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DRUG WAR
FLOOD INSURANCE
FEMA: Pay up Most in San Ygnacio would have to buy coverage By JULIE SILVA THE ZAPATA TIMES
Courtesy photo | SEMAR
Illegal drugs seized by Mexican law enforcement are burned.
Gunbattle starts week of violence
A preliminary FEMA flood map for Zapata County would require most San Ygnacio residents to obtain flood insurance, according to County Judge Joe Rathmell. The map, released in March, zones the community as Type A, or at a high
risk of flooding, he said, adding that the Commissioners Court did not agree with the change. At an actionpacked meeting Monday morning, the court passed a resolution requesting additional studies for the area. “We think FEMA should take more time to do more studies,” Rathmell said. “It’s an unnecessary burden on the residents of Zapata. It will affect all
residents there; it’ll be costly to them.” Also at the meeting, the court discussed a settlement with the Zapata Economic Development Center and heard an update from Raba-Kistner on an international bridge study. On the flood map, Rathmell noted that no San Ygnacio homes were affect-
See FLOOD PAGE 10A
HONORING THE FALLEN
By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Once again, bloodshed occurred too close to home for Zapata County residents. Although no Zapata residents were killed, a gunbattle between Los Zetas and Mexican military personnel at an island on the Mexican side of Falcon Lake left 13 people dead last weekend. That marked the beginning of several violent incidents reported throughout this week in border cities. Confrontations yielded several deaths, arrests and weapons seizures. The Falcon shooting took place Sunday afternoon at an island about 2 miles northeast of Nuevo Guerrero, Tamaulipas. Troops with the Secretaría de Marina, Mexico’s navy, backed up by Mexico’s defense ministry, SEDENA, returned gunfire from gangsters at a Zeta camp. The shooting resulted in the deaths of 12 suspected Zetas and one marine. Military personnel confiscated 19 assault rifles, a 50-caliber rifle, a 5.56 mm machine gun, ammunition clips, ammunition of various calibers and body armor. Mexican navy officials said Monday the small island was a launching point for Zetas to smuggle marijuana into the United States.
Other battles SEDENA officials said three other confrontations occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday in Reynosa, across the river from McAllen, and in Tampico, a Gulf city in the southern part of the state. Officials said soldiers killed six people in the confrontations. In addition, in Tampico, soldiers found a decapitated body. Its head was inside a cooler. Among five vehicles recovered, one was reported stolen. Joint operations in Reynosa and Tampico yielded eight assault rifles, three grenades, one grenade launcher, 1,703 rounds of ammo and 32 ammo clips. On Friday, the Mexican attorney general’s office — known by its Spanish-language initials, PGR — announced the arrest of a man in the vicinity of Los Ramirez in Miguel Alemán, across from the Roma port of entry. Soldiers patrolling the area spotted a man later identified as Omar Constante Alvarado. He was hidden in the brush area and attempted to flee when soldiers saw him, officials said. Soldiers reported that Constante Alvarado was in possession of an assault rifle, 13 clips and 280 rounds of ammunition. PGR officials are charging him with violating
See WEEK PAGE 10A
Photos by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
ABOVE: The multiagency law enforcement honor guard marches onto Jarvis Plaza in downtown Laredo on Friday morning, where a memorial ceremony was held to honor all officers of the agencies who have fallen in the line of duty. RIGHT: A riderless horse is led by a Webb County Sheriff’s Office deputy Friday morning at the plaza to remember fallen law enforcement officials.
LAWSUIT
Chavez kids fight over union By JENNIFER MEDINA NEW YORK TIMES
KEENE, Calif. — A series of dirt roads in this tiny Central Valley town leads to a warren of homes and offices that has been, for decades, the headquarters of the United Farm Workers union. This is where Cesar Chavez, the labor and civil rights leader, carved out a retreat and raised his family. In a
former tuberculosis sanatorium, the Chavez children learned the lessons of the union and listened to endless conversations about the backbreaking work in the nearby fields. Now, they are engaged in a simmering battle over the future of the union and its affiliated groups, with the rising tension threatening to accelerate the decline of the once-mighty movement.
In March, Anthony Chavez, the youngest son of Cesar Chavez, filed a lawsuit alleging that his brother Paul Chavez wrongfully fired him and is withholding thousands of dollars in pension benefits. According to the lawsuit, Paul Chavez, president of National Farm Workers Service Center, a network of nonprofit groups that grew out
See CHAVEZ PAGE 10A
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, MAY 14
ASSOCIATED PRESS
As part of Laredo’s Biggest Loser Challenge, the City of Laredo Parks and Leisure Services Department will hold Zumba classes at North Central Park, 10202 International Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays through May 21. Registration is $25. Payments will also be taken on site, but to minimize waiting, register at the centers. For more information, visit Laredo’s Biggest Loser Challenge on Facebook. A free youth chess simul will be held Saturday, May 14 at the Chickfil-A located at Loop 20 and Clark Boulevard. TAMIU student Jose Cabello will take on 20 players K-12 at the same time. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the event starts at 8:30 a.m. The event sponsor is Marty Speer. For more information, call Laredo Chess Club member Alberto Vargas at 774-9611.
MONDAY, MAY 16 The Laredo Little Theatre, 4802 Thomas Ave., will hold auditions at 7 p.m. today and Tuesday for “Let Your Hair Down, Rapunzel.” The theater is looking for kids ages 6-10 and 14-18. For more information, call 285-1264.
TUESDAY, MAY 17 The Laredo Little Theatre, 4802 Thomas Ave., will hold auditions at 7 p.m. today for “Let Your Hair Down, Rapunzel.” The theater is looking for kids ages 6-10 and 14-18. For more information, call 285-1264. “Lost Laredo,” an exhibit of rare photographs spotlighting the lost architectural heritage of Laredo, continues on display at the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum, 810 Zaragoza St. Sponsored by the Southwest Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Webb County Heritage Foundation, the exhibit will continue on display throughout June. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free Tuesdays. For more information, call the Webb County Heritage Foundation at 956-727-0911 or email jesus_najar@nthp.org.
THURSDAY, MAY 19 This summer, the Laredo Public Library will host the New Mystery Book Club as its Adult Summer Reading program. The club’s first meeting is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. today in the Laredo Public Library Conference Room, first floor, 1120 E. Calton Road. The first book up for discussion in June will be distributed. Club membership is free, and participants can attend any discussion meeting night. The first 10 people to sign up receive an autographed copy of a best-selling author’s work. For more information, contact Pam Burrell at 795-2400, extension 2268, or pam@laredolibrary.org.
SATURDAY, MAY 21 Veterans Helping Veterans will meet in the Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Road, from noon to 2:30 p.m. today and June 4 and 18. Meetings are confidential and for military veterans only. For more information, contact George Mendez at 794-3057 or georgem@borderregion.org or Jessica Morales at 794-3091 or jessicam@borderregion.org. As part of Laredo’s Biggest Loser Challenge, the City of Laredo Parks and Leisure Services Department will hold Zumba classes at North Central Park, 10202 International Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays from April 9 through May 21, except Holy Saturday, April 23. Registration is $25, payable at any recreation center this week. Payments will also be taken on site, but to minimize waiting, register at the centers. For more information, visit Laredo’s Biggest Loser Challenge on Facebook. Washington Middle School, 10306 Riverbank Drive, will host an open, nonrated chess tournament for students K-12 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. There will also be a special adult/ college section. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., with the first round scheduled for 9:30 a.m. The entry fee is $7 if preregistered or $10 at the door. Laredo Chess Club members will direct. For more information, call Dan Navarro at 722-4600.
SUNDAY, MAY 22 St. Patrick Church’s Men’s Club will have a steak asado plate sale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on church grounds, 555 Del Mar Blvd. The donation is $5 per plate. Proceeds go to the Men’s Club scholarship fund, which gives seven $1,000 scholarships to St. Patrick parish high school students. For more information, call 324-2432.
Photo by Harry Cabluck | AP
This May 19 file photo shows Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, left, talking with Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, right, during the session in the Texas Senate in Austin. Zaffirini says she’ll let her own bill die before allowing it to become the vehicle for permitting concealed handguns in Texas college classrooms.
Agency under fire By SOMMER INGRAM ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN, Texas — The duties and mission of a state panel caught up in the review of a contested arson finding in a death penalty case would be cleared up under legislation approved by the Texas Senate on Friday. The bill by Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, sets out steps for the Texas Forensic Science Commission when investigating and reporting cases. It also gives the commission the authority to initiate investigations rather than wait for a complaint to be filed. The commission has been embattled in the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, a man executed for setting the fire to his house that killed his three daughters in 1991. The commission was charged with determining whether Texas sent Willingham to his death based on faulty arson evidence. The case has
sparked outcries nationwide. Gov. Rick Perry, who denied Willingham a stay of execution, appointed John Bradley as chairman of the committee. Bradley delayed consideration of the case for monthsHis renomination has been blocked in the Senate by angry Democrats. Hinojosa’s bill would eliminate two commissioners, leaving a 7-member panel composed of a prosecutor, defense attorney and five other forensic science experts. He said the panel’s new make-up will make the commission geared more toward expert advice and knowledge of forensics. The legislation affirms that the commission’s role is to determine whether any junk science is used in arson cases. A report issued by the commission can’t be used as evidence in criminal or civil court. It now goes to the House for consideration.
Bill links higher ed funding to success
El Paso man arrested 4 months after shooting
Ron Paul running for president again
AUSTIN — The Texas House has approved a measure making public funding for higher education more dependent on student performance. It would measure student achievement against state goals when determining funding levels for Texas public universities and colleges. Supporters say the bill will make Texas universities morecompetitive.
EL PASO — A 21-year-old West Texas man has been arrested four months after the fatal driveby shooting of a teen. El Paso police say they arrested Alexander Salas on a murder charge Thursday in connection with the January slaying of 19year-old Isaiah James Luna.
AUSTIN — Texas Rep. Ron Paul announced Friday he will run for the GOP nomination for president, the third attempt for the man known on Capitol Hill as "Dr. No" for his enthusiasm for bashing runaway spending and government overreach.
Autopsy: South Texas police chief killed self
HOUSTON — One teen was killed and four others were injured when the car they were joy riding in crashed. Police say the 14-year-old driver died at the scene of the early Friday morning wreck. The Houston Chronicle reports that the two girls and two boys who were his passengers were taken to nearby hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said one of the girls had a broken back and the other a broken leg.
LA JOYA — A South Texas police chief found shot in his patrol car is being ruled a suicide. Autopsy results Friday confirmed that La Joya police Chief Jose Del Angel died from a selfinflicted gunshot wound to the chest. The 44-year-old was found Thursday night parked in a lot that a colleague said belonged to the police chief.
