The Zapata Times 3/21/2009

SATURDAY

ON TO STATE LADY HAWKS POWERLIFTERS AT BIG MEET

MARCH 21,2009

FREE

1B

The Zapata Times DELIVERED EVERY SATURDAY

TO 4,000 HOMES

A HEARST PUBLICATION

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

BP seizes pot, apprehends man

Shown is some of the 1,106 pounds of marijuana seized Friday in Zapata County, valued at $884,800, according to the Border Patrol. One person was arrested in connection with the seizure.

By JASON BUCH THE ZAPATA TIMES

Courtesy photo

Landfill likely to expand

By TARYN WHITE THE ZAPATA TIMES

The Zapata County landfill on U.S. 83, two miles south of San Ygnacio, is getting dangerously close to operating at capacity, according to Pct. 3 Commissioner Joseph Rathmell.

At a special called meeting set for 2 p.m. Tuesday at the courthouse, the Zapata County Commissioners Court will review bids for the construction and expansion of the landfill.

According to Rathmell, adding 75,000 cubic yards should sustain RATHMELL Zapata’s needs for the next 30 years.

“This is something we have been thinking about for the last four years,” Rathmell said. “After looking at Zapata’s growth and speaking with engineers, we think this new landfill will work.”

The landfill can handle only household trash, and any waste created through construction has to be disposed of in Laredo.

Border Patrol agents seized more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana Friday in Zapata County.

Agents saw two boats crossing Falcon Lake and landing on the U.S. shore in the early morning.

Responding to the scene, they seized marijuana and apprehended one person in connection with the smuggling attempt, according to Border Patrol.

Drug traffickers regularly use boats to cross Falcon Lake and bring their cargo into Zapata County, said Roque Sariñana, a

Border Patrol spokesman.

Agents seized 1,106 pounds of marijuana, valued at $884,800, according to Border Patrol.

The marijuana and the suspect were turned over to the Zapata County Sheriff’s Department.

(Jason Buch may be reached at 728-2547 or jbuch@lmtonline.com)

FAIR PARADE ROUNDUP

Photos by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times

2009 Zapata County Little Miss Izabella Rodriguez holds on to her hat during the recent Zapata County Fair parade.

See MEETING | PAGE 9A

Book features Tejanos

By JULIE DAFFERN THE ZAPATA TIMES

Local author Jose Lopez aims to fill in a gap left by mainstream history books when it comes Texas Tejanos.

“My motto is that ‘Texas history without Tejanos is like a story with no ending,’” Lopez said.

LEFT: John Spiva and Dixie Nicholas of Four Seasons Mobile Home Park wave from their float.

RIGHT: Zapata County Fair parade marshals Oswaldo H. and Juanita G. Ramirez wave to onlookers as the parade begins.

Presenting his book

New water plant turns first dirt

He is scheduled to present his second book, “Nights of Wailing, Days of Pain,” to the Villa San Agustin Genealogy Society today at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio’s Laredo campus, 1937 Bustamante St. The book is set in the 1920s, and though Lopez never states the city the story is based in, he said it’s loosely set on Zapata and Laredo.

By TARYN WHITE

Telling a story

LAREDO MORNING TIMES

“It’s about a family that kind of tells the story that many families lived, and that is trying to retain their land from greedy people with money,” Lopez said.

The author, born and raised in Laredo, also has Zapata roots, as his grandfather served as county sheriff from 1929 to 1938.

“I have grown up hearing about stories, and you know as much as the subject of the southwest and Texas is popular around authors and movie directors, very few of them have a setting of a Tejano

Zapata County will soon welcome a new 7.2-million gallon water treatment facility that is double the size of the county’s current facility.

“The current facility is operating at capacity,” said Jacob Rathmell, project engineer. “They are selling everything they produce.”

The current facility produces 3 million gallons of water per day and is around 30 years old.

See LOPEZ | PAGE 10A

Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times

A ground-breaking ceremony took place Wednesday at the site for the new water treatment plant. From left, Engineer Robert McCarty, Commissioner Pct. 3 Joe Rathmell, Commissioner Pct. 2 Gabriel Villegas, CountyJudge Rosalva Guerra, Commissioner Pct. 4 Norberto Garza, Commissioner Pct. 3 Jose Vela, water treatment plant manager Carlos Treviño and project engineer Jacob Rathmell.

According to Judge Rosalva Guerra, the new facility will meet the demands of Zapata County for the next 50 years.

“We should be ready for any future demands as far as growth for the next 30 to 50 years,” Guerra said. “This is a good way for preparing our infrastructure.”

Wednesday, Ryan Construction broke ground at 1100 Kennedy St., where the new facility will span one city block and is

See FACILITY | PAGE 10A

Zin brief

SATURDAY, MARCH 21,2009

AROUND TEXAS | IN BRIEF

WHAT’S GOING ON MONDAY,MARCH 23

TUESDAY,MARCH 24 Zapata County Commissioners Court has a special called meeting at 2 p.m.at the Zapata County Courthouse,200 E. 7th Ave., Suite 108.

FRIDAY,MARCH 27 The Zapata County Waterworks Department will be having a Relayfor Life Pizza plate fundraiser today at their offices located at 605 North Hwy 83.The plate consists of two slices of pizza,a soda and chips for $5.

Plates will be avaliable for pick up starting at noon.All proceeds will go to the Zapata County Relay for Life Team. For more information or to place an order, call 765-9975.

WEDNESDAY,APRIL 8

Photo by Delcia Lopez/The San Antonio Express-News | AP

Spring breakers enjoy a dance contest at the Radisson hotel beach on South Padre Island, on Wednesday.

FRIDAY,APRIL 10 Today is a staff development day at Zapata Independent School district; no class for students. Pre-registration will be held today for the Falcon Lake Big Bass Tournamanet, which kicks off tomorrow, at the Holiday Restaurant. Or you can register online at www.zapatausa.com For more information please call the Zapata Chamber of Commerce at 765-4871.

SATURDAY,APRIL 11 Falcon Lake Big Bass Tournament is set to start today. Planning is underway for live entertainment and food sponsors.

For more information, call the Zapata Chamber of Commerce at 765-4871.

SUNDAY,APRIL 12 Today is the start of National Library Week. The San Ygnacio Public Library and the County Public Library will celebrate AmnestyWeek.During this special week,no late fees will be charged on any book that is returned, regardless of how overdue it is.

The event runs though April 18.For more information, call 765-5351.

MONDAY,APRIL 13 Easter Monday. No classes today for Zapata Independent School District students.

SATURDAY,APRIL 18 Today is the last day of Amnesty Week at the San Ygnacio Public Library as part of its celebration of National Library Week. For more information, call 765-5351 The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce will have a fishing tournament for bass champs today at the Zapata County public boat ramp. For more information, call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at 765-4871.

TUESDAY,APRIL 21 The Ramiro T. Flores Public Park will be breaking ground today. For more information,call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at 765-4871.

THURSDAY,APRIL 30 The Laredo Entertainment Center proudly announces “Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey,” beginning today at 7:30 p.m.Tickets are on sale now at the LEC Box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 712-1566.

FRIDAY,MAY 1 The Laredo Entertainment Center continues their presentation of “Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey,”at 7:30 p.m.Tickets are on sale nowat the LEC Boxoffice,all Ticketmaster outlets,ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 712-1566.

Spring break party rages on but South Padre still in recovery

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — The beach dance party throbbed, knots of bikiniclad spring breakers flip-flopped down Padre Boulevard and hotels neared capacity, but those with the advantage of watching decades of the annual March bacchanalia said this week their island is still in recovery.

Hurricance Dolly, which slammed the island with 100 mph winds in late July, ripped off roofs, blew out windows and erased a normally tourist-rich August.

Powerless for weeks, the island’s tourismoriented leaders were forced to ask the tourists to stay away.

One afternoon this week, an estimated 18,000 bronzed breakers pounded beers and mingled under their college banners on Coca-Cola Beach, spring break’s prime soda-sponsored sand. The island’s spring break headquarters sits behind Isla Grand, the only one of the island’s fullservice hotels to reopen.

Just beyond earshot of the pounding bass and shouts for free swag, workers continued repairs and renovations on

Publisher, William B. Green . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2501 Business Manager Dora Martinez.. . . . (956) 500-4748 Chief Accountant,Thelma Aguero . . . . . . .728-2553 General Manager,Adriana Devally . . . . . . .728-2510 Retail Adv. Manager,Alice Arce . . . . . . . . . .728-2511 Classified Manager, Sandra Valderrama . .728-2525 Adv. Billing Inquires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2531 Circulation Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2550 Creative/Production Director, Raul Cruz .728-2596 MIS Director, Michael Castillo . . . . . . . . . . .728-2505 Editor, Diana Fuentes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2581 City Editor,Julie Daffern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2565 Sports Editor, Dennis Silva II . . . . . . . . . . .728-2579 Business Journal Editor,Joe Rutland . . . .728-2529 A&E Editor, Kirsten Crow . . . . . . . . . . . . . .728-2543

SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of Laredo Morning Times and those who buy LMT at newstands.The Zapata Times is inserted inside.

The Zapata Times is free.

The Zapata Times is published by Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, PO Box 2129, Laredo,Texas 78044. Phone (956)728-2500 The Zapata office is at 1309 N. US Highway 83 at 14th Avenue,Suite 2; Zapata,TX,78076.Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes@att.net

The Zapata Times

other hotels and condo towers.

Nearly eight months later, three of South Padre Island’s four full-service hotels remain shuttered, taking some 700 rooms out of a hotel occupancy rate that at first glance seems bright.

One of those hotels, the Bahia Mar, this month pushed back its reopening date from May 2009 to March 2010.

The Bahia Mar, which anchors the north end of Padre Boulevard, still bares Dolly’s scars.

The emptiness of its 240 rooms extends to surrounding businesses.

“That affects us now,” said Angie Hashash, owner of the Island Market store south of the hotel. “The people who stay there, shop here.”

Even “Texas Week,” spring break’s peak on the island, has seemed slower than usual, she said. In addition to the big hotels being closed, many of the beach houses normally rented to spring breakers are still under repair, she said.

“Just yesterday we started to feel there’s a crowd,” Hashash said. “But it’s still not the crowd we’re used to. I don’t think we’re going to see that for awhile.”

Speaker critical of stimulus plan

Audit: Border millions spent elsewhere

Deputy to plead guilty in drug case

NEW BRAUNFELS — House Speaker Joe Straus said Friday he “strongly disagrees” with the federal economic stimulus package, even though the money expected to flow into Texas will help balance the state budget for the next two years.

Criticizing Congress and President Barack Obama for creating massive debt, Straus called the money a “one-time infusion of cash that will leave the state legislatures holding the bag in the future.”

The federal debt and deficit “are set to explode,” he said.

McALLEN — Millions of state tax dollars tagged for increased border security were spent on law enforcement equipment and positions away from border areas, according to a state audit.

The Office of Emergency Management spent most of more than $79 million between September 2005 and November 2008 to combat crime in border regions, but the report from the State Auditor’s Office cited several examples of squad cars, helicopters and new positions that landed elsewhere in Texas.

DALLAS — A veteran Dallas County sheriff ’s deputy has agreed to plead guilty for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Standric Choice, 36, is expected to formally enter his plea next week to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and possessing with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.

—Compiled from AP reports

Doctor accused of abuse forfeits license

Stocks fall,but still log gains

RALEIGH, N.C. — A wellknown North Carolina pediatrician accused of conducting improper genital exams on five patients reached an agreement Friday with North Carolina regulators that will keep him from practicing medicine in the U.S. Dr. Melvin D. Levine of Chapel Hill signed the agreement with the North Carolina Medical Board, which permanently ends any opportunity to practice medicine in North Carolina or any other state.

Levine, who voluntarily surrendered his license last year, “continues to adamantly deny the allegations and maintains that all examinations were medically necessary” and performed properly, said his lawyer.

NEW YORK — Wall Street’s mid-March rally is on hold, but the Dow Jones industrial average still managed its first twoweek gain in close to a year.

After starting Friday mixed, stocks veered lower in the afternoon as financial shares fell and investors collected profits from the advance that saw the Dow rise 14 percent over seven trading days. One reason for the market’s pause after such a big surge: It ran out of upbeat economic and corporate news the past two days.

The major indexes did eke out a gain for the week. The Fed jolted the market this week with an announcement of plans to buy hundreds of billions of dollars worth of debt securities in hopes of reviving lending.

Report states threat to Hawaii birds HONOLULU — Hawaii’s native avian population is in peril, with nearly all the state’s birds in danger of becoming extinct, a federal report says.

One-third of the nation’s endangered birds are in Hawaii, said the report, issued Thursday by the Interior Department.

Thirty-one Hawaiian bird species are listed as endangered.

Diseases, especially those borne by mosquitoes, are a iller.

One of those in trouble is the palila, a yellow-crowned songbird that lives on the upper slopes of Mauna Kea. Its population plunged by more than 60 percent from 6,600 in 2002 to 2,200 last year.

Habitat loss and predators are part of the problem.

$1.15M settlement over 1995 shooting NEW YORK — The families of two robbery suspects who died in a barrage of police bullets more than a decade ago settled a lawsuit with the city Friday for $1.15 million.

The families’ attorneys had just rested their case during the trial when the deal was announced. Relatives had sought $20 million, but their attorney said they were content, accepting the settlement as affirmation that excessive force was used.

Hilton Vega was shot eight times and his cousin Anthony Rosario 14 times when they arrived at an apartment on Jan. 12, 1995.

—Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE WORLD | IN BRIEF Holloway’s dad sends search dog to Aruba

Chavez,foes’ tensions rise

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Natalee Holloway’s father flew a search dog and handler to Aruba to search for the missing teen’s body on Friday.

A spokeswoman for the Aruba Prosecutors’ Office said the dog is searching a small reservoir in northwestern Aruba that witnesses have previously identified as a location where Holloway’s remains might be found.

Neither police nor prosecutors have any new information in the case, but they gave Dave Holloway permission to search.

CARACAS, Venezuela — A move to arrest a prominent opposition leader is aggravating tensions between Venezuela’s government and opponents who are protesting what they call a new offensive by President Hugo Chavez against his adversaries.

Opposition groups staged a demonstration Friday in Maracaibo after a prosecutor called for the arrest of Mayor Manuel Rosales, a prominent Chavez opponent.

Globovision TV broadcast footage of hundreds of protesting Rosales supporters.

—Compiled from AP reports

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

TODAY IN HISTORY ASSOCIATED PRESS

CONTACT US

2A

AROUND THE NATION | IN BRIEF

Classes resume after the Spring Break holiday for the Zapata Independent School District.

The Zapata County Museum will have its ground breaking today.For more information,call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at 765-4871.

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Today is Saturday, March 21, the 80th day of 2009. There are 285 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On March 21, 1685, composer Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany.

On this date: In 1804, the French civil code, or the “Code Napoleon” as it was later called, was adopted.

In 1806, Mexican statesman Benito Juarez was born in Oaxaca.

In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan began a four-day conference in Bermuda.

In 1960, some 70 people were killed in Sharpeville, South Africa, when police fired on demonstrators.

In 1963, the Alcatraz federal prison island in San Francisco Bay was emptied of its last inmates at the order of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.

In 1965, more than 3,000 civil rights demonstrators led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. began their march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.

In 1990, Namibia became an independent nation as the former colony marked the end of 75 years of South African rule.

T e n y e a r s a g o : Israel’s Supreme Court rejected a final effort to have American teenager Samuel Sheinbein returned to the United States to face murder charges. At the Academy Awards, “Shakespeare in Love” won seven Oscars, including best picture and best actress for Gwyneth Paltrow; Roberto Benigni won best actor for “Life is Beautiful,” while Steven Spielberg won best director for “Saving Private Ryan.”

Five years ago: The White House disputed assertions by President George W. Bush’s former counterterrorism coordinator, Richard A. Clarke, that the administration had failed to recognize the risk of an attack by alQaida in the months leading up to 9/11. (Clarke’s assertions were contained in a new book, “Against All Enemies,” that went on sale the next day.) Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid won the prestigious 2004 Pritzker Architecture Prize, becoming the first woman to receive the profession’s highest honor.

One year ago: Officials ad-

mitted that at least four State Department workers had pried into the supposedly secure passport files of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain, prompting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to personally apologize to the presidential contenders.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Al Freeman Jr. is 78. Violinist-conductor Joseph Silverstein is 77.

Actress Kathleen Widdoes is 70.

Singer Solomon Burke is 69. Actress Marie-Christine Barrault is 65. Rhythm-and-blues singer Russell Thompkins Jr. (The Stylistics) is 58. Comedy writer-performer Brad Hall is 51. Actress Sabrina LeBeauf is 51. Actor Gary Oldman is 51. Actor Matthew Broderick is 47. Comedian-talk show host Rosie O’Donnell is 47.

Rock musician Jonas “Joker” Berggren (Ace of Base) is 42.

Rock MC Maxim (Prodigy) is 42.

Rock musician Andrew Copeland (Sister Hazel) is 41. Hip-hop DJ Premier (Gang Starr) is 40.

T h o u g h t f o r T o d a y : “One friend in a lifetime is much; two are many; three are hardly possible.” — Henry Brooks Adams, American historian and author (1838-1918).

Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais | AP

First lady Michelle Obama, left, hugs former NASA Astronaut Mae C. Jemison, as she welcomes guests to the Diplomatic Room of the White House in Washington, on Thursday. Obama is hosting a series of events in celebration of Women’s History Month.

