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FEDERAL COURT
RECREATION
EMS man sues sheriff
Fishermen return
Claims excessive use of force towards him
Bass is the target of tourists returning to Lake Falcon By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS
ZAPATA — Coy Callison doesn’t believe he’s risking his life when he steers his speedboat into crystal-clear waters that straddle the Texas-Mexico border, hoping to hook a few monster bass in an area marred by drug violence. His marriage might be a different story.
“My wife threw a fit with us coming down here, but the fishing’s been so fantastic,” said Callison, a Texas Tech University communications professor, as he loaded his boat into Falcon Lake just after dawn. “I’m almost getting a divorce, basically.” Anglers are again descending in droves on the dammed section of the Rio Grande where American jet-skier David Hartley was presumably chased and gunned down by
Mexican pirates last fall — and where shootouts between Mexican soldiers and reputed drug runners have become frighteningly common in the eight months since. Tourism plummeted after Hartley’s Sept. 30 death, devastating Zapata and other shoreline Texas towns. But business has rebounded since January and only gotten
See FISHERMEN PAGE 10A
By ANDREW KREIGHBAUM THE ZAPATA TIMES
A Zapata County emergency responder is suing Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr. in federal district court for alleged assault and excessive use of force in response to an altercation that took place in March 2009. William Butterfield, a firefighter/EMT with the Zapata fire department, alleges in the lawsuit that Gonzalez struck him in the face and later repeatedly threatened his life. Gonzalez said he would not comment on the allegations on advice of legal counsel but added that justice will prevail “when the truth comes out.” “Remember that there’s always two sides to every story. It’s his burden to prove what happened.” The sheriff was never
See LAWSUIT PAGE 10A
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Zapatan arrested in ICE roundup
FUN AND PAPER AT THE LIBRARY
By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
One Zapatan and seven Laredoans are among the hundreds of arrests made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents this week. The ICE-led enforcement operation nabbed 2,400 convicted criminal immigrants and fugitives in all 50 states, federal authorities announced Tuesday. The seven-day operation, dubbed Cross Check, took place in May. The announcement comes a week after ICE officials said they want to focus their resources on those who are in the
See ARRESTS PAGE 10A
ABOVE: Crystal Moncivais picks a color to brighten up her paper cut-out Thursday morning at the Zapata Public Library. LEFT: Karly Alvarenga attempts to put pieces of a puzzle together with the help of Daniela Lopez at the Zapata Public Library on Thursday morning. Photo by Danny Zaragoza | Laredo Morning Times
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, JUNE 25
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Spend the evening at the Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium and enjoy “The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather” at 5 p.m., “Earth, Moon, and Sun” at 6 p.m. and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” at 7 p.m. General admission is $5 and $4 for children and TAMIU students, faculty, staff and alumni. Premium shows are $1 more. For additional show times, call (956) 326-DOME (3663) or visit tamiu.edu/planetarium.
MONDAY, JUNE 27 Today at 4:30 p.m., Texas A&M International University President Dr. Ray Keck will provide an update on the impact to TAMIU of budget reductions enacted by the Texas Legislature. Dr. Keck will address the multiple impacts of the state’s reductions for TAMIU students, university programs and TAMIU operations. The press conference will take place in the Student Center Ballroom, Room 236. For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services, 956-326-2180. SCAN, Inc. invites the community to participate in National HIV Testing Day Proclamation today 10 a.m. at the SCAN, Inc. parking lot, 2387 E. Saunders, Suite 1. The guest speaker will be Dr. Henry Carranza, and a Rapid HIV Testing marathon will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The HIV testing will be open to the public and it is free of charge. For more information, call Angie Ramirez or Enrique Manrique at 956-724-3177.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29 Texas AgriLife Extension Service and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services will be sponsoring a BiNational Ranchers Conference today at 11 a.m. and tomorrow, June 30, at 8 a.m. The conference will take place at Embassy Suites, located at 110 Calle del Norte. Registration is $45, with lunch and refreshments provided. Four pesticide applicator license CEUs will be awarded. Any program participant needing special accommodations is asked to call the Webb County Extension office in advance to make arrangements. For further information on the conference, call George L. Gonzalez at 956-721-2626 or Flavio Garza at 956-723-6643, ext. 3. The City of Laredo is hosting the annual 4th of July celebration with the Family Fest on July 2. Anyone wishing to enter the fajita, frijoles charros and salsa cook-off should attend a meeting tonight from 6-7 p.m. at the Laredo Civic Center, Meeting Room 1. Registration of $250 is entry for only one category; however, entrants can enter all categories with each fee. Entrants must provide their own food, utensils, and equipment. The top three winners in each category will include People’s Choice, and Judge’s Choice will win trophies. For more information, call 763-9932. The South Texas Transplant Center Laredo Clinic will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. at Providence Health Center, 230 Calle del Norte. For more information, contact Gina Palma at 956-722-9895.
THURSDAY, JUNE 30 Spend the afternoon at the Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium and enjoy “IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System” at 4 p.m. and “Origins of Life” at 5 p.m.
Photo by Tom Reel/San Antonio Express-News| AP
Dr. Bruce Winders, historian and curator at the Alamo, points out the location of historical graffiti above the front door at the Alamo on Thursday in San Antonio. The discovery was made while removing dust and mold from a wall with a sponge and distilled water.
Scrawl found at Alamo By SCOTT HUDDLESTON SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
SAN ANTONIO — Alamo officials have discovered a clue to the building’s mysterious past, right over the doorway some 3 million visitors pass through each year. Experts believe “1802” might have been scratched into the wall when the Alamo was a mission under Spanish rule, or perhaps decades later, after the U.S. Army added a second floor and roof in the mid-1800s. Or, as Alamo historian and curator Bruce Winders suggests, it could have been left by an Alamo defender who kept watch from a ledge by a window during the 1836 siege and decided to mark the year of his birth. More than likely, it’s evidence of a littleknown period between 1793, when Mission San Antonio de Valero was secularized; and 1803, when Spanish troops began to occupy
Houston principal acquitted in beating
suit says abuses occurred in the priest’s vehicle on the way to church functions. The priest could not be located.
tenced to 20 years in a murder plea bargain. Paul Cantu pleaded guilty earlier and in April received 40 years.
HOUSTON — The principal of a Houston charter school where a teacher beat a student in a videotaped attack has been acquitted of a misdemeanor charge in the incident. David Jones’ attorney, William Stradley, says the principal was acquitted in 10 minutes by a jury Thursday after a two-day trial. Stradley says Jones did not know about the serious nature of the incident until the video became public.
2 die in ultralight crash at Ranger airport
Wreck at end of Waco chase leaves 2 dead
RANGER — Two men have been killed in the crash of an ultralight aircraft at an airport in West Texas. Calvert says the aircraft apparently stalled, then crashed. Federal investigators will help determine the cause of the accident.
WACO — A wreck following a police chase in Central Texas has left two people in the fleeing vehicle dead. Waco police say the car went out of control around midnight Thursday and hit a telephone pole, killing a man and a woman.
Man sues Catholic diocese 3 get prison over Central Texas teen’s killing in Texas on abuse claims
EL PASO — A man who alleges he was molested by a Catholic priest in the 1970s has filed a civil lawsuit against a Texas diocese and the Jesuits, claiming the defendants knew or should have known of the abuses and didn’t protect him. The suit claims he was molested over a two-year span. The law-
BELTON — Three young men have been sentenced to prison in the killing of a Central Texas teen. A judge in Belton on Thursday ordered 36 years in prison for 18-year-old Jonathan Darvalics. He pleaded guilty to murder in the 2009 death of 16-year-old James Johnson III of Killeen. Victor Villarreal was sen-
2 more indicted over disgraced ex-Texas judge BROWNSVILLE — A husband and wife have been indicted in the investigation of an ex-judge who’s pleaded guilty in the corruption probe. Armando and Karina Peña are charged with wire fraud. A federal magistrate in Brownsville on Thursday denied bond for Armando Peña. His wife is held on $25,000 bond. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION
FRIDAY, JULY 1 The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce, Lakeview Inn & Suites and Robert’s Fish & Tackle will be hosting the annual 4th of July Bass Classic Fishing Tournament at Falcon Lake. The tournament itself will take place on July 2 at 6:30 a.m., but registration will be held today at Lakeview Inn from 5-9 p.m. Registration is $150 per boat, and $10 Big Bass, with first place winning the grand prize of $2,000. For more information, call Robert’s Fish & Tackle at 956-765-1442, Greg Padilla at 956-765-1501 or 956-763-1934, or the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at 765-4871 The City of Laredo is hosting this year’s annual 4th of July celebration from July 1-3. Today, motorcycle enthusiasts can pay $15 for a weekend of activities, including a kick-off party, poker run and games. Registration is from 1-5 p.n. at the Laredo Civic Center. The Kick-Off Party, for registered bikers only, is 7-10 p.m. at La Posada. Contact Johnny Gregory at Twin City Motorcycle Club at JohnnyGregorymoto@sbcglobal.net or (-956-791-6633 for more information.
the former mission, Winders said. “If you look at historic graffiti at face value, people usually put the date when they did it,” he said. “Americans at that time were kind of notorious for leaving behind something that says, ‘I was here.’” The Alamo’s conservator, Pam Jary Rosser, made the discovery last week while removing dust and mold from a wall. She spotted the date, the earliest ever found in the building, etched in numbers nearly an inch high into the plaster and limestone wall. Also by the window above the Alamo’s main doorway were etchings of “WVA,” and what appears to be “54” or “SA,” and “TEX.” Since “W” rarely is used in Spanish, and West Virginia didn’t become a state until 1863, Winders could not explain the markings.
Super Bowl ring auctioned to pay back taxes
CONTACT US
GREEN BAY, Wis. — A former Green Bay Packers lineman whose teams won the first two Super Bowls will have at least one of his championship rings auctioned off to recover some of the $1.7 million the federal government says he owes in taxes. Fuzzy Thurston, 77, played for the Packers from 1959 to 1967. Marshals have seized his Super Bowl II ring, and authorities are trying to track down his other memorabilia to auction off in accordance with a court order.
Flooding prompts evacuations in Mo. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Residents in several northwestern Missouri communities collected the last of their belongings Friday, and state officials closed a park near the swollen Missouri River because of high water.
Today is Saturday, June 25, the 176th day of 2011. There are 189 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On June 25, 1950, war broke out in Korea as forces from the communist North invaded the South. On this date: In 1788, Virginia ratified the U.S. Constitution. In 1876, Lt. Col. George A. Custer and his 7th Cavalry were wiped out by Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in Montana. In 1910, President William Howard Taft signed the WhiteSlave Traffic Act, more popularly known as the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport women across state lines for “immoral” purposes. The ballet “The Firebird” with music by Igor Stravinsky was premiered in Paris by the Ballets Russes. In 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 was enacted. In 1951, CBS transmitted the first commercial color telecast from New York to four other cities using its field sequential system that was incompatible with existing black and white TVs. In 1962, the Supreme Court, in Engel v. Vitale, ruled that recital of a state-sponsored prayer in New York State public schools was unconstitutional. In 1973, former White House Counsel John W. Dean began testifying before the Senate Watergate Committee. In 1981, the Supreme Court ruled that male-only draft registration was constitutional. In 1991, the western Yugoslav republics of Croatia and Slovenia declared their independence. In 2009, death claimed Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop,” in Los Angeles at age 50 and actress Farrah Fawcett in Santa Monica, Calif. at age 62. Ten years ago: The United Nations opened its first global gathering on HIV/AIDS with emotional pleas for help from African leaders. Pope John Paul II, on a visit to Ukraine, offered a prayer for Holocaust victims at Babi Yar. Today’s Birthdays: Actress June Lockhart is 86. Rhythm-and-blues singer Eddie Floyd is 74. Actress Barbara Montgomery is 72. Singer Carly Simon is 66. Rock musician Allen Lanier (Blue Oyster Cult) is 65. Rock musician Ian McDonald (Foreigner; King Crimson) is 65. Actor-director Michael Lembeck is 63. TV personality Phyllis George is 62. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is 57. Actorwriter-director Ricky Gervais is 50. Actor John Benjamin Hickey is 48. Rock singer George Michael is 48. Actress Erica Gimpel is 47. Former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo (dih-KEHM’-bay mooTAHM’-boh) is 45. Rapper-producer Richie Rich is 44. Rapper Candyman is 43. Contemporary Christian musician Sean Kelly (Sixpence None the Richer) is 40. Actress Angela Kinsey (TV: “The Office”) is 40. Rock musician Mike Kroeger (Nickelback) is 39. Rock musician Mario Calire is 37. Actress Linda Cardellini is 36. Actress Busy Philipps is 32. Thought for Today: “A straight line is the shortest in morals as in mathematics.” — Maria Edgeworth, Anglo-Irish novelist (1767-1849).
