The Zapata Times 4/17/2010

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SATURDAY APRIL 17, 2010

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LAW ENFORCEMENT

Zetas stopped in Zapata Records show alleged hitman was to be paid $8,200 for shooting local man

By DENISE BLAZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

One of the alleged Zetas charged in a plot to kill a Zapata man was expecting to get paid as much as 100,000 pesos, about $8,200, for the hit, ac-

cording to an arrest affidavit secured by The Zapata Times.

On April 4, authorities arrested five people after receiving a tip that Jorge “La Tuna” Javier Jasso was going to be killed, the affidavit states. The men, according to Zapata

HIDALGO PEREZ CISNEROS GALLARDO GONZALEZ Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr., Jasso is known as a drug trafwere believed to be low-rank- ficker in Zapata,” states the afing members of the drug or- fidavit. Jasso denied the allegation, saying only that he beganization Los Zetas.

“According to investigators, lieved he was targted because

he had provided information to police.

The five men arrested were: Arturo Cisneros, 30, of Zapata; Adrian Gonzalez Morales, 21, Severiano Gallardo Solano, 26, and Juan Carlos Hidalgo Gallardo, 28, of Acapulco, Mexico; Ariel Perez Mendoza, 33, of Toluca, Mexico.

READY FOR AMERICA’S PASTIME

See ZETAS PAGE 10A

ZAPATA

Runoffs won by office holders

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times

The Reds Little League team waves to the crowd during the Little League Fun Day Parade in front of the Zapata County Court House on Friday afternoon.

COMMISSIONERS

INFRASTRUCTURE

Land offer for vat withdrawn

Flood forces library to close temporarily

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

The Zapata County Commissioners Court is no longer considering leasing a one-acre tract of land on Texas 16 for a cattle-dipping vat to fight ticks after the owner of the land withdrew his offer.

“I realize it’s important to many ranchers out there,” said Hildegardo Flores, Ph.D., who lives near the land that would have been leased for the vat. “There are many more suitable spots.”

Flores and his wife, Olga, addressed the com-

missioners at their regular meeting Monday.

Commissioner Gabriel Villarreal said he will continue to look for a place to build the dipping facility.

“We’re going to be open to proposals,” Commissioner Jose E. Vela said.

In other business, the Commissioners Court agreed to keep its landfill fee at the agreed-upon $25 per ton for Grande Garbage, which has a contract with the county to collect and dispose of trash.

“We’re in the need to

See COMMISSIONERS PAGE 9A

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Zapata’s popular public library flooded earlier this week, forcing it to close temporarily.

“It was a mess,” said Aida Garcia, director of the Olga V. Figueroa Zapata County Public Library. “The library is in a very bad location.”

Garcia interrupted the Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting Monday to inform the court about the plumbing overflow in the library’s bathrooms, caused by the heavy rain earlier in the day.

Employees arrived to find the place flooded and the stench unbearable.

Garcia closed the doors to the public to give the Zapata County Wastewater Department time to clean up the mess.

This isn’t the first time the library

“

Something must definitely be wrong.”

JORGE L. SERNA, EMPLOYEE

and its staff has faced this kind of problem.

“Something must definitely be wrong,” employee Jorge L. Serna said.

“Its just not recent, it’s been happening for years.”

Serna said the library has had to shut down several times because of the smell of sewage inside.

According to Garcia and library as-

See LIBRARY PAGE 10A

Two Zapata County incumbents seeking re-election won their runoff races Tuesday.

Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Anna Muñoz Guerra and Precinct 2 County Commissioner Gabriel Villarreal each thanked their supporters.

Guerra said she is very grateful to her family, friends and all other supporters for re-electing her and plans to help the people in her precinct even more by creating programs that will benefit them.

“I always try to be there for the people when they need me,” Guerra said. “I work with SCAN (Serving Children and Adolescents in Need), the Sheriff ’s Department and the school district.”

One of Guerra’s main involvements with charity is playing Blue Santa in a toy donation drive every year.

In expressing his gratitude to supporters, Villarreal also talked about his plans for construction projects in San Ygnacio, which he represents.

“I need to thank my family, friends and constituents for re-electing me another four years,” Villarreal said. “I plan to build a nutrition center in San Ygnacio and will soon receive $1.5 million for a sewage project granted by the USDA.” Other projects include an ongoing street expansion project on FM 3169, involving expanding the road from its intersection with U.S. 83 to two miles north of U.S. 83.

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2557.)

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

SATURDAY, APRIL 17 1st Annual Autism Trail ride & Fun Fest is set for this morning. Trail ride starts at Las Lomas on hwy. 59 at 9 a.m., arrives at life downs at 2 p.m.

Fun fest starts at noon to 6 p.m. at L.I.F.E. Downs open pavilion. There will be live music, food games, clowns, pony rides, raffles and mechanical bulls all to sponsor Autism Awareness. The fun fest is free for all participants, $10 per child rider and $20 per adult rider.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18 Voz de Niños celebrates with Family Field Day today from 1 to 5 p.m. at IBC Lago del Rio. Tickets are $25 for adults and children and includes everything from live music and entertainment, face painting, pony rides, moonwalks, to family games. For more information, call 727.8691.

MONDAY, APRIL 19 Zapata chapter No. 1106 Order of the Easter Star will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Zapata Masonic Lodge, 14th Street and Highway 16.

More than 500 job seekers and 30 employers are expected to attend the 2010 LCC Job Expo during the two-day job fairs which start today at LCC’s Forth McIntosh and South campus. Some of the employers expected to attend the job fairs include Barnes and Noble, KGNS, Dallas Police Department, BBVA Compass Bank, Texas A&M International University, Border Media Group, Laredo and United independent school districts, and Univision.

The fairs are free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21 Students of the Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts will present Showcase 2010 at the Laredo Civic Center Auditorium on Wednesday, April 21 beginning at 6:30 p.m. In the lobby will be displays by visual art and communications students. Performances by music, dance and theatre students will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $2 at the door.

FRIDAY, APRIL 23 Laredo walkers will go around the clock to fight cancer during the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event. Teams of will gather at the grounds of Texas A&M International University overnight to join the fight against cancer from 7 p.m. on April 23 until 7 a.m. on April 24. Prizes and awards will be given for best decorated tent and banner and most creative spirit stick. For more information, call 723-9682.

Today marks the start of the three-day Laredo International ’Sister Cities’ Festival. From 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Laredo Convention & Visitors Bureau hosts the shopping extravaganza event at Laredo Energy Arena. For more information, go to www.visitlaredo.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 From 8 p.m. to past midnight, Laredo Center for the Arts is throwing the Tequila Mocking Bird Street Fiesta, featuring live music by Ross & Friends, a cash bar and antojitos. Tickets are $20 pre-sale and $25 at the gate. For more information, call 725-1715.

SATURDAY, MAY 1 Alpha Delta Kappa hosts its Golden Apple Banquet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Laredo Civic Center Ballroom. The organization annually honors local educators and proceeds go towards scholarships to local high school students.

Admission is $25.

SUNDAY, MAY 2 Holy Redeemer Church celebrates with its Annual Jamaica all day today at the corner of Davis Ave. and Garcia St. Loteria starts at 3 p.m. A 2010 Ford Ranger XL will be raffled, along with four other prizes. For more information, call 286-3798.

THURSDAY, MAY 20 American Legion meets tonight at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Building, 2213 North U.S. Hwy 83.

FRIDAY, MAY 28 The American Indian Council of Laredo will hold its 17th annual PowWow from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. today at the Laredo Civic Center Ballroom, 2400 San Bernardo Ave. The event will include arts and crafts, dancers and drummers. Admission is free. For more information, call Xavier Delapass at (210) 461-4796 or Robert Barrera at (956) 235-0848.

SATURDAY, JULY 17 The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce presents the Fishing Tournament for Life Extravaganza March of Dimes on Falcon Lake. Registration begins today at 5 to 7 p.m. at the Oso Blanco Lodge Boat Ramp. For more information, call 765-4339.

To submit an item for the calendar, send the name of the event, the date, time, location and contact phone number to editorial@lmtonline.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

AROUND THE WORLD

TODAY IN HISTORY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by DLR/TerraSAR-X | AP

A computer-enhanced image Friday shows a photo of the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier on Iceland taken by the TerraSAR-X satellite on Thursday. The volcano, which erupted for the second time in less than a month, melted ice, shot smoke and steam into the air and forced hundreds of people to flee rising floodwaters.

Ash disrupts Europe

By JILL LAWLESS ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON — Thick drifts of volcanic ash blanketed parts of rural Iceland on Friday as a vast, invisible plume of grit drifted over Europe, emptying the skies of planes and sending hundreds of thousands in search of hotel rooms, train tickets or rental cars.

Polish officials worried that the ash cloud could threaten the arrival of world leaders for Sunday’s state funeral for President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria in the southern city of Krakow.

So far, President Barack Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are among those coming and no one has canceled. Kaczynski’s family insisted Friday they wanted the

Iraq PM: Sunni-backed bloc must be in govt BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Shiite prime minister said Friday the Sunni-backed political coalition that is headed by his archrival and won the most seats in last month’s parliamentary election must be included in the country’s new government.

The comments from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appear to offer an olive branch to former premier Ayad Allawi and his secular Iraqiya bloc.

funeral to go forward as planned.

The air traffic agency Eurocontrol said almost two-thirds of Europe’s flights were canceled Friday, as air space remained largely closed in Britain and across large chunks of north and central Europe.

“The skies are empty over northern Europe,” said Brian Flynn, deputy head of Eurocontrol, adding “there will be some significant disruption of European air traffic.”

The agency said about 16,000 of Europe’s usual 28,000 daily flights were canceled Friday — twice as many as were canceled a day earlier.

U.S. airlines canceled 280 of the more than 330 trans-Atlantic flights of a normal day, and about 60 flights between Asia and Europe were canceled.

Amazon dam delay Gates sees Caribbean as overturned by Brazil judge soft target for drug trade BRASILIA, Brazil — A judge on Friday overturned a decision that could have delayed construction of a huge Amazon dam opposed by environmentalists, Indians and the director of “Avatar.”

The judge in the capital of Brasilia reversed a decision to suspend contract bidding scheduled for next week and also overturned the suspension of the license for the 11,000-megawatt Belo Monte dam.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday he is concerned drug trafficking will migrate to the Caribbean, as Mexico steps up its counternarcotics efforts.

Gates was meeting with with leaders from seven Caribbean islands. The U.S. is spending $45 million this year and has budgeted another $70 million in 2011 to help improve security -- Compiled from AP reports

AROUND TEXAS Perry entertains talk of 2012 presidential bid AUSTIN — After clobbering Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the March Republican primaries, Gov. Rick Perry has been steadily raising his national profile, fueling speculation that he is quietly building a campaign for the White House in 2012.

Perry still has to beat Democrat Bill White in November, so the speculation only goes so far.

16 teens nabbed in in-school drug sting WEST COLUMBIA — Police have taken 16 students Columbia High School here into custody after what they say was a monthslong undercover drug sting in the school.

Police pulled the 16 from their classes about 9:30 Friday and loaded them into a police van.

Five of the 16 students are adults.

Photo by Harry Cabluck | AP

Joe Lambert, right, of the Central Intelligence Agency, is shown with Mark Updegrove, director of the LBJ Library, left, before a symposium on the lessons learned from the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia at the library, on Friday.

Teacher suffers facial burns with sulfuric acid ALAMO — Authorities say assailants attacked an elementary school teacher with sulfuric acid

after staging a fender bender.

The woman and her 8-year-old daughter were leaving a school Tuesday when two men bumped the rear of her car. When she went to inspect the damage, one poured the acid on her face.

-- Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE NATION Feds indict ex-Blackwater president RALEIGH, N.C. — The former president of Blackwater Worldwide was charged Friday with using straw purchases to stockpile automatic weapons at the security firm and filing false documents to cover up gifts.

