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CRIME
ZAPATA COUNTY
Sheriff: Zetitas in training 2nd time isn’t Deputies charge men from Acapulco, Toluca in attempted kidnapping By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Four Mexican nationals accused of the attempted kidnapping of a local man in a Zeta initiation rite remained in Zapata Regional Jail on Friday under $75,000 bond each. Arturo Cisneros, 30, a Zapata resident also arrested in connection with this case, was released Thursday after posting a $75,000
Arturo Cisneros, 30, is from Zapata.
cash bond. On April 2, deputies arrested Adrian Gonzalez Morales, 21, Severiano Gallardo Solano, 26, and Juan Carlos Hidalgo Gallardo, 28, of Acapulco, Mexico. The fourth Mexican national arrested was identified
Severiano Gallardo Solano, 26, is from Acapulco.
Juan Carlos Hidalgo Gallardo, 28, is from Acapulco.
Adrian Gonzalez Morales, 21, is from Acapulco.
Ariel Perez Mendoza, 33, is from Toluca.
as Ariel Perez Mendoza, 33, of Toluca. Officials believe Cisneros housed the Mexican nationals as they got ready to kidnap a Zapata man whose name has not been released. The alleged offenders
stated the unidentified man had stolen a load of marijuana, according to the sheriff ’s department. But when investigators confronted the targeted victim, he claimed he
See ZETAS PAGE 8A
INFRASTRUCTURE
WIDER SAN YGNACIO ROAD JUST ABOUT READY TO USE
a charm for candidates Two runoff races draw 223 voters after four days of early voting By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Early voting in the runoff elections in Zapata County has been sparse, officials say. There are two runoffs on the Zapata ballot but in one of those races a candidate withdrew after he discovered he couldn’t run legally. Niko Gutierrez had to withdraw in his bid challenging incumbent Precinct 2 Commissioner Gabriel “Lel” Villarreal because Gutierrez is a government employee and
federal law says no government employee may run for political office. Gutierrez originally had been told erroneously that it was all right to run; when he found out that it wasn’t, it was too late to have his name removed from the runoff ballot. As a result, voters still can cast a ballot for Gutierrez. If Gutierrez were to win, it would be up to the incoming County Judge Joe Rathmell to appoint a new commissioner to re-
See EARLY VOTING PAGE 8A
COMMISSIONERS
Villarreal asks for land for fever tick fight By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photos by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
TxDOT engineer Maritza Ramirez reviews constuction plans for the FM 3169 project at San Ygnacio.
2 miles of FM 3169 are expanded to 4 lanes By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Texas Department of Transportation is nearing the end of a project designed to improve safety on FM 3169 in San Ygnacio. The project consists of widening the existing roadway from the intersection of U.S. 83 to two miles north of U.S. 83 on FM 3169 in San Ygnacio.
After a few delays at the beginning of the project due to weather interruptions and pending construction meetings, the nearly $300,000 project is almost complete. Anderson Columbia Co. Inc. had three months to complete the project but is right on schedule even after the company began a few weeks late and was
See ROAD PAGE 8A
Motorists using FM 3169 leading to San Ygnacio will soon be able to use a wider roadway.
Zapata County Commissioner Gabriel Villarreal will be asking the Zapata County Commissioner’s Court to reconsider leasing a one-acre tract of land at Monday’s meeting after the request was denied at last month’s meeting. “I don’t give up that easy,” Villarreal said. “I want to help these people.” The acre of land would be used for cattle dipping vat located east of Texas 16 and would be leased for 25 years for a onetime payment of $5,000. Villarreal said ranchers have been having problems with fever ticks on their cattle and need the county’s help to designate a piece of land to treat the cattle and eradicate fever ticks. “Ranchers have been having problems with fever ticks for over 100 years,” Villarreal said. “They’ve asked for the county’s help.” At the last meeting, Villarreal’s motion died for lack of a second. Commissioners Court
“
Ranchers have been having problems with fever ticks for over 100 years,” GABRIEL VILLARREAL, ZAPATA COUNTY COMMISSIONER
is scheduled to meet Monday at 9 a.m. at the Zapata County Courthouse, 200 E. 7th Ave., Suite 108. The court also will be deliberating the approval of placing a Manuel Bravo plaque at Bravo Park as well as the purchases of a 2009 John Deere tractor and a 2010 F-150 Ford truck. Several job promotions will be discussed for Environmental Health Services. County Auditor Doroteo N. Garza is propos-
See COUNTY PAGE 8A
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, APRIL 10 Falcon Lake Tackle celebrates their 11th year in business with the 2nd Annual Falcon Lake Tackle Bass Blast set for April 11. The tournament is open to two man teams, with a $125 entry free, which includes Big Bass. Registration begins tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. Great door prizes and a payout based on entries, one place for every five. For more information, call 765-4866. Laredo Crime Stoppers, Inc. is hosting the Crime Stoppers 5K Run/Walk Against Crime today at Lake Casa Blanca. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and the run/walk starts at 8 a.m. Pre registration for adults is $15, and $20 the day of the event. Children under 12 go in free. First 100 paid entries receive a free tshirt. For more information, go to www.laredocrimestoppers.org. TRASHion Fashion Show & Competition struts down the runway at the Laredo Civic Center today. Hosted by Keep Laredo Beautiful, “Trashion Fashions” will be judged on three divisions: Organic – paper; natural fiber or materials, Inorganic- plastics; vinyl; metal or synthetics, and Mixed Media (trash) – combination of organic & inorganic. Entries vary on size as whole outfits, separates and accessories were accepted. Apart of TRASHion Fashion, today Community Green: Keep Laredo Beautiful, Borderplex and the CW celebrate Earth Day Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Laredo Civic Center with environmental displays, entertainment, artwork, a farmers market, and much more. 1st Annual Autism Trail ride & Fun Fest is set for Saturday, April 17. Trail ride starts at Las Lomas on hwy. 59 at 9 a.m., arrives at life downs at 2 p.m. Fun fest starts at noon to 6 p.m. at L.I.F.E. Downs open pavilion. There will be live music, food games, clowns, pony rides, raffles and mechanical bulls - all to sponsor Autism Awareness. The fun fest is free for all participants, $10 per child rider and $20 per adult rider. American Legion Auxiliary meets Thursday, April 15, at 1:30 p.m. at the American Legion Building at 2213 North Hwy 83. American Legion meets Thursday, April 15at 5:00 p.m. at the American Legion Building at 2213 North Hwy 83. Laredo Independent School District invites all players from schools in Laredo and South Texas to take part in the district’s open chess tournament today at the Martin High School band hall, 2002 San Bernardo Ave. Students K-12 may play in the USCF rated or nonrated beginners’ division. Registration is from 11 a.m. to noon. The entry fee is $5 if preregistered or $8 at the door. The first round is at 12:30 p.m. Awards are courtesy of Communities in Schools of Laredo. For more information, call Dan Navarro at 722-4600. The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “Kaluoka’hina, The Enchanted Reef” at 5 p.m., “Violent Universe: Catastrophes of the Cosmos” at 6 p.m. and Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” at 7 p.m. General admission is $5, $4 for children and TAMIU students, faculty, staff and alumni. Premium shows are $1 more. For more show times, call 326-DOME or visit tamiu.edu/planetarium.
THURSDAY, APRIL 15 American Legion Auxiliary meets this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at the American Legion Building at 2213 North Hwy 83. American Legion meets tonight at 5:00 p.m. at the American Legion Building at 2213 North Hwy 83. The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce presents the Fishing Tournament for Life Extravaganza March of Dimes on Falcon Lake on Saturday, July 17. Registration begins today at 5 to 7 p.m. at the Oso Blanco Lodge Boat Ramp. For more information, call 7654339.
SATURDAY, APRIL 17 1st Annual Autism Trail ride & Fun Fest is set for this morning. Trail ride starts at Las Lomas on hwy. 59 at 9 a.m., arrives at life downs at 2 p.m. Fun fest starts at noon to 6 p.m. at L.I.F.E. Downs open pavilion. The fun fest is free for all participants, $10 per child rider and $20 per adult rider.
SATURDAY, JULY 17 The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce presents the Fishing Tournament for Life Extravaganza March of Dimes on Falcon Lake. Registration begins today at 5 to 7 p.m. at the Oso Blanco Lodge Boat Ramp. For more information, call 765-4339. To submit an item for the calendar, send the name of the event, the date, time, location and contact phone number to editorial@lmtonline.com
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by L.M. Oter | AP
Children board a school bus at Fort Hancock on March 25. Fear has settled over this border town of 1,700, about 50 miles southeast of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Mexican families fleeing the violence have moved here or just sent their children, and authorities and residents say gangsters have followed them to apply terrifying, though so far subtle, intimidation.
More border funds eyed By ALICIA A. CALDWELL ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT HANCOCK — U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez said Friday he has asked Texas Gov. Rick Perry to dedicate more homeland security funds to counties on the Mexican border. The San Antonio Democrat spoke to residents and reporters in the border town of Fort Hancock. Rodriguez’s announcement follows last week’s Associated Press report on the fears created by the drug cartel and subtle intimidation felt in schools and elsewhere in Fort Hancock, a community about 50 miles southeast of Ciudad Juarez. Rodriguez said he also asked for $15 million in additional federal funds to help authorities in border counties pay for increased patrols and equipment. It would be added to $60 million allocated for Operation Stonegarden, a federally funded program
that provides grants to border states. Four other congressmen, including Silvestre Reyes of El Paso, also signed the request letter sent to Perry on Thursday. Rodriguez said he’s not been advised of any spillover violence in Fort Hancock, a small town just across the Rio Grande from a Mexican farming town that has been overrun by cartel fighters recently. He said he hopes additional resources being funneled to the community will help keep it safe. “One incident is one incident you don’t want,” Rodriguez said. Area residents have recently expressed fears that the cartel thugs who forced families in the neighboring Mexican towns to flee have followed them to the U.S. and are applying subtle, though terrifying, intimidation to remind them they know where they are.
Texas Stadium ready for implosion
Ft. Hood suspect to be isolated in jail
No. 844 locomotive chugs through the state
IRVING — The old stadium for America’s team is about to become a pile of dust and rubble. At 7 a.m. Sunday, more than a ton of dynamite will blow Texas Stadium into pieces. In about one minute, down will go the building that was home to the Dallas Cowboys during all five of their Super Bowls.
BELTON — The Army psychiatrist charged in the deadly shooting spree at Fort Hood will be kept isolated from all other inmates at the jail where he was transferred early Friday. Maj. Nidal Hasan was airlifted from a San Antonio military hospital to the Bell County Jail in Belton at about 4 a.m. Friday. He had been at the hospital since shortly after the Nov. 5 shooting spree that left him paralyzed.
