedding” loses its balance around the time the goat gets loose and eats a bunch of Viagra. Still, though cheesiness is all around, it never quite penetrates “Our Family Wedding.” “Our Family Wedding,” a Fox Searchlight Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for some sexual content and brief strong language. It is playing at Cinemark Mall Del Norte and Hollywood Theaters.
Los Huracanes play at the fair tonight THE ZAPATA TIMES
Closing out the fair tonight with “hurricane-force winds,” Los Huracanes hit the stage at midnight. Pulling from the greatest talent Texas and Mexico has to offer, the fair annually highlights its sonorous flavor on the final weekend of the festivities, which tonight also includes local favorites Siggno and Solido. Los Huracanes, multi-Latin Grammy Award-nominees, are known on both sides of the border for their highly danceable, addictive norteño neats. In the 35-year history of the band, composed of seven members, about 50 albums have been recorded.
The group’s latest offering. “Mi Complemento,” released on March 31, 2009, boasts the hits “Me Bebí Tu Recuerdo,” “Mi Complemento” and “La Higuera.” The album falls on the heels of the successful “Vientos Huracanes” — for English speakers, that means “hurricane-force winds.” And that’s likely the best way to describe the group, which has long bowled over its audiences with its immense popularity. Hundreds of Zapata residents and guests from all over the state and northern Mexico fill the streets for the great music. It’s just one of the many reasons the Zapata County Fair is known as the biggest little fair in Texas.
Also up for the today’s activities are the grand parade at 10 a.m., a roping exhibition at 1 p.m. and a Jalapeño-Eating contest at 11:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults before 7 p.m., and $10 after. Children 10 and younger get in free. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.zapatacountyfaironline.com.
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
JOSEFA CUELLAR
Warning: some patients cannot process Plavix By MATTHEW PERRONE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is adding its strongest warning to the label for Plavix, cautioning that some patients do not respond to the blockbuster blood thinner. The FDA said in a statement Friday that certain patients with a genetic variation cannot metabolize the drug, putting them at increased risk for heart attack and stroke. According to SanofiAventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb, which market the drug, the patients who are designated as poor metabolizers represent about 2 percent of whites, 4 percent of blacks and 14 percent of Chinese, according to the prescribing information. In total, poor metabolizers account for 3 percent of the population, the companies said. Patients can determine if they are “poor metabolizers” by taking a genetic test. The FDA recommends these patients use other blood thinners, such as aspirin. The FDA added similar language to Plavix’s label in November, but the new warning appears within a black box, the FDA’s most severe safety labeling. Plavix is prescribed to heart disease patients to prevent dangerous blood
clots, which can cause heart attack, stroke and death. With genetic tests costing around $500, experts say it is unlikely such testing will become standard for patients taking Plavix. “I think based on this people will do more genetic testing, but I think it’s premature to say that everyone who gets Plavix needs to be tested,” said Dr. Louis Teichholz, head of cardiology at Hackensack University Medical Center. Teichholz said the black box warning on Plavix could push more doctors to prescribe Effient, a competing blood thinner launched by Eli Lilly & Co. last summer. In order to work effectively, Plavix must be broken down by a particular liver enzyme. But FDA says 2 to 14 percent of people in the U.S. have low levels of the enzyme, preventing them from successfully processing Plavix. The likelihood of being a non-responder varies by race, according to the FDA. “Patients should not stop taking Plavix unless told to do so by their health care professional,” the agency said in an online statement. “They should talk with their health care professional if they have any concerns
Photo by Mark Lennihan | AP
In this July 28, 2006, file photo, blood thinner medication Plavix is shown in New York. Plavix, the world’s second-best selling prescription drug, loses U.S. patent protection in November 2011. about Plavix, or to find out if they should be tested for being a poor metabolizer.” Using a higher dose of Plavix can increase blood thinning in non-responsive patients, according to the new label, though higher doses have not been cleared by the FDA. Plavix is marketed by France-based Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb. With global sales of $8.6 billion in 2008, it was the world’s secondbest selling drug behind Pfizer’s cholesterol drug Lipitor. A spokeswoman for New York-based BristolMyers said the company would add the new labeling to bottles of Plavix
over the next two months. “The revisions to the prescribing information for Plavix reflect the companies’ ongoing research in collaboration with the FDA,” said Laura Hortas. In November, the FDA warned that taking stomach-soothing drugs like Prilosec and Nexium alongside Plavix could cut the blood-thinner’s effect in half. Regulators said the key ingredient in the heartburn medications blocks the same liver enzyme needed to break down Plavix, muting the drug’s full effect. Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. fell 7 cents to $25.89. Shares of SanofiAventis fell 30 cents to $37.89.
ZAPATA, TEXAS — Josefa Cuellar, 66, passed away on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at Laredo Medical Center. Mrs. Cuellar is preceded in death by her parents, Florentino (Francisca) Herrera; brothers, Abundio Herrera and Jose Herrera; and a sister, Guadalupe H. Moreno. Mrs. Cuellar is survived by her husband, Marcos Enrique Cuellar; daughter, Francisca (Roberto) Campos; grandchildren, Stephanie J. Valadez, Samantha J. Valadez and Sebastian J. Valadez; brothers, Jose Angel Herrera, Julian (Nicolasa) Herrera, Antonio (Sofia) Herrera, Candelario (Estela) Herrera and Jose Luis Herrera; sisters, Teresa Herrera, Ramona Herrera, Maria Melecia Herrera and Paula (Ementerio) Puente; sister-in-law, Teresa B. Herrera; and by numerous other family members. Visitation hours were held on Wednesday, March 10, 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 Thursday, March 11, 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 HWY 83 Zapata, Texas.
Photo by Jack Plunkett | AP
Borrowers wait for answers on loans By ALAN ZIBEL ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Hundreds of thousands of homeowners are in limbo waiting to find out if they will be accepted for the Obama administration’s foreclosure prevention program. Nearly 1.1 million borrowers have enrolled in the program since it started a year ago, but so far only about 170,000 have completed the application process, the government said Friday. At that rate, just 16 percent, the program will have a minimal effect on the foreclosure crisis. And many analysts warn that the majority of borrowers will never complete the process — or fall behind again. To receive a permanent
loan modification, homeowners need to make three payments and provide proof of their income, plus a letter documenting their financial hardship. To date, about 90,000 borrowers have dropped out. The program is designed to lower borrowers’ monthly payments by reducing mortgage rates to as low as 2 percent for five years and extending loan terms to as long as 40 years. To entice mortgage companies to participate, the government has set aside $75 billion in subsidies, though less than 1 percent has been spent. Homeowners in two California metro areas — Los Angeles and Riverside — have received the most help, with a combined 18,000 homeowners receiving permanent modifica-
tions. But only 3,900 borrowers in Las Vegas had completed the program as of last month, a dismal showing in a city hard-hit by the foreclosure crisis. Housing counselors complain that many homeowners are forced to wait months for a decision. Allen Pierson, 65, of Alton, Ill., and his wife have been waiting since last summer, when they enrolled in the program and saw their monthly payment drop by about $100 to around $1,040. They needed the help because they were barely scraping by after Pierson retired early from his job. They have yet to be approved for a permanent modification, despite months of effort by their housing counselor, Clarissa Gaff of Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Founda-
tion. She describes the process as “endless” and “Kafka-esque” — involving more than 70 hours of work. Kevin Waetke, a Wells Fargo spokesman, acknowledged that “the modification process is complex and, at times, can result in poor two-way communication and delays.” Wells Fargo says about half of the borrowers who complete the trial phase are able to complete the process. About 30 percent don’t qualify under the rules, and another 20 percent don’t return all of the required documents. Another reason for the delays is that lenders are double-checking calculations on denied applications, added Meg Reilly, a Treasury Department spokeswoman.
