The Zapata Times 5/19/2012

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CLINIC

Mold at courthouse

Officials discuss dialysis clinic

Commissioners take action to remediate problem

By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Zapata County commissioners took action Monday to deal with a mold problem in the county courthouse.

Mold growth in the courthouse is among the reasons the county is suing the contractors who built the structure fewer than 10 years ago.

The commissioners voted to hire a consultant to assess a mold problem in the county courthouse as well as contract someone to remediate the problem.

Should the county win the lawsuit, it

would pass the cost of damages — from the mold as well as other claims the county says were caused by faulty construction — on to the contractors, said Commissioner Jose Vela.

The lawsuit, filed in June, claims Satterfield and Pontikes, whom the county hired to build the courthouse, was negligent in the supervision of its subcontractors, and that led to shoddy construction.

The county — represented by law firm Escamilla, Poneck and Cruz — claims the roughly $8.6 million facility which opened in 2005 sustained water damage in addition to the mold.

The lawsuit is in the discovery phase. An

attorney representing the county has said it would likely be a while before the trial begins.

Commissioners also approved hours of operation for the Zapata County Park and Boat Ramp. The park will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Initially, a public hearing was to be held to determine the operating hours, but Commissioner Eddie Martinez decided to speed up the process and put it on the agenda for Monday’s meeting.

Commissioners have said they could look at adjusting the schedule as needed.

(JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2567 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

MEMORIAL CEREMONY

By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Zapata County may soon get a kidney dialysis clinic, which county officials hope will ease the travel burden of the roughly 30 residents on dialysis in the county and also help the economy.

A representative from DaVita, a kidney dialysis corporation, made a presentation at Monday’s Commissioners Court meeting.

The company is proposing a 6,500-square-foot facility that would house a kidney dialysis clinic. No such clinic exists in Zapata County, so an estimated 30 to 40 patients seek treatment about twice a week in Laredo and as far away as San Antonio.

“We hear from all the patients having to travel to Laredo twice a week,” said County Judge Joe Rathmell, who added that the county has been trying to attract a dialysis clinic for the last several years. “It does really take a toll on them.”

Company incentive Rathmell said that in its presentation Monday, the company explained it would need a minimum of 60 to 70 patients to make it a viable business, but the maximum number of patients the company expects to see in the county falls well short of that mark.

So DaVita is asking for an incentive from the county to operate here. Under the proposal, the county would provide the building and DaVita would bring the equipment. Because the county doesn’t own a vacant building the size that the company is requesting, Rathmell said the county would likely construct a new one.

The commissioners are seeking a 10-year agreement with the dialysis company.

Several weeks ago, the court appointed Commissioner Jose Vela to make contacts so the county could explore bringing a dialysis center here.

Easing a burden

Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times

A deputy with the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office participates in this week’s Law Enforcement Week memorial ceremony at Jarvis Plaza. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies were part of the event.

Vela said he believes the clinic would not only ease the burden of the county’s residents on dialysis but also create jobs in the area.

He said the next step in the negotiation process would be determining the total cost of constructing a building to house the facility.

The two parties also have to decide how many years they would like to partner up.

“If we’re going to be making that kind of investment, we want to make sure it’s going to be

See CLINIC PAGE 10A

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

AROUND TEXAS

TODAY IN HISTORY

SATURDAY, MAY 19

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Bass Champs tournament will take place between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Falcon Lake.

Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center’s 5-K Walk, Run & Roll for Rehab is today at 7 a.m. at North Central Park. The first 100 registered adult participants will receive a free Tshirt and goody bag (while supplies last). Early registration fee is $15 for adults and $10 for children; registration fee the day of the event will be $20. For more information, call 956722-2431.

TUESDAY, MAY 22 Third grade field trip to San Antonio for Villarreal Elementary School. Departure time is 4:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23 The Small Business Development Center and the Texas Rio Grand Legal Aid will present a seminar, “Assistance to Microenterprise Project,” which is designed to assist potential and existing business owners with legal issues. The seminar is set for 1-4 p.m. at the TAMIU Student Center, room 120. It is free.

THURSDAY, MAY 24 The “Understanding Credit and Budgeting” workshop is set for 9-11:30 a.m. at TAMIU’s Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 126.

FRIDAY, MAY 25 Early release at 1 p.m. at Villarreal Elementary School.

SATURDAY, MAY 26 Day One for the BLT Open Team Tournament.

The ninth annual Juvencio de Anda Memorial Day Golf Tournament is today at 8 a.m. at the Laredo Country Club, 1415 Country Club Drive.

The tournament, hosted by the Women’s City Club, honors the late Bill Powell and Horace Watson. For more information, contact Nancy de Anda at 763-9960 or n.deanda@att.net.

SUNDAY, MAY 27 Day Two for the BLT Open Team Tournament.

MONDAY, MAY 28 Kindergarten graduation at 9 a.m. at Villarreal Elementary School.

THURSDAY, MAY 31 Awards Day at 8:30 a.m. at Villarreal Elementary School.

The API Fishing Tournament begins today and continues through Friday.

FRIDAY, JUNE 1 Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts music department’s 2012 Ballroom Gala-Dance is today from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Laredo Civic Center (meeting rooms), 2400 San Bernardo Ave. VMT’s jazz ensemble SoundTown will be featured. Tickets are $10 per person and are available at the VMT office, located at 820 Main St. For more information, contact Robert M. Lopez at 956-273-7811 or rmlopez@elisd.org.

MONDAY, JUNE 11

Photo by Tony Gutierrez | AP

In this Jan. 31 photo, Billy Frederick Allen responds to a question during an interview in his attorney’s office in McKinney.

The Texas Supreme Court has ordered the state to pay about $2 million to Allen, an ex-inmate who spent 26 years in prison for murder before his conviction was overturned.

Ex-inmate gets $2M

By JIM VERTUNO ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — The Texas Supreme Court ordered the state Friday to pay about $2 million to an ex-inmate who spent 26 years in prison for murder before his conviction was overturned, a decision legal experts said could set a new standard for when ex-prisoners should be compensated.

Comptroller Susan Combs had resisted paying Billy Frederick Allen, arguing that his conviction was overturned because he had ineffective lawyers.

The state Supreme Court disagreed, saying the state’s criminal courts had shown Allen had a legitimate innocence claim and he should be paid.

Jeff Blackburn, chief counsel of the Innocence Project of Texas, which works to free wrongfully convicted inmates, said Friday’s

ruling could open the door for more compensation claims from ex-prisoners.

“The floodgates are not opening, but what this will do is give a fair shake to people who are innocent,” Blackburn said. “This is a major step forward in terms of opening up and broadening the law of exoneration in general.”

Texas’ compensation law is the most generous in the U.S., according to the national Innocence Project. Freed inmates who are declared innocent can collect $80,000 for every year of imprisonment, along with an annuity.

Allen didn’t have an innocence declaration. What he had was a Court of Criminal Appeals ruling that reversed his convictionand supported a lower court’s finding that the evidence against him was too weak for a reasonable jury to convict him.

Judge still considering petition for DA’s removal

Airline exec describes enemies at porn trial

Accuser: Ex-Texas priest assaulted him at gunpoint

BROWNSVILLE — A judge says he will hold another hearing on a petition to remove from office a South Texas district attorney under indictment on corruption charges.

Attorneys for Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos argued Friday that there was not jurisdiction to proceed and the petition was flawed.

Federal prosecutors allege Villalobos solicited and accepted bribes for his prosecutorial discretion.

BROWNSVILLE — The founder of a South Texas cargo airline testified in his own defense on Friday, the fifth day of his federal trial on child pornography charges, and described several people motivated to set him up.

Robert Hedrick told jurors about disagreements with two business partners, his ex-wife, a city commissioner and officials at the Brownsville airport where his airline was based.

DALLAS — Testimony has resumed in the penalty phase of a former Roman Catholic priest convicted of plotting the death of a man who accused him of sexual abuse.

The accuser told jurors on Friday that John M. Fiala sexually assaulted him when he was a boy but he was too scared to tell anyone.

Fiala, who was found guilty Thursday, faces up to life in prison for solicitation of capital murder.

Unruly passenger released following acquittal AMARILLO — A Florida man whose rants on a Southwest Airlines flight last year forced an unscheduled landing in the Texas Panhandle has been released from federal custody.

Ali Reza Shahsavari was found not guilty by reason of insanity by a judge last month.

The Zapata Commissioners Court will have its regular meeting today at 9 a.m.

Texas jobless rate falls under 7 percent in April AUSTIN — The Texas unemployment rate is less than 7 percent for the first time in three years, falling to 6.9 percent for April as 13,200 nonfarm jobs were added, the state employment agency said Friday.

The jobless rate fell from 7.0 percent in March and 8.0 percent a year ago, according to Texas Workforce Commission figures.

Police make arrest in deadly shooting in Waco WACO — A Central Texas traffic stop has led to an arrest in the fatal shooting of a teen during a fight between two groups of people.

Waco police say Elton Reynosa was booked Friday on a murder charge. No bond was listed.

— Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE NATION

FRIDAY, JUNE 22 Registration for the Second Annual Classic Bass Fishing Tournament is from 3-7 p.m. at the boat ramp.

Today is the deadline for teams or individuals to sign up for the City of Laredo’s Fourth of July Family Fest Barbecue Cook-Off Competition. Teams or individuals can enter in any or all of four categories: brisket, pork ribs, chicken and beans. The $200 registration fee is for all categories and will cover the cash prizes, with a 90-percent payback. Entrants must provide their own ingredients, supplies and equipment. To sign up and for more information, call 763-2107 or visit the South Texas Food Bank website at www.southtexasfoodbank.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 23 The Second Annual Classic Bass Fishing Tournament begins with weighin at 2:30 p.m.

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

Facebook stock debut fails to sizzle on Friday NEW YORK — It was barely a “like” from Facebook investors as the social network’s stock failed to live up to the hype in its trading debut Friday.

One of the most highly anticipated IPOs in Wall Street history ended on a bland note, with Facebook’s stock closing up 23 cents from Thursday night’s pricing. See story, Page 9A.

Hundreds of protesters marching through Chicago CHICAGO — Thousands of nurses and other protesters gathered Friday at a Chicago plaza for a peaceful demonstration demanding a tax on banks’ financial transactions, before a smaller crowd broke away and began marching through city streets.

Friday’s demonstrations were the largest yet ahead of a two-day

Today is Saturday, May 19, the 140th day of 2012. There are 226 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On May 19, 1962, actress Marilyn Monroe sang a sultry rendition of “Happy Birthday to You” to guest-of-honor President John F. Kennedy during a star-studded Democratic fundraiser at New York’s Madison Square Garden (the third of four arenas to bear that name).