DALLAS — The last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific Railroad is chugging its way through Texas as part of the Valley Eagle heritage tour. The tour is named for a Missouri Pacific train, the Valley Eagle, which formerly operated between Houston and Brownsville.
Harris County deputy fatally shoots suspect
BROWNSVILLE — A judge dismissed charges against a former district attorney. Former Cameron County District Attorney Yolanda de Leon was indicted in 2008 on perjury and tampering with governmental records. The case focused on confidential information that was released to DA candidate Peter Zavaletta during the March primary election that year. -- Compiled from AP reports
DA claims judge has death penalty bias HOUSTON — A Texas judge who declared during a capital murder case that the death penalty is unconstitutional but later rescinded his ruling has refused a request by prosecutors to remove himself from the case. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has asked to have state District Judge Kevin Fine removed from the case, accusing him of being biased against capital punishment.
HOUSTON — A Harris County sheriff ’s deputy fatally shot a combative man during a struggle at the suspect’s home. The deputy attempted to arrest Christopher Lee on assault charges, a struggle ensued and Lee took away the deputy’s Taser while commanding a large pit bull to attack him.
Judge dismisses charges against former DA
AROUND THE NATION Mourning begins as W. Va. mine search resumes
CONTACT US
MONTCOAL, W.Va. — Grieving relatives began burying victims of the Upper Big Branch coal mine disaster Friday as rescue crews ventured back into the blast-damaged shaft for another slow, dangerous and probably hopeless search for survivors. It was their fourth attempt to find the four miners missing since Monday’s explosion.
Informant in Mexican drug war freed from NY jail BUFFALO, N.Y. — A former Mexican police officer who became a drug informant for the United States has been freed from federal detention after fending off efforts to deport him. A ruling last month said Guillermo “Lalo” Ramirez Peyro should not be returned to Mexico because he would be tortured.
Today is Saturday, April 10, the 100th day of 2010. There are 265 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, on its ill-fated maiden voyage. On this date: In 1790, President George Washington signed into law the first United States Patent Act. In 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was incorporated. In 1925, the novel “The Great Gatsby,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was first published. In 1932, German president Paul Von Hindenburg was reelected in a runoff, with Adolf Hitler coming in second. In 1957, Egypt reopened the Suez Canal to all shipping traffic. (The canal had been closed due to wreckage resulting from the Suez Crisis.) In 1959, the future emperor of Japan, Crown Prince Akihito, married a commoner, Michiko Shoda. In 1963, the nuclear-powered submarine USS Thresher sank during deep-diving tests off Cape Cod, Mass., in a disaster that claimed 129 lives. In 1972, the United States and the Soviet Union joined some 70 nations in signing an agreement banning biological warfare. In 1978, Arkady Shevchenko, a high-ranking Soviet citizen employed by the United Nations, sought political asylum in the United States. In 1998, the Northern Ireland peace talks concluded as negotiators reached a landmark settlement to end 30 years of bitter rivalries and bloody attacks. Ten years ago: The Washington Post won three Pulitzer Prizes, including the public service award for the second year in a row; The Wall Street Journal took two honors, and The Associated Press won for investigative reporting on the killing of Korean civilians by U.S. troops at the start of the Korean War. South Korea and North Korea announced a June date for their first summit since the peninsula was divided in 1945. Actor Larry Linville, one of the stars of the situation comedy “M-A-S-H,” died in New York at age 60. Five years ago: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon arrived in Texas to meet with President George W. Bush. Today’s Birthdays: Actor Harry Morgan is 95. Actor Max von Sydow is 81. Actress Liz Sheridan is 81. Actor Omar Sharif is 78. Sportscaster John Madden is 74. Rhythm-and-blues singer Bobbie Smith (The Spinners) is 74. Sportscaster Don Meredith is 72. Reggae artist Bunny Wailer is 63. Actor Steven Seagal is 59. Folk-pop singer Terre Roche (The Roches) is 57. Actor Peter MacNicol is 56. Rock musician Steven Gustafson (10,000 Maniacs) is 53. Singerproducer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds is 52. Rock singermusician Brian Setzer is 51. Rapper Afrika Bambaataa is 50. Rock singer Katrina Leskanich is 50. Actor Jeb Adams is 49. Olympic gold medalist Cathy Turner is 48. Thought for Today: “What is more unwise than to mistake uncertainty for certainty, falsehood for truth?” — Cicero, Roman orator, statesman and philosopher (106-43 B.C.)
Photo by Danny Johnston | AP
A worker maneuvers the final steel beam into place on the press box framework during a topping-out ceremony at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark., on Thursday. Renovations are scheduled to be completed before the football season.
Bullied teen sought help from school SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. — Phoebe Prince, the Massachusetts high school freshman who
took her own life after what prosecutors called relentless bullying by classmates, spoke to a school administrator one week before her death about a threat of physical violence, court documents reveal. -- Compiled from AP reports
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SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
Zlocal
PAGE 3A
School board looks at ball field balance due By LORRAINE L RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata County Independent School District Board of Trustees is looking at a balance due on the baseball field construction project. The field is complete, but ran $4,000 over budget due to construction delays. ZCISD Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez said the overage came from construction delays on the baseball field and simultaneous construction of the softball field. “The board needs to be informed that [the construction cost] went over,” Rodriguez said. The board will also be
Supt. Romeo Rodriguez said delays contributed to the overage. informed of and will need to approve the Zapata County ISD summer school programs, especially since the reconfiguration of the elementary schools from first to fifth grade to Pre-K to fifth grade. Rodriguez said since Zapata North Elementary was converted to Pre-K to fifth grade the other elementary schools will have to do the same. This allows for continuity in academic instruction for students, he explained. “They don’t have to be
moving from school to school,” Rodriguez said. “They stay under the same roof.” The board will also be hearing a report on the disciplinary alternative education program and what kind of services the staff offers the students with disciplinary problems. The staff will also inform the board on the type of students being served and what kind of counseling they are receiving. The ZCISD school board meeting will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Professional Development Center. (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557.)
THE BLOTTER ASSAULT Alex Navarro, 19, was arrested on charges of assault causes bodily injury at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 600 block of Miraflores Avenue. Deputies say Navarro kicked a woman on the leg, causing her to fall on the floor. The man was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail, where he was held in lieu of a $10,000 bond. Deputies responded to an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon call at 12:45 p.m. April 3 in the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Elm Street. Two complainants, 32- and 21-year-old men, stated a known man attempted to strike them with a pickup truck. Juan Jose Gonzalez, 50, was arrested on charges of assault causes bodily injury family violence at about 5 a.m. April 3 in the 5400 block of Cuellar Lane. An incident report states Gonzalez was intoxicated and assaulted a known woman. The man was booked and transported
to Zapata Regional Jail, where he was held in lieu $5,000 bond.
BURGLARY
one live shell and the weapon. Ramirez was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail, where he was held on $20,000 bond.
Deputies responded to a burglary of habitation call at about 9 p.m. Tuesday in the 1900 block of North Siesta Lane. The male victim stated someone broke into his mobile home and stole a TV. Deputies responded to a burglary of a vehicle call at about 8:30 a.m. March 31 in the 800 block of Glenn Street. The complainant stated someone burglarized his 1995 Chevy pickup truck and stole two rifles and hunting equipment.
Pedro Navarro III, 17, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence at about 2 a.m. on April 4 on U.S. 83. Deputies say the man was seen driving at a high rated speed. After a traffic stop, deputies found the man was under the influence. The offender was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail. He was released after paying a $150 fine.
DEADLY CONDUCT
THEFT
Deputies responded to a shots fired call at about 3 a.m. April 4 in the 1700 block of Second Street. Deputies arrested Santiago Ramirez III, 43, on charges of deadly conduct. Deputies recovered one empty shell,
Deputies responded to a theft call at about 6:30 a.m. April 3 in the 400 block of Papaya Drive. The complainant stated someone stole her black laptop and a cell phone from her home.
DUI
courtesy photo/
Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Zapata Station seized nearly a quarter ton of marijuana on April 6.
BP finds 470 pounds of pot inside house By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Border Patrol Laredo Sector agents stationed in Zapata were on routine patrol when they came upon more than 470 pounds of marijuana in San Ygnacio on Tuesday. Agent Jason Darling, Border Patrol spokesman, said agents responded to suspicious activity reported near a home close to the riverbanks. “There were footprints of five individuals leading
from the Rio Grande to the house toward the neighborhood,” he added. Agents investigated the incident and through a window of the uninhabited home, agents saw several cellophane-wrapped bundles inside. Darling said the agents searched the house and found 14 bundles of marijuana totaling 471.5 pounds with an estimated street value of $377,200. Agents recovered the marijuana and turned it over to the Drug Enforce-
ment Administration. Darling encouraged the people from San Ygnacio to contact the Zapata station if they witness wrongdoing. “Feedback in any form from the community is welcomed,” he said. “The community is vital in the completion of our mission.” To report suspicious activity, call the Border Patrol at (800) 343-1994. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Stop results in man’s arrest for marijuana possession By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A speeding vehicle led deputies to more than 200 pounds of marijuana on April 1. Lorenzo Jesus Gonzalez Bath, 30, was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana. The man was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail, where he was held in lieu of $15,000 bond.
According to an incident report, two investigators conducted a traffic stop on a green Ford Explorer about midnight on April 1 near mile marker 738 on U.S. 83, north of Zapata. Deputies pulled him over for speeding. “He got stopped going toward Webb County,” Sgt. Mario Elizondo said. After approaching Gonzalez Bath, deputies noticed nine bundles be-
lieved to be marijuana. Deputies say the man had an address in Laredo in the 500 block of Mescalero Drive. But it was unclear if the load was headed to that residence. The contraband had an estimated weight of 203 pounds and street value of $89,523. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 7282568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
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OTHER VIEWS
Gay warriors to get help THE NEW YORK TIMES
A
s the chief House whip fighting to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays serving in the military, Rep. Patrick Murphy will never be dismissed as a naive idealist. Wearing his paratrooper lapel pin, the husky lawmaker beards colleagues to speak firsthand of his combat time in Iraq and Bosnia and the good men and women he saw drummed from service. He tells of his days teaching constitutional law at West Point, where eventually some cadets would privately inquire whether it would be best to out themselves and give up career hopes in such an intolerant military. “I told them, ‘No, you become an officer and do what you need to do,”’ the Pennsylvania Democrat related emphatically as he made his home district rounds this week. “We don’t need them to be sacrificial lambs.” Help is on the way, the former Capt. Murphy tells gay and lesbian soldiers. The Obama administration has begun ratcheting back a policy that let accusers operate from the shadows to help drive more than 13,000 from the services in the 17 years since the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was enacted by Congress in a frenzied battle of the culture war.