Diana Gomez, left, and Garrett Mize, along with other University of Texas students, rally before a State Board of Education meeting.
Texas ed board vote reflects far-right influences By APRIL CASTRO ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN, Texas — A farright faction of the Texas State Board of Education succeeded Friday in injecting conservative ideals into social studies, history and economics lessons that will be taught to millions of students for the next decade. Teachers in Texas will be required to cover the Judeo-Christian influences of the nation’s Founding Fathers, but not highlight the philosophical rationale for the separation of church and state. Curriculum stan-
dards also will describe the U.S. government as a “constitutional republic,” rather than “democratic,” and students will be required to study the decline in value of the U.S. dollar, including the abandonment of the gold standard. “We have been about conservatism versus liberalism,” said Democrat Mavis Knight of Dallas, explaining her vote against the standards. “We have manipulated strands to insert what we want it to be in the document, regardless as to whether or not it’s appropriate.”
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
Case stops molester’s release By JOHN ANTCZAK ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES — The feared release of a convicted child molester from a California prison was thwarted Friday by 11thhour federal charges involving child porn and a woman’s allegations that he bought her as a child in Asia and subjected her to years of sexual abuse while molesting her young friends. George Joseph England, 65, remained imprisoned instead of being released on parole after serving three years for molesting three girls in Southern California in the 1970s — a term he delayed for nearly three decades by fleeing before he could be sentenced for the crimes. England is now charged with transporting a juvenile from California to Florida with the intent to
engage in sexual activity, and possessing child porn in computer files transported across state lines. A U.S. magistrate judge in West Palm Beach, Fla., signed the criminal complaint late Thursday and it was processed Friday morning, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Neiman. England remained in the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison at Corcoran in the Central Valley, but he was not in a treatment unit, said prison Lt. Stephen Smith. England will be ordered to a federal court for hearings on removal, identification and bond. It was not known if England had an attorney. State corrections spokespersons were unavailable due to a work furlough. The new charges were announced a day after the
Orange County, Calif., district attorney warned about England’s impending freedom and released a video in which Jackie Zudis, 42, told of years of forced sex starting at age 5 after England bought her from her mother in Vietnam in 1972. An affidavit by FBI Special Agent John J. MacVeigh IV said that he learned about England’s scheduled release from Orange County prosecutors last week and reviewed images that had been found on England’s computer in 2005 after an attempt to obtain a passport under an alias led to his capture in Florida. The computer was located when a lawyer for a man who had employed England told agents that England’s belongings would be removed from a Miami storage unit and placed on a street as abandoned proper-
ty, the affidavit said. MacVeigh wrote that the computer files contained such titles as “8 yo poor girl raped by an burglar.” Zudis gave the information on England’s alias to the FBI in 2004, the affidavit said. By then she had lost all contact with England after getting married at age 21 and moving out of his home. The affidavit said that England had repeatedly impregnated Zudis starting at age 13, and after one birth and a series of abortions she finally threatened to commit suicide to get him to stop molesting her. Orange County prosecutors separately said that occurred when she was 16. At the time of England’s 1977 prosecution for molesting Zudis’ 9- and 10-year-old friends she was only referred to as “Jane Doe” and never reported sexual abuse.
SLOTS Continued from Page 1A are not coming from the valley and surrounding counties just for the prizes. “These places claim they don’t give out money.” Gonzalez said.
“People are not coming for a box of soap.” Several attempts to contact the owners of the businesses were unsuccessful.
According to Commissioner Vela, the counsel’s research will determine future actions by the county. (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956) 728-2557.)
CHOPPER Continued from Page 1A to 20 minutes — not that long — and returned back to Mexican side,” Pauza said. Pauza said officers notified headquarters in Washington about the incident at the port of entry. “We made our proper notification up the chain of command and we worked in coordination with our Mexican counterparts to reduce (these) type of incidents,” he said. Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez did not witness the chopper flying around the lake, but he did receive pictures from an anonymous source of what appeared to be a Mexican military aircraft. Gonzalez, chair of the Southwestern Border Sheriff Coalition, said the information the department received stated that the helicopter hovered around a home in East Falcon Village subdivision. “(This) aircraft was supposedly hovering over that area,” the sheriff said. “It didn’t touch down.” As for why the chopper flew around that specific area, it is unknown.
Although witnesses also said the word “Marina” or Marine was written on the chopper’s side, Mexican officials contend there was no such incident involving their aircraft. “If we can have a military unit of a foreign country coming into our country, I really would like to know what purpose they are coming here for,” Gonzalez said. Although witnesses also said the word “ Marina” or Marine was written on the chopper’s side, Mexican officials contend there was no such incident involving their aircraft. However, the Mexican Marine official did confirm the presence of Marine troops in the northern states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo León. Marines, in conjunction with the Mexican Army, are present in both states working on “confidential” cases, the official said.