Today is Saturday, April 17, the 107th day of 2010. There are 258 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On April 17, 1970, Apollo 13 astronauts James A. Lovell, Fred W. Haise and Jack Swigert splashed down safely in the Pacific, four days after a ruptured oxygen tank crippled their spacecraft while en route to the moon.

On this date: In 1521, Martin Luther went before the Diet of Worms to face charges stemming from his religious writings. He was later declared an outlaw by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. In 1524, Giovanni da Verrazano reached present-day New York Harbor.

In 1861, the Virginia State Convention voted to secede from the Union.

In 1895, the Treaty of Shimonoseki ended the first Sino-Japanese War. In 1941, Yugoslavia surrendered to Germany in World War II. In 1961, some 1,500 CIAtrained Cuban exiles launched the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba.

In 1964, Ford Motor Co. unveiled its new Mustang model at the New York World’s Fair.

Jerrie Mock of Columbus, Ohio, became the first woman to complete a solo airplane flight around the world.

In 1969, a jury in Los Angeles convicted Sirhan Sirhan of assassinating Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. The First Secretary of Czechoslovakia’s Communist Party, Alexander Dubcek, was deposed.

In 1975, Cambodia’s five-year war ended as the capital Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge, which instituted radical policies that claimed an estimated 1.7 million lives until the regime was overthrown in 1979.

In 1990, the Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, the civil rights activist and top aide to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., died in Atlanta at age 64.

Ten years ago: World finance officials in Washington closed out a tumultuous meeting with renewed pledges to hasten debt relief for poor countries and increase support for the AIDS epidemic. Kenya’s Elijah Lagat won the Boston Marathon; Catherine Ndereba became the first female Kenyan winner.

Five years ago: Registered sex offender David Lee Onstott was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Sarah Michelle Lunde (LUHN’-dee), the 13-year-old Florida girl whose body had been found the day before. Onstott was later convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Today’s Birthdays: Rock promoter Don Kirshner is 76.

Composer-musician Jan Hammer (yahn HAH’-mur) is 62. Actress Olivia Hussey is 59. Actor Clarke Peters is 58. Rock singer-musician Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks) is 55. Actor Sean Bean is 51. Rock singer Maynard James Keenan is 46. Actress Lela Rochon is 46. Actor William Mapother is 45. Actress Leslie Bega is 43. Actress Kimberly Elise is 43. Singer Liz Phair is 43.

Rapper-actor Redman is 40. Actress Jennifer Garner is 38.

Country musician Craig Anderson (Heartland) is 37.

Thought for Today: “Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.” — Benjamin Franklin, born 1706, died this date in 1790.

Gary Jackson, 52, who left last year in a management shakeup, was charged along with four other former workers, according to the federal indictment.

Universities looking to feds for funds SEATTLE — Public university presidents are meeting this month

to talk about replacing dwindling state support with more dollars from the federal government.

Universities already get some federal funding, but University of Washington President Mark Emmert said Friday he believes it would be better for the federal government to get more involved in supporting the day-to-day needs of public research universities.

-- Compiled from AP reports

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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

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

Zlocal

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Texas Ranger to have Deputies nab man office in courthouse after lengthy chase

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

The Zapata County Commissioners Court has allocated an office in the Zapata County Courthouse for the new Texas Ranger assigned to the area.

Texas Ranger Pete Luna will assist agencies in Zapata and Jim Hogg counties as well as other federal and state agencies.

Texas Rangers are elite investigators who are part of the Texas Department of Public Safety. They provide a vital resource to other law enforcement agencies, and often work with sheriff ’s departments and rural law enforcement agencies across the state.

Texas Rangers deal with

Luna was scheduled to start work in Zapata County in April, said Texas Ranger Victor Escalon of Laredo, but Luna is still completing some training. the most serious crimes such as murder and public corruption as well as lesser crimes such as theft.

Luna was scheduled to start work in Zapata County in April, said Texas Ranger Victor Escalon of Laredo, but Luna is still completing some training.

“He will be out of town in April,” Escalon said.

“He should be available in May.”

Escalon said Luna was a narcotics agent in Houston. He was stationed in Zapata County due to the state’s growing population.

“We’re always asking for more people to cover theses areas,” Escalon said. “We have to grow with the state.”

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557.)

Jury selection to begin Monday for three cases

By DENISE BLAZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Set for jury selection Monday are three cases on the Zapata docket, according to 49th District Court coordinators.

Two criminal cases and one civil case are set for hearings in front of state District Judge Joe Lopez.

According to information obtained through the coordinators, Arnoldo Garza Treviño is facing charges of one count of possession of marijuana and one count of

possession of a controlled substance, both state jail felonies.

The other criminal case charges Sandalio Ramos with one count of possession of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony, and an analogous controlled substance charge, a third-degree felony.

In a lawsuit filed against Zapata County, Oscar Liendo is suing for damages, according to a clerk in the District Clerk’s office.

(Denise Blaz may be reached at 728-2547 or dblaz@lmtonline.com)

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Deputies say a reckless driver evaded arrest with a vehicle and on foot for several blocks the night of April 10.

Zapata County Sheriff ’s Department deputies arrested Ruben Osbaldo Carmona-Benavidez, 27, and charged him with reckless driving, two counts of evading arrest with a vehicle, three counts of evading arrest on foot and terroristic threat.

The man was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail, and held in lieu of a combined bond of $90,000.

According to Sgt. Mario Elizondo, the department received an anonymous call reporting a driver of a 1994 Pontiac driving reck-

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

If a leopard cannot change its spots, can adults change their personalities? Not really, according to a recently published meta-analysis by Christopher J. Ferguson, associate professor, psychology, Texas A&M International University.

The study, “A Meta-Analysis of Normal and Disordered Personality Across the Life Span,” appears in the “Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,” 2010 Volume 98, Issue 4 (April).

“Basically, personality is more stable across the lifespan than some scholars had thought. Even individuals in therapy don’t experience much personality change,” Ferguson said.

“The issue of personality stability is one that is important beyond the scientific and public debates.

Many decisions made in therapy as well as by persons in normal life may hinge upon this issue,” he wrote.

For example, Ferguson said patients and therapists might set personality change as a role of therapy, but if the personality is highly stable, this may not be a realistic goal.

“Many personal decisions are made in hopes that individuals—ranging from failed employees to abusive spouses—can ‘change.’ Elucidating the degree to which change is possible may be valuable for individuals making decisions based upon the hope for personality change,” he explains.

All hope is not lost, though.

“By contrast, personality during childhood is significantly more changeable,” he concludes.

Data suggest that personality is relatively changing during youth, yet quickly becomes stable by early adulthood.

“It is important to emphasize that the current data do not provide evidence either for or against the belief that personality is necessarily the product

of genetics, only that whatever its origin, it remains largely stable in adulthood.

This was true both for normal personality traits and for disorders of the personality,” Ferguson stresses.

Ferguson has a B.A. from Stetson University, an M.S. from Florida International University and Ph.D. from the University of Central Florida.

He has published several articles on a variety of topics including youth violence and effects of violence in video games and edited “Violent Crime: Clinical and Social Implications” (Sage, 2010).

For more information, contact Ferguson at cferguson@tamiu.edu, 326-2636 or visit office in F.M. Canseco Hall, room 302C.

SGT. MARIO ELIZONDO

lessly at 9:45 p.m. at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and Ramireño Street.

“He was witnessed by a deputy driving at high rated speed,” Elizondo said.

Once spotted, deputies turned on their lights and attempted a traffic stop, but the man sped off, Elizondo said.

The car chase ended when the assailant pulled into an acquaintance’s residence in the 600 block

of Miraflores Street. Elizondo said he exited the vehicle and ran behind the residence.

The man resisted arrest when deputies encountered him. Elizondo said deputies used a Taser on the man, but he was able to “shake it off ” and tried to elude officials again.

Finally, deputies used pepper spray and subdued him.

(César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)

THE BLOTTER ASSAULT Jose Luis Gonzalez, 21, was arrested on charges of assault causes bodily injury family violence at 11:30 p.m. April 9 in the 900 block of Medina Avenue. He was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail, where he was released after time already served.

INCIDENT

Personality stabilizes as we age, says professor

“

“He was witnessed by a deputy driving at high rated speed.”

Deputies recovered marijuana plants at noon April 11 in the 100 block of Third Street and Avenue A. An incident reports stated while executing a felony warrant, deputies observed several marijuana plants in pots behind the residence in an empty

lot. No arrest was made. The Zapata County Sheriff’s Department has an open investigation in the incident.

stolen a lawn mower from his residence.

BURGLARY

A 38-year-old woman reported at 9:45 a.m. April 9 in the intersection of Fifth Avenue and U.S. 83 someone broke the driver-side window to her 2004 Chevy sport-utility vehicle.

A 49-year-old man reported a burglary of a building at 1:30 p.m. April 8 at the intersection of First Avenue and Singer Lane. According to an incident report, the complainant stated someone stole $300 from a register, a diagnostic computer for vehicles and a radio from a Chevy pickup.

Deputies responded to a burglary of habitation call at about 6:45 p.m. in the 1700 block of Glenn Street. The complainant stated someone had

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

PUBLIC INTOXICATION Jose de Jesus Alonzo-Perez, 50, was arrested on charges of public intoxication at 8:30 p.m. April 8 at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Elm Street.

He was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail, and released to later appear at court.

Zopinion

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SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM

EDITORIAL

OTHER VIEWS

Obama gets involved early with space NEW YORK TIMES

W

hen it was unveiled — in budget documents — in February, we thought President Barack Obama’s new approach to human space flight made good sense. But it drew immediate, fierce opposition from states that feared they would lose jobs and from congressional boosters of the traditional space program.

It called for scrapping the Bush administration’s program to return to the moon by 2020, which had fallen hopelessly behind schedule and relied on outdated technology. It substituted a big investment in developing new technologies to make travel farther into the solar system cheaper and faster. In the meantime, NASA would rely on commercial companies to carry astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station after the aging shuttle fleet is retired.

In a speech at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Obama sought — personally — to win over his critics, offering a powerful rationale for his plan and some reasonable modifications.

To mitigate the impact of job losses as the shuttle program winds down, the president is now pledging to spend $40 million to promote job creation and economic development in Florida. He will also resuscitate a program to build a space capsule, but a scaleddown version to be

parked at the space station for emergency escapes. That would preserve jobs in some battleground states and lay the foundation for upgrading the capsule later.

The administration has given no clue as to how much that will cost and which other NASA programs it will pillage to pay the bill. Congress must make certain that vital research programs are not harmed.

We were concerned that the original proposal had not identified a clear goal for space travel or set deadlines for getting there. On Thursday, the president began to fill in the blanks. He called for picking a rocket design for deep space travel by 2015, allowing production to start earlier than previously planned.

He ruled out returning to the surface of the moon because “we have been there before” and called instead for crewed missions into deeper space, starting in 2025 with a visit to an asteroid. By the mid-2030s, he expects humans will orbit Mars. We don’t know how realistic these projections are since the administration has yet to put forth a thorough analysis.

We also don’t know if Obama will manage to win over opponents. But Thursday’s speech suggests that he has learned an important lesson from the yearlong struggle to pass health care reform.

He needs to get involved early and not leave it to subordinates to defend plans that will upend vested interests.

COLUMN

Don’t blame homosexuals

By RHONDA SWAN COX NEWSPAPERS

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Churches are a great place for sinners to hide.

Especially, for the past several decades, the Roman Catholic Church.

That’s what Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican’s secretary of state, should have said this week in Chile. Instead, he blamed the church’s latest scandal on homosexuals.

Celibacy, he said, doesn’t cause pedophilia. Homosexuality does.

“Many psychologists and psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relation between celibacy and pedophilia,” Cardinal Bertone said. “But many others have demonstrated, I have been told recently, that there is a relation between homosexuality and pedophilia. That is true. That is the problem.”

That is not true. That is not the problem.

There is no science that suggests gays are predisposed to pedophilia. Gays are just an easy scapegoat for a denomination that refuses to even discuss the fact that few priests are able voluntarily to achieve lifelong celibacy.

