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FEDERAL COURT
FEDERAL COURT
Lawsuit delayed
Runners get probation in cocaine case
Attorney wants time to find expert witness By ZACH BROOKE THE ZAPATA TIMES
U.S. Magistrate Judge Guillermo Garcia issued a new scheduling order Friday pushing back litigation in an ongoing lawsuit between a Zapata County sheriff’s deputy and man he arrested. Santiago Ramirez III is suing both Zapata County and sheriff’s Deputy Marshall Davidson, alleging his constitutional rights were violated when he was arrested and his home searched in April, 2010. According to the sheriff’s incident report, Ramirez, 46, was arrested
Santiago Ramirez III alleges his constitutional rights were violated when he was arrested. around 3 a.m. on April 4, 2010, after police were called to his residence in the 1700 block of Second Street following a report of shots fired. Officers recovered a firearm and one empty
shell. Ramirez ultimately accepted a deal to participate in a pre-trial diversion program. While Ramirez claims the charges against him were dismissed, attorneys for Zapata County claim Ramirez violated the terms of the program when he tested positive for cocaine. At some point, Ramirez served between two and three months in Zapata County Jail. According to the lawsuit petition, Ramirez alleges he was arrested after refusing to let Davidson search his home. Ramirez alleges his home had
See RIGHTS VIOLATION PAGE 9A
Four affiliated with known cocaine dealer told to do community service By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Four drug runners believed to be working under a known cocaine dealer in Zapata were sentenced to probation Friday in federal court. Angel Javier Cuellar,
Martin Emilio Pacheco, Lucia Guadalupe Hinojosa and Magda Ramos had all pleaded guilty last year to the possession with intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine charge listed in a superseding in-
See COCAINE PAGE 9A
‘LUCKY’ LUCKADOO MAKES IT TO 91
BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN
Photo by Cooper Neill/The Dallas Morning News | AP
A Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress lands outside the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas. John “Lucky” Luckadoo, who’s lived in Dallas since 1960, was one of the original pilots in the 100th Bomb Group, known as the “Bloody Hundredth” in World War II. Part of the 8th Air Force based in England, the group flew the iconic B-17 Flying Fortresses on bombing missions over Germany and France.
WWII pilot celebrates birthday in the sky By DAVID TARRANT THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
D
Photo by Cooper Neill/The Dallas Morning News | AP
John “Lucky” Luckadoo, a World War II bomber pilot, climbs out of a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress in Dallas.
ALLAS — Not a day goes by that John “Lucky” Luckadoo doesn’t wonder how he could have made it past his 21st birthday, never mind his 91st — which he celebrated last Saturday. Luckadoo, who’s lived in Dallas since 1960, was one of the original pilots in the 100th Bomb Group, known as the “Bloody Hundredth” in World War II. Part of the 8th Air Force based in England, the group flew the iconic B-17 Flying Fortresses on bombing missions over Germany and France. At that point in the
war, there may have been no more dangerous assignment than to be one of the 10 men in the crew of the huge B-17 Flying Fortresses lumbering over Germany, loaded with up to 5,000 pounds of bombs. With the D-Day invasion a year off, the fate of the war remained very much up in the air. Allied pilots, mostly young British and Americans in their late teens and early 20s, waged ferocious battles in the skies against the Luftwaffe, the German air force. On its first mission, the 100th Bomb Group lost three B-17s and 30 men. During one mission to Berlin, 15 aircraft were lost. During this time, Luckadoo flew his
B-17 on raid after raid after bloody raid. “They were cutting us to ribbons,” Luckadoo said of the German defenses. “We were playing against the pros, on their turf, and we were paying a heavy price.” The Dallas Morning News reports this week, 68 years after Luckadoo last flew in a B-17, he once again climbed aboard a Flying Fortress. He was invited to be part of a short flight from Denison to Dallas as a guest of the Wings of Freedom Tour at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field. The event runs through Sunday and includes an exhibition of rare WWII-era bomber and fighter air-
craft, including the B-17 Flying Fortress, the P-51 “Mustang” fighter and the German Messerschmitt 262. Luckadoo is a trim 6footer, with a strong voice that still commands authority. He didn’t hesitate when asked if he’d like to be at the controls of the B-17 again. Though he isn’t certified to fly anymore, he said he wouldn’t turn down the chance to “take the stick for a minute or two if they allowed me.” Even before the country entered the war late in 1941, Luckadoo had combat aircraft on his mind. In 1940, after graduating from high school
See BOMBER PAGE 9A
FEDERAL COURT
Man accused of smuggling 4 indicted By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
An Edinburg man arrested Feb. 26 in Zapata for smuggling four undocumented people was indicted in federal court this week. On Tuesday, a federal grand jury returned an in-
dictment charging Noe Margarito Zuñiga with conspiracy to transport undocumented people within the United State and transporting undocumented people within the United States. Zuñiga is set to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Guillermo R.
Garcia at 11 a.m. March 28 in Courtroom 3C. He is out on bail. Zuñiga’s charges stemmed from an immigration inspection stop on Feb. 26. At 10 a.m. that day, agents working a tactical checkpoint in Zapata conducted an inspection of a white Chevrolet Impala.
Zuñiga stated he was a U.S. citizen. He claimed he did not know four individuals riding with him and was referred to secondary inspection. “During secondary inspection, Zuñiga freely admitted that he was smuggling the four passengers to Laredo,” the complaint
states. In a post-arrest interview, Zuñiga stated he’d met a man over the weekend who offered him “easy money,” about $800 for smuggling people to Laredo. He picked up the undocumented people at an undisclosed stash house. One person held as a
witness stated he’d paid $3,000 to be transported to Houston. A second material witness stated he paid $6,500 to be smuggled to Laredo. Both men said Zuñiga picked them up from at an undisclosed stash house. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, MARCH 23
ASSOCIATED PRESS
This is the third day of the Bassmaster Elite Series TournamentFalcon Slam, beginning at 7 a.m. The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “Zula Patrol: Under the Weather” at 3 p.m. and “Lamps of Atlantis” at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Matinee show is $4. General admission is $4 for children and $5 adults. Premium shows are $1 more. For more information, call 956-326-3663. The 10th Annual Cesar Chavez March will be held today in Laredo. The assembling order will start at the St. Peter’s Plaza at the corner of 1702 Houston St. Marchers will walk to the ending point at San Agustin Plaza. A program will then be held at the center of plaza.
Saturday, March 23, the 82nd day of 2013. There are 283 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On March 23, 1913, five days of heavy rain began falling in the Ohio River Valley; Dayton, Ohio, saw catastrophic flooding as the rising Great Miami River breached its levees. Hundreds of deaths in the region were blamed on the weather. On this date: In 1775, Patrick Henry delivered an address to the Virginia Provincial Convention in which he is said to have declared, “Give me liberty, or give me death!” In 1792, Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 in G Major (the “Surprise” symphony) had its first public performance in London. In 1806, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, having reached the Pacific coast, began their journey back east. In 1919, Benito Mussolini founded his Fascist political movement in Milan, Italy. In 1933, the German Reichstag adopted the Enabling Act, which effectively granted Adolf Hitler dictatorial powers. In 1942, the first JapaneseAmericans evacuated by the U.S. Army during World War II arrived at the internment camp in Manzanar, Calif. In 1965, America’s first twoperson space flight began as Gemini 3 blasted off with astronauts Virgil I. Grissom and John W. Young aboard for a nearly 5-hour flight. In 1973, before sentencing a group of Watergate break-in defendants, Chief U.S. District Judge John J. Sirica read aloud a letter to him from James W. McCord Jr. which said there had been “political pressure” to “plead guilty and remain silent.” In 1983, President Ronald Reagan first proposed developing technology to intercept incoming enemy missiles — an idea that came to be known as the Strategic Defense Initiative. Dr. Barney Clark, recipient of a Jarvik permanent artificial heart, died at the University of Utah Medical Center after 112 days with the device. In 1993, scientists announced they’d found the renegade gene that causes Huntington’s disease. In 2010, President Barack Obama signed a $938 billion health care overhaul, declaring “a new season in America.” In 2011, Academy Awardwinning actress Elizabeth Taylor died in Los Angeles at age 79. Ten years ago: During the Iraq War, a U.S. Army maintenance convoy was ambushed in Nasiriyah); 11 soldiers were killed, including Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewasix were captured, including Pfc. Jessica Lynch, who was rescued on April 1, 2003. Today’s Birthdays: Comedian Marty Allen is 91. Sir Roger Bannister, the runner who broke the 4-minute mile in 1954, is 84. Motorsports Hall of Famer Craig Breedlove is 76. Singer-producer Ric Ocasek is 64. Singer Chaka Khan is 60. Actress Amanda Plummer is 56. Actress Catherine Keener is 54. Actress Hope Davis is 49. Comedian John Pinette is 49. Thought for Today: “Having only friends would be dull anyway — like eating eggs without salt.” — Hedda Hopper, American gossip columnist (1890-1966).
SUNDAY, MARCH 24 This is the fourth day of the Bassmaster Elite Series TournamentFalcon Slam, which ends at 4 p.m. Learn to build, buy and beautify homes at the NeighborWorks Second Annual Home Fair Expo, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Laredo Energy Arena. There will be free workshops, giveaways and activities for kids. For more information, call 712-9000. A Freshstart Smoking Cessation session is from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at SCAN’s office, 2387 E. Saunders, Suite 1. This is an evidence-based support program from the American Cancer Society that is used to motivate individuals to quit smoking. The session is free of charge to the public. It is recommended that participants attend all four sessions available. Space is limited, so call to reserve a space. For more information and to register, call Veronica Jimenez at 956-724-3177.
TUESDAY, MARCH 26 The Laredo Community College Health Sciences Open House is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Lopez Nursing Building and Ruben Garcia Allied Health Center at the Fort McIntosh campus. Visitors can meet with health science faculty and students, as well as visit the new nursing simulation lab and learn more about the various health science programs. Call 7215262.
FRIDAY, MARCH 29 The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “New Horizons” at 6 p.m. and “Lamps of Atlantis” at 7 p.m. General admission is $4 for children and $5 adults. Premium shows are $1 more. Call 956-326-3663.
SATURDAY, MARCH 30 The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “Earth, Moon, and Sun” at 3 p.m. and “Lamps of Atlantis” at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Matinee show is $4. General admission is $4 for children and $5 adults. Premium shows are $1 more. Call 956-326-3663.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 The International Bank of Commerce 2012-2013 Keynote Speaker Series featuring Dr. Peter Dorfman is from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the TAMIU Student Center Ballroom. Dorfman is the president of the Board for the Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness (GLOBE) Foundation for Research and Education in Las Cruces, N.M. He will present “Executive leadership from the GLOBE worldwide perspective: What do outstanding CEOs have in common in comparison to less than stellar CEOs?” This event is free and open to the public. Call 326-2820 or visit freetrade.tamiu.edu/whtc_services/ whtc_speaker_series.asp.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17 The Laredo Chamber of Commerce presents the VISION 2013 Economic Outlook Conference, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Texas A&M International University. Topics include 20 Years of NAFTA and an update of activity at the Eagle Ford Shale. Highlight of the event will be the recognition of Dennis E. Nixon, President and CEO of International Bank of Commerce, with the 2013 Visionary Award. For registration information, contact the chamber at 956-722-9895 or chamber@laredochamber.com.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1 The Bass Champs South Region Fishing Tournament is set for 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. at the Zapata County Public Boat Ramp.