“There is a special emphasis in Tamaulipas and Nuevo León,” the official added. On March 1, Tamaulipas Gov. Eugenio Hernández Flores acknowledged gun battles had occurred in February and ordered about 300 additional federal agents to northern Mexico for reinforcements statewide, but with emphasis on the Texas-Mexico border. The battles prompted a constant communication with the Grupo de Coordinación Interinstitucional, a group that encompasses several agencies, including the Mexican Army and Marines, the attorney general’s office, and the federal and state public safety
offices. The Texas Department of Public Safety officials also issued a release on March 4 urging Spring Breakers to avoid border cities due to increased reports of Mexican drug cartel-related violence in the northern Mexican border cities. Back in January 2006, Hudspeth County in Texas, located southeast of El Paso, made national news when U.S. peace officers followed two vehicles that went across the river into Mexico, Gonzalez said. There, state and local officers, encountered what it appeared to be a Mexican military Humvee with a .50-caliber machine gun. U.S. and Mexican authorities denied the incident had taken place, the sheriff recalled. Gonzalez now wonders what is in the future for border cities if incursions continue into U.S. soil. “I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Gonzalez said. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
COURT Continued from Page 1A The court then rescinded the item, and the members were reinstated to their previous positions, replacing the newly instated members from the committee. Leticia Salinas, Historical Commission chairwoman, said she was unaware of the members’ intentions, saying that the Historical Commission members went behind her back and presented false information to the Commissioner’s Court to have the others removed. The by-laws are not being followed, she said, adding that five of the members are related and side together and bring chaos to meetings. There is constant fighting and bickering among the committee, she said. “I’m trying to do everything the way it should be done,” Salinas said. “All the bickering has to stop because I want us to work as a group.” Also in the meeting, the court heard from law enforcement officers and concerned members of the community regarding the controversial opening of slot machine businesses in the Falcon area. Residents Maria Adeline Guerra and Alma Canales addressed commissioners, saying that three casinos — known as maquinitas — have already sprung up with their six-street community. According to the women, the establishments cause traffic congestion, and little security. “It’s become a cancer,” Guerra said. “We’re here pleading because we need help.” According to Commis-
sioner Jose E. Vela, the businesses operate on a property deeded by the Serna family. The deed, he said, states that it prohibits “immoral” businesses that encourage illegal activity to operate on the land. According to Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez, the slot machine businesses are legal because they have been granted permits by the county. As long as they abide by legal outlines — for instance, not paying out prizes in cash — the businesses are permitted to operate. “They’re not illegal, but we can regulate them.” Gonzalez said. “They are a nuisance.” The court is currently looking into developing ordinances in order to regulate the businesses. The Commissioners Court is seeking to develop an ordinance to regulate these businesses in Zapata County. In other business, the court approved an office space to be provided for the new Texas Ranger in the Zapata County Court House. According to Sheriff Gonzalez, this is the first time a Texas Ranger will be stationed in Zapata County. The ranger will be assisting the Sheriff’s Department in criminal investigations. Other approved items included: The installation of carpet in the Zapata County Museum. The animal shelter holding fee of $10 to $10 a day. (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be contacted at 7282557.)
CENSUS Continued from Page 1A tant to take a test, but added: “The entire exam is available online. You can look at it ahead of time.” After completion of an exam, the training commences. Training sessions are available at conveniently close locations, such as local classrooms or in-town community centers. “You commit to four days of training. You will be paid for training days. Training can be held either during daytime hours or during evening and weekend hours,” said Sylvia Martinez, partnership specialist for Laredo. Salinas maintains that the local census has continuously met recruiting milestones previously set. “It’s been kind of spotty, but we’ve had a contin-
uous stream of people that apply,” he said. “(They’re) from every walk of life. It’s exactly what the census is about, seeing different people come together.” As of March 2, census workers have begun approaching homes unable to receive traditional mail. All others should expect to receive the census within the following weeks. The 2010 Census is scheduled to be mailed out March 15 through the 17. For more information or to apply to work for the 2010 Census, call (866) 8612010 or visit www.2010.census.gov/2010census/. (Stephanie M. Ibarra may be reached at 7282567 or sibarra@lmtonline.com)
SHOOT Continued from Page 3A companied by an adult. Alaniz’s goal is to pick a new charity every year. Last year, the event, which benefited 4-H clubs of Laredo, raised roughly $32,000.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and South Texas granted the wishes of 233 children last year with a life-threatening medical condition. “This couldn’t have come at a
better time because we’re struggling. We depend a lot on people who come forward like this,” said Mary Freeman, chairman of the Laredo Board of Trustees.
The target goal of the event, said Freeman, is $5,000, and 100 percent of all proceeds raised will directly benefit the foundation. For more information on how
to register, contact Monica Perales at 523-4918 or mperales@webbcountytx.gov. (Denise Blaz may be reached at 728-2547 or dblaz@lmtonline.com)
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors Zapata lifters head to state By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Zapata girls’ powerlifting team competed last Saturday at the regional meet that was held in Carrizo Springs. Five Lady Hawks qualified for the state powerlifting meet, which will be held in Corpus Christi on Saturday March 20. All five girls who took part at the regional meet advanced to the state meet
by hitting their qualifying totals. Sophomore April Guzman is a returning state qualifier, having placed fifth last year. She surpassed the qualifying total of 495 pounds and qualified with a life total of 550 in the 97-pound weight class. Sophomore Michelle Arce qualified with a lift total of 820 pounds, well above the state qualifying of 745 in the 165-pound weight class.
Seniors Marisol Garcia, Amanda Sanchez, and Kat Garcia have finally met their ultimate goal, to compete at the state level. Marisol Garcia will lift in the 132-pound weight class after hitting a total of 705, Kat Garcia will compete in the 165-pound class after hitting a total of 815, and Sanchez will compete in the 181-pound class after hitting a total of 795. “I’ve always told these young ladies that their hard
Photo by Clara Sandoval | Special to the Times
Zapata powerlifters, from left, Michelle Arce, Amanda Sanchez, Kat Garcia, Marisol Garcia, and April Guzman have qualified for the state championships to be held in Corpus Christi next weekend. work and dedication would pay off, and this surely is proof,” Zapata coach Veron-
ica Arce said. “Last year we fell short of getting first place as a team, so we
would surely try to take advantage of a chance at it again.”
TENNIS TEAM KEEPS MOVING UP
Photo by Clara Sandoval | Special to the Times
The Zapata High School tennis team has advanced to the state tournament after finishing second at the Class 3A Southern Team Tennis Regional. The state tournament will be held in San Marcos.
Hawks second at regional tournament By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
T
he Zapata High School tennis team continues to put the Hawks on the map as it is heading to the state tournament after capturing second place at
the 3A Southern Team Tennis Regional in Harlingen. “I am very proud of our team,” Zapata coach Robert Alvarez said. “They have been working very hard to improve their strokes, and it showed in the tournament.” Unlike their 4A and 5A
counterparts, who have team tennis in the fall, the 3A schools – with the help of the Texas Tennis Coaches’ Association – put on a team tennis competition in the spring. Competition is broken up into eight regional sites, with the top two schools in each site ad-
vancing to the state tournament held in San Marcos. Teams must play 12 single matches, along with six doubles and one mixed doubles match. Recording 10 wins or more determines the winner of each match. The Hawks drew a bye in the first round and then went on to play Port Isabel in the quarterfinals.