1 teen dead, 4 hurt in Houston joy ride
Texas town to honor last Comanche war chief QUANAH — A town named for the last great Comanche war chief will celebrate his life on the centennial of his death. The descendants of former Chief Quanah Parker will gather in Quanah, 76 miles northwest of Wichita Falls, for the Quanah Parker Celebration on June 9-11. Quanah Parker was the son of Comanche Chief Peta Nocona and Cynthia Ann Parker, the daughter of white settlers who was kidnapped by Comanches as a child. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION Mississippi farmers see crops washed away LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. — With crop prices soaring, farmers along the lower Mississippi River had been expecting a big year. Maybe even a huge one. Now, many are facing ruin, with floodwaters swallowing up corn, cotton, rice and soybean fields. And even more farmland will be drowned in the coming days if engineers throw open a spillway for the first time in 38 years sometime over the weekend. Unlocking the spillway would inundate Louisiana Cajun country with as much as 25 feet of water but would ease the pressure on levees downstream, averting a potentially bigger disaster in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
Union files claim against New Jersey governor TRENTON, N.J. — New Jer-
Today is Saturday, May 14, the 134th day of 2011. There are 231 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On May 14, 1811, Paraguay achieved independence from Spain with the bloodless overthrow of the country’s royal governor. On this date: In 1643, Louis XIV became King of France at age four upon the death of his father, Louis XIII. In 1796, English physician Edward Jenner inoculated 8year-old James Phipps against smallpox by using cowpox matter. In 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition to explore the Louisiana Territory as well as the Pacific Northwest left camp near present-day Hartford, Ill. In 1860, the first Japanese diplomatic mission to the United States arrived in Washington. In 1900, the Olympic games opened in Paris, held as part of the 1900 World’s Fair. In 1940, the Netherlands surrendered to invading German forces during World War II. In 1948, according to the current-era calendar, the independent state of Israel was proclaimed in Tel Aviv. In 1961, Freedom Riders were attacked by violent mobs in Anniston and Birmingham, Ala. In 1973, the United States launched Skylab 1, its first manned space station. In 1998, singer-actor Frank Sinatra died at a Los Angeles hospital at age 82. The hit sitcom “Seinfeld” aired its final episode after nine years on NBC. Ten years ago: The Supreme Court ruled 8-0 that there is no exception in federal law for people to use marijuana for medical purposes. Promising to be a “determined adversary” toward gun violence, President George W. Bush announced plans to mobilize federal and local prosecutors who would focus exclusively on gun-related crimes. Today’s Birthdays: Opera singer Patrice Munsel is 86. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is 69. Rock singer-musician Jack Bruce (Cream) is 68. Movie producer George Lucas is 67. Actress Meg Foster is 63. Movie director Robert Zemeckis is 60. Actor Tim Roth is 50. Rock singer Ian Astbury (The Cult) is 49. Rock musician C.C. (aka Cecil) DeVille is 49. Actor Danny Huston is 49. Rock musician Mike Inez (Alice In Chains) is 45. Fabrice Morvan (ex-Milli Vanilli) is 45. Rhythm-and-blues singer Raphael Saadiq is 45. Actress Cate Blanchett is 42. Singer Danny Wood (New Kids on the Block) is 42. Movie writer-director Sofia Coppola (KOH’pah-lah) is 40. Singer Natalie Appleton (All Saints) is 38. Singer Shanice is 38. Rock musician Henry Garza (Los Lonely Boys) is 33. Rock musician Mike Retondo (Plain White T’s) is 30. Actress Amber Tamblyn is 28. Actress Miranda Cosgrove is 18. Thought for Today: “A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.” — Louis Nizer, American lawyer (19021994).
CONTACT US Publisher, William B. Green........................728-2501 Business Manager, Dora Martinez ...... (956) 324-1226 General Manager, Adriana Devally ...............728-2510 Retail Adv. Manager, Raul Cruz................... 728-2511 Classified Manager, Jesse Vicharreli ........... 728-2525 Adv. Billing Inquiries ................................. 728-2531 Circulation Director ................................. 728-2559 MIS Director, Michael Castillo.................... 728-2505 Editor, Diana Fuentes ................................728-2581 City Editor, Mary Nell Sanchez .................. 728-2543 Sports Editor, Dennis Silva II......................728-2579 Entertainment Editor, Emilio Rábago III ....... 728-2564 Spanish Editor, Melva Lavín-Castillo............ 728-2569 Online Editor, Julie Silva........................... 728-2565
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY Photo by Bryant Hawkins/The Vicksburg Evening Post | AP
In this photo taken May 9, a street sign for Chickasaw Road is almost submerged in Vicksburg, Miss. sey’s largest state worker union has filed a claim of unfair labor practices against Gov. Chris Christie’s administration, saying it’s refused to negotiate over health care costs. Hetty Rosenstein says the union has met six times with the
governor’s staff, but they’ve refused to discuss health care. Christie wants state workers to pay a greater share of their health care costs. He wants to do it through legislation rather than collective bargaining. — Compiled from AP reports
(956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
Zlocal
PAGE 3A
Crash lands man behind bars TPWD warden fired at vehicle
ASSOCIATED PRESS
By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ
FORT WORTH — A 27year-old Fort Worth man who did volunteer work with children at a church has pleaded guilty to distributing images of child pornography on the Internet. Derek M. Ripley admitted in November that he distributed three files depicting underage boys in sexually explicit behavior. He entered the plea Friday. An FBI agent discovered that someone logging
LAREDO MORNING TIMES
A 20-year-old man deputies say struck a cinderblock fence and almost ran over an off-duty officer on Wednesday morning is behind bars facing several charges. Zapata County sheriff ’s deputies identified the man as Alex Navarro, 20. He was charged with reckless driving, striking a fixture, evading arrest with a vehicle and aggravated assault of a public servant. Deputies went out to a hit-and-run at 8 a.m. Wednesday in the 1600 block of Guerrero Avenue. According to reports, a man, later identified as Navarro, struck a cinderblock fence. According to reports, the man attempted to leave the scene. An off-duty Texas Parks and Wildlife Department warden who lives near the area attempted to stop Navarro from fleeing the scene. A news release states that the warden identified himself as a law enforcement officer but the driver
Courtesy photo | Zapata County Sheriff’s Office
A 20-year-old motorist is suspected of having crashed into this cinderblock wall on Guerrero Avenue on Wednesday. ALEX NAVARRO: Charged with evading arrest with a vehicle. started to drive off, with the warden holding onto the driver and the vehicle. The warden fired one shot from his off-duty handgun and then let go of the vehicle. As it sped off,
he fired two more rounds, but investigators said neither the driver of the fleeing vehicle nor the passenger in the truck was injured, a TPWD news release states. After letting go of the vehicle, the warden called the sheriff ’s office. Officials arrested the man shortly after. Navarro was being held
at the Zapata Regional Jail in lieu of a $90,000 combined bond. The game warden’s name is being withheld pending a routine TPWD internal investigation that follows any shooting involving department personnel. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
THE BLOTTER ASSAULT An assault report was filed at 8:30 p.m. May 7 in the 5300 block of Carrizo Lane. An assault incident was reported at 7:39 a.m. May 8 at the Del Mar Apartments in the 2100 block of Delmar Street.
BURGLARY A burglary of a habitation was reported at 11:38 p.m. May 8 in the
Volunteer pleads guilty in porn case
1400 block of Diaz Avenue.
PUBLIC INTOXICATION Pablo Treviño, 51, was arrested and charged with public intoxication at 11:15 p.m. Monday near the intersection of U.S. 83 and Monterrey Lane. According to a report, the man was lying on the ground near the highway and claimed he was tired. He was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail. He was released to appear in court at a future date.
RECKLESS DRIVING Orlando J. Rocha, 22, was arrested and charged with reckless driving at 6:58 p.m. May 7 near the Ramireño Water Tower after deputies spotted a 2006 Dodge truck speeding on U.S. 83. The man was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail and held in lieu of a $5,000 bond.
THEFT A person filed a theft report
early Monday in the Medina Addition. A theft was reported at 12:11 p.m. Monday in the 400 block of Fourth Street. Deputies responded to a theft reported at 2:54 p.m. Tuesday in the 1800 block of Third Street. A report states someone stole 16 aluminum rims. The items were later recovered at an empty lot area nearby. There are no suspects at this time.
into a network had shared folders containing images of child porn. Ripley volunteered to work with youths at Trinity Chapel Bible Church in Benbrook. A church official has said Ripley passed a series of background checks. There was no indication that Ripley took pictures of students at the church. Ripley faces a maximum 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and up to a lifetime of supervised release. Sentencing was set for August.
Man receives life in drug distribution case ASSOCIATED PRESS
McALLEN — A 52-yearold Rio Grande City man has been given a life sentence after his third conviction for drug trafficking. Gilbert Lopez is among four people charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute almost 2,000 kilograms of marijuana and more than 400 kilograms of cocaine. Lopez pleaded guilty in March 2007, and the mandatory sentence was hand-
ed down in a hearing Friday. The case stemmed from a June 2006 Border Patrol pursuit of a pickup truck. Fifty-year-old Eddie Diaz and 56-year-old Jose Angel Diaz, also both of Rio Grande City, and 43year-old Daniel Lopez of Garciasville have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics in the same case. Eddie Diaz received five years, and Jose Diaz was given more than 17 years. Daniel Lopez received more than 12 years.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
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EDITORIALS
OTHER VIEWS
Publisher gets an ‘F’ for lesson packet NEW YORK TIMES
C
hildren’s books and other educational materials produced by the publisher Scholastic reach about 90 percent of the nation’s classrooms. With this enormous access to what amounts to a captive audience of children, the company has a special obligation to adhere to high educational standards. It fell short of that mark when it produced a fourth-grade lesson packet called “The United States of Energy,” a treatise on coal, which was paid for by the American Coal Foundation, a nonprofit group. As Tamar Lewin noted in The Times on Thursday, the lessons talked about the benefits of coal and the pervasiveness of power plants fueled by it — while omitting any mention of minor things like toxic waste, mountain-top removal and greenhouse gases. The issue came to light
recently when children’s advocacy groups hammered Scholastic for giving a one-sided view of coal usage. This is not the first time the company has come under fire. Last year, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood attacked Scholastic for encouraging schools to have classroom parties with, and to collect labels from, the sugary juice drink SunnyD as a way of winning free books. A Scholastic representative said that the company had no intention of repeating the energy project but noted that it was never meant to serve as a comprehensive curriculum. That’s beside the point, given that the lessons carried the company’s imprimatur and were misleadingly touted as complying with national fourth-grade learning standards. If Scholastic really wants to avoid repeating this mistake, it should choose more carefully its partners in producing course materials.