Still, celibacy is no more to blame for the umpteenth sex abuse scandal to rock the Vatican than homosexuality. The prob-

lem is the Vatican’s system of secrecy and the shameless way its leaders have responded to the church’s institutional sins. So far, they have blamed the media, gays and Jews.

A 1985 letter obtained last week by The Associated Press indicates when Pope Benedict XVI was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, archbishop of Munich, he resisted pleas to defrock a priest with a history of molesting children.

What about the good of the universe’s children?

The letter debunks the claim by the Vatican that Pope Benedict had nothing to do with blocking the removal of pedophile priests during his years as head of the doctrinal office.

Since 2002, when The Boston Globe broke the story that Boston’s archbishop admitted that he had protected a priest whom he knew to be abusing young children, the stories of pedophile priests have been numerous.

Yet the church, which tries to rehabilitate its offending priests, does nothing for these victims — who number in the thousands — unless they sue and get a settlement.

How Christ-like is that?

The church, in its efforts to protect an institution, has become a safe haven for the worst among us instead of a sanctuary for the least among us.

COLUMN

Answer blows in the wind

By KEN HERMAN COX NEWSPAPERS

A

USTIN — I was going to be Henry Kissinger, negotiator of peace in troubled regions.

Instead, I turned out to be Jerry Springer, thrower of gasoline onto raging fires (while pointing a video camera at them).

As peacemaking always does, it began with such good intent, sparked by the anguished outcry from the suffering — in this case a woman who’s heard more then enough of her neighbor’s wind chime.

“And,” she said, “no one cares.”

We care Au contraire, ma’am. We are your local newspaper, and we care. It’s important for us to tap into local neighborhoods and their problems. Sometimes the problems are big, perhaps schools. Sometimes the problems are small, perhaps a neighbor’s wind chime. But no problem is small when it’s yours.

And that’s how it came to be that I entered into shuttle diplomacy, confident I was headed for a no-bell prize for peace in our chimes.

Instead, we get a tale of how I brought warring neighbors together and perhaps made things worse.

Join me on one man’s unsettling journey to the realization that we shall never have peace on Earth.

What we have here are two couples, backyard neighbors. One has a wind chime it loves. The other couple hates the chime, or

more specifically, the cowbell-like gong it emits.

“I don’t know what it is about this,” the complainant said in her backyard as we listened to the chime.

“It’s so peaceful other than that. It’s like church bells in your yard.”

Seeking relief Months ago, she sent the neighbor a note seeking relief. She followed up with a personal visit. Later, there was a call to the police, who sent an officer who told the complainant he found the chime “very soothing.”

The chime owners did not appreciate the police involvement.

Both sides, however, seemed amenable to my offered involvement, though the complainant warned me that the chime owner “has dead animals all over the inside of his house.”

That’s about everything I knew about him when I knocked on his door on a Monday afternoon.

He could not have been nicer, even if I had not roused him from a nap. There was no dead-animal odor. The hunting trophies on the wall seemed well-preserved.

“It’s been there ever since we first got here, and it’s going to stay there as long as we’re here,” Mr. Chime-owner said about the wind chime, recalling the police involvement, the neighbors’ lawyer letter about mediation (which the neighbors opted not to pursue due to cost) and the time the chime owner went around the block to express his displeasure It was time, I decided, for peace talks.

“Anything is certainly

possible,” Mr. Chime-owner told me, offering his kitchen table as the site.

As the parties exchanged cautiously congenial greetings I thought to myself, “WWHD?” and surmised that Kissinger would focus on moving forward rather than reviewing past battles.

Unfortunately, we spent the first few minutes talking about the ugly history.

Things got even worse when Mrs. Chime-owner, unaware of the historic peace talks in her kitchen, came home. I introduced myself and my humanitarian intent.

“This is over my bell?” she asked.

No bell prize There was hope of progress moments later when Mr. Chime-owner said he and his wife might be “willing to put the chime up from time to time” as his wife apparently had been doing. Clear the mantel for my no-bell prize.

But then this from Mrs. Chime-owner: “We have a lake house that has probably half a dozen of those on the porch and, you know what, we love every one of them. And, you know what, we may just bring some of them back because we enjoy the sound of them so much.”

Paging Dr. Kissinger.

By now, my definition of success had changed, updated to involve me getting into my car without any noticeable wounds. It also would be nice, though a lower priority, if nobody else got hurt.

We got things back on track and moved toward periodic, voluntary chime-si-

lencing in exchange for an end to complaints to authorities. Everybody relatively OK with that?

“I don’t know,” Mrs. Chime-owner chimed in.

“Like I said, I may get so upset by the time y’all leave that when we go to our lake house I’m liable to bring more back.”

I now understand how small skirmishes become historic events with names like “The Hundred Years War.” But the deal, I thought, was struck, though the terms were somewhat nonspecific. “Anywhere from 10 to 40 to 50 percent reduction is great,” said the complainant’s husband.

One more time OK, again, everyone relatively happy?

“Don’t threaten me,” said Mrs. Chime-owner, “because believe me, I have a lot of (wind chimes), a whole porchful of them, and I will bring every stinkin’ one of them back if you sit there and tell me I can’t.”

Late last week, the complainant reported the chime has been silenced “quite a bit.” The chime owners said they, indeed, have periodically been decommissioning it. So we can report a modicum of progress, though far short of a new era of peace and love.

Anybody else have a small neighborhood problem they’d like me to try to escalate into a bigger neighborhood problem?

(Reach Ken Herman, who writes for the Austin American-Statesman, at kherman@statesman.com)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Zapata Times does not publish anonymous letters.

To be published, letters must include the writer’s first and last names as well as a phone number to verify identity. The

phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication.

We want to assure our

readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the letter. The Zapata Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms.

Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-call-

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

ing or gratuitous abuse is allowed.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

PAGE 6A

Zentertainment

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

‘School’ back in session Staged version of Disney’s new classic a lively, youth-based production

By KIRSTEN CROW THE ZAPATA TIMES

There’s really no stopping a Disney vehicle — or Disney machine, as the case may be — from steamrolling into the public consciousness and popularity.

And there may be no better case in point than the company’s “High School Musical.” What started as a fairly small production — a mere television movie — exploded into a global phenomenon, with millions of fans of all ages.

It’s easy to see the appeal: Drawing from a cast of likeable characters backed by splashy, energetic numbers, the plot follows one that any teenager can relate to: competition, cliques and high pressure to meet the “status quo.”

And in what is likely its most mainstream production yet, the Laredo Community College Opera Workshop brings that appeal to the stage of the Martinez Fine Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. tonight and 3 p.m.

Sunday. Admission is $10.

“It’s really going to be a great show,” Crabtree said.

“Disney is always entertaining, always family-friendly.

There’s no controversy or

risqué (parts). It’s an excellent feature to bring the family to.”

music by Bryan Louiselle and the book by David Simpatico, fit the ticket.

A change of pace

The story

LCC’s Opera Workshop has long prided itself on versatility: the talented troupe has performed everything from comedic operettas and zarzuelas to “old standard” Broadway shows such as “Guys and Dolls” and “Fiddler on the Roof.”

But, said director Joseph Crabtree, this time, the workshop was interested in performing a piece that was “a little more in the public eye.” The students, also, played a large role in the decision, he said, as many of them insisted it would be a great production for Laredo.

“It’s well known; there’s a built-in fanbase for it,” Crabtree said. “We hope that (the performance) will bring in new people, a different audience, and we can educate people about some of the other things we do. …

We’ve done some high-brow things, so it was time to do something a little more mainstream.”

This production, based on the original Disney Channel Movie by Peter Barsocchini,

The plot is simple, and easily relatable for anyone who has ever attended high school. Two crazy kids have a crazy thing for each other.

The only problem? They migrate in different social circles. And high school just isn’t the place for forgiving.

Gabriella Montez, a “brain” who is particularly adept at science, meets Troy Bolton, basketball star, at a New Year’s Eve party. The two are separated before they can share their first kiss, seemingly dashing their chances at young romance.

Shortly thereafter, however, Gabriella unknowingly transfers to Troy’s school, where the duo is again drawn together. Although they run in different cliques, they share a love of music: A fact mocked by their peers, who encourage them to “stick to the status quo.”

In addition to their classmates being relatively unaccepting of the couple’s union and of their anticipat-

Child assassins hilarious in ‘Kick’

By DAVID GERMAIN ASSOCIATED PRESS

The filmmakers behind Hollywood’s latest superhero flick have declared war on family values.

“Kick-Ass” is bad news for lovers of all that is gen-

ed participation in the school’s annual musicale — a feminist rendition of “Romeo and Juliet” in the form of “Juliet and Romeo” — Sharpay, a conceited queen of the drama club, and her lapdog brother, Ryan, continue to run interference.

Sharpay, you see, has always been the star of the musicale.

In between, there’s plenty of singing, dancing, costume changes and comic turns.

One of the greater challenges to staging the musical is in distinguishing the theater version from the film version, noted Crabtree.

Among the differences between the two are shifts in the character roles — some of the characters’ roles are

downsized or cut entirely, while others get more face time — as well as the use of space.

“We had to judiciously use the area we had, and use lighting effects, stage level and platforms to create different spaces,” he said.

“It worked really well.”

The cast Although the character list and the size of the roles is slightly different than the film version, the core characters are a mainstay: Allie Howland, a junior at United High School’s Engineering and Technology Magnet, plays Gabriella Montez; Gustavo Gomez, a student at

LCC and Texas A&M International University, plays Troy Bolton.

Rounding out the cast are Stephanie Solis-Schnyder as Sharpay, Edson Gonzalez as her brother, Ryan, Aries Guevara as the melodramatic Mrs. Darbus and Ricardo Holguin as the hardnosed Wildcats basketball coach.

Because of the play’s popular appeal, auditions were much larger than is typical, Crabtree said. Many of the roles, too, are filled by younger thespians who have previously participated in UIL One Act. Proceeds from the performance benefit student scholarships, as well as future LCC Opera Workshop productions.

Next stop: Style Fashion show takes on a destination cruise flavor

By KIRSTEN CROW THE ZAPATA TIMES

REVIEW tle and wholesome. But it’s great news for fans itching to laugh dementedly as a little girl in a neon purple wig cusses like Tony Soprano and fires kill shots to the heads of many bad guys.

Director Matthew Vaughn has made an action comedy so bloody funny — double emphasis on bloody — fans might need to see it again just to catch the gags they missed from laughing so hard the first time.

As an 11-year-old masked vigilante, supporting player Chloe Grace Moretz simply owns this movie, deliriously complemented by Nicolas Cage as her doting but dotty dad.

That’s not to take anything away from Aaron Johnson, solid but rather bland by comparison in the title role as a teen who

Photo by Ricardo Segovia | The Zapata Times

Stephanie Solis-Schnyder, center, as Sharpay, eyes new girl Gabriella Montez, right, played by Allie Howland.

Photo by Lionsgate | AP

In this film publicity image released by Lionsgate, Chloe Grace Moretz, left, and Mark Strong are shown in a scene from “Kick Ass.” takes on a superhero alterego and bumbles out to fight crime — without a trace of the special powers that usually go with the job.

It’s just that in Cage and Moretz’ Batman-and-Robinstyle duo, Vaughn and comic-book writer Mark Millar have created one of the sharpest — and certainly most lethal — father-daughter combinations ever to hit the screen.

Johnson plays Dave Lizewski, an average New York City comic-book geek who wonders why real peo-

ple don’t sally forth to become superheroes.

Buying a sleek wetsuit online for his costume, Dave rebrands himself as KickAss, who quickly suffers for taking on brutal street thugs.

Yet Dave’s pluck and resilience — plus a YouTube video of his exploits recorded by a bystander — turn him into a folk hero, making him a target for crime boss Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong).

“Kick-Ass” is playing at Cinemark Mall Del Norte and Hollywood Theaters.

As summer swiftly approaches, the specter of a beautiful getaway, long from home, looms.