Zapata was steady on the court and went on to beat the Tarpons, 17-2. In the semifinals, the Hawks faced Hidalgo and some turbulent weather. The directors decided to cut the matches short and declare the winner to the team that reached 10 points. Zapata played mentally
See TENNIS PAGE 2B
Pacquiao and Clottey set to meet on the star By TIM DAHLBERG ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARLINGTON — The phenomenon that is Manny Pacquiao grew with a series of wins against some of the biggest names around. Now he has a fight to win against a guy who has nothing to lose. It wasn’t supposed to be that way, but things rarely turn out as planned in boxing. Instead of fighting in one of the biggest bouts ever against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao will
have to settle for fighting in one of the biggest stadiums ever. The opponent is Joshua Clottey, and he’s what the wise guys in Las Vegas would call a live dog. A talented boxer who has never been stopped and briefly held a piece of the welterweight title, he brings some credentials of his own into Saturday night’s 147-pound fight at Cowboy Stadium.
Star of the show
But while he may be fighting on the star, there’s only one star in this show. Little guys aren’t supposed to fill big stadiums, yet some 45,000 fans are expected to be on hand to watch Pacquiao up close and personal — and on the huge overhead video screens that will show every drop of sweat and blood. “The best fighter I’ve ever seen,” said promoter Bob Arum, who includes
See FIGHT PAGE 2B
Photo by L.M. Otero | AP
Boxers Manny Pacquiao, center left, and Joshua Clottey, center right, pose for photos with promoter Bob Arum and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones after a news conference on Wednesday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Pacquiao and Clottey square off in a welterweight bout at the stadium tonight.
PAGE 2B
Zscores
TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL American League TORONTO BLUE JAYS: Optioned RHP Casey Fien and LHP Brad Mills to Las Vegas (PCL). Assigned RHP Lyle Drabek and 1B-DH David Cooper to their minor-league camp. National League CINCINNATI REDS: Reassigned RHP Jose Arredondo, C Chris Denove, IF/OF Danny Dorn, LHP Alexander Smit and C Brandon Yarbrough to
their minor-league camp. WASHINGTON NATIONALS: Re-assigned C Devin Ivany and INF Josh Whitesell to their minor-league camp. Atlantic League CAMDEN RIVERSHARKS: Agreed to terms with INF Brett Bonvechio on a one-year contract. LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Signed C Robinson Cancel, RHP Joselo Diaz, RHP Jerome Gamble and OF Billy Kovatch. BASKETBALL NBA GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: Signed F Reggie Williams to a second 10-day contract.
MIAMI HEAT: Suspended F Dorell Wright for two games after being charged with DUI and driving with a suspended license. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: Recalled G Kyle Weaver from the Tulsa (NBADL). FOOTBALL NFL CINCINNATI BENGALS: Signed WR Antonio Bryant to a four-year contract. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Re-signed CB Leigh Bodden. Signed LB Marques Murrell. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Signed WR Hank Baskett to a one-year contract.
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
TENNESSEE TITANS: Agreed to terms with CB Rod Hood. HOCKEY NHL CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: Signed D Ryan Stanton to a three-year contract. LOS ANGELES KINGS: Activated RW Justin Williams from injured reserve. MONTREAL CANADIENS: Assigned F Ben Maxwell to Hamilton (AHL). AHL HARTFORD WOLF PACK: Loaned D David Urquhart to Charlotte (ECHL).
NORFOLK ADMIRALS: Signed G Zane Kalemba. PEORIA RIVERMEN: Signed F Matt McIlvane. PROVIDENCE BRUINS: Announced D Jeff Penner was assigned to the team by Boston (NHL). ECHL CHARLOTTE CHECKERS: Acquired D Trevor Hendrikx and F Mike Bartlett from Johnstown for future considerations. ELMIRA JACKALS: Acquired D Derick Martin from Alaska for LW Jarrett Konkle. SOCCER MLS TORONTO FC: Traded D Adrian Serioux to Houston for a 2011 third-round draft pick.
COLLEGE AUBURN: Fired men’s basketball coach Jeff Lebo. BOISE STATE: Fired men’s basketball coach Greg Graham. IOWA STATE: Announced junior F Craig Brackins will enter the NBA draft and C Justin Hamilton and G Dominique Buckley will transfer. MUHLENBERG: Announced the resignation of women’s volleyball coach Jenny WarmackChipman. RICE: Named Rick Greenspan athletic director. WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN: Named Gary Goff offensive coordinator.
Mike Leach testifies in lawsuit vs. Texas Tech By BETSY BLANEY ASSOCIATED PRESS
LUBBOCK — Former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach spent more than five hours behind closed doors Friday, testifying under oath as part of his lawsuit against the school for firing him amid allegations he mistreated a player suffering from a concussion. After completing his deposition, Leach gave a brief statement, his voice cracking with emotion as he talked about how great it was to be back in Lubbock after a decade building his pass-happy team into a Big 12 powerhouse. “We’ve had 10 incredible years here, and had a really good day today,” he said. “What can I say? It’s 10 years.” He got up quickly from his chair and left the room. Leach has denied he mistreated receiver Adam James last season and said he suspects an $800,000 bonus he was to have received Dec. 31 was the reason he was fired one day earlier. His lawsuit includes allegations of libel and slander and breach of contract. The sophomore receiver said his coach twice ordered him to stand for hours while confined in a dark place during practice. James and his father, for-
mer player and ESPN analyst Craig James, are expected to give their depositions on Saturday. One of Leach’s attorneys, Ted Liggett, said Leach will be in the room when Craig James is questioned, but not when the younger James gives his deposition. Another one of Leach’s attorneys, Paul Dobrowski, said his client’s case is “substantially stronger” following depositions from school officials who investigated allegations of mistreatment. He said testimony from school Chancellor Kent Hance and a university attorney confirmed Leach’s contention that Craig James wanted the coach fired when he complained about the way his son was treated following his injury. One of the attorneys for Texas Tech, Dicky Grigg, said at a news conference late Friday that Leach testified that he “never treated” another player with a concussion like he treated Adam James. “It was clear from Mike Leach’s deposition taken today that he was out to punish a student athlete who had a brain concussion,” Grigg said. “This is shown by the language he admitted today under oath that he used.” The school released a
profanity-laden sentence that Grigg said had been Leach’s instruction to trainer Steve Pincock at that time, and that Leach admitted to saying in his sworn testimony Friday. “What this language shows is that his intent was vindictive, not therapeutic to this young man,” Grigg said. “Anything else that’s being discussed by anyone, other than these indisputable facts proven under oath, anything else is simply an attempt to confuse and avoid the real issues.” Testimony from Hance and the attorney also confirmed that university President Guy Bailey penned a memo Dec. 27 to Hance recommending that Leach “be issued a letter of reprimand” and that the James case be closed, Dobrowski said. But Dobrowski said Craig James got word to the chancellor that he wanted Leach fired. Hance relayed that information to the board of regents and board Chairman Larry Anders and Vice Chairman Jerry Turner were the ones that recommended Leach be fired, Dobrowski said. Dobrowski said Hance and the attorney both testified in their depositions that it was “against Texas Tech policy for regents to
Photo by Zach Long/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | AP
Former Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach arrives to give a videotaped deposition on Friday in Lubbock. Leach is giving sworn testimony in his lawsuit against the school over his firing. unduly influence or direct Messrs. Bailey and Myers to terminate an employee like Mike Leach.” The Bailey memo also stated, Dobrowski said, that university policy gave Leach the right to file a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order after he was suspended Dec. 28 “without fear of retaliation.” Yet he accused Anders of recommending that Leach be fired if he filed a lawsuit. “I think that we know and they know that our case has gotten substantially stronger by virtue of the
discovery process, and that the documents that Texas Tech has produced has confirmed Mike’s position,” Dobrowski said. The case has been ugly, including a rapid-fire stream of court filings filled with accusations. Dobrowski said it was “no coincidence” Texas Tech released video footage this week that shows Leach in the locker room after games against Baylor and Kansas State. Leach is seen and heard using profane language when talking to his team. The school released the
footage because, Dobrowski said, because it is “trying to smear Mike.” Grigg said the school was required by law to release the footage after media outlets filed open records requests. He said he did not know who informed the outlets the tapes existed but that they are “irrelevant” to this case. The dispute was ordered into mediation, but Dobrowski said he believes the case will go to trial. “That’s my view,” he said. “Certainly we are preparing for trial.”