On this date: In 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of England’s King Henry VIII, was beheaded after being convicted of adultery.

In 1909, the Ballets Russes (Russian Ballets), under the direction of Sergei Diaghilev, debuted in Paris.

In 1921, Congress passed, and President Warren G. Harding signed, the Emergency Quota Act, which established national quotas for immigrants.

In 1935, T.E. Lawrence, also known as “Lawrence of Arabia,” died in Dorset, England.

In 1943, in an address to the U.S. Congress, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill pledged his country’s full support in the fight against Japan.

In 1964, the State Department disclosed that 40 hidden microphones had been found in the U.S. embassy in Moscow.

In 1967, the Soviet Union ratified a treaty with the United States and Britain banning nuclear and other weapons from outer space as well as celestial bodies such as the moon.

In 1971, poet Ogden Nash, known for his humorous light verses, died in Baltimore at age 68.

In 1981, five British soldiers were killed by an Irish Republican Army landmine in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

In 1992, Mary Jo Buttafuoco of Massapequa, N.Y., was shot and seriously wounded by her husband Joey’s teenage lover, Amy Fisher. Vice President Dan Quayle sparked controversy by criticizing the CBS sitcom “Murphy Brown” for having its title character, played by Candice Bergen, decide to have a child out of wedlock.

In 1994, former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died in New York at age 64.

Ten years ago: Boston Cardinal Bernard Law said in a letter distributed to parishes that he did not become aware until 1993 of sexual abuse allegations against the Rev. Paul Shanley.

Today’s Birthdays: PBS newscaster Jim Lehrer is 78.

TV personality David Hartman is 77. Actress Nancy Kwan is 73. Author-director Nora Ephron is 71. Rock singer-composer Pete Townshend (The Who) is 67. Concert pianist David Helfgott is 65. Rock singer-musician Dusty Hill (ZZ Top) is 63. Singer-actress Grace Jones is 60.

Thought for Today: “Every moment one lives is different from the other. The good, the bad, hardship, the joy, the tragedy, love, and happiness are all interwoven into one single, indescribable whole that is called life. You cannot separate the good from the bad. And perhaps there is no need to do so, either.” — Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929-1994).

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President Barack Obama meets with French President Francois Hollande, Friday, May 18, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Hollande told Obama he is sticking with an early pullout by France from Afghanistan.

NATO summit that is expected to draw even larger protests.

Bush to return to White House for portrait event WASHINGTON

—

Former

President George W. Bush plans to return to the White House for the unveiling of his official portrait May 31, marking a rare visit by the two-term president who has largely shunned the spotlight since leaving office.

— Compiled from AP reports

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SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

Crime & More

Rollover delays traffic

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A single-truck rollover caused some traffic delays Tuesday morning, a Zapata County sheriff ’s spokesman said.

Deputies responded to the single-vehicle rollover reported at 9:16 a.m. to La Perla Ranch off of U.S. 83, north of San Ygnacio.

According to Sgt. Mario Elizondo, the driver of a 2003 Mitsubishi box truck lost control and the truck flipped on its side.

The truck landed along the northbound shoulder of U.S. 83.

Deputies identified the driver as Juan Lazaro, 65, of Mission. A sheriff ’s news release states Lazaro is employed with Soto Produce of McAllen. He was unharmed and refused medical attention from Zapata County Fire Department EMS, Elizondo said.

Power-tools thief sought

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Courtesy photo | Zapata County Sheriff’s Office

This commercial truck is shown Tuesday after rolling over by La Perla Ranch along U.S. 83.

The rollover caused some traffic inconvenience while a wrecker removed the 9,000-pound truck from the side of the road.

According to Elizondo, Lazaro was not cited for the accident.

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A

Investigators are asking the community for assistance in solving a case that involves more than $1,100 in stolen power tools.

Sgt. Mario Elizondo said a burglary was reported May 10. That evening, deputies responded to a burglary of a habitation call at 6:18 p.m. in the 1000 block of South Siesta Lane.

A 55-year-old man stated that someone stole a green

chainsaw, a Craftsman 1500 PSI pressure washer and a Makita round saw. Elizondo said the tools stolen had an approximate combined value of $1,140.

To provide information on the case, call the sheriff ’s office at 765-9960 or Crime Stoppers 765-8477 (TIPS). Information leading to an arrest may be rewarded. All callers may remain anonymous.

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

THE BLOTTER ASSAULT An assault, family violence incident was reported at 10:14 p.m. Tuesday in the 5100 block of Laredo Lane.

Deputies responded to an assault call at 10:39 p.m. Tuesday in the 1800 block of Delmar Street. An assault, family violence report was filed.

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

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

OTHER VIEWS

Offsets costing vets’ families

By JONATHAN GURWITZ SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Lt. Col. Joseph Fenty was killed in action in Afghanistan on May 5, 2006.

He and his wife, Kristen, had been married 20 years. His only child —daughter Lauren — was born 28 days earlier.

The last thing Kristen should have needed to worry about in the weeks and months that followed was money. At age 41, Joseph was 21 days short of his 20th service anniversary in the Army. He had voluntarily paid premiums for the Survivor Benefit Plan, a Department of Defense program that pays a monthly annuity based on the projected retirement benefits of a deceased service member.

She and her daughter were also entitled to receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, a Department of Veterans Affairs program. DIC pays a flat-rate benefit of $1,154 per month to the families of service members who die while on active duty and to veterans whose deaths result from a service-related injury or disease.

Two different benefit programs, one of which the Fentys had paid into from their own pockets.

Two different life insurance policies, essentially.

Anyway, the United States takes care of the family members of its heroes who make the ultimate sacrifice, doesn’t it?

As Kristen would discover, that’s not necessarily the case. While she was grieving her husband’s loss, she also came

to a disturbing realization: For every dollar she received in Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, the government was making a corresponding reduction in the Survivor Benefit Plan annuity.

If insurance companies in the private sector tried to offset the death benefits of separate life insurance policies, they’d get sued to high heaven.

When the federal government does so, it carries the force of law — and trims the Pentagon’s budget without cutting personnel or weapons programs.

So Kristen, who lives in Virginia, became an advocate, visiting with members of Congress and theirs staffs, and joining with the growing ranks of war widows who have encountered the same hardship. “This is a national debt, it’s not simply a DOD debt,” she says.

“And if we go to war, we ought to be able to pay for the losses that come from war — pay the survivor benefits of those who are lost.”

The leader of the advocacy effort is Edith Smith, a member of the government relations committee of the Gold Star Wives of America.

Smith, whose husband died of a service-related disability in 1998, has been working Capitol Hill on this issue for two decades. “The Congress cares about this issue,” Smith says. But, speaking of war widows, “We’re one of the constituencies they least hear from.”

Gold Star families have paid a high enough price.

Politics dominate in JPMorgan case

By BILL KING HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Last week, JPMorgan Chase announced that it had suffered a $2 billion loss on a derivative trade in a London subsidiary.

The subsidiary was run by an executive named Bruno Michel Iksil. Iksil was nicknamed the “London Whale” and “Voldemort” for the size of his trades and supposed mysterious powers to move the markets.

While the details of the transactions that led to the loss are still sketchy, they appear to have arisen from contracts entered into by JPMorgan Chase attempting to hedge against possible exposure from credit losses on its own loan portfolio.

Such transactions are supposed to soften the blow from a potential downturn in the economy.

However, such contracts can also be used to speculate on the market. Preliminary indications are that this is what happened.

While $2 billion is certainly a lot of money, the loss was not that substantial for JPMorgan Chase.

The loss amounts to only about 1 percent of its capital and just a little more than 10 percent of its net income last year. Nonetheless, it was enough to rattle investors’ nerves, still raw from the 2008 financial disasters.

It has also set off a political feeding frenzy. Advocates for more aggressive regulation of the banks seized on the loss as evi-

dence to boost their case.

JPMorgan Chase’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, had been one of the most outspoken and effective advocates in trying to slow down the enhanced regulation of the industry contemplated by the Dodd-Franks law. Dimon had been an effective industry spokesman largely because his bank had been one of the few to avoid exactly these kinds of missteps.

Those not familiar with the banking system may wonder why we should care about whether a bank loses money or not. The reason is that taxpayers ultimately backstop losses at banks by virtue of deposit insurance. Deposit insurance was first implemented in the Great Depression to give depositors confidence that they would be able to get their money back out of a bank, even if it failed.

In the case of a bank failure, the shareholders’ equity is wiped out, but any losses over their equity get picked up by the FDIC. The FDIC is funded by premiums the banks pay to it for their deposit insurance. Technically, it is only the FDIC that stands behind the deposit guaranty. But as a practical and political matter, there is an implicit guaranty that the federal government will step in should the FDIC not be able to cover the losses. This occurred with the savings and loan industry and its insurance fund when that industry failed in the 1980s.

COLUMN

Affirming our belief in God

T

omorrow marks the observed Feast of the Ascension of our Lord.

Roman Catholics throughout the United States observe this day when Jesus ascended into heaven.

Every time we pray the Nicene Creed, we affirm our belief in the Ascension.

Before this, as we’ve been reading in the Gospel over the last six Sundays, the risen Christ once again walked the Earth and gave instruction to the Apostles.

Christ told the Apostles it was now time for them to go forth and spread the Good News.

So during this time in the Catholic Church, as bishops throughout the United States visit parishes administering the Sacrament of Confirmation, I am reminded of Jesus’ in-

“

JAMES TAMAYO

structions to his followers.

I have been privileged and blessed to visit our parishes and our mission churches and administer the Sacrament of Confirmation throughout the Diocese of Laredo.

What joy it is for me to speak to our young adults and our high school students as candidates for Confirmation.

These candidates come before the bishop and their community to say, “I believe.”

They believe in the Holy Spirit, which descends upon us in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

They are affirming that they freely, willingly and lovingly embrace their re-

lationship with God. They embrace their spiritual fellowship with their brothers and sisters in Christ.

In receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, they accept and believe what Christ has taught us.

The tenets of our faith, handed to the Apostles from Jesus Christ, is now passed to our candidates in our time.

The Sacrament of Confirmation calls us, as the Holy Spirit called the first disciples, to be active witnesses for Christ in the world.

They now join us in living our faith actively and visibly.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes a disciple in this way: “The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and

spread it.”

That is what we celebrate in the Sacrament of Confirmation, for God’s Holy Spirit has chosen you and has called you, and now commissions and sends you, as He did the first disciples, to go forth and share with the world the Good News of God’s love for us.

We are one with God. We are one with each other as brother and sister in faith in the teachings of God through the Body of Christ — the Church.

It has been said that the most convincing sign of the risen Christ is the risen Christian.