But for those who can’t wait for a brief reprieve — and those who are already planning their own vacation wardrobe — there’s the annual Secretaries Luncheon and Style Show, as presented and organized by the Volunteer Services Council of the Border Region Mental Health and Mental Retardation Community Center.

To be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at the Laredo Country Club, this year’s theme is appropriately “All Aboard — Let’s Take a Cruise.”

The show will include “destinations” of fashion motifs, such as New York, Spain and Italy. The wideranging attire is provided

by Dillard’s.

It’s all in an effort to honor the “backbone of businesses,” secretaries, as well as act as the sole fund-

Photo by Ricardo Segovia | The Zapata Times

Virginia Hughes, pictured here in a summery dress, will be among the models gracing the stage on Thursday. raiser for Border Region MHMR, said Molly Martinez, Volunteer Services Council president.

The fashion show, Martinez said, is designed to appear as a cruise. For instance, the opening number begins on a boat with five male models cleaning its deck, all while singing and dancing.

Next, the show will continue with its “port stops,” among which will be the themes of “Hello, Honolu-

lu,” “New York, New York” and “The Romance of Spain.”

Tickets to attend the Secretaries Luncheon and Style Show are $60 per person, but Martinez said the council strongly urges businesses to treat their front office staff by purchasing an entire table of 10 for $600 for the occasion.

To purchase individual tickets or tables of 10, call Martinez at 724-2300 or Kathy Seitel at 794-3240.

SÁBADO 17 DE ABRIL DE 2010

Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 17 DE ABRIL LAREDO — Hoy es la 1er Cabalgata y Festival pro Autismo.

La cabalgata dará inicio en Las Lomas, sobre la Carretera 59 a las 9 a.m. para llegar a Life Downs a las 2 p.m. El festival será del mediodía a las 6 p.m. en el pabellón abierto de L.I.F.E. Downs. Habrá música en vivo, comida, alimentos, payasos, paseo en pony, rifas y toro mecánica. El objetivo es ayudar a la Atención del Autismo. La entrada y el estacionamiento son gratuitos. Para participar en la cabalgata, el costo para niños es de 10 dólares y para adultos es de 20 dólares.

LAREDO — El Consulado de México en Laredo anuncia que su Programa de Jornadas Sabatinas será hoy de 9 a.m. a 2 p.m., donde se brinda servicio al público que requiera documentación consular además de orientación en el ámbito de protección. Más información en el 723-0990.

LAREDO — Disney on Ice presenta Worlds of Fantasy hoy a las 2:30 p.m. y 7:30 p.m. en el Laredo Energy Arena, con los boletos empezando en 17 dólares. Llegue antes de la hora del evento para tomarse fotografía con Tiana de The Princess and The Frog. Adquiera sus boletos en www.disneyonice.com; ticketmaster y en la taquilla de LEA. LAREDO — El Taller de Opera del Laredo Community College presenta hoy “Disney’s High School Musical On Stage!” a las 7:30 p.m. en el teatro Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center del Campus Fort McIntosh de LCC. La entrada general es de 10 dólares.

DOMINGO 18 DE ABRIL LAREDO — Los Testigos de Jehová le invitan a escuchar el discurso bíblico titulado “¿Cuándo tendremos verdadera paz y seguridad?” hoy a las 10 a.m. en el Salón del Reino de los Testigos de Jehová en el 4105 Casa Blanca Rd. LAREDO — Disney on Ice presenta Worlds of Fantasy hoy a las 2:30 p.m. en el Laredo Energy Arena, con los boletos empezando en 17 dólares. Llegue antes de la hora del evento para tomarse fotografía con Tiana de The Princess and The Frog. Adquiera sus boletos en www.disneyonice.com; ticketmaster y en la taquilla de LEA. LAREDO — El Taller de Opera del Laredo Community College presenta hoy “Disney’s High School Musical On Stage!” a las 3 p.m. en el teatro Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center del Campus Fort McIntosh de LCC.

Zfrontera

PÁGINA 7A

Estado busca recuperar la paz Gobernador respalda presencia y acciones del Ejército y Armada TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

CD. VICTORIA, México — En distintos escenarios esta semana el Gobernador del Estado Eugenio Hernández Flores ha aprovechado cada uno de sus mensajes para reiterar que Tamaulipas seguirá luchando por recuperar la tranquilidad que dijo, indirectamente, aún está lejana.

Nuevamente dio su respaldo al Ejército y Armada de México para que se siga apoyando en la lucha contra la delincuencia organizada e inclusive que incrementen su presencia en cantidad.

“Ante la ola de incidentes violentos provocados por grupos organizados de delincuentes, es imperativo que el Ejército Mexicano siga operando en Tamaulipas”, dijo Hernández el fin de semana. “Requerimos que sigan aquí, que sigan combatiendo a esos grupos, que sigamos juntos en esta lucha que tiene

“

Nada ni nadie va a detener el progreso de México, ni de Tamaulipas”.

GOBERNADOR DE TAMAULIPAS EUGENIO HERNÁNDEZ FLORES

mucho por delante”.

Sostuvo que la entidad también hace su parte para ayudar en esta lucha aunque “estos delincuentes que son peligrosos (..) tienen una gran capacidad de fuego con armamento muy superior al de los policías estatales”.

Durante la inauguración de un centro comercial al sur del estado, Hernández dijo que a pesar del clima de inseguridad que vive el país, Tamaulipas sigue generando confianza entre los sectores empresariales locales, nacionales e internacionales para sus proyectos de expansión.

Citó que este año se han generado 13 mil 497 nuevos empleos.

“Nada ni nadie va a detener el progreso de México, ni de Tamaulipas”, dijo Hernández.

El Gobernador expresó que los tamaulipecos tienen razones para ser optimistas y mirar hacia el futuro con mejores expectativas de desarrollo y prosperidad, porque saben que a través de la generación de empleos se garantiza el bienestar, la paz y la seguridad de la gente.

El lunes, enumeró que dentro de las acciones para lograr el objetivo de seguridad, a partir del

12 de abril, fuerzas federales y estatales reforzaron la seguridad en los penales de la entidad.

El miércoles, en Casa de Gobierno se realizó la sesión ordinaria del Grupo de Coordinación Interinstitucional donde se tomaron acuerdos y acciones en el frente común contra la delincuencia.

Participaron representantes del Ejército Mexicano, La Marina, la Procuraduría General de la República, la Policía Federal, la Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado, la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública del Estado y la Secretaría General de Gobierno de Tamaulipas.

A inicios de abril Hernández se reunió con los Secretarios de Gobernación y Seguridad Pública Nacional en la Ciudad de México, quienes refrendaron su apoyo “para que en Tamaulipas se siga enfrentando a esos delincuentes”.

ELECCIONES 2010

Es oficial: Torre Cantú candidato del PRI ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

CIUDAD VICTORIA, México — Desde el 12 de abril Rodolfo Torre Cantú es el candidato oficial del Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) al Gobierno de Tamaulipas.

Le tomó protesta como tal la presidenta del CEN del partido Beatriz Paredes Rangel para después reconoce “la madurez política del priísmo tamaulipeco” y convocar a cerrar filas de cara a la elección del 4 de julio.

“Con el esfuerzo de todo el priísmo de Tamaulipas, con la confianza de la sociedad de este extraordinario estado, Rodolfo Torre será gobernador el 4 de julio”, dijo Rangel.

En su mensaje destacó la organización y decisión de los precandidatos y precandidatas por haber alcanzado su postulación a presidentes municipales y diputados locales, así como por sumarse a Rodolfo Torre Cantú para ganar la gubernatura del Estado, las 43 alcaldías y diputados locales en coalición con

Foto de cortesía | PRI

Fotógrafos captan el momento en que Rodolfo Torre Cantú saluda a los asistentes a su toma de protesta como candidato del PRI al Gobierno de Tamaulipas, el 12 de abril en Ciudad Victoria. el Partido Verde Ecologista y Nueva Alianza.

Al evento asistió el Gobernador Eugenio Hernández Flores, el presidente del CDE estatal Ricardo Gamundi Rosas y los gobernadores de San Luis Potosí, Durango, Nuevo León y Oaxaca.

También los ex gobernadores Enrique Cárdenas González, Manuel Cavazos Lerma, Tomas Yarrington Ruvalcaba; así como la

primera dama Adriana González de Hernández.

Gamundi concluyó el evento expresando su confianza en la estructura territorial priista y las fuerzas del PVEM y NA para retener la gubernatura del Estado en la elección de julio y así dar continuidad a los proyectos de desarrollo social, económico, educativo y de salud.

Violencia del crimen deja 22.700 muertos POR E. EDUARDO CASTILLO

VIERNES 23 DE ABRIL LAREDO — El evento Relay For Life se realizará hoy y el 24 de abril en Texas A&M International University de 7 p.m. a 7 a.m.

SÁBADO 24 DE ABRIL LAREDO — El evento de United South High School’s Drive One 4 UR School es hoy de 10 a.m. a 4 p.m. en Sames Budget Center de Loop 20 y Zapata Highway. Sames Ford donará 20 dólares por cada persona que participle en este evento de probar carros. Los fondos serán utilizados para apoyar al United South High School’s Band Booster Club.

DOMINGO 25 DE ABRIL LAREDO — Holy Redeemer Church tendrá un Bingo de 3 p.m. a 5 pm. El día de hoy en el crucero de Main Avenue y Garcia Street.

MIÉRCOLES 28 DE ABRIL LAREDO — La Diócesis de Laredo tendrá el sábado 1 de mayo un Retiro de Perseverancia para parejas comprometidas ó casadas en St. Jude Church, 2031 Lowry Road, de 9:30 a.m. a 6:30 p.m. La cuota es de 10 dólares por pareja.

La fecha límite para inscribirse es hoy. Más información llamando al 764-7808 ó 722-2280.

JUEVES 29 DE ABRIL LAREDO — La primera fase de la Conferencia Vision 2010 se realizará esta tarde en el Edificio Anexo de IBC con una sesión plenaria y recepción de cocktail. La segunda fase es el viernes 30 de abril a las 8 a.m. con un desayuno y concluyendo con una conferencia en el Student Center de TAMIU.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MÉXICO — La violencia vinculada al crimen organizado y el narcotráfico en México ha dejado más de 22.700 muertos desde que en diciembre de 2006 el presidente Felipe Calderón lanzó una ofensiva contra los carteles de las drogas, aunque el gobierno aseguró el martes que la mayor parte del país está en paz.

En un reporte confidencial entregado a legisladores, a una de cuyas copias tuvo acceso el martes la AP, el gobierno de Calderón señaló que sólo entre enero y marzo del 2010 se han registrado 3.365 asesinatos y que el 2009 ha sido el más violento con 9.635 asesinatos, mientras que el estado norteño de Chihuahua ha sido el más afectado.

“México está dando su batalla (y) los centros donde está habiendo repuntes de violencia están bien focalizados, la mayor parte del territorio está en paz y trabajando”, afirmó en rueda de prensa el secretario de Gobernación, Fernando Gómez Mont.

El Ejecutivo señaló en el reporte que entre diciembre de 2006 y marzo de 2010 han sido detenidos 121.199 personas vinculadas al crimen organizado, y afirma que el Cartel del Golfo y el grupo de los Zetas han sido las organizaciones del narcotráfico que más detenciones ha registrado, seguido del Cartel de Sinaloa.

Miembros de la oposición han sugerido en algunos momentos que el combate a los carteles de las drogas era desigual, algo que los datos presentados por el gobierno buscan desmentir Sin especificar el número total, el gobierno aseguró que un 27% de las detenciones corresponden al Golfo/Zetas y un 24% al Pacífico/Sinaloa. A esas organizaciones les siguen los carteles

El gobierno aseguró que las detenciones corresponden un 27% al Golfo/Zetas; un 24% al Pacífico/Sinaloa; un 17% a los carteles de Juárez ó de los hermanos Carrillo Fuentes; un 14% de los hermanos Beltrán Leyva; y, un 13% de Tijuana o de los Arellano Félix. de Juárez o de los hermanos Carrillo Fuentes, con 17%; de los hermanos Beltrán Leyva, con 14%, y de Tijuana o de los Arellano Félix con 13%.

