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49TH DISTRICT COURT
Civil land trial sideshow Plaintiff’s attorney wants defense attorney out in hiring dispute By STEPHANIE IBARRA THE ZAPATA TIMES
On the eve of an impending jury selection, opposing counsel in a civil lawsuit out of Zapata County were in court Friday afternoon on a motion to disqualify the defense attorney. Plaintiff attorney Carlos Flores argued Friday that
defense attorney Elsamar Soto created a disqualifying issue after hiring Diana Ellington, a former employee of Flores’ legal firm, Kazen, Meurer & Perez, who was privy to pretrial preparation efforts. “She has our entire playbook, and she switched sides thirty days before trial,” said Flores of Ellington. Flores was also
seeking sanctions against Soto. According to Soto, Flores based his motion on assumptions and innuendo, failing to show actual prejudice. Soto told the court she had taken additional measures to make sure the content of the case would not be disclosed to Ellington by privatizing comput-
er system access of the court records. Flores maintained that in a small law firm of one, there would be no way to police conversations between Soto and Ellington, and any steps taken wouldn’t be enough. The disqualification of Soto would further delay the trial, already in its 10th continuance, as the
defense would need additional time to replace her, said Joe Lopez, 49th District Court judge. Plantiff Maria De Los Angels Bustamente, successor in interest to Jose Luis Bustamante, has alleged via a 21-page petition that J. Moss Investments and its holdings illegally operated an oil and gas waste disposal and truck
and tank washout business off their property. The Bustamante property had been leased out to J. Moss since Nov. 1999 under various provisions, including that J. Moss would operate commercial oil and gas water drilling fluid disposal pits and land treatment on the property
See HEARING PAGE 9A
BORDER
Sheriff speaks out on security By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photos by Danny Zaragoza | The Zapata Times
Simple decorations, such as the restaurant’s nickname printed on the curtains, add to the country atmosphere at God’s Kin restaurant. Owners Andrew and Lili Miller employ 17 workers at the restaurant that opened last month.
GIVING BACK Restaurant’s owners big on donating to charities By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Andrew and Lili Miller have always had hearts for giving back. The best way they knew how to do that was to put food in people’s stomachs.
See RESTAURANT PAGE 9A
Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr. testified Thursday before state officials that major problems could spark from issues occurring in border communities. At the Texas Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security public hearing in Austin, Gonzalez outlined security issues along the border, including narcotrafficking. But the concern is people coming across with the criminal element. Gonzalez said he does not want to see the child rapists and murderers, among other criminals, illegally entering the United States. He added that criminals involved with transnational gangs pose a threat to border communities. “We’re fortunate it is under control but the potential is there for major problems to occur,” Gonzalez said. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples also spoke during the hearing and added that there’s a critical need to secure the Texas-Mexico border to protect the communities from spillover drug cartel violence, according to a news release issued by his office. According to Staples’ written testimony, Texas farmers and ranchers along the border “are regularly becoming victims of intimidation, aggression and outright violence by armed trespassers that often have direct ties to Mexico’s drug cartels.” Staples testified that there had been at least 10 incidents he de-
The restaurant offers a Southern cuisine not often seen in South Texas, such as fried green tomatoes. See BORDER PAGE 9A
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, APRIL 14
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday academies will be held at Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School for 3rd grade math and reading, 4th grade math and reading and 5th grade science. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s 2012 Rock the Cure is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. today at Texas A&M International University. Douglas Gonzalez, H-E-B’s director of retail operation for the Southwest, is the 2012 walk chair, and he will be joined by some very special family team chairs and walk ambassadors: local kids who have type 1 diabetes. People can register on their own, as a team at www.walk.jdrf.org or in the TAMIU Student Center the day of the walk. For more information, call Letty Garcia at 712-2900.
Today is Saturday, April 14, the 105th day of 2012. There are 261 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On April 14, 1912, the British liner RMS Titanic collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic at 11:40 p.m. ship’s time and began sinking. (The ship went under two hours and 40 minutes later with the loss of 1,514 lives.) On this date: In 1775, the first American society for the abolition of slavery was formed in Philadelphia. In 1828, the first edition of Noah Webster’s “American Dictionary of the English Language” was published. In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth during a performance of “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theater in Washington. In 1902, James Cash Penney opened his first store, The Golden Rule, in Kemmerer, Wyo. In 1910, President William Howard Taft became the first U.S. chief executive to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game as the Washington Senators beat the Philadelphia Athletics 3-0. In 1931, King Alfonso XIII of Spain went into exile, and the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. In 1939, the John Steinbeck novel “The Grapes of Wrath” was first published by Viking Press. In 1949, the “Wilhelmstrasse Trial” in Nuremberg ended with 19 former Nazi Foreign Office officials sentenced by an American tribunal to prison terms ranging from four to 25 years. In 1956, Ampex Corp. demonstrated its videotape recorder at the National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters Convention in Chicago. In 1960, the musical “Bye Bye Birdie” opened on Broadway. In 1981, the first test flight of America’s first operational space shuttle, the Columbia, ended successfully with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. In 1986, Americans got word of a U.S. air raid on Libya (because of the time difference, it was the early morning of April 15 where the attack occurred.) French feminist author Simone de Beauvoir died in Paris at age 78. Ten years ago: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned to office two days after being ousted and arrested by his country’s military. Tiger Woods became only the third player to win back-to-back Masters titles; he closed with a 1-under 71 to claim a threestroke victory over Retief Goosen. Today’s Birthdays: Country singer Loretta Lynn is 80. Actress Julie Christie is 72. Retired MLB All-Star Pete Rose is 71. Actress Catherine Dent is 47. Retired MLB AllStar Greg Maddux is 46. Actor Adrien Brody is 39. Classical singer David Miller is 39. Actor Antwon Tanner is 37. Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar is 35. Actor-producer Rob McElhenney is 35. Actor Christian Alexander is 22. Actor Nick Krause (Film: “The Descendants”) is 20. Actress Vivien Cardone is 19. Actress Abigail Breslin is 16. Thought for Today: “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” — C.S. Lewis, Irishborn author (1898-1963).
SUNDAY, APRIL 15 The 4th annual Falcon Lake Tackle-Bass Blast takes place from 7 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Call 956-7654866 for more information. SCAN Inc.’s 10th annual Children’s Play Day is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Laredo Civic Center Ballroom and grounds, 2400 San Bernardo Ave. All children and their families are invited. There will be free games, entertainment, prizes and food. For more information, call Veronica Jimenez or Silvia Vega at the SCAN office at 724-3177.
THURSDAY, APRIL 19 Power of the Purse is at 6 p.m. today at La Posada Hotel, 1000 Zaragoza St. It will feature a silent and live auction of purses of every size and style at a cocktail reception to benefit the Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas. Funds raised will support local outreach in Laredo schools. Tickets are $75 each, and sponsorships are available. The council invites all former Girl Scouts to participate. Call Norma at 723-7251 for more information.
SATURDAY, APRIL 21 Saturday academies will be held at Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School for 3rd grade math and reading, 4th grade math and reading and 5th grade science. The March of Dimes March for Babies is from 8 a.m. to noon today. Begun in 1970, it has raised $2 billion to benefit all babies. To register a family or company team, visit http:// www.marchforbabies.org/.
TUESDAY, APRIL 24 STAAR testing for 3rd- and 4thgrade math will take place at all Zapata County ISD elementary schools. The trustees of the Zapata County Independent School District will meet a 6 p.m. at the Professional Development Center, 702 E. 1770.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25 STAAR testing for 3rd- and 4thgrade reading will take place at all Zapata County ISD elementary schools.
THURSDAY, APRIL 26 STAAR testing for 5th-grade science will take place at all Zapata County ISD elementary schools.
SATURDAY, APRIL 28 The National Drug Take Back event is today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at United Middle School, 700 Del Mar Blvd.; Ryan Elementary, 2401 Clark Blvd.; and Texas A&M International University at the Student Center, 5201 University Blvd. The DEA, Webb County Community Coalition of SCAN and other partner organizations will accept unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs and over-the-counter medication for safe disposal, no questions asked. For more information, call 956-7243177.
MONDAY, MAY 14 The Zapata County Commissioners Court will meet at 9 a.m. at the Zapata County Courthouse.
SATURDAY, MAY 19 The Bass Champs tournament takes place from 7 a.m. through 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 30 This is the first day of the Hall of Fame Big Bass Tournament and Cook-off. For more information, call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at 956-765-4871. 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.
Photo by Michael Paulsen/Houston Chronicle | AP
In this April 11 photo, David Adickes stands in front of his paintings at the old Huntsville High School, which was converted into the Adickes Art Foundation Art Museum, in Huntsville. Later this month, he will host a private reception to open the refurbished, 80,000-square-foot school as a gallery for more than 300 paintings and an undetermined number of statues.
New life for old school By ALLAN TURNER HOUSTON CHRONICLE
HUNTSVILLE — It’s been 70 years since David Adickes danced the jitterbug in the old Huntsville High School gym. Now, at age 85, he pauses at a flight of schoolhouse stairs, uncertain if his knees can stand the climb. Still, there’s a rare bond between Adickes — the Houston artist who has charmed and shocked with his giant concrete statues — and this 1931-vintage temple of learning. Only four years ago, the long-vacant brick building with a leaky roof and cracked walls seemed destined for demolition. Then Adickes, looking for a suitable showcase for a lifetime of paintings and sculptures, learned of its plight and made an offer. Later this month, he will host a private reception to open the refurbished, 80,000-
square-foot school as a gallery for more than 300 paintings and undetermined number of statues. Initially, the site will be open to curators hunting works for museum exhibits. Eventually, the Huntsville native hopes to open the school as a museum of his work. “‘If not now, when?,’ to quote Jack Kennedy,” Adickes said. “I’ve always wanted to do this. I think every artist is concerned about what’s going to happen to his work when he’s gone. Permanence always has had a great value to me.” As a private gallery or a museum, Adickes’ installation will be a welcome addition to Huntsville’s Cultural Arts District, said city arts coordinator Linda Pease. The new gallery will replace Adickes’ studio in a sprawling Houston Heights-area paint warehouse. The artist plans to spend three days a week at the new site.
2 accused of kidnapping plead not guilty
Man gets 99 years for wounding Texas trooper
Corpus Christi childhood home of Fawcett for sale
SAN AUGUSTINE — Two women accused of abducting a Houston boy in 2004 when he was just 8 months old have pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping and injury to a child. Krystle Tanner and Gloria Walker made their first court appearances on Friday before a judge in San Augustine. Tanner and Walker are accused of taking Miguel Morin, now 8 years old, from his Houston apartment complex.
ODESSA — A Kentucky man convicted of shooting a Texas trooper during a drug-related traffic stop has been sentenced to 99 years in prison. A jury in Odessa on Thursday sentenced Marcus Christopher Lott Jr. of Radcliff, Ky. Lott was convicted of attempted capital murder of a peace officer over last May’s wounding of DPS Trooper Max Honesto.
CORPUS CHRISTI — A South Texas house where actress Farrah Fawcett lived as a teenager has been put on the market for $215,000. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Corpus Christi was built in 1962. The family moved in when the Corpus Christi native and future actress was in high school. Her parents owned the house until 1966.
TABC administrator leaving for horse group AUSTIN — The administrator of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is resigning to become executive director of the National Cutting Horse Association. Alan Steen said Friday he will leave the agency June 1 to head the organization based in Fort Worth.
Galveston endorses beach erosion response plan GALVESTON — A Southeast Texas city pounded by Hurricane Ike in 2008 has endorsed an erosion plan that sets construction limits on the beach front. The plan approved Thursday by the Galveston City Council now faces state review. The Texas General Land Office in August notified Galveston that the current plan does not meet state minimum standards.
South Texas man gets 25 years for abusing children HONDO — A South Texas man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for abusing children under his wife’s care at their home. Prosecutors in Hondo say the spouse of 66-year-old Agapito Contreras apparently was not aware of the abuse at her unlicensed day care facility. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION Stocks fall on higher European borrowing costs It was another losing week on Wall Street after worries about Europe returned. Stocks closed lower on Friday and closed out their worst week of the year so far. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 1.6 percent for the week, the Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 2 percent. The Dow is still ahead 5 percent for the year after a gangbusters first quarter.