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North Dakota Army National Guard Sgt. Chris Franck naps in the Burlington, N.D., fire hall after a shift on flood duty on Friday. The National Guard was helping flood victims in the North Dakota community of Burlington.
Jump in factory orders hints at stronger growth WASHINGTON — Factory orders are picking up and the economy may soon follow.
A rise in demand for long-lasting manufactured goods in May suggests the parts shortage stemming from the Japan crises is fading. It would also support the view that growth will strengthen this summer. — 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
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
Zlocal
PAGE 3A
Police arrest 2, recover items
Program seeking college students
By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Zapata County sheriff ’s investigators broke a rash of burglary cases that yielded two arrests and several items recovered. Deputies arrested brothers Francisco IbarraGonzalez, 24, and Reymundo Ibarra-Gonzalez, 20, on Monday evening. Both men are from Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, in Tamaulipas state, across the lake from Falcon State Park. They are being charged with 20 counts of burglary of a habitation, six counts of burglary of a building, and two counts of theft. Sgt. Mario Elizondo said the burglaries happened mid-May through mid June. The alleged suspects’ modus operandi included eating and sleeping at the ranches. Officials say the alleged offenders entered ranch houses and barns to take the items and either carried them into town or took them on wheelbarrels. “They would walk miles from a main road to enter these ranches,” Elizondo said. “These brothers had a tendency of sleeping and eating at the ranch houses
Courtesy photo
These are items recovered by authorities after the arrests of two men in connection with burglaries and thefts in the Zapata area. REYMUNDO IBARRAGONZALEZ: Facing burglary, theft and other charges
FRANCISCO IBARRAGONZALEZ: Faces multiple counts after arrest. they were burglarizing. (They would) later leave with the stolen items.” Elizondo said officials worked “rigorously” and “relentless hours” of investigations. On Monday evening, in-
vestigators arrested the two brothers at a residence in the 600 block of Medina Avenue. Elizondo said the brothers did not have permission to be at that residence. Deputies were able to
recover wheelbarrels, televisions, DVD players, battery chargers and assorted electric saws. They also recovered air compressors, floor jacks, floor jack stands, a Chevy truck, a jeep, an all terrain vehicle and several rifles. (Cesar G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Area college students interested in a possible career in the health professions have until July 1 to apply for a special program exploring those professions, offered by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Make It Real Academy will be held Aug. 10-19 at the university’s Regional Campus in Laredo, 1937 E. Bustamante Street. Twenty students will be selected for the program that will provide an in-depth look at the health professions through hands-on activities, field trips, behindthe-scenes activities and interviews with local health professionals to learn why they decided to pursue higher education and how they paid for it. In addition to producing short videos about the different health professions, students will complete a self-assessment of their abilities and interests. They will also learn about the value and impact of pursuing higher education and
a career that not only helps people, but pays well and is in high demand. “Health professionals are in high demand in South Texas,” said Araceli Duran, program director at the Regional Campus. “We are pleased to offer this special camp for highly motivated college students who are interested in having a positive impact on their communities.” Those selected for the program will receive a $200 participation stipend and will qualify to apply for tuition assistance scholarships for any degree program offered by the Health Science Center’s School of Health Professions. Applicants must have earned at least 30 hours of college credit by fall 2010 and live in Webb or surrounding counties. For complete information about the application process and requirements, contact Duran at 956-523-7411 or durane@uthscsa.edu; or Griselda Rubio at 956-5237437 or rubiog@uthscsa.edu.
THE BLOTTER BURGLARY A 45-year-old woman reported at 12:32 a.m. June 17 in the 400 block of Falcon Shore Drive in the Nicholson Addition that someone broke into her house and stole a black Dell laptop. A 63-year-old man reported at 3:02 p.m. June 18 that someone broke into his ranch located 10 miles east of Zapata on Texas 16. A 24-year-old man reported at 4:47
p.m. Tuesday in the 1300 block of Laredo Street that someone stole his air conditioning unit.
having two boys — ages 1 and 8 — with him. He almost caused two accidents. Vela was held in lieu of a $20,000 bond at the Zapata Regional Jail.
ENDANGERING A CHILD Ricardo Vela, 33, was arrested and charged with abandon/endangering a child at about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday at the corner of Fourth Street and Miraflores Avenue. An incident report states Vela was driving under the influence of a medication while
FRAUD A 25-year-old woman reported at 3:54 p.m. June 17 in the 500 block of West 20th Avenue that someone has been using her Social Security number in Arizona.
PUBLIC INTOXICATION Mario Medina Jr., 24, was arrested and charged with public intoxication at about 5 p.m. Monday in the intersection of Texas 16 and Eighth Street. The man was taken to the Zapata Regional Jail, where he was released to appear in court later.
THEFT A 22-year-old man reported at 4:50
p.m. June 19 in the 1200 block of Hidalgo Boulevard that someone stole a blue 2006 Impala while it was left running to cool the interior. The vehicle was located using GPS in Miguel Alemán, in Tamaulipas. Deputies responded to a residential alarm at 7:36 p.m. June 19 in the 100 block of Airport Road. Deputies recovered four hunting rifles in the brush area. A report states an eyewitness saw two men hiding in the brush.
Zopinion
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SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
US key to high nuke standards By LLEWELLYN KING HEARST NEWSPAPERS
W
ASHINGTON — In nuclear industry parlance the “gold standard” has special significance and there is real concern that the world may slip below that standard as the U.S. industry falters. “Gold standard” is the term applied globally to the U.S. regulation and licensing of nuclear power plants. It is a term of respect for American standards of excellence. It was widely used at a meeting of the Nuclear Infrastructure Council in Washington Tuesday and Wednesday and surprisingly, coming from French and Chinese lips, was an affirmation of the whole licensing and regulatory apparatus that exists in the United States.
Duller standard The fear is that as the U.S. lags in the construction of reactors and while it continues to eschew fuel reprocessing, the gold standard will lose its luster to a world that is building new nuclear at breakneck speed and is, or plans, to reprocess the used fuel. Most of today’s concern is about China, now committed to the fastest growth in nuclear. But India is also building and others like the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Brazil and Argentina are thinking about it. Will deterioration in the quality of construction, regulation and operation occur? Not according industry sources in Europe and America, if the gold standard continues to be respected and reflects the latest innovations. Otherwise, a slew of new reactors could be less safe than they might be.
Well-built plants At present, according to the companies involved in China including Westinghouse Electric, the Shaw Group, a U.S. construction firm and the French giant Areva, they are maintaining the gold standard. The term embraces total quality assurance from licensing integrity to concrete and steel specifications, to analysis of components and certification of welds. What is surprising about the idea of the gold standard is how long it has endured. It goes back to the Eisenhower administration and the Atoms for Peace program. This was an ambitious idea that the civilian benefits of atomic power would be spread across the world. Implicit in the program was the assumption that the U.S. nuclear industry
would control world nuclear commerce and, as a result, safety standards would be the highest. Proliferation and accidents would be guarded against by the U.S. gold standard, exercised through the dominance of the U.S. industry. The world’s fledgling nuclear industry accepted this U.S. technological hegemony happily. No one wanted a nuclear accident; and those who wanted to build a weapon would do so clandestinely, as Saddam Hussein tried to do in Iraq. The gold standard regime was first challenged when President Jimmy Carter, a nuclear engineer who was ambivalent about nuclear, yielded to the left wing of the Democratic Party and decided that the U.S. would unilaterally not process used nuclear fuel. Carter’s point man in this folly was Joseph Nye of Harvard. The industry and those interested in maintaining the gold standard were appalled. I crossed swords with Nye, highly regarded as an academic and intellectual, at the Uranium Institute (now the World Nuclear Association) annual meeting in London in September 1977. So heated was our discussion that Nye followed me out of the hall into the street, urging me to accept his point of view. Although that was decades ago, it was the first blow to the gold standard. Other countries proceeded with reprocessing. Areva and British Nuclear Fuels claim it is a very profitable business, as well as greatly reducing waste volumes. Despite this insult to nuclear, the gold standard held — possibly at 18 carats rather than 24 carats. Now the Obama administration is doing what Carter did all over again. Carter tepidly endorsed nuclear, while opposing reprocessing and a demonstration fast breeder reactor authorized by Congress. Obama has been less severe, but he has nixed the Yucca Mountain waste repository in Nevada — and the $15 billion spent there — and set back a waste-storage solution by as much as 50 years. Now the world will store and reprocess waste without a gold standard to guide it. It matters because slipping standards, anywhere from China to Jordan, endanger all nuclear power and a lot of people. A meltdown in Japan has battered nuclear acceptance and that was because of a once-in-history natural event. The next one could be because of lower licensing standards, bad concrete, fake parts or a bribed inspector. (Email: lking@kingpublishing.com.)
COLUMN
Truth next after Bulger arrest By SCOT LEHIGH THE BOSTON GLOBE
I
t’s a headline some of us never thought we’d see: ”Whitey Bulger Arrested.” The man whose murderous deeds have become known around the world will finally face justice. Bulger’s arrest doesn’t end the long, staggering saga of criminality and corruption. But it does close the chapter of Bulger’s life on the lam — and by so doing, opens a whole new chapter in the search for truth.
Interaction with feds The information that Bulger could offer about his dealings with federal law enforcement officials must be giving a previous generation of FBI agents heart palpitations. We could very likely hear about those dealings as part of his defense. Meanwhile, girlfriend Catherine Greig can no doubt provide a wealth of information about how she and Bulger survived so long on the run, where their money came from, and who aided and abetted them. Given that she could face charges for harboring a fugitive, she’ll have plenty of motivation to cooperate. When I asked U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz at yesterday’s press confer-
ence if Whitey had been in contact with, or aided by, family members, she said federal investigators had no suspects in mind, but “will be investigating whether or not there was any assistance.”
Troubles over Yet despite the lingering questions, Bulger’s apprehension clears a cloud that has troubled Boston for decades. It was more than 16 years ago that rogue FBI agent John Connolly tipped Bulger off to his impending racketeering indictment. Since then, we’ve heard the grisly details of the many murders Bulger and his fellow thugs committed during their long criminal reign. We’ve learned how Bulger, an FBI informant, managed to manipulate, compromise, and corrupt his supposed handlers. One index of that: Connolly, who this month wraps up a 10-year federal racketeering sentence, will soon begin serving a 40year second-degree-murder term in Florida for leaking information to Bulger about a potential witness against them — someone a Bulger associate then killed. We’ve also seen the dishonorable choices that brothers John and William Bulger, both supposedly public servants,
made after Whitey fled. John, a former clerk magistrate in the court system, has served a prison sentence for lying to a grand jury about whether he’d had contact with his brother and about safe deposit boxes Whitey used. He also tried to help Whitey obtain false identification. William Bulger hasn’t run afoul of the law, yet his behavior was also shameful. Shortly after Whitey was indicted and fled, I asked the then Senate president whether he would urge his brother to turn himself in. ”Thank you very much,” he replied, and retreated into his office.
Phone call We now know that within days of Whitey’s disappearance, William went to a trusted associate’s home to take a prearranged call from Whitey, who was not yet charged with murder. And we know from his own federal grand jury testimony in April 2001 that during that call, William Bulger didn’t advise Whitey to surrender himself. By the time of his grand jury testimony, Whitey had been indicted for multiple murders, and bodies had been exhumed from makeshift graves. But William still put loyalty to his brother above
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.