Photo by Cuate Santos/file | Laredo Morning Times
Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken is joined by Laredo Visitors and Conventions Bureau Director Blasita Lopez, left, and Assistant City Manager Cynthia Collazo as they check out a job fair at the Laredo Energy Arena on Jan. 14, 2012. Pauken said Friday he’ll run a “grassroots” campaign for the GOP nomination for governor.
Perry gets challenger By MICHAEL BRICK ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Former Texas Republican Party chairman Tom Pauken said Friday that he plans a “grassroots campaign” to unseat three-term Gov. Rick Perry. “I just think we need a new style of leadership in Texas,” he told The Associated Press. Pauken, who started his campaign this week, acknowledged he will likely face opponents with more money and better name recognition. Along with Perry, Attorney General Greg Abbott is expected to run, although neither has yet formally declared. Perry has $6 million on hand, plus a network in place to secure much more once the fundraising restrictions of the legislative session end. Abbott has more than $18 million in the bank.
13 state airports lose money for traffic control
In a state of 26 million people, most serious candidates are expected to raise about $20 million. Pauken made no pretense of any ability to outspend Perry or Abbott. “If it’s about who’s going to have the most money, either Rick Perry, if he runs again, or Greg Abbott, if he runs, will prevail,” he said. But, he added, “I believe we will have sufficient funds to mount an effective campaign and a winning campaign.” In his favor, Pauken has deep credentials on the socially conservative issues that have driven statewide politics in recent years. An Army veteran, he served as a White House lawyer under President Ronald Reagan. He also guided the Republican Party’s statewide ascendance, becoming chairman in 1994 after an unlikely campaign he described to reporters at the time as “grassroots.”
Jury in ‘86 murder case Dallas woman set to die to hear about other death next month seeking delay
DALLAS — Thirteen small Texas airports will lose federal money for staffing air traffic control facilities as the Federal Aviation Administration works to trim hundreds of millions of dollars from its budget. The Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, Dallas Executive Airport and Collin County Regional Airport are three of the airports affected.
SAN ANGELO — Jurors in the case of a man on trial for the 1986 murder of a woman whose husband was wrongfully convicted will hear evidence that links him to a second slaying. Mark Norwood is charged with the beating death of Christine Morton. Morton’s husband, Michael, spent 25 years in prison before DNA testing linked Norwood to the slaying.
Former El Paso judge, businessman sentenced
Death row inmate gets new sentencing trial
EL PASO — A former El Paso County judge and a businessman were sentenced to federal prison in a public corruption case. Former County Judge Dolores Briones was sentenced Friday to two-and-a-half years for conspiring to embezzle federal program funds. Ruben “Sonny” Garcia Jr. was sentenced Friday to four years for conspiring to embezzle federal funds.
HOUSTON — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has granted a new sentencing trial to an inmate on death row for the slaying of his wife. The court determined jurors at William Michael Mason’s 1992 trial in Houston had no way to consider evidence of his troubled childhood and a long history of drug use when they were deliberating punishment.
HOUSTON — A Dallas woman who avoided execution with a reprieve in January asked a judge Friday to halt her execution now set for early next month. Kimberly McCarthy, who was convicted in the 1997 killing of a neighbor, asked State District Judge Larry Mitchell in a court filing to put off her rescheduled April 3 lethal injection until the fate of legislation related to her case is determined.
Another Lackland trainer convicted in sex scandal SAN ANTONIO — Another Air Force basic training instructor has been sentenced to prison in a sex scandal and will be booted out of the military. A judge at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland on Thursday sentenced Master Sgt. Jamey Crawford to seven months of confinement for improper relationships. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION ACLU weighs in on Nevada medical marijuana law CARSON CITY, Nev. — The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada weighed in Friday on the state’s medical marijuana law, calling it unconstitutional because it doesn’t allow patients with prescriptions for medical marijuana to legally obtain it. The ACLU brief supports the decision of Clark County District Court Judge Donald Mosley, who ruled the Nevada law invalid in the case of two men indicted in connection with the operation of a nonprofit co-op to dispense the drug.
Senators close in on immigration deal WASHINGTON — A dispute over wages for lower-skilled workers flared Friday as senators scrambled to sketch out a deal on an immigration bill before Congress takes a recess.
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In this Feb. 13 photo, a group of immigrant rights advocates gather in Jersey City, N.J. A dispute over wages for low-skilled workers is a final issue holding up a deal on an immigration bill in the Senate on Friday. The clash between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO underscored the high stakes involved in the legislation. The chamber and AFL-CIO, negotiating through the Gang of Eight senators, had reached agreement on a new visa pro-
gram to bring up to 200,000 workers a year to the country. But the AFL-CIO was pushing for higher wages for the workers than the chamber had agreed to so far. The dispute remained unsettled into the night. — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
Local
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
Weather group seeking observers THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, or CoCoRaHS, and the National Weather Service in Brownsville are calling all weather enthusiasts in Zapata and Jim Hogg counties to become volunteer weather observers. The two organizations need help in rainfall reporting. This program is designed to help meteorologists, forecasters and researchers to study the variability of precipitation across the region, to help improve drought monitoring and to verify Doppler radar precipitation estimates. People of any age are welcome to join CoCoRaHS. Those who join the program will be required to own an official rain gauge, which can be purchased through the CoCoRaHS website. They also must have a good on site property they own, with open space that is free of trees and other obstructions. Volunteers should be willing to submit precipitation data, including reports of no precipitation, and any other weather
observations daily. Internet access is preferred, though not required. To become an official rainfall observer, log on to www.cocorahs.org and click on “Join CoCoRaHS” to fill out an application. Any questions can be directed to Juan Alanis Jr., the Webb County CoCoRaHS coordinator, at 956-251-3996 or to Geoffrey Bogorad, CoCoRaHS Rio Grande Valley regional coordinator, at the National Weather Service office in Brownsville at 956-504-1432. CoCoRaHS, based at Colorado State University and started in 1998, is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteer weather observers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and report precipitation amounts. By using low-cost and self-provided measurement tools, the aim of CoCoRaHS is to provide the maximum amount of data for natural resource education as well as research applications. CoCoRaHS expanded into Texas in 2007 and is now operating in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Canada.
THE BLOTTER ACCIDENT An accident was reported at 8:48 p.m. March 13 at 25th and Iturbide streets.
ASSAULT An aggravated assault with a deadly weapon report was filed at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office. A Class C misdemeanor assault was reported at 1:11 p.m. Tuesday at Zapata High School. A sexual assault report was filed at 3 a.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of FM 696.
INDECENCY WITH A CHILD
An indecency with a child by sexual contact report was filed at 2 p.m. March 13 in the 2100 block of Del Mar Street.
THEFT A theft was reported at 10:23 p.m. Sunday in the 1400 block of Ramireño Avenue. A theft was reported at 8:52 p.m. Monday in the 2400 block of Carla Street.
TERRORISTIC THREAT A terroristic threat incident was reported at 10:40 p.m. Saurday in the 1700 block of Ramireño Avenue.
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
Man accused of smuggling try after Zapata traffic stop By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A traffic stop near Texas 16 in Zapata on March 16 yielded the arrest of a man attempting to smuggle two Mexican nationals to Houston, according to federal court records. Jose Eligio Casarrubias Ramirez was charged with bringing and harboring undocumented people, a criminal complaint filed Tuesday states. He remains in federal custody on a $75,000 bond. On March 16, Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office deputies requested assistance from U.S. Border Pa-
trol agents on a vehicle stop at about 1 a.m. Deputies advised the agents that the vehicle had been stopped for speeding. Agents approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Casarrubias Ramirez, a lawful permanent resident, the complaint states. Two passengers riding with him freely admitted to being undocumented people from Mexico. Sheriff ’s deputies cited Casarrubias Ramirez for possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and turned him over, along with the two passengers, to federal officials.
Casarrubias Ramirez invoked his right to an attorney. One man held as material witness stated he’d crossed the Rio Grande near Laredo. An unidentified man instructed him to wait at a bar for Casarrubias Ramirez. Casarrubias Ramirez planned on smuggling the man to Houston in exchange for $1,500. The second undocumented person also agreed to pay Casarrubias Ramirez $1,500 to be smuggled to Houston, the complaint states. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Zapata man re-elected to food bank board By SALO OTERO SOUTH TEXAS FOOD BANK
A Zapata resident, Romeo Salinas, was re-elected to a two-year term on the board of directors of the South Texas Food Bank on Thursday. Anita (Annie) Zuñiga Dodier, a retired educator from Laredo Independent School District and civic leader, was elected president of the food bank board at the March monthly meeting at Commerce Bank in Laredo. Other officers elected were Anna Benavides Galo, presidentelect; Erasmo Villarreal, secretary; Ed Sherwood, treasurer; and Aide Brooks, historian. Joining the officers on the executive board are Tano Tijerina, chairman of the Ranchers for the Hungry program, and outgoing president Kevin Romo. Two new board members were elected, including attorney Pete Saenz and businessman Doug Howland, replacing Mike Garza and Goyo Lopez. Saenz was previously on the board for 13 years, including as past-president.
Re-elected to two-year terms were Dodier, Sherwood, Tijerina, Jaime Arizpe, Romelia Cardona of Eagle Pass, Gaby DeLeon, Roberto Diaz, Felipe Garcia Perez, Rodrigo Jaime of Carrizo SpringsAsherton and Salinas. Dodier, whose family has land holdings in Zapata, becomes the second woman to serve as board president. The first was Olga Maldonado, who is still a board member. The STFB board heard reports from executive director Alfonso Casso Jr. and chief financial officer Mike Kazen, who emphasized hat any donations received through April 30 will be matched by the Feinstein Foundation of Cranston, R.I. Donations can be mailed to 1907 Freight, Laredo, Texas 78041.The South Texas Food Bank started in 1989 as the Laredo-Webb County Food Bank. It is at 1907 Freight at Riverside and serves supplemental food to the unemployed, under-employed and those living on fixed incomes. The food bank serves 26,000 families, 6,000 children, 7,000 elderly and 500 veterans and their wid-
ows per month in an eight-county area from Rio Grande City to Del Rio. For information, call 956-7263120 or visit the website www.southtexasfoodbank.org. The Helping Hands Pantry is the largest distribution site in Zapata. For information, call Norma Mendoza at 765-9327. The South Texas Food Bank distributed 619,769 pounds of product in February. The fiscal year’s five-month total is 3,685,459 pounds. For the year, 97,856 families have been served, including 73,155 children, 153,699 adults and 244,144 meals. The Adopt-A-Family program distributed 406 bags; the Commodity Supplemental Food Program served 6,911, mostly elderly; the SNAP (formerly food stamps) Outreach had 307 applications, representing 414 adults and 394 children; the Kids Café program at 15 sites fed an after-school meal to 902 children Monday through Friday that included 22,362 meals; and 117 received an emergency walk-in food bag, representing 211 adults and 188 children.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Catholics need a shift in culture By O. RICARDO PIMENTEL SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
Tenderness as a sign of strength. Protection as the mark of servant leadership. And the knowledge that those most deserving of protection are those not fully able to do it themselves — “the poorest, the weakest, the least important.” So did Pope Francis signal at his ceremonial installment Tuesday that he might be a different kind of leader to the Catholic Church’s 1.2 billion followers. And my hope is that what he also signaled is that the church is ready to reclaim its real moral authority, tarnished by the behavior of its own and narrow attention on the topics that divide us.