FIGHT Continued from Page 1B Muhammad Ali in that group. “No one has ever punched with equal power from both hands like Manny.” Arum has a financial interest in saying that, of course, but there are few in boxing who would argue that Pacquiao is a talent unlike any the sport has seen in recent years. He’s coming off a stoppage of Miguel Cotto that cemented his credentials at 147 pounds, and he has created a buzz about boxing the sport desperately needed.
revert back to it.” Clottey (35-3) faces the additional challenge of fighting without his usual trainer, whose visa issues kept him out of the country. But he’s quietly confident he can rise to the occasion, hoping to use his excellent defense to thwart Pacquiao. “It’s the key to the fight because he throws a thousand punches,” Clottey said. “Everybody that he’s fought, when he throws a thousand punches, they’ve all landed. When I’m blocking mine, I’m going to see how he’s going to think.”
Unstoppable champion Twelve years ago he won his first title at 112 pounds. Now he’s a champion in seven weight classes who will make at least $12 million in a gleaming new stadium far from the bright lights of Las Vegas. Just as importantly, he’s doing it without Mayweather, now a bitter rival after talks for their megafight collapsed over Mayweather’s insistence on blood testing — and what Pacquiao believes was the inference he bulked up on performance-enhancing drugs. “Some fighters like me, we can be the greatest fighters without fast words and trash talk,” Pacquiao said. “His (Mayweather’s) style is talking a lot of trash and it is not a good example for everybody.” Pacquiao is a 5-1 favorite in the scheduled 12-round fight (HBO pay-per-view beginning at 9 p.m. EST) which is expected to sell out a stadium scaled down
A new stage
punches and has a strong chin, but his style of standing in front of an opponent seems perfectly suited to Pacquiao’s frenetic pace of punching. “He is what he is. Let’s face it. He fights the same way in every tape I watch,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach. “Whether he fights southpaws or right-handers, he is predictable. He’s good at what he does, but he does the same thing over and over again and he is very predictable. He’s going to try to change for this fight, but once he gets in he will
If Pacquiao wasn’t enough to sell this promotion, Arum and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have combined to promote the $1.2 billion stadium as an attraction of its own. Boxing has been done in stadiums over the years, of course, but this may be the first time even those in the cheap ($50) seats will have a good view of the action. Jones wanted to host a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, and was bitterly disappointed when it couldn’t be made. But his investment in this fight could have a big payoff for future fights. “It didn’t take me long to make my mind up that somehow, some way, we wanted to have Manny fighting here,” Jones said. “I made my mind up in building this stadium I was not going to be associated with anything but the best.”
The girls’ varsity team consists of Cristina Mendoza (6-2), Gabby Molina (6-2), Carmen Rocha (6-2), Martiza Torres (6-2), Isabella Martinez, Kassandra
Flores, Daniela Molina, Clarissa Bayarena. “I know state will be very difficult, but we intend to show up and play our best tennis,” Alvarez said.
Photo by L.M. Otero | AP
Manny Pacquiao, right, works out with his trainer Freddie Roach in Grapevine on Tuesday. Pacquiao squares off with Joshua Clottey in a welterweight title bout tonight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. for boxing. The odds are probably more lopsided than the talent differential between the two fighters, but it takes long odds to get anyone to bet against Pacquiao these days.
Recent successes He was already a well-respected fighter when he began his current streak by stopping Oscar De La Hoya and forcing him into retirement. He followed that with a knockout of Ricky Hatton before stop-
ping Cotto in November. Now he plans to add Clottey to his list of victims, and then take some time out to run for congress in his native Philippines. Mayweather could await in September, assuming Pacquiao wins and Mayweather beats Shane Mosley on May 1, but Pacquiao has also hinted it may be time to hang the gloves up after fighting as a pro for 15 years. “This is my last fight before the election,” he said. “I am not saying I’m going to retire. It is hard to say
right now when I’m going to retire, but this is my last fight before the election and I’m very excited about that.”
Newest opponent Clottey, a native of Ghana who lives in New York City, was picked as an opponent largely on the basis of his fight last June against Cotto. Most believe he was winning that bout before inexplicably backing off in the last few rounds. He throws a lot of
TENNIS Continued from Page 1B tough and came away with a 10-2 victory. In the finals, the Hawks faced a familiar foe in La Feria, which is ranked in the state.
The Lions were too much for Zapata and soundly beat the Hawks. Zapata then faced Rio Hondo, which was led by one of the best players in
South Texas. The Hawks held their ground and earned a 10-4 victory to punch their ticket to the state tournament. The boys’ varsity team
consists of Joey Zapata (6-2), Garret Umphry (5-3), Estevan Garcia (5-3), Hector Solis, Tony Caballero, Angel Ortiz, James Hinojosa, and Tony Mendoza.