And in gathering votes for its repeal, Murphy has upped the co-sponsor tally by 40 in the past year to 191 and counting (including two Republicans). He gained a dozen new supporters last month when the ranking Pentagon brass endorsed repeal with the strong support of retired Gen. Colin Powell. “That was very significant,” said Murphy, who is predicting he’ll have the needed 216-vote majority in time to add repeal onto the huge defense authorization bill when it comes up next month. He is already conferring on strategy with Joseph Lieberman, the Senate’s repeal leader. Over in that chamber, the 60vote filibuster barrier could be turned back onto opponents as the minimum they would need to strike repeal from the defense bill. In contrast to the political bombast of the culture wars, Murphy’s appeal in working for the support of his colleagues is rich in detail on how the issue plays out in the military at what are called Chapter 15 hearings. “Imagine, we have thousands of administrative hearings just to determine whether or not someone is gay or straight,” he said, “when these good soldiers should be focused on missions like killing Osama bin Laden.”
No respect for tea party By JONATHAN GURWITZ SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
A
retha Franklin sang about it. Sacha Baron Cohen’s fictional character exalted it. Kids are supposed to show it. Members of the tea party movement don’t get any. Respect, that is. And why should they? Tea partiers are assaultrifle-toting religious extremists, down-and-out ignoramuses from the margins of society who’ve finally found a public outlet for their pent up rage against Hollywood, seatbelt laws and smart people. Never mind all that blather about the Constitution and rights and a debt that threatens national security. What truly boils the tea party constituency is that a president of mixed race now resides in the White House. And God knows the tea party movement is anything but grassroots. Corporate and Republican money — aren’t they the same? — explains most of the knuckle-dragging hordes that first turned out last April 15. The rest carry a latent Neanderthal gene that, once activated by AM radio frequencies, causes Tourette’s syndrome-like outbursts of racial epithets and spitting. Or maybe not. Politicians and pundits have heaped all sorts of derision on tea party members over the past year. The sampling parodied above is of the decent sort. There’s plenty more that can’t be printed. People always fear what they do not understand and attempt to marginalize what they cannot control. But thanks to some recent polling, a less distorted image of the tea party movement is emerging. For starters, it’s not inordinately composed of angry white men. A USA Today/ Gallup poll found that 79
percent of tea party supporters are white — compared with 75 percent of the general population — and 45 percent are women. Tea partiers aren’t all GOP stooges, either. The same poll also revealed that 49 percent of tea party supporters are Republican, 43 percent are independent and 8 percent are Democrat. In other words, a majority of tea party members aren’t Republican. What do they want? A Winston Group poll found tea partiers united around two core issues: the economy/jobs and reducing the deficit. In short, the profile of the tea party movement and the concerns of its members aren’t that much different from the American people as a whole. “Overall, this survey paints a picture of the tea party movement that encompasses a broad swath of the American middle class,” reads a statement from Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, which conducted a tea party poll. None of this will come as a surprise to anyone who has gone to a tea party event and talk to tea party members, rather than rely on willful misrepresentations. But those misrepresentations — based on a handful of incidents at thousands of events involving millions of people — rather than reflecting reality reveal the panicked hope the tea party will simply disappear. One year after it emerged on the political scene and despite all the derision and disrespect, the tea party movement is stronger, more focused and more politically mature. With Washington oblivious to its core concerns, there’s no reason to believe it won’t be just as vigorous a year from now — or, more important, on Nov. 2.
COLUMN
Dad kept me out of the mines By LLEWELLYN KING HEARST NEWSPAPERS
W
ASHINGTON — My friend Ken Ball and I have a something very special in common: Separately and continents apart, our fathers kept us out of deep mines. My father was a mechanic, who worked in mine maintenance, mostly gold mines known as hard-rock mines, all over southern central Africa. Ken is the scion of a long line of coal miners in Pennsylvania. Whenever there is a mine disaster, like the tragedy this week at the Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia, Ken and I think of our fathers and thank them.
Writing to mining I dropped out of high school. Soon, I got a job in journalism, but journalism, then as now, can be a fickle business and the pay lousy. After 18 glorious months of cub reporting, I found myself in Zambia getting by in construction work because my gig as a very junior foreign correspondent had gone south. I was offered a job at fabulous money as a trainee miner in the Zambian copper mines. They paid what was called the “cop-
per bonus” and it had, from the mine owners’ point of view, gotten out of hand. The defense buildup in the United States had pushed the price of copper beyond all expectations. Copper capitalism was all the rage.
Dad reacts I was already spending the money in my head, bonding in that machismo way that miners have. The typewriter would be traded for a jack hammer. I’d be a man’s man with a pocket full of “copper bonus” money to prove it. I wrote my father and told him that job insecurity and money woes would soon be over, I was “going down the mines.” My father had a faltering grip on spelling and grammar, but that didn’t mean that he couldn’t express himself elegantly. I believe that writing, like musicality, is innate. If hard-mining is about the judicious use of dynamite, my father’s response letter was as explosive. Its gist was: I’ve never stopped you in your folly, especially in leaving school. But for God’s sake, don’t go down a mine. Those places aren’t for human beings. I’ve been forced to work on them most of my life, and I can tell you that mines are no
places for human beings. Please don’t do it. Just about the same time, in the late 1950s, in faraway Pennsylvania, Ken Ball was getting about the same advice from his father. Ken finished his schooling and went on to a distinguished career in science and engineering. I went back to the newspaper trade. The basic dynamic of mining is at odds with safety: It is to extract as much ore or coal as possible with as little cost. Safety is the usual casualty. Owners skirt the rules for profit. And miners skirt them for much the same reason: bonuses.
Safety matters Because mines are almost always company towns, it’s hard for individual miners to blow the whistle on dangerous practices if everyone is winking at the regulations. More government regulations are simply more rules to ignore. The most positive safety enhancement is an old one: an active union. Upper Big Branch is a non-union mine and the worst accidents tend to be in nonunion mines. Unions are good at enforcing irksome work rules. Arguably, there may be no reason for teachers
to unionize. There’s a good reason for having a third party in the mine: safety. Miners have no loyalty to government inspectors, but they do to their own union. A safe mine is an oxymoron. The earth is as lethal as the sea. When you start moving it around, there is treachery down below.
Many deaths Things are much better than they were years ago; better equipment and rules, which if implemented, help. But the history of King Coal is not pretty. In America alone, more than 100,000 men — until recently, it was men only — have died in the unforgiving earth to keep us warm and their families fed. For the miners in Appalachia, it’s a special way of life: church, a mobile home, television, tattoos and close relations within small communities. It’s also a way of life, a culture and work that, in the age of keystrokes, makes a man feel, well, like a man. As for my father, about three months after he cautioned me off the life below ground, he fell down a goldmine shaft and broke his back. (Llewellyn King is host of “White House Chronicle” on PBS. lking@kingpublishing.com)
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phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication. We want to assure our
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DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
ing 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.
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
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People remember the kings of the ring Local businessman recalls the golden days of wrestling By JOE RUTLAND LAREDO MORNING TIMES
It used to be rather simple: A good guy faced a bad guy inside the squared circle. There were headlocks, flying dropkicks, fists flying and – of course – an occasional foreign object tossed in, too. Once upon a time, professional wrestling thrived in Laredo. Not “lucha libre,” as it is known in Mexico, with its fast-paced moves and masked wrestlers. Nor anything compared to today’s World Wrestling Entertainment-styled “sports entertainment.” Oh no, we’re talking about wrestlers like Jose Lothario, Johnny Valentine, Wahoo McDaniel, Fritz Von Erich, Andre the Giant and even “The Nature Boy” himself, Ric Flair, turning the Laredo Civic Center and CasaBlanca Ballroom into showcases in the 1970s through the early ’80s. Downtown businessman Les Norton remembers. “To this day, older people will come up to me and start talking about those good old days,” Norton said. “Back then, pro wrestlers did everything they could to make you believe it was real.” His involvement with pro wrestling as promoter, ring announcer and sometimes referee in Laredo started around 1972 and brought many big names to this area. Norton promoted match-
es alongside through 1984-85.
Lothario
Houston connection During that era, pro wrestling in Texas and the United States was divided into different territories run by promoters. For instance, Mondays and Tuesdays were in Fort Worth (Will Rogers Coliseum) and Dallas (Sportatorium), respectively. Wednesdays were for San Antonio (Joe Freeman Coliseum) and Fridays were reserved for Houston (Sam Houston Coliseum). There never was a regular set day for Laredo, yet many cards would take place on Thursdays. Wrestlers were directed to Laredo through longtime Houston promoter Paul Boesch. “Everything spread out from Boesch,” Norton said. “He put wrestlers out to (San Antonio promoter) Joe Blanchard.” Laredo’s pro wrestling cards started out at the Civic Center and moved to the CasaBlanca Ballroom, owned at the time by Wicho Garcia, Norton said. Norton remembered when a teenager, just starting out in the business, would ask for a ride back to the La Quinta Hotel for a shower before leaving town. At times, Norton would give him a lift and return to the arena. This teenager grew up to become “Rowdy” Rod-
Courtesy photo
Andre the Giant is shown giving an autograph to Jacob Norton during an appearance at the Laredo Boys Club in 1978. Andre went on to future fame and stardom in the World Wrestling Federation.
dy Piper. While wrestlers would come and go from the Texas territory, Lothario remained a mainstay through the years. “He never left,” Norton said. “I worked very closely with him.” For a while, neither did another young teenager, this one from San Antonio who was Lothario’s protegé. “Whenever Jose needed something, whether it was ice for a wrestler’s bad back or cold water or whatever, he’d send Shawn out to do it,” Norton said. That “Shawn” became Shawn Michaels, also known as “The Heartbreak Kid” and “Mr. Wrestlemania,” who recently an-
nounced his retirement from pro wrestling after a lengthy career with World Wrestling Federation/WWE. Lothario became a close friend of Norton’s and his family. “Jose was around when my kids were little,” Norton said.
Historic names Valentine and McDaniel were others who wrestled in Laredo, mostly during what Norton called “the first group” of pro wrestlers coming through here. Even Von Erich, known as “The Master of the Iron Claw,” would call upon Laredo.
“Fritz Von Erich was big and I was able to see his family’s phenomenal rise,” Norton said. “All the Von Erichs (Fritz, Kevin, David, Kerry and Chris) came here. They never turned down chances to go and visit hospitals here in town.” Sometimes, raucous fans would take their chances. One such night involved a main event featuring Kerry Von Erich “People were packed into the Civic Center,” Norton recalled. “Now there was a line of people still outside trying to get in and already there were 2,000-3,000 inside. They couldn’t get in and started causing a riot. Eventually, Laredo police officers had to go out there and settle things down.” Norton said there always was the “radical fan” element available. “That’s the person who believed this all was very real,” he said. “Back in those days, Laredo wasn’t known as a hub for celebrities,” Norton said. “What still tugs at me to this day is one, true pro wrestling fans were here, and two, kids could actually touch someone like a Kerry Von Erich and get an autograph. This let Laredo kids get close to people they considered celebrities.” Local charities also benefited greatly from these pro wrestling cards, Norton said.
