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SHERIFF
COMMISSIONERS
Sheriff’s successor
Vela beats Flores again
New top lawman Alonso Lopez 11 votes shy of runoff By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County voters tabbed Alonso Lopez on Tuesday to succeed outgoing Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez. With 50 percent of the votes, Lopez claimed victory in a three-way race that included opponents Raymond Moya III and Joaquin Solis Jr.
Just 11 votes away from surrendering the majority of votes, Lopez narrowly avoided a runoff election with Solis, the nearest candidate with about 30 percent of the votes. Lopez, who resides in Lopeño, serves as captain of administration under Gonzalez. He started his law enforcement career as a dispatcher and jailer in 1982. Gonzalez will hand the baton
to his captain in January after holding his post for 18 years. The sheriff decided to retire instead of pursuing another term. Lopez could not be reached for comment Friday, but he told The Zapata Times in April that his administrative experience qualified him to be sheriff. Solis, a 32-year veteran in law enforcement who retired last year, could have forced a runoff
with a few more votes. Solis worked in both the sheriff ’s and the county attorney’s office, the latter in which he was a chief investigator. After returning to the sheriff ’s office for three years, he retired in September and turned his attention to his bid for election.
See SHERIFF PAGE 7A
FOUNDERS’ DAY CELEBRATION
By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Pct. 1 County Commissioner Jose E. Vela will serve another term. Vela defeated his challenger, Jose Luis “Tata” Flores, in voting which ended Tuesday. Flores held that seat from 1985 to 2004, when Vela claimed his first victory. Flores has challenged Vela in every election since. “It was very satisfying to win the election by a large margin, and I’m very happy for that,” Vela said. Vela believes voters chose the right candidate and pointed to his record in his years as commissioner as evidence. “We’re going to be here for the next four years,” he said. “We’re going to continue what we’ve been doing, protecting the taxpayers and keeping the county in the right path.” Vela said he would turn his attention to adding infrastructure to attract industry to the
See COMMISSIONERS PAGE 7A
1 wins; one runoff By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Other Results Photo by Danny Zaragoza | The Zapata Times
Renato Ramirez, right, stands with his cabinet members after being named the 2012 Republic of the Rio Grande president last Saturday afternoon during the Founders’ Day Luncheon, held in the TAMIU Student Ballroom.
HEAD OF THE REPUBLIC Ceremony honors banker with presidential sash By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A sash was draped across Renato Ramirez’s torso, and then he shouted, “¡Viva la Republica!” The Zapata County banker, who was instrumental in the creation of the Tejano Monument, was inaugurated Saturday as
president of the Republic of the Rio Grande. The ceremony was part of this year’s Founders’ Day Celebration, a Webb County Heritage Foundation event honoring the founder of Laredo, Don Tomás Sánchez, and his descendants. This year, which marks Laredo’s 257th birthday, saw local artist Armando Hinojo-
sa and Ramirez, along with several others, complete their decade-long work on the Tejano Monument, which was unveiled at the state Capitol in March. Ramirez said the completion of the project was “like winning the Super Bowl.” He said passage of the legislation that
See HONOR PAGE 7A
The race for Pct. 1 constable is headed for a runoff, as Gabriel Villarreal and Adalberto “Beto” Mejia Jr. were neck-and-neck after Tuesday’s primary — with 37 percent and 42 percent of the votes, respectively. Mejia, the incumbent, swapped places with his challenger Villarreal after early voting. With 40 percent of the tallies, Villarreal held a lead after early voting results came in. Mejia had 38 percent. In the Pct. 3 commissioner race, incumbent Eddie Martinez won his race comfortably, garnering about 67 percent of the votes. Eloy “Jay” Martinez sealed another term as Pct. 3 constable on Election Night, as he secured 70 percent of the votes. Martinez had two challengers, Erica BenavidesMoore and Randall L. Ivey.
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, JUNE 2
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LULAC Council No. 12’s Steak for Scholars Plate Sale is today at LULAC Hall, 1613 Hidalgo St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $5 from any member of LULAC Council No. 12 or at the door. The purpose of this project is to raise funds for scholarships for at-risk high school students who have just graduated. For more information, call President Jose Gamez at 220-2654 or Ed Bueno at 763-2214.
Today is Saturday, June 2, the 154th day of 2012. There are 212 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey, 16 months after the death of her father, King George VI; it was the first such ceremony to be televised. On this date: In 1886, President Grover Cleveland, 49, married Frances Folsom, 21, in the Blue Room of the White House. (To date, Cleveland is the only president to marry in the executive mansion.) In 1897, Mark Twain, 61, was quoted by the New York Journal as saying from London that “the report of my death was an exaggeration.” In 1924, Congress passed a measure that was then signed by President Calvin Coolidge guaranteeing full American citizenship for all Native Americans born within U.S. territorial limits. In 1941, baseball’s “Iron Horse,” Lou Gehrig, died in New York of a degenerative disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; he was 37. The chief justice of the United States, Charles Evans Hughes, announced his retirement effective July 1, 1941. In 1961, during a state visit to France, President John F. Kennedy, noting the warm reception his wife was receiving, jocularly described himself as “the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris, and I have enjoyed it.” Playwright and director George S. Kaufman, 71, died in New York. In 1962, Soviet forces opened fire on workers in the Russian city of Novocherkassk who had gone on strike over food shortages. In 1966, the U.S. space probe Surveyor 1 landed on the moon and began transmitting detailed photographs of the lunar surface. In 1979, Pope John Paul II arrived in his native Poland on the first visit by a pope to a Communist country. In 1986, for the first time, the public could watch the proceedings of the U.S. Senate on television as a six-week experiment began. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan announced he was nominating economist Alan Greenspan to succeed Paul Volcker as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. In 1997, Timothy McVeigh was convicted of murder and conspiracy in the Oklahoma City bombing. (He was executed in June 2001.) Ten years ago: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat offered Cabinet posts to militant groups as part of a government reshuffle. Today’s Birthdays: Actress-singer Sally Kellerman is 75. Actor Ron Ely is 74. Actor Stacy Keach is 71. Rock musician Charlie Watts is 71. Singer William Guest (Gladys Knight & The Pips) is 71. Composer Marvin Hamlisch is 68. Actor Jerry Mathers is 64. Comedian Dana Carvey is 57. Actor Gary Grimes is 57. Pop musician Michael Steele is 57. Rock singer Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) is 52. Singer Merril Bainbridge is 44. Actor Zachary Quinto is 35. Actor Dominic Cooper is 34. Actress Brittany Curran is 22. Thought for Today: “We are minor in everything but our passions.” — Elizabeth Bowen, Irish author (18991973).
MONDAY, JUNE 4 The deadline for organizations and businesses to submit an application for the City of Laredo’s Fourth of July parade is today. This year’s theme is “Symbols of a Free Nation.” An entry fee is required by each unit payable upon submission of the applications. The entry fees are $25 for nonprofit and other tax-exempt organizations and $60 for commercial entries. Each entry, float or nonfloat with a generator, must pay an additional $20 to the Laredo Fire Department for the fire extinguisher. For more parade entry information, contact 210-588-9206 or vparaderentals@yahoo.com. LAPS’ Low-cost Spay/Neuter Clinic is today from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Larga Vista Community Center, 5401 Cisneros St. This program is for low-income residents who must show proof of government assistance. Registration fee is $10 per pet. Pre-register pets Wednesday, May 30. For more information, call 763-1402.
TUESDAY, JUNE 5 The Alzheimer’s support group will meet today at 7 p.m. in meeting room 2, Building B, of the Laredo Medical Center, 1700 E. Saunders St. The support group is for family members and caregivers of someone who has Alzheimer’s. For more information, call Melissa L. Guerra at 693-9991. LAPS’ Low-cost Spay/Neuter Clinic is today from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Larga Vista Community Center, 5401 Cisneros St. This program is for low-income residents who must show proof of government assistance. Registration fee is $10 per pet. Pre-register pets Wednesday, May 30. For more information, call 763-1402.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6 The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “Force 5: Nature Unleashed” at 4 p.m. and “Secrets of the Sun” at 5 p.m. General admission $3.
SATURDAY, JUNE 9 The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “One World, One Sky Big Bird’s Adventure” at 5 p.m.; “2012: Ancient Skies, Ancient Mysteries” at 6 p.m.; and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” at 7 p.m. General admission is $4 for children and $5 for adults. “Ancient Skies” and “Dark Side of the Moon” shows are $1 more. For more information, call 956-326-3663.
MONDAY, JUNE 11 The Zapata Commissioners Court will have its regular meeting today at 9 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13
Photo by Nick De la Torre/Houston Chronicle | AP
Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator, speaks on Tuesday in the JW Marriott Houston in Houston. Gov. Rick Perry repeated his endorsement of Cruz’s opponent, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, on Friday.
Perry still for Dewhurst By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry on Friday forcefully reiterated his support for David Dewhurst in the state’s ferocious U.S. Senate race, suggesting that national tea party groups claiming the lieutenant governor is too moderate “don’t know anything about how Texas works.” Dewhurst, who has wielded almost as much power as Perry while overseeing the state Senate as lieutenant governor since 2003, squares off with fiery attorney and former state Solicitor General Ted Cruz in a July 31 runoff election for the Republican nomination to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Neither won a majority of the votes cast in a nine-candidate GOP field during Tuesday’s primary. “I think it is inarguable that Texas has
Houston-area state lawmaker dies
Arrest in fatal Southeast Texas beach shooting
Fort Bliss soldier killed in Afghanistan
AUSTIN — Houston-area state Rep. Ken Legler has died from an apparent heart attack. Brad Tegeler, Legler’s chief of staff, said the 54-year-old Pasadena Republican died Friday. He had served in the Texas House since 2008. Legler served on the House environmental regulation and pension committees.
ANGLETON — A man already free on bond for a Houston-area murder in 2009 has been arrested for a fatal shooting two months ago on a Texas beach. Police say 19-year-old Deandre Gray fled from officers near his Houston home and was found hiding Thursday night in the freezer at a restaurant. Gray is accused of the fatal drive-by shooting of 26-year-old Derrick Milam at an April 7 party at Surfside Beach.
