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3/13/2009
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UPSETWIN BAYLOR GORES ’HORNS; CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NEXT
MARCH 14,2009
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Cutbacks likely for ZCISD By TARYN WHITE THE ZAPATA TIMES
In anticipation of a possible economic slowdown, the Zapata CISD Board of Trustees has eliminated five teaching positions through attrition and is taking a closer look at staffing arrangements in the district. According to RODRIGUEZ Romeo Rodriguez, Zapata County Independent School District superintendent, there are no plans to cut existing staff, but rather, the district won’t create new positions and won’t fill positions left vacant by retirements or resignations.
Becoming conservative “Right now we have a healthy fund balance, but most of our tax base comes from the fact that we are a mineral-rich district,” Rodriguez said. “We have to be conservative because if gas exploration keeps dropping we could become a property-poor district.” In the past two years, Zapata CISD has added 33 positions that Rodriguez said aren’t necessary
in a time when the district is trying to be frugal. “Most of those were supplemental academic positions,” Rodriguez said. Of the five positions eliminated, two were elementary school teachers and three were middle school teachers. To make up for the loss of staff, Rodriguez said there would be a shuffling of positions within the district and the teacher-to-student ratio will increase.
By TARYN WHITE
Through a possible misunderstanding, Zapata residents were allowed to purchase land designated as an easement running through the Falcon Mesa Subdivision, on FM 3074 off of Texas 16. And now those property GUERRA owners are finding out they don’t have the right to make any changes or build on the land they purchased. “They can’t build on the land because the easement was already there. We have the right to use it if we need another water or sewage line,” said County Commissioner Jose Emilio Vela. The easement was obtained by Zapata County in the early 1950s and is about four miles long and 50-feet wide going from the lake to the water treatment plant on Kennedy and 10th streets. The land was granted to the county from the federal government to be used for the county’s water line. Since that time, the land has been divided and sold. “We are not sure exactly how it all happened,” said Commissioner Joe Rathmell. “But we are very confident that the land falls within the easement.”
By NICK GEORGIOU THE ZAPATA TIMES
apatan Alexa Alvarez has had a lot on her plate the past seven months. The 11-year-old’s daily routine has gone a little something like this: wake up at dawn, get ready for school, feed the goat, go to school, return home, do homework, feed the goat again and exercise with it for about an hour. She’s also had cheerleading practice and 4-H North club meetings. “(My daughter) is pretty busy most of the week,” said Alvarez’s mother, Lillian Medina.
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The ratio According to Texas Association of School Boards, schools should have a ratio of 22 students to one teacher. Zapata CISD in most cases has a lower student to teacher ratio than that. “This will just get us more on target,” said Pedro Morales, principal at South Elementary School. “We are in the range but we can add more students to classrooms.” Tuesday night, the Zapata Board of Trustees heard a report on possible staffing improvements that can be made in the district. The report was based on a study conducted by the Texas
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
Alicia Villarreal congratulates 2009 Grand Champion Cabrito winner Daniela Santos after the competition Friday.
See FAIR | PAGE 12A
See ZCISD | PAGE 12A
Easement buys draw attention THE ZAPATA TIMES
Full days for busy contestant
Zapata Commissioners Court on Monday voted to hire Premier Engineering to survey and plot the land to clear up where exactly the easement falls. Although the land has been a part of the Falcon Mesa Subdivision since the 1970s, the issue of ownership only came up a couple of months ago. According to Vela, property owners approached the county after seeing county workers working on the land. “They thought we were trespassing on their private property,” Vela said. “After explaining it to the property owners, they were very understanding.” Vela added some of the owners may try to get their money back VELA from the purchase of the land. Also Monday, the court asked Hector Uribe, an attorney representing the county, to clarify Zapata County’s right to charge private utility companies for the use of county property or easements. According to County Judge Rosalva Guerra, because of the size of Zapata County, the county government acts as both a county and a city governing entity. “We established to have the same rights as a city about three
See COUNTY | PAGE 12A
ABOVE: Carlos Salinas holds Max the goat while Mario Landa air dries and Jorge Salinas watches in preparation for the Grand Champion judging. LEFT: Alexa Alvarez reacts as she walks Billy Bob before the competition.
President says the fair is packing in the crowds BY ERIKA LAMBRETON THE ZAPATA TIMES
The “Best Little Fair in Texas” is in full swing, and the crowds are expected to arrive in record numbers despite dreadful weather worries, said Anna Holcomb, Zapata County Fair president. With the unexpected winter blast that has residents reaching for their coats, there are many new activities to preoccupy fair goers and keep their minds off the weather. “It’s nice and cool,” said Elisa Roberts,
second vice president of the Zapata Fair Association, “but we’re keeping warm with all the fun (activities). With exciting events such as the White Tiger showcase and many carnival actives, children and adults alike will have hours of fun. “The people are turning up… we have a lot more attractions for the kids inside the fair grounds…to keep the kids occupied,” said Holcomb. This year’s fair has seen a rise in participation by vendors, who will provide food, crafts and assorted goods to in-
dulge in. Roberts, who has been attending the fair for as long as she can remember, said she was impressed by the participation levels this year, adding she had never seen such a great turnout. In the past, “it was smaller and (the fair) didn’t have many attractions but it was always fun,” said Roberts. “Now as one of the coordinators, I’ve learned that we have never (filled to) capacity as far as vendors are concerned.”
See WEATHER | PAGE 9A
ABOVE: Winners’ribbons hang next to paintings at the fair Friday afternoon. LEFT: Justin Roy Villarreal walks in an animal display area.