Andre and Ric When talking about Andre the Giant and Ric Flair, there are stories for print and stories for bar
stools. “Back in the late ’70s, Andre came to Laredo for a match,” Norton said. “He made an appearance at The Scoreboard, which was a high-end sports clothing shop at Mall del Norte. As we were sitting there, I noticed he was wearing a pinkie ring and I asked if I could see it. Now I’ve got some fat fingers myself, OK. But I put that ring on and it covered two of my fingers.” Then there is Flair, who has been involved with pro wrestling for more than 30 years. “He did an outdoor show at Riverside Mall,” Norton said. “In the early 1980s, he defended the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) World Heavyweight Championship. “About 4-5 years ago, I went out to a clothing show in Las Vegas and I saw Flair signing autographs. So I got in line for one. Everyone at the clothing show was wearing a badge with their name, store and city on it. I get up to the table and Flair looks up at the name tag and says, ‘Laredo, Texas.’ I said, ‘Yes, that’s where I’m from.’ “He said, ‘I wrestled there one time and stayed at the La Posada Hotel?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m the guy that was promoter of those wrestling matches.’ We ended up speaking for some time.” Maybe this Sunday morning, parents can take time out and share some precious memories of Laredo’s pro wrestling glory days with their kids. (Joe Rutland may be reached at 728-2529 or jrutland@lmtonline.com)
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6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
VALENTIN HOMERO MEDINA Valentin Homero Medina, 66, passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at Laredo Medical Center. Mr. Medina is preceded in death by his son, Mario Medina; father, Santos Medina; brothers, Victor H. Medina and Eduardo Medina; and a sister, Rosa. Mr. Medina is survived by his wife, Diana B. Medina; sons, Joel (Juanita) Medina, Luis A. (Debbie) Medina; daughters, Monica (Javier) Salinas, Marisella (Hilario) Vallejo, Joann (John) Cisneros and Leeann Sanchez; 17 grandchildren; nine greatgrandchildren; mother, Narcisa B. Medina; broth-
er, Santos Jr. (Connie) Medina; sisters, Susie, Laura (Larry) Smith, Patricia and Veronica (Nick) Solis; and by numerous other relatives and friends. Visitation hours were held Monday, April 5, 2010, from 6 to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession departed Tuesday, April 6,
2010, at 9:45 for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home; Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 U.S. 83, Zapata.
CARLOS EDUARDO GONZALEZ Baby Carlos Eduardo Gonzalez, 6 months, passed away March 30, 2010, at Methodist Children’s Hospital in San Antonio. The baby is survived by his mother, Celia Gonzalez; grandparents, Luis Gonzalez Ortiz and Porfiria Hernandez de Gonzalez; and by numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins. Visitation hours were held Thursday, April 8, 2010, from 2 to 5 p.m. at
sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 U.S. 83, Zapata. Rose Garden Funeral Home. Committal services followed at Panteon Del Pueblo in Xilitla, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Condolences may be
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SÁBADO 10 DE ABRIL DE 2010
Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 10 DE ABRIL LAREDO — El Theater Troupe de TAMIU presenta “Jewtopia” de 7 p.m. a 9 p.m. en el Teatro Experimental Sam Johnson del Center for the Fine and Performing Art. La entrada general es de 15 dólares. LAREDO — Pase la tarde en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU y explore “Kaluoka’hina, The Enchanted Reef” a las 5 p.m., “Violent Universe: Catastrophes of the Cosmos” a las 6 p.m., y Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” a las 7 p.m. La entrada general es de 5 dólares y de 4 dólares para niños. NUEVO LAREDO — En la muestra de cine mexicano “Entre la Realidad y la Ficción”, hoy se presenta el largometraje “Los Bastardos” dirigida por Amat Escalante, en Cinépolis Reforma. El costo del boleto es de 40 pesos. Consultar horarios en cartelera. Más información en el (011-52-867) 712-7844.
DOMINGO 11 DE ABRIL LAREDO — El Theater Troupe de TAMIU presenta “Jewtopia” de 3 p.m. a 5 p.m. en el Teatro Experimental Sam Johnson del Center for the Fine and Performing Art. La entrada general es de 15 dólares. LAREDO — Hoy continua la Serie de Recitales de Órgano de TAMIU, con el organista Todd Wilson a las 4 p.m. en el Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall. El evento es gratuito y abierto al público en general. NUEVO LAREDO — En la muestra de cine mexicano “Entre la Realidad y la Ficción”, hoy se presenta el documental “Los Que se Quedan” dirigida por Juan Carlos Rulfo y Carlos Hagerman, en Cinépolis Reforma. El costo del boleto es de 40 pesos. Consultar horarios en cartelera. Más información en el (011-52-867) 712-7844.
LUNES 12 DE ABRIL NUEVO LAREDO — En la muestra de cine mexicano “Entre la Realidad y la Ficción”, hoy se presenta el largometraje “Párpados Azules” dirigida por Ernesto Contreras, en Cinépolis Reforma. El costo del boleto es de 40 pesos. Consultar horarios en cartelera. Más información en el (011-52-867) 7127844.
JUEVES 15 DE ABRIL LAREDO — Disney on Ice presenta Worlds of Fantasy hoy a las 7:30 p.m. en el Laredo Energy Arena, con todos los asientos a 15 dólares, a excepción de aquellos junto a la pista de hielo. Llegue antes de la hora del evento para tomarse fotografía con Tiana de The Princess and The Frog. Adquiera sus boletos en www.disneyonice.com; Ticketmaster y en la taquilla de LEA. LAREDO — El Taller de Opera del Laredo Community College presenta hoy “Disney’s High School Musical On Stage!” a las 7:30 p.m. en el teatro Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center del Campus Fort McIntosh de LCC. La entrada general es de 10 dólares. Viernes 16 de abril LAREDO — El Taller de Opera del Laredo Community College presenta hoy “Disney’s High School Musical On Stage!” a las 7:30 p.m. en el teatro Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center del Campus Fort McIntosh de LCC. La entrada general es de 10 dólares.
SÁBADO 17 DE ABRIL LAREDO — El Consulado de México en Laredo anuncia que su Programa de Jornadas Sabatinas será hoy de 9 a.m. a 2 p.m., donde se brinda servicio al público que requiera documentación consular además de orientación en el ámbito de protección. Más información en el 723-0990. LAREDO — El Taller de Opera del Laredo Community College presenta hoy “Disney’s High School Musical On Stage!” a las 7:30 p.m. en el teatro Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center del Campus Fort McIntosh de LCC. La entrada general es de 10 dólares.
DOMINGO 18 DE ABRIL LAREDO — Los Testigos de Jehová le invitan a escuchar el discurso “¿Cuándo tendremos verdadera paz y seguridad?” hoy a las 10 a.m. en el Salón del Reino en el 4105 Casa Blanca Rd.
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PÁGINA 7A
Hernández: Ha habido resultados TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Tamaulipas ha visto en las últimas semanas un incremento de acciones relacionadas a actividades del crimen organizado. Dentro de todo, el 3 de abril hubo que lamentarse inclusive la muerte de dos menores de edad. Pese a esto, el Gobernador Eugenio Hernández Flores dijo que en el balance que se tiene hasta la fecha en la lucha contra la delincuencia organizada en Tamaulipas, los resultados han sido fructíferos. “Quiero comunicarles que a pesar de incidentes lamentables como el de la familia Almanza Salazar, donde lamentablemente fallecieron dos menores de edad a consecuencia de la lucha que se tiene contra la delincuencia, ha habido detenciones muy importantes de personas involucradas y de cabecillas de la delincuencia organizada, quienes han sido trasladados ya a la Ciudad de México”, dijo Hernández. Agregó que estos resultados fructíferos son gracias a la coordinación con el gobierno federal y con las dependencias involucradas en esta materia. En la Ciudad de México, el Secretario de Gobernación Fernando Gómez Mont y el Secretario de Seguridad Pública Federal, Genaro García Luna ratificaron el apoyo de la Federación para respaldar a Tamaulipas en la lucha contra el crimen organizado. Hablaron acerca del envío de más elementos federales y sobre la implementación de nuevos operativos conjuntos de los tres órdenes de gobierno. “El gobierno federal reitera su firme compromiso en la lucha
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno del Estado
En la Ciudad de México, de izquierda a derecha, el Gobernador de Tamaulipas Eugenio Hernández Flores, el Secretario de Gobernación Fernando Gómez Mont y el Secretario de Seguridad Pública Federal, Genaro García Luna hablaron de su lucha conjunta contra el crimen organizado.
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En materia de seguridad pública vivimos tiempos nunca antes vistos”. GOBERNADOR DE TAMAULIPAS EUGENIO HERNÁNDEZ FLORES
contra las organizaciones del crimen organizado que pretenden quebrantar el Estado de Derecho y la seguridad de los tamaulipecos y de los mexicanos”, dijo Gómez. Además aseguró que las instituciones federales y estatales, “son ineludiblemente superiores a las organizaciones criminales”. Por su parte García dijo que el envío de más elementos será también para resguardar a los reos federales que se encuentran en los reclusorios tamaulipecos. “La Policía Federal está traba-
Familias de Mier reciben beneficios POR YAHAIRA L. ZAMBRANO ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CIUDAD MIER — Ofrecer a las familias de este Pueblo Mágico oportunidades para mejorar su calidad de vida, es la razón por la cual el Gobierno Municipal lleva a cabo diversas actividades, coordinados con el Gobierno Federal y el Gobierno de Tamaulipas, que en su mayoría incluyen servicios gratuitos. Tal es el caso de la Campaña de Registro de Nacimientos, el Programa 70 y Más, Oportunidades y entrega de despensas.
Registro de nacimientos A partir del lunes 12 de abril, el Sistema para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia dará inicio a la campaña gratuita de registro de nacimientos de menores de 0 a 5 años gratuita. La Presidenta del Sistema DIF Isabel Cristina Treviño Ruiz dijo que se trata de un programa anual que beneficia a los padres que por diversas circunstancias no han registrado a sus hijos. Los requisitos son: certificado de nacido vivo por parte del hospital, credencial de elector de los padres, acta de nacimiento e identificación de cada uno de los padres y un documento que avale que el menor no ha sido registrado anteriormente y dos testigos con identificación Se espera que sean registrados cerca de 150 menores. En el 2009 se registraron a 100. “Se trata de que los niños cuenten con seguridad jurídica y obtengan los beneficios de la educación y de los servicios de salud”, dijo Treviño. La campaña de registro de nacimientos estará vigente durante todo el mes y la documentación debe entregarse en las Oficialías del Registro Civil.