That means you and I, living our faith by witnessing to what we believe with great joy and hope.

Let our words and deeds proclaim to all those around us, “Christ lives, and He lives in me.” — Todo Con Amor.

Coffee with a shot of immortality

By ALEXANDRA PETRI THE WASHINGTON POST

Every few months scientists inform us that something we have been doing for years will either kill us or make us live forever. According to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine, coffee extends your life. Drink six or more

cups per day, and you have a 10 to 15 percent lower risk of death.

I love coffee. I drink so much that, if this study is to be believed, I am functionally immortal.

It is reassuring to hear that something you do may extend your life. Usually longevity requires uncomfortable concessions like

push-ups or kale.

You don’t drink coffee because you like it. You drink it because at some point you found yourself surrounded by bright-eyed, bushy-tailed people who had never met a morning they disliked, and you were expected to engage with them.

Then coffee came along.

Maybe coffee is something of a religion. Coffee has its temples. Coffee has rituals — the grinding, the dripping, the brewing, the mysterious hissing — and ritual exclamations ("Not before I’ve had my coffee!").

And now we hear it leads to eternal life.

That was the only logical next step.

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

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

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

We want to assure our

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

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

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

ing or gratuitous abuse is allowed.

Via e-mail, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

Zapatan named Republic president SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The Webb County Heritage Foundation has announced the selection of Renato Ramirez as the President of the Republic of the Rio Grande for 2012-13.

Ramirez will be inaugurated during the Webb County Heritage Foundation’s annual Founders’ Day Celebration at noon Saturday, May 26, at Texas A&M International University.

Each year, the Heritage Foundation selects an individual who embodies outstanding commitment to historic preservation or heritage education to serve as President of the Republic of the Rio Grande.

Past presidents have included: Rep. Henry Cuellar, Evan J. Quiros, Dr. Ray M. Keck III, Judith G. Gutíerrez, Dr. José Roberto Juárez, Norma Z. Benavides, Mercurio Martínez Jr., Elizabeth Foster, E.H. Corrigan, Sam Johnson III and the current president, Annabelle Uribe Hall.

Ramirez, who will represent the original president of the Republic of the Rio Grande, Jesús Cárdenas, has already selected his cabinet members to represent historical figures who also played a part in the government of the Republic.

They are: Dr. Cayetano Barrera III, representing Francisco Vidaurri y Villaseñor, vice-president and delegate for Coahuila; Andrés Tijerina, representing Col. Antonio Zapata, commander of the cavalry; Homero Vera, representing Antonio Canales, commander-in-chief of the army; Jaime Beaman, representing Manuel Nina, quartermaster general; Juanita Tijerina, representing Juan Francisco Farias, secretary; Richard P. Sanchez, representing Manuel María de Llano, delegate for Nuevo Leon; and Armando Hinojosa, representing Juan Nepomuceno Molano, delegate for Tamaulipas.

“I am honored to serve as President of the Republic of the Rio Grande,” said Ramirez. “This honor is really for the six primary volunteers — Dr. Cayetano Barrera, Dr. Andres Tijerina, Mr. Richard Sanchez, Mr. Homero Vera, and Mr. Jaime Beaman (and himself). I also want to express my admiration for the artist — Mr. Armando Hinojosa — his creation is an excellent representation of Tejano culture.”

Hinojosa created the Tejano Monument on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol.

Born in Zapata, Ramirez is married to Patricia Lourdes Ramirez and has three children: Roberta G., Ricardo X. and Ruben Jaime. He is chief executive officer and

chairman of the board of International Bank of Commerce-Zapata.

He has served as a visiting lecturer at Laredo Junior College, teaching economics, and as a visiting professor at Laredo State University, now Texas A&M International University, teaching banking and finance since 1975.

Ramirez has a very long list of professional accomplishments, but his philanthropic work is even more impressive, according to the foundation. He has: Adopted Casa Hogar La Nueva Esperanza in Cd. Mier, Tamaulipas, Mexico, personally providing funding for the physical facility and feeding 25 orphans and/or abandoned children; Donated 70 acres for the construction of a $1 million municipal airport in Zapata County; established a scholarship program for graduates of Zapata High School in 1966; Sponsored numerous golf tournaments and bass fishing tournaments in Zapata County; Made the largest single donation to the National Hispanic Institute, an organization dedicated to opening educational opportunities to leading Hispanic youngsters; Served as patron of the Foundation for the Advancement of Micrometeorological Soaring — a flex wing, fixed wing, sail plane, and parachute gliding organization, donating an aircraft for continued research on the impact of meteorological conditions on flying; Funded a $1 million dollar scholarship endowment at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, the largest endowment for scholarships in the history of the University; Spearheaded an initiative to construct a monument on the south Capitol grounds in Austin to celebrate the contribution of Hispanics to Texas culture; raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the construction of the monument; Built a school for the Harmony Academy of Laredo in 2008, which focuses on math, science and technology, absorbing over $500,000 in construction costs to offer children of Laredo a superior educational opportunity.

Among his numerous awards and recognitions, he was most recently inducted into LULAC Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 for his support of athletics, including the construction of the golf course in Zapata and his participation on the wrestling team at Texas A&M, as a three-year letterman.

National

6A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

Private rocket makes history in new space era

By MARCIA DUNN ASSOCIATED PRESS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA hasn’t been so jittery about a launch since the space shuttle program ended last summer.

On Saturday, a private company was set to make history by launching a capsule loaded with supplies to the International Space Station. The rocket maker known as SpaceX — Space Exploration Technologies Corp. — hopes to join a short list of governments in flying to the orbiting lab.

On the eve of this new commercial era, NASA officials described it as “a seminal moment” and extremely important mission, while SpaceX leaders said they were awe-struck over what they were about to undertake.

“There’s no question this is a historic flight,” SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said at a news conference Friday.

Only Europe, Russia, Japan and the U.S. have sent a spacecraft to the space station, she noted. “So yeah, we really respect hav-

ing the opportunity to attempt this,” she said.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was scheduled to blast off from Cape Canaveral at 4:55 a.m. Forecasters put the odds of good weather at 70 percent.

The Dragon capsule atop the rocket contains space station supplies. The capsule will perform practice maneuvers around the space station on Monday before NASA gives a “go” for docking on Tuesday.

The California-based SpaceX — formed by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk — is the first of several competing companies to actually get this close to launching a vessel to the space station. For now, it’s supplies. Within three or four years, the goal is to have astronauts on board so Americans no longer have to hitch expensive rides on Russian rockets.

Well before Atlantis made the final shuttle flight last July, NASA began handing over space station delivery duties to the private sector. It is more cost-effective that way, said NASA’s director of com-

Photo by John Raoux | AP

The Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket stands ready for launch at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Friday. The launch, scheduled for early Saturday, will mark for the first time a private company will send its own rocket to the International Space Station. mercial spaceflight development, Phil McAlister, and enables the space agency “to take our savings and plow them into” other venues such as interplanetary exploration.

SpaceX has launched a Falcon 9 rocket just twice

Questions nag amid new evidence in Martin case

By ALLEN G. BREED, KYLE HIGHTOWER AND TAMARA LUSH ASSOCIATED PRESS

ORLANDO, Fla. — Prosecutors in the Trayvon Martin case dumped a mountain of evidence on the public this week. In many criminal cases, that would bring clarity, start answering the basic questions.

But no one — not pundits, attorneys or the public — can safely say we’re even close to knowing exactly how and why neigh-

borhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman shot and killed the 17-year-old in the black hoodie.

So many aspects of the Feb. 26 altercation and shooting in Sanford remain muddy. Who threw the first punch? Why did Zimmerman leave his car?

This cache of recordings, photos and statements is far from all the evidence.

But it suggests there are answers we may never truly get.

“I can’t comment on, you know, what George saw or

what George was thinking,” the suspect’s father, Robert, told investigators in a March 19 interview included in Thursday’s release.

Zimmerman gave several interviews to police, including re-enacting at the scene what he says happened that night. But there is no statement from the 28year-old shooter among the materials made public this week.

His only public comment so far came during his detention hearing last month.

before, once with a Dragon capsule that reached orbit.

The company has never gotten down to zero and flown on the first try, Shotwell noted, putting the odds of accomplishing that Saturday — with a scant onesecond launch window —

at 50-50 or a bit better.

A Dragon capsule blasted into orbit in December 2010. What was remarkable was the safe recovery of that capsule following its brief solo flight around the world; it splashed into the Pacific.

If all goes well, the newest Dragon also will parachute down off the California coast, returning experiments and equipment.

“Hopefully, we learn a lot and, hopefully, we make a lot of progress,” Shotwell said.

SÁBADO 19 DE MAYO DE 2012

Agenda en Breve LAREDO 05/19 — El Mercado Agrícola El Centro de Laredo es de 9 a.m. a 12 p.m. en Plaza Jarvis. Estacionamiento gratuito en El Metro Bus Depot.

05/19 — “Pre-Rocklahoma” con Black Tora, Iron Skull y Language of the Gun, se presenta en Average Joe’s Sports Bar & Grill, 9652 McPherson Road, a partir de las 10 p.m.

05/23 — Concierto anual de VMT “Shout Out” a las 6:30 p.m. en el teatro Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center de LCC. Estudiantes mostrarán lo más destacado de los departamentos de artes visuales y artes escénicas. El concierto se dedicará a la memoria de Eddie Galván.

05/26 — La Fundación del Patrimonio del Condado de Webb invita a su comida por el Día de los Fundadores a las 12 p.m. en el Student Center Ballroom de TAMIU. El evento presentará la inauguración del nuevo Presidente de la República del Rio Grande, Renato Ramírez, así como la entrega de los Premios Anuales del Patrimonio.

Evento abierto al público en general. Para obtener boletos de entrada llame al (956) 727-0977 o escriba a heritage@webbheritage.org.

05/26 — Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de Texas A&M International University presenta “One World, One Sky Big Bird’s Adventure” a las 4 p.m., “Starsof the Pharaohs” a las 5 p.m., “2012: Ancient Skies, Ancient Mysteries” a las 6 p.m., y “Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon” a las 7 p.m. Costo: 5 dólares, adultos; 4 dólares, menores.

Zfrontera

PÁGINA 7A

COMISIONADOS TOMAN ACCIÓN SOBRE MOHO

Evaluación y demanda POR JJ VELASQUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

La Corte de Comisionados de Zapata tomó acción el lunes para tratar con un problema de moho en el palacio de justicia del condado.

El moho en el palacio de justicia se encuentra entre las razones que el condado está demandando a los contratistas que construyeron la estructura hace menos de 10 años.

Los comisionados votaron por contratar a un consultor para evaluar un problema de moho en el palacio de justicia del condado, así como contratar a alguien para remediar el problema.