Zlocal

SATURDAY,MARCH 21,2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

3A

Bishop urges people Businessman, civic leader carries on traditions to help others in need he economic recession continues to gain headlines in the media and sits at the forefront of everyone’s concern.

As I have reflected upon the current economic climate and the swirl of negativity, it brought to mind the potential additional hazards that can arise in this frenzied state of mentality.

I am afraid of the hysteria that could engulf our community and nation. It is in desperate times that we seemingly detach from our human dignity and digress to a selfish mentality.

It’s in this situation that people tend to go into a survival mode and trample on others in the name of getting ahead.

However, we cannot allow evil to overcome good. Selfishness must not supplant generosity.

After all, it is greed that got us into this situation in the first place.

So we must counter with generosity and love. We must respond instead with a willingness and openness to see the needs of others even if life is difficult for us.

Instead of asking “why me,” we should ask “why not me” in an effort to help others who are more in need.

We must learn to accept that adversities are blessings in disguise if handled with the right attitude.

With the correct outlook, we can seize every challenge as an

T

BISHOPJAMES TAMAYO opportunity for us to grow and become stronger and more compassionate human beings.

We must allow for these struggles to change the way we view life by channeling the devastation and desperation of hardship into a force for positive change.

Our current economic hardship can be the catalyst for creating good in our community.

So how do we accomplish this when fear and hatred strain the bonds of loyalty, compassion and love?

In the face of the pain, sadness and frustration life can bring, we must practice responsibility, consideration and maintain hope.

By maintaining hope, as opposed to focusing on sorrow, we begin looking for opportunities and solutions to help our more needy neighbors, and ultimately, ourselves.

In the midst of these dark times we strive towards the light seeking peace and solace.

And, it is a matter of choice.

Just like Leonard Abess Jr., a banker in Miami.

He sold his stake in City National Banchares for $60 million.

But he didn’t keep it.

Instead, he helped his neighbors by handing over the money to the tellers, bookkeepers, clerks, etc. at the bank — 471 current and retired employees at the bank received an unexpected bonus.

Then there’s Libby and Brad Birky who opened So All May Eat (SAME) Café in Denver.

SAME Café is a non-profit restaurant that has neither a cash register nor prices for food on its menu.

The customers pay what they want or what they can afford. Customers order, eat and pay afterward.

And if you can’t afford the meal with money, then you are asked to volunteer for at least an hour helping in the restaurant.

These stories serve as an amazing testimony to the good in people and as a triumph of the human spirit.

What can you do to help our neighbor?

The possibilities are endless.

Just look at Leonard, Libby and Brad as examples of what is possible when done Todo Con Amor.

(Bishop James A. Tamayo heads the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laredo, which seven counties, including Zapata.)

Police blotter incorrect An item in the blotter published on Page 3A of The Zapata Times on Saturday, March 7, about a March 5 arrest on a charge of marijuana possession contained incorrect information.

In fact, the person who was detained was a juvenile whose name was not released.

Jose Luis Saenz, assistant principal at Zapata High School, was the one who called the sheriff’s department to report that he had found a juvenile in possession of marijuana on March 5. The juvenile was taken into custody at the school at that time.

No one related to Saenz was involved in the case.

The original information was provided on a report filed with the Zapata County Sheriff’s Department, which was released to the

public as required by law under the state’s open government laws.

The sheriff’s department was

not responsible for the error; information provided on their report form was correct.

BY DORA MARTINEZ

COLUMN

Aurelio Villarreal, a graduate of Zapata High School, is a wellknown businessman and civic leader.

He’s the son of the late Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal, a prominent couple who owned and ran The Blue Bonnet Cafe for several years.

I remember as child when Greyhound bus line had a pickup there, and we enjoyed the ambiance of that wonderful place.

People just loved to go and browse and at the same time made friends and loved their meals.

Aurelio went on with his own life and took a job in Laredo working for the Laredo Savings and Loan. He later came home to open his own savings and loan.

He was the vice president for five

years. The facility later became the Falcon National Bank.

Villarreal continued to make good use of the business mind he got from his parents and started his own franchise with State Farm Insurance. He has now been working as an agent for more than 22 years and has enjoyed every bit of it.

In his spare time he does a variety of community work, including working for the county appraisal district, serving as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, serving on the board of directors of the Zapata County Fair Association and being actively involved in the Knights of Columbus.

Villarreal worked very hard as the chairman of the county’s sesquicentennial celebra-

tion, producing all the fireworks for the festivities, which recognized the county’s 150th anniversary.

Aurelio and his wife, Lucila, have three children: Patty, a Zapata High School teacher; Judy, a senior at Zapata High School; and Aurelio Adrian, an eighth grader at Zapata Middle School.

His sister, the late Olga V. Figueroa, also was very active; the public library is named in her honor. And the Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary Schools honors his late parents.

Aurelio Villarreal is an “orgullo” of our county and pride of our town.

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

Zopinion

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

SATURDAY,MARCH 21,2009

4A

OTHER VIEWS

EDITORIAL

U.S. should take steps to restore safer dinner table SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

his country’s tattered food safety system keeps breaking down: sick cattle processed by slaughterhouses, tainted produce and contaminated peanuts that have killed nine consumers.

What’s needed is a top-to-bottom overhaul, the kind that President Obama seems intent on pushing through.

This week he named new leadership for the creaking Food and Drug Administration, requested $1 billion for wider inspections and testing, and promised a modernized food safety system after a multi-agency review of tangled federal rules.

It’s an ambitious package from a promise-heavy new administration But it sets the bar for reform at the right level. This country’s abundant food supply is dangerously prone to disease and error.

His choice of New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Mar-

T

garet Hamburg puts a talented public servant at the top of the tree. She’s no crony of industry or special interests.

The White House wants to back her with $1 billion more for inspection work. Last year, the agency inspected only 7,000 of some 150,000 food facilities while foreign plants were barely touched. These huge gaps almost guarantee mistakes, especially as imports claim a bigger share of the grocery bill.

Obama wants more than money thrown at the problem. A splintered, complicated food safety network, spread among many federal agencies, needs simplified and direct lines of authority. It’s an idea he wants the Cabinet secretaries of health and agriculture to work out while Congress pushes its own food safety bill to centralize responsibilities.

The wave of food scares may end up producing one useful result: a deserved makeover of an outdated and unhealthy food safety system.

COLUMN

Your dollars cast votes for survival

By DIANE CAMERON ALBANY TIMES UNION

LBANY, N.Y. — In magazines and self-help books, we sometimes are offered tests or quizzes to help us understand our true values. We answer yes or no or say “mostly true” to a set of hypothetical scenarios and then tally the score to find out what really matters to us.

Now, thanks to the economy, we don’t need to bother with a quiz.

The recession is a giant exercise in values clarification.

The difference is that in this game, the scenarios are all real.

The questions are: What are you willing to spend on? And what are you willing to give up?

In this version, you will confirm with 100 percent accuracy what really matters to you. When we have discretionary money, we don’t always have to think or be clear about what matters. But that has changed.

It’s like those lunchtime conversations where the gossip turns to, “Well, if my husband ever . . .” and we’re so sure we know. And then our husband does and we realize that looking at your own life is not the same as looking at someone else’s.

The recession forces choices and we have to decide: I’ll give up the shoes, but not the hair. Someone else might give up lawn care, but not golf.

What is it for you? House or car? Tuition or vacation? If you think you have a clear handle on your values, take two zeros off your income and think again.

Every check you sign advances your beliefs. Those of us who grew up in the time of the farm workers’ boycott remember how this works. By not buying grapes or lettuce, we knew we were making a difference in labor politics and in the lives of farm workers.

A

Now we don’t even have to boycott. We just have to be conscious of how we spend.

We had the big election last fall, but now we have the important one.

This is the recession election and every dollar is a vote for your values. In a time when many feel powerless, we have the power of each purchase we make and each one we defer.

A key word now is thrift. We talk about being thrifty and we mean frugality, carefulness. But we forget that thrift originally meant “the condition of thriving.”

At its origins, thrift is spiritually based. It invited carefulness, yes.

But it also meant care for all of one’s life and care for the common good.

We now get to decide what businesses will survive. Are you cutting out dry cleaning? The good deli? You just voted on someone else’s’ livelihood.

You believe in the arts? Then you have to come up with that museum membership and the theater subscription no matter what.

Maybe you’ve always had disdain for big box stores. Then this is the moment to cast your vote at an independent bookstore. Twenty bucks says “I believe.”

Your own future is a candidate in this election as well. Do you have a dream of someday owning your own small business? A retirement fantasy of a little shop?

Then guess whom you should patronizing? Economic karma is real.

Even the most conservative laissez-faire economist will agree; Power follows dollars. Look around, read the ads and connect the dots and your dollars to the services, people and issues that you care about.

Vote now, vote often and let your values show.

(To reach Diane Cameron, email dcameron6@nycap.rr.com)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Zapata Times does not publish anonymous letters. To be published, letters must include the writer’s first and last names as well as a phone number to verify identity. The phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary.

People who want to air their opinions publicly must do so openly. We want to assure our readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the letter; The Zapata Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms.

Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-calling or gratuitous abuse is allowed.

This space allows for public debate of the issues of the day. We do publish “thank you” letters, but due to limited space, we ask writers to list no more than 10 names in such letters.

Mail letters to 111 Esperanza Drive; Laredo, TX 78041. Or email to editorial@lmtonline.com or drop it off at 1309 N. US Highway 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, in Zapata.

COLUMN

Definition of insanity: AIG bonuses ATLANTA — We have lost our minds.

When the history of the Great Recession is written, what better illustration of our collective mental breakdown could there be than the AIG saga.

We are on the edge of mass hysteria over the payment of $165 million to some 400 employees of the unit that insured much of the risky behavior that has sent the world careening from one crisis to another.

What’s driving us nuts is the insanity.

There is no legitimate bonus plan that pays out when the company crashes into the ground.

Paying bonuses for causing the collapse of the company is, by definition, insane. It also could be fraud, which prohibits conveying company assets without receiving fair market value.

Ditto the standard “acts of God” clauses that would void contractual obligations.

THOMAS OLIVER Those contracts are no more redeemable than Confederate money. And if they’ve already been paid, then send in the collectors.

Our economist in chief, Lawrence Summers, says the government might not be able to do anything about agreements reached prior to the takeover of the failed insurance giant.

“We are a country of law.

There are contracts. The government cannot just abrogate contracts,” he said in a TV interview Sunday.

The government can’t, but

bankruptcy judges can.

Here is further proof that AIG should be in bankruptcy court, along with GM. In bankruptcy court, ridiculous contracts get tossed. Quickly and without a congressional sideshow.

If the president’s team of lawyers can’t figure this out, he needs a new team, because this ain’t brain surgery. Or high-level law.

But then again, maybe it is.

What the president, his advisers, Cabinet members and members of Congress seem to have forgotten is that AIG is a subsidiary of the federal government.

There is no distancing the chairman or the board from the actions of its management. You can’t take over a company and then act like it’s acting on its own.

But then again, you can’t expect a government-owned subsidiary to pay the consequences

of the marketplace either. If we won’t let the marketplace work, then we shouldn’t accuse the marketplace of not working.

We have so distorted the marketplace that we are living the definition of insanity: We keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Too big to fail is becoming the babble of the asylum. Too big to fail is what brought us here.

We are reaping the whirlwind of the risky behavior we continue to underwrite. Like parents unwilling to accept the notion their children will never grow up unless they have to, we increase their allowance at the same time we demand they get a job.

Mr. President, if you want to stop these outrages, quit funding them.

(To reach Thomas Oliver, who writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, e-mail toliver@ajc.com)

YOUR OPINION Supporting Bucks during playoffs also helps the South Texas Food Bank and Sacred Heart kids To the editor: Spend just $5 for a Laredo Bucks playoff game to help two good causes, the South Texas Food Bank and the Sacred Heart Children’s Home. Wow! That’s the offer to Laredo and area hockey fans from Laredo Energy and Border Lease for the Bucks first playoff

game at home on April 1 at the Laredo Entertainment Center.

And if the game is sold out (8,000 fans) Laredo Energy and Border Lease will donate at least $10,000 to a pair of notable charities — the South Texas Food Bank and Sacred Heart Children’s Home.

It’s the second annual “Pack

the House” deal. The game was a sellout last year and the food bank and children’s home benefited.

Yes, all tickets are $5. What a bargain. Go out and buy them.

They are available the LEC box office, which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Thank you and blessings to Glenn Hart of Laredo Energy and Ramiro Alarcon of Border Lease for being generous sportsmen.

Arriba, Bucks!

Signed, Salo Otero Director of Development South Texas Food Bank

Be aware: take the American Diabetes Association’s online risk test To the editor: Diabetes has many faces – it can affect anyone regardless of age, ethnicity, or social status.

In type 2 diabetes, symptoms often do not appear until it is too late.

If left untreated, diabetes can lead to deadly complications – including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation.

One in five Americans is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, or is unaware that they already have the disease. With

such staggering numbers, how many people in the city of Laredo could be at risk or undiagnosed?

Tuesday, March 24, is the American Diabetes Association’s 21st Annual American Diabetes Alert Day. This is an opportunity for all Americans, including those in our own community, to take charge of their health by taking the American Diabetes Association’s online Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they could be at risk for type 2 diabetes. The Di-

abetes Risk Test is available at diabetes.org/alert or by calling 1-800-DIABETES for more information.

Research has shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by losing just 5-10 percent of body weight through regular physical activity (30 minutes a day, five days a week) and healthy eating. F or people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes – whether they have type 1 or type 2 diabetes – these same lifestyle changes can make sig-

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

nificant differences in how diabetes is managed.

I strongly urge your readers to take the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Risk Test and wish to remind everyone that the important thing to remember is that in order to prevent or treat type 2 diabetes, the first step is finding out how you, or someone you love, could be affected.

Signed, Bob Zachariah Chair Laredo Leadership Board

Zlife

SATURDAY,MARCH 21,2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

5A

ATTHE FAIR Janie Llano, Susie Briseno and Jessica Moore at 2009 Zapata County Parade.

Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times

MISS MANNERS | BYJUDITH MARTIN Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times

Champion Mexican kayaker Carlos Garcia rows along the Rio Grande during the scouting trip Sunday.

Kayakers eye the Rio Grande as racing grounds

By ZACH LINDSEY LAREDO MORNING TIMES

ess than a half-hour into the kayaking trip, Bob Zachariah was satisfied that the Rio Grande, which curved off in front of him, would be a suitable place for a kayak race.

Because of the curve of the river, it was impossible to tell where the United States ended and Mexico began.

There were no human indicators, either. There hadn’t been evidence of people since the kayakers briefly stopped to talk to Nuevo Laredo’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau when they set off from the Columbia Bridge.

L

A perspective spot Zachariah, of the Hotel and Lodging Association, had representatives of kayaking organizations from both sides of the border with him to scout a strip of the river between the Columbia Bridge and Los Dos Laredos Park to see firsthand whether it would be suitable for a kayak race on Oct. 10.

It’s tempting to make it seem like a hardcore adventure, but it was mostly a relaxing day. Kayaking down the Rio Grande may seem like a dangerous trip, but the segment of the river the scouting trip was on was arguably safer than bicycling down McPherson Road.

The theory that kayakers would be shot at, described by at least one concerned citizen of Laredo, is completely untrue. As Zachariah and Eric Ellman of Los Caminos Del Rio both repeated like a mantra: “Legal activity displaces illegal activity.”

The water But is the water clean? Texas A&M University biology teacher Tom Vaughan said he’d drink out of the river — north of Laredo proper, that is.

“In general, if I were really thirsty, if I were up river of Laredo, I would drink out of the river,” Vaughan said. He wouldn’t recommend it, but he’d do it in a pinch.

Up north by Columbia, the river is healthier than

See KAYAKERS | PAGE 6A

Teacher gets silent treatment DEAR MISS MANNERS — I am the mother of an 8-year-old boy with Asperger’s syndrome.

He’s extremely intelligent and highly emotional.

Second grade presented him with significantly greater expectations in the classroom, which he greeted with significantly more disruptive behavior.

His father and I and the school intervened quickly and were, we believed, working collaboratively to help him learn appropriate behavior within the constraints of the public school system.

I’ll spare you the details; what matters is that each day was pretty unpredictable and stressful for him, his teacher and his classmates.

His teacher was an experienced professional (20-plus years in the school) who had taught our older child two years before. Apparently, she reached her tipping point, because out of the blue one day, the principal informed us that she was changing our son’s classroom placement in order to give him “a new beginning.” He managed the transition pretty

well, though he was very sad about leaving behind the friends he had made in his original class.

I simply cannot find it within me to greet her civilly when I see her in the hallways. I cannot even bring myself to make eye contact with her.

My son has moved on, emotionally, but what he doesn’t know is that she just gave up on him; she decided she couldn’t tolerate the disruptions he caused in her classroom and asked for him to be transferred. (I know this from a conversation with his present teacher.)

Even realizing that such a teacher makes a bad match for my special-needs child has not helped me to forgive her.

I know also that I am modeling a bad example for my son, which adds to my distress (except that he is oblivious to nonverbal social cues, so unless I were to instruct him not to speak to her, which I’d never do, I can nearly rationalize my own bad behavior). My son is not a monster; he has a medical disability, and it kills me that her decision signals

to every other teacher in the school that she views him as ungovernable.

I assume my anger will dissipate with time, but in the meanwhile, I want to behave better.