70 y Más Más de 359 adultos mayores recibieron los beneficios del Programa Federal 70 y Más. La Directora del programa Silvia Ramos y el Jefe de Gobierno José Iván Mancias Hinojosa realizaron la entrega del pago correspondiente al
jando hoy con el Ejército Mexicano y con la Armada de México y tenemos listas unidades de operación en Tamaulipas, así como la implementación de esquemas operativos para el reforzamiento de la lucha contra la inseguridad, contándose para ello también con la participación de las fuerzas armadas del Estado, Municipios y Federación”, dijo García. Sin entrar en detalles, dijeron que ha habido “gran decomiso de armas, y drogas y de recursos financieros”.
Hernández se refirió también a los incidentes ocurridos recientemente en los penales de Matamoros y Reynosa, donde ocurrieron fugas de reos, subrayando que actualmente se continúan las investigaciones y ya se cuenta con detenidos y próximamente se tendrán culpables. En días pasados, Hernández aceptó que México y Tamaulipas atraviesan por momentos difíciles y complicados en materia de seguridad pública. “En materia de seguridad pública vivimos tiempos nunca antes vistos y como Gobernador realmente me preocupa la existencia de acontecimientos que vulneran la tranquilidad de nuestra gente y ponen en riesgo la fortaleza de nuestras instituciones y el estado de derecho”, dijo. “Vamos a salir adelante y vamos a salir más fuertes y más unidos”.
REINICIO DE CLASES
JOSÉ I. MANCIAS: Hizo entrega de beneficios de programas diversos ISABEL C. TREVIÑO: Invita a participar en el registro de nacimientos. bimestre de marzo y abril. En Tamaulipas, más de 300 mil personas de la tercera edad son beneficiadas con este apoyo del gobierno federal que es de 1.000 pesos en efectivo, por bimestre. “Estamos muy contentos por que se nota la cara de satisfacción de los abuelitos al recibir su ayuda”, dijo Ramos. “En algunos casos es el único sustento que reciben”.
Programa Oportunidades A través del programa Oportunidades, 70 madres de familia recibieron un apoyo promedio de 600 pesos (bimestral) para ayudarles con alimentos y becas educativas. “El promedio de transferencia mensual es de 300 pesos, equivalente al 2.5 por ciento del ingreso promedio de los hogares en pobreza extrema”, dijo la Directora del programa Oportunidades Rosa Isela Fernández. El programa busca combatir la pobreza y los factores que le siguen como son: la deserción escolar, la desnutrición y la falta de salud. Oportunidades apoya la alimentación y combate la desnutrición mediante:
Entrega de despensas Finalmente, Mancias llevó a cabo la repartición de más de 50 despensas a familias mierenses. Dijo sentirse satisfecho en la entrega de las despensas y agrego que se seguirá luchando para que todos los compromisos que se han hecho por parte del gobierno del estado se estén realizando para mayor beneficio del municipio. “Estas despensas se entregaron en base de un estudio socioeconómico”, dijo Mancias. (Yahaira L. Zambrano es Directora de Comunicación Social del Gobierno de Ciudad Mier)
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno del Estado
Los más de 6 mil planteles educativos, públicos y privados de todos los niveles, se encuentran listos para recibir a alumnos y maestros en el reinicio de clases el lunes 12 de abril tras concluir las dos semanas del periodo vacacional de Semana Santa. En las escuelas no se reportaron incidencias y el Gobierno del Estado reportó que los edificios se encuentran en óptimas condiciones para retomar las actividades escolares de manera normal. Alumnos regresarán para empezar su preparación ante la cercanía de la prueba ENLACE 2010.
PEMEX invertirá en Tamaulipas Son 718 millones de pesos para obras, incluidas carreteras ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CD. VICTORIA — La paraestatal Petróleos Mexicanos autorizó una inversión trianual de 718 millones para la ejecución de cinco obras estratégicas de beneficio tanto para la paraestatal como para el Gobierno de Tamaulipas. En reunión de trabajo realizada en Casa de Gobierno, el Subdirector de Región Norte de Pemex Exploración y Producción en Poza Rica, Veracruz, Juan Arturo Hernández Carrera destacó la gestión del Gobernador Eugenio Hernández Flores para lograr recursos que permitirán modernizar y ampliar la red carretera en Tamaulipas, así como la ejecución de obras de saneamiento y ecológicas, que permitirán además coadyuvarán a mejorar la operación de esa paraestatal. Las obras estaban pendientes desde el 2009, así como la solicitud de obras de beneficio mutuo para ejecutar en este mismo año, incluido ejecutar el proyecto del Paso Superior Vehicular El Barquito
Uno, dijo Hernández. Como parte de las estrategias para avanzar en competitividad, el gobierno del estado tiene en proceso las obras de modernización de la carretera Altamira-Nuevo Progreso en la cual Pemex invertirá 120 millones de pesos en un lapso de tres años. Asimismo la modernización de la carretera Nuevo Laredo-Reynosa, la cual se realizará en dos frentes para agilizar los trabajos en la que aplicará 150 millones de pesos; en los trabajos del Viaducto Interior de Reynosa; tramo Reynosa-Monterrey; ReynosaMier, 135 millones de pesos. Por su parte en la remediación y restauración de la Laguna “La Escondida”, Pemex suministrará 183 millones de pesos repartidos en este año al 2012 y en respuesta a la petición del gobernador Eugenio Hernández Flores aportará recursos para la ejecución del proyecto del puente a desnivel el Barquito, en el que se estima un costo de más de 128 millones de pesos, entre otros presupuestos ya asignados para la entidad.
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SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
A SALUTE TO TEXAS TECH
COUNTY Continued from Page 1A ing to upgrade Guillermo M. Saenz, Environmental Health Service supervisor, from slot 2 to slot 1 because he has completed all requirements and is properly licensed by the state. Other proposed employee changes include Roberto Botello from slot 8 to slot 14, Luis Cuellar from slot 13 to slot 8, Jose Estrella from slot 11 to slot 12 and Angel Garza from slot 12 to slot 2. Saenz also is asking to hire Ricardo Saldivar in slot 11 for the Zapata County Landfill. In executive session, the court plans to consult
with legal counsel on the New Falcon Townsite subdivision and possible eight-liner entertainment and related issues. Other consent items on the agenda include: The installation of speed humps on Lincoln Street in front of Eddie Bravo’s house, between 7th and 10th on 815 Diaz, 1907 Guerrero and 711 Villa. The installation of security lights at 1907 3rd Street, at 1510 Alamo and at 1609 Diaz St. (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956) 728-2557.)
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“The road needed widening in another area for safety purposes.” TXDOT PROJECT MANAGER MARISSA RAMIREZ
Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Nicole Garza, a 2006 graduate of Zapata High School, poses with Guy Bailey, president of Texas Tech University, on Wednesday morning at Gonzalez Middle School. Garza, a Tech student, will gradute in May with a major in Broadcast Journalism and Spanish.
EARLY VOTING Continued from Page 1A place him. The other race involves the Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, place. The two candidates are Anna Muñoz Guerra and Amy Lopez Salinas. Guerra said the biggest challenge is getting people to vote the second time around. “It’s kind of slow during the runoffs,” Guerra said. “Not a lot of people come out.” According to Democratic Chair Doroteo Garza early voting statistics show 223
Gutierrez originally had been told erroneously that it was all right to run; when he found out that it wasn’t, it was too late to have his name removed from the runoff ballot. As a result, voters still can cast a ballot for Gutierrez. people cast ballots as of Thursday. Early voting was promising at the beginning of the week and slowed down the rest of the week as it has in past years.
“It was a pretty good turn out the first two days,” Garza said. “A lot of people don’t come out the second time around.” Early voting ended Fri-
day. Election Day is Tuesday. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557.)
ZETAS Continued from Page 1A knew nothing about any wayward pot and said he did not know what the alleged hit men were talking about. Zapata Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr. said that through confidential information forwarded to the department, these men were believed to be “Zetitas” or “Zetias,” a group going through initiation leading to becoming Zetas. He added the Mexican nationals were in the country illegally. “They were going to lure the victim out of the house under false (pretenses),” Gonzalez said. “By the time they were going to kidnap him, they were going to kill him.” The case started on April 2, when the sheriff ’s office received an anonymous tip about a possible kidnapping. Deputies set
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They were going to kill him.” SIGIFREDO GONZALEZ JR., ZAPATA SHERIFF
up surveillance at a residence in the 700 block of Ramireño Avenue in the Medina addition. Deputies noticed Cisneros and Perez Mendoza driving out of the residence. Officials believed the men had gone to buy something to eat. Officials stopped them on U.S. 83, a good distance away from the Ramireño residence, where the other three men had stayed. Deputies detained Cisneros for not having a driver’s license, while Border Patrol agents took Perez Mendoza into custody. Gonzalez said investigators questioned both men.
“It somewhat confirmed what we already knew,” Gonzalez said. “We went ahead and hit the house.” Deputies initially turned the four Mexican nationals over to Border Patrol agents. Cisneros was charged with not having a driver’s license and released. The Mexican nationals were at the Border Patrol Zapata station when investigators served them with warrants, accusing each
man of engaging in organized criminal activity to attempt kidnapping. The four were then transferred to the regional jail. Cisneros was picked up at his home in the Siesta Shores subdivision on a warrant for the same charge. “We’re going to follow up on the case. Other arrests may be made,” the sheriff said. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com) Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.
“Let your smile be a sign of happiness & good health”
1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160
ROAD Continued from Page 1A given extra construction work. According to TxDOT Project Manager Marissa Ramirez, the construction company may take longer than originally planned because of the extra work but it’s still expected to complete the project by the final deadline at the end of April. “The road needed widening in another area for safety purposes,” Ramirez said. “The extra work was not included in the plans but it was all in existing project limits.” TxDOT is also respon-
sible for another construction project on U.S. 83 in Zapata that is more than three miles long and expected to cost almost $7 million. That project, expected to take 11 months, was awarded to Foremost Paving Inc. and has not begun due to the pending results of a construction meeting this week. The project plans call for the upgrading of U.S. 83 from two lanes to a fourlane rural roadway with a continuous left turn lane. (Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557.)