Vegas priest arrives at Texas federal prison LAS VEGAS — A Roman Catholic priest from Las Vegas surrendered Friday at a prison in Texas to serve his sentence for siphoning $650,000 from his northwest Las Vegas parish to support a video poker and casino gambling habit. Monsignor Kevin McAuliffe, 59, turned himself in at the La
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In this March 15 photo, Gov. Peter Shumlin, right, holds a news conference in Montpelier, Vt. Shumlin said Friday he was chased and nearly caught by four bears raiding birdfeeders in the backyard of his Montpelier home late Wednesday. Tuna correctional institution in Anthony, said Bureau of Prisons spokesman Edmond Ross in Washington, D.C. McAuliffe was sentenced in January to three years and one month in prison, plus three years of supervised release and
$650,000 in restitution after pleading guilty in October to three federal mail fraud charges. He admitted falsifying financial documents sent in 2008, 2009 and 2010 to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in San Francisco. — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
Local
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
Villarreal Elementary honors two SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Courtesy photo
Villarreal Elementary School officials named Raquel Juarez as Teacher of the Year, and Margarita G. Villarreal as Instructional Aide of the Year.
Roma man gets 36 months for weapons export By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A Roma man accused of transporting ammunition and tactical equipment to San Ygnacio to later export into Mexico was sentenced to federal prison this week. Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa sentenced Enrique Gustavo Gonzalez to 36 months imprisonment followed by a two-year-term of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday. Court records state Gonzalez pled guilty Sept. 8, 2010, to attempting to unlawfully export munitions. Roma police officers stopped a gold 2001 Ford Focus at 5:30 a.m. June 14, 2010, for not having a license plate light. The driver first identified himself as Enrique Montalvo, a criminal complaint states.
Weapons, more After a vehicle inspection, officers found two Remington .30-06 caliber rifles, two night vision rifle scopes, two pairs of night vision goggles, three standard rifle scopes, two infrared laser sights, one laser bore sighting kit and
7,260 rounds of ammunition. At the police department, officers learned the man’s true identity was Enrique Gustavo Gonzalez, a naturalized U.S. citizen and Roma resident. Officers requested assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations agents.
$500 payment Gonzalez told federal authorities he was going to get paid $500 to deliver the ammo, equipment and weapons to an abandoned house in San Ygnacio, a criminal complaint states. “Gonzalez stated he was to turn the items over to unidentified subjects from Mexico waiting in the brush near the abandoned house. Gonzalez stated the unidentified subjects would then facilitate the movement of the items to (Mexico),” court records allege. Gonzalez remains in federal custody, pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Raquel V. Juarez was named Teacher of the Year at Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School. She is a life-long resident of Zapata who graduated from Zapata High School in 1992. Juarez graduated from
Texas A&M International University in Laredo in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Juarez has been teaching for 14 years at ZCISD. She is married to Martin Juarez and has three children, Martin Juarez Jr.,
Marco A. Juarez, and Raqeul A. Juarez. Her hobby is spending time with her family. The Instructional Aide of the Year at Villarreal Elementary is Margarita G. Villarreal, a Zapata High School graduate, who has been working for the dis-
trict 22 years. She is married to Severo Villarreal Jr. She has three children, including Claudia, the late Severo III and Xavier. She has four grandchildren, Aly, Brianna, Brandon and Emma. Her hobby is spending time with her family.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
GOP must stay focused on goals By JONATHAN GURWITZ SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
Now that Rick Santorum, the last plausible alternative to Mitt Romney in the GOP presidential contest, has suspended his campaign, it’s worth recalling what another non-Romney Republican had to say about the 2012 election — Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. Daniels turned his state’s deficit into a surplus — during the recession. While the nation’s credit rating was downgraded for the first time, the Hoosier state earned its first-ever AAA bond rating from Standard & Poor’s under his leadership — again, during the recession. Throughout much of 2011, Daniels had the potential to enter the race for the Republican nomination as a serious contender. Despite his decision not to do so, he remains immensely popular in conservative circles. Republican leaders selected him to deliver the GOP response to President Obama’s State of the Union address in 2012. It was what Daniels said back in 2010, however, that Republicans need to take to heart. In an interview with the Weekly Standard’s Andrew Ferguson, Daniels said that because the debt crisis and the economic challenges facing the United States are so dire, the next — presumably Republican — president “would have to call a truce on the so-called social issues.” “If there were a WMD attack, death would come to straights and gays, prolife and pro-choice,” he subsequently told columnist Michael Gerson. “If the country goes broke, it would ruin the American dream for everyone. We are in this together.” Mind you, Daniels is staunchly pro-life. Last year, he signed into law a measure that cut off taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood. And he’s not arguing that social issues or any others on the conservative agenda should be forgotten. Instead, he’s acknowledging a sobering fact: With the stakes for the nation’s future so high and in a campaign against a skilled and wellfinanced incumbent president who has already demonstrated his willing-
ness to engage in a cynical campaign of division and fear, Republicans cannot afford to allow any issue to distract attention from the growing threat to American economic and national security posed by endless government spending and out-ofcontrol debt. Rather than being a prescription for 2012, Daniels might easily have been providing a description of the Tea Party movement in 2010. Then, social conservatives, national security conservatives and economic conservatives worked together to create an agenda based on fiscal responsibly and government accountability that attracted independent voters and delivered a historic midterm loss to Democrats and the Obama White House. Their unifying theme was a common recognition that the so-called stimulus, Obamacare, trillion-dollar deficits and a complete abdication of responsibility on tax, spending and entitlement reform had put the United States on a course that significantly diverged from its limited-government past and was unsustainable in the future. With a Democratic-controlled Senate that hasn’t passed a budget in three years, and after the Solyndra scandal and a new Obama budget that would add $9.5 trillion in debt over the next decade, this theme is just as compelling in 2012. Conservative critics have assailed Daniels’ call for a truce, claiming that even a tactical retreat amounts to a unilateral surrender in the nation’s culture wars. But conservatives who are less than enthused with the prospect of Mitt Romney as their standard-bearer should consider that their issues will be of little consequence if the 2012 election passes without the nation having come to terms with the mortal threat posed by runaway debt and the unconstrained growth of government. “Purity in martyrdom is for suicide bombers,” Daniels told the Conservative Political Action Conference last year. “I, for one, have no interest in standing in the wreckage of our Republic saying, ‘I told you so.’” (Email: jgurwitz@express-news.net)
COLUMN
Race takes controversial turn By KEN HERMAN COX NEWSPAPERS
AUSTIN — If you know much about the state’s 3rd Court of Appeals, you’re probably on it or have a case pending before it. A seat on this obscure, but important, court might be the most pivotal state post a Democrat can win in Texas these days. The six-member court has two Dems. Four justices (three R’s and a D) are seeking re-election this year. As one of Texas’ 14 regional, intermediate appellate courts, the Austinbased 3rd has jurisdiction in 24 counties, including Travis, Hays and Williamson. It’s important because it handles big-deal cases involving state government. You elect its justices, though you know little to nothing about the court or candidates. Outcomes depend heavily on what goes on elsewhere on the ballot. Fine way to run a justice system, isn’t it? All of this is prelude to a look at GOP Justice Bob Pemberton’s attempt to get his only Democratic challenger disqualified. Pemberton is unopposed in the May 29 GOP primary. Ditto for Austin lawyer Bryan Case on the Democratic side. At issue here is a nearthe-deadline switcheroo that led to the crossing out of one Democratic candidate’s name and the insertion of another name on the petitions that got Case
on his party’s ballot. Case, initially running for a district court seat, said he opted for the appeals court race the evening before the March 9 deadline when Olga Seelig, who was considering the race, deferred to him.
In and out Political consultant Glen Maxey told me he had printed Seelig petition forms and had planned to gather signatures for her March 9 at Texas AFL-CIO headquarters. But the night before, at about 11 p.m., Maxey was told Seelig was out and Case was in. ”So I started crossing out Olga Seelig’s name and getting Bryan Case’s name on,” Maxey said, acknowledging it as ”not the cleanest way ever” to do it. The crossed-out name raises the possibility signatures were affixed while Seelig’s name still was listed. Any such signatures would be void because state law requires the petition language to be read aloud to signers pre-signature. Maxey said the change was made before getting signatures for Case, save for a “couple of husband and wife situations” in which folks had printed and signed forms with Seelig’s name on them. Austin lawyer Robert Meisel and wife Carol did that. He said his wife was told about the change
when she dropped off the signed form. The change, Meisel said, was OK with them. But those signatures may be invalid because the candidate name change was made post-signature. Maxey said that happened in so few cases that, even if you disqualify those, Case had more than the required 250 signatures. However, of the 445 signatures Case submitted, only 182 were on forms that did not initially bear Seelig’s name. Pemberton filed a challenge with Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie, who, by law, is the initial arbiter of such matters. Party spokeswoman Rebecca Acuna said Richie OK’d the petitions “because the person who collected them swears the (candidate) name was changed before” the signatures were collected. Pemberton now can challenge in state district court, but I’m told he won’t. The matter, however, is not dead, merely morphed into an allegation of criminal conduct by Maxey. And it’s now in a decidedly GOP forum.
Filing with the state James R. Clements of Kyle, who would tell me only that he is a retiree, filed a complaint against Maxey with Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade, an appointee of GOP Gov.
Rick Perry. (It may or may not be relevant that Maxey is the author of ”Head Figure Head. The Search for the Hidden Life of Rick Perry.” It’s not a flattering look at the man who appointed the woman who now will decide whether to refer the case to GOP Attorney General Greg Abbott for possible action.) Clements’ complaint says Maxey made false entries or alterations on the petitions, including signatures gathered “prior to Mr. Case even becoming a candidate.” Clements notes a page, with Seelig’s name crossed out and Case’s written in, that includes 10 signatures dated March 7. Maxey and Case told me the candidate switch was not made until late on March 8. Maxey, not having seen the complaint, declined to discuss it. ”I stepped forward to assist a candidate to qualify for ballot status for the primary election who had to collect 250 valid signatures in a single day before the deadline for filing,” he said in an email, adding, ”I do not believe I violated the law in any manner.” FYI, the Pemberton campaign says it has nothing to do with Clements’ complaint. I guess he just could be a guy who enjoys reviewing petitions. Everybody needs a hobby. (E-mail: kherman@statesman.com.)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
Opportunities in Myanmar MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
The Obama administration has eased sanctions on Myanmar following its recent elections. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has urged lifting all sanctions, but Washington should not proceed in haste. The military still holds the whip hand — along with the vast majority of seats in Parliament, despite gains that gave the opposition most of the seats filled in the April 1 election. One of the winners was opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Washington has eased some restrictions on travel to the United States by Myanmar’s senior leaders and lifted a few economic sanctions. Washington will allow the opening of an American aid office. The change is welcome and deserves encouragement. Eliminating the entire menu of sanctions, notably those on trade in the military-dominated timber and gem industries, will require congressional approval. But there’s little reason to rush. The sanction-rollback process should proceed only so long as the government remains on the path of reform.
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readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the letter. The Zapata Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms. Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-call-
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.
Area
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
Old medication target of collection By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Courtesy photo
A session of radKIDS can include teaching children how to defend themselves when attacked.
Program teaches kids ways to protect selves By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
When Sylvia Bruni heard Stephen Daley’s presentation at a children’s advocacy conference in August, she knew she had to bring his plan to Laredo. Daley’s presentation broke down the plan developed by radKIDS — an organization based in South Dennis, Mass. that takes a new approach to protecting children. “He laid out a plan that was very smart, very well thought-out and researched curriculum-wise,” said Bruni, executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Laredo. The challenge Bruni then faced was in securing $80,000 in funding. With budget cuts taking place in many public school districts looking to cut costs in a moneyparched economy, she knew she would have to take that portion into her own hands. Because the project would encompass two age groups in each Laredo school district, she would need two programs per district. Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz funded two of the four programs. Sheriff Martin Cuellar funded one of the remaining two. She received the rest of the funds from various donors. In October, Bruni called for a meeting with both the school districts. Both superintendents attended, as well as the principals and counselors from each. She
said more than 300 people attended the meeting in which Daley delivered a presentation about the program. In November, the organization began training select faculty members to become radKIDS coaches. By February, more than 100 coaches had been trained, Bruni said.