FORT BLISS — Military officials say a Fort Bliss soldier from West Texas has been killed in the fighting in Afghanistan. The Defense Department on Friday announced the death of 28-year-old Staff Sgt. Roberto Loeza of El Paso. Loeza died May 25 in Charkh, Logar province, after his unit came under fire.
Feds OK draft report for South Padre access SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — The Federal Highway Administration has approved a draft environmental impact statement for a potential second route to and from South Padre Island. The Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge connects South Padre Island to the Texas mainland. Officials have compiled 12 proposals for a second access route to help evacuate during hurricanes or other emergencies.
The Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will show “The Future is Wild” at 4 p.m. and “Wonders of the Universe” at 5 p.m. General admission is $3. For more information, call 956-326-3663.
FRIDAY, JUNE 22 Registration for the Second Annual Classic Bass Fishing Tournament is from 3-7 p.m. at the boat ramp.
SATURDAY, JUNE 23 The Second Annual Classic Bass Fishing Tournament begins with weighin at 2:30 p.m. There will be two person teams. Entry fee is $150 per boat. First place is guaranteed $3,000.
MONDAY, JULY 9 The Zapata Commissioners Court will have its regular meeting today at 9 a.m.
SATURDAY, AUG. 11 The Back To School Kids Fishing Tournament takes place today. 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
created the most enviable economy in America. And David Dewhurst’s fingerprints are all over it,” Perry said at a news conference at the Austin airport, where he took a tour showcasing first-responder equipment to mark the start of Hurricane Season. Perry says Texas has kept unemployment rates far lower than the national average thanks to legislation imposing regulatory and tort reform that he and Dewhurst helped make possible — and that both helped the state balance its budgets year after year without raising taxes. The Republican governor has been a vocal supporter of Dewhurst from the start of the race. But Perry has also long fashioned himself as a tea party darling, especially during his unsuccessful run for the White House, and key tea party backers are supporting Cruz.
Police seek husband after three found dead EL PASO — Police say they are looking for the estranged husband of a woman who was found dead along with her boyfriend and one of her children in an El Paso apartment. El Paso police said in a news release Friday that 35-year-old Luis Javier Solis-Gonzalez may have fled to Mexico.
DPS Top 10 fugitive caught in Rockwall AUSTIN — A Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive sought on parole violation, larceny and drug charges has been caught in the Dallas area. The Texas Department of Public Safety on Friday announced the arrest of 29-year-old Andrew Michael McArter. DPS says McArter was captured Wednesday afternoon as he arrived at a residence in Rockwall. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION Dismal job market pushes Dow into 275-point plunge U.S. stocks are closing with their biggest declines this year after a dismal jobs report and troubling economic news from overseas. The government said Friday that employers added a net 69,000 jobs in May, far fewer than analysts expected. Unemployment in the 17 countries that use the euro stayed at a record-high 11 percent, and there were signs that China’s growth is slowing. The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 275 points at 12,118, its biggest decline since November. The Dow is down 0.8 percent for the year. See story, Page 6A.
Amorous bovines block traffic on W. Pa. highway KITTANNING, Pa. — State police say a pair of amorous bovines tied up traffic near the in-
CONTACT US Publisher, William B. Green........................728-2501 Business Manager, Dora Martinez ...... (956) 324-1226 General Manager, Adriana Devally ...............728-2510 Adv. Billing Inquiries ................................. 728-2531 Circulation Director ................................. 728-2559 MIS Director, Michael Castillo.................... 728-2505 Copy Editor, Nick Georgiou ....................... 728-2565 Managing Editor, Mary Nell Sanchez........... 728-2543 Sports Editor, Adam Geigerman..................728-2578 Spanish Editor ........................................ 728-2569 Photo by Alan Sinclair/U.S. Forest Service | AP
A firefighter works an area along the northwest perimeter of a massive blaze in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico in this photo made on Wednesday. More than 1,200 firefighters are battling the fire. See story, Page 6A. tersection of two rural Pennsylvania highways. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the situation Friday. Trooper John Corna said it was resolved about 9:15 a.m. when state Department of Agriculture managed to shoo the bull and
cow into a trailer. Corna says the intersection of Routes 28 and 85 in Rayburn Township is busier than usual because of construction, and traffic was hampered when the mating bovines refused to move. — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
Local
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012
Valley man faces fed charge By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
An Edinburg man is facing federal charges for attempting to transport an undocumented woman to Houston, according to court records made public last week. Jorge Castañeda was charged with unlawfully transporting a Guatemalan citizen using a motor vehicle. He remained in
federal custody Friday afternoon. At 2:15 a.m. May 23, a blue Mercury Grand Marquis with Texas license plates was heading north on U.S. 83 near San Ygnacio. An agent assigned to the Zapata area noticed the driver and a passenger in the back seat. According to the complaint, the female passenger tried to hide in the back seat. The agent fol-
lowed the vehicle. When he noticed the driver had driven off the road and back into the highway, the agent activated his unit’s emergency lights to conduct an immigration inspection of the occupants. Authorities identified the driver as Castañeda, a U.S. citizen from Edinburg. The woman, the complaint states, was identified as a Guatema-
lan citizen illegally in the United States. Castañeda admitted transporting the undocumented woman. During the investigation, the woman told Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents she paid Castañeda $1,500 to be taken to Houston. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 7282568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
‘Why lie guy’ found dead By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A homeless man known for holding a sign reading “Why lie. I need beer” was found dead May 27 in the Border Region Mental Health Mental Retardation parking lot at 101 First St. On May 27, deputies responded to a call at 12:36 p.m. to First Avenue and U.S. 83. Sgt. Mario Elizondo said deputies found Michael W. Cantrell, 61, unconscious at the MHMR parking lot. Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Fernando Muñoz pronounced Cantrell dead at 1:05 p.m. Corinne Stern, Webb County medical examiner, told Muñoz the cause of death was related to heart problems. Elizondo said the Zapata community knew him as the “Why lie guy” for his sign asking for beer. Cantrell, of Fort Worth, would ask for his favorite beverage at U.S. 83 and Texas 16. “People would stop and would give him beer,” Elizondo said. Cantrell most recently frequented Lare-
Screen shot from YouTube video
Michael W. Cantrell is seen during a YouTube video interview in McAllen, in 2009. He was found dead in Zapata on May 27. do and McAllen. A YouTube video made by user rancholosmalulos had more than 3,400 views as of Friday afternoon. The YouTube user interviewed Cantrell in McAllen in 2009. In the video, Cantrell says he used to work for a
market research company in Las Vegas. He said he once saw a guy with a sign asking for money for food and beer. Cantrell did not want to lie or copy the person and came up with his sign, “Why lie. I need beer.” “I get beer all day
long,” Cantrell told the YouTube user, adding that his favorite was Bud Light. “If I put on my sign ‘homeless, hungry,’ that’s boring. I don’t want (people) to be sad. I want them to laugh. They start laughing, (and say) ‘Here.’” Cantrell goes on to mention that he could not work at some businesses because he had felonies. He spent five years in prison for selling marijuana, he said on camera. “People get on the streets for all kinds of reasons and usually being in prison is one of them,” he said. In addition, Cantrell was a registered sex offender with Brownsville Police Department, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Service website. Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office oversaw his annual verification requirement. His projected ending registration date would’ve been May 1, 2016. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
THE BLOTTER ACCIDENT
HORSE KILLED
An accident with a deer was reported at 4:04 p.m. May 27 about 10 miles north of San Ygnacio. A 34-year-old woman reported she struck a deer while driving her 2010 GMC truck on U.S. 83. According to the woman, the deer was standing in the middle of the highway and moved into her lane.
A 22-year-old man reported at 11:31 a.m. Tuesday in the 3000 block of Encino Road that his horse was shot and killed. The case is being investigated.
BURGLARY A 61-year-old man reported at 8:25 p.m. May 24 in the 1500 block of Falcon Avenue that someone stole a battery from the back of his utility truck. The stolen item was worth $90. A burglary of a vehicle was reported at 12:56 a.m. Monday in the 200 block of Lozano Street.
DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at 10:59 a.m. May 26 in the 100 block of Ramireño Street. No arrest was made.
INJURY TO CHILD Deputies responded to an injury to a child case at 2:35 p.m. Tuesday in the 1900 block of Miraflores Avenue. Child Protective Services and Zapata County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
POSSESSION Eduardo Isidro Benavides, 66, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance at about 2:45 a.m. Tuesday at 10th Street and Mier Avenue. Benavides is out on bail.
TERRORISTIC THREAT A terroristic threat was reported Monday in the 2400 block of Elm Street.
Classes to aid business people SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Texas A&M International University Small Business Development Center is offering two workshops. Tuesday: Managing Cash — the Small Business Owner’s Guide to Financial Control Workshop is scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 126; $20 fee includes workbook. Cash flow is what comes into and goes out of a business. Gaining financial control by understanding cash flow is crucial to business success. The session will review cash — maximizing cash flow, tools
for speeding up cash collections, overdue invoices, three tools for helping with accounts receivable, cash flow statements and shortterm financing solutions. Thursday: Anatomy of a Business Plan Workshop is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 126. Fee is $20, and participants receive “Anatomy of a Business Plan: a Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Business and Securing your Company’s Future,” a $50 value. One needs to write a business plan when starting or buying a business, financing or refinancing or raising debt or equity capital.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
OTHER VIEWS
Polish hero deserves his recognition By JONATHAN GURWITZ SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
On Tuesday, President Obama bestowed the nation’s highest civilian honor — the Presidential Medal of Freedom — on 13 individuals. One of them was Jan Karski. Karski was an institution at Georgetown University, where his classes were favorites among upper division students in the School of Foreign Service. He was visibly striking, handsome, always finely dressed and standing rigidly straight. He had the air of nobility — an air exaggerated by his thick Polish accent and unusual facial features, with eyes that betrayed a life of tragedy.