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors ZAPATA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
A new challenge
Hawks work on the field THE ZAPATA TIMES
Tennis team gets started at district tournament today
Entering Friday night’s game against the La Feria Lions, the Zapata Hawks baseball team boasted a 5-3 record in District 32-3A play with three weeks left in the regular season. Zapata won the two games prior to Friday night’s matchup, defeating the Rio Hondo Bobcats and Lyford Bulldogs. The Hawks defeated Rio Hondo 10-0 on April 1. Senior Jerry Gutierrez was the winning pitcher in that game. He struck out nine Bobcat batters and allowed only one hit. Junior Joey Saenz led Zapata offensively in the win, going 3-for-3. Juniors Robert Busta-
By CLARA SANDOVAL SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Zapata tennis team will be hitting the tennis courts this morning at the McAllen I.S.D. Tennis Center for the start of the District 32-3A tennis tournament. The team favorites heading into the tournament are the La Feria Lions, who are ranked No. 7 among 3A tennis teams in the state of Texas. The Lions are the top seed in all the events, except in boys’ singles, where Rio Hondo sensation Dillon Eizember was voted as the top seed.
mante, Ricky Martinez and Jorge Garcia each scored three runs for the Hawks. Against Lyford on Tuesday, Zapata captured an 8-2 victory. Sophomore Oscar Flores was the winning pitcher, striking out eight in the game. Senior Ivan Elizondo went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored, Saenz went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, junior Louie Gonzalez had two runs and two RBIs, and Bustamante had two RBIs. Other members of the Hawk varsity team include sophomore Manuel Salinas, juniors Rogelio Campos, Juan Martinez, Mario Martinez and Mike Rivera, and seniors Luis Esquivel and Roel Ramos.
Boys’ doubles The Zapata boys’ doubles team of Estevan Garcia and Garret Umphres is seeded second after a very solid year on the tennis courts. Garcia and Umphres reached the quarterfinals at the Border Olympics and the semifinals at the UISD Winter Chiller and Falfurrias Tournament. They captured the Zapata Tournament, placed second at Hebbronville and third at the LISD Tournament last weekend. They played No. 1 doubles in team tennis. “I feel that Garret and Estevan are ready to make a strong showing at district. They have worked very hard,” Zapata coach Robert Alvarez said. “Garret has come a long way in a year. If they can keep their unforced errors at a minimum we should have a shot at the title.”
Girls’ doubles The girls’ doubles of Gabriela Molina and Cristina Mendoza is the second seed after a stellar year on the courts. Molina and Mendoza have taken third at two tournaments and reached the quarters at a few other big tournaments. “The La Feria teams are very strong, so Gabby and Cristina will have to play well, but they are capable,” Alvarez said.
Photo by Jae C. Hong | AP Courtesy photos
Garret Umphres is one member of the Zapata High School boys’ doubles team that is ranked second for the District 32-3A tennis tournament, which begins today.
Mixed doubles In mixed doubles, Javier Zapata and Isabella Martinez are the No. 2 seed. Zapata and Martinez have not played in many mixed events, but they captured runner-up trophy at the Hebbronville Invitational. Martinez is the top girls’ player and Zapata is the No. 2 player on the boys’ side. “La Feria placed their top two players in mixed doubles, but I think Javy and Isa will do well,” Alvarez said. “They are very hard workers, and they have improved tremendously. They were JV champions last year, and I am hoping they can get the varsity title this year.”
Ginobili re-signs with the Spurs By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
Other players Playing in the boys’ sin-
See TENNIS PAGE 2B
San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, right, drives past Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest during the first half of the Spurs’ 100-81 win last Sunday in Los Angeles. The Spurs announced Friday that Ginobili has re-signed with the team for the next three seasons.
Estevan Garcia is the other half of the Zapata boys’ doubles team ranked second heading into today’s district tournament. He and Umphres are among Zapata’s second-seeded competitors.
SAN ANTONIO — Manu Ginobili finally convinced the San Antonio Spurs his best days aren’t yet behind him. Ginobili signed a threeyear, $39 million extension Friday that keeps off him this summer’s free agent market, and smooths over hurt feelings caused by the Spurs waiting for proof that the 32-year-old can still be an impact player. The last two months convinced them. Since the AllStar break, Ginobili has averaged 22 points and carried the Spurs to 17 victo-
ries in 24 games. “I was a little upset, then understanding, then I just let it go,” Ginobili said. “I went through all the moods possible. Now it’s gone, and we’re good friends again. We love each other again.”
Injury issues Injuries the past two years caused the Spurs to wonder about Ginobili’s durability and future production. An ankle injury hobbled him throughout the 2008 playoffs, and he missed last season’s postseason en-
See GINOBILI PAGE 2B
Woods moving up the leaderboard at Masters By PAUL NEWBERRY ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods plodded along Friday, making one par after another, mixing in the occasional birdie, avoiding any major mistakes. On a day when Augusta National showed its teeth and some early contenders faded away, Woods finished his round near the top of the Masters leaderboard and liked his position heading into the weekend. “Yeah, yeah I do,” he said, flashing a smile that usually strikes fear in his rivals, a smile that hasn’t been seen in the last five months while he dealt with a sex scandal. Again showing no rustiness from his long layoff,
Woods shot a 2-under 70 that might have been even more impressive than his opening 68 given the much tougher conditions.
Major advantage He still had some work to do. England’s Ian Poulter shot his second straight 68 for an 8-under 136, two strokes ahead of Woods with the clubhouse lead. Another Englishman, Lee Westwood, was at 10 under with five holes to play. But neither Poulter nor Westwood have won a major title. Woods has captured golf ’s biggest championships 14 times, more than anyone but Jack Nicklaus. Four of those titles have
come at Augusta National, and if this keeps up, Woods might be wearing another green jacket Sunday evening. “It feels good to be back in contention,” Woods said. “I’ve put myself in contention most years here. This year, I’m right there. We’ve got 36 more holes and I’m sure the golf course, they’re not going to make it easy for us.”
Like no other While this all feels so normal inside the ropes, this has been a year like no other for Woods. His personal life fell apart after a Thanksgiving might car
See MASTERS PAGE 2B
Photo by Charlie Riedel | AP
Tiger Woods tees off at the sixth hole during the second round of the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga., on Friday. Woods shot a 70 to move to 6-under par
PAGE 2B
Zscores
TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL American Association LINCOLN SALTDOGS: Released LHP Forrest Cory. PENSACOLA PELICANS: Released RHP Francisco Butto and INF Andrew Pinckney. Atlantic League LANCASTER BARNSTORMERS: Signed SS
Bryant Nelson. LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Signed RHP Ivan Maldonado and LHP Bill White. Can-Am League NEW JERSEY JACKALS: Signed INF Argenis Reyes. QUEBEC CAPITALES: Signed RHP Derek McDaid. United League AMARILLO DILLAS: Traded OF Stantrel Smith to Sioux City (AA) for a player to be named.
Announced the retirement of LHP Coby Mavroulis. Signed RHP Ramon Geronimo. BASKETBALL NBA CHICAGO BULLS: Waived C Jerome James. Signed F Rob Kurz for the remainder of the season. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: Signed G Manu Ginobili to a three-year contract extension. FOOTBALL
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
NFL DALLAS COWBOYS: Signed DE Stephen Bowen. HOCKEY NHL NHL: Suspended Pittsburgh F Alexei Ponikarovsky two games for a boarding penalty on N.Y. Islanders F Josh Bailey during Thursday’s game. AHL
ADIRONDACK PHANTOMS: Signed F Darcy Zajac. PROVIDENCE BRUINS: Signed G Nevin Hamilton. TORONTO MARLIES: Recalled F Greg Scott from Reading (ECHL). SOCCER MLS PHILADELPHIA UNION: Signed D Cristian Arrieta. COLLEGE
GEORGIA TECH: Announced freshman F Derrick Favors will enter the NBA draft. MARSHALL: Dismissed CB T.J. Drakeford from the football team for a team rules violation. NEVADA: Announced junior G Armon Johnson will enter the NBA draft. UAB: Announced junior G Elijah Millsap will enter the NBA draft. UNC GREENSBORO: Named Brian Battle senior associate director of athletics for administration.
Empty stadiums a big concern for World Cup By GERALD IMRAY ASSOCIATED PRESS
JOHANNESBURG — World Cup organizers say 500,000 tickets are unsold and fear “tragic” empty stadiums at soccer’s showcase event. FIFA said Friday the tickets would go on sale over the counter to the general public in South Africa from April 15. Organizers will then have less than two months to sell nearly a quarter of the tournament’s total match tickets to avoid empty seats. “I think that today there is one challenge that we definitely have to work on,” FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke told The Associated Press. “It’s to make sure all the stadiums are full and that we are selling all these tickets.” Organizers conceded their initial online process was not suited to local
World Cup organizers say 500,000 tickets are unsold and fear “tragic” empty stadiums at soccer’s show-case event. FIFA said Friday the tickets would go on sale over the counter to the general public in South Africa from April 15, giving organizers less than two months to sell them. fans, who are generally poor, do not have credit cards and are not used to buying tickets on the Internet. Valcke said “There is always time to learn”, while organizing committee chief Danny Jordaan said it would be “tragic” for the host country if stadiums were empty. “If we do have empty stadiums, it will reinforce the idea that football is not supported in the country and that would be tragic,” Jordaan said. “The reality is that this is a football-mad country.” Sales have not reflected that. Jordaan urged fans to “go buy now” at the 11
World Cup ticketing centers and at supermarkets and banks. In Soweto to unveil the official match ticket, with its unique barcodes to avoid forging and combat black market selling, tournament organizers could not avoid the biggest problem with the tickets: not enough people are buying them.
Tickets sold FIFA said 2.2 million tickets had been sold ahead of the fifth and final sales phase. Fans in the host country had bought 925,437, followed by the United States with 118,945.
But just 67,654 World Cup tickets have been sold in the UK, less than the number of fans who typically attend a Manchester United home game. Germany has only purchased 32,269. And FIFA did not say exactly how many of the 500,000 tickets still to go were returned from commercial partners and affiliates. Football’s governing body only said it was “a significant number.” The global economic climate and safety fears in South Africa may have played a part in the disappointing foreign sales, but FIFA admitted it had made mistakes with local fans.
Mike Leach visits Oklahoma State By JEFF LATZKE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy welcomed a former Big 12 South rival into his huddle this week as Mike Leach paid a visit to Stillwater. Leach, who was fired as Texas Tech’s coach in December after he was accused of mistreating an injured player, stopped by Oklahoma State’s spring practice as the Cowboys install a version of his highpowered spread offense. “Obviously coach Leach is not like anybody else,” Gundy said. “I’ve been around him before and I’ve always had a good relationship with him. That was
MIKE LEACH: Former Texas Tech coach visited Oklahoma State. the first time I’d been around him in a football setting. “Very informative and a great opportunity for me to learn what was going on when they’re out there running his offense and he’s sitting there with me.” One of Leach’s former assistants, Dana Holgorsen, was brought in this offseason to run Oklahoma State’s offense. Holgorsen spent eight seasons on Leach’s staff at Texas Tech before serving as Houston’s offensive coordinator the past two years. “It was entertaining. ...