The program The program is activity-based and seeks to teach children how to protect themselves when confronted with danger. Among the things radKIDS aims to prevent are abduction, bullying, child abuse and neglect, as well as sexual assault, according to a document it published. According to its website, 250,000 children have been trained in the program. More than 4,000 instructors of the program are based in 46 states and Canada. That radKIDS shows rather than tells children how to react in case of abuse departs from what the Children’s Advocacy Center of Laredo has done in the last three years, Bruni said. The center has spoken to approximately 22,000 teachers and 33,000 children in that time span, but radKIDS represents the next step of outreach for Bruni’s organization, she said. (JJ Velasquez may be reached at 7282567 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)
Abuse of prescribed and over-the-counter medication can lead to accidental poisoning or death, a DEA agent said Monday. Mindful of the harm, local and federal authorities teamed up Monday morning at Laredo City Hall to announce the National Drug Take Back Initiative, an effort that provides the public safe disposal of unwanted and expired medication. One collection booth will be set up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at the Zapata County Courthouse. Coalition officials hope to collect more than the 65 pounds collected in October. Mel Rodriguez, an assistant special agent in charge with DEA, said nationwide figures show that prescription drug abuse is second only to marijuana use. “DEA is wanting to provide a way of disposing of (medication) because not only is it bad for people, it’s also bad for the environment,” Rodriguez said. “Flushing (the medication) down the toilet where it
can get into the water supply is not an option.” In a phone interview, Nina Gutierrez, program coordinator of Zapata County Community Coalition, said abuse of prescribed medication is one of the concerns in the community, along with the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. Though prescribed medication abuse is prevalent, coalition officials do their best to combat the problem. On April 28, Zapatans have an opportunity to properly dispose of unwanted, expired medication, no questions asked. County residents are encouraged to bring to the event prescribed and overthe-counter medication, syringes and liquids. In Laredo, Melissa Belmares-Cavazos, program director of Webb County Community Coalition, said the initiative creates awareness about young people misusing over-thecounter medication. “We do have a problem in our community,” she said. “The kids are experimenting with it, having ‘pharm’ parties, Skittle parties. “They take any type of pill — no matter
what it is, whether it’s codeine, Xanax — and they down it with alcohol.” The Drug Information Online website states Xanax is used to “treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders and anxiety caused by depression.” Codeine belongs to a group of drugs called narcotic pain medicines. It is used to treat mild to moderately severe pain, the website states. “Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with a narcotic pain medicine,” according to Drug Information Online. Gutierrez said the Zapata youth is not immune to these problems. To prevent over-the-counter drug abuse, coalition officials in Zapata want to work on a county environmental policy that would require people picking up prescribed medication to show identification. But battling the problem requires a team effort. “We need the help of the parents and the kids who aren’t afraid to speak up,” Gutierrez said. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Author to discuss book SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Texas A&M International University will host a book signing for Laredo native María Hilda Piñon, author of “The Willows of Corona,” on Tuesday, April 24, from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Helen Richter Watson Gallery, inside the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library. Piñon, whose educa-
tional background is in nursing, spiritual direction, life coaching and psychology, has been involved in ministerial programs for the past 35 years, as well as producing programming for the national television station EWTN. She holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology. She shared the focus of her novel, set in South
Texas. “‘The Willows of Corona’ is, at its core, a novel dealing with the complex structures of subjects such as love, relationships, and the perseverance of the human heart. It takes place in South Texas, and has both a heartbreaking and uplifting narrative that embodies the full spectrum of human experience,” she explained.
6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Chief honored with County joins Webb candlelight vigil in healthcare deal By JAY LINDSAY AND MICHAEL RUBINKAM
By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
ASSOCIATED PRESS
GREENLAND, N.H. — Michael Maloney was only a few days from retirement as chief of a small-town New Hampshire police department. After more than a quarter-century in law enforcement, he was eager to begin the next chapter of his life. But there was one more thing he had to do. One final drug bust that would rid a neighborhood of its menace. Maloney was trying to serve a search warrant Thursday night when a suspect opened fire, killing the 48-year-old chief, injuring four officers from other departments, and plunging the southeastern New Hampshire community of Greenland into a grief that residents say they won’t soon get over. After a tense overnight standoff, the suspected gunman, Cullen Mutrie, and a female acquaintance were found dead in the home early Friday in an apparent murder-suicide or double suicide. The chief ’s death rocked a seven-member force more accustomed to reports of burglar alarms and barking dogs than violent crime. Maloney was liked, respected and less than two weeks from retirement. “In those final days, he sacrificed his life in public service,” said Attorney General Michael Delaney. Maloney had 26 years of experience in law enforcement, the last 12 as chief of the Greenland department. He was a comforting presence in the coastal town of about 3,500. Maloney seemed to be everywhere, working traffic details, keeping watch over band concerts at the park, always ready to listen to residents’ concerns. “Everybody knew him because he knew everybody,” said Cynthia Smith, 73. Maloney had an especially good rapport with teens and children. He once let a beginning driver off the
Photo by Jim Cole | AP
Area residents gather at the Town Hall on Friday in Greenland, N.H., for a candlelight vigil to honor slain Police Chief Michael Maloney. Maloney was trying to serve a search warrant Thursday night when a suspect opened fire, killing the 48-year-old chief. hook with a warning instead of a ticket, recalled longtime resident Jane Gouzoules, 71. And when Stacie Gregg’s two sons were young and refused to stay buckled in their car seats, she drove them to the police station, where Maloney intervened in his typically low-key way. “He showed them around the cars and he showed them the lights and he sat them up on one of the motorcycles. Just so that they’d feel comfortable and respect him, but not intimidate them,” Gregg recalled. “And they listened. He was that kind of guy. He was genuine.” Yet Maloney was also ready for something different. He said he planned to take a month off before launching a new career. “I have nine more working days left,” Maloney told a Board of Selectmen meeting Monday night, “and I have one more item I’m going to clear up.” The hulking, 6-foot-2, 260pound Mutrie lived along a busy street near Interstate 95 and had long been a thorn in the neighborhood’s side. Anabolic steroids were once found in his home after he was arrested on domestic assault charges and officers entered to confiscate guns, The Portsmouth
Herald reported last year. Next-door neighbor Lee Miller said she had complained to police repeatedly about suspected drug activity at the house — and was told it was under investigation. Maloney and the four other officers, all detectives from other departments, were part of a drug task force run by the state attorney general’s office. They arrived at Mutrie’s house at 6 p.m. Thursday, search warrant in hand. Mutrie was ready, authorities said, opening fire as police tried to gain entry. Across the street, neighbor Michael Gordon’s family was just cleaning up from dinner when he heard a loud popping sound. He thought one of his young sons was banging on the dining room window and went to tell him to stop. “I looked out the window and saw the shootout had already begun,” Gordon said. “My first thought was it was a bunch of fools playing paintball in the middle of the day.” Police Sgt. Dawn Sawyer, who was one of the seven members of the force and worked with Maloney for 19 years, thanked the community for its support and noted the six were “here for all of you, just as much as you are here for us.”
The county joined a healthcare partnership with Webb County on Tuesday that will aim to prevent illness before it brings people to the emergency room. Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding at Tuesday’s meeting to form the partnership, anchored by Webb County. “Of course, having strong ties with Zapata, it was natural for us to extend our hand to Zapata,” Webb County Commissioner Jerry Garza said. Garza sits on the regional health planning board. Jim Hogg County signed last week to become the first outlying area to join the regional alliance. Webb County will extend invitations to Maverick, Dimmit, La Salle, Frio and Zavala counties. The reimbursement-based program would allow participating counties to receive $1.50 for every dollar they put in. Some of that money will be funneled to preventive initiatives as part of a statewide effort to reduce dollars lost because of uncompensated emergency room care. The other portion of that money will go directly toward mitigating the costs of uncompensated care. Counties that don’t participate aren’t eligible to receive matching funds from the state for providing uncompensated care, said Frank Salinas, director of Webb County Indigent Health Care Services. **When the partnership is formed, Garza said representatives from each county will meet to determine what types of preventive care should be provided. For instance, if the partners decide diabetes is a disease they would like to target, they can supply services to prevent diabetes. Funds cannot be used for construction, Garza said.** The State Health and Human Services Department hasn’t set the guidelines for the program yet, but Webb County was given a June 1 deadline to partner up with counties in the region. According to Garza, the program is slated to kick in Oct. 1. “Counties still don’t know entirely what we’re getting into,” he said. “But (State Health and Human Services) is
giving us good guidelines, and we have got a good road map to follow.” The court will appoint a representative from the county to the regional health planning board.
Cemetery improvements The court voted to pave a road at the county cemetery. The project to create an asphalt road, beginning at the main entrance to the end of the boulevard, will cost no more than $20,000, according to Commissioner Jose E. Vela. That money will be taken out of a fund that was started in the 1970s specifically for cemetery improvements. Through payments of $150 for each cemetery plat, the county has accumulated $50,000 in funds. Vela requested the item in response to complaints from cemetery visitors who say that the roads become muddy when it rains. Vela also proposed section markers so that visitors could find burial sites more easily. But those weren’t listed on the agenda, so the court decided to table them for another meeting. “We have enough money here to cover for that,” said Commissioner Eddie Martinez. “But the item just says paving.” In other county business, the court decided: To hold a public hearing to determine hours of operation for the new boat ramp park. To table for next meeting an action item calling for the replacement of the courthouse’s phone system. A county computer technician says the current system is outdated. To hire a contractor to remove 300 feet of broken pipe, which will cost $4,500. The water pipe is on county property near the county water plant on Kennedy Street. To waive fees for Gateway Community Health Center to use county facilities for the Zapata Health Fun Fest. The event will be held Aug. 18 in the Zapata Community Center. To cover tournament expenses for the San Antonio Metro League of Bass Clubs Fishing Tournament. Those expenses amount to $8,000. (JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2567 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)
Zfrontera
DE 2012
Agenda en Breve LAREDO 04/14 — Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU invita a disfrutar ‘Jurassic Park’ a las 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. y 8 p.m. Costo general: 3 dólares. También habrá una exhibición de dinosaurios, incluyendo plática con el experto del tema, Paleo Paul, a las 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. y 7 p.m. Costo: 3 dólares. 04/15 — SCAN Inc.’s celebra el 10mo Día de Juego para Niños de 1 p.m. a 5 p.m. en el Salón de Baile y terreno de Laredo Civic Center, 2400 avenida San Bernardo. Habrá juegos gratuitos, entretenimiento, premios y comida. Abierto a toda la familia. 04/15 — El pianista Anthony Tobin presentará su repertorio en la Serie Steinway de TAMIU, de 3 p.m. a 5 p.m. en el Center for the Fine & Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. Entrada gratuita. 04/17 — El Festival de Jazz 2012 será a las 7:30 p.m. en el Recital Hall del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU, con la participación de grupos de jazz de ambos distritos escolares y TAMIU. Evento gratuito. 04/18 — Apoye a Johnny Peña, en su Senior Recital, a las 7 p.m. en el Recital Hall del Center for Fine & Performing Arts de TAMIU. Evento gratuito. 04/19 — Concierto de piano con Bianca Chou a las 2:30 p.m. en el Recital Hall del Center for Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Evento gratuito. 04/19 — “Power of the Purse” es a las 6 p.m. en La Posada Hotel, 1000 calle Zaragoza. Será una subasta silenciosa y en vivo de bolsas de mano de diferentes tamaños y estilos durante una recepción para benenficar al Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas. Costo: 75 dólares por boleto. 04/20 — Hoy a las 5:30 p.m. es la fecha límite para nominar a alguien al Premio de Campanas Escolares, destinado a educadores que sean modelos a seguir dentro y fuera del aula. Obtenga su solicitud en el sitio de internet de Laredo Chamber of Commerce, seleccionando “Chamber Events” y posteriormente “School Bell Awards”. 04/20 — Las estaciones de radio Z-93 y Big Buck Country, de Guerra Communications, invitan al Segundo Radiotón Anual para beneficiar a niños de Laredo y Sur de Texas que llegan a ser trasladados al CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital. El evento será de 9 a.m. a 7 p.m. 04/20 — ‘Cri-Cri: El Grillito Cantor’ se presentará en el Recital Hall del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU alas 7 p.m. Costo: 5 dólares. Niños de 10 años y menores entran gratis.