COLUMN
Gator moat might do the trick
Consumers lose power A
By JOHN KELSO
AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
NEW YORK TIMES
T
he Supreme Court’s 5-4 vote in AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion is a huge blow to consumer rights. By upholding the arbitration clause in AT&T’s customer agreement requiring the signer to waive the right to class action, the court showed other corporations how they can avoid class actions. It gave companies more power when it also ruled out class-based arbitrations. These are major setbacks for individuals who may not have the resources to challenge big companies in court or through arbitration. When Vincent and Liza Concepcion signed a twoyear contract for AT&T cellphone service, they received what they were told were two free phones. AT&T then charged them $30.22 in sales tax for the phones. They sued the company for fraud in federal court and their case and another were consolidated as a class action. AT&T argued that the contract required the Concepcions to submit their claim to individual arbitration. A federal trial court, upheld by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, struck down the AT&T arbitration clause as unconscionable under California law and let the plaintiffs move forward against the company in a class action in federal court. With Justice Antonin Scalia writing for the majority, the Supreme Court reversed that decision and, in a dramatic example of judicial activism, ruled that class-based arbitrations also would not be permitted. Scalia argued that “class arbitration sacrifices the principal advantage of arbitration — its informality — and makes the process slower, more costly, and more likely to generate procedural morass than final judgment.” Justice Stephen Breyer dissented, highlighting the
damage to consumers: “What rational lawyer would have signed on to represent the Concepcions in litigation for the possibility of fees stemming from a $30.22 claim?” And he made clear that many rational couples would not press their own case for that amount if it meant “filling out many forms that require technical legal knowledge or waiting at great length while a call is placed on hold.” In 2005, the California Supreme Court defined a rule of “unconscionability” for consumer contracts: When they “deliberately cheat large numbers of consumers out of individually small sums of money.” The federal trial court and the 9th Circuit applied the rule in this case. Writing about why the Federal Arbitration Act of 1925 pre-empts the California law in question, Scalia demonstrates both his probusiness bias and the selective nature of his brand of originalism. Contrary to what he suggests, when the law favoring arbitration was enacted, arbitration’s purpose was to resolve disputes between businesses — not businesses and consumers. He doesn’t try to trace his view on class arbitration to the 1925 law because it is mute on the subject. Instead, he provides his own definition of what arbitration should and should not be — with “no meaningful support,” as Breyer writes, in Supreme Court precedent. In a welcome effort, Sens. Al Franken and Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Hank Johnson have just introduced the Arbitration Fairness Act. It would make required arbitration clauses unenforceable, although its chances aren’t great in the current political environment. Unless Congress fixes the problem, this court decision will bar many Americans from enforcing their rights in court and sometimes bar them from enforcing rights at all.
USTIN — When President Barack Obama suggested a moat full of alligators to enhance border security, I thought, “That’s the moat ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” But he might be on to something. While visiting El Paso and the U.S.-Mexico border, Obama said that no matter what moves he makes for border security, Republicans keep upping the ante. He mentioned that the government had added Border Patrol agents, was about to be finished building a fence and is screening more cargo. So what will they demand next? “Maybe they’ll need a moat,” Obama joked, as the crowd laughed. “Maybe they’ll want alligators in the moat.”
The moat Really, if the Republicans ask for a ditch loaded with fat snapping reptiles, is that such a bad idea? Would a moat full of alligators stretching all the way along the Texas-Mexico border cut down on the number of illegal immi-
grants crossing into the U.S.? Maybe yes, maybe no, said Gary Saurage, owner of a Beaumont tourist attraction called Gator Country. Saurage, who keeps hundreds of gators on the grounds and hasn’t had any undocumented workers sneaking onto his property, travels around performing shows with his pet alligator, Big Al, who is 13 feet, 4 inches long. “He’s a real good performer,” Saurage said. “He’ll shoot out of the water like Shamu and he’ll hiss at everybody.” Did I mention Big Al does impersonations? The hissing is Big Al’s impersonation of Dick Cheney.
Reality bites The bad news, Saurage says, is that gators aren’t dependable for security because they’re not the automatic human munchers they’re made out to be. Oh sure, if they’re real hungry, they might horse doover your cocker spaniel after a short but merry chase. But expecting them to consume intruders is wishful thinking for some. “Well, unfortunately, alligators are just not the maneaters they get the rap for,”
Saurage said. “They can be fatal to man, but if we put 10,000 alligators out there, it might not be successful.” On the other hand, if I saw a pile of 10,000 alligators, I might do an aboutface and head for Guatemala.
Not all bad Not that gators would be a complete bust. “Gators eat any kind of protein they can catch,” Saurage said. Including both Democrats and Republicans? They’re both protein. “I didn’t say that; you did, but that is funny,” Saurage added. This is not a new idea. Alligators have historically served in moats for security purposes. It might have been the late comedian Jack Benny who used the first-ever alligator moat in an episode of his TV show broadcast in the 1950s. The story line involved the tightwad Benny’s vault, which was protected in Benny’s dungeonlike basement by a series of obstacles. Two of the characters in the script “dodge various security contraptions including a moat containing an alligator,” the episode summary explains. What history doesn’t tell
us is whether the moat was constructed by undocumented workers.
Fiscal responsibility The gator solution would be cost-effective. If it didn’t work out, you could turn it into a handbag maquiladora. The moat itself would be free, since it’s already in place: the Rio Grande. And feed expenses are reasonable. “I have 300 alligators here,” Saurage said. “And I’d say on average, (it costs) $1,500 a month to feed ’em all.” That’s a lot cheaper than hiring additional Border Patrol agents. And if you played it up like a roadside amusement, your food costs could be nada. “We could turn it into some kind of attraction where the people that come, come to feed them,” Saurage said. “That way, you wouldn’t have any feed bill.” And think of the fun for the kids. By the way, Saurage said that if Obama gave him a federal grant to build and maintain a moat full of alligators along the TexasMexico border, he’d gladly perform his patriotic duty. “Absolutely,” he said. So let’s get after it.
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
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SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
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6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
Allergy season is here with a vengeance By CAROLYN THOMPSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by David Duprey | AP
Flowers bloom on a tree in Akron, N.Y., on May 10. Allergy specialists around the country all say this season is or has been a bad one for their nasal passages and enjoyment of nature and life.
Doctors Hospital offers seminar on weight loss By DIANA R. FUENTES THE ZAPATA TIMES
Losing weight can be a losing battle, but there are permanent solutions out there — if you’re willing to invest the time it takes to get fully informed. “Getting information is the first step,” said Carolyn Graham, RN, MSN, Doctors Hospital of Laredo’s bariatric coordinator. “If you’ve tried everything and it’s all failed and you want something that has a proven success record, this (bariatric surgery) could be it.” Doctors Hospital is having two free weight-loss forums in Zapata at the Holiday Inn Express, 167 South U.S. 83. The first is Thursday, May 19, at 6 p.m. The second is Saturday, May 28, at 10:30 a.m. There will also be free body mass screenings, free cholesterol screening vouchers and door prizes. Light refreshments will be served.
Dr. Charles Schwartz III, medical director of Doctors Hospital Weight Loss and Wellness Center, will conduct the forums. Graham said the idea of surgery needn’t be daunting. “Surgery is a major, lifechanging experience,” she acknowledged. “But what are your fears, exactly? No one looks forward to surgery, of course, but what are you specifically concerned about? We can talk about it and give you what you need to make an informed decision.” She said the operation is only part of the weight-loss program. “There’s also a lot of behavior modification, learning a new way to eat,” Graham said. At the seminar, attendees will get all the information necessary to decide whether bariatric surgery is a personally viable alternative.
“If you think you shouldn’t do it because of the cost, that’s a realistic concern,” Graham said. “Some insurance companies cover it, and we can definitely help you find out. If you’re going to self-pay, we have options. We’re very competitive in that area.” The professionals at Doctors Hospital have extensive experience with weight-loss programs. Many of them have been through it themselves. “We’ve all been there,” Graham said. “I encourage everyone to come to the support group and talk to people who have had the surgery. Find out the plusses and minuses. Information is power.” To register for the free seminars in Zapata, call Graham at (956) 721-0207. (To reach Diana R. Fuentes, call 728-2581 or email dfuentes@lmtonline.com)
There may be a whiff of truth to claims by allergy sufferers who sniffle that this season is, well, a bigger headache than years past. And now, more bad news: It’s also lasting longer, prolonging the misery of the millions of people for whom spring is a punishment, not a pleasure. Heavy snow and rain in some parts of the country have nourished a profusion of tree pollen, while a sudden shift to warm, sunny weather has made its release more robust. The deluges and flooding have pumped up the volume on mold. Add in the wind, and the suffering skyrockets.
Warnings about the difficult season have come from allergy specialists from New York to Atlanta, Chicago to California. “This past week has been one of the worst ever,” rasped Lynne Ritchie, 70, as she bought allergy medicine this week at a Manhattan drugstore. Dr. Stanley Schwartz hears that from patients every year, he noted with a wry smile. “Literally, every year is the worst year,” said Schwartz, chief of allergy and rheumatology for Kaleida Health and the University at Buffalo. “Now it may actually be, but when it’s there and you’re feeling it, you don’t remember what last year was like.” What is certain is that
allergy seasons in general have been getting longer and more challenging, said Angel Waldron, spokeswoman for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation. “We do know that climate change and warmer temperatures are allowing trees to pollinate longer than usual,” she said. “Although people feel things are worse than ever before, it’s actually because of the longer season. It’s a longer time to endure.” Pollen counts and allergy attacks vary widely from region to region, locality to locality and day to day, and no one entity tracks the full complexity of their ups and downs across the country. But everything is ripe this year for a historic season.