Si el condado llegara a ganar la demanda, pasaría el costo de daños — del moho así como de

otros reclamos que el condado indica fueron causados por fallas en la construcción — por parte de los contratistas, dijo el Comisionado José Vela.

La demanda, presenta en junio, sostiene que Satterfield y Pontikes, a quien el condado contrató para construir el palacio de justicia, fue negligente en la supervisión de sus subcontratados, lo que llevo a la construcción de mala calidad.

El condado — representado por la firma legal Escamilla, Poneck and Cruz — sostiene que las instalaciones de casi 8.6 millones de dólares, la cual abrió en 2005, presentaba dañó por el agua, además del moho.

La demanda se encuentra en la fase de descubrimiento. Un abogado representando al condado ha dicho que pudiera pasar

tiempo antes de que el juicio inicie.

Otros temas

POR JJ VELASQUEZ

Los comisionados aprobaron el horario de operación para el Parque y Rampa para Lanchas del Condado de Zapata. El parque operará de 6 a.m. a 10 p.m.

Inicialmente, una audiencia pública fue llevada a cabo para determinar las horas de operación, pero el Comisionado Eddie Martinez decidió acelerar el proceso y colocarlo en la agenda para la junta del lunes.

Los comisionados han dicho que ellos pudieran ajustar el horario conforme sea necesario.

(Localice a JJ Velasquez en el (956) 728-2567 o en jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)

El Condado de Zapata podría obtener pronto una clínica de diálisis de riñón, la cual oficiales del condado esperan eliminará la carga de viajar fuera de la ciudad, a casi 30 residentes en diálisis y también ayudará a la economía.

Un representante de DaVita, una corporación para diálisis de riñón, realizó una presentación en la reunión de la Corte de Comisionados, el lunes.

La compañía está proponiendo unas instalaciones de 6,500 pies cuadrados que albergarían una clínica para diálisis de riñón. Una clínica como tal no existe en el Condado de Zapata, por lo que un estimado de 30 a 40 pacientes busca tratamiento alrededor de dos veces a la semana en Laredo, y hasta en San Antonio.

“Escuchamos de todos los pacientes que tienen que viajar a Laredos dos veces a la semana”, dijo el Juez del Condado Joe Rathmell, quien agregó que el condado ha estado tratando de instalar una clínica de diálisis por varios años. “Realmente les cuesta”.

Rathmell dijo en su presentación del lunes, que la compañía necesitaría un mínimo de 60 a 70 pacientes para hacerlo un negocio viable, pero el número total de pacientes que esperaban ver en el condado se quedó corto a esa meta.

Por lo que DaVita está solicitando un incentivo del condado para operar aquí. Bajo la propuesta, el condado proveería el edificio, y DaVita traería el equipamiento.

Debido a que el condado no es propietario de un edificio vacante del tamaño que la compañía está solicitando, Rathmell dijo que el condado pudiera bien construir uno nuevo.

Los comisionados están buscando un acuerdo de 10-años con la compañía de diálisis.

Hace varias semanas, la corte designó al Comisionado Joe Vela para realizar contactos para que el condado explorara traer un centro de diálisis aquí.

Vela dijo que él cree la clínica no sería solamente para eliminar la carga a los residentes del condado en cuestión de la diálisis, sino para crear empleos en el área. Él dijo que el próximo paso en el proceso de negociación sería determinar el costo total de construir un edificio para albergar las instalaciones.

Las dos partes también tienen que decidir cuántos años quisieran asociarse.

“Si vamos a realizar este tipo de inversión, deseamos asegurarnos que va a valer la pena para proveer ese servicio por al menos 10 años”, dijo Vela.

Vela estima que el proyecto costaría al condado casi 650.000 dólares. Dijo que las cifras finales se presentarían en la próxima reunión, que es cuando también ellos podrían considerar aprobar el proyecto.

“Estamos interesados en tratar de hacer esto”, dijo Rathmell. “Los comisionados votaron para continuar las discusiones y tener algo más concreto para la próxima reunión, pero se ve como algo promisorio (de que) suceda”.

(Localice a JJ Velasquez en el (956) 728-2567 o en jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)

TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

CELEBRAN DÍA DE LOS MUSEOS

NUEVO LAREDO 05/19 — Estación Palabra presenta “Bazar de Música” (venta de discos, videos, libros e instrumentos musicales) con la participación de Esther Tovar y Rodrigo Valdez “El Zorro”, de 11 a.m. a 4 p.m.

05/19 — Estación Palabra presenta “Festival Infantil de Música y Literatura” a partir de las 2 p.m.; Taller de creación literaria con Jacobo Mina a las 3 p.m.; Taller para creación de cómic de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m.

05/19 — Inauguración de exposición de Carteles de Fomento a la Lectura, a las 3 p.m. en Estación Palabra.

Entrada gratuita.

05/20 — Laberintus Arte y Cultura, A.C. presenta “Historia del Otro Lado” de Ángel Hernández, a las 12 p.m. en el Teatro del IMSS, Reynosa y Belden. Costo: 20 dólares. Apta para toda la familia.

05/22 — Laberintus Arte y Cultura, A.C. presenta “Rapaz” de Edoardo Torres, a las 8 p.m. en el Teatro del IMSS, Reynosa y Belden.

Costo: 20 dólares. Apta solo para adultos. Cupo limitado.

05/24 — “Concierto GAMA Tour 2012” es a las 7:30 p.m. en el Centro Cultural Nuevo Laredo. Costo: De 150 pesos hasta 350 pesos. Opción de Paquete VIP por 300 pesos. Adquiera su boleto en Sala de Música Talamás. Evento pro-construcción de la Capilla del Colegio Irlandes.

AUSTIN 05/19 — Coors Light invita a su evento de arte tridimensional que continúa hoy con los artistas pintando sus obras que hasta las 3 p.m. en 203 calle Congress (estacionamiento en la esquina de calles Congress y 2nd). El evento continuará el 19 de mayo. Podrán tomarse una fotografía sobre la obra de 15’x20’ que da la ilusión de lata de Silver Bullet saliendo del pavimento.

Foto de cortesía

Visitas guiadas diarias ocurrieron el viernes en el marco del Día Internacional de los Museos. La Dirección de Arte y Cultura en Nuevo Laredo, México, realizó un evento en las instalaciones del Museo Reyes Meza. Fueron celebrados talleres de reciclaje, presentación de percusiones y talleres de pintura. Igualmente hubo interacción con personas caracterizadas como importantes artistas como Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera y otros más.

Detienen a tres generales POR E. EDUARDO CASTILLO ASSOCIATED PRESS

MÉXICO — Un tercer general del ejército mexicano fue detenido el jueves para que sea presentado ante las autoridades ministeriales, horas después que un juez federal ordenó la prisión preventiva de otros dos generales por supuestos vínculos con el Cártel de los Beltrán Leyva del narcotráfico.

La Secretaría de la Defensa informó en un comunicado que la orden de presentación del general brigadier retirado Ricardo Escorcia Vargas se giró simultáneamente con las ordenes de detención de los otros dos generales, uno de ellos ex subsecretario de la Defensa Nacion-

al.

La dependencia dijo que la finalidad es que Escorcia rinda su declaración en una investigación civil, pero no aclaró si está relacionada con las mismas acusaciones de los otros jefes militares.

Escorcia Vargas estuvo al mando de la zona militar en Morelos.

El ejército informó que Escorcia, quien se jubiló en abril de 2010, fue detenido por la procuraduría militar, pero llevado ante la Procuraduría General de la República.

La procuraduría mexicana informó horas antes el jueves que los otros dos generales permanecerán al menos 40 días bajo “arraigo”, la figura jurídica por la

Hablan sobre clínica diálisis

que una persona está en prisión preventiva mientras se amplían investigaciones antes de presentar cargos formales.

No informó sobre los motivos específicos de la investigación, pero un funcionario de la dependencia, no autorizado a ser identificado por nombre, dijo el jueves a The Associated Press que testigos protegidos involucraron a los militares de alto rango en presuntos actos de protección al cártel de los Beltrán Leyva.

El general de división retirado Tomás Angeles Dauahare, quien fungió como subsecretario de la Defensa Nacional en los primeros años del actual gobierno del presidente Felipe Calderón.

Investirán a Renato Ramírez en ceremonia ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

La Fundación para el Patrimonio del Condado de Webb anunció que Renato Ramírez fue seleccionado como Presidente de la República del Rio Grande, para el año 2012-2013.

El cargo se destina a una persona comprometida en preservar la historia o a educar acerca del patrimonio local.

Ramírez será investido como Presidente de la República del Rio Grande durante la Celebración anual del Día de los Fundadores de la Fundación para el Patrimonio del Condado de Webb, el sábado 26 de mayo a las 12 p.m. en Texas A&M International University, en Laredo.

“Me siento honrado de servir como Presidente de la República del Río Grande”, dijo Ramírez.

Ramirez, quien representará al Presidente original, Jesús Cárdenas, anunció a su gabinete: Cayetano Barrera, III representando a Francisco Vidaurri y Villaseñor, Vice-Presidente y delegado para Coahuila; Andrés Tijerina representando al Col. Antonio Zapata, Comandante del Calvario; Homero Vera representando a Antonio Canales, Comandante en Jefe del Ejército; Jaime Beaman representando a Manuel Nina, Cabo de Mar General; Juanita Tijerina representando a Juan Francisco Farias, Secretario; Richard P. Sanchez, repre-

sentando a Manuel María de Llano, delegado para Nuevo León; y Armando Hinojosa representando a Juan Nepomuceno Molano, delegado para Tamaulipas.

Originario de Zapata, Ramírez está casado con Patricia Lourdes Ramírez, y tienen tres hijos: Roberta G., Ricardo X., y Ruben Jaime.

Ramírez es el CEO/Presidente de la Mesa Directiva del International Bank of Commerce-Zapata.

Anteriores presidentes incluyen al Congresista Henry Cuellar, Evan J. Quiros, Ray M. Keck, III, Judith G. Gutíerrez, José Roberto Juárez, Norma Z. Benavides, Mercurio Martínez, Jr.; Elizabeth Foster, E.H. Corrigan, Sam Johnson, III, y la actual, Annabelle Uribe Hall.

State

8A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

Officials: Teachers unprepared for tests

By CHRIS TOMLINSON ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — Texas school teachers should be better trained to prepare students for the state’s higher standards and new statewide tests and their salaries should be raised to make the profession more attractive, the higher education commissioner told lawmakers on Friday.

Commissioner Raymund Paredes said he reached that conclusion after looking at national and international studies examining teacher quality around the world, particularly with the introduction of new standardized tests that make greater demands on students.