University president Indeed, William seemed to think he could endure as the president of the University of Massachusetts even after the Globe’s Shelley Murphy obtained and wrote about his grand jury testimony. A few weeks after her story ran in December 2002, I saw Bulger at a UMassLowell event. He had shown up, uninvited, apparently hoping for an acknowledgment from Gov. Mitt Romney, who instead avoided him like the plague. But the event gave me a chance to ask this: Had Bulger rethought his stance that he had no obligation to help authorities find his brother? Once again, William turned and strode off. Ultimately, the feds found Whitey anyway. We’ll no doubt learn much more about his life on the lam in the months to come. But after years of frustration, today is a day to celebrate. (Scot Lehigh can be reached at lehigh@globe.com)
Finding success despite failure THE WASHINGTON POST
Bruce Brown, Procter and Gamble’s chief technology officer, discussed the power of examining failure. “Interestingly, one of the best lessons in my career came from failure. ”I had a boss at the
time who sat down with me and asked me, what did I learn from that particular experience? And it was one of the best exercises that I went through because it caused me to reflect. “It was really rooted inin P and G terms — we didn’t put the consumer
first. We were trying to drive global scale of our business and for most companies driving scale and achieving a global business is paramount. But in that case, we prioritized that over delighting our consumer. And as a result, we were not successful.
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
any moral imperative to help find him. ”I do have an honest loyalty to my brother, and I care about him,” he testified. ”It’s my hope that I’m never helpful to anyone against him ... I don’t feel an obligation to help everyone to catch him.”
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
”That was really instructive. One, in terms of always putting the consumer first. And two, in really creating an environment where people could learn from their mistakes. “I learned more from my mistake that time than I’ve learned from many of my successes.”
State
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
Difficult decisions get 2-year delay By CHRIS TOMLINSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers started the year promising to make hard choices to solve the largest budget shortfall in the state’s history. They delivered one speech after another about not "kicking the can" down the road. Yet that’s exactly what they did. Gov. Rick Perry signed a budget that was balanced only through accounting maneuvers, rewriting school funding laws, ignoring a growing population and delaying payments on bills coming due in 2013. It accomplishes, however, what the Republican majority wanted most: It did not raise taxes, took little from the Rainy Day Fund and shifted any future deficits onto the next Legislature. Those are key talking points for Perry, as he speaks to the conservative faithful around the country and considers a run for president in 2012. Many Republican lawmakers have complained privately, and Democrats publicly, that Perry has heavily influenced the session to make sure nothing passed that would hurt a potential campaign. States across the nation faced major budget shortfalls this year, but none as big as Texas. While most legislatures chose to raise taxes and fees along with making cuts, Texas tea party activists put enormous pressure on the Republicans, who control every branch of state government, to manage the $27 billion shortfall through cuts alone. That included $7.8 billion to health and human services. Republicans crowed about their budget accomplishment. Perry, who has touted his budget-cutting prowess as he flirts with running for president, declared victory. "I am proud Texas will continue to live within its means while encouraging job creation and maintaining essential services," said Perry, who claims that keeping taxes low helps create jobs. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst bragged that the $80.6-billion, two-year budget will cut state government spending by $15 billion compared to the previous
budget. "It’s all smoke and mirrors and misdirection," said state Rep. Garnett Coleman, D-Houston. "There’s no way this is a balanced budget. It’s billions short of where Texas is supposed to be on Medicaid and education." Much of the overall savings came through cuts to university and state agency budgets, but the bulk of it came from accounting sleight-of-hand and putting off the biggest problems until lawmakers come back in 2013. In Texas, the elected state comptroller — currently a Republican — can certify the budget is balanced if the spending does not exceed the revenues she expects over the next two years. The first accounting shift was to delay a $2.3 billion payment owed to public schools in 2012-2013 by one day, so that the bill isn’t technically due until 2014, thereby going into the next budget. The new budget also assumes there will be no growth in the number of school children in Texas, even though it is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. Critics say the state will short school districts $2 billion that way. Lawmakers also decided to rewrite the laws that determine how Texas pays for public education, since the Legislature could not afford what the law mandated. They slashed $4 billion in what will be the first cut in per-student spending in Texas since World War II. Districts must either lay off thousands of teachers and increase class sizes, increase local property taxes or both.
Photo by Darren Abate | AP
Demonstrators protest the presence of Gov. Rick Perry at the 28th annual National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference on Thursday, in San Antonio.
Latino group unhappy with Perry By CHRIS TOMLINSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN ANTONIO — Gov. Rick Perry received a tepid response when he addressed the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials on Thursday, joking about the pronunciation of a Hispanic appointee’s last name and frequently staring blankly at the audience when they failed to respond to his conservative applause lines. In his defense, Hispanic politicians had earlier spoken passionately against his policies, deriding them as hurtful to Hispanics. Perry chose to ignore those topics and instead touted his appointments of the first Hispanic women to serve as secretary of state and to both of the state’s highest courts. But a joke about how perfect it was to appoint
Jose Cuevas to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission because his name sounds like Jose Cuervo — a brand of tequila — fell flat. Perry struggled to regain his confidence as he described Texas as a land of opportunity. “You have a role model you can look up to, someone who proves that any obstacle can be overcome,” Perry said. “That is especially true for a Hispanic child in Texas.” Perry is considering a run for president and has made an effort in recent months to attend national Hispanic events, such as the convention that opened Thursday in San Antonio. But there was no mention of any national aspirations during his speech here, which focused on low taxes, limited regulations and restrictions on lawsuits. “We do what we can to maintain an economic cli-
mate that attracts businesses and industries looking to expand, that need to relocate,” he said. Democratic Mayor Julian Castro derided the latest legislative session and Perry’s emergency bills, as “the most anti-Latino agenda we’ve seen in more than a generation, without shame.” The state’s longest-serving governor has tried to walk a fine line between appealing to Texas’ growing Hispanic population — now 48 percent — and rightwing groups that have demanded tougher stances on immigration and voter identification laws. Perry declared bills requiring a photo ID to vote and mandating that local police to enforce federal immigration laws as emergency items. Both measures have provoked angry reactions from Hispanic groups. Po-
lice chiefs and sheriffs overwhelmingly objected to the immigration enforcement measure. Hispanic groups say both laws will lead to greater voter intimidation and profiling against Hispanics. The politicians and public policy professionals were unimpressed with his stock-speech touting the state’s business-friendly climate. Perry often stopped for applause and heard only the clink of forks on plates as he stared out at the crowd, a stark contrast to the jubilant reception he’s received at recent Republican events. Many in the audience had never heard of him before. The organization released a study predicting that 12.2 million Latinos will cast a ballot in the 2012 presidential election, representing a 26 percent increase from 2008.
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Zentertainment
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
COMING UP ‘Rapunzel’ is next Little Theatre play The Laredo Little Theatre announced that this year’s traditional summer children’s play will be “Let Your Hair Down Rapunzel.” The musical is based on the book written by Karen Boettche-Tate, and the music and lyrics are by Scott DeTurk. Performance dates are set for July 13, 14 and 15, at 8 p.m. On Saturday, July 16, performances will be at 3 p.m. and at 8 p.m. There will be one final performance, a matinee slated for 3 p.m Sunday, July 17. Members of the cast include Brandon Garza, Carolina Ramirez, Rebekah Rangel, Marco Vela, Simone Liddell, Nicolas Peña, Jose Roberto Villarreal, Robert Garza, Rebecca Ramirez, Alison Guzman, Vielka Gutierrez, Lauren Enriquez, Victor Gutierrez, Sebastian Luna, Ever Peña and Kyara Carrillo. Although light and humorous, the play conveys a very important message: Just because someone looks a little different is no reason why they should be shunned or treated differently. For more information, call 7231342.
Syndicate-X reunites, plays Saturday The rockers of Syndicate-X are
reunited once again to perform their set — a mix of in-your-face music, heavy lyrics and wild antics. The band is also celebrating SNAP’s birthday. SNAP is the band’s bassist. Playing with Syndicate-X at Ecylpse Grill and Lounge will be special guests Bones, Division Black Noise, Dead Air, Rebel Soul and Corpse Kin. The reunion event is Saturday, beginning at 9 p.m. at Ecylpse, 611 Shiloh, Ste. 13. The event is free for those 21 and up.
LULAC No. 14 plans 4th of July Fiesta On Monday, July 4, LULAC Council No. 14 will host the 4th of July Fiesta at Alexander Station and Lake from 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Admission will be free. The fiesta will feature kayak and canoe races, a fishing contest, a hot dog cook-off, food vendors, arts and crafts, commercial vendors, music and much more. The night will cap off with a rarely-seen fireworks display on the water. The fireworks are sponsored by IBC Bank, Southern Distributing and A.B.C.T. Construction. The entrance for Alexander Station is at the intersection of McPherson and University Boulevard. For information, call LULAC No. 14 at 286-9055. — The Zapata Times
Photos © 2011 World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Special to the Times
World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton bodyslams his opponent, Sheamus, during a recent match. Orton will defend his belt against Christian, the wrestler he defeated back in May for the championship.
SMACKDOWN! BACK AT LEA SUNDAY NIGHT By EMILIO RÁBAGO III THE ZAPATA TIMES
South Texas collectors Expo returns this Sunday EVENT WILL FEATURE COMIC BOOKS, SPORTS JERSEYS AND RARE ITEMS By EMILIO RÁBAGO III THE ZAPATA TIMES
After an eight-year absence, the South Texas Collectors Expo returns to the Gateway City this weekend. Slated for Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Laredo Civic Center, the expo will have a variety of collectibles for sale. Collectible vendors are making the trip from San Antonio, Corpus Christi, the Rio Grande Valley, Nuevo Laredo and other surrounding areas to offer fans many items, including comic books, comic book related collectibles, and gaming cards, such as YuGi-Oh, Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, and Naruto. “We already have great stores here, but this will bring a different variety to Laredo,” said Marco Jalomo, the event’s organizer. “We want to bring back a variety of collectibles to Laredo.” The last time the South Texas Collectors Expo was held in Laredo was December 2003. “I was a collector back in the day and decided to return now that my kids are older,” Jalomo said. For sports enthusiasts, the Collectors Expo will have plenty of items such as sports cards, jerseys, helmets, sneakers and boxing gloves. Ferguson Ink, one of the vendors, will have a variety of autographed memorabilia, including hard-to-find Dallas Cowboys memorabilia. “I know there will be a framed Michael Jordan autographed jersey,” Jalomo said. Prices for the items can range from a couple of dollars to thousands of dollars. Collectible chess sets will be available, including themed sets of Star Wars, The Civil War, The Texas Revolution, among others An anime/manga section will have rare items from the anime world. The Anime Club from United High School will be hosting a Cos-play contest. Entry fee for the Cos-play contest is $5. “We’re giving away door prizes every hour,” Jalomo said. “People will get a tick-
et when they pay the admission.” Admission for the event is $2. (Emilio Rabago III may be reached at 728-2564 or by e-mail at erabago@lmtonline.com)
World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes is hosting Sunday’s Smackdown! event at the Laredo Energy Arena. Rhodes, who is also known as “The American Dream,” was born in the Lone Star State, in Austin. Rhodes was a popular wrestler back when the WWE was known as the World Wrestling Federation. He’ll be the official host of Sunday’s event, which starts promptly at 5 p.m. The LEA doors will open at 4 p.m. Several superstars of WWE are coming for the non-televised show.
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Presented by K-Mart, the intense action will feature a world heavyweight championship match: Randy Orton vs. Christian. Other matches will showcase Sin Cara vs. Ted DiBiase Jr., the son of “The Million Dollar Man.”
Jackson vs. Barrett rematch Also, Kane will battle against Sheamus, and Ezekiel Jackson will defend his Intercontinental Championship against Wade Barrett. It’s a rematch from last Sunday’s match, during
which Jackson beat Barrett for the championship belt. Other Smackdown! wrestlers who will be in the ring include Cody Rhodes, Daniel Bryan, Mark Henry, Natalya and
The Great Khali, among others. Tickets range from $15 to $60, plus facility fees. (Emilio Rábago III may be reached at 728-2564 or by e-mail at erabago@lmtonline.com)
SÁBADO 25 DE JUNIO DE 2011
Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 25 DE JUNIO LAREDO — Pase la tarde en el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara y explore “The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather” a las 5 p.m., “Earth, Moon, and Sun” a las 6 p.m. y Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” a las 7 p.m. Entrada general: 5 dólares. LAREDO — Umano Aché y La Mata se presentan en vivo en Rio Grande Plaza Hotel hoy a partir de las 6:30 p.m. Costo: 5 dólares, incluyendo uso de alberca. LAREDO — Syndicate-X (Snap’s Metal B-Day) a partir de las 8 p.m. de hoy en Eclipse Bar, 611 Shiloh. Costo: 5 dólares. Invitados: Division Black Noise, Bones, Dead Air/Rebel Soul & Corpse Kin . NUEVO LAREDO — Desfile de carretas a partir de las 9 a.m., teniendo como salida Obregón y Bulevar 15 de junio, para circular por Avenida Guerero hasta Reforma, girando a la izquierda sobre Paseo Colón hasta el Bulevar Adolfo Ruiz Cortines. Terminará en el Lienzo Charro, atrás de Expomex. NUEVO LAREDO — Moto Fest, Rally Turístico Nuevo Laredo 2011 y Verbena Popular a partir de las 1 p.m. en el Centro Histórico. NUEVO LAREDO— Festival Infantil “El Ferrocarril y Nuevo Laredo” a las 2 p.m. en Estación Palabra.
