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HISTORY
BUDGET
Tejanos get place at Capitol
Officials facing cuts
By JULIETA CHIQUILLO LAREDO MORNING TIMES
After populating Texas since the late 1600s, Tejanos will finally be cementing their place at the Texas Capitol among the heroes of The Alamo, firefighters, rangers and military veterans. Gov. Rick Perry on Friday signed House Bill 4114, authorizing the construction of the Tejano Monument, which pays homage to the legacy of Tejanos, the descendents of Spanish and Mexican HINOJOSA families that began settling in Texas around 1680. El Tejano Monument, designed by 64-year-old Laredoan artist Armando Hinojosa, will be located on the southeast corner of the capitol’s 22-acre grounds, the largest of the 32 monuments there.
By TARYN WHITE THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County officials face an almost one-third reduction in income for the new budget year, which starts Oct. 1. May 12, 13 and 14, county elected offices, appointed officials and other county agencies submitted their Fiscal Year 2010 budgetary requests to County Auditor Doroteo Garza. According to Garza, next year the county will be working with 25 to 30 percent less money coming in from property valuations. The 2008-2009 budget was about $25
million. Because of this, Zapata County Judge Rosalva Guerra asked everyone submitting budgets to be as frugal as possible. “No one is starting new projects. Everyone is goVELA ing to stay where they are now,” Garza said. “We will definitely have a balanced budget.” In addition to not starting new projects, commissioners are also looking at current pet projects they feel can be held for a couple of years.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Jose Vela, who submitted a budget that is 50 percent less than the budget he submitted last year, said he has not included some items because he knows the county cannot afford them. “I was hoping to have the (Romeo Flores) park done by now, but we have only completed phase 1, the swimming pool,” Vela said. According to Vela the park is 37 acres. He eventually would like to have every inch of the park completed for use.
See COUNTY | PAGE 10A
WOMAN LIVES HER DREAM
Monument’s advocates Renato Ramirez, president of the International Bank of Commerce-Zapata and one of the monument’s staunchest advocates, said Texas history as presented by the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum and history textbooks takes people back to the 1830s, instead of the late 1600s, when Spanish and Mexican settlers began populating the area. “We see John Wayne, and rawhide, and the Anglos are always cowboys — that is not true,” Ramirez said. The cowboy culture — from chaps to saddle horns to the rodeo — has its roots with the Hispanic culture, and the monument aims to represent that contribution, Ramirez said. The $1.6 million proposed monument would feature a granite base on which would sit bronze, life-sized figures iconic of the Tejano lifestyle: a small boy with a goat; a girl with a lamb getting
See MONUMENT | PAGE 10A
ENVIRONMENT
Group eyes clean land, river By TARYN WHITE THE ZAPATA TIMES
With the intention of environmental conservation and waste management along the border, Zapata County Judge Rosalva Guerra attended the Falcon Task Force Waste and Water meeting in Laredo on Thursday. The task force brings together areas in South Texas and parts of Mexico to collaborate and share ideas on how to best preserve the environment in the area. GUERRA “The goal is to reduce water, land and air contamination along the border,” said Guerra, who is a co-chair of the task force. The Falcon Task Force Waste and Water is just one entity that makes up The Border 2012 Project, a forum where environmental programs and ideas are discussed openly between Mexico and the U.S.
Environmental concern “It has been going on for about 10 years,” said Gina Weber, Environmental Protection Agency associate director for the U.S. and Mexico Border Program. “(The program) address the environmental concern along the border and is constantly evolving.” Thursday, Guerra, along with representatives from Mexico and other cities around South Texas, discussed border environmental priorities and were informed of grants available through the EPA. According to Weber, $1 million in grant money will be awarded to nonprofit organizations that apply with the most interesting proposals.
See TASK | PAGE 10A
Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Zapata County Fire Chief Juan J. Meza and Fire fighter/EMT Gabriela "Gaby" Gonzalez show the department's new ambulance Friday, May 15, at the Zapata Fire Station.
Gonzalez knew at 5 she wanted to be a firefighter By TARYN WHITE THE ZAPATA TIMES
E
ver since she was a little girl Gabriela Gonzalez, 25, knew she wanted to be a firefighter. Now, years later, not only has she fulfilled her dream, but she also has the honor of being the Zapata County Fire Department’s first female firefighter. “She is doing a tremendous job. She is equal to all of the other firefighters,” said Fire Chief J.J. Meza. “Just like everyone else she went through he academy, which is really hard work.”
Gonzalez comes from a long line of firefighters with both her grandfather and father working for the Zapata fire department. She said when she was growing up she would watch what they did and knew she wanted to follow in their footsteps. “I remember telling them that I was going to be a firefighter. I was so happy when I was offered the chance to go to the academy,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez went to the fire academy in Rio Grande City, an experience she said involved hard work, but helped her prove to herself that this is what she is meant
to do. “I thought I would drag the whole time I was there, but I kept up with all of the guys,” Gonzalez said. “I did a lot better with all the physical stuff than I thought I would.” In December 2005, Gonzalez graduated from the fire academy and joined the ranks of the Zapata County firefighters. “I think my dad was hesitant at first because he didn’t know how the guys would treat me,” Gonzalez said. “But I am treated just like any other firefighter, and
See GONZALEZ | PAGE 10A
RECREATION
Bike race is about ready to roll By DIANA R. FUENTES THE ZAPATA TIMES
This year’s Zapata-Laredo Fun Race is Sunday, and the popular fundraiser could attract as many as 200 cyclists. It’s a 42-mile ride from the Zapata County Fairgrounds to LBJ High School, through the spare South Texas landscape, on what’s expected to be a fairly cool morning with temperatures in the 70s. “Some people race, some do it just for the ride,” said Mike Doyle, owner of Pro Bike in Laredo, the event’s organizer. “It’s extremely fun. We have a dead tailwind — it’s pushing you all the way from Zapata.
The ride is 20 percent faster than usual. For a long-distance rider, that’s a lot.” All profits from the race will go to Casa La Esperanza Crisis Pregnancy Center.
Fourth year This is the fourth year for the resurrected race, which was popular in the 1980s. “It just sort of faded. Nobody wanted to take the time to put it together,” Doyle said. “We revived the race for our 20th anniversary. Now that we’re doing it, we plan to do it every year.” The race starts at 8 a.m., and the firstplace rider is expected to cross the finish
line at about 9:15 a.m. Groups leave two minutes apart from the starting point. Registration is $25 if you do it today at the Pro Bike Shop, 5603 San Dario, in Laredo from 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Otherwise, it’s $35 the day of the race between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. Last year, there were 176 participants, including dozens from out of town. “We hope to have more this year,” Doyle said. “We’ll have three water stops, with fruit and water.” Pro Bike personnel will be available along the route to provide roadside bicycle
See RACE | PAGE 10A