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MAY 16,2009
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COMMISSIONERS COURT
County bails out chamber
A healthy deal By TARYN WHITE
By TARYN WHITE
THE ZAPATA TIMES
THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Zapata Commissioners Court has voted to settle an outstanding debt totaling $9,362.82 acquired by the Chamber of Commerce from 2005 to 2007, prior to the chamber’s re-organization. According to Paco Mendoza, Chamber of Commerce director, the chamber did not realize that it owed the Texas Outdoor Journal and the Internal Revenue Service money. “We didn’t know these debts were in existence so we didn’t include them in our budget,” Mendoza said. The court will use funds from the 7 percent hotelmotel tax to pay this debt.
See DEBT | PAGE 10A
Zapata County and Laredo Medical Center entered into an affiliation agreement this week that will increase LMC’s presence in the county. Through the agreement, LMC will work closely with elected officials, physicians and community members to address the county’s unmet medical needs. “This is just the first step, from here we will meet and discuss what can be done to improve health care in the county,” said Ed Romero, LMC’s chief financial officer. Romero added that this agreement may lead to federal money, which LMC would be able to apply for to increase
health care in the county. “Any thing they want to do to expand the medical services in the county is a good thing,” said Zapata County Commissioner Joseph Rathmell. “Since they are seeking public RATHMELL funds they need to go through the county.” This will be the first time LMC and Zapata County work together. According to Rathmell prior to the acquisition of Mercy Medical Center by Community Health Systems, Mercy ran the county’s 24-hour, seven-day-a-week clinic, Zapata Medical Clinic. Community Health Systems, owners of
LMC, “didn’t think it was economically feasible (to run the clinic) after Mercy left,” Rathmell said. In 2004, however, LMC opened its own clinic, Zapata Medical Center. According to Romero, LMC declined to run the county’s clinic because it was unsure of the county’s medical needs. “That decision was reversed soon after it was made but the county had already hired another group to run the clinic,” Romero said. Zapata Medical Group now runs the county’s clinic. Romero added that through the affiliation agreement, LMC will be working
See COUNTY | PAGE 10A
EDUCATION
THE GOOD LIFE
ZCISD may get $800K By GARY MARTIN SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives approved a $6.4 billion bill this week to modernize schools and make them more energy efficient, including roughly $606 million in grants for Texas districts. The money would be doled out to nearly all of CUELLAR Texas’ 1,000-plus school districts. More than $80 million would go to South Texas, with more than $800,000 going to Zapata schools. “It is impossible to overstate the importance of (this funding) to our local schools and our area economy,” said U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo.
Creating jobs Photos by Ulysses S. Romero | Laredo Morning Times
ABOVE: LEFT: Larisa Gutierrez enjoys a hotdog at the annual Cinco De Mayo celebration. ABOVE RIGHT: Residents of San Ygnacio enjoy the celebrations at the Blas Uribe Plaza.
Tasty treats part of San Ygnacio tradition By TARYN WHITE LAREDO MORNING TIMES
F
or 19 years, the San Ygnacio Ladies Club Cinco de Mayo Celebration has been a tradition, bringing the community together to enjoy colorful displays of traditional Mexican fare: parades, dancing, games and music fill the historic town’s streets.
The celebration But longtime patrons of the popular celebration also know to look forward to the Gutierrez/Cruz family’s famous brisket burger. Served every year, the brisket burger recipe has been passed down through the Gutierrez/Cruz family from parents to children. “Nothing beats their (brisket) burgers,” said Dora Martinez, chair of the event. “They are here each year and we know the community looks forward to eating them.” Martinez added that there is something particular in the sauce that makes these brisket burgers different from others.
Brisket burgers When the Cinco de Mayo celebration began 19 years ago, Fernando and Anna Gutierrez decided to sell their homemade brisket burgers as a favor to the ladies club.
“I don’t think they thought this would be something we would keep doing 19 year later,” Becky Cruz said of her parents, who were the first to sell the burgers. “Each year we always consider not doing it, but once it gets close we end up scrambling around to get ready.” Becky Cruz and her sister Anna Cruz took over making and selling the brisket burgers a couple of years ago. According to Becky, the recipe was passed down through the generations, and this year her son is helping.
‘Delicious’ “I make sure to get one (burger) every time I come,” said Isabele Melo, who has been coming to the Cinco de Mayo celebration for years. “The taste and flavor of the burger are delicious.” Becky Cruz said this year, for the first time, the family has expanded their operation to include Mexican hotdogs. But brisket fans, don’t worry. Becky Cruz pointed out that the Mexican hotdogs are only being added — they will never replace the brisket burgers that have become one of San Ygnacio’s many traditions. (Taryn White may be reached at 728-2568 or twhite@lmtonline.com)
Cuellar noted that the measure, if approved, would create jobs quickly, while providing future benefits as “children grow into better-educated, more productive adults” through the improvements. The bill, which passed on a 275155 vote, now goes to the U.S. Senate. Similar legislation has not yet been filed in that chamber. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas, a member of the House Education Committee, said the funds would provide “safe, healthy, clean schools that will prepare our students for the 21st century.”
‘Billions of dollars short’
ABOVE: The Mexican-style hot dog topped with jalepeño slices has become a favorite for patrons. BELOW: Brisket is slowly cooked until perfection as the Gutierrez family prepares to serve the famous brisket burger during the Cinco De Mayo celebrations.
“Schools in South Texas are hundreds of billions of dollars short of the funding needed to bring them up to good condition,” said Hinojosa. Under the House-approved plan, Zapata CISD would get $859,000; Jim Hogg ISD in Hebbronville would get $170,000; and Cotulla ISD would get $255,000. Three school districts in Webb County would get a total of about $13 million, while San Antonio area school districts would receive grants totaling about $42 million to improve classrooms and upgrade buildings. Rio Grande Valley schools would get more than $26 million. The money would have to be used by 2015 on environmentally friendly projects. Cuellar tucked an amendment into the bill that would allow school districts to use the funds to rebuild and repair schools after a natural disaster.
See BILL | PAGE 10A