Zfrontera
PÁGINA 7A
CONVENIO ESTADO-FEDERACIÓN ASIGNA SOLDADOS A SEGURIDAD PÚBLICA
Llegan militares; salen policías POR MIGUEL TIMOSHENKOV TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
En Nuevo Laredo, México, alrededor de 700 policías preventivos municipales fueron retirados de sus funciones desde el martes 21 de junio por la noche, y ahora son 200 elementos del Ejército Mexicano y de la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública de Tamaulipas quienes vigilan las calles de ésta y 21 ciudades más en la entidad. La semana pasada, el Secretario Técnico del Consejo de Seguridad Nacional, Alejandro Poiré, dijo que la presencia de militares en los mandos policiales de Tamaulipas permanecerá al menos por un año, en tanto nuevos elementos civiles se integren a la corporación y cumplan la regla nacional de seguridad. “Este apoyo extraordinario a Tamaulipas será correspondido con un esfuerzo similar en el reclutamiento y renovación de la policía”, dijo Poiré. Desde el martes elementos militares arribaron a las bases de seguridad pública en las 22 ciudades,
Foto por Miguel Timoshenkov | The Zapata Times
Soldados del Ejército Mexicano son captados vigilantes en la esquina de Avenida Guerrero y Héroe de Nacataz, a una cuadra y media de la comandancia de policía de Nuevo Laredo, México. confirmó en comunicado de prensa el Gobierno de Tamaulipas. En Abasolo, Altamira, Camargo, Díaz Ordaz, El Mante, González, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jiménez, Madero, Matamoros, Mier, Miguel Alemán, Nuevo Laredo, Padilla, Reynosa, Río Bravo, San Fernando, Soto la Marina, Tampico, Valle Hermoso y Victoria, los solda-
dos procedieron a concentrar a los patrulleros y exigirles la entrega de sus armas. Los agentes, quienes fueron desarmados y concentrados en sus bases, sin derecho al uso de las patrullas, también deberán someterse a exámenes de profesionalización y confianza. El Presidente Municipal
de Nuevo Laredo, Benjamín Galván Gómez confirmó el jueves por la tarde que personal militar se encuentra al mando de la vigilancia de la ciudad y aclaró que una vez que los policías sean certificados podrían continuar laborando en la prevención del crimen. “Fue un acuerdo, estuvimos reunidos con el gobernador Egidio Torre Cantu,
SEDESOL
TAMAULIPAS
SERVICIOS ESTATALES
DOMINGO 26 DE JUNIO LAREDO — Maratón de corte de cabello, de 9 a.m. a 4 p.m. en CHI Academy, 1713 Del Mar Blvd. Corte a 5 dólares. A beneficio de Isaac y Ruth Martínez, dos niños que luchan contra el cáncer. Informes al (956) 242-8354. LAREDO — Hoy es la South Texas Collectors Expo en el Laredo Civic Center a partir de las 10 a.m.. Habrá revistas, tarjetas de colección y recuerdos deportivos, entre otras cosas. Más información con Marco Jalomo al 337-5192. LAREDO — “WWE Smackdown World Tour” se presenta hoy en Laredo Energy Arena a las 5 p.m. Costos desde 15 dólares hasta 60, más la cuota de las instalaciones. Adquiera su boleto en la taquilla de LEA.
LAREDO — Durante el Día Nacional para Examenes del VIH, se ofrecerán examenes gratuitos de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m. en el Departamento de Salud de la Ciudad de Laredo, 2600 Cedar, de manera gratuita.
MARTES 28 DE JUNIO LAREDO — Amigos del Agente Especial del ICE Jaime Zapata invitan al torneo de boliche a las 5:30 p.m. en Jett Bowl. La fecha de registro concluyó el 22 de junio. NUEVO LAREDO — Conferencia “Héroe de Nacataz” por el profesor Felipe Saldívar Rodríguez a las 7 p.m. en Auditorio de Estación Palabra. NUEVO LAREDO — Hoy se presenta la obra de teatro “Como si fuera esta noche”, dirigida por Gerardo Villezca, a las 8 p.m. en el Teatro Lucio Blanco de la Casa de la Cultura.
SÁBADO 2 DE JULIO LAREDO — Intocable y Eli Young Band se presenta hoy en Mesquite Fest 2011 en LIFE Grounds a partir de las 5 p.m. Boletos en preventa a 15 dólares. LAREDO — Iron Skull Live a las 11 p.m. en Cold Brew Rock & Metal Bar, 4520 San Bernardo, Suite 18.
Sesión atiende retos TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
LUNES 27 DE JUNIO
los 43 alcaldes de Tamaulipas”, dijo Galván. “Ellos (los soldados) se encuentran vigilando (y) veremos mejoría de seguridad en la ciudad”. Galván dijo desconocer que sucederá con los agentes que incumplan el ordenamiento federal y estatal. El martes el Gobernador Torre Cantú encabezó en Ciudad Victoria una reunión con los 43 alcaldes de la entidad, el Procurador de Justicia Estatal, Bolívar Hernández; el Secretario de Seguridad Pública Estatal, Rafael Lomelí y el Secretario General de Gobierno, Morelos Canseco Gómez, donde, tras firmar un convenio para apoyar la estructura de seguridad, se aunció el arribo de 2,290 elementos militares. En Nuevo Laredo, durante la administración del Presidente Daniel Peña Treviño (2005-2007), policías municipales fueron acuartelados, desarmados e investigados. Al concluir investigaciones por parte del Gobierno Federal, varios agentes fueron despedidos.
La Secretaria de Desarrollo Social, Dinorah Blanca Guerra Garza realiza una presentación acerca de la estrategia RETOS (Regiones Estratégicas para el Trabajo Organizado y Sustentable), en Ciudad Victoria.
Estrategia favorecerá a sectores vulnerables ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
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fin de rescatar del rezago a habitantes de las áreas rurales de 42 municipios de Tamaulipas, la Secretaría de Desarrollo Social (SEDESOL) presentó una serie de propuestas ante medios de comunicación reunidos en Ciudad Victoria, México. La titular de la SEDESOL, Dinorah Blanca Guerra Garza dijo que se pasará del asistencialismo al crecimiento de las personas a través de la estrategia RETOS (Regiones Es-
tratégicas para el Trabajo Organizado y Sustentable), que parte de la superación del rezago educativo y la capacitación en proyectos productivos. Guerra Garza explicó que 171 comunidades rurales de 42 municipios del Estado son consideradas áreas naturales de trabajo que agrupan localidades de menor población que se abastecen de servicios. “Esos lugares, considerados regiones estratégicas, serán fortalecidos en su infraestructura social básica para contribuir al desarrollo social de las
familias de las zonas rurales circunvecinas”, dijo Guerra. “El apoyo integral abarca educación, salud, capacitación laboral, uso de tecnologías rurales para producción alimenticia e infraestructura social básica”. Aseguró que esto permitirá una cobertura de 3,196 localidades, entre las que se encuentran 269 de muy alto rezago social, mil de alto y 555 de medio rezago, según las cifras del Consejo Nacional de Población (CONAPO). Además se contempla la habilitación de Telecen-
tros Comunitarios, en los que se involucrará a las organizaciones de la sociedad civil y cuyo objetivo es acercar a los habitantes de las áreas rurales a espacios donde puedan superar el analfabetismo, concluir sus estudios y una carrera profesional. Fortalecer la identidad y evitar la migración es otro de los objetivos del Gobierno del Estado que le dará cobertura a seis regiones: Fronteriza, Valle de San Fernando, Centro, Altiplano, Mante y Sur, así como otras 12 zonas específicas.
ZAPATA SE RECUPERA POCO A POCO Joe Padilla posa con un pez que atrapó en el Lago Falcon, el 8 de junio en Zapata. El turismo disminuyó drásticamente en la sección de la presa sobre el Rio Grande, que comparten Texas y Tamaulipas, después que el 30 de septiembre un americano fuera presumiblemente asesinado por piratas mexicanos. Pese a que el lado mexicano del lago continúa controlado por la violencia, negocios de Zapata han estado volviendo a recuperarse lentamente.
Foto por Eric Gay | Associated Press
CIUDAD VICTORIA — Ante inquietudes y demandas que han sido expuestas por productores agrícolas, ganaderos, de pesca y acuacultura, autoridades dieron a conocer propuestas y acuerdos durante la Segunda Sesión Ordinaria del Consejo Estatal para el Desarrollo Rural Sustentable. El Secretario de Desarrollo Rural, Jorge Alberto Reyes Moreno reconoció que este año ha sido de grandes retos para la gente de campo ante eventos climatológicos como fueron las heladas y ahora la prolongada sequía, pero dijo que estas situaciones externas fuera de control de los productores, se han sabido enfrentar y salir adelante. La dinámica de la sesión consistió en que los coordinadores de las comisiones de trabajo expusieran los acuerdos propuestos a informar o fueran validados por el Consejo Estatal para el Desarrollo Rural Sustentable y turnados a la SAGARPA para su apoyo. En ganadería algunos fueron: Autorización de siembra con OGM en su fase piloto. Intervención de SAGARPA para promover que se adecue el Artículo 4 Transitorio de la Iniciativa de Ley del PROCAMPO. Apoyo de 750.000 pesos para productores que adquieran equipos agrícolas durante el ejercicio 2011y que dejaron de percibir el subsidio para el diesel. Mantener el apoyo del 100 por ciento al productor para cubrir el costo de la prima de coberturas de precios a productos comercializados bajo el esquema de Agricultura por Contrato. Incluir como proyectos susceptibles de apoyo dentro del Programa Apoyo a la Inversión en Equipamiento e Infraestructura, Componente Agrícola, el concepto de equipamiento e infraestructura para la producción de abono orgánico a través de lombricultura.
Education
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
UT med schools mull cuts ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Carlos Osorio/file | AP
Detroit schools emergency financial manager Roy Roberts tours Marcus Garvey Academy in Detroit on May 16. About $230 million in expenses and 853 jobs will be cut under a budget proposed by Roberts.
Detroit schools eye pay cut, loss of 853 workers By COREY WILLIAMS ASSOCIATED PRESS
DETROIT — Expenses in the financially struggling Detroit Public Schools would be cut by about $230 million with 853 jobs axed and employees forced to take a 10-percent pay cut under a $1.2 billion budget proposed by the district’s state-appointed emergency financial manager. A draft of the budget was released Thursday. It also calls for $200 million to be lopped off the district’s $327 million budget deficit through the sale of longterm bonds. Another $48 million in purchased and contracted service cuts also are planned. The district has about 4,400 teachers, and financial manager Roy Roberts has said most of their jobs will be spared. But across-the-board job cuts will include school administrators, clerical and professional staff, counselors, teacher aides and central office supervisors. “This budget will require us to live within our means while supporting the educational plan that’s
been put in place,” Roberts said in a news release. “We must elevate the schools in terms of academics, performance and providing a safe environment for children. We have to build a first-rate system of schools that parents choose to send their children to.” Pre-kindergarten programs will be expanded. Class sizes would drop from 33 to 30 students in fourth and fifth grades and from 38 to 35 in sixth through 12th grades. The class size in kindergarten through third grade would remain at 25 students, while pre-kindergarten classes would still have 18 students. The budget is based on 66,360 general and special education students. The district had 74,000 students this past school year, but its enrollment has been declining steadily. School board President Anthony Adams warned that past efforts to balance the district’s budget and wipe out the deficit didn’t pan out. “For the last two years it’s been the same story,” Adams said.