SÁBADO 14 DE MAYO DE 2011
Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 14 DE MAYO Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presentan el circo “Zing Zang Zoom, Gold Edition” a partir de hoy y hasta el 16 de mayo en Laredo Enery Arena. El show de hoy es a las 2:30 p.m. t 6:30 p.m. Precios varían de 10.25 dólares a 18.25 dólares, además de la cuota por instalaciones. Como parte del reto Laredo’s Biggest Loser Challenge habrá clases de Zumba en North Central Park, 10202 International Blvd., de 9 a.m. a 10:30 a.m., cada sábado hasta el 21 de mayo, a excepción del 23 de abril. Inscripción: 25 dólares a pagar en los centros recreativos. Consulado de México en Laredo invita a la Jornada Sabatina 2011 de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. Se realizan trámites de pasaportes, matrículas consulares y actas de registro civil, entre otros. Fútbol Soccer: Laredo Heat recibe a el Chivas El Paso Patriots a las 8 a.m. en el campus de TAMIU. NUEVO LAREDO — Encuentro de Arte urbano con conciertos de Hip-Hop, grafiti en vivo y exhibiciones de breakdance con artistas de Durango, Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila y México en Maquila Creativa a las 3 p.m. Entrada gratis. NUEVO LAREDO — El Sábado Deportivo es hoy a partir de las 9 a.m. en el Parque Ecológico Jesús Lascari Ramos, de la Colonia Jardín. NUEVO LAREDO — Hoy es el festival infantil “Don Quijote de la Mancha” a las 2 p.m. en el área infantil de Estación Palabra Gabriel García Márquez. Evento gratuito. NUEVO LAREDO — Se invita al Encuentro regional de arte urbano de 2:30 p.m. a 8 p.m. en Espacio de Artes y Oficios Maquila Creativa, Eva Sámano 1501. NUEVO LAREDO — Se celebra el Día Internacional del Museo Taller de Museografía para niños, a las 4 p.m. en Servicios Educativos del Museo Reyes Meza. Evento gratuito. NUEVO LAREDO — Hoy es el último día del Taller de creación literaria con Jacobo Mina, de 5 p.m. a 7 p.m. en la Sala Gabriel García Márquez de Estación Palabra. Evento gratuito. McALLEN — La obra de Mando Alvarado “Basilica”, dirigida por Michael Ray Escamilla, se presenta a las 2 p.m. y 7:30 p.m. en el STC’s Cooper Center for Communication Arts, 3201 West Pecan Blvd. Costo: 12 dólares adultos; 10 dólares estudiantes/militares.
DOMINGO 15 DE MAYO Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presentan el circo “Zing Zang Zoom, Gold Edition” a partir de hoy y hasta el 16 de mayo en Laredo Enery Arena. El show de hoy es a las 2:30 p.m. Precios varían de 10.25 dólares a 18.25 dólares, además de la cuota por instalaciones. El Comité Juvenil de Ciudades Hermanas de Laredo invita a su Torneo Anual de Boliche hoy en Laredo Jett Bowl North de 12 p.m. a 3 p.m. Costo: 30 dólares por jugador/5 jugadores por línea. McALLEN — La obra de Mando Alvarado “Basilica”, dirigida por Michael Ray Escamilla, se presenta a las 3 p.m. en el STC’s Cooper Center for Communication Arts, 3201 West Pecan Blvd. Costo: 12 dólares adultos; 10 dólares estudiantes/militares.
Zfrontera
PÁGINA 7A
ARRIBAN 500 SOLDADOS A TAMAULIPAS PARA OPERACIÓN NORESTE
Refuerzos militares ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO
CIUDAD VICTORIA, México — Ante los acontecimientos violentos que han azotado Tamaulipas el último año y advirtiendo la necesidad de reforzar al personal que combate la inseguridad, el jueves fueron presentados 500 efectivos del Ejército Mexicano. Desde noviembre fue reforzada la Operación Coordinada Noreste del Gobierno Federal en ciudades que más sufren la presencia de la delincuencia organizada, como son: Nuevo Laredo, Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, Ciudad Mier, Miguel Alemán, Camargo, Díaz Ordaz, Reynosa, Río Bravo, Valle Hermoso y Matamoros. El Gobernador de Tamaulipas, Egidio Torre Cantú, presentó el jueves a las cuatro compañías que
se incorporaron a la Policía Estatal (Ministerial). “Valoramos su presencia, valoramos su compromiso con la tranquilidad de los tamaulipecos y valoramos su entrega a la patria”, dijo Torre durante la ceremonia, según indica un comunicado de prensa. La presencia de los 500 militares fue gracias al convenio firmado entre Tamaulipas y las Secretarías de Gobernación, Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública y la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional. El compromiso incluye la depuración de las policías en los 43 municipios tamaulipecos. Tan sólo en Nuevo Laredo han ocurrido enfrentamientos violentos con civiles armados y policías municipales muertos, además de dos adolescentes ejecutados en el Cen-
tro de Detención Juvenil y explosión de granadas que han dañado negocios locales. El Presidente Municipal de Nuevo Laredo, Benjamín Galván Gómez comentó que apoyaba las acciones del Gobernador para tranquilidad de los tamaulipecos. El Secretario de Seguridad Pública de Tamaulipas, Rafael Lomelí Martínez, expresó que con el arribo de los militares se inicia un proceso para refundar la Policía Estatal. “Los nuevos integrantes de la fuerza preventiva de Tamaulipas asumirán tareas de seguridad pública para complementar su capacidad actual”, dijo Lomelí. El miércoles el vocero de Seguridad Nacional, Alejandro Poiré anunció en mensaje televisivo la ofensiva contra los carteles del Gol-
fo y Los Zetas. “Las organizaciones criminales del Golfo y de Los Zetas, que antes operaban como una sola, en conjunto, escenifican ahora una disputa violenta, desde inicios del año 2010, en zonas específicas de esta entidad que tienen un valor estratégico para su operación delictiva”, declaró Poiré. Agregó que además se han recrudecido actos como homicidios, extorsiones, secuestros y robo de automóviles. El convenio firmado tendrá vigencia por un año. “Debe quedarles claro a los criminales que sus delitos no quedarán impunes”, dijo Poiré en su mensaje. “Iremos acotando su acción delictiva, para alcanzar una seguridad y una justicia auténticas en la entidad”.
ATLETISMO LOCAL
Foto por Laredo Morning Times
Luego de terminar en cuarto lugar en la carrera de 3200 metros en la competencia de atletismo de la división 3A estatal el viernes por la mañana, la estudiante de último año de Zapata High School, Marlena García, toma una pausa mientras sus familiares y entrenadores observan en el fondo.
GUERRERO
EDUCACIÓN
Oficiales piden cruce internacional
Se aproxima la prueba ENLACE ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CD. VICTORIA, Tamaulipas — El Presidente Municipal de Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Luis Gerardo Ramos Gómez, y autoridades del condado de Zapata, Texas, apostaron por un puente internacional. Se reunieron con el secretario de Obras Públicas, Manuel Rodríguez Morales, para proponer la construcción de un nuevo puente internacional entre México y Estados Unidos para hacer más eficiente la frontera mejorando el flujo vehicular y comercial. En la reunión estuvieron, por parte del gobierno norteamericano, Carlos Aguilar y Allan Butchier, representantes del juez del condado de Zapata, quienes mencionaron que la propuesta para este puente internacional cuenta con el apoyo de los 24 condados aledaños y que, a pesar de que aún no se define una ruta, se plantea como posibilidad unir San Ignacio, Tamaulipas, con San Ignacio, Texas.
Consideraron que la iniciativa de un nuevo puente internacional es resultado del análisis sobre los beneficios que dejará este cruce. Consideraron que la iniciativa de un nuevo puente internacional es resultado del análisis sobre los beneficios que dejará este cruce, pues sería la vía más corta para llegar a San Antonio, Texas, lo que representa un ahorro de combustible para los transportistas, además de agilizar el tráfico vehicular y comercial en los puentes internacionales próximos. Insistieron en que el proyecto cuenta con el respaldo del juez del condado, Joe Rathmell, y el del congresista Henry Cuellar para impulsar ante Washington el permiso presidencial y buscar el financiamiento necesario para la construcción, aunque consideraron que la obra es autofinanciable debido a que permitiría ampliar la base de impuestos
mediante el establecimiento de agencias aduanales, un parque industrial, la renta de bodegas y el flujo comercial. Por su parte, el secretario Rodríguez Morales mostró interés en la propuesta y acordaron realizar estudios de factibilidad técnica y económica para estar en condiciones de incorporar el proyecto en la agenda del grupo binacional México–Estados Unidos sobre puentes y cruces internacionales. El secretario de Obras Públicas reiteró que la instrucción del Gobernador Egidio Torre Cantú es impulsar comunidades fuertes, por lo que en principio se pactó una carta de intención para que los interesados inicien los estudios técnicos y de factibilidad que sirvan de garantía para un proyecto sólido y viable.
NUEVO LAREDO — Lucía Castillo Pastor, subsecretaria de Planeación de la Secretaría de Educación (SET), anunció que Tamaulipas se encuentra listo para la Evaluación Nacional del Logro Académico en Centros Escolares (ENLACE). Pero el Secretario General de la Sección XXX del Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Educación, Arnulfo Rodríguez, desdeño el programa. Dijo en una entrevista en la Cueva Leonística, lugar donde se extendían reconocimientos a educadores por 30 y 40 años de Servicio, que esa prueba no representaba un avance en la educación. Pero pese a la contrariedad del Sindicato de Maestros, la prueba se aplicará del 23 al 27 de mayo a estudiantes de tercero y sexto grado de primaria, así como al nivel secundaria. En la entidad, la evaluación será aplicada a un total de 274,476 estudiantes de primaria en 2,350 instituciones educativas de ese nivel, y a 166,813 estudiantes de secundaria de
734 escuelas. Castillo Pastor señaló que en el mes de abril se llevó a cabo la capacitación de los responsables de la aplicación de esta prueba, quienes fueron reclutados e instruidos en las sedes de los centros de desarrollo regional y en su totalidad pertenecen a la región donde coordinarán y supervisarán la aplicación. Destacó que la SET ha recibido ya el material de aplicación por parte de la Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) y que está llevando a cabo la logística de distribución a los centros de desarrollo regional, los que a su vez habrán de distribuirlos a las escuelas seleccionadas cumpliendo de manera normal con el calendario planeado para la realización de la prueba ENLACE 2011. Por último, señaló que durante el mes de septiembre la SEP presentará y distribuirá los resultados obtenidos, desagregados por escuela, sector y zona escolar. Lo anterior activará a nivel estatal un proceso de análisis de los mismos en el que participarán los niveles educativos.
PAGE 8A
Zentertainment
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
COMING UP Local DJs fill Tiesto lineup The lineup for DJ Tiesto’s performance at the Laredo Energy Arena just got a big boost. Local DJs will play before Tiesto — the world’s No. 2 DJ/producer — both inside the arena and on the concourse. On the main stage, San Antonio’s DJ Tonyc will be the first to play, followed by Gruvman and Static from the Rio Grande Valley. After them, local DJs Tanki Pink and Laidback Lou play, right before the night’s main stage opener, Kevin Focus. The arena and Global Groove London, the concert’s promoter, have set up another section in the main lobby and VIP section by the arena’s Star Bar. There, a variety of local and area DJs will play, beginning at 6 p.m. They include Benny, Dutchkid, Banner, Pumpin Pete, Scorpion, D-Rock, Reeper, Impact, Alx, Noizekid, Frankii Stylez, Kickback, Jair, Necio, Kash Kasanova and Juiceman. The event is set for Sunday, May 29, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the LEA.