El reporte fue entregado la noche del 12 de abril a legisladores federales en el marco de un encuentro privado con miembros del gabinete de seguridad de Calderón, incluidos los titulares de Gobernación, de la Defensa, de la Marina, de Seguridad Pública y la Procuraduría General de la República.

Apenas asumió el poder en diciembre de 2006, Calderón anunció una ofensiva contra el crimen organizado y el narcotráfico, que ha incluido el despliegue inédito de más de 45.000 soldados para apoyar a las autoridades civiles en el combate a los carteles de las drogas que habían escalado en su nivel de violencia desde hacía algunos años.

La violencia, incluidos asesinatos y enfrentamientos contra autoridades, se ha mantenido en aumento y en los últimos meses se han registrado varios casos en los que las víctimas son civiles inocentes, incluidos menores.

“El problema es que de los últimos acontecimientos nos hemos dado cuenta que son muchas víctimas civiles y en el pasado la sociedad leía las notas y decían que eran sicarios y ahora resulta que eran los mejores estudiantes...jóvenes”, dijo a la AP el senador Ricardo Monreal, del opositor Partido del Trabajo, uno

Foto por Guillermo Arias | Associated Press

Un helicóptero de la policía federal tiene al fondo la ciudad de El Paso, Texas cerca del muro fronterizo, durante un patrullaje sobre Ciudad Juarez, el ocho de abril. Un reporte extraoficial dio a conocer cifras de muertes debido a la guerra contra las drogas en México. de los asistentes al encuentro con el gabinete de seguridad.

El legislador dijo que los miembros del gabinete sostuvieron la postura oficial de que más del 90% de las víctimas está vinculado de alguna forma al crimen organizado.

El secretario de Gobernación, mientras, afirmó que las fuerzas federales están “bien entrenadas”, aunque dijo que se han presentado escenarios “inéditos”, en los que criminales se buscan refugiar en centros urbanos, lo cual pone en mayor riesgo a civiles.

Gómez Mont dijo que la guerra contra el narcotráfico no es sólo del presidente Calderón, sino de todos los órdenes de gobierno.

El reporte señaló que en diciembre de 2006 se registraron 62 homicidios y en 2007, 2.837. Para 2008, los asesinatos se dispararon hasta 6.844 y subieron hasta 9.635 en 2009, que lo convirtió en el

año más violento, y de enero a marzo del 2010 se registraron 3.365 para sumar en lo que va del gobierno de Calderón un total de 22.743 muertes vinculadas al crimen organizado.

El estado norteño de Chihuahua, al que pertenece la violenta localidad fronteriza de Ciudad Juárez, ha registrado el mayor número de asesinatos con 6.757 entre diciembre de 2006 y marzo de 2010.

En Ciudad Juárez, en la frontera con El Paso, Texas, se han registrado 4.324 asesinatos en lo que va del gobierno de Calderón, lo cual la convierte en la municipalidad con mayor número de homicidios.

El informe señaló que de diciembre de 2006 a marzo de 2010 se habían registrado 1.286 enfrentamientos, de los cuales 977 han sido contra las autoridades y 309 entre las propias organizaciones del crimen organizado.

8A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

Superintendent to realign schools

TOP TEACHER, AIDE OF THE YEAR

By LORRAINE L RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Courtesy photo

Andrea R.Villarreal Elementary School has announced Juanita Wheeler, right, as Teacher of the Year and Darcy Villarreal, left, as Instructional Assistant of the Year. In recognition of their hard work and dedication to students, the two were presented with flowers and congratulations.

ZCISD trustees OK building overrun

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Zapata County ISD trustees frowned upon a $4,000 overage charge on the construction of the new Hawks baseball field during discussion at the board’s regular meeting Tuesday.

“I find it very upsetting that when we have a contingency we have to spend it,” said Veronica P. Gonzalez, school board vice-president.

According to ZCISD Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez, there was a need to inform the board of the overage so the board could approve the funds to pay the construction company the pending balance on the account.

“I felt it was important to bring it up to the board first,” Rodriguez said.

The board had no choice but to approve the funds to pay the balance.

“We have to approve it,” board member Anselmo Treviño Jr. said.

In other action, the board heard about plans for the reconfiguration of the elementary schools this summer involving Zapata South Elementary, Villarreal Elementary, and Zapata North Early Childhood Center, which will be named Zapata North Elementary.

All three elementary schools will be reconfigured to include grades Pre-K3 to 5th grade.

According to Rodriguez,

the idea came from Benavides Elementary in San Ygnacio because the school is doing so well, indicating it benefits the students to stay under one roof from the time the students begin school until the 5th grade.

“San Ygnacio has always been an exemplary campus,” Rodriguez said.

“That’s what we want to achieve.”

Also at the Tuesday meeting, the trustees: approved a budget amendment to cover the cost of school yearbooks. approved a direct deposit IBC bank card for all staff to eliminate the need for paper checks.

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956) 728-2557.)

The Zapata County ISD reconfiguration project should present instructional continuity for students beginning next school year.

The district will be reconfiguring the Zapata North Early Childhood Center to include grades Pre-K 3 through five and renaming the school Zapata North Elementary School. Zapata South Elementary and Villarreal Elementary will also be reconfigured to contain Pre-K through fifth grades.

Romeo Rodriguez, ZCISD superintendent, said students will benefit from the reconfiguration because they will be well documented from the moment they come in through fifth grade.

“The students don’t have to be moving from school to school,” Rodriguez said.

“There will be a grade consistency without any breaks.”

Rodriguez said the idea of the school reconfiguration came from Benavides Elementary in San Ygnacio.

“We’re trying to duplicate what San Ygnacio is doing,” Rodriguez said.

“They are doing so well.”

Some teachers have been reassigned to other schools while others have been recertified in to teach other grade levels in the same school they have been working at, Rodriguez said.

In addition, the student-

Romeo Rodriguez, ZCISD superintendent, said students will benefit from the reconfiguration. teacher ratio will be 22 to 1 up to fourth grade, but class sizes may be larger in the fifth grade.

“In the fifth grade it could be higher,” Rodriguez said. “We try to contain the number in the high twenties.”

The principals of all three schools are collaborating to address all the transfer details; however, no specifics have been released.

Parents will be notified to what school their child will attend during pre-registration, and the district is planning to work with parents during the transfer process, Rodriguez said.

“We’re getting ready to present to parents but we haven’t at this point had

any meetings with them,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez explained only a few students will be affected by the transfer.

“Some students will even go to school closer to their home now,” Rodriguez said.

During the reconfiguration, the elementary summer school program will be shifted to the Zapata Middle School’s main campus and portables. Middle and high school students will be housed at Zapata High School.

The reconfiguration project is expected to be ready by the first day of school in August.

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956) 7282557.)

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

Bishop reflects on his shapers Last Sunday’s Gospel (John 20: 19-31) about the apostle Thomas resonated deeply with me because we all go through challenges at different times in our life.

Many of us can identify with Thomas when we struggle with our faith or our belief.

Just as Thomas needed immediate proof that Jesus is risen and present with us, sometimes we feel the need for evidence to sustain our faith and belief.

Jesus said to Thomas: believe.

As I continued reflecting on the Gospel of John, I began recalling my life in the church.

It has always been my personal experience with the Catholic Church that I have encountered caring, compassionate and nurturing people of faith ready to guide me and to assist in my formation as a responsible, maturing servant leader of society and the Catholic Church.

Throughout my life, I have been immersed in church activities. As I look back to my childhood, I can only praise the priests, deacons, religious sisters and brothers as well as the laity that I encountered in my daily life.

They, along with my parents, were instrumental in shaping me into the man I am today.

And I have heard many similar stories from men and women throughout our

“

JAMES TAMAYO

diocese on the positive impact clergy as well as men and women religious have had on their life.

Whether it is diocesan priests, or religious such as the Oblates, Augustinians, Salesians or Congregation of St. John, they have all served us in a most worthy fashion.

Then there are the servants of Christ leading a consecrated life from the religious orders such as the Ursulines, Mercy, Salesians, Divine Providence, Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Poor, Felicians, School Sisters of Notre Dame, Sisters of St. John and the Marists. We have all been blessed to have encountered these wonderful servants of the Lord in our lives.

Next Sunday, the universal Catholic Church recognizes April 25 as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

What better way to honor all those that have served us so loyally as well as for those that are to shepherd us in the future than by praying for them.

In 1964, Pope Paul VI instituted the 4th Sunday of Easter as World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

On that day, Pope Paul

VI offered the following prayer.

“O Jesus, divine Shepherd of the spirit, you have called the Apostles in order to make them fishermen of men, you still attract to you burning spirits and generous young people, in order to render them your followers and ministers to us.”

Over the last 46 years, our Holy Fathers have called on the Church and its faithful to focus and pray for vocations.

Every day people write to me asking for prayers.

On other occasions when I pause to greet people, I am often asked to offer prayers for their special needs.

Today, I am asking you, dear people, for special prayers.

I especially request that you make time to pray next Sunday for the priests who have dedicated their lives to serve the 49 parishes and missions of the Diocese of Laredo.

I also ask that you include in your petitions the six seminarians that are currently in formation to enter the priesthood.

Please pray also for the men who have dedicated their life to the Church through the permanent diaconate as well as the many men and women religious throughout the diocese.

I ask of you, through prayer, to acknowledge the vital role these individuals maintain in our spiritual

development.

All of these people of faith are significantly importantly to all of us.

Joining our prayers together on World Day of Prayer for Vocations we demonstrate our gratitude for the great blessing that their vocation has brought to our diocesan family.

In his statement for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Benedict XVI, wrote of the great importance of the witness of priests and religious for encouraging future vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Our Holy Father explained in his 2010 vocation message Witness Awakens Vocations that the quality and depth of the personal and communal witness of those who have already answered the Lord’s call to ministerial priesthood and to consecrated life also helps awaken in others a desire to respond generously to Christ’s call.

So open your heart and raise your thoughts to God in prayer that the mission and ministry of those who have answered His call to a religious vocation continue to bear fruit and build God’s kingdom throughout the Diocese of Laredo, Todo Con Amor.

(Bishop James A. Tamayo heads the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laredo.

The diocese covers Webb, Zapata and five other neighboring counties.)

State’s jobless rate stays steady ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — The state unemployment rate remained steady at 8.2 percent in March for the fifth consecutive month, a state agency said Friday.

The state’s latest jobless

rate continues to stay well below the national rate of 9.7 percent, according to figures released by the Texas Workforce Commission.

Texas has begun to experience job growth in recent months despite the challenges of the national reces-

sion, Commission Chairman Tom Pauken said, calling gains in manufacturing, mining and logging industries “positive signs.”

Manufacturing added 2,100 jobs in March while mining and logging increased by 6,100 positions,

continuing an increasing monthly trend.

The state’s civilian labor force grew by nearly 29,000 workers in March.

The largest job gain was in the leisure and hospitality industry, which added 10,300 positions.

AMELIA RAMIREZ Amelia Ramirez, 95, passed away Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at her residence in Falcon.

Ms. Ramirez is preceded in death by her husband, Tomas Ramirez; daughter, Ada Ramirez; grandsons, Ricky (Belinda) Ramirez and Edgar Ramirez; three brothers and four sisters.

Ms. Ramirez is survived by her sons, Tomas Jr. (Selfi) Ramirez and Leandro (Lourdes) Ramirez; daughter, Anita R. (Valentin) Medina; son-inlaw, Santiago Ramirez Jr.; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Ruben (Monica) Guerra; sister, Emma G. Ramirez and by other family members and friends.

Visitation hours will be held Sunday, April 18, 2010, from 6 to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

The funeral procession will depart Monday, April 19, 2010, at 9:45 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes

Financial aid help offered at TAMIU SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

An opportunity for parents and high school seniors to get assistance in their search for higher education financial aid is being offered at Texas A&M International University every Saturday through May 8.