NUEVO LAREDO 04/14 — Estación Palabra presenta: “Bazar de Arte” a las 12 p.m.; Lecturas antes de Abordar “Bram Stroker y el vampirismo” a la 1 p.m.; y festival infantil “Maratón de cine infantil: El mago de Oz, El Principito, Willy Wonka y la Fábrica de Chocolate”, a partir de las 2 p.m. Entrada gratuita. 04/14 — Museo para niños: Estegosaurios y Pterodáctilo a las 4 p.m. en la Sala de Servicios Educativos del Centro Cultural. Entrada gratuita. 04/17 — Grupo de Teatro Expresión del ITNL presenta la comedia “Cero IVÁN Tres” en el caso Torreblanca, a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro del IMSS. Donación: 20 pesos. — Tiempo de Zapata
Distribuyen recaudaciones TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
AUSTIN — Las recaudaciones más grandes en las rentas de los impuestos sobre las ventas siguieron siendo, durante abril, en los sectores del petróleo y el gas natural. “Las últimas cifras de rentas de los impuestos sobre las ventas marcan una continuación de las tendencias recientes que hemos visto en los recibos de impuestos de ventas,” dijo la Contralora de Texas Susan Combs. “Colecciones fuertes continuaron en los sectores del petróleo y el gas natural, mientras que el crecimiento de los ingresos del sector al por menor y restaurantes también se aceleró”. El anuncio de Combs fue hecho a través de un comunicado de prensa sobre las rentas de los impuestos sobre las ventas que en marzo sumaron a 1.87 mil
millones de dólares. “(Es) un aumento del 16.9 por ciento comparado a marzo de 2011”, aclara Combs en el COMBS comunicado. La Contraloría de Texas enviará un monto total de 488.7 millones de dólares en distribuciones por los impuestos sobre las ventas de abril a las ciudades, condados, sistemas de tránsito y distritos imponibles de propósito especial, con un aumento de 17 por ciento comparado a abril de 2011. Al comparar el presente mes del 2011 con el 2012, se observa un alza general en distribuciones. Por ejemplo, para las ciudad irán 321.8 millones de dólares, que comparado con el año pasado es un aumento del 15.1%; pa-
ra los condados se destinarán 32.8 millones, que en comparación es aumento del 22.8%; 110.1 millones de dólares se destinarán a los sistemas de tránsito, un aumento del 15% comparado con el 2011; y un total de 24.1 millones de dólares serán para distritos imponibles de propósitos especial, lo que representa un aumento del 35.6% en comparación con el 2011. En el caso de Laredo, este mes recibirá 2, 843,196.01 dólares; en el 2011 recibió 2, 515,516.91 dólares. Las cifras de los impuestos sobre las ventas representan las ventas ocurridas en febrero. Para detalles acerca de los pagos de los impuestos sobre las ventas en abril a ciudades, condados, sistemas de tránsito y distritos de propósito especial individuales, visite http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo
Foto por Tony Gutiérrez | Associated Press
María Harris llena su tanque de gasolina en una estación Chevron, a finales de marzo, en Richardson. Así como en todo Texas, el precio por galón de gasolina ha alcanzado el precio de 3.90 dólares por galón.
SUBE Y BAJA Sigue en alza costo de gasolina en EU POR CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER ASSOCIATED PRESS
W
ASHINGTON — Los precios de la gasolina volvieron a subir en marzo, aunque con menos fuerza, lo que mantuvo la inflación en Estados Unidos en una tónica generalmente manejable, según las autoridades. El índice de precios al consumidor aumentó en marzo un 0,3%, informó el viernes el Departamento del Trabajo, frente al 0,4% en febrero. Con la exclusión de la energía y los alimentos, bienes de utilización masiva, la llamada inflación subyacente aumentó en marzo un 0,2%.
Inflación La inflación ha disminuido y las autoridades confían en que seguirá siendo baja, tras alcanzar el año pasado el 3,9%. La inflación subyacente ha aumentado un 2,3% en los últimos 12 meses, frente al objetivo del 2% de la Reserva Federal. Los precios son “benignos y seguramente lo seguirán siendo por algún tiempo”, dijo el economista Ian Shepherdson, de la firma High Frequency Economics. Una inflación baja permite a los consumidores mayores gastos discrecionales, lo que fomenta el crecimiento económico y concede a la Fed mayor amplitud para mantener bajas las tasas de interés. Los precios de la gasolina si-
Una inflación baja permite a los consumidores mayores gastos discrecionales, lo que fomenta el crecimiento económico y concede a la Fed mayor amplitud para mantener bajas las tasas de interés. guen siendo caros y en marzo aumentaron un 1,7% frente al 6% de febrero. La semana pasada, el precio promedio por galón (3,79 litros) de gasolina bajó 4 centavos a 3,90 dólares. Pese al aumento de la contratación laboral, el desempleo sigue siendo elevado y pocos trabajadores reciben ahora aumentos salariales. Por ello, muchos detallistas no pueden cobrar más sin correr el riesgo de perder clientes y ventas. Los precios de los alimentos volvieron a subir el mes pasado pero van camino de moderarse tras los espectaculares aumentos del año pasado. Una inflación baja puede beneficiar la economía, ya que anima a las empresas y consumidores a invertir y gastar más y antes. De otro modo, la inflación reduciría su poder adquisitivo.
Salarios Empero, pocos trabajadores han recibido aumentos salariales, por lo que el repunte de la inflación, por modesto que
sea, es un desafío para casi todos los estadounidenses. El promedio salarial por hora, ajustado por la inflación, bajó por tercer mes consecutivo, anunció el viernes el departamento. El presidente de la Fed, Ben Bernanke, ha reconocido que el encarecimiento de la gasolina ha fomentado la inflación, pero cree que se trata de un fenómeno temporal. El encarecimiento de las camionetas pickup contribuyó más de un tercio al aumento de la inflación subyacente. La alimentación se disparó otro 0,2%, debido especialmente al alza en los precios de verduras y hortalizas. La contención de la inflación permite a la Reserva Federal mantener en casi cero sus tasas de interés a corto plazo hasta finales del 2014. En los últimos 12 meses, los precios al por mayor han aumentado un 2,8%, la menor cuantía desde junio del 2010, frente al 7,1% del pasado julio, cuando el encarecimiento de la gasolina y los alimentos fue la razón principal del alza. En el mismo periodo la inflación subyacente aumentó un 2,9%.
PÁGINA 7A
IRS avisa cómo pedir prórroga POR IRMA TREVIÑO ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
A pesar de que el plazo de presentación de impuestos este año es más tarde que de costumbre, el 17 de abril, muchos contribuyentes podrían necesitar más tiempo para presentar su declaración de impuestos. Si necesita tiempo adicional, puede obtener una prórroga automática del IRS que le dará seis meses para declarar. Aquí hay siete cosas importantes que usted necesita saber sobre la solicitud de una prórroga: Presente su declaración de impuestos aunque no pueda pagar. Si ya hizo su declaración pero no puede pagar la cantidad de impuestos debida, no solicite una prórroga. Presente su declaración a tiempo y pague lo más que pueda. Para pagar el saldo por Internet solicite un acuerdo de pago, usando la solicitud en Online Payment Agreement (OPA) en http://www.irs.gov o envíe el Formulario 9465-SP, Plan de Pagos a Plazos, con su declaración. Si usted no puede hacer los pagos, llame al IRS al 800-829-1040 para discutir sus opciones. Tiempo adicional para presentar su declaración de impuestos. Una prórroga le dará tiempo adicional para presentar su declaración de impuestos al IRS, pero no extiende el tiempo que tiene para pagar cualquier impuesto adeudado. Usted tendrá que pagar intereses sobre cualquier cantidad no pagada para la fecha límite del 17 de abril, además de que puede deber multas. Formulario para presentar. Solicite una prórroga para presentar mediante la presentación del Formulario 4868(SP), Solicitud de Prórroga Automática de Tiempo para Presentar una Declaración Individual de Impuestos de EU, al IRS. Deben tener el matasellos del 17 de abril de 2012. También puede realizar un pago de prórroga electrónico con tarjeta de crédito. Para obtener más información acerca de los pagos de prórroga con tarjeta de crédito, vea el Formulario 4868. Prórroga por medio de e-file. Usted puede solicitar una prórroga electrónicamente usando software de preparación de impuestos desde su propia computadora o con un preparador de impuestos que tenga el software. El IRS le informará sobre el recibo de la solicitud si presenta por computadora. Usted deberá solicitar la prórroga hasta la medianoche del 17 de abril de 2012. El IRS le enviará el acuse de recibo si solicitó electrónicamente su prórroga. Free-File Tradicional y Formularios Rellenables de Free File. Usted puede usar ambas opciones gratuitas para solicitar una prórroga. Obtenga acceso a la página de Free File visitando: http:// www.irs.gov. Retiro electrónico de los fondos. Si usted pide una prórroga a través de la computadora, también puede optar por pagar su deuda al autorizar un retiro electrónico de fondos de una cuenta corriente o de ahorros. Solo necesitará el número de ruta y cuenta bancaria. Para más información sobre éstos y otros métodos de pago, visite el sitio oficial del IRS: http://www.irs.gov o llame al 800-TAX-1040 (800)-829-1040 extensión 8 para ayuda en español. Cómo conseguir los formularios. El Formulario 4868(SP) está disponible para bajar del sitio Web del IRS o puede conseguirlo en la oficina local del IRS.
Sorprende tormenta de granizo ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS — Cuadrillas de mantenimiento despejaban rutas el jueves después de una tormenta en la que automovilistas quedaron atrapados entre una capa de granizo que alcanzaba una altura entre la cintura y los hombros. Era tal la acumulación de granizo que fue necesario utilizar topadoras para despejarla. “Fue una locura”, dijo el meteorólogo Justyn Jackson acerca de la extraña tormenta que se produjo el miércoles por la tarde. El granizo era “muy pequeño” pero abundante en una zona concentrada y alcanzó alturas de hasta 1,25 metros (cuatro pies). La tormenta se produjo en una zona rural, principalmente de ranchos, 40 kilómetros (25 millas) al norte de Amarillo. El agua de lluvia empapó la tierra reseca y el granizo se mezcló rápidamente para formar barro sobre la carretera 287, dijo el comisario del condado de Potter, Brian Thomas. La ruta fue cerrada desde la tarde del miércoles hasta el jueves por la mañana y los servicios de emergencia recibieron pedidos de auxilio.
National
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Forecasters: Storms ‘life threatening’ By SEAN MURPHY ASSOCIATED PRESS
OKLAHOMA CITY — In an unusually early and strong warning, national weather forecasters cautioned Friday that conditions are ripe for violent tornadoes to rip through the nation from Texas to Minnesota this weekend. As states across the middle of the country prepared for the worst, storms were already kicking off in Norman, Okla., where a twister whizzed by the nation’s forecasting headquarters but caused little damage. It was only the second time in U.S. history that the Storm Prediction Center issued a high-risk warning more than 24 hours in advance, said Russ Schneider, director of the center, which is part of the National Weather Service. The first time was in April 2006, when nearly 100 tornadoes tore across the southeastern U.S., killing a dozen people and damaging more than 1,000 homes in Tennessee. This weekend’s outbreak could be a “high-end, life
threatening event,” the center said. The strongly worded message came after the National Weather Service announced last month that it would start using terms like “mass devastation,” “unsurvivable” and “catastrophic” in warnings in an effort to get more people to take heed. It said it would test the new warnings in Kansas and Missouri before deciding whether to expand them to other parts of the country. Friday’s warning, despite the dire language, was not part of that effort but just the most accurate way to describe what was expected, a weather service spokeswoman said. It’s possible to issue earlier warnings because improvements in storm modeling and technology are letting forecasters predict storms earlier and with greater confidence, said Chris Vaccaro, a spokesman for the National Weather Service. In the past, people often have had only minutes of warning when a siren went off.