Laredo Municipal Band plays Monday The Laredo Municipal Band, Laredo’s first citywide band housed at Texas A&M International Univer-
sity, will present its debut concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the University’s Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall in Laredo. The show, hosted by veteran band director Elmo López Sr., will be free and open to the public, said Dr. David Manuel García, TAMIU director of bands. Concertgoers can expect to hear the band perform paso dobles, marches by Karl King and John Philip Sousa, and novelty works such as “The Only Tune the Band Knew Was Auld Lang Syne.” Other symphonic selections include Vaughn William’s complete “Folk Song Suite” and Fred Kepner’s ”Cuban Fantasy,” written for the U.S. Air Force Band. Special guest artist will be soprano Dana Crabtree, who will sing Johann Strauss’ “Mein Herr Marquis,” also known as the “Laughing Aria” from his opera, “Die Fledermaus.” Crabtree will also sing Manuel Ponce’s “Estrellita.”
Hypnotizing show at Vaqueros British hypnotist Peter Kingsley is coming to Laredo next Thursday. He’ll perform his hypnotic comedy show at Vaqueros Country Bar, off Jacaman Road. Kingsley is known as for his family-friendly demonstrations and as a life coach. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. — The Zapata Times
MATA IS MISS HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Photo by Jesse Herrera | Special to the Times
The Laredo Harley-Davidson store recently announced the winner of the Miss Laredo Harley-Davidson 2011 contest. Taking the title was Laura Mata, center, who is flanked by first runner-up Ana Rodriguez, left, and second runner-up Mildred Rodriguez.
Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier/Feld Entertainment | Special to the Times
Trainer Ramon Esqueda stands in the foreground as Cassidy Herriott-Koch rides Asian elephants while they perform a long mount.
MAGICAL FUN FOR EVERYONE ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ continues at LEA through Sunday By EMILIO RÁBAGO III THE ZAPATA TIMES
Just like Britney Spears says in her “Circus” song: “There’s only two types of people in the world, the ones that entertain and the ones that observe.” This weekend, there are plenty of entertainers in Laredo — both humans and animals — as the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus presents “Zing Zang Zoom Gold Edition” at the Laredo Energy Arena. The shows started Thursday and run through Sunday, with two showtimes today. With a slogan such as “The Greatest Show on Earth,” Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey are the standard when it comes to family entertainment, especially for the young ones.
Houston’s Lil’ Flip performs at Karma
PERFORMANCES Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday at 2:30 p.m. combine mixed martial arts with their strength to twist metal poles around their bodies. The famous Urias family rides customized 100-cc motorcycles at speeds up to 60 miles per hour in a steel globe that is only 16 feet wide. The Salsations take vaulting, aerial gymnastics and sizzling dance moves to scorching new extremes. Hans Klose’s 10 highenergy dogs display their animal athleticism by jumping, hurdling and diving from 16 feet up in the air, back-flipping and walking on their hind legs.
Trainer Ramon Esqueda takes the famous Asian elephants just a few feet away from the crowds. An added incentive: Ticket holders get to go to an “all-access” pre-show, an hour before each show time. During this hour, children and adults alike can get to know the performers and the exotic animals, with some photo opportunities available. The pre-show allows people to register for chances to win an art piece created by one of the Ringling Brothers’ Asian elephants. (These elephants artfully handle brushes with their trunks.) Tickets to the circus are $10.25, plus fees, for arena bowl seating and VIP floor seats are $18.25, plus fees. (Emilio Rábago II may be reached at 728-2564 or erabago@lmtonline.com)
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SELLING YOUR CAR OR TRUCK $$$ I buy cars for cash even if you still owe money$$$ Models 2003-2009
By EMILIO RÁBAGO III THE ZAPATA TIMES
If you know Texas rap, you must know Lil’ Flip. The well-known rapper from Houston is coming to the Gateway City for a performance Saturday. Presented by local rapper Big Ugly Mexican, Lil’ Flip will rap at Karma Lounge & Nightclub, 9802 McPherson Rd. Lil’ Flip, who was born Wesley Eric Weston Jr., was part of the Houston rap movement known as the Third Coast in the early and mid 2000s. During that era, Lil’ Flip, along with Houston-area rappers Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Bun B and ESG, to name a few, were pounding out hit after hit. Third Coast refers to rappers from stages that hug the Gulf of Mexico, and was named after the East Coast-West Coast rivalry of the 1990s. Lil’ Flip didn’t get lost in the mix. He is best known for his tracks “Sunshine,” featuring Lea, and “Rollin on 20’s.” Some of his other well-known singles include “I Can Do That,” “50 in My Pinkyrang,” “The Way We Ball,” “What Ya’ll Wanna Do,” “Look At Me Now,” and “You’z a Trick.” “Game Over” was a smash hit for Lil’ Flip and took him to another level in the rap world. He’s also known for collaborating with other artists such as Beyoncé on “Naughty Girl,” Chingy on “Balla Baby” and Chamillionaire on “Turn it Up.” Special guests include Flatline and Fab V. Among the local rappers that will
“Zing Zang Zoom” promises a magical circus experience, according to a news release. “Audiences will enjoy high-flying excitement and pulsepounding acts just feet away from their seats.” For instance, the shows feature “thrilllusionist” David DaVinci, who wows the crowds with eye-popping illusions and mindblowing transformations throughout the shows. DaVinci performs with a feathered flock of eight rare and colorful birds, including African Greys, cockatoos and macaws, an exclusive for “Zing Zang Zoom Gold Edition.” The winged performers take flights of fantasy around the arena and DaVinci is the only thrilllusionist who performs with birds. The performances at the Laredo Energy Arena will also feature international daredevils: Viktoriya and Widny, the “Hairdaring Duo,” execute an unbelievable extreme hair hang, 35-feet in the air, over the center ring. The Kung Fu Kings
INTERESADO DE VENDER SU CARRO O TROCA? $$$ Compro carros en efectivo aunque todavia deba dinero$$$
Models 2003-2009
Call for Estimates/Llama para un Presupuesto
(956) 237-1621
File photo by Michael Stravato | AP
Houston rapper Wesley Weston, known as Lil’ Flip, speaks during an interview in Houston in March 2007. Lil’ Flip will be in Laredo tonight for a concert at Karma Lounge. be represented at the show are Starswag, Laredo’s Finest, B.U.M. and Bugs, DJ Drank, Triple S, Minority Movement Kado, Nancy-Q, The Plane, Genuine Illicit, Bronze, Lo-Kee, Trigga and Money Making Mexicans. (Emilio Rábago III may be reached at 728-2564 or erabago@lmtonline.com)
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
BABY ANDREA OMIDEE SALDAÑA ZAPATA — Baby Andrea Omidee Saldaña, passed away Friday, May 13, 2011, at Doctor’s Hospital in Laredo, Texas. Baby Andrea is survived by her parents: Omar Jr. and Patricia Omidee Saldaña; sister, Anna Cristina Saldaña; paternal grandparents: Omar (Maria M.) Saldaña; maternal grandparents: Aurelio (Lucila) Villarreal; aunts and uncles: Vickie Saldaña, Judisa L. Villarreal, Aurelio A. Villarreal; cousin, Nathan A. Saldaña; and by numerous other relatives. Visitation will be held
Saturday, May 14, 2011, at 10 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home with a chapel service at 11 a.m. Committal services will follow at Zapata County Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 Highway 83, Zapata, Texas.
GUADALUPE ‘LUPITA’ B. WUELFING Nov. 7, 1932-May 11, 2011 ZAPATA, — Guadalupe “Lupita” B. Wuelfing, 78, passed away Thursday, May 12, 2011, in Rio Grande City, Texas. Ms. Wuelfing is preceded in death by her parents: Santana and Ernesta Benavidez; grandson Abel Angel Villarreal; brother, Salvador Benavidez; and sisters, Esperanza B. (Jesus) Mendez and Socorro (Rafael) Sandoval. Ms. Wuelfing is survived by her children: Juan F. Jr. (Lupita) Martinez, Beatriz (Gildo) Gutierrez, Mercedes G. (Rolando) Villarreal, Rosario Martinez and Arturo (Rosa Linda) Martinez; 14 grandchildren; 26 greatgrandchildren; mother-inlaw, Eloisa C. Martinez; and by numerous other family members and many friends. Visitation was held Friday, May 13, 2011, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession will depart Saturday, May 14, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. for a 9
a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services will follow at Zapata County Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 Highway 83, Zapata, Texas.
JUDY ANN MCCORMICK Jan. 20, 1966-May 9, 2011 ZAPATA — Judy Ann McCormick, passed away Monday, May 9, 2011, in Zapata, Texas. Judy is survived by her son, Michael Edward Peña Jr.; parents: Ralph McCormick and Mary Jane McCormick; sisters: Faith McCormick, Virginia (Shane) Hines, Norma (Preston) Laughling, Cailin McCormick, Maria McCormick, Sara McCormick and Brenda Alaniz; brothers: Matthew McCormick, Christopher McCormick, Ralph McCormick Jr., Rory McCormick, Brandon McCormick and Roger McCormick. A memorial service was held at Lake Church Tabernacle on Thursday, May 12, 2011, at 3 p.m. Cremation arrangements were under the di-
Oil rises on concerns By SANDY SHORE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oil rallied in the last hour of trading on Friday to settle higher, finishing the week up more than 2 percent after plunging the week before. Last-minute buyers may be guarding against the chance that refineries in the Southeast will be affected by Mississippi River flooding over the weekend. Most refineries in the Gulf States region don’t expect to be affected by flooding. Still, some have lined their facilities with sandbags, moved equipment and prepared other emergency measures. At least one refinery near Baton Rouge, La., run by Alon USA Energy Inc. plans to close if federal engineers open a massive spillway this weekend to divert floodwaters from Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Hundreds of thousands of acres will be flooded elsewhere.
Most refineries in the Gulf States region don’t expect to be affected by flooding. Still, some have lined their facilities with sandbags … Analyst Addison Armstrong with Tradition Energy said the flooding could halt almost 253 million cubic feet of natural gas production per day in Louisiana as well, according to state officials. And there are concerns that crude oil shipments and other commercial traffic on the river could be slowed by high water, according to PFGBest analyst Phil Flynn. Delays in getting gasoline from refiners to wholesalers have already contributed to higher pump prices in parts of the Southeast and the Midwest. Benchmark crude for June delivery settled at $99.65 per barrel, up 68 cents on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil has been volatile this week,
ranging from $95 to $104 a barrel. It gained 2½ percent for the week after losing 15 percent last week. Despite last week’s drop in oil prices, drivers across the country are paying about the same for gasoline, with the national average at $3.982 a gallon, according to AAA, Wright Express and the Oil Price Information Service. Motorists in 15 states and the District of Columbia pay more than $4 a gallon. The average price is 17.4 cents more than it was a month ago and $1.092 more than a year ago. Many analysts think pump prices will fall to around $3.50 a gallon or less by Memorial Day as refineries that have been sidelined by temporary out-
Fed program finances look worse By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR AND STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
retary Timothy Geithner said. Congress is putting off changes to Social Security, but Medicare, the government health insurance program for older Americans, is still on the table.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The bad economy is worsening the already-shaky finances of Medicare and Social Security, draining the trust funds supporting them faster than expected and intensifying the need for Congress to shore up the massive benefit programs, the government said Friday. Medicare and Social Security are being hit by a double whammy: the longanticipated wave of retiring baby boomers and weakerthan-expected tax receipts, according to the annual report by the trustees who oversee the programs.