“They don’t have the faculty in K-12 that can teach to those standards. As we move to end-of-course exams and higher levels of rigor, I am fearful and virtually certain we are going to face exactly the same challenge,” Paredes said.

The testimony set off spirited questioning in the Senate Education Committee, which was holding a hearing on how the state prepares teachers and principals in public schools.

“How do we hold these kids accountable for taking these high-stakes tests if they don’t have a teacher who is adequately prepared?” asked Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas.

“We have to move to higher standards for teach-

Prisons must disclose lethal drug details

By MICHAEL GRACZYK ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON — Texas prison officials must disclose information about who supplies lethal drugs for executions and how much of the drugs the Department of Criminal Justice has on hand, the state attorney general’s office ruled.

The opinion this week came in response to public information requests filed earlier in the year by the Austin AmericanStatesman and the British newspaper The Guardian.

Prison officials had argued that releasing the information could be harmful to employees and provide death penalty opponents with an avenue to harass the drug suppliers in the hope those firms would refuse to do business with the state.

“We find your arguments as to how disclosure of the requested drug quantities would result in the disruption of the execution process or otherwise interfere with law enforcement to be too speculative,” Sean Opperman, an assistant attorney general, wrote in the opinion.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials did not immediately respond to a phone message left by The Associated Press seeking comment.

The Austin paper, which first reported about the ruling Thursday, said prison officials said they hadn’t seen the opinion yet and couldn’t comment on it.

The prison agency has 30 days to comply with the opinion or to challenge it in court, under state guidelines.

Opperman said that while the attorney general’s office “acknowledge(s) the department’s concerns,” the corrections

department didn’t show how disclosure of the information “would create a substantial threat of physical harm to any individual.”

Department officials have indicated they have a sufficient supply to handle upcoming executions.

At least five so far are scheduled for Texas into the summer.

Last year Texas had to change from sodium thiopental, one of the drugs used in the process, when it became unavailable after its European supplier bowed to pressure from death penalty opponents and stopped making it.

No other vendor could be found and pentobarbital was used as a replacement.

The physical effects of the new drug on condemned inmates have not been noticeable at executions in Huntsville but the financial cost to the state has risen considerably. Prison officials put the cost of the previous drug mixture, which also used pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride, at $83.35. It’s now $1,286.86, with the higher cost primarily due to pentobarbital.

ers, we have to move to better training for teachers and we have to particularly develop better policies,” Paredes replied.

Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth was concerned the state was not being fair to teachers.

“If we are not giving our teachers the tools they need to help those students best succeed in those standardized tests, then we measure the teachers based on the student’s performance, it’s probably pretty unfair to those teachers,” she said.

Paredes said studies of successful public schools around the world showed that recruiting the best college students and enrolling them in effective teacher training programs were the

keys to success. Then it was important to treat teachers well, he said.

“We don’t pay teachers enough, we don’t train them as well as we should and we don’t make the profession very attractive,” he said. He recommended diverting funding from programs that do not improve student test scores and use those funds for salaries.

Last year the Republicancontrolled Legislature cut $4 billion in spending for public schools, the first such cut since World War II. That has forced school districts to lay off teachers across the state.

Stan Carpenter, dean of the College of Education at Texas State University, reported that enrollment in

the largest teacher training program in the state had dropped 5 percent in recent years because of the poor economy and widespread reports of teacher layoffs.

He said the state should use every possible incentive to attract more top students into education.

West questioned whether the Legislature would accept the recommendations.

“Are we prepared in Texas for the government to pay for teacher training and provide the kind of compensation ... that we ought to provide in order to get the best and brightest to teach the next generation of Texans to be world leaders?”

West asked his fellow senators. “If not, we ought to shut up.”

Conservative Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, complained that the Texas higher education system does not properly train teachers and that schools don’t spend money efficiently.

“Everyone wants to fix this but I don’t want to put more money to teachers if our universities and colleges aren’t going to change the way they teach our teachers to teach,” Patrick said.

Paredes said Texas needed to change how it trains teachers and the Legislature should pass laws incentivizing universities to produce graduates in needed fields.

“We need to fund universities based on what we need, like high quality teachers,” he said.

Artists changing small town

By RAMÓN RENTERÍA EL PASO TIMES

EL PASO — Selling Marfa is not a difficult job for Kaki Scott, the 29-year-old executive director of the Marfa Chamber of Commerce.

“Most of the time I’m just directing traffic,” Scott said. “Every now and then, people kind of stumble through Marfa and say, ‘What’s going on here?’”

Marfa doesn’t look like any of the surrounding towns in far West Texas.

Outsiders come to soak up the diverse culture of this former ranching town of 1,900 people about 200 miles southeast of El Paso.

Marfa has become an art oasis in the desert, a town more cosmopolitan than some imagine.

With that in mind, it’s not a big surprise around here that the nationally distributed Smithsonian Magazine lists Marfa as No. 8 among “The Top 20 Best Small Towns in America” in its May issue.

“It’s just a flyspeck in the flat, hot, dusty cattle country of southwest Texas — closer to Chihuahua than Manhattan,” but Marfa is cooking, the magazine suggests, “thanks to an influx of creative types from

Photo by El Paso Times | AP

The Presidio County Courthouse stands out from the landscape at the end of Highland Street in the center of Marfa. way downtown: filmmakers like the Coen brothers, who shot ‘No Country for Old Men’ in Marfa, indie rock bands and others who have brought such outré installations as Prada Marfa, a faux couture shop in the middle of nowhere by the artists Elmgreen and Dragset.”

“The mentality of the community has shifted.

We’re really more progressive, willing to look at the

possibilities,” Scott said.

“The majority of the people who live here are lovely.

But there is definitely a gap between old Marfa and new Marfa. A lot of people in the established community feel like the town has been overrun with a different kind of people, people with worldly ideas, people with open minds to different kinds of lifestyles.

That’s been a kind of friction.”

Scott suggests that some resentment has to do with money, the disparity between newcomers and older families with modest means and deep roots in Marfa.

“The creative people are a bit louder and more flamboyant than the local people,” Scott said. “But without them, the whole community would have folded and collapsed.”

Now, Marfa has a funky cantina in a former funeral home, fine-dining restaurants, open-air art spaces, New York-style galleries, a gourmet food truck, a vintage trailer park, plus an interesting mix of creative people and world-class contemporary art.

Walking along Highland Avenue, the main drag in Marfa, you’re more likely to encounter people who previously lived in Sweden, Austin, New York, Los Angeles, Germany or Japan.

And Marfa has become a destination, a pit stop, for various entertainers.

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

Facebook stock debut fails to sizzle

By BARBARA ORTUTAY ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — It was barely a “like” and definitely not a “love” from Facebook investors as the online social network’s stock failed to live up to the hype in its trading debut Friday.

One of the most highly anticipated IPOs in Wall Street history ended on a bland note, with Facebook’s stock closing at $38.23, up 23 cents from Thursday night’s pricing.

That meant the company founded in 2004 in a Harvard dorm room is worth about $105 billion, more than Amazon.com, McDonald’s and Silicon Valley icons Hewlett-Packard and Cisco.

It also gave 28-year-old CEO Mark Zuckerberg a stake worth $19,252,698,725.50.

“Going public is an important milestone in our history,” Zuckerberg said before he symbolically rang

Nasdaq’s opening bell from company headquarters at 1 Hacker Way in Menlo Park, Calif. “But here’s the thing: Our mission isn’t to be a public company. Our mission is to make the world more open and connected.”

But for many seeking a big first-day pop in Facebook’s share price, the single-digit increase was somewhat of a letdown.

“This is like kissing your sister,” said John Fitzgibbon, founder of IPO Scoop, a research firm. “With all the drumbeats and hype, I don’t think there’ll be barroom bragging tonight.”

Added Nick Einhorn, an analyst with IPO advisory firm Renaissance Capital: “It wasn’t quite as exciting as it could have been,” he said. “But I don’t think we should view it as a failure.”

Indeed, the small jump in price could be seen as an indication that Facebook and the investment banks that arranged the IPO

Photo by Richard Drew | AP

A man stops to photograph Nasdaq in Times Square as Facebook has its IPO on Friday in New York. The social media company priced its IPO on Thursday at $38 per share, and on Friday regular investors got a chance to buy shares. priced the stock in an appropriate range.

And it was good for ordinary investors, who are often shut out from IPOs or buy the stock at a high price on day one.

Facebook offered 15 percent of its available stock in the IPO, so there was enough to meet demand. In comparison, Google offered just 7.2 percent of its stock

when it went public in 2004 — and rose 18 percent on day one.

Here was Facebook’s “timeline” Friday, trading under the symbol “FB” on the Nasdaq Stock Market: The stock opened at 11:30 a.m. at $42.05, but soon dipped to $38.01. It briefly traded at one point as high as $45 and by noon was at $40.40. It fluttered through-

out the afternoon and hugged the $38 mark for much of the final hour, before closing at $38.23.

By the end of the day, about 570 million shares had changed hands, a huge trading volume for any company.

TD Ameritrade reported that in the first 45 minutes of trading, Facebook accounted for a record 24 per-

cent of trades.

By comparison, on its first day back on the stock market, in November 2010, General Motors represented 7 percent of overall trades on the online brokerage.

Steve Quirk, who oversees trading strategy at TD Ameritrade, said that about 60,000 orders were lined up before Facebook opened.

Stocks fall on Gas prices to fall over holiday Europe worries

By SANDY SHORE

ASSOCIATED PRESS

By JOSHUA FREED ASSOCIATED PRESS

It’s going to take more than Facebook’s initial public offering to push the stock market higher.

Facebook shares rose 23 cents above their $38 offering price. It seemed like everything else fell.

The Dow Jones industrial average has been in a slump over the past two weeks as traders saw an escalating risk that Greece could leave the euro, causing more disruptions in markets. Remember the go-go days of May 1, 2012? The Dow was up 8.7 percent for the year.

After Friday, it’s up just 1.2 percent.

On Friday the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 73.11 points, to close at 12,369.38. It fell 3.5 percent for the week. The Dow has now declined on 12 of the last 13 trading days.

Nine of the 10 industry groups in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell. Financials dropped the most, 1.1 percent.

First, Facebook.

Trading for the year’s most eagerly awaited ini-

tial public offering was delayed about 30 minutes because of a glitch at Nasdaq. Nasdaq said the problem was with sending messages about whether trades had been executed. It was almost two-and-a-half hours before it said its trade messages were working normally.

The glitch sent shares of Nasdaq OMX Group Inc., parent company of the Nasdaq market, down 4.4 percent.

Facebook shares were priced at $38 and initially traded as high as $45.

They closed at $38.23.