Assistance is offered from 9-10 a.m. and from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at TAMIU’s Dr. Billy F. Cowart Hall, room 116. People should pre-register by calling 326.2908.

Attendees can get assistance with completing required Financial Aid forms (FAFSA) in

COMMISSIONERS Continued from Page 1A continue with the service,” Vela said.

Patricio Hernandez, the owner of Grande Garbage, said he had been told that he would have to pay $30 per ton, despite the contract he had signed recently with the county.

The Commissioners Court made it clear Monday that the company would continue to pay the $25 as stipulated in the contract.

Zapata County Judge Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.

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

1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160

Rosalva Guerra said it was not the court’s intention to seek another contractor.

Additionally, the court approved the construction services of Rolando Bautista, contractor, the low-

est bidder at $25,700 for additions to the Zapata Elderly Nutrition Center.

In other action, the commissioners: Approved buying two lots in San Ygnacio for $25,000, paid with money

from the Royalty Fund for building a nutrition center.

Approved buying a 2009 John Deere 506M tractor with Rhino Rotary Cutter from Weaks Martin Implement Co. in Mission

Catholic Church. Committal services will follow at Zapata County Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 U.S. 83 Zapata.

for almost $30,500, and the purchase of a 2010 F-150 for almost $15,300, to be paid out of the Precinct 2 Caliche Fund.

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956) 728-2557.)

either English or Spanish.

Organizers recommend that session-goers bring a list of colleges or universities the student is interested in attending.

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

Mom of man charged with terrorism speaks

By MATTHEW BARAKAT ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Pakistani authorities beat confessions out of some of the five northern Virginia men accused of planning terrorist acts in that country, the mother of one of the men said Friday.

Amal Khalifa, mother of Ramy Zamzam, said her son looked gaunt when she briefly visited him in a Pakistan jail, where he was being held with four friends.

“They wanted him to say he was there for terrorist reasons,” Khalifa said in an interview with The Associated Press. She said she did not believe her son gave a confession, but that others did.

The trial, in the Pakistani city of Sargoda, begins Saturday. Court proceedings have been closed to the press.

Kahlifa’s son described being stretched out by both arms and beaten on the tor-

so. He also said he was deprived of sleep.

The young men, all Muslims from the Washington suburb of Alexandria, and their lawyer have also made torture allegations. Pakistani authorities have denied the claims.

Khalifa said her son was there to attend a friend’s wedding, though her son never told her that when he left last year. He only said he was going away for a few days.

“I said, ’Thank God’ because it was a chance for him to do something different than school and work,” she said.

She described her son as a dedicated first-year dental student at Howard University.

“He had no time for anything else,” she said. “He didn’t even have time to come home and visit.” Politics was never discussed, she said.

Pakistani police have claimed the young men con-

tacted Pakistani-based jihad groups. They accused the five of using the social networking site Facebook and video-sharing site YouTube while they were in the U.S. to try to connect with extremist groups in Pakistan.

The men first came to the attention of authorities after their parents went to the FBI concerned with a farewell video the men left behind. Khalifa was reluctant to discuss the contents of the video with his mother. The video has been described as including war scenes and calls to fight for Muslims across the world, but Khalifa said the men’s American lawyer viewed it and saw nothing wrong with it.

“He was a normal American student. He ordered pizza. He played soccer, played basketball,” said Khalifa, a U.S. citizen and native of Egypt. Zamzam, 22, is also a U.S. citizen who has lived in the U.S. since he was a toddler.

ZETAS Continued from Page 1A During questioning, several of the men stated that they had been staying at a residence in the 700 block of Ramireño Avenue in the Medina addition for three days as they planned the killing of a man described to them only as “fat.” They also admitted that they had crossed illegally into the U.S. to commit the crime, the affidavit states.

Gonzalez said he expected 50,000 pesos to 100,000 pesos — about $4,100 to $8,000 — for the hit, according to the affidavit.

“Adrian stated the plan was to go to the fat man’s house and pretend that they were there to buy drugs from him,” states

the affidavit. “Once the fat man exited the house Adrian stated they would kill him.”

Cisneros told authorities his job was to take food to and take care of the four men, according to the affidavit.

Gallardo, Hidalgo and Perez all told authorities they were just in the U.S. to work, not on a hit, the affidavit states.

Information obtained through an unnamed “cooperating individual,” according to the affidavit, revealed that the alleged hitmen were armed with weapons and grenades.

The informant said the killing was ordered because it was believed that Jasso had stolen a

Photo by Lorraine L. Rodriguez | The Zapata Times

Shown here is some of the standing water in the Zapata Public Library on Monday. After a cleanup, it reopened Tuesday.

LIBRARY Continued from Page 1A sistant Amalia Navarro so many times they have no choice but to put up with the smell.

“We just open the door,” Navarro said, to help air out the building.

In the nearly 10 years that Garcia has been employed at the library, she said, the number of people who make use of the facility has increased tremendously. Many students need the library to do homework she said. And Serna noted that many students don’t have computers at home and depend on the library to do research and even just to have a quiet place to study.

“I am very upset,” Garcia said. “It should be a

place that needs to be fixed promptly.”

At the Commissioners Court meeting, Commissioner Jose E. Vela headed the effort to get Garcia authorization to hire someone to inspect the building and fix the problem promptly.

Garcia returned to the library and called the county’s wastewater department. As employees waited outside for help to arrive, the sewage smell drifted outside. When the employees arrived in the early afternoon, they walked in and took one look at the wastewater inside and rushed back out, some even retched, because the stench was so intense.

The employees said it wasn’t their job to clean up the mess inside and left. It was unclear who finally came to the library, but the mess was eventually cleaned up that day and the library reopened Tuesday.

The library being closed Monday presented a problem for Texas A&M International University student Martha Serna, as she could not do her homework at the library that day.

“Now I have to go to a friend’s house,” the student said. She is not related to the library employee.

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956) 7282557.)

2

drug load.

When Jasso met with authorities afterward, the affidavit states, “Jasso stated that this problem was probably coming from the information on a shipment of drugs he had provided to police.

Jasso did not admit that he had stolen drugs from a certain organization.”

Cisneros was released from jail April 8.

The other four men remain in custody in the Zapata Regional Jail, held under a $75,000 bond.

All five are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity to attempt kidnapping.

(Denise Blaz may be reached at 728-2547 or dblaz@lmtonline.com)

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors ZAPATA COMPETES AT DISTRICT TOURNAMENT

Photo by Tony Gutierrez | AP

Dallas Mavericks forward Caron Butler (4) dunks the ball over San Antonio Spurs guard DeJuan Blair (45) during the Mavericks’ win on Wednesday in Dallas. The teams will meet again during the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Courtesy photos

Cristina Mendoza is half of the Hawks’ girls’ doubles duo. Gabriela Molina plays alongside Mendoza.

Mixed doubles pair advances to regionals for Hawks

By CLARA SANDOVAL

“

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

T

he District 32-3A Tennis Tournament began last Saturday at the McAllen I.S.D. Tennis Complex.

April showers washed away Monday’s schedule and had the Hawks on standby until Thursday evening.

The finals, third-place matches and true second matches were scheduled for Monday, but rain delayed these matches until Thursday when the tournament finally concluded.

The mixed doubles team of Javier Zapata and Isabella Martinez received a bye in the Round of 16.

Zapata and Martinez defeated Guerrero and Gearhart of Rio Hondo, 6-1, 6-4, in the quarterfinals.

I am very proud of our team. We came out and battled.

ROBERT ALVAREZ, TENNIS COACH

They contained to dominate in the semifinal round and beat the team of Martinez and Gonzalez of La Feria, 7-5, 6-4, in the semifinals.

In the finals, the Zapata duo put up a good fight but was unable to upset top seeds Eli Ramos and Erika Gilbert of La Feria.

Gilbert will be looking for her second consecutive appearance at the state meet at the regional tournament next week.

Zapata and Martinez will be making their first appearance at regionals by finishing sec-

ond.

“I really felt good about these two kids making it to regionals,” Zapata coach Robert Alvarez said. “They are such hard workers, they do outstanding academically and are very multi-talented.”

“Their semifinal match against La Feria was so close I know I think my beard had got more gray when they finally finished,” he added with a laugh.

In boys’ doubles, Estevan

See TENNIS PAGE 2B

Ready for a showdown Mavericks, Spurs preparing for all-Texas matchup in first round ASSOCIATED PRESS

DALLAS — Two months ago, Brendan Haywood, Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson were enduring a season gone horribly wrong in Washington.

Then Dallas rescued them in a trade at the All-Star break.

The Mavericks went from winning 62 percent of their games before the deal to winning 77 percent after. Dallas also claimed the second seed in the Western Conference.

Now that the playoffs are here, the giddy ex-Wizards should provide another boost.

Not only are they excited and appreciative of getting to chase a championship, they’ve all been through the playoffs several times before so they understand what it takes when the stakes are this high.

The Mavericks open the first round at home Sunday night against San Antonio.

Spurs undecided about starting point guard SAN

ANTONIO

—

Spurs

See SHOWDOWN PAGE 2B

Astros collapse, lose to Cubs Predicting top picks for the NFL draft

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs proved they’re just as adept at scoring runs with small ball as they are swinging away.

Ryan Theriot bunted in the goahead run in the seventh inning, and Derrek Lee capped a six-run uprising with a three-run homer that sent the Cubs to a 7-2 victory over the scuffling Houston Astros on Friday.

Theriot was retired easily his first three at-bats before coming to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh. He laid down a bunt toward Pedro Feliz, and the ball seemed ready to roll foul when the first baseman tried to make a play. It squirted away and everyone was safe, giving the Cubs a 3-2 lead. “(Catcher Humberto) Quintero told me to let it go but I didn’t hear him,” Feliz said. “My reaction was to try and get it. It’s one of those plays that worked for them.”

Kosuke Fukudome followed with a sacrifice fly, and Lee drove Jeff Fulchino’s 3-2 pitch over the leftfield wall to put the game away. It was the Astros’ ninth loss in 10 games, and they’ve still scored only 21 runs — by far the fewest in the majors.

Carlos Silva (1-0), making his first home start at Wrigley Field, was the beneficiary of the Cubs’

By BARRY WILNER ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast | AP

Chicago Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome watches his sacrifice fly with Houston Astros catcher Humberto Quintero during the seventh inning of their game on Friday in Chicago. late surge. He allowed five hits, two unearned runs and no walks in seven innings.

Acquired in December from Seattle for Milton Bradley, the ineffective and injury-prone Silva had been a $48 million flop in two seasons with the Mariners.

“They put a lot of trust in me ... and when it didn’t work out, it made me look bad,” said Silva, who has allowed only one earned run in 13 innings. “But I don’t want to pitch good just to show them I can

See ASTROS PAGE 2B

NEW YORK — As the NFL draft enters prime time, it gives football writers a big, new stage for showing we’re almost as good as weather forecasters when it comes to making predictions.

With that in mind, here’s one way the proceedings might go on Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall.

Remember that trades — and there almost certainly will be several because of the high quality of this draft — figure to impact who picks when and who goes where.

Rams up first The St. Louis Rams aren’t likely to move out of the top overall spot.

The Rams’ dilemma is whether to choose quarterback Sam Bradford to be the face of a franchise that soon will change ownership, or go for the player considered the best available defensive tackle in more than a decade, Ndamukong Suh. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo is a defensefirst guy; he coordinated the New York Giants unit that shocked New England to win the 2007 championship. He also recognizes St. Louis has a black hole at quarterback and scored 175 points last season, his first in charge.

Having cut incumbent Marc Bulger, the Rams would appear set to grab Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner who missed most of last season with a right shoulder

See NFL PAGE 2B

PAGE 2B

Zscores

TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL American League BASEBALL American League NEW YORK YANKEES: Placed RHP Chan Ho Park on the 15-day DL. Called up LHP Boone Logan from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL).

OAKLAND ATHLETICS: Agreed to terms with LHP Brett Anderson on a four-year contract.