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B
HINTS BY HELOISE Dear Heloise: We just got a new POOCH FROM THE POUND and were wondering how often we should bathe and brush him, or should we take him to a professional groomer? Any help would be greatly appreciated. -- Anne from Pennsylvania Dear Anne: Thank you for rescuing this wonderful dog! He will give you years of love and laughter. According to our source, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, grooming the dog should be worked into his routine so the dog is accustomed to it. Try to make bath time at a point in the day when the dog is dogtired, or at least relaxed. The ASPCA says to bathe your dog once every three months. Of course, it may be necessary to wash the dog a bit
“
HELOISE
more frequently if he gets muddy. Be sure to brush the dog before washing him. This will whisk away loose hair and other foreign matter in his coat. Always use a dog shampoo and not a “people” shampoo, which can be harsh and may dry out his skin. Rinse thoroughly, avoiding the ears. Dry with a fluffy towel. As far as going to a professional groomer, if you can work it into your budget and if the dog’s coat and nails need special attention, this might be a good idea. -- Heloise
MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE
67
PETS & SUPPLIES
Corner lot,2bd/2ba,5418 Ramirez,near loop 20 & Saunders,fenced w/ driveway $60,000 Call: 754-2141
MISCELLANEOUS
For Sale Mobile Home 99’3/2, a/c,$15,500 cash Call 956-333-8355 LOTS FOR SALE HOMES FOR SALE
70
ACREAGE FOR SALE
HOMES FOR SALE
61
For sale by owner 3bd/2ba, maids qtr.,pool,palapa $145K Owner fin. $15K down Call 645-5108
76
76
5 acre Commercial tract, frontage on Casa Verde Rd. $215,000 per acre. Contact (956)725-6641
ACREAGE FOR SALE
Mini Pincher 1F/1M black & tan, tail clipped,$180 Call: 334-9540
Venta de Traila y terreno 3bd/2ba $45,000 Call 206-9456 o 718-2732
Vendo casa sector sur 3bd./2ba. $100,000 Llame: 729-8033
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY CONDOS FOR SALE
Miniature Schnauzer puppy blk. male $700 pure breed, AKC reg. Call 284-7173
82
64
New condos For sale! Owner financing available, 3/2. Starting at $950mo,Gated Community,Swimming Pool, 1,275 SqFt.Call 724-6989 LEGALS
250
Excellent investment opportunity. Well establish Dry Cleaning business for sale on Jacaman Rd. Owner finance $10,000 down $2,000 a month for 5yrs, Serious inquiry only. Please call 237-5858 LEGALS
250
136
5 Bags of clothes starting at $5 Call: 728-9139
Jack Russell puppies $200 ea. Call 235-1150
76
ARTICLES FOR SALE
*Comedor de 8 sillas $400 y mas Call:333-3286
AKC reg. West Highland white terriers 2M/1F, 6wks $300 call 206-9456 Blue Heeler puppies 7 wks. old $100 Call: (956) 763-2552 French Bulldogs 7 wks. $700 Call: 774-5270
2 acres for sale, fenced, in Ranchito Las Lomas w/ 3bd/2ba Home, a/c, 2 ponds, big palapa & bar-bq grill & other extras $75,000 15% down, Financing Available. Call 764-0316
ACREAGE FOR SALE
128
3M Chihuahuas 6wks., dewormed, $125 OBO Call: 401-3655
Terreno cerca aeropuerto esquina, 22x44, $21/metro call:956-791-5243
61
3bd/2 ba, home 1,591 sq.ft.709 Ruby Rd.Tiara sub. $169,900 Neg. Call 324-2935
PETS & SUPPLIES
Precioso Shit-Tzu macho,8 semanas,blanco con negro, desparaditado y vacunado. $300 SOLD White Beautiful Male English Bulldog 18mths., ready to breed, $499 Call:333-1799
8 pc. bedroom set & dinning table w/ 4 chairs. $3500 OBO call: 635-5070; 774-7715 100% leather sofa+love seat 46 LCD HDTV+ Media stand like new, also includes side table & lamp all for $3500.Call 724-2864 Base con cajones y colchonTwin. $110 Inf: 401-8223; 791-1286 Beautiful ivory hand beaded wedding dress sz. 5-7 retail value $1800 asking for $500. Call 740-2359. Beautiful wood Queen size bed w/ matress, $475 Call:791-1286; 401-8223 Comedor de 4 sillas,madera. nuevo! $200 Inf: 401-8223; 791-1286 Dinnette with 4 chairs, $275 Call:763-9829 Ed Hardy auto floor mats for cars $30 Call: 857-8041
PUBLIC AUCTION DATE:
Wednesday March 17, 2010
PLACE:
3036 US Hwy 83 Zapata, TX 78076
TIME:
10:00 AM
Financial Federal Credit Inc. will sell at public sale to the highest bidder AS-IS, WHERE-IS, WITHOUT ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, all of its right, title and interest to: Year
Make
Model
Description
Serial Number
2004
Wes-Tex
Challenger
42' x 102" Belly Dump Trailer
1W9SB42274A000167
1997
Peterbilt
379
Truck Tractor
1XP5DB8X2VD431204
2004
Kobelco
210
Hydraulic Excavator
YQ08-U1672
2001
Volvo
G720
Motor Grader
33154
2001
Caterpillar
938G
Wheel Loader
4YS02309
2003
John Deere
750C
Crawler Tractor
T0750CX919417
TERMS: (In cash, certified check or bank check) 25% down at close of bidding, balance due within 24 hours. Financial Federal Credit Inc. reserves the right to bid at the sale. Morton at (713) 439-1177 to make inspection arrangements. FINANCIAL FEDERAL CREDIT INC. 1300 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1300 Houston, TX 77056 L-50
Please contact Andrew
ARTICLES FOR SALE
136
For Sale amusement machines Pot of gold (580 Board) $1700 645-1804 Hot Dog Machine $400 OBO Call: 775-7567 Husqvarna riding lawn mower $700 Call for more info 956-763-1482 Intel Desktop 2GB-RAM + 19”LCD 500GB-HD, CD/DVD Burner including wood desk w/lamp & filing cabinet $750.00 Call 724-2864 Kitchen cabinet w/out counter top. $400 Call:763-9829
Living Room 2pc.set,Armour,& 6pc.dinning room set in good cond.for sale starting prices at $125 OBO Call:693-0406; 763-6260 Phillips HD 50” television $580 Call 775-7567 Rines y copas para Honda Civic 08’ 16”Orig., $120 Call 568-0566
Rustic/Wood King/Queen size headboard,Dresser w/Mirros, 2 Nightstands,Wooden Dresser. $500. Call 763-2594 Simmons king size mattres set! 1yr of used, $700 OBO Call 220-4714 Twin,Headboard,Brown,Matress & Boxsprings,Also Frame,$250,Call: 763-2594 Vendo sala moderna como nueva incluye love seat,2 indiv.,3 mesitas $475 Llame: 401-9318 WoodTwin bed with pullout bed underneath $375 Call 763-2594 Zenith HD 42”televison $500 perfect condition Call 775-7567 SPORTING GOODS
142
Olympic weight bench for sale, w/Squat rack & leg extension $120 OBO Call: 229-0444
TRANSPORTATION
REPAIRS & SERVICE
193
VAZQUEZ WELDING.DOORS, WINDOWS, GATES,BURGLAR BARS,FENCES, STAIRCASES (956)286-3593. AUTOMOTIVE PARTS
194
GoodYear tires for Dodge Ram chrome 17” $275 OBO Call: 645-9813
TRUCKS FOR SALE
198