Looking better I am heartened even if there is no indication in his homily or in his background of any change in the orthodoxy that has caused many in disagreement to lose faith in the church. I am one of them, though my lapsing is more complex than that. Before the first Latin American pope was elected, I described in a recent column my disaffection — about the journey to becoming a “cultural Catholic.” This resulted in a good deal of reaction, much of it from folks who would seemingly prefer the church hew to orthodoxy rather than adapt and grow in the real world. But I was genuinely moved by this first homily, a sign, perhaps, that the operative word in that phrase “cultural Catholic” can be Catholic. There were signs aplenty in this homily that the church would be less concerned with shunning those whose behavior, gender and orientation offend orthodoxy and more concerned with emulating the service, humility, caring and charity that characterized the one whose message the church was founded to spread. This would be no small thing. By focusing more on social justice rather than sexual activities, the church will not be saying that it approves. It will only be saying that when you get right down to it, whether a man wants to marry a man or a woman has no bearing on the quality of life for humanity. A seeming preoccupation on social cultural issues in the American church — abetted by the Vatican — has managed
“
He must be inspired by the lowly, concrete and faithful service which marked St. Joseph.” POPE FRANCIS
COLUMN to drown out any hint of abiding concern for the things Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pontiff, spoke of on Tuesday. Perhaps I am reading too much into the pope’s homily. And still ... “Let us not forget that authentic power is service, and that the pope, too, when exercising power, must enter ever more fully into that service which has its radiant culmination on the cross,” he said. ”He must be inspired by the lowly, concrete and faithful service which marked St. Joseph and, like him, he must open his arms to protect all of God’s people and embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those whom Matthew lists in the final judgment on love: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison.” Please note: “All of God’s people” and “tender affection” for the ”whole of humanity.”
Hoping for action Pope Francis is not the first pope to sound social justice themes. But combined with the humility that has already become a trademark, this particular pope is poised to actually have people more actively listen. And, I hope, act. He spoke of protecting ”creation” — but didn’t mention abortion. Or birth control. Or gay marriage. Or why women aren’t allowed as priests. He easily could have. Instead, he called on those in positions of “responsibility in economic, political and social life,” and “all men and women of good will” to be these protectors “of one another and the environment.” These are powerful words. “We must not be afraid of goodness or even tenderness,” he said. A tender church would be most welcome, especially to a cultural Catholic.
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. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication. 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. Via e-mail, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.
He’s the anti-bag-ban man By KEN HERMAN COX NEWSPAPERS
AUSTIN — Austin’s single-use bag ban got a spirited hearing Wednesday night at the Texas House Urban Affairs Committee, which includes several legislators who seem to see themselves as an appellate panel that reviews decisions made by our City Council. Several committee members offered challenging notions about the wisdom of the bag ban and, though no action was taken, seemed ready to back the bill by Rep. Drew Springer, RMuenster, that would ban bag bans. I liked the testimony of Austinite Debbie Kreuser, who, despite waiting 10 hours to testify, was pleasant and respectful in her defense of her hometown’s right to ban single-use bags. “We want the bag ban here in Austin. We’re that kind of a community,” she told lawmakers. “We set ourselves a little bit different than the rest of Texas. Just respect the fact that we’re a little bit weird and we want to be who we are
without you guys saying we can’t be who we want to be.” And may I hereby suggest a pay raise (albeit a small one) for Bob Gedert, Austin’s recycling director, who was informed and effective as committee members grilled him. Many of the questions were about the wisdom of the bag ban. To me, that’s not the issue. The issue is whether the state should be meddling in city affairs. Butt out, say I. Springer, a tea partybacked freshman from North Texas, opened by telling the committee “local control is always a priority of mine” and then went on to explain why sometimes it’s not. This is one of those times, he said, explaining that the bag ban could lead to a straw ban that could lead to communism. OK, he said nothing about communism. (Although, darn it, if our City Council prefers communism that’s our decision to make.) Springer also launched an “individuals’ freedom” argument, something about the inalienable right to select our bag of choice. Interestingly, there was a
time when Springer didn’t think any kind of bag was needed for shopping. The time was 4:45 p.m. on Feb. 29, 1988. The place was a Target in Denton, where Springer, then 21, was a North Texas State University student. I’m going to let Albert Vinney, then a Target security officer, tell the story of Springer, his pants and a Nintendo game. This is from the report he filed that became part of the record on the long-ago, low-stakes crime. “Subject then walked to the camera and sound dept. There subject looked around several times and then I observed subject put the Top Gun Nintendo down the front of his pants. ... I then followed subject to the front of the store and outside. Subject made no attempt to pay for the Nintendo,” Vinney wrote. Springer pleaded guilty to shoplifting the $29.99 game and paid a $200 fine. Remember, this was a long time ago. And let ye who never has stuffed a video game down his pants cast the first stone. I’m not telling you anything here that voters didn’t
know when they elected Springer last year. Several newspapers in his district reported on the shoplifting incident during his runoff race. During the campaign, Springer told newspapers the there’s-a-game-in-mypants incident (why does the word “pants” make everything funnier?) was “a youthful indiscretion I absolutely regret” and a “fraternity prank I have lived to regret.” Any of us who’ve done dumb stuff do not doubt his sincerity. As a voter, I want to know about candidates’ criminal records. I don’t think I’d care much about a long-ago shoplifting conviction. But I’d want to know about it. Looks to me like the voters in Springer’s district knew about it. And they elected him anyway. I yield to their discretion. Who they elect is none of my business. Just like what our City Council does is none of Springer’s business. (Ken Herman is a columnist for the Austin AmericanStatesman. E-mail: kherman@statesman.com.)
COMMENTARY
Action nixed on weapons ban By JONATHAN CAPEHART THE WASHINGTON POST
Despite the slaughter of 20 innocents in Newtown, Conn., a little more than three months ago, a proposed ban on assault weapons was stripped out of Senate legislation against gun violence this week. That doesn’t mean nothing is being done in response to the horrific crimes. The Senate bill would expand background checks on prospective buyers and would make gun trafficking a federal crime. Still, Wednesday’s front page of
The New York Daily News — “Shame on U.S.” — says it all. “It’s heartbreaking that this tragic incident can’t get some common sense laws passed, such as the assault weapons ban,” Jim Wiltsie told the Daily News. Wiltsie’s cousin Victoria Soto, a teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School, died trying to protect her students on Dec. 14.
Doomed from start Unfortunately, as some
have noted, the ban on assault weapons was always doomed. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said on the floor this week that the proposed ban “has less than 40 votes. That’s not 60.” Even though the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the measure last week, it doesn’t have the 60 votes needed to stop a filibuster in the full Senate.
No answers “How many assault weapons do you need cir-
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
culating?” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., lead supporter of the ban, asked on Tuesday. “They get sold out of trunks. They get sold in gun shops and they fall into the hands of grievance killers, young people, gangs. To have these massive killings is such a blight on everything that America stands for.” Reid’s action came one day after police thwarted a student at the University of Central Florida who had an arsenal of weapons and a detailed plan of attack. A scary echo of the horror at Sandy Hook.
State
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
Cave in neighborhood to be sealed shut ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN ANTONIO — A subdivision developer who discovered a cave in the San Antonio area has decided to seal off access and will revise its plans so no houses are built above it. The San Antonio Express-News reported Friday that the cave was discovered Jan. 30 when a crew was trenching for a sewer line. The cave has two chambers about 40 feet high and colors in the cave range from bright white and pink to dark red and brown throughout its 450-foot length. Twelve-foot-long stalactites hang from the ceiling and the floor has rounded stalagmites that rise up 15 feet or more. Officials with McMillin Land Development plan to use a concrete beam and soil to seal off the cave. Already, steel plates have
been put over the opening and a chain link fence installed. Geologist Philip Pearce and his team from PapeDawson Engineers last month took four days to map the cave amid growing public attention. Pearce found spelunking gear in the cave and saw some formations had been broken. McMillin said in a statement that it is proposing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that the planned sewer lines be rerouted so no sewer line will pass over or through the cave. The company also said it is “revising the subdivision plat so that no residential lot will be over the cave.” “We hit voids all the time,” said Gene Dawson, president of Pape-Dawson Engineers. “But rarely do we have to redesign a subdivision because of one.” The Edwards Aquifer
Authority said the cave is a direct conduit to the Edwards Aquifer, San Antonio’s primary water source. Having the cave closed off is difficult for spelunkers to accept. Allan Cobb, director of Texas Cave Management Association, said the cave is unique and offers an opportunity to study the geology of the Edwards. “The formations are what make it interesting,” he said, adding they are probably hundreds to thousands of years old. Cobb would like to see an entrance to the cave left so it could be further explored, monitored and used to teach the public how anything spilled over the recharge zone of the Edwards ends up in the aquifer. But with the entrance sealed, Cobb knows at least the formations will be protected.
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
Woman seeking delay By MICHAEL GRACZYK ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — A condemned Dallas woman who avoided execution with a last-day reprieve in January asked a judge Friday to again halt her execution, now set for early next month. Kimberly McCarthy, who was convicted in the 1997 killing of a neighbor, asked State District Judge Larry Mitchell in a court filing to put off her rescheduled April 3 lethal injection until the fate of legislation related to her case is determined. Maurie Levin, a University of Texas law professor who represents McCarthy, contends prospective jurors and the subsequent jury at McCarthy’s trial in Dallas County were predominantly white and may have been unfairly selected on the basis of race. McCarthy
is black. State Sen. Royce West and Rep. Eric Johnson, both Dallas Democrats, MCCARTHY introduced a measure in the Legislature on March 6 that would bar racial discrimination in capital case prosecution. The measure has been sent to committees in each chamber. Lawmakers in Austin are about halfway through their 180day biennial session. “Ms. McCarthy’s case and claims fit squarely within the four corners of the proposed legislation,” Levin told the court. “As the fate of the proposed legislation will not be known until the end of May, a withdrawal or modification of the execution date is warranted.” Sue Smith, a Dallas County assistant district at-
torney who handles capital case appeals, said Friday her office would contest the request in a filing to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. McCarthy, 51, already was in a small holding cell a few steps from the Texas death chamber in Huntsville on Jan. 29 and within hours of her scheduled execution when Mitchell, acting on a filing from Levin, withdrew the execution warrant and reset it for April 3. If McCarthy’s punishment is carried out, she would be the first woman executed in the U.S. since 2010. The former nursing home therapist was convicted of the 1997 stabbing, beating and robbery of a 71year-old neighbor, Dorothy Booth, at the retired college psychology professor’s home in Lancaster, about 15 miles south of Dallas.
Prosecutor put on case By NOMAAN MERCHANT ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS — A special prosecutor from North Texas will investigate whether the Dallas County district attorney committed contempt of court when he wouldn’t testify to allegations that his office improperly prosecuted an oil fortune heir. Ron Poole, a prosecutor from Cooke County, will serve as special prosecutor in the proceedings involving Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, the judge assigned to the case said Thursday. State District Judge Bob Brotherton of Wichita Falls did not immediately schedule a hearing date.
Watkins was held in contempt March 7 by District Judge Lena Levario of Dallas after he would not respond to allegations about why his office prosecuted oil heir Al Hill III for mortgage fraud. Attorneys for Hill accused Watkins of pursuing Hill as a favor to friend and political donor Lisa Blue, who had been mired in a fee dispute with Hill in an unrelated case. When neither Watkins nor Blue would testify, Levario dismissed the charges against Hill. Her contempt citation against Watkins was transferred to Brotherton. Blue asserted her right not to testify under the Fifth Amendment, citing a federal investigation that
her attorney said involved matters in the case. Watkins cited attorneyclient privilege and a state privilege protecting certain kinds of “work product” attorneys produce in preparing a case — both of which were rejected by Levario. Watkins’ top assistant, Heath Harris, said Thursday that he’s concerned that Poole works for Cooke County District Attorney Janice Warder, a former Dallas prosecutor who was found to have improperly withheld information in the trial of a 1986 murder. A district judge found in 2008 that Warder did not give defendant Clay Chabot’s attorneys information from a key witness that could have helped his case.