Fixing things
Bad news
rection of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 Highway 83, Zapata, Texas.
ages come back online and oil prices retreat. The Labor Department reported that inflation in April rose to the highest level in two years as consumers paid more for gas and food products. There are signs that inflationary pressure may begin to ease as prices for oil, corn, wheat and other commodities have declined this month. In other Nymex trading in June contracts, heating oil rose 2.85 cents to settle at $2.9422 per gallon, gasoline futures added 1.05 cents to settle at $3.0744 a gallon and natural gas gained 5.5 cents to settle at $4.311 per 1,000 cubic feet. In London, Brent crude rose 85 cents to settle at $113.83 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.
The Medicare hospital insurance fund for seniors is now projected to run out of money in 2024, five years earlier than last year’s estimate. The Social Security trust funds are projected to be drained in 2036, one year earlier than the last estimate. Once the trust funds are exhausted, both programs can only collect enough money in payroll taxes to pay partial benefits, the report said. More immediate bad news for seniors: After they’ve gone two years with no cost-of-living increase in Social Security payments, the trustees project a 0.7 percent increase for next year, a raise so small it will probably be
Photo by J. Scott Applewhite | AP
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner leaves Blair House in Washington following a May 5 meeting on deficit reduction. The bad economy has shortened the life of the trust funds that support Social Security and Medicare, the government reported Friday. wiped out by higher Medicare Part B premiums for most beneficiaries. “There can no longer be any doubt or denial: Our nation’s Medicare and Social Security programs are unsustainable and will run out of money sooner than expected,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Congress and the Obama
administration are negotiating possible changes to Medicare and other benefit programs as part of a deal to increase the government’s ability to borrow. The $14.3 trillion debt ceiling will be hit Monday, though Treasury officials are taking measures to put off an unprecedented default on government bonds until August, Treasury Sec-
The longer Congress waits to fix the programs, the more likely it is that lawmakers will be forced to impose tax increases, deep benefit cuts, or both, to save them, the report said. By acting sooner, the trustees said Congress can impose gradual changes that reduce the impact on current beneficiaries and give future retirees time to prepare. “The financial shortfalls confronting both Social Security and Medicare are substantial and — absent legislation to correct them — quite certain,” wrote two of the trustees who oversee the programs, Charles P. Blahous III and Robert D. Reischauer. “Elected officials will best serve the interests of the public if financial corrections are enacted at the earliest practicable time.” The weak economy is hurting Medicare and Social Security because fewer people are working and paying payroll taxes that support the programs, the trustees said. Medicare is in worse shape than Social Security, in part because it is also being hit by rising health care costs.
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
WEEK Continued from Page 1A federal firearms and explosives law. The case remains under investigation.
Pot burn
AP photo
United Farm Workers leader Cesar Chavez claps during a rest in a 1,000-mile march through California in 1975. Chavez died in 1993, and the movement he championed is fracturing.
CHAVEZ Continued from Page 1A of the union, has created a hostile work environment that has pushed out several employees. “It’s like all the history, nothing mattered,” Anthony Chavez, 51, said in an interview in the modest home here where he lives with his wife and two of their children. The office where he used to work is just a few steps away, and Paul Chavez’s home is even closer; a slice of his house is visible from Anthony’s back door. When Cesar Chavez was alive, he was a major force in California politics and agriculture. “The problem now is that the organization has simply drifted,” said Miriam Pawel, who has written a book about the union and is working on a biography of Cesar Chavez. “It has become a family-run organization that is sort of purposeless and does little or nothing to help farmworkers.” The lawsuit alleges that Paul Chavez, 54, refused to fire an employee who stole $500,000 from the organization and instead urged his brother to get rid of one employee who looked as though he “needed to see a
mortician.” Paul Chavez, through a spokesman, declined to be interviewed, but defended the foundation’s work in a statement. “It is regrettable that Anthony chose this course,” he said. “But this is not a family matter; it is an employment issue.” He added, “After everything is past, we will still be a family and will be able to put all this behind us.” Family members, without exception, talk about Cesar Chavez with deep reverence. They blanch at any criticism of the movement, as they refer to the broad work of the union under his watch.
Fractured unity But that unity is now fractured. After his father died, Paul Chavez took over most of the operations, although the union itself is led by his brother-in-law Arturo Rodriguez. Several siblings and former employees of the union said in interviews that Paul Chavez is hurting the organization, getting rid of those he does not get along with.
Liz Villarino, one of Cesar Chavez’s daughters, worked for years as the controller for the service center while her husband ran an organization that offered classes to farmworkers. But in late 2008, Villarino said, she grew frustrated that not enough was being done to organize workers in the fields, and she quit. Several months later, her husband also broke from the group. “There was never any clear direction,” Villarino said. “There wasn’t any focus on the bigger picture. Eventually, I said, this isn’t what it used to be, and I left. But they were just waiting for me to leave.” Villarino said she told her brother on multiple occasions that they should be more focused on workers, rather than finding ways to bring in money, but that her concerns were dismissed. “Paul cares more about building his assets than helping people,” she said. “He wants all the power to be the go-to person whenever people have questions about his father and his legacy and create his own little empire.”
Mexican federal authorities say they are taking charge to prevent drugs from getting onto the streets. In the past two weeks, agents have burned more than 22 tons of narcotics in combined efforts. Among those efforts, PGR officials announced Tuesday the incineration of more than 9 tons of marijuana and nearly 37 kilograms of cocaine in Reynosa. Officials said the
narcotics were seized through enforcement operations in Reynosa and Miguel Alemán. Mexico’s navy announced late last week the incineration of about 13 tons of pot in a naval sector in Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville. Navy officials say the marijuana could have been broken down into 437,600 personal doses. Increased patrols have yielded more than just weapons and drug seizures. Recently, Mexican federal authorities have dealt with immigrants. Mexico’s navy announced Monday the discovery of 49 undocumented Central
Americans in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, a city located across the river from Eagle Pass. The discovery occurred when Navy troops responded to an anonymous call in the 1900 block of Calle Monterrey in Colonia Buena Vista. Inside a house, they found 19 Hondurans, 20 Guatemalans, five El Salvadorans and five other undocumented people whose nationality has not been determined. Ages ranged from 17 to 49, and four of the people are women. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
FLOOD Continued from Page 1A ed when the river flooded last summer. Commissioner Eddie Martinez also said that the community wasn’t affected in the “great flood of 1954.” “That’s not a flood plain,” Martinez said. “It’s never flooded.” Martinez added that the court would also work with Rep. Henry Cuellar to see if he could help San Ygnacio residents. In other business Monday, the court discussed a settlement with the Zapata Economic Development Center. Last week, the EDC handed commissioners a check for almost $315,000, which was reimbursement for the construction of the Advanced Education Center. The EDC had obtained a $1 million federal grant for the construction, but the county oversaw the project. The federal government had delayed releasing the final payment, pending proper documentation, according to Peggy Umphres Moffett, director of the EDC. The final payment for the grant was one of several sources of conflict be-
tween Zapata County and the EDC, and county officials recently elected to end the relationship between the two entities. “We discontinued the funding for the last two quarters,” Rathmell said. “We just decided to go our separate ways.” Umphres said the county has breached its contract with the EDC, and “we’ll take whatever legal action is required in the future.” The court tabled an item from Umphres on Monday that requested payment for a $13,188 invoice for expenses incurred in working with the county and the federal government to recover the funds for the $1 million grant. Commissioner Martinez said the court asked for documentation, and Umphres said she would provide it. Last month, the Commissioners Court asked the EDC to move from its current location on county property. Umphres said the center has vacated the office and she’s looking at several other locations. Umphres plans to reopen
in June. She is also planning an orientation session with the newly assembled EDC board in June. “Once they’re in place and ready, then we’ll continue to be working on our focus areas: attractions, business retention and expansion, workforce development,” Umphres said. “We’ll also focus on marketing and the other areas. We’re just moving forward in that respect.” Also Monday, the court heard an update on an international bridge study from a representative of contractor Raba-Kistner. Rathmell said the company would circulate an opinion survey to see how the community feels about economic development in the area, including the bridge. He added that Raba-Kistner received a letter from the Tamaulipas governor’s office, stating that construction of a bridge in Zapata is not in the state’s five-year plan, but he would be interested in participating in the project. (Julie Silva may be reached a 728-2565 or jsilva@lmtonline.com)
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
CLASS 3A STATE TRACK AND FIELD MEET
A FINE FOURTH
Photo by Tony Gutierrez | AP
The Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki reacts after a 3-point shot during the first half of Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sunday, May 8, in Dallas. The Mavericks won 122-86, and swept the series.
Nowitzki’s got game
Photos by The Zapata Times
ABOVE: Senior Marlena Garcia competes in the 3200-meter run at the 3A state meet on Friday morning. BELOW: The results board at the 3A state meet shows Garcia finishing fourth in the 3200-meter run.
Zapata’s Garcia places fourth at state THE ZAPATA TIMES
A
USTIN – Zapata’s Marlena Garcia wanted to make the last race of her high school career a memorable one. The Lady Hawks’ senior did not disappoint, as she raced to a fourth place finish in the 3200-meter run at the Class 3A track and field state championships at Mike A. Myers stadium on the grounds of the University of Texas early Friday morning. “This is a great way to finish my senior year. To finish in fourth place … it was something I never thought I was going to get,” Garcia said. Garcia, the lone representative from Zapata, ran one of her best races and broke her own school record for the second time this year as she blazed the track with an 11:30.39. Her previous best was an 11:50 she
Mavs star’s skill set has progressed along the way By JAIME ARON ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki will soon be 33. A former league MVP, he already holds practically every meaningful record in the history of the Dallas Mavericks. He’s rising in the ranking of greatest players in NBA history, boosted by career playoff stats that are near the top of the
charts. And, get this: He’s still getting better. In leading the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals for the first time in five seasons, Nowitzki has shown off the latest innovations to his already extensive “toolbox” of skills — a one-legged, step-back jumper
See NOWITZKI PAGE 2B
MLB
See GARCIA PAGE 2B
NFL
AP Photo
In this Aug. 5, 2010 file photo, Houston businessman Jim Crane does not stop to talk to the media as he leaves federal court in Fort Worth, Texas. A group led by Crane is close to an agreement to buy the Houston Astros baseball club, team owner Drayton McLane said in a phone interview, Wednesday.