Military service He was born Jan Kozielewski in 1914 in Lodz, Poland. He was Catholic. As a young diplomat in the autumn of 1939, he was called to active duty as a Polish cavalry officer with the storm clouds of World War II on the horizon. For Kozielewski, the war as a soldier in uniform was short-lived. Germany overran Poland from the west. In an often forgotten episode, Russia also invaded Poland from the east in accordance with a secret pact between Hitler and Stalin. He escaped from the Soviets, barely avoiding the massacre of Polish officers at the Katyn Forest, then from the Nazis. Returning to Warsaw to join the Polish resistance, he adopted the nom de guerre that he would keep for the rest of his life — Karski. Karski undertook many missions as a courier for the Polish government-in-exile. The Gestapo captured and brutally tortured him — the reason for those unusual facial features. He escaped yet again, and his final missions included dangerous visits to the Warsaw Ghetto and a Nazi death camp.
Saw Holocaust Karski made his way to London, where he delivered the first eyewitness reports of the Holocaust to Allied leaders. In 1943, he went to Washington, where he gave personal testimony to members of Congress and President Franklin Roosevelt. He tried in vain to compel the Allies to take direct action to stop the genocide. He was a living refutation of the claim, “We did not know.”
Karski was tormented throughout his life by what he had witnessed. He tormented himself with the notion that he had not done enough. In 1981, at a conference organized by Elie Wiesel, Karski reflected on his agony: “The Lord assigned me a role to speak and write during the war when, as it seemed to me, it might help. It did not.” What more could one man have done?
Reopens memories In 1944, Karski wrote “Story of a Secret State,” his autobiographical account of the war years. Then, at some point, he buried the past. For decades he did not talk about the war. In the late 70s, director Claude Lanzmann approached him to offer testimony in his Holocaust documentary, “Shoah.” Karski complied. The episode seemed to spark in him the desire to open up about his war-time experiences. Not long afterward, I was one of his students. Unlike “Schindler’s List,” “Story of a Secret State” and the rest of Karski’s life had no uplifting conclusion. He faced death threats throughout his life from unrepentant Nazis and their sympathizers. Tragedy stalked him until his final days. His wife jumped to her death from the balcony of their apartment in 1992. They had no children.
War over words Perhaps the final tragedy is that Karski received the Medal of Freedom posthumously — he died 12 years ago — and the ceremony that should have recollected his bravery to an unknowing and often uncaring world has become overshadowed by an international dispute prompted by White House affronts to Poland. In “Karski: How One Man Tried to Stop the Holocaust,” E. Thomas Wood and Stanislaw M. Jankowski give an account of Karski’s last visit to the Warsaw Ghetto, during which he met with one of the Jewish resistance leaders. “Remember this,” he implored Karski. “Remember this.” Karski never forgot. His memories of the Holocaust haunted him to the end. Those of us who were privileged to know Karski will never forget him. (Email: jgurwitz@express-news.net)
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 namecalling 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.
COLUMN
Two men answer God’s call
N
ext Saturday will be a very special and memorable day in our Catholic community. On Saturday, June 9, I will ordain my fourth priest and my fifth transitional deacon as bishop of the Diocese of Laredo. The Sacrament of Holy Orders takes place at historic San Agustín Cathedral at 10 a.m. Rev. Deacon Joel Perez and seminarian Angel Valenciano will move forward on their lifelong journeys of serving our Lord and the faithful of the Diocese of Laredo. Deacon Joel will become the fourth priest ordained in our diocese and seminarian Angel will become the fifth transitional deacon ordained during my episcopacy.
“
JAMES TAMAYO
These brave, faith-filled young men heard God’s call many years ago, discerned it and are now answering with a resounding, “Yes.” They are following Jesus just as the disciples Simon and his brother Andrew did so many years ago. In the Gospel of Mark (1:17), “Jesus said to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” Deacon Joel and seminarian Angel serve as examples of listening to do God’s will and to have the faith and perseverance in His plan for them.
They are reminders that God also gives us multiple opportunities to respond to His unique call to us and that we possess the ability to allow God to create us anew each and every day. The choice to heed His call and to do good things is a gift from God that it is to be treasured. And that is what Deacon Joel and seminarian Angel are doing — good deeds in the name of God. But so can you. Everyone is called to serve God our Father. Whether you are a deacon, a man or a woman religious or laity, all are called to be messengers in what Pope Benedict XVI describes as the New Evangelization. Everyone should seize the opportunity to spread
God’s word and His love to all. I invite you to join me, and the hundreds that will fill San Agustín Cathedral next Saturday at 10 a.m., in proclaiming God’s word. Seminarian Angel will be ordained a transitional deacon, which is a major step in his journey toward the priesthood and deacon Joel will be ordained “a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech.” (Psalm 109:4) These young men enter the priesthood and the diaconate ready and eager to serve God and His people — Todo Con Amor! (Bishop James A. Tamayo heads the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laredo. The diocese covers Zapata and six surrounding counties.)
COLUMN
Tobacco restrictions are good THE WASHINGTON POST
America’s decades-long anti-tobacco effort has yielded massive benefits, cutting the smoking rate in half since 1964 and saving untold millions of lives. But the smoking rate has plateaued in recent years, at around a fifth of U.S. adults. Has policy reached its limit? Will there always be a chunk of the population that cannot resist lighting up or chewing? Federal, state and local governments have not given up. Congress in 2009 gave the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco; the agency could eventually require reductions of addic-
tive chemicals and carcinogens in tobacco products. Federal rules now prohibit flavored cigarettes and misleading terms on packaging such as "low," "light" and "mild." Many — but not all — states have adopted smokefree policies in bars, restaurants and workplaces. And some states have continued to crank up their most effective weapon: tobacco taxes, which encourage quitting and which have a particularly good record at preventing teen smoking. But raising taxes can also spur the development of a black market, as shown by tobacco smuggling — where cigarettes are taken from states with low tobacco taxes into those with
higher ones. No doubt much of this problem could be solved by raising the federal tobacco tax with an eye toward harmonizing state policies. But how far the federal government can increase its excise without inviting international smuggling or other illicit commerce is an open question. New Zealand may help provide an answer. The Pacific nation announced last week a pathbreaking plan to eliminate smoking by 2025. Among other things, shops selling cigarettes will have to conceal them from view. New Zealand will increase its already high tobacco tax by 40 percent, bringing the price of a pack to about $15 (U.S.).
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
That’s a few bucks higher than packs in New York City. But New Zealand’s is also a national policy, so criminals will find it harder to supply illicit tobacco there than they do in America. There is a point beyond which raising national cigarette taxes stops being useful, or becomes a prohibition policy in all but name. New Zealand considered and rejected the idea of raising the price to $75 a pack. But $15 a pack may discourage use further without eliminating individual choice. After 2016, when the country’s new policy phases in fully, public-health advocates will have additional evidence one way or another.
SÁBADO 2 DE JUNIO DE 2012
Agenda en Breve LAREDO 06/02 — First United Methodist Church, 1220 avenida McClelland, tendrá una venta de libros usados de 8:30 a.m. a 1 p.m. Libros de pasta dura, a 1 dólar; libros de pasta blanda a .50 centavos; revistas y libros infantiles, a .25 centavos. 06/02 — Venta de artículos usados de 9 a.m. a 4 p.m. en el Salón Parroquial de Blessed Sacrament Church, 1600 avenida Bartlett. 06/07 — El ex Laredense, Jack Strunk, se presentará en la Sala de Usos Múltiples H-E-B de Biblioteca Pública de Laredo, de 2 p.m. a 3:30 p.m. para discutir su libro. 06/09 — El ex Laredense, Jack Strunk, se presentará en la Sala de Usos Múltiples H-E-B de Biblioteca Pública de Laredo, de 6 p.m. a 7:30 p.m. para discutir sus experiencias personales y su libro.
NUEVO LAREDO 06/02 — Estación Palabra invita al “Bazar de Arte” a las 12 p.m.; “Lecturas antes de Abordar: Ciencia Ficción” a la 1 p.m.; “Festival Infantil: Ciencia Ficción” a las 2 p.m.; Taller de Creación Literaria con Jacobo Mina de 3 p.m. a 5 p.m. Todos los eventos son gratuitos. 06/02 — Museo para Niños presenta “Colores y Dibujos” a las 4 p.m. en la Sala de Servicios Educativos del Centro Cultural. Entrada libre. 06/02 — El musical “Lo Siento Mi Amor” se estrena a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro del IMSS (Reynosa y Belden), con una alfombra roja previa a la función. Costo: 80 pesos. 06/02 — Partidos semifinales del Torneo nacional de Basquetbol femenil, a las 9 a.m. en el gimnasio de la Nueva Ciudad Deportiva. 06/02 — “Ay Jalisco, no te rajes” a las 7 p.m. en Explanada Cívica de la Independencia. 06/03 — Partidos finales y premiacion del Torneo nacional de Basquetbol femenil a las 9 a.m. en el gimnasio de la Nueva Ciudad Deportiva. 06/03 — Visitas guiadas a los Museos “Reyes Meza” y “De Historia Natural” de 10 a.m. a 7 p.m. en el Centro Cultural. Entrada libre. 06/03 — 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 pesos. Apta para toda la familia. 06/04 — Exposición conmemorativa del Día Mundial de los Archivos, a las 7 p.m. en el Archivo General del Municipio “Juan E. Richer”. 06/05 — Celebración del Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente en las riveras del Río Bravo, a las 8:30 a.m., entre Álvaro Obregón y 15 de Junio. 06/06 — Conferencias, exhibición de stands de maquiladoras y desfile de ecofashion de Canacintra, a las 8:30 a.m. en la Sala Sergio Peña de la Antigua Aduana. 06/07 — Concurso de declamación (Categorías: A, B, C) a las 10 a.m. en el Auditorio de Estación Palabra. 06/07 — Exposición fotográfica “Nuestro Centro Histórico” a las 7 p.m. en Sala de Exposiciones del Banco Longoria. 06/08 — Simposium Nacional de Proteccion Civil y Bomberos, a las 8 a.m. en el Centro Cultural. 06/08 — Concurso de declamación (Categorías: D) a las 10 a.m. en el Auditorio de Estación Palabra.
