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COUNTY
SUMMER FUN FOR
Trip fruitful for court By TARYN WHITE THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County Judge Rosalva Guerra and Commissioners Jose Vela, Gabriel Villarreal, Joseph Rathmell and Norberto Garza packed their bags and headed to South Padre Island earlier this week for four days of sun and study. Beginning Monday afternoon and lasting until Thursday, the Zapata County Commissioners Court joined other county governments from around South Texas at the 75th annual South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Conference. “It was good. We learned a lot of different things that can help Zapata,” Garza said. The conference may have been in a pleasant location, but this was no travel junket. Each commissioner earned 12 learning credits of the 16 required annually by the state. Expenses were kept at a respectable level. The total cost for conference registration, mileage, room and board for the four-day event was $902.79 for each of the five elected officials,
although Rathmell ended up spending $707.40 because he didn’t use the personal-car mileage. The money came from each official’s annual travel budgGUERRA et of $4,000. Because of how little the commissioners spend on travel through the year, many times they don’t use all $4,000 allotted for travel. VELA “Last year I think I only used $1,900,” Vela said. “The money we don’t use goes back into the general fund and in the next fiscal year we are again given $4,000 RATHMELL to work with.” The county government is required to attend conferences such as the one in South Padre Island to ensure officials stay
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NEW SCHOOL COLORS
EVERYONE
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Soccer, bowling, reading and more BY ERIKA LAMBRETON THE ZAPATA TIMES
W
Courtesy photo/ALBES | Special to the Times
Teachers at A.L.Benavides Elemtnary School consider color combinations for the inside of the new school at San Ygnacio.At left is Principal Gerardo D.Montes.The campus chose the final color scheme as a team,including input from teachers and staff. Chosen was a beautiful combination of bluish-green, maroon and beige. Expected move-in date is Aug. 1.
SOUTH TEXAS FOOD BANK
Food bank shows 11 percent increase
ith school out, parents may be wondering how their children can occupy their time constructively. In this light, many opted for a more religious experience with a bible camp offered by the Falcon Heights Baptist Church on Tuesday and Wednesday. The camp offered youngsters between the ages of 3 and 18 bible studies, arts and crafts and all around fun. According to Pastor Barry Knall, the camp had a high level of participation, It will also be offered July 19 through the 23.
Bible camp The children learned about Jesus and Christianity while enjoying arts and crafts. They made bracelets and picture frames to commemorate their experience, Knall said. Falcon Heights Baptist Church is located about 30 miles outside of Zapata, and those interested in the Bible camp should call 848-5794. On the other hand, for the more sport-orientated child, a soccer day camp will be held from July 6 through August 6 for children ages 6 to 16. Practices will be held Monday through Thursday. Those interested can call the Boys and
By SALO OTERO SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The number of families served by the South Texas Food Bank in Zapata has shown an 11 percent increase from May 2008 to May 2009. The South Texas Food Bank, based in Laredo, distributes food in Zapata via five agencies, sanctioned by the national organization, Feeding America. Elia Solis, a native of San Ygnacio, is the South Texas Food Bank agency coordinator. She is a 1964 graduate of Zapata High School and the daughter of Maria Solis and the late Lalo Solis. “There is a greater demand but not enough funding to keep up with the pace. Our lines of needy are getting longer,” Solis said. A total of 1,332 Zapata families were served in May, compared to 1,197 last year. That includes 1,928 adults and 1,184 children this year. The poverty rate in Zapata is 36 per-
cent, which is double and state average and triple the national. The food bank is also eyeing a stronger Adopt-A-Family program in Zapata. With an annual donation of $120, a needy Zapata family can receive a box of groceries per month. For information call Adopt-A-Family coordinator Cindy Liendo Espinoza at the food bank (956) 726-3120. The South Texas Food Bank’s five pantries distributing food in Zapata include: Helping Hands, on Eighth Street and Del Mar (phone 7659327); Norma Mendoza, director
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xx xxx Girls Club at 765-3892. Also, the Falcon Lanes Bowling Alley is gearing up for its summer youth bowling league. The league is just four names short of the minimum required number. The youth league accepts players between 8 and 18. A fee of $8.75 is required and includes shoe rental and game. For more information call the Falcon Lanes Bowling Alley at 765-9505.
For the more studious group, the Olga V. Figueroa Zapata County Public Library is hosting a summer reading program during June, for children ages 3 and up. The program includes arts and crafts and story telling. No fee is required to participate. Participants meet Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 765-5351.