This Space can be yours To reserve a space in our Business Directory please call (956) 645-3592 With 4,000 Free home delivery in Zapata.
6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
Mexico may be out of top 10 for tourism By MARK STEVENSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s top tourism official said the country may drop out of the world’s top 10 tourist destinations, a spot it has held for years. Tourism Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu hasn’t said why the drop occurred, but there were declines in 2012 in two areas that have been affected by violence: border tourism and cruise ship stopovers. The number of cruise ship passengers stopping in Mexico dropped 3 percent in 2012 and more than 15 percent over the past two years. The number of border visitors dropped 5.3 percent in 2012, according to Tourism Department figures. Mexican border cities such as Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo have experienced continued waves of
drug cartel violence, and a number of cruise operators have dropped port calls along Mexico’s western Pacific coast. Both areas have been affected by drug-fueled violence that has cost more than 70,000 lives in the past six years. The drops contributed to a 1.2 percent decline in overall international tourism to Mexico in 2012. “We have indications that we may drop one or two places, but we’re not sure because the figures aren’t ours, they are from the World Tourism Organization,” Ruiz Massieu said Monday. The WTO regional director for the Americas, Carlos Vogeler, said Tuesday it may be less a story of Mexico losing tourists, than about other countries making big gains and overtaking Mexico. “You have to take into account that there are countries that have made
“
For example, Russia has improved its figures, Malaysia has improved its own, and Austria. There are a number of countries that have increased their numbers significantly.” CARLOS VOGELER, WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION
a great deal of progress in attracting international visitors,” Vogeler said. “For example, Russia has improved its figures, Malaysia has improved its own, and Austria. There are a number of countries that have increased their numbers significantly.” And he noted Mexico has continued to gain in tourism revenues. Income
Photo by Ralph Barrera/statesman.com/file | AP
Senate Education Chairman Dan Patrick speaks on Dec. 19, 2012. Patrick is pushing for charter school expansion and a voucher plan that would allow students to attend private schools with public money.
Lawmaker vows school choice fight By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — The head of the Senate Education Committee broke into tears Thursday as he promised to fight for dramatically expanded “school choice” in Texas. But Sen. Dan Patrick also announced he was softening his high-profile bill to allow an unlimited number of charter schools to operate statewide, instead taking a more gradual, tiered approach to their expansion. The tea party-backed Republican from Houston became emotional as students told his committee of dropping out of school but then returning thanks to charter schools and other facilities specializing in at-risk youth. They were supporting a bill by San Antonio Democratic Sen. Leticia Van De Putte, who is seeking to modify how state accountability measures evaluate public schools to more accurately label facilities that specialize in helping students who had previously dropped out. Van De Putte argues that many such students aren’t currently included in the accountability system, which can hurt the “completion rate” rating their schools receive. Bertha Vasquez, an 18year-old former dropout in Austin who returned to school, is now set to graduate this year and hopes to become a nurse. She cried as she detailed being raised by a single mother. “I want to be the reason that she can smile every day, even though I made her go through a lot,” Vasquez said. Patrick instructed a committee clerk to hand her a box of tissues — then said he needed them back as tears ran down his own face. “Today has been a tough day because everybody up here (on the committee) wants to support choice and options in schools,” Patrick said, his voice cracking. “Sometimes the adults get in the way with fighting and politicking in the adult world,” he continued. Then, directly addressing
Vasquez and another student who testified, Terrance Wigfall, Patrick added: “What you have done has probably turned around some people’s thinking.” “You have inspired me. I am going to fight for you and thousands like you,” he said. “We are not going to let politics steal futures and dreams.” Patrick calls himself an “education evangelist” and suggested during a recent committee meeting that anyone who opposes expanding charter schools in Texas opposes students and families who weep when they try to attend charter schools but are waitlisted because demand outpaces existing supply. He has pushed for the most dramatic overhaul of charter schools since Texas began allowing them in 1995. Patrick called the witnesses, “perfect people, at the perfect time, with the perfect stories.” “We’re going to try to change a lot of things this session,” he said. Patrick is sponsoring two sweeping “school choice” proposals. One would lift the current cap of 215 licenses Texas issues to operate charter schools and create a special board to oversee a flood of new charter applications he expects will follow. The other is a voucher plan that would allow businesses to earn tax credits for donations that help poor and at-risk children leave public schools for private or religious ones — diverting public money to private schools. During the hearing, though, Patrick also modified his charter proposal to call for 10 new charter licenses issued next school year and 20 new ones given out in 2014-2015, as well as 35 in the 2015-2016 academic year and beyond. He said he still supports an unlimited number of new charters, but understands that such a plan could be opposed by some in the Legislature. Patrick also altered his bill to give the state the authority to issue five new charter licenses for every one that is revoked from an existing school because of poor performance. The Texas Education Agency says authorities only close about three charters in a typical
year. The committee, which could have referred the modified bill to the full Senate, instead left it pending Thursday. It will take it up again next week. Democratic lawmakers, teachers groups and other educational organizations have strongly opposed vouchers — but tend to be more mixed on charters. Still, opposition has come from both parties in the Texas House, where lawmakers from rural areas too small to support charters are often wary of them.
from International tourists rose 7.1 percent in 2012, despite the decline in the number of visitors. “According to our initial data, Mexico has increased its income, apparently because people who arrive by air (rather than crossing a land border or arriving on a cruise ship) generally spend more time, and more money, in
the country,” Vogeler said. Ruiz Massieu seemed fairly calm about the whole affair. “What this administration and the Tourism Department are doing is looking to the future. ... We want to be more competitive globally. We want to diversify our tourism industry,” Ruiz Massieu said, referring to efforts to diversify beyond what has long been the country’s staple: American tourists visiting beach resorts. While she did not offer specific figures, Ruiz Massieu said Mexico had attracted a large number of spring break visitors this year. “The spring breakers season is ending and we had a very strong turnout at our main resorts. ... We’re very happy that we continue to be a favorite destination for that sector,” she said.
Tourism industry sources say that some Mexican resorts such as Cancun appear almost immune to problems in other parts of the country. The Travel Leaders Group, a network of independently owned and operated travel agencies in the U.S., noted that Cancun continues to be the second-most popular destination among Americans. “It appears that travelers are quite savvy on the situation in Mexico and understand that there are many popular and safe destinations to visit,” Travel Leaders spokeswoman Kathy Gerhardt wrote earlier this year. “Also, many people are repeat visitors to Mexico. Based on their past experience in a particular destination or at a particular resort, they feel very comfortable traveling there again.”
SÁBADO 23 DE MARZO DE 2013
Agenda en Breve LAREDO 03/23— Aprenda a construir, comprar y embellecer casas en la Segunda Feria Anual y Expo de la Vivienda de Neighbor Works, de 10 a.m. a 5 p.m. en Laredo Energy Arena. Habrá talleres gratuitos, obsequios y actividades para niños. 03/23— Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU presenta, a las 3 p.m. “Zula Patrol: Under the Weather”; a las 4 p.m. “Lamps of Atlantis”; y, a las 5 p.m. “Lamps of Atlantis”. Costo: 5 dólares, general; 4 dólares, niños. 03/23— Festival Folklórico, en el Teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU, a las 7 p.m. Costo: 10 dólares. 03/24— Quinta Carrera Anual Mercurio Martinez IV, a las 8:30 a.m. en Plaza St. Peter’s. Registro a las 7 a.m. Costo: 20 dólares, adultos; estudiantes hasta 12vo grado, 10 dólares; niños 12 años y menores, 5 dólares; adultos mayores, 10 dólares. Informes en el (956) 273-7800 y 273-7804. 03/24— Laredo Phil invita a concierto a las 3 p.m. en el Teatro del Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts de Laredo Community College. Costo: 20 dólares. Informes en www.laredophil.com. 03/27— First United Methodist Church tendrá su Show de Flores y Arte en Fellowship Hall de 1 p.m. a 6 p.m. 03/27— Seminario gratuito del Small Business Development Center (SBDC) con el tema “Seguro Comercial/Seguro de Salud” de 5:30 p.m. a 7:45 p.m. la Biblioteca Pública de Laredo, 1120 E. Calton Road. Puede inscribirse llamando al 326-2827 o 206-8319. 03/27— El dueto mexicano “Sentidos Opuestos” se presenta en concierto, a las 8:30 p.m. en Club Annex, dentro de Laredo Energy Arena. Costos: 40 dólares, general; área VIP Lounge, 415 dólares; mesa VIP, 285 dólares. Reserve llamando al (956) 791-9192. Boletos disponibles en Ticketmaster y taquilla de LEA. 03/28— La Fundación Diploma Plus en asociación con Laredo Community College presenta el concierto Rotary Diploma Plus a beneficio de las becas estudiantiles. El concierto contará con la presencia de Ed and Pete Gonzalez, MonoEd, en el Centro de Artes Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez en el Campus Fort McIntosh. Además la presentación oficial del nuevo CD de MonoEd “My Way”, a partir de las 7:30 p.m. en el teatro del Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center del Campus Fort McIntosh Campus. Costo 15 dólares, adultos; y 10 dólares estudiantes y adultos mayores. VIP, 25 dólares. 03/29— Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU presenta, “New Horizons” a las 6 p.m.; “Lamps of Atlantis” a las 7 p.m. Costo: 4 y 5 dólares.
Zfrontera PATRULLA FRONTERIZA DE EU
Enfrentamiento “ POR CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Como Matthew Cheyenne Simmons, de 27 años, ha sido identificado el hombre que fuera baleado y muerto el jueves cerca de Hebbronville por agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza de EU. Simmons era buscado en relación con un robo a mano armada y robo de automóvil en Waco. Los agentes le dispararon tras que él HARRIS supuestamente disparara contra uno de los agentes, lesionando a uno. Simmons fue declarado muerto en el lugar, mientras que el agente herido fue trasladado vía aérea a una instalación médica en Corpus Christi y atendido por lo que parecía ser lesiones en su caderam que no amenazaban su vida. Robert L. Harris, Comandante de Aduanas y Protección Froteriza, Sur de Texas, dijo durante una conferencia de prensa el jueves por la
(Sospechoso) no tenía intenciones de ser detenido. (Él) estaba armado y pensaba que sería capaz de lidiar con una situación así” ROBERT L. HARRIS, COMANDANTE DE ADUANAS Y PROTECCIÓN FROTERIZA DEL SUR DE TEXAS
tarde, que la identidad de los agentes que utilizaron la fuerza letal no se revelarían “en este momento”. A la 1:45 a.m. del jueves en una localidad remota del sur de Hebbronville por FM Road 649 y Chihuahua Road, agentes encontraron lo que pensaron era un Honda Civic, inhabilitado o varado. Los agentes se detuvieron para brindar ayuda a un hombre caucásico, solitario. Funcionarios federales dijeron que al parecer el vehículo había golpeado a un ciervo antes de quedar a un lado de la carretera. Una
verificación al registro del vehículo reveló que era robado, dijo Harris. “Al (intentar) tomar en custodia al sujeto, inició un forcejeo, el individuo sacó un arma y disparó a nuestros agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza”, dijo Harris. “Nuestros agentes respondieron al fuego e incapacitaron al sujeto”. La Juez de Paz, Lucia C. Domínguez, del Condado Jim Hogg, declaró muerto a Simmons. Harris dijo que información preliminar indica que el hombre era buscado por Waco por robo a mano armada y robo de auto. Hasta el
jueves por la tarde se desconocía qué hacia el hombre en el Condado Jim Hogg. Harris señaló que el tiroteo ocurrió en una zona utilizada para contrabando de narcóticos y de humanos, pero las autoridades federakes no relacionaron al sospechoso con tales actividades. “Este individuo, obviamente, no tenía intenciones de ser detenido. Estaba armado y pensaba que sería capaz de lidiar con una situación que involucraba a tres (agentes), lo que obviamente no sucedió”, dijo Harris. “Estamos agradecidos de que (el sospechoso) se topara con la policía y no con un ciudadano”. El Departamento del Alguacil de Jim Hogg, la Oficina Federal de Investigaciones, la Oficina del Inspector General y los Rangers de Texas respondieron al incidente. La Patrulla Fronteriza está llevando a cabo una investigación interna, no está claro qué agencia está investigandio la balacera. (Localice a César G. Rodriguez en el 728-2568 o en cesar@lmtonline.com)
NUEVO LAREDO, MÉXICO
ECONOMÍA
GIRA DE TRABAJO
Gobierno sigue seis meses POR ANDREW TAYLOR ASSOCIATED PRESS
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
El Gobernador de Tamaulipas, Egidio Torre Cantú encabezó una ceremonia sobre la inversión que se ha realizado en el Puente Internacional III. Desde el año 2000 se han registrado más de 15 millones de cruces de vehículos por ése puente.