Zfrontera
PÁGINA 5A
José E. Vela continuará en cargo
Conteo de votos POR JJ VELASQUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
El martes, votantes del Condado de Zapata de Zapata decidieron que Alonso López asumiera el cargo del Alguacil Sigifredo González. Con 50 por ciento de los votos, Lopez declaró la victoria en una contienda con tres participantes que incluyó a Raymond Moya III y Joaquín Solís Jr. A tan solo 11 votos de no obtener la mayoría de sufragios, Lopez apenas evitó una elección de desempate con Solís, el más cercano candidato con aproximadamente 30 por ciento de los sufragios. Lopez, quien vive en Lopeño, es un capitán de administración bajo González. Inició su carrera en la aplicación de la ley como un despachador y carcelero en 1982. González entregará la batuta a su capitán en enero, tras haber estado en el cargo por 18 años. El alguacil decidió retirarse en lugar de buscar otro periodo. López no pudo ser localizado para comentarios el viernes, pero dijo a The Za-
pata Times en abril que su experiencia administrativa lo calificaba para ser alguacil. Solis, un veterano por 32 años en la aplicación de la ley, quien se retiró el año pasado, pudiera haber obligaco un desempate con un poco más de votos. Solis trabajó tanto en la oficina del alguacil como en la del abogado del condado. En la última fue un oficial investigador. Tras regresar a la oficina del alguacil por tres años, se retiró en septiembre y empezó a inclinar su atención para contender en las elecciones. Solis dijo que pensaba continuar retirado y que estaba contento con el resultado de la votación. “Eso es lo que la gente quiso”, dijo él. “Estoy bien con eso”. Moya, de 43 años de edad, un oficial investigador en la ofticina del abogado del condado,obtuvo la menor cantidad de votos con 647, que representaron aproximadamente un 20 por ciento de los votos. Dijo que deseaba lo mejor a Lopez en su nuevo cargo.
POR JJ VELASQUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
“Ya pasó y concluyó”, dijo Moya. “Las personas salieron, emitieron sus votos, y él salió adelante”.
Otros resultados La contienda para comisario del Precinto 1 se encamina hacia un desempate, conforme Gabriel Villarreal y Adalberto “Beto” Mejia Jr. estuvieron parejos tras la primaria del martes. Con 40 por ciento de los sufragios, Villarreal mantuvo la cabecera tras que llegaron los resultados de la votación anticipada. Mejia tuvo 38 por ciento. En la carrera para Comisionado del Precinto 3, el actual comisionado, Eddie Martinez ganó tranquilamente, obteniendo alrededor de 67 por ciento de los votos. Eloy “Jay” Martinez selló otro término como comisario del Precinto 3 la Noche de Elecciones, conforme aseguró 70 por ciento de los votos. Martinez tuvo dos retadores, Erica BenavidesMoore y Randall L. Ivey. (Localice a JJ Velasquez en el (956)728-2567)
El Comisionado del Condado por el Precinto 1, José E. Vela, continuará otro término. Vela venció a su retador, José Luis “Tata” Flores, durante las votaciones, las cuales concluyeron el martes. Flores estuvo en el lugar de 1985 a 2004, cuando Vela obtuvo su primer victoria. Flores ha retado a Vela en cada elección desde entonces. “Fue muy satisfactorio ganar la elección por un amplio margen, y estoy muy feliz por esto”, dijo Vela. Vela cree que los votantes eligieron al candidato correcto y destacó como evidencia sus antecedentes en sus años como comisionado. “Estaremos aquí por los próximos cuatro años”, dijo él. “Continuaremos lo que hemos estado haciendo, protegiendo a los contribuyentes y manteniendo al condado en el camino correcto”. Vela dijo que daría atención al agregar infraestructura para atraer in-
dustria al área. Con una baja en la actividad del petróleo y el gas, las ganancias generadas de este sector también han disminuido, por lo que dijo que se enfocará en crear más fuentes de ingreso para el condado. Él cree que el más reciente proyecton que él ha respaldado en la Corte de Comisionados hará eso. Vela trabaja en traer un centro de diálisis para riñon al condado, a fin de aliviar al carga a sus residentes quienes viajan a Laredo y San Antonio para recibir tratamiento. Los comisionados están programados para votar sobre la aprobación de la construcción de la clínica en su siguiente junta regular. Dijo que el proyecto será su principal prioridad en su siguiente término. Vela dijo que continuaría sirviendo a la comunidad y manteniendo al condado “en el camino correcto”. Flores, por su parte, agradeció a las personas que votaron por él. “ (Localice a JJ Velasquez en (956) 728-2567)
Gana King en Distrito Ochenta POR ANDREW KREIGHBAUM TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Foto por Danny Zaragoza | The Zapata Times
Renato Ramírez, a la extrema derecha, es visto junto a los miembros de su gabinete, tras haber sido designado Presidente de la República del Río Grande 2012, hace una semana, durante la Comida por el Día de los Fundadores, en TAMIU de Laredo.
¡VIVA LA REPÚBLICA! Ramírez recibe banda como ‘presidente’ POR JJ VELASQUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Una banda fue colocada sobre el torso de Renato Ramirez, y después él gritó, “¡Viva la República!”. El banquero del Condado de Zapata, quien jugó un papel decisivo en la creación del Monumento Tejano, fue investido el sábado como el presidente de la República del Río Grande. La ceremonia fue parte de la Celebración del Día de los Fundadores de este año, un evento de la Fundación para el Patrimonio del Condado de Webb, rin-
diendo homenaje al fundador de Laredo Don Tomás Sánchez y sus descendientes. Este año, el cual marca el 257 aniversario de la fundación de Laredo, permitió al artista local Armando Hinojosa y a Ramirez, junto con varios otros, concluir un trabajo de una década sobre el Monumento Tejano, el cual fue develado en el capitolio estatal en marzo. Ramirez dijo que la conclusión del proyecto era “como ganar el Super Tazón”. Dijo que fue un milagro la aprobación de la legislación que colocó
el monumento en el Jardín Sur, el área principal para monumentos en el capitolio. La Senadora Estatal Judith Zaffirini, quien estuvo involucrada en la aprobación de esa propuesta de ley, estuvo de acuerdo con el comentario. Ella le dio el crédito a Ramirez por trabajar en hacer eso posible. “Fue gracias a Renato Ramirez y su éxito en recaudar el dinero, principalmente en Laredo y Zapata,… (que hicimos) este sueño una realidad”, dijo Zaffirini. El monumento de 525
pies cuadrados refleja a la vida salvaje, un vaquero y familias Españolas que se asentaron en partes de Texas en los 1500. Pero Ramirez dijo que estaba principalmente orgulloso del resultado educativo que el monumento pudiera producir. Durante el proyecto, expertos en la historia colonias Española en Texas desarrolló un currículo que está siendo enseñado en varias escuelas primarias del Distrito Escolar Independiente de Austin. Se espera continuar el programa el siguiente año escolar.
El representante Estatal del Distrito 80 del Congreso, Tracy King, D-Batesville, logró una victoria en Zapata y ganó los otros cuatro condados del distrito, superando al laredense Jery Garza. King ganó menos del 55 por ciento de los votos del Condado de Zapata, pero consiguió no menos del 74 por ciento en Frío, Dimmit, Uvalde o Zavala. Aunque más de 4,000 residentes del Condado de Webb votaron por Garza, obtuvo solo 7,163 votos mientras que King tuvo 10,597. King dijo que el éxito de Garza en el área de Laredo fue inesperado. “Él ha estado 8 años como comisionado del condado y solía ser presentador de noticias y tenía un nombre muy, muy reconocido”, dijo. Atribuyó su victoria en Zapata a trabajo duro y la ayuda de sus simpatizantes quienes son líderes en la comunidad. Cuando declaró su candidatura para Representante Estatal en diciembre, Garza tenía que enfrentar al representante del estado titular Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City, cuyo distrito incluía Zapata y la mayor parte del Condado de Webb. El resultado final del proceso de la redistribución de distritos sacó a Guillen de los dos condados. King dijo estar agradecido con sus simpatizantes y esperaba estudiar los temas que se tocarán en la próxima sesión legislativa. Explicó que los votantes del distrito quieren ver restaurado y con fondos el sector de educación pública y seguro médico, tareas que serán más difíciles que nunca, pues los Republicanos continúan perdiendo sillas frente a miembros más conservadores del partido. Comentó que en una sesión legislativa con una participación anormalmente alta, su antigüedad sería una ventaja.
Nation
6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012
Stocks slump with dismal job report By DANIEL WAGNER ASSOCIATED PRESS
The stock market suffered its worst day of the year Friday after a surprisingly weak report about hiring and employment cast a pall of gloom over the U.S. economy. The Dow Jones industrial average plunged 275 points. Traders stampeded into the safety of bonds, pushing the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note to a record low. Fearful investors bought gold, causing the price to spike $50 an ounce, and concern about a global economic slowdown drove the price of oil to its lowest since October. “The big worry now is that this economic slowdown is widening and accelerating,” said Sam Stovall, chief equity strategist at S&P Capital IQ, a market research firm. It was the Dow’s steepest one-day drop since November. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index and Nasdaq composite index both fell more than 3 percent. The Nasdaq has dropped more than 10 percent since its peak — what traders call a market correction. The S&P 500 is just a point above correction territory. American employers added just 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in a year, and the unemployment rate increased to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent. Economists had forecast a gain of 158,000 jobs. The report, considered
the most important economic indicator each month, also said that hiring in March and April was considerably weaker than originally thought. Earlier data showed weak economic conditions in Europe and Asia, too. Unemployment in the 17 countries that use the euro currency stayed at a record-high 11 percent in April, and unemployment spiked to almost 25 percent in Spain. There were signs that growth in China, which helped sustain the global economy through the recession, is slowing significantly. China’s manufacturing weakened in May, according to surveys released Friday. The Dow closed down 274.88 points, or 2.2 percent, at 12,118.57. The Dow is off 0.8 percent for the year; two months ago, it was up more than 8 percent for the year. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 32.29 points, or 2.5 percent, to 1,278.04. The Nasdaq dropped 79.86, or 2.8 percent, to 2,747.48. Both indexes are still up for the year — 1.6 percent for the S&P 500 and 5.5 percent for the Nasdaq. Traders sold all types of risky investments and rushed to the safety of U.S. government bonds and gold. Bond prices rose sharply, briefly pushing the yield on the benchmark 10year U.S. Treasury note down to 1.44 percent, the lowest on record. The yield ended the day at 1.46 percent.