Europe was the bigger worry for investors. The Fitch ratings agency dropped Greece to the lowest possible grade for a country not in default Thursday.

Fitch said Greece’s departure from the euro “would be probable” if elections next month do not reverse political trends in Greece, which have brought in politicians opposed to the terms of Europe’s bailout.

Also, ratings agency Moody’s downgraded 16 Spanish banks late Thursday.

If you’re lucky enough to live in some parts of the United States, you may see gas pump prices fall to around $3.25 a gallon or less in the next week or two. Even West Coast drivers should get some relief from prices that are still above $4 a gallon.

Retail gasoline prices dropped by a penny to a national average of $3.71 per gallon on Friday. That’s 22 cents less than the high of $3.94 per gallon reached in early April. Lower oil prices are the main reason.

Weaker demand is also helping to push down prices, as consumers watch their spending in the sluggish economic recovery.

Motorists on the West Coast, in Illinois and New York are paying the most for gas — from $3.83 per gallon to $4.54 per gallon — according to AAA, Wright Express and the Oil Price Information Service.

The lowest prices, from $3.39 to $3.51 per gallon, were in the South and parts of the Midwest.

Prices should continue to decline heading into Memorial Day. The national average is expected to be around $3.60 per gallon for

Photo by Toby Talbot/file | AP

A $100 sale is seen on a gas pump on April 20 in Barre, Vt. Prices are expected drop by 10 cents by next week. the long holiday weekend, but a smattering of cities may see prices much lower.

“You could see these prices of $3 to $3.25 populate the country like popcorn thunderstorms do in the spring,” said OPIS chief oil analyst Tom Kloza. “And that may happen in the next week.”

Some drivers already pay 30 to 40 cents less than the national average.

That’s because the gasoline they buy is refined from oil produced in the Gulf Coast region, where prices are among the lowest in the country, Kloza said.

And state and local gas taxes there are lower than in other areas.

For example, the aver-

age pump price on Friday was $3.34 per gallon in Greenville, S.C.; $3.39 in Little Rock, Ark., and $3.43 per gallon in Amarillo, Texas.

Meanwhile drivers in the Pacific Northwest and California are paying $4.25 to $4.50 a gallon because of a shortage of gasoline supplies related to refineries.

Kloza said that those issues should be under control and prices should begin to ease soon.

By July drivers may face a different situation because of the simmering dispute between Western nations and Iran over its nuclear program. The European Union is set to begin a ban on oil imports

from Iran if the situation isn’t resolved by then.

Some analysts think that could drive oil prices higher.

On Friday crude oil prices fell ahead of a weekend meeting in which President Barack Obama and leaders of the world’s biggest economies will search for ways to help Europe resolve its ongoing debt crisis. Benchmark U.S. crude fell $1.08 to finish at $91.48 per barrel in New York.

Brent crude, used to price many international varieties of oil, fell 35 cents to end at $107.14 in London.

Heating oil fell 1.9 cents to finish at $2.83 per gallon, gasoline futures rose 1.13 cents to end at $2.89 per gallon and natural gas increased 15 cents to finish at $2.74 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The price of natural gas has been rising steadily from the 10-year low it hit a month ago. Friday’s increase of almost 6 percent had a lot to do with the weather. Long-range forecasts predict temperatures well above average for much of the country over the next few weeks. That means more demand for natural gas to run generators that produce electricity to power air conditioners and refrigeration units.

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

CDC: Baby boomers test for hepatitis C

By MIKE STOBBE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTA — For the first time, the government is proposing that all baby boomers get tested for hepatitis C. Anyone born from 1945 to 1965 should get a one-time blood test to see if they have the liver-destroying virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in draft recommendations issued Friday.

Baby boomers account for more than 2 million of the 3.2 million Americans infected with the bloodborne virus. It can take decades to cause liver damage, and many people don’t know they’re infected.

CDC officials believe the new measure could lead 800,000 more baby boomers to get treatment and could save more than 120,000 lives.

“The CDC views hepatitis C as an unrecognized health crisis for the country, and we believe the time is now for a bold response,” said Dr. John W. Ward, the CDC’s hepatitis chief.

Several developments drove the CDC’s push for

wider testing, he said.

Recent data has shown that from 1999 to 2007, the number of Americans dying from hepatitis C-related diseases nearly doubled. Also, two drugs hit the market last year that promise to cure many more people than was previously possible.

The virus can gradually scar the liver and lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer, and is the leading cause of liver transplant. It can trigger damage in other parts of the body as well. All told, more than 15,000 Americans die each year from hepatitis C-related illnesses, according to the CDC. The hepatitis C virus is most commonly spread today through sharing needles to inject drugs. Before widespread screening of blood donations began in 1992, it was also spread through blood transfusions.

Health officials believe hundreds of thousands of new hepatitis C infections were occurring each year in the 1970s and 1980s, most of them in the younger adults of the era. The virus was identified in 1989.

CLINIC Continued from Page 1A worthwhile to provide that service for at least 10 years,” Vela said.

Vela estimates the project would cost the county upwards of $650,000. He said solid figures would be presented at the next meeting, which is also when the commissioners would likely consider approval of the project.

“We’re interested in trying to get this done,” Rathmell said. “The commissioners voted to continue discussions and have something more concrete for next meeting, but it does look promising (that it will) happen.”

(JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2567 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)

Photo by Rogelio V. Solis | AP

Surrounded by area lawmen, Tunica County Sheriff Calvin “K.C.” Hamp tells reporters on Friday that lawmen arrested a suspect in the two fatal highway shootings in Mississippi. Hamp said the suspect James D. Willie, 28, was arrested Tuesday morning and held on charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault and rape.

Suspect called ‘regular guy’

By HOLBROOK MOHR ASSOCIATED PRESS

TUNICA, Miss. — To hear his neighbors tell it, James Willie was just a regular guy who sometimes played with the neighborhood kids.

Police describe him as a cold-blooded killer who stalked his victims on dark stretches of Mississippi’s highways and shot two of them dead.

Authorities said Friday that the 28-year-old unemployed ex-convict is responsible for two fatal shootings that prompted fears that a police impersonator was preying on motorists late at night. The shootings terrorized parts of north Mississippi and made some people afraid to go out after dark.

First killing The first roadside killing happened May 8, when Thomas Schlender of Nebraska was found dead at about 1:30 a.m. in his car on Interstate 55 in Panola County. He had been traveling to Florida to pick up his grandson. Three days later, local casino employee Lori Anne Carswell was found dead in her car on Mississippi Highway 713 after working

a late shift.

“People were terrified,” said Johnny Island, who was working Friday on the front door of his apartment at the Tunica Courts complex.

Island’s fear became shock when he found out the suspected shooter lived across the way in a complex of a single-story white apartments with red tin roofs.

“As far as I know, he didn’t bother anyone here. I have talked to him a couple of times and he was very polite, courteous. It was a shock,” Island said, peering across the street to apartment D2.

Authorities say the hunt for the highway shooter ended in that apartment when a woman climbed out a window Tuesday and went running for help, later telling authorities that Willie abducted and raped her. A 9mm gun and shell casing found during that investigation linked Willie to the highway shootings, Tunica County Sheriff K.C. Hamp said Friday.

Reaction “It’s just shocking to me. It just don’t add up,” said Carolyn Gross,

who lived next door to Willie and his girlfriend. “It just didn’t seem like he would do something like that. He was out here playing with our kids.”

The arrest brought a sense of relief and not just to people who live around here.

Anita Shaffer was in town with her mother, Cheryl Ross, from Ann Arbor, Mich., to try their luck at the flashy Mississippi River casinos.

She said they arrived on Thursday and one of the first things they did was to locate the police station so they could drive there if someone tried to pull them over. They breathed easier Friday morning after learning a suspect had been arrested.

“It was scary,” Shaffer said. “I was freaking out.”

Police had warned drivers that a fake officer might be pulling over victims. But Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain said it appears that Willie had not been posing as an officer.

Willie was being held on charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault and rape and was charged with capital murder in Tunica County. He’s expected to be charged with capital murder in Panola County, too.

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors Lemur games a must-see

MIDDLE SCHOOL GOLF

ZMS golf rolls T

hursday was an exciting time for Laredo as the Gateway City unveiled the Uni-Trade stadium site of the minor league team Laredo Lemurs.

After weeks of not knowing if the new team was going to be able to play the opening game at the facility, the City of Laredo granted a temporary certificate of occupancy, and baseball was back.

The drive from Zapata to Laredo is not a long one, so if the Zapata community would like some nice family fun and prices that are not outrageous, then I would suggest taking in a Laredo Lemurs game.

The Lemurs were able to pull out a 5-1 victory in their opener, but the real winners were the families that came out and enjoyed a good game, great food and watched their kids play in the playground.

The Uni-Trade Stadium is a very nice facility, and the people who designed it really thought about everything from the time you walk in to the location of the Lemurs team store.

There is a nice amount of shade in all the seats around the stadium, as the sun setting is in the backdrop of the facility.

The air was electrifying as people made their way into the stadium and the

Courtesy Photo

The Zapata Middle School boys’ and girls’ golf teams each won district titles last Monday at the Martin Valley Ranch Golf Course.

Boys’ and girls’ win district titles

By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES

The Middle School golf season came to an end as all the best middle school golfers gathered at the annual District 32-3A tournament at La Joya on the grounds of the Martin Valley Ranch Golf Course

last Monday.

The district tournament was a six-hole par 24.

Zapata was led by a team that was determined to bring home the top prize, and the girls and boys team did not disappoint as they captured the district title in both divisions.

“Our kids are very deserving of this accomplishment,” Zapata coach Clyde Guerra Jr. said. “The dedication and hard work paid off.”

The girls team led by Andrea Reyes had to reach deep down inside and let their fundamentals

All-Star teams ready for Tuesday

See GOLF PAGE 2B

By CLARA SANDOVAL

HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

Villarreal to coach all-star team THE ZAPATA TIMES

A week after announcing the 11th Annual Mercy-Bosom Buddies senior all-star games, Zapata volleyball coach Rosie Villarreal has been tabbed to coach the East All-Stars that consist of players from Zapata and Laredo.

Villarreal is the second coach to be named to coach one of the all-star teams as Zapata boys basketball coach Juan Villarreal is coaching basketball’s West All-stars.

“I’m honored to be able to coach a group of great athletes who have excelled in high school athletics,” Rosie Villarreal said. “They have given so much to their schools that having them play one more time represents their love for the sport and seeing them enjoying themselves is amazing. It gives the seniors a

Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times

Zapata coach Rosie Villarreal will get to coach Zapata seniors Estella Molina and Shelby Bigler one more time. change to play one more time and the cause that they play for is very rewarding.”