Gobernador entrega apoyos a frontera TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
E
l Gobernador de Tamaulipas, Egidio Torre Cantú, realizó una gira de dos días por Nuevo Laredo, México, esta semana, donde hizo entrega de recursos superiores a los 126 millones de pesos para vivienda, educación, vialidades y comercio internacional. En una reunión con el nuevo Consejo Directivo de la Asociación de Agentes Aduanales, Torre dejó en claro que Nuevo Laredo es una ciudad estratégica para Tamaulipas y para México. “Es uno de los polos de desarrollo más importantes de nuestro estado. Es la zona con mayor intercambio comercial internacional del país”, subrayó. En materia de comercio internacional, Torre supervisó los trabajos de ampliación de las
vialidades internas del recinto fiscal del Puente Internacional Nuevo Laredo III, que con una inversión de 28 millones de pesos permitirá darle más fluidez al cruce de transporte de carga entre México y Estados Unidos. En su primer día en Nuevo Laredo se anunció que Tamaulipas trabaja con la Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes para resolver en definitiva el problema vehicular que se presenta en la garita del kilómetro 26 de la carretera Monterrey-Laredo. Además se analizan opciones para el mejoramiento del tramo carretero La Gloria-Libramiento México II, y se continúa trabajando para la puesta en marcha del Aeropuerto Internacional de Carga de Nuevo Laredo. Torre también sostuvo una reunión con la nueva mesa directiva de la Cámara de Comer-
NUEVO LAREDO, MX 03/24— Domingos de Teatro Universitario presenta “Insólito Caso del Sr. Morton” con grupo Teatropolis, a las 6 p.m. en el Teatro Lucio Blanco de la Casa de la Cultura. Entrada libre. 03/26— Colectivo Moviendo Conciencia presenta la exposición artística “Esencia de nostalgia” de 6 p.m. a 9 p.m. en el lobby del teatro del IMSS, Belden y Reynosa. Entrada gratuita. 03/26— Proyecto Teatro presenta “Esencia de nostalgia” de Miguel Angel Cedano, a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro del IMSS, Belden y Reynosa. Costo: 20 pesos.
PÁGINA 7A
cio de Nuevo Laredo que dirige Said Galindo Flores, y entregó reconocimientos a varios de sus miembros. “La sociedad civil todos los días da lo mejor que tiene para que a Nuevo Laredo le vaya mejor, permanece siempre, gracias a ese esfuerzo de organizaciones como la Canaco y empresarios como ustedes le dan la fortaleza que tenemos”, dijo. En materia de educación el mandatario estatal entregó apoyos para la construcción de la Unidad de Docencia de la Universidad Tecnológica e informó que los recursos destinados en infraestructura educativa y becas superior a los 38 millones de pesos. En materia de vivienda, la inversión fue cercana a los 30 millones de pesos con aportaciones de los tres niveles de gobierno además de la iniciativa privada.
WASHINGTON — La Cámara de Representantes aprobó el jueves un presupuesto que permitirá al gobierno seguir funcionando los próximos seis meses mientras impulsa un plan de gastos favorecido por los conservadores y que encogería al gobierno otros 4,6 billones de dólares la siguiente década. El proyecto incluye 85.000 millones de dólares en recortes al presupuesto del Pentágono y programas nacionales. Como resultado, en los próximos seis meses, cientos de miles de empleados federales y contratistas recibirán licencias laborales sin paga, se interrumpirá su trabajo, disminuirá o se detendrán los servicios y la ayuda para muchos estadounidenses. El plan que la Cámara Baja aprobó el jueves mantendrá las funciones del gobierno hasta finales de septiembre, eliminando la posibilidad de un cierre gubernamental. La medida, similar a las ofrecidas anteriormente por el presidente del Comité Presupuestario de la Cámara, el republicano Paul Ryan, demuestra que, al menos matemáticamente, es posible equilibrar el déficit presupuestario en una década sin elevar los impuestos. Al mismo tiempo, el Senado debatió por segundo día su primer plan presupuestario desde 2009. La medida financiará las operaciones diarias presupuestarias de cada departamento gubernamental hasta el 30 de septiembre, y dará otros 87.000 millones de dólares para costear las operaciones militares de Afganistán e Irak, al mismo tiempo que congela los salarios de los empleados federales. Empero, deja vigentes las reducciones automáticas en el crecimiento del gasto presupuestario en un 5% de los programas nacionales y del 8% del Pentágono, donde miles de empleados civiles serán despedidos y centenares de miles en otros organismos federales.
SEMANA SANTA
Inicia operativo para atender al turismo ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Para atender la afluencia turística de Semana Santa, el gobierno de Tamaulipas puso en marcha el Operativo de Seguridad y Auxilio 2013. El operativo concluye el 7 de abril, y se aplicará en la región fronteriza, en el Valle de San Fernando, en el Centro, Altiplano, Zona Mante y en el Sur del Estado, dijo Herminio Garza Palacios, Secretario General de Gobierno.
La Policía Federal activará dispositivos en carreteras y recorridos de vigilancia. Serán desplegados 550 elementos de la Policía Estatal Acreditable, 65 camionetas radio-patrullas, 20 motociclistas, 10 parejas de la Unidad Montada, 3 parejas de la Unidad Canina y un helicóptero. “Habrá módulos de seguridad, auxilio e información en el Centro de Con-
venciones de Tampico, Parador Turístico La Florida, gasolinera del poblado de Tula, Playa Carbonera de San Fernando, Oficina de Turismo de Playa Miramar, Playa Bagdad de Matamoros y Playa La Pesca de Soto la Marina”, agregó Garza. Precisó que elementos
del Ejército Mexicano en funciones de Policía Estatal y Policía Municipal, apoyarán en los operativos de vigilancia y recorridos en los accesos a los principales centros turísticos del Estado. Brigadas de Radio Ayuda atenderán 40 puestos de auxilio, con un promedio
de 12 personas y seis vehículos por módulo. Por su parte, la Coordinación General de Protección Civil de Tamaulipas activará un puesto comando, cubrirá los puestos de auxilio, coordinará grupos de voluntarios, implementará un centro de recopilación de información y atenderá contingencias. Los principales puestos de auxilio estarán ubicados en Matamoros con 13, Ciudad Madero con 16 y Altamira con seis.
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
Cuban pianist Bebo Valdez dies at 94 By HAROLD HECKLE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MADRID — Renowned Cuban pianist Bebo Valdes, a composer and bandleader who recorded with Nat “King” Cole, was musical director at Havana’s legendary Tropicana Club and a key participant in the golden age of Cuban music, has died in Sweden at age 94. The news of his death was confirmed by Cindy Byram, the agent of Valdes’ son Chucho Valdes, who is a well-known musician in his own right. A cause of death was not given. The senior Valdes studied piano and later taught it to Chucho (Jesus Dionisio Valdes), who went on to become a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Cuban-based jazz band Irakere. The father began playing accompaniments at Havana’s famous night clubs in the 1940s. He then worked with singer Rita Montaner as her pianist and arranger from 1948 to 1957, when she was the lead cabaret act at the Tropicana. His orchestra Sabor de Cuba also accompanied singers Benny More and Pio Leyva at the club. It
was during this period that he and rival bandleader Perez Prado developed the mambo, a rhythmic style of dance music that swept the world. Valdes and his orchestra devised another rhythm called the batanga which he said helped differentiate his sound from Perez Prado’s. The senior Valdes maintained a parallel interest in jazz music and took part in many important sessions, some recorded on Cuba’s renowned Panart label. “I was a jazz musician from a very young age,” Valdes once said. “I started playing like the first jazz pianist I heard, a guy who was popular when I was a kid: Eddy Duchin.” He said other influences were Fats Waller, Art Tatum, and Bill Evans. In 1958, he worked on Nat “King” Cole’s album “Cole Espanol,” collaborating with arranger Nelson Riddle on the orchestral backing tracks that were all recorded in Havana. He also worked with singers Lucho Gatica and Mona Bell. Following Fidel Castro’s communist revolution in 1959, Valdes left Cuba, traveling to Mexico in 1960 accompanied by singer Rolando La Serie, but without
Photo by Paul White/file | AP
Cuban pianist Bebo Valdes, left, and his son Chucho Valdes pose before a joint concert in Madrid, Spain, on Oct. 9, 2008. his children. Valdes said one day a revolutionary guard went to his house demanding the pianist accompany him to a plaza where Castro was giving a speech. “I asked if there was going to be music there and he replied to me that Castro was music,” he said, adding that he then knew it was time to go. After a brief stay in the United States, Valdes set off on a European tour.
Valdes went to Stockholm in 1963 for a concert with the Lecuona Cuban Boys and fell in love with a Swedish woman, Rose Marie Pehrson, a cavalry officer’s daughter. They got married the same year and he settled in Sweden. He described it as the most important moment of his life. “It was like being hit by lightning,” he said. “If you meet a woman and you want to change your life
you have to choose between love and art.” Valdes lived in Stockholm until 2007 where he often struggled to interest people in Cuban music and Latin jazz. He earned a meager living playing in restaurants, on boat cruises and in some of Stockholm’s finest hotels, although he said he did once consider becoming a bus or taxi driver. Valdes was not able to see his increasingly wellknown and Cuba-based son Chucho until 1978 when he visited New York for the first time in 18 years and attended a concert. The father often told an anecdote of how a Cuban regime minder came up to him after the concert and said, “See how well we have shaped your son?” He said he retorted, “I’m very glad, but when was that? Because Chucho played piano at home with me when he was four years old and at 16 he joined a band called Sabor de Cuba, my band.” Valdes’ career got a late boost in 1994 when he teamed up with saxophone player Paquito D’Rivera to release a CD called “Bebo Rides Again.” “All musicians want to be famous and I think I’ve
recently experienced some of the biggest moments of my life,” Valdes told Svenska Dagbladet. Nine years later Valdes worked with Spanish singer-songwriter Diego Cigala on “Lagrimas Negras,” a flamenco-jazz fusion style CD that won Best Record of the Year by the New York Times. The experience attracted him to Spain, where he settled after leaving Stockholm. Valdes then worked with Chucho to release the CD “Juntos para Siempre” (Together Forever) in 2009. The father and son toured Europe at least twice. Valdes won five Grammy Awards in the categories of Best traditional tropical album and Best Latin jazz albums: two for “El arte del sabor” in 2002, one for “Lagrimas Negras” in 2004 and two for “Bebo de Cuba” in 2006. Asked how he found the energy to keep performing he said, “What else would I do? Watch TV? No, I’d rather play the piano. I will play until I die.” Valdes is survived by wife Rose Marie, daughters Mayra and Miriam, sons Raul, Jesus “Chucho,” and Ramon (born in Cuba) and Raymond and Rickard, who are Swedish.
