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HISTORY
ZAPATA RISING
The monument
Group tells of plans for flood anniversary By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Tasked with hosting the largest family reunion ever, a Zapata group is reaching out to families that were forced to leave the former town site almost 60 years ago.
Flood anniversary
Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Laredo artist and sculptor Armando Hinojosa, left, looks at pieces of the Tejano Monument he designed as he stands with one of hundreds of well-wishers who posed with the artists following the unveiling of the monument in Austin on Thursday.
Shiny bronze offers salute to Tejanos’ legacy By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
AUSTIN — After a misty morning during which a few raindrops fell, the clouds parted and the sun shone on the state Capitol’s newest monument. The Tejano Monument, sculpted by local artist Armando Hinojosa and fi-
nanced in large part by Zapata businessman Renato Ramirez, was unveiled Thursday on the Capitol’s south lawn in front of thousands of people. The 525-square-foot monument depicts wildlife, a vaquero and Spaniard families that settled parts of Texas in the 1500s. The dignitaries who at-
tended Thursday’s unveiling of the multi-statue monument said it would honor the legacy of Hispanics in Texas but also stand as a beacon of hope for the future of Texas and its people. State Rep. Richard Raymond, the master of ceremonies, said it was “significant” that history would show the monu-
ment was unveiled during Gov. Rick Perry’s term. The monument reflects the truth about early Spanish settlers’ contributions to the founding of Texas, said Perry, who attended the ceremony. He said those contributions would continue to mount in a state where a
See MONUMENT PAGE 7A
Discussion began at a town hall meeting Tuesday to introduce Zapata Rising, an event planned for late summer or early fall in 2013, which would fall on the 60th anniversary of the flood that submerged Old Zapata in water. Organizers of the event aim to reunite the townspeople that have long since been removed from the original town. “There was a lot of emotion (at the town hall meeting),” said Jose Garcia, who works for a marketing firm and has been promoting the event online and in-person. “It got carried away because everybody started talking about their experiences.” If the group reaches its goal of reuniting more than 2,585 people, Zapata County would go into the Guinness Book of World Records, Garcia said. Now that the concept has been introduced to the broader Zapata community, the group plans to split its efforts among subcommittees, said Roberto Montes, a volunteer for the organization. Of the task forces the group wants to assemble, Montes said the one charged with reaching out to the families that were displaced is particularly important.
He would also like families without ties to the original town site to get involved. “We are very enthusiastic and passionate about this activity,” Montes said. “We’d like for more people to get involved and get excited.” The group has not set a solid date for its next meeting but plans to hold one two weeks from now. In that meeting, they expect to get closer to setting a date for the reunion, Montes said. The group is looking at holding it in either August or October of 2013.
Eyewitnesses Montes said about 50 people attended Tuesday’s meeting. Many of them shared first- and secondhand accounts of the flood that displaced the citizens living in Zapata and surrounding communities in 1953. County Judge Joe Rathmell said the event has the backing of the county. Several months ago, Commissioners Court passed a resolution that paved the way for the reunion. He said news of the planned reunion was still trickling into the community. “As more people find out about it, we’ll get better participation, I’m sure,” Rathmell said. Anyone wishing to participate can call Graphitiks Advertising Design, the agency marketing Zapata Rising, at 723-4389. For more information, visit www.zapatarising.com. (JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2567 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)
TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION
State, Valley unemployment figures show decline ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Texas’ unemployment rate fell for a sixth consecutive month to 7.1 percent in February, and monthly job growth exceeded 20,000 positions for the third straight time, according to state employment agency figures released Friday. Texas Workforce Commission figures in the Rio Grande Valley also showed declining unemployment rates. The McAllenEdinburg-Mission area in February had the highest unemployment rate in the state at
11.1 percent, down from 11.7 percent in January. The Brownsville-Harlingen area registered a 10.9 percent unemployment rate in February, down from January’s 11.5 percent. Upriver, Laredo’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent, down from January’s 7.6 percent. El Paso fell to 9.6 percent in February, down from January’s 10 percent. Local figures are not seasonally adjusted. Statewide, the jobless rate was down from 7.3 percent in January and has dropped a full
percentage point since August, the commission said. February’s unemployment rate is the lowest since March 2009. The commission says Texas added 27,900 nonfarm jobs in February, and new claims for unemployment dropped 28 percent from January to 69,955. “Texas’ job growth over the past year points to a steady and sustained expansion of our state’s economy,” said commission chairman Tom Pauken. Government was the leading industry in job gains with a jump of 12,800 positions in Feb-
ruary, followed by trade, transportation and utilities at 8,300. Education and health services grew by 3,800 jobs for the sector’s 19th straight month of job growth. Eight of the 11 major job sectors gained positions, “indicating that many different skill sets are in demand,” said commissioner for labor Ronny Congleton. The national unemployment rate has been falling fast as well and is now 8.3 percent. Unemployment rates are adjusted for seasonal trends in
hiring and firing, which most economists believe give a more accurate picture of the job market. Without the seasonal adjustment, the jobless rate in Texas fell to 7.2 percent from 7.6 in January. Midland had the only local unemployment rate below 4 percent for February at 3.8 percent. In South Texas, Corpus Christi’s February unemployment rate was 6.8 percent, down from January’s 7.3 percent, while Victoria had 6.2 percent unemployed, down from 6.6 percent.