The Mercy-Bosom Buddies Volleyball All-Star game will take place on Wednesday at St. Augustine High School at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate for on-

ly $5 with all the proceeds gong to the Mercy Cancer Assistance Program.

Villarreal led the Lady Hawks to consecutive district titles and has been named coach of the year.

This also marks the second year that Villarreal coaches the all-star team and has coached in the Mercy-Bosom Buddies

feeling was very festive with mariachi playing.

I can see myself going back many times even when I am not covering games for the newspaper.

People can buy $5 tickets and sit in the lawn area and enjoy the game.

Prices at the concession stands are reasonable and they will not break the bank with 30 items on the menu.

The children’s play area is still under construction, but the make-shift playground that consisted of a couple of moonwalks and inflatable slides did not deter the kiddos from enjoying themselves while their parents were enjoying the ball game.

There was so much to see and it is going to take a few games to find out all the things that the UniTrade Stadium has to offer besides the ball game.

With 48 home games remaining, people can discover all that it has to offer and it is good clean fun family entertainment that is not going to set people back a few days.

For more information on the Laredo Lemurs, contact them at laredolemurs.com.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

THE ZAPATA TIMES

By CLARA SANDOVAL

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CLARA SANDOVAL OVAL

All-star game three years since the inception eleven years ago.

The East All-stars consist of Nixon’s Cassandra Ledesma and Lindsay Reyes, Cigarroa’s Vilma Rodriguez, Gloria Morales and Susana Valdez, LBJ’s Lizzette Martinez and Alexander’s Darian Canno.

Villarreal will also get to see familiar faces on the court as Estella Molina and Shelby Bigler are on the East All-Star volleyball squad.

The West All-Star squad coached by Cigarroa coach Irma De La Cruz consists of Cigarroa’s Dora Contreras, Jessica Sanchez and Deandra Gonzalez, Nixon’s Sammie Garcia and Liza Villarreal, United’s Amanda Sauceda and Natalie Chavez, LBJ’s Rachel Aguilar, Zapata’s Jackie Salinas and Martin’s Amy Delgado.

The rosters are set for the 11th annual Mercy-Bosom Buddies girls and boys basketball teams that benefit the Mercy Cancer Assistance Program.

The game will take place on Tuesday at St. Augustine High School.

The girl’s all-star teams are set to hit the floor at 6 p.m., followed by the boy’s all-star game at 7:30.

Zapata coach Juan Villarreal will be coaching the West All-Star team that consists of the best players in Laredo.

Villarreal, who guided the Hawks for the past few years and is no stranger to the playoffs, will now be accompanied on the sideline by his assistant coaches.

The West All-Stars are comprised of United South’s Adrian Garza and Jose Contreras, Cigarroa’s Jesus Fraga and J.J. Delgado, Nixon’s Gilbert Contreras, Martin’s Edgar Benavides and Alexander’s Beau Karuase and Brian Swain.

Benavidez led the Tigers to the District 29-5A title while Karuase and Swain led Alexander to the Class Regional IV Tournament.

Fraga was the Toros’ best offensive player and scored in double figures

consistently for Cigarroa.

Laredo legend, LBJ coach Bill Groogan, who is retiring this year after 47 seasons, will coach the East All-Star team.

Groogan will have familiar faces on his team with LBJ players Reynaldo Arce and Peter Sevin. The rest of the East All-Star team consists of United’s Abraham Rubio, Martin’s Kevin Center, Gabriel Rubio and CJ Martinez, Nixon’s Martin Ceja and Alexander’s Phillip Conner.

Martinez was voted the District 29-5A most valuable player, while Ceja led Nixon into the second round of the playoffs after the Mustangs upset Sharyland in the opening round.

On the girls side, LBJ coach Robert Burrier is set to coach the East All-Stars.

The team consists of Martin’s Myara Muniz and Amy Delgado, LBJ’s Carolann Golden and Lizzette Martinez, Nixon’s Priscilla Rangel and Sammie Garcia, Zapata’s Jackie Salinas and Alexander’s Kathy Jacaman and Kari Escamilla.

Burrier took the Lady Wolves into the Class 5A playoffs after a one game play-off with Cigarroa.

The West All-Stars are coached by United coach

See BBALL PAGE 2B

PAGE 2B

Zscores

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

Busch-Newman rivalry heats up

By JENNA FRYER ASSOCIATED PRESS

CONCORD, N.C. — Kurt Busch thought he and Ryan Newman were friends. He’s learned the hard way this week that he was mistaken.

Maybe that’s how it goes between drivers looking to lock down jobs for next year?

Busch is once again in the starring role as NASCAR’s resident villain, this time for a series of incidents involving Newman and his team last week at Darlington Raceway. It’s led to a series of scathing remarks from Newman, who has accused Busch in various interviews of having a “chemical imbalance” and lying about why he ran into the back of Newman’s car after Saturday night’s race.

On Friday, Busch offered his version of events for the first time. He seemed agitated about the entire episode, and characterized it as the kind of “WWE-type action” that fans enjoy.

“This is good for our sport. This is WWE-type action,” Busch said, snapping at reporters gathered behind his team hauler at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“This is fun. This is entertainment, right guys?”

The drama comes as NASCAR heads into Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star race, which is traditionally billed as no-holds-barred

event with nothing more at stake than the $1 million prize.

Busch goes into the event fresh off a $50,000 he received Tuesday for what NASCAR said was reckless driving on pit road at Darlington and a post-race incident with Newman’s crew members.

It all began when a flat tire caused Busch to wreck with six laps remaining in the race. Newman, who was running behind Busch at the time, also spun as traffic stacked up trying to avoid Busch.

Busch then headed to pit road, and in his desire to not go a lap down, apparently sped through Newman’s pit stall. Some of Newman’s crew members were over the wall at the time, and complained they couldn’t have been hurt.

Busch insisted Friday no one was in danger. After the race, Busch ran into the back of Newman’s parked car, but said he was taking his helmet off at the time and didn’t see Newman’s car.

He was greeted on pit road by several angry crew members, which led to yelling and slight shoving.

In addition to the fine against Busch, NASCAR also placed Newman crew chief Tony Gibson on probation through June 27 for failing to control his team, and crew member Andrew Rueger was fined $5,000

and placed on probation for failing to comply with a directive from a NASCAR official.

Busch’s motorhome driver, Craig Strickler, was fined $5,000 and placed on probation through the end of the year for interfering with a member of Fox’s broadcast team.

“I didn’t have a problem with Newman. I didn’t have a problem with his crew guys. Then things just really got out of control in a hurry,” Busch said. “I was taking my helmet off.

Which Newman said he thought that was a lie.

That’s the honest truth.”

Busch and Newman spent three seasons together at Penske Racing, and Busch pushed Newman to the victory in the 2008 Daytona 500. So Busch was initially surprised to hear Newman attack his character after Darlington.

“Newman and I were friends. We were great teammates, and he needs to check his trophy case on the Daytona 500 trophy that I helped him get years ago,” Busch said. “We’ve always been great friends.

There was no need for his comments afterward.”

So then why would Newman say such things?

“I think we are both looking at the same scenario coming up here in the next few summer months,” Busch said.

He may be on to some-

Photo by Terry Renna | AP

Kurt Busch walks through the garage on Friday before practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AllStar race in Concord, N.C. thing.

Neither driver currently has a job lined up for next season. Newman is in the final year of his contract at Stewart-Haas Racing, and although team co-owner Tony Stewart said this week he’s interested in signing Newman to an extension, there’s no current deal.

Busch, meanwhile, is riding out the season with Phoenix Racing. He landed with the underfunded team after splitting with Penske in December following an angry tirade toward an ESPN reporter in last season’s finale.

Those past situations made Busch an easy target for Newman’s post-Darlington critique.

“It’s easy to see and it’s easy to say that Kurt blew a fuse again,” Newman told SI.com after the race. “I’m not sure why he did it and tried to run over our guys and NASCAR officials. And nobody is ... (Busch was) so frustrated that he doesn’t know how to deal with his anger.”

Busch is struggling to overcome that reputation, which took another hit during last November’s finale.

His in-car camera caught

him making an obscene gesture, and fan recorded him delivering a profanitylaced tirade toward an ESPN reporter in the garage.

NASCAR fined Busch $50,000 for his behavior, and his split with Penske was announced shortly after.

“I’ve been fined the most probably of any driver, and I’ve probably paid it out of my pocket more than any driver,” Busch said Friday.

“Is my strike zone bigger than others? Yeah. It might be bigger than others, but I don’t have a problem with it.”

Finch knocks out Kaymer

By STEVE DOUGLAS ASSOCIATED PRESS

CASARES, Spain — Top-seeded Martin Kaymer was eliminated from the World Match Play Championship by the lowest-ranked player in the field on Friday, losing by 1 hole to Richard Finch.

The No. 9-ranked German needed to make a 3foot putt to halve the match and force a playoff against the No. 218-ranked Finch, but it horseshoed out.

Kaymer, who won the 2010 U.S. PGA Championship, started the year at No. 4 but hasn’t won an event this year. He joins Darren Clarke and Charl Schwartzel as major winners who failed to make the weekend.

Defending champion Ian Poulter looked strong after overwhelming Tom Lewis 4 and 3 and extending his unbeaten matchplay record on European soil to 14 contests.

Finch made par on the par-5 last and Kaymer should have matched it, but turned away in disbelief after his effort wrapped around the edge of the cup.

Finch’s reward is a match against McDowell, who beat Jbe Kruger 4 and 3 and is attempting to recreate his match-play heroics from the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, where he holed the winning putt.

“It was a bit of a dead rubber — the real fun starts tomorrow against Richard,” McDowell said.

American Brandt Snedeker was reunited with his own clubs Friday for his head-to-head with

Photo by Patrick Semansky | AP

Exercise rider Mike Callahan rides Daddy Nose Best during a morning workout at Pimlico Race Course on Friday in Baltimore. The Preakness Stakes takes place on Saturday.

Five ‘new shooters’ to race Saturday ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Sergio Torres | AP

Martin Kaymer of Germany follows his shot during the World Match Play Golf Championship tournament in Casares, Spain on Friday.

Branden Grace. He won his first match with borrowed clubs, a putter from the pro shop and a player’s backup driver after his clubs were lost because of an emergency

landing Monday during his flight to Spain after a passenger had a heart attack.

It didn’t help Snedeker, who lost 4 and 3, but he emerged from a three-way

playoff with Grace and Thomas Bjorn to set up a last-16 match with Camilo Villegas.

Bjorn beat Grace on the next playoff hole and will take on Paul Lawrie next.

GOLF Continued from Page 1B come through at the end to come from behind and win the tournament.