Can you make some suggestions for the next time I encounter her at school?

GENTLE READER — Look her in the eye. Greet her civilly.

And if it doesn’t choke you, tell her that you appreciate her having tried to deal with what you acknowledge is a difficult situation.

Since you are appealing to Miss Manners, she assumes that you know she will not justify behaving, as you admit, badly. But it may help you to know that behaving graciously is the best thing you can do for your son.

It isn’t only the example, although you should not count on his total oblivion to your distress.

He has evidently not been branded as ungovernable, because another class was found for him.

You do not want to saddle him with the burden of being part of a package deal with an ungovernable mother.

6A | THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2009

Erick Ellman looks onward as he examines the river for a possible route for competition in kayaking.

Photos by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times

Erick Ellman relaxes for a while after kayaking for over two hours as he reaches the midway point in his trip along the Rio Grande.

KAYAKERS Continued from Page 5A most residents of Laredo give it credit for. Between the Columbia Bridge and Bob Bullock Loop, dozens of tall, thin herons and other birds fished easily from the river. Closer to the more heavily populated areas, the fisher birds were replaced by people — on the Mexican side, at least. Their luck seemed to be just as good.

This section of the Rio Grande is an ideal place for beginning kayakers. More than one person on the trip was a novice, and nobody flipped themselves over.

Parts of the river are wide and comfortable channels because of dams and other forms of human meddling upstream, which makes the river even better for first-timers.

The biggest danger on the path the kayakers want for their race is sunburn. Seriously — wear sunblock. That’s not friendly advice. It’s a warning.

As for the energy required, it wasn’t much worse than an hour or so on a bicycle.

Kayaking is actually a great complement for recreational biking. It works the arms instead of the legs, gives you a change of scene and falls in the same general price range.

A two-person kayak like the one that Zachariah had was about $450, and that’s including two generic paddles and two life vests.

River racing is the fastestgrowing sport in Mexico, according to Zachariah, and 14 million people in the United States have spent time in a kayak or canoe.

The race would be binational, with Mexican competitors getting in on the Mexican side of the river and U.S. competitors getting in on the United States side.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo allows people from either country to use the entire river for recreational purposes without any sort of permit, but if you take so much as one step onto the shore of the opposite country, you are legally obliged to declare yourself at a port of entry.

“I’ve always had a dream to do something similar to the (Hill Country) Wine and Food Festival,” Zachariah said — although, in Laredo’s case, he pictures tequila and food. On the scouting mission, they called out places where they could imagine a taco stand on one side of the river or another.

Zachariah hopes to get 250 competitors for the first event, and with Ellman and Ken Kieffer of the Texas Canoe Racing Association, rabidly promoting the potential event on this side, and the Mexican kayaking champion Carlos Garcia excited about it, that may be a reasonable estimate.

“Spreading this sport over the border will make a marriage of the border,” said Carlos’ father, Diego Garcia. As for the race, “the main thing is to invite both sides of the border. If they want to ride anything that floats, they can participate.”

Although the city and county governments have not formally approved the race, at least one council member is happy to support it.

“Anything we can do to promote more outdoor activities is great,” said Councilwoman Cindy Liendo Espinoza. “The weather here is perfect (to) explore avenues for sporting, and get the most out of our river.”

She plans to introduce the idea of the race at the April 6 City Council meeting.

“I’ve offered it my support 100 percent,” Liendo said. She imagines music, a variety of fun activities and food in Los Dos Laredos Park at the race’s end.

“It would be a really great family event, and the start of something, a really great yearly festival,” she said.

Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.

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

1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160

Zentertainment

SATURDAY,MARCH 21,2008

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

7A

‘Road’ leads to LEC SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

WWE Raw and ECW’s “Road to Wrestlemania� tour will make a stop at the Laredo Entertainment Center for 12 rounds of noholds-barred entertainment at 7:30 p.m. on March 28.

Tickets are on sale for $45, $30, $20 and $15.

They will be available at the LEC box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and by phone at 7121566.

Scheduled appearances include Finlay with Hornswoggle, Mark Henry, Kofi Kingston, Kane and Tiffany.

Featured matches include:

Courtesy photo

John Cena salutes the crowd in a patriotic gesture. Cena, along with many other WWE and ECW stars,will duke it out for the title at the Laredo Entertainment Center on Saturday, March 28.

John Cena vs. Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship „ South Texas’ own Shawn Michaels/Rey Mysterio vs. Ted DiBiase/Cody Rhodes in a RAW Tag Team Match „ CM Punk vs. William Regal for the Intercontinental Championship „ Matt Hardy vs. Jack Swagger for the ECW Championship „ Melina vs. Beth Phoenix for the Women’s Championship

Photo by Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures | AP

In this film publicity image released by Paramount Pictures, Jason Segel, center left, and Paul Rudd, center right, are shown in a scene from “I Love You, Man.�

Rudd, Segel elevate ‘I Love You, Man’

By CHRISTY LEMIRE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

‘Photographing Laredo’ A view of different aspects of city life captured on film by a group of Laredo Community College photography students will go on display soon at the Yeary Library at the Fort McIntosh Campus.

The campus body and the community are invited to attend an opening reception for “Photographing Laredo� on Monday, March 23, at 10:30 a.m. in the college library. Admission is free of charge.

The collection of photographs was created by 13 students in a beginning photography class taught by instructor Mark Johnson.

A‘Bartered Bride’ Join Laredo Community College’s Opera Workshop for the opening night of the internationally-acclaimed Czech Republic’s comedic opera, “The

Bartered Bride,� on Thursday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m. on LCC’s Fort McIntosh campus at the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center theater.

Admission is $5 per person.

This charming and delightful opera production, written by Bedøich Smetana, will offer the audience a comedic tale about a penniless man in love with a girl who is supposed to marry a wealthy man.

Auditions set Auditions for the City of Laredo Parks and Leisure Department and the Laredo Institute of Theatrical Education’s upcoming production of Disney’s “Mulan Jr.� will be held beginning Monday, March 30.

All auditions will be for children ages five to 14 attending elementary and middle school, and will be held in the CCD Rooms of San Martin de Porres, 4904 Daugherty St. Auditions will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 30; Tuesday, March 31, Thursday, April 2; and Friday, April 3.

The newly minted “bromance� genre, with its now-familiar mix of the sweet, awkward and raunchy, has entered the cultural consciousness through comedies like “Superbad,� “Pineapple Express� and “Role Models.�

But it reaches its zenith with “I Love You, Man,� starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel as completely different guys who form an unlikely friendship.

Rudd’s Peter Klaven, a sensitive Los Angeles real estate agent who’s about to get married, realizes he has no male pals when it’s time to choose a best man. He’d rather make root beer floats for his fiancee Zooey (the lovely Rashida

Jones) and her girlfriends or cuddle with her on the couch for Sunday-night HBO viewing.

Segel’s Sydney Fife enters his life as the most charming force of nature, inspiring Peter to jam along to Rush tunes and tap into his inner rage. He lives in a ramshackle Venice bungalow and functions by his own set of rules, which includes wooing divorcees at open houses and refusing to pick up after his puggle because he thinks dog feces are a healthy part of the environment. Segel gives the character a well-intentioned puppy-doggishness of his own, though, which makes him unexpectedly likable. The formula is pretty predictable from director John Hamburg (“Along Came Polly�), who co-wrote the

script with Larry Levin, as well as the conflict that inevitably arises when Zooey questions their closeness. But the beauty of it lies both in the details of the relationship and the larger chemistry Rudd and Segel share. Clearly the two adlibbed a lot of their lines, including a running gag in which Peter is incapable of saying goodbye or getting off the phone gracefully: “I will see you then or I will see you on another time,� for example. When the DVD comes out, there will probably be an entire second disc of the stars just riffing. “I Love You, Man,� a DreamWorks Pictures release, is rated R for pervasive language, including crude and sexual references. It is playing at Cinemark Mall Del Norte and Hollywood Theaters.

/a g]c` ^O`S\ba OUS bVSW` VSOZbV QO`S USba W\Q`SOaW\UZg []`S Q][^ZSf 7\ TOQb g]c [WUVb VOdS O Z]b ]T _cSabW]\a eVS\ Wb Q][Sa b] OZZ bVS ^`SaQ`W^bW]\ R`cUa bVSg¸`S bOYW\U G]c` ;SRWQW\S AV]^^S ^VO`[OQWab eWZZ ^`]dWRS bVS ac^^]`b g]c \SSR b] QO`S T]` g]c` Z]dSR ]\Sa eWbV Q]\¿RS\QS

M^kkr FhkZe^l% K'Ia'

?k^] :eZgbs% K'Ia'

*+). Ghkma NL Apr' 1, SZiZmZ% MQ 01)0/ Ahnkl3 F&? 2 Z'f'&/ i'f' LZm *) Z'f'&* i'f'

1*2 <hkinl <akblmb Lmk^^m EZk^]h% MQ 01)-) Ahnkl3 F&? 2 Z'f'&1 i'f' LZm 2 Z'f'&+ i'f'

'#$ %$# $

'#$ % ! '

Oblbm hnk P^[ lbm^ Zm eee [SRWQW\SaV]^^S Q][ '

Oblbm hnk P^[ lbm^ Zm eee [SRWQW\SaV]^^S Q][ ' "

<hggb^ <Zlmbeeh% K'Ia'

>gkbjn^ LZe]ZÂ&#x17D;Z% K'Ia'

2/.+ F\Ia^klhg KhZ] u Lnbm^ *)) EZk^]h% MQ 01)-* Ahnkl3 F&Ma 23,) Z'f'&0 i'f' ?kb 23,) Z'f'&.3,) i'f'

,.+0 Ehhi +) u Lnbm^ *)+ EZk^]h% MQ 01)-, Ahnkl3 F&Ma 2 Z'f'&1 i'f' ?kb 2 Z'f'&/ i'f'

'#$ %#! # #

'#$ % % # #

Oblbm hnk P^[ lbm^ Zm eee [SRWQW\SaV]^^S Q][ ' !

Oblbm hnk P^[ lbm^ Zm eee [SRWQW\SaV]^^S Q][ ' #

Â&#x2013; ' ;SRWQW\S AV]^^S 7\bS`\ObW]\OZ 7\Q O 1O`RW\OZ 6SOZbV Q][^O\g /ZZ `WUVba `SaS`dSR ' ' ! ' " ' # '%O '

ZFrontera

SÁBADO 21 DE MARZO DE 2009

Actividades

Deportes

NUEVO LAREDO — El domingo 22 de marzo es la 4ta. Novillada en la Plaza de Toros Lauro Luis Longoria a las 5 p.m. (hora de México). Se presentarán las próximas figuras de México, los novilleros, Luis Manuel Pérez “El Canelo” de Querétaro; Mario Toledo de Zacatecas; y, José Luis Ramírez de Guerrero. Serán toreados 6 novillos de La Ronda. En Laredo puede adquirir sus boletos en el Hotel Holiday Inn Civic Center a 10 dólares la sombra general.

LAREDO — La 2009 Adult Spring Basketball League invita a una reunión de los equipos interesados el jueves 26 de marzo a las 6:30 p.m. en el Inner City Technology Recreation Center (202 W. Plum). Se requiere cuota de entrada. Más información llamando al 795-3045 después de las 3 p.m.

LAREDO — El Laredo Entertainment Center presenta WWE Raw/ECW Road to WrestleMania. El evento es el sábado 28 de marzo a las 7:30 p.m.

Adquiera boletos en la taquilla de LEC, Ticketmaster ó llamando al 712-1566.

LAREDO — Martin High School y el Club de Ajedrez de Laredo tendrá su torneo abierto de ajedrez el sábado 28 de marzo,para estudiantes de K-12 en la biblioteca escolar de 2002 San Bernardo Ave. Habrá divisiones clasificadas USCF para jugadores avanzados y divisiones sin clasificación para principiantes.La inscripción será hoy mismo de 11 a.m. al mediodía, con la primera ronda empezando a las 12:30 p.m. La cuota de entrada es de 5 dólares si se preregistra ú 8 dólares en la puerta. Más información llamando al 722-4600.

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

8A

Fallecen dos bebés por tosferina

AGENDAEN BREVE NUEVO LAREDO — El Gobierno Municipal invita a niños y niñas a participar el sábado 21 de marzo en la Gran Carrera Ciclista de la Primavera, que se realizará a partir de las 9 a.m. saliendo de la Unidad Deportiva Benito Juárez y recorriendo 100 metros. Las categorías son de 5 a 6 años; 7 a 8 años; 9 a 10 años, 11 a 12 años y 13 a 14 años.

LAREDO — La Biblioteca Pública de Laredo invita a celebrar Spring Break 2009.El sábado 21 de marzo,de 2 p.m.a 3 p.m.estará el evento “Tiempo del Cuento de TAMIU”. Este evento es gratuito.

NUEVO LAREDO — El Gobierno Municipal invita a “Comparte El Arte”que se realizará el martes 24 de marzo a las 3 p.m. en la Casa de la Cultura. Se trata de una muestra de los avances de los Talleres de Iniciación Artística.La entrada es libre.

LAREDO — Pase la tarde del viernes 27 de marzo en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU explorando, “The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket”a las 6 p.m.; y,“Destination Saturn” a las 7 p.m. La entrada general es de 5 dólares; en tanto que niños, estudiantes,personal y exalumnos de TAMIU pagan 4 dólares. En viernes la oferta es de compra un boleto y el otro es gratis.

LAREDO — El Laredo Crime Stoppers realizará su Caminata/Carrera Contra el Crimen de 5K el sábado 28 de marzo.Las inscripciones inician a las 7 a.m.en la entrada al Lago Casa Blanca.La carrera inicia a las 8 a.m.Llame a Crime Stoppers al (956) 724-1876 para más información.

LAREDO — Pase la tarde del sábado 28 de marzo en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU explorando“BlackHoles” a las 5 p.m.; “Seven Wonders”a las 6 p.m.; y,“U2 Fulldome Experience”a las 7 p.m.La entrada general es de 5 dólares; en tanto que niños, estudiantes, personal y exalumnos de TAMIU pagan 4 dólares.El sábado obtenga 50% de descuento cuando compra un boleto para un segundo espectáculo.

EN INTERNET: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas

Autoridades de la Comisión de Cooperación Ecológica Fronteriza y del NADBank se reunieron para hablar de los beneficios de los rellenos sanitarios. Uno de los tres rellenos programados beneficiará a la Frontera Ribereña.

Rellenos sanitarios cumplirán con norma ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

CD. VICTORIA, México — La Agencia Ambiental para el Desarrollo Sustentable llevó a cabo una reunión de trabajo con miembros del NADBank así como de la Comisión de Cooperación Ecológica Fronteriza donde se presentaron los beneficios que los Rellenos Sanitarios traerían a la comunidad tamaulipeca.

El titular de la dependencia tamaulipeca, Salvador Treviño Garza, dijo que se presentaron iniciativas que promoverían la creación de infraestructuras apropiada por la Norma Oficial Mexicana para le disposición de los residuos sólidos municipales, la cual radica en un método completo y definitivo para el confinamiento de los residuos.

Este tipo de rellenos deberá contar con caminos, andadores y aéreas verdes, casetas de pesaje y bascula así como un drenaje pluvial además de pozos de biogás y un sistema de captación de lixiviados e instalaciones hidrosanitarias, según explicó Treviño Garza.

Puntualizo que la estrategia a seguir en este tipo de proyectos es de regionalización con lo que la disposición final de los residuos sólidos urbanos permitirá que los municipios involucrados unan esfuerzos para tomar acciones que redunden en el beneficio de sus habitantes.

Los rellenos sanitarios que se estarán contemplando en esta etapa serán los ubicados en la Frontera Ribereña, que representará un beneficio para los municipios de Miguel Alemán, Camargo, Díaz Ordaz, Cd. Guerrero y Mier, además de otro ubicado en El Mante que también brindará sus servicios para los Ayuntamientos de Xicoténcatl, Gómez Farías y Antiguo Morelos, por su parte otro más ubicado en la zona conurbada apoyará a municipios como Tampico, Cd. Madero y Altamira.

Treviño Garza dijo que estos rellenos sanitarios vendrán a unirse a los tres más que ya están en funcionamiento en Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa y Matamoros con lo que la mayoría del territorio tamaulipeco contará con lugares especializados para el confinamiento de residuos sólidos urbanos.

CD. VICTORIA, México — La Secretaría de Salud confirmó que los dos menores de edad que fallecieron (uno en Río Bravo y otro en Nuevo Laredo) padecían de tosferina.

En el primer caso, un menor de un mes de edad, quien residía en Nuevo Laredo, carecía de la edad para la aplicación del biológico para prevenir la enfermedad. En el segundo caso, un menor de tres MANSUR meses de edad, quien residía en Río Bravo, al parecer sus padres no le aplicaron la primer vacuna de las seis semanas ni los refuerzos.

A raíz de esto, la Secretaría de Salud reforzó un operativo de búsqueda intencionada de pacientes y la aplicación de vacunas pentavalente y DPT a los menores que las necesiten, además de aplicar las dosis que se requieran para completar los refuerzos y así integrar el esquema básico de vacunación.

Dentro de las actividades a realizar para prevenir este tipo de enfermedad, se encuentra el barrido epidemiológico, en donde las brigadas visitan casa por casa para detectar posibles casos, aplicar el bloqueo de vacunas para completar el esquema básico en todos lo menores de 5 años de edad y que les falte de aplicar sus refuerzos y también detectar a recién nacidos, que por una u otra causa, sus madres o padres no los han llevado a recibir la primera dosis correspondiente a las seis semanas o mes y medio de nacido.