Photo by Richard Drew | AP
Anthony Riccio, center, works with fellow traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. Stocks fell sharply Friday after the release of a dismal report on job creation in the United States. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped more than 200 points, erasing what was left of its gain for the year. Gold for August delivery climbed $57.90, nearly 4 percent, to $1,622.10 per ounce. “Everybody’s looking for a safe haven,” said Adam Patti, CEO of IndexIQ, an asset management firm. He’s skeptical of that strategy, believing the swing was driven by short-term traders “looking to flip in and out of things,” rather than long-term investors willing to ride out a few bumps in the market. May was the worst month for the stock market in two years by some measures. Investors’ worries about Europe’s debt crisis
intensified as the month wore on. Greece’s political future is uncertain, and it appears increasingly likely to stop using the euro currency. That could rattle financial markets and make Greece’s economy even weaker. Friday’s jobs report drew traders’ attention back to the weakening U.S. economy, said Todd Salamone, director of research for Schaeffer’s Investment Research in Cincinnati. “The weaker jobs report translates into anticipation of slower growth ahead and weaker corporate earnings, and that ratchets stock
Firefighters work along the northwest perimeter of a massive blaze in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico on Monday. More than 1,200 firefighters are battling the fire that has burned nearly 217,000 acres in an isolated mountainous area of southwestern New Mexico.
Photo by John Roads/U.S. Forest Service | AP
Record-setting NM fire now 339 square miles By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
RESERVE, N.M. — A wildfire burning in what New Mexico’s governor called “impossible” terrain in an isolated, mountainous area of the state continued its rapid growth Friday as forecasters called for thunderstorms and dry lightning that could spark even more fires. The massive blaze in the Gila National Forest in southwestern New Mexico is the biggest in state history and the largest currently burning in the country. It scorched an additional 39 square miles in the past day, growing to nearly 340 square miles, as more than 1,200 firefighters worked to halt its spread. Firefighters are creating more burnout operations to battle the erratic blaze that has injured six people, the fire’s incident management team said Friday. Details on the injuries were not
immediately available. Officials said the fire is around 10 percent contained. Though crews are being helped with increased humidity levels, forecasters say there’s a chance for thunderstorms and dry lightning over New Mexico’s Black Hills area that could spark more fires. Gov. Susana Martinez viewed the fire from a New Mexico National Guard helicopter Thursday and saw the thick smoke shrouding some of the steep canyons that are inaccessible to firefighters. She described the terrain as “impossible,” saying there was no way for firefighters to directly attack the flames in the rugged areas of wilderness. “It’s going to keep going up,” she said. “Be prepared for that.” Along the fire’s northern edge, Martinez spotted crews doing burnout operations designed to slow the erratic blaze, which has
surpassed last year’s Las Conchas fire as the largest in recorded state history. That fire charred 156,593 acres and threatened the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the nation’s premier nuclear facility. From the air, Martinez could see the blanket of smoke stretching for miles. She used words like “daunting” and “enormous,” fitting since fire managers said the blaze could smolder until the region gets significant rainfall during the summer
prices lower,” Salamone said. The record-low yield on the 10-year Treasury note reflected rapid buying by traders with the biggest portfolios, including central banks, endowments and pension funds, said Ira Jersey, U.S. interest rate strategist at Credit Suisse. He said managers were selling investments priced in euros and stashing their money in U.S. securities. Several analysts raised the possibility that the weakening economy will prompt more action by governments and central banks seeking to juice glob-
al economic activity. Anticipation of some policy response prevented even deeper losses, Stovall said. The Federal Reserve undertook programs in 2009 and 2010 to buy U.S. government bonds. Its goal was to lower interest rates and encourage people to buy riskier investments like stocks. At least in public, the central bank so far has resisted a third round of purchases, known as quantitative easing. Anticipation of bondbuying by the Fed “might put in a little bit of a floor to the market, but the overall economic picture is still bad,” said Bob Gelfond, CEO of a New York hedge fund. The dollar fell partly because traders expect more intervention by the Federal Reserve, Gelfond said. The euro rose half a penny against the dollar to above $1.24. A day earlier, fears about Europe’s finances had pushed the euro to a nearly two-year low against the dollar. Only 17 of the 500 companies in the S&P index were higher for the day. Homebuilder stocks fell the most, despite a report that construction spending rose in April. PulteGroup fell 11.8 percent, D.R. Horton 8.4 percent and Lennar 8.3 percent. Boeing, the biggest U.S. exporter, fell 3.4 percent, one of the biggest declines among the 30 companies that make up the Dow. Traders fear that the economic slowdown will hurt demand for airplanes.
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A
JOSE JESUS ‘JOE’ REYES Dec. 18, 1963-May 30, 2012 A long-time resident of Zapata County left family and countless friends to enter into the presence of his Lord on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. Joe was born in Laredo, Texas, on Dec. 18, 1963, and passed away in San Antonio, Texas, after a brief stay in the hospital. He was a graduate of Martin High School in Laredo (Class of ’83), Joe leaves behind his wife of 28 years, Sandra Sendejo Reyes; children: Jose Augustine (Little Joe), Ramiro and Andrea; his mother, Santa Salinas; and siblings: Fausto Reyes, Augustine Reyes (deceased), Rosario Reyes and Norberto Reyes. Joe was a long-time servant to his community through law enforcement with more than 25 years of experience. He started with the Webb County Sheriff ’s Office as a detention officer and then deputy and then moved to Zapata and became a deputy with the Zapata County S.O. He continued his career as he joined the U.S. Border Patrol and was currently with the U.S. Marshal’s Service in Laredo. Joe was a man with many passions: his family, his church and everything outdoors. He loved his horses and team roping, his involvement with the Zapata County Fair and show animals, hunting, fishing and his barbecue. Joe was known in
By PAUL WISEMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
the community as a man of integrity and dependability. He was a man who would always offer you a hand no matter what the situation. He was a great friend to many who will be greatly missed. Joe requested that in lieu of flowers, that donations are made to the building fund of his church, King’s Way Church, P.O. Box 306, Zapata, TX 78076. A memorial service will be held at King’s Way Church, 508 Hawk St, Zapata, on Saturday, June 9, at 2 p.m. Visitation with the family will begin at 1 p.m. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 N. US 83, Zapata.
WASHINGTON — The American economy is in trouble again. Employers in the United States added only 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in a year and not even close to what economists expected. For the first time since June, the unemployment rate rose, to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent. It was the third month in a row of weak job growth and further evidence that, just as in 2010 and 2011, a winter of hope for the economy has turned to a spring of disappointment. “This is horrible,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at High Frequency Economics, a consulting firm. The job figures, released Friday by the Labor Department, dealt a strong blow to President Barack Obama at the start of a general election campaign that will turn on the economy. They also deepened the pessimism of investors, who even before the report was released were worried about a debt crisis in Europe with no sign of solution and signs of a slow-
down in the powerhouse economy of China. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 275 points, its worst day of the year, and for the first time was down for 2012. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index is almost 10 percent below its 2012 high, the traditional definition of a market correction. Mitt Romney, who on Tuesday cleared the number of convention delegates required to win the Republican presidential nomination, told CNBC that the report was “devastating.” He called for an emphasis on energy development, pledged to “kill” the health care overhaul that Obama saw through in 2010 and said he would reduce taxes and government spending. The clearest fix for the economy, he said, was to defeat Obama. “It is now clear to everyone that President Obama’s policies have failed to achieve their goals and that the Obama economy is crushing America’s middle class,” said Romney, the former governor. Obama, in Minnesota, pushed a proposal to expand job opportunities for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. He said that the economy is
not creating jobs “as fast as we want” but vowed that it would improve. “We will come back stronger,” he said. “We do have better days ahead.” Alan Krueger, head of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers, pointed out that the country has added jobs for 27 months in a row, including 4.3 million jobs in the private sector. Underscoring the challenge for Obama with five months to go in the campaign, a May poll by The Associated Press and GfK, a research company, showed that 52 percent disapproved of Obama’s handling of the economy while 46 percent approved. Some financial analysts said that the dismal job figures put pressure on the Federal Reserve to take additional steps to help the economy. The central bank has already kept the short-term interest rate it controls at a record low of almost zero since the fall of 2008, during the financial crisis, and pledged to keep it there through late 2014. It has undertaken two rounds of massive purchases of government bonds, starting in March 2009 and November 2010, to help drive long-term interest
rates down and stimulate stock prices. Another program to lower long-term interest rates, known as Operation Twist, was announced last September and ends in June. But low interest rates, other analysts pointed out, are not the problem. An investor stampede into bonds on Friday drove the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note as low as 1.44 percent, the lowest on record. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies next week before a joint committee of Congress, and the Fed next meets June 19 and 20. Complicating the challenge for the economy, tax cuts passed under President George W. Bush will expire after Dec. 31, as will a cut in the Social Security payroll tax. More than $100 billion in automatic spending cuts to defense and domestic programs also kick in Jan. 1. Less money in consumers’ pockets next year and less spending by the government would be a significant drag on the economy. Congress could extend the tax cuts, but Republicans control the House of Representatives, and they have little incentive to help Obama in the November election by doing so.
HONOR Continued from Page 1A
OLGA A. SALDIVAR July 31, 1963-May 25, 2012 Olga A. Saldivar passed away Friday, May 25, 2012, at her residence in Zapata. Ms. Saldivar is preceded in death by her father, Jose Rolando Guzman. Ms. Saldivar is survived by her sons: Isaac Jr. (Paula) Solis, Tomas Solis and Roberto Saldivar Jr.; daughters: Josefina (Adrian) Castellanos and Kalejandra Saldivar; grandchildren: Isaac, Cosme Solis, Alberta Garza, Rey, Alejandro and Adrian Castellano Jr.; mother, Josefina R. Guzman; brothers: Jose Rolando Jr. (Nidia) Guzman, Rogelio (Maria) Guzman and Martin (Maria) Guzman; sisters: Mary (Omar) Prezaz and Teresa (Olivero) Rocha; and by numerous nephews, nieces and friends. Visitation hours were held Sunday, May 27, 2012, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a wake at 6 p.m. and a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession departed on Monday, May
Job loss shows slow economy
placed the monument on the South Lawn, the most prime real estate for monuments at the Capitol, was a miracle. Sen. Judith Zaffirini, who was involved in passing the bill, agreed. She credited Ramirez for working to make that possible. “It was because of Renato Ramirez and his success in raising the money, mostly in Laredo and Zapata, … (that we made) this dream a reality,” Zaffirini said.