AUSTIN — Making it through some medical schools in Texas could take less time and be cheaper for future doctors. Six University of Texas campuses are partnering on plans to shorten the time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree, a medical degree or both. A pilot program for select freshmen could begin in 2013 at UT-Austin, plus at campuses in Dallas, San Antonio, Brownsville, El Paso and Edinburg, the Austin American-Statesman reported Tuesday. The Transformation in
Medical Education program, or TIME, and has been seeded with $4 million from UT regents. The goal is to link undergraduate schooling to physician education to make medical school more efficient and increase the number of Texas doctors, said Dr. Kenneth Shine, the UT System’s executive vice chancellor for health affairs. “Medical education, in general, takes too long, costs too much, it’s redundant, and it also doesn’t necessarily prepare people for practice in the 21st century,” Shine said. About 20 of the 135 U.S.
accredited medical schools offer some sort of shortcut to graduation, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges. A similar program began this month at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. A student can skip the fourth year of medical school and receive a year’s worth of scholarships, cutting the average four-year debt of $150,000 in half, said Dr. Ron Cook, interim chairman of family medicine at Texas Tech. UT-Austin’s plan would involve 60 freshman undergraduates with records of high academic achievement. All would be guar-
anteed slots in medical school at UT Southwestern in Dallas or the UT Health Science Center at Houston if they maintain good grades plus abide by other standards still being defined, said David Laude, a senior associate dean at UT-Austin. Another 60 freshmen would be added in the spring, according to Laude. The plan is to cut a year from the bachelor’s degree, reducing the overall time to finish college and graduate from medical school from eight years to six or seven, Laude said.
Achievement gap stays wide By CHRISTINE ARMARIO ASSOCIATED PRESS
MIAMI — The achievement gap between Hispanic and white students is the same as it was in the early 1990s, despite two decades of accountability reforms, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Education on Thursday. Performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress shows the gap narrowed by three points in fourth- and eighth-grade reading since 2003, a reduction researchers said was statistically significant. But the overall difference between them remains more than 20 points, or roughly two grade levels. “Hispanic students are the largest minority group in our nation’s schools. But they face grave educational challenges that are hindering their ability to pursue the American dream,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said. The data comes as Congress struggles to reform
No Child Left Behind, the broad, encompassing act President George W. Bush signed into law in 2002. The law put a renewed focus on minority students, requiring states to develop tests that would show how well they and other students were performing. Data previously released on black students shows while significant gains have been made over the last two decades, the gap with white students remains wide. Researchers say the impact of No Child Left Behind on the achievement gap is difficult to assess because it affects all students and is just one of many factors that would influence their success. However, long-term data shows the sharpest drops in the achievement gap were seen in the 1980s, a period in which gains from the civil rights movement, like higher levels of maternal education and better jobs for black families, were seen. After that, the achievement gap between white,
black and Hispanic students largely increased before narrowing again at the end of the 1990s. Jack Jennings, president of the nonprofit Center on Education Policy, said No Child Left Behind it is a factor. “Students are doing better, because both white and Latino students are going up in test scores, and black students as well,” Jennings said. “It’s not a downward spiral. It’s a situation where we’ve made progress, we just wish we could make more progress faster.” The law required states to develop tests and set goals to bring students to proficiency in math and reading. It also requires interventions — at their most severe, school closures — if students repeatedly failed to meet those benchmarks. “I would say it’s not so much the fault of the accountability system,” said Amy Wilkins, vice president for government affairs at The Education Trust. “I think of the ac-
countability system as a thermometer. It tells you where you are, but it’s not the thermostat that’s going to drive change.” Sandy Kress, who served as an education adviser to President George W. Bush in the passage of No Child Left Behind in 2001, said there is evidence that accountability practices have had a positive impact on student performance, including recent Census data that shows a higher percentage of young Hispanic adults finishing high school. The number attending a twoyear college has also doubled over the last decade. “Consequential accountability led to dramatic gains for students, dramatic gains, including Hispanics,” Kress said. The report showed the gap between fourth-grade Hispanic and white students was 21 points in math in 2009. At grade eight, the gap rises to 26 points. The gap was similarly wide in reading — 25 points in fourth grade and 24 in eighth.
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
BENILDE BUSTAMANTE RIVERA Benilde Bustamante Rivera, born Feb. 6, 1923, passed away Monday, June 20, 2011, at her residence in Zapata. Ms. Rivera is preceded in death by her husband, Fernando Rivera; parents: Roberto and Isabel P. Bustamante; brothers Adolio Bustamante, Rodolfo Bustamante and Roberto Bustamante; and sisters Elodia Bustamante and Maria S.B. Vela. Ms. Rivera is survived by her children: Fernando (Yolanda) Rivera, Elodia R. (Jose Luis) Vazquez, Baldomero (Dolores) Rivera, Elva Nelia R. (Jose Luis) Guevara, Miguel Angel (Perla) Rivera, Jose Rolando (Maria de Jesus) Rivera, Amiga y fiel compañera, Maria del Socorro Hernandez; 21 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; brothers Alonzo (Yolanda) Bustamante and Adolio (Elvira) Bustamante; sister-in-law, Criselia Bustamante; sisters: Isabel B. (Ramiro) Guajardo and Elvia B. (Jose Manuel) Valadez; and by numerous nephews, nieces, family and friends. Honorary pallbearers were: Carlos D. Guevara, Jaime Rivera, Jesús Rivera, Joey Guevara and Cisco Hernández. Pallbearers were: José Luis Vazquez Jr., Gerardo Vazquez, Baldomero Rivera
By JUAN CARLOS LLORCA ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jr., José Luis Guevara Jr., Fernando Miguel Rivera, Miguel Ángel Rivera Jr., José Rolando Rivera Jr. and Aguinaldo Hernández. Visitation hours were held Tuesday, June 21, 2011, from 6 to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession departed Wednesday, June 22, 2011, at 9:45 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 Highway 83, Zapata.
Obama steps into debt-limit talks By JIM KUHNHENN ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Struggling to break a perilous deadlock, President Barack Obama took direct control Friday of national debt-limit negotiations with both Republicans and Democrats. With the White House warning the nation’s economic stability is at stake, it’s one of the most severe tests yet of Obama’s presidency. The key disagreement is over taxes. Democrats, including Obama, say a major deficit-reduction agreement must include tax increases or the elimination of tax breaks for big companies and wealthy individuals. Republicans are demanding huge cuts in government spending and insisting there be no tax increases. Absent an agreement that cuts long-term deficits, Republicans say they will not vote to increase the nation’s borrowing, which will exceed its $14.3 trillion limit on Aug. 2. The administration has warned that if Congress does not raise the debt ceiling, it could mean the first U.S. financial default in history and send economic shockwaves worldwide. Discussions led by Vice
Chief who fled Mexico decries attack on police
President Joe Biden that were designed to trim about $2 trillion from long-term deficits abruptly stalled this week, leading Obama to step in Friday and summon the top Senate leaders to the White House. On Monday morning, Obama and Biden plan to meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and in the early evening he will sit down with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner have repeatedly said that no deal can include tax hikes. Amid an economic slowdown, persistently high unemployment and a looming deadline for action, the negotiations will challenge Obama’s ability to forge a compromise that allows all sides to claim victory. Obama restated his position to Boehner in person and to McConnell by phone on Wednesday, officials said. On Thursday, the two Republicans who had been negotiating with Biden — House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. — abandoned those talks. Ultimately, those discussions would yield only so much.
EL PASO — A young woman who says she left her post as police chief in her Mexican hometown and is seeking U.S. asylum because of death threats calls herself “sad and angry” after a policewoman from her hometown was wounded by assailants. Marisol Valles Garcia, 21, fled nearly four months ago from the small border town of Praxedis G. Guerrero, where she had been police chief since October. The criminology student had made international headlines when she took the post that had been hard to fill after her predecessor was tortured and beheaded. Her attorney, Carlos Spector, said Valles Garcia has “a well-founded fear of persecution” because of Wednesday’s attack on the female officer. Mexican officials say the officer and her husband and child were stabbed in their home during a robbery, not an assassination attempt. “What happened to my fellow policewoman could have happened to me. If it didn’t, it’s because I am here with my family. But I’m nervous this could happen to more people, to police officers,” Valles Garcia said at a news conference Friday. Valles Garcia asked for U.S. asylum, claiming she fears for her life because she has “denounced widespread corruption in all levels of government in Mexico,” said Spector. Mexicans asking for asylum face an uphill battle. The U.S. received nearly 19,000 asylum requests from Mexico since 2005, but granted asylum to just 319
Photo by Victor Calzada/El Paso Times | AP
Marisol Valles, 20, former police chief in Praxedis G. Guerrero in Chihuahua, Mexico, speaks Friday in El Paso during a press conference. Valles, who said she left her post as police chief in her Mexican hometown because of death threats, plans to speak out against drug-related violence in her country as she seeks U.S. asylum. petitioners between 2005 and 2010. Drug violence has transformed the township of Praxedis G. Guerrero from a string of quiet farming communities into a lawless no-man’s-land only about a mile from the Texas border. Between 1995 and 2005, it had a steady population of about 8,500 inhabitants. Five years later, slightly more than 4,500 people live there. Two rival gangs — the Juarez and Sinaloa drug cartels — are battling over control of its single
highway, a lucrative drugtrafficking route along the Texas border. After taking office, Valles Garcia started receiving death threats. She said that when she applied for the job, it didn’t cross her mind she’d be a target — particularly after publicly vowing not to go after the drug cartels that control the zone bordering El Paso county. “I didn’t believe I was a danger for the ‘narcos,’ we were not going after them. We told them in (news) con-
ferences that we would not mess with them,” said Valles Garcia, who advocated a community police approach for her town, targeting problems like domestic violence and leaving the drug war to federal police and the army. Still, threats started coming. “I just didn’t want to wait for them to call me one day and say: ‘We’re waiting for you outside.”’ Garcia said in a small town like Praxedis, it’s not hard to spot strangers with bad intentions. Her officers would constantly call to alert her of suspicious cars driving around. “One day they parked just outside the office, that’s when I thought I would not last that day. I went to my parents and said: ‘Ma, I don’t want to be here anymore’ and then and there we planned it, in that instant I took my purse, a diaper for my son and next thing we knew we were here, asking for asylum.” She, her husband and son along with her parents and two sisters fled that day. She now believes the media attention that she brought to her town and the drug trade there was what angered the cartels. Still, she does not regret her time as police chief. “I wanted to do something for my municipality, for my son.” She has to wait until her May 2013 court date to state her case, Spector said. “It’s hard to be in a country that is not your own, without work, without a house. You have to depend on your relatives, ask for rides everywhere. It’s a difficult life situation.”
Museum to open on July 9 By HILDEGARDO E. FLORES SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The grand opening of the Zapata County Museum of History, 805 Main Street, will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 9. After a brief ceremony and symbolic ribbon cutting, escorted group tours will be provided in English and Spanish. The museum got its start a few years ago when residents engaged in strategic planning for Zapata County with two goals in mind: To diversify the local economy To improve the quality of life of the community Among the ideas set for
in the brainstorming sessions was to create a dynamic, proactive Chamber of Commerce that would aggressively energize the business community into promoting attractions in Zapata County to the outside world. Falcon Lake was at the top of the list, but the more the idea was talked about, the more convinced leaders became that there needed to be greater depth to the activities available to lengthen the stays for visitors. “Putting heads on beds” would not only enahnce hotel tax revenues, but with longer stays in town the restaurants, grocery stores, gift shops and gas stations
would hear ringing cash registers. Ideas began to flow: wellmanicured parks with manicured lawns, tree-lined walking paths, bicycle trails, playground equipment, swimming pool complexes, welcoming signs at the entrances to the cities and the town, a wellstocked library, a higher education center and a museum. County government shared this same vision and gave these ideas its full support. Less than five years later, the Zapata County Museum of History has become a reality. Patterned after many of the Smithsonian National Museums in
Washington, D.C., the museum has a comprehensive story line beginning with the geological development of the region to the native animals and plants to the human imprint. Local history unfolds through narratives and graphics and is enhanced with artifacts donated or placed on loan by local residents, many of whom are descendants of original settlers. Museum board members decided an exhaustive study would be made of actual local archives rather than dependence on traditional historical sources. (Hildegardo E. Flores is the curator of the Zapata County Museum of History)
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
LAWSUIT Continued from Page 1A charged or reprimanded in response to the incident, according to the lawsuit. George Altgelt, an attorney for Butterfield, said his client notified his superiors at the fire department and the county attorney’s office of the incident.