Participan al menos 50 médicos y una cantidad similar de enfermeras, además de las instituciones de salud como el IMSS y el ISSSTE quienes de manera coordinada buscan garantizar la salud y la vida de los pacientes.

Alfredo Rodríguez Trujillo, Epidemiólogo Estatal, refirió que están bajo observación otros 22 casos sospechosos de tosferina en Tamaulipas, quienes están ya en tratamiento médico y sin ningún riesgo.

“Sabemos y nos enfrentamos con el problema de que existen muchas personas que no le dan la importancia a este asunto”.

JUAN GUILLERMO MANSUR, SECRETARIO DE SALUD

Vacunas La tosferina se puede llegar a registrar principalmente en menores de un año de edad, con accesos de tos en episodios prolongados acompañada de un sonido chillón al final y su cara pude llegar a presentar coloración morada y en los menores de tres meses su único síntoma es la dificultad para respirar.

La vacuna Pentavalente se aplica a los dos, cuatro y seis meses de edad y a los 18 meses un refuerzo. Ahora, la Secretaría de Salud está proponiendo que la primera dosis se aplique al mes y medio de nacido.

Rodríguez exhortó a la población para que completen el esquema de vacunación del menor con el refuerzo de DPT que se aplica a los 4 años de edad y de esta forma participar con las autoridades para disminuir el riesgo de un contagio y sobre todo de un fallecimiento.

Por su parte, el Secretario de Salud en Tamaulipas, Juan Guillermo Mansur Arzola dijo que “en la primera Semana Nacional de Salud aplicamos más de 14 mil dosis de vacuna Pentavalente y cerca de 15 mil refuerzos de vacuna DPT. “Sabemos y nos enfrentamos con el problema de que existen muchas personas que no le dan la importancia a este asunto y omiten la aplicación de la vacuna y del refuerzo y ello nos lleva a registrar estos problemas, que pueden desencadenar hasta con la defunción de un paciente principalmente recién nacidos y niños”.

Tamaulipas espera 200 mil turistas TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

CD. VICTORIA, México — Para orientar y proteger a los más de un millón 200 mil turistas que se estima visitarán Tamaulipas durante el periodo vacacional de Semana Santa, el Gobierno de Tamaulipas ha iniciado un operativo de Seguridad, Auxilio e Información Turística 2009.

En el programa participarán más de 16 dependencias de los tres órdenes de gobierno y brigadistas voluntarios, según comunicado de prensa del Gobierno del Estado, donde se instalarán 40 puestos de información y módulos ubicados en lugares estratégicos para proporcionar auxilio turístico, servicios médicos, mecánicos y de seguridad.

Sitio privilegiado Según el Gobierno del Estado, es el tercer años consecutivo en que Tamaulipas mantiene el tercer lugar nacional en turismo carretero con la ruta Nuevo León-Tampico, sólo por debajo de los trayectos

“Llevaremos a cabo una inspección de medidas de seguridad en esos puntos, incluyendo juegos de madera, columpios, sube y baja, resbaladeros”.

JOSE ERNESTO RIVERA GÓMEZ, PROTECCIÓN CIVIL

México-Acapulco y Guadalajara-Puerto Vallarta.

En este periodo vacacional que comprende dos semanas a partir del 4 de abril (hasta el 19 de abril), se dispondrán recursos económicos para la adquisición de botiquines de primeros auxilios, despensas, señalamientos, gasolina, mapas y trípticos con información turística del estado para brindar diversos servicios y orientación a los turistas que así lo ameriten.

También se canalizarán recursos para apoyar acciones de mantenimiento y remodelación de balnearios y sitios turísticos y se reforzarán las estrategias de promoción con la campaña Sol y Playa Tamaulipas 2009, en México y sur de los Estados Unidos.

El operativo de Seguridad, Auxilio e Información Turística estará integrado por la Secretaría General de Gobierno, Policía Federal Preventiva sector caminos, Secretaría de Seguridad Pública, Secretaría de Salud, Presidencias Municipales, Consejo Estatal de Seguridad Pública, SEDENA, Ejército Mexicano 77 Batallón de Infantería, Primera Zona Naval y Angeles Verdes.

También colaborarán las Capitanías de Puerto de la SCT, Protección Civil Estatal y municipales, Seguridad Pública Municipales y Tránsito, Delegaciones de la Cruz Roja Mexicana, Policía Rural del Estado, Brigadas de Radio Ayuda.

Todos, con la Secretaria de

Turismo como coordinadora del operativo.

Previo a los festejos del Domingo de Pascua, elementos de la Dirección de Protección Civil efectuará un operativo de supervisión en todas las áreas donde la gente acostumbra acampar y convivir en esa fecha (domingo 12 de abril) que marca el final de la cuaresma.

José Ernesto Rivera Gómez, director de Protección Civil, Bomberos y Desastres, informó que los recorridos se harán en el Parque Narciso Mendoza, Parque Viveros, Laguito Artificial, plazas y áreas de diversión en Nuevo Laredo.

“Llevaremos a cabo una inspección de medidas de seguridad en esos puntos, incluyendo juegos de madera, columpios, sube y baja, resbaladeros”, dijo Rivera Gómez. “La idea es que estén en buen estado y no representen peligro alguno para los niños que los utilizan”.

Finalmente, se anunció que también se están revisando todas aquellas partes donde se forman enjambres de abejas o avispas, a efecto de quitarlas.

(Con información del Gobierno de Nuevo Laredo).

PRI listo para reunión ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

El Partido Revolucionario Institucional tendrá su convención el 28 de marzo.

Esta semana se celebraron dos asambleas para las zonas 1, 2, 7, 8, 11, 12 y 17 correspondientes a la estructura territorial, validando la designación de delegados de Nuevo Laredo. En total habrá 140 delegados de todo Tamaulipas.

“Como lo contempla la convocatoria y siguiendo el manual de organización, hay que elegirse delegados, en esta ocasión serán 20 delegados por cada zona de la estructura territorial, con el registro de las planillas”, dijo Benjamín García Marín como presidente de la comisión auxiliar de apoyo a la Comisión Estatal de Procesos Internos.

José Demetrio Olguín Rodríguez, secretario técnico distrital, explicó que de esta manera se cumplirá con la forma señalada por el Instituto Federal Electoral a la convención de delegados para sufragar con su voto de confianza a quien representará al PRI como candidato por la Diputación Federal por el Primer Distrito.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2009

THE ZAPATA TIMES | 9A

MEETING | Continued from Page 1A Rathmell said the county is not sure how much it will spend on the expansion of the landfill, but the funds have been saved and allocated over the past four years.

“We have allocated money from general funds and the fund balance,” Rathmell said. “This year alone, we have saved $300,000 for the landfill.”

Rathmell added on Tuesday the Commissioners Court will review bids made by more than 10 construction companies.

“We want the people in Zapata to know that we are already thinking about other sites for landfills so future Commissioners Courts will not be faced with this same problem,” Rathmell said.

Also Tuesday, the court will

vote on awarding REIM Construction with the Street and Drainage Improvement Plan in San Ygnacio.

If approved, REIM will construct storm drains and curb and gutter water drains on all the streets in San Ygnacio for $2,603,712.

The project will be paid for through a bond, which was voted on three years ago.

According to Rathmell, a better drainage system is greatly needed in San Ygnacio.

“People will have to be patient.

We will be doing construction on each street,” Rathmell said. “But once it is over people will be much happier.”

(Taryn White may be reached at 728-2568 or twhite@lmtonline.com)

10A | THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2009

LOPEZ | Continued from Page 1A family,” Lopez said. “We have our own story to tell.”

In his book, Lopez highlighted the plight of Tejanos after the Battle of the Alamo in 1836 because “they looked like the enemy, spoke like the enemy and worshipped like the enemy, so they were treated like the enemy.

“In the 1920s, the Hispanic community had a big problem with the Texas Rangers, and it’s documented, and that I have blended into the storyline of how they coped with the harassment that they had to live with,” he said.

Lopez’s first book, “The Last Knight: Don Bernardo Gutierrez de Lara Uribe, A Texas Hero,” was inspired by stories told by Lopez’s mother.

Lopez said his mother used to tell him, “You come from very famous people. Did you know that your uncle was the president of the first Republic of Texas?”

“She knew that we weren’t getting this information in school,” he said. “And she wanted to be sure that we knew about our history that was left out of mainstream

“Texas history books are written as if Texas history started in 1836 at the Battle of the Alamo, and that’s unfortunate because there were important events that happened that led to the Battle of the Alamo.”

AUTHOR JOSE LOPEZ

history books.

Gutierrez, born in Revilla (now Guerrero), was the president of the first Texas Republic for four months in 1813 and served as Mexico’s first ambassador to the U.S. Lopez said he became concerned a couple of years ago with the direction of the illegal immigration discussion, adding that Tejanos have played a big part in Texas history.

“There was a Texas before 1836, and there were a lot of great things that happened, in-

FACILITY | Continued from Page 1A estimated to be complete in less than two years.

Costing $21.2 million, the water treatment facility is being paid for through a 30-year, 0-percent interest loan from the state Water Development Board.

“To get a loan like this is not easy, you have to meet really specific perimeters,” Guerra said. “A lot of other counties would like to be in our place.”

Guerra added the new facility will not affect the tax rate because the county is hoping to pay back the loan through revenues from water and sewage.

As well as handling the growing demands of Zapata County’s water needs, the new facility will also be equipped with state-of-

the-art technology.

According to Rathmell, the water treatment plant will be computer controlled and will have additional disinfectants to help with taste and odor.

“I would expect it will have an improved taste,” Rathmell said.

“Faucet water will always have a chlorine taste but this new facility will cut down on the formation of trihalomethanes.”

Rathmell said trihalomethanes are compounds that form when chlorine is added to surface water with naturally occurring organic and inorganic matter.

Guerra said that once the facility is complete, Zapata will be ready to handle further growth.

cluding the efforts of Don Gutierrez de Lara,” he said. “Texas history books are written as if Texas history started in 1836 at the Battle of the Alamo, and that’s unfortunate because there were important events that happened that led to the Battle of the Alamo.”

For more information on Lopez’s second book, “Nights of Wailing, Days of Pain,” visit www.texastejanos1920.com.

(Julie Daffern may be reached at 7282565 or jdaffern@lmtonline.com)

Bass tourney set for April 12

BY ERIKA LAMBRETON THE ZAPATA TIMES

The Zapata Chamber of Commerce will host the first-ever Grande Bass Tournament Saturday, April 11, at Falcon Lake.

Entry forms are availale at local tackle shops, and a large turnout is expected for the tournament.

The tournament will be held at the Zapata County Boat Ramp starting with a boat inspection at 6 a.m. The tournament will kick off at 7 a.m., ending at 3 p.m.

Since the tournament is on Easter weekend, Celia Balderas of the Zapata Chamber of Commerce hopes vacationers will be interested in signing up. “(You) don’t have to be a professional,” said Balderas, adding

the tournament is open to all.

The title of Grand Bass Champ is up for grabs, said Balderas, adding first place would be a guaranteed $5,000 prize. Those who place in the top 10 will be awarded cash prizes.

The deadline to register is Friday, April 10. Those interested can also obtain entry forms at the Zapata Chamber of Commerce from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Entry forms can be mailed out by request, or picked up at any local fishing supply stores.

Beverages will be sold during the weigh-in, and many sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information call the Zapata Chamber of Commerce at 956-765-4871.

The Zapata Times SATURDAY,MARCH 21,2009

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors Girl ‘lifters at state meet

By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Courtesy photo

Zapata powerlifters, from left, Kiki Treviño, Celina Benavides, April Guzman and Lizette Mendoza are competing in the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association Girls State Powerlifting Championships in Corpus Christi this weekend.

Zapata High School girl’s powerlifting team has made history by sending its largest group ever to the state meet in Corpus Christi, on Friday and today.

Coach Veronica Arce, head coach of the Lady Hawks powerlifting program, took over after her husband Mario Arce became athletic director.

During Mario Arce’s tenure the Lady Hawks captured the 5A-

state title.

Veronica Arce will have four lifters competing at the state meet.

The Lady Hawks will be lead by senior Christina Treviño.

Treviño, the only lifter to make a trip to the state meet last year, will have three other Lady Hawks accompany her this year. She finished in seventh place in her class at the state meet.

This year Treviño (97 lb. weight class) returns with a total lift of 600 pounds.

She will be joined at the state

meet by fellow seniors Lizette Mendoza (105-pound weight class, total of 625) and Celina Benavides (114-pound weight class, total of 670). Freshman April Guzman (97-pound weight class) lifted 510 lbs.

Arce, who had her largest group with 16 girls on the team, had nine qualify for regionals.

Many of the Lady Hawks started the lifting since October and have been committed even when no school was in session.

“The girls have been really

committed to the sport, and have done everything that I have asked of them,” Arce said. “They even came in during the holidays.”

During the powerlifting season the Lady Hawks captured three team titles in the six meets members attended.

“I feel that this is a big accomplishment that we started in October. Hard work and dedication paid off,” Arce said. “I am really proud al these girls and it is a really good feeling to take all these girls to the state meet.”

Laredo teams HAWKS WIN ONE, DROP ANOTHER win Hawk Relays La Feria wins 7-3,

By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The Zapata Boys and girls track teams competed at the Hawks Relays on Thursday.

Ten teams competed in four divisions.

In the boys varsity division Laredo Nixon ran away with the team title with 126 points followed by United South with 117 points. Third place went to Roma with 112 and the Hawks captured the fourth place spot with 55.

The varsity and junior varsity girls recorded the highest finish of any Hawk team as they came in third place in their divisions.

Winning the varsity girls division was Laredo Nixon with 168 points. Next was Laredo Alexander with 132 points followed by the Zapata Lady Hawks with 130.

The Hawks highest finish in the meet came in the 110 meter hurdles as Jorge Medrano

Hawk relays results/Page 3 jumped his way to second place.

Capturing third place finishes in the varsity boys division were Christo Gonzalez (100-meter dash), Keith Cobb (800-meter run), Juan Alvarado (1600-meter run), and B.J. Arellano (300-meter hurdles).

On the girls side, capturing gold medals were Brandi King (the high jump, 5-2) and Michelle Garcia (3200-meter run).

Second place finishers were Marlena Garcia (3200-meter run), 4x100 meter relay, Angelina Gonzalez (100-meter hurdles, Jackie Gutierrez (triple jump), and Amber Guzman (high jump).

The Lady Hawks captured five third place finishes: Clari Solis (100-meter run), King (200-meter dash), Amber Guzman (400-meter dash), Garcia (1600-meter run), and Lauren Mendoza (300meter hurdles).

Hawks off to good start with 2 wins

By NINO CARDENAS LAREDO MORNING TIMES

The Zapata Hawks are off to a good start in District 32-3A, securing their first two victories of the season.

The wins came against Lyford at home and La Feria away. Both games were shutouts with Zapata beating Lyford 10-0 and La Feria 6-0.

The win against La Feria served notice to the rest of the district. The Lions, according to the Valley rankings, was eighth overall.

The key to the Hawks’ victory over La Feria came in the form of Luis Arturo Flores, who pitched a

complete game one-hitter.

He helped his own cause by providing two hits on offense.

Rogelio Ramos, Joey Saenz, Rene Garcia and Jerry Gutierrez also paced the Hawks’ offense that day.

Last night the Hawks (2-0, 9-5 overall) were playing Progresso at home to conclude a four game stretch of consecutive games.

The La Feria win was on Tuesday followed by a loss to Kingsville on Wednesday and a loss to Cigarroa (10-9 in nine innings) on Thursday.

Next week the Hawks host Port Isabel on Tuesday and travel to Raymondville on Friday.

but Zapata recovers against Port Isabel

By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

fter passing their first test with flying color in district 31-3A by beating Lyford 7-3, the Lady Hawks were looking for a repeat performance against another formidable opponent La Feria on Friday, March 13.

The Lady Hawks made some crucial errors at critical times that proved to be costly to drop its first district game, 7-3.

La Feria (30 31-3A) outhit the Lady Hawks at the plate by one but had runners in scoring position that affected the outcome of the game.

“It was a good game to a certain point but we made some mental mistakes,” Zapata coach Jaime Garcia said. “We have to perform every game when we hit the field.

La Feria is just as good as Lyford and Raymondville.”

Pitcher Lynda Leyva did all she could at the mound to keep the Lady Hawks in contention.

“Lynda did well for us and only had one walk in the game,” Garcia said.

The weather visibly affected the Lady Hawks players, as they had limited practice time prior to the game.

A

Lady Hawks 24, Lady Tarpons 6 The Lady Hawks (10-7, 2-1 31-3A) rebounded in the second district game of the season to beat district opponent Port Isabel 24-6 in Tuesday night’s game at the Zapata softball field.

The game was stopped in the third inning as the 15 run rule ended the game.

Zapata took advantage of the Lady Tarpons’ misfortunes at the mound as they issued 25 walks.

On the other side Leyva was stellar on the mound as she allowed three walks and fanned seven runners.

Courtesy photo

Zapata’s Lynda Leyva tags a runner out during a non-district contest earlier this week.

The Lady Tarpons scored first and jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Zapata stormed back in the bottom of the first to score 14 runs and take a 14-3 lead.