National League COLORADO ROCKIES: Selected the contract

of LHP Joe Beimel from Colorado Springs (PCL). Optioned RHP Esmil Rogers to Colorado Springs. Transferred RHP Taylor Buchholz to the 60-day DL. American Association FORT WORTH CATS signed RHP/INF Joseph Callender.: GRAND PRAIRIE AIRHOGS: Signed INF Joseph Spiers, RHP Ryne Tacker and C Flint Wipke.

Traded RHP Chris Wiman and cash to Gary SouthShore (Northern) for RHP Mike Bille.

LINCOLN SALTDOGS: Traded RHP Matt Petrusek to Southern Maryland (Atlantic) for a player to be named.

PENSACOLA PELICANS: Signed INF Adolfo Gonzalez.

WICHITA WINGNUTS: Traded OF Jarred Ball to Newark (Atlantic) for future considerations.

Atlantic League NEWARK BEARS: Signed RHP Maximo De la Cruz, RHP James O’Donnell, RHP Pedro Rivera and LHP Luis Fernandez.

Can-Am League BROCKTON ROX: Signed INF Melvin Falu and RHP Mike Smith.

QUEBEC CAPITALES: Signed 1B Rene Leveret, RHP Dan Sausville and RHP James Kukucka.

NEW JERSEY JACKALS: Signed 1B Mike L. Jones.

PITTSFIELD COLONIALS: Signed INF Stephen Shults.

SHOWDOWN Continued from Page 1B coach Gregg Popovich isn’t saying whether Tony Parker or George Hill will start at point guard in the playoff opener Sunday night in Dallas.

Parker came off the bench all six games he played after returning from a broken bone in his right hand that knocked him out for a month. However, Hill aggravated a sprained right ankle in the season finale Wednesday night.

Hill took part in some of practice Friday and is considered a gametime decision.

“He got around and got a decent workout,” Popovich said. “We’ll see what happens, we’ll see how it goes.”

If Popovich decides Hill can play,

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

then he has to pick a starter. Parker said he’s “definitely” fine with whatever role Popovich chooses for him.

“We all have to make adjustments,” Parker said.

Parker said he expects Hill to play.

“I’m not worried about that,” Parker said. “George is a tough guy.”

As for his own health, Parker said: “I’m feeling great. No excuse. It’s the playoffs. I’ll be ready.”

Bringing a player of Parker’s caliber off the bench wouldn’t be too unusual for San Antonio. Popovich has often used Manu Ginobili as a reserve in the playoffs to help lift his second unit, while still using him as much as any starter and in all crucial second-half situations.

Frontier League OAKLAND COUNTY CRUISERS: Signed LHP Robinson Polanco.

TRAVERSE CITY: Signed OF Eddie Rush.

WASHINGTON WILD THINGS: Signed LHP Kevin Hammons, 1B Joel Hartman, RHP Matt Lyons, 3B Devin Murphy, and LHP Ben Rodewald.

FOOTBALL NFL CAROLINA PANTHERS: Claimed KR Brian Witherspoon off waivers from Detroit.

DALLAS COWBOYS: Signed WR Sam Hurd.

HOUSTON TEXANS: Signed OT Rashad Butler

and G Chris White to one-year tenders.

MIAMI DOLPHINS: Traded WR-KR Ted Ginn Jr. to San Francisco for a 2010 fifth-round draft pick.

OAKLAND RAIDERS: Signed LB Thomas Howard.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Signed OT Willie Colon, TE Matt Spaeth and CB William Gay to one-year tenders.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Signed CB Kennard Cox, G Mitch Erickson, FB Ryan Powdrell, WR Mike Williams and WR Reggie Williams.

Waived G Trevor Canfield.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Signed WR Maurice Stovall to a one-year tender.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Re-signed DL Kedric Golston.

CFL WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS: Signed WR Terence Jeffers-Harris. Released LB Siddeeq Shabazz.

HOCKEY NHL BUFFALO SABRES: Assigned F Nathan Gerbe to Portland (AHL).

AHL MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS: Signed RW Blake Geoffrion.

COLLEGE

Choi out of lead at Heritage

By PETE IACOBELLI ASSOCIATED PRESS

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — A grueling Masters finally caught up to K.J. Choi on Friday at the Verizon Heritage, and Jim Furyk, Charles Howell III and Greg Owen took advantage to top the second-round leaderboard.

Furyk (68), Howell (67) and Owen (69) were tied at 7-under 135, a stroke ahead of a group that included two-time Verizon champ Boo Weekley and Stuart Appleby.

Choi, who played alongside

Tiger Woods all four rounds at Augusta National, opened with a 64 on Thursday. However, he couldn’t maintain that pace and fell three shots off the lead after a 74 at Harbour Town Golf Links.

“Yeah, the fatigue is setting in right now,” said Choi, who tied for fourth with Woods last week. “But no excuses today, I had a tough time reading the greens.”

Furyk didn’t have Choi’s problem entering Harbour Town. “I didn’t play enough to get tired,” he said about Augusta.

The world’s sixth-ranked player missed the Masters’ cut for just the second time in 14 appearances.

Furyk wasn’t happy with the early exit. But instead of dwelling on it, he enjoyed what was left of Masters week.

Furyk, whose round ended just as Choi teed off, expected the South Korean to continue the strong play from last week when he tied for fourth at 11 under — same as Woods — amid the large galleries that followed the group on Augusta’s grounds.

NFL Continued from Page 1B injury that required surgery. Bradford’s recent workouts have pleased NFL personnel people — he displayed a strong, accurate arm on all sorts of throws.

Then again, Suh could be a one-man wrecking crew on the defensive line, and his performance in the biggest college game of his life was phenomenal: 12 tackles, 41/2 sacks and two quarterback hurries in the Big 12 championship game against Texas.

“It’s like a beauty contest, you can’t go wrong,” Rams general manager Billy Devaney said.

Owners, particularly new owners, fall in love with quarterbacks more quickly.

SAM BRADFORD, QB, Oklahoma.

2. DETROIT. The Lions usually mess up their high picks, but NDAMUKONG SUH, DT, Nebraska, is much more of a sure thing.

His diligence and leadership will be something fresh in Detroit.

3. TAMPA BAY. Few teams need as much help on the defensive line as the Buccaneers. They won’t feel so bad about going 3-13 last season after they take GERALD MCCOY, DT, Oklahoma, who could anchor the line for years.

4. WASHINGTON. In the past, the Redskins would have been offering this pick all over the NFL after signing big-name veterans in free agency. The new regime led by Mike Shana-

Photo by Sue Ogrocki | AP

In this March 29 file photo, former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford throws during a workout for NFL scouts in Norman, Okla. Bradford, the Heisman Trophy winner in 2008, is one of the top projected picks for this year’s NFL draft. han and Bruce Allen is taking a different approach, and Shanahan knows from his Denver days the importance of a solid blocking unit. New QB Donovan McNabb will be smiling even wider than usual after the Skins grab TRENT WILLIAMS, OT, Oklahoma.

5. KANSAS CITY. The Chiefs have done well recently drafting an offensive linemen (Branden Albert), but need another to make QB Matt Cassell and RBs Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles more effective.

They skip safety, another need, to select RUSSELL OKUNG, OT, Oklahoma State.

6. SEATTLE. It won’t take long for the Seahawks to choose ERIC BERRY, S, Tennessee, probably the best all-around athlete in the draft. New coach Pete Carroll recruited playmakers at Southern Cal, and he gets a big-time one here.

7. CLEVELAND. The Browns were hoping Berry would fall to them because he would fit a major need.

Then again, new president

Mike Holmgren has so many holes to fill he can virtually close his eyes and point to a position and get help. Keeping his eyes wide open, Holmgren goes for some excitement with C.J. SPILLER, RB, Clemson.

8. OAKLAND. Is Al Davis ready to give up on JaMarcus Russell and take a quarterback here? Or will he stick with the top overall pick of 2007 and look elsewhere? The Raiders have lots of places to look, and while Davis prefers skill-position guys, he

won’t pass up workout wonder BRUCE CAMPBELL, OT, Maryland.

9. BUFFALO. The previous coaching regime soured on Trent Edwards, but is there a QB worth the ninth overall spot? Possibly, but a wiser choice would be someone who can have an early impact, which is why DERRICK MORGAN, DE, Georgia Tech winds up in western New York.

10.

JACKSONVILLE. Tim Tebow ... nope, just kidding. Even if the Jaguars are serious about add-

ing the biggest sports name in Florida, taking the Gators QB here is way too high. Plus, the Jags must shore up the defense, particularly up front. So they stick in the Sunshine State and gamble a bit on JASON PIERRE-PAUL, DE, South Florida.

11. DENVER. This pick is one of the spoils of the Jay Cutler deal, with which the Broncos will bolster the offense after parting with Brandon Marshall by taking DEMARYIUS THOMAS, WR, Georgia Tech.

12. MIAMI. Team president Bill Parcells loves the aircraft carriers, and with nose tackle Jason Ferguson suspended for eight games, if he even makes the team, there’s a spot for DAN WILLIAMS, DT, Tennessee.

13. SAN FRANCISCO. The first of two picks for the 49ers, who seem ready to contend in the NFC West. Helping them do so will be CB JOE HADEN, Florida.

14. SEATTLE. Carroll’s second selection in his return to the NFL will address a needy offensive line. With plenty of blockers to choose from, he’ll go for BRYAN BULAGA, OT, Iowa.

15. NEW YORK GIANTS. One of the fortunate teams to have the player it wanted fall to its spot, the Giants get the linebacker they desperately need in ROLANDO MCCLAIN, ILB, Alabama.

ASTROS Continued from Page 1B pitch. I want to pitch good to help my team.”

Silva helped himself in the first inning with a run-scoring double — his first double and his first RBI since Aug. 25, 2003, when he was with Philadelphia.

It was just his fourth career hit and first in nearly four years.

Later, Silva kept his cool after two mistakes in the fourth inning involving Fukudome that helped Houston take a 2-1 lead.

Center fielder Marlon Byrd came over from center and called for Hunter Pence’s fly into the gap, but Fukudome also

tried for the catch and knocked the ball out of hiss glove. The right fielder then failed to catch Chris Johnson’s sinking liner and the ball skipped all the way to the wall for an RBI triple.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Byrd ranged too far toward right field, but Byrd insisted the center fielder has to take charge and his mistake was not yelling loud enough. Fukudome said he should have yielded on the play.

Silva gave up Tommy Manzella’s RBI single, but rebounded to strike out Quintero and was

in command the rest of the way.

“He’s a bulldog,” Byrd said.

“That could have rolled into something ugly but he kept his composure. I told him, ’We’re going to get those runs back.”’

Byrd started the seventh inning with a double off Felipe Paulino (0-1) and scored on Alfonso Soriano’s double. Paulino then walked the bases loaded, leading to the cascade of runs.

“One inning,” lamented Paulino, who had allowed only four hits entering the seventh. “I just have to keep working, forget about it and go forward.”

Carlos Lee singled in the sixth to snap a career-worst 0for-18 slump, but Houston’s $100 million cleanup hitter — who has averaged 109 RBIs the last seven seasons — is still hitting just .103 and has yet to drive in a run.

Soriano in left field and third baseman Aramis Ramirez robbed Lee of hits his first two times up, and he was visibly frustrated after striking out in the eighth.

Notes: The Cubs have homered in their last 20 games against the Astros, the longest streak

against one team in franchise history. ... Berkman, on the DL after arthroscopic knee surgery March 13, is expected to make his first rehab appearance Saturday at Triple-A Round Rock.

He could return to Houston’s lineup Tuesday. ... Astros RHP Sammy Gervacio (sore shoulder) is scheduled to pitch a rehab outing Monday at Round Rock. ... Chicago LHP Ted Lilly (shoulder surgery) will make one more rehab start, Monday at Class A Peoria, before returning to the Cubs’ rotation the following week.

TENNIS Continued from Page 1B Garcia and Garret Umphres also received a bye in the first round and went on to defeat Cantu and Huerta from Raymondville in the quarters, 6-1, 6-3.