Helping patient Court records state Butterfield and another firefighter were assisting with an aggressive patient when he alleges that Gonzalez began striking the patient. When Butterfield stepped in front of the patient, he said Gonzalez struck him and threatened him. Gonzalez allegedly repeated the threat several minutes later. The lawsuit, which was filed March 21, asks for
damages for medical expenses as well as physical pain and mental anguish.
Insurance firm Zapata County Attorney Alfonso Figueroa said the lawsuit was referred to the county’s insurer, Trident Insurance Services. He said the county has an obligation to notify the insurer immediately in the case of a lawsuit. “If it is covered in the policy, then they jump right in and protect the interest of the county,” he said. “We’re in such an early stage of the litigation that there’s not really anything I could add.” (Andrew Kreighbaum may be reached at 7282538 or akreighbaum@lmtonline.com)
ARRESTS Continued from Page 1A country illegally have broken laws.
and
Press release “The results of this operation underscore ICE’s ongoing focus on arresting those convicted criminal aliens who prey upon our communities, and tracking down fugitives who game our nation’s immigration system,” ICE Director John Morton stated in a news release. “This targeted enforcement operation is a direct result of excellent teamwork among law enforcement agencies who share a commitment to protect public safety.” Laredo and Zapata fall under the area of responsibility of San Antonio. ICE spokeswoman Nina Pruñeda said the seven people in Laredo and one in Zapata could face fed-
eral charges for illegal reentry after being previously deported. Others arrested did not follow an immigration judge’s ruling and decided to stay in the country. They chose not to leave, making them fugitives, according to ICE’s standards, Pruñeda said. All people were turned over for prosecution. If convicted, the arrestees could serve three or more years in federal prison, Pruñeda said. The operation involved more than 500 ICE agents and officers, assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and state and local law enforcement agencies. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 7282568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
FISHERMEN Continued from Page 1A stronger as a drought has given visitors access to once hard-to-reach shore areas teeming with bass, tilapia and other fish. Falcon Lake borders portions of Mexico’s Tamaulipas state, which is engulfed by a turf battle between the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas. Both are fighting the Mexican military. On May 8, Mexican naval troops patrolling their country’s side of the lake discovered a staging area for smuggling marijuana into Texas by speedboat on a spit of land that becomes an island when the water is high. A gunbattle ensued, killing one sailor and 12 alleged Zetas. Many locals say such incidents are all too common since the Mexican navy recently stepped up patrols on its side of Falcon Lake. Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez ticked off examples from that same week that weren’t widely covered in the media, including a heavy gunbattle on May 12 and a Mexican helicopter that shot a drug suspect three days later. Those shootouts and Hartley’s slaying were in Mexican waters, and violence so far has been contained to that country’s side of bluish-green waters stretching 25 miles long and 3 miles across. But many fishing fanatics are heading to Mexico’s part of the lake, anyway, saying the chance to reel in bass that grow larger than 10 feet outweighs fears about a drug war that has killed more than 34,000 people in Mexico since 2006. “Everyone says, ‘Just stay out of Mexico.’ But we go over there anyway, and it’s no problem,” said Levi Messer, a 26-year-old who recently drove 6.5 hours to hit Falcon Lake. “You might see a few less people than before, but there’s still lots.” A stone’s throw from Zapata’s municipal boat ramp is a sign with red-and-black lettering proclaiming:
Photo by Eric Gay | AP
A warning sign is seen at a ramp on Falcon Lake on June 9. Tourism dropped off sharply on the dammed section of the Rio Grande that straddles the Texas-Mexico border after Sept. 30, when an American jet-skier was presumably shot and killed by Mexican pirates. “Warning: Crossing into Mexico Could Be Dangerous.” Nearby, a smaller sign reminds boaters to report all suspicious activity, this one bearing the seals of the Texas attorney general’s office and the U.S. Border Patrol. Gonzalez erected both signs two months ago. “People can ignore them if they want,” he said. “But we could potentially have a situation where someone goes to Mexico to fish and has a problem, and we can’t go get them.” Hartley’s wife Tiffany said her husband was shot in the head by Mexican pirates after the couple jetskied past buoys marking the end of U.S. territory to visit a historic Mexican church. His body hasn’t been recovered. In the wake of that shooting, a national fishing tournament scrapped plans to come and two longtime fishing guides quit due to lack of business. Another guide, Jim Edwards, said of the 17 trips he had scheduled for last October, all but five canceled, and three of those only went ahead after he agreed to stay in
Texas waters. Things got worse as the year drew to a close. Paco Mendoza, president of the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce, said that while tourism has yet to fully recover, hotel occupancy rates for weekends, when Falcon Lake attracts the most anglers, are now up 30 to 40 percent since the doldrums following Hartley’s shooting. “A lot of people don’t really realize how safe it is here until they actually come and see for themselves,” Mendoza said. “We’re working toward having our image repaired, but it’s a slow process.” Edwards has recently fished within sight of the
church the Hartleys were visiting. “The fishing is better than it ever has been,” he said. “And that’s bringing people back.” The owner of another guide service, Jim Behnken, said that since February, he’s only had two days where he wasn’t fully booked. He was with visitors from Kansas, fishing in Mexican territory the morning of Hartley’s shooting. The outing went so well the group headed back to Mexican waters that same evening — despite what had happened. “It’s a very big lake, and if you don’t go looking for trouble, you won’t find it,” Behnken said. Speedy Collett is a lodgeowner and guide who had a brush with Mexican pirates even before Hartley’s slaying. In April 2010, he was guiding anglers who were approached by armed men after they went ashore on the Mexican side of Falcon Lake to take pictures. The assailants took the memory card from the digital camera of one visitor and checked Collett’s phone to ensure he hadn’t called anyone running drugs in the area. “When they figured out we weren’t a threat, they let us go,” he said. “They told us ‘go fish and mind your own business.’” That’s what Collett’s been doing ever since, and he said his lodge and guide schedule are full again. “We’re in recovery, but it’s fragile,” he said. “And if something else happens, we’re dead.”
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
2011 CONCACAF GOLD CUP
Ballers stay with game
Photo by Alex Brandon | AP
Jamaica goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts can’t stop a goal by United States’ Clint Dempsey during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal on Sunday at RFK Stadium in Washington. The U.S. won 2-0.
Lady Hawks take on 5A foes
THE NEW BATTLE FOR LOS ANGELES
By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
LAREDO – The start of the high school volleyball season is a few months away, but the Lady Hawks are diligently working toward putting together another banner year by hitting the road every week, up Highway 83, to play at the Laredo Boys and Girls Club summer volleyball league. Zapata is the only 3A school playing among the local Laredo 5A schools, but the size of the school has not deterred the Lady Hawks from picking up two victories in five league games. The victories came against Martin and United South, but the Lady Hawks have posted losses against United, Nixon and Alexander, Laredo’s three playoff teams last year. While the victories are a positive step toward the ultimate goal of hitting the district season with the determination to defend their 32-3A title, Zapata coach Rosie Villarreal sees this as an opportunity for her team to start gelling together. “This is the time for the girls to start knowing each other on the court,” Villarreal said. “The wins and losses are not really what I look at right now; it’s the communication that they have on the court.” As per UIL rules that prohibit high school coaches to coach their team out of
See VOLLEYBALL PAGE 2B
U.S. faces Mexico for soccer glory tonight By ADAM GEIGERMAN THE ZAPATA TIMES
T
Photo by Dave Einsel | AP
Mexico’s Javier Hernandez leaps over Honduras’ goalie Noel Valladares who saves a shot on goal during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal on Wednesday in Houston.
he Mexican-American war is about to kickoff, 16 decades after the original conflict between Sam Houston and Santa Anna, in a hopefully bloodless battle. The two CONCACAF soccer superpowers won their way into the much anticipated Gold Cup final, taking place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., at 8 p.m., for the fourth time out of 10 Gold Cups. The two adjacent archrivals enter the third straight championship match. The pair split to last two meetings, El Tri won 5-0 in 2009 and the Yanks won 2-1 in 2007. The winner of tonight’s match wins the right to represent CONCACAF in the FIFA Confederations Cup in
See GOLD CUP PAGE 2B
NBA DRAFT
Mavs want to win now Draft trade gets established Fernandez
Hill heads home after Spurs trade By PAUL J. WEBER
By JAIME ARON
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS — Eventually, Jordan Hamilton or another guy taken late in the first round of this year’s NBA draft will blossom into a quality player, perhaps even an All-Star. The Dallas Mavericks don’t want to wait. Fresh off their first championship, the Mavericks are determined to stay on top. So they gave up the uncertainty and potential of a draft pick for a known commodity in Portland guard Rudy Fernandez. “He’s a guy that can step right in and help us right away,” said Donnie Nelson, Dallas’ president of basketball operations. “The experience factor was the thing that brought it over the top. ... There’s less risk involved. He’s NBA playoff battle-
See MAVERICKS PAGE 2B
Photo by Matt Slocum | AP
The Dallas Mavericks traded both their draft picks, 26th and 57th overall, for Rudy Fernandez (5), of Spain.
SAN ANTONIO — George Hill grew up wanting to play for his hometown Indiana Pacers. He was a high school and college star in Indianapolis, and just last month, decorated his torso with a giant tattoo in the shape of Indiana. Yet Hill on Friday didn’t sound like being traded home was exactly a dream come true. “It hurts when you feel like you have a lot of family, but at the same time I know the Spurs love me as a person,” Hill said. “They’re a great organization. It’s just a better business decision for them and for myself.” Although beloved by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich — who saw Hill as a future star of the franchise — San Antonio dealt their backup point guard to the Pacers in Thurs-
See SPURS PAGE 2B
Darren Abate | AP
The Pacers have traded first-round pick Kawhi Leondard to the Spurs for George Hill.
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
GOLD CUP Continued from Page 1B Brazil as a warm-up to the 2014 World Cup. The reciprocation of both Mexico and the U.S.’s progress through the group stages, quarterfinals and semifinals could not be more obvious.
Defending their gold El Tri’s solar system of soccer superstars boast experience in the globe’s elite leagues including Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (Manchester United, EPL), Giovani dos Santos (Tottenham, EPL), Aldo de Nigris (Monterrey, Primera Liga de Mexico), team captain Rafael Marquez (New York, MLS), and Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar, Dutch Eredivisie). The stout lineup that coach Jose Manuel de la Torre tends to began CONCACAF’s crown-jewel tournament blazing opponents – defeating both El Salvador and Cuba 5-0 – before slowing slightly with a 4-1 trumping of Costa Rica. But El Tri’s is seeing either feast or famine as their reoccurring cliché for this competition, with fatigue as the most blatant culprit. “This team has done well in its regeneration,” de la Torre said Wednesday. “They are tired, but that is usual in a tournament like this. Our players are very well trained and professional.” The Mexicans have only scored four times since their initial 14 goals, with a 2-1 victory over Guatemala and a 2-0 overtime win against Honduras on Wednesday night. “Our team has worked hard to try and find scor-
Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
USA’s faithful fans cheer on the Yanks at Reliant Stadium in Houston on Wednesday night as the USA won the semifinal match against Panama, 1-0. ing spaces,” de la Torre said. “The fact that we haven’t scored as much is a testament to the opposing defenses. We’ve had chances to score in regulation, but sometimes they don’t go in. Things happen like that.” El Tri claims three of the tournament’s top-10 scorers, Chicharito (7), De Nigris (4) and Andres Guardado (2), all while the team has been forced to use Alfredo Talavera in goal after first-choice Guillermo Ochoa’s banned-substance suspension. Talavera has only allowed two opposing balls to find his net through his spectacular Gold Cup run. The Mexicans’ fan support has been overwhelming as El Tri defends its title, and it’s guaranteed to be tonight as well. In
Houston on Wednesday, the capacity crowd of 70, 627 was dominated by the green of El Tri’s jerseys and “Mex-i-co” chants shook the building to its foundation. “I don’t believe our fans have suffered (through our tougher games),” de la Torre said. “It has just been harder work. You have to get your work done to get your result. We always respect our fans and feed off their support.”