Port Isabel would add three more runs in the second inning to cut the deficit to eight runs. That would be the last time the Lady Tarpons would be close to Zapata.

The Lady Hawks continue the offensive outburst as they scored 10 runs in the second inning for a 24-6 lead heading into the third inning.

In what prove to be the final inning no team scored.

Tessa Moss had two hits to lead the Lady Hawks at the plate.

Zapata now faces district leader Raymondville in next Tuesday night’s contest.

The Lady Kats squared off against La Feria on Friday and could stroll into Zapata with a perfect district record (4-0), and one loss overall (3-1).

Raymondville will be led Isela Constante, Brittany Flores, Abby Cavazos and Deborah Barnhart.

On the mound, Raymondville will be led by Adriana Barron.

“Every team is hard in our district, and every game is crucial,” Garcia said. “You can not take anyone lightly.”

Houston Astros counting on Mike Hampton’s comeback

By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Rob Carr | AP

Houston Astros pitcher Mike Hampton throws to a St. Louis Cardinals batter during the first inning of a spring training game on Saturday, March 7, in Kissimmee, Fla. After a decade away, Mike Hampton has returned to home to the Astros, and they are counting on him to revive his career and bolster their rotation

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — After a difficult decade away, Mike Hampton has returned home with the Houston Astros looking to recover some of the lost magic that marked his first tenure with the team.

The left-hander put up an NLleading 22 wins for the Astros in 1999, but went on to become known as one of the worst freeagent signees in history. That might have been preferable to what came later: injuries that sidelined him for two seasons.

But now he’s back and the Astros are counting on him to revive his career and bolster their rotation.

“More than any single thing that could help us win this year, it would be that,” slugger Lance Berkman said. “If he returns to form, we’re going to be a dang good team.”

Manager Cecil Cooper knows that Hampton’s performance is a key to his team’s success, saying it is “very, very important” for Hampton to stay healthy.

Pitching nine scoreless innings over his last two starts, Hampton is off to a good start this spring after battling to stay healthy the past four years.

He missed most of 2005 with five stints on the disabled list, then was out all of 2006 (elbow surgery) and all of 2007 (torn flexor tendon). He has 141 career victories, but just eight in the past four years.

The Astros were impressed enough with his performance last season, when he was 3-4 with a 4.85 ERA in 13 starts for Atlanta, that they signed the 36-year-old to a one-year, $2 million contract

hoping he can make 30 starts this season.

He hasn’t reached that mark since 2003 or played a full season since 2004, but Houston will need that kind of contribution with a rotation that is shaky behind ace Roy Oswalt.

Manager Cecil Cooper knows that Hampton’s performance is a key to his team’s success, saying it is “very, very important” for Hampton to stay healthy.

Also in the rotation is Wandy Rodriguez, a fellow left-hander who has struggled with consistency. Astros officials hope Hampton can share his experience and

help Rodriguez turn the corner this season after winning nine games in each of the past three years.

Hampton was a workhorse in his first stint in Houston, starting 30-plus games in his last three seasons with the team and developing into one of the league’s top young pitchers. He was traded to the Mets after the 1999 season and was solid in his one season there, going 15-10 with a 3.14 ERA. Then came the big contract.

Hampton signed an eight-year, $121 million deal with the Rockies and went 21-28 in two seasons with a 6.15 ERA in the second year. Things didn’t turn around after he was acquired by the Braves before the 2003 season, where he had two decent years before the injuries began.

There have been a lot of difficult times for Hampton in the last 10 years, and memories of playing

See HAMPTON | PAGE 2B

Zscores Track and Field Hawk Relays Results TEAM TOTALS Varsity Boys: 1. Nixon (126); 2. United South (117); 3. Roma (112); 4. Zapata (55); 5.

Alexander (47); 5. Martin (47); 7. Hebbronville (46); 8. Valley View (35); 9. Ben Bolt (14); 10. San Diego (13) V a r s i t y G i r l s : 1. Nixon (168); 2.

Alexander (132); 3. Zapata (130) 4. United South (75); 5. Valley View 41 6. Hebbronville (40); 7. San Diego (26); 8. Ben Bolt (3); 9.

Martin (2); 10. Roma (0) JV Boys: 1. Roma (159) 2. Martin (145) 3. Nixon (112) 4. Zapata (76) 5. United South (32) 6. Ben Bolt (19) 7. San Diego (2) 8. Alexander (0) 8. Hebbronville (0) 8. Valley View (0) JV Girls: 1. Nixon (178); 2. Alexander (83); 3. Zapata (67); 4. Ben Bolt (32); 5. United South (13); 6. Martin (4); 7. Hebbronville (0); 7. Roma (0); 7. San Diego (0); 7. Valley VARSITY BOYS 1 0 0 D a s h : 1. Pedro De Los Reyes, Nixon, 11.51; 2. Oscar Solis, Nixon, 11.53; 3.

Christo Gonzalez, Zapata 11.76; 4. Jaime Reyna, San Diego, 11.94; 5. Alfredo Martinez, Roma, 11.97; 6. Isasis Carassco, Valley View, 12.05.

200 Dash: 1. Adan Cortez, Roma; 2.2.67; 2. Gustavo Garza, Roma; 2.3.24; 3. Ronnie Garza Roma 23.45; 4. Maurecio Gonzalez Ben Bolt 23.86; 5. J. Zavala United South 23.94; 6.

David Romero Martin 24.16.

400 Dash: 1 J.C. Gonzalez Ben Bolt 52.71; 2. Michael Rocha Alexander 53.86; 3.

Jose Cuellar Valley View 54.21; 4. Saul G. Roma 55.37; 5. Jay Lopez Zapata 55.42; 6. O. Navarro United South 56.25.

800 Run: 1. Freddie Morales Alexander 2:03:00.00; 2. Michael Rocha Alexander 2:04:00.00; 3. Keith Cobb Zapata 2:05:00.00; 4.

Juan Jimenez Martin 2:07:02.00; 5. J. J. Villalobos United South 2:08:35.00; 6. Ricardo R. Valley View 2:10:41.00.

1600 Run: 1. Charlie Dickinson Alexander 4:44.59; 2. Raul Gil United South 4:45.66; 3. Juan Alvarado Zapata 4:46.35; 4. Keith Cobb Zapata 4:46.36; 5. Tim Gil United South 4:51.40; 6. Noe M. Roma 4:51.79.

3 2 0 0 M R u n : 1. Charlie Dickinson Alexander 10:15.00; 2. Carlos Hernandez United South 10:16.00; 3. Tim Gil United South 10:23.00, 4 Juan Alvarado Zapata 10:25.00, 5 Raul Gil United South 10:39.00, 6 Luis Morales Alexander 11:03.00.

4 x 100 Relay: 1. Nixon (Fernie Torres, Jerry Chapa, Eric Q., Pedro De Los Reyes), 45:04.00; 2. United South (Javi Flores, J. Diaz L., A. De La Fuente, Adolfo Gonzalez), 45:15.00; 3. Martin, 45:51.00 (Orlando Moreno, David Romero, Luis Diaz, J. Contreras); 4.

Hebbronville (J. Stacy, J. Muñoz, A. Alvarez, Jimmy Atkinson), 45:54.00; 5. Zapata (David Dominguez, Anthony Grove, Christo Gonzalez, Jay Lopez), 46:44.00; 6. Roma (Gustavo Garza Olmedo Perez, Alfredo Martinez, Adan Cortez), 47:12.00.

4 x 200 Relay: 1. Nixon (Fernie Torres Jerry Chapa, Eric Quevedo, Oscar Solis), 1:33.24; 2. Hebbronville (J. Munoz, Jimmy Atkinson, A. Alvarez, J. Stacy), 1:35.12; 3.

Martin (Orlando Moreno, Juan Jimenez, David Romero, J. Contreras), 1:35.38; 4. United South (R. Esqueda, J. Diaz L., A. De La Fuente, J. Zavala), 1:36.27; 5. Zapata (Anthony Grove, Christo Gonzalez, David Dominguez, B.J. Arellano), 1:38.50; 6. Valley View (Nathan Farias, Isasis Carassco, Colton Hamilton), 1:43.00.

4 x 400 Relay: 1. United South (Adolfo Gonzalez, A. De La Fuente, J. Zavala, J. Flores), 3:29.75; 2. Nixon (Fernie Torres, Jerry Chapa, Oscar Solis, Eric Q.), 3:29.83; 3. Martin (Orlando Moreno, J. Contreras, Luis Diaz, Juan Jimenez), 3:36.23; 4. Roma (Adrian Solis, Rolando Cantu, Oscar Pompa, Saul G.), 3:37.83; 5. Hebbronville (J. Stacy, J. Munoz, Andrew Valderas, Jimmy Atkinson), 3:45.81; 6. Valley View (Jose Cuellar, Ricardo R., Colton Hamilton, Tony Hernandez), 3:47.23.

110 Hurdles: 1. Mario Juarez, Roma, 17:19.00; 2. Jorge Medrano, Zapata, 19:02.00; 3. Alex Guajardo, Valley View, 19:22.00.

300 Hurdles: 1. Javi Flores, United South, 40.63; 2. Adolfo Gonzalez, United South, 42.19; 3. B.J. Arellano, Zapata, 44.37,4. Mario Juarez, Roma, 44.75; 5. Luis Diaz, Martin, 47.84; 6. Alex Guajardo, Valley View, 48.21.

Long Jump: 1. Oscar Solis, Nixon, 20’-3 1/2”; 2. Oscar Pompa, Roma, 19’-11 1/4”; 3.

Adolfo Gonzalez, United South, 19’-9”; 4. Eddie Castillo, United South, 19’-8”; 5. David Dominguez, Zapata, 19’-4”; 6. Anthony Grove, Zapata, 19’-3 ½.”

S h o t P u t : 1. Ramon Gomez, Hebbronville, 45’-5 1/4”; 2. Pedro De Los Reyes, Nixon, 42’-9 1/2”; 3. Jesse Jackson, Roma, 42’9”; 4. Anthony Rios, Hebbronville, 41’-9 1/2”; 5. Luis Rubio, Nixon 41’-6 1/4”; 6. Will Rangel, San Diego, 40’-9.”

Discus: 1. Pedro De Los Reyes, Nixon, 131’-1 1/2”; 2. Matt Garcia, San Diego, 123’-5”; 3. Andre Evans, Valley View, 122’-1 1/2”; 4.

Mario Contreras, Roma, 120’-8”; 5. Anthony Rios, Hebbronville, 118’-11”; 6. Jesse Jackson, Roma, 118’-10 1/2” Triple Jump: 1. Oscar Pompa, Roma, 42’-2”; 2. Gustavo Garza, Roma, 40’-9”; 3. Ronnie Garza, Roma, 39’-10”; 4. Luis Diaz, Martin, 39’-3”; 5. Anthony Grove, Zapata, 39’-0 1/2”; 6.

Eddie Castillo, United South, 35’-2 1/2.”

High Jump: 1. Colton Hamilton, Valley View, 5’-8”; 2. Gustavo Garza, Roma, 5’-8”; 3.

Tyler Garcia, Roma, 5’-8”; 4. Eddie Castillo, United South, 5’-8”; 5. Jimmy Atkinson, Hebbronville, 5’-6”; 6. Jerry Pina, United South, 5’6.”

Pole Vault: 1. Rudy Guerra, Nixon, 11’6”; 2. Fernie Torres, Nixon, 11’-6”; 3. Eddie De La Cruz, United South, 10’-6”; 4. Xavier Hernandez, Nixon 10’-0”; 5. J. Casiano, United South, 9’-0.”

VARSITY GIRLS 100 Dash: 1. Kristy Gonzalez, Alexander, 12.61; 2. Melissa Rangel, Nixon, 13.15; 3.

Clari Solis, Zapata, 13.32; 4. Kendra Falk, Alexander, 13.67; 5. Michelle Flores, Ben Bolt, 13.96; 6. Marina Gallegos, United South, 14.41.

200 Dash: 1. Katherine Martinez, Nixon, 27.60; 2. Chelsea Herbst, Alexander, 27.91; 3.

Brandi King, Zapata, 28.21; 4. Lisette Saenz, Valley View, 29.62; 5. Marisol Garcia, Zapata, 29.74; 6. Ceci Gonzalez, Alexander, 29.88.

400 Dash: 1. Rita Chapa, Nixon 1:04.00; 2. Kassy Gonzalez, San Diego, 1:05.00; 3. Amber Guzman, Zapata, 1:06.13; 4. D. Perez, Nixon, 1:06.34; 5. Darian Cano, Alexander, 1:06.41; 6. Jessica Ruiz, Ben Bolt, 1:08.00.

800 Run: 1. Amber Guzman, Zapata, 2:32:00.00; 2. Valerie Gutierrez, Valley View, 2:33:00.00; 3. Leslie Campos, United South, 2:34:00.00; 4. Lauren Mendoza, Zapata, 2:35:00.00; 5. Valory Morin, Valley View, 2:37:38.00; 6. Amanda Rodriguez, Nixon, 2:38:26.00.

1600 Run: 1. Rita Chapa, Nixon, 5:45.71; 2. Patsy Garcia, Alexander, 5:50.70; 3. Marlena Garcia, Zapata, 5:53.06; 4. Daniela Gomez-Vasquez, Alexander, 5:53.66; 5.

Michelle Garcia, Zapata, 5:54.49; 6. Rainy Castañeda, United South, 6:01.64.

3200 Run: 1. Michelle Garcia, Zapata, 12:38.00; 2. Marlena Garcia, Zapata, 12:49.00; 3. Patsy Garcia, Alexander, 13:11.00; 4.

Daniela Gomez-Vasquez, Alexander, 13:14.00; 5. Rainy Castañeda, United South, 13:31.00; 6. Katya Reyna, Valley View, 14:03.00.

4 x 100 Relay: 1. Nixon (Katherine Martinez, Crystal Chapa, Palmira Martinez, Melissa Rangel), 52.76; 2. Zapata, 53.34; 3.

United South (Linda Resendez, Lori Garcia, Margie Gonzalez, Marilyn Palacios), 53.46; 4.

Hebbronville, 53.82; 5. Alexander, 53.84; 6.Valley View, 54.84.

4 x 200 Relay: 1. Nixon (Katherine Martinez, Crystal Chapa, Palmira Martinez, Rosalynn Velasquez), 1:52.00; 2.United South (Linda Resendez, Lori Garcia, Margie Gonzalez, Marilyn Palacios), 1:52.02; 3. Alexander, 1:52.03; 4. Zapata, 1:52.04; 5. Valley View, 1:52.05; 6. Hebbronville, 1:52.06.

4 x 400 Relay: 1. United South (Linda Resendez, Lori Garcia, Karla Zavala, Leslie Campos), 3:29.75; 2. Nixon (Crystal Chapa, Amanda Rodriguez, Denira Perez, Rita Chapa), 3:29.83; 3. Hebbronville, 3:45.81; 4.Valley View, 3:47.23; 5. San Diego, 3:52.61.

100 Hurdles: 1. Kristy Gonzalez, Alexander, 16:26.00; 2. Angelina Gonzalez, Zapata, 19:45.00; 3. Kassy Gonzalez, San Diego, 20:17.00; 4. Lily Guevara, Alexander, 20:58.00; 5. Amber Lee Peña, San Diego, 22:01.00; 6. Jackie Gutierrez, Zapata, 26:39.00.

300 Hurdles: 1. Kristy Gonzalez, Alexander, 47.98; 2. Leslie Campos, United South, 51.57; 3. Lauren Mendoza, Zapata, 53.32; 4.

Terry Guardian, Hebbronville, 56.93; 5. Lily Guevara, Alexander, 57.14; 6.Angelina Gonzalez, Zapata, 58.42.

Long Jump: 1. Kristy Gonzalez, Alexander 16’-5 3/4”; 2. Melissa Rangel, Nixon, 15’-10 3/4”; 3. Dally Gonzalez, Hebbronville, 15’-10”; 4. Kendra Falk, Alexander, 15’-9”; 5. Kather-

ine Martinez, Nixon 14’-11 1/4”; 6. Zanisha Molina, Hebbronville, 14’-6.”

Shot Put: 1. Celina Guevara, Nixon 34’6 1/2”; 2. Christina Flores, Valley View, 30’-2”; 3. Ana Inocencio, Nixon 29’-10 1/2”; 4. Cassandra Hernadez, San Diego, 28’-0 1/2”; 5. Karen Villa, Zapata, 27’-11 1/2”; 6. Daniela GomezVasquez, Alexander, 27’-11 1/4.”

Discus: 1. Celina Guevara, Nixon 116’-2 1/2”; 2. Ana Inocencio, Nixon, 92’-1”; 3.Tessa Dominguez, Hebbronville, 85’-3 1/2”; 4. Vanessa Vasquez, Nixon 84’-4”; 5. Christina Flores, Valley View, 74’-7”; 6. Stephane Grajeda, Valley View, 74’-0.”

Triple Jump: 1. Lily Guevara, Alexander, 31’-7”; 2. Jackie Gutierrez, Zapata, 31’-3 1/2”; 3. Roselyn Velasquez, Nixon, 31’-1 1/2”; 4.

Katherine Martinez, Nixon, 30’-8”; 5. Marina Gallegos, United South, 30’-6”; 6. Kasey S., Hebbronville, 30’-1.”