State lawmakers and dignitaries from both Laredo and Zapata attended the event. Zaffirini urged everyone in the room to go see the monument. “I see people standing in front of it with their mouths open,” she said, referring to the awestruck crowd of people who attended the unveiling. The 525-square-foot monument depicts wildlife, a vaquero and Spanish families that settled parts of Texas in the 1500s.
But Ramirez said he was most proud of the educational return the monument could produce. Through the project, experts in Spanish colonial history in Texas developed a curriculum being taught in several Austin Independent School District elementary schools. He hopes to continue the program into the next school year. (JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2567 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)
COMMISSIONERS Continued from Page 1A 28, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 U.S. 83, Zapata, TX.
area. With oil and gas activity in decline, revenues generated from that sector have also dropped, so he said his focus is on creating more streams of income for the county. He believes the latest project he has pushed in Commissioners Court will do just that. Vela is working to bring a kidney dialysis center to the county in order to alleviate the burden of its residents who travel to Laredo and
San Antonio for treatment. Commissioners are set to vote on approving construction of the clinic at their next regular meeting. He said that project will be his first priority going into his next term. Vela said he would continue serving the community and keeping the county “on the right track.” “In every decision I make, my first priority is the county and the taxpayers,” he said.
Flores thanked the people who voted for him. “People spoke out,” Flores said regarding the results. “Probably, they didn’t want a change, so that’s good.” Flores, despite losing his bid, said he would serve the community, too. “I hope the best that can happen for Zapata,” he said. (JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2567 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)
SHERIFF Continued from Page 1A Solis said he plans to stay retired and was content with the voting results. “That’s what the people wanted,” he said. “That’s OK with me.”
Moya, a 43-year-old county attorney’s office investigator, garnered the fewest votes with 647, accounting for about 20 percent of the vote. He said he wishes Lopez
the best in his new post. “It’s over and done with,” Moya said. “The people came out, they cast their votes, and he came out ahead.” The Kingsville native
who moved to Zapata in 1993 said this would probably be his last go-around at public office. (JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2567 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012
Conversation losing out to text messages By MARTHA IRVINE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Anna Schiferl hadn’t even rolled out of bed when she reached for her cell phone and typed a text to her mom, one recent Saturday. Mom was right downstairs in the kitchen. The text? Anna wanted cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Soon after, the 13-yearold could hear mom’s voice echoing through the house. “Anna,” Joanna Schiferl called, “if you want to talk to me, you come downstairs and see me!” Anna laughs about it now. “I was kind of being lazy,” the teen from suburban Chicago concedes. “I know that sounds horrible.” Well, maybe not horrible, but certainly increasingly typical. Statistics from the Pew Internet & American Life Project show that, these days, many people with cell phones prefer texting over a phone call. It’s not always young people, though the data indicate that the younger you are, the more likely you are to prefer texting. And that’s creating a communication divide, of sorts — the talkers vs. the texters. Some would argue that it’s no big deal. What difference should it make how we communicate, as long as we do so? But many experts say the most successful communicators will, of course, have the ability to do both, talk or text, and know the most appropriate times to use those skills. And they fear that more of us are losing our ability to have — or at least are avoiding — the traditional face-to-face conversations that are vital in the workplace and personal relationships. “It is an art that’s becoming as valuable as good writing,” says Janet Stern-
berg, a professor of communication studies at Fordham University in New York who is also a linguist. In the most extreme cases, she’s noticed more students don’t look her in the eye and have trouble with the basics of direct conversation — habits that, she says, will not serve them well as they enter a world where many of their elders still expect an in-person conversation, or at the very least a phone call. On today’s college campuses, the dynamic is often different. Forget about things like “office hours,” for instance. Many professors say they rarely see students outside of class. “I sit in my office hours lonely now because if students have a question, they email, often late at night,” says Renee Houston, an associate professor of communication studies at the University of Puget Sound in Washington state. “And they never call, ever.” She recalls overhearing students chuckling about the way people older than them communicate. “My parents left me a VOICEMAIL. Can you believe it?” one said, as if voicemail had gone the way of the dinosaurs. This doesn’t sound surprising or particularly troublesome to Lisa AusterGussman, who’ll be a senior this fall at the University of Richmond in Virginia. For her, there are simply particular tools she uses to communicate, depending on the recipient. Email is for professors, yes. Phone calls and maybe the occasional text are for parents, if the parents know how to do the latter. “But I don’t communicate much with older people. So much of my life is set up over text,” says Auster-Gussman, who sends and receives an average of about 6,000 text messages a month.
Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast | AP
Anna Schiferl, foreground, texts her mother Joanna in their LaGrange, Ill. Home on May 24. Statistics from the Pew Internet & American Life Project show that, these days, many people with cell phones prefer texting over a phone call. It’s not always young people, though the data indicates that the younger you are, the more likely you are to prefer texting. But many experts say the most successful communicators will, of course, have the ability to do both talk or text, and know the most appropriate times to use those skills. Many are done as “group texts,” sharing messages among eight college friends who live in the same building. The interactions are nothing more than you’d say in a casual conversation, Auster-Gussman says — but they are constant when they’re not together. Recently, for instance, she went to a movie and came out to find 50 text messages waiting for her on her phone. Meanwhile, last summer, when she was away from her boyfriend, she went days without talking to him on the phone, but texted with him several times a day. “You’re not even really talking to him,” she remembers her perplexed father saying. “But I felt like I was talking to him all day, every
day,” Auster-Gussman says. Is there some aversion to talking on the phone? Not really, she says. It’s just a preference. In this day and age, it’s just what you do. As Anna, the 13-year-old in suburban Chicago, sees it: “There are people you’ll text, but won’t call. It’s just awkward that way. “It’s not about anything important — just a way to stay in touch with each other.” She and her closest friends also send each other videos of themselves and their surroundings — maybe of their dogs or something new in their bedroom. “People would probably say, like, ‘Why don’t you just call them?’” Anna says. Experts say there is, of course, nothing wrong with casual conversation and fun between friends. One
could argue that the constant banter — scores of texts each day — keep people more connected. The problem, some communication experts say, is that the conversation isn’t particularly deep — and therein lies the problem, says Joseph Grenny, co-author of the book “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High.” Though they may not always be so good at deep conversations themselves, Grenny suggests that parents model the behavior for their children and put down their own mobile devices. He says they also should set limits, as Anna’s mom did when she enforced the “no texting to people under the same roof ” rule. Sternberg, at Fordham, asks her students to give up one form of electronic
communication to see what kind of difference it makes in their lives. She also has them practice simple tasks such as standing up in a room full of people and introducing themselves. Many of them hate the drill, she says, but later tell her how useful it was, especially in the workplace. Interestingly, Anna’s mom, Joanna Schiferl, is more worried about the effect that texting is having on her daughter’s writing skills than her social skills. Anna tends to rush her writing and pays less attention to grammar, or uses abbreviations she’d use in a text. It is a common observation among parents. So the key, experts say, is to recognize your weak point and work on developing a wide range of communication skills.
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012
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HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
Thank you, seniors Hawks wrap up great careers By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES Photo by Sue Ogrocki | AP
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ast night, Zapata said goodbye to the senior Class of 2012. Among all those departing seniors were many athletes who hung up their uniforms for the last time. Zapata athletics was brimming with senior athletes this year who put there best effort forward on the field, court or track in represented Zapata in a positive way. Over the past four years these seniors grew from scared little freshman to underclassman excited to be finally be playing at Zapata High School to strong leaders by the time they hit their senior years. “It seems like yesterday they were walking into ZHS not knowing what to expect and they are graduating with so much knowledge and the ability to take what ever they face,” Zapata volleyball coach Rosie Villarreal said. “I’m so proud of all their accomplishments both on the field as well as academically.” These athletes should be lauded for taking on high school sports. For some, passion that they have for their sport was passed down from their parents, for others, they were simply drawn to it when they were younger. “I feel like their mother, not wanting to let them go,” Villarreal said. “It will be emotional tonight as they cross the stage like if they are my own children. These girls will be missed. They have set higher standard for our program. Our athletes know that they must continue the winning tradition set forth for the years to come.” Thank you, senior Hawks and Lady Hawks, for giving the Zapata community four years of great memories and for always trying hard when you slipped on that uniform. Football: Manuel Salinas, Eddie Bustamante, Danny Villarreal, Anibal Salinas, Eddie Gonzalez, Jose Vela, Rey Buruato, Ruben Sanchez, Alan Garcia, Luis Munoz, Ricky Prado, Ricky Benavidez, Julio Alvarado, Victor Garza, Luis Ramon Oscar Teniente, Beto Gutierrez, Xavy Paderes Justin Gutierrez, John Lujan and Alonzo Barrera. Managers: Michelle Arce and Nikki Gonzalez. Volleyball: Shelby Bigler, Estella Molina, Jackie Salinas.
The San Antonio Spurs’ center Tiago Splitter (22) and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s guard James Harden (13) collide during the second half of Game 3 of their Western Conference finals playoff series, Thursday, in Oklahoma City.
Spurs regroup after big loss By JEFF LATZKE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photos by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Zapata softball player Estella Molina graduated last night.
Zapata power lifter George Gutierrez graduated last night.
See GRADUATION PAGE 2B
Zapata golf players (left to right) Ricky Prado, Tony Gutierrez and Victor Garza graduated last night.