“We’re quite sure tomorrow will be a very busy and dangerous day in terms of large swathes of central and southern plains,” Vaccaro said. “The ingredients are coming together.” The worst weather is expected to develop late Saturday afternoon between Oklahoma City and Salina, Kan., but other areas also could see severe storms with baseball-sized hail and winds of up to 70 miles per hour, forecasters said. The warning issued Friday covers parts of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The weather service confirmed a tornado touched down about 4 p.m. Friday near the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman, where it is based. Non-essential personnel at the storm center and students were ordered to take shelter, officials said. Video from television helicopters showed several buildings damaged in the city of about 100,000 about 20 miles south of Oklahoma City, but Oklahoma Department of Emergency Man-
Photo by NOAA | AP
This map issued Friday shows a high risk of severe weather in Kansas and Oklahoma today. Forecasters say there is a 60 percent chance of tornadoes, high wind and hail within 25 miles of a point in an area from Salina, Kan., to Oklahoma City. Also, in the area marked with dashed lines, there is a 10 percent or greater chance that storms within 25 miles of a point could be significant. agement spokeswoman Keli Cain said there were no reports of serious injuries. “This is just a fraction of what’s to come tomorrow,” Vaccaro warned. Storms were developing as cold air from the west hit low-level moisture coming up from the Gulf of Mexico. The difference in wind direction and speed was creating instability in the atmosphere that can spawn tornadoes, said Scott Curl, another weather service meteorologist.
Emergency management officials in Kansas and Oklahoma warned residents to stay updated on weather developments and create a plan for where they and their families would go if a tornado developed. “We know it’s a Saturday and that people are going to be out and about, so stay weather aware,” Cain said. “Have your cell phone on you, keep it charged and make sure you’re checking the weather so you don’t get caught off guard.”
People also should put together an emergency kit that includes a pair of boots, rain gear, flashlight, batteryoperated radio, first-aid kit and a few days’ supply of food and water. “It seems like it’s kind of a big deal this time,” said Monte Evans, a 42-year-old middle school teacher in Wichita, Kan., who said he planned to keep a close eye on the weather and take shelter in his basement with his wife and four children if tornadoes hit.
Court debates divorce forms By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Joan Barnett Lee | AP
People stand outside the area where a Stanislaus County deputy and a civilian were killed when gunfire broke out as authorities tried to serve an eviction notice at an apartment complex on Thursday morning in Modesto, Calif.
AUSTIN — A Texas Supreme Court advisory board on Friday debated forms intended to make it easier and less expensive for poor Texans to get divorced — hearing from proponents who say the forms would make the legal system more accessible, and attorneys’ groups who argue family law is too complicated to manage without a lawyer. Last year, the court created a task force to design forms so that people who can’t afford attorneys could participate in legal proceedings, such as filing for divorces, especially in simple cases involving no children and few assets.
Texas is one of just 13 states where couples can’t simply fill out a court-approved form and file for divorce. But the State Bar of Texas has opposed the proposed forms — arguing that family law is too complex and expressing concern that allowing people to practice it themselves could encourage them to tackle other legal endeavors on their own. The task force presented its proposed forms to the full advisory board, which spent hours debating them. It’s unclear, however, whether members will vote to approve them to the Supreme Court. And, whether they formally approve the forms or not, the court will still
consider the forms on its own. Patricia McAllister, executive director of the Texas Access to Justice Commission, said 6 million Texans qualify for courtassisted legal aid but there are only enough pro bono attorneys and other legal groups to assist about 20 percent of them. She said that even if every licensed lawyer in the state agreed to represent a low-income client for free, only about 40 percent of demand would be met. “What you’re seeing is that there are more people who are coming to the courthouse to represent themselves because they can’t get help through legal aid and they cannot afford a lawyer,” said McAl-
lister, whose group was created in 2001 with the support of the state Supreme Court and the state bar. Do-it-yourself legal forms are available for purchase on the Internet or at Office Depot — but they sometimes are not admissible in Texas courts. Steve Bresnen, a lobbyist for the Texas Family Law Foundation, suggested the task force’s proposed forms may not hold up in court either. Both Bresnen and Tom Vick, speaking on behalf of the state bar, bristled at suggestions that attorneys around the state oppose the forms because they could ultimately lead to decreased income for family law lawyers.
tices explaining the law must come from Congress, but the National Labor Relations Act grants no such power to the labor board. By contrast, Congress did give that power to other agencies, including those that regulate employment
discrimination and workplace safety. Norton also found it telling that the board went 75 years without requiring such a notice “but it has now decided to flex its newly discovered rulemaking muscles.”
Suspect’s body found after fiery standoff Judge: Union posters not required By TRACIE CONE
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MODESTO, Calif. — The body of a man suspected of gunning down a deputy and a locksmith when they tried to serve eviction papers was discovered Friday in the rubble of an apartment that was gutted by fire during a standoff with authorities. Police said it could take weeks to identity the charred remains found after the blaze collapsed the second floor Property records show James Ferrario, 45, lived at the address in the Whispering Woods development. Jonathon Mullinix, 20, a neighbor, said Ferrario was reserved and often kept to himself. He had told Mullinix he worked for a private security company and had handguns, rifles and shotguns. Mullinix said Ferrario also had several security cameras in windows of his house. “He seemed like someone who wanted to be left alone,” Mullinix said. The Modesto Bee newspaper said the Ferrario property had fallen behind on payments on a $15,000 Bank of America mortgage taken out in 2003. The property owner also appears to have defaulted on $13,406 owed to the Whispering Woods Community Association. The association foreclosed on the condo last year, followed by a bank foreclosure in December, the newspaper reported. R&T Financial Inc. is now the property’s legal owner, according to county records. The Associated Press could not find a phone listing for the company. After getting clearance
from fire officials, investigators spent Friday afternoon searching the rubble for evidence in the case. Police spokesman Officer Chris Adams would not say if any weapons had been found. The standoff began Thursday morning after a man opened fire as authorities tried to serve the eviction notice. At one point during the standoff, police broke the windows of the apartment with bean bag shots and fired flash-bang grenades and tear gas. Authorities evacuated nearby residents in the development of freestanding buildings, each divided into four apartments. Around 9 p.m., six officers rushed toward the apartment, the Bee reported. Sharp bangs from concussive devices were heard for more than an hour, and officers used loudspeakers to communicate with the man to pick up the phone. No one came out. As police shot the flashbang grenades, they could see the apartment lights being turned on and off, confirming someone was inside, Adams said. It was not clear how the fire began, but the Bee reported the sheriff has acknowledged flash-bang devices and tear gas could have been responsible. Officials identified the deputy killed as Robert Paris, 53, and the civilian as Glendon David Engert, 35, of Modesto. Paris, a 16-year veteran of the department, is survived by his parents, a brother and two adult children. Law enforcement officers said it’s not unusual to have a civilian, such as a locksmith, brought along during the service of an eviction notice.
By SAM HANANEL ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — A federal judge ruled Friday that the National Labor Relations Board cannot require millions of private employers to put up posters informing workers of their right to form a union. U.S. District Judge David Norton in South Carolina said the labor board exceeded congressional authority when it approved the poster requirement last year. The decision Friday conflicts with a ruling last month by another federal judge in Washington, D.C., who found the posters were a reasonable means to make workers aware of collective bargaining rights. Both lawsuits were brought by business groups that claim the posters are too one-sided in favor of unions. The labor board contends the posters simply explain workers’ rights and protections
under federal labor law. NLRB spokeswoman Nancy Cleeland said attorneys were reviewing the decision and had no immediate comment. The rule was supposed to take effect on April 30. While the board is expected to appeal the South Carolina decision, it is unclear whether it will continue to enforce the rule in other jurisdictions. “We would hope they would suspend the regulation until all these legal uncertainties can be sorted out,” said Randel Johnson, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s vice president on labor issues. Labor unions had praised the rule, saying many workers are unaware of their legal right to organize. In his ruling Friday, Norton said the power to make employers post no-
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
YOLANDA DE LOS SANTOS Yolanda De Los Santos, 55, passed away Sunday, April 8, 2012, at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo. Mrs. De Los Santos is preceded in death by her parents Juan and Timotea Gonzalez; and a brother-inlaw, Armando Ortiz. Mrs. De Los Santos is survived by her husband, Pedro De Los Santos Jr.; son, Ricardo (Clara) De Los Santos; daughters: Diana (Rudy) Martinez, Erissela (Herasmo) Martinez and Yuri De Los Santos (Rafael Isquierdo); grandchildren: Christian, Jocelyn, Dianelie, Adeley De Los Santos, Rudy Jr., Rene Martinez, Amarili Martinez and Yaritza L. De Los Santos; brothers: Mario (Graciela) Gonzalez and Enrique (Melissa) Gonzalez; and sister, Graciela Ortiz; and by numerous nephews, nieces and many friends. Visitation hours were held Tuesday, April 10, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a wake at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.
Obama pays $162,074 in taxes By KEN THOMAS ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Pressuring Mitt Romney on taxes, President Barack Obama’s campaign re-released more than a decade of tax records Friday, a political maneuver designed to pressure the Republican presidential candidate to divulge tax records beyond two years and to stop “hiding” details of his huge personal wealth. Obama’s own tax return for last year showed that he and his wife paid $162,074 in federal taxes on $789,674 in adjusted gross income, an effective tax rate of 20.5 percent. Their income plunged from $1.7 million in 2010, with declining sales of the president’s books. In 2009, the Obamas reported income of $5.5 million, fueled by the best-selling books. Romney’s campaign has projected he will pay more
A chapel service was held Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at 10 a.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 U.S. 83, Zapata.
rate for 2011 was a bit lower than the average for a family in their income range, but higher than the rate paid by most Americans. The Obamas helped lower their tax bill by making $172,130 in charitable donations, which were the majority of their itemized deductions. Families making between $500,000 and $1 million will pay an average of 24.3 percent of their income in federal taxes for 2011, according to projections by the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan Washington think tank. By comparison, families making between $50,000 and $75,000 will pay an average of 12 percent, while families making between $75,000 and $100,000 will pay an average of 15.5 percent. By contrast, the top rate for taxpayers with high incomes derived from wages is 35 percent.
than $6.2 million in taxes on $45 million in income in 2010 and 2011 but has not released tax information prior to the past two years. Romney is expected to pay 15.4 percent in federal taxes for 2011 on income mostly derived from investments, based on his tax estimate for the year. Romney on Friday asked for an extension for the actual filing of his 2011 return, as he has in the past, and his campaign said he would file and release that return before the November election. Obama’s campaign re-released tax documents dating back to 2000 with the aim of forcing Romney to release a similar trove. A Romney spokeswoman shot back that Obama was saddled with a terrible record on job creation and was trying to distract Americans “with a series of sideshows.” Obama’s 20.5 percent tax
Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said Romney’s “defiance of decades of precedent set by presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle, including his own father, begs the question — what does he have to hide?” Former Michigan Gov. George Romney released 12 years of tax documents when he sought the 1968 GOP presidential nomination. Mitt Romney had not pledged to do the same. As for this year, his spokeswoman said the former Massachusetts governor would “release his full 2011 return when it is filed.” Obama and Romney are both at different income levels than most Americans. Republicans noted that Obama’s annual earnings of less than $1 million would help him avoid being affected by the socalled “Buffett rule.”