High Jump: 1. Brandi King, Zapata, 5’2”; 2. Amber Guzman, Zapata, 4’-6”; 3. Darian Cano, Alexander, 4’-6”; 4. Amanda Rodriguez, Nixon 4’-6”; 5. Kassy Gonzalez, San Diego, 4’-4” 6. Ashley Sanchez, Valley View, 4’4.”

Pole Vault: 1. Kassy G., Alexander, 7’6”; 2. Linda Resendez, United South, 7’-0”; 2.

Crystal Chapa, Nixon, 7’-0”; 4. Tessa Moss, Zapata, 7’-0”; 5. Ana Parra, Martin, 7’-0.”

JV BOYS 100 Dash: 1. Norberto Garcia, Nixon, 12.03; 2. Santiago Benavides, Nixon 12.10; 3.

Albert C., Zapata, 12.30; 4. Jassiel Pena, Roma, 12.33; 5. Ryan De La Luna, Ben Bolt, 13.04; 6. Gabriel Ramirez, Ben Bolt, 13.16.

200 Dash: 1. Norberto Garcia Nixon 24.17; 2.Orlando Cantu Roma 24.58; 3. Jassiel Pena Roma 24.67; 3. Ricky S. Zapata 24.67 5.

Nesto G. Roma 25.25; 6.Santiago Benavides Nixon 26.18.

400 Dash: 1. Javier Espinoza, Martin 54.89; 2. Juan Vasquez, Nixon, 59.57; 3. Jose Reyna, Martin, 1:00.00; 4. Arturo Rangel, Nixon, 1:01.63; 5. Angel Alanis, Roma, 1:01.75; 6. Alex Lirio, Martin, 1:06.00.

8 0 0 R u n : 1. Juan Rangel, Zapata, 2:00:15.00; 2. Fernando Cantu, Roma, 2:00:17.00; 3. Emilio Ricon, Nixon, 2:00:18.00; 4. Luiggi Olmedo, Martin, 2:00:22.00; 5. Tony Gutierrez, Zapata, 2:00:25.84; 6. Jose Resendez, Zapata, 2:00:25.86.

1600 Run: 1. Joey Gutierrez, United South, 5:03.68; 2. Hector Alvarez, Martin, 5:05.85; 3. Roberto Guerra, Roma, 5:15.98; 4.

Jesse Magana, United South, 5:16.64; 5. Frank Villolobos, Martin. 5:17.79; 6. Rafael Benavides. Zapata. 5:20.05.

3200 Run: 1. Joey Gutierrez. United South, 11:05.00; 2. Jesse Magana. United South. 11:07.00; 3. Hector Alvarez, Martin.

11:09.00; 4. Rafael Benavides, Zapata 11:45.00; 5. Justin Cobb, Zapata, 11:50.00; 6.

Frank Villolobos, Martin 12:19.00.

4 x 100 Relay: 1. Martin (Ricky Rodriguez, Dennis Garcia, Jose Hernandez, Rosendo Melendez) 47.79; 2. Nixon (Juan Vasquez, Santiago Benavides, Norberto Garcia, Juan Guevara), 48.18; 3. (Ricky G., Albert C., John Lujan, Ricky S.), Zapata 49.03.

4 x 2 0 0 R e l a y : 1. Roma (Nesto G., Jassiel Pena, Orlando Cantu, Ivan Ruiz), 1:38.75; 2. Martin (Jose Hernandez, Dennis Garcia, Ricky Rodriguez, Rosendo Melendez), 1:40.56; 3. Zapata (Ricky G., Albert C., John Lujan, Ricky S.), 1:42.16.

4 x 400 Relay: 1. Martin (Rosendo Melendez, Dennis Garcia, Javier Espinoza, Jose Hernandez), 3:49.73; 2. Roma (Tomas Gonzalez, Fernando Cantu, Ivan Ruiz Orlando Cantu), 3:55.63; 3. Ben Bolt (Emilio Medina, Frankie Gonzalez, Gabriel Ramirez), 4:16.85.

110 Hurdles: 1. Jordy Lagrange, Martin, 21:25.00; 2. Ricky G., Zapata, 22:11.00; 3. Jesus Cruz, Roma, 22:31.00.

300 Hurdles: 1. Ivan Ruiz, Roma, 49.00; 2. Jordy Lagrange, Martin, 50.77.

Long Jump: 1. Santiago Benavides, Nixon, 17’-5 1/2”; 2. Orlando Cantu, Roma, 17’-0”; 3. Jassiel Pena, Roma, 16’-10”; 4.

Rosendo Melendez, Martin 16’-3 3/4”; 5. Jordy Lagrange, Martin, 15’-7”; 6. Juan Vasquez, Nixon, 15’-6.”

Shot Put: 1. Steven Garcia, Nixon, 38’5”; 2. Juan Saenz, Roma, 34’-11”; 3. Manuel Guillen, Martin, 34’-2 1/2”; 4. Juan Levya, Nixon, 33’-8”; 5. Mario Alaniz, San Diego, 32’6” 6. John Lujan, Zapata, 31’-0 3/4.”

Discus: 1. Frank Mireles, Roma, 110’-10” 2. Jesus Garza, Roma, 107’-0”; 3. Rey Sandoval, Roma, 98’-2 1/2”; 4. Steven Garcia, Nixon, 91’-9”; 5. Tavo De Los Reyes, Nixon, 90’-3”; 6. Manuel Guillen, Martin, 87’-1.”

Triple Jump: 1. Jesus Cruz, Roma, 33’-6 3/4”; 2. Rosendo Melendez, Martin 33’-6”; 3.

Jordy Lagrange, Martin, 32’-1 1/2.”

High Jump: 1. Santiago Benavides, Nixon 5’-4”; 2. Bryson Murray, Nixon 5’-2”; 3.

Adrian Segovia, Martin, 5’-0”; 4. Steven P., Ben Bolt 4’-8” Pole Vault: 1. Ivan Ruiz, Roma, 9’-0”; 2.

Javy Paredes, Zapata, 8’-6”; 3. Angel Alanis, Roma, 8’-0”; 4. Luis Ramon, Zapata, 8’-0” JV GIRLS 100 Dash: 1. Evelyn Mendoza, Zapata, 14.36; 2. Giovanna Ortega, Nixon, 14.51; 3.

Analy Gomez, United South, 14.81; 4. Anissa Mitchell, Ben Bolt, 14.83; 5. Dayanna, Nixon, 15.07; 6. Ari, Alexander, 15.13 200 Dash: 1. Evelyn Mendoza, Zapata, 29.85; 2. Giovanna Ortega, Nixon 30.34; 3.

Julie Guerra, Nixon 30.83; 4. Kristabell Salazar, Zapata, 31.28; 5. Avery, Alexander, 31.29; 6. Selina Mata, Zapata, 32.87.

4 0 0 D a s h : 1. Myra, Alexander, 1:09:00.00; 2. Cassy Ledesma, Nixon, 1:11:00.00; 3. Adriana, Alexander, 1:12:00.00; 4. Selina Mata, Zapata, 1:15:00.00.

800 Run: 1. Jennifer Equiguia, Nixon, 2:00:52.00; 2. Adriana, Alexander, 2:00:54.00; 3. Charlotte Salinas, Nixon, 3:00:06.00; 4. Natalie, Alexander, 3:00:19.00.

1600 Run: 1. Jennifer Equiguia, Nixon, 6:39.96; 2. Kristina Garcia, Alexander, 6:46.13; 3. Gloria Garcia, Ben Bolt, 7:08.79; 4.

Rebecca, Alexander, 7:09.03; 5. Charlotte Salinas, Nixon, 7:34.43.

3200 Run: 1. Kristina Garcia, Alexander, 15:31.00; 2. Gloria Garcia, Ben Bolt, 15:40.00; 3. Rebecca, Alexander, 15:48.00.

4 x 100 Relay: 1. Nixon (Giovanna Ortega, Ashley Quintanilla, Julie Guerra, Abby Jaime), 57:36.00; 2. Alexander, 59:03.00.

4 x 400 Relay: 1. Nixon (Michelle Villarreal, Ashley Quintanilla, Julie Guerra, Abby Jaime), 4:55.00.

3 0 0 H u r d l e s : 1. Dayana Escobedo, Nixon 54.68.

L o n g J u m p : 1. Michelle Villarreal, Nixon 13’-2”; 2. Ari, Alexander, 12’-11 3/4”; 3.

Ashley, Nixon, 12’-11”; 4. Kristabell Salazar, Zapata, 12’-8”; 5. Selina Mata, Zapata, 12’-8”; 6. Analy Gomez, United South, 10’-7.”

Shot Put: 1. Sammy Garcia, Nixon 29’5 1/2”; 2. Lizbeth Landa, Zapata, 26’-1 1/2”; 3.

Katie, Ben Bolt, 23’-10 1/2”; 4. Jennifer Guzman, Zapata, 22’-5”; 5. Lorena M., Nixon, 21’11 1/4”; 6. Aida Guzman, Zapata, 20’-9 1/4.”

Discus: 1. Sammy Garcia, Nixon, 100’-9 1/2”; 2. Katie, Ben Bolt, 72’-11”; 3. Jennifer Guzman, Zapata, 72’-5”; 4. Amber Garcia, Martin, 69’-9”; 5. Lorena M., Nixon 65’-5”; 6.

Lizbeth Landa, Zapata 62’-5.”

Triple Jump: 1. Ashley Quintanilla, Nixon, 29’-2”; 2. Jennifer Guzman, Zapata, 27’7 3/4”; 3. Analy Gomez, United South, 26’-5”; 4.

Kristabell Salazar, Zapata, 25’-5 1/2.”

High Jump: 1. Dayana Escobedo, Nixon 4’-6”; 2. Abby Jaime, Nixon 4’-6.”

CHL NORTHERN CONFERENCE Northeast Division W L OTL Pts GF GA y-Mississippi 43 16 161 x-Oklahoma City 38 17 153

3

89

237

7

83

195

x-Bossier-Shreveport38 19 166

5

81

190

Tulsa 259

8

44

176

18 36

Northwest Division W L OTL Pts GF GA y-Colorado 44 14 4 92 265 187 x-Rocky Mountain 31 25 6 68 208 207 Rapid City 21 32 9 51 175 221 Wichita 19 40 3 41 160 223 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE Southeast Division W L OTL Pts GF GA y-Texas 42 15 6 90 222 167 x-Laredo 35 23 5 75 209 185 x-Rio Grande Valley3324 5 69 215 196 Corpus Christi 27 29 6 60 179

SATURDAY, MARCH 21,2009

201 Southwest Division W L OTL Pts

GF

GA 38 18 6 82 255 y-Odessa 198 Arizona 26 31 5 57 217 251 New Mexico 26 32 4 56 212 239 Amarillo 18 41 3 39 181 282 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division NOTE: Two points are awarded for a win, one point for loss in overtime or shootout.

Overtime or shootout losses are only denoted in the OTL column, not the loss column.

Thursday’s Games Texas 5, Laredo 0 Amarillo 5, New Mexico 4, OT Colorado 4, Rocky Mountain 3, OT Friday’s Games Mississippi at Bossier-Shreveport Oklahoma City at Odessa Tulsa at Wichita Corpus Christi at Rio Grande Valley Colorado at Rapid City Amarillo at Rocky Mountain Arizona at New Mexico Saturday’s Games Rocky Mountain at Amarillo Corpus Christi at Bossier-Shreveport Tulsa at Mississippi Laredo at Odessa Colorado at Rapid City Wichita at Oklahoma City Arizona at New Mexico Texas at Rio Grande Valley

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic W L Pct GB x-Boston — Philadelphia 15½ New Jersey 21½ New York 22 Toronto 26½

GB y-Orlando — Atlanta 9½ Miami 13½ Charlotte 20 Washington 34½

51

18

.739

34

32

.515

29

39

.426

28

39

.418

24

44

.353

Southeast W L

Pct

50

18

41

28

.735 .594

36

31

.537

30

38

.441

16

53

.232

Central W L

Pct GB x-Cleveland 55 13 .809 — Detroit 33 34 .493 21½ Chicago 32 37 .464 23½ Milwaukee 31 39 .443 25 Indiana 28 41 .406 27½ WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest W L Pct GB 45 22 .672 San Antonio — Houston 45 25 .643 1½ New Orleans 42 25 .627 3 Dallas 41 28 .594 5 Memphis 17 50 .254 28 Northwest W L Pct GB Denver 44 25 .638 — Portland 43 26 .623 1 Utah 42 26 .618 1½ Minnesota 20 48 .294 23½ Oklahoma City 19 49 .279 24½ Pacific W L Pct GB x-L.A. Lakers 54 14 .794 — Phoenix 37 31 .544 17 Golden State 24 44 .353 30 L.A. Clippers 17 51 .250 37 Sacramento 14 54 .206 40 x-clinched division y-clinched playoff spot Thursday’s Games Atlanta 95, Dallas 87 Cleveland 97, Portland 92, OT L.A. Lakers 114, Golden State 106 Friday’s Games Dallas at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Charlotte at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Miami at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.

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

Utah at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Memphis at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Detroit, 8 p.m.

Boston at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Houston, 8:30 p.m.

Washington at Denver, 9 p.m.

Philadelphia at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

Saturday’s Games Atlanta at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

New York at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Indiana at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Boston at Memphis, 8 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Portland at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.

Washington at Phoenix, 10 p.m.

Sunday’s Games Miami at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Houston at San Antonio, 3:30 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Toronto, 3:30 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.

Cleveland at New Jersey, 6 p.m.

Golden State at New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at Sacramento, 9 p.m.

NHL All Times EDT EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L OT Pts GF GA New Jersey 46 21 3 95 173 Philadelphia 37 22 10 84 199 Pittsburgh 38 26 8 84 218 N.Y. Rangers 37 26 8 82 193 N.Y. Islanders 24 38 8 56 224 Northeast Division W L OT Pts GA Boston 45 17 10 100 170 Montreal 36 26 9 81 215 Buffalo 34 28 8 76 197 Toronto 29 30 13 71 255 Ottawa 30 30 10 70 204 Southeast Division W L OT Pts GA Washington 45 22 6 96 212 Carolina 37 28 7 81 205 Florida 35 26 10 80

218 220 228 181 176

GF 239 212 205 214 186

GF 237 204 197

200 Atlanta 29 36 6 64 216 240 Tampa Bay 23 33 15 61 186 236 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division W L OT Pts GF GA x-Detroit 47 15 9 103 264 209 Chicago 37 22 10 84 225 185 Columbus 37 28 6 80 198 199 Nashville 35 30 7 77 184 199 St. Louis 32 30 9 73 196 210 Northwest Division W L OT Pts GF GA Calgary 41 23 6 88 231 215 Vancouver 38 23 9 85 213 191 Edmonton 34 27 9 77 202 212 Minnesota 33 29 8 74 180 174 Colorado 31 39 2 64 188 229 Pacific Division W L OT Pts GF GA x-San Jose 46 14 10 102 225 173 Anaheim 34 31 6 74 197 206 Dallas 33 30 8 74 202 217 Los Angeles 30 30 10 70 185 205 Phoenix 29 35 7 65 174 218 Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss or shootout loss. x-clinched playoff spot Thursday’s Games Los Angeles 3, Boston 2, OT Ottawa 5, Montreal 4 Florida 3, Toronto 1 Washington 5, Tampa Bay 2 Edmonton 8, Colorado 1 Anaheim 3, Phoenix 2, SO Vancouver 3, St. Louis 0 San Jose 3, Nashville 2, SO Friday’s Games Minnesota at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Los Angeles at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Edmonton at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

St. Louis at Calgary, 9 p.m.

Saturday’s Games Dallas at San Jose, 4 p.m.

Toronto at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Washington at Carolina, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

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

Columbus at Florida, 7 p.m.

Atlanta at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Vancouver at Phoenix, 10 p.m.

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

Los Angeles at Chicago, 3 p.m.

New Jersey at Boston, 3 p.m.

Edmonton at Minnesota, 3 p.m.

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

Phoenix at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

Colorado at San Jose, 8 p.m.

MLB Spring Training Glance All Times EDT AMERICAN LEAGUE W L Pct Los Angeles 15 4 .789 New York 13 8 .619 Kansas City 11 7 .611 Oakland 12 8 .600 Texas 12 9 .571 Toronto 9 8 .529 Tampa Bay 10 9 .526 Boston 10 10 .500 Seattle 10 10 .500 Minnesota 9 10 .474 Chicago 10 12 .454 Detroit 8 10 .444 Baltimore 9 12 .429 Cleveland 7 12 .368 NATIONAL LEAGUE W L Pct Atlanta 15 4 .789 St. Louis 13 6 .684 Pittsburgh 11 8 .579 Milwaukee 10 8 .556 Los Angeles 10 10 .500 Washington 9 9 .500 Chicago 11 12 .478 San Francisco 11 12 .478 New York 9 10 .474 Colorado 8 10 .444 Florida 8 10 .444 Philadelphia 8 10 .444 Cincinnati 9 12 .429 Arizona 7 12 .368 San Diego 4 12 .250 Houston 2 16 .111 NOTE: Split-squad games count in the standings; games against non-major league teams do not.