Photo courtesy of Sherry West | AP
Shown is Antonio Santiago who was fatally shot in the head by a 17-year-old who had been asking the child’s mother, Sherry West, for money in Brunswick, Ga., on Friday. Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais | AP
President Barack Obama is presented a gift by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, left, on Friday, at the Church of the Nativity during his visit to the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
Police arrest 2 in killing By RUSS BYNUM
Syrian extremism noted By JULIE PACE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AMMAN, Jordan — President Barack Obama warned Friday that an “enclave for extremism” could fill a leadership void in war-torn Syria, a chilling scenario for an already tumultuous region, especially for Jordan, Syria’s neighbor and a nation at the crossroads of the struggle for stability in the Middle East. In a significant step toward easing regional tensions, Obama also brokered a phone call between leaders from Israel and Turkey that resulted in an extraordinary apology from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a deadly 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish flotilla. The call marked a diplomatic victory for the president and a crucial realignment in the region, given Israel’s and Turkey’s shared interests, in particular the fear that Syria’s civil war could spill over their respective borders. Obama said he remains confident that embattled Syrian leader Bashar Assad’s government will ultimately collapse. But he warned that when that happens, Syria would not be “put back together perfectly,” and he said he fears the nation could become a hotbed for extremists. “I am very concerned about Syria becoming an enclave for extremism, because extremists thrive in chaos,” Obama said during
a joint news conference with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. “They thrive in failed states, they thrive in power vacuums.” More than 70,000 people have been killed during the two-year conflict in Syria, making it by far the deadliest of the Arab Spring uprisings that have roiled the region since 2011. Longtime autocrats in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Libya have been ousted, ushering in new governments that are sometimes at odds with the Obama administration and its Mideast allies. Obama’s 24-hour stop in Jordan marked his first visit to an Arab nation since the 2011 Mideast protests began. Jordan’s monarchy has clung to power in part by enacting political reforms, including parliamentary elections and significant revisions to the country’s 60-year-old constitution. Still, tensions continue to simmer, with the restive population questioning the speed and seriousness of the changes. Protecting Abdullah is paramount to U.S. interests. The 51-year-old king is perhaps Obama’s strongest Arab ally and a key player in efforts to jumpstart peace talks between Palestinians and Israel. Jordan has a peace treaty with Israel, and that agreement has become even more significant given the rise of Islamist leaders in Egypt, which was the first Arab country to ink a treaty with the Jewish state, in the 1970s.
Egypt’s new leaders have so far pledged to uphold the treaty, though there are strong concerns in Israel and the U.S. about whether that will hold. By virtue of geography, Jordan’s future is particularly vulnerable to the turmoil in the Middle East. It shares borders with Iraq, Israel and the West Bank, in addition to Syria. More than 460,000 Syrians have flowed across the Jordanian border seeking refuge since the civil war began. The flood of refugees has overwhelmed the country of 6 million people, straining Jordan’s resources, including health care and education, and pushing the budget deficit to a record high $3 billion last year. Abdullah also fears the half-million refugees could create a regional base for extremists and terrorists, saying recently that such elements were already “establishing firm footholds in some areas.” Obama announced that his administration planned to work with Congress to allocate $200 million to Jordan to help ease the financial burden. Despite the influx, Abdullah firmly declared Jordan would not close its borders to the refugees, many women and children.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Police arrested two teenagers Friday who are suspected in the shooting death of a baby in a stroller and the wounding of the baby’s mother during an attempted robbery. Seventeen-year-old De’Marquis Elkins is charged as an adult with first-degree murder, along with a 14-year-old who was not identified because he is a juvenile, Police Chief Tobe Green said. Police announced the arrest Friday afternoon after combing school records and canvassing neighborhoods searching for the pair. The chief said the motive of the “horrendous act” was still under investigation and the weapon has not been found. The mother, Sherry West, wept Friday while she told The Associated Press that she pleaded with the gunman and a younger accomplice who approached her Thursday morning while she walked near their home in coastal Brunswick. “He asked me for money and I said I didn’t have it,” she said. “When you have a baby, you spend all your money on babies. They’re expensive. And he kept asking and I just said ‘I don’t have it.’ And he said, ‘Do you want me to kill your baby?’ And I said, ‘No, don’t kill my baby!’”
West said the gunman fired four shots, the first into the ground. West didn’t see a shell casing ejected, and said she assumed the gun wasn’t real. Then he fired at her head and the bullet grazed her left ear — she has a small scab and bruising there. He fired again and shot her in the left leg above the knee. “I didn’t know I was hurt.” “The boy proceeded to go around to the stroller and he shot my baby in the face,” she said. “And then he just shoved me when I started screaming and he ran down London Street with the little boy.” The mother lives in a rented house in the city’s Old Town historic district. Beverly Anderson’s husband owns the property and she said West has lived there for six or seven years. “We’re just very sorry about what happened and very aghast that something could happen in our little neighborhood,” Anderson said. “It’s a quiet, safe little neighborhood.” Anderson said people walk up and down the street, children walk to school and families are frequently outdoors. “It’s scared everybody,” she said. “They don’t feel so safe outside.” She said West stayed home to care for her baby, who was often spotted in his mother’s arms.
“The house has a front porch with a swing and we’d see him out on the swing with his mother,” Anderson said. “He was a happy, cheerful baby.” It’s not the mother’s first loss of a child to violence. Sherry West said her 18-year-old son, Shaun Glassey, was killed in New Jersey in 2008. She still has a newspaper clipping from the time. Glassey was killed with a steak knife in March 2008 during an attack involving several other teens on a dark street corner in Gloucester County, N.J., according to news reports from the time. “He and some other boys were going to ambush a kid,” Bernie Weisenfeld, a spokesman for the Gloucester County prosecutor’s office, told the AP Friday. Glassey was armed with a knife, but the 17-year-old target of the attack was able to get the knife away from him “and Glassey ended up on the wrong end of the knife,” Weisenfeld recalled. Prosecutors decided the 17-year-old would not be charged because they determined that he acted in self-defense.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
BUSH SPEAKS AT CONFERENCE
GLENDEL A. HATFIELD Glendel A. Hatfield, age 79, passed away March 18, 2013. He was born April 19, 1933 in Elmore City, Okla., to Johnie and Zadie Hatfield. He was preceded in death by his oldest brother, Bobby Joe Hatfield; and his twin brother, Wendel J. Hatfield. Glenn served in the United States Air Force at the end of the Korean War and while in the service he married the love of his life, Avon Craig, on Dec. 17, 1955. In 1957, Glendel, known as Glenn, moved to Freer, Texas. Glenn and Avon lived in Freer for 22 years, where they enjoyed an active life with two children. In Freer, Glendel went to work for Coastal Gas & Oil Producing Company. After several promotions, he was transferred to Zapata, Texas. He attended the school of hard knocks, and his desire was to see his family succeed in every way. He especially believed in the importance of education, of which he made generous contributions. In Zapata, Glenn worked as a production foreman, where he helped drill the first gas well on the Mecom Ranch. He was
responsible for managing more than 50 gas wells in Zapata County and retired in 1979 after 28 years with Coastal. Glenn lived in Zapata for 34 years. He attended First Baptist Church in Zapata and helped build the mission church there. He loved working behind the scenes, and was happiest when working on a project to benefit others. He also loved fishing on Falcon Lake and would often fish from the pier he built outside his front door. Glenn is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 57 years, Avon; his son, Gary; his daughter, Brenda Ludwick and husband Mark; his brother, Sammy and wife Joyce;
his sister-in-law, Doris (Bobby Joe); four grandchildren, Janna, Jordan, JohnMark (fiancé Rachel) and Jason Ludwick; and more than 30 nieces and nephews. He was affectionately and endearingly known as “GDaddy” to his grandchildren and other family members and friends. Visitation was Friday, March 22 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home, 2102 N. U.S. 83 Zapata. Funeral service will be held today, Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Zapata, 1401 Glenn St., Zapata. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 1401 Glenn St., Zapata, TX 78076. Family and friends unable to attend services are encouraged to visit www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com to leave a message.
Photo by Helen L. Montoya/San Antonio Express-News | AP
George P. Bush speaks at the 47th annual Texas Legislative Conference on Friday. Bush made a keynote speech heavy on Republican themes like energy independence but without the easy manner of his family.
COCAINE Continued from Page 1A dictment filed September 2012. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña sentenced Cuellar to three years probation. He was also ordered to be in a drug/alcohol treatment program. Cuellar is to complete a 100 hours of community service within his first two years of probation. Pacheco was handed down a three-year probation sentence. He will participate in a mental health treatment program. Pacheco is to complete 25 hours of community service within his first year of probation. Saldaña sentenced Hinojosa and Ramos to one year probation. Both women were ordered to com-
plete 75 hours of community service within 10 months. Jose Daniel Mercado, who pleaded guilty Jan. 4 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, is yet to be sentenced. He’s been rescheduled for sentencing at 9 a.m. March 26 before Saldaña. His plea agreement documents state Mercado “was known to be the biggest cocaine dealer in the area and had been steadily selling up to one kilogram of cocaine per week in small personal-use amounts for several years.” The case stemmed from a tip received by the Feder-
al Bureau of Investigation in September 2010. Authorities alleged they conducted 13 controlled drug buys from Mercado between Sept. 23, 2010, and March 4, 2011. Cuellar, Pacheco, Hinojosa and Ramos worked under Mercado and delivered the cocaine for him. Amounts trafficked varied from 2.7 grams for $100 to 68 grams for $2,000. During the investigation, prosecutors dropped charges against Leonardo Cortez and Javier Molina on Nov. 27 after a superseding indictment did not criminally charge them. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
RIGHTS VIOLATION Continued from Page 1A already been searched once by a separate deputy when Ramirez blocked Davidson from entering. At that point, he was taken into custody and a second search of his home was conducted. Ramirez alleges the second search violated his constitutional protection against unreasonable search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment. Ramirez also alleges Davidson used excessive force on several individuals at the scene.