RESTAURANT Continued from Page 1A The Millers opened God’s Kin restaurant last month. A percentage of each of the restaurant’s transactions, from a glass of Coca-Cola to a Porterhouse steak, goes to a donation fund for charity organizations. The donations go to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the National Association for Down Syndrome, King’s Way Church Food Pantry and Journey to Recovery, a local organization that helps drug addicts. So when you buy some of the restaurant’s fried green tomatoes, you’re being a good Samaritan all the while. Andrew describes the restaurant’s menu as a midpoint between down-home and gourmet. He wants God’s Kin’s dishes to reflect a country spirit but with a touch of high-end dining. “We’re taking southern traditional food, and we’re putting a gourmet twist to it,” he said. The restaurant’s logo features a silhouette of a pig with wings. As the saying goes, certain things aren’t possible until pigs fly. One of the things the Millers wanted to make a reality in their business
was to create a workplace culture in which the employees felt valued. For one, the Millers don’t make any money from their restaurant. That all goes to paying 17 employees, donations to nonprofits and general restaurant expenses, including rent. At God’s Kin, employees have a say in things. The cooks are given creative license, not to completely alter dishes but to add to them. Front-of-the-house employees contribute ideas to improve the atmosphere of the restaurant. “Everybody is really just contributing as a team,” Andrew said. God’s Kin is perhaps the only restaurant in Zapata focusing on Southern food. Andrew said until now selection has been limited to mostly Tex-Mex. He said he loves fajitas as much as the next Texan, but he wants his restaurant to give people in Zapata options. Andrew remembers driving around in Zapata in the cold and craving chili, but there wasn’t a restaurant in town that served it. “We wanted to create something here so that people don’t have to drive all the way to Laredo,” he said.
Photo by Danny Zaragoza | The Zapata Times
A percentage of each of the transactions at God’s Kin, from a glass of Coca-Cola to a Porterhouse steak, goes to a donation fund for charity organizations. The Millers also want to add to the entertainment in Zapata. They hope to inject more country music offerings into the scene of mostly Tejano performers. A live band plays at the restaurant every Friday beginning at 8 p.m. For now, one percent of the restaurant’s transactions go to the donation fund. Andrew said that last
BORDER Continued from Page 1A fined as “acts of violence,” in which transnational criminal organizations have been involved. Two of those were in Webb County. On Feb. 18, 2011, two electric company employees reported that they were assaulted and robbed in rural Webb County. On March 11, suspected drug cartel members opened fire and wounded a ranch foreman near a Webb County ranch.
“The bottom line is our border is not secure. What we have are transnational criminal organizations basing their operations in a foreign country and deploying military-type incursions on American soil. And our president indicates this is okay by saying we are more secure today?” Staples testified. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
month, that amounted to $500 despite start-up costs for the restaurant. The Millers said they want to increase that percentage as the business moves forward. They said each organization helps a cause that is close to their hearts. Both Andrew and Lili have family members with down syndrome, they said.
Andrew’s father is a pastor at King’s Way Church. Andrew works through the church to mentor teenagers in the juvenile probation system. Andrew said the restaurant’s motivation lies not in increasing its own revenue but in donating more money to charitable causes. Andrew said jokingly that maybe one day he’ll
make a couple of dollars from his restaurant. For the Millers, though, that isn’t the point. “I can’t picture doing this for money only,” Lili said. “There would be no reward in that for me.” For more information, go to www.gods-kin.com. (JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2567 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)
HEARING Continued from Page 1A as authorized by law, documents state. The plaintiffs allege that J. Moss stole water from a freshwater pond located on the premises, and over the course of the lease, pumped oil and gas waste into the lake and nearby areas. “There is evidence that J. Moss violated the restrictions contained in its permits by disposing of high saline content materials, voltaic organic compounds,
and by operating the tank and washout operation,” the petition continues, alluding to potential contamination of rainfall runoff into other areas at the site. Although originally scheduled to go to trial Mar. 16, Lopez ordered the hearing to continue Monday. (Stephanie Ibarra may be reached at 728-2547 or sibarra@lmtonline.com)
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Fort Davis recovering year after fires By RAMON RENTERIA EL PASO TIMES
FORT DAVIS — Oncemajestic cottonwood trees in Ginger McGough’s front yard now look as if someone scorched them with a gigantic blowtorch. The blackened trees, towering 40 to 50 feet high, remind McGough of the fast-moving 20-foot wall of fire that destroyed her childhood house and barn on April 9, 2011. It’s a fire Fort Davis, a tourist town of 1,000 people in the Davis Mountains three hours southeast of El Paso, is still trying to forget. For McGough, the heartache is finally over. Four days ago, friends and volunteers helped her move into a 1,650-square- foot ready-built house with three bedrooms and two baths. “I was very lucky,” she said. McGough’s optimism is evident across Fort Davis a year after a wildfire of historic proportions burned 25 houses and two businesses, killed at least 150 head of cattle and nine horses, and scorched more than 314,000 acres of grassland in Jeff Davis County. No people were lost. Some homeowners have started fresh lives in houses rebuilt with assistance from the Jeff Davis County Relief Fund, a nonprofit foundation organized before the fires burned out. Others still hope and pray for the next big rain, the still elusive rain that ranchers say they desperately need to stay in the cattle business in far West Texas. The fire started April 9 in an unoccupied structure, known as the Rock House, a mile west of Marfa. It burned for 23 days, involved firefighters from across the United States and cost more than $8 mil-
lion to fight, according to the Texas Forest Service. Ranchers who lost fences and grasslands still struggle with the same extremely dry conditions that along with strong winds helped propel the fire, described by state officials as the third-worst in Texas history. By some estimates, the tourist trade dropped by 40 to 50 percent after the fire. Fort Davis has a state park, a reconstructed Army cavalry outpost and the McDonald Observatory. McGough, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department employee, had no insurance. A friend lent her a house until she could get back on her feet. McGough cries every time she mentions the relief fund that helped her replace the rock and adobe house her grandfather built. Her parents at one point also lived in the house, the same house in which McGough and a daughter were married. The wildfire burned 80 percent of the grass and trees and ruined 15 miles of fence on Mac Sproul’s 16,000-acre ranch north of Fort Davis. The ranch has been in the family since 1886. “We weren’t hit near as bad as some of these people in town,” Sproul said. “We take it a day at a time. Until we get some good rain, it’s just a bad, sad deal.” Sproul sold most of his 200 cattle. He said he’s extremely grateful he received assistance from the county relief fund and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Other ranchers shipped their cattle to feedlots or pastures in other states. Sproul estimates the tricounty area — Jeff Davis, Presidio and Brewster — probably now has only 20 percent of the cattle that ranchers had a year ago. “I’m ready to not be in
Photo by Rudy Gutierrez/The El Paso Times | AP
Ginger McGough, right, looks at the living room area of her hew home with friend Adele Coffey in Fort Davis, on April 5. For McGough, whose home burned down in the wildfires last April, heartache is finally over. A few days ago, friends and volunteers helped her move into a 1,650-square-foot ready-built house with three bedrooms and two baths. the cattle business, so it’s not that big a deal for me,” he said. “But some of these guys are still having to count on it to make a living.” Sproul estimates that replacing burned or damaged fences throughout the county will cost millions. It costs a little under $2 a foot and up to $3.50 a foot to do fencing in the sometimes rugged, mountain terrain. To make ranching even more difficult, a bale of hay that cost $7 just a little over a year ago now costs $10.50 to $22 dollars. Donated hay and cow feed arrived by the truckload from other parts of Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma to help ranchers cope with the fire, which ultimately involved officials at the county, state and federal levels. Sproul laments that almost everything associated with cattle ranching has doubled in the past couple of years except the market price of cattle. Sproul worries the
threat of another bad fire still exists as long as it doesn’t rain. “What we need is some kind of a master plan to be ready for the next fire, but I don’t see that happening,” Sproul said. “There are so many ranches that are now absentee-owned that are not in the cattle business anymore. So the grass just grows and grows and waits to burn. That’s just going to become a worsening situation as we go forward.” The scars are very visible in the 100-year-old McKnight family house, a historic dwelling surrounded by huge cottonwood trees, some still standing as burned and black skeletons. Owner Bobby McKnight said he plans to rebuild the once-familiar Fort Davis landmark. Not far away, a welcome sign is still posted at the gate into Jerry and Jeanie Yarbrough’s once-picturesque property. The Yarbroughs moved to San Angelo after their house
burned. The property is for sale. Editor Bob Dillard of the Mountain Dispatch weekly newspaper runs a weekly “pray for rain” message in the newspaper. Dillard has also been urging his friends and neighbors to sign up for a new reverse 911 program designed to notify more people in emergencies. “We came together as a community. It has caused us to be more alert. But we don’t feel whole again,” Dillard said. “Unfortunately, we haven’t had the rain. There’s still no grass, nothing to feed the cattle. It’s pitiful from that standpoint.” Carolyn Miller and Adele Coffey of the Jeff Davis County Relief Fund said seven families were reestablished in new homes and at least five ranchers have received some assistance so far. The fund is still active, but officials said they will not disclose how much money was raised until
some point in the future. Donors from across Texas and the United States also gave everything from furniture to appliances, food and clothes. Surplus clothing was donated to tornado victims in Arkansas. Mennonites and other groups brought in heavy equipment to help clear the rubble. Relief-fund managers were criticized for not rushing money to fire victims. “It was important for people to feel secure that their money was being spent correctly,” Miller said. “We don’t have a natural disaster here very often. But we’re proud the fund made a huge difference in some of the people’s lives.” One of those recipients is Hortensia Rodriguez, who relied on the fund and fundraisers done by her five children and others to pay for a double-wide trailer that replaced the burned house she and her husband Manuel had occupied for 50 years. “We’ve come a long way, but it’s not the same,” she said. “It’s very hard to lose everything you had for more than 50 years. But at least we have our lives.” A huge satellite image depicting the enormous wildfire decorates a wall at the Fort Davis Volunteer Fire Department. The department is also selling a commemorative coin and pin. “It was a pretty intense fire. Six months later, we still had cottonwood trees that were smoldering,” said Pat Olivas, a lifelong resident and wild line captain. “The people here came together like family.” Fire Marshal Stewart Billingsley figures the Rock House fire was an eyeopener for many people who thought a fire of that magnitude could not happen in Jeff Davis County.
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
Hawks fly high Gutierrez, Saenz win individual titles in district By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata golf teams were swinging strong last week, with stellar performances at the District 32-3A tournament on Tuesday at the Tierra Del Sol Golf Course in Pharr. The Lady Hawks overcame the elements and upset defending district champion Progreso to grab the District 32-3A
championship. Zapata held a six-stroke lead in the end to dethrone the district champions and punch a ticket to regionals. “Progreso is always tough in golf, so our girls were really excited about reaching their goal,” Zapata coach Clyde Guerra Jr. said. Leanna Saenz, Leann Hughes, Jessenia Garza, and Kysta Lozano combined for a total score of 449 to capture the team title.
Boys The Hawks, too, are headed to regionals after their second place finish to Port Isabel — which captured the title by 12 strokes. The regional tournament will be held in Corpus Christi on Monday and Tuesday with a trip to the state meet on the
Courtesy photo
The Lady Hawks were crowned district 32-3A champs at this week’s district golf tournament after shooting a team score of 449.
See GOLF PAGE 2B
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS
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CLARA SANDOVAL OVAL
BALANCING POWERS
Youth sports needed
Ana, Juan Villarreal do it all By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
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After earning their college degrees from Texas A&M International University, the Villarreals took teaching jobs with ZCISD. While Ana coaches volleyball,
hile passing through Zapata on my way back from my hometown in the Rio Grande Valley after Easter weekend, I stopped to interview coaches Juan and Ana Villarreal. During our conversation, their concerns about the lack of elementary sports programs in Zapata came up after talking about Laredo’s strong devotion to the elementary programs. In Laredo, kids are engaged athletically before they even arrive at kindergarten. By the time they get to the middle school level, they have a great base of fundamentals. Currently there are no youth sports in Zapata other than the Boys and Girls Club, and those activities are mostly going on during the summer. What about the rest of the year? Yes, there are Little League and softball leagues that have helped develop baseball and softball talent at Zapata High, evidenced by the high school’s current successes. But what about volleyball, basketball, football and even track? Are there any programs in Zapata for the kiddos out of the long summer months? None. Nada. Zero. Zilch. Zapata athletics — and general health — would be helped by elementary activities, just like those
See FAMILY PAGE 2B
See ELEMENTARY PAGE 2B
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oaching requires an immense amount of time and dedication to witness the success inside a sport. It takes coaches away from their families. Many male coaches who are married have supportive wives, and vice versa. But what happens if both spouses are coaches and they have to deal with practices, games and children mixed in with teaching and carving out quality time for each other? Juan and Ana Villarreal are a married couple facing just such a dilemma as coaches for Zapata schools. They must balance the needs of their growing children, J.J. Jr. (8 years old), Kiana (5 years old) and Alizzandro (3 years old) with the demands of coaching. Ana, a sixth grade math teacher at Zapata Middle, coaches the eighth grade girls’ basketball, volleyball and track teams; while Juan, a special education teacher at Zapata High, is the varsity boys’ basketball coach and assistant track coach. The Villarreals have to juggle their well-orchestrated schedules to make their family work. Ana’s season starts in August with volleyball, basketball and track and finishes in mid-April, while Juan gets going in with basketball season in October and heads right into track until late April. The Villarreals have a commitment to their family and
Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Juan and Ana Villarreal juggle the demands of marriage and parenting with the call of their coaching professions at the Zapata middle and high schools. know how important coaching is to each other, since both were outstanding athletes at Zapata High. Ana played volleyball and basketball and Juan was a star football player and comes from a
strong basketball family. He played at Concordia University in Austin. When the time came for them to choose a profession, the Villarreals naturally gravitated toward coaching.