Thursday’s Games Washington 5, Baltimore 4 Philadelphia 5, Florida 1 St. Louis 9, Tampa Bay 7 N.Y. Mets 12, Houston 1 Texas 8, Oakland 5 Milwaukee 7, Cleveland 5 L.A. Dodgers 3, Colorado 2 Chicago Cubs 9, Seattle (ss) 2 San Francisco 6, Chicago White Sox 4 Atlanta 5, Detroit 2 Boston 9, Cincinnati 1 N.Y. Yankees 7, Toronto 4 Seattle (ss) 10, San Diego 8 Friday’s Games Florida 8, Atlanta 6, 10 innings Toronto 15, Tampa Bay 4 Houston 4, Cincinnati 2 Boston 11, Pittsburgh 4 Detroit 5, Washington 2 N.Y. Mets 4, Baltimore 0 N.Y. Yankees 4, Minnesota 2 Philadelphia 2, St. Louis 2, tie, 10 innings San Diego vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

Milwaukee vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

Arizona vs. L.A. Angels at Tempe, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

Oakland vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

San Francisco vs. Chicago White Sox at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.

Texas vs. Colorado at Tuscon, Ariz., 4:10

p.m.

L.A. Dodgers vs. Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 9:05 p.m.

Saturday’s Games Boston vs. Florida at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

N.Y. Mets vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Houston vs. Toronto at Dunedin, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay vs. Baltimore at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

St. Louis vs. Washington at Viera, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati at Sarasota, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Minnesota vs. Philadelphia at Clearwater, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Detroit vs. N.Y. Yankees at Tampa, Fla., 1:15 p.m.

Colorado vs. Texas at Surprise, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

Oakland vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

Milwaukee vs. L.A. Angels at Tempe, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.

Kansas City vs. Arizona at Tucson, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

San Francisco (ss) vs. Oakland (ss) at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.

San Diego vs. San Francisco (ss) at Scottsdale, Ariz., 6:10 p.m.

Sunday’s Games Florida vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Toronto vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Washington vs. Houston at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Philadelphia vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Baltimore vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees vs. Tampa Bay at Port Charlotte, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh at Bradenton, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Atlanta vs. N.Y. Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla., 1:10 p.m.

Texas vs. L.A. Dodgers at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.

Seattle vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

Arizona vs. San Diego at Peoria, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

Chicago White Sox vs. Oakland at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.

San Francisco vs. Milwaukee at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.

L.A. Angels vs. Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.

Cleveland vs. Colorado at Tucson, Ariz., 4:10 p.m.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Glance All Times EDT Opening Round At UD Arena Dayton, Ohio Tuesday, March 17 Morehead State 58, Alabama State 43 EAST REGIONAL First Round Thursday, March 19 At Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, N.C. Texas 76, Minnesota 62 Duke 86, Binghamton 62 At The Wachovia Center Philadelphia Villanova 80, American 67 UCLA 65, Virginia Commonwealth 64 Friday, March 20 At Taco Bell Arena Boise, Idaho Xavier (25-7) vs. Portland State (23-9), 7:25 p.m.

Florida State (25-9) vs. Wisconsin (19-12), 30 minutes following At UD Arena Dayton, Ohio Oklahoma State 77, Tennessee 75 Pittsburgh (29-4) vs. ETSU (23-10), 30 minutes following Second Round Saturday, March 21 At The Wachovia Center Philadelphia Villanova (27-7) vs. UCLA (26-8), 1:05 p.m.

At Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, N.C. Duke (29-6) vs. Texas (23-11), 8:45 p.m.

Sunday, March 22 At Taco Bell Arena Boise, Idaho Xavier-Pittsburgh (29-4) vs. Florida StateWisconsin winner, 2:20 p.m.

At UD Arena Dayton, Ohio Pittsburgh-ETSU winner vs. Oklahoma State (23-11), 2:50 p.m.

At TD Banknorth Garden Boston Regional Semifinals Thursday, March 26 Pittsburgh-Oklahoma State winner vs.

Xavier-Portland State—Florida State-Wisconsin winner Duke-Texas winner vs. Villanova-UCLA winner Regional Championship Saturday, March 28 Semifinal winners SOUTH REGIONAL First Round Thursday, March 19 At Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, N.C. LSU 75, Butler 71 North Carolina 101, Radford 58 At The Sprint Center Kansas City, Mo. Michigan 62, Clemson 59 Oklahoma 82, Morgan State 54 At The Rose Garden Portland, Ore. Gonzaga 77, Akron 64 Western Kentucky 76, Illinois 72 Friday, March 20 At American Airlines Arena Miami Syracuse 59, Stephen F. Austin 44 Arizona State 66, Temple 57 Second Round Saturday, March 21 At Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, N.C. North Carolina (29-4) vs. LSU (27-7), 5:45 p.m.

At The Sprint Center Kansas City, Mo. Oklahoma (28-5) vs. Michigan (21-13), 5:50 p.m.

At The Rose Garden Portland, Ore. Gonzaga (27-5) vs. Western Kentucky (258), 8:10 p.m.

Sunday, March 22 At American Airlines Arena Miami Syracuse (27-9) vs. Arizona State (25-9), 12:10 p.m.

At FedEx Forum Memphis, Tenn.

Regional Semifinals Friday, March 27 North Carolina-LSU winner vs. GonzagaWestern Kentucky winner Oklahoma-Michigan winner vs. SyracuseArizona State winner Regional Championship Sunday, March 29 Semifinal winners MIDWEST REGIONAL First Round Friday, March 20 At UD Arena Dayton, Ohio Louisville (28-5) vs. Morehead State (2015), 7:10 p.m.

Ohio State (22-10) vs. Siena (26-7), 30 minutes following At American Airlines Arena Miami

Utah (24-9) vs. Arizona (19-13), 7:10 p.m.

Wake Forest (24-6) vs. Cleveland State (25-10), 30 minutes following At The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis Kansas 84, North Dakota State 74 Dayton 68, West Virginia 60 Boston College (22-11) vs. Southern California (21-12), 7:20 p.m.

Michigan State (26-6) vs. Robert Morris (24-10), 30 minutes following Second Round Sunday, March 22 At American Airlines Arena Miami Wake Forest-Cleveland State winner vs.

Utah-Arizona winner, 2:40 p.m.

At UD Arena Dayton, Ohio Louisville-Morehead State winner vs.

Ohio State-Siena winner, 5:20 p.m.

At The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis Kansas (26-7) vs. Dayton (27-7), 2:30 p.m.

Michigan State-Robert Morris winner vs.

Boston College-Southern California winner, 5 p.m.

At Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis Regional Semifinals Friday, March 27 Louisville-Alabama State-Morehead State—Ohio State-Siena winner vs. Wake Forest-Cleveland State—Utah-Arizona winner Michigan State-Robert Morris—Boston College-Southern California winner vs.

Kansas-Dayton winner Regional Championship Sunday, March 29 Semifinal winners WEST REGIONAL First Round Thursday, March 19 At The Sprint Center Kansas City, Mo. Memphis 81, Cal State Northridge 70 Maryland 84, California 71 At The Wachovia Center Philadelphia Texas A&M 79, BYU 66 Connecticut 103, Chattanooga 47 At The Rose Garden Portland, Ore. Purdue 61, Northern Iowa 56 Washington 71, Mississippi State 58 Friday, March 20 At Taco Bell Arena Boise, Idaho Marquette 58, Utah State 57 Missouri 78, Cornell 59 Second Round Saturday, March 21 At The Sprint Center Kansas City, Mo. Memphis (32-3) vs. Maryland (21-13), 3:20 p.m.

At The Wachovia Center Philadelphia Connecticut (28-4) vs. Texas A&M (24-9), 3:35 p.m.

At The Rose Garden Portland, Ore. Washington (26-8) vs. Purdue (26-9), 5:40 p.m.

Sunday, March 22 Second Round At Taco Bell Arena Boise, Idaho Missouri (29-6) vs. Marquette (25-9), 4:50 p.m.

At University of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, Ariz.

Regional Semifinals Thursday, March 26 Connecticut-Texas A&M winner vs. Washington-Purdue winner Memphis-Maryland winner vs. MissouriMarquette winner Regional Championship Saturday, March 28 Semifinal winners FINAL FOUR At Ford Field Detroit National Semifinals Saturday, April 4 East champion vs. South champion Midwest champion vs. West champion National Championship Monday, April 6 Semifinal winners

NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Glance All Times EDT TRENTON REGIONAL First Round Saturday, March 21 At Galen Center Los Angeles California (25-6) vs. Fresno State (24-8), 8 p.m.

Virginia (23-9) vs. Marist (29-3), 30 minutes following At Arena at Gwinnett Duluth, Ga. Arizona State (23-8) vs. Georgia (18-13), Noon Florida State (25-7) vs. North Carolina A&T (26-6), 30 minutes following Sunday, March 22 At Harry A. Gampel Pavilion Storrs, Conn.

Connecticut (33-0) vs. Vermont (22-11), Noon Florida (23-7) vs. Temple (21-9), 30 minutes following At Joyce Center South Bend, Ind. Texas A&M (25-7) vs. Evansville (15-18), Noon Notre Dame (22-8) vs. Minnesota (19-11), 30 minutes following Second Round Monday, March 23 At Galen Center Los Angeles California-Fresno State winner vs. Virginia-Marist winner, TBA At Arena at Gwinnett Duluth, Ga. Arizona State-Georgia winner vs. Florida State-North Carolina A&T winner, TBA Tuesday, March 24 At Harry A. Gampel Pavilion Storrs, Conn.

Connecticut-Vermont winner vs. FloridaTemple winner At Joyce Center South Bend, Ind. Texas A&M-Evansville winner vs. Notre Dame-Minnesota winner Regional Semifinals At Sovereign Bank Arena Trenton, N.J. Sunday, March 29 Connecticut-Vermont-Florida-Temple winner vs. California-Fresno State-VirginiaMarist winner, TBA Arizona State-Georgia-Florida State-North Carolina A&T winner vs. Texas A&M-Evansville-Notre Dame-Minnesota winner, TBA Regional Championship At Sovereign Bank Arena Trenton, N.J. Tuesday, March 31 Semifinal winners, TBA BERKELEY REGIONAL First Round Saturday, March 21 At Nationwide Arena Columbus, Ohio Texas (21-11) vs. Mississippi State (22-9), Noon Ohio State (27-5) vs. Sacred Heart (25-7), 30 minutes following At Cox Arena San Diego DePaul (23-9) vs. San Diego State (23-7), 8 p.m.

Stanford (29-4) vs. UC Santa Barbara (229), 30 minutes following Sunday, March 22 At Jack Breslin Student Events Center East Lansing, Mich.

Middle Tennessee (28-5) vs. Michigan State (20-10), Noon Duke (26-5) vs. Austin Peay (17-15), 30 minutes following

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM At E.A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, Ky. Iowa State (24-8) vs. ETSU (20-10), 7 p.m.

Tennessee (22-10) vs. Ball State (25-8), 30 minutes following Second Round Monday, March 23 At Nationwide Arena Columbus, Ohio Texas-Mississippi State winner vs. Ohio State-Sacred Heart winner, TBA At Cox Arena San Diego DePaul-San Diego State winner vs. Stanford-UC Santa Barbara winner, TBA Tuesday, March 24 At Jack Breslin Student Events Center East Lansing, Mich.

Middle Tennessee-Michigan State winner vs. Duke-Austin Peay winner, TBA At E.A. Diddle Arena Bowling Green, Ky. Iowa State-ETSU winner vs. TennesseeBall State winner, TBA Regional Semifinals At Haas Pavilion Berkeley, Calif.

Saturday, March 28 Middle Tennessee-Michigan State-DukeAustin Peay winner vs. Iowa State-ETSUTennessee-Ball State winner, TBA Texas-Mississippi State-Ohio State-Sacred Heart winner vs. DePaul-San Diego StateStanford-UC Santa Barbara winner, TBA Regional Championship At Haas Pavilion Berkeley, Calif.

Monday, March 30 Semifinal winners, TBA RALEIGH REGIONAL First Round Saturday, March 21 At The Pit/Bob King Court Albuquerque, N.M. Vanderbilt (24-8) vs. Western Carolina (2111), 8 p.m.

Kansas State (24-7) vs. Drexel (24-8), 30 minutes following Sunday, March 22 At Comcast Center College Park, Md. Villanova (19-13) vs. Utah (22-9), Noon Maryland (28-4) vs. Dartmouth (18-10), 30 minutes following At Pete Maravich Assembly Center Baton Rouge, La. LSU (18-10) vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay (293), 7 p.m.

Louisville (29-4) vs. Liberty (24-8), 30 minutes following At United Spirit Arena Lubbock, Texas South Dakota State (31-2) vs. TCU (20-10), 7 p.m.

Baylor (27-5) vs. UTSA (24-8), 30 minutes following Second Round Monday, March 23 At The Pit/Bob King Court Albuquerque, N.M. Vanderbilt-Western Carolina winner vs.

Kansas State-Drexel, TBA Tuesday, March 24 At Comcast Center College Park, Md. Villanova-Utah winner vs. MarylandDartmouth winner, TBA At Pete Maravich Assembly Center Baton Rouge, La. LSU-Wisconsin-Green Bay winner vs.

Louisville-Liberty winner, TBA At United Spirit Arena Lubbock, Texas South Dakota State-TCU winner vs. Baylor-UTSA winner, TBA Regional Semifinals At RBC Center Raleigh, N.C. Saturday, March 28 Vanderbilt-Western Carolina-Kansas State-Drexel winner vs. Villanova-UtahMaryland-Dartmouth winner, TBA LSU-Wisconsin-Green Bay-Louisville-Liberty winner vs. South Dakota State-TCU-Baylor-UTSA winner, TBA Regional Championship At RBC Center Raleigh, N.C. Monday, March 30 Semifinal winners, TBA OKLAHOMA CITY REGIONAL First Round Saturday, March 21 At Bank of America Arena Seattle Pittsburgh (23-7) vs. Montana (28-4), 8 p.m.

Xavier (25-6) vs. Gonzaga (26-6), 30 minutes following At McKenzie Arena Chattanooga, Tenn.

North Carolina (27-6) vs. UCF (17-16), Noon Purdue (22-10) vs. Charlotte (23-8), 30 minutes following At Louis Brown Athletic Center Piscataway, N.J. Auburn (29-3) vs. Lehigh (26-6), Noon Rutgers (19-12) vs. Virginia Commonwealth (26-6), 30 minutes following Sunday, March 22 At Carver-Hawkeye Arena Iowa City Oklahoma (28-4) vs. Prairie View (23-10), 7 p.m.

Iowa (21-10) vs. Georgia Tech (21-9), 30 minutes following Second Round Monday, March 23 At Bank of America Arena Seattle Pittsburgh-Montana winner vs. XavierGonzaga winner, TBA At McKenzie Arena Chattanooga, Tenn.

North Carolina-UCF winner vs. PurdueCharlotte winner, TBA At Louis Brown Athletic Center Piscataway, N.J. Auburn-Lehigh winner vs. Rutgers-Virginia Commonwealth winner, TBA Tuesday, March 24 At Carver-Hawkeye Arena Iowa City Oklahoma-Prairie View winner vs. IowaGeorgia Tech winner, TBA Regional Semifinals At Ford Center Oklahoma City Sunday, March 29 Pittsburgh-Montana-Xavier-Gonzaga winner vs. Oklahoma-Prairie View-Iowa-Georgia Tech winner, TBA North Carolina-UCF-Purdue-Charlotte winner vs. Auburn-Lehigh-Rutgers-Virginia Commonwealth winner, TBA Regional Championship At Ford Center Oklahoma City Tuesday, March 31 Semifinal winners, TBA FINAL FOUR At Scottrade Center St. Louis National Semifinals Sunday, April 5 Trenton champion vs. Berkeley champion, TBA Raleigh champion vs. Oklahoma City champion, TBA National Championship Tuesday, April 7 Semifinal winners, TBA

Fight Schedule National TV in parentheses March 20 At Albany, N.Y., Adrian Mora, Thornton, Colo., vs. Shamir Reyes, Brooklyn, N.Y., 12, for the vacant WBA-NABA USA light welterweight titles.

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

At Laredo, Texas (ESPN2), Fernando Beltran Jr., Mexico, vs. Aldo Valtierra, Mexico, 12, for the vacant IBF Latino featherweight title.

2B

March 21 Kempton Park, South Africa, Zolani Marali, South Africa, vs. Fahsai Sakkreenin, Thailand, 12, for the vacant IBO super featherweight title; Jake Els, South Africa, vs.

Thamsanqa, Zimbabwe, 12, for the vacant WBA Pan African heavyweight title; Hekkie Budier, South Africa, vs. Charitt Mukondeleli, South Africa, 12, for the vacant African Boxing Union light flyweight title.

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

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

At Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, Ron Johnson, Las Vegas, vs. John Johnson, Memphis, 12, for the vacant WBF light heavyweight title.

March 22 At Manila, Philippines (PPV), Nonito Donaire, Philippines, vs. Raul Martinez, San Antonio, 12, for Donaire’s IBF-IBO flyweight title; Ulises Solis, Mexico, vs. Brian Viloria, Waipahu, Hawaii, 12, for Solis’ IBF junior flyweight title.

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

At the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles (ESPN2), Samuel Peter, Las Vegas, vs. Eddie Chambers, Philadelphia, 12, heavyweights.

March 28 At Tamaulipas, Mexico, Edgar Sosa, Mexico, vs. Kompayak Porpramook, Thailand, 12, for Sosa’s WBC light flyweight title.

At Tijuana, Mexico, Humberto Soto, Mexico, vs. Antonio Davis, Atlanta, 12, for Soto’s WBC super featherweight title; Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., Mexico vs. Luciano Cuello, Argentina, 12, for the WBO Latino light middleweight title.

At Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Okla.