OKLAHOMA CITY — As Manu Ginobili was finishing up his answer to a reporter’s question, Tony Parker walked up behind him, put both hands on his shoulders and provided his teammate an escape. “Great job, Manu,” Parker said, having heard hardly a word of Ginobili’s five-minute, question-and-answer session. After losing for the first time since mid-April, it was time for the San Antonio Spurs to face an entirely different set of questions Friday with their Western Conference finals lead over Oklahoma City cut to 2-1. No longer was the talk about whether the Spurs — riding a 20game winning streak less than 24 hours earlier — were
See SPURS PAGE 2B
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
Nothing to do? Enroll in a local summer camp By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
There are many activities a child can participate in to improve their athletic skills during the hot summer months ahead. Summer is when the basic fundamentals are taught to the kiddos in order to get them ready for the next level. With each passing summer camp, they improve. The time to start is now. Give your children something to do this summer. Send them to a summer athletic camp. Athletic camps will continue to be announced over the next several weeks by Zapata High School coaches via the Zapata Times, so stay tuned. The kiddos who are doing nothing and just lying around the house should really take advantage of this opportunity. The cost for the camps is usually reasonable and not something that will break the bank, so don’t be scared to send you children to these camps. Sending kids to out-of-town camps can cost a few hundred dollars, which makes local camps more reasonable alterna-
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CLARA SANDOVAL OVAL
tive. The high school coaches would like to give the kiddos of Zapata a start in the basic skills because they know that teaching the fundamentals of a sport at a young age helps develop a young boy or girl into an exceptional athlete by the time they reach high school, greatly enhancing their ability to compete in varsity sports. Tennis was the first camp announced this summer by coach Robert Alvarez. I highly encourage all the kiddos who are interested in tennis, whether they have played it or not, to sign up. They might come away hoping to be the next Serena Williams or Rafael Nadal. The elementary- and middleschool level is the time to explore new sports kids aren’t familiar with so they can identify what they want to play when
See CAMP PAGE 2B
Courtesy photo
Children participate in a Zapata High School tennis camp during the summer of 2011.
Tennis camp returns soon By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
The time has come to dust off the rackets, the 4th Annual Hawk Summer Tennis Camp is set to begin this week at the Zapata High School tennis courts.
“Tennis is a fantastic sport that can be played by anyone, at any age, at anytime of the year and anywhere in the world,” said Zapata head tennis coach Robert Alvarez. “Tennis is a lifetime sport that emphasizes fitness and intelligence.”
The camp will run for two weeks, June 4 through the 7 and June 11 through 14. Ages 5 through 8 start at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. while ages 9 through 11 will participate be-
See TENNIS PAGE 2B
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012
SEC stakes official NCAA playoff stance By MARK LONG ASSOCIATED PRESS
DESTIN, Fla. — College football’s most dominant conference has its wish list for a playoff. The Southeastern Conference took an official stance on a proposed fourteam playoff Friday as school presidents and athletic directors voted unanimously to support having the four best teams play for the national title. The league doesn’t want a playoff to include ties to conference champions. “If we’re going to go to a four-team playoff, which I anticipate we are, it needs to be and the fans would expect us to provide the best four teams in the country,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said. “And if people aren’t happy with the current system of how we rank them, then let’s go back and look at the sys-
tem that creates one through four. “I’m very open to looking at how we would do that, whether it’s a committee or a different set of data points. But I think you go back to the source of the issue rather than dealing with a byproduct of the issue and end up gerrymandering who’s going to be playing for the national championship.” It makes sense that the powerhouse league, which has won six consecutive Bowl Championship Series titles, would want a bestfour format. That gives the SEC the greatest chance to get two teams into the tournament on any given year. “I don’t think that vote was taken because it’s going to be best for this league,” Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley. “It may turn out that way, but it all goes in cycles. I think the thought is if you’re go-
ing to have a playoff, you want the four best teams. There wasn’t one comment, ’Well, this is best for us, this is best for the SEC.’ I think the thought is that’s what’s best for college football and a thought that that’s what the public wants.” It’s not what other conferences want, though. The Big Ten, the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big East and the Pac-12 all want versions of a playoff that would guarantee at least some conference champions a spot in the field. The Big 12 has sided with the SEC. “Everybody every now and then has to give a little to make something work,” Georgia president Michael Adams said. “You’ve got to quit thinking, in my opinion, how the world has
been. You have to start thinking about the fact that this is a new day with a new set of rules.” The SEC would like to see the semifinal games played within the current bowl structure and have the championship game bid out separately as a standalone game that could rotate between some of the nation’s largest venues — much like the NFL’s Super Bowl. Separating the semifinals and the title game likely would generate more television revenue than packaging them together or keeping all three in the bowl system. Conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick will meet June 13 and June 20 in Chicago to likely formalize details of the proposed playoff. They would
By DAVE SKRETTA KANSAS CITY, Mo. — History apparently trumped geography when it came to deciding the future hosts of the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament. Incoming commissioner Bob Bowlsby announced a two-year extension Friday that will keep the event at the Sprint Center in Kansas City through at least 2016. The deal includes the right of first refusal for the tournament’s traditional dates beyond the current contract. That means the Big 12 could head off moves by other league, such as the Southeastern and Missouri Valley conferences, to play future tournaments in Kansas City. “The Sprint Center is a great venue, the history of the tournament and the history of the league in this area is rich, and we’re very excited about extending the relationship with Kansas City,” said Bowlsby, who will officially take over as commissioner later this month. “This has been a tumultuous time over the last 24 months for our conference,” he said, “but I think the announcement of this agree-
ment, the settlement of many of the issues that caused it to be tumultuous, has caused us to have a very bright outlook.” The Big 12 tournament was scheduled to be played at the Sprint Center through 2014, but there were questions about its future with Missouri and Texas A&M leaving for the SEC next month. Some believed that the tournament would move to Dallas or Oklahoma City, two cities that have hosted it in the past, to avoid playing in a state without a current conference member. “Just remember, the first part of the city’s name is Kansas,” said acting commissioner Chuck Neinas, who has presided over the league following Dan Beebe’s departure last year. Indeed, Kansas City has become a battleground for Missouri and current members of the Big 12, particularly Kansas and Kansas State. All of them claim robust alumni support in the metropolitan area, and all have expressed interest in playing non-league games at the Sprint Center. “I’m claiming that Kansas City is a Big 12 city. It’s been a great place for our tournament,” Kansas chan-
cross-division rivalries like Alabama-Tennessee and Auburn-Georgia on an annual basis. LSU and South Carolina opposed keeping the designated rivals, arguing that a more equitable conference slate would be to rotate non-division opponents on a regular basis. “I think every school has their own agenda, but at the end of the day, it’s what’s best for the SEC,” Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said. “There’s some quirks in the model, but everybody has to make an adjustment here or there. But I think for the good of the conference and to make it work for the best of the league that was the consensus for everybody in the room.” Teams will play six division teams annually, have one permanent crossover rival and one game that rotates among the other six teams.
SPURS Continued from Page 1B
Big 12 extends basketball presence in Kansas City ASSOCIATED PRESS
then forward it to the Presidential Oversight Committee, which will meet June 26 in Washington, D.C., to finalize the postseason plan. The playoff would not begin until after the 2014 regular season. Slive and school presidents talked about potential outcomes from those meetings, but they declined to say whether the SEC would accept anything short of a best-four format. “We have some we like better than others,” Slive said. “There’s a lot of discussions to be had, a lot of thinking to be done. We know exactly what we’re interested in doing and as we move ahead we’ll make that clear at the appropriate time and the appropriate place.” The league also voted Friday to keep its current football scheduling format known as 6-1-1, a move that will maintain longstanding
invincible. It was about how San Antonio could regroup following a 10282 blowout loss in time to face Game 4 in Oklahoma City on Saturday night. “Usually it’s easier to refocus after a loss than after a win. Players usually have a tendency after winning a few games to relax or feel complacent. In the past, we’ve reacted really well to wins. We’ll see now how we do against losses,” said Ginobili, held to eight points in Game 3 after totaling 46 through the first two games. “Even if we react well, it’s a tough place to win and they are a great team.” The Thunder limited the output of San Antonio’s best backcourt players by deploying 6-foot-7 Thabo Sefolosha to use his five-inch height advantage and wingspan to corral Parker, and by changing up their defense on the Spurs’ pickand-roll attack. Oklahoma City players who had been guarding the ball frequently switched to defend the screener, and vice versa. After scoring a postseason-best 120 points in Game 2 and averaging 109.4 during the winning streak, San Antonio was held to a season-low 82 points in Game 3. “They’re doing a lot of switching. They’re doing a lot of those, so they’re ending up with a lot of different guys on a lot of
cellor Bernadette Gray-Little said. “For us, it’s an ideal location.” Kansas State president Kirk Schulz offered a similar assessment, calling the Sprint Center and the nearby College Basketball Experience a “great venue for college basketball.” The Big 12 tournament has been played in Kansas City 11 times since the league’s inception, including the first seven editions at Kemper Arena. The tournament returned to the city in 2008 at the Sprint Center, and has enjoyed massive crowds the past three years. The top four attendance averages since the championship began in 1997 have been generated in Kansas City, along with seven of the top eight. The average attendance for the five sessions this past year was 18,979, second only to the record 19,100 that attended in 2000. “This means a lot to our city, our sports fans and our local businesses,” said Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission. While there have been rumblings that other conferences might be interested in playing its tournament in Kansas City, Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Circo said city officials have not had conversations with any other leagues.
different guys,” Spurs star Tim Duncan said. “We’re going to have to take advantage of that. We’ve got to use the mismatches that we get from that, and Tony and Manu will be expecting those kind of switches and understand that they have to attack it a different way. “Their length and their size and their athleticism is a huge advantage for them, so we’re going to have to move their bodies and move the ball and use our passing to kind of neutralize that a little bit.” Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks refused to pinpoint any of his adjustments as the difference-maker in what could be a momentumchanging win. He put more emphasis on his players giving maximum effort and executing all of the defensive plans. The changes bore some similarities to the previous round, when he used Sefolosha, James Harden and even the nearly 7foot Kevin Durant to mix up his defense on Kobe Bryant. Sefolosha made a big splash early in Game 3, recording four steals in the first 3 minutes, and finished with 19 points and six steals — both the best of his career. “It’s always good to have everybody taking cracks at the good players,” Brooks said. “You
can’t have one guy on a great player to give him the same coverage. They’re going to tear that apart. ... Ginobili and Parker are the best penetrating decisionmakers in the league and they do it where you don’t think that they have opportunities to score or to pass, and they make those passes every time.” The changes got the Spurs out of that freeflowing offensive game, and Ginobili and Parker both suggested that San Antonio ended up playing too much one-on-one and without enough aggression. “There are some ways to try to make them pay a little bit more, so hopefully we find them and we have a clearer mind to read the situations better,” Ginobili said. As San Antonio’s streak kept growing — eventually becoming the longest ever to carry over into the playoffs — players frequently said it wasn’t their focus. But now that it’s over, they’d prefer if it was still going on. “Everybody wants to win every game. That’s what you try to do: You try to win,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “They played great and they had a lot to do with us playing poorly, but nobody wants to lose a game in the playoffs. You try to win every game.”