Among the damages Ramirez is seeking compensation for are mental anguish, physical impairment and damage to reputation. He is also seeking reimbursement of attorney’s fees. Attorneys for the defendants assert that Davidson was acting within his rights and obligations when he arrested Ramirez. Furthermore, they allege the lawsuit was filed after the statute of limitations for seeking damages had
“
I frankly don’t know if there’s going to be a call for an expert, but I don’t object.” PHILLIP MCKINNEY, ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE DEPUTY AND ZAPATA COUNTY
passed. At the hearing Thurs-
day, Ramirez’s attorney, George Altgelt, asked Garcia
for more time to designate expert witnesses. Phillip McKinney, who’s representing both Davidson and Zapata County, doubted the need for designating experts, but consented to the extension. “I frankly don’t know if there’s going to be a call for an expert, but I don’t object.” Garcia said that if he was going to extend the expert designation phase, then he was going to push back every other phase as
well. Davidson has also requested limited immunity in the case, forcing a hearing to determine what he is required to answer while giving depositions during the discovery phase. The new scheduling order sets the deadline for expert witness designation at May 13 and for completing discovery at June 17. (Zach Brooke may be reached at 728-2538 or zbrooke@lmtonline.com)
developer. They moved to Dallas in 1960, after he built Big Town Mall in Mesquite, a fixture for more than 40 years. He retired in 1987. Luckadoo never figured he’d get another chance to fly in a B-17. “First time back in one in 68 years,” he said. As luck, or fate, would have it, the weather Wednesday afternoon was perfect for flying — sunny and cool. Luckadoo boarded the B-17 in Denison and squatted down in the radio operator’s seat — just a few inches off the floor. The B-17, owned by the Collings Foundation, completed 140 combat missions during World War II. About 2 p.m., the old, cof-
fee-colored workhorse appeared on the horizon of Love Field and taxied down the runway adjacent to the museum. A few minutes later, Luckadoo crouched through a side door wearing a tan jacket and khakis and a 100th Bomb Group commemorative blue cap. Smiling with sunglasses, shaking hands, joking, and looking relieved and exhilarated, he offered a glimpse of the young second lieutenant just after a mission some 70 years earlier. The trip couldn’t have gone smoother, said the man who’d seen some rough rides in his time. “I’m just glad we didn’t get shot at,” he said.
BOMBER Continued from Page 1A in Chattanooga, Tenn., he and a buddy hatched a plan to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. They wanted a head start on the world war they knew would eventually pull in the United States. Luckadoo’s dad refused to give consent. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Luckadoo got his wish. He left college to serve in the Army Air Forces and graduated from flying school in February 1943. He was immediately assigned to the newly formed 100th Bomb Group. The outfit flew B-17 heavy bombers that traveled in large formations during daylight raids against strategic tar-
gets such as weapons factories, oil refineries and shipyards. They could be in the air for up to eight hours. Luckadoo, a second lieutenant co-pilot, and his fellow crew members would soon be involved in many epic air battles over Germany. In October 1943, Luckadoo embarked on a particularly dangerous mission to bomb shipyards in the German industrial town of Bremen. He later described the events in an article he wrote in 1993 for the 100th Bomb Group association. The flak shot at the B-17s from anti-aircraft guns on the ground was so thick, Luckadoo wrote, he could have “put down our
wheels and taxied on it!” German fighter planes attacked them from all directions. Of the 18 planes that the 100th Bomb Group sent out that day, only six returned. The rest, Luckadoo said, either exploded in the air, crashed or were shot down. Bullet holes in the fuselage of his plane let in so much freezing air that he developed frostbite in both feet as he struggled to get the craft back to England. A year ago, Luckadoo appeared at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado to speak at a symposium on leadership. “We were thrust into a position of leadership, whether we wanted to ac-
cept it or not, because of circumstances,” he recalled telling the young cadets. “You have to reach inside to discover the qualities you need to lead. It comes down to acceptance of responsibility for the welfare for others and yourself.” He insists he was more lucky than good as a pilot and said there were many better pilots who were shot down. Of those who never came back, he said: “I’ll never forget them. When they’re gone and you’re still here, you think, ‘Why them and not me?’” Luckadoo left the military after the war, settled in Denver with his wife and became a real estate
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS: ZAPATA HAWKS
Birds of a feather Photo by Matt York | AP
Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia, left, and Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker in a the season opener next weekend.
Courtesy photos
ABOVE: The Zapata Hawks boys’ tennis team, made up Chris Davila, Alex Reyes, Carlos Poblano, Manuel Benavides, Trey Alvarez, Hector Leduc, Carlos Romero, Javi Fernandez, has fared well this season. BELOW: Zapata golfers Rodrigo Saldivar and Clyde Guerra III played well at the Zapata Invitational.
Zapata teams rise in team competitions By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata golf team did well in its back yard, capturing the Zapata Invitational title last weekend. The Hawks had to fend off Rio Grande City La Grulla, Falfurrias, Raymondville and United South. Zapata captured four of the top 10 spots, led by Rodrigo Saldivar — who took home the individual title with an 88. Freshman Clyde Guerra III came in fourth place with a 92, while Epi Martinez (96) finished in seventh place with a 1-stroke lead over teammate Ramiro Torres — who finished in eighth place with a 97. Matthew Lozano had a 106 In the team, standings Zapata took home first place with a combined
373; the closest competitor was RGC-La Grulla, which finished the day with a 417. Falfurrias took third place with a score of 421, Raymondville came in fourth with a 424 and Laredo United South had a 427 to finish in fifth place. The Falfurrias B team finished in sixth place. “It was our first team win of the year,” Zapata coach Clyde Guerra Jr. said. “It was tough playing conditions, but our kids played well. There is still a lot of room for improvement.
Interleague play opens season Teams face unique opponents to early around majors By BEN WALKER ASSOCIATED PRESS
On a windy morning at spring training, a trio of Phillies catchers met behind the batting cage to shoot the breeze. The topic? Interleague intrigue, right from the get-go. “We were just talking
about that in batting practice that it’s a little weird to face the American League so early,” All-Star Carlos Ruiz said. “But it’s a different schedule this year.” Sure is. Josh Hamilton and the Los Angeles Angels visit
See BASEBALL PAGE 2B
Tennis The boys’ tennis team is off to one of its best starts in school history. Zapata has captured the Alice, Zapata, Heb-
See ZAPATA PAGE 2B Courtesy photo
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: HOUSTON TEXANS
Reed inks 3-year deal By CHRIS DUNCAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Free agent safety Ed Reed signed with the Houston Texans on Friday, bolstering their defense with championship experience. The nine-time Pro Bowl safety signed a three-year, $15 million contract with Houston, a week after he left town without reaching a deal. Reed said that Texans general manager Rick Smith contacted him on the first day of free agency and the Texans were his first choice all along. “From the first day of free agency, Rick called me and I think we both knew, just from the conversation, how things were going and how this would work,” Reed said. “It just was a matter of time with getting it done.” The Texans acquisition was another blow to Baltimore, where Reed played his first 11 NFL seasons. The 34-year-old Reed made $7.2 million last sea-
Photo by Nick de la Torre | Houston Chronicle
New Houston Texans safety Ed Reed signed with the Houston Texans on Friday, bolstering their defense with championship experience. son with the Ravens, who’ve been gutted in free agency since beating San Francisco in the Super Bowl. Reed and Ray Lewis were cornerstones of one of the NFL’s most feared defenses for more than a decade, and now both are gone. Lewis retired and now works for
ESPN. The Ravens traded receiver Anquan Boldin to the 49ers, then lost linebackers Paul Kruger (Cleveland) and Dannell Ellerbe (Miami) and cornerback Cary Williams (Philadelphia) in free agency. Baltimore also cut safety Bernard Pollard,
who signed with Tennessee. Reed said he talked to Ravens coach John Harbaugh, general manager Ozzie Newsome and owner Steve Bisciotti. “Eleven years is a great book,” Reed said. “The way it ended, you cant write a better script. Eventually, we knew Baltimore had to make decisions and in the end, they made those decisions.” The Texans, meanwhile, added one of the game’s most respected safeties and revived an otherwise disappointing free agency period so far with one bold move. Reed was the NFL’s top defensive player in 2004 and is the Ravens’ franchise leader in interceptions with 61. His 1,541 return yards with those pickoffs is an NFL career record and Reed is the only player who’s scored on a punt return, a blocked punt, an interception and a fumble recovery. “To say we have added a
See TEXANS PAGE 2B
Robbie Parker, the father of a 6-year-old girl who was a victim in the Sandy Hook school shooting will throw the first pitch before the Texas Rangers’ home opener.
Father to throw in memory Father of Newtown shooting victim to toss Rangers’ opener first pitch ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARLINGTON — The father of a 6-year-old girl who was among the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut will throw the ceremonial first pitch before the Texas Rangers’ home opener. Robbie Parker is a longtime Rangers fan who grew up in North Texas. Parker’s 6-year-old daughter, Emilie, was among 20 first-graders and six adults killed in the shootings at Sandy
Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14. The Rangers said Friday that Robbie Parker will be accompanied by his wife, Alissa, and daughters Madeline and Samantha for the firstpitch ceremony April 5 before the game against the Los Angeles Angels Robbie Parker took Emilie to several Rangers games in Arlington, Seattle and Boston. The Rangers said thousands of dollars have been
See FATHER PAGE 2B
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
BASEBALL Continued from Page 1B
Photo by Oscar Hidalgo | New York Times
Major League Baseball on Friday sued seeking unspecified damages from Biogenesis of America and its operator, Anthony Bosch, accusing them of scheming to violate player contracts.
MLB files suit vs. South Florida clinic By CURT ANDERSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
MIAMI — Major League Baseball on Friday sued a now-shuttered South Florida clinic and its operators, accusing them of scheming to provide banned performance-enhancing drugs to players in violation of their contracts. The lawsuit in MiamiDade Circuit Court seeks unspecified damages from Coral Gables anti-aging clinic Biogenesis of America and its operator, Anthony Bosch. Several other Bosch associates are named in the lawsuit. A phone message left for a Bosch representative wasn’t immediately returned, and associates have previously said Anthony Bosch is out of the country. MLB contends the clinic’s operators solicited players to use banned substances knowing that would violate their contracts, specifically the drug prevention and treatment program that became effective in 2003. That program, part of baseball’s collective bargaining agreement with players, includes a list of banned substances, lays out penalties for violations and imposes testing requirements. Because of the alleged
conspiracy, the lawsuit contends MLB has suffered “costs of investigation, loss of goodwill, loss of revenue and profits and injury to its reputation, image, strategic advantage and fan relationships,” attorneys Allen Weitzman and Matthew Menchel wrote in the complaint. Although it seeks money damages, the lawsuit also could provide a way for MLB to more deeply investigate Biogenesis and Bosch through depositions of witnesses and subpoenas to obtain documents. MLB was rebuffed in an effort to obtain clinic records from the alternative Miami New Times newspaper, which has published detailed accounts of the alleged player drug use. Among those implicated are New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, outfielder Melky Cabrera of the Toronto Blue Jays, Washington pitcher Gio Gonzalez, Oakland pitcher Bartolo Colon, Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz and San Diego catcher Yasmani Grandal. Most have denied the Biogenesis link, although Rodriguez has admitted using performanceenhancing drugs earlier in his career and Colon, Cabrera and Grandal were each suspended for 50
games last year for testing positive for elevated testosterone levels. The lawsuit also contends that former star Manny Ramirez, who is now signed to play for a team in Taiwan, obtained a prohibited substance from Bosch in 2009 that ultimately resulted in Ramirez’s 50-game suspension by MLB when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The suit marks the first time MLB has gone on the record saying Ramirez tested positive for the female fertility drug HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin. Elements of the scheme, according to the lawsuit, including use of fake or partial names on drug packages sent to players, visiting players at home or at hotels to personally administer the banned substances and claims made to the players that if used properly the drugs “would not result in a positive test” under the MLB drug program. Among the banned drugs supplied, the lawsuit said, are testosterone, human growth hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin. The players were told the drugs would increase their strength and help them recover from injuries more quickly.