1989 Dodge Dakota truck For Sale in good condition $1,500 OBO Call 568-0718 1995 ChevyVan 30/1 ton $6000 OBO Call:401-2999; 324-2574 1999 Suburban great working cond.400 miles on a $2000 complete motor overhaul.New tires,break callipers and pads,$3,995 OBO Call319-5530 2004 Nissan Quest blue title, A/C, good condition, $6,000 OBO Call 237-5932 ‘99 Dodge pick up diesel, 6 cyl cummins $6,500 OBO Call: 145*2*3756, 326-6010
Chevrolet Suburban 02’leather int.,$6,500 Call 754-2141 ChevroletVenture ‘04,salvage, Good cond., 3rd a/c, leather, $3,400 call 242-3207 CARS FOR SALE
200
2000 Ford Mustang V6, $3000 Call after 7pm 568-3534
2001 Nissan Pathfinder excellent cond.,power windows, A/C,extras,$5,500.Call 568-1108 2003 Ford Taurus new tires, interior like new, $4400 Call:754-2141 2005 Malibu Classic 60K, A/C, like new $3,000 Call: 754-1319 2005 Nissan Sentra A/C, auto., excellent conditions $4,200 Call: 754-1319 2005Toyota Corolla 84K miles,4 dr., A/C,4 cyl.,great cond.,Auto, $9000 OBO Call: 956-220-3356 ‘09 Mustang V6, 9K miles, 45th Anniv., $10,500 OBO Call: 220-0982
Ford Fussion ‘06, leather int., 6cyl., All power, 34K Miles, $6,900 Call 956-319-3979; 145*20307*4
Land Rover 00’, Blue title, $5,200 Excellent cond., Call 725-9354 Mazda 6 ‘07,33Kmil.,A/C,$6500 Call 956-237-5065; 62*13*34198
Basketball
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
Photo by Darron Cummings | AP
Wisconsin’s Trevon Hughes (3) and D.J. Richardson (1) of Illinois battle for a loose ball during the first half of their quarterfinal game at the Big Ten conference tournament in Indianapolis on Friday.
Photo by Chuck Burton | AP
In this Jan. 9 file photo, Charlotte Bobcats managing partner Michael Jordan, left, talks with player Stephen Jackson during the first half of a game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Charlotte, N.C. Jordan struck a deal in late February to buy a controlling interest in the Bobcats, and NBA Commissioner David Stern expects the deal to be approved next week.
Stern: Jordan approval as Bobcats owner soon By MIKE CRANSTON ASSOCIATED PRESS
The NBA has signed off on Michael Jordan’s bid to buy the Charlotte Bobcats, and commissioner David Stern expects the league’s board of governors to approve the $275 million purchase by the end of next week. In an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, Stern said he expects the vote to pass “very easily.” Jordan will become the first ex-player to own an NBA team and the second black majority owner. He’ll replace the first, Bob Johnson, who has lost tens of millions of dollars annually. “He considers himself a North Carolina native and he’s quite anxious to make this team into an important part of the community,” Stern said. “I think he has the capacity and the will to do that. I think he’s the right majority owner at the right time.”
Updated checks Stern said the league updated its background and financial checks on Jordan and found nothing to stop the deal. Stern said the six-time NBA champion is the sole investor in the ownership group for now, but expects him to try to find local partners. Jordan is putting up all the cash in the deal, which is for less than the $300 million Johnson paid for the expansion franchise that began play in the 2004-05 season. “I think it’s fair to say he can afford it,” Stern said. The deal includes taking on more than $150 million in debt, covering future losses and putting millions more in capital to make improvements. The Bobcats are expected to lose about $30 million this season. “There is going to be assumptions of debt, other obligations and infusions of cash to make sure the team can compete and
continue this turnaround,” Stern said.
Waiting to talk Jordan has declined interview requests, saying through a team spokesman he’ll speak once he’s approved as owner. The 47-year-old NBA superstar has been a partowner of the Bobcats and has had the final say on all basketball decisions since 2006. It was a return home for Jordan, who grew up in Wilmington, N.C., and led North Carolina to the national championship before winning five league MVP awards with the Chicago Bulls. The deal means the end of a money-losing run for Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television who saw the value of the team decline. The Bobcats have struggled to sell tickets and secure sponsorships since the NBA returned to Charlotte following the Hornets’ departure to New Orleans in 2002. “I have no doubt it can become successful again,” Stern said, referring to NBA’s presence in Charlotte. “And I think that given Michael’s determination and his business skills, that the turnaround that has begun as a business matter will continue very much so. Not simply on his watch, but driven by him.”
Original deal He struck a deal with Johnson just before midnight on Feb. 26, when his exclusive window to buy the team would have expired. Johnson would have been free to sell the team to a group led by George Postolos, a former Houston Rockets executive. Postolos likened it to Jordan hitting another lastsecond shot. Now, Jordan will take on a new role in a postplaying career that’s included his own line of apparel through Nike and
other businesses. Jordan had kept a low profile in Charlotte since buying into the team. But he’s been more visible since the deal was announced, sitting courtside next to the Bobcats’ bench for recent home games. “Does it mean as much to him as it does to some of the fans?” said Max Muhleman, who heads Charlotte-based Private Sports Consulting. “The only thing that’s been questioned is his interest in the job, literally the hours he puts in, the times he’s present, the times he’s away, and whether it’s a full-time commitment or not. “Is our team just another one of his ventures along with golf and restaurants and the other things, or is this the most important thing in his business life? Can we trust him to do everything we can to give us a great team and a great experience?
Making it work Many of Jordan’s friends and confidants are convinced Jordan will do everything he can to make it work. “Michael brings a familiarity to that community and perhaps can help get some people in the seats,” said Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who coached Jordan in Chicago. “I think Michael will be a great owner,” Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said. “He will do all he can to push the Bobcats to be a winner on the court and at the box office. It’s going to be great to see MJ yelling at a Bobcats game.” Stern has met with Jordan and said he’s eager to start. “He has confirmed that he’ll do whatever it takes to make this club a community asset,” Stern said, “He’ll spend whatever time is necessary to cause that to happen. I have no doubt about it.”