(SHO), Andre Dirrell, Flint, Mich., vs. Derrick Findley, Gary, Ind., 10, super middleweights; Ronald Hearns, Detroit, vs. Harry Joe Yorgey, Bridgeport, Pa., 10, junior middleweights.

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

At Austin, Texas, Edwin Valero, Venezuela, vs. Antonio Pitalua, Mexico, 12, for the interim WBC lightweight title; Joel Casamayer, Miramor, Fla., vs. Julio Diaz, Coachella, Calif., 10, lightweights; Jesus Chavez, Austin, Texas, vs. Michael Katsidis, Australia, 10, lightweights; Vicente Escobedo, Woodland, Calif., vs. Carlos Hernandez, West Covina, Calif., 10, lightweights.

April 10 At Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, Calif. (ESPN2), Julio Diaz, Coachella, Calif., vs. Michael Katsidis, Australia, 10, cruiserweights.

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

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

April 17 At Star of the Desert Arena, Primm, Nev. (SHO), Yuki Gamboa, Miami, vs. Jose Rojas, Venezulea, 12, for vacant WBA featherweight title.

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

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

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

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

June 20 At London, Wladimir Klitschko, Ukraine, vs. David Haya, Britain, 12, for Klitschko’s IBF-WBO-IBO heavyweight titles.

Transactions BASEBALL American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES—Released RHP Scott Chiasson and C Guillermo Quiroz. Optioned OF Nolan Reimold and LHP Wilfrido Perez to Norfolk (IL). Assigned INF Brandon Snyder and INF Blake Davis to their minor league camp.

DETROIT TIGERS—Optioned C Dusty Ryan to Toledo (IL) and RHP Alfredo Figaro to Erie (EL). Assigned INF Scott Sizemore to their minor league camp.

MINNESOTA TWINS—Optioned C Wilson Ramos to New Britain (EL). Reassigned LHP Mike Gosling and RHP Kevin Mulvey to their minor league camp.

SEATTLE MARINERS—Optioned RHP Gaby Hernandez, IF Mike Carp and IF Bryan LaHair to Tacoma (PCL).

National League HOUSTON ASTROS—Agreed to terms with C Ivan Rodriguez on a one-year contract.

NEW YORK METS—Optioned LHP Jonathan Niese, C Robinson Cancel and RHP Connor Robertson to New Orleans (PCL). Assigned RHP Kyle Snyder, RHP Matt DeSalvo, LHP Jon Switzer, LHP Heriberto Rueles and LHP Casey Fossum to their minor league camp.

American Association FORT WORTH CATS—Released LHP Pedro Flores. Signed RHP Dan Grybash.

ST. PAUL SAINTS—Released INF Ben Thomas.

SIOUX FALLS CANARIES—Signed LHP Shaun Corning. Purchased INF Joe Anthonsen from Gary (NL).

Can-Am League ATLANTIC CITY SURF—Signed RHP DJ Mattox.

NEW JERSEY JACKALS—Released OF Andrew Larsen.

OTTAWA VOYAGEURS—Signed C Kevin Butler.

BASKETBALL National Basketball Association FOOTBALL National Football League BALTIMORE RAVENS—Signed TE L.J. Smith to a one-year contract.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES—Agreed to terms with FB Leonard Weaver on a one-year contract.

Canadian Football League HAMILTON TIGER-CATS—Signed QB Kevin Glenn to a one-year contract.

HOCKEY National Hockey League DALLAS STARS—Assigned F Tyler Shelast from Hamilton (AHL) to Idaho (ECHL).

LOS ANGELES KINGS—Activated F Justin Williams from injured reserve. Recalled D Davis Drewiske from Manchester (AHL).

PHOENIX COYOTES—Signed D Jeff May to a multiyear contract.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS—Signed C Trevor Bruess to a two-year contract.

American Hockey League GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS—Announced Detroit (NHL) assigned D Brian Lashoff to the team. Assigned D Brett Peterson to Phoenix (ECHL).

PROVIDENCE BRUINS—Recalled G Kevin Nastiuk from Alaska (ECHL).

ECHL READING ROYALS—Released D Bobby Davey.

HAMPTON | Continued from Page 1B for the Astros helped him get through them.

“It’s just a good feeling and I guess when you have those dark times or when things aren’t going well, you kind of look back to where you had your most success and that’s definitely in Houston,” he said.

Hampton didn’t just think about his time in Houston, he actually watched it for years.

“If you feel that you’re getting out of yourself, out of your zone, you kind of look back,” he said. “If I was ever going to

look back, I’d always look back at video from here because that’s when I felt I was at my best.”

Though he hasn’t spent much time thinking about the significance of resurrecting his career in the place where it got going, he does admit it “would make a great story.”

“I still feel I can help this organization win,” he said. “There’s really no other place I’d want to do well than here.”

He feels at home with the Astros,

though this team barely resembles the one he left. Virtually the only holdovers from his first stint in Houston are Berkman, who was a rookie in 1999, and reliever Doug Brocail, who also left before re-signing in 2008.

Brocail gushed about how talented Hampton was when the two first played together in 1995.

“I was there when Mike was throwing in the 90s and had the cutter from God,” he said. “It was when he was at the prime

of his career.”

As a 41-year-old who has gone through two heart surgeries, Brocail is well-versed in comebacks. It isn’t surprising that he’s one of Hampton’s biggest supporters.

“I guess because I’m one of the old guys, I tend to root for the old guys,” he said. “I root for everybody and try to help everybody out, but I like seeing the underdog. Right now the underdog is the older guy.”

Brocail said the two have reminisced

about their old days with the Astros, but haven’t discussed how important it is for Hampton to be successful this season.

“I don’t know if we’ve talked about that, it’s just we’re planning on it happening,” Brocail said.

Hampton is confident his problems are behind him.

“I hope I can recapture some of what I had here,” he said. “I feel it hasn’t left, I just haven’t had a chance to show it very much.”

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2009

THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B

HINTS BY HELOISE Dear Readers: Recently, we asked you, our readers, to send in photos of your “SMILING” PETS. Boy, did you respond! We thought we would share some of them: A Donna Snook of Fort Wayne, Ind., sent a photo of her granddog, Marley.

She is a 5year-old stanHELOISE dard poodle.

Donna says, “You can tell by her smile that she was happy to see me!” Marley is a unique-colored poodle with a fancy hairdo!

Vivian Price of Cleveland, Tenn., sent a photo of her dog, Raleigh Price. She is a 4-yearold Maltese and cute as a button.

Kim Abbato of Brick, N.J., sent a photo of her dog, Miley. She is a miniature dachshund. Kim says, “Miley is so cute, and she uses it to get away with her favorite chewy — mom’s good shoes!”

David Weick of Fort Wayne, Ind., sent a photo of his dog, Hunter. He is a 3-year-old golden retriever.

A Barbara and Bill Northerner of Brick, N.J., sent a photo of their dog, Arlee Montana Northerner.

He is a 2-1/2-year-old Newfoundland that weighs 184 pounds!

Jim McLean of Leesburg, Ind., sent a photo of his dog, Sam. He is a 1-year-old Brittany retrieving his first bird. Jim says: “Before sending the enclosed photo, I looked up the definition of ‘smiling’ in the dictionary. It read: ‘To assume a facial expression indicating pleasure, by an upturning of the corners of the mouth and usually accompanied, especially in indicating pleasure, by a brightening of the face and eyes.’ I sure hope that you can see the real smile on Sam’s face in this photo as he is so enjoying what he was bred to do.”

Donna Colburn of Kendallville, Ind., sent a photo of her cat, Spike. He is a 10-year-old domestic tiger-striped cat. Donna says, “If a cat could smile, this little guy shows it in his big, expressive eyes.”

Thanks to all the readers who took the time to drop us a photo. You can see all of the above-mentioned pets on my Web site, www.Heloise.com, by clicking on “Pets,” then checking out “Pet of the Week.” — Heloise TOY BASKET Dear Heloise: Dog toys were taking over the house! So, I got a large, decorative wicker basket and put all the toys inside.

My little guys know where the toys are, and the house stays neater. — Vianne Anderson, Roanoke, Va.

ADVICE | DEAR ABBY DEAR ABBY: My daughter, “Heidi,” is 17 and pregnant. She is going to an alternative high school and doing well. My daughter is proactive about her pregnancy and excited about the new baby. This will be my first grandchild, and I am excited too.

My problem is, when I express my joy, others act like I am crazy for being happy. At a baptism in church, I told my husband how happy I will be when our grandson is baptized and that I can’t wait until he’s born. He responded that he is not excited at all because of the expense and upheaval this new addition will cause.

I know there will be hardships with a new baby. We don’t have much room in our house, and a new member will bring some burden. I do not have my head in the clouds — but when I see the ultrasound image and hear that heartbeat, I am filled with joy.

Am I wrong to be happy?

And if not, what can I say to people who tell me I am? — PROUD ALMOST-GRANDMA DEAR ALMOST: You are entitled to your happiness.

However, please understand that unwed teen mothers and their children can face challenges, and this may be what people are alluding to

when they seem to question your joy.

Frankly, I am troubled by the fact that nowhere in your letter have you mentioned how your daughter plans to raise her son, how she will provide for him, whether she plans to complete her education, what the involvement of the baby’s father will be emotionally and financially, or whether she will need aid from the state. Nor have you mentioned what the impact of the new arrival will have on your marriage.

That’s why, although your heart is filled with joy, you need to look ahead with your eyes wide open — and that’s what I am advising.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person, order “How to Be Popular.” Send a business-sized, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $6 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby — Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 610540447. (Postage is included in the price.)

Zclassified

BY PHONE: (956) 728-2527

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Polaris 50 ‘05, 2wd, auto, great condition. $1,000.

Call: (956) 645-3499 Go-Kart, great for kids, 2 seater, blue. $700 Call: (956)645-3499

Chevy chrome alloy rims w/General tires P245/70R17,great condition $500.00 Call 645-3499

Escalade Chrome Alloy Rims & Goodyear P265/70 R17 Tires.

Call 645-3499 $500.00

4B | THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2009

<DATE>

LAREDO MORNING TIMES | 1B

ACREAGE FOR SALE 76 5 acre tract, frontage on Casa Verde Rd. $200,000 per acre. Contact (956)725-6641

COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT 79 2 Lots, 12 apts., $440,000 call 722-4447 We Finance 8%!

PETS & SUPPLIES

PETS & SUPPLIES

128

Chihuahua Puppies, 5wks, 1st shots & dewormed, $150ea.Call (956)857-2270 Chocolate Labrador puppies, 6 wks old, 3F, de wormed, 1st shots $130 ea. Call: (956)723-7152; 285-5433 Cocker Spaniels White, brown & Tan.5 months, 1st Shot, Tails Clipped. $150ea Call242-3630 Cute puppies for sale! $50 Call Rey 956-334-4736

TOY CHIHUAHUA Puppies, $150 & up 956-319-5029

LIVESTOCK & SUPPLIES 130 PETS & SUPPLIES

128

2 chihuahuas puppies, male, Appleheads, 7wks old, shots & dewormed $175ea. 319-2469 Basenji Puppies, 2 months 1/2 small breed $400 Call 237-1333

Belgian Malinois 4wks w/shots $150 (956) 337-0131

ANUNCIOS

1

Large laying chickens (Delaware) $20 ea. or price in quantities. (956)319-5029

ARTICLES FOR SALE 136

Baby bedroom set, like new, white Madison changing table, Chifforobe & lifetime crib. $650 obo. Call:(956)727-0244 or 251-3769

Public Notice Effective March 9, 2009, Zapata County amended an ordinance, originally passed on January 12, 2009, regarding Sexually Oriented Businesses.

The purpose is to correct typographical errors associated with the hours of operation permissible under the ordinance.

For a copy of the full ordinance, please visit the Zapata County Courthouse, Zapata County Clerk’s Office, Suite 138, 200 East 7th Avenue, Zapata, Texas 78076.

Rosalva Guerra Zapata County Judge

Computer Dell, Windows XP, Word, Excel, Power Point. $200 Great for School, Internet Ready, Repair Services Available 725-2100

Go-Kart, great for kids, 2 seater, blue, $700.

Call:(956)645-349 9

Country Club Full Membership. $2800. Call 206.1524.

Hutch $50 Call 235-5245

ARTICLES FOR SALE 136 Outdoor Cantera table $150 Call 235-5245 Sala de tres piezas, se urge vender $350. 795-0570 Se urge vender 16 bolsas de ropa, $130. 795-0570 Se urge vender una cama buenas cond., $30 795-0570

MUSICAL MENTS

Marlin 30-30 $330 call 956-645-9536 Taurus PT92 $340 call 956-645-9536

TRANSPORTATION

Wurlitzer Spinet piano, w/ antique leather, $1,000 obo.Call:(956)726-3062

SPORTING GOODS 142

HELP WANTED

HEAVY EQUIPMENT 192 Storage containers, delivered to your ranch, 20ft long. Excellent Cond. $2600 Call 744-5059

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS 194

Chevy chrome alloy rims w General tires p245/70R17, great condition, Call 645-3499, $500.00

FEG 9mm $340 call 645-9536

122

;;;;; QQQQQ ;;;;; QQQQQ

;;;;; QQQQQ

;;;;; QQQQQ

HELP WANTED

122

1 SE SOLICITAN TRABAJADORES PARA EMPACADORA DE VEGETALES Representantes de la Empacadora de Vegetales Lakeside Foods, Inc. del estado de Wisconsin estaran en Laredo contratando para la temporada 2009 para las localidades de Belgium, Eden, Manitowoc y Random Lake, WI. Se nesecitan: Mecanicos, Operadores de Combine, Operadores de Maquinas, Control de Calidad, entre otros trabajos.

Entrevistas: Marzo 25, 26 y 27, de 8am to 5 p.m. en el Holiday Inn, 800 Garden St, en Laredo.

Para mas informacion comuniquese: Mario Escareno tel. (262) 285-3299 ext. 307 / mescareno@lakesidefoods.comor CaroSalazar tel. (920) 477-2311 ext. 24 / csalazar@lakesidefoods.com Informacion para Operadores de Combine: Laura Kubsh (920) 684-0151 ext 3901 / lkubsh@lakesidefoods.com

Door to door reps needed for aggressive Time Warner sales project. $1000+ weekly commission.

Call Fred for an interview.

956-774-1084.

Keefe Commissary Network (KCN), a leader in the prison commissary supply industry, seeks a FT Commissary Representative to hand-deliver commissary orders to inmates at Rio Grande Detention Center. We offer competitive pay and benefits include medical, 401(k) & profit sharing. Must pass drug screen, federal background and credit checks.

Able to lift up to 50 lbs.

Please see full description and apply online at www.centricgroup.com EOE M/F/DV Route Salesperson -Laredo TX Armour-Eckrich Meats LLC has an excellent opportunity for a high potential individual to join our Route Sales and Delivery Team as a Route Salesman. As part of the Team, you will be selling and delivering consumer packaged food products to our customers on our Company trucks.

Qualified candidates must possess sales experience preferably route sales experience, a valid driver's license with an excellent driving record. A D.O.T physical & drug screen are required. Candidates must be able to manage multiple priorities, have well-developed problem-solving skills and good written/oral communication skills. The Company offers competitive wages & benefits, including health insurance & 401K. For more information and to apply for this position, visit www.armoureckrich.com and click on the employment link.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

M/F/D/V

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS 194 20 in. rims, & 24 in., set of four, $900 ea. set.

Call:(956)645-9650 Diesel engines Chevy 6.6 Ford 7.3 & Cummins 5.9 Remanufactured w/warranty will deliver, $2,950. 713-918-5811.

Escalade Polish Alloy rims & Goodyear P265/70 R17 Tires. Call 645-3499, $500.00

122

Commissary Representative (Prison Store)

Massage by Licensed Therapists. $45, Call 285-4286 or 286-2760

HELP WANTED

SPORTING GOODS 142

INSTRU138

Laredo Country Club Full Membership $1900 Call 727-7779 Lawnmower $75 Call 235-5245

2 Wrought iron benches $40 Call:235-5245

ANUNCIOS

ARTICLES FOR SALE 136

Harley Davidson 2002, 1200 Custom Sportster, Impact Blue, works like new, 2,200 mi., $7,000 obo contact 956-286-3737 Carlos Paredes.

HELP WANTED

122

MOTORCYCLES

196

Polaris 50 ‘05, 2wd, a u t o , great condition. $ 1 , 0 0 0 .

Call:(956)645-349 9 TRUCKS FOR SALE 198 ‘05 Land Rover LR3, excellent Cond., one owner, leather int., $23,500 OBO Call 337-6383 Rampvan “Handicap” ‘99 Dodge Grand Caravan, power ramp, wheelchair tie downs, swivel driver’s side seat & hand controls. 60k mi $12,500.00 Call:722-1820

HELP WANTED

122

TRUCKS FOR SALE 198 Toyota, FJ Crusier, 2007, $2,000 down pymt, take over pymt, $21,000 call 236-4012

CARS FOR SALE

200

Hyunday Accent ‘03, 4cyl., automatic, alarm, a/c, $2,400 Call:(956)774-7476; 949-6076 Chevy Malibu LS ‘99, 49,000 original mi., 1 owner, a/c, like new, $3,900 negotiable.

(956)220-9834 Dodge Stratus 2003, low miles, runs good, $1,500.00 obo.

Call:(773)953-0185

Toyota Camry ‘09, 7,500 mi., color white, $18,500.

Call:(956)236-834 7