TENNIS Continued from Page 1B tween 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Each session is Monday through Thursday. Older children will practice in the evenings. Incoming 6th, 7th and 8th Graders will attend from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Incoming freshman workouts last from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The cost of camp is 30 dollars. All proceeds will go to the Zapata High School and middle school tennis teams. Registration will begin prior to the first session attended. For more information please contact coach Alvarez at (956) 500-1108. The tennis camp for the younger players will focus on the fundamen-
Zapata football and baseball player Manuel Salinas graduated last night.
Zapata softball player and power lifter Michelle Arce graduated last night.
Photos by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Zapata volleyball players (left to right) Jackie Salinas, Estella Molina and Shelby Bigler graduated last night.
GRADUATION Continued from Page 1B Boys cross country: Edgar Hernandez (salutatorian) Juan Rangel Rafael Benavides and Jose Resendiz. Girls cross country: None. Boys basketball: Ricardo Solis. Girls basketball: Shelby Bigler, Jackie Salinas, Jackie Gutierrez, Estella Molina,
tals of tennis through a variety of activities and games. They be introduced to quick start tennis, which utilizes a smaller court and tennis balls that do not bounce as high and are easier to control as well as a more simple scoring system. This enables the youngsters to compete at a much younger age. Older camp participants will work to improve their ground strokes, serves, volleys and consistency. Various games and drills will be emphasized to improve not just a players’ game but also their cardiovascular conditioning.
and Ashley Garcilazo. Softball: Michelle Arce, Jackie Salinas, Jackie Gutierrez, Gaby Chapa, Estella Molina and Alyssa Solis. Baseball: Manuel Salinas, Oscar Flores, Louie Ramon, Eddie Bustamante, Jay Garza, Javy Buruato, Gaudencio Mata, Conrad Herrera,
Eddie Gonzalez and Alan Garcia. Boys Tennis: Tony Mendoza, Jaime Tejada and Eli Cantu. Girls Tennis: Daniela Lopez, Jeanina Cabugos, Paola Jasso and Dominique Wayda. Girls Power lifting: Klarisa Salinas and Michelle Arce.
Boys Power lifting: George Gutierrez. Boys golf: Victor Garza, Tony Gutierrez and Ricky Prado. Girls golf: None . Note: several calls were placed to the boys and girls track coach but were never returned.
CAMP Continued from Page 1B they reach the highschool level. Zapata, go to these camps and take advantage of a high school head coach taking the time to teach the correct fundamentals in their sport. This is also the time for the coaches and the future Hawks and Lady Hawks to get to know each other on the athletic
field and make new friends. Coaches know who is coming up the ranks and what they need to teach during the camps to get ahead of the game. So, next time your kid complains about being bored this summer, sign them up for a Zapata High School summer camp.
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
HINTS | BY HELOISE Dear Heloise: I have several pairs of clear prescription EYEGLASSES, and I was wondering if it’s possible to have the lenses darkened on one pair to make sunglasses. What would the cost be? — Shelley in Des Moines, Iowa Shelley, it IS POSSIBLE to have lenses darkened to make sunglasses. Here are some things to consider: The glasses need to be inspected to make sure they are in good-enough shape to darken the lenses. Some lens types, like polycarbonate lenses that have a nonglare or polarized coating, cannot be tinted. The cost varies, depending on the company and the area of the country. The costs we found after calling around ran anywhere from $15 to $30. This definitely can be a better option than buying a new pair of prescription sunglasses, especially if you have frames you like. I’ve done this, and they turn out wonderfully! — Heloise BAKING-SODA RINSE Dear Readers: Hair products such as shampoo and hair spray that we use
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HELOISE
regularly can cause buildup and alter the texture of the hair, but a pinch of one of my favorite household helpers, baking soda, can help! Mix in your palm with any regular shampoo, and wash and rinse as usual. Do this just once a week, and you can help remove the shampoo and hair-spray residue. This is just another reason to love baking soda — it does so many things! Sprinkle a bit on your toothbrush and gently buff away! — Heloise UNDERBED STORAGE Dear Readers: Does this sound familiar? You have an old dresser cluttering up the spare bedroom or attic, and you need extra storage. Pull the drawers, add a caster to each corner of the drawer and roll it under your bed! Add big knobs to pull the drawer out. Perfect for storing sweaters and other out-ofseason clothes, shoes, etc.! — Heloise
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4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012
Devils’ captain Parise a relentless winner By TOM CANAVAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Julie Jacobson | AP
Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, is led away by court marshall Ron Johnson, Friday, in Las Vegas, to begin a 90-day jail term for attacking his ex-girlfriend in September 2010 while two of their children watched.
Mayweather begins 3-month jail sentence By KEN RITTER ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. surrendered in a courtroom Friday to begin a three-month jail sentence for attacking his ex-girlfriend in September 2010 while two of their children watched. Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa credited the undefeated five-division champion with attending weekly domestic violence counseling sessions — including one the day of the May 5 fight she allowed him to make — and with beginning to meet community service requirements she imposed in December. The judge then watched as Mayweather was handcuffed and taken away. Mayweather didn’t say a word. “He’ll be all right,” Mayweather’s friend, rapper 50 Cent, told reporters after arriving with Mayweather and speaking afterward
with ring adviser Leonard Ellerbe outside the courthouse in downtown Las Vegas. “It’s an uncomfortable situation for everyone,” he said. Ellerbe declined to comment. Mayweather pleaded guilty in December to reduced domestic battery charges in a hair-pulling, arm-twisting attack on Josie Harris, the mother of three of his children. The plea deal allowed him to avoid trial on felony charges that could have gotten Mayweather up to 34 years in prison if he was convicted. “Everyone has a different version of the same story,” said 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III. He compared the dispute between Mayweather and Harris to the breakup of a marriage with children involved. Harris and their three children now live in Southern California. “It’s no different than
anyone going through a divorce,” the rap star said, “and how your friends can become your vested enemies.” Las Vegas police say that as a high-profile inmate, Mayweather probably will serve most of his time away from other prisoners in a small solo cell in the highrise Clark County Detention Center. Police released a statement Thursday saying visitation at the jail will be suspended Saturday for “inmate reclassification and housing changes.” Officer Bill Cassell, a department spokesman, said the expected 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. lockout was not related to Mayweather’s arrival. Mayweather, who goes by the nickname “Money,” apparently enjoyed some pampering Thursday while preparing for his jail stint. He posted an image Thursday on Facebook and Instagram showing him getting a pedicure. The caption read, “At home enjoying my day.”
NEWARK, N.J. — In the next month or so, New Jersey Devils captain Zach Parise is going to strike it rich — somewhere. The 27-year-old Parise, who can became a free agent next month unless he re-signs with New Jersey, is one of those players that every team wants. He scores goals, works hard, is a good skater and is relentless on the ice. Nothing is more important to him than his team and winning. Want Proof ? Take Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Los Angeles Kings Wednesday night. Parise showed talent and something surprising, a level of sneakiness few expected from an angelic-looking, clean-shaven boy scout skating alongside a grungy-looking, unkempt group of players in bushy beards. With the game tied 1-1 early in the third period, Parise deftly reached out with his gloved hand while prone in the crease and shuffleboarded a loose puck into the net, setting off a celebration at the Prudential Center in New Jersey. Horns blared. Fans stood up and screamed. There was merriment all around. Unfortunately for the Devils and their fans, referee Dan O’Halloran quickly waved off the goal, and replay in Toronto upheld his ruling. The Kings would go on to win 2-1 in overtime on a goal by Anze Kopitar. Parise had a sheepish grin on his face when asked what possessed him to basically throw the puck into the net behind Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick. “I saw the puck was going behind the net and I wanted to keep it alive,” Parise said Friday after the Devils worked out for about an hour in preparation for Game 2 on Saturday night. As soon as Parise finished the sentence, he started laughing, knowing no one was going to buy the story. “I couldn’t get my stick,” he added, “and I knew none of our guys could put it in at that point, soooo ...” When somebody suggested he was hoping to get away with it, he laughed again. “Maybe the video review wasn’t working,” said Parise, who rebounded from a major knee injury last season to score 31 goals, the fifth straight year he has scored at least 30 while playing a full season. “I don’t know. I was just trying to
Photo by Frank Franklin II | AP
The New Jersey Devils’ Travis Zajac and Zach Parise struggle with Los Angeles Kings’ Jonathan Quick, second from left, and other Kings during the third period of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Wednesday in Newark, N.J. keep it alive. I didn’t have anything, so I was just trying to sneak it in.” Sometimes that’s what it takes to win the Stanley Cup, although this time it didn’t work. It was a good try though, and it’s that kind of an intangible that will make Parise so attractive on the open market. New Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello will put together an attractive package to keep Parise, but there will be several more offers headed his way. Some other teams who may have interest include the Hurricanes, Red Wings and the Wild, as well as two teams Parise has met in this postseason: The Rangers and Kings. “Guys want to win, that’s all it is,” Quick said. “I don’t know if he thought he would be able to get away with it, actually it was a pretty slick move if you think about it. He did it pretty quickly and I didn’t know if the ref saw it or not. But guys just want to win. They are doing whatever they can to win. I’d do the same thing if I was down the other end.” Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur said it was nothing new. The three-time Cup winner had seen his fair share of questionable moves by offensive players in almost 1,400 regular- and postseason games combined. “Hey, you are trying to score a goal,” Brodeur said. “Maybe somebody blinks.” The Kings didn’t. They complained right away, and they knew they had a case. “It’s kind of scary when they go to the replay,” Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi said. “You expect the worse but he was right on the play. Certainly, we were all throwing our hands up in the air making motions that he definitely used his hand. The ref was right on it, and made the right call.”