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD Zapata Lady Hawk Jazmine Garcia did very well in the 3,200-meter run despite not being able to compete since February due to injury.
Hawks do well at District 32-3A meet By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
Courtesy photo
Zapata is putting its best foot forward at the District 32-3A track meet that started Thursday and continues to today. Sophomore Jazmine Garcia continued her success from the fall cross country season, when made a trip to the state meet, by capturing the 3,200-meter run. “Jazmine continued a streak of five years of having the 3,200-meter champ (from Zapata),” Zapata long distance coach Mike Villarreal said. “She finished third by two tenths at region last year — just missing state — so its a chance to get back and get into the mix and hope to
run. “She has been resting with some nagging injuries, and yesterday was the first time she ran the two mile healthy since February.” Garcia has been a force since arriving at Zapata two years ago when she made a name for herself on a team that was already full of stars. Despite the time away from the sport, Garcia was ready for the most important meet of the season — the district meet — and did not disappoint by notching a gold-medal performance. “She went out conservative and by lap
See TRACK PAGE 2B
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Firebombs prove Formula One wrong By REEM KHALIFA AND JUSTIN BERGMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
MANAMA, Bahrain — Protesters hurled firebombs and riot police fired tear gas Friday, hours after Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone declared the Gulf nation safe to host a Grand Prix race next week. All 12 teams told Ecclestone they were happy to travel to the tiny kingdom despite the political unrest. He said no extra safety precautions were being put in place. “There’s nothing happening (in Bahrain),” Ecclestone said in Shanghai before the Chinese Grand Prix. “I know people that live there and it’s all very quiet and peaceful.” But clashes broke out after the funeral of activist Ahmed Ismail, who authorities say was
killed late last month by gunfire during a protest, although it is still unclear who fired the shots. “No F1, no F1. ... They killed my son in cold blood,” sobbed Ismail’s mother, Makyia Ahmed, who said her son had been a volunteer at previous F1 races. Protesters chanted anti-government slogans and riot police used tear gas and bird shot to clear the crowds. Several people were injured by the bird-shot pellets. The Grand Prix is the nation’s biggest sports event, drawing a worldwide TV audience of about 100 million in 187 countries. Organizers canceled last year’s Grand Prix after the outbreak of violence, which has led to at least 50 deaths. The crackdown by the Sunni-led government was imposed after Bah-
rain’s Shiite majority demanded a greater political voice. Rights groups criticized the reinstatement of the race this year, and protesters have galvanized supporters by chanting against Formula One. Amnesty International warned that “the human rights crisis in Bahrain is not over.” The London-based group said that despite authorities’ claims that the country is calm and free of political unrest, the “state violence against those who oppose the Al Khalifa family rule continues,” referring to the family of the king. “Holding the Grand Prix in Bahrain in 2012 risks being interpreted by the government of Bahrain as symbolizing a return to business as usual,” Amnesty’s statement said. A group calling itself the Feb.
Photo by Hasan Jamali | AP
Bahraini anti-government protesters react to tear gas fired by riot police Thursday in Bilad al-Qadeem, Bahrain, on the edge of the capital of Manama, where clashes erupted after a march in support of jailed opposition political leaders. 14 Coalition — named for the anniversary of the uprising — says holding the race is “against our wishes and the feelings of the people of Bahrain.”
Said Ecclestone: “We don’t get involved in politics in a country. We go to a country like we come here. They will sort out their internal problems, I’m quite sure.”
Busch Brothers work together in Texas By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS
Courtesy photo
The Zapata Boys’ golf team earned a second-place finish at this week’s district 32-3A golf tournament.
GOLF Continued from Page 1B line. “Both teams have done better in past tournaments, I’m just extremely proud of both of them for advancing to the regional tournament,” Guerra said. “Regionals will be a great experience. Golf is a game of good days and bad days (and) I’m hoping we have two good days in Corpus Christi.” Zapata also won a pair of individual honors when Saenz captured the individual girls’ title and Tony Gutierrez won the individual boys’ title to complete the Hawks’ sweep. Ricky Prado was a fifth place medalists for the Hawks. Rounding out the Hawks’ team was Victor Garza, Ramiro Torres and Matthew Lozano for a total 409. “Tony and Leanna did an excellent job under pressure. They practice on their short game on a daily basis,” Guerra said.
Courtesy photo
Zapata’s Tony Gutierrez and Leanna Saenz earned first place individual honors at this week’s district 32-3A golf tournament. Having accomplished his goal of earning a trip to regionals, Guerra reflected on the success his first year at the helm of the team and credited the tradition established by coach David Saenz.
“It’s a great feeling,” Guerra said. “All the kids are extremely deserving of this honor, I’m proud and humbled to keep the success that coach David Saenz established as a tradition.”
FORT WORTH — The Busch Brothers are adding a new dynamic to their relationship. When Kurt Busch gets in the car for Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide race in Texas, where he ran in that series for the first time and won six years ago, it will be his debut driving for younger brother Kyle’s new stock car team. “It is owner-driver, but it is brotherbrother, and it’s unique with me having the upper hand on age,” 33-year-old Kurt Busch said Thursday. “But I respect him for the guts that he has to jump into this endeavor, to be the owner.” After the first of about 17 Nationwide races driving for his brother, they will be competitors again Saturday night in the Sprint Cup race. It was at Texas last November when NASCAR barred 26-year-old Kyle Busch from driving for Joe Gibbs in the Cup and Nationwide races. That came after Busch, driving the truck he owned, deliberately wrecked championship contender Ron Hornaday Jr. during a caution in the race that started a tripleheader weekend. Since NASCAR’s last trip to the 1 1/2mile high-banked track, Kurt Busch has changed Cup teams. He split with Penske Racing after six seasons in what was called a mutual parting of the ways and is with the new much smaller and less-funded Phoenix Racing team. “Both teams that I’m with this year are very unique circumstances,” he said. “We’ll have chances at winning in the Nationwide car, we’re going to have to claw and scrap and fight real hard with the Cup car. But we’re going to have our opportunities to have fun every week.” After the Easter break, NASCAR resumes this weekend with the first scheduled night Cup race of the season,
though not the first one. (Don’t forget that rain-postponed Daytona 500 that was run on a Monday night). Greg Biffle, who has seven consecutive top-10 finishes in Texas and won at the track in 2005, is the relaxed points leader. Biffle took advantage of the time off with a Bahamas vacation, chartering a big boat that he stayed on during the week. It was peaceful, with crystal clear water, pristine beaches and really no one else around. “I haven’t been on a vacation in quite some time like that,” Biffle said. “Man, I’m ready to go. I’m fired up. ... I’m pretty excited about getting going.” Texas is the only Nationwide race in a four-week span. There have been two weeks off in the second-tier series since its race at Fontana on March 24, and there isn’t a race next week. “It feels like it’s been a while. ... Easy breezy April,” said Danica Patrick, who is in her first full Nationwide season. After the radiator was punctured by debris, Patrick dropped out of the California race with engine trouble and finished 35th. She completed only 63 of 150 laps on the day before her 30th birthday. “I was able to give myself plenty of distractions over the last couple of weeks. ... A never-ending birthday party,” Patrick said. “Breaks get me excited to get back at it again. I think that’s what it’s done.” There was a party on her birthday, followed by trips to Cabo and Northern California and a surprise party. Patrick’s limited Sprint Cup schedule with Tony Stewart’s team won’t have her driving in Texas until the November race. Missing from the Nationwide field this weekend is Trevor Bayne, the November winner who is fourth in points this season. But a lack of sponsorship forced Roush Fenway Racing to leave the No. 60 car out of this race.
FAMILY Continued from Page 1B Juan is home tending to their children’s needs; and when the opportunity arises, he takes the children to watch their mother’s games. When both Ana and Juan are in season, Ana’s mother lends a hand with the children, becoming a pillar for the family’s success. Juan and Ana know they have demanding jobs, but enjoy being teachers, coaches and parents. “We enjoy what we do, but sometimes it
can be overwhelming,” Juan said. “We always want to make sure that we devoted time to our families, our teams, and our profession. “Our kids needs always come first, and then everything else.” At the end of the year, the Villarreals sit down and discuss the possibility of giving up their coaching professions to spend more time with their children, but the athletes in them always move them to give coaching another year.
ELEMENTARY Continued from Page 1B strong middle school programs help, especially because the coaches have to work hard to get the kiddos up to par with the rest. Zapata needs leagues for the elementary children, but it won’t happen without a lot of parent volunteers donating their time to coach their sons’ or daughters’ teams. There are enough children in Zapata to make a successful basketball or volleyball league. So why doesn’t Zapata have an elementary track meet instead of the run-of-themill field day? These are issues that have been long ignored in Zapata and the time has come to start some grassroot leagues, but it is going to take dedication and time to jumpstart them in Zapata County. Sometimes the argument is money. But
how much can it cost for the jersey? Maybe it costs $30 or $40 for nice uniforms for basketball? For volleyball you only need to buy the top of the uniform, so the cost is slashed in half. It is rare to find a varsity basketball player in Laredo who didn’t start their athletic career at the elementary level, typically with his or her mom or dad as coach. People always complain there is nothing to do in Zapata, so why not do something to bring families closer together and, at the same time, enhance their athletic abilities in preparation for the next step? Zapata would benefit immensely from these leagues, so let’s turn those talks into action because, at the end of the day, it’s all about the children and enhancing their lives.
Courtesy photo
Rafael Benavides finished second and Carlos Rodriguez finished third in the 3,200-meter run to help lead the way to a regional run before possibly qualifying for the state meet.
TRACK Continued from Page 1B three was in the lead,” Villarreal said. “After that, she looked good but uncomfortable due to her lack of racing experience this season.” Garcia finishes the meet with her favorite two events this weekend, the mile and the mile relay. “The mile and mile relay (are events) she loves,” Villarreal said “She runs the mile and
then, 10 minutes later, she’s anchoring our mile relay. She is a tough competitor.” Garcia has her eyes set on earning a trip to state — something she missed last year with a third place finish. “She realizes it will be tough to get to state, but with 14 days we can make a lot of strides and just get in the mix with two laps to go and let ability,
strength and experience take over,” Villarreal said. Also putting in great performances Thursday were Rafael Benavidez and Carlos Rodriguez, who placed second and third, respectively, in the 3,200-meter run to punch their tickets to the regional meet. Mike Alvarez captured gold in the triple jump and came in second in long jump.