Wisconsin upset at Big Ten tourney ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — Mike Tisdale scored 21 points and Demetri McCamey had 13 as fifth-seeded Illinois hung on for a 58-54 upset of No. 13 Wisconsin in Friday’s Big Ten tournament quarterfinals. The Fighting Illini (1913) now face No. 5 Ohio State in Saturday’s semifinals. The Buckeyes advanced with a last-second 69-68 win over Michigan. Wisconsin (23-8) was led by Trevon Hughes and Jon Leuer, each with 14 points. Hughes led a frantic flurry in the closing minutes that got the Badgers in position to force overtime. But Jason Bohannon’s 3 with 15.9 seconds left clanked off the front of the rim, Mike Davis grabbed the rebound for Illinois and the Illini hung on. No. 5 Ohio State 69, Michigan 68 INDIANAPOLIS — Evan Turner drained a 37footer at the buzzer to give No. 5 Ohio State a 69-68 win over Michigan on Friday in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals. Turner took the inbounds pass, dribbled upcourt and pulled up barely past halfcourt. The Big Ten player of the year left his arm in the air after the release, confident the long shot would fall. His attempt was so close to the buzzer that the play was reviewed. When officials signaled the shot was good, the red-clad section of the crowd erupted. Turner finished with 18 points and eight assists for the Buckeyes (25-7), who advanced to play the winner between Illinois and No. 13 Wisconsin.
Southeastern No. 2 Kentucky 73, Alabama 67 NASHVILLE, Tenn. — John Wall had 23 points, including seven straight in the second half to give the Wildcats the lead for good, and No. 2 Kentucky overcame an 11-point deficit Friday in beating Alabama 73-67 in the Southeastern Conference tournament quarterfinals. The win gave Kentucky its 12th 30-win season — the most by any school — and the Wildcats’ first
since 2003 when they went 32-4. Kentucky (30-2) will play either No. 15 Tennessee or Mississippi in the semifinals Saturday looking to add a 26th tournament title to the 44th regular-season championship. Patrick Patterson scored 20 and Eric Bledsoe 10 for Kentucky. DeMarcus Cousins, who had 18 doubledoubles this season averaging 15.6 points and 10 rebounds per game, finished with seven points and eight boards. No. 15 Tennessee 76, Mississippi 65 NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Wayne Chism had 16 points and 15 rebounds as No. 15 Tennessee beat Mississippi 76-65 in the Southeastern Conference tournament quarterfinals on Friday. J.P. Prince added 17 points for Tennessee (25-7), which is 7-0 this season when Chism gets a doubledouble. The Vols’ win sets up a Saturday rematch with their most bitter rival, No. 2 Kentucky, which overcame an 11-point deficit to beat Alabama 73-67 earlier Friday. With the teams tied at 44, Tennessee went on a 9-0 run punctuated by a jump shot by Cameron Tatum to take a 53-44 lead with 13:21 left. Mississippi (21-10) answered with back-to-back 3s by Chris Warren from opposite sides of the baseline and a free throw by Trevor Gaskins — to trim the Vols’ lead to 2.
Atlantic Coast No. 4 Duke 57, Virginia 46 GREENSBORO, N.C. — Kyle Singler had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and No. 4 Duke pulled away late to beat pesky Virginia 57-46 on Friday in an Atlantic Coast Conference quarterfinal. Nolan Smith added 15 points for the top-seeded Blue Devils (27-5) and Jon Scheyer shook off a rough start to score 15 — including seven during the late 11-0 run that sent them into Saturday’s semifinal against the Miami-Virginia Tech winner. Jeff Jones had 15 points and Mike Scott added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers (15-16). They
got as close as 46-44 in the final 7 minutes, but went scoreless for nearly 6 minutes and were denied their first semi berth since 1995. Smith started the decisive run by sticking back Singler’s miss with about 6 minutes left. Scheyer banked in a jumper and Singler added a putback to give the Blue Devils plenty of breathing room. Miami 70, Virginia Tech 65 GREENSBORO, N.C. — Durand Scott scored 11 of his 17 points in the final 6 minutes and last-place Miami continued a stunning run in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament with a 70-65 victory over Virginia Tech on Friday. DeQuan Jones added 14 points for the 12th-seeded Hurricanes (20-12), who had lost 11 of 14 games coming into the postseason. They advanced to Saturday’s semifinals against top-seed and No. 4 Duke. Jeff Allen scored 18 points for fourth-seeded Virginia Tech, which couldn’t overcome a miserable performance by ACC leading scorer Malcolm Delaney. He was held to seven points on 3 of 15 shooting, including 0 of 8 from 3point range.
Atlantic 10 No. 17 Temple 69, St. Bonaventure 51 ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Juan Fernandez hit three 3-pointers and handed out three assists in a gameopening 24-8 run that led No. 17 Temple to a 69-51 victory over St. Bonaventure in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament on Friday. Fernandez finished with 17 points and matched a career high with seven assists as the top-seeded and two-time defending champion Owls (27-5) beat the Bonnies (15-16) for the 13th straight time. Lavoy Allen added 14 points and 15 rebounds and Michael Eric had 13 points to help Temple win its eighth straight game and 10th in 11. Andrew Nicholson had 13 points and seven rebounds for the eighth-seeded Bonnies, who beat Duquesne on Tuesday for their first win in the conference tournament since 2002.
No. 11 Texas A&M defeats No. 15 UT in quarterfinals By ERIC OLSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Aggies’ big three came through again. Tanisha Smith scored 21 points and Danielle Adams and Tyra White added 18 apiece as No. 11 Texas A&M used a big second-half run for a 77-64 victory over No. 15 Texas in a Big 12 tournament quarterfinal Friday. Smith, White and Adams entered the game accounting for 54 percent of Texas A&M’s scoring this season. But in their first game of the
Big 12 tournament, the trio from the Kansas City area one-upped themselves by providing 74 percent of the Aggies’ offense. “These Kansas City kids — 57 points between the three of them — it’s very special to be able to bring them back home,” Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said. The Aggies advanced to a semifinal Saturday against undefeated and third-ranked Nebraska, which got 24 points from Kelsey Griffin in a 63-46 victory over Kansas State. Smith, White and Adams sparked a 20-2 run to build a double-digit lead midway through the
second half that put Texas A&M in control. The Aggies (23-7) shot only 40 percent, but were picked up by timely scoring and efficient guard play. The trio accounted for 35 of the Aggies’ first 40 points, including the final 27 of the first half. “It was like a home game for us,” Adams said. After Ashleigh Fontenette’s two free throws gave Texas a 40-38 lead early in the second half, the Aggies responded with their run to build a 16-point lead with 9 minutes left. Smith, White and Adams combined for 13 of the 20 points.
Photo by Denny Medley | AP
Texas A&M’s Tanisha Smith (22) and Damitria Buchanan celebrate their 77-64 win over Texas on Friday.