McLane, Astros close to sale By KRISTIE RIEKEN AND CHRIS DUNCAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Houston businessman Jim Crane is close to finally owning a baseball team, nearing a deal to purchase the Astros. Owner Drayton McLane said in a phone interview Wednesday that the team has been negotiating with Crane’s group “for several weeks,” but that no contracts have been signed. He said the deal could be reached
next week, but the process could take longer. Crane, who founded a Houston-based logistics company in 2008, is the chairman and chief executive officer of Crane Capital, a private equity fund company. He would not comment on the reports of the impending sale, according to a spokeswoman at his office at Crane Capital. Before striking it rich in busi-
See ASTROS PAGE 2B
Photo by Mel Evans | AP
In this photograph taken March 16, trainer Bob Thompson, left, watches as Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Todd Herremans works out with a pair of 3-pound, fluorescent green dumbbells at Power Train Sports Institute in Cherry Hill, N..J.
NFLers find way to stay fit By ROB MAADDI ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHERRY HILL, N.J. — A pair of three-pound, fluorescent green dumbbells ordinarily wouldn’t be intimidating for a professional athlete or any guy in the gym, even a sports writer.
It’s a different story at Power Train Sports Institute. Trainer Steve Saunders, founder and CEO of Power Train, and his staff make simple exercises a grueling task for their clients, which include a lengthy list of NFL players. With the lockout dragging into
a third month, players are finding their own ways to stay in shape. Several members of the Philadelphia Eagles, including Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick and star wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, have been working out with Saun-
See NFL PAGE 2B
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
ON THE DIVE FOR A CATCH
NOWITZKI Continued from Page 1B that’s almost impossible to block and a left-handed hook shot. Throw in his consistently improving defense, and perhaps this will be the season Nowitzki and the Mavs discover the thing they are missing most, a championship. “It’s the best I’ve seen him play in his career,” said Pau Gasol, the Lakers’ big man who struggled to keep pace with Nowitzki last round. “He’s in a great rhythm. He’s shooting extremely well and confidently. You can’t take anything away from him.” Gasol wasn’t using a figure of speech. He really wasn’t able to take away any of Nowitzki’s favorite spots on the court during their series, a key reason why Dallas swept the twotime NBA champions. When Gasol crowded Nowitzki at the edge of the free throw line, the German created space by leaning back on one leg, putting up the other knee and flicking in a rainbow jumper. He seemed to hardly ever miss this unorthodox-looking shot, quickly turning it into a fan favorite. “When I see it, I still get caught up like, ‘Dang!”’ teammate Jason Terry said. “I know it has to be demoralizing to the other team.” Nowitzki built his game on the unorthodox, making it from Germany to the NBA at age 20 because he was a 7-footer who could make 3-pointers. His guru, Holger Geschwindner, figured that would be the best way to break into the big
“
He’s in a great rhythm. He’s shooting extremely well and confidently. You can’t take anything away from him.” PAU GASOL, THE LAKERS’ BIG MAN
time, and planned to build the other elements of Nowitzki’s game as he got older. They have, with spectacular results. He’s the 23rdleading scorer in NBA history and has plenty of time to move way up on that list. In the playoffs, he’s among four players who have averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds; his 25.6 points per game are 10th-best. “The great ones come back every year with a new weapon or a new counter to one of the things that’s an important weapon to their game because teams are constantly adjusting to them,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. “I’ve seen more unique defensive coverages on him than any player I’ve ever been around because he’s so unique with his ability to be a great oneon-one player.” Funny thing is, Nowitzki didn’t intentionally learn the new step-back. “I don’t know where the one-leg thing came from,” he said, smiling. “It just developed. It was really just creating a little separation for me to get the shot up.” His ability to maintain the proper form while offbalance stems from all his
other work with Geschwindner, who is in Dallas for the postseason, as usual. “Our goal was always from the beginning that there is not one shot in the game that you can’t make,” Nowitzki said. “So we practice all sorts of shots. In practice, we shoot left-handed free throws, we shoot left-handed bank shots outside the paint, we shoot runners, we shoot hooks, all sorts of turnarounds. ... We always practiced a little bit of everything so I’m in position to succeed.” The left-handed hook is another example. Terry said he’s seen Nowitzki hit 25 in a row in warmups. And while he uses it in the regular season, he doesn’t do it much. But with about a minute left in Game 3 against the Lakers, with Gasol having pushed Nowitzki way left of the basket and with another defender charging at him, Nowitzki gave it a try. “I was stuck a little bit and I slung something up there,” he said. “And it went in.” Nowitzki’s amazing combination of shots have long earned him credit as a great scorer. But his reputation is a bit hollow because
he and Dallas have never won it all, despite being on a run of 11 straight 50-win seasons. The Mavs have only reached the NBA finals only once, in 2006. They were up 2-0 and leading by 13 points in Game 3 but couldn’t close it out. They won 67 games the next season and Nowitzki was the MVP, only to get eliminated in the first round. Both the franchise and its star player have been trying to overcome those flops ever since, with little success. Until now. Nowitzki said Wednesday this is the best he’s played since leading Dallas to the ’06 finals. It shows in the fact the Mavs have won a franchise-record six straight playoff games. He’s leading the way, of course, averaging 26.5 points and 8.4 rebounds. “I want to win a championship before I retire, that’s my goal,” he said. “I don’t play for nothing else. That’s really all that’s left in my career. We’ve got a great shot this year and we’ve got to go for it.” Dallas will host the first two games of the Western Conference finals starting either Sunday or Tuesday.
ASTROS Continued from Page 1B ness, Crane was a pitcher at Central Missouri, a Division II school near Kansas City. But he’s struck out on three attempts to buy teams in the last three years. He first approached McLane about buying the Astros in 2008, but McLane turned him down. A year later, he was in the running to buy the Chicago Cubs, but fell short again. Last summer, an investment group led by Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan beat out a group led by Crane and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to buy the Texas Rangers for about $593 million. Crane’s group appears to be the front-runner this time, although McLane said nothing is set. “Nothing has been signed,” McLane said. “When you’re negotiating something as complex as purchasing a major-league sports franchise, there are a lot of details. None of those details have been agreed up-
Before striking it rich in business, Crane was a pitcher at Central Missouri, a Division II school near Kansas City. on, so there’s no agreement to report.” McLane purchased the team in November 1992 for about $117 million. He put the franchise up for sale in November and retained the New York investment firm Allen and Co. to help him broker the deal. Multiple media reports said McLane’s asking price for the Astros is about $680 million. A major selling point is the team’s share in a new deal with the NBA’s Houston Rockets to create a regional sports network that will begin airing Rockets games in 2012 and Astros games in the 2013 season. McLane would not confirm the price figure or divulge other specifics. “We’re just not revealing
any details until we get a deal done,” he said. McLane, who made his fortune running the family’s wholesale grocery business, has been considering selling the team for at least two years. He said in November that the decision to fully commit to selling the team was based mostly on family considerations. McLane is a fixture at Astros home games, sitting in the front row behind home plate. The franchise, playing its 50th season, has reached unprecedented success with McLane as the owner, making the playoffs six times since 1997. But Houston has finished with a losing record in three of the past four seasons, and attendance has dwindled as
the team began rebuilding after the departure of its most recognizable stars. Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio were both gone by the 2008 season, and Houston traded pitching ace Roy Oswalt and five-time All-Star Lance Berkman in 2010. After Wednesday’s win over Cincinnati, the Astros were 14-23 and in last place in the NL Central. McLane would not say if he plans to keep a minority share of the team after it’s sold, but said he’ll still attend games. “I’ve owned the team for 19 years, so it’s kind of like graduating from college,” he said. “You develop a lot of emotion and friendships in the midst of what you’re doing.”
Photo by Gail Burton | AP
Seattle Mariners leftfielder Mike Wilson makes a diving catch on a fly ball hit by the Baltimore Orioles’ Nick Markakis in the fourth inning Thursday in Baltimore.
GARCIA Continued from Page 1B ran earlier in the year. She dropped a staggering 20 seconds at state. “It is an awesome feeling to have the fourth best runner in the state of Texas,” Zapata long distance coach Mike Villarreal said. “We would have loved for her to go out with a medal, but for an athlete to be the best that they can be on this day at this meet … I’m at a loss for words.” Garcia ran a fast first mile and did not fade into the pack as she kept pushing her body with every step at a comfortable pace. “After the first mile, I knew that I was going at a fast pace since I was looking at the clock at the stadium,” she said. “I felt good, so I decided to keep the pace.” Garcia came in with a game plan to stay with the middle of the pack for the first six laps and she was able to accomplish that feat. She went out with the lead pack and kept a fifth-place spot throughout the race, staying right behind Canton’s Heather Sterling. When Sterling started to fade in the sixth lap, Garcia overtook her at
the 200-meter mark to move into fourth for the seventh lap. “Marlena went out faster than I thought she was going to go out, but she stuck with them and stayed as long as she could. After that, she solidified the best position she could,” Villarreal said. In her final lap, Garcia knew that it was the last time she would be wearing the Zapata uniform and she went all out, holding nothing back. “I just ran with everything,” she said. “I just wanted to finish strong … this was my last race.” Lucas Lovejoy’s Katie Ruhala won the 3200 with ease, while Decatur’s Hanna Galloway and Huffman Hargrove’s Taeler Marshall were 15 seconds ahead of Garcia for second and third place, respectively. Garcia finishes her high school career as one of the most decorated long distance runners in Zapata’s history after three trips to the state cross country meet and two track and field appearances to add to her regional title in cross country and one in track.
NFL Continued from Page 1B ders this offseason at his South Jersey location. It just so happens I’ve lifted weights for years and work out there, too, giving me a chance to see from the inside how Saunders helps some real athletes. “When I came in and saw what he does, I knew this was the place to get you ready for whatever you needed,” Maclin said. “His main focus and the thing that he does is prevention, and everything has a time and a pace. They do a good job of working body parts and muscles that you don’t normally work.” That’s where those tiny, bright-colored dumbbells come in. When Saunders tells someone to grab them, there’s a lot of trepidation. Lying face down on an incline bench, the person holding the dumbbells shrugs his shoulders up, extends his arms outward and stays parallel to the ground. Then, while maintaining the extension, he brings his hands forward in front of his face, never letting his arms drop below his head. This is usually one of the last exercises in an upperbody session. Think it’s easy? Try it.