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
HINTS | BY HELOISE Dear Readers: How to get rid of that slimy, black grime on a RUBBER BATHMAT? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3! Fill your washing machine with hot water and a glug or two of bleach, and toss in the mat. You might want to add a couple of bleachsafe towels for scrubbing action. Run the washer through its normal cycles, and let the mat air-dry. To help prevent mildew from reappearing, be sure to pull up the mat after EVERY shower and let it dry by hanging it over a towel rod, or attach it to the wall. Want to clean your feather duster? Head outside with a heavyweight bag, the duster and a box of cornstarch. Pop the duster and cornstarch into the bag, hold the bag closed tightly and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds. You can find these and lots more money-saving hints in my Heloise’s Homemade Cleaning Solutions pamphlet. To order, send $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (65 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Cleaning Solutions, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 782795001. FYI: Sprinkle a bit of cornstarch in socks to keep feet comfortable and dry, or in smelly tennies or boots. — Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Paul in Hammond, Ind., sent a picture of his rat terrier, Hannah, surrounded by her dozens of bear friends. You have to look closely to see Hannah! If you’d like to try to find her and our other Pet Pals, visit www.Heloise.com and click on “Pets.” — Heloise
“
HELOISE
EASY READ Hello, Heloise: I met you last year in Houston at the Cooking Show. I had the hint for watering plants with ice cubes. I really enjoyed the get-together and meeting you — it was the highlight of my year! Here is my latest hint: I can’t see the level markings on the inside of the caps of laundry-detergent bottles. Before I use the tops, I mark the inside lines using black permanent marker on the lightcolored caps, and white liquid paper on the darkcolored caps. Makes it so much easier to put the right amount in each load. — Marlene M., Pearland, Texas Hi, Marlene, it’s nice to hear from you. We did have fun during our girls’ meet and greet with you and the other winners who had submitted hints! — Heloise SEPARATE SHEETS Dear Heloise: Here’s a hint I just discovered: When drying king-size sheets, I separately dry the top and bottom. It saves time, and they don’t tangle and bunch up. — Judy H., San Antonio NIFTY RAIN BONNET Dear Heloise: I try to keep one plastic bag from the grocery store (you know — the carry-out type) in my purse at all times (all crumpled up, it is tiny!) for an unexpected “rain bonnet.” Love all your hints. Thanks. — Pat K., Cypress, Texas
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Sports
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Dorrell on paid leave By KURT VOIGT ASSOCIATED PRESS
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas put the former mistress of Bobby Petrino on paid leave Friday and disclosed that she used a $20,000 “gift” from the disgraced former coach to buy a car in her first week on the job. University spokesman Steve Voorhies said Jessica Dorrell, a 25-year-old football department employee, had been placed on leave but declined further comment, calling it a private personnel issue. Dorrell, a former Arkansas volleyball player, was a Razorback Foundation fundraiser before she was hired as a student-athlete development coordinator by Petrino on March 28 at an annual salary of $55,735. She has not returned repeated calls seeking comment. The move came as Petrino said he would not appeal his firing and seek any of the $18 million buyout that was part of his contract. His agent, Russ Campbell, sent an email to athletic director Jeff Long late Thursday saying Petrino had accepted “responsibility for the events that led to the university’s decision to terminate his contract.” “Coach Petrino and his family wish nothing but the best for both the Razorback football program and University of Arkansas,” Campbell wrote. Petrino had the option to appeal as part of the seven-year contract he agreed to in December 2010. The contract was for more than $3.5 million annually and carried the $18 million mutual buyout clause in 2011 and 2012. The amount dropped over the life of the contract, falling to as little as $3.9 million in 2017. Long said that Petrino was fired for cause, meaning the coach was not
Photo by Richard Drew | AP
New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, left, shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern to seal the purchase of the New Orleans Hornets at a news conference in New York, on Friday.
Benson buys Hornets Off NBA auction block By BRIAN MAHONEY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michael Orrell / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arkansas fired coach Bobby Petrino, above, on Tuesday, publicly dressing him down for unfairly hiring his mistress and intentionally misleading his boss about everything from their relationship to her presence at the motorcycle accident that ultimately cost him his job. owed anything. The 51-year-old Petrino was fired Tuesday for failing to disclose his relationship with Dorrell before she was hired, as required by conflict of interest rules at the school. The affair became public only after the two went for a motorcycle ride April 1 and skidded off the road, putting Petrino in the hospital and resulting in a police report that contained her identity. Long has said the two were in a relationship for a “significant” amount of time and phone records show they exchanged more than 4,300 text messages and nearly 300 phone calls over the past seven months, possibly including photo and video content. The termination letter Long sent to Petrino was released by the school Fri-
day and it had more specifics. “(Y)ou deliberately failed to tell me that you had engaged in an extramarital affair with Ms. Dorrell over a period of several months leading up to your recommendation to hire her,” Long wrote. “If you had been forthcoming with me about the true nature of your relationship, I would not have approved the hiring.” Long also said Petrino “admitting giving $20,000 cash to Ms. Dorrell as a ‘gift.’ Ms. Dorrell used the money to purchase a black Acura during the first week that she worked for the football program. “Among other concerns relating to this ‘gift,’ you should have disclosed this fact to me ... but you failed to do so,” Long wrote.
NEW YORK — Tom Benson brought stability to the Saints nearly three decades ago and now plans to do the same for the Hornets in small-market New Orleans. The Saints’ owner agreed Friday to purchase the Hornets from the NBA. “We expect this club to be one of the most outstanding clubs in the league, otherwise I don’t want to get involved,” Benson said. “This is just a good thing and I’m just glad to be a part of it.” A person familiar with the deal says the purchase price is $338 million. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the financial terms have not been announced. The NBA has been trying to sell the Hornets since buying the club from founder George Shinn in December 2010. While preparing the team for sale the league negotiated a new lease for the Hornets to remain in the state-owned New Orleans Arena through 2024. The sale of the team to Benson has to be approved
by the NBA’s Board of Governors, which is meeting in New York on Friday. “The city is one of the country’s treasures and we really have found the perfect owner,” Commissioner David Stern said. “Our goal all along has been to get the Hornets bought by somebody whose commitment to New Orleans would be unrivaled.” The framework of ownership negotiations were handled in a way that a new Hornets owner would have to accept the lease worked out between the NBA and Gov. Bobby Jindal. The lease agreement also called for $50 million in improvements to the basketball stadium, which sits right across the street from the Superdome. Once the NBA approves the sale of the team to Benson, the next step is for the state Legislature to approve the arena lease deal because of the funding needed for stadium improvements. But legislative leaders already have publicly voiced support for the proposed lease deal, which would take effect in July. The 84-year-old Benson, a New Orleans-native, has
owned the Saints since 1985, when he stepped in to block efforts by other prospective investors to move the NFL franchise to Jacksonville, Fla. Now Benson has made another major investment to stabilize the NBA’s presence in the Big Easy on the same day that the Hornets were hosting the Utah Jazz, the very team New Orleans lost to relocation in 1979. Benson helped bring the Saints their first playoff appearance in 1987 and finally a Super Bowl title in 2010. His ownership of the Hornets means the two smallmarket franchises both will be locally owned and now can work as partners in their efforts to attract corporate sponsorships, and Hornets fans can at least hope that will translate to a better product on the hardwood. At the very least, the move provided Benson with some refreshingly positive publicity on the heels of the Saints’ bounty scandal, which led the NFL to suspend head coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season — the same season that will see New Orleans host the Super Bowl.
Sports
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Dorrell on paid leave By KURT VOIGT ASSOCIATED PRESS
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas put the former mistress of Bobby Petrino on paid leave Friday and disclosed that she used a $20,000 “gift” from the disgraced former coach to buy a car in her first week on the job. University spokesman Steve Voorhies said Jessica Dorrell, a 25-year-old football department employee, had been placed on leave but declined further comment, calling it a private personnel issue. Dorrell, a former Arkansas volleyball player, was a Razorback Foundation fundraiser before she was hired as a student-athlete development coordinator by Petrino on March 28 at an annual salary of $55,735. She has not returned repeated calls seeking comment. The move came as Petrino said he would not appeal his firing and seek any of the $18 million buyout that was part of his contract. His agent, Russ Campbell, sent an email to athletic director Jeff Long late Thursday saying Petrino had accepted “responsibility for the events that led to the university’s decision to terminate his contract.” “Coach Petrino and his family wish nothing but the best for both the Razorback football program and University of Arkansas,” Campbell wrote. Petrino had the option to appeal as part of the seven-year contract he agreed to in December 2010. The contract was for more than $3.5 million annually and carried the $18 million mutual buyout clause in 2011 and 2012. The amount dropped over the life of the contract, falling to as little as $3.9 million in 2017. Long said that Petrino was fired for cause, meaning the coach was not
Photo by Richard Drew | AP
New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, left, shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern to seal the purchase of the New Orleans Hornets at a news conference in New York, on Friday.
Benson buys Hornets Off NBA auction block By BRIAN MAHONEY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michael Orrell / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arkansas fired coach Bobby Petrino, above, on Tuesday, publicly dressing him down for unfairly hiring his mistress and intentionally misleading his boss about everything from their relationship to her presence at the motorcycle accident that ultimately cost him his job. owed anything. The 51-year-old Petrino was fired Tuesday for failing to disclose his relationship with Dorrell before she was hired, as required by conflict of interest rules at the school. The affair became public only after the two went for a motorcycle ride April 1 and skidded off the road, putting Petrino in the hospital and resulting in a police report that contained her identity. Long has said the two were in a relationship for a “significant” amount of time and phone records show they exchanged more than 4,300 text messages and nearly 300 phone calls over the past seven months, possibly including photo and video content. The termination letter Long sent to Petrino was released by the school Fri-
day and it had more specifics. “(Y)ou deliberately failed to tell me that you had engaged in an extramarital affair with Ms. Dorrell over a period of several months leading up to your recommendation to hire her,” Long wrote. “If you had been forthcoming with me about the true nature of your relationship, I would not have approved the hiring.” Long also said Petrino “admitting giving $20,000 cash to Ms. Dorrell as a ‘gift.’ Ms. Dorrell used the money to purchase a black Acura during the first week that she worked for the football program. “Among other concerns relating to this ‘gift,’ you should have disclosed this fact to me ... but you failed to do so,” Long wrote.
NEW YORK — Tom Benson brought stability to the Saints nearly three decades ago and now plans to do the same for the Hornets in small-market New Orleans. The Saints’ owner agreed Friday to purchase the Hornets from the NBA. “We expect this club to be one of the most outstanding clubs in the league, otherwise I don’t want to get involved,” Benson said. “This is just a good thing and I’m just glad to be a part of it.” A person familiar with the deal says the purchase price is $338 million. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the financial terms have not been announced. The NBA has been trying to sell the Hornets since buying the club from founder George Shinn in December 2010. While preparing the team for sale the league negotiated a new lease for the Hornets to remain in the state-owned New Orleans Arena through 2024. The sale of the team to Benson has to be approved
by the NBA’s Board of Governors, which is meeting in New York on Friday. “The city is one of the country’s treasures and we really have found the perfect owner,” Commissioner David Stern said. “Our goal all along has been to get the Hornets bought by somebody whose commitment to New Orleans would be unrivaled.” The framework of ownership negotiations were handled in a way that a new Hornets owner would have to accept the lease worked out between the NBA and Gov. Bobby Jindal. The lease agreement also called for $50 million in improvements to the basketball stadium, which sits right across the street from the Superdome. Once the NBA approves the sale of the team to Benson, the next step is for the state Legislature to approve the arena lease deal because of the funding needed for stadium improvements. But legislative leaders already have publicly voiced support for the proposed lease deal, which would take effect in July. The 84-year-old Benson, a New Orleans-native, has
owned the Saints since 1985, when he stepped in to block efforts by other prospective investors to move the NFL franchise to Jacksonville, Fla. Now Benson has made another major investment to stabilize the NBA’s presence in the Big Easy on the same day that the Hornets were hosting the Utah Jazz, the very team New Orleans lost to relocation in 1979. Benson helped bring the Saints their first playoff appearance in 1987 and finally a Super Bowl title in 2010. His ownership of the Hornets means the two smallmarket franchises both will be locally owned and now can work as partners in their efforts to attract corporate sponsorships, and Hornets fans can at least hope that will translate to a better product on the hardwood. At the very least, the move provided Benson with some refreshingly positive publicity on the heels of the Saints’ bounty scandal, which led the NFL to suspend head coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season — the same season that will see New Orleans host the Super Bowl.