A new course played a big factor in Zapata’s early struggles, but the Lady Merlins were able to get acquainted with the course in a hurry and mount a comeback to win it all.

“The girls were struggling early, it was a new course for them and they were a little frustrated, but in the end, their skills prevailed,” Guerra Jr. said.

Reyes stayed among the leaders and had a few opportunities to win it all, but had to go into a second play-

off hole.

Reyes shot a 43 to capture second place.

“She tied on the first playoff hole, and got beat by one stroke on the second hole,” Guerra Jr. said. “She had her chances, but I’m proud of the way she played under pressure.”

Rounding out the scoring for the Lady Merlins was Katy Ramirez, who shot a 47 for fourth place, and Mayra Garcia, who shot a 49 for fifth place.

On the boys side, Clyde Guerra III was only one stroke behind the eventual district champion, and shot a 33 for second place.

“He had a 6 foot par putt on the last hole to tie for the lead,” Guerra Jr. said.

Rounding the score for the Merlins was J.J. De Jesus, who captured fourth place after shooting a 37, and Pepe Ramirez IV, who shot a 52.

Guerra III lead the way for the Merlins to capture the district title, but like their female counterparts, Zapata struggled early on and had to fight the wind.

“Same thing for the boys,” Guerra Jr. said. “The wind played a big factor in the par five holes, buy they kept their composure.”

BALTIMORE — The “new shooters” are all long shots in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday.

The new-shooter angle has long been studied by handicappers analyzing the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. The theory holds that new shooters, horses who did not run in the Kentucky Derby two weeks earlier, hold a possible advantage.

For starters, most new shooters are fresher, having had more time to recuperate since their last race.

They are also not dinged up, having avoided the 20horse stampede in the Derby.

Two of the last six Preakness winners were new shooters: Bernardini (2006) and the filly Rachel Alexandra (2009).

Of the 11 Preakness runners this year, five are new shooters: Tiger Walk, Teeth of the Dog, Pretension, Zetterholm and Cozzetti. They are among the longest shots on the morning-line with

odds ranging from 15-1 to 30-1.

They all fail the class test. None has won a graded stakes, racing’s key benchmark.

Zetterholm has won three straight, all races at Aqueduct limited to horses bred in New York. Tiger Walk is 0 for 3 this year, with a third in the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct his best finish.

Teeth of the Dog has run only four times including a third in his lone stakes try, the Wood Memorial.

Pretension captured the Canonero II Stakes, a minor Preakness prep at Pimlico.

Cozzetti is only 1 for 7, scoring the victory on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs last November.

Barry Irwin, head of the Team Valor International partnership syndicate that won last year’s Derby with Animal Kingdom and sends out Went the Day Well in the Preakness, is unimpressed by this crop of new shooters.

Of the five, only Zetterholm got a tepid endorsement.

BBALL Continued from Page 1B Elias Ydrogo. The team consists of LBJ’s Dalia Castilla, Zapata’s Estella Molina and Shelby Bigler, Alexander’s Miriam Lopez, Darian Canno and Deandra Gonzalez, Nixon’s Edith Artolozaga and Liza Villarreal, United South’s Carmen Gracia-Arevalo and United’s Adriana Chavez.

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B

HINTS | BY HELOISE Dear Heloise: The other day, when I was getting ready to back out of my driveway, I noticed that my neighbor had her large SUV parked to BLOCK ACCESS to her driveway. I thought that was kind of strange, until I noticed that her two small boys were riding their bikes up and down the driveway.

I realized that she had parked the vehicle that way so the children would not accidentally ride out into the street. What a smart idea! — Heather in Texas It’s one way to hopefully prevent a mishap. I hope the vehicle was parked at an angle and that she instructed the boys that they were not to go past that spot.

One of my assistants lives on a cul-de-sac (a deadend street), and her neighbors place small traffic cones in the street so the kids can play safely — another alternative! — Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Camden in San Antonio sent a picture of his 13-year-old, gray-andblack indoor cat with intense green eyes, Zoe. Zoe was the runt of the litter.

She now weighs a small, but healthy, 6 pounds. She is very sweet and loves to be petted! To see Zoe and our other Pet Pals, visit www.Heloise.com and click on “Pets.” — Heloise EASY A/C Dear Heloise: I read your column in the Northern Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo, and I greatly enjoy it. I have a hint for buying and changing air conditioning filters. Before positioning the filter, I write the date on the cardboard on

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HELOISE

the side so I will know when to change it. I also take a picture with my phone of the side of the filter that shows what size it is. I will always know what size to buy, just by looking at my phone. — Sandra, via email Sandra, super hint to keep your A/C working well, and to make shopping less stressful! Say hello to my friends in Tupelo. I enjoyed my time there at the Lee County Library, where I gave a presentation a few years ago. — Heloise NO-STICK Dear Heloise: I don’t know how many tubes of instant glue I’ve had to throw away simply because I couldn’t get the cap off the second time I went to use them.

If I wipe the threads with petroleum jelly before I put the lid back on, the cap will come right off the next time I go to use it. It works! — Kathi in Arkansas Thank you! I’ve been using this type of glue for my nails for years and usually must throw some out when that darned top is glued tight! — Heloise SUDSY SINK Dear Heloise: When baking, the first thing I do is fill the sink (or dishpan) with hot, soapy water. When I finish with items, they are put into the water so there is no dried-on residue or anything sticky left. — Judy in Maine

DENNISTHE MENACE

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Sports

4B THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012

Big 12, SEC agree to play bowl game ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Big 12 and the Southeastern conferences have announced a deal that will pit their football regular-season champions against each other in a New Year’s Day bowl game for five years beginning in 2014, positioning themselves for the expected switch to a four-team playoff.

In fact, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive all but said it’s coming in Friday’s announcement of the agreement between two of the most successful BCS conferences.

“A new January bowl tradition is born,” Slive said in a statement. “This new game will provide a great matchup between the two most successful conferences in the BCS era and will complement the exciting postseason atmosphere created by the new four-team model.

Most importantly, it will provide our student-athletes, coaches and fans with an outstanding bowl experience.”

If one or both of the league champions are selected to play in the playoff, another team would be selected for the Big 12-SEC bowl showdown on Jan. 1.

The move will establish the equivalent of the Pac 12 vs. Big Ten Rose Bowl, minus nearly a century of tradition. Those two conferences have pushed for a new format preserving that matchup for the Rose Bowl, which Slive has indicated he doesn’t favor.

“Our goal is to provide the fans across the country with a New Year’s Day prime-time tradition,” acting Big 12 Conference Commissioner Chuck Neinas said. “This is a land-

Photo by Ronald Martinez | AP

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kenyon Martin is defended by San Antonio’s Tiago Splitter as he drives to the basket during Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Thursday in San Antonio.

Photo by Charlie Neibergall | AP

Texas quarterback Case McCoy throws a pass during the second half of a Big 12 game against Iowa State on Oct. 1, 2011, in Ames, Iowa. Texas won 37-14. mark agreement between two of the most successful football conferences during the BCS era to stage a postseason event. The creation of this game featuring the champions of the Big 12 and SEC will have tremendous resonance in college football.”

Specific details for the matchup, including host sites, will be announced later.

BCS executive director Bill Hancock has said 11 conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director will present a “small number” of options — two to seven configurations — for a four-team playoff to their leagues at conference meetings this summer.

SEC teams have won the past six BCS national titles, including Alabama’s victory over LSU in January. The Big 12 and SEC have each had a top-four team in the final standings in 11 of the 14 seasons since the BCS was created, the most of any league. They share the top spot with 14 teams apiece finishing in one of those four spots.

The two league champions have met twice in BCS bowl games since 1998, both in BCS championship games. In 2010, Alabama defeated Texas, 37-21, in Pasadena, Cal., and in 2009 Florida defeated Oklahoma, 24-14, in Miami.

The move is especially noteworthy for the Big 12, which was scrambling to hold itself together just two years ago after losing four teams.

Nebraska left for the Big Ten, Colorado went to the Pac-12 and, as of July 1, Missouri and Texas A&M will be in the SEC. The Big 12 is adding TCU and West Virginia this year to remain at 10 member schools.

“This agreement reinforces that the Big 12 is exactly what we’ve been saying for some time — a strong, stable, vibrant conference that is at the forefront of intercollegiate athletics,” said Dr. Sheahon Zenger, the Kansas athletic director.

Jayhawks coach Charlie Weis agreed.

“What a great day for the Big 12,” he said.

Spurs head to Los Angeles up two games

By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN ANTONIO — On his 30th birthday, Tony Parker first kept the San Antonio Spurs on pace for what might be another lopsided playoff sweep. Then the All-Star who’s always quick to needle Tim Duncan about his age finally acknowledged his own.

“I’m old. Used,” said Parker, laughing.

Chris Paul, meanwhile, isn’t acknowledging anything: Not his aching body that everyone but him is talking about, or the Los Angeles Clippers’ season careening toward the end this weekend unless things change fast.

Parker scored 22 points, Duncan had 18 and the Spurs beat the fading Clippers 105-88 on Thursday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference semifinals and winning their 16th in a row with yet another playoff blowout.

For the 13th time in a winning streak that seldom

run this long in the NBA playoffs, the Spurs won by double digits. Only two other teams have sustained a longer winning streak in the playoffs: the 2004 Spurs (17) and the 2001 Lakers (19).

“I think for us, is to not look at that,” Parker said about the streak. “Concentrate on the task. We know Game 3 is going to be very, very hard. I think we should focus on that and not focus on the winning streak, or what we’re doing good.”

Paul responded to his awful Game 1 with only a slightly better encore, scoring 10 points as the Clippers now head home desperate to steer out of what’s starting to get the feel of a sweep.

Game 3 is Saturday in Los Angeles, and Game 4 is Sunday.

When the Clippers land in California early Friday, they’ll be home for the first time in nearly a week.

They’ve played seven games in 13 days, and

they’ll have played nine in 16 by the time the weekend is over.

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro knows his team needs rest. Blake Griffin scored 20 points but added another injury to the list, this time what he described as a hip flexor strain. He’s already battling a sprained left knee and shaking off a turned ankle in Game 1.

He had just one rebound.

“We’re not going into these next two games thinking ‘Oh, let’s try to keep it close,”’ Griffin said.

“There’s no moral victories or moral losses here. We’re not worried about how many points we lost by.”

The All-Star matchup of Paul vs. Parker went from a Game 1 bust to a lopsided mismatch, and appeared to prove Paul is hurting more than he’s letting on. Del Negro says his star is still struggling with an aching hip and groin, even as Paul insists he’s OK. He again looked anything but. Paul shot 4 of 9 and had just five assists.