Three sets, 12 repetitions. “He’s been tough on me since I got here and that’s exactly what I’ve been needing,” said Atlanta Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who traveled from Texas to work with Saunders. “My arms have never felt the way they felt. Once I go against these centers and the guys inside, I feel I’ll be punching a lot more efficiently. I look forward to seeing that. I look forward to getting back to work whenever they call us.” It might be a while as the labor situation unfolds in the courts. For now, Weatherspoon and other players have to get ready for the season on their own. Weatherspoon moved in with Maclin, his college roommate at Missouri, a month ago. So did St. Louis Rams wide receiver Danario Alexander, who also went to Missouri. “I wanted to change the scenery and see what Steve has to offer,” said Weatherspoon, who had been working out at Plex, a training facility in Houston. “I heard a lot about Steve. I knew he trained James Harrison, Hines Ward and a lot of the Steelers and a lot of the Eagles, so I wanted to get up
here and see how they do it.” Saunders has four other gyms, all in Pennsylvania. Several Steelers train with him at his Pittsburgh facility. Harrison, a three-time All-Pro linebacker and The Associated Press 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, has worked with Saunders for more than five years. “These guys have a tremendous desire to be the best in their profession and to get better,” Saunders said. “Everybody is looking for that edge.” Even a journalist with an eight-month long softball schedule. But no matter how much you can bench press or curl, it doesn’t compare to the physical stress you’ll endure in one session at Power Train. Time-under-tension — the amount of time your muscles work during a specific set — is one aspect of Saunders’ training methods. It’s no fun. Put it this way. One set of eight TUT reps bench pressing 135 pounds is far more exhausting than doing four regular reps of 365. “Everybody likes to train what they’re good at,” Saunders said. “Go in any gym
across America on a Monday and you’ll see 90 percent of the guys benching. Most people will take the path of least resistance. They don’t have the knowledge to switch things up, do progressions or really diagnose what they need for themselves.” That’s why they go to Saunders. He trains pros, college and high school athletes and soccer moms, too. The current list of Eagles includes five-time Pro Bowl kicker David Akers, tight end Brent Celek, safety Quintin Mikell, offensive linemen Todd Herremans, Winston Justice and Jamaal Jackson, linebackers Moise Fokou and Jamar Chaney, and defensive linemen Trevor Laws, Victor Abiamiri and Juqua Parker. Dallas Cowboys guard Phil Costa and Minnesota Vikings running back Albert Young also are clients. Many of these players would be working out at Power Train regardless of the lockout. Those with workout clauses in their contracts likely would go to their team’s facility to get credit during allotted time periods. “The guys we have so far,
90 percent of them, would be here anyway,” Saunders said. “I’d say 10 percent are trying it out because of the lockout. Those numbers may increase if the lockout goes into June and July. But these guys are committed. They understand their body is the No. 1 asset in their profession and they would be here anyway.” Saunders’ system appeals to many athletes because he sets up specific workouts and diet programs catered to each player’s individual needs. That’s not always the case with team trainers. Sometimes a team will assign the same workout to the whole squad but players say privately they much prefer doing sessions that are tailored to their needs. Saunders targets weaknesses and muscle imbalances in athletes and puts together a program designed to fix those particular areas while improving overall strength, health and conditioning. “Some areas are stronger than others because of the sport they play and overuse of specific motor patterns or how they trained before, so basically we take an athlete
and see what we need to work on, and there’s a lot that goes into that,” Saunders said. “It’s not only physical stuff, but you have to see what you are working with mentally with athletes, too. Some guys are workout warriors and they’ve done it all their life. Some guys have gotten by on natural talent and this is the first time they’ve gone somewhere else. They don’t know what’s out there so you have to expose them to it slowly.” The workouts can be a humbling experience at first. Doing it in a gym filled with elite athletes adds some pressure. Of course, there’s trash-talking, especially if someone outside the fraternity is in the group. “Those are the sorriest push-ups I’ve ever seen,” Abiamiri said to me as I struggled to finish a workout. While Abiamiri dished out insults, Jackson offered compliments. “What’s Lou Ferrigno doing in here?” he said. Being compared to The Incredible Hulk will boost anyone’s ego.
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
HINTS BY | HELOISE Dear Heloise: In The Charlotte (Florida) Sun, an older lady was wondering about available financial help if she ADOPTED A PET. She was concerned that should the pet need medical care, she wouldn’t be able to afford it. She is 70, lonely and yearning for a pet. Here in Charlotte County, Fla., the local pet shelter is asking for foster homes for puppies and kittens, and also for older pets that have had a surgery or are in ill health and need a quiet place to recuperate. They say that kittens and puppies that have been socialized in private homes are much more adoptable. So maybe Annette in Oregon could check with her local pet shelter to see if it has a program like this. The shelter provides all necessary equipment to care for the pet. She could shower all sorts of love on these animals at no cost. -Jane in Port Charlotte, Fla. Good advice, and I should have thought of it! Thank you for writing this heart hint. Does anyone have other hints for someone who might not be able to have a pet full time? -Heloise VINEGAR VOILÁ! Dear Readers: If your dog bowl is encrusted with
“
HELOISE
lime-scale buildup, here is an easy fix: Heat some white vinegar and carefully pour it into the bowl. Allow the vinegar to bubble up and eat the lime scale away. If you would like some more helpful, money-saving vinegar hints, I have compiled a collection of my favorite vinegar uses. To receive this pamphlet, send $5 with a long, self-addressed, stamped (61 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Keep a clearly labeled spray bottle with half vinegar and half water handy. Spray down your counters periodically and wipe to keep ants at bay. -- Heloise BIRD-DROP STOP Dear Heloise: I would like to share a timesaver. I have a carport, and the birds love to roost over my car, which causes the bird droppings to drop on my car. What I do is hang up neckties and any kind of belts (to scare away the birds. -- Heloise). Really helps, and saves a lot of spot washing. -- L.F.C. in Indiana
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4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
Back on his game Former ’Stro Berkman shines By R.B. FALLSTROM ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. LOUIS — Take it from his peers, the old Lance Berkman is back. Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy marveled at the keen eye and discipline to hold off on pitches far too close to take. While enjoying a career rebirth at age 35, the third big bat in the St. Louis Cardinals’ deep lineup doesn’t need bifocals yet. A glance at the Top 10 is a blast from the past. After a day off Thursday, Berkman was tied for first in RBIs, second in homers and third in batting average. “I told the umpire behind the plate, ’Man, that guy, he’s really locked in because he’s taking borderline strikes like they’re nothing,”’ Lucroy said. “When you’re locked in like that, you see them coming.” Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said it was tough enough dealing with Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday. “That middle of the lineup,” Rodriguez, “I can’t think of any other lineup that has guys like that.” Coming off his worst year, Berkman entered free agency with a snub. The Houston Astros, his team for a dozen years before Berkman went to the Yankees at the trade deadline last year, had zero interest. “I think it’s well-documented,” Berkman said. “They said ’Take a hike.’ It was a short conversation.” Berkman’s first trip back to Houston was mostly positive, although there was a smattering of boos before each at-bat and fans wielded dueling signs, one
Photo by Nick Wass | AP
Newly-named Maryland men’s head basketball coach Mark Turgeon, right, poses with a Maryland jersey and athletic director Kevin Anderson, left, during a news conference, Wednesday, in College Park, Md. Turgeon left Texas A&M for Maryland.
Big 12 hoops shaken Photo by Jeff Roberson | AP
The St. Louis Cardinals’ Lance Berkman acknowledges the crowd after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning against the Florida Marlins, Thursday, May 5, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-3. welcoming and the other spurning. Berkman also had a bit of a confrontation with longtime Astros broadcaster Milo Hamilton, who had accused Berkman of not being in shape last season. “That I didn’t really do my rehab or insinuated that I didn’t really do it, that’s what he said,” Berkman said. “It wasn’t true. He didn’t exactly apologize but he definitely came up and said really that he just wanted to clear the air. “I’m not the kind of guy to worry too much about that.” After the Astros said no last winter, Berkman wasted little time signing with St. Louis. “I actually called them and said, ’Do y’all want me?’ Berkman said. “There’s not another two or three teams I would
even consider playing for, and this was the first place I wanted to come.” Then he started dialing back the clock, taking a regular outfield spot for the first time since 2004 in addition to rediscovering his stroke as the hammer in the Cardinals’ fifth slot. Berkman is batting .357 average with 10 homers and 32 RBIs, and a .444 onbase percentage was every bit as impressive. Twice he’s been player of the week. “What can you say? He’s on fire right now,” Marlins third baseman Greg Dobbs said. “Maybe next time we see him, he won’t be.” Actually, Berkman has cooled off lately. Yet he’s compensated for a 1-for-16 tailspin the last week that dropped his average below .400 by drawing eight walks.
By ERIC OLSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Big 12 will have a new look in men’s basketball next season and not just because Nebraska and Colorado are leaving. Four of the remaining 10 teams will have new head coaches and underclassman declarations for the NBA draft will leave Texas with no returning starters and take three players out of seven-time defending champion Kansas’ lineup. The coaching shake-up is the most significant in the conference since 2006, when six schools had firstyear coaches. Only the Atlantic Coast Conference has had as many coaching changes this year. Billy Gillispie takes over at Texas Tech, Lon Kruger at Oklahoma and Frank Haith at Missouri. Texas A&M’s job is open for the third time in seven years after Maryland hired Mark Turgeon. “That’s a lot of turnover for 10 teams,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “The
old-timers are Barnes and Drew and Self. It’s an unbelievable coaches’ league when you really look at it.” Rick Barnes will be going into his 14th season at Texas and Baylor’s Scott Drew and Self are entering the ninth years at their schools. No one else has been in his job more than four years. Barnes and Self are taking the biggest hits with underclassmen declaring for the NBA draft. The league had seven players leave early, including Colorado’s Alec Burks. It would have been 10 had Missouri’s Laurence Bowers and Kim English and Texas A&M’s David Loubeau not decided to come back. Texas, which ranked as high as No. 3 nationally and challenged Kansas for the league title, is losing Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph in addition to senior starters in Dogus Balbay and Gary Johnson. Hamilton averaged a team-leading 18.6 points,
Thompson was Big 12 freshman of the year and Joseph was on the conference all-rookie team. Kansas loses twin forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris and guard Josh Selby, all of them hoping to land in the NBA. Marcus Morris was the Big 12 player of the year and Markieff Morris was the league leader in fieldgoal percentage and rebounding. Selby, the celebrated freshman, averaged 12 points in his first 13 games but wasn’t nearly as productive after injuring his foot Feb. 1. Self said Baylor and Texas A&M, even with a new coach, should be the preseason favorites. Another change in 201112 will be the league’s round-robin schedule. It requires each team to play every conference opponent once on the road and once at home. Previously, teams played home-and-home against members of its own division and met opponents in the opposite division once.