Cincinnati in an opener that’s hardly traditional. Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers finish the season at Miami — minus a designated hitter. Derek Jeter and the Yankees cross over to the National League each month, then host World Series champion San Francisco in late September. Just a guess — New York fans will howl at the prospect of seeing Matt Cain and the pitching-rich Giants if a playoff spot is at stake. Add up the scattered AL vs. NL matchups, it’s like a mini-World Series most every day. “It’s going to be totally different,” said Houston manager Bo Porter, one of six new skippers in the majors. Might as well blame Porter’s Astros, too. Their shift from the NL Central to the AL West left 15 teams in each league, creating all this havoc. Opening day is March 31 in Houston when Texas comes to town for a Sunday night start. That’s followed by Angels-Reds on April 1. A few days later, Philadelphia plays its home opener — against the Kansas City Royals. Just sounds jarring, doesn’t it? “It is very strange,” Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said. “This usually doesn’t happen until June or July.” “What it does is it increases your workload on scouting, advance reports and things like that. You don’t have a lot of familiarity on those teams,” he said. Meanwhile, a lot of big names are settling into new settings. Hamilton left Texas for the Angels, teaming with Albert Pujols and Mike Trout in a most fearsome lineup. Zack Greinke got $147 million to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Brothers Justin and B.J Upton wound up together in Atlanta’s outfield. The Toronto Blue Jays, out of the postseason since winning their second straight title in 1993, made the boldest moves. They traded for reigning Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey, Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle and signed Melky Cabrera. “Talent alone doesn’t win,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons cautioned. Especially if those stars are sidelined.
New Mets captain David Wright, Hanley Ramirez and Mark Teixeira got hurt at the World Baseball Classic. Curtis Granderson and Chase Headley are out, Johan Santana and Derek Jeter might go on the disabled list and Alex Rodriguez’s future is in doubt. Several top players are on the mend, though. All-time saves leader Mariano Rivera begins his farewell tour after missing most of last year with a knee injury. John Lackey and Victor Martinez were absent for the entire season and Jose Bautista, Troy Tulowitzki and Carl Crawford finished on the DL. Stephen Strasburg wasn’t active at the end, either. The Washington Nationals shut down their ace so he wouldn’t pitch too many innings, and fizzled in their first playoff appearance. No limits on Strasburg or the Nats this time around. “I’m excited. I think everybody in the baseball world, not just us, is really excited to see him all year,” 20-year-old Washington star Bryce Harper said. In the meantime, teams are figuring out how to prepare for this funny season. Previously, Porter said, it was easy to plan for blocks of interleague games. “A lot of times, a National League team would call up a DH-type guy during that segment of their schedule,” he said. “Now, that’s hard to do because you’re going to have interleague taking place the entire course of the season. It definitely changes roster construction.” Porter already has his pitchers in the cage, working on their bunting. Too soon for Justin Verlander and the Detroit staff to swing away. “We’ll have to hit some, but it’s a Catch-22 because I don’t want Verlander breaking his finger,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. As for his AL Central champions closing on the road against the Marlins, “whatever is good for baseball,” the 68-year-old Leyland said. “We have a designated hitter in the All-Star game, instant replay. Things change and if it is good for the game, I am all for it,” he said. The Tigers, Boston, Toronto and Seattle each play at NL parks in September, leaving them a hitter short. “It’s definitely an advantage for the National
League,” Leyland said. “It works out more advantageous to them. I think eventually they’ll go uniform.” Adds Rays manager Joe Maddon: “It’s going to be clunky at the end.” Baltimore doesn’t play its first NL road games until Memorial Day, but has eight straight out West in August. Orioles catcher Matt Wieters figures he’ll spend more time “going over scouting reports on new hitters we haven’t seen.” St. Louis doesn’t see an AL opponent until it plays Kansas City in late May. But the Royals go to Philadelphia and Atlanta in the first 21/2 weeks. When interleague play started in 1997, Cardinals pitcher Jake Westbrook said, “it was something new and it seemed odd to a lot of people. The DH, same thing with that longer ago.” “The idea of interleague play most every day, this is something else new. That’s always been a question with interleague play — it’s unbalanced, who plays who,” he said. Baker is hoping for an early edge when Pujols arrives. “In the case of us playing the Angels, does Albert not play? Does he DH? I wouldn’t mind if Albert just spectated,” he said. “He’d be a mean pinch hitter. He’s probably greasing his glove right now.” Later that week, Phillies great Mike Schmidt will test his arm. He was the MVP of the 1980 World Series when Philadelphia beat George Brett and the Royals — the Hall of Famers are set to throw out the first balls when Kansas City visits Citizens Bank Park for the first time since 2004. “Playing your home opener against an AL team is weird,” Schmidt said. “Where’s the charm in that?” Also this season: Along with Porter and Gibbons, the new managers are Terry Francona in Cleveland, John Farrell in Boston, Mike Redmond in Miami and Walt Weiss in Colorado. Major League Baseball didn’t expand replay this year. Tags, plays at first base, traps — no consensus yet on what to review or how to do it. The Mets host the AllStar game at Citi Field on July 16. It’s been a while since the showcase was held in Queens — Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays got top billing at Shea Stadium in 1964.
ZAPATA Continued from Page 1B bronville and Bishop Tournaments while placing third at the Falfurrias tournament and fifth at the UISD Winter Classic. Junior Trey Alvarez has emerged as one of the team’s top players despite having limited playing time because of a herniated disc. Alvarez has captured three singles titles in his limited time on the court and also played doubles with Alex Reyes — the No. 2 player on the Hawks team. Reyes has three doubles titles, one with Manuel Benavidez and two with Alvarez. “Our team is getting better from top to
bottom,” Robert Alvarez said. “Chris Davila is our No. 3 player and he is coming in second place at some tournaments. These boys push each other in practice and it shows in the tournaments. “Practices get very intense and that is why these boys are doing so well this season.” The Hawks success started as they hit the court during the long summer months and found time to play during the fall, despite not having team tennis. “They have been really pushing themselves and we are just seeing all their hard work,” Robert Alvarez said. “These boys just want to be successful.”
Alvarez will enjoy this team for at least another year, since no seniors play on the boys side, and he only has one senior on the girls team. “The good thing about this is that they are all coming back next year and they get to do it all again,” he said. “We are going to be very solid on the boys’ and girls’ team next year. Zapata is getting ready for the upcoming district meet in Harlingen April 5-6 at the HEB Tennis courts at Pendelton Park.
Softball
Zapata is currently 1-1 in District 31-3A after dropping the first game of the season on Tuesday night to Kingsville in a 2-1 affair.
Baseball Edgar Peña went 1 for 3 as Hawks took home a 5-3 victory over Kingsville in seven innings at Zapata on Tuesday. He tripled in the fourth inning. Alonzo Gutierrez struck out six, paving the way for a Hawks win. Gutierrez allowed three earned runs, four hits and one walk over seven innings.
TEXANS Continued from Page 1B player who can impact a game is an understatement,” Smith said. “I am truly thankful that this deal came together. We always talk about player acquisitions, what are you trying to do, whether its in the draft or free agency? Were trying to add players that are quality men, that make an impact on the game. Certainly, we feel like weve done that with Mr. Reed.” The Texans won 13 games last season, but were badly beaten twice by Tom Brady and New England, the second time in the playoffs. That was perhaps another reason to covet Reed Baltimore beat the Patriots in the AFC championship and has won three of the last five meetings since 2010. “It was quite clear that Baltimore was able to play the Patriots and they were very effective,” Texans owner Bob McNair said. “I think their center fielder had a lot
to do with that. The quarterback (Brady) has commented that the first thing hed do when he got up to the line, hed look for No. 20 and he wanted to know where he was. Ed studies it so well, understands it so well, that it reaches a point where he could sort of think like the other quarterback.” Reed has been durable, playing in all 16 games in all but three of his seasons. He’s dealt with hip, neck and right shoulder injuries in recent years, but he made it through the entire 2012 season without missing a game, making 58 tackles and intercepted four passes. Houston wasn’t shy about its plans to pursue Reed, announcing on Twitter that it was sending McNair’s private jet to pick up Reed in Atlanta, where he has an offseason home. Reed spent two days in the city and had dinner with Texans star
receiver Andre Johnson, one of his college teammates at Miami. The two played on the Hurricanes’ 2001 national championship team and Johnson said at a public appearance last week that he and Reed talked about playing together in the pros some day. Even though Reed left town last week without signing a contract, Johnson was optimistic that Reed would become a Texan, and he turned out to be right. It didnt hurt that Reeds family lives in nearby New Orleans. “For a guy this late in my career, at this age, you think about things differently,” Reed said. “I still love football, I know I can play football. It was just a matter of being somewhere that fits, for me and the team.” Reed fills the gap created when free agent safety Glover Quin signed with Detroit. Quin, a fourth-round pick in 2009, was the
FATHER Texans’ starting free safety in each of the past two seasons under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. He made 107 tackles, including his first career sack, in 2012 had started 60 consecutive games for Houston. With Reed secured, the Texans can turn their full attention to other needs, perhaps starting with a No. 2 receiver behind Johnson. Houston cut receiver Kevin Walter and coach Gary Kubiak said at the NFL meetings in Phoenix that DeVier Posey, a third-round draft pick in 2012, is “going to take some time” to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in the playoffs. Houston also has holes to fill after tight end James Casey and outside linebacker Connor Barwin both signed with Philadelphia in free agency. The Texans re-signed cornerback Brice McCain on Wednesday.
Continued from Page 1B donated by individuals in North Texas to Emilie’s Fund, which assisted families of those impacted by the tragedy. Earlier this year, Parker’s brother, Jeremie, who still lives in North Texas, read a message of gratitude on his brother’s behalf on the team’s flagship radio station. “I am so proud to be a Ranger fan, because I know that as a fan I actually belong to a community. I am glad I was able to share the community with my precious daughter and that the same community has reached out to her and let our family know that she is remembered and loved,” part of the message read. “Thank you for all you have done to support our family through this time.”
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
HINTS | BY HELOISE THE LIFE SPAN OF CHICKEN SALAD? Dear Heloise: A friend works as a home chef and makes meals for many families. She usually makes me CHICKEN SALAD once a month or so. It is so delicious, I asked her to make me extra, and I would have it for longer instead of a couple of days. She said that chicken salad wouldn’t keep that long in the fridge. I think it will, so I was hoping you could answer this pressing question. Thanks so much! — Sara in Texas How lucky for you that your friend makes this delicious dish for you. After checking with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, here is what they had to say: For best quality, chicken (as well as egg, ham, tuna and macaroni) salads should be kept only three to five days in the refrigerator (stored at 40 degrees or lower). Also, chicken salad can be frozen; however, when thawed, it won’t be the
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HELOISE
same as fresh. It can become runny and not taste as good. It isn’t a safety issue, but a personal preference. So, have your friend make enough for only a few days, and you will be fine. Thanks for writing, and hope this helps. — Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Elena Amico, via email, sent a photo of her 12-year-old beagle, Pattycake, wearing a cute blue top hat. Elena says, “I found Pattycake on the street along with another beagle, Baci, which my friend adopted. “We live in Staten Island (N.Y.) and were flooded during Hurricane Sandy. Pattycake and I were rescued by boat. She was not thrilled. We are still rebuilding.” To see Pattycake wearing her hat, visit my website, www.Heloise.com, and click on “Pets.” — Heloise
DENNIS THE MENACE
FAMILY CIRCUS
PEANUTS
GARFIELD
DAILY CRYPTOQUOTES — Here’s how to work it:
DILBERT
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013