(Leach) and I went over the play scripts and he could kind of tell me what was going on because obviously he has a thorough background in this offense,” Gundy said. “It was enjoyable. He’s always fun to be around and listen to him talk and what he has to say.” The Cowboys ranked among the nation’s top 10 teams in offense in 2007 and 2008 before dropping to 70th last season. Holgorsen will be taking over play calling from Gundy, who handled it for the past two years after former offensive coordinator Larry Fedora became the head coach at Southern Mississippi. “When Dana came in here, we were obligated to
let him run his system and he’s done a great job with it,” said Gundy, himself a former offensive coordinator at OSU. “Our players are comfortable with it and I’ve enjoyed watching it because it’s very new to me, similar to when coach Fedora came here and put his system in. I’m learning it and looking forward to continuing to learn it and see how it works out.” Holgorsen’s offense at Houston led the nation in scoring, passing and total offense last season. An early glimpse at his scheme will come in the Cowboys’ spring game on April 17. “I’m staying out of the way,” Gundy said. “And as long as we score points and move the ball, that’s OK.”
MASTERS Continued from Page 1B crash outside his home led to revelations of numerous extramarital affairs. Massive crowds have followed Woods from hole to hole since play began Thursday, with fans applauding nearly every time he hit the ball. His mother, Kultida, was there again, accompanied by Nike chairman Phil Knight. His wife, Elin, was not. Poulter, known as much for his daring fashion sense and bravado as for actual success on the course, moved a little closer to fulfilling the major expectations he’s always had for himself. Once mocked for saying he felt he could be the world’s second-best player behind Woods, he’ll go the weekend with a two-shot lead on No. 1. “It’s a good start,” said Poulter, who picked up his first win on U.S. soil earlier this year at the Match Play Championship. “Certainly the way I played today, the number of chances I had on the golf course with the pins as difficult as they are, I was pleased to give myself so many chances. It’s one of the best rounds of golf I’ve played in a while.”
opening round, when a 20mph wind that gusted up in the middle of the day provided about the only defense for the course. Among those with an early tee time, Poulter was the only one to break 70. Fred Couples started with a 6-under 66, his lowest round ever in the Masters. At age 50, the oldest player to hold the outright lead after the opening round of the tournament. He looked more his age on Day Two, finishing with bogeys at the final three holes and four of the last five. “Not a whole lot of fun at the moment. That’s just the way it is,” said Couples, who’s been bothered by persistent back problems in his career. “I woke up and, to be honest, I didn’t think I’d be able to play very good at all today.” He knew his chances of becoming golf ’s oldest major champion had taken a major blow. “I needed to be at 5, 6 under to be realistic,” Couples said. “I’m not out of it, but 75 is not a great score.”
Course differences
Another old-timer struggled, too. Sixty-year-old Tom Watson followed his stirring run in last year’s British Open with a bogey-free 67 to open the Masters. But he had four bogeys on the front side Friday and made the turn with a 2-over 38, severely damaging any hopes of contending on the weekend as he did at Turnberry.
This was a different course than the one they played Thursday. The tees were pushed back, the pin positions were toughened up and the greens began to firm up as the temperature climbed toward the 70s under a brilliant blue sky. Sixteen players dipped into the 60s during the
Some struggles
Woods picked up his only birdie on the front side at the par-5 second, where he chipped up next to the flag for a short putt. He gave the stroke back at No. 4, failing to get up and down after he flew his approach shot over a bunker behind the green. It would be his only bogey of the day. The eighth hole provided a telling example of the tougher conditions. With the tee pushed back, Woods needed three shots just to reach the front edge of the green at the par-5 where he made an eagle the previous day. This time, he settled for par. There were no eagles at all for Woods, a day after he made two in a round for the first time in his Masters career. But he rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt at the par-5 13th and baled himself out for a poor chip with a 15-foot birdie putt at 15. From there, he finished with a string of three straight pars, ruining a chance at another bogey by misreading a putt at 17.
Playing tied Woods was tied at 138 with one of his playing partners, K.J. Choi (71), and last year’s surprising U.S. Open runner-up, Ricky Barnes (70). Still on the course, Anthony Kim and PGA champion Y.E. Yang were at 5 under, with Phil Mickelson another stroke behind and struggling to make up ground. Poulter attacked the course by conventional means — three birdies on
the four par 5s — but also pulled off birdies at both of the tricky par 3s on the back side. Standing over the treacherous tee shot at No. 12, he went straight at the flag over Rae’s Creek, left himself with a 12-foot putt and rolled it right in. A bogey-free round ended at No. 18, where Poulter pulled a 5-iron from 212 yards, chipped 7 feet past the cup and missed the putt. “It was a bit of a shame to have a bogey on that last hole,” he said.
Ups and downs Westwood got off a blistering start with an eagle at No. 2, followed by a birdie at the fourth, the shortest par-4 hole on the course. He made the turn with a 32, then birdied two of the first four holes on the back side to become the first golfer to reach double digits under par. Woods wore sunglasses between shots and was greeted with applause at nearly every hole. He said he wasn’t trying to make a fashion statement. “The pollen is just killing my eyes,” he said. “I’ve been sneezing and hacking all week. I’m trying to keep it out of my eyes the best I can.” No one struggled more than Sandy Lyle, one of four 50-and-older players who broke par in the opening round. The 52-year-old Scotsman soared from a 69 to an 86, making four double-bogeys and a triple-bogey at the 12th.
“Yes, definitely, the approach at the beginning by using Internet and by using computers was not the most friendly system for the South Africans,” Valcke said.
Home costs So 120,000 category four tickets, the cheapest and reserved exclusively for South Africans, are still to be sold. South Africans are being asked to pay $19 for a group game, not including the tournament opener. To watch South Africa play Mexico in the opener a local supporter will have to pay $67.
Soccer fans in the country rarely pay more than $2 for a ticket to watch a local game. The average monthly income in South Africa is estimated at just over $372. Valcke said FIFA would consider opening the category four tickets to neighboring African countries if they did not sell. Organizers said the “positive” interest from U.S. fans was triggered by the country’s performances at last year’s Confederations Cup in South Africa. “After that the interest (in the United States) skyrocketed,” Jordaan said. But FIFA said it had seen “disappointing” sales in Europe. “Maybe we are getting too much (soccer),” Valcke said of European fans. “We are getting whatever we want. We have football matches every day. Either the Champions League or the Europa League or the club league or the cups.”
GINOBILI Continued from Page 1B tirely with a fracture in his other ankle. That prompted the team to take a wait-and-see approach to negotiations entering this season, the last under Ginobili’s current deal. But the Argentine has lately swayed the Spurs that he can still be the healthy spark plug he was during their last three championship runs. “It’s always good to have information that helps leads you to make decisions,” Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. “I think Manu’s play, especially in the last three months, has continued to show that he’s an important part of our future.”
Staying put Ginobili has spent all eight seasons of his NBA career in San Antonio. The former NBA sixth man of the year has built a reputation as one of the league’s best finishers with his fearless drives to the basket, often at the expense of his body. But that signature explosiveness was missing early in the season. Ginobili shuffled through a so-so year early and it looked increasingly likely the former All-Star would become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. Even after a season-high 43 points against Orlando last week, Ginobili discussed the possibility that his days with the Spurs might be numbered. The
Magic were one of four division leaders Ginobili helped the Spurs topple in a span of 10 days. Negotiations seemed to accelerate after that. The Spurs and Ginobili’s agent, Herb Rudoy, had talked all season, but by Wednesday a deal was imminent.
Three more Ginobili, who turns 33 in July, will be 36 after his contract expires. He wouldn’t say the deal would take him through the end of his career, but is glad to have at least three more years with the Spurs. “It was really hard to picture myself with another colored jersey,” Ginobili said. “It’s good that it happened before the playoffs so I don’t have to think about it.” The deal keeps the Spurs’ core of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Ginobili together for at least another season. Parker’s deal expires at the end of next year, and Duncan’s in 2012. “We’ve been through so much together. It’s great to have familiar faces around,” Duncan said. “Manu has been great years for now, and has been great in this stretch here. We look forward to trying to get one more championship under our belt.” San Antonio last won the title in 2007 with a sweep of the Cavaliers.
TENNIS Continued from Page 1B
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I feel good going into district. We have the kids seeded where they have to be and almost all of them got the draw we were hoping for.” ROBERT ALVAREZ, ZAPATA COACH
gles are Hector Solis and on the boys’ doubles are Leo Valdez and T.J. Teniente. In the girls’ singles are the fourth seed, Carmen Rocha, and Kasandra Flores. Seeded fifth in mixed doubles will be Angel Ortiz and Maritza Torres. “I feel good going into
district. We have the kids seeded where they have to be and almost all of them got the draw we were hoping for,” Alvarez said. “It is now a matter of handling the stress and nerves and playing to the best of our ability.” (Clara Sandoval can be reached at csandovalzapatatimes@gmail.com)
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B
HINTS BY | HELOISE A TRICKY TREAT Dear Heloise: A friend has dogs that must be on SPECIAL FOOD DIETS because of severe food allergies. If they eat the wrong thing, it can make them sick, so that special treat a neighbor might give could cause misery for the dog later. A kind gesture can lead to serious allergic reactions and possibly death. -Kristina from Ohio This is very true! Our little miniature schnauzer, Cabbie, also is on special dog food because she has had two very serious bouts with pancreatitis. It can be triggered by eating a lot of high-fat foods, such as cheese, a fatty piece of meat, etc. -- Heloise HAIR AWAY Dear Heloise: I own two Persian cats; thus, bundles of hair! The most ecologically friendly method of hair removal from furniture and rugs is an old wet washcloth vigorously rubbed across the hair-laden surface in one direction, then extracted and rubbed again! -- Bette, via e-mail PET PAL Dear Readers: Judith Weinstein of Flemington, N.J., sent in a photo of her white German shepherd, Archimedes (Archie), getting a drink of water from a water sprinkler! To see Archie in battle, go to www.Heloise.com. -Heloise BIRD FEEDERS Dear Heloise: We have had a lot of snow, which has made it difficult for us to make the trek outside to fill bird feeders. Using an umbrella-type
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clothesline (attached to our deck) and two-sided hooks, I was able to grab the feeders and suet packs on the line’s aluminum rods. Keeping the deck and railings cleared of snow makes it easier for the birds to land. Laying down old baking pans with food is a treat for the ground feeders. We winter our gas grill on the deck. Putting food in the drip pan under the gas grill allows the birds to eat under cover. We also get the advantage of viewing the birds. -- K.W.E. in Maryland CAT DETERRENT Dear Heloise: I own a pet shop. I am frequently asked how to keep cats out of potted plants or flower beds. My hint is to use small lava stones as mulch on top of the dirt. They are light and, of course, allow water to flow through, but cats hate to step on them. Lava stones can be found at many garden centers. -- Sheila Crane, San Antonio TWO BELLS Dear Heloise: We found that we could reduce the success rate of our cat’s hunting trips by adding a second bell to his collar. Although most cats can learn to move in such a way that a single bell stays silent, there is no way they can keep two bells from ringing. One or the other will ring and warn their prey. -Marilyn in Florida
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NCAA
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
Photo by Joe Raymond | AP
Former Notre Dame quarterback and top draft prospect Jimmy Clausen works out during pro day for NFL representatives on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., on Friday.
Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | AP
In this March 27 file photo, Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville watches his team during its first spring scrimmage in Lubbock.
Clausen makes 57 of 59 throws By TOM COYNE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuberville adjusts to Tech By BETSY BLANEY ASSOCIATED PRESS
LUBBOCK — Tommy Tuberville has had some sleepless nights since arriving in West Texas. He can’t stop hearing the wind. It howls at night and blasts his family’s new home with gusts up to 50 mph. Tumbleweed from nearby cotton fields blow all over the place. “There’s nothing to block the wind so when it’s blowing (at Tech) it’s double that out in the middle of the cotton fields,” Tuberville said. But that’s life on the wind-swept South Plains, where all kinds of changes are blowing through the Texas Tech football program.
Strange start Tuberville, who’d been out of coaching for a year, was hired by Texas Tech in mid-January, less than two weeks after the university fired Mike Leach for cause following allegations he mistreated a player with a concussion. Leach has denied the accusations and has filed a lawsuit against the school alleging slander, libel and breach of contract. The 55-year-old Tuberville spent the first couple of months talking up Tech football to fans across the state, visiting recruits and getting his family settled in their new home on the outskirts of Lubbock. He’s already found his favorite steakhouse in beef-heavy
Texas, though that’s not the Arkansas native’s favorite meat. “I might have moved to West Texas, but I’m still a pork guy,” he said. “I like pork ribs. I grew up on pork.”
Bringing changes On the field, Tuberville has invited the public to attend spring practices — a shift from last year when Leach closed the sessions — and the pace during the workouts has been sped up dramatically. There’s more supervision by position coaches — before, during and after the end of plays — and players like it. ”It’s really exciting,” linebacker Brian Duncan said. “It’s different. It’s big-time different, but it’s good for us.” While the defensive players are adjusting to the changes, the learning curve isn’t as steep on offense, where Tuberville only plans to make subtle changes to Tech’s passhappy scheme.
Injury status That’s probably a good thing since the two senior quarterbacks vying for the starting role, Taylor Potts and Steven Sheffield, both went out with injuries in late March and won’t return for spring workouts. Sheffield had surgery to repair the same bone in his left foot that he broke
at Nebraska last season. Potts, last year’s starter, split the webbing between his right index and middle fingers when he hit his hand on a teammate’s helmet while following through on a pass. “Obviously, we get to work on our running game a little bit more,” said Tuberville, who has said he’ll use the rush more. “We need to do that anyway.”
CEO type Tuberville’s boss likes what he sees, calling him a “CEO-type coach.” “I’m really pleased with how he’s handled things and adjusted to a new situation,” Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers said. “He kind of has his hands on everything and knows what’s going on.” In 2000, Leach brought a high-octane aerial offense to Texas Tech that put up gaudy numbers. Tech’s starting quarterback led the nation in passing in all but two of Leach’s 10 seasons. One of those two instances came last fall, when Potts went out with a concussion and Sheffield broke his foot.
Playing two Though Tuberville says he’ll select his starter about two weeks before Tech’s opener against SMU on Sept. 5, he plans to play both quarterbacks
next season. “You hate to have a quarterback controversy, but when you have two seniors there’s no way around it,” Tuberville said. Sheffield threw for 1,219 yards and 14 touchdowns while appearing in six games last season. Potts had 3,440 yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 games. Tuberville said he knows he can take Tech to the next level. “It’s not our first rodeo. We’ve been to two other places and been successful,” he said. “
Past and future Tuberville was 85-40 at Auburn, including a 13-0 season in 2004 when the Tigers finished No. 2, won the SEC title for the first time in 15 years and Tuberville won the AP Coach of the Year award. Before going to Auburn, Tuberville coached at Mississippi and was 25-20 in four years. He also spent a year as defensive coordinator at Texas A&M, helping the Aggies finish 100-1 and rank among the nation’s defensive leaders. He inherits a program that went 9-4 last season and 84-43 under Leach. Tuberville understands he needs to prove to Tech fans he knows how to win. “It never is easy when you have changeover, but I like the potential here,” he said. “I think whatever we want to do here we can do.”
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Former Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen tried to show NFL teams Friday he is worth a firstround draft pick, though he’s still not 100 percent healthy three months after surgery to repair torn tendons in his right foot. Clausen didn’t run during the 30-minute throwing session attended by 16 of the 32 NFL teams. He completed 57 of 59 passes, overthrowing wide receiver Robby Parris on two long routes. His receivers also needed to make some nice catches on several other throws, with former Notre Dame running back James Aldridge twisting back to catch a short pass on his shoulder and former Irish receiver David Grimes speeding up to make a fingertip grab on a 50-yard pass. Clausen said he wanted to be able to show he could drive the ball. He said his toe feels fine, but the top of his ankle is weak after being in a boot for eight weeks. “I need to keep getting that stronger,” he said. Clausen played the final nine games this past season with two torn tendons in his right foot, which he said were misdiagnosed as turf toe. He said he has been told by doctors he should have had surgery the day after he was injured against Michigan State on Sept. 19 and sat out the rest of the season. Clausen ran for the first time on March 22, when he jogged two times around a track. He hopes to be 100 percent in about a month.
St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, whose team owns the first pick overall, wouldn’t give much away after watching the workout other than saying he was pleased with what he’s seen from Clausen, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy. “They’re all very impressive. I think we knew that going in,” he said. Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was more specific about what he thought about Clausen’s workout. “I thought he made some nice throws. He really did a good job for himself in terms of the types of balls that he threw. He threw some deep corner routes, he threw some comebacks, it gives you an opportunity to see how the ball comes out,” he said. Some rating services have Clausen as the No. 4 player overall, ahead of former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. Others believe Clausen might fall to later in the first round like former Irish quarterback Brady Quinn did in 2007, when he was taken with the 22nd pick by the Cleveland Browns. Clausen already has met with the Redskins and Browns and is scheduled to meet with the Bills and the Rams. Clausen also is scheduled to do a private workout with the Redskins next week. Since the surgery in early January, Clausen has prepared for the draft by lifting weights in California and throwing passes to a variety of receivers, including two former USC players, safety Taylor Mays and defensive end Everson Griffen.
Butler coach says rematch may be in the cards By MICHAEL MAROT ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — College basketball fans may get another chance to watch Duke and Butler. One day after signing a new 12-year contract with the Bulldogs, coach Brad Stevens mapped out his long-term vision for Butler basketball that includes bringing in more talent, upgrading the schedule and, yes, perhaps getting a regular-season rematch with the Blue Devils next season. “We have been approached about that but it all depends on the times and the dates,” Stevens said Friday. “I think very few people want to play Duke, but if you have to play Duke in the national championship, you’ll take it. Our hope is that this translates into more opportunities on neutral courts and getting home-andhomes, like Gonzaga.”
Taking advantage The 33-year-old coach has wasted no time in capitalizing on the Bulldogs’ national championship
run, which ended Monday night in a 61-59 loss to Duke. Stevens already has landed a pay raise and long-term job security at a program that has perhaps jumped ahead of Gonzaga and Xavier in the mid-major pecking order. He hit the recruiting trail Friday, an effort looking to bring even more talent to his already strong program, and now he wants to keep Butler in the spotlight. “I think this has been an elite program from a competitive standpoint for a long time,” Stevens said. “But we want to continue to promote Butler well and we have multiple opportunities to do that because of this run.”
Scheduling strong Stevens didn’t specify which teams, other than Duke, the Bulldogs would consider playing in future seasons. How much stronger can the schedule get? The Bulldogs won the 2007 NIT Preseason Tip-Off and faced a grueling stretch last fall that featured victories over Ohio
Lacking details
Photo by Michael Conroy | AP
Butler coach Brad Stevens talks about signing a new 12-year deal that extends through the 2021-22 season to coach the team he took the championship game of NCAA men’s basketball tournament during a news conference in Indianapolis on Friday. State, UCLA and Xavier and losses to Clemson, Minnesota and Georgetown. And how much more improvement can the Bulldogs make after losing the closest title game in two decades by a bounce? Some prep players may be persuaded to take a second look at the Bulldogs, who are coming off their first Final Four appearance and a school record
25-game winning streak. But Stevens insists the team he has, which could return four of five starters next season, is already good. “You know, if we get better recruits than the ones who almost won us a national championship, I’ll be surprised,” Stevens said, drawing laughter. “So our focus will be on getting the guys that can help Butler.”
Neither Stevens nor athletic director Barry Collier would discuss financial details of the deal, though it is presumed Stevens got a significant pay raise. Both also declined to get into details of the buyout clause. Collier, a former Butler player and coach, met with Stevens on Tuesday and had the deal done two days later. Collier said he believes the deal will ease any doubts recruits may have about Stevens leaving Butler, even though it is common to see deals broken in today’s college basketball world. “The only thing we can control is really what we’re doing today and preparing for tomorrow,” Collier said. “You know, I don’t expect to be in the same place a year from now that I am now. We all are seeking constant improvement as part of the Butler way, and we think this deal helps with that.”
Nagging question Butler still has one big question hanging around: Will sophomore forward
Gordon Hayward jump to the NBA instead of playing his final two years with the Bulldogs? Hayward said this week that he wanted to speak with his family before making a decision, and Stevens has offered to provide advice if the family wants it. The new contract also could play a role in Hayward’s decision. “I’m just glad all the eyes are going onto him now,” Stevens said. “I will support him 100 percent whatever he wants to do. I can’t put myself, and I don’t think any of us can, in those shoes. One thing about Gordon is that whatever he decides to do, there will be a lot of pressure on him to perform.” Just like Stevens will have now as he tries to implement his master plan for Butler. “I never really thought we’d have a press conference to announce you still have your job,” he joked. “But I’m thrilled with it. It’s flattering to be discussed (for other jobs), but often times, what you see in the media is speculation. What I wanted to happen is really what happened.”