Garcia and Umphres lost to Molina and Rodriguez of La Feria in the semis, 6-2, 6-4, and had to play Martinez and Quiroz of Lyford for third place.

They defeated them 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to earn them a true second playback match against the other La Feria team Garcia and Umphres luck ran out and lost, 6-3, 6-4.

Garcia and Umphries

placed third and will advance to regionals as alternates.

“I am a little disappointed with my doubles team.

For whatever reason we did not play as well as we had in other tournaments,” Alvarez said. “I don’t think we handled the pressure well and made too many errors. Their effort was outstanding but we could not put it together when we needed it.”

In girls’ doubles, Gabriela Molina and Cristina Mendoza received a bye, then defeated Duran and Medrano of Rio Hondo, 6-0, 6-2.

Molina and Mendoza lost

to Marquez and Ceballos of La Feria, 6-1, 6-1, in the semifinals.

They went on to play Zuniga and Zarate of Hidalgo and won 6-1, 6-1, for third place.

When Ceballos and Marquez defeated Flores and Guajardo of La Feria in the finals Molina and Mendoza earned a playback match for true second but lost, 6-1, 6-4. The girls earned third and will advance to regionals as alternates.

“I think the girls did as well as they can. They played a great second set but it was not enough. Both La Feria teams are very tough and have a lot of re-

gional experience,” Alvarez said.

In girls’ singles, Carmen Rocha and Kassandra Flores advanced to the semifinals where they lost to the La Feria girls.

Rocha lost to Bianca Chavez, 6-3, 7-5, while Flores lost to top seed and district champ Karilu Hernandez.

In boys’ singles, Hector Solis defeated Josh Barker of Port Isabel, 6-3, 6-3, but then lost to Juan Rodriguez of La Feria.

“I am very proud of our team,” Alvarez said. “We came out and battled. La Feria is one of the topranked teams in the state and their coach does a

great job.

“They have some advantages against us, such as a year-round program and tennis athletic classes from seventh grade on, but our kids work hard. We finished second in district in every division. I know with our middle school program getting established, we will start closing the gap soon.”

JV results Boys’ singles: Jaime Tejada, second place.

Boys’ doubles: Ruben Reyes and Victor Arellano, first place; James Hinojosa and Tony Mendoza, fourth

place.

Mixed doubles: Eliseo Solis and Daniela Molina, first place.

Girls’ singles: Clarissa Bayarena, third place; Daniela Lopez, fourth place.

Girls’ doubles: Jeanina Cabugos and Paola Jasso, second place.

Freshmen results Boys’ singles: Jose Molina, third place.

Boys’ doubles: Juan Jasso and Richard Dominguez, first place.

Girls doubles: Judy Garcia and Erica Gonzalez, third place.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B

HINTS BY | HELOISE PET PECULIARITY Dear Readers: If you find that your beloved pet is ACTING ODDLY, he or she may have eaten something toxic. Do not hesitate to call your vet or take your pet to an after-hours emergency clinic if you suspect that something is wrong. Keep these hints in mind for your pet’s health and your peace of mind: Know your pet’s normal behaviors, routines and habits.

Observe the animal and write down unusual behavior.

Feel the animal’s belly. Is it bloated?

Be a detective, or pretend you are an investigative reporter: Follow the trail of food or meds that your pet might have eaten.

Note any vomiting that may have occurred -- time of, amount, anything recognizable in it.

Bring packaging that your pet might have gotten into.

Write down a timeline of events. When did your pet eat, and when did he or she begin acting erratically?

Bring a blanket, pillow and toy for your pet in case there is an overnight stay.

Always keep a copy of the animal’s medical records handy.

Take notes while you listen to the doctor.

Consider pet insurance.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, it runs between $300 and $400 a year, with a $100 deductible.

HOMES FOR SALE

61

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L.A., storage in back,Alarm,Many Amenities $135,000+ Call 319-7896 House for sale in San Isidro. Owner Finance 5/2.5/2 $30K down $1800/m Call 333-8403 Lakeside,4bd,3.5ba,2cg,2 Story, Granite counters,3,400sq.ft.,Pool, Palapa, complete landscape,$365,000, Call 847-6357 Owner Finance!

“

HELOISE

-- Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Dan and Shawn Thomas of Van Wert, Ohio, sent a photo of Spike, their 1-year-old bearded dragon, taking a bath. To see Spike, visit www.Heloise.com. -- Heloise THREE ACTIVE DOGS Dear Heloise: We have three very active dogs. Their feet are rarely clean when they come in the house, and using regular rugs did not do the trick. I bought a bunch of inexpensive comforters, and I fold one up and put it by the door. It is great — it soaks up the mud and water from rain and helps keep the dirt to a minimum. I also use these comforters to cover the couches, put in their crates and even under their crates to keep them from scratching the floor.

When they are dirty, I just pop them in the washer — easy! We have a few so that we can rotate them when we need to. -- Penney, via e-mail GIVING THE DOG THE BRUSHOFF Dear Heloise: When I brush my dog, I do it outside. There’s no hair flying around the house, and I put the fur in a flowerpot for the birds to use in their nests. An old pot holds my supplies. -- J.S. in Indiana

HELP WANTED

122

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128

Pure breed Pitbulls, 4wks, 1st shot, dewormed, $125 call 324-1148 Shih Tzu puppies 2f/$650ea., 2m/$750ec, all shots 8wks old, 324-0048 Weimaraner Puppy,pure breed, 8wks,all shots, dewormed, $300 Call 857-4365

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136

Bowling Ball $88 Men’s Red Call 334-8410 Elect. Dryer Sears $145 Call 334-8410 Estufa de gas, color beige, en $100 OMO Inf: 725-5472 For sale leather sectional sofa, chocolate brown, $750 OBO Call:251-3378

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TRANSPORTATION

GEORGE STRAITTICKETS at Alamo Dome 190 LIVESTOCK & SUPPLIES 130 on May 1st., Sect. 137, $190 BOATS Call: 235-4012 2 Jet skies. ‘07 Honda 20’ Ft. 3 seater & ‘07 Yamaha Gooseneck-Cattle Hoshizaki 6ft Sushi display kitchen 3 seater. $13,000 OBO $2,850 & resCall 334-0047 Call 206-5583 taurant equipt.for sale.$200 & up HEAVY EQUIPMENT 192 Reg. & Com. Red Brangus Call Bulls. 2yrs. & up Starting at 956-754-0296 Freight Liner 2000, perfect cond., PETS & SUPPLIES 128 $1500 & up 763-1116 & $11,500 OBO Call:337-5244; Kiosko for sale, approx.

763-7832 Belgian Malinois 242-8751 10’ x 10’, has island in the Puppies 5M/2F, 8wks, $500ea. Call middle, glass windows w/ AUTOMOTIVE PARTS 194 436-6513 LOTS FOR SALE 70 light, panoramic sign w/ Boston terriers puppies, 23”Rims w/ tires for Dodge truck, “A get away lots”. only light. $2000 Call 6wks, 1st shots, & 30 minutes away! Next 5 lugs, 337-6651 dewormed, pure breed, to Falcon Lake 307’. Ir$1600 OBO Call 774-2396 regular in San Ygnacio, $300 call 775-2536 LACKS Amour,mahogany brown.

TX.Trail to Lake/River, Bully Dog, Power Pup, Diesel Paid Boxer Puppies,8wks,dewormed, Paved, $32K Downloader,power stroke,for Ford $1200 Asking $490 Call 956-763-1320 white & 6.0, 857-4365 brown, $65ea. Call BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY 82 6.4,Pd.$650 asking $400 OBO 956-693-9301 NEW! RCA 5disc audio system w/ Call: Restaurant for sale A R T I C L E S F O R S A L E 1 3 6 French Poodle (2f/1m), ipod with all equipt.

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MISCELLANEOUS

CARS FOR SALE

200

1998 Mitsubishi Mirage,A/C,4 cyl., g a s saver, good cond., new battery, $ 1 6 0 0 CASH 956-774-4662 2001 Dodge Stratus 4cyl,auto,A/C, 8 0 K miles, $2350 OBO Call:740-5540 2003 Honda Civic, maroon, 102,690 miles, $3800 OBO Call: 237-2917; 1956325-0660 2004 Kia Spectra std., excellent cond., Cold A/C, cd player, blue title, current plates & sticker. $2600 OBO call: 235-0624; 956-251-5664 2008 Chrysler Sebring 4 cyl, candy apple red color, 32K miles, 4dr., excellent cond., $7850 Call: 754-8800 ‘05 ACCURA Leather seats, Navigation System Excellent Conditions $11,000.00 OBO Call (956) 235-4749

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Sports

4B THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

WCup semifinals sell out ASSOCIATED PRESS

JOHANNESBURG — Some 130,000 World Cup tickets have been sold in the first 36 hours of the final phase, and the semifinals and final are sold out.

FIFA announced Friday that 29 of the 64 matches are sold out, including all games in the coastal cities

Photo by Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press | AP

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brandon Morrow works against the Chicago White Sox in front of a sparse crowd at the Rogers Centre during a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday.

Many parks empty at start of MLB season

By BEN WALKER ASSOCIATED PRESS

Vernon Wells lofted a foul ball that landed way, way deep in the upper deck, and the race to retrieve the souvenir began.

Well, it was hardly a rush down the left-field line at Rogers Centre. A lone man ran through six empty sections and into a seventh, pursuing the prize.

There weren’t too many people sitting downstairs, either — in Toronto, or a few other parks this season.

The Blue Jays, Baltimore and Cleveland already have drawn record-low crowds of barely 10,000 at their ballparks. The New York Mets also saw their smallest crowd, in just their second year at Citi Field.

“I don’t expect anything,” said Wells, Toronto’s star center fielder. “The better we play and the better this organization gets, the fans will be here.”

“It’s not something that you worry about. We’ve got a job to do and whether there’s a packed house or however many people are there, we’ve still got to do our jobs,” he said.

Blame it on chilly April weather, the lingering effects of the economy, the lure of the NBA and NHL playoffs on television, or fans simply tired of losing.

Whatever, the sight of rows upon rows of empty seats is startling.

At Florida, the crowd for Thursday night’s game at Cincinnati was announced at 12,912. In reality, the number in the stands was about one-fifth that many. That said, the Marlins might be on the upswing, as corporate interests begin locking in their seats for the team’s new ballpark opening in 2012.

Plus, there’s this: Major League Baseball attendance is up slightly overall from this point last year.

Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Cubs have the highest-priced regular tickets at $52 apiece, Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Dodger Stadium and Citizens Bank Park are still packing ‘em in. The new Target Field in Minnesota is a hit, too.

Besides, smallish crowds early in the season are expected. Last year, eight stadiums set record lows by late May — Toronto, Cleve-

land, St. Louis, Atlanta, Cincinnati, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington.

MLB attendance fell 6.7 percent last year to 30,350, down from 32,528 in 2008 and a record 32,785 in 2007.

Smaller capacities at the two new ballparks in New York accounted for some of the drop.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore drew slightly over 33,000 this week — total, for a three-game series.

Only 9,129 fans showed up Monday night, the tiniest crowd in the 19-year history of Camden Yards.

The Mets sold out their home opener last week against Florida, then dipped to 25,982 a few nights later.

Cleveland lured 10,071 to Progressive Field on Wednesday night to see Texas, the smallest crowd since the ballpark formerly known as Jacobs Field opened in 1994.

Absent from the playoffs since Joe Carter’s home run won the 1993 World Series, the Blue Jays also are struggling at the gate. Only 10,610 showed up Wednesday, the smallest crowd since the ballpark once called SkyDome opened in 1989.

of Cape Town and Durban.

“We are very pleased with the interest and the latest figures,” FIFA ticketing subcommittee chairman Horst Schmidt said.

The opening game is also sold out between host South Africa and Mexico at Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium on June 11.

FIFA said tickets were

still available for one quarterfinal and the third and fourth playoffs, as well as a selection of final 16 and group games.

Ten matches still have unsold tickets in all four ticket categories, including the lowest priced one for locals.

Another eight games have only sold out the cheapest tickets.