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BORDER VIOLENCE
MEMORIAL DAY
Protecting Falcon Dam Authorities defuse alleged bomb plot By DANE SCHILLER AND JAMES PINKERTON THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE
An alleged plot by a Mexican drug cartel to blow up a dam along the Texas border — and unleash billions of gallons of water into a region with millions of residents —
sent American police, federal agents and local disaster officials scrambling last month to thwart such an attack, authorities confirmed earlier this week. Whether the cartel, which is known to have stolen bulk quantities of gunpowder and dynamite, could have taken
down the five-mile-long Falcon Dam may never be known. But it may have been derailed by a stepped-up presence by the Mexican military, acting in part on intelligence from the U.S. government, sources said. The warning was based on what the federal government contends were “serious and reliable sources” and prompted the Homeland Security De-
partment to sound the alarm to first responders all along the South Texas-Mexico border. Mexico’s Zeta cartel was planning to destroy the dam not to terrorize civilians, but to get back at its rival and former ally, the Gulf cartel, which controls smuggling routes from the reservoir to
See FALCON PAGE 8A
INFRASTRUCTURE
ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
An American flag waves at the Zapata County Cemetery after the Memorial Day observance.
Vets turn out for their day Ceremony honors sacrifices made for their country By STEPHANIE M. IBARRA THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo by Ulysses S. Romero | The Zapata Times
A grader levels a stretch of the U.S. 83 expansion on Thursday afternoon. The roadwork has several months to go.
State busy widening busy area highways By STEPHANIE M. IBARRA THE ZAPATA TIMES
W
hile a newly rebuilt part of FM 3169 near San Ygnacio is already in use, the Texas Department of Transportation’s $7 million construc-
tion project for U.S. 83 from Zapata city limits to about Tepozan Street has several months to go. “It’s about a 3-mile project with about 30 percent completion. The contractors got in around February,” said TxDOT Project Manager Maritza Ramirez.
All that’s left to formally complete the FM 3169 project, which included adding shoulders to the road, is to clean up the last of the construction debris. The U.S. 83 construction project
Flags were raised and families gathered early Memorial Day at the Zapata County Cemetery to honor veterans. With careful attention and deep respect, U.S. flags were distributed to each veteran’s grave. The turnout was said to be one of the largest in several years. “We had a big turnout. So many family and veterans (were) present ... It affects just about every family,” said County Commissioner Jose E. Vela, who was at the ceremony. “We all have someone that served in the military at one time or another. It was very touching.” County Commissioner Eddie Martinez presented the flag that would be raised. Following the raising of the flag, a Zapata High School student sang the National Anthem. Captivating the audience with his speech
See ROADS PAGE 8A See VETERANS PAGE 8A
WEATHER
Blistering heat forecast for Zapata’s weekend By BETSY BLANEY ASSOCIATED PRESS
LUBBOCK — Blistering temperatures are forecast for parts of Texas, including Zapata, arriving a bit earlier than usual. Zapata’s forecast calls for a high of 101 today and 102 Sun-
day, with a low of 80 both days, according to the National Weather Service. Monday’s high temperature is expected to reach 100, with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. In West Texas, Lubbock could see near-record temperatures Saturday and Sunday.
In 1990, the mercury hit 106 and 107, respectively, for those two days. The normal high temperature through this weekend is 88. The Dallas-Fort Worth area also will have temperatures about 10 degrees above normal, said John Lake, a National
Weather Service meteorologist in Fort Worth. The forecast for Saturday is 100 degrees and 99 on Sunday. Unlike West Texas, though, high humidity — near 80 percent Sunday — will make the heat feel more uncomfortable. “Early July is about when it
start getting this warm” here, Lake said. “Instead it’s early June.” El Paso in far West Texas also will sizzle. Temperatures there are forecast to be 103 or above Saturday through Tuesday.
See HEAT PAGE 8A