Heating up The Americans are stereotyped to be soccer illiterates, but Gold Cup history and the most recent World Cup beg to differ. The Yanks haven’t overpowered opponents like the Mex-
icans, but their suffocating defense has only allowed two goals through five games, returning the Red, White and Blue to its seventh final. “Now we find ourselves in the finals,” Clint Dempsey said Wednesday. “In your career, you don’t get this opportunity very much and the more you play in, the more chances you have to get (trophies) and success.” Veteran leaders Landon Donovan (Los Angeles, MLS), Dempsey (Fulham, EPL), Tim Howard (Everton, EPL) and captain Carlos Bocanegra (SaintEtienne, French Ligue 1) have guided the team through a tournament that they claim hasn’t been their sharpest. The Yanks have remained resilient despite
several daunting disappointments. Panama defeated them 2-1 in Group C for the Stars and Stripes’ first ever loss in the group stages and supernova striker Jozy Altidore has been scratched for four to six weeks with a strained left hamstring after the ninth minute of a 2-0 win over Jamaica. “This is a competitive tournament,” coach Bob Bradley said on Wednesday. “Honestly, every (game) has been tough. The games come quickly and there is a lot of travel. We knew coming in that it would be this way, and we are lucky to have our veterans that have led us to another final. All our focus is now on the match (tonight)” As Bradley enters his fifth year in charge and a new World Cup cycle, he has utilized this tournament to play USA’s youthful up and comers. Jermaine Jones, Sacha Kljestan, Eric Lichaj, Maurice Edu, Chris Wondolowski, Juan Agudelo and then now-injured Altidore have never earned a Gold Cup appearance before this year’s run, while international adolescent sensation Freddy Adu has not played for the national team since the ’09 Gold Cup. Altidore’s injury has set up potential playing minutes for Adu (22), who was revered as the next big thing as a 14 year old, has been relegated to the Turkish second division but served as a game-winning spark on Wednesday. “(Adu) has been with the national team a good number of times,” Bradley said. “Some of those times
didn’t go as well as he hoped, but I think he has matured. When you see a player go to the second division in Turkey to keep his career alive, that tells you something about his character. You can tell, when he got the chance to play here again, he appreciates it and he has earned it.” He entered late in the second half in the semifinal against Panama and consequently opened the field, feeding Donovan on a well-timed run leading to Dempsey’s goal and the USA’s 1-0 win. Donovan hasn’t started the Yanks’ last two games, yielding the wing position to 22 year old Lichaj and 25 year old Kljestan and allowing them to earn invaluable experience. Donovan has come in as a substitute later in games, but often imposing game-deciding effects. He has taken three shots and is tied for the team lead in assists (two) with Michael Bradley. “(Donovan) has played nonstop and consistently at the top level for a long time,” Dempsey said. “He is a guy that you always want next to you in a big game. He is a game changer, no matter if he starts or subs in.” The Yanks will surely stick with what has worked since that embarrassing first loss to Panama. Bob Bradley is expected to start Agudelo and Alejandro Bedoya up front and then rely on combustible second-half subs like Donovan or Adu to spark the squad and put Dempsey in position to build on his team-leading three goals.
SPURS Continued from Page 1B day’s NBA draft in exchange for Indiana’s firstround pick, forward Kawhi Leonard of San Diego State. The trade gives the Spurs much-needed size and the Pacers a scoring guard like they went into the draft hoping to land. Now instead of a rookie, the Pacers add a young veteran who spent his first three NBA seasons playing behind Tony Parker and established himself as one of San Antonio’s best perimeter defenders. Moving to Indiana figures to promote Hill into a potential starter on a young Pacers team that includes Darren Collison and Paul George in the backcourt. One of Popovich’s recur-
The Pacers, coming off their first playoff trip in five seasons, further showed their commitment to their young core Friday by picking up the 2012-13 team options on Collison, George and Tyler Hansbrough. ring complaints about Hill was that he too frequently had to remind him to stop being so deferential while playing with three AllStars with multiple championships — Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. Hill won’t have that problem in Indiana. At just 25, Hill is practically a proven veteran on one of the NBA’s youngest teams. Danny Granger, at 28, was the oldest of Indiana’s starters by the end of last
season. “You have to realize Indiana already has their young core,” Hill said. “I’m already coming in with a great point guard in Collision, a great shooting guard in Danny Granger and a big in Roy Hibbert. You already have so many people there that have already made a name for themself. “Me fitting in, I don’t think it’s going to be tough.” The Pacers, coming off
VOLLEYBALL Continued from Page 1B season, Villarreal sits in the stands and watches as a spectator and does not do any of the coaching. But she sees a vast amount of potential in the future of the Lady Hawks as they sometimes look spectacular during summer league play, often remind her of the work that must be put in still. The Lady Hawks will be looking to see who can step up to fill that void left by Mrs. Everything and District MVP Brandi King, who graduated in May. With five returning lettermen – Shelby Bigler, Jackie Salinas, Estella Molina, Kristina De Leon and Abby Aguilar – Villarreal must find players that will complement them on the court. The summer league is the opportunity for junior varsity and freshmen players to show that they can handle the demands of varsity ball and be ready for volleyball tryouts during the month of August. Zapata will be looking for a new setter and a few back row players to fill out the roster. This is also the time for players to start campaigning for starting jobs with their
“
This is the time for the girls to start knowing each other on the court,” ZAPATA COACH ROSIE VILLARREAL
play on the court, but the ultimate test will come during those early weeks during the volleyball season. The Laredo summer volleyball league is coming to a close in June, but future Lady Hawk players can start working toward continuing the playoff tradition that has been established under Villarreal. Villarreal will be holding a volleyball camp for fifth graders through incoming freshmen during the last week of July. Time and location will be coming during the next few weeks. (Clara Sandoval can be reached at sandoval.clara@gmail.com)
their first playoff trip in five seasons, further showed their commitment to their young core Friday by picking up the 2012-13 team options on Collison, George and Tyler Hansbrough. Pacers general manager Larry Bird said the team talked with the Spurs about Hill the past few years. Hill averaged 11.6 points last season and was often on the floor during close games in the final minutes
despite coming off the bench. Popovich felt Hill was among the NBA’s most improved players in his second year, though Hill’s progress seemed to stall at times last season. Drafted 26th overall out of IUPUI in 2008, Hill became another late gem the Spurs mined from deep in the draft. But after a 61-win season ended in the first round to the youthful Memphis Grizzlies, the Spurs needed bigger players more than a third guard.
In addition to the 6-foot-7 Leonard, the Spurs also received two Slovenian big men in the deal with Indiana: Davis Bertrans, Indiana’s 42nd pick, and Erazem Lorbek, a secondround pick from 2005. Hill said it was tough getting the call Thursday night from Popovich, who used to call Hill his favorite player. “I kind of look at Pop as a father figure. I’m sure everyone knows that and I’m sure he probably looks at me as a son,” Hill said. “It was tough to really talk to him, with him getting rid of me and me leaving. But I talked to him today also and it was very good. You see the emotions on both ends.”
MAVERICKS Continued from Page 1B tested. It was kind of a perfect storm for us.” At 26, Fernandez is older than a rookie but still younger than most of the Mavericks. With three years in the NBA, he knows how the league works. Add the years the Spaniard has played internationally, and he’s even more of a veteran. Most of all, the Mavs like that the 6-foot-6, 185pound Fernandez is bigger and more athletic than most of their shooting guards. He’s shown he can play 20-plus minutes a game, get to the rim and make 3-pointers. He hasn’t done it consistently, though, which is why the Trail Blazers were willing to deal him for a late firstround pick. “He’s a guy we’ve had our eye on for a while,” Nelson said. “It was kind of right place, right time.” Fernandez has averaged 9.1 points over 24.1 minutes in his career. He made 40 percent of his 3s as a rookie, but his accuracy has dipped every season. A change of scenery, and a new coaching scheme, could juice up his numbers. So could a change in role: starter.
DeShawn Stevenson was the primary starter at shooting guard last season and in the playoffs. He’s a free agent, though, and the Mavs have other priorities, primarily trying to keep Tyson Chandler, J.J. Barea and Caron Butler. Fernandez would have to beat out other guys already on the roster, but he will certainly be in the mix. There’s also a catch to this starting job. The backup, Jason Terry, is likely to play more minutes, especially during crunch time. Thus, Fernandez could average about the same minutes he had in Portland, but he’d have a bigger role on a better team. No wonder his first reaction was a tweet filled with exclamation points: “So happy to be in the best team in the nba!!!dallas!!!” His excitement is a plus considering he was fined twice last summer for comments detrimental to the league — $25,000 in August, then $50,000 in October, all over talk about being traded, including threats of leaving the NBA and returning to Spain. “I think young guys sometimes take a while to figure things out, certain-
ly guys from Europe,” Nelson said. “You’ve got the American way or NBA way of doing things. So I think there’s some learning curve there. Sometimes it’s just opportunity. ... We’re hopeful that it’s another case of that.” The bottom line for Dallas was improving its roster without giving up any of the players who helped them knock off the Miami Heat in the finals. Of course, Fernandez will take up a roster spot, which could mean waving goodbye to Stevenson or Peja Stojakovic. “Again, it’s a combination of getting our backcourt a little bit more athletic, a little bit more scoring punch,” Nelson said. “He’s an underrated defender — he’s better than you think. He’s a big-time athlete. He’s able to break defenses down. We like this over taking a young guy that might pan out and might not.” He has a friendly contract, too. Fernandez is signed for the upcoming season, plus there’s a team option for the following year. With Terry going into the final year of his deal, Fernandez has a year to show whether he can become a
big piece of the Mavericks’ future. Dallas also has its last two draft-day acquisitions to consider at shooting guard: Rodrigue Beaubois and Dominique Jones. Beaubois was thought to be a key to the team’s future before being injured and ineffective this past season. Jones saw more action in the D-League than in the NBA, and wasn’t active in the playoffs. Although the Trail Blazers recently fired their general manager, guys in the front office knew the Mavs liked Fernandez. Talks heated up in recent days, culminating in an intricate draft-day swap. Dallas spent both its picks on players Portland said to take: Hamilton at No. 26 and Tanguy Ngombo at No. 57. However, the Blazers immediately included Hamilton in a deal with Denver, and Ngombo was believed to be on the move, too. The Mavs also came away with the rights to Finnish guard Petteri Koponen, who is expected to play a fourth straight year in Italy. Nelson said the Mavs will ask him next summer about coming to the NBA.
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
HINTS BY | HELOISE Dear Readers: This Saturday ALL-PET-RELATED COLUMN has been running for many years and has been a favorite of my readers. Every so often, I look at updating the column or changing the format. So I am asking for your input concerning this specific daily column. The popular Pet Pal feature is a cute pet photo with a caption or story. The rest of the column is filled with hints about pets, information from experts and sometimes a warning from a reader with a safety hint. Some readers, without pets have written that they wish to see some regular hints from Heloise in the Saturday pet column. Please note that your paper may run the Saturday column on any other day of the week. So, I am thinking of mixing it up and spreading some of the pet hints throughout the week, but keeping the Pet Pal on this day and adding the tried-and-true Heloise lifestyle hints you have come to expect from me. What do you want to see here? This is your column, so please let me know! Send your comments and feedback to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 782795000; fax to 210-HELOISE (435-6473); or email to Heloise@Heloise.com. Please put “Pet Column” in the subject line of your email, on the envelope or on the cover sheet of your fax. — Heloise
PET PAL Dear Readers: Barbara G. in San Antonio sent a picture of Mitzi, a cute terrier mix, sitting at the patio door, with Dusty, a white-and-tan shorthaired cat, waiting patiently to come inside. Mitzi is wondering, “Do I HAVE to let Dusty in-
“
HELOISE
side?” To see Mitzi and Dusty, go to www.Heloise .com and click on “Pets.” — Heloise
BED FOR OUTDOOR CAT Dear Heloise: My outdoor cat and chief mousepatroller needed a warm and dry bed. My husband came up with the idea of using an old foam cooler. She fits in there perfectly, and with a soft blanket or old bathroom rug, she is warm and comfortable. — J.T., via email HINT FOR WASHING DOG’S FACE Dear Heloise: I was always worried about how to wash my dog’s face. Would the dog shampoo sting her eyes? What about water in her ears? Well, I overcame my fears with this great hint. I took a pair of soft cotton gloves to her face, and voilá! I softly rubbed her face, eyes and ears, and it worked like a charm! — Joanne in Virginia
TRASH WATCH Dear Readers: If you notice varmints or vermin outside, especially around your trash cans and/or recycling bins, ask yourself what may be attracting them. Rinse cans and cartons before putting them out to be recycled. Try to secure raw edges of cut cans in an effort to reduce any serious injury to an animal if it gets into the trash. Freezing your food waste and placing it in the can on trash day also can reduce animal interest in your trash. — Heloise
DAILY CRYPTOQUOTES — Here’s how to work it:
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4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
FIFA’s zero tolerance is 100 percent joke By JOHN LEICESTER
SEPP BLATTER: FIFA President, made a zero tolerance policy for corruption
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PARIS — When history books are written, this should go down as the week when FIFA’s paperthin last scraps of dignity and credibility withered and died.
COMMENTARY Because this was the week that world football’s governing body exposed itself: It professes to “zero tolerance” of corruption but, from its actions this week, “zero scruples” appears closer to the truth. This May, football officials called to a meeting in the Caribbean were offered brown envelopes stuffed with $40,000 in $100 notes and told not to breathe a word. We know this because some but not all the officials later blew the whistle. FIFA investigated. Its conclusions, leaked this week, were that the pay-
ments seem to have been bribes and that two of its most senior and influential executives — FIFA vice president Jack Warner and Asian football chief Mohamed bin Hammam — were allegedly neck-deep in the dirt. Evidence, FIFA said, was “comprehensive, convincing and overwhelming.” Bin Hammam wanted Sepp Blatter’s job as FIFA president. For that, he needed football officials’ votes. From FIFA’s report, it appears he was ready to pay for them. Warner, one of football’s most powerful men, allegedly used his clout and contacts to act as bin Hammam’s facilitator. FIFA’s report accused him of arranging the May 10-11 meeting at a hotel on the Caribbean island of Trinidad and of condoning the payoffs.
MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM: Asian football chief, allegedly bribed officials. If FIFA put football’s interests first, Warner should have been banished as an example to others, packed off in disgrace, good riddance. FIFA’s report even suggested as much. “Corruption affects the very core of sports and is to be considered as nothing less than life-threatening for sports and sports organizations. Thus, if there is considerable suspicion that offenses related to corruption might have been committed, immediate action is imperative,” it said. “FIFA has a direct and pressing interest in barring the persons concerned from sports immediately and effectively,” it added. “In this regard, FIFA and the FIFA Ethics Committee adhere to a zero tolerance approach.” You can almost hear Warner laughing. He walk-
JACK WARNER: Former FIFA VP, resigned after allegations of bribery. ed away, resigning this week from football duties and taking with him his secrets from 28 years inside the most discredited governing body in sports. Whatever knowledge Warner may have of any misdeeds within FIFA, the “football tsunami” of embarrassing revelations that he threatened to unleash, he can now keep for himself. Good deal for Warner, an insult for football. Warner is not banned from football stadiums or from contacting buddies still working in the game, officials who owe him their jobs and may still do his bidding. It seems, although FIFA’s press office won’t outright confirm or deny this, that Warner may even still be eligible for his FIFA pension, payable for as many years as he served on the executive committee
— 28. The biggest scandal is that FIFA waved off Warner with kind words of thanks, saying his football work was “appreciated and acknowledged.” FIFA’s statement completely omitted mention of its own report, which it was sitting on, that accused him of knowing about, facilitating and condoning the alleged bribery in the Caribbean. Nor did it recall the 2006 World Cup ticket scam for which Warner’s family was fined, or the other alleged financial misdeeds that critics linked him to over the years. FIFA closed its ethics probe of Warner. And because Warner is no longer involved in football, FIFA said it no longer has any authority to investigate him. That may be true, but FIFA surely didn’t need to go the extra mile and state, as it so obligingly did, that Warner’s “presumption of innocence is maintained.” FIFA hasn’t been so forgiving with others, like Mi-
Roddick can’t win Wimbledon By HOWARD FENDRICH ASSOCIATED PRESS
WIMBLEDON, England — Head bowed, Andy Roddick trudged off Centre Court, his purple Wimbledon towel dragging along the turf. As the three-time runner-up at the All England Club headed for the exit, he passed some kids clamoring for an autograph from their front-row perch. Roddick paused and tossed his blueframed racket underhand. Thanks to his latest earlierthan-anticipated Grand Slam loss, the American won’t be needing it next week. The eighth-seeded Roddick departed quickly Friday, beaten 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2), 6-4 in the third round by unseeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain. Lopez served spectacularly well, hitting 28 aces, and finally got the better of the 2003 U.S. Open champion after losing all seven previous matches they played. Roddick turns 29 in August, and he was asked whether, as the years go by, one particularly depressing thought creeps into his mind: He might never win Wimbledon. “Well, sure. You’re human. I mean, of course it does,” he replied. Then, speaking directly to the reporter, Roddick added: “You know, you may never get your favorite job, either — no offense to your current employer.” Roddick lost to Roger Federer in the 2004, 2005 and 2009 finals — 16-14 in the fifth set of that last one — but only made it as far as the fourth round last year, and second round in 2008. “What do you do? You keep moving forward until you decide to stop,” Roddick said. “At this point, I’ve not decided to stop, so I’ll keep moving forward.” He hasn’t been past the quarterfinals at any of the past seven major tournaments; he withdrew from the French Open in May because of a right shoulder injury, but said he’s healthy at the moment. That, in part, is why Roddick figured he’d make a deep run at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament. “He gears a lot of his year for Wimbledon. It’s a tough loss,” said Roddick’s coach, Larry Stefanki. “He’s disappointed. Very disappointed.” It didn’t help that Lopez was nearly perfect, conjuring up 57 winners and eight unforced errors. “Unbelievable,” Lopez said. “When I came back in the locker room, my coaches told me. I was surprised that I didn’t miss anything, almost.” Because of rain, only two other third-round men’s matches finished Friday: No. 4 Andy Murray moved forward in his bid to give Britain its first male champion at Wimbledon since 1936, beating Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) with the help of a behind-the-back, between-thelegs trick shot under the Centre Court roof; and No. 17 Richard Gasquet of France beat Simone Bolelli of Italy 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Murray plays Gasquet next. Roddick is the highest-seeded man out of the tournament so far. Two of the top three women already are gone: No. 2 Vera Zvonareva, the runner-up at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in
chel Zen-Ruffinen, Blatter’s former right-hand man forced out for crossing swords with his boss a decade ago. Last November, FIFA declared Zen-Ruffinen “persona non grata” after he told reporters that countries bidding for the World Cup were secretly trading votes. So why was Warner accorded such a face-saving send-off ? Out of fear that he might, if dealt with strictly, pull down others in FIFA, too? More worrisome is why Warner and bin Hammam apparently felt safe that they wouldn’t get into trouble for the alleged bribery in May and that officials offered wads of cash wouldn’t double-cross them. Does that suggest that, in the past, officials simply took the money? And is this how FIFA presidential votes are won? These are questions Warner no longer needs to answer. How can that be zero tolerance?
NFL makes progress By BARRY WILNER ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Alastair Grant | AP
Andy Roddick, of the U.S., returns a shot to Spain’s Feliciano Lopez at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon on Friday. 2010, was eliminated by No. 32 Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 6-2, 6-3 Friday, less than 24 hours after No. 3 Li Na, the French Open champion, lost. Pironkova reached the semifinals last year, when she upset five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams, and they’ll have a rematch in the fourth round next week. Williams overpowered 76th-ranked Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain 6-0, 6-2 on Court 1. “I’m in the next round. That’s my main goal, regardless whether I play amazing, whether I play halfway decent. Doesn’t matter,” Williams said. “It’s just about finding a way to win.” Looking ahead to facing Pironkova, Williams said: “Last year, you know, I think I just got unhappy with how I was playing, and I let that affect my game. This year, I won’t let that happen.” Another past Wimbledon winner, Maria Sharapova, struggled at the start against 17-year-old Laura Robson of Britain before righting herself to win their second-round match 7-6 (4), 6-3, her shot-accompanying shrieks as loud as ever. Sharapova trailed 4-1 early, then fell behind 4-2 in the tiebreaker, before taking the set’s last five points, closing it with a 108 mph service winner against 2008 Wimbledon junior champion Robson.
“She was much more aggressive than I was in the beginning,” Sharapova said. “But then I just kind of got my rhythm a little bit and started playing better.” Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki also won a delayed second-round match, as did 2007 finalist Marion Bartoli. Defending champion Rafael Nadal’s match was among several in the third round stopped because of rain Friday evening. Having saved two set points against Gilles Muller of Luxembourg, the top-seeded Nadal came back to take the opener 7-6 (6), despite slipping behind the baseline and tumbling to his knees. At the ensuing changeover, Nadal asked to see the trainer for treatment. But play was suspended before the start of the second set, then called off for the day at about 7 p.m. Shortly thereafter, Nadal walked out of the club without any noticeable hitch in his gait. It has rained on four of the first five days of competition, but the tournament press office said there hasn’t been consideration given to scheduling matches for the middle Sunday, traditionally a day off at Wimbledon. Saturday’s forecast calls for a chance of rain in the morning, but dry weather in the afternoon. In three second-round men’s
matches held over from Thursday, 18-year-old Bernard Tomic of Australia, the youngest man left, defeated Igor Andreev of Russia 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1; No. 11 Jurgen Melzer of Austria beat Dmitry Tursunov of Russia 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1); and No. 7 David Ferrer of Spain finished off a 6-7 (6), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 comeback victory over 19-year-old Ryan Harrison of the United States. Harrison credited Roddick with being a mentor. “He’s helped me deal with every situation I’ve faced, as far as all the new stuff I haven’t experienced myself yet,” Harrison said. “He’s made himself available to ask him any questions, whether or not it’s about tennis, life, priorities, whatever. I can ask him and talk to him about anything, which has been a great help to me.” Roddick never got comfortable against the 44th-ranked Lopez, who played his usual classic grass-court style, charging the net whenever possible, a tactic that carried him to the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2005 and 2008. While Lopez is one win away from returning to the quarterfinals, Roddick heads home. He’ll have much more time than he wanted to work on his game ahead of the July 8-10 Davis Cup quarterfinals between his U.S. team and Lopez’s Spain.
With training camps set to open in another month, NFL owners and players will resume negotiations next week, hoping to build on recent talks, two people familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press on Friday. While each side has acknowledged progress in the fourmonth-old lockout, a new collective bargaining agreement isn’t imminent. One of the two people who spoke on condition of anonymity said conference calls are being set up to discuss various issues, but not the major one of splitting revenues. The person said that was being negotiated “face to face.” The two people declined to be identified because the meetings were confidential. The sides completed two days of talks at a beachfront resort in Hull, Mass., on Thursday. On hand were NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, owners John Mara of the New York Giants, Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers, Clark Hunt of the Kansas City Chiefs, Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots and Dean Spanos of the San Diego Chargers. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith also was present along with several players, including Jeff Saturday of the Indianapolis Colts, Tony Richardson of the New York Jets and Domonique Foxworth of the Baltimore Ravens. “Someone asked me whether I was optimistic,” Smith said. “I think we’re both optimistic when we have the right people in the room. We know we’re talking about the right issues and that we’re working hard to get it done.” Previous meetings took place in suburban Chicago, New York and the Maryland shore. Once the owners and players can agree on how to divide revenues — $9.3 billion last year — other issues such as a rookie wage scale, benefits for retired players, and player health and safety could fall in line quickly. Still, it’s almost July, and training camps are scheduled to open late next month. The first preseason game is Aug. 7 at Canton, Ohio. This week, two teams — the Ravens and Jets — said they would train at their regularseason facilities and not out of town. Baltimore canceled its camp at Winchester, Md., and New York did the same for Cortland, N.Y. “With all the variables presented by this unique offseason, we felt it was best for the Jets that we hold our training camp here at our practice facility,” general manager Mike Tannenbaum said Friday. Also this week, league owners were briefed on a plan that would give the players just under 50 percent of total income. An off-the-top expense credit of about $1 billion